Pour Yourself A Cup of Ambiton & Inspiration!

In this polarizing time is there any greater unifier than Dolly Parton? She exudes warmth, love, and tolerance.

Dolly stands the test of time in every facet of her life.  Her music, lyrics, movies, theme park, books, podcasts.  Her compelling life is full of highs and lows we can all relate to.  Her latest book "Dolly Parton, Songteller: The Lyrics of My Life" just dropped, and I am asking Santa for a copy (available at Barnes & Noble $50.00 hardcover)!  

It's hard to name a favorite song by Dolly, but admit it, haven't we all tried to belt out Whitney Houston's version of "I Will Always Love You?"  Probably the most authentic love song ever written, it's truly an anthem.  Of course, when I sing along in my off key warble it's cringeworthy!  I cracked up when I saw this coffee mug...a must have for any Dolly fan. (Amazon $14.99) 

Spice up your Dolly Fandom with these darling embroidered cashmere sweaters from Lingua Franca NYC ($380).

In case you haven't heard, embroidery is "hot" this year.  

Want the embroidery without the couture prices? 

Check out @apparelbyanne (on instagram) in Dallas.  She can tailor a shirt/sweatshirt/sweater to a name or saying to suit you for a budget-worthy price. These are perfect gifts for that college coed with a great inside joke, or your tween who has a favorite song lyric, or the hipster mom who is cutting edge! 

 Place your book and sweater in this cute canvas bag as your gift wrap.  From Draper James, a cute tote we could all use. (Draper James $30)

Top off your Dolly tribute gift with an enameled pin (Etsy $6.92). Among my favorite Dolly lyrics is "Tumble outta bed and I stumble to the kitchen, Pour myself a cup of ambition"  

Now, if that's not an anthem for 2020 I don't what is!

Aiding And Abetting

Got a friend who is your partner in crime?  You know--the one who turns an ordinary night out into an epic adventure for the record books?

This is a friend you want to honor with a wink and smile, and something worthy your hijinks!  

Bourbon & Boots celebrates co-conspirators with Thelma & Louise, Butch & Sundance, or Bonnie & Clyde etched cocktail glasses for $39.00 a pair.  

As Bourbon & Boots says, "Celebrate the girl that pushes you to do unbelievable and outrageous things...For the best friends who always have the wind in their hair, and the law hot on their heels and enjoy celebrating their friendship with a toast to each other."

Spice It Up:  Cocktail glasses are great, but if you're truly Thelma & Louise worthy you need an elixir handy.  These clever Trixie & Milo Flasks at $29.00 each are a perfect match to the glasses, and they have numerous styles to suit your friend's personality.  I especially like their packaging with the decorated cardboard gift box.

On your gift card inscribe the wise words of Thelma:  

"Louise, no matter what happens, I'm glad I came with you."

Where to Buy: The cocktail glasses can be purchased directly from Bourbon & Boots online.  The Flasks are from Trixie & Milo which can be purchased from them directly or I have seen them in numerous gift shops.  In Dallas, you can find them at Froggies, Betty Lou, etc.

Game Day Gear

Rah Rah Rah, Sis Boom Bah!  The weather is cool, the leaves are turning, and it's time for College Football!

Do you show your team spirit by wearing your school colors? Well, take it up a notch with these College Game Day Sweaters from Tipsy Elves at $64.95 per sweater in both men's/women's styles. Like most fans, I believe the louder the gear, the better the winning karma for your team!

Tipsy Elves's sweaters take a nod from the tacky Christmas sweater and blend your favorite team logos and colors to create the ultimate fall sports gear.

I first learned about Tipsy Elves sweaters by a friend who was proudly wearing one--needless to say, he was quite the stand out in the crowd!

The photos do not do these sweaters justice--they are terrific in person.  Also, I can vouch the sweaters are of high quality (unlike some logo apparel) and tailored nicely.

So, get ready for game day by donning one yourself, shipping one to your favorite college student, or putting one away for Christmas/Hannukah as those Bowl Games approach!

Spice It Up: Go full on Gridiron with these snappy Touch Down crew socks from Arthur by Rob Kardashian (I know--I can't believe I'd ever recommend a Kardashian related product) available at Nordstrom for $15.00 per pair.  

