Valentine's Day: An Etsy Gift Guide for Him and Her

Today is the day the chocolate companies, lingerie companies, and Hallmark all get a little bit richer off our desire to tell the one we love just how much we do, in fact, love them. The old saying "How do I love thee? Let me count the ways" has been replaced with "How much do you love me? Let me count the gifts". It's a sad but true state of affairs yet, there is light at the end of this love tunnel. It's called personalized gifts. All you have to do is peruse Etsy for a bit and you'll find some great little gems. After all, the BEST gifts are those that stand for a moment in time, an anniversary, an inside joke. A standard heart-shaped box of chocolates and flowers just ain't going to cut it anymore because everyone has done that and everyone expects that, even the fellas! I encourage you all to think outside the box and take some of the gifts below into consideration when shopping for your lover. They'll be so thankful, your Valentine's Day dessert will be more than just a chocolate soufflé, if you know what I mean...;) ;)

For the guys: Every guy wants to feel loved and wanted and with these gifts, you'll hit both sqare on the head.

If your bloke loves music more than most, this sweet keychain should tickle his inner rock star and sensitivity.

The rustic leather and sweet detail of latitudes and longitudes would melt any manly man. Personalize the lat. and long. with where you met, where you got married, where he was born, etc. It'll mean so much.

Yes, those are space invaders from the back-in-the-day video game. Yes, your man will love it, even if he's "too big" to play video games anymore.

Piggy backing off the previous image, these awesome Ninento cufflinks are perfect for the man boy in your life, or even for the reformed gamer turned professional. Everybody needs to be reminded of their childhood now and then.

Because why not? What guy doesn't dream of being so badass, that he punches out a bear?!

I think this one is more gender neutral (I want one!) but I also think it just looks cool and a guy would like the sentiment and design.

For the ladies: Almost every woman I know wants something NOT typical or expected for Valentine's Day (hell, any celebratory-type day!) but that shouldn't deter you from spending a little time thinking about it. Sometimes, the simplest things are the most treasured.

This one is an easy win for V-day gift giving: your intial + their initial + heart= extreme lovey-dovey mushy cuteness (but also will match everything in her closet, bonus point! ;)

There is so much you can do with this: silly picture of you, the two of you, your baby, pet, etc. The options are limitless and this particular seller gives you the option of applying a filter for a desired effect. The result is antique looking, black and white, you name it.

I sense a keychain theme here...I love this because if you have a special someone who tends to forget your anniversary, now there's no excuse!

A non-jewelry item. Ideal for the gal who loves herself some beauty/bath products. Always be mindful of the scent if the items (for both your sakes). A safe bet is sticking to a scent she already wears and that you like.

A non love-themed gift. Bonus- will look good on anybody and will go with everything. Word of caution: this is a high-contrast piece so rethink this as an option if your lady is more like a shy violet.

For the woman in your life who's a bit of a blinged-out beauty. You can never have too many flashy accessories.

 

Last but not least, the perfect card. Good for either a laddy or a lass.

Too. Much. Cuteness! Who wouldn't want to open this?!

Happy V-Day Lovebirds!

Image(s) courtesy of various Etsy.com vendors. Click the pictures to visit that particular item, as well as the rest of the seller's shop.

For the Fellas: Best Board Shorts

Surf's up! Whether you're a dad or just a single dude, when the summer comes a callin' you suddenly find yourself lounging shore-side. Beach time shenanigans are the best under a blazing sun with food, drinks, and surrounded by good friends, no? Make sure you're looking your best in an awesome pair of board shorts. You can wear them to lay out in or into the water. Plus, you throw a shirt on and they double as fancy going out pants! You guys are really lucky...your summer outfits take a lot less thought than us gals.

Complimentary color done in a large print makes these trunks terrific. Ambiguous "A' Board Shorts, $49, Nordstrom

At first glance the print looks like a shark detail. Up close it's actually humming birds! Who doesn't love a sensitive guy? Ambiguous "Long Beaks" Board Shorts, $49, Nordstrom

I like these a lot! Classic camo takes a shark-fin turn :) Quicksilver Waterman "Camofin" Board Shorts, $69.50, Nordstrom

 

Father's Day: Unique Gifts for Dad

Father's Day comes but once a year so try to make the dad in your life feel equally special with a unique gift idea. Many people give things like ties and cufflinks but not something slightly more interesting...not something that no one else has.

