Happy VD

Hi Friends!

Happy Valentines Day!  Hope you and your loves have a great one.

To Justin - So True  (from pinterest user bianca_leigh)

I know it's been quite around here again lately but I'm hoping to get back to regular posting when life settles down (hopefully soon!)

What are you all doing for Valentine's Day?  Usually I don't celebrate but this year the hubs and I are going to an awesome sounding dinner at Smoke and Barrel in DC with my friend Sarah.  I have already peep'd the menu and have locked my sights on a venison tenderloin entrée.  The three course dinner is paired with some of Ommegang beers.  Everything sounds so fantastic.  Here's the link if you're interested in checking out the tavern.  My friend Matt is the tavern-keeper and I'm so excited to check it out.

Anyway, I hope to be posting with more regularity in the near future so don't forget about me :)

xo
L

Man Presents!

Happy Friday my little cupids!
Here is a round up of presents for the menfolk this Valentines Day.  Guys have a tendency to be hard to shop for but in reality you're just picking out things that you want them to wear or carry while tricking them into thinking they like it :)  Devious!

Ok here we go...

A lot of the boys I tend to pal around with are at least vaguely outdoorsy.  They also tend to enjoy coffee, at least as a vehicle for caffeine.  Here's an interesting little gift that will serve them well when camping or if they find themselves lost in the wilderness with nothing but the coat on their back and a bag of freshly ground Bolivia Buenavista organic beans!

GSI Outdoor * $20

A stovetop espresso maker that can be used on camp stoves!  Pair this with a bag of your their favorite beans and what more could they ask for?

Next up!  A nice briefcase that doesn't look like it's filled with crackers.  (Good job to those of you that got that without clicking the link - two points!)  I mean lets face it - men wish they could carry purses... but they can't.  Mostly because we'd make fun of them and it would be emasculating.  BUT if you get them a nice "briefcase/carryall" they can put all their stuff in it and maybe some of yours too!

BillyKirk * $320

This one from Billy Kirk is nice looking, not too fancy and neutral-y colored without being boring.  Plus you could totally borrow it for a weekend bag.

In culling together all these gifts I have come to the realization that man gifts are sort of boring.  So I'm gonna throw in this sweater for good measure (what is more exciting than sweaters?)

JCrew * $59.50

JCrew seriously makes some hot mens clothes and I have felt these sweaters live and in person (All this hard work - for you my dear readers) and can attest to their coziness.  Plus what is hotter than a boy in a sweater?

OK! Phew... being this boring is hard work people.

Hopefully up this weekend: Unisex gifts and some bacony goodness!

The Gift of Love

Hi Friends!
Do you all do anything exciting and romantical for Valentine's Day?  We tend to write this semi-silly holiday off however I have several friends that are extremely into Vday celebrations and I find that pretty cute as well.  Its always exciting when Vday falls in the early stages of your relationship, non?  I decided, in honor of my friends who have major vday spirit to do a fun gift-guide.  Since we don't really do much, I thought this would be a fun way to internet window-shop without it looking like I was hinting for something I'd like. (In fact, this blog is pretty much one big *hint* :)

Today, for the chickies:
I'm going to dip my toe into the blogging water today and start with something you all already know I love. That's right, Birchbox! Birchbox is great because it is literally the gift that keeps on giving.  You get a monthly package of fun makeup related goodies to try out.  They have three different gift subscriptions (3, 6 and 12 months) and your loved one is reminded monthly of your good taste!  How can it fail?

It is so very easy to snag a gift certificate to a store you know your love is fond of so that she can pick out something that will definitely suit her but its a bit impersonal, don't you think?  Instead, go with this lovely bag.

One Sydney Road  * $85

 The simple but clean style and the perfect size for work to happy hour will be appealing to all types of go-getters. It's made from a mix of sustainable organic and recycled fibers.  Plus the colors remind me of a warm summer afternoon... and who doesn't miss warm summer afternoons at this point?

Another option is to go with a piece of hand-crafted jewelry.  One of my favorite jewelry designers is Made by Sam on Etsy.  She makes lovely individualized pieces that you will definitely treasure but are still affordable. She made all the jewelry for my wedding and could not have been easier to work with.  Here's one of her newer pieces, a pendant necklace with a peacock style charm and an intial.  She will also interchange the stones for you with your lady's birthstone.

Made by SAM * $42.98

Perfect way to prove how well you know your love.  Look! I remembered your first initial *and* your birthstone!

Finally, since girls aren't all makeup, jewelry and purses (wait, what?) here is a gift that is truly awesome...

Amazon * $67

If your girl doesn't like this, hopefully she has the wherewithall to pretend she does or else she's probably a terrorist.   First of all, Ken Burns is amazing and so is the series of actors he got to narrate this bad boy.  Secondly, its about our national parks... and they are really amazing... and you actually probably have no clue just *how* amazing they are until you watch this.  Thirdly, its so beautiful and timeless, you will never get tired of watching it.  Plus, it supports PBS... and PBS rules all.  Actually, come to think of it... PBS has a ton of awesome things.  Just ignore this gift guide, go there and buy something cool and support public broadcasting! Woot!

Check in tomorrow and I'll blow your mind with gifts for humans with weiners :)