Stocking Stuffers and Other Inexpensive Gift Ideas for the Women in Your Life

Many of us are doing a balancing act during this holiday season, trying to find the perfect gift and stay within a certain budget. Thoughtful, useful gifts don’t have to cost a lot and they mean so much!

D-I-Y Kit for Hands and Feet!

If manis and pedis have gone by the wayside lately, how about setting your friend up with a do-it-yourself kit? Check out Sephora for a nice manicure kit with clippers, scissors etc. Wrap it up with a chamois buffer, buffing cream and cuticle oil from a beauty supply store. Cuticle oil will really make it easier to push back — don’t cut — the cuticle. The buffers will make nails shiny.

You can even throw in a white nail pencil which will help create the look of a French manicure when you wet it and draw underneath the nail tip! These are also available at a beauty supply.

And don’t forget to throw in a nice all around moisturizer and gloves available at most drugstores!

Nighty Night!

You don’t have to pay high dollar for a cute set of pajamas or a nightshirt. Check out the selection at your local Target store. Add slippers, also from Target and a scrented body lotion. Your friend will have sweet dreams!

Red Slippers Target $10.99

Red Slippers Target $10.99

PJ'S  and a Robe

Sexy PJ'S and a Robe

Slippers

Slippers

Christmas Nightie

Christmas Nightie

What Should I Wear?

One of the first things to bite the dust when money is tight are luxuries like magazine subscriptions. So do your friend a favor and choose three of their favorite fashion mags and pay for their year subscription. You can get great deals on Amazon..com Three of my favories are Allure, Marie Claire and Elle. You can buy the latest issue of the magazine and put them in a gift bag with a personal note telling them they’ve got issues coming for the year ahead!

Send Them a Flying Lizard!

Designer Vallora Sabourin pieces can be seen on many Hollywood celebrities such as Sienna Miller, Brooke Shields,Vivica Fox,  Hilary Duff and Avril Lavigne. Her designs are often featured in many fashion magazines like In Style, O, Glamour and Cosmopolitain. Imagine great designs that are timeless,ageless affordable and fashionable I guarantee you are bound to find something fabulous shop on line or find a store near you. Prices $14.00 and up. www.flyinglizard.com

Oversized Ring

Oversized Ring

Scanning Precious Memories

Pictures can say a thousand words and we all accumulate  hundreds of slides or photos.Preserving memories is a labor of love that you can give during the holidays. We a’re lucky enough to have digital cameras now, but they are a relatively new convenience. Many of us grew up on film and have the negatives to prove it!  If your friend is like me, I have photos in boxes everywhere and would love to have them on a cd, so that I could save them from loss or possible damage. There are scanning services which will transfer your pricelessphotos to disc, or if you have the time, you can do it yourself on your home computer and scanner. Talk about a thoughtful gift!


Hiding Skin Imperfections

You’re Not Alone. Everyone has skin imperfections. Some are just better at hiding them.

Here are some secrets

Makeup only looks as good as the skin underneath. Try an anti-aging serum with anti-oxidants that is hydrating such as Exuviance Vespera Bionic Serum $60.00 www.neostrata.com . This antioxidant, anti aging skin serum delivers real results. Users experienced a 212% improvement in skin clarity after 6 weeks with this intensive treatment. You can help smooth lines and wrinkles on aging skin while protecting from oxidative damage with this concentrated treatment blended with alpha hydroxy and polyhydroxy acids, Pro-Vitamins A, C, and E, and powerful antioxidants.

Conceal any skin discoloration on face or body with medical makeup or high pigmented products.

CoverBlend
CoverBlend medical makeup provides superior, natural looking coverage to camouflage and corrects everything from minor flaws to major skin discolorations.  It is blended with antioxidant-rich polyhydroxy acid gluconolactone to improve skin tone and help diminish the appearance of wrinkles while concealing.  It works on dark eye circles, blemishes, age spots, varicose veins,bruises, birthmarks, stretch marks, tattoos, acne scars and more!

Colorscience
Primer: Now troubled skin can achieve a smooth finish with this problem skin primer. Formulated with exfoliating salicylic acid, this multi-functioning primer not only improves texture, it also diminishes redness and camouflages blemishes, while soothing upset skin. This primer is the first step in achieving a clear, even complexion.

Mineral Makeup

Loose mineral foundation with SPF 20 takes the mess out of minerals with a simple, self-dispensing powder brush. Get perfect color and coverage every time to achieve a balanced skin tone and glowing radiance. This lightweight powder formula feels as smooth as a cream and doesn’t dry the skin. Colorescience Pro foundations provide the customizable coverage you need to even out your skin tone and enhance features. These lightweight, highly-pigmented foundations provide beautiful colore that can be blended and layered for a flawless finish that lasts all day.