To help make you a better shopper this June 17th, I've done a little pre-pulling for you. Shopping sites like Etsy, Uncommongoods, and even Hallmark, I found various items to make sure your gift isn't just great, but also thoughtful and unique.

Let's start with presentation. One of my favorite things in the world to do is wrap presents. This is why I totally understand why Tori Spelling's mom had a room in her house just for gift wrapping. If I could, that would be me. As far as I'm concerned, it's just another place in the gift giving process where you can be creative and show a little love. Hallmark has some great gift wrapping choices. I love all the primary colors and clean patterns.

Make the dad in your life feel like a hero with a Superman gift bag. Find these and various other wrappings at Hallmark

Once you've found the perfect gift wrap, you next need to find the perfect card. Nothing says I love you like a homemade card but if you don't have time to make one, you can still capture that same handcrafted feel by finding one through an independent artist. Lucky for you there's already a trusted community in place it's called Etsy. If you know me, you know I love Etsy and for Father's Day they didn't disappoint. This one was my favorite. I related to it immediately:

And all the other scary bugs that came along! :) Find this at Etsy

After the card and gift wrap have been established, it's time to consider the gift. This is where all the hard work pays off. But, it's also where we tend to put a lot of pressure on ourselves. Questions inevitably come up: What did you get him last year? Does he have this T-shirt already? He doesn't really wear ties anymore...so maybe a flask?

To keep from driving yourself crazy, think about what makes dad happy. What does he do for fun? What makes him laugh? What does he need but doesn't have? This is where you can have some fun and find things that he won't have but will appreciate.

These 7 glasses will jazz up any guys current dishware selection but would especially smart for the dad who enjoys a good liquor from time to time.

 

Don't we all feel like one of these sins, sometimes? 7 Deadly Sins Glasses, $72

For the dad whose home office tends to be constantly inundated with paperwork, make his life a little more organized with a cool paperweight.

Now all of dad's paperwork will be SAFE" (Sorry, couldn't resist the pun). "SAFE" Paperweight, $42

For the dad who likes to geek out on science, light up his life with this (totally awesome) moon clock.

It glows in the dark too! Moon Clock, $32

For the hipster dad, keep him looking cool with these fresh socks.

Shark socks, nuff said. They sell themselves. Shark Socks, $9

For the foodie dad, give him the world...with various global salts.

While we're on the subject of food, why not also cook dad breakfast in bed? Salts of the World, $35

For the handyman, give dad the gift that keeps on giving. A multi-tooled tool!

Dad might just be able to rule the world with this pen. Contractor Pen, $21.25

For the dad who likes to bike, keep him accessible with this bike accessory.

Dad will even be able to listen to good music while he bikes to and fro. iPhone Bike Mount, $40

And for the dad who walks to the beat of his own drummer, make sure looks good while doing it.

It's a joke gift but the most stylish one I've ever seen. Wood Bow Tie, $24

I hope you and the dad in your life enjoy this annual holiday and I hope you find some inspiration in these various gifts. Happy Shopping!

 

Image(s) courtesy of uncommongoods.com, hallmark.com, Etsy.com

Father's Day: The Gift of Style

Let's talk about Father's Day! It's time to celebrate the guy who gave you life and say "thanks" by giving him gifts he'll use and love forever because they came from you. This year, why not give the gift of style? Your dad is great so make sure he looks great for "his holiday" with a great outfit. (never enough "greats" for dad) Lucky for you I'm a personal shopper and can lead you through the process of picking the right items for your papa...which is especially helpful if he doesn't have anything ;)

Since guys are limited in what they have available to them (no skirts and dresses. SO SAD!), let's start with the basics: jeans, a good shirt, a layering piece, shoes, and accessories. If chosen correctly, each of those items can yield a very stylish looking dude, dads included.

