My birthday is my absolute favorite day of the year. I wait for it all year long and start thinking about what I’m going to wear and making a wishlist for my husband in August. I’m like a little kid when it comes to my birthday. So I decided I’d show you some of the things I got this year.

First from my son I got a Halloween themed Tumbler cup from Barnes and Noble

and an Alex & Ani Birthstone Bracelet.

I absolutely adore them both, and have already been using the cup non stop. And how lovely is the bracelet? I totally get the hype that youtube has been giving them. Thank you LeighannSays and Anna Saconne-Joly for talking about them because I’m in love.

From my Husband I got Pitch  Perfect, which we picked up on my actual Birthday. I liked it, I’ll watch it again, because I adore Brittany Snow and Anna Kendrick, but I didn’t see get the insane amount of hype it got. I wish there had been more of Becca’s style of Acapella done by the Bellas.

A Body Spray from Victoria’s Secret in Pure Seduction. I adore their perfumes and body sprays and always have a least one if not a few in my collection.

He also got me a couple pairs of their Most Loved Yoga Leggings. These are probably the most accurately named thing I’ve ever bought, and I may or may not be planning an outfit post on how to make them work in public (the trick is to wear them like leggings). It’s terrible, but these have quickly become the only pants I want to wear ever.

and one of the Supermodel Essentials Hoodies.

I’ve expressed my love for Victoria’s Secret several times in the past. I just adore their pajamas and hoodies. For me they’re less about sexy underwear and more about cozy lounge wear. I’ll admit I was starting to feel to old for the V.S. Pink line, and thought Gilly Hicks might be a good replacement for them. And I do adore Gilly Hicks, and Aerie too, but I’ll always love the Victoria’s Secret stuff just a bit more. I don’t know why but I do. So I’m super happy that their Supermodels Essentials line is just as good as their Pink line is.

Here’s what the hoodie he picked out looks like on:

And Finally Someday, Someday Maybe by Lauren Graham. Which I am insanely excited about. I adore Lauren Graham and have seen nearly everything she’s ever been in. I still watch Gilmore Girls, despite the fact that I have nearly the entire series committed to memory.

I did get some other very lovely gifts from my family that I haven’t gotten a chance to photograph, but I am still very grateful for everything I’ve received.

My Birthday is less than 2 months away, and it is seriously my favorite time of the year. Since it’s my favorite, I’m already planning what I want to do. We never really do anything to big for my birthday, it’s always dinner out with just the family and presents. I’m gonna be completely honest, presents are my favorite part. Since I’ve been sick all week, I’ve been laying on the couch making these on Polyvore. Most of them I haven’t published, but I liked these two enough to share.

I’ve already got my outfit picked out, and of course I don’t actually have any of this stuff. It’s inspired by Emma Stone, because she’s my latest style obsession.

It’s the absolute perfect casual easy going outfit. Classic, Chic and Comfortable, and it’s all things I should have in my wardrobe and don’t. Which since it’s all classic pieces it gives me the perfect excuse to buy them. First up is this Gap Boyfriend Oxford Shirt, I have been meaning to buy a white button down forever, but keep putting it off. Then are these jeans from H&M, these look absolutely perfect and comfortable. I think the best part is that they’re midrise and dark wash with no rips or tears in them. Then there’s Tom’s. I’ve never really been a big fan of how the shoes look, but they’ve started to grow on me, bonus they’re one of those buy and do good things. I actually plan on buying myself a pair for my birthday. Then the accessories for the outfit, I’m kinda in love with all of them.  There are these Ampersand Earrings from Kate Spade, this Monogram S necklace from Nadri, these amazing Drifter Sunnies from Madewell and my absolute favorite this Twelfth St. By Cynthia Vincent Shopper. I adore this bag. I’m not really one for handbags, but this one is gorgeous.

Continuing with the theme of My Birthday Is Coming Soon(ish), I’ve also put together a wishlist collage.

