Affordable Gift Guide: Gift Ideas Under $50

Christmas can quickly turn from the happiest season of the year to a full out stress fest when you realize how expensive the gifts you want to purchase for your loved ones are. However, that doesn’t have to be the case!Below I have great affordable gift options for everyone on your Christmas list.

Travel Buddy:

I absolutely love the idea of a calendar with month after month of travel destination inspiration. While you might not be able to purchase a trip for the jet setter in your life, you can inspire their next trip for under $20. Cute travel accessories are another great option- Ted Baker tag set $42.90 & Rebecca Minkoff passport holder $45.00.

Fitness Freak:

Fitness accessories get grody super quickly, so getting a cool upgrade will always be appreciated by a gym bunny. How cool is this spikey water bottle? And it’s only $40 and comes in 8 different colors! Bluetooth headphones will be the gym junkies new best friend – No more wire getting caught and ripping the bud right out of their ear. (I manage to do this everything I get on a cardio machine!)

For Him:

Boys can be so hard to shop for, especially if they are anything like my boyfriend. If he thinks of anything he wants he will always go out and buy it. Leaving me in the dark when it comes to gift ideas – Thanks, babe. My boyfriend loves comic books and anything related, so this Marvel calendar would be a perfect option to take him into the new year (And for only $16!) This Nintendo mug would be a huge hit too. Displayed proudly on his desk and filled with coffee to push him through that after lunch slow down.

Gag Gifts:

Sometimes when you don’t know what to get someone the best gift can be something just plain silly. I love the turkey hat!! Especially because it’s silly, yet oh-so practical for the chilly weather. Your friend will thank you for the conversation starting head gear and you wont break the bank at $16. I love this man eater tee shirt for your most badass misses or the iconic bear holder hat!

Phone Obsessed:

This category will pretty much cover everyone on your gift list. Everyone covets their cellular deice so why not make that daily staple a little better. I love the card holding phone case – Phone and purse unite and for only $35! Have you ever left the house only to  realize that you forgot a charger and your trusted device is almost dead?! It’s the worst! But, now you can have this sleek key chain with charging cord. You’ll never have to fear being without battery. These lens covers are super cool too – They attach to the your phones camera and allow you to take the perfect selfies!

Music Lover:

Concert tickets can get pretty out of hand with all of the services charges they charge now. Instead opt for a shower speaker that will let them have their own nude concert (oh-la-la!)  Or they can test their music knowledge with this trivia game. My personal favorite is the Platinum LP Mirror and it’ only $32! Allow your music obsessed friends to express it with some awesome music decor.

For The Home:

Funky decor is one of my favorite things in the entire world! This Llama rug makes me so happy and it will make that funky friend happy and your wallet happy with a $35 price tag. Who doesn’t love an avocado??? So it’s easy to say that the avocado addict on your list will flip over this bowl for only $24.

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Gift Guide: Cozy Gift Ideas

I seriously cannot believe that the holidays are just around the corner. The year seems to be flying by! Some of my favorite gifts each year are something I can curl up with and get comfy. They’re simple, cute, and great to give to anyone – even yourself! 😉

 

Robes:

 

Pajamas:

 

Slippers:

 

Socks:

 

Beanies:

 

Something To Curl Up With:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sunshine Blogger Award

I want to give a huge shout out to My Dee Dee’s Diary for nominating me for the Sunshine Blogger Award 2017 and for being a beautiful, positive soul. Being such a new blogger, I am very excited and overwhelmed by this opportunity. I look forward to passing on the honor to Wild Pretty Things I nominated below ❤

What is the Sunshine Blogger Award?

The Sunshine Blogger Award is similar to the Liebster Award. Its main purpose is to assist smaller bloggers to gain a following online and to make connections between like-minded bloggers. This award offers a great opportunity to make new friends and work together to create amazing content!

Below are the 11 questions select by My Dee Dee’s Diary , my 11 nominations for the award, and my 11 questions for the nominees.

11 Questions:

1. What inspires you to wake up each day?

I am inspired to wake up each day by my overwhelming desire to reach my goals and aspirations. In my experience, if you want something, and I mean really want something, you have to live it – Breathe it, eat it, sleep it. To be successful in your endeavors you have to know, not think, that you can accomplish them.  Now this isn’t all it takes to be successful. You also have to work towards those goals by actively planning the steps you will take to achieve those goals. For me this means planning each day out and looking for new opportunities to focus on those goals. I am a total lit person, I make one each morning with all the goals I have for myself. Waking up each morning is another opportunity better yourself.

2. What is it that makes your blog stand out from the crowd?

I think that each blog has it’s own personality and flair. Yes, blogs can have similar topics, but each is peppered with the personality of it’s author – making no two alike. I think that my personality really shows in my personal style and some of the more serious topics I have covered.

I have always had a personal style that was a bit different from friends and colleagues. From a very young age I would raid my mothers closet to steal too look for thinks that you just couldn’t find in kids stores. I was a bit shy through High School and always found clothes as a safe way to express myself. As I have gotten older, I worked the kinks out of my style and really feel like I have grown into something really interesting.

A blog, large or small, is a platform to get the word out about things you are passionate about. For me that is self-love & the treatment of animals. I think that using this media to support the issue you think are important really makes the blog unique from others.

3. Where do you see your blog going in the next ten years? (think big and be specific)

I want this blog to be a place where people can go to see or learn something that makes them smile. There is so much negativity in the world, especially these days, that if I can create a place where people feel inspired, or happy, or take something away that makes their lives even a shred better, then I have created something that gives me meaning. I want this to become incorporated with the people who view it – This is for you and I want you to take part in it. Through this blogging journey I want to push myself like I never thought I could, and hopefully this makes you want to do the same.

