Style Lush

Favorite Things Gift Exchange

by Jenny

 

{photo courtesy of: http://angbrimwil.blogspot.com/}

Last year, the "blogosphere" seemed to be all abuzz with "Favorite Things" parties. The idea is that a bunch of people get together and share some of their favorite things with one another. Think Oprah’s Favorite Things but on a much more-attainable level for the average person. I loved the idea because, essentially, I'm a recommendation gal. If you tell me that you like something or have had good luck with a product, you can bet your boots that I'll be trying it out myself. In fact, if it's recommended here on Style Lush, I make it mine. I believe strongly in the power of endorsement, obviously.  

 
Last year, my friends and I wanted to get together to do brunch for the Holidays and contemplated a small gift exchange. That's when I proposed the "Favorite Things" idea and everyone jumped on board. We established a $10 per item limit, and we each bought 4 (there are 5 of us total) of a particular item that we love. Last year, I bought everyone a pair of my favorite underwear. Most of them grumbled at me (because, ahem, it wasn't necessarily the type of undies that they usually wear) but a year later at our "Favorite Things" exchange last week, a friend confided that she'd gone on to purchase several more pairs of the undies that I gave her last year. Success!

There's something special about giving people something that you really love--it's so much more fun than trying to guess what someone else might like and it feels nice to share a part of yourself with others. It also makes giving someone something practical (because you truly love it) less verboten.

Last year’s exchange was tons of fun--we all loved the idea and couldn't wait to do it again this year. We imposed the same $10 per gift limit and met for brunch (sans husbands and kids) to visit, eat and do our exchange. Here's what I gave as my "Favorite Thing(s)" this year:

 
I love little bowls for rings, change, keys, etc.--bonus points if it has an animal on it. I gave 2 of these giraffe bowls, 1 elephant bowl, and 1 bird bowl--$7.99 each. {Purchased at Home Goods, but can't find a link to them online.} And Motif hand soap,--$2.99 purchased at Target--because I'm a near-compulsive hand washer and love nice hand soap that looks like it came from a high-end boutique. 



Here we are enjoying brunch

 (L-R Katie, Sarah, Elizabeth, Me and Stacie)

 

And here’s what I came home with:

Sharpie Ultra Fine Point Markers; (from Katie) Burt's Bees Tinted Balm Duo; (from Stacie) No Whining...print (similar); (from Sarah) and Charley Harper print--from a calendar, then matted and framed (from Elizabeth)

We’ve discussed even doing a summertime “Favorite Things” party but instead of buying four $10 things, we’d each buy one $40 item and then draw names. Coming up with a $10 item that I love is always a little tricky, but I can come up with tons of more expensive items, so we might give that a try to break up the doldrums of summer. 

Do you have any fun gift exchange ideas? Please share!

{Photo credits: me}

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!

Rent the Runway! for your Bridesmaids

By Sara

I have this super fashionable friend who has ultra fashionable friends and they should all be writing for this site instead of yours truly. Let's not dwell on that though, shall we? My super fashionable friend has been in wedding after wedding these past few years and has seen her fair share of bridesmaid dresses. From blah to boring to "I'll really never wear this again...ever", she's got a closet FULL of dresses (mine included).

However, this past spring she was in a wedding and when I saw the photos my jaw dropped. The bride was obviously stunning but SO WERE THE BRIDESMAIDS. How often does that happen? See for yourself:

I KNOW. So beautiful, all of them. I inquired about the dresses because I loved that they were all unique  and all gold. So glamorous. My dear friend whispered "we used Rent the Runway". Say what now? That is the most brilliant thing I had ever heard. All of those dresses are high end, couture gowns that each woman rented for about $125. Badgley Mischka? CHECK. Nicole Miller? CHECK. Diane von Furstenberg? CHECK. CHECK. CHECK. 

The best part is that when you rent a dress through Rent the Runway, you pick the same dress in two sizes so you're assured the right fit. Then you can rent a backup dress for only $25 more just in case the first choice doesn't work out. Or, maybe you have six bridesmaids. Rent three dresses full price and get three backups for only $25 a piece. It really is brilliant, isn't it? Your bridesmaids get to wear gorgeous designer dresses and feel amazing for a day and you get stunning ladies in waiting for your photos. 

Magazine worthy, don't you think?

(all images courtesy of the glowing bride, Gwen Adler)

Postpartum Gifts for a New Mom

By Rebecca

My sister recently had a baby boy (HI LIAM! I LOVE YOOOUUU!) and I did not want to go to the hospital empty-handed. However, I knew she was overloaded with baby stuff after her generous friends had thrown her multiple showers. So, I decided to bring her a big bag full of stuff that I personally found helpful after my kids were born. These were designed to be pampering gifts for her, not so much stuff for the baby.

