Friday, November 25, 2016

GIFT GUIDE FOR GIRLS

It's the biggest shopping day of the year.....wooohoooo! Soooooo many good deals going on right now. Anyone out shopping today?

To say I had fun doing this girls gift guide would be an understatement. I don't have any girls but I have nieces and friends with girls. So I asked them what is on their wish list and maybe I added a couple that I would pick out when I was a tween. I included a combination of gifts for tweens and younger girls. 



1. Emoji Pillows 😍😜😎😂

2. Lululemon headbands. If you've seen a girl walking around lately you know these are a huge hit! Would make a great stocking stuffer too!

3. My kids love their lava lamps and this one is super fun because you can write on it

4. Did anyone else love these jewelry kits when they were younger? This Charmazing one looks fun because they look similar to the alex and ani bracelets that girls love and you can order different style kits as well. 

5. LUSH cosmetics bath bombs. Will be adding some of these to my wish list too. They look like candy and smell amazing! 

6. Patagonia coats was another item big on girls wish lists this year. I love their sweater coats because they're lightweight and warm. 

7. Headphones that you can design yourself!

8. This is a fun version of Amazons Alexa. Comes in 3 different patterns. I still don't get how this is any different then siri but it seems to be a big gift this year. If my kids had one of these we'd probably have the pizza delivery guy here every day. 

9. Who remembers puffy paint? I was seriously obsessed. So obsessed I had a puffy paint your tshirt birthday party and I still remember it. Well this is the modern puffy paint. Gel a Peel and create your own jewelry with it. 

10. Just Dance for Wii or Xbox. Have you played this yet? Sooo fun! 

11. Gift cards can be impersonal but it's what tweens love. Nordstrom, Bath & Body Works, Ivivva, Lululemon were all top on wish lists. 

12. Who doesn't love a Barbie dream house. I sorta get really sad when I know that I'll never buy one of these. 

13. I love flamingos and this stuffed flamingo is so darling 30% off with code LETSGO

14. Seriously how insanely cute is this play kitchen? Gone are the days of the large ugly plastic ones taking up your space when you can have one that looks nicer then your own kitchen. By the way little boys love these too no matter what your husband will tell you. It's the closest thing to a girly toy us boy moms will get away with. 20% off with code OHWHATFUN

15. American girl dolls. My favorite was Samantha! This is another gift I wish I could buy and after visiting our American Girl doll store for a gift, I'm wanting to borrow someones little girl for the day just so we can go visit and go to the cafe and do whatever else you go at the American Girl Doll store. 

16. This Cat & Jack unicorn sweatshirt is the cutest

17. Create your own fairy garden. These are so stinkin cute! 

18. Num Nums Lip Gloss kit truck because what girl doesn't love lip gloss?



A couple more gift wishes and ideas for girls: 



Wednesday, November 23, 2016

HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE FOR BOYS

I decided to split up the boys and girls gift guides because there was just too many great gift ideas that I thought this would make it easier for everyone to read. So if you have boys to shop for here are some things my boys are asking for, things they've gotten in the past and still love or things that just look pretty cool.

I've sourced majority of these toys from Target because they are having 20% off all toys right now with code TOYS. Click on link in description in each item to see online.


www.thestylenest.blogspot.com





1. If you live in a snowy part of the country these LLBean snow tubes are so durable and I'm always looking for reasons to get the boys out of the house in the winter time. (Get 20% off with code THANKS20)

2. I took my kids to Barnes and Nobles and looked for reactions to different toys and this one was thought to be "pretty cool" a 3D marker. It reminds me of the wicky sticks you get in some restaurants but this is way more fancier. It melts the sticks so you can create 3D projects.

3. Table top air hockey table. I like that this can be stored under the couch when not in use and doesn't take up a ton of space and the kids love playing it.

4. My son got this BB8 last year and it's the coolest little robot. Now they have a watch that pairs with it and you can use Jedi forces to get the BB8 to follow you. All the items can be purchased separately or they also have a bundle with the watch this year.

5. A friend told me about these blankie tails last year and my kids love them. They actually walk around in them too which looks pretty funny but they're soft, they wash well and have held up well. You can even have their name monogrammed on them.

