In Spades

Style... in abundance

Holiday Gift Guide: For Him

Men are probably the hardest people to shop for. Every year I rack my brain and endlessly scour the web for something new and unique for the guys in my life. Here are my top pics for those special dudes. HolidayGiftGuideMen1) 8mm Camera
For the film enthusiast, this awesome vintage Ampro camera is great as a collectable or for the real deal. Lights, camera…

2) IPA Beer Brewing Kit
It’s every man’s rite of passage to have brewed his own beer at least once. This west coast style IPA brewing kit is the perfect gift to take the plunge.

3) BOSS Italian Wool Suit
I hate to say it, but 80% of men wear their suits entirely too loose. This slim cut would make even James Bond proud. And don’t we all want to be like 007?

4) F-bomb Paperweight
Because sometimes you just gotta drop an f-bomb… Can’t. Stop. Giggling.

5) Bluesmart Suitcase
A must for the frequent traveler. Currently available for pre-order (it ships in August) it has a built-in scale so he never has to worry about going over 50 lbs and being charged a fee. It also has GPS tracking (no lost luggage here!), the ability to lock and unlock it from his phone, and a built in battery charger for all things tech. The only thing it can’t do is pack itself.

6) Bonobos Jacket
Every guy needs a go-to jacket and this one fits the bill perfectly. Not too casual, not too formal it suits every occasion.

7) Ice Ball Molds
These BPA free and dishwasher safe ice molds are perfect for whiskey, bourbon or scotch drinkers. They’ll keep his drink cold without diluting it.

8) Das Horn Drinking Vessel
Channel his inner Viking with this crazy drinking horn. It comes with a neck strap for the man on the go, and a display stand when not in use.

9) Tsubo Shoes
At the end of the day, every guy just wants to be comfortable. If you’ve never heard of Tsubo, they create shoes with memory foam inner soles and rubber outer soles. Their innovative comfort technology is a favorite among dudes everywhere.

10) Yankee Stadium Cufflinks
For the sports buff, these cufflinks are created out of the original seats of Yankee Staduim circa 1973. Give him a little piece of history with some style. Not a Yankee fan? They’re also available for Shea, Dodger, Wrigley and Fenway to name a few.

11) Oculus Rift Development Kit 2
Just about every sci-fi movie in the 90’s featured a virtual reality headset like the Oculus Rift. While every good geek anxiously awaits its consumer release date, the second edition development kit is the next best thing to getting his hands on the final product.

12) Quadcopter
Even if your guy isn’t into remote control toys, I guarantee he’ll love this one. It comes with a built-in camera mount for a Go-Pro and can fly 30 meters from it’s controller. Ready for the next step up? Try the Phantom. Trust me, he’ll never go back.

13) Glass Coffee Carafe Set
For the perfect cup of Joe, this carafe set does double duty as a coffee drip and serving pot.

Wrapped Up

LS3 LS4 LS5 LS2 LS6 LS1 LS7 LS8 LS9This time of year tends to shift into overdrive, so I like to have a go-to comfy outfit for running errands and last minute holiday shopping.  This poncho-cardigan hybrid is great for keeping warm without overheating when I’m running from A to B.  And despite the heel, these boots are amazingly comfortable thanks to the cushy, memory foam sole.  An added bonus?  It’s a great put together look for when I inevitably run into someone I know and end up sitting down for an impromptu coffee. Sure beats running errands in yoga clothes. 🙂

Zara poncho // Madewell jeans // Banana Republic silk tank and rings // 
Pianegonda necklace // Oliver Peoples sunglasses // Rag & Bone booties

Holiday Gift Guide: Home Decor under $150

It’s Black Friday. Time to start shopping! Check out my picks for fun yet functional pieces for the home all under $150. HolidayGiftGuideHomeDecor1) Sheepskin Rug
This authentic, white sheepskin rug is not only a steal at $24.99 but looks great in a child’s bedroom, draped over a chair in the living room or on top of a bench at the foot of the bed.

2) Bike Cup Holder
Because every bike needs a cup holder.  Why didn’t I add one of these to my beach cruiser earlier?

3) Happy Hour Flask
This adorable flask is just about as lady like as you can get.  Time for happy hour!

4) Dog Print Tote 
Holding up to 50 lbs, this dog print tote bag is large enough for laundry day, groceries or odds and ends.  Bonus?  It’s machine washable.

5) I’ll Drink to That by Betty Halbreich
I’ve been wanting to read this memoir by 86 year old Bergdorf Goodman personal shopper Betty Halbreich ever since it hit newsstands.  She’s dressed celebrities, socialites and even royalty over the course of her four decade career.

