Author: Melissa

Every year, Husband's Company has  Christmas Party Holiday Party and the invite always says "festive attire."  And every year, all of my husband's co-workers' wives and I say, "What the heck does that mean?"  Unlike the guys, we can't just throw on a suit and be fine. The female wardrobe is MUCH more complex. Thank goodness.
So after 5 years of "festive attire" parties, I define it as "dressier than work, but not too formal." Here are a few of my suggestions:

1. The little black dress is ALWAYS okay. If you're worried about being too formal, try it with minimal jewelry and flats. Or go in a different direction: a little grey dress or a sweater dress.

2. A sweet cardigan with a hot necklace. (Oh, my word, I am in LOVE with this cardigan!)

3. A terrific pair of dark skinny jeans with heels or trouser jeans with boots can easily be dressed up enough to be appropriate for a party!! Pair your jeans with a silk top or a cute jacket or blazer.

4. The embellished top trend makes it super easy to dress up jeans or black pants! This one would look fabulous with a pair of wool pants or trouser jeans. And lets not forget MY favorite trend: ruffles! (Very. Festive. Indeed!)

My verdict? If I was going shopping with a nice fat gift card, I would buy this top. With black pants, heels and bangles. But I'm probably going with a plum wrap sweater dress (with ruffles!) that I picked up at Target this fall!

For more Fashion posts today, check out Musings of a Housewife, Big Mama as well as Blissful Style.

I’m jumping on the gift guide train sleigh here at Girlymama. The
gift guide this year is not sponsored by anyone – its just a few items that I
love that I wanted to share!! 

sisters & girlfriends

husbands & brothers

big kids & little kids

parents & grandparents

I'm jumping on the gift guide train sleigh here at Girlymama. The
gift guide this year is not sponsored by anyone – its just a few items that I
love that I wanted to share!!

The hardest gifts every year are for parents and grandparents. Especially my dad. He is so hard to shop for. So here are a few ideas to get you started… this will probably be a short list, since I confess that I haven't figured out what to give my parents and grandparents yet.

1. Photo Gifts. An annual photo book is a terrific gift! And you just have to make up one and make copies for everyone on your list – score! SeeHere has gorgeous photo books starting at just $5. And these photo ornaments are so adorable! My sister-in-law makes a calendar with all the cousins for everyone every year and its a huge hit.

2. Movies. Our default gift for dad every year. Boring, but we know he likes them! Entire TV Seasons on DVD has to be one of the best inventions ever, in my humble opinion. We love to get Dad old school  tv shows on DVD  like  Star Trek or M*A*S*H. Wouldn't Grandma love a season of I Love Lucy
? And for some good, clean fun try Julie & Julia, While You Were Sleeping
or National Treasure.

3. Luggage. Pretty much anyone could use a small suitcase. And surprise Mom or Grandma with a cute Vera tote bag for her knitting or library books. (Speaking of knitting, I got my mother-in-law one of these knitting needle wallets last year and she LOVED it!)
 

4. Downsize, Upgrade & Replace. Are they adjusting to a smaller kitchen? Then get them some smaller appliances to match! Replace their sometimes-working coffeepot with a fabulous new one. Moms and Grandmas love a great purse
, new pajamas or a fuzzy robe as much as the next gal.

5. Gift cards. They're not just for picky teenagers anymore! Why not treat mom and dad to a date night at their favorite restaurant. Or send Grandpa and Grandma a gas card for their trip down to Florida. The possibilities are endless!

disclosure: once again, some of the above links are affiliate links. Which means
if you click on them and purchase something, I will earn pennies – PENNIES! – for every dollar you spend. Go crazy.

I'm jumping on the gift guide train sleigh here at Girlymama. The
gift guide this year is not sponsored by anyone – its just a few items that I
love that I wanted to share!!

Little Kids:
Shopping for kids is FUN!! Don't you love to just go to a toy store and go nuts? Which is fun! But the parents would really appreciate if you didn't pile more plastic things that need batteries into their homes!! Toys are easy to pick out… think outside the box!

1. Get Personal. What kid doesn't want to be a superhero with these personalized capes? Aren't these adorable?? Perfect for getting out of Princess-mode! And my kids love these personalized towels – great for taking along to swim lessons or camp. We also love these personalized tote bags – use them all the time!!

2. Room Decor. There is such adorable stuff for kids room!! What about a cute poster set for their room? Or a fun pillow for their bed? Or a fuzzy blanket to snuggle with?
 

3. Books. Is it possible to have too many books? Not in our house. Classics are always a good bet: Good Night, Gorilla
, The Polar Express, anything Dr. Seuss, The Berenstain Bears. And the new classics like Pinkalicious
and Skippyjon Jones. Pair with a pair of pajamas for a cute bedtime gift! 

4. Games. We love a good board game in our house and classics
like Candyland
, Memory
, Memory
, Jenga
and such are always a sure hit!! As
for video games… for little girls, we love Ubisoft's Imagine series
in our house – especially Imagine Artist, Imagine Wedding Designer and Style Lab Makeover. For boys, I think Battle of Giants Dragons is really cool. (All the fanatasy while still being age appropiate.) If they have a Wii, Mario Kart
and Wii Sports Resort
is super fun. We have the new Super Mario Bros game
on our list as well.