4. Who is your favorite person in the entire world?

My mother is my favorite person in the entire world. My mother is the most kind and patient person I know. She constantly goes out of her way to help others at any expense. She grew up in a large, low-income family and despite not being able to buy all the things she wanted, she found ways t express herself with what she had. In High School she was a punk rocker and was very vocal about the injustices she saw in the world. She taught her children to be strong and to stand up for themselves and the things they believe in. As a child, she would always buy me clothing items that were WAY ahead of any of the trends. She encouraged me not to just do what the world says is “In-Style”, but to decide what you personal thought was style.

5. What food can you not go one day without?

My phone! I am so obsessed with that darn thing that my boyfriend has bestowed it with the name “My Other Boyfriend”. With work, school, blogging, and maintaining a social life my phone is my lifeline.

6. If you were given a million dollars, but could only buy things starting with the letter “D” what would you buy?

I would donate some of it to causes that help abused animals. This is something that really pulls at my heart strings and a lot of the no kill shelter could use the support. I would definitely buy a few rounds of drinks at the bar for my friends and I. And lastly, lots and lots of dinners at the best spots in the city.

7. Which television character would you trade place with for a week and why?

I grew u reading the Gossip Girls books and loved the show. I loved Serena’s free spirited attitude and all the adventures she would find herself in. Okay, well maybe not the whole murder thing with Georgina. Or, the excessive drug use, but you know what I mean. She always had the best wardrobe on the show and the infinite trust fund for excessive shopping trips wouldn’t be too shabby either.

8. Name your top five movies of all times.

• A Streetcar Named Desire
• A League of Their Own
• Shawshank Redemption
• Baby Driver
• Clueless

9. If you could design the best pair of shoes in the world, what would they look like?

They would be super strappy and colorful for sure. They would be high heels, but they would be 3-4 inches with a wide heel so thy were comfy. If I was designing a shoe, I would want it to be different or special from other shoes. I wold want to have some unique detail – I really like the Sofia Webster winged heels.

10. What is your hidden talent?

I think that my best talent is to take something ordinary and make it special. One of my favorite things to do when I go shopping at T.J. Maxx is to find something is the ale area and make it look interesting or expensive. I like the idea of buying something that no one else saw beauty in and making eye catching. Some of my best outfits have come from this endeavor.

11. Which book world would you wanna live in?

If I could choose a book to live in I would have to say that it would be Alice In Wonderland. I love the idea of being in a place where the impossible could happen. Where anything you think r dream could become a reality. Plus, who wouldn’t want to hang out with a talking bunny??

I Nominate…

1. Margot Lee
2. Dudette’s Edge
3. Joniamac
4. The Pretty Clique
5. The Lazy Outfitter
6. Saradiz
7. Charlotte’s Makeup Blog
8. Ainsley Louise
9. Yow Yow!
10. Kiss Kiss Winks
11. Itsmarifashion

My 11 Questions:

• Why did you start your blog?
• What are some things that inspire you?
• Where do you see this blog going in the next 5 years?
• What is something you are really passionate about?
• Where is your happy place?
• What is a pet peeve of yours?
• What is something you regret?
• What is a hobby of yours?
• Who is one of your style icons?
• What is your favorite thing about yourself?
• Whats your best piece of advice for a new blogger?

September & October Favorites

These last two months have been slam packed with inspiration. I love the transition seasons where you get a little bit of sun from summer and the first taste of Fall’s chill. The last two months were full of transitional favorites. Getting as much us of possible from my summer sunnies and starting to mix metals for Fall. Some favorites are classics – Like my obsession for face masks. And others are becoming a re-occurring trend as embroidery details remain hot into Fall.

Embroidery:

Love is in the details and I am totally crushing over embroidery- From tops and skirts to shoes and purses. This trend is great because it is an easy way to add texture and interest to even the most simple look. Embroidery detailing is so eye-catching that I don’t like to pair it with too many other accessories – The beautiful stitching should be the focal point. The shoes I am wearing below are from my first time watching the Dodgers from a box suite (Post here). These shows are SO comfortable and I got o many compliments from people at the game. See some of the embroidery items I purchased this month below.

Face Masks:

I will probably have face masks on every favorites I have for the rest of time. Growing up with an unfortunate case of acne has made me super focused on my skin and making sure it is nurtured. I have seen the Tony Moly face masks all over Instagram and fell in love with their bright packages. There is a Korean Beauty store by my house where I was able to pick up a few and really loved them. They come in a variety of different combinations for any skin ailment you might have. I also shared a post with some of my favorite egg white face masks (Post here). These are a fabulous and affordable option for papering your skin.

Mixing Metals:

I don’t know why, but a lot of people think of mixing golds and silvers as a fashion faux pa. When done correctly, this detail can add a huge impact to an outfit. I love mixing metals for Fall. Fall is the time to bring out all of you earth tones – Which is a perfect canvas for mixing metals. I mixed an assortments of different metals below and loved the way they played together.

Sunnies:

Living in Los Angeles, Sun glasses are an accessory you do not leave the house without. During summer I go on a sun glasses purchasing spree and around now I realize the damage they have done to my wallet – Whoops! Sunglasses are a great way to add a little mystery to an outfit or to make you feel a little more presentable when you roll out of bed and go for the morning coffee run looking like a hobo (Sometimes the desire for coffee cannot wait through a shower…)