Here's what was in it:

• Nice water bottle for the crazy thirst brought on by marathon nursing sessions. I got this one in purple.
• Flip-flop slippers for hospital and home lounging.
• Soothies gel pads.
• An iTunes gift card, so she could stock up on new music to enjoy while spending so much time at home.
• Lip balm
• Hand cream for dry hands due to frequent washing
• Good-smelling baby wash. This was the exception to the "gifts for her, not the baby" rule, but I did it because making a baby even more sniffable than they already are is a worthy pursuit. Don't you think?
• Coffee (for obvious reasons)
• Bottle of wine (for obvious reasons)
• Chocolate (why yes, as a matter of fact, I DO believe in self-medicating.)

I loved doing this because it was fun to pick things out for her, and also because the baby gets so much attention it's nice to have a few little things that I knew she would appreciate.

What would YOU include as essentials for a new mom?

Lovely Bracelets from Swell Caroline

By Sara

I'm having a bracelet moment. Nevermind that they clack all over my desk at work, get in the way when slinging the baby on my hip and cause general mayhem with a grabby preschooler, I still love them so very much. I spotted this bracelet months ago and I can't get it out of my head. Meet my newest love and want: the Formash Rome bracelet from Swell Caroline.

A beautiful leather and gold wrap bracelet for $30. Yes, you read that right, THIRTY DOLLARS. Not bad at all. And look, it comes in MORE colors:

Sigh. That just makes my accessory loving heart so happy. Not only did I find that darling bracelet, check out some of the other lovelies hanging out at Swell Caroline:

Derby Collection, $38 at Swell Caroline

Enamel Bamboo Bracelet, $18 at Swell Caroline

Mallie Bracelet, $36 at Swell Caroline

Lauren Bracelet, $30 at Swell Caroline

I totally missed sending these links to my husband for Mother's Day but that doesn't mean I can't get one for myself. Or maybe two. Happy shopping!

Hosting a Clothing Swap

By Rebecca

Have you ever attended or hosted a clothing swap party? Now that spring cleaning season is here, it's a great way to declutter your closet of unwanted clothing, while also spending time with friends and finding some "new" items from their castoffs. Everybody wins here, is what I'm saying.

Clothing swaps can be as simple or as elaborate as you want to make them, but here are the basics. Each person comes with a bag of clothing. You can lay your items out or you can hang them up if you have the space. Then, each person draws a number to determine the order. Starting with number 1, you go around the order until everything has been picked or passed over. Then, the unwanted items can be donated to Goodwill, Dress for Success, or another local charity of your choosing.

That's really it! Having attended and hosted a few of these over the years, here are a few tips to help your swap go off without a hitch.

• Don't take it too seriously. Of course, these are your good friends, so they aren't going to be mean, but be prepared for some good-humored running commentary about some items that may be, how shall I say, formerly trendy? You could even offer small prizes for the oldest or funniest items.
• Don't be offended if all your clothing isn't selected. This is supposed to be fun, and of course everything isn't going to be top of the heap for everyone - they're castoffs!
• That being said, however, it is helpful to invite people whose taste in clothing is somewhat similar to yours. But it really doesn't matter, because sometimes you'll end up with something you never would have picked out of a store, but you really love!
• Along with their clothing, have each person bring an appetizer or beverage. Champagne increases giggling. It's science.
• This may go without saying, but ask your friends to only bring items that have been laundered or dry-cleaned.
• Wear a camisole or tank top so you can try on items quickly and modestly. If you're the host, it's a good idea to have a designated place (restroom, extra bedroom, etc.) for people to try things on.
• Open it up to accessories also. Sometimes you might not have many spare clothes to bring, but you might have a necklace or scarf that you never wear that is perfect for your friend. 

TLC has a great guide with tips for successful swaps. My favorite from this article was to do this with baby and kids' clothes. (Um, I think I know the theme of my own next swap!)

{Photo courtesy of Digital Vision/Getty, found via TLC Style}

 

 

Book Exchange Club

By Janet

A few years ago, I was in a fabulous book club. The best thing about the club was how low-key it was--no reading deadlines, no staying up all night to finish a book before the monthly meeting, no reading books you are not interested in. If you are looking for a reason to get together with a group of gal pals on a regular basis, and you like to read, here's an easy solution.

