Visions of Sugarplums dance in their heads | Gift Guide 2013

Happy Christmas Eve! There are just a few more hours left before the big day, Christmas and everyone is still busy sprucing up, grocery shopping and gift shopping. Fir those of you still at a lost for what you should gift, here’s a round up of my Gift Guide for 2013 along with some last minute suggestions.

For the guys in your life click here to see all the fabulous things you could get them.

If there are a couple ladies on your list, then I would definitely click here.

Then there are those gifts that might not have crossed your mind.

Finally for the crafty or those who try to be, here are 15 DIY gift ideas.

I don’t know if you had noticed but I completely omitted Makeup and beauty items from my ladies’ gift list this year. Truth is, I forgot, and then got just a tad too busy to post it. There were so many beautiful and interesting gift sets from the makeup world this year I can’t wait to see next year’s! I hope to get a head start on posting about them too! It would be a shame to post it know as so many of them are already sold out and since it’s Christmas Eve people are probably going bonkers to find them.

BUT, a great last minute gift idea is to get someone a gift card to one of their favourite stores. I’m sure I’ve mentioned gift cards before on my blog too. I think the least nonchalant way to give a gift card is to put it along with something else, like a stocking stuffer, a smaller gift or a very sincere greeting card. That way it doesn’t scream, “I didn’t know what to get you, so here…”

Also doing the smaller things like getting the person’s favourite movie on DVD, or perhaps buying the lip balm/ deodorant/ lotion they always use or lose or run out of, shows you appreciate the person for the little things. Just replacing batteries on one of their watches is a good way to show you are paying attention and care. Christmas shouldn’t be only about giving the “best gift”, but also about realising the persons who are vital in your life, just as God is. He sent His own son as our gift to be a bigger part of our lives than persons back then even understood. So in celebrating with all of the gifts, food, and parties, let’s not forget the greatest gift that has been given to us, Jesus Christ. I’m not a close to God as I should be, but if it’s one thing, I always remember at Christmas and Easter, there was some one who cared so greatly for us, that He sacrificed his one and only son for me (and you too).

I probably won’t have the time to post tomorrow with all the festivities going, but I want to wish you all a Happy, Safe and Blessed Christmas!

PS: Check back Thursday for another Healthline guest post on Preventing Shingles

15 DIY Gift Ideas | Gift Guide 2013

Hey all! Around Christmas time it always seems like our budgets are the tightest. There are so many people we appreciate in our lives that we want to get them all a gift or two. However we can’t always do that with the price of some items. Here are a few affordable DIY gifts that can be small tokens of appreciation for the people in your life. Great for us students who have limited budgets! Many of them seem pretty easy, even for persons like me who can’t draw any fancy designs.

Apologies that this post is so late, I really did not get the chance to post this earlier today, but I hope you do enjoy it!

Personalised mugs/ candle holders

Message Candle Holder

Mason Jar Mug Cozies

Personalised Mugs

DIY Jewellery

Flower Earrings

DIY Mineral Rings

DIY Bangles

Knick Knacks

Button Bookmarks

DIY Ring holder

DIY Air Freshener

DIY Chevron Coasters

Beauty

DIY Glitter Polish

DIY Glitter Lipbalm

DIY Lemon Soap

Magnetic Makeup storage

DIY Pumpkin Spice Sugar Scrub

Treats

Rum Ball cookies

Perfect Hot Cocoa Gift

Mint Chocolate Chip Cookies

Gifts you might not have thought of | Gift Guide 2013

Hey all! Sometimes we can be suck in a rut when it comes to gifting and end up giving the same kinds of gifts every year. It gets boring, but I’m here to help you with some gift ideas that might have never crossed your mind. I know some of these definitely hadn’t crossed mine until I researched for this post. All the things mentioned are useful pieces!

Sunglasses

 Casual, cool, sophisticated, shades are a functional accessory that can do some outfits total justice. You can go affordable and buy a few pairs of inexpensive fashion sunglasses, or take the plunge to gift a designer pair of sunglasses to a very deserving person.

Roku

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I just recently learned about this and I think it’s a fantastic idea n these times of internet television. What even is this thing? Similar to your cable box or MCTV boxes we having in Barbados, this box allows you to watch tons of movies, games, TV shows via internet stream. You just plug it into your Tv, connect it to the internet and then watch your shows. (I wonder if this works in Barbados, because it seems fabulous!)

