Style Lush

Magnetic To-Do List

Editor's note: For our last week at Style Lush, I've asked the writers to share both a favorite post by another writer, from over the last three years, and a favorite post of their own. You'll see these posts linked to at the top of their new post for the week. Enjoy a stroll down Lush memory lane!

by Elizabeth

I really want to talk about how sad I am that Style Lush is ending! I do. I am very sad. However, I think it's more important that I take this last chance to say thank you. Thank you most especially to Jennie for giving me this chance, for creating this space and working so hard on it, and for building this community. It was been an amazing ride, and I am so very grateful. Thank you, Jennie, and thank you to all the amazing writers over the years, and thank you to all of you. 

My favorite posts that I've written are the Holiday Gift Guides, even though I probably wouldn't have told you that in the middle of adding 100 pictures to the post. :)  But I will be continuing them from now until eternity over at my personal site, so never fear, next November, the Gift Guide will live on. 

***

My favorite post someone else has written is this one, even though I'm writing it. I know, it makes no sense, but bear with me here.  

Last November I was visiting the lovely Jennie in Dallas, and I spent some quality time wandering around her house looking at her stuff, as you do when you're waiting to get on a flight at 6 AM and only have so much time available to study someone else's cute art and champagne prints and pictures. I noticed, on the side of her refrigerator, a magnetic to-do list. Someone had printed a list of things to get done around the house on magnetic paper, cut out each individual item, and stuck them all on the side of the refrigerator.

As soon as I saw this I said "That's such a cool idea, Jennie! I love it! You need to post about that on Style Lush!" but she waved her hand at me and said disdainfully, ""Oh, that?! No! Mike did that."

AH HA HA HA HA HA. 

Poor Mike. 

Anyway, the joke's on you Jennie, because I am choosing this post you never wrote as my favorite Style Lush post of all time. And you have strict instructions from me to get to work on that To Do List, starting next week. It's a good one, despite its provenance. 

Reader Help: I Need a New Mattress

by Elizabeth

Just in case my scintillating blog title didn't give it away already, the thing is, I need a new mattress. 

And I have no idea how to pick a good one. We picked out the one we have now by lying on mattresses in a mattress show room. It seemed fine at the time, but seven years later, it's pretty awful -- there are two giant divots in the spots where my husband and I sleep, and I wake up every morning with terrible lower back pain.  So needless to say, I'm not sure I really think that going into a mattress store and lying on mattresses is the way to go. 

After some fairly cursory googling of what kind of mattress you should buy if you have terrible lower back pain, I think I'm fairly sold on memory foam, but I want to know what you think of it. I'd like to spend less than $1000 and I'd like to be able to use the sheets I already have. I've always been a fan of foam mattresses in the past, so I was thinking of ordering the PacBed Original from Bed In A Box. They get great customer service reviews, they have a 90-day return policy, and all the reviews I've read online have been incredibly positive. The platform bed I already have is one that is sold on their site and can be used with a memory foam mattress, so I don't need to buy a box spring, and I can use the sheets I already have because it's the same dimensions as the mattress I have now. 

There's also an option to add a gel layer to this mattress, I think because traditionally memory foam mattresses make people hot and the gel helps with that, so I am leaning towards yes on the gel layer. (I am a cool sleeper but it gets really hot here in the summer, so I feel like that evens out.) It adds $100 to the mattress, but it still brings my total to $749, which I think is a pretty good price for a mattress considering I paid $799 seven years ago for a mattress that hurts my back and has two giant divots in it now. 

Does anyone else have any good or bad experiences with memory foam mattresses? Any horror stories or words of wisdom? For what it's worth, I should probably also add that I have a very arched lower back -- if I lie on the floor flat on my back, I can stick both of my hands in the arch that my lower back makes. Ideally someone with this same body type will now comment and tell me that yes, this is the exact mattress that I should be purchasing, and it will solve all my problems and also scrub my bathtub for me. 

{Image credit: www.bedinabox.com}

Hats in The Belfry Review + $50 Giveaway!

Updated: The giveaway is now closed, and we have a winner! Congratulations to April G. (#19). I'll be in touch this week with more details about your $50 gift card to Hats in the Belfry!