It’s not a very long list this year, but I adore each and everyone of these items on my list. You’ll notice that the accessories that were in my outfit post above are all on this wishlist. I’ll start with the Jewelry, There’s the Say Yes Ampersand Earrings from Kate Spade, the Monogram S necklace from Nadri and also this Monogram bracelet from Alex and Ani. I’d also really like a nice pair of Sunglasses and while I’d love a pair from Warby Parker, I think they’re a bit expensive for this year, so these Drifter Suglasses from Madewell in tortoiseshell  are a great alternative. Then I really love this iPhone Case from Lilly Pulitzer, and this brush set from Real Techniques. A Barnes and Noble Gift Card is always welcome. I am of course a shoe addict and since I’ve worn out my Floral H&M shoes, I was thinking it’s time to graduate to Keds. I really love these Kate Spade for Keds, but then again these Paw Print Taylor Swift for Keds have had a special place in my heart ever since we brought Howl home. We have a tie for my most wanted item this year, and that’s between a Keurig and the Twelfth St. Shopper by Cynthia Vincent. I adore both of them and would be absolutely ecstatic with either one.

First of all if you can’t get to the store then your best friend is speedy shipping. If you’ve got Amazon Prime which is free two day shipping, or Zappos VIP which is free one day shipping then you’ve got it made. You can just order your sweeties gift and call it a day. However, if you don’t have either of those services then you need to come up with something else.

If you completely blanked on the day and didn’t make a reservation for anywhere then I recommend your own version of a fancy dinner. Set up a picnic in your living room. Whether you make the simplest of finger foods or you’re talented in the kitchen doesn’t matter. What does matter is the effort you put into the ambiance. Lay a nice fresh from the dryer throw blanket out toss on some throw pillows and light the room with frameless candles. I’d add in one scented actual candle in your loves favorite scent. If you’re stopping here then for the present you could add in either a gift basket of their favorite treats, or a gift certificate out to dinner together.

You could easily do the above date as is, or if you share a love of music, then play your favorite music and for the gift, a gift certificate for your favorite music shop or iTunes would be sweet. But if you go the gift card route then you need to go one step up, and also add a note saying you’ll make a day of it together.

If you’re huge movie fans then picking up a new movie you’ve wanted to see or an old favorite the two of you know line by line is perfect. It doesn’t have to be romantic, the TV universe’s coolest couple, Marshall and Lily from How I Met Your Mother, watch Predator every Valentines Day. If you choose a new movie then wrap it up and give it to them as the gift at the beginning of the night. If its an old favorite, then they probably own it, so that won’t work unless its a special edition. In that case a movie shopping date or Theater gift certificate that covers both of you is especially sweet.

If you’ve made reservations then skip all of the above and go straight to the gift certificate bit. A gift certificate will work for whatever your love is into. A Sephora card for the makeup obsessed, Michael’s if they’re an artiste. If they’re into fixing up their car then a gift card to Advance Auto, if they’re the sort of person whose house is covered in books the Barnes and Noble or even better their favorite indie shop or if you know they’re saving for something specific then you can give then a gift card to save for that. The most important thing to making the gift card work is a promise of your time to go with. That way it’s less “Hey I forgot” and more ” I want to spend more time with you”.

Valentines Day is for showing your love you care, and taking the time to show them that. Whether your plans are low key, or crazy extravagant doesn’t matter, all that matters is finding a way to be together.

Since we’re planning on all out celebrating Valentines at a later date so we dont have to deal with prix fixe menus and crowds, I’m hoping to spend my night curled up on the couch with candy watching Perks Of Being A Wallflower with my husband. ( Hint, hint: it comes out on the 12th, honey).

First up if you’ve got a bit of cash you can spend and he didn’t get one for Christmas an iPad is a pretty sweet gift. They can be a bit pricey though so on the less expensive end of the spectrum I recommend a Nook HD or a Kindle Fire. 

If he’s already got one or he’s one of those rare technophobes then you could go with the always classic guy gift a book. Which book you buy depends on what he’s into though. A big seller right now would be The Hobbit, because it’s out in Theaters and since it’s in 3 parts he might be a bit impatient to see how it ends. If he’s a big reader though he’s probably already read it though, so you could go with something off the best seller list, or a humorous book such as the Ask a Ninja book or  the Monster Hunter’s Handbook.  Those last two are iffy and not very romantic.

