Category Archives: holiday 2013

Holiday gift guides, new finds, tips and tricks, and everything you need to make this year’s holiday season a success!

merry merry!

xmas card-smc

Well, friends, it’s that time of year. The time when I hide my laptop, take a deep breath, and do my best to stop thinking in 140-character quips.

From the bottom of my heart, friends: thank you for making this another wonderful year at SMC. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again – the only reason I do this is because I adore each and every one of you. Knowing that you’re out there, giving a hoot what I have to say – and maybe even talking back – is the best gift ever.

I’ll be back after a little holiday sabbatical…my long winter’s nap is long overdue. And in the meantime, I’m wishing you and everyone you love the merriest, brightest and happiest holidays yet!

xox,
B

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gift guide: last-minute gifts they’ll absolutely love

Has the panic set in yet, friends? I don’t know about you, but for all of those umpteen gift guides I ran way back at the first of the month, Christmas is coming on like a freight train and I’m still behind on a few key gifts. Mostly, it’s the people I never know what to buy for – the people who, if they put anything at all on their wish list, it’s something completely un-special, like socks or an iTunes gift card.

In that spirit (and despite my best-laid plans to be officially *done* with gift guides), I thought I’d share a few surefire last-minute gift ideas, all of which are still shipping for the holidays! (At least for now…god bless you, Amazon Prime.)

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asked and answered: what to wear to that holiday party

Some of you told me you’d be curious about my advice for holiday party attire. And, since this is officially the week for holiday parties and I know I’m you’re fretting about what to wear, I thought I’d pass on some of my favorite “rules of thumb” for holiday party outfits. Read on →

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gift guide: woonwinkel’s finds for the modern family

{Editor’s Note: This gift guide was sponsored by my friends at Woonwinkel, but the picks are entirely mine. Thank you so much for supporting the businesses that support SMC!} family gifts

You remember Woonwinkel, right? That gorgeously modern home and accessories store in Portland (and online), filled with treasures I don’t see anywhere else – which, in my line of work, is really saying something. Every year, they’re one of my first stops for gifts, and one of the first places I look to fill out my own wish list. So, when they asked if I’d like to come up with a few gift picks from their store and share them with you? You can imagine how long it took me to agree.

The thing that always surprises me about Woonwinkel is how affordable most of their pieces are. Sure, you can splurge, but if you check out this list, you’ll see that nearly everything I’ve picked is under $60 – definitely a steal in gifting parlance. Plus, they really do have something for the whole family, so you can get your shopping done in one spot – and support a home-grown business while you’re at it! And PS: if anyone’s looking for a gift for me, that iPhone case and the brass paperweights are just my size. Ooh, and the ostrich pillow…

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gift guide: becki’s finds for the pickiest people on your list

Well, friends, I definitely didn’t save the best for last (I mean, did you see all of those amazing gift ideas my guest experts had?!). But I’ve put together a holiday wish list of my own, filled with everything from stocking stuffers/last-minute Hanukkah gifts to those little luxuries I can never bring myself to splurge on any other time of year. There’s something for everyone here – your mom, your bestie, your uncle who drinks too much – and a few treats I think you definitely deserve to have under the tree for yourself this year.

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gift guide: ali mejia’s finds for the exotic globetrotter

{This year, I’ve asked a few of the people whose style I spend all year admiring to share their holiday wish lists. Check them all out right here!} sexy gift guide travel gift guide

By now, I suspect it’s no secret that I’m a pretty big fan of Eberjey. Bordering on an evangelist, really. Their lingerie and loungewear is quite possibly the most perfect version of what it’s meant to be: sexy and comfy. In other words, pieces you could actually sleep in, but that also have a decent chance of being ripped off of you, Fifty Shades-style. As it turns out, Eberjey’s perfect formula comes from designer Ali Mejia‘s international upbringing and fanatical attention to detail. Born in El Salvador with a passion for international travel, Ali spent her teen years having her swimsuits tailored to fit. As an adult, when she couldn’t find the lingerie she was after, she decided to create it herself, and Eberjey was born. You can feel Ali’s relaxed, bohemian attitude in every single piece Eberjey designs, from beach-ready swimwear and cover-ups to pajamas and intimates that are addictively good. Just reading her list will put you in the mood for a relaxing island getaway.

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