***

by Elizabeth

Editor's note: Elizabeth was sent a hat from Hats in the Belfry to review, free of charge, and they're providing a $50 gift card to their Belfry hat line to a lucky reader. She wasn't compensated otherwise and the opinions and thoughts in this post are her own.

I've been undergoing a little bit of a personal life transformation of late. Early last year, something in me just snapped, or woke up maybe, and I decided I was tired of looking sloppy at every opportunity. I'm a SAHM so I didn't want to wear my prom dress to Kindergarten drop off, but I wanted to be dressed nicely most of the time, and I wanted a small but deliberate wardrobe that I could mix and match easily so that I'd never be stuck in front of a closet full of clothes that didn't fit, didn't go with each other, and that left me nothing to wear. 

And it was very successful! It's been life changing, actually. (If you want to read about it more detail, you can read about it at my personal blog under the "What I Wore" tab, but be forewarned, there's a lot of pictures of me in dresses.)

The final pin in my "dress less like a giant slob" plan was outerwear, because it's winter and nice outerwear is part of the package. After I rounded up some nicer coats, I started to wonder if maybe, after 30 some odd years of wearing nothing but knit hats with pompoms, if maybe I might like to look for a more dressy winter hat. I tried on a few but I had yet to bite the bullet, and then the lovely folks over at Hats In the Belfry sent me one to try out (I chose the Irene cloche), and the good news is that I loved it! I loved it. 

It's definitely more dressy than I'm used to, and it took me a few minutes to get used to it, but now I just love it. It makes me feel like a grown-up! A well-dressed, warm grown-up. I've mashed it up into my purse more than once now and it's taken it like a champ, and it looks so much better with a dress and a nice longer winter coat than a knit wool hat does. I really am just crazy about this hat!

Hats in the Belfry has a ton of other options (from super inexpensive to splurges) and in all different styles, too. And today, they're giving away a $50 gift card to a Style Lush reader.

Giveaway Details:

GIVEAWAY: For a $50 gift card to any Belfry Brand hat on Hats in the Belfry (you can see the full line here)
TO ENTER: Comment on this post answering what hat you'd like to put your gift card toward
GIVEAWAY ENDS: January 15, 2013 at 11:59pm PST
WHO CAN ENTER: Anyone! 
EXTRA DETAILS: One comment per reader. Winner will be selected by random.org, as an update to this post by January 16th (so come back here next week to see if you won).

Good luck and happy hat wearing!

PS: Thanks to Hats in the Belfry for the giveaway. If you want to connect with them on Twitter or Facebook, feel free!

How-To: Keeping Darks Dark

by Elizabeth

I'll be be honest, even though I love a peasant skirt or a brightly colored t-shirt dress as much as the next person, during the winter, I wear a lot of dark colors ... black dresses, navy leggings, dark wash jeans, all that good stuff. And now that I'm trying to make sure my wardrobe looks a little bit better than "this is what was on the floor from yesterday" I'm also trying to make sure I take better care of the clothes I do have. I can't help but notice that all these dark clothes of mine start to fade pretty much as soon as I wash them the first time. 

Here's a few strategies I'm trying out to keep my dark clothes dark, but if anyone else has any other magic ideas, I'd love to hear them:

1. Wash on cold. Supposedly, you really don't need to wash anything on hot these days, but I must admit I still wash my whites on the hot cycle. However, I try to separate my dark clothing out and only wash them on cold. 

2. I also wash all my dark clothing with this special Woolite for Darks, but I have no idea if it makes any difference. I feel like it helps, but it might just be one of those things that makes me feel better but actually does nothing. 

3. I also try not to dry my dark clothes in the dryer unless I absolutely have to. My t-shirts and knits seem like they never "spring back" correctly if they aren't dried in the dryer, so I usually do throw those in on a lower heat setting, but I hang dresses and tights and sweaters to dry around my house. 

4. If I remember, I put some white vinegar in the laundry load as well. I also have no idea if this does anything, but I figure it can't hurt. However, most of the time I don't have any of the right vinegar on hand anyway and I skip this step. 

5. I try to buy slightly better clothing -- I've noticed that even the kid's clothes from Old Navy fade immediately upon purchasing. I'd rather spend a bit more and not purchase what is essentially disposable clothing, so unless something is spectacular from a store like Old Navy, I try really hard not to shop there. 

