Holiday Gift Guide: Men

It's that time of year again! Snow, hot chocolate, and who can forget the stress of buying everyone the perfect gift? Well don't you worry because I have you covered! With my Holiday Gift Guides you will breeze through this holiday season without a scratch (well, there may be a dent in your wallet). So just sit back, relax, and let online retail therapy do the talking.

Men are literally the toughest people to shop for. Dads are easy because they just want books on WWII or a pair of underwear (just mine?), but boyfriends have an infinite possibility of wants! A watch? A video game? A new girlfriend (hah kidding...unless you're dating Harry Styles because he's meant to be with me)? I'm here to make the stress of buying your man a gift a little less painful with my Holiday Gift Guide. But worst comes to worse, just buy yourself some lingerie with the money you're supposed to spend on him. I'm sure he won't mind... ;)

Boyfriend Holiday Gift Guide

1. Grand Theft Auto V ($60) - Your boyfriend may already own this (I know guys who were counting down the minutes til its release) but if he doesn't you need to get it for him! There is nothing guys love more than cars, guns, and slutty girls.  This way, if he's playing a video game that involves all of those things, he'll be less likely to do it in real life (we hope)! No matter if he's team PS4 or Xbox One, you can get your man this for Christmas!

2. Topman Rudolph Pattern Socks ($16) - I LOVE REINDEERS! How freakin' cute are these socks?! Not only that, but they are a cute gift to give on Christmas Eve so he can wear them in the morning. Just imagine: these socks, cozy pajamas, and spiked hot cocoa by the fire. Trés romantique!

3. Versace Pour Homme Gift Set ($84) - Okay I know this is expensive, but trust me, it's worth it. Have you ever smelled this cologne? It's heavenly. I imagine this is what Ben Affleck smells like. I want to bathe in it. If your boyfriend should smell like anything this holiday, it should be this. You'll thank me later.

4. Kiehl's 'Refueling' Gift Set ($46) - No Shave November is coming to a close, and what better gift for your man and his beard than a luxurious shaving kit? This stuff is nice, not some trash Barbel you find at Target (no disrespect). It's like a sort of cologne all in itself, and his face will feel so smooth you'll just want to kiss it forever. And by all means, kiss away.

5. The Rail Cashmere Knit Cap ($35) - God Bless Beanies. I love them. I love men in them. As soon as your man puts this on his head you will die because his sexiness will increase 4000%. Best part? You can steal it and wear it, too. Perfect.

6. RayBan Aviator Sunglasses ($200) - Every time I see aviators I think of Tom Cruise via Top Gun. Now I'm not saying you need to drop $200 on a pair of sunglasses, you could find a nice pair from a generic brand, but these are so classy and will last him a long time so they're worth it. Love a man in uniform.

7. Topman Christmas Crewneck Sweater ($55) - Nothing says Christmas like ugly sweaters. It doesn't matter how cheesy it is, your guy will look good in it. And if he gets you an ugly sweater then you can take photos together and be so cute! I am just chock full of ideas what can I say?

I hope this gift guide gives you some idea of what to get your boyfriend this holiday. Have you already bought your guy a gift? Any must-haves? Let me know in the comments below!

Until next time my loves x.

Holiday Gift Guide: Best Friends

It's that time of year again! Snow, hot chocolate, and who can forget the stress of buying everyone the perfect gift? Well don't you worry because I have you covered! With my Holiday Gift Guides you will breeze through this holiday season without a scratch (well, there may be a dent in your wallet). So just sit back, relax, and let online retail therapy do the talking.

My favorite people to buy gifts for are my best friends. When you spend majority of your time with your gal pals, you start to get a sense of what gifts they like/need. Not to brag, but I'm really great at this. When I go shopping with my friends I make mental notes when they pick up an item they like but then put it back. But even if you have no idea what your BFF wants for Christmas, the 7 items I have below will make anyone happy!