6.  Anki Overdrive has been the most used gift in our household. Santa got it for our 7 year old last year and he has traveled everywhere with this Anki Overdrive Track set. You can buy a starter kit which comes with 2 cars (they're not cheap) then the boys wach purchased a car with gift cards they got so we could have 4 cars. The only negative is the kids need to use a phone or ipad as the remotes but because they do that, there is an app that tracks their racing stats, etc. The cars also aren't cheap but have been used heavily for a year and we haven't had any issues. The coolest things about it are that the cars actually stay on the track and if they fly off they make their way back to the track and the tracks are bendable and magnetic so they stay together. I saw this in a lot of black friday ads so you can score a better deal on it then but highly recommend this one!

7. Since we live on a hill my kids would probably kill themselves on a ripstik but a great teenager gift or if you don't live on a hill. They look fun and I would have probably loved one as a kid myself.

8. Build your own video games with Bloxels! The innovative video game creation platform makes concepting and execution easy. Watch your game world come to life as you create and animate play spaces, characters and objects because you are the artist, game designer, storyteller, programmer, publisher AND player! 

9. My boys love these Wubbles and at first I thought they were odd but the other night my son was using his as a bean bag chair. I thought for sure it was going to pop but it didn't. They're inexpensive too!

10. If you haven't seen the game Speak Out yet I highly suggest you look for it on YouTube. I almost pee'd my pants watching these videos. There are 2 different age groups you can buy with this game.

11. Any type of LEGOS will do with boys!

12. This is a great scooter for those not ready for the razor scooter. It has a back kick break and 3 wheels instead of 2. My 7 year old loves his!

13. The OSMO great educational gift. They've added some new sets to it this year like this cool drawing/projector one. There is also a new coding kit as well. Kids have fun while learning. IPad required. (This never goes on sale and it's on sale on their website right now)

14. This is all my 7 year old wants this year. Also made my Anki is Cozmo. There are a lot of robots out there this year. Another one that also looks cool is Dash. It's amazing what these little things can do but you can program them to do certain things, they have voice recognition and my kids told me that this one is cautious around pets. I'm sure the dog will love it!

15. We got these last year when they came out and I have to say these little StikBot's (20% off with code TOYS) are sort of addicting. They know come in a set with a green screen so you can create any type of background you'd like. They're little guys with suction cups on their hands and feet and you position them and take pictures and create a little video with them. It's pretty fun!

16. Any NERF gun will do but this is the modulus Nerf Gun. You can reconfigure it and attach different pieces to it. The additional pieces are sold separately and this gun is pretty big but the kids don't seem to mind.

Shop more gift ideas for boys here:



I'm not sure I think this is a good idea but kids would probably love this Fabriq version of Amazons Alexa. Just tap the mic button and ask Alexa to order a pizza, set a timer, use for music and more. If my kids had this the pizza delivery guy would be at our house everyday but I think it's a cool gift for a college aged student.






Tuesday, November 22, 2016

HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE FOR HIM


Whether it's your husband, dad, brother, uncle, boyfriend or whatever male you have to buy one thing is for certain, they're not easy to shop for. I asked Rob for some ideas and he looked at me and was like I have no clue. Thanks honey, big help! (was hoping to get a couple ideas myself) So I was left on my own to figure it out. At least my girlfriends were more help and had a couple good ideas of gifts their hubbies liked. This year there are a lot of tech gifts but that's what guys seem to like.

www.thestylenest.blogspot.com


1. This Box Fox is 4 gifts in one. An inspirational book, leather tray, x-long phone charger and mens lip balm. 

2. For the adventurous one. They've updated the GoPro with a new version that allows you to see your videos on the screen instead of the app. 

3. I've raved about Sorel boots before but they are hands down the warmest boots I've ever owned. My feet are always cold but not in these and I love the color combo of these for him. 

4. He'll always have cold water on hand with this stylish Swell bottle 


5. The new iphone 7's take such amazing pictures that I can only imagine adding an Ollo lens would make them even better. Great for the photographer who doesn't want to carry around a larger camera all the time. It's a wide angled, fish eye and macro lens. 


