Photos and thoughts on fashion, beauty, tech + city living.
I’ve recently been on a few journeys, so what better time to put a together a gift guide for a frequent traveler? This guide includes some of my tried-and-true favorites (the Biaggi Zipsak folds away to 1/4 of its size and weighs less than 4 pounds) as well as some new things I like (maybe it’s just me, but a luxe luggage tag feels like a special indulgence). If you’re traveling this holiday season, have a safe trip and I hope you have something good to read!
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With holiday party season is practically next week, I’ve been searching for some great gifts for party hosts. You’ll notice a bit of a wine theme here (my social circle is high on the entertaining, eating and drinking scale), but I think a great wine tote is for everyone. Who says it has to contain champagne? See the full gift guide here.
Need a last-minute gift? Marc Jacobs is currently offering free overnight shipping on orders of $100 or more (plaid overnight bag, anyone?). If you have Amazon Prime and connect your account to Shopbop.com you can receive free-two day shipping. And order by 10am EST on Monday for a complimentary shipping upgrade at Terrain.
For more great gift ideas, see also:
Christmas is quickly approaching, but I hope you haven’t forgotten about the other late December holiday that’s coming up. In celebration of Festivus, Booskerdoo gifted me a mason jar full of freshly roasted 2013 Festivus Blend. A great cup of coffee is just the thing to give you a mental edge over the other guests at this Festivus’ Airing of Grievances.
My jar of Festivus Blend was roasted on 12/12 and is noticeably, amazingly fresh. As someone who probably loves coffee tastings more than wine tastings, I can tell you that this blend tends to be mild with low acidity and is extremely full-flavored. Light roasts are fantastic for cold brewing, so I cold brewed a batch overnight. I used about 2/3 cup of beans for 6 cups of water because I’m a total iced coffee monster. The blend is really, really good on it’s own. I usually take my coffee with a dash of cinnamon but omitted it in this recipe. The iced brew had an unexpected touch of sweetness and a hint of fruit.
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This holiday season NOVICA sponsored a holiday giveaway and also graciously provided me with a gift card to try out their new premium gift wrap service. All premium gift wrap comes bound with cloth and ribbon while still staying true to NOVICA’s artisan-crafted aesthetic.
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A small selection of gift ideas perfect for the person who is always connected. Also see the Samsung Galaxy Note 3 and Brenthaven Collins Slim Brief.
Pretty things for someone in your life who lives, breathes and loves style.
If you’re looking to keep your phone pristine, this is not the case for you. However, if you’re into lightweight and low-profile, the Brenthaven Armor Case will protect your phone from impact without being obtrusive or heavy. The case is made of aircraft grade aluminum alloy and weighs .4 lbs.
This style of case is called a bumper case because it only covers the edges of your phone. When it comes to cases, I’m all for thin and lightweight, so this one is great for me. Just note that it’s easy to pick up scratches (especially if you like to just toss your phone into your bag) because the front and back glass are left completely exposed when this case is on.
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Happy holidays, my friends.
To kick off the holiday season, I have a giveaway from NOVICA for you. NOVICA promotes ethical shopping and features artisan-made products from around the world. Learn more about NOVICA’s mission here.
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Holiday party season is definitely upon us and I can’t think of anything better to wear than a feather headband and oxblood tights (well, I might make an exception for vintage Balenciaga). I’ve been sporting this pretty little headband from Sproos lately. It’s a great holiday piece– festive, fun, and just the right size to make a statement. …
My name is Alex and I have been blogging in some form or another since 1998. I’m a former Manhattanite now living the quieter life in Brooklyn. I like outerwear and red lipstick.
When I was younger, I was let loose in a GAP Kids one too many times, resulting in many of the fashion choices you see here in my photos. I also read, traveled, and took cooking and art classes. Art eventually led me around to photography, and to this day I do enjoy a good brunch.
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