i have heard from so many of you this year, begging for help with what seems to be the hardest task of all:  finding a valentine’s day gift for the man in your life.  and i fully admit, it is tricky.  after all, a holiday built on pink hearts and flowers doesn’t exactly scream testosterone.  the key, i think, is to let go and admit that valentine’s day is largely a girl holiday.  with that in mind, stop taking your guy’s gift quite so seriously.  he’ll be much happier getting something that’s sweet, funny and somehow involves you being naked.

i asked my hubs what the perfect gift for a guy was for valentine’s day, and well, his response can’t safely be printed.  but, his point is well taken.  find a cheeky valentine’s day card (my absolute favorites this year are these pun-ny versions from etsy seller westmama, who also happens to be a dear friend!), tie it to a can of whipped cream or a box containing the lacy negligee of your choice (since lingerie gifts really are for him anyway), and make sure you include an explicit proposition or two.  trust me, he’ll never notice (or care) that his gift cost you less than $5.

when in doubt, i tend to err on the side of corny when it comes to men’s valentines – pink champagne and scented candles just aren’t going to cut it.  urban outfitters has some fabulous guy-friendly ideas, but this box of candy hearts from urban outfitters ($8) is my absolute favorite.  it’s funny, just a little sentimental, and guaranteed to make you the coolest girlfriend/wife around.  especially if you pair it with a set of furry handcuffs.  (no, seriously.)

if you’re looking for something a little higher end, another favorite gift of mine for v-day is a really excellent bottle of his favorite liquor.  no, this does not mean champagne.  pick something he loves, and drinks when he’s celebrating.  a great single malt scotch, perhaps, or a fabulous tequila.  this works with nearly any price point – just get the best you can afford.

last but not least, i think guys sometimes get the short end of the stick when it comes to delivered gifts.  how much do you love seeing the florist show up at your office?  sending flowers isn’t the answer,  but try sending a batch of baked goods straight to his desk.  it’s creative, shows you care, and in almost every case, the way to your man’s heart really is through his stomach.  my absolute favorite for gifting are the round brownies from sugardaddy’s bakery in columbus…the flavor options are unbelievable, they’re gorgeous to look at, and they can be on his desk within 24 hours!

i happen to love valentine’s day…i loved it when i was single, and i love it still. i used to get so excited about making those valentine boxes to house all of the goodies kids passed around to each other on valentine’s day, and the valentine selection process at the grocery store every year was serious business.

that said, the holiday gets a pretty bad rap from grownups, singles and couples alike, and i do sort of hate what it morphs into once you’re an adult.  no one wants romance forced down their throat.  but i suggest a little change of outlook:  consider it a reminder to tell someone – a friend, a mom or a significant other – that you love them and can’t live without them.

i tend toward small, sweet and simple for valentine’s day, and when i doubt, i go full-blown corny – if you can’t romance them, at least you can entertain them.  that said, i rarely go overboard, and while i wouldn’t turn down an overboard gift (hi honey!), i never expect one.  just something simple that shows you’re thinking of the one you love.

today, it’s all about her…we’ll tackle the boys tomorrow (don’t worry, they’re easier to buy for locally).

jonathan adler heart pill case keychain: my love for mr. adler knows no bounds, and i simply must have this little heart pill case for my key ring.  the front is pink, the back is orange, and the inside is bright yellow…it’s just the thing to house my happy pills (er, tylenol?).  and at $24, it’s the perfect bargain valentine.  just, please, be smart and tuck a little love note (or, you know, diamond earrings) inside.

christine mignon rose gold hearts:  these sweet studs would certainly steal my heart away…and i’m sure they’d fare as well for just about any girl i know.  such a perfect valentine for a wife, of course, but what about a sister or a BFF?  divine.  $150 from the always-lovely christine mighion, and they’re eco-friendly besides.

whitney smith cupcake stand:  for the more creative guys, this might just the ultimate in sweet and thoughtful (ie, guaranteed to net you serious bonus points).  pick up one of these adorable cupcake stands ($72) handmade by whitney smith, and fill it with – you guessed it – one of her favorite cupcakes.  unveil on valentine’s day, and stand back to reap your rewards.

armani dolci truffles: i was skeptical when i heard armani’s latest venture was dessert.  after all, couture and chocolate aren’t exactly a traditional pairing.  but girls, i got to test these out, and hoo boy…mr. armani knows his sugar.  they’re utterly gorgeous (right down to the red silk packaging), unbelievably delicious, and they’ll be glad to ship anything your heart desires from their NYC flagship store, which you can reach at 212.339.5950. pricing starts at $35 for that lovely box of 16 truffles.

for those of you living near a nordstrom rack, i highly suggest a lunchtime or after-work visit…today, if possible.  i took a little time to check it out yesterday, and they have some pretty serious sales happening – a good chunk of the store is marked anywhere from 35-60% off the lowest marked price – i spotted nanette lepore, burberry, james perse, splendid…definitely above and beyond the usual suspects.

