01 | CHANEL Le Jardin de Chanel blush -- from the CHANEL spring Reverie Parisienne 2015 collection. looking at the entire collection will have you excited for spring! the embossed cameillas in this blush are varying shades of light to muted-pink. so pretty.
02 | NAILSINC gel effect polish -- for my nailpolish lovers! these are supposed to deliver "a gel effect for salon-quality nails." what's great is that you won't need the UV lamp or the professional removal process. available in nine different shades.
03 | Hourglass modernist eyeshadow palette in Atmosphere -- the latest from Hourglass (a brand i love). however, reviews seem to be mixed on these. Goss Makeup Artist gave it great reviews. Temptalia not so much.
04 | NARS all day luminous weightless foundation -- for my foundation lovers! this is the latest from NARS. even though i don't have time for foundation... but i am always intrigued by them. beautylookbook.com gave it a thumbs up!
05 | Maybelline lash sensational mascara -- although i try different drugstore mascaras, i always go back to my all time favorite--the full n' soft by Maybelline. i will be picking this one up soon! a "full fan effect" volumizing mascara. reviews look good so far.
06 | Charlotte Tilbury lip magic -- FINALLY, CT has come to the US!! her line consists of amazing items i've read about including the infamous Filmstar Bronze & Glow face sculpt and highlight compact. i have yet to try CT since there is not a counter near me, the horror! but i digress. the lip magic is a rejuvenating lip balm that promises younger dewy lips.
07 | Yves Saint Laurent spring couture palette in desir de jour -- this limited edition palette... is stunning. (swoon). love the color combination and really wished i could apply eyeshadow. i must go see this in person ASAP. the colors are described as, "a combination of rich camel beige and a seductive golden brown, two deep, warm colors that are clashed by the luminosity of intense pink and iridescent champagne."
08 | CHANEL stylo yeux waterproof long lasting eyeliner in ardoise 919 -- this is also apart of the CHANEL Reverie Parisienne spring 2015 collection. i have one this eyeliner in expresso (gift from bestie!) and it works great. ardoise is a steel gray... and i don't have a steel gray eyeliner... soo....
current lemmings -- textured shoes & bags
01 | Sarah Jessica Parker SJP Diana pump in black patent -- unfortunately, i haven't had the chance to try on any shoes from the SJP line at Nordstrom. however, this is my top pick from her line. it is a classic pump with an added twist from the sideways strap. love it. also comes in nude and gray patent.
02 | Sole Society Ivy T-strap flat in crystal blue suede -- cobalt blue flats... yes please! again, a twist on the ordinary flat with the t-strap. these flats will make any outfit stand out. also comes in leopard print canvas and black suede.
03 | Target MSC Carolyn W sneakers in black -- great causal kicks, they are very similar to the Vince Blair 5 slip on leather sneaker that i've been lemming, but at a fraction of the price! (STEAL!). i have seen these in-store and they are very lightweight.
04 | Tory Burch Frances slouchy leather satchel in french gray -- my top pick from the new Tory Burch collection. i am liking the pebbled leather, the soft gray color, and the overall shape of this handbag. it can also be worn as a top handle and a crossbody, win win in my books!
05 | Sole Society Amara clutch in black vegan leather -- an over-sized clutch with a basket-weave woven texture, measures 9.5"H x 13.5"W x 1"D. i have basket-weave fever.
06 | Sole Society Lacie in brown vegan leather -- the perfect, chic weekender get away bag. measures 15"H x 19 1/2"W x 7"D, handle drop 5 1/4", strap drop 23". also comes in black vegan leather.
current lemmings -- gadgets & glam
01 | Polaroid Z2300 instant digital camera -- take photos back old school style with this 10MP instant digital camera that prints 2x3" photos. this is perfect for the DIY photobooth, parties, get togethers, but i mainly want to get one to capture candid moments and make a fun collage out of them! you can also purchase this off of amazon here.
02 | Fujifilm instax mini 90 neo classic -- another alternative to the Polaroid above but packaged in a retro design. purchase this off of amazon here.
03 | mophie powerstation mini -- this is a great gadget for the traveler. this charges phones and any USB device providing twice as much battery life on your smart phone and easily fits into your pocket. a great option to use when you cannot get to an outlet (EX: when all the outlets at the airport are being used!). check out the complete powerstation line to find the one that suits your needs. for a more immediate fix, mophie also makes external battery cases for Samsung, HTC, and iPhones 4-6.
04 | Yves Saint Laurent volupte tint-in-oil -- this is a new lip product from YSL. it is lip tint infused with four different oils to keep your lips moisturized all day. available in eight shades.
05 | Vita Fede ultra mini eclipse pearl ring in gold -- i have an addiction to all Vita Fede designs, edgy yet so classic. the pave cube. the pearl. the open ring design. (swoon). Vita Fede nailed this ring right on the head. i'm gonna need one.
06 | Prada 54mm cat eye sunglasses in black/grey gradient -- nothing says glam like some cat eye sunglasses. these cat eye sunnies are probably my favorite.
his & her gift guide part four (under $25!)
01 | Whiskey ice ball molds -- a great alternative to the whiskey stones. rounded ice = slower melt time = less diluted alcohol = happy man. for a more immediate version check out these from Crate & Barrel.
02 | Cedar shoe trees -- shoes need love too! cedarwood helps to eliminate odor and moisture while keeping shoes in proper shape.