Does anyone have any other magic suggestions for keeping darks dark? My navy t-shirts thank you in advance. 

(Photo credit: amazon.com)

 

Christmas Collections: Do You Have One?

by Elizabeth

A few years ago, I bought myself a silver tree when Target first rolled out their Christmas decorations for the year. The year after that, I wanted another one, so I decided I would collect silver trees at Christmas time. This year there weren't any silver ones at Target I liked, but I did end up finding one at Pottery Barn and it is lined up on my mantel as we speak. 

(The one I bought isn't available online anymore but there were tons in the store. It's that lumpy looking one in the picture below.)

I love the idea of collecting something just at Christmas time. I have visions of a virtual forest of silver trees packed onto my mantel many years in the future when I've been collecting trees for decades.  

I wasn't sure I wanted to do this for EVERYONE in the family, but I think I'll let my son pick out a nutcracker every year too. I love that this gets him excited for Christmas and peripherally involves him in the Christmas decorating. This year he picked out this super cool all-white one from Target (with some nudging from his mother). And doesn't a bunch of nutcrackers all lined up together paint a nice vision for future Christmases? 

Do you collect anything just for Christmas!? Do tell, I need ideas for my daughter, who is obviously going to need her own collection some day too. 

(Photos from: potterybarn.com, target.com)

Stocking Stuffer DIY: How to Make Overpriced Hair Ties for Next To Nothing

by Elizabeth

The other day I was reading the lovely Slynnro's Christmas wish list, and I noticed the hair ties that she linked to. This is the not the first time I have seen this variety of hair ties and been horrified that people are paying this exorbitant price for thirty cents worth of material tied in a knot, so I thought as a public service announcement I'd explain how to make these yourself. 

Here's what you'll need:

Scissors, a ruler (Fermilab Swag variety not required), and some Fold Over Elastic, commonly referred to as FOE. Now, I have a metric ton of this stuff just sitting around my house from some project I can't even remember, but it's VERY easily and cheapily aquired on Etsy. Just search for FOE under the supplies tab. Here's a listing for 10 yards for $3. 

Cut your elastic to the desired length. I tried 10 inches and 9 inches, and I couldn't really tell which I liked better, but I think the 10 inches was easier to wrap three times around my hair. It really depends on how tight you like your hair ties and how much hair you have, so feel free to experiment. 

Cut the ends of your elastic on an angle. 

Tie the ends of the elastic together about an inch from the end of the loop. 

And voila! On a little tag like this I think they'd make the cutest stocking stuffers!

Reader Help: I Am Looking For A Dress

by Elizabeth

This winter I decided that instead of wearing jeans and t-shirts and boots and a puffy down vest every single day until May, I would buy three black dresses and I'd wear those at least a few times a week. I figured with different shoes and various necklaces and scarves and leggings I could accessorize a few black dresses into a billion different outfits and make them a little more casual for Kindergarten pick-up and a little more dressed-up for holiday goings on. 

The problem is that even though I can see the PERFECT dress in my head, I can't find it anywhere. Which, I really cannot believe because it would be SO perfect and I would buy the bejeebers out of it, but nope, it doesn't exist, at least not that I can find. That's where you come in, because I'm really hoping it's out there and one of you can lead me in the right direction. 

So what am I looking for? 

Black, obviously, made out of some long-wearing heavy knit, but not that weird "travel knit" that's sort of shiny and stretchy and boingy. Maybe ponte or something like that. Long sleeves or at least 3/4 length sleeves, a crew neck, knee length or a little shorter, and with a nice a-line shape. Literally something that I can throw on over a pair of leggings and be done, so not too tight. And NOT a sweater dress. And it doesn't exist ANYWHERE. 

I tried on this dress from Lands' End and the fit was terrible. 

I HAVE this dress from the Gap but it doesn't come in black, only navy (or orange, obvs), which I feel is so much less versatile for winter. 

This is pretty much the ideal dress, from J. Crew, but um, this is for kids, and I do not wear a children's size, much to my dismay. There is a grown-up version, but it's wool, and, yeah, no. 

