Santa's Snazzy Red Bag- Day 9

Decor (and Man Cave stuff)

My greatest desire is to turn my ho-hum, storage room, bedroom into in actual sanctuary for me and my hubby. Sparing all the gory details, but my bedroom is used to sleep in and house over-flowing laundry baskets (Am I the only one who lets folded laundry sit for days without putting away? I hate that part)

After the holidays I'm seriously getting started on my room makeover. 

First on the list is a new comforter set. I love this set from Target by Dwell Studios ($59.99-$69.99). Why not get yourself some new bedding for Christmas?

Frames are another great holiday gifts. I like these Gallery Frames ($34-$129) from Pottery Barn. Pick these up for your mom and give her a bonus gifts and fill them with a great picture of your kiddos!

Does anyone Woot? Back over the summer Woot had these huge Transformer stickers for $20. I immediately ordered them because I knew my husband would love these for his studio/man cave. But for some strange reason my order never went through and I waited around for those suckers for like 3 weeks!

I think your Transformer obsessed husband would love these giant wall stickers ($22.49 <--- odd price) for his space. But I also think any boy would love these as well!


Let's imagine for a minute that your husband actually keeps books in his man cave. And if he does, let's imagine he keeps them neat and straight. (Mine actually does have tons of books {all music of course} but they are far from neat & straight)

These Manhattan Chair Bookend's($39) from Pottery Barn would be great for his room or office. If not the husband, how about for your Dad? 

How about this beautiful cable knit throw ($79) also from Pottery Barn. Throw in a bottle of Moscato and these lovely monogrammed candles and maybe a "coupon" for free {overnight} babysitting and you've got a great gift for your brother & his wife.

Untitled Post for Laziness

I'm probably the worst blogger huh? I haven't had a real blog post in ages. And I have missed THREE days of the Snazzy Red Bag feature.

But you know what? I might just have to chalk this one up as a defeat.

I completely underestimated how hard it would be to come up with great gifts for everyone.

It's hard helping everyone else come up with gifts, when I don't even know what I want for myself!

I told Shawn to get me...NOTHING. "Quick. Check her pulse!" (I never give up gifts) Seriously the reason I don't want anything is because I have no idea what I want. 

The last week has been complete chaos! I pulled Christmas decorations out, but guess where they are? Sitting in my kitchen.

What's the countdown to Christmas now? Still no tree. And only a wreath on the front door. I don't know what happened but the days are way to short and I can't find the time or motivation to get it done. I'm hoping to threaten my husband with no...ya know, if he doesn't get the wreaths up and hang the lights. 

Last week we also started and finished Phoenix DIY upholstered bed that turned out completely FANTASTIC. 

I'll post all the pictures and deets later this week. This thing took up 3 days and like 5 trips to Home Depot and Lowes. My house was tore up from the floor boards (is that how you say it?) and still (sadly) kind of is. It feels all discombobulated. 


The chaos of this week has been sheer un-productive chaos. This is the worst kind.

So I apologize my loyal readers for my lack of thought provoking mommy post and completely outrageously awesome gift guide. I won't flatter myself and think that anyone was actually thinking "Alex! Alex! Help me find a gift!" but when I make a promise I like to keep.


So back up and running tomorrow...

(Did you enjoy the beautiful pictures of the snow we got last weekend? Looks like a postcard huh?)

 

Santa's Snazzy Red Bag- Day 8

Jewelry

 

I have a large obsession and love for birds and birdcages. In everything. Decor, clothing, art, and of course jewelry!

Sweet & Simple Birdie Necklace $58.00

Fly Free Necklace $65.00

I love those hand-stamped necklaces and Lisa Leonard Designs makes some of my favorite

Watches count as jewelry for a man right?

This Lacoste 'Mainsail' ($235) from Nordstroms is my favorite. I want one!

Santa's Snazzy Red Bag- Day 7

Besides Gap I also have a love affair with Etsy. Beautiful handmade and vintage finds for everyone! I love, love Etsy.

I love the idea of giving handmade gifts for Christmas, but don't exactly have the time or experience to really make a knock out handmade/etsy worthy gift.


Here are my absolute favorite Etsy gifts for Christmas!

I love this beautiful ribbon flower ($9) that can worn as a brooch or hair clip. 

calexandra is the Etsy seller of this beauty.

 

How fantastic are these kitchen series ($10) prints from vol25? I recently saw this seller featured on a blog (but sorry can't remember which) and I like this one for my bedroom. But I think these kitchen series ones would be a great gift for that cook you know. And P.S. If you're stuck on a gift for your favorite blogger (hehehehe) this would be PERFECTION.



If I had a little girl I would put her in these booties ($15.99) from Lilcubby everyday! I think they are super adorable and want a pair for me! 

I was able to get Phoenix a monkey pair to wear at his monkey themed birthday party in August. And I have been in love with these ever since.


Phoenix (like most 16 month olds) really enjoys playing throwing and rolling balls. 

And a bowling set ($21) just happens to be on his Christmas list.


I like this one because there's a bonus present involved is the Etsy seller Little Sapling Toys plants a tree for every toy purchased. Christmas present for Mother Nature!