1. Decide on a time and location. Meet every first Tuesday of the month at local cafe, for instance. Find a place to go out so that nobody has to cook or clean. 

2. Everyone brings the book(s) they read in the previous month. 

3. Go around the table, allowing each person to give a brief synopsis of the book(s) in their stack.

4. All the books are put in the middle of the table and get divided up to go home with someone new. Just let everyone call dibs on the books that strike their fancy. Don't get the book you want? Don't worry! It will return next month to be placed back in the center pile!

5. Eventually, after a few months, the books will make it around to all the people who are interested and then they go home with their original owner. 

{Image via Not on the High Street}

Painting With A Twist

By Jessica

Sometimes you are awake and chatting with a friend on Facebook at 4:30 in the morning because of insomnia, a migraine or copious amounts of rum (hey, no judgments) and divine inspiration strikes. Divine inspiration in the form of a crafty fun thing for our group to do which could include her Littles by Proxy in the coming weekend that they would be in town. That crafty fun thing turned out to be Painting With A Twist . Have you heard of it? It's a painting class where you are welcome to bring your favorite bottle of wine (or other beverage) to imbibe while the instructor walks you step by step through creating a painting. We didn't actually choose to imbibe anything as we had a day class with Littles in tow, but think of the possibilities for bachelorette parties, book clubs (you could have a painting directly correlate to a theme in your book), cooking clubs, wine tastings, date nights, etc.

Each location has a calendar of the classes they are offering in future but if you book a party of 5 or more people you can specify which piece of art you would like instead.

 
They provide you with your canvas, paints, brushes, smock and instructor.

Each step in the process is laid out by the instructor and it's fun to see how differently people paint. Also interesting which people are SUPER ANAL about how they blend, cover the edges and how slow they take each step. I happen to be crazy, CRAZY slow.

Our group worked on the peacock feather the day we attended:

(The Littles by Proxy in question is 5, didn't she do an awesome job on her painting? We call it her "blue period" as a nod to the greats)

Here is my finished painting. It's currently hanging in our office above my desk.

Our little group is planning our next outing with a painting that is a nod to an inside joke and is sure to be insanely tacky when it's done but I can't wait. It's going to be a blast!

Five Tips For Fabulous Girlfriend Getaways

By Janet (and Jen)

 

This post was composed on a road trip to BlogHer 2011 (don't worry, Jen was doing the driving, while I typed away on my iPad). Since we are professionals at very girly getaways, we thought we might offer a few tips and tricks for weekend getaways with your gal pals. 

1. Choose your hotel based on thread count, the lobby bar with the pretty cocktails, stylish decor, and proximity to malls and museums. 

2. Do all the things that your 13-year-old self thought your adult self would get to do: spend way too much money in the candy store, buy new shoes just because you want them, order Coca-Cola with breakfast.

3. Wear all the fabulous accessories that your husband doesn't understand, but your girlfriends totally appreciate. False eyelashes? Check! Glittered eyeliner? Check!

4. Always, always order dessert. Preferably one per person, but with extra spoons to share.

5. Budget extra time for Sephora. Trust us.

I can't emphasize enough how fabulous it is to spend way too much time getting ready, watch chick flicks guilt-free, belly-laugh while wearing a warming face masque, and gossip over pink cocktails.

Happy traveling!

DIY Gift Ideas

by Blythe

I am part of an informal group of women in my office who celebrate one another's birthdays and go out for a festive holiday lunch each year. We exchange little gifts, usually something small or handmade. I love this tradition and these women. I do not love how disorganized I have become about the gifts. These are people who make my life better on a daily basis, and I'd like to show some appreciation and personal connection in my gifts, but instead I end up stuffing a Starbucks gift card in an envelope on my way to the office and handing it over.

I have resolved to Do Better in this department. Summer is a down time for me in my job and in my personal life, and I am planning to get started on some crafty projects that I can share with my pals in the coming months. I'm plotting the following treats:

 

Felt Dahlia Corsage by notmartha

I love these corsages. Aren't they adorable? I fear the construction may stretch my crafting skills but it's worth a try.

 

Lemon Salt Scrub by The Beauty Department

This project, on the other hand, looks SO EASY and so lovely. I'm keeping my eyes peeled for some nice jars and lids. (Jennie made something similar recently, too.)

 

Dishtowel Tote Bags at What's That Gonna Be?

I've already purchased the dishtowels and webbing for my first attempt at this. I love that they are lined and sturdy.

Do you have a favorite DIY gift project idea that I might steal?

{photo credits: notmartha.com, the beauty department, What's That Gonna Be?}