Valentine's Day goodies: treat yo'self

1. Deborah Lippmann nail polish 2. dipper ear crawler 3. face mask set 4. rose salve 

5. pearl ring 6. nail therapy 7. fringe heels 8. bath scrub

Valentine's Day is this weekend (but you already knew that), and what better way to celebrate the Day of Couples than by treating yourself to a little something special? I'm not much into Valentine's Day, and as you might recall from last year, I believe in self-indulgences. Like a special face mask or a pretty new nail polish.

Whenever I tell people I don't like Valentine's Day, they usually say something along the lines of "But you have a boyfriend!" Like as long as you're in a relationship there is no reason to not love this holiday. *Rolls eyes.* I don't know about you guys, but I feel no different about this holiday than I did three years ago when I was spending it alone with some rom coms and a giant bowl of popcorn. (Which still sounds like heaven in my book.) Adam and I are going to take our normal Love Day route and stay in, watch movies and share a little much-needed R&R. Manicures and facials included (for me at least ;).

P.S. Last year's Valentine's Day gift guide and outfits two ways

all I want for Christmas...

pajama shirt / black crystal ring set / Essie nail polish in "Ignite the Night" / Too Faced Melted Lipstick in "Rosy Orchid" / Kate Spade iPhone 6 case / NARS satin lip pencil in "Palais Royal" / silver bar ring / "The Grand Budapest Hotel" / Y-chain necklace / gold bar earrings / BCBG glitter pumps / Too Faced lipstick in "Naked Dolly" / chain cuff / volcano candle / bralette

I love making gift guides, so naturally I had to continue this year's series with a little wish list of my own ;) And of course my Christmas list would have three types of lipsticks on it...is anyone surprised? Even though there are many things I could add to my list for my kitchen or apartment in general, I still believe that presents are a time for giving things that people want as opposed to what they need. Most people will buy needs before wants, so I think it's nice to surprise them with gifts they might not go out an buy for themselves. Aka, this fun pajama shirt, glitter pumps and a fun movie that I love.

What's on your wish list this Christmas? Are you asking for more "wants" or "needs" this year? 

P.S. Last year's wish list, a gift guide for her and a gift guide for him

gift guide: for her

wine stopper and cork screw set / Kate Spade ring dish / travel perfume / pyramid studs / candle / sleep mask / Layla headphones / coffee mug / geometric picture frame / ring holder / gold speckled coasters / passport holder 

Another gift guide is here, and this one is for the ladies! I've gathered up some of my favorite gift ideas for sisters, best friends, moms, boyfriend's girlfriends and all the other women you know! I found a lot of goodies this year, but I think my favorite is definitely the the Kate Spade wine stopper and cork screw! How adorable, right?

I also love the passport holder, perfect for the girl on the go. It's also customizable, which is great if you're looking to add a personal touch! And of course, you can't go wrong with a cute coffee mug or the perfect dish and organizer to display your favorite baubles.

What's on your Christmas wish list this year? 

P.S. the perfect gift guide for him

gift guide: for him

bottle opener / cologne / monochrome playing cards / phone charger / Nomad candle / football stein / cocktail shaker / Beats headphones / NYT "Book of Cocktails" / shave set / Nixon black watch / underwear 

It's that time of year again... the gift guides are out! I love picking out gifts, and this year I found a bunch of great stuff for all the men in your life. For the fashion-forward, the cocktail lovers and the techies, I've rounded up some of my favorite items in every price range. Picking out the perfect gift can be stressful, so I tried to find things that could appeal to most guys — every guy needs a watch and underwear, right?

What is your method for picking out the perfect gift? 

P.S. Last year's gift guide for him and for her

Mother's Day gift guide

brass trinket dish / "The Longest Ride" / Clinique perfume set / painted coffee mug
candle / initial pendant / lullaby print 

I hadn't planned to make a gift guide for Mother's Day, because honestly I am so bad at preparing for it. Even though I've always been super close to my mom (I'm talking Gilmore Girls close), Mother's Day always sneaks up on me and I usually end up going in on a gift with my siblings at the last minute. I know — that's an awful way to be.

Well, now that I've been living with my mom for a year (meaning no rent and lots of fantastic home-cooked meals by her), it's time that I put some much-deserved extra thought into a nice gift for her. Did I mention she's also been playing nurse to me since my foot surgery? I seriously don't know what I would do without my mom. She's so selfless and so caring, and I only hope that I will be like her when I am a mother some day.

That being said, here are a few ideas if you're still looking for a great Mother's Day gift. All of these items are less than $60 (the book is less than $5!), and they range from simple to sweet. If you want to give something to your S.O.'s mom, maybe a pretty candle or coffee mug would be a good route to go. Or, if your mom sang lullabies when you were little like mine did, maybe a print with the lyrics on it would be meaningful to her.

I hope this helps in your search for the perfect Mother's Day gifts for all the special moms in your life!