I also tried on this Gap shirt dress out of sheer desperation since it did have a certain "you could throw this on with leggings and go" and it was also quite terrible, unless "evil governess" is the look you're going for, in which case, this is the dress for you. 

Has anyone out there stumbled across (or better yet, purchased) this imaginary dress? If you know of one, please let me know, I'd be forever grateful. Until then I'll just be over here in my dreams, wondering if maybe this is the winter I'll magically learn to sew in my sleep. 

(Photos from: landsend.com, jcrew.com, gap.com)

The Official 2012 Style Lush Holiday Gift Guide: 100 Gifts for $35 or Less

by Elizabeth

It's that time of year, Lush readers. The time we offer you dozens (upon dozens) of reasonably priced presents for every recipient on your gift list. (Here are the previous years: 2009, 2010, and 2011.) This year, we bumped our limit up by $10 because inflation is no gift guide creator's friend. But, don't fret! Only a handful of items are over $30. There is still PLENTY to fill your (online) shopping carts without killing your wallets. Let's get to it!

1. Tiny Toms, $28.95. My lord, these are cute. 

(Photo from nordstrom.com)

2. Shuffle Calendar, $24.95. I need this atop my desk.

(Photo from cb2.com)

3. Remote Control Helicopter, $25. I have never known a dude, whether 5 or 25 or 55, who was not dying to get his hands on this thing. It's a sure bet. 

(Photo from amazon.com)

4. Laguiole Cheese Knife Set, $32. I gave these cheese knives to someone a few years ago and they still tell me how great they are and how often they use them. 

(Photo from anthropologie.com)

5. 3D Geo Shapes, $32.95. These look a little boring on first glance, but we checked them out from the library and my two year old could not stop playing with them. Plus, I felt like I could see her brain growing right before my eyes, and I hardly ever think that while she's watching a My Little Pony marathon on TV. 

(Photo from amazon.com)

6. Melissa & Doug Horse Carrier, $15.40. Fun for a horse fiend. Or a trailer fiend. 

(Photo from amazon.com)

7. I  love Christmas pjs that kids can wear all year. My five year old is getting these Old Navy Penguin PJ's ($14.94; and there's always an ON coupon code to be found) from St. Nicholas on December 6th. 

(Photo from oldnavy.com)

8. I can totally see this fabulous Lacoste beach towel ($24.99) tied up with some sunscreen, some cheap sunglasses, or some flip-flops, especially for someone who's taking a wintry tropical vacation. 

(Photo from zappos.com)

9. This Cozy Classic Stripe Scarf from the Gap ($20.96) is amazing in person. I've already given it to three people, including myself. 

(Photo from gap.com)

10. Crate and Barrel Raj Hurricane, $17.95. Love it. 

(Photo from crateandbarrel.com)

11. I LOVE this Crate and Barrel Palma Low Basket and for the price ($14.95) you could fill it with a throw and a good book, some citrus fruit, really anything that strikes your fancy. 

(Photo from crateandbarrel.com)

12. Band In A Box, $19.66. Maybe give to other people's children, and then laugh.

(Photo from amazon.com)

13. Or add earplugs for the parents, and the Hohner Kids Glockenspiel, $16.92.

(Photo from amazon.com)

14. The Vermont Country Store soap ($13.50) smells amazing and lasts forever. Make sure you get the honeysuckle, it's my favorite. 

(Photo from vermontcountrystore.com)

15. Every year I cross my fingers that Santa brings me these mint melts, $17.56. Yum. 

(Photo from crateandbarrel.com)

16. My kids would love this Go Fish Game, ($24.95) and, bonus, no batteries to replace!

(Photo from landofnod.com)

17. I think these Silver Pinecone Taper Holders ($12.95) are so pretty. Add some red candles ($9.95) for a gorgeous gift. 

(Photo from crateandbarrel.com)

18. The Body Shop Shower Gel ($8)  is the best shower gel ever. I'd choose a trio of Mango, Pink Grapefruit, and Lemon and tie them up in a gift bag with a red bow. 

(Photo from thebodyshop-usa.com)

19. I can't wait until my kids are old enough to make me terrible pot holders with that crazy Pot Holder Loom ($13.19) thing. 