Sunforgettable Mineral Powder Sun Protection SPF 50
Sunforgettable SPF 50 is a lightweight mineral powder with a barely-there feel that provides the safest, non-irritating, instant UVA and UVB sun protection. The self-dispensing powder brush makes this breakthrough, sheer formula easy to apply and reapply throughout the day.  Apply a bronzer at the end for a nice glow/shimmer.

Splurge
Cleanse and remove medical makeup with Clarisonic skin cleansing brush sold for $245.00 (made by the doctor who developed Sonicare toothbrush).

Makeup Tips
Color match on the inside of your wrist; its where you get the best undertone match and you can actually see the product on your skin in natural lighting.
Apply five even dots on face; forehead, nose, cheeks, and chin blend into skin with fingertips, sponge, or brush — less is more with highly concentrated medical makeup. Apply primer first then your foundation followed by a concealer where needed.

What’s in Your Purse

Purse Management,Makeup,Tips and Tricks

Audrey suggests the following items in your purse:

1. Compact make up bag

2. Ladies emergency kit

3. Child’s age appropriate emergency kit (if needed)

4. Medical Emergency Contact card

5. Wallet & Keys in a safely secured area

6. cell / blackberry / treo or other

7. sunglasses / reading glasses

On your medical emergency card you should include the following:

Name, address and telephone number

Emergency contact person’s telephone number

Insurance number and information

Doctors name

Allergies

Blood type

Donor information

– Note you may want to highlight certain information such as allergies and emergency contact information so it is easy to read.

An Emergency Woman’s kit should include:

Aspirin / Tylenol/other

eye drops

Band-Aids x2

feminine products

tissues

mints

pen note paper

tooth brush and tooth paste

hair spray

deodorant

sewing kit

antibacterial wipes

Makeup Bag items should include:

powder

lipstick / gloss / lip balm

foundation

mascara

eyeshadow quad

eyeliner pencil

concealer

blush

travel brushes

emery board

travel size perfume

small compact or mirror

comb or small hair brush

Cashmere Care

Cashmere …Strong, soft, light and wonderfully warm. While cashmere was once only considered a wardrobe investment purchase, the good news is that it’s now being sold at a manageable price point.

This plushy, soft fabric is perfect for chilly days! It’s easy to throw on a cashmere sweater for a sleek style. They can be fitted or slouchy, chunky, cozy and very flattering.

Cashmere can be worn over jeans, leggings, straight skirts, full skirts,tailored pants and as a layering piece.

Handwashing! Yes, you can!
And you no longer have to fear dry cleaning costs!
Natural fibers can be hand washed in a mild soap. Hand wash is actually better for them becausethe chemicals used in dry cleaning will break down the cashmere fibers over time.
Try Woolite,Seventh Generation,Perwoll or Tide Total Care.
Wash In cold water..

Drying
Lay the sweater on a towel. Place another towel on top of the sweater and roll up the towels and sweater. Excess water is absorbed by the towels. Lay the cashmere sweater on a drying rack and let it air dry.
Reshape side seams and sleeves if necessary, as some sweaters will twist during washing. When dry, press with a damp cloth and cool iron.

Fold and Store
It is best to store cashmere and fine wools in either a cedar chest or plastic bags to keep them clean and moth free.

Got a pill?
Pills, the little balls that get on the sweaters, are common. All natural fibers pill a little and it happens with cashmere, though a quality sweater should not pill excessively. The pilling is usually caused by a friction of some sort; such as a seat belt, purse strap, golf strap, or even synthetic linings of jackets. When pilling occurs, simply pull or carefully cut the pills off!

Sweater Storage

The winter months are here and how can you keep your lovely knits tidy in your closet.

Folding your clothes using a clipboard will give you nice even piles of sweaters that would make any Mom proud to look in your closet!

Directions on how to do it:

Place the clipboard on the back of the shirt. Fold the sides and sleeves in. Then fold the bottom up, slide the clipboard out, and voila!

No need to buy any fancy gadgets to help you fold you probably already have a spare clipboard lying around the house.

To keep your stacks of sweaters neat and straight try shelf dividers the shelf dividers are a great way to keep handbags organized too..

You should still use a product to preserve your favorite new wool sweaters even when they are in use.
Because there are more than 11,000 different species of moths but there are only a few who covet your wool clothing. Of these, it’s only at the larva stage that do the damage.

Stop Moths From Eating Wool Sweaters
Place lavender, cedar chips, into a cloth bag and storing the bag near you sweaters in your closet.Herbs, including lavender and rosemary, offer some protection against the clothes moth. Replace sachets every few months, cedar blocks or place moth balls in your closet and drawers at the beginning of each winter season.

Christmas Gift Ideas for The men in Your Life

Yes, we know. The man in your life has EVERYTHING and the holidays are coming up.

So how about getting him something he never knew he needed?