Cute and fun, they complete your outfit for any fall Football weekend or Fantasy Football Draft party!

 See related post:  Juju for the Ultimate Sports Fan

Rev Up Those Resolutions!

With the New Year upon us, we all resolve to make new changes and keep our resolutions.  Whether it is torturing yourself at the gym, giving up chocolate, ditching that cheatin' boyfriend, or just focusing on positive thinking, it is tough to stick to your goals after a few weeks.

Mantra Bands has created an elegant and sensible way to keep your resolution ever present on your mind, and on your wrist in a stylish bracelet.  Choose from a list of inspirational words/sayings in either silver, gold, or rose gold.  This is a great New Year's gift or birthday gift for that special friend/mother/sister who is attempting to see their resolution through to fruition, or for a friend going through a divorce, breakup, grief, etc.

Spice It Up:  Any resolution or self-improvement plan is bolstered through exercise.  Pair the Mantra Band bracelets with these fun inspirational socks called Notes To Self.

I like them because they have a variety of sayings which will be covered by your sneaker, but give you a secret affirmation as you wear them.  Of course, if you are headed to yoga class,you'll be the envy of all your classmates when your downward dog pose reveals Brave on the soles of your feet!

Where to buy:  Mantra Bands can be purchased online directly from their website.  They range in price from $25.00-$35.00.  Check out the cool box they are packaged in which enhances the gift and makes me want to buy more than one!

The inspirational socks can be purchased online directly at Notes to Self, or you can check their retail locator for stores near you. Several area Hallmark Stores carry the socks.  Prices range from $9.99-$10.99 paid depending on the style (anklet or crew).  These socks are high quality and are made of a nice feeling fabric.  At this low price, you can bundle a few pairs to make a whimsical gift.

Blew Out My Flip Flop...

Some things go out of style, and you're thankful.  Others leave you wondering why such a great product disappeared.  I am happy to report that one of my favorite defunct items is back with a vengeance:  Tiddies Flip Flops!

Do you remember them from the late 80s early 90s?  Ah, yes, the somewhat naughty named flip flops that everyone wore back in the day.  Aside from making me giggle, Tiddies are incredibly comfortable.  Thick cushioned flip flops with soft rubber straps make you feel like you are walking on air.

I've bought several pairs to give as Christmas gifts this year.  They are great for summer fun, resort wear, retro birthday gifts, and holiday gifts for anyone who sported them back in the day or those cool hipster college kids of today.

Spice It Up:  Oh, how I wanted to match the Tiddie's with a vintage Pat Magee's t-shirt!  I searched high and low, but Pat Magee's closed its last shop in 2002.  So, my runner up retro t-shirt is a Panama Jack.  Yes, we are dipping into that Weekend At Bernie's look and it is total greatness.

Feeling uber nostalgic?  Remember those corduroy OP shorts? Unfortunately, those are long gone, but you can purchase OP swimwear at WalMart.  Happily, the Hawaiian Jams store is still open in Honolulu, but I'll give you fair warning their new styles don't look anything like the board shorts with big flower prints of the 80s.

Last, but not least, you must top off the retro beach look with some sporty sunglasses.  Yes, the blue reflective lenses are back "in."  In my mind, these were the "Rob Lowe"style Wayfarers as opposed to the traditional "Tom Cruise" black Raybans from Risky Business--such a fashion dilemma!

It dates me a bit to admit I wore all of these items the first go-round, but I'll sooth my antique ego by sipping a margarita and listening to Jimmy Buffet...Blew out my flip flop...stepped on a pop top... 

Where to Buy:  Tiddies sandals $39.99, Panama Jack T-Shirt $16.00, Rayban Wayfarers $149.50 (cheap knockoffs available at WalMart & Target for $8.00-$12.00--they even have the neon colors for the rims)

If you're looking for great Surf nostalgia, check out the Texas Surf Museum in Corpus Christi, TX.  Pat Magee is featured as one of the legendary Texas surfers.

Amazing Adventures!

Some of the best gifts are not trinkets, but rather memorable experiences.  A scavenger hunt, ala the Amazing Race, is guaranteed to get those couch potatoes off the sofa and diving into a local adventure!

