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Holiday Gift Guide: for the hostess

November 17, 2014 / By Courtney / Leave a Comment

Oh my goodness, Thanksgiving is next week! You know what that means. It’s the perfect time to stock up on your hostess gifts for the season, so fun!

Here are my picks – I want them all. Too bad I’m not hosting enough parties!

1. For the dog lover, how darling is this bottle opener from Pottery Barn?

2. A totally special winter white honey from the oh so charming Savannah Bee Company. Drizzle on everything from toast to fruit to cheese. A total foodie’s dream.

3. You can’t go wrong with a classic, crystal, snowflake ornament from Restoration Hardware. Timeless!

4. Did you know? Olive oil is the new wine. Give her the best one possible.

5. These darling stickers from Minted are a sure fire way to dress up her holiday wrapping.

6. I’m obsessed with this idea. Obsessed. I mean, you will get noticed walking into a party with fairy lights in a Mason jar! Perfect for above the fireplace, on a side table, in a window, you name it.

7. And for the overachiever. Arrive completely over the top with this homemade chocolate hazelnut spread. You so win.

What kind of hostess gifts will you be giving this holiday season?

P.S. Don’t forget to check out my other holiday gift guides, here.

Oh and P.P.S. Have you entered my latest MINTED giveaway? It’s another $150 gift card for one very lucky ALFS reader! Will it be YOU?

*The fine print: this post contains affiliate links which means that if you use these links to make a purchase, I may receive a small commission. Of course, you are not obligated to use these links to make your purchase but please know that when you do, it supports my blog and for that I thank you.

Holiday Gift Guide: for her.

November 10, 2014 / By Courtney / 2 Comments

Let the holiday gift guides and shopping continue, yippee! If you need to catch up, we’ve offered up some fun gift ideas from Minted, as well as for the Grandparents. I hope you’ve found these helpful so far.

Today? It’s all about the girls. Moms, friends, babysitters, teachers, sisters – there is something for everyone on this list. Let’s get started!

1. Love these initial mugs from World Market. At $5.99 they are a great go-to gift for a bunch of girlfriends.

2. For the foodie in your life, how pretty is this canvas print? It showcases which vegetables are in season throughout the year. Perfect for her kitchen.

3. Personalized jewelry is so hip right now, like this necklace from Stella & Dot. I’ve given a gift to my mom with the boys’ initials and to a friend with her own kids’ initials. I personally never take mine off! Can’t go wrong, they have been hits all around.

4. I’m addicted to this Ocean Salt body scrub by Lush (hint, hint). It’s like a margarita for your skin, leaving it incredibly soft, and the smell whisks you away to a tropical island.

5. A beautiful silk & cashmere scarf from J Crew makes an absolutely lovely gift. Totally crushing on that deep blue gray color.

6. I know, I know – I talk about this one all the time, but C.O.Bigelow‘s Lemon Body Cream is simply the best.

7. I’ve heard through the grapevine (thanks Alanna!) that this Nicolas Alziari Extra Virgin Olive Oil is spectacular. It’s made in Nice, France and is known by connoisseurs as the best olive oil in the world. That’s a pretty fantastic gift, if you ask me (again – hint hint).

8. “Motherhood. You know your life has changed when going to the grocery store by yourself is a vacation.” Super funny (and true!) kitchen towel for your mom friends. Better yet – just roll it up stuff it in that cute initial mug mentioned above, add a candy cane and bam! You’ve got yourself one darling gift to give.

9. A true gift of luxury, this Josie Maran Argan Oil will keep someone you love perfectly moisturized all winter long.

Happy shopping, friends!

Holiday Gift Guide: for the grandparents.

November 3, 2014 / By Courtney / 3 Comments

Yippee – it’s holiday season here at ALFS! We kicked off our gift guide series with some recommendations from Minted, and now it’s time to shop for our lovely grandparents! Here are a few fun ideas:

1. For out of town grandparents, what a touching gift! You can customize different states to show exactly where their hearts are located – right where their (great) grandkids live.

2. Grandmas love pretty flowers! How darling is this canvas?

3. Apples to Apples Junior, what a fun gift for a young child to give his grandparents! Perfect for game and pizza night in together.

4. They’ve got babysitting nailed, now it’s time to figure out how to babysit them. How about How to Babysit a Grandpa? There is a grandma one as well!

5. Grandmas + rose. It’s like peanut butter and jelly.She’ll love this Rosebud Lip Balm.

6. These brag books from Pinhole Press are amazing. Perfect thing to slip into Grandma’s purse so she can show off, rightfully so, at her next get together.

7. A customized cutting board is a great option for grandma and grandpa.

Happy shopping friends! Any other good gift ideas for grandparents?

Holiday Gift Guide: Minted (plus a giveaway!)

October 27, 2014 / By Courtney / 54 Comments

Yippee – it’s time to kick off the 2014 holiday season here at ALFS! Hopefully you’re like me and completely Christmas obsessed, and my sharing gift guides before Thanksgiving doesn’t scare you away. I’ve got so many great ideas I just had to start early. We’ll be sharing ideas for your little one, your grandparents, your sister, your husband, that cool hostess who has everything – the list goes on and on!

To kick things off, we are showcasing some of my personal favorites from Minted. Have you heard of them? Their work and design is exquisite – incomparable to any other on the market. Here are my favorites this season:

1. Minted’s real gold foil stationery is beautiful. How chic is this design? Perfect for that special friend, mom, teacher, hair dresser, etc.

2. Kids need stationery too, and this classic floral print is absolutely beautiful for a young girl.

3. Sometimes even boys need to write out a note (perhaps an apology?). Have them do it in style.

4. These room signs are so darling! Love the fort look for boys.

5. I (almost) want a third child solely for the chance it would be a girl and I could hang this on her nursery door.

6. This brother print kills me. Perfect for a shared room or play room. Don’t worry, they have one for sisters, too!

7. This super manly buffalo so needs to be in your husband’s office ASAP.

8. And last but not least, this super cool notebook serves so many purposes: journal, day planner, address book.

Did I mention that Minted is offering a $150 shopping credit to one lucky ALFS reader? Use it for holiday cards, gifts, home decor, whatever you like. To enter to win, simply visit Minted’s website and have a look around, then come back and leave a comment telling me how you’ll spend the $150 if you win!

Want to increase your chances of winning? Of course you do! Follow the very simple instructions in the Rafflecopter widget below for additional optional entries! There are 7 possible entries, and the more you enter, the better your chances of winning!

Just be sure to get entered by next Sunday night, November 2, at 11:59pm ET. I’ll announce the winner Monday morning on the ALFS Facebook page! Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

No purchase necessary. Giveaway is open to US and Canadian residents only, except where prohibited by law. Giveaway will run from October 27 through November 2, 2014 at 11:59pm ET. One (1) winner will be randomly selected by Rafflecopter (powered by Random.org) and once verified, the winner will be notified via email. Winner will have 48 hours to claim the prize; failure to do so will result in forfeiture of the prize. Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest do not sponsor, administer, or endorse this promotion. Participants must read and agree to Rafflecopter’s Privacy Policy before entering and participating in this promotion.