December 05, 2016

THE PERFECT GIFT BASKET

December 05, 2016/ Alexandra Evjen

This post is sponsored by Coca-Cola.

Every extended family has that one person that champions Christmas. That person that rallies the troops for holiday baking, sets a date to see Christmas lights or plans the secret Santa gift exchange. I have someone like that in my family. It's my sister-in-law, Nicky Vender. Her home is always decorated beautifully for the holiday, she bakes the best cookies and she gives the best gifts wrapped to perfection. She is always the person you secretly hope picks your name for the gift exchange because you know your gift is going to be awesome. Well, this year Coca-Cola has asked me to highlight my unsung heroine of Christmas as part of their #ShareACoke campaign, and I would like nothing more than to #ShareACoke with Nicky. Truthfully, her jolly Christmas actions go unthanked a lot, and I want to thank her with the ultimate gift basket!

Her energy and excitement for the season is what keeps me going because I think my energy peeks shortly after hosting Thanksgiving or maybe it's because my kids tire me out...Either way, her holiday spirit and joy make Christmas much more fun. To honor her, Coca-Cola personalized her favorite drink, Diet Coke, with her name on it, and then I put together the ultimate gift basket.

Gifts always feel more special when they are personalized. Wouldn't you agree? You can get 40% off a personalized six pack of Coca-Cola using shopping code HOLIDAY40 at checkout.

To take the personalization one step further, I had a wooden sign made for her family that she can hang on a wreath year round. In addition, I packed some more of her favorite things in a lovely basket.

1. Diet Coke - Her favorite drink
2. Madonna ornament - Her favorite 80's pop star
3. Chocolate and caramel - Her favorite treat
4. Bottle opener (similar)- To help her enjoy her Diet Coke, of course
5. Personalized wooden sign for any wreath or basket - It can be used in many ways
6. Hand cream - Beauty products always win.
7. Nail files - Her toes are always painted to perfection
8. Wrapped soap - Who doesn't like to bathe in the scents of Christmas?! Haha!
9. Throw - To keep her warm and cozy
10. Beautiful basket - Something that she can use to store things in her home
11. Boxwood wreath - It's a beautiful and neutral gift for the season.
12. Bouquet of Holly - Everyone loves flowers, especially Christmas ones.

I left the basket on her doorstep like a good little elf to let her be surprised, and she sure was! I got a call with tears and joy. I'm sure Santa would be proud. The fun doesn't stop there though. I want to give you something special too.

You can win your very own six pack of Coca-Cola that's personalized with your name, as well as a $100 gift card. The total value of the prize is $130. To enter, please tag your Christmas hero or heroine in my Instagram post (click here). Contest ends on December 11th at 11:59 PM, and one winner will be chosen by December 12th and contacted via direct message on Instagram. Please make your Instagram account public so that I can contact you if you win.

This prize was provided by The Coca-Cola Company. The Coca-Cola Company is not a sponsor, administrator or connected in any other way with this campaign.

Photos by Rennai Hoefer

November 28, 2016

GIFT GUIDES: THE PHILANTHROPIST

November 28, 2016/ Lauren Carr-Gasso

Receiving a ton of gifts at once is fun and all, but it can sometimes make you feel a bit greedy. The holidays are all about spreading cheer to those you love, but doesn't it feel good to give to someone you may not even know? This holiday gift guide is dedicated for the person who wants to give, and give back.

31 BITS

Minimalist jewelry is all anyone is wearing these days. A simple metallic necklace is a statement all its own, but it's much more meaningful when it serves a real life purpose. 31 Bits is dedicated to providing Ugandan artisan women with a market for their beautiful craftsmanship skills, and has an ever-growing jewelry collection with something for everyone.

LOVE WITH FOOD

If subscription boxes are more your style, Love With Food may be your gift of choice. These monthly packages of organic snacks give back by passing a portion of sales to charities devoted to fighting childhood hunger. These packages are a definite way to win to your loved ones' hearts (and tummies).

S'WELL

We all get thirsty, and S'well water bottles are here for more than keeping your hydration stylish. These on-trend, stainless steel hot & cold bottles are partnered with UNICEF to help ensure the recipient isn't the only one hydrating. They donate a portion of their sales to the charity to ensure that kids around the world are getting access to clean, drinkable water.

WARBY PARKER

While some choose glasses purely as a fashion statement, many have them as a necessity. Warby Parker has acquired quite a following as of late, and for good reason. Their glasses are stylish and practical (and don't worry 20/20s, they offer equally great sunglasses too), and they serve a great cause. The company is partnered with VisionSpring, who helps them follow through on their promise to provide someone in need with a pair of glasses whenever they make a sale.

GIVING KEYS

Who says your house key can't be a fashion statement? Giving Keys took it to the next level by engraving inspiring words on each of their variety of accessories, inspired by two of the co-founders who were homeless before starting the company. The company aims to transition people out of homelessness, much like two of the three founders were able to do.

SHOPPING FOR A CHANGE

If you aren't sure exactly what to get someone this Christmas, Shopping for a Change just may be your ideal place to start. Bringing together the work of a variety of undiscovered artisans from all around the world is what makes this shop so diverse, covering everything from fashion to home goods.