(Photo from amazon.com)

20. These Matryoshka Madness Stacking Dolls ($14.99) are showing up under our tree this year. They're just so darn cute. 

(Photo from amazon.com)

 21. You can't go wrong with this adorable Wee Wonderful Stuffed Elephant, $24.95.

(Photo from amazon.com)

22. These Men's Bearpaw Slippers ($34.93 + free shipping through 11/26) are making me wish I had bigger feet. Don't they look cozy!?

(Photo from rei.com)

23. I can't imagine what's not fun about a Make Your Own Root Beer At Home Kit, $21.08. 

(Photo from amazon.com)

 24. I would love one of these Sur La Table Italian Scalloped Bakers, $19.99. Beautiful and useful? Yes, please!

(Photo from surlatable.com)

25. My husband is always happy to get a Fitted Baseball Hat ($21), no matter how badly his team is playing. 

(Photo from amazon.com)

26. Everyone loves Smartwool Socks, and for $30 you could get two pairs of these! The gift of warm feet is always appreciated. 

(Photo from rei.com)

27. The REI Planet Bike Spok Light Set, $18.69. A perfect gift for the biking enthusiast in your life. 

(Photo from rei.com)

28. Admittedly, the Gap Modal Ruffle Cami, $13.96, (and don't forget the matching boy shorts, $8.70) isn't to give to everyone, but I had to put it on the list. Mostly because I want it. 

(Photo from gap.com)

29. For the young bird nerd in your life, My First Bird Book and Feeder, $21.95. 

(Photo from workman.com)

30. So gorgeous! The Cost Plus Lisbon Serving Platter, $24.99. You could even deliver it to a friend or your favorite hostess with a bow around it and something delicious (in plastic wrap) on top.

(Photo from worldmarket.com)

31. I recommend these fabulous West Elm Laquer Trays ($24) every year, and then I found out that they can be monogrammed and now I'm recommending them even more strongly. Monogram that red one and fill it with cookies! Fantastic. 

(Photo from westelm.com)

32. People RAVE about these Anthropologie Capri Jar Candles ($25), and they're SO expensive. This makes them the perfect gift, at least for anyone you know who likes a delicious smelling candle. 

(Photo from anthropologie.com)

33. Gap Moss Stitch Hat, $17.96. The perfect shade of red. 

(Photo from gap.com)

34. I saw this Crate and Barrel Red Popcorn Tub ($16.95) in the store and it's fantastic. I'd give it with some of this Midnight Popcorn ($6.95) and some Popcorn Seasoning ($9.95). 

(Photo from crateandbarrel.com)

35. The West Elm Stripe Favorite Throw is only $23, and so pretty! 

(Photo from westelm.com)

36. These Spool 72 Mineral Springs Earrings ($18) need to find their way into my stocking. 

(Photo from spool72.com)

37. I also think they'd be pretty tucked into this gorgeous Mercury Glass Box, $24.50. 

(Photo from potterybarn.com)

38. His and Hers PJ Pants? Flannel with polka dots for her ($20.97)...

39. ...and traditional Plaid Flannel PJ Pants ($14.97) for him. 

(Photos from gap.com)

40. Two sets of these Kavita Floral Napkins ($12.76) would make a great gift, especially combined with some..

(Photo from worldmarket.com)

41. Crate & Barrel Navato Gold Napkin Rings, $2.95/each.

(Photo from crateandbarrel.com)

42. This Cost Plus Broken Bangle Jewelry Box ($14.99) is so pretty and different. To make it even more special you could add...

(Photo from worldmarket.com)

43. This Beau & Stella Tiny Interlocking Links Necklace ($30) or...

(Photo from beauandstella.com)

44. This Stacks of Turquoise Ring, $18.

(Photo from spool72.com)

45. I wish I knew a baby just so I could give them this Knit Viking Hat, $30. 

(Photo from etsy.com/shop/BabyBlissGinny)

46. I can totally see this L'Occitane Hand Indulges Hand Cream Set ($28) tucked into...

(Photo from shop.nordstrom.com)

47. This West Elm Velvet Zipper Case, $12. Add a monogram to make it extra special. 

(Photo from westelm.com)

48. I've looked at a lot of ornaments this year. This Pottery Barn Silver Lantern Ornament ($12.50) is my favorite. 

(Photo from potterybarn.com)

49. I am putting Pink's new CD, The Truth About Love ($5), on this list because 1. it's so cheap, it's practically a stocking stuffer and 2. I want it. (Warning, though, it does have some naughty words.)