Spanx Cotton Compression Crew

Price: $55-58

Firms Chest

Flattens Stomach

Improves Posture

Supports Lower Back

No Bulk Under Clothes

High-stretch comfort cotton contains ultimate shaping

Ergonomic, tapered shape for powerful body control

36 gauge stitching for fabric longevity and durability

Flat-lock side seams remain invisible under clothing

Natural cotton fibers offer breathability and moisture control

For more information, visit www.spanx.com

BookBook hardback leather case for MacBook by Twelve South

Available for 13″ and 15″ in black or red

Price: $79.99

BookBook is unique among most MacBook cases. It offers crush protection with the spine of the book, the hardback sides protect your MacBook from impacts from daily use, and the vintage tome look disguises your MacBook from theft.

Customers love emailing pictures of their BookBooks disguised on bookshelves among other books.

For more information, visit twelvesouth.com

Wet and Wild.. Sanyo’s Xacti-Hi-Def ..Video Camera… This camera will capture any “Indoor or Outdoor”adventure in up to 10 feet of water.4350.00

The Sharper Image Deluxe Nose/Ear Hair Trimmer

Price: $39.99

Built-in vacuum keeps your counter clean

Integrated mirror and light helps ensure the best results

Includes interchangeable rotary & linear blades

Bonus carrying case with assorted manicuring tools

Featuring a special blue chrome finish

Simply rinse in water to clean

Powered by a single AA battery (not included)

For more information, visit www.siproducts.com

My Flying Star medical bracelets

Prices:$35 and up, including one pre-engraving

Custom engraving with your name and phone number: additional $15

My Flying Star designer medical alert ID bracelets and necklaces effectively communicate your specific health alerts in the case of an emergency, thereby ensuring proper and prompt emergency care.

People who should wear medical alert ID jewelry include anyone living with chronic or rare conditions such as diabetes, heart conditions, asthma, stroke risk, memory impairment, life-threatening allergies such as shellfish, insects, peanuts, etc., or those taking multiple medications or blood thinners.

Wearing a My Flying Star medical alert bracelet or necklace may help save your life!

For more information, visit myflyingstar.com

Powermat

Prices: $99 for the Powermats, $29.99 for the Blackberry receivers, $39.99 for the Apple (iPhone/iPod touch) receivers

Powermat uses the principles of magnetic induction combined with Powermat proprietary patent-pending technology to safely and effectively provide power to electronic devices.

Powermat is a two-part system, pairing a sleek charging mat with a receiver that attaches to your device, enabling it to charge on the Powermat. Powermat allows you to establish a single charging station in your home or office where you can charge nearly all your electronic devices without the tangle of multiple cords and adapter bricks.

Both the Powermat Home & Office and the Portable Powermat charge up to 4 devices simultaneously with just one plug. (3 on the surface of the mat and a 4th device via USB)

Devices like an iPhone, iPod or blackberries must be enabled with a Powermat receiver and then you can just set them on the Powermat to charge.

Both mats come with the Universal Powercube that has a variety of tips that will work on phones, eReaders, bluetooth devices, mp3 players, iPods, Nintendo. Powermat works using magnetic induction

For more information, visit www.powermat.com

Zia Men’s Skincare

Prices: $9.95-$14.95

This fragrance-free gel lathers away dirt and oil without stripping away moisture that helps protect your skin. Fortified with Aloe Vera and Vitamins A, C and E, HydraClean Face Wash combats dryness, irritation and redness, while conditioning your skin.

Foaming gel lathers away impurities without harsh detergents, so skin never feels chapped or irritated.

For more information, visit www.zianatural.com or grocery and health food stores.

Zia Men’s Dual Protection Eye Crème SPF 15

Price: $14.95

Dual Protection Eye Cream SPF 15 is the first all natural men’s eye cream to help reduce the appearance of fatigue by reducing dark circles under the eye area, while protecting from the sun’s aging effects.

Chrysin and Palmitoyl Oligopeptides work together to brighten skin and have been clincially shown to reduce the appearance of dark circles under eyes by 62%.

Zia Men’s ActiClean Face Scrub

Price: $9.95

This invigorating face wash removes old cells that cause breakouts, bumps and razor drag. Cleans deep down into pores to eliminate dirt and oil. Corn Cob and Pineapple unblock pores, while Willow and vitamins help prevent razor bumps and soothe irritated or blemished skin.

For more information, visit www.zianatural.com or grocery and health food stores.

Zegna Colonia After-Shave Lotion

Price: $44, 3.3 fl. oz.

This classic fragrance has a contemporary appeal. Experience the artful blend of Italian tradition and elegance, infused into a modern, fresh fragrance for men. Zegna Colonia is a new fragrance by Ermenegildo Zegna. The line features cologne, shower gel, after shave and deodorant.

For more information, visit www.zegna-parfums.com