03 | Moscow mule copper mugs -- have you had a moscow mule? if not, you need to. then you will want to buy these mugs, invite friends over, and drink moscow mules together. clink clink. or more like clank clank?!
04 | Trapp Frangrances 7 oz. poured candle -- while i love Diptyque, Trapp candles are amazing in terms in scent and price. my favorite is No. 12 mango guava. this candle burns for about 50 hours. they also come in votives as well. check out the store locator to find a Trapp supplier near you.
05 | West Elm glass shadow boxes -- although these require some counter/dresser space i believe they are worth it! a dainty little box to hold your delicate rings, necklaces, earrings etc..
06 | Anthropologie golden monogram mug (limited edition) -- normally these come in black but this year they are also available in gold! snag 'em while they are still available!
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his & her gift guide part three
01 | Custom initial or monogram cufflinks -- cufflinks are a common gift for the holidays, but custom cufflinks take it to the next level. you can pick the metal, finish, font, placement, what you want it to say; initials, dates etc.. the choice is yours! be creative! you can find a ton of these on etsy.com. etsy has SOOO many unique gifts and what's great is that they are all handcrafted. i can get lost on etsy for hours... it's a black hole. but... back to the cufflinks, i did a lot of browsing before i settled on these, i like square cufflinks, the brushed finished, the soldered backs and ordered them off of Spiffing Jewelry's etsy shop. other men's accessories that can be customized from this shop include tie clips and collar stays. i can't wait for them to arrive, i know it will add smiles to faces as it is a one of a kind gift.
02 | Junkers Bauhaus #6060-5 watch -- a leather strap watch is a great alternative (and less formal) to the normal chain watches that most guys wear. my friend has this watch and i like that is a unique brand that i have not heard of/seen before. Junkers is a "German-made aviation inspired timepiece." this model in particular features a 24-sub dial for military time. it is an automatic watch and also has a power reserve meter at the top. overall, i love the design and simplistic look of this watch. buy it on longislandwatch.com in the U.S.
03 | TRIWA walter lansen chrono watch -- another unique brand of men's watches from stockholm, sweden. (why do i feel like men have cooler watches?!) this is a beautiful watch, i love the gold subdials with the black/gray face. you also have the choice of a canvas or leather strap.
04 | Coach madison stainless steel watch in silver -- for as long as i can remember, i have wanted a watch with blue dials/hands. think Cartier: the blue dials, the roman numerals... yes... (swoon!) but who's got money for that?! loving this one by Coach. also comes in gold and rose gold. but i'd go back to the basics with silver on this one.
05 | Ted Baker multifunction croc-embossed leather strap watch in hamilton gold/white -- i didn't know Ted Baker made watches?! either way, job well done here with a white leather strap and gold face. includes two subdials: one for day and another 24-hr.
06 | GiGi New York uber clutch in stone pebble grain -- every woman loves clutches. well, at least i do. this is a good sized clutch (13 1/4" W x 9 1/4" H), and you can get it personalized (guaranteed smiles!) by adding up to three initials. i've only seen these in the embossed python finish, but i am loving the stone pebble grain so much more. this clutch comes in a variety of colors (good luck picking one!), but stone is a great color that will go with all outfits. other items that you can personalize include: handbags, datebooks, and journals. go crazy!
his & her gift guide part two
01 | Thorocraft the hutchinson kicks in mahogany -- a great pair of casual shoes for the guys. quite a few notches up from Converse. !
02 | Ray Ban the original wayfarer sunglasses in black -- these are some great shades on all guys, regardless of face shape. and actually... these are uni-sex sunglasses, so get one for yourself too! matchy, matchy. (insert emoji with the sunglasses).
03 | Bespoke Post subscription box -- the subscription box = the gift that keeps giving. and... there is a subscription box for everyone. ...even dogs. after doing extensive research on boxes for men, this is the one that caught my eye. what's great about this subscription (besides the handpicked swanky goods) is that you are able to preview the items and if you're not feeling it, you can skip that box. each box is, "a collection of men's lifestyle gear from up-and-coming brands, spanning all areas of your day-to-day."
04 | Clare Vivier foldover clutch in leopard hair -- leopard print love. a guaranteed hit! it is selling out on a couple sites already. i have been lusting over one for years.
05 | BaubleBar play by ear gift set -- this is a set of earrings that you can mix and match to wear 100 ways! GENIUS.
06 | French Box subscription -- get five french products delivered to your doorstep each month! products range from fashion, cosmetics, gourmet and other goodies. i wanted to pick Europe in a Box, however they only ship to Australia it seems.
his & her gift guide part one
01 | Collared Greens tamarack bow tie in orange & white and purple & yellow -- a bow tie is always a good idea. also available in so many colors/patterns/designs! loving this one in UT and LSU colors.
02 | Portel aged leather pocket wallet -- my friend has one of these and i love the aged leather look. it's basically a sleeve that holds your iphone and credit cards. available iPhone 4-6 models.
03 | The Art of Shaving lexington set with the black pure brush set -- this is an expensive shaving set. but... it is the real deal. i would also check out their safety razor collection for something a little more classic.
04 | Kendra Scott catherine necklace in crackle crystal -- i love dainty necklaces and this is a beautiful gem, just in time for the holidays.
05 | Kendra Scott quincy delicate earrings in crackle crystal -- matching earrings? yes please.
06 | Cuyana leather tote in burgundy -- get this tote monogrammed for an extra personal touch. also available in a variety of colors such as stone, black, caramel etc...