6) Fiddle Leaf Fig Tree
Indoor plants purify the air, reduce stress levels and make for beautiful ambiance (especially during winter months when greenery is at a minimum).  I love the big, fluffy leaves of this fiddle leaf fig tree.

7) Leather Magazine Rack
If you have multiple magazine subscriptions like I do, you know how quickly the living room can become littered with reading material.  This stylish magazine rack keeps you beautifully organized.

8) Wine Corkers
These decorative wine corkers are a great way to add some cute personality to a bottle of gift wine.  Any hostess will love them.

9) Marble and Wood Cheese Board
A beautiful blend of marble and wood, this cheese board will make any appetizer the talk of the party.

10) Face Mug
Need to stash a few cookies or a donut in with your morning coffee?  This face mug gets the job done.

11) Instagram Projector
I’m in love with all things mini so I squealed when I found out Projecteo created a tiny Instagram projector.  Gather the family around the fire and start the show, 2014 style!

12) Foil Pressed Wall Art
These hand painted foil pressed astrological signs make for great, personalized pieces to add to a gallery wall.

13) Pouf
Every living room needs a small pouf.  Use it as a footrest, a seat or a place to set up an iPad.

14) Faux Fur Blanket
Get cozy with this super soft, ombre dipped lavender throw.

15) Whale Bookends
Organize your bookshelf with this fun homage to Moby Dick.

Alexander Wang X H&M

HMW1 HMW2 HMW3 HMW4 HMW7 HMW6 HMW9 HMW5 HMW8 A couple weeks after the Alexander Wang x H&M collection has launched and I’m still as enamored with this dress as the first time I saw it previewed months ago. It’s crazy mesh cutouts are truly something to behold.  Part prize fighter, part understated elegance, only Alexander Wang could combine two totally different personas to create a perfectly harmonious silhouette.  I love him, I love him, I love him and where he goes I’ll follow…

Alexander Wang x H&M dress // Alexander Wang booties // Stephen Webster ring // 
Oliver Peoples sunglasses

Holiday Gift Guide: Beauty Edition

We are officially one week away from Thanksgiving and you know what that means… holiday shopping is about to commence!  No idea where to start?  I’ve got you covered.  Starting today until the week of Christmas, I’ll be sharing my top picks in fashion, beauty, home, decor and more for those hard-to-buy-for friends and family.  First up, my favorite products for the beauty junkies in your life.

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1) Kevyn Aucoin Beauty – The Volume Mascara

When it comes to mascara, I always stick to drugstore brands. I love the insane volume Maybelline gives my lashes, but it tends to flake off and is very difficult to remove at night. When I heard that Kevyn Aucoin’s mascara comes off with just warm water, I knew I had to make the switch. No more eye irritation, and the tiny wand pumps the volume way up. Savior!

The morning after I first used this product I was shocked – I noticed an immediate difference in my skin tone. Like an army for your face, it fights free radicals, boosts collagen production, helps block UV damage and evens out your skin for glowing, radiant results.
This smoky campfire sent reminds me of summers back home or cozying up by a warm fire with some hot cocoa. An absolute winter staple in my book.
We’ve all heard of serum for your face, but serum for your hands? The neck and hands are the two areas that show signs of aging most, so lucky for us Aveda was thinking ahead. This powerful hand potion reduces the appearance of dark spots and fills in fine lines. It’s an excellent product for frequent hand washers and those that forget to apply sunscreen.
Let’s face it – winter is death to your hair. The air is drier and there are holiday parties to attend (read: heat damage and over styling). This hydrating mask gets your mane back on track.
Everyone needs a pretty makeup palette for the holidays. I love that these eye shadow colors go from day to night, and the lip glosses give you that just bitten look.
Static electricity – my winter hair enemy. After spritzing this on damp hair in the morning, my hair is thicker, silky soft and never once falls victim to static electricity.
If you’ve never heard of lip tar, you need to check out this product ASAP. Intensely pigmented, it dries matte to look like a stain and lasts all day. This bright red color reminds me of holly berries!
Sparkles, sparkles and more sparkles! This gold leaf topcoat is a holiday party essential.
With all of the traveling and running around I do during the holidays, a mini brush set is a must. I can easily throw this in my purse or carry-on and it has everything I need. Bonus points because it includes a hard-to-find eyebrow brush.
Not technically a fragrance, Molecule 01 contains Iso E Super, which is more of an effect than a scent. Known to bring out individual pheromones, the mystery of how it works is just as intriguing as how it will smell on different people.