Best Friend Gift Guide:

1. Charming Charlie Rudy Reindeer Glass Candle ($18): If you're looking for a gift with a holiday theme, than Charming Charlie is the place you need to be shopping at. From watches in the shape of elves, snowman necklaces, and even gingerbread man socks (SERIOUSLY), this place does Christmas with style. I like this candle because it's cute as a button and can still be used as a decoration once all the wax is gone. And it smells like vanilla. Yas.

2. Kate Spade Place Your Bets Wristlet ($98): How precious. This wristlet is the perfect gift for your BFF who loves to travel and has the Vegas bug in her (it's not contagious). It literally looks just like a playing card, even the back has that pattern that you all know but I can't remember the name of right now. This cute bag will fit your friend's phone, credit card, keys, cash, and even lipstick! What more could she need?

3. Juicy Couture Couture Overdose Set ($40): If you know me, you know I love everything Juicy Couture. And what's in more of the holiday spirit than to share that love? In this gift set, your BFF will get two spray bottle of Juicy's amazing scents (literally I don't know how they smell so good), a nail polish duo (with GLITTER), a nail file, and nail decals. And it all comes in the chicest dang clutch I have ever seen for a gift set. I want one. Your BFF will, too.

4. Not That Kind of Girl by Lena Dunham ($17): What's more fun than book club? Grab you and your BFF this hilarious novel so you can bond over the GIRLS star's embarrassing tales that every girl has been through. It's the gift that will bring you closer together while also thanking yourselves your childhood was not as awkward (phew).

5. Why the Hell am I not a Mermaid Flask ($16): But honestly, why the Hell am I not a mermaid?! Your best friend is probably wondering the exact same thing which is why this flask is the perfect gift for her and her drunken questions. I believe every classy woman has a flask for those moments when you just need a quick shot. Do her a favor and buy her this. She may not think she needs it, but she does. Trust me. I need 3.

6. Ciaté Candycane House Set ($25): I actually am getting this for Christmas so la la la. Not only does it have the ever so fabulous nail polish by Ciaté, but it is scented. SCENTED! Gingerbread, snowflake, Christmas trees...this is like the perfect holiday nail set EVER! Plus each polish is super glittery and fun and I mean come on what else does your best friend need?!

7. Philosophy Making Spirits Bright Duo ($23): I feel like the holidays is the perfect time for bubble baths and hot cocoa, and your BFF will have a sparkling time with these two shower gels. The smells of the holiday will lift her spirits and she will love you for it! Plus, these only come out this season so now is as good a time as any to grab one for her (and yourself)!

I hope this gift guide was helpful on your hunt for Christmas shopping. And you know, in case you were wondering, I like presents too...

What are you getting your BFF for Christmas? Any suggestions? Want more Holiday Gift Guides? Leave a comment below!

Until next time my loves x.

Cocktail of the Week!

I'm posting this on Thursday for a sort of "Throwback Thursday" Cocktail of the Week. This September, I traveled 10 hours with my mom to El Paso, Texas to see One Direction and 5 Seconds of Summer in concert.  Yes, 21 year old me drove cross country to see a boyband with my mother.  Are you jealous? You should be...my mom is just that cool. Anyway, we stayed the weekend and had a wonderful time not only singing along to "Best Song Ever," but also trying a bunch of local restaurants.  The first place we tried was just minutes form our hotel which was perfect because we were STARVING after driving all day. And I have to say...Geo Geske is now my favorite restaurant and I wish they had one where I live. Not only was the food out of this world (Seafood Enchiladas...need I say more?!) but the drinks were AMAZING! My mom and I each ordered one of their signature martinis and fell in love.  Ah, the memories of flavors are just rushing back to me now! I am very happy to announce that my cocktail of the week is...

A Blue Lemon Drop Martini!

Doesn't it look scrumptious?! To make this cocktail at home, you will need blueberry vodka, lemon vodka (they used Absolut Citron), blue curacao, and sweet & sour, then fill with frozen blueberries in a sugar-rimmed glass! It's more sweet than tart and tastes exactly like a blueberry lemonade. I wanted to drink 5 but I felt like that might be slightly too many. Seriously though, check out Geo Geske and if you are ever in the area try it out. You will not be disappointed, I promise you!

