valentine’s day

Heart Designs Don’t Have to Be Tacky

February 3, 2020 by jessica Leave a Comment

Valentine’s Day is next week and as we inch closer to the romantic holiday, I find myself yearning to wear my heart on my sleeve — or wrist or earlobes as the case may be. However, it can be difficult to find heart-emblazoned items suitable for a 30-something woman that don’t look like they belong in a toddler’s closet. Jenny Bird nailed it this year with earrings that take an organic approach to the heart shape, and I just adore that set of underwear with petite velvet hearts that also comes in pink (bra and panties).

Here are some more heart-print and heart-shape pieces that can be worn throughout the year:

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The Coveted

February 12, 2019 by jessica Leave a Comment

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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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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!