gifts and wishes: last but not least...

Somehow I missed yesterday...I'm not exactly sure how one actually misses an entire day but somehow in the hustle and bustle of this crazy month, I'm not even sure what happened yesterday...
(could have something to do with the night before with EB, aka: partner in crime...a marathon evening including a stop off at Saks, a fly by Rockefeller Center, a quick stop in Bendel's to play with the jewelry, followed by champagne and snacks in the Oak Room, and then finally making our way back downtown for cocktails and merry making at the James Hotel.  I'm not sure but that could have potentially--maybe--you never know--had a few amnesia inducing effects, but I digress...)




Rockefeller Center
(taken with my camera phone)



Anywho...back to the present. 
Today's last and final gift is not only a great gift but perfect for last minute shoppers.
Give the gift of a new and memorable experience...

Cloud 9 Living

I actually discovered Cloud 9 Living a couple of years ago when shopping for D...He's impossible to buy for and I'm a procrastinator...it was kismet.  No shipping or wrapping required, your gift is ready to give immediately, and it's perfect for the person who has everything.
Cloud 9 Living offers over 1700 experiences in more than 40 cities in the US.  From race car driving lessons, spa experiences, to cooking class, there is something for everyone.
They even have fighter pilot lessons...just what I've always wanted!  (Ha! Me operating a plane is a terrifying thought...)

And speaking of planes...I'm off to the airport!  I'll catch ya in Georgia.

Ho Ho Ho!

xo...
ki

gifts and wishes: give a little bit...

Today as I was wandering around Soho with my girlfriend, I was watching all of the people around us.  We were standing in a line with about twenty other crazies, waiting to order a batch of Baked by Melissa cupcakes (heaven on earth, by the way, but not the point) and I was looking at all of the monster sized shopping bags, bursting at the seams with gifts and goodies and treats for friends, family and maybe even the owner of said shopping bags.  

We are so lucky to be so privileged and to have so much.  I started thinking about all of the wee ones who won't have a Christmas filled with everything they've ever wanted...or even one tiny little thing to hold in their hands on Christmas Day.  Those who may not even have something warm to eat or those who are too sick or too far away to be home and celebrate with their families.  It's just not fair.  

So I decided today to dedicate my wish list to all of the sweet children, families, men and women who will not wake up to a giant Christmas tree, a big family dinner, or a house full of loved ones on Christmas Day...

A tiny little donation can make a big difference for these families, now and any other time of year.  

Below, are just a few of the charities that are taking donations to help families and children in need have just a little bit of what the rest of us take for granted every Christmas and everyday.

Make A Wish Foundation

Toys for Tots

My Two Front Teeth

Salvation Army

St. Jude's

St Jude's Gift Donations

National Military Family Association

'Tis the season...let's give a little bit.

xo...

ki

gift and wish list...glossy girl

I heart Nars lipgloss...it's the best.

And I heart anyone who buys me this gift set of five medium sized Nars lipglosses.

There are five wearable colors in each set: Easy Lover, Babe, Orgasm (the best, hands down, without a doubt, universal color in the whole wide world), Turkish Delight, and Misbehave 

Nars Crazy Heart Lip Gloss set
$50

A perfect color for every occasion, and they are compact enough to fit in any purse or pocket.  

xo...

ki

gifts and wishes: for the wee ones...

I don't know what it is about these little things that I love so much, but they are so cute!

Sing-a-ma-jigs are little plushy singing characters that sing, chatter, and harmonize with other Sing-a-ma-jigs.

find a retailer here

There are about 12 different little critters to collect... 

I personally love the one in the argyle sweater...so preppy!

xo...

ki

gifts and wishes: sleepy time...

Today's gift is definitely a wish...

I wish that I had this luxurious cashmere blend lounge set for recuperating from this horrific cold I have had for a week.

It definitely would have made lying on the couch feel a little more glamorous and a little less...sniffly. 

travel babe lounge set
$475

Anyways...

Lounge Lover's Travel Babe lounge set comes with a pair of pants, a tank dress, a drapey cardigan, plus an eye mask.  All four pieces come in a handy pouch for easy travel and storage.   

Perfect for jet setters and homebodies alike...

xo...

ki

gifts and wishes: sweet treats...

Homemade candies make the bestest, most delicious gifts.  Every year my sisters and I beg our grandmother to make all of her amazing candies and fudge.  It is my most favorite present in the whole world.

  

Although these aren't Nanny's recipes, they sound fantastic.  Below, a few ideas for making your own sweet treats for the holidays...

Barefoot Contessa's Toasted Coconut Marshmallows

Giada's Hazelnut Crunch

White Chocolate Holiday Bark

Happy baking...

xo...

ki

(all recipes via foodnetwork.com)

gifts and wishes: put it in writing...