I am honestly considering driving 10 hours just to get another one of these martinis. So worth it! What's your cocktail of the week? Any new favorite restaurants? Let me know in the comments below!

Until next time my loves x.

DIY: Queen of Hearts Halloween Costume

Who doesn't love to get a little crafty? I've been dabbling in the crafted arts since I was a young Duchess and have been having fun ever since! I find that working with my hands not only keeps me busy, but helps clear my mind! This post is meant to show you some crafts I have tried and loved, and I hope you love them, too!

ARE YOU AS EXCITED FOR HALLOWEEN AS I AM?! I can't believe it's a few days away! I have been planning my costume since September so trust me, it couldn't have come faster.  Since I am now of legal age, I am able to not only dress up, but go to the bars and party it up! This is a huge step up from last year, when all my best friend and I did was eat at a Greek restaurant and see Insidious: Chapter 2. That being said. since we can all go out my friends and I decided that we would dress up in the same theme: Alice in Wonderland.  Because I consider myself royalty, of course I am the Queen of Hearts!

My favorite part of Halloween is not just buying a generic costume, but finding different pieces and making my own costume up! I knew right away how I wanted to put my Queen of Hearts costume together, with inspiration from this Pinterest post. First thing I bought for myself was a black and red corset.  Next on the list was black thigh-high stockings, black shorts, red shoes, a black tutu, and, of course, a crown (I got an amazing one from Spirit Halloween that matched my color scheme).  But, when I put my costume together, I thought it felt a little plain.  That's when I decided to get creative and make my costume even better!  I'll show you step-by-step what I did to make my Queen of Hearts costume something I could be proud of!

DIY Part I: Socks

What You'll Need:

• A pair of black thigh-high socks
• Red heart charms
• Needle
• Thread

These socks are just perfect aren't they? The black bow is the perfect spot to add the charms for a nice little pop of color. And those charms...how perfect are they? There is even a little crown on them so it's literally perfect for the Queen of Hearts! I found them at the craft store (on sale!) and was ecstatic because oddly enough, large red hearts are hard to find!

Step 1:

Obviously you are going to be sewing these charms on the socks, so first things first is to thread your needle with your string.  Since I'm at school, I don't have access to my actual sewing kit so gray thread had to do (but you can't even tell so it's okay). 

Step 2:

You guessed it, start sewing on the charms! This was very easy to do because these charms had a half-circle back that I could use as a way to really get the charm to stay on the bow but also dangle.  I went over and over it about 7 times to make sure it was tight.

Step 3:

Voila! You're done! Wasn't that so simple and easy? Unless you can't sew to save your life, this is a quick DIY that can make any costume quirkier! All you need is a pair of socks and a charm that matches your costume theme...that's it. WHY AREN'T YOU DOING IT?!

DIY Part II: Tutu

What You'll Need:

• A black tutu
• Red glitter hearts (I found these in the crafts section)
• Fabric glue (clear)

Step 1:

First things first, start by taking one heart at a time and laying it on the FIRST layer of the tutu. This is important because you do not want the glue to seep through the layers, cause it to bundle. Do this before gluing each heart so you know where you want to place it before applying the glue.

Step 2:

Now that you know where you want your heart to go, apply the glue to the back of it and carefully place on the tutu (remember, FIRST layer). Hold your hand under the layer so that the glue does not stick to anything else. Press down for 5 seconds, and then move on to the next heart.

Step 3: 

Apply Step 2 all around the tutu until all hearts are used.  When placing them, I tried to alternate putting it high or low on the fabric so that it looked even and more natural.  Also, try not to push the glue so that it flattens around the heart, because it will show (I made this mistake a few times oops). But once you have hearts all around your tutu, you're done!  Like I said with the socks, you can use any color scheme and theme to make this match your own costume. And it just looks so good!

All done!

And there you have it! Your DIY Queen of Hearts costume is all done! And how stinking cute does it look?! Just a few little extras can really pull a look together, and if anyone tells you different then OFF WITH THEIR HEADS! ;)

What are you being for Halloween this year? Any tips on a DIY costume?  Let me know in the comments below!

Until next time my loves x.