6. This fleece caught my eye in the store. It not only looks good, it's super cozy too! 30% off right now with code FESTIVE

7, Remember when we were younger and our dads had to carry around the VCR to capture home videos and then to be able to watch them you had to plug in the VCR with the VHS tape? Well fortunately for Dad's these days technology has come a long way. Now you can just pop it into this little projector and enjoy a family movie night. 

8. A friend told me about this and I know some guys that would really like this. A ManCan-mini keg for his fridge. Have it filled at your local brewery and it keeps it carbonated until the very last drop. You can even personalize it. 

9. Too bad Thanksgiving isn't after Christmas because this bluetooth thermometer would make a great gift for my husband when he's deep frying the turkey. They can monitor their meat via an app while enjoying a beer from their Man Can. 

10. A shave kit delivered to his door every 3 months

11. I thought this NES Classic Edition would make a great gift until I learned that Paper Boy and Duck Hunt aren't included. Really Nintendo??? Guess it doesn't matter much anyway because they're hard to get your hands on one right now. I heard that Nintendo is trying to build up the hype and so they are only releasing so many a day and that you'll be able to get it in time for Christmas. So they say. 

12. If you really really want to impress him this year, this Sonos system is amazing. You're able to set up multiple speakers and play different songs in each room. The sound is amazing too. I don't know all the little technical details so it's probably best to go to Best Buy and have them explain what you'd need. 

13. He can get his electronics shit under control with this ipad, phone and watch charging stand. There is nothing that drives me more insane then the cords and chargers everywhere but yet one always seems to be missing. 

14. For the traveler in your life Flight 001 makes great travel accessories including this mini bar kit


More gift ideas for him are included below: 



If you have any great gift ideas for him you'd love to share I'm all ears! 

Monday, November 21, 2016

HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE FOR THE HOSTESS

It's that time ladies! Gift Guide Week! I've been busy searching for the perfect gifts for everyone and having so much fun with it. Since a lot of people will be hosting the holidays in the next couple weeks I'm kicking off the week with the hostess gift ideas. I've included some this year that are also great home decor items and I'll share how to make them a great hostess gift as well because who doesn't love something they can use year after year.

I either own some of these items or have them on my list to get as hostess gifts and decor for my home this year. I'll include links below so you can shop these items and have them delivered right to your door! So what are we waiting for? Let's get this started!

www.thestylenest.blogspot.com



2. There is just something about magnolia wreaths and garland at the holidays that make everything look so elegant. Terrain makes beautiful live wreaths that you can have delivered to your home. Or if you're lucky enough to live near a Terrain store I suggest you check it out because it's one of the most amazing places I've been to. This is an unexpected hostess gift but one that I think would be greatly appreciated. I know I would love it!

3. Another great Target item are these brass bells which come in a set of 1 or 3. Add a cute hang tag and a red plaid ribbon for the hostess. I've seen them added to a wreath here and it looked beautiful.

4. I have a similar set of metal reindeer like these from a couple of years ago that I still love year after year. They move around my house from table decor to the mantle. You'll never know where they end up. Our elf likes to ride on them too! Add a cute little ribbon to their neck and give as a set.

5. I saw these trays in Target the other day and thought they were so cute. Add some homemade cookies or some cute mugs with hot chocolate to take along as a hostess gift. And they're only 9.99!! 

6. Plaid Pendelton blankets are amazing! The hard part will be choosing which pattern to pick. Add a monogram for an extra special touch.

7. I spotted these cute little plates at ModCloth and thought they would make the cutest hostess gift. They have a couple different designs to choose from too.

8. Hands down probably one of my favorite hostess gifts to give is these embroidered cocktail napkins. They come in a set of 4 and you can choose from a couple clever designs. If you live locally Trellis Home in Hingham carries them in their shop. If not you can find them here too


9. Make a 6 pack classy with a cute bottle opener tied to the package



10. I absolutely love these gold hammered stemless wine glasses. They're on sale right now at World Market but you can sometimes score them at Homegoods too. Add 4 of them to a cute Sugar Paper box from Target and wrap a pretty ribbon around the box (gift wrapping ideas coming next week)




11. This marble and brass cheese knife set is the perfect little hostess gift. Pair with some of your favorite cheeses if you're bringing an appetizer. 




