valentine’s day

Valentine Gifts for Him

February 9, 2018 by jessica 1 Comment

We’re not much for Valentine’s Day. It doesn’t seem worth the hype to dress up and battle crowds for a night out when we’re much more content with ordering a heart-shaped pizza and sharing a special bottle of beer. This year, however, I surprised Dave this week with an early Valentine’s Day gift: a Piegram delivered to his office. They’re the cutest mini pies shipped from Honeypie in Milwaukee. They can’t guarantee a delivery date, but I ordered Dave’s on Monday, it shipped Tuesday, and was delivered in Madison on Wednesday. Obviously, it didn’t have too far to travel, though. If you’re struggling to find the perfect gift for the guy in your life, I rounded up a few ideas that have been hits ’round here. Most can still be ordered for arrival in time for Feb. 14.

Slippers – This is such a popular holiday gift, but it’s a great option if he doesn’t already have a pair of cozy slippers. I gave Dave a pair of these deerskin-lined slippers for his birthday in December and he loves them. The company needs some lead time, though, so you won’t have them in time. (But definitely keep that idea in your back pocket for a birthday or the holiday season.)

Concert Tickets – Check the touring schedule for a few of his favorite bands to see if any are playing in your area in the next few months. An experience-centered gift is always more meaningful (and fun!) than a physical object.

Decanter Set – If he’s a whiskey or bourbon connoisseur — or just a big fan of his home bar — up his bartending game with a luxe decanter set with matching glasses.

Bourbon – A nice bottle of his favorite spirit is always appreciated.

Wallet – Upgrade a ratty wallet with a beautiful Cordovan leather one.

Vinyl Subscription – Vinyl is becoming more and more popular. If he’s working on expanding his collection, sign him up for a vinyl subscription service. Many offer limited edition pressings of records with unique designs. Here’s a roundup of services to find the best one for him.

Speaker – I bought this for Dave for Christmas and I wasn’t sure how it would go over since tech is really his arena, but it’s proving itself worthy. It has great sound for being a portable speaker and apparently it’s waterproof, making it great for the beach or pool. We’re going to use it in our backyard once the weather warms up.

Piegram – Who doesn’t love a mini pie?!

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image via Unsplash

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Valentine Gifts for You

February 8, 2018 by jessica Leave a Comment

I have a men’s Valentine’s Day gift guide in the works for tomorrow, but I wanted to focus on the ladies first. After all, don’t we just happen to give ourselves the best gifts? 😉 I’m not one to covet items emblazoned with hearts, so here’s a more refined roundup of romantic and indulgent gifts that you’ll enjoy long after Feb. 14 has passed.

Cocktail Glasses – How gorgeous are these?! We don’t really need more crystal glasses for our bar, but I can’t get over the pretty scalloped design of this set.

Framed Print – Frame a photo from a favorite vacation to relive that moment each time you look at it. I’m looking at getting a couple printed to hang in my closet.

Pajamas – I’m all about silky cami and short sets for bed. The lace detail on these make them incredibly sexy, too!

Bottle Opener – This is a great option to give to a friend along with her favorite bottle of wine.

Sleep Mask – Nothing beats a good night’s rest. Splurge on a luxurious silk sleep mask to catch those Zs in style!

Fragrance – A bouquet of roses is nice and all, but I’d prefer to enjoy the fragrance in a more long-lasting way. This romantic cologne is made of seven types of roses.

Earrings – These sweet studs make for an affordable, everyday piece of jewelry.

Blush – I’m not sure I could justify the cost of the YSL blush at any other time of the year, but it’s awfully gorgeous and just think of how many Instagram-worthy moments you’ll have with it displayed on your vanity!

Wallet – This is the ultimate little luxury for Valentine’s Day (aside from going all out on diamonds, of course). If blush isn’t your thing, it also comes in black.

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image via Unsplash

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Be Mine + A Giveaway from Helen Ficalora

February 2, 2017 by jessica 6 Comments

Happy almost-Valentine’s Day, ladies! Dave and I aren’t big on celebrating on Feb. 14 with anything more than a heart-shaped pizza and the heart-shaped balloon that accompanies it. In fact, today is actually the special occasion for us as we celebrate six years together! Back in 2011, we met online and chatted for a couple of days before we decided to say hello in person on Feb. 2. The Madison area had a blizzard the night before and the city was all but shut down, but there was one restaurant open nearby and we figured that a little snow (ahem, almost two feet of snow) couldn’t get in the way of a budding romance. While it was an adventurous drive, we made it safely and the rest was history!