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Casual Suits (we’re going for that Neal Caffery look)

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I’m still young and inexperienced, plus I’m a girl so when I asked my boyfriend about this, he said men are into suits, which I was quite shocked by especially given that we’re in our early 20s. But it would make sense, because just like watches, smart suits really make the look of a guy. It’s that one thing that guys have to get into wearing, whether it be from church (starts from early ages here in Barbados), or in their field of work when they leave university.

Liquor Flask

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For the rough days, that are ahead. Trust that there will be those. I found these fun ones on Etsy.

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Remote Control Car

This one was brought to my attention by one of my closest guy friends, Blackman. Apparently, these are very high tech and some can go up to 80mph. Big graduation from those flimsy types we played with as children. Remember hoping not to crash into anything because the whole care would literally shatter? These more sophisticated models for definitely more durable, justifying the hefty price tag for some. You can even change parts for them!
Since I’m no expert on this, furthermore I’m now finding this out, here’s a link of the top 10 RC cars from Complex Rides.

Cooking or Bakeware

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This is perfect for avid bakers or those who love to play around in the kitchen. Sometimes you just can’t get that new pan, or even a cooking gadget that would make your life so much easier.  A gift that keeps giving, especially if you’re on the receiving end of the baked goods!

Here’s a 5-piece Bakeware set from Bed, Bath & Beyond, and the 6-piece set also.

Pets

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Adopting a pet for someone who’s always wanted to get a cat, dog, hamster, iguana, etc, is a great way to show that you care. Giving them a companion who will be there to remind them of you, as well as to love. there’s nothing that beats pets… ok maybe there is but some are so cute and cuddly it’s sometimes hard to decide. I only suggest this for responsible persons though, because you don’t want to bring that pet from a what might have been bad home into another.

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7 Cadeaux pour Femme | Gift Guide 2013

Hey all! For us ladies, we think it’s so easy to get us a nice gift, but sometimes it really isn’t. Here are 7 gifts bound to help you find at least something for the ladies on your list.

Smell goods.

Bath products, body sprays, scented lotions, perfumes, you name it and most ladies love it. We all love hoarding lots of pretty smelling things to make ourselves or around us smell pretty. Let’s not even start on how much I love candles. It’s a good thing I’m in a place where the really nice ones are limited. But buy a girl some smell goods and she’ll be happy!

Skincare.

This gift would take some “stalking” or a really good, discrete friend telling you what favourite skincare item she’s been running out of. Us ladies love to make sure or faces and skin is on point. Especially if you’re a Caribbean lady, no ashy skin, be it elbows or knees. I think certain body lotions call under both skincare and Smell goods simply because of the great ingredients they may have in them.

Jewellery.

A fabulous lady once said, Diamonds are a girl’s best friend. Now I’m not saying to rob a bank for these gem, not every lady is into very expensive jewellery anyway, but something to remember you by in terms of jewellery, never hurt. Don’t over-expense yourself though. That’s a very important guideline. Stick to you budget and when things get better, then you can really splurge on a Tiffany’s bracelet or a diamond ring.

Books.

A very affordable option for ladies. I love my books, although I haven’t gotten around to reading as many as I have downloaded as yet. You can go the traditional route and buy her a paperback from one of her favourite authors, or maybe just something with an interesting title. Or you could see what’s on her wishlist for eBooks, because with Kindles, tablets, Nooks and all kinds of digital readers, sometimes it’s more convenient (and cheaper) than a trip to the book store.

Hair tools.

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Flat irons, curling irons and blow dryers do get worn out. There are also updates to them, similar to technology. I think a really great gift would be a hair tool (not drugstore) which has a very good quality and is supposed to last a long time. Also something with a lot of versatility, so your receiver can get the most out of it. A few brands that have a lot of hype around them are Nume, GHD, Chi, KQC and Babyliss. It’s really easy to find them online too, and some of the sites always have a coupon code available for a very sizeable discount.

Nail Polish.

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Although nail polish may seem like one of those cheaper gifts, some girls always feel more put together and glamorous when their nails are nicely manicured. You want to do you research before buying nail polish though, especially with what’s available here in Barbados. So you don’t end up getting her the same/similar colour she has, or getting her a dud of a polish which is streaky, sheer and a pain to use. For affordable options I suggest Ruby Kisses which has very improved their quality, as well as Revlon, Maybelline, O.P.I. and Essie. Or if you want to really treat her like a queen, you can pick up a MAC nail varnish, Estee Lauder, Lancome, Deborah Lippmann or one of the other high end brands.

