2014 Favorite Things List

If you’ve been reading my blog for a while, you know my friend Crystal. She’s truly a great friend, super fun, and obviously a total beauty.

I have been begging her to do a guest post for me on her “favorite things” for years. Seriously, years. She has fantastic taste and always finds the coolest things long before others discover them and they become mainstream cool. So, it’s perfect timing that she wrote a “favorite things” post for me just in time for holiday shopping. I just ordered the Little Gold Notebook for myself and ordered a few of the other items for Christmas gifts for others! Alright, I’m turning it over to Crystal!

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Oprah may have tasted, tested, sniffed and blah-di-blahed her way through free samples and celebrity swag to bring you her “Favorite Things” list to inspire your Holiday shopping list but, if you’re not in the market for $700 Beats by Dre, this list may be for you!

Crystal’s 2014 Favorite Things List

 

I’m a big fan of keeping small notebooks handy for whenever I need to make a quick to do list, take notes in a meeting, or jot down an idea. This Little Gold Notebook is the perfect size, it stands out in my messy purse and, the elastic band keeps the book closed and pages tidy. $18 www.katespade.com

Yes Please belongs in every woman’s stocking this year. This slightly self-deprecating, mid-life memoir by Amy Poehler has a not so subtle theme of ‘girl-power’ that is inspiring and also hilarious. List price is $29, but you can get it for $18 at www.amazon.com

I’ve had my eye on some fancy headphones all year but couldn’t bite the bullet with their $300 price tag. I decided to try these Sony MDRZX 100 ZX Series Headphones in white and could not have been happier with the purchase. Stylish, comfortable, and oh so very, very cheap. Get a pair for your friends, your kids, yourself. $15 www.amazon.com

For the cook in your life, check out the Herb 8 Jar Gift Pack. This set features my favorite herb blend, “Herbes de Provence”. The lesser known herb blend instantly elevates chicken on nights when you want to keep your effort minimal. $37 www.penzeys.com

The gift that keeps on giving! I love my Birchbox subscription. Every month you get samples of makeup, hair and body products, and the occasional treat. I love when I see that pink box in mailbox and I haven’t had to buy a lip gloss in years because every purse I own has 2-3 samples from Birchbox sitting at the bottom. Subscriptions start at $30 for women and $60 for men www.birchbox.com

It looks a little corny in this picture (get your act together, Target) but the Crosely Rochester Entertainment Center is a seriously cool addition to your living room. Besides its good looks (I promise it looks better in person) having the addition of a radio tuner and CD player make this a record player a total winner. $120 www.target.com

You can’t have a record player with a record! Get a bunch for under $1 at your local Goodwill or Thrift Shop, or spring for this classic Ella Fitzgerald & Louis Armstrong Vinyl for $20 www.amazon.com

My favorite purchase of all time. I’ve worn the Rebecca Minkoff Crossbody Mini MAC for years and it still gets compliments. In a huge range of colors, you can’t go wrong with this bag. $195 www.bloomingdales.com

Okay, okay. I’ll admit I haven’t tested this one out, but with nearly 4,000 5-star reviews, I know that every book lover on my Christmas list will be getting one of these Frostbeard Studio soy candles. In non-traditional scents like Sherlock’s Library and Bookstore, this is going to make the bibliophile in your life very happy. $15 + shipping www.etsy.com

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Thanks Crystal! Love ya!

Which of these things do you want most? I WANT THEM ALL. 😉