(Photo from amazon.com)

50. Speaking of naughty, I am recommending Don Winslow's book Savages ($10.20), as well as the prequel The Kings of Cool ($13.44) because they're some of the most fun books I've read in a long time, but they're...not for everyone. If you know someone who loves Pulp Fiction and doesn't mind a lot of bad words, though, I bet they like these books. 

(Photo from amazon.com)

51. I can totally see the Marin White Pitcher Vase ($22.95) filled with red holly berries in the winter and lemonade in the summer. 

(Photo from crateandbarrel.com)

52. When it comes to baby clothes, I think neutral patterned knits always look more expensive. This Garter-Stiched Stripe Sweater from the Gap fits the bill, $23.96. 

(Photo from gap.com)

53. Know a budding artist? These Prismacolor Colored Pencils (plus a pad of drawing paper) would make a lovely gift, $26.04. 

(Photo from amazon.com)

54. These amazing Williams Sonoma Cocktail Mixers ($16.95) are on my wish list. I'd add the rimming sugar and a few schmancy cocktail glasses for an over-the-top fantastic present. 

(Photo from williams-sonoma.com)

55. Or maybe you're shopping for a baker, not a drinker. I'm crazy about these beautiful Williams Sonoma Copper Cookie Cutters, $7.95. Pick out a few of your favorites and tie them up with a wooden spoon and some sprinkles. 

(Photo from williams-sonoma.com)

 56. I love this Painted Wood Chess Set, $24.98. I forsee a lot of time for Chess games between Christmas and the return to school. 

(Photo from worldmarket.com)

57. There's aaaaaaaall the other peppermint bark, and then there's the Williams-Sonoma Peppermint Bark, starting at $26.95.

(Photo from williams-sonoma.com)

58. Give these Sukie Super Cool Iron-Ons ($10.17) with a few blank shirts so your giftee can get started crafting up right away. 

(Photo from amazon.com)

59. Not only is the 2013 Paper Source Wall Art Calendar gorgeous ($29.95), but every page can be made into something else after that month is over. Isn't that cool?

(Photo from paper-source.com)

60. I've never given anyone the Whirly Pop Popcorn Maker ($24.95) and not heard rave reviews afterwards. 

(Photo from williams-sonoma.com)

61. The Baggu for J. Crew reusable bag is cute and environmentally friendly. And at only $10 each, for $30 you could give a set of three.

 

(Photo from jcrew.com)

62. I own the Golden Lace Collar ($18) from Francesca's (it's metal even though it looks just like lace) and I have received literally scads of compliments on it. Recommend. 

(Photo from francescas.com)

63. Especially if you can afford to tuck it into this fabulous Pottery Barn Paisley Jewelry Roll, $19.

(Photo from potterybarn.com)

64. Kate Spade Polka Dot Thermos, $35. Someone please buy me this. Ha-ha, just kidding. Except not really. 

(Photo from katespade.com)

65. If you're still in Kate Spade mood after my blatant display of greed, but you just can't swing that thermos, you can't go wrong with these Monogram Notecards, $26.

 

(Photo from katespade.com)

66. These J. Crew Marled Rugby socks ($16.50) seem like just the thing to wear while sitting around drinking from your Polka Dot Thermos and writing notes on your Monogram Notecards. 

(Photo from jcrew.com)

67. Holiday Crafting and Baking with Kids ($11.50) looks fun. Maybe flip through the book before you give it and include supplies to make one of the projects. 

(Photo from powells.com)

68. No foxes were harmed in the making of these Recycled Cotton Fox Mittens, $22.

(Photo from uncommongoods.com)

69. If I knew any guitar players I'd buy them this Guitar Pick Maker ($25) in one hot minute. 

(Photo from uncommongoods.com)

70. This Tasha Polished Paisley scarf ($28) is so pretty, and wrapped up in a Nordstrom box I think it will look way more expensive than it is. 