Accessories.

Some gals just can’t have enough of bags, purses and shoes. Maybe her day-to-day handbag is showing some wear. You could definitely get her a good, sturdy replacement in a colour she’d love. Shoes are a bit more tricky, but it could also be said for all the accessories mentioned to take some advice from the lady in your life, or take her along with you to shop for these items. Then there’s no going wrong with getting her the perfect accessory.

7 Cadeaux pour Homme | Gift Guide 2013

Hey all! Everyone’s been busy doing gift guides since November, and I’m yet again late to the game. Anyway, better late than never right?  This year I decided to do the first 2 post titles in French as I miss the language, after studying it for like 5 years. Go figure!

Liquor.

If your dude is a social drinker, you could treat him to a special/ holiday edition of this favourite liquor. Something to keep in the liquor cabinet for when the good friends and relatives are over, or to have a few swigs after a long day. I love how the special edition bottles always have such nice packaging.

Music.

Guys just love their music, so why not get them a nice pair of headphones for when they want to listen to their favourite artist? Also when you’re into music, you want to always be on top of the game, so a gift card for a few downloads, like an iTunes card is always a hit, not to mention it’s budget friendly too! If you’re looking to treat them,  you could get them some really awesome surround sound speakers to go along with the gift card.

Games.

When guys get together one of the first things they talk about is games, so why not get them one of the latest releases for Xbox, Sony PS3/4? Assassin’s Creed, Need for Speed Rivals, Battlefield 4 or Call of Duty?  If you do your research and the game they most want isn’t out as yet, you can always get them a gift card to their favourite gaming store, so they can purchase it on release date! They always seem to get a kick out of that.

Cell Phones.

Since purchasing my phone, I hardly pay attention to mobile phone releases. Ok, maybe I never really was too interested in the latest. I was happy as long as the phone was small, cute, fast and had a good camera for Instagram hahaha. But guys on the other hand are like us gals when it comes to phones and electronics. Every new release piques their interest. So listen closely to find out the one phone they’ve been drooling over and get that one. (Hopefully a newer model won’t come out in the next month that they want to get too!)

Watches.

 

A smart watch always makes for a smart-looking guy, and many of them seem to love the look. You don’t always have to splurge when it comes to watches, a nice sturdy fashion watch could do the trick, especially if it’s for everyday wear. But if you really want to go the extra mile you can get him a Citizen Eco Drive watch which is supposed to last for ever, a TAG Heuer, Rolex, Swatch or any other brand along those lines. You could even go for the more affordable options of Seiko, Casio or Fossil. It all depends on your budget.

BluRay Discs or DVDs.

 

Most guys love TV so you know this one strikes high on their lists, though they won’t tell you that. Get your bro, uncle, nephew, BF, or guy friend one of their favourite series/movies on BluRay or DVD. Downloading it online is one thing, but there is nothing like owning the show you love and having it at your convenience.

Car Accessories.

If you have a guy with a car, you will know they are obsessed with pimping out their vehicle, sometimes putting more into its look than their own person appearance, hahaha. If their mats are lookign a bit wore, or maybe the seats need a bit of an upgrade, you can always purchase them a set of mats or seat covers. Of Maybe to give it a really nice sprucing up, you may want to get them a gift card for a full body service. If you’re really looking to splurge you could get them the rims of their dreams!

Disclaimer: Images are not my own. This is not a sponsored post. 

7 things I’d love to receive! (Holiday Wishlist 2012)

Hey all! Gift guides are all out of the way, next is focusing on me! 🙂 Here are 7 this which I would LOVE to receive!

In my gift guide for her, I mentioned a skin polisher from Sigma Beauty which is affordable and great, but something that I’ve always wanted was the Clarisonic. After watching rave reviews of it (usually Favourites videos on YouTube), I checked it out on Sephora and thought the price was insane! BUT, the holiday sets look really good (maybe this isn’t even new but I digress)! This one particular set has the Clarisonic Plus in pink or white, with the regular brush, sensitive brush and the body brush. Along with a number of cleansers, serums and moisturisers from different brands. You also get the typical device stand, and a charger. Can I say deal for $225? I think it is compared to the price of the unit separately which is about $200 too.