the rack is always my favorite super-secret source for designer denim (you do know about this, right?).  even the highest-end styles top out around $80 there, instead of the $150+ you’ll pay retail.  but yesterday, i may have nabbed my best deal ever:  a pair of paige denim’s “jimmy jimmy” boyfriend jeans marked down to $79, with an additional 60% off!!

yep, brand new paiges for $30…life is good.  i’m always the world’s biggest fan of paige denim (she and i just seem to have the same butt, what can i say?), but the cut on this jean is especially nice.  it’s a bit loose (try going down a size), but the backside is still super flattering and the rise isn’t too low.  plus, the distressing is subtle enough that even grown-up girls can wear them.  i’m especially loving this style because it’s not actually cropped, like so many of the boyfriend jeans.  it’s perfect rolled up, so you can have that ‘boyfriend jean’ look, but when it’s out of style, just unroll the cuffs, and they’ll be a great straight leg jean.

to nab this steal, just stroll on past the regular racks of denim and look for the clearance rack – there were a few rock & republic styles, and even a pair or two of joe’s jeans, all at some seriously amazing prices.

oh, and while you’re there…i spotted at least two pairs of jimmy choos (including these lovelies) for $229, plus an additional 35% off.  just sayin’.

i received this gorgeous necklace well before the holidays, and well, there’s just no excuse for not sharing it with you sooner.  it’s by the always amazing prismera design…i swoon over just about everything they come up with.  but the real genius in this piece is that it’s actually a three-in-one!

wear the whole thing as a long, multi-element necklace, or break it apart – the silver/copper portion detaches to becomes a bracelet:

and you’re left with that lovely, simple laser-cut flower on an 18″ gold chain to wear separately.  genius!  i love to see designers coming up with ways to maximize your investment when times are tight, and prismera definitely did it right.  $70 for three new pieces is borderline philanthropic, don’t you think?  plus, i’m thinking this is maybe the ultimate no-thought-required travel jewelry ensemble, all in one pretty piece.

as with all of prismera’s designs, this one won’t be around forever…so if you love it, nab it now!  (a little tip: signing up for the prismera newsletter before ordering will score you a discount code!)

have a great weekend, everyone…see you next week!  i have some perfect valentine ideas up my sleeve for you and the love in your life, so stay tuned.

yeah, i can’t quite believe it either.  but as strange as it sounds, i’ve been excited about the launch of ll bean’s new venture since i first heard about it months ago.  they’re calling it their “signature” line, and i’m hoping it will be a better-tailored, slightly more hip reinterpretation of their best ideas.  it’s still top secret, but i have visions of cropped field jackets, fitted flannels and the perfect striped cashmere sweater dancing in my head.  that could all just be wishful thinking, of course, but they’ve released a couple of preview pieces that have left me optimistic:

this classic leather tote looks like something your favorite writer would carry, or maybe something you inherited from a very stylish dad.  it’s perfect for work, travel, magazines, knitting…anything, really…and you can just tell it will get even better with age.

ooh, and it looks like they just launched a slideshow on the new site that’s equally hope-inspiring.

check out that chambray shirtdress…definite potential, don’t you think?  (i can’t quite believe that chambray is back…am i the only one with serious chambray memories from junior high?)

anyway, until the full line launches, you can grab that luxe leather tote for $189 on the new ll bean signature website, and then hold your breath along with me for the launch of the full line in march.

i think it’s a day worth mentioning when the weight on your driver’s license is no longer a lie…and may even, in fact, be a bit of an exaggeration.  amazing stuff, really.

for those of you on new year’s resolution diets, i don’t recommend my method of weight loss (nor do i think it would be possible unless you were lucky enough to contract some sort of rare south american tapeworm), but there is definitely some excitement involved in going down a size (or two…).  at this rate, i might even be able to wear mcqueen by the end of the year.  because, you know, size is the only thing standing between me and a $2,000 blazer.

in more realistic retail therapy news (see? you said you wanted more frugal finds – it’s like ‘i dream of jeannie’ in blogland), i happened on the rodarte for target collection on last sunday’s target trip, and ended up bringing their navy lace tee home with me:

(hmm, maybe my new hobby should be learning to take photos that don’t suck…)  it’s sold out online, but if you happen to spot one in the store, it’s a worthy buy, which is saying something, as i’d more or less given up hope on the entire target/designer collab thing after so many misses of late.

but lacy lingerie is everywhere for spring, and if i can nail the look for $16.99, i’m a happy shopper.  the layering options are endless – over a dark tank and under a cardi, under a summer dress, peeking out under a v-neck sweater or a menswear vest…you get the idea.  (i actually did take a photo of the layered look, but it makes the first one look like ansel adams.)  sizing was a little on the narrow side…buy like you’re buying juniors, and you’ll be safe.

