Holiday Gift Ideas Within the Realm of Reason

Let's just come right out and say it: It's going to be a rough holiday season budget-wise, for many people. Whther you're struggling or not, to make ends meet, there is no need to go broke to say "thank you" and "happy holidays." You can make your gifts (an idea I love, but not everyone has the time or the talent), but what else says "I really thought of you" and doesn't cost a fortune?

In additon to what I've already posted in The Advice Sisters HUGE , Four-Page What Works Beauty, Cosmetics & Fashion Review for Holiday 2009, I wanted to share some mote, holiday gift ideas that don't all come from big box stores. I have nothing against chains (they're convenient and have lots of choices) but when it comes to the holidays, a gift needs to be more personal. The economy shouldn't force you into giving a nice, but everyone-else-hast-it-too, gift.

Below are six companies that have gift ideas with "do-able" price tags, and that appeal to a wide variety of personalities and age groups. Let me know what you think of these. Would you buy them for the people on your gift list? Your comments ARE welcome!








First on my list is a way to make something you already have, look new, again. Crisa Barriball (who channels her idol, Audrey Hepburn), is the designer and owner of a company featuring beautiful shoe clips called Absolutely Audrey. In case you've never tried shoe clips, they're ornaments that you add to your same-old-same-old, shoes, to add style and change up the look, as often as you like. No need to buy another pair of shoes for the holiday season, Shoe clips have two little "teeth" on a back clip, that cling to whatever you press them on. When you want to remove them, flip up the clip, and they unclasp! Add a pair of shoe clips from one of Absolutely Audrey's (casual, bridal or evening) collections on the top or side of your shoes, and they will dazzle! You can even clip a shoe clip onto your handbag, or a sweater, to dress them up as well. I love these "Sabrina" shoe clips that are just $30.00/pair and come in ruby, white, or black. As you can see from the photo, one pair definitely dresses up your pumps. Carry a pair in your bag, just in case you're invited to a last-minute party. One of these would look great and add some glamour to a clutch bag ora sweater, too. Lola $25.00/pair also comes in light blue, pink and cream. These are just two of dozens of styles from the casual fabric bows, to pearls and crystals for brides and attendants. It's a lot less expensive to buy clips, than to buy new shoes. They also make a great gift for your wedding attendants, or for holiday stocking stuffers.


One Company I just discovered at a recent, holiday press review, is The Natural Life. This company has the cutest, generation spanning accessories and gifts that look like hand-made, one-of-a kind gifts. Their printed catalogue is the size of a small phone book, full of totes, jewelry, scarves, home goods, decorations, and treasures. So many, it's hard to just pick one or two pieces to suggest. But two, one-size-fits all favorites for gifts are wallets and scarves. I love the cute "Imagine Peace" Wallet $28.00 in brown "pleather." The inside has a zippered pocket and mirror, and it's lined in green satin and faux leather, while the outside has appliques of a peace symbol and little flowers, with crystal accents on the front. Perfect for a true, flower child. And I am actually wearing the Jersey Scarf $16.00 in a deep rose that you see in the photo, printed with that Rolling Stones fave phrase: "You Can't Always Get What You Want" and 'But if You Try Sometimes... you might get what you need." on the other side. Natural Wooden beaded fringe adds a whimsical touch to a scarf you can use inside or outside, or even as a belt.

You can never have too much jewelry, and the pieces from The Andean Collection are "green" gifts that are eyecatching, affordable, and "give back" while they make you look good. The idea behind their line is to offer gteat looking jewelry made from e creating a greener planet, and providing a path out of poverty for artisans using fair trade principles. In addition to being paid fair wages, their artisans share in the profits of the company as partial owners of The Andean Collection. A lot of these pieces are made out of seeds and nuts such as tagua, pambil, açaí, huayruro and jabon. For example, Tagua, or ‘vegetable ivory,’ was the most common materials for buttons up until the 1920’s when the use of plastics became mainstream. Check out the company's blog to learn more. My favorite piece (so far) is this Riverbed Bracelet $24.00 that feel smooth to the touch, like stones tumbled in the river, would. It comes in several colors including this gorgeous, deep blue. There is so much more on the web site to choose from, I can't even describe all of the colorful, unique, and pretty pieces that are all under $60.00. You just have to go and check them out for yourself.