Do you have a pirate loving checker playing guy in your life?

 How fun is this checker set ($150) by goosegrease?


Shawn rotates between 2 favorite belts. Like a comfortable sweater.

I think he'd really love these belt buckles ($38) from flight path designs

Santa's Snazzy Red Bag- Day 6

Ugh. Two days in a row and I am super late in getting the gift guide up. We've been doing a DIY project the past two days. It'll be completely finished and read for blog exposure tomorrow.

But any way here's todays gift guide.


I'm sure you've seen Canvas People floating around on other peoples blogs, but I think this is worth another look.

Canvas People has cool specials going on. An 8x10 is FREE (all you pay is shipping & handling) and the sizes range from 8x10 to 18x24 and the prices are sooo cheap!

Photo calendars are my favorite photo gifts. My uncle gives these each year filled with (of course) photos from the past year and birthdays.

Snap fish has tons of designs to choose from ($27.99)

How cool are these playing cards (s19.99)?

I think I have a little sister who would get a kick out of seeing herself on the back of these cards for a game of crazy 8.


 Hurry and get this stuff ordered ASAP so they;ll be in for Christmas!

 

Santa's Snazzy Red Bag- Day 5

 Personalized

I received an engraved purse mirror as a bridal party gift one year and really loved it. I've since misplaced it and this etched purse mirror from Red Envelope ($29.95) would be a great replacement. I also love this gift for a tween who's just reaching the age of purse carrying and the whole makeup game.

 

One of my favorite design bloggers High-Heeled Foot in the Door did a giveaway with these plates last week and I love them.  The above design is my favorite because it's called the "Greek Plate" representing (a bit) of my heritage. These plates could be cool for newlyweds (monogrammed) or a new homeowner. Maybe even a hostess gift?? These plates from La Plates come in tons of styles ($22)

 

I like these personalized growth charts for kids from Red Envelope ($34.99) a cute addition to any kids room.

 

Phoenix has suddenly taken a huge, huge, interest in books which thrills me to pieces because I love to read. I think he'd get a huge kick out of a book using his name like these also from Red Envelope ($39.95). They have both a fairy tale book and animal book for the boys.

 

I have nothing with that WOW factor for the guys today. Finding great personalized (but non-cheesy) gifts was very hard today. 

I found these cuff links (again from Red Envelope) that I thought were nice and would be a good gift for Dad or Brother.

I also liked these double personalized cuff links with the pictures inside.My husband said no man would wear them, but I don't see the huge deal. No one would actually know they had pictures in them.

Do you have any WOW ideas for guys that are personalized?

Santa's Snazzy Red Bag- Day 4

Cozy Pj's

Who doesn't want a nice pair of cozy PJ's for Christmas? I do! I love this striped long john set from Victoria Secret ($39.50). They have 10 different patterns to chose from and they are all super cute.

 

So have I shown you enough Gap gifts? Gap should give my a nice little kickback or free shipping or something!

But aren't these little PJ's sets adorable? I'm getting the ladybug for little niece Nelzabug (but will have to order them in a much bigger size because they don't have the little sizes anymore!) and the bumble bee for Phoenix.


These sets run $22 a piece but if you buy 2 or more they are only $19.50


 

Not all men actually wear "sleepwear" or at least "sleepwear sets". Gap has some great Pj bottoms ($29.50) and I love these slippers

I think all guys would enjoy some comfy "lounge wear" just maybe not a Hanna Anderson family set. 

Santas Snazzy Red Bag- Day 3

 Electronics

I was was catching up on my DVR'd Martha Stewart shows earlier this week and thought the Demy Kitchen Safe Touchscreen Recipe Reader (from Amazon $300) would be the perfect gift for someone like me.

I have a beat up yellow folder that houses all of my loose recipes. One's I've copied from the internet or ripped from magazines.

I've had the desire for the last few months to figure out some type of system for them, but have no desire for the patience a project like this would entail (especially because the pages happen to be covered in splattered food. Eww)

Enter The Demy. Seem's really cool, but I'm not a big electronics girl so $300 on an electronic is not my thing this Christmas. I'd rather spend $300 on something from Coach.

The Kindle (wireless reading device) ($259 at Amazon) is another cool electronic this season. Another gift on both my wish list and my husbands. We are both avid readers. Just this past Saturday we hit downtown Frederick (which is beautiful) to grab books from the library and came home and read all night long (we were probably dying of swine flu so Phoenix was with my parents). 

The Kindle seems uber cool and the ultimate must have gift this season. But then again, something magical about a book in hand. 


I know that this toy specifies 3 and up, but Phoenix is 16 months going on 7! So we are very limited to our toy selection. The typical  12-18 month old toys are skills he has mastered and a toy he would probably stand on top of or use as a drum. So this leaves at 2 and 3 year old toys.

Which is fine, because I really think he would enjoy a race car. This is when I stumble upon the Playskool Tonka Bounce Back race car. I like this one because it only has two simple buttons and like the name suggest he can bang it into the wall all he wants and it'll come flipping right back.

If you have any other race car suggestions I'd love to know which ones.