with that, i’m off to take a few highly invasive medical tests.  but i have brownies waiting for me when i get home.  so that’s something.

they’re one of my favorite jewelry lines, i routinely covet at least five things on their website at any given time, and now gorjana is giving 100% of tomorrow’s (jan. 27) proceeds to charities helping out in haiti.  what more could you ask?  shop hard, dear readers…it’s for an extremely good cause.

the lovely kristina lenss at kristinit just dropped me a line to let me know her entire collection is 40% off online through 2/5/10.  i very nearly blew past it, but decided to take a quick look, and i immediately knew i had to show you this beautiful floral blazer:

talk about not knowing you needed something until it showed up.  i wouldn’t expect to fall for a silk floral blazer in a million years, but look at what it’s doing for that simple black pencil skirt.  genius, don’t you think?  these dark, mod florals were all over the runways for spring style, and i’m starting to see why.

it’s not often a piece comes along that works for day, evening and weekend, but this is one of those times.  i’m envisioning this beauty topping a little black dress for cocktails, but i’d also love to see it with jeans and a slubbed white tee for happy hour, layered over a neutral (or a contrasting floral, if you’re gutsy!) sundress in the spring, or paired with some of those cropped military-inspired chinos we’re seeing everywhere.**

i’ve been pretty torn about the blazer look (especially with the miami vice-style rolled sleeves and shoulder pads), but the shape and print on this are so elegantly girly, i think there’s endless potential.  add a heel (a tan heeled sandal with thick straps would be amazing in spring), and definitely overaccessorize this one.  a few chains, some over-the-top girly gems (yeah, this one’s $8 at forever 21, i’m so buying it tonight!), or maybe a contrasting scarf (nothing too matchy, but olive would be amazing!) and you’re set!

if my math is right, this blazer will come down from $385 to about $165 (it’s already marked down to $275) with code NEWYEAR40.  not quite bargain basement, but not bad at all for a piece i suspect would end up in heavy rotation in your closet.

**for those of you who asked for more outfit compilations in our little poll, fear not – i was listening, i promise.  i’m a bit photoshop-challenged…but i’m working on it, just for you!

{“kind intruder” by michelle arcila, one of my very favorite photogs!}

…to those of you who took a second to tell me what you love, hate and generally have opinions about for this little blog.  if you didn’t get a chance, perhaps you could do it now? leave a comment on this post, the original post, some random post anywhere on the blog…i’ll see it any way you send it.  or if you’re feeling especially chatty, getting emails from you positively makes my day:  editor {at} shoppingsmycardio {dot} com, if you’re so inclined.

and have a fabulous weekend, everyone!

warning: this is going to be one of those experimental, round-about posts i warned you about.

i’m calling it right now:  musical pendants are going to be this year’s bird/feather/owl necklace of years past.  mark my words.

over the last couple of months, i’ve found myself repeatedly bookmarking necklaces made with whistles.  can’t really explain why, but i’ve just been loving the look.  it started with a link i came across somewhere for a non-profit called falling whistles.  they sell these beautiful whistle necklaces:

and all of the proceeds go to help kids in the congo learn how to work against war instead of becoming part of the ongoing conflict there (ie, be whistle-blowers, get it?).  good, right?  so maybe now i’m associating whistles with happy, good-doing types of things.

anyway. other whistle necklaces followed.  (this one from mothhouse is especially good

then, i was browsing shopbop’s latest lookbook the other day (one of my personal favorites, incidentally – take a peek), and they were featuring this harmonica necklace:

so fun, right?  in the whistle family, but more fun at parties (ahem, and better to annoy office-mates).  like the whistles, i love that it’s a little bit whimsical, but still just looks like a cool long pendant until you get up close and squint.

plus, it happens that i have a soft spot for harmonicas.  when i was just a wee shopper-to-be, my grandpa gave me a harmonica for christmas one year.  he’s in the hospital this week, and since my sweet grandmother passed just four months ago, i’m feeling a pretty heavy nostalgia pull here. so, you can imagine how hard i fell for this little pendant.

right. but sadly, it instantly sold out in the color i liked (you can still grab gold or black, though).

now, this is where the obsession kicks in.  something i like sells out in milliseconds, and suddenly i can’t live without it.  add on the sentimental-ness, and it got ugly.  so, i started scouring the web, and may have come up with something i like nearly as well from a lovely little etsy store called sora design.

what this one lacks in sleek, streamlined hipness (the shopbop version has that in spades), it more than makes up for in old-school girliness.  it even says “little lady” on it!  and it’s only $38.  i do think i may ask for a slightly longer chain length, but etsy peeps are usually super accommodating.

since i missed out on the shopbop version, i’m going to do my best not to make that mistake twice.

so, what do you think?  musical necklaces for spring?  here’s hoping they stay at least a bit original, and don’t end up becoming this year’s version of the ubiquitous bird, leaf and feather necklaces from years past.