Take your mind out the gutter, it is a curling iron hahahah! Just a few months ago, I straightened my hair and it’s been a while (2-3 years) since my hair was chemically processed, and a LOT has changed since that time. First of all, back then curling irons had clips and it was the in thing to have. But with this new age of hairstyling there are clipless hair stylers which give some gorgeous styles. This one is being sold on Flat Iron Experts by Cortex. I have seen so many different brands with these, but I like those with the interchangeable heads, because you can get a variety of curl sizes.

A cheaper and probably easier alternative to this would be theses hot setting rollers from Conair (one of my favourite hair styler brands). you can just roll a couple of these in and have a cute style in 10-20 minutes! I’m just about styling my hair in luscious curls :).

Somehow after tryign to wear more eyeshadow out to classes, I caught onto the neutral eyes bug, and worse yet, the Urban Decay NAKED palette bug. I don’t think there’s really a need for 3 of them, but who knows, I have changed my mind before. I really want to try out the original NAKED palette, because of the colours it has. Although the NAKED2 has a very nice black and more mattes apparently, something calls me more to the original, if not the NAKED Basics palette. A plus with the NAKED with me, is that I’d get to try their famed UD primer potion in the original bottle, which was phased out this year.

Speaking of make up, I’ve alway wanted to try Benefit products, so when I saw some one show this set with 6 deluxe samples of their bestsellers, I was stoked. I would love the “Sexy Little Stowaways“, because it includes the POREffesional face primer, the BADGal lash mascara and Hoola bronzer, which actually may be too light for me, but I’ve always wanted to try. There’s also their eye primer, “Stay don’t stray”.

I’m not much of a polisher, probably because my nail polish usually sucks and are in such similar colours, but I fell for this holiday set from Sephora by O.P.I. I’ve always wanted an O.P.I. nail polish, but the prices I’ve seen in Barbados have always been a turn off. This set is titled “Tinsel Town”, is sooo cute for Christmas! There are a wide range of polishes included in this 8 piece set, from glittery top coats to deep wine creme polishes!

 As I also mentioned in my gift guide for her, a lighted mirror is somethign also on my list. I saw this one by Jerdon (never heard of them) on the ULTA website. It looks like it could be pretty bright, and gives that glamorous feel. Although to me the oval Conair ones look very timeless, althogh they may not give much light.

FINALLY something that has been on my wishlist forever! Sigma Brushes!! I showed the Make me Crazy Brush set in the gifts for her post, which I have been lusting a while, but I think an even better and possibly more affordable kit would be the Essentials Kit. It includes the same brushes as the Make Me Crazy set, but there is no brush holder and it costs a bit less. ($99USD to be exact).
If you wanted to get me this, I also have a coupon code for 10% off your purchase DEC2012 and when you spend over $30, you also get a free gift! Yes, that is me hinting it at you once more haha.

Have a Merry Christmas and I hope that you get at least some of the things on your list! Tell me what you’re lusting after or really need in the comments.  Happy Holidays everyone!

Disclaimer: This wishlist is in NO way sponsored. Only Sigma affliate links are embedded in this post. 

7 Gifts for the "Person who has Everything"!

I don’t know if you might have realised, but I skipped out gifts for siblings, because mine are all a lot older than me and don’t live with me, so it’s really hard for me to figure out just what they’d need without being obvious. However today I’m going to do a gift guide for the person who has just about everything  which could apply to siblings. As well as parents, friends, boyfriends, girlfriends, just about anyone. I’m not much into useless gifts, so as long as they serve a good purpose, I’ll give them as a gift.

I think a yummy-smelling or even an aromatherapy candle like those sold at Bath & Body Works, could be an inexpensive and thoughtful option as a gift for anyone. Sometimes filling a room with a comforting scent is just what you need, despite the tons of gadgets, books or other things the person may have. Here in Barbados, it may be a bit more difficult to find really nice scents, but there are some out there (check out Woolworth or grocery stores). In USA other brands also sell fragrant candles like Diamond Candles and Candles by Victoria. This is definitely a thoughtful gift, especially if you can pick out a scent which the receiver will love. If you’re a bit cautious about candles, you could also get them bottled room scents or a diffuser.

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What if the person is more on the arsty side? A cool painting, picture or even an ornament could make a great gift! Of course, some people would appreciate this kind of gift more than others, so if you choose to get something like this, do so wisely. If you know the person you’re gifting is interested in architecture, you can get them a picture of some amazing architectural design like the Eiffel Tower. If they’re into fashion or even make up, you can get them a colourful still-life or a portrait of one of their style icons.