12. I discovered this candle company on Instagram and really enjoyed looking at the pictures of how they make these soy candles. From their site: Candles are poured in batches of 9 or 10. Each candle, from wicking to wax melting to pouring and wick-cutting, is created with the utmost care and precision. Known for their fresh, calming botanical fragrances and vintage inspired packaging, these candles can be found sitting on the chicest of coffee tables, nightstands, and mantles all over the world. 




13. And the hostess always needs ice to keep the cocktails cold! 


Another favorite gift idea are these BOX fox boxes. Ideas for everyone on your list including cute hostess gift ideas like this EAT // SWEET one






I hope yo enjoyed these gift ideas and I can't wait to share the rest with you this week. 

Thursday, November 17, 2016

CREATE A BEAUTIFUL THANKSGIVING TABLE

Honestly how is Thanksgiving next week already? Even the kids said that November is flying by this year. I used to think I needed a month between Nov and Dec but now I think I need a month between Oct and Nov. I love Thanksgiving because it's all about gathering together and enjoying good food. No gifts, no added chaos, just added hours at the gym. 

As I'm thinking up ideas for my Thanksgiving tablescape this year I found some beautiful inspiration ideas out there to help you create a beautiful setting for your table this year. 




I love the black flatware paired with a more casual placemat and simple dish ware in StudioMcGees Thanksgiving setting




I absolutely love green / white pumpkins and magnolia leaves. There's just something about them that grabs my attention every time I see them. So there's no doubt I loved Miss Mustard Seeds use of them on her table. 




Anything with gold in it I'm naturally drawn to and love the painted pumpkins with fresh flowers GigglesGalore used. And how cute are these napkins all wrapped up like a little gift?! Check out her blog for some even more place card ideas and some free printables as well. 




With the use of neutrals in the dinnerware and linens it really makes the focus of this table the simple colorful center pieces and I love the rose gold stripes on the little sugar pumpkins from Homey oh my



www.hgtv.com

I love bringing the outside inside to create beautiful spaces and there's nothing better then using free stuff from your backyard and glamming it up with a little gold spray paint. This chalkboard sign is pretty cool too! 




Over at Apartment34 they incorporated food into their centerpiece which is what it's all about at Thanksgiving! The eggplant napkins pull it all together. I took some ideas from this to create mine last year and it was so easy. 



I wish I had these same plates and silverware for our Thanksgiving table that Carrie over at makinglemonade used for her table setting. 




How fun are all these place card ideas? I usually have the kids help out with this part. 



http://bloomdesignsonline.com/





www.diynetwork.com







More ideas for your tables:

www.thestylenest.blogspot.com

Layer colorful vases and candles in the center. Add pops of color with bright flowers and brightly colored fruit like oranges and pomegranates and tie the look together with coordinating table linens. 

www.thestylenest.blogspot.com

Reuse the pumpkins sitting around from Halloween for your centerpiece and build around that. Add some natural elements from outside as fillers with a couple of tealights. Simple linens (I'm obsessed with these from Serena & Lily) and gold silverware to add some warmth. 

www.thestylenest.blogspot.com


I'm loving the birch look and these are actually candleholders. Line them on the table with some pine cones. The kids will love searching for them and saying they helped decorate. I like these natural placemats with the gingham napkin. Tie some twine around them and you're good to go.


Friday, November 11, 2016

Friday Finds: Monogrammed Favs

http://thestylenest.blogspot.com/2016/11/friday-finds-monogrammed-favs.html

I'm convinced everything is better with a monogram (may have gotten this from my mom). I used to monogram EVERYTHING! From my sons polo shirts, to his bibs, gifts, towels and bags. If it had a spot for it there was usually a monogram. 

I've rounded up a couple favorite monogrammed items I've been eyeing up for myself and for gifts. Instagram leads you to so many new shops you never knew existed and I've included some of those in this roundup. 

http://thestylenest.blogspot.com/2016/11/friday-finds-monogrammed-favs.html









4. notepad 






Wednesday, November 9, 2016

FAMILY PHOTOS....WHAT TO WEAR

Every year I drive myself crazy trying to find coordinating family outfit ideas for family pictures. Please tell me there are others out there who do the same?  I search pinterest, stores and instagram for inspiration for the boys and something for mom and dad that all coordinate. My suggestion when deciding what to wear for family photos is to consider your location. If you're doing outdoor fall photos you can go for the warm jeweled tone colors, navy, cream cable knit sweaters, jeans, plaid shirts and boots. I also love a layered look for outdoor pictures. Having your pictures taken in the city think about going for a dressier look or a trendy fun look adding some unexpected things like crazy hats or socks. So to help you out I've pulled together a couple looks for the whole family. I have 2 boys so I try to coordinate them but I included a girls look as well for those who have girls. 
(you can shop the looks at the bottom)

DRESSED UP LOOK
 I've always wanted to do this look in my favorite part of the city. 