A more romantic gift would be a cologne, and I’m definitely recommending Spicebomb by Viktor and Rolf. It’s the companion fragrance to Flowerbomb, and like Flowerbomb it smells absolutely amazing.  If he’s not into Spicebomb, then I recommend Burberry Brit for Men, it’s another personal favorite of mine and if you haven’t then I recommend you go smell it, immediately.

Tickets to a future show it a pretty sweet gift, or if you’re the sort of couple that prefers nights in, then I suggest a “Movie Night In” kit complete with a snuggly blanket, popcorn, and a movie, my husband recommends Kill Bill, but my favorite Tarantino movie is Pulp Fiction.

A skincare set is always nice and you can go for the Core Collection from Jack Black or a classic brush shaving kit from The Art Of Shaving. You may think he wouldn’t use it or he’s already settled into a routine, but you’d be surprised how many men are willing to try something new, and better shaving cream really does make a difference. I bought my husband the Surpreme Clean Shaving Cream in the Jet Set Traveler Kit from Jack Black a while a go and a tube lasts him nearly a year and he says he prefers it to drugstore shaving creams “by far, it’s a whole other level”.

If you’re looking for something simpler, or you haven’t been dating long a nice sweater, or quirky tee from his favorite brand is a good idea because he’ll think of you every time he pulls it on, and whenever someone asks him where he got it. ThinkGeek has some great quirky tees and if you’re looking for a good sweater I’d hit up Macy’s or Nordstrom.

Or you can follow the old proverb “The way to a man’s heart is through his stomach” and give him an IOU to take him out to his favorite place on you, or if you’re handy in the kitchen you could whip up his favorite meal or dessert for him.

Finally if you’re short on cash or none of these ideas are hitting the spot an Itunes, Amazon, Barnes and Noble or ThinkGeek gift card is a great option. It lets him know that you’re thinking of him, but wanted to make sure he could get exactly what he wanted, or if you know for certain he really wanted the new “so and so” album then you can mention that in a note on the Itunes or Amazon card to let him know this wasn’t just a last ditch effort gift. Awhile ago I bought my husband a Barnes and Noble Gift Card so he could pick out his own nook case because I just couldn’t decide.

Bonus Note this is my 100th blog post and I’m quite proud of myself for keeping up with it. For awhile I was really bad about posting consistently but I think Blogmas cured me of that. Now if I go more than 4 days without posting I feel like I’m being neglectful.

As I’ve said in my last few posts I love, love. Now if you haven’t been clicking that link in each of my posts it leads to Inches and Falling by the Format which is one of my all time favorite songs, so go give that a listen.

A big part of Valentines day is wondering what to get your loved one, I did a post on that last year, so of course I’m going to do one for this year.

Consider this a cross between a gift guide and a wishlist post. I have a variety of things I’m interested in this year so it’ll be spanning that.

I like cozy things so I think either one of these Wildfox Baggy Beach Jumpers would be perfect. First is their now iconic Sparkle Heart, or there’s the You’ve Met Your Match, which I think is just adorable and just perfect if you’re a more established couple. The Sparkle Heart Jumper does tend to loose it’s sparkles, which is another reason I love the You’ve Met Your Match one, no glitter means no shedding.

Also on the cozy front is this Arctic Pop Windcheater from Superdry. It’s still winter where I live, so a snuggly coat, accompanied by a romantic walk through the park, or maybe a hike if your sportier than I am sounds like an adorable gift to me. I love that this one is pink and black, but if pink’s not her color don’t worry, Superdry has their windcheaters in multiple colors.

Also on the warm, dry and cozy front a pair of Hunter Rainboots with wellie socks are always a lovely gift, because as you know I’m completely obsessed with them. Hunter’s come in a multitude of colors and styles but the ones I’m currently in love with are the Original Short Gloss Rain Boot in Pillar Box Red. 

If you’re looking for a more classic gift than I think Flowerbomb by Viktor and Rolf is a lovely luxurious gift. It smells amazing and I haven’t met many people that don’t love it. It’s even mentioned in If My Heart Was A House by Owl City.

Or if your looking for an equally lovely perfume that isn’t as costly Taylor Swift’s Wonderstruck (which I have and adore) or her newest Enchanted Wonderstruck, both are lovely and more reasonable priced.