Whether for a birthday, date night, anniversary, proposal, corporate team building, or holiday outing for the family, a scavenger hunt is a neat way to engage the entire family or a group of friends in a day to remember.  Most hunts include the use of your smartphone, so the teens/tweens won't feel deprived of technology for the day!

My friend, Misty W., discovered this great idea while dreaming up a plan for a special birthday for a dear friend.  There are several great scavenger hunt services that you can tap into online which are tailored for your particular interests.  Watson Adventures is one that specializes in hunts at local museums, while My Mystery Party focuses upon faux murder mysteries.  For adults, there is the ever popular Urban Beer Hunt. 

Watson Adventures is highly recommended and has been featured by the ABC News, Daily Candy and the New York Times.  Upcoming public hunts include The Met in NYC, Franklin Institute in Philadelphia, the American History Museum in D.C., and the DeYoung Museum in San Francisco.

Up the ante by utilizing Segways on your hunt.  In most cities, you can rent Segways for city tours to tie into your adventure.

Or, plan team costumes like these Gnome and Where's Waldo teams at the Urban Beer Hunt.

Spice It Up:  Prepare the contestants for their adventure with a drawstring bag to carry.  Pack it with bottled water, a snack and any extras they might need to gather clues.

Make sure the teams use their smartphones to take pictures as they reach each checkpoint and to record any antics along the way.  After the race, use the photos to make a photo collage commemorating the adventure. 

Where to Buy:
Scavenger Hunts - Hunts vary by price depending on the size of your team, where it located, and whether it is custom designed for your group.  Most hunts allow for as few as 2 people to as many as 50. 

  Basic Hunts - These are downloaded on your phone and are preplanned for general use.  Tours For Fun - $44.00 for a group, Scavenger Planet $20.00 for a group

  More Elaborate Hunts - Watson Adventures, My Mystery Party, Urban Beer Hunt prices range for each of these hunts depending on whether you have a custom hunt or public hunt.  ON average it is $35.00-$40.00 per person but may require a minimum number of people.

Segway Tours - In Dallas, try Dallas Segway Tours $60.00-$85.00 per person.  In other cities, search online or check Trip Advisor for recommendations.  It is worth your while to call and negotiate a possible group rate or discount for non-peak days.

Drawstring Bags - Found at most sporting goods stores.  Academy from $9.99-$32.99  Custom type or monogram bags at Etsy (Etsy sites allow for small orders 1-10 which is preferable to promo sites which require minimum of 150+ bags). $10.00-$15.00 per bag

Photo Collages - Easily created on photo sites like Shutterfly.  Or try Pic Monkey to create your own printable collage.  $5.00-$15.00

Pillow Collage - See my post dated September 4th for a quality collage pillow from Stitchagram.

Personalized Pillows...Dreamy!

Got a friend who loves to post photos to Instagram?  Selfies on the cellphone?  The gift solution is Stitchtagram pillows!

Remember those t-shirt quilts of yesteryear with all your college party t-shirts woven together as a keepsake quilt? 
Stitchtagram has cleverly updated the idea for the digital world.  They take a menagerie of your Instagram photos and print those on textured black denim to create a hand stitched pillow that is, at once, playful and sentimental.

Tweens, Teens, Adults will all love this memorable way to display their favorite photos.

Think of all the gifts you can run with:  Special Birthdays (16, 21, 30, 40...80) High School Graduation, College Graduation, Bridesmaids, Engagement, Wedding, Anniversaries, Grandparents, Housewarming, Fathers Day, Mothers Day, Christmas/Hanukkah.

If your recipient has a particular passion, you can tailor the photos to a theme:  favorite pets, pics of their artwork/crafts, pics of their house, a favorite vacation spot, how they met or got engaged, high school start to finish, a special trip or study abroad, summer vacation, pics of the grandkids, favorite Christmas decorations, etc..

Spice It Up:  Encourage the burgeoning photographer with an old school Lomography Diana + Dreamer Camera.  This funky 1960s retro camera has a cult following for its "dreamy, lo-fi images" that give your pictures a magical otherworldliness.  They'll be creating artistic collages in no time!

