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Two Of My Favorite Things

July 15, 2011

I mentioned the Nest Blue Garden candle in the Hostess Gifts post earlier this week, but I need to mention it again: it is AMAZING. Three seconds after you light it, your entire apartment smells like forget-me-nots and joy. Bonus: 100% of the net proceeds go to Autism Speaks.

The CoverGirl Liquiline Blast eye pencil is both wonderfully priced and wonderful. I'm super-picky about eyeliner, and drugstore brands are often too dry and tug on the lids...but this one rivals lots of the more expensive brands I've tried. It's a deep, rich black, and glides on beautifully. Excellent for smudging purposes (and I love a smudgy summer eye - try topping with a bit of Vaseline and going bare everywhere else).

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Park Avenue / July Evening

July 14, 2011

Wandering down Park Avenue (that's St. Bart's) with Francesca & a camera, in search of outdoor cocktails and appetizers.

We tried Lavo (no no no, way crowded and a wee bit creepy), then the Kimberly Hotel rooftop (closed for a private event, but thank you to @nandita and @LPDiane for the rec - will go soon), then were sent next door to Nikki Beach (no, for the same rea$ons that I won't be heading to St. Tropez anytime soon), and finally ended up at Mint, a random Indian-Asian fusion place with no outdoor space, but very nice samosas and weirdly heavy vodka pours (Francesca's vodka on the rocks was...a rocks glass full - to the top - of vodka).

P.S. Aww.

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Hostess Gifts With A Side Of Nervousness

July 11, 2011

I've gotten a few emails recently asking me for some additional hostess gift ideas. One reader wanted to know what her new boyfriend should send her parents after a weekend spent at their place; another was just meeting her potential in-laws-to-be for the first time and didn't know enough about them to pick and choose based on their personal tastes.

While these are still my favorite ideas, if you're nervous about what to give your host/hostess, just remember this: even more so than with most gifts, this is all about the gesture. The point of hostess gifts isn't necessarily to rock the recipient's world; it's to express your appreciation and brighten their day in some small way, ideally with something they wouldn't have bought for themselves.

So if you're feeling stressed about what to get, play it safe with these can't-go-wrong items: they may not blow anyone away with their originality, but they are guaranteed to go over well.

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Bachelorette Gifts From G-Rated To R-Rated

July 7, 2011

My bachelorette party was a three-day, extremely raucous affair involving bull-riding, beer-chugging contest-winning (left), and being "rescued" by off-duty firemen at clubs. By the time Sunday brunch rolled around, we were all such sleep-deprived, hungover zombies that we basically just sat there inhaling our eggs in silence (which is, by the way, why I recommend doing the bridal shower/brunch thing before the bachelorette festivities rather than the day after).

[Oop. Just noticed my oh-so-adorable souvenir straw in that photo. Ah, well.]

It was one of the best weekends of my entire life, but not everybody's idea of a "Best Weekend" involves tequila shots and pole dancing (I know, hard to believe, but it's true). Maybe the guest of honor is just on the shy side; maybe she's inviting family members, coworkers, or underage friends; or maybe her religious beliefs prevent her from engaging in more "typical" ladies' night out festivities. In such cases, handing over a pair of pasties may feel a little inappropriate - but you'd still probably like to get her something at least vaguely thematic.

Below, my suggestions for the bachelorette in your life who's more Princess Diaries than Fatal Attraction (you probably have the PG-13 and R categories covered - anything lingerie-related works nicely - but I included some fun picks for those ladies, too).

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