(Photo from shop.nordstrom.com)

71. Metal Wall Letter. Give this to an expecting mom, if she has her baby's name chosen, or to new homeowners.

(Photo from landofnod.com)

72. Mac Guilty Passions Metallic Pigments, $32.50. Worth it for the super cute packaging alone. 

(Photo from maccosmetics.com)

73. Or if Guilty Passions aren't your thing, I love this Stila Lip Glaze Gift Set, $25.

(Photo from shop.nordstrom.com)

74. The Land of Nod I'm Not Bored Any More Art Jar ($29) is one of my favorite things to give kids. 

(Photo from landofnod.com)

75. The Sportcraft Anywhere Table Tennis Set ($21.99) seems super fun, doesn't it?

(Photo from amazon.com)

76. There something about a Tin Tea Set ($19.99) that I find very appealing. 

(Photo from amazon.com)

77. Who doesn't love cheese? Aside from the lactose intolerant, that is. I really find this Williams-Sonoma DIY Cheese-Making Kit very desirable. (Can you tell I am running out of ways to say "Buy this. Wrap it up. Throw it under the tree"? Well, I just described a cheese making kit as "very desirable," so, yes, I am.)

(Photo from williams-sonoma.com)

78. Tie up that very desirable cheese-making kit with this Red and White Stripe Apron, $24.95.

(Photo from williams-sonoma.com)

79. Or if your gift recipient is more into smelling like delicious baked goods than actually baking them, this Philosophy Lemon Angel Food Cake Duo ($22) is the perfect gift idea. 

(Photo from shop.nordstrom.com)

80. Tie one of those honey dipper things up with this Williams-Sonoma Honey Sampler ($21.95) and add a loaf of freshly baked bread if you have time. Delicious. 

(Photo from williams-sonoma.com)

81. For your favorite naturalist, the super cool Seed Bombs and Slingshot Kit, $19.95.

(Photo from crateandbarrel.com)

82. Penguins and Pajama Pants ($29.50) a perfect combination. 

(Photo from garnethill.com)

83. I have a very hard-to-shop-for person on my Christmas list, and I always send them smoked salmon and fancy crackers ($14.99) when I can't think of anything else. 

(Photo from worldmarket.com)

84. This "But First, Coffee" T-Shirt ($28.99) would be so fun to tie up around a pound of your favorite beans. 

(Photo from skreened.com)

85. It's probably easier to pick up in the store than to order online, but a bottle of something nice always makes a good gift. 

86. Whenever I see these Fleur de Lys Juice glasses ($6/each) in person I always fawn all over them. These would be so fun to package up with a hand juicer and some nice oranges. 

(Photo from anthropologie.com)

87. This is such a pretty mixing bowl, $19.95. It'd be nice tied up with some brightly colored rubber spatulas or some wooden spoons and a fancy boxed mix. 

(Photo from crateandbarrel.com)

88. It doesn't get much cuter than itty bitty cowboy boot socks, $22.42.

(Photo from amazon.com)

89. These Measure Up Cups by Discover Toys ($16.99) are a favorite in our house. 

(Photo from amazon.com)

90.  I feel like my kids are finally at the age where they'd really get a bang out of Twister, $22.91.

(Photo from amazon.com)

91. Another toddler age toy that's really popular at our house are these Educational Insights Touchable Textures Squares. 

92. In case you need to entertain yourself while your children lob fabric squares at each other, I am really enoying the new Barbara Kingsolver novel, Flight Behavior ($16.20). I think it'd be fun to include a new Starbucks gift card and a promise of babysitting for someone who you think might really benefit from a few hours of alone time. 

(Photo from amazon.com)

93. If I could only buy one baby blanket, this blanket by Elegant Baby ($22.75) is the one I would buy. It's a favorite at our house. 

(Photo from amazon.com)

94. I feel like a Darth Vader Lego Watch ($19.99) is a pretty sure bet for a boy of a certain age. Like, say, 5-85. 

(Photo from amazon.com)

95. I really super love this iPhone case ($24.99). I should probably get an iPhone before I buy it though. 

96. This Monogrammed To-Go Cup ($12) and a few Starbucks gift cards sealed inside? Love it. 

97. These States Birds and Blooms prints ($15) are fantastic. Add a nice mat and frame before you gift it. 

98. I think this Handmade Rainbow Color Dried Flower Wreath ($27.50) is the prettiest, especially during such a dark time of year. 