For your more fashion loving bookworm there’s My Favorite Dress by Gity Monsef, Samantha Erin Safer, Robert De Niet, which is a pretty coffee table book about the emotional attachement to dresses women have.

If she’s a big tea or coffee drinker then a tin of her favorite blend and a nice mug from Anthropologie are a great personal but inexpensive gift. 

If you haven’t been dating long, or are looking for something to go with the classic chocolate and flowers then gift cards are great. If you don’t know where she normally shops, some good general ones are Itunes, Amazon, Zappos or Barnes and Noble.

Well that’s all the ideas I have for now, but I‘ll be back tomorrow with a for him guide after talking to my husband for some more ideas.  

My Bag is from Baghaus and it was a birthday present last year so I’m pretty sure they don’t sell it any more but it’s by Urban Expressions. It has 2 large zipper compartments, and one in the front under the buckles, 2 little pockets on the inside of the front large compartment, a zipper one in the back large compartment, and 2 side pockets that snap.

The larger items I keep in my bag are my Keep Calm and Carry On blog book from Barnes and Noble and Moleskin Pen, Kenneth Cole Reaction Wallet (Similar), Sushi Makeup pouch, Kate Spade Glasses, Nook Simple Touch with Kate Spade cover (sold out but they still have Jack Spade Covers) and my Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Band aid box.

A close up of the little things you can’t see:

Lancome Hand lotion (free gift with purchase), Liz Earle Hand Repair, Thymes Eucalyptus body lotion from a birchbox, OPI Black Onyx, Mirror that was a Christmas Gift from a friend, 2 Halloween Bath and Body Works PocketBacs , and a neat square hand Sanitizer my husband brought me home from work, ring from ColorMe.com (which now seems to be defunct) and Earrings from Charlotte Russe.

I hate being anywhere without something to read and since my phone isn’t nook app friendly (not enough space!) I keep my nook with me. The glasses are for reading only, and I absolutely adore them. They’re black on the outside and have pink polka dots on the inside. I think the blog book is self explanatory. If it’s not, there’s a post explaining it here. The band aid box is a relic from when my husband and I started dating, I cut my finger while we were out and he bought me ninja turtle band aid’s because nothing soothes a paper cut like Michelangelo.  The wallet I got for Mother’s Day from my husband because I hated the one I had more about that here. The Nail Polish is just random, thrown in when I meant to paint my nails at a friends house but ended up being to busy to. The Pocketbacs should be obvious. The Jewelry I had on one day and it was getting on my nerves so I tossed them in my purse. Which brings us to the lotions. I’m a knitter, and if you don’t keep your hands moisturized you can get calluses which I don’t want so I’ve got lots of lotions stashed everywhere.

I’m actually going to be doing a post on what is in my Sushi pouch tomorrow because I don’t want this post to get too long or too link happy.  If you’re wondering where all my makeup-y things are, I’ll give you until tomorrow to guess.

So I compiled a list of things that I think will work overall for most people. This list is especially good if you’ve put off shopping for Stocking Stuffers until the last minute.

1. Nail Polish. Really it’s the perfect stocking stuffer, I don’t know many men that wear nail polish but there are nail polish lines for men. While it may not be the best for the men in your life, it would be absolutely lovely for the lady in your life.  There are lots of brands out there but Lancome, Essie, Butter London, Deborah Lippmann and China Glaze are my favorites.

2. Trial Sized Beauty Products. I know this is another one that seems aimed only at women but there are actually trial sizes for men too. Jack Black and Kiehls have some lovely products for men that come in trial sizes, but even most of the full sizes would fit in a stocking. For Ladies, I recommend Caudalie and once again Kiehls has a lot of really nice products and almost all of them come in a small size.

3. Lip Gloss/Chapstick. For the Ladies in the range of lipgloss Stila has some gorgeous glosses. For either gender you could go with Jack Black Lip Balm or Caudalie Lip Conditioner.

4. Gift Cards are amazing for stocking stuffers you could easily pick up an itunes card or one for Amazon or Barnes and Noble, they’re easy and they work for anyone

5. Earbuds are also awesome stocking stuffers, they’re tiny and everyone can use a pair. Apple has amazing ones but you can always get ones from Sony. Or Marc by Marc Jacobs and Kate Spade have earbuds as well depending on your price limits.