Big Kids:
They probably just have one thing on their list – and its probably something like an $300 iPhone, right? What else can you add? Well, my kids aren't here yet, but here are a few ideas:

1. Gadgets. An iPod shuffle
is only $55. A docking station for their iPod or minispeakers.  Their own digital camera
(This Nikon Coolpix in under $100! We have a Coolpix and I highly recommend it). A ceramic flat iron. 


2. Grown up gifts. For girls, a sweet, stylish pea coat is a great investment piece. I know it seems crazy, but what girl wouldn't love an awesome purse? You can get adorable little purses at the Coach Outlet for around $50. For boys, a great ski jacket that will last years. (My husband has this one and he LOVES it – three jackets in one!) Cologne. Jewelry. Makeup brush set. Anything Vera.
 

3. Gift cards and tickets. They're picky – they want to pick out their own clothes! And don't forget movie tickets, concert tickets, sporting event tickets -always fun!!

disclosure: some of the above links are affiliate links. Which means if you click on them and purchase something, I will earn some money. We're talking pennies – PENNIES! – for every dollar you spend. So go nuts. I have to pay for my fashion addiction somehow.

Welcome to the  monthly "Try This: Spice Up Your Kitchen" carnival! This month's theme is CHRISTMAS COOKIES. Aren't cookies one of the best parts of Christmas? (When else can you justify eating cookies for breakfast?) My family makes approximately eleventy billion cookies at Christmas… and we eat every. single. one.

Its so hard to pick a favorite. Because I love cookies. Love cookies. LOVE COOKIES!!!! But here goes:

Chocolate Crinkles

Now this month's carnival is a little special. I am giving away an adorable Christmas cookie cutter gift set from Ann Clark!

Here are the rules:
1. Contest ends Saturday, December 5 .
2. Entry #1:
Submit a recipe to the carnival. (It can be an old post on your blog –
just remember to link to the specific post, not your whole blog please.)
3. Entry #2: Leave a comment telling me what your very, very favorite thing about Christmas is.
4. Entry #3:  Leave a SEPARATE comment telling me in what way you promoted this contest (i.e., posting about it on your blog, Tweeting about it, emailing  friends, and/or subscribe to my feed by email or in a reader).
5. Winner will be selected by Random.org, announced back here on this post, and notified via email with further instructions.

I hope you all have a great time looking through all the recipes today
– I cannot WAIT to find some new recipes!! And remember: when you add your post to the Mr. Linky, please link to your specific post – not your general blog URL.
Here's how to play, if you have questions.

I'm jumping on the gift guide train sleigh here at Girlymama. The
gift guide this year is not sponsored by anyone – its just a few items that I
love that I wanted to share!!

Shopping for my husband or brothers is super difficult. "Its a DVD and… another DVD! Followed by a DVD!"

It is sooo hard to find great gifts for those guys!! So here are some ideas that are popular in our family:

1. Tickets. Tickets are always appreciated by my husband and brothers: it doesn't matter if they are for their favorite sports team or as simple as movie tickets. They'll go over well!! (FYI – most sports teams have great deals! The Sixers have a holiday deal for $125 you  get 2 tickets to 3 games, a jersey and a food voucher!) If you want to do more of a "gift", throw in the tickets with a team jersey or movie theater candy so they have something to unwrap.
 
2. Techie gifts. Not gadgets for the sake of gadgets – just because it has a battery doesn't mean its useful. Find ones they will use. Do they like photography? Try camera accessories like an external flash or a color correcting filter
to help him take more amazing pictures. (Or Photoshop Elements for when the pictures aren't so great!) Play video games? An extra controller
for whatever system he has is always a great idea. Accessories for his cell phone. Does he travel a lot? A GPS
is helpful for getting around a new city.

3. Toys. No matter how old they are, they love the toys. Legos are always fun – what guy wouldn't love to make the Milliennum Falcon out of Legos? And they never outgrow video games. (This year, get Assassins Creed II, Madden NFL 10
and Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2.) Last Christmas with our family, we gave all the boys (ages 20-31) Nerf Dart Guns in their stockings and they were a huge HUGE hit. They were running around my mom's house shooting each other all weekend.

4. Classics. Some things will never go out of style. A watch. A terrific tie. North Face hat or fleece. Cologne. A blazer. A Nalgene bottle. Any guy will use things like this and they will always be appreciated!
 

5. Gift cards. I know, I know. Zero imagination, right? But you can still get creative with gift cards. You can bundle them with an actual gift (see tickets example above). Bundle gift cards together (dinner and a movie, books and coffee). Give them something more original than a gift card to Best Buy or Home Depot. Are they active?  How about Ski/Snow Boarding, Go-Karting, or Rock Climbing passes?  Or a gift card to a sports store to get running shoes or biking accessories? Not for them? Try a certificate to get their car detailed or to a gift membership to Netflix.