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Do you have a person who loves food on your list? Why not get them a huge box of their favourite snack or a sampler tray of so they get to try a variety. For me some that I always would love to receive at Christmas are cookies. The original Danish butter cookies are the best. So while others are hooked on chocolate, those are my favourite thing, as they only come out for Christmas. Some people may like not only chocolate, candy and baked goods but I’ve even known persons to enjoy cheeses. Now honestly, I like cheese, but I don’t think I would enjoy a tray of like 10 varieties of cheese. That’s a bit much for me, hahaha. At this time of year there are all sorts or treats selling in bulk, so just check out your supermarket.

I think something that ANYONE would enjoy is a home personal massager. After the stress of the Holidays (or exams for some of us), it would be nice to sit back and relax those tired muscles. It would be a great year-round gift, which I think would be most greatly appreciated by older adults. You can get these in any store that sells home appliances most times. The one pictured is sold at Walgreens.

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If you have an enviromentalist on your list, you could plant a tree in their honour and I’m sure they’d love that! If I were to do this for my dad, I know he’d love me to plant a fruit tree, because it just makes more sense than planting a tree with gives nothing back to you but shade, haha. My dad’s hilarious. I think there are organisations which allow you to give the gift of a tree in USA, but here in Barbados, it’s as simple as getting a tree cutting or a sapling and planting it in your backyard.

Ok so I couldn’t help myself with this one. These serve no purpose, but I think that they’re cute and funny. Quite the gag gift, Moustache sunglasses! These are sold at the original Sun-Staches store and come in a variety of colours and moustache styles hahaha. I remember I first spotted Kandee Johnson (YouTube Guru) wearing these in her videos and I though t it was so hilarious. I think the concept was orginally brought about to celebrate Movember (November- Prostate Cancer Month), though I’m not completely sure.

Do y’all remember those advertisements, where they’d say “for everything else, there’s MasterCard”? I don’t think you can get another person a MasterCard, or would want to unless you’re really generous, but a gift card such as the Amazon gift card sure does feel like a Master Card. Amazon has a plethora of items for sale, meaning your giftee could buy their heart’s content. Books, jewellery, electronics, beauty items, food, appliances… the list goes on! In the USA, you could also get them a store specific gift card like a Sephora gift card, Walmart, CVS, Target. While for us here in Barbados you can get gift cards for Chefette, Cave Shepherd, Italia Coffee House, Super Centre, and even some clothing stores. So for the person who already has everything, when they need something more, they’d be able to get it, thanks to you!

Hope you’re getting all your holiday shopping done, if you haven’t finished already. I know how hectic stores can be during the Yuletide. It’s insane the amount people spend during this time alone. I would personally gather gifts year-round so that at this time you don’t have to be in with the rush. Sadly in Barbados, the best gift sets come out around this time (-_-) but I digress.

Merry Christmas and stay tuned for the next post. My personal Holiday wishlist!

 

Disclaimer: This post was in no way sponsored.

5 Gifts for Mom & Dad!

 

Parents are not always difficult to buy gifts, for especially when you’re living with them or keep in close contact. Once you listen closely, it’s pretty easy to find out what they want or need.

My mum has been craving hot chocolate lately, but has been getting lazy about putting on the kettle and waiting for the water to boil. An easy solution this is to get a Keurig K-cup coffee maker. It’s single cup use, literally no clean up and it takes about a minute to brew a nice warm or cold beverage. I think my mum would really love one of these. I’ve heard so many great things about this coffee maker all year. Not only is it fast, but there are tons of different flavours of coffee, hot chocolate, tea and other beverages, by a number of brands. Even Starbucks makes K-cups! You can find the Keurig coffee maker on the official Keurig website, on Amazon, or in stores like Bed Bath and Beyond, Kohls, Target and JCPenney.

My dad loves music and the news. He especially loves to watch or listen to his beloved Cricket. Although he can be very tech saavy, he likes to enjoy the simple (and sometimes old-fashioned) things. I think the perfect gift for him would be a portable radio like this one from Etón or this one from Midland,  which are perfect for storms too. My brother also had one of these and my father was always fascinated by it. These are solar powered and there’s a dynamo so you never really have to use electricity. You have a digital display with an alarm clock, and you can use the tuner to find radio stations. Not only that, but there’s even an LED flashlight, a USB charger for your phone and auxiliary jacks for headphones.  So this is truly a multifunctional radio. I can definitely see my dad keeping this in the car in case of emergencies.