FUN COLORFUL LOOK
pick things that fit your child's personality















NAVY GRAY CAMEL LOOK
Mix earthtones and textures for a layered look










Friday, November 4, 2016

FRIDAY FINDS

Is it me or are these fall weeks just flying by? I had a mild panic attack when I walked into a store and it was playing Christmas music. But before we get to Christmas here is a fun tank that is especially fitting for this time of year.



http://thestylenest.blogspot.com/2016/11/friday-finds.html

http://thestylenest.blogspot.com/2016/11/friday-finds.html




Nordstrom Fall Clearance Sale is going on right now and you can scoop up some amazing deals on winter items and holiday gifts. 

http://thestylenest.blogspot.com/2016/11/friday-finds.html







My kids love these boots. They warm, waterproof and sturdy for all the hard use they get in New England. 

https://api.shopstyle.com/action/apiVisitRetailer?id=605888006&pid=uid6025-31835605-21

I get asked about these booties all the time. Although they don't have this exact color in stock anymore they do have a similar color and they're on sale! 


 



These Sophie and Lili gift tags are adorable! They have the most adorable dolls for little girls. They also have beautiful watercolors and other great gift ideas! 


http://thestylenest.blogspot.com/2016/11/friday-finds.html



J.Crew has the cutest bags out right now. They come in a couple different shades and even a leopard one but the red one caught my eye. Perfect for the holiday season and it's 30% off right now with code SHOPNOW

http://thestylenest.blogspot.com/2016/11/friday-finds.html



Head into the weekend with a good laugh. The swear one is the funniest! I wish someone would eat all my kids candy besides me 

http://people.com/tv/jimmy-kimmel-halloween-candy-prank-challenge/

Wednesday, November 2, 2016

MODERN SLIDING BARN DOORS

Don't you just love a good sliding barn door? They save space and can be used where you can't otherwise use a swing or pocket door.  I love them on laundry rooms, pantries and used as office doors. I'm especially loving the painted barn doors in fun colors. I've rounded up some of my favorites to share with you that might inspire you to hang one in your own home.


MODERN BARN DOORS

Barn doors don't necessarily need to be rustic as seen in these spaces. These modern black framed doors were used to divide these spaces in the kitchen. 

www.thestylenest.blogspot.com/modernbarndoors



Beautiful blue barn door conceals a laundry room. I may actually like doing laundry in this space. 

www.thestylenest.blogspot.com/modernbarndoors



What was once a wall that led into a dining room, now has this dramatic black painted barn door that can close off the dining area if needed. 


www.thestylenest.blogspot.com/modernbarndoors




Gray barn doors add character to this hallway and how amazing is that ceiling?


www.thestylenest.blogspot.com/modernbarndoors



These modern black chevron barn doors conceal a pantry and look great with the gold Lew's hardware. 

www.thestylenest.blogspot.com/modernbarndoors



Using a barn door as a closet door leaves the gorgeous view in clear site in this bedroom. 

www.thestylenest.blogspot.com



A great way to add a full length mirror to a space, inset into a barn door in this master bedroom.

www.thestylenest.blogspot.com



Ever think about moving to a different area so that you can have a home like this? Well, I did when I saw this house. I just love the architecture of Southern Homes. These barn doors in this home conceal an office and bar and below a small sitting/reading area. 

www.thestylenest.blogspot.com

www.thestylenest.blogspot.com




www.thestylenest.blogspot.com



You can create your own barn door with most DIY kits sold at big box stores or there are some really great sources online as well like this one from White Shanty Design. Their collection of barn doors is incredible, I highly recommend checking them out.

www.thestylenest.blogspot.com









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