6. Ornaments are good, and they’re best when they mean something so I’m not going to recommend any but really think about the person and scour the internet and stores until you find something you know they’d adore.

7. Moleskine Notebooks. They’re perfect for anyone to put in their purses or to carry around with them in their pockets. Great for the listmaker or writer in your life. Bonus- They also come in larger sizes if you want to use this as a bigger gift.

8.Small silly toys are always good. You could go in store build a Lego Minifig that looks just like them or nothing like them, if they’d like that sort of thing. A yoyo or a slinky may be exactly what they need to bring back childhood memories and put them right back into the Christmas Spirit.

9. If you know their favorite Candy I say fill it to the brim. Almost everyone has a favorite candy or snack that’s tiny enough to fit in a stocking. Multiples of this are best.

10. Hair Bobbles. Emi-Jay makes some great ones that I swear by. There’s sort of a craze surrounding them and lots of copies, but I still maintain that the Emi-Jay ones are the best, and they make pretty cute bracelets too.

11. Socks. The more crazy the pattern the better. You can find them anywhere from your local Target to Kate Spade/Jack Spade.

12. Iphone Wallet. Perfect for the guy that doesn’t want to carry anything but his phone.

13. A Mug. Barnes and Noble has some cute ones, as does Anthropologie. This is another gift that’s pretty personal since you want it to become their favorite for their morning cuppa.

14. DVD. These are perfect stocking size, you could pick out a Christmas movie to be watched that day, or one that’s been recently released. Also a surprise Netflix subscription would be adorable.

15. Keychain. This is another sort of sweet gift that you want to put a bit of thought into. You want the person to like it enough to hang it from their keys and it’ll going to remind them of you whenever they use their key.

But what I can say is *I will be blogging everyday this December. I’m so excited about this that I went to Barnes and Noble and bought a fancy journal and pen to keep all my ideas in, purse sized in case I think of something while I’m away.

I picked a red Keep Calm and Carry On Journal from Peter Pauper Press, and a Moleskine Roller pen, Medium Point in Black. I picked this journal because just like everyone else I like the phrase “Keep Calm and Carry On”, especially since my anxiety button seems to be stuck in the on mode, but also because it’s red and it felt Festive, and made me happy. I’m also really happy with the pen even though it was nearly $15 because it has a fancy little clippy so I can clip it to the outside edge of the journal from the side. Also it’s refillable and came with stickers. I like stickers, seriously who doesn’t like stickers?

I should have bought one of these ages ago. Hand-writing things definitely helps me get my thoughts organized, and I really like having fresh paper and a new pen. I’ve already started writing in it.

I have lots of things planned, such as reviews and a surprise or two. I hope you’re as excited as I am. See you all Tomorrow!

*Disclaimer: I can’t actually promise it will be everyday, as sometimes things go wrong, but I can promise that I will try my absolute hardest to have a blog post up everyday.

First it’s no secret that most women love Disney, and especially Cinderella, so anything from the Cinderella Collection at Sephora is absolutely perfect. I especially like the idea of giving a significant other the perfume, so aptly named So This Is Love. But if that idea doesn’t work for you there’s also a nail polish collection, a lipstick set and an eyeshadow palette.

Keeping in the beauty range of things, Sephora really does have a plethora of options, my personal favorite is the Fragrance Sampler for Her. This is perfect for the girl that loves perfumes, because you get .05 ounce samples of perfume and you also get a voucher for a full size fragrance. It’s sort of like 2 gifts in one. Bonus this year they’re including a beauty bag with it.

If she’s a bit eyeshadow obsessed you could give her either the Naked Palette or the Naked 2 Palette. These palettes have achieved cult status for a reason, the shadows are absolutely lovely, and very blend-able. Or there’s the Stila Snow Angel Palette which is not only lovely for the makeup obsessed but also the makeup beginner because it also comes with several blushes and a mini mascara. Or if she likes Glitter and Glitz, there’s the Sephora Favorites Glitz and Glam Party Sampler which is a kit of several glittery items including a nail polish, an eyeshadow, an eyeliner, several other products and a metallic clutch.