I absolutely love that we have two days to celebrate each other in February. And in celebration of a month of romance and sweet gestures, I’m thrilled to partner with Helen Ficalora for a giveaway of this adorable “XOX” disk charm necklace! If you’re not already familiar with the designer’s work, think of her collection as a the ideal place to create a sentimental piece for someone special. You can personalize the necklace by mixing and matching charms in various metals to capture your recipient’s personality. While I love the “XOX” charm necklace on its own with this LRD (little red dress), it’s even cuter paired with one of the brand’s initial charm disks.

Alright, I know you’re eager for me to get to the good stuff. Here are the deets: one lucky U.S.-based reader will start her own Helen Ficalora collection this Valentine’s Day with the same charm necklace I’m wearing in this post! You can enter via the giveaway form at the end of the post. Good luck!

BB Dakota dress (available in coral; also love this) | Helen Ficalora necklace (c/o) | Ferragamo flats | Diane von Furstenberg clutch | butter LONDON lipstick in Rebellious (c/o)

ENTER TO WIN!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

This giveaway is for U.S. readers only ages 18 and older and will end on February 14, 2017 at 11:59 P.M. EST. One (1) lucky winner will be randomly chosen and announced on February 15, 2017. Helen Ficalora Press will reach out directly to the winner and fulfill shipment. Winner will have 24 hours to respond and claim their prize, failure to do so will result in another winner being randomly drawn. No P.O. Boxes.

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Thanks to Helen Ficalora for partnering on this post!

Happy Valentine’s Day

February 14, 2016 by jessica 4 Comments

I hope your Valentine’s Day is full of love!

xoxo,
Jessica

Queen of Hearts

February 10, 2016 by jessica 16 Comments

If you follow along on Instagram, you may remember my fitting room chronicles of this dress. I came across it in the sale section of Nordstrom Rack and fell for the mod, a-line shape (a favorite of mine) and the whimsical heart print. However, the length was laughable when I finally tried it on in the fitting room. The dress went to my knees, making me feel like a frumpy art teacher instead of the Valentine’s vixen (ha!) I had hoped for. It was too good to pass up, though. One trip to the tailor and five inches later, the dress is everything I had hoped for: romantic enough for Valentine’s Day, but versatile enough to wear year round thanks to the graphic black and white print.

I’m linking up with four other ladies to share our Valentine’s Day looks. Scroll down to meet the gals!

Ada from Elegance and Mommyhood
“For this Valentine’s Look that can take me from work to a date night, I decided to shop my closet. I have always loved pairing Leopard with Red. For this look I mixed prints by adding a subtle pinstriped jacket on top. And since all the clothes are items I have owned for a long time, I did accessorize with new jewelry from Rocksbox.”

Jessica from Bedknobs and Baubles
“When I happened upon this dress at Nordstrom Rack, I knew it was the perfect way to incorporate Valentine’s Day romance into my wardrobe without being too saccharine. (I’m not one to go overboard with pink and red on the big day.) This dress stays true to my style with a whimsical print that’s wearable throughout the year, thanks to the graphic black and white design.”

Monica from Jersey Girl Texas Heart
“Hey Everyone! First and foremost thank you Ada for hosting this collaboration for Valentine’s Day. My look is extremely subtle for those of you who don’t like to wear too much red or anything too festive for Valentine’s Day. This is something that I would definitely wear to dinner because it’s black with a pop of pink, and the pants have enough room if I eat too much at dinner with my date!”

Megan from The Fashionista Momma
“When Pinkblush asked me to share their products, I jumped at the chance. I fell in love with this floral dress and had to style it for Valentine’s Day. I decided to add a little edge with the leather jacket and lace up shoes against the soft floral pattern.”

Emily from Darling, Dearest
“Valentine’s Day is a day where I want to feel girly. Embrace my femininity and get all dolled-up. That’s exactly what this outfit does for me. The daintiness of the lace skirt and the bold red top – even the nude heels! I feel pretty in it. Whether it be drinks with the girls or date night with my boy, I’m ready!”