Where to Buy: 

Pillow - Go to the Stitchtagram website where they offer several personalized products.  They sell gift certificates in case you want your recipient to choose their photo combinations. 
Pillow $68.00, Tote Bag $78.00, Wristlet $82.00, Coin Purse $28.00 (price does not include shipping cost, allow for 2-3 weeks for delivery upon ordering)

Camera - The Lomography Diana + Dreamer Camera can be purchased at multiple stores.  I found this, and other fun retro cameras online at Urban Outfitters.  If you prefer to pick up in-store, most are available in your local store.  This particular camera includes a book of Lomography photos to help inspire.  $65.00

Hello Mudder, Hello Fadder...Here I am...at Camp Granada

Summer camp is just around the corner!  That means sending much appreciated care packages to your Camper!  Email may be quicker, but when you are away from home for 3-6 weeks nothing is better than a care package of fun items.  The usual loot includes magazines, puzzles, water balloons, glow sticks, etc. 

For the girls, I spotted these very cool Marc By Marc Jacobs silcone bracelets.  The silicone is similar to rubber, but smoother and softer (the material is like the Yellow LiveStrong bracelets). The bracelets are bright and colorful, WATERPROOF and won’t wear out after a summer of swimming!  The neon colors also are a nice highlight to that summer tan. 

Every tween/teen loves designer wear, and while you don’t want to blow the bank for pricey stuff these bracelets are inexpensive.  One single bracelet is cute and plenty, but they are cute to stack together.

For the larger bracelets, while you may not notice it right off, the links of the bracelet are actually in the shape of the Marc by Marc Jacobs’ lips/kiss logo (you can see it better when you pull the links a bit).  Clever indeed! 

For both styles, the hot pink, royal blue and bright green colors are my favorites.  Additional colors include: purple, orange, navy blue, white, red, black, etc.

Each bracelet comes with a Marc Jacobs black velvet drawstring pouch--a nice touch for presentation and we all know tweens/teens are decidely more impressed with a gift if it is designer!

Spice It Up:  Pair the bracelets with some sassy nail polish.  Neon polish is especially fun in the summer time.  I prefer these Revlon Neon polishes because one end is the Neon color and the other end is white paint. 

Both ends include a brush

If you have ever tried neon polish, you know it takes multiple layers and it often still does not look as bright as in the bottle.  Revlon solved that problem with the addition of white paint that you use as a base coat.  After a layer of the white paint, then add the neon coats.  This really makes the neon pop!

Neon bracelets & nail polish make a great Camp Care Package, birthday gift, travel gift for study abroad, or summertime fun for the family outing to the beach/lake/pool.  I’ll confess they are cute even for adults!

Camp Care Package Tip: For the tired Mom, a great website to order Camp Care packages to be delivered to your camper is: Sealed with a Kiss or Just 4 Camp.  They have some great ideas for fun knick knacks for your boys and girls, and they take care of the hassle of boxing and shipping!

Where to Buy:

Bracelets – The bracelets are on SALE 40% off at Nordstrom right now.  So, get over there quick before they sell out.  Or, order online. 

Small Bracelet @Nordstrom: Retail $28.00, On Sale $16.80
LargeBracelet @Nordstrom: Retail $32.00, On Sale $19.20

Nail Polish – Revlon is available at Walgreens, Ulta cosmetics, and most drugstores.  Retail $8.99, at Walgreens Buy One Get One 50% off.

Music to His Ears

When considering a gift for men, from age 8 to 88, they all want electronics. Unfortunately, that big screen TV, iPad, or gaming gadget are way out of the price range for my gift budget...

Never fear—I found the best affordable techy gift for all the boyz in your life!

Skullcandy Pipe is a mobile audio dock for your iPhone/iPod. It is hip, and functional.

 
The Pipe has a slick appearance in silver or black chrome, and is small enough to rest nicely on a desk at the office or in a small dorm room. To top it off--it has an ultra-thin Clicker! $44.00-$48.00

Originally, I bought this for my brother who loves it and uses it constantly. He takes it with him to listen to music while fishing, traveling, at the office, and in the backyard for BBQs.  The sound is impressive, and can be adjusted loud for a bash or soft for background music while working.

And, I admit, I loved it so much I bought one for myself! I even gave it for a Bar Mitzvah gift and a high school graduation gift--the Skullcandy logo is hip and the gadget cool enough for even the most jaded of techno teen boys.

iPhone docked to play music

This is a great gift for any guy or gal, but is especially great for Birthdays, Father’s Day, Bar Mitzvahs, Graduation, Christmas, etc.