I don't have a photo to share with you, but you can't go wrong with a gift from AMOREPACIFIC. Their line is pricey, and pretty incredible. You can treat someone to two great products without going broke, with the AMOREPACIFIC Winter Skin Survival Kit $35.00. Exclusively at Sephora and Sephora stores, it contains two must-haves in a re-useable, zip lock pouch: 1 fl. oz. AMOREPACIFIC Moisture Bound Skin Energy Hydration Delivery System, and .34 oz. Moisture Bound Lip Treatment. The Moisture Bound Skin Energy Hydration Delivery System is an oil-free spray mist in a plastic pump bottle containing Asian botanical root extracts. This refreshign mist makes your skin immediately feel silky and soft without greasy residue. It is great anytime, but especially for travel, at the beach, or any time skin feels dry. The Moisture Bound Lip Treatment has bamboo sap and green tea seed oil to give lips six hours of hydration, providing instant, and continuous, relief for dry, parched lips. The slant-tip tube makes application easy. My lips immediately get dry this time of year. This product, really helps restore them!

Products and Kits are great to travel and gift giving. When it comes to spa products, one of my personal favorites is Pevonia. They are always high quality, with natural ingredients, great scents, and effective formulas. They just make me feel a little bit more pampered, every day. Another plus about Pevonia is that they offer many different skin and bodycare lines to target various skin types, and there's something for every person at every age. Recently, Pevonia has done fans a favor, by creating travel-friendly sizes, and packaging them by use in economical and easy to use, sets. I'm a huge fan of travel sizes and sets, because they allow you to try products you might not ordinarily want to buy without trying, in a full size. And, these days, when it comes to travel, less is more. Travel sizes keep the size and weight of your luggage within reasonable bounds. There are nine different new sets from Pevonia: sensitive skin, combo skin, oily skin, eye products, power repair, rosacea, spa travel essential, spa at home, and safe sun face & body. All range between $39.00 - $58.00. The one in the photo is the for right (a true "must-have") is Your Skincare Solution Safe Sun Face & Body Pack $45.00. You get four Pevonia products that let you exfoliate, hydrate, protect, and preserve your skin, keeping it safe in the sun. They're all you need for a weekend away: Gentle Exfoliating Cleanser 50 ml e 1.7 oz Tube ; Silky Skin Body Scrub 50 ml e 1.7 oz Tube ; Hydrating Sunscreen SPF30 30 ml e 1.0 oz Tube; and Phyto-Aromatic Mist 50 ml e 1.7 oz Bottle Benefits. An added bonus is the waffle-textured, white, zippered fabric (nylon lined) travel pouch that you'll use over and over and over again!




Want to save time, energy, and trees this holiday season? Get a bunch of Baggu bags and let them be both a gift, and the wrapping paper! These lightweight, extremely colorful, nylon bags are re-useable, pack flat into their own, square, sacks, and come in sizes. Using one BAGGU for one year replaces 300 to 700 disposable bags (not to mention that using Baggu instead of gift wrap, saves trees and keeps paper out of the landfills). The most popular size (there are others on the web site) holds the contents of 2-3 plastic grocery bags. 15” Wide / 25” high / 6” deep. Folds into a flat 5” by 5” pouch. Holds 50 lbs. 100% Ripstop nylon. Machine washable. $8.00 each / 3, 4 or 5 bags $7.50 each / 6 or more bags $6.50 each. There's even a cute video showing how easy it is to use a Baggu bag as giftwrap.


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