My mother and I are alike in so many ways that some people swear they cannot tell us apart from a distance.  She passed on many things to me...a love of all things pretty, an opinion on just about everything, and an inexplicable obsession with paper.

I know that in the day of emails, txt messages and virtual invitations, it seems useless to own stationary, calling cards or address labels.  But there is still nothing better in this world than receiving something handwritten in the mail.

My mom and I have been fans of South Carolina based Amy Adele for years.  Her illustrations lend a sweetness and charm to any note, gift tag or recipe card. 

(She also makes the cutest collection of shirts and onsies for the little ones.)  

All of Amy Adele's stationary is customizable and printed on 100% post consumer recycled paper.

super cute and eco-friendly...practically perfect.

click here to visit Amy's online store

xo...

ki

gifts and wishes: talk to the handbook...

A great little gift for any girl of style...

Christian Dior share his secrets of fashion and good taste in this classic little book.

Filled with beautiful illustrations and photographs, it makes a great coffee table piece.

The Little Dictionary of Fashion
$19.95

And...it's pink!

So pretty!

xo...
ki

gifts and wishes: they call me the big spoon...

Loving these over sized serving utensils by Superior Server.  Each piece is stainless steel with a color coated handle, and they measure approximately 11-13 inches.

That's a big spoon!

Superior Servers at Ladies and Gentleman Studio

There are three colors to choose from: Buttermilk, Blood Orange and Dijon Mustard.

A fun gift for the entertainer or cook in your life...

xo...

ki

gifts and wishes: don't jumble your words...

Today's gift is great for the young and the young at heart...

Konexi is a 3D word building game that requires skill, knowledge and lots of luck!  Earn points by connecting letters together to create words, all the while challenging gravity. 

It's sort of like Scrabble meets Jenga...

konexi
$24.95

This is bound to be a fun new addition to game night but watch out...
Don't be the one that causes the puzzle to collapse!


xo...
ki

gifts and wishes: sew cute...

here's a cute little stocking stuffer for crafty girls like moi...

printed pin cushions
$10

Hable Construction's super cute printed pin cushions come in a variety of prints...I especially love the polka dots.

So fun...they're bound to perk up even the most average sewing project.

xo...

ki

gifts and wishes: sweet talk...

In case you're not so keen on making your own pillows, these pillows from Alexandra Ferguson are the cutest thing ever...

Each pillow is made by hand from 100% recycled felt in NYC.  There are lots of super cute graphic designs to choose from, including one that can be customized with any letter and any color...a very modern take on a monogrammed gift.

visit Alexandra's shop here...

xo...

ki

gifts and wishes: extending an olive branch...

missed another day of gifting...
sorry.
It must officially be the holiday season because all of a sudden there is way too much to do...
This weekend has been beyond a blur...I can't believe it is already Sunday.

Anyways...

After traveling around the Mediterranean together for the past couple of years, D and I have become lovers all things olive--oil, trees, the fruit--love it all.  We actually stayed in the middle of an olive grove in Mallorca...it was amazing (trust me).

So you can imagine that we were both hooked when D ran across Nudo the other night.
Nudo is an olive grove in Italy where you can adopt your own olive tree.  Upon adoption you'll receive a certificate of adoption, an informational book about your tree and two shipments a year of produce.  Not only is it an extra-super-special gift for all of the foodies out there (how cool would it be to serve your own olive oil at a dinner party?) it is also a great way to contribute to small farming operations.
Yummy olive oil and a contribution to small farms and the environment...everybody wins!

Nudo also has a great store for those of you not ready to buy the whole tree, plus a great recipes section and blog.

Enjoy!

xo...
ki


  

gifts and wishes: glamour girl...

I wish I had this beautiful vintage inspired crystal hairpin...it would have looked great in my hair last night at my little party (more on that later...still waking up at the moment)

crystal hairpin
$130

I'd wear this extra special sparkly hair piece even without an extra special place to go.  What better way to perk up a jeans and t-shirt day? Wouldn't you agree?

xo...

ki

gifts and wishes: baby cakes...

I love these adorable cupcake kits from Layer Cake Shop.  They are the perfect gifts for bakers and cupcake lovers, like me (cupcake lover, that is...a baker I am not).

Christmas Cupcake Kit
$12

They come with everything you need including toppers, baking cups, sprinkles, and baking labels (with enough of everything to make two dozen cupcakes).  There are 11 themes to choose from including "Happy Homemaker," "Baby Cakes," and "Happy Hula."

Click here to see all of the themes...