Non-cheesy Valentine's Day gift ideas

My parents always used to surprise my siblings and me with little gifts for Valentine's Day when we were growing up. It could have been candy, a shirt or a charm for my favorite charm bracelet — I never knew what I was going to get, but I always loved it. Even though most people I knew at the time didn't celebrate Valentine's Day with presents, I always loved the idea of giving gifts for the special day.

Maybe you're celebrating with your sweetheart, or maybe you want to get a little something for your best friend this Valentine's Day. Either way, if you want to buy a gift and you're not sure what to get, here are my top picks. For the sweet, chic, sarcastic and all-around awesome people in your life.

1. Leather watch (Nordstrom). This monochrome watch looks so sleek and cool. I know it's a man's watch, but I kind of want it for myself...

2. Greeting card (Forever 21). If you're not about spending a lot of money on Valentine's Day, a sweet little card like this one is a great way to show you care without breaking the bank. Or, if you're creative, a handmade card is even sweeter.

3. Travel bag (Owen and Fred). This travel bag is a constant reminder for your guy that you're thinking of him. Cute and functional — it's a win-win.

4. Copper Mug (Nordstrom). Even if you don't like Moscow Mules, these copper cups are the perfect addition to any kitchen/bar/bachelor pad.

5. Tote bag (Forever 21). One can never have too many cheeky totes, am I right?

6. Lipstick set (Sephora). This NARS lip pencil set is perfect for the lipstick-lover who likes trying new colors but doesn't want to commit to the full-price, full-size versions.

7. Monogram necklace (Urban Outfitters). A personalized gift like this one is perfect for Valentine's Day.

Will you be giving any Valentine's gifts this year? Do you usually, or do you have other traditions?

Related: Gift ideas for him and for her

Santa Baby... My own wish list

1. Cheek to Cheek (Amazon) 2. Rose gold midi ring set (Forever 21) 3. Matching pajama set (Aerie) 4. Suede pumps (No longer available — similar style) 5. Monogram coffee mug (Target) 6. MAC lipstick in Heroine (MAC Cosmetics) 7. Blue and gold clutch (Francesca's) 8. Metallic eye mask (kate spade new york) 9. Red shimmer nail polish (Nordstrom) 10. Gold ear cuffs (Shop Bop) 11. Perfect tea steeper (Teavana)

Picking out everything for my gift guide and looking at all the other blogger guides out there gave me some great ideas for my own wish list, so I thought I'd share some of the other things I'm loving right now. It seems like Christmas will be here in a flash, so I need to start getting on top of my own present shopping — but I'm secretly hoping some of these will show up under the tree for me this year, too ;)

Holiday gifts for every guy

Part two of the Gift Guide is dedicated to all the special men in your life. Because, if you're like me, you know all too well how stressful it is to shop for guys. Whether brothers, dads, boyfriends or just friends, it can seem like a daunting task to try to find just the right gift.

1. Wireless speaker (Urban Outfitters) 2. Cards Against Humanity (Amazon) 3. Fossil travel kit (Nordstrom) 4. Whiskey stones (Thrillist) 5. LIVE cologne (American Eagle) 6. Notebook (Raygun) 7. Under Armor gloves (Scheels) 8. Earbuds (Urban Outfitters) 9. Four-cup French press (Thrillist) 10. Checkered underwear (American Eagle) 11. Printed Matchbook (High Street Market) 12. 22 Jump Street (Amazon) 13. Navy watch (Thrillist) 14. Faux fur winter hat (Express) 15. Beer maker's guide (Urban Outfitters) 16. Stripe sweater (American Eagle)

With this list I tried to find items for every type of guy: the athlete, the party guy, the stylish guy and the funny guy. And they all come at a varying range of prices, so you'll find something for every budget.

What are some of your ideas for guy gifts? Leave your comments below :) I'd love some help!

Holiday gifts she'll love

With Black Friday only a few days away, I'm sure all of you go-getters are probably ready to start your holiday shopping. So what do you buy for all the special ladies in your life? Gift cards are great, but if you really want to impress them, a thoughtful and personal present is the way to go. In case you're scrambling for creative ideas, I've done a little research to make your life a little bit easier this holiday season.

No matter who you're shopping for or what her style is, these gifts are perfect for a variety of women (I personally think those glitter studs would be a lovely addition to every girl's jewelry box). And the prices range from $2 to $39, so you won't break the bank — you might even have enough extra dough to get a little something for yourself ;)

1. State necklaces (Fifth and Mae) 2. Geometric terrarium (Urban Outfitters) 3. Slippers (Victoria's Secret 4. French print matches (Design Darling) 5. Over-the-knee socks (Forever 21) 6. Astrology candle (Anthropologie) 7. Elephant hook (Francesca's) 8. Gwen Stefani nail polish set (Ulta) 9. USB wall charger (Urban Outfitters) 10. Today notepad (Anthropologie) 11. Minimalist rings (Fifth and Mae) 12. Glass water bottle (Amazon) 13. Birdcage candle holder (Target) 14. Fashion bobby pins (Anthropologie) 15. Kate Spade glitter studs (Nordstrom) 16. Wool blend baseball hat (Express)

Do you have any favorites on this list? What items would you add? Leave your comments in the section below... I'd love to hear :)