In the more Luxe range of products there’s the Lancome In Love with Red Duo, which contains a lipstick from the Rouge in Love collection and a Nail Polish from the Vernis in Love collection. Both of them are lovely wearable shades of red. Or there’s the Yves Saint Laurent Holiday Set, which contains the Mascara Volume Effet Faux Cils Shocking Mascara, Touche Eclat Radient Touch Highlighter, Golden Gloss Shimmering Lip Gloss in Golden Peony, Dessin Du Regard Waterproof Long-Lasting Waterproof Eye Pencil in 1 Black In. The YSL set is definitely a luxary gift, as YSL is not only lovely to use, but their packaging is amazing. This set definitely ranks high on my christmas wishlist. I have a review of the mascara coming up soon.

In the bath and body range of things Philosophy has some lovely gift sets such as their High Tea Tidings set, Snowflake Wonderland Set, Sweet Rendezvous Set or Toast of the Town Set to name a few. It really depends on scent preferences and how much you want to pay for the gift. Then of course L”Occitane has some absolutely lovely giftsets right now ranging from $15 to $95 usd. There is the Hugs and Kisses set, the Pretty As Peonies set, Hand Indulgences Set, Hand Cream Confections Kit, and the Hand Cream Confections Bouquet . These sets are perfect for a woman who works with her hands a lot. Lush also has some amazing Gift Sets, but my favorites are the Mrs. Frosty Gift and Mr. Frosty Gift sets, which I think would be an adorable couple gift for a newlyweds. I’m also really fond of the With Love from Santa and the Snow Fairy Gift set

Next up the perfect gift for the bookworm in your life is definitely a Nook or Kindle. I personally own this NOOK and I adore it, and I do think it’s better than the Kindle, but unfortunately is only any good if you live in the States since Barnes and Noble is only based in America, but the Kindle is from Amazon and works everywhere. If your favorite bookworm already own a Nook or Kindle there are a bunch of accessories that go with it such as covers, lights ans screen protectors. Or if they’re anti e-reader there’s always a gift card to their favorite bookshop.

Then if she’s a candle lover Yankee Candle has some wonderful Holiday Scents, including an entire line based on the song A few of My Favorite Things. Personally my favorite holiday scent is Home for the Holidays.

Of course Victoria Secret also does a lovely line of Pajama’s which I adore and right now include a pair of slippers with purchase. If you’ve followed my blog for awhile you know I adore Victoria Secrets Pajama’s and they’re my favorite gift every year.

If she’s a Techy sort of girl you can get her a customized case for her favorite gadget from Caseable.com, and Kate Spade has some wonderful Blackberry, Laptop, Tablet and Iphone cases. Marc by Marc Jacobs have some lovely cases for either the Iphone or Tablet as well as Laptop cases. Also both Kate Spade and Marc by Marc Jacobs have some lovely Headphones.

So that’s it for my gift guide for her this year. I’m going to get to work on my gift guide for him and hopefully I’ll have that up for tomorrow’s post.

Are they are Reader? Try this crazy adorable bookworm and a gift card to Barnes and Noble.

Total Music Junkie? Then try these earbuds, these headphones which are also in Mustard, Raspberry and Grass or even better this completely adorably amazing earbud splitter.

What about a hardcore Tea Drinker? How Sweet are these infusers? Seriously a heart or a robot, totally precious. Then there’s also Tea for Two sets and a whole bunch of adorable, floral, buggy, and more tea cups.

Then there’s the world traveler.  You could pick them up a cute, vintage, luggage tag or one of these toiletries travel bags.

Maybe your love is saving up for a Rainy Day, totally obsessed with Audrey Hepburn, or baking all about fashion, or wondering how certain dresses may have changed the world.

I know all those links except one link back to Modcloth.com.  No, they didn’t pay me to write this blog post, I just really love the site and how versatile all the stuff on the site is. These are obviously just suggestions I also notice that most of these gifts are geared towards the ladies, that was kinda unintentional but the same concept applies.

There are tons of different kinds of people, and there are a bazillion different ideas.  Just think about all the things you remember your partner doing and chances are if you remember it then it’s something they do a lot and most likely like. You can base your gift off of that.

Happy Shopping Ladies and Dudes.