6. Tools. My husband uses this headlamp all the time when he's working around the house. And a laser level will make it much easier for him to hang up the pictures you want 🙂 Again, don't just buy tools because he's a guy. Do your research to find out what he needs — and don't buy junky tools. Tools can last a lifetime if you buy good ones.

disclosure: some of the above links are affiliate links. Which means
if you click on them and purchase something, I will earn some money.
We're talking pennies – PENNIES! – for every dollar you spend. So go
nuts. Support mama's fashion addiction.

I'm jumping on the gift guide train sleigh here at Girlymama. The gift guide this year is not sponsored by anyone – its just a few items that I love that I wanted to share!!

Shopping for my sisters super difficult. Difficult to not to blow my budget that is. How to narrow it down?
My favorite guideline when shopping for sisters: What can I give to make their every day life a little more merry and bright (and girly, of course)?

1. A gorgeous planner. My planner has my whole life in it and I use it every single day, so why not get a nice one?  For the busy girl, I love the Gallery Leather Planner:

I've used one for the past three years and I love it! And its only $15!  Although the pages seem to be getting smaller now that we are getting so busy! So this year, I'm upgrading and added a Mom Agenda to my Christmas List. It features a  week-at-a-view
format (with space for mom and up to four kids) without sacrificing my beloved  monthly
views. Don't forget to throw in a cute set of multicolored pens, so she can keep her calendar colorful! (Along those lines, an address book is always a good idea too!)

2. A cosmetic bag – I got a Vera Bradley cosmetic case for Christmas and I absolutely love it. Its such a treat to have something pretty and fun to keep my make-up in. And everyone who has seen it raves about how adorable it is!

There's lots of smaller ones if that's too large. For a real treat, go designer with a Coach Cosmetic Case. (I bet you could get a great deal at a Coach Outlet!)
Don't forget to fill up the bag!! You can fill up her bag with mineral makeup from e.l.f. for just a few dollars. (Seriously, their mineral collection is amazing!!)

3. Classic luxury. A cashmere scarf from Target is only $25 and matching gloves are $20. Pearls. A cashmere throw. Monogrammed tote bags. Pajamas or a fuzzy robe. Cloth bound Penguin Classics.

4. Stationary. Whether its personalized embossed notecards, a personalized fridge magnet notepad or cute notepads to keep in her purse, who doesn't love great paper? I have one of Vera's pocket papers in every purse… its a little luxury that is not only handy, but makes me smile!

5. Treat her. Give her that designer hair product she's been eyeing, but hasn't splurged on. Give her a gift card to a spa to get her hair done. Give her a Starbucks gift card (in a fabulous mug!) for days when she needs a Starbucks-pick-me-up on a rough day. Even something as simple as smelly  soap or bubble bath can brighten her day!

And the very very best thing you can give a busy girl?
Time. Don't just give her a gift card to her favorite restaurant. Throw in babysitting so she can go out with her husband. Offer to watch her kids for an afternoon so she can go Christmas shopping. ALONE. Take her a meal when she's super busy at work. Bake her a platter of Christmas cookies so she can enjoy a cookie exchange without having to spend an afternoon baking. Be creative!!

disclosure: some of the above links are affiliate links. Which means
if you click on them and purchase something, I will earn some money.
We're talking pennies – PENNIES! – for every dollar you spend. So go
nuts. Mama needs a new pair of shoes!!

The next two weeks are going to be crazy busy. And by "crazy busy" I mean: "Let's see just how many activities can we possibly cram into a two week period." 

Seriously, we have everything from the Husband's Company Christmas Party to dentist appointments to ballet recitals to business trips to Holiday Extravaganzas. And did I mention Eliza Grace Design is taking Christmas card orders? Because I didn't have enough to do this season 😉

So if posting is a little light – or exceptionally spaz-tastic – I apologize!!! 

*****

This Thursday is another Try This carnival. This month's theme? Christmas Cookies, of course!! Post your favorite cookie recipe – inspire the rest of us to bake up a storm! AND I'll be giving away an adorable Christmas cookie cutter gift set from Ann Clark!

*****

I am definitely too old to stay up all night. Even though our epic Black Friday shopping adventure was Thursday night – THURSDAY – I am STILL feeling it! FOUR days later! No more all-nighters for me, thank you. College was MUCH too long ago for that!

So, in protest to my Black Friday shopping adventures, I've been shopping online. And can I just say how much I heart Amazon? I cleaned up on their Cyber Monday Deals! Oh, Amazon, you had me at "free shipping!"

Speaking of Cyber Monday, I've collected a bunch of coupon codes for you over on Girlymama Reviews.

*****

Speaking of Christmas shopping, I love Christmas shopping. Love Christmas shopping!! Buying people presents is so much fun.  Shopping is so much fun, but buying people gifts is so, sooo much fun. I just wish I had a bigger budget – because I could totally go nuts.
If I could, I'd buy my husband season tickets to the Philadelphia Union.
What is your dream gift that you'd love to give?