 

My mum would love something like Zumba to exercise at home. I think she’d especially enjoy the dancing, so it doesnt even feel like exercise. Sometimes she can make quite a bit of excuses to not go out and exercise or walk after work. If you have Zumba or other home exercise methods, then when ever you’re free or bored you could throw in some exercise. you dont have to feel uncomfortable because it’s just you at home. Who knows, might even end up being a family thing!

My dad is a carpenter and is also skilled at a number of handy trades. He’s always in the hardware store picking out a new tool or something. Here in Barbados, some of the hardware stores allow you to sign up for a royalty card that you could use the points to purchase items from the store. Carter’s General Store Barbados is like that.You could sign up your dad for one of those royalty programs in his favourite hardware store, or better yet get him a gift card to shop there, so he can treat himself to a new tool. I know my dad would love that!

Picture taken from Divi SouthWinds Beach Resort

Finally, a gift that both your parents would enjoy, Relaxation. I think a Staycation as we call it here in Barbados would be great, because your parents would get to kick back and relax as the hotel would take care of their every need. Or is a hotel is a bit too pricey, you could give them a certificate for a Spa day, where they will be pampered all day and would be able to relieve some stress. Groupon always have spa deals, soit doesn’t have to break your pocket to give a great gift. And for us here in Barbados, staycations have special rates for locals during certain months, so you can get a nice vacation for a more affordable price.
Another great option is to treat them yourself again home. You could make them breakfast in bed, a special meal, or give them massages. You can even take them out to a special dinner. It all depends on what your parents appreciate and what you can afford.

I’d love if you’d tell me what you get or are getting your parents for Christmas. If you were a bit clueless, I hope this guide helped. Stay tuned for more I should have at least 2 more of these up before Christmas eve.

5 Gifts for Him!

 

Guys are never easy to shop for, trust me I know! They think it’s hard to shop for us girls, but boy are they wrong. This guide should hopefully make it easier for you to get the perfect gift for your guy friend, boyfriend or husband!

 

Sometimes guys feel a little intimidated buying skincare, but they know their acne is flaring up and don’t know what to do otherwise. I remember being in the skincare aisle and this mature man was standing there looking absolutely petrified and telling the sales assistant this is all women stuff, he doesn’t know what to get. Thankfully, she corrected him and told him it’s SKIN stuff, something that more guys should know and pay attention to. It’s not like they are immune from skin problems, we’re not telling you to put on mascara either, but at least take care of your skin, you’ll have it for your whole life.
A number of brands such as Clinique and L’Oreal provide a men’s care line (no cute, girly packaging) that would be a great nudge for the man in your life. You don’t have to buy the whole line either, just one or two products. I suggest an after-shave lotion, acne spot treatment and a moisturiser at least. Of course it depends on what your guy needs. I know the Clinique Scruffing Lotion is very effective at clearing up clogged pores and preventing ingrown hairs. It’s actually sold here in Barbados at Cave Shepherd, so if you think your guy needs it, that’s the quickest way to get it.

A clothing item like a hoodie or a nice sweater that your guy can wear on chilly days always makes a great gift. It’s comfy and versatile and everytime he wears it, he’ll be reminded of you. Forever21 has some really affordable male outwear. You can also find some sweaters at Hollister, which are  a bit pricey, but is probably worth the price. If your boyfriend is a WWE lover like mine is, you could totally get him one of these WWE sweatshirts from his favourite wrestler. (They ship internationally too!)

Guys always seem to wear out wallets soo fast. I guess it’s because they are constantly sitting on the wallet, it bends and eventually zippers are falling off and there are coins spilling everywhere. So you could always get your guy the classic gift of a wallet. As played out as getting a wallet may be, it’s always nice to get a genuine leather one. It may be a bit of a splurge, but the quality is outstanding. Otherwise you could get a wallet with a nice design like a cloth wallet. It may not be a sturdy as a leather wallet but it is nice to look at. You can get male wallets from outlets like Asos where they sell a variety of  more affordable brands, while Nordstrom has a selection of higher-end brands. In Barbados you can also pick up QuikSilver, LAND and other brand of wallets for guys in Cave Shepherd. I like this one from Volcom, the pattern is really captivating.