(I would love some Happy Hula cupcakes, if anyone is interested in making them for me.)

xo...
ki

gifts and wishes: panty raid...

I love picking out gifts for people, which is why I am having such a good time with my little gift and wish list...

But today's gift is by far my most favorite to date.

Panty by Post is a fun and oh so brilliant service that delivers a pretty pair of panties (or briefs...boys, there's no need to feel left out.) to you or the recipient of you choosing each month.  You can choose the type of panties you'd like to give or receive (hipster, thong, brief, etc) and how many pairs you'd like to commit to. 

et voila!  

Panties arrive via mail once a month!

What says you care more than a pair of panties in the mail?
I can't think of anything...

There is also a beautiful collection for the bride to be.  A great lingerie shower gift...

click here to shop.

xo...
ki

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gifts and wishes: birds of a feather...

There seems to be some sort of feather theme today...

Well I do love things of the feathery sort...as long as they are not flying around my apartment, like the time a pigeon broke into my little W. Village studio and terrorized the entire place for about 45 minutes before making his escape out the window.  Did I mention that my apartment was decorated with all white furniture???  

Yick.

Picture me in a dress, black tights and four inch heels, only moments before walking out the door for work, screaming like a banshee and chasing that flying rat with a broom.   

Disaster...but I digress...

modern quill pens
$28-$32

These feathery little friends will never attempt to make a nest in your make-up box or make a mess on your white sofa.  Nope...these beautiful feather quill pens from Jayson Home and Garden will only look fantastic on your desk, adding a little old world glamour to your home office.

And hopefully the only screams you'll hear from these feathers will be squeals of delight...

xo...

ki

gifts and wishes: tea time...

This is a great DIY gift idea from Real Simple.  Instructions are listed below...

sugar bowl candles

What You Need

• 2 flea-market sugar bowls
• 1 1-pound bag of soy wax
• microwave-safe container with pouring spout
• dye
• candle-fragrance oil
• scissors
• wicking
• wick tabs
• wood skewers or chopsticks

What to Do

1. Follow the instructions on the soy-wax package for heating the wax and adding dye and fragrance.
2. Cut the wicking so that it’s about three inches taller than the bowl.
3. Thread the wicking through a wick tab and knot it at one end. Slide the wick tab down to the knot. Dip the wick tab into the melted wax to coat, then press down firmly in the center of the bowl to make it adhere.
4. Tie the loose end of the wicking to a skewer (so that it won’t get caught in the wax), then rest the skewer across the lip of the bowl. Repeat the wick-tab process for the second bowl.
5. Slowly pour the wax into the bowls and allow it to harden.
6. Cut the wicks right below the skewers; they should stick up about a quarter inch from the wax.

so cute...

I want to try this out so badly but I'm still in a little trouble from my last DIY experiment...  
Maybe I can try it out when I go back to Georgia.  For some reason I make far less of a mess at my mom's house than I do here in the City.  
Well...I think I do anyway. (she might have a different opinion...)


xo...
ki

gifts and wishes: how sweet...

After a long day of travel--and I mean long--I am finally back in the City.
In the spirit of my very long day, today's gift is more of a wish, I guess you could say...

I oh so wish I was in a warm bath with Laura Mercier's creme brulee honey bath at the moment...maybe a couple of candles burning, soft music in the background...soaking this very, very long day of travel away.

creme brulee honey bath
$40

This bath formula is extra decadent (the name says it all...how could anything with creme brulee in the name ever be bad?) and how cute is that honey dipper?  

A perfect gift for a girl who loves a little indulgence...

There is also a scrub and a lotion to match!

Doesn't it just sound delicious???

Sweet dreams.

xo...

ki

gifts and wishes: pillow talk...

If I have the time, I try to make as many gifts as possible...

Big dork.  I know...I'm okay with it.

Pillows are one of my favorite gifts to give and receive.  I once heard someone say that they like to bring home fabric from their travels and make pillows.  That way the memory of the trip is always nearby and it becomes a part of home...I really like that idea.  But I don't think that the fabric has to be from exotic places...it can just be a beautiful color or maybe have a special memory attached to it.

I recently made this one for my very special aunt.  She gave me this beautiful Japanese fabric that she has had since the '60's.  I decided to make her a pillow so that we could both have a little bit of the beautiful fabric.  I hope she loves it as much as I love her!

Pillows are extra easy to sew and they can be decorated with fabric paint, buttons, ruffles, bows...I'm a little partial to bows, if you haven't noticed.  The bow above is cut on the bias and the edges were left unfinished to make it extra drapey and soft.

Looking for fabric?  Visit the world famous mood fabrics (my most favorite place on earth) for everything your heart desires.

Happy sewing...

xo...
ki