MY HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE UNDER $75

'Tis the season to celebrate and give great gifts! But, the real challenge is choosing one that will be meaningful to your special someone while staying within your budget. Sometimes it can be difficult and stressful because there are so many options out there. My Christmas gift guide will help you find some amazing gifts under $75 to make your Christmas shopping experience more enjoyable. The ideas will be based on interests and personalities!

MUSIC OBSESSED 

• ITunes Gift cards ($25-$75)
• Concert Tickets ($25-$75)
• Skull Candy Earphones ($50) 
• IHome -Iphone & Ipod Dock ($60)

KITCHEN ENTHUSIASTS 

• Cake Pop baking pan ($20)
• Martha Stewart Decorating Kit ($20)
• Martha Stewart Collection cupcake tree ($20) 
• French Coffee Press ($40)
• Belgian Waffle Maker ($50)

PARTY ANIMALS

• Metrokane Flip-Top Cocktail Shaker ($30)
• Ralph Lauren Cocktail Party Collection ($40)
• Metrokane Rabbit Corkscrew ($50)
• Veuve Clicquot Ponsardin Champagne Brut Vintage ($75)

TRAVELING JUNKIES

• Travel Guides ($5-$25)
• Photo Albums ($30)
• London Fog Tote ($50)
• Personalized Leather Passport Cover ($65)

FASHION ADDICTS 

• Gift Cards ($25-$75)
• Express Little Black Dress ($50)
• Flora by GUCCI ($55)
• Ralph Lauren Polo Blue Gift Set ($60)
• Bobby Brown Smokey Eye Set ($65)

BROWN SUGAR & OLIVE OIL BODY SCRUB

I've already given you a great mask for your face, but now it is time to take care of your body, too. We all have to maintain our skin soft and radiant for those strapless cocktail dresses, that we are planning on wearing these upcoming holidays. We have to be very careful and exfoliate our bodies and keep them well hydrated so we can look our best. I am going to give you a great recipe for a scrub that is great and inexpensive at the same time because you will be using things that you already have in you kitchens.


INGREDIENTS:

1 cup BROWN SUGAR
1/2 cup OLIVE OIL
2 T HONEY
1 T LEMON JUICE (optional)


DIRECTIONS:

Measure  the ingredients and put them in a medium bowl, mix them well. If your scrub is a little dry or too clumpy put a little more olive oil but not a lot that it makes the scrub watery. You can add the lemon juice if you want, I like using it in mine. I like the lemon because of its aroma and because it makes the skin brighter and it gives you a glow. Put it in a small container or a little glass jar so you can keep it in your bathroom and use it every time. It also makes a great gift, just put a little bow around the jar for a special touch and your special person will enjoy it.

STRAWBERRY AND MILK FACE MASK

If you are like me, you have been probably suffering from dry skin because of the cold weather. The skin is always affected  by the change of temperature and  it can become real sensitive. Since a week ago I have been feeling my skin extra dry and even with flaky little spots and I hated it. I was looking for a real good face mask but I did not have the ingredients at the time. So I went to the fridge and saw that I had ripe strawberries and did not know what to do with them. Then, I thought to do a strawberry and milk face mask to see if it would help, and it did. My face feels more hydrated and soft. I hope you will try it at home and enjoy it.




INGREDIENTS:

2 STRAWBERRIES
100grams MILK


DIRECTIONS:

First, wash your strawberries and mince them and squeeze them with a fork to get a paste but be careful not to get it  too liquid. Then, add the milk and mix it all together. After that, put a head band or secure your hair in a bun away from your face and lie down on your back. Start putting the mask in a thin layer and wait for about 20 minutes and after that remove the strawberry pieces and wash your face with warm water and put your regular moisturizer. I recommend doing this twice a week for the cold and dry months.

5 ITEMS YOU MUST TAKE TO YOUR VACATION

Planning a vacation is so exciting and fun! You have to decide where you will go, what you’ll see and  how long you will stay; from a couple of days to a few months.  In the middle of all that planning, you will  begin to think about what you’ll take with you, especially clothes, shoes, and accessories.  And for me, that is the most stressful part of the whole planning chaos. You will have to consider certain factors while choosing clothes like the weather, and where you are planning on going while on your vacation. I love traveling, and I do it twice a year, so I think I know what are the basic things you'll need while you are far away from home. Here are the five must-have items for your upcoming vacation:

The first item you should always take on a vacation is a great pair of sunglasses. You will always need them; from going shopping to the beach to a café! I recommend to get black or brown sunglasses they go with every outfit.

The second item you should always take on a vacation is a great tote! A tote will be very useful, you will be able to carry a lot of things that you could need like your passport, to an extra pair of shoes, to your camera. I love a good leather tote; practical and stylish. It could go from day to night! 

The third item you should always take on a vacation is a great Little Black Dress. You'll never know when you will need it. It would be great to go to a nightclub, to dinner or to get drinks. It will be a key item for your vacation wardrobe,believe me. I recommend you to pair it with great accessories and a bold lipstick color.

Kate Bonsworth

 

The fourth item you should always take on a vacation is a great pair of high heels. You will always need them, believe me. Try to find some hot and extravagant heels that you could use from day to night. Everyone will rave about them. At day I recommend wearing them with jeans and  a blazer, and at night wear them with your cocktail dress or with a great skinny pant and a chic blouse.

The fifth item you should always take on a vacation is a leather jacket. Wether you are going to a cold or warm place on your vacation, you will need at least one jacket. I recommend a leather jacket because it is a classic and you can't never go wrong with it. You could use it from day to night and it adds a little edge to any outfit.