Small Coke bottle for scale comparison

Spice It Up: Is he stuck in a rut listening to the same few songs he downloaded from Itunes 3 years ago? Bring him up to date with a Mix of The Month membership from DJ Lucy Wrubel. Lucy has traveled the world, and her playlists are infused with her eclectic exceptional style! $25.00-$165.00/yr

This gift is truly worthwhile because her selection ranges from hip new artists to retro favorites. When you don't have time to figure out what to download--she's got it all!
 

Where to buy:

Skullcandy can be purchased online at Skullcandy, or from Amazon.  I  purchased mine from one of those large electronic vending machines you see in airports & shopping malls.  The box includes an adapter to plug into the wall, but you might want to add batteries to the gift.  The Clicker is especially handy--it is so thin and light, see comparison to my Ipod in the picture below.  $44.00-$48.00

 

 

DJ Lucy Wrubel's Mix of the Month  http://mixofthemonth.biz/ in online and has two levels of membership: LoFi for 12 months for $25 which sends out a monthly recommended playlist you can download yourself from iTunes, or you can purchase the Box Set at $165 annual membership which mails you the monthly playlist on cd to burn along with other features.
 

Check out DJ Lucy Wrubel at her website http://lucywrubel.com/ to listen to some of her sample tunes

 

Viva España! ...Swag for your Señor!

Let’s be honest, it is most challenging to buy gifts for men. 

From college boys to grandfathers, men like gadgets which are usually way out of my price range.  While I would love to give him that IPad mini, it’s just not happening!

So, what reasonably priced gift can you find for a guy that isn’t a boring tie?

Front of Bota Bag

Check out this personalized Bota Bag.   It’s funky, hip, and functional!  Approximately $27.00 (see where to purchase below)

A Bota Bag is a traditional Spanish leather bag to carry wine/sangria/spirits much like a flask.   If you have never seen one before, I can guarantee that plenty of hipsters carry them at the Coachella music festival and probably any hippie hanging out on the drag in Austin.

 

Spice it up:  Add in some Gipsy King tickets, a download of their greatest hits album, and a bottle of Spanish wine!

 While studying abroad in Spain during college, I became a fan of the Gipsy Kings.  Typically, they play outdoor venues which lends a certain festival atmosphere to their concerts.  Bring a picnic of tapas, and fill up his Bota Bag with Sangre De Toro. 

 

This makes for a great Birthday present or just a celebratory Date Night!

Where to purchase… 

Back of Bota Bag

Bota Bag:  I purchased mine online from Kegworks.  Although it took them 3 weeks to ship it to me, I am pleased with the quality.  The initials are branded nicely, the leather is very soft, and it is stamped with the “Made in Spain” tag on the back verifying authenticity.  Approximately $27.00 

 

Top of Sangre de Toro Bottle

Wine: You can find many fine Spanish wines in your local liquor stores, but I have always been amused by the little Bull on each bottle of Sangre De Toro. This wine is served at one of my favorite tapas restaurants, Café Madrid. Although it is very inexpensive, it is tasty!  Approximately $7.00 per bottle 

 

Gipsy Kings - Music: The greatest hits album can be downloaded from

iTunes, or if you are old school, you can order a CD from Amazon.   Approximately $15.00-$20.00   

 

 Gipsy Kings Concert Tickets: Currently, they are touring to various venues around the U.S. The Gipsy Kings play outdoors in Dallas on April 30th. If you have the chance one of the best places to see them is in Atlanta at Chastain Park – a beautiful venue for music and a picnic.   Approximately $58.00 for lawn seats.

 

Option 1: If he’s not a fan of the Gipsy Kings, pair the Bota Bag with a t-shirt from one of his favorite festival/jam bands. Depending on his era: Rolling Stones, Grateful Dead, Phish, Radiohead, etc. You can buy on most band websites, or t-shirt sites. Try this website called: Slingshot Shirts.   Approximately $20.00 (varies by shirt/band)

Option 2: Find a great Sangria pitcher like the Las Ramblas pitcher at Crate & Barrel. Add a wooden spoon to stir, and he’s ready to fill his Bota Bag with Sangria!   Approximately $29.95