99. The IKEA trains ($9.99) work with all the other wooden train sets out there and are so well priced it's crazy. 

(Photo from ikea.com)

100.  And finally, you can give this IKEA Easel ($14.99) and still have plenty of cash left over for a roll of paper and chalk. 

 

(Photo from ikea.com)

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There you have it! We hope you love this list as much as we do. (Great, great job Elizabeth!)

We plan to host a similar giveaway as last year, a giveaway that gives one of you the chance to win your favorite item from this list, so check back on 12/3 for your chance to enter.

Also, if you'd like to share this list with your own readers or friends (awesome; thanks!), we have a badge you can add to your site:

(Code for the badge: <a href="http://www.stylelushblog.com/2012/11/the-official-2012-style-lush-holiday-gift-guide-100-gifts-for-35-or-less.html"><img src="http://www.shelikespurple.com/StyleLushHG2012.gif"></a>)

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(Finally, enjoy the second (!) annual Food Lush Gift Guide, with plenty more food and food-related gift ideas, is also up today!)

Help For Really, Really, REALLY Stinky Feet

by Elizabeth

So my five year old has always had a certain proclivity for oderrific feet, if I'm being honest here. He inherited this from his father, who claims this is the reason he never gets sick, but judging by all the vomit I cleaned up this weekend, this theory is somewhat flawed. 

Anyway, as soon as Kindergarten started, my son started wearing sneakers with no socks to school all the time and when he would come home and take them off, I'm not kidding, the kid could clear a room. It was BAD. BAD BAD BAD.  

In an effort to keep this child from becoming the social pariah of his kindergarten class, I did two things. One, I made him start wearing socks. This seemed to help a lot, but since some severe damage had already been done, there was only so much foot stink that could be eliminated this way, so in desperation, I also ordered some of this Tea Tree Oil Foot Spray from Amazon. It had the highest reviews of any foot spray and I am a BIG believer in the power of tea tree oil, so I figured it was worth a shot. 

The good news is that it totally works, at least on sneakers and stinky five-year-old-boy feet. I have yet to test it out on husband feet, but I sprayed it straight into my son's sneakers and it made a world of difference. Two days in a row and his shoes don't smell at all, and the minty tea tree oil scent is really nice, I have to say. I also sprayed it directly on his feet just for good measure, but to be honest after blasting his shoes with it, they didn't even really need it. 

I have no idea if this foot spray will help the stinky Teva/summer sandal problem we've talked about on Style Lush before, but I'm definitely going to test it out, and I shall be reporting back. Fingers crossed, till then!

(Photo credit: amazon.com)

Let's Talk About These Shoes That I Want To Buy

by Elizabeth

So, the big news around here is that the five year old in our house recently started Kindergarten. For reasons I am not entirely clear on, there's no parking lot for drop off and pick up, which means that four times a day I have to park on the street and walk a few blocks to the school. This means that my tolerance for really high heels I can barely walk in is diminishing at a rapid rate. I'm not the type who can gracefully saunter down the sidewalk in four-inch heels. I am instead the type who will fall on my ass in front of all the other kindergarten parents and have to hide my face in shame for the rest of the year. 

So, I am looking for comfy cute shoes that I can wear this winter. It's going to start raining, although it's not going to start snowing. I've been giving these Toms wedges the side eye for some time now, but I'm having trouble pulling the trigger. Do you think I can wear these all year long? Do you think these would look weird with tights? Do you have a Toms wedge horror story (like Manda's) or a Toms wedge success story? (If I do end up buying them, I will for sure purchase them straight from Nordstrom because I've heard enough about bad customer service from Toms/shoes separating from the sole/hard to fit sizes that I want to buy them from somewhere that has good customer service and easy returns.)

The more I see them, though, the more I think they're a summer shoe. I'm not sure how useful they're going to be in January, so maybe I should just wait until next spring. Opinions? Ideas? Suggestions? 

{Photo credits: nordstrom.com}