A Watch. Not like he doesn’t know you’ll usually be running late, but guys who wear a watch always look more put together. I  think the same of women, sadly my watch batteries are always dead, so I never wear one haha. You can get him a really nice watch that is waterproof, sturdy and has a bunch of cool functions, like the Citizen Eco-Drive, which amazingly never dies. There are a range of different modes with varying price points, so it could be either an affordable gift or a nice splurge. I love the one above from Citizen. In Barbados you can also get great watches at just about any jeweller.

 

Now your guy is looking sharp and to top it off, you could get him a cologne, something special. Maybe he’s had a particular cologne and it’s been running out on him. You could do him one bette and get a gift set. Honestly, I don’t go testing out men’s fragrances, so I don’t really have any particular suggestion, but a good-smelling guy is always appreciated. I know I love when my guy wears his signature scent. I like the look of this bottle of Gucci Guilty Intense by Gucci, it’s really sleek and simple.

Hopefully something on this list has got your gears moving and you can figure out just what to get your guy friend. If you have any more suggestions for gifts guys may like, you could leave them in the comments!

Disclaimer: This post was in no way sponsored.

5 Gifts for Her!

I had done one of these gift guides last year,and this year I actually wasn’t planning  to do another one, but I couldn’t help myself. So many great ideas came to my mind this year, this season really got to me early, haha.

Lately I was very interested in skincare and thought that this would make a good addition to any girl’s skincare regimen. The Sigma Beauty Cleansing & Polishing tool is similar to the coveted Clarisonic exfoliator but is far more affordable. For $43USD, you get the polishing tool, which I think is battery operated, and 3 different brush heads of various degrees of firmness. I know I would love to receive this as a gift, especially now the weather is changing and my skin is getting drier and beginning to peel.

I have been eyeing Vera Wang Princess (the original) for sometime, it just smells soooo good. I think this perfume or any light floral or fruity perfumes would be great for any lady in your life. I love to smell good, even if it’s just a scented hand cream or body wash, like those from Victoria Secret. Around this time, you can pick up gift sets for just about any fragrance (even the knock offs). If you want your fragrance to last longer you could layer the body wash, lotion and spray versions. I like to keep it simple, a few spritz of a perfume or body splash and I’m ready to go!

Besides new fragrances, I’ve really been coveting more storage for my makeup and other daily essentials. Something to help me to declutter my dresser, but is not a hassle to get in and out of on a late morning. A good place to get organisation materials in Barbados is Sort Your Stuff, Dwellings  or the kitchen aisle of most stores. You could buy specific items for organising bathrooms or makeup areas or, you can also multipurpose kitchen space-arrangers into neat counter organisers. I know another great place to find them is the Container Store, which stocks a plethora of organisation materials. I’m always getting carried away looking for ideas on their website and the items aren’t too expensive either.

Now you have everything organised, why not get a pretty mirror to look at your reflection? I’ve always wanted one of those magnifying light up mirrors, and saw some selling in Collins (Barbados) just a month ago. That would be perfect for any beauty-lover, as she can get really good detail when she’s doing her brows, eye make up or just admiring herself, haha. I know you can also find these mirrors at Dwellings Barbados, and overseas at Target, Bed Bath & Beyond and Wal-Mart.

Finally a new set of make up brushes would be the icing on the cake! Single brushes are usually quite expensive, especially high-quality ones. Luckily, Sigma Beauty has a variety or brushes and brush sets which are extremely affordable compared to other brands. High quality and durable, I’ve heard so many good things about Sigma’s products. There is one brush collection of theirs that I have been gaga over since the date of release, sadly I haven’t gotten it as yet but, this brush set would make the perfect gift for any make up enthusiast! The Make me Up collection comes on black, turquoise, red and purple, my favourite *hint hint*, and is a complete make over kit, with 12 brushes for your face and eyes. Not only is it a ton of great brushes, but they are full-sized and come with a travel case which could double as a brush holder for your vanity.  As a makeup lover, I know I would love this as a gift!

You can buy them from the Sigma Beauty website, send I have a code for 10% off any Sigma purchase. Not only that but when you spend over $30, you receive a free gift! How sweet is that? They also ship internationally!  So you could get your brush set and the polishing tool shipped straight to your home, or to the person you are gifting!

Sigma Coupon: DEC2012

Disclaimer: This gift guide was in no way sponsored. Sigma Beauty affiliate links are embedded in this post.