It’s two days before Christmas. Are you panicking over last minute holiday gifts? We celebrate Chanukah in our home, so not only am I finished buying, we’re just about through with our eight nights of giving. If you do the whole Christmas celebration thing, you’re probably required to come up with a whole slew of presents for friends and family. It’s now officially too late to order online unless you’re willing to pay exorbitant overnight shipping costs, and even then, it’s risky. So, off to the mall it is. Here are 25 last minute holiday gifts you can pick up at the mall and/or the free-standing chain stores in town.
S H O P P I N G
1 Bose SoundLink Color Bluetooth Speaker, $129.99 at Target.
2 Brass Love Object Paperweight, $29 at West Elm.
3 Back-Zip Pullover Sweater, $69.50 at Madewell.
4 Pagoda Salt & Pepper Shakers, $34.99 at Jonathan Adler.
5 Downing Embossed Leather Clutch, $88 at J.Crew.
6 Nate Berkus Faux Fur Stripe Pillow, $29.99 at Target.
7 Magical Thinking T-Bar Jewelry Stand, $34 at Urban Outfitters.
8 Gilded-Edge Agate Coasters,$98/set at Anthropologie.
9 Buttery Leather Satchel Crossbody Bag, $100. at Gap.
10 Oh Joy! Acacia Serving Board, $19.99 at Target.
11 Pascale Monvoisin Georgia Ring, $125 at Club Monaco.
12 Pop Art Dry Erase Calendar, $19.99 each at The Container Store.
13 Tom Dixon Eclectic Mini Candle Gift Set, $120 at Anthropologie.
14 Ribbed Cashmere Hat, $78 at J.Crew.
15 Fuse Sweatshirt, $71.99 at Athleta.
16 Space Age Floral Crystal Studs, $58 at Kate Spade.
17 Printed Tablet Case, $33.99 at Gap.
18 Glass Bud Vases, $14 each at West Elm.
19 Marc Jacobs Beauty Lust For Lacquer Lip Vinyl , $28 at Sephora.
20 Fujifilm INSTAX Instant Smartphone Printer, $199 at Urban Outfitters.
21 Ray-Ban Sunglasses, $104.95 at Sunglass Hut.
22 Selvedge Japanese Chambray Utility Shirt, $98 at J.Crew.
23 Chemex Classic Drip Coffee Maker, $34.95 at Sur La Table.
24 Dipped Leather Bill Holder, $128 at Jack Spade.
25 Mauviel Copper Butter Warmer, $90 at Williams-Sonoma.
People have pretty particular feelings about fringe. I get it. Fringe can be all too hippie chick, or hokey cowgirl (now that’s fringe gone woefully astray). My husband is not a fan of fringe. He doesn’t even like the the lone leather strip of fringe that hangs from each zipper of my beloved Rebecca Minkoff Mini Mac Crossbody Bag. (I have teal, for special color occasions, but I just got a grey one that I use multiple times a week.) My editor at the Boston Globe Magazine has rejected a fringe fashion style page. (No matter, I’m turning one into my editor at the newspaper instead.)
Following up on yesterday’s post Street Style: 28 Fashions with Fringe, I sourced 20 fringe handbags for you. In addition to the black & white Tribale Fringed Bag by Lanvin (LOVE but not willing to sell my soul), I’m kinda grooving on the simple and affordable #3 fringe handbag. Tell me if you have any fringe-y plans for yourself this fall.
S H O P P I N G
Shop fringe handbags from my favorite StyleCarrot partner sites.
1 Jude Clutch by House of Harlow 1960, $275 at Pink Mascara.
2 Fringed Leather Clutch by En Shalla, $225 at Net-a-Porter.
3 Quinn the Lana Fringe Hobo Bag by BCBGeneration, $128 at Nordstrom.
4 Everly Fringe Bucket Bag by Cleobella, $328 at Shopbop.
I’ve been so focused on Florida (though not nearly enough, as I’ve yet to order rugs, shades, or decide on the pink problem in the bathroom), that I’ve neglected organizing and upgrading in Boston. Coming back in the fall from the Cape, I’m always bothered by the amount of stuff we have. Too. Much. Stuff. It’s particularly striking because not only is the place on the Cape a lot bigger, being a house instead of an apartment, it’s white and virtually empty.
Here, in addition to crown moldings and bookshelves lined with coffee table books (one of the best perks of being a blogger), there’s , well, everything. The piles of dishes still not put away from the bar mitzvah in February (because, after all, we’re having another one this coming February), our bicycles in the living room until it gets too cold to ride and we store them, etc.
I’ve been promising my younger son that I would work on his bedroom. Meaning, I would clear out all the outgrown clothing and extra bedding I’ve been keeping in there. Done! He has the upholstered armchair that I used to nurse them on when they were babies. It’s taking up a ton of space that would be better used for a desk. He’s starting to get a fair amount of homework, plus, like me, he’s very organized, so I think he’d love to have drawers where he can store supplies.
Our other son has a little desk from IKEA, which when it’s cleared, he actually likes to use (not for homework, though). When he was away at a boarding school program this summer he lived in student housing, with a room furnished in typical dorm style (by a company like Peelmount) that outfits dorm rooms with sturdy wood beds, desks, and dressers. It’s kind of incredible that those designs haven’t changed, in like, ever. Blocky oak stands the test of time, I suppose. In any case, I’m not looking for anything as practical as all that. A small, affordable, modern desk is all we need.
Here are 42 modern desks, almost all of them well-priced (and one very extravagant example) from StyleCarrot partner sites and other great resources.
S H O P P I N G
1 Soft Modern Writing Desk by Sauder, $210 at All Modern.
The rustic style wood pieces work particularly well in that bedroom because they help bridge the outdoor space of the deck with the interior. The bold graphic rug reiterates the clean, modern design, providing a satisfying juxtaposition of texture and style.
Today I’ve pulled together a collection of 20 reclaimed wood beds with a rustic feel, most created from actual reclaimed wood (though a few are just executed in a reclaimed woods style.) The sources range from well-known favorites that include West Elm and Crate & Barrel, some popular e-retailers, such as Burke Decor, a great site that sells amazing consignment pieces, called Chairish, and a couple of well-priced English sites, like FurniturePlus, for those abroad.
S H O P P I N G
Shop reclaimed wood beds from StyleCarrot partners and others.
My kids are both products of a Montessori lower school education, which means that technically, they should be expert and chopping, measuring, pouring, and the like. However, as we all know, skills don’t always spill over from school.
If you have kids who are keen to help out in the kitchen, or you simply (smartly) want to teach them to fend for themselves, Raddish is a fun way to get started. Created by the folks behind Kitchen Kid, a mobile culinary school for kids and families in L.A, Raddish brings the concept of edible education right to your kitchen.
Subscribers receive a monthly box 0f recipes and accoutrements to help you and your kids prepare easy and yummy foods for every type of eater. Each package contains three family-friendly recipe guides, skill card, two creative activities, shopping list, table talk card deck, and an iron-on patch for your child’s Raddish apron.
The whole thing is darn cute. Raddish sent me a starter kit, and while my boys are a bit older than the targeted demographic, I certainly enjoyed it, and am passing it along to a friend. It’s definitely a good idea, and while you certainly don’t need the fun accessories, it’s something for your children to look forward to and a nudge for you to motivate you to get cooking with them.
Here are some photos I took of my Raddish goodies.