SSEKO SANDALS

You simply can't go wrong with a pair of sandals as versatile as Sseko Sandals. If you're not sure exactly what type of shoes your recipient loves, leave it up to them to decide! With so many unique ways to tie the sandals, it's hard to believe that it gets better. This charity is devoted to working for women, and sending them to college. Is that a respectable shoe or what?

NOONDAY COLLECTION

If you're looking to give something a little more authentically global, Noonday Collection is the place. This shop provides a market for artisans around the world to display and sell their unique, culturally influenced work to markets they would normally have a hard time getting into, and the recipient gets an amazing piece of a far away land because of it!

WORLD WILDLIFE FUND: ADOPTING AN ELEPHANT

If you're telling me you've never wanted to have a pet elephant, I'm probably going to assume you're lying. With World Wildlife Fund's Adopt an Elephant package, you have a chance to do your part to keep these babies around. When you symbolically adopt an elephant, they'll use your payment to ensure that an elephant is taken care of with food and water. They even send a plush elephant so you never forget about your friend on the other side of the world.

DRIVEN COFFEE

It's hard to live in the modern day without knowing at least one coffee snob. It's okay to be a coffee snob, especially if that mean's you're supporting an ethical coffee business like Driven Coffee. The brand donates a portion of its sales to a variety of charities, and has an incredible selection of coffee to boot.

November 18, 2016

GIFT GUIDES: THE CUSTOMIZER

November 18, 2016/ Lauren Carr-Gasso

It's officially gift giving season. The time to think of the perfect something for the perfect someone can bring on stress, but why complicate it? I know how much most people hate giving out gift cards, so I put together this gift guide to help you choose goodies perfectly tailored to everyone on your shopping list.

CUSTOM MINIMALIST JEWELRY

With it becoming more and more of a trend to have jewelry to be kept on consistently, minimalist jewelry doesn't seem to be going anywhere. It's easy, beautiful, and adds a delicate and feminine twist to any look. CaitlynMinimalist on Etsy has found a way to make the minimalist jewelry trend even more personal with this gorgeous bracelet. Just send her a note with what you want included on the bracelet (or a variety of other jewelry offered in her shop), and she'll make the handwritten note into a beautiful piece of jewelry.

BEAUTY SUBSCRIPTION BOX

If you have a friend or relative who's really into makeup and beauty (or wants to get into makeup and beauty), a beauty box subscription like Birchbox just might be exactly what you're looking for. If the person you're buying for is on the picky side, all you have to do is answer a few questions about them, and Birchbox will ship a variety of goodies to their door to pick and choose from.

EMBOSSED ACCESSORIES

Fossil is a brand we all know and love, serving up trendy (practical) leather goods at a variety of price ranges. If you're looking to treat the accessories lover in your life, give Fossil's free embossing service a try over the holidays. The recipient is definitely going to feel stylish with their new tote in hand, and all the more special with the extra thought of customizing.

ENGRAVED TECH

If you're really looking to treat someone in your life with the newest piece of tech, Apple offers an engraving service for both their iPads and iPods. Whether you want to write lyrics of a special song on the back of your husband's iPod, or simply engrave your mom's name into her new iPad, the extra detail makes a meaningful gift even more thoughtful.

ENGRAVED HOME GOODS

If you know someone who is constantly renovating their house (like me), what better investment than a personal home gift? This copper ice bucket by Pottery Barn is a great gift for the entertainer in your life, and the ability to engrave the gorgeous copper makes it all the more personal.

PERSONALIZED MAKEUP PALETTE

If you have a friend who just doesn't feel complete without a swipe of eyeshadow on her lids, why not allow her to make a palette with all of her favorite shades? MAC Cosmetics offers a gift card for the recipient to create her ideal combination of shadows (and if you're totally opposed to the gift card thing and are feeling gutsy, you can create it for her). Just in time for New Year's glam!

PERSONALIZED TEA SETS

If you're looking for a way to warm up a loved one's life, why not introduce them to the soothing art of tea? Teavana offers a variety of holiday sample sets for the tea-drinking newbie, and it's a heartwarming way to connect with someone you care about (after all, who doesn't want to chat over a cup of tea?). If you're not clicking with any of their holiday sets, why not just pick out a few flavors your friend will love, and maybe one you recommend?

CUSTOM SHADES

It's not just women who appreciate a good accessory. Sunglasses are a universal way to dazzle anyone in your life, regardless of their style. Ray-Ban gives customers the ability to create their own custom shades, a great way to add a unique spin on a classic style.

CUSTOM PLANNER

With the year coming to a close, your friends and family are going to be looking to get a start on next year's plans. A custom planner from Paper Source is an incredible way to excite the stationery lover in your life, while helping them get organized in the most fashion-forward way.

GENERAL SUBSCRIPTION BOX

Maybe you're really into this whole "gift that keeps on giving" idea that comes with a subscription box, but none of the people on your list are exactly beauty girls. Don't worry! Quarterly Co. has a variety of subscription boxes at diverse price range covering an even more diverse area of interests, so you're bound to find something the recipient will love!

*This post contains affiliate links.

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