First up, the shirt. Instead of a plain white T, pick a shirt that has a little more detail to it. This way it'll be more versatile in your dad's wardrobe plus it's a stylish option for when he just wants to wear it as it.

The stripe is interesting and subtle. It's still a grade up from plain white T. American Rag T-Shirt, $8.99

Next, the layering piece- a sweater. Pullover, V-neck sweaters are every guys (and girls) best friend. They're perfect for layering and are also great as is. Again, find one with interesting visual detail, like a print or a texture.

Sometimes a bold color or unique color can be a great visual detail. Tommy Hilfiger, $34.99

Third up, the jeans. Folks, do your dad a favor and DON'T buy him skinny jeans and DON'T buy him over-sized jeans. Just find him a slim cut jean. It's a winner for every guy. And if you're dad's a little meatier, look for a straight leg and/or relaxed fit. It'll work the same way- proportioned to his overall physique.

Stylist tip: if your jeans are on the floor, get them hemmed! Nothing says "frumpy" like a scrunched up jeans. (Same goes for you ladies!) Guess Jeans, $89

Let's start putting the finishing touches on this look- shoes & accessories OR "Stocking stuffers" for Christmas but on Father's Day, "extras 'cause you love him".

Shoes, as we all know, can make or break a look. I've pulled two options for you, a casual shoe and a more dressy shoe, to suit most dads.

Love the grey color in this lace-up. It's dressy in silhouette but also works from day to night.

Every guy needs this kind of shoe in their closet. Stacy Adams, $90

I like to think of this as the "sexy sneaker". Why? Because it's not really a functional athletic shoe but it has the silhouette of a dress shoe. So the happy medium is a more slender sneaker that offers a little more comfort but also style.

This is an especially great shoe for bay area dads living in the city. Diesel, $90

A classic classic CLASSIC "man-ccessory" is a watch. Why do you think women covet men's watches so much? Because they're big and they have a presence. They are uniquely tied to menswear and we women know a good thing when we see it.

This is minimal, streamlined, and uber cool. Plus, it tells time. 'Nuff said. Unlisted watch, $29.98

Last, a great pair of sunglasses. Hands down the most universally flattering shape to a face is the aviator. Think of George Clooney. He tends to wear them which is exactly why it's a good idea for dad.

George Clooney WISHES he looks as good as your dad in these bad boys. Michael Kors, $99

Hopefully your dad feels as cool as he's sure to look this Father's Day. And if you're a dad yourself, enjoy the moment. You deserve it!

Image(s) courtesy of macys.com

Father's Day: The Classic Gift

fa·ther

[fah-ther] 

noun

1. a male parent.

2. a father-in-law, stepfather, or adoptive father.

3. any male ancestor, especially the founder of a race, family, or line; progenitor.

4. a man who exercises paternal care over other persons; paternal protector or provider: a father to the poor.

 

He may be the origin of our X and Y chromosomes or progenitor, but he's still just Dad to many of us, or in my case "Popi".  My dad was a "suit to work" kind of guy, who had everything and wanted for nothing.  He was, and still is, the hardest person in our family to buy for.  So we set up a Father's-Day-gift-giving-tradition to buy him the same gift every year.  Sure he knew what he was getting, but that meant that he didn't have to buy this particular items for himself any more.  What was this easy gift of choice?

No surprise, ties.  That might sound as exciting as giving him an ugly Christmas sweater.  But ties don't have to look like they came off of a used car salesman.  My number one tip to picking something safe is to keep them in the blue/grey/black family in some variation of stripes or plaids.  If you want to throw in a curve ball, try lilac.  That greyish shade of pale purple looks great with black and navy suits.

 

For the many types of dads out there, here are some fashionable suggestions.

Burberry Exploded Check Silk Tie $165

HUGO Woven Silk Tie $95

 

Michael Kors Woven Silk Tie $49.50

Alfani RED Skinny Tie $21.99 (on SALE at Macy's)

 

From my family to yours, Happy Father's Day! 

Dad image courtesy of FreeDigitalPhotos.net