Gift Guide: Stocking Stuffers

Stocking stuffers are always my favorite things to find - cute little things are the best! I just got these mini tassel earrings (in pink!) and seriously love them. I have a problem with earrings that are too heavy, but I barely noticed these ones. I also love little beauty items, like my favorite hand cream and lip balm. I also have been weirdly into socks lately - patterns are so much more fun than plain white or black!

Tassel earrings / L'occitane hand creme / I'm Outta Here luggage tag / Glitter phone pocket / Okay sign bag tag / Bow bracelet / Reindeer socks / Kitsch hair ties / Fresh Sugar Lip Treatment / Gold charger cord

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National Hot Cocoa Day

Mug / Jingle bells / Wood tray / Gold reindeer / Candle

I'm not usually one to celebrate a "day" since there's basically a day for everything these days - pizza, socks, the Dewey Decimal system...

Leggings / Slippers

But I mean, hot cocoa?! Who can say no to that? Any excuse for drinking hot melty chocolate covered in marshmallows I'm definitely down for.

Sweater / Similar Tee

I don't drink coffee or tea but still love a hot drink now or then, and hot chocolate is my go-to. Unless I'm in with co-workers and don't want to be mistaken for a small child in the morning when they're all ordering espressos, in which case I go for the good old fashioned chai latte ;) "Kids temperature hot chocolate" just doesn't roll off the tongue quite as well.

A few years ago I got a jar of fancy hot cocoa mix in a gift exchange, and to date it's probably one of the best gifts I've gotten in one of those. I found some adorable jars with rose gold hardware in the dollar section at Target last month, and decided to put together a jar of my own to put into a couple of white elephants this year.

Gold label

Antler tray

The gift itself is super easy. Once you find a cute jar, fill it up halfway with cocoa mix, then add layers of chocolate chips (I went with milk chocolate Ghirardelli chips - yum!!), mini candy canes, and of course marshmallows! Paired with a cute mug (I found this one at Walgreens - no, seriously! Isn't it cute?!) or a bottle of Baileys or RumChata and you've got yourself the perfect gift!

So tell me, what kind of gift do you usually put into a gift exchange?

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Linking up with Style Me Wednesday, Confident Twosday.

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This Weekend...

This weekend I...

...Met some friends out for dinner at Topo Gigio, which is one of my favorite old school Italian places in the city. Pasta and wine make me a very happy girl ;)
...Had some of our family over for lunch, and almost died laughing at my 18 month old niece Mae tearing around our condo and playing with whatever she could find. We kept it nice and simple by serving corn bread and chili, which gave us a lot of time for hanging out and baby Mae snuggles.
...Tried to find some good present ideas for our grandmas, and instead ordered pajamas for me, a beauty advent calendar for me, and a faux fur pillow for our couch. Le sigh. What kinds of presents do you get your grandmas? I feel like I can never quite find something they really want. Oh, and I still haven't managed to find a gift for Jeff. I'm thinking it's going to end up being this Patagonia sweater, but I really want to think of something else since I basically told him I was buying it for him and ruined the surprise.
...Decided to cancel all of our plans and have a Christmas movie night at home. Pajamas, candles, snow, take-out pizza, and Home Alone - what could be better?

I hope you had a good one!

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Friday Finds

one / two / three / four / five

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Break Out the Fur

Shirt (same cut, same color) and Pants - J. Crew Factory / Vest (similar) - Banana Republic / Necklace - Stella & Dot / Bag (similar) - Gap / Watch - Wristology / Booties (similar on sale for less than $80!) - Adrienne Vittadini

You guys. You guys. I'm not ready for winter. It's too freaking cold. We had it so easy last year, and I'm definitely not ready for this Chicago winter to get really real, and I'm definitely not ready to bundle. I'm super sensitive to temperature, which means I'm always freezing until I'm suddenly way too hot and have to take off everything on my walk to the train. I mean, no, that never happens.

For me, layers are key in the winter when you're going between hot and cold all day. I somehow forgot that I owned this faux fur beauty until my co-worker challenged me to a vest-off, but it is freaking amazing. It's so soft and warm and cozy without being overwhelming. Plus, faux fur is a great way to luxe up your outfit. Win win.

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Previously on KDTI - faux fur:

 

Linking up with Mix It Monday, Flashback Friday, What I Wore to Work.

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Gift Guide: for the Hostess

Oh hey there, looks like it's time for another gift guide! Can you believe we're only two and a half weeks from Christmas?! This week I went after hostess gifts, which are some of my favorites because they're things people don't typically think to buy for themselves or won't splurge on. My favorite of course is this Nest candle, it smells freaking amazing! I tried buying a couple of cheaper Christmas candles but the scents don't permeate the way that the Nest one does - this seriously fills my house!

Pineapple bottle opener / Hello Beautiful mug / Recipe box / Reindeer platter / The Year of Cozy / Puppy calendar / Sugar & Cream set / Cheese knives / Pom Pom blanket / Nest candle

Looking for more gift ideas? Check out gifts for the couch potato, gifts for the mixologist, and gifts for him.

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Navy + Plaid

Shirt (in Black Watch) - L.L. Bean / Sweater and Necklace (similar) - J. Crew Factory / Denim - Madewell / Booties - TOMS / Bag (similar less than $100!) - Coach Factory / Earrings (similar) - c/o Shopbevel

I love love love my red plaid. I was looking through my closet the other day and it is literally taking over. I think I have about 10 options at this point, I could literally wear it every day if I wanted. I'm really glad though that I managed to step back from the obsession and pick up this navy and green plaid shirt too. The more subtle pattern is really easy to wear, and I can see wearing this all winter long (as opposed to those Christmas plaids, which definitely have a defined shelf-life). I love it with this navy sweater because it's basically acting as a neutral, but it also works well on its own or paired with my ever-expanding puffer vest collection.

Oh, and what's even better about this shirt is its flannel, so it's super cozy for the chilly weather coming this week! Did you hear we're supposed to have a "polar blast" tomorrow? So not ready for that!! We're actually heading to adults night at the Lincoln Park Zoo tomorrow night and you had better believe I'm getting super bundled up! Last winter was so mild that I don't think I pulled out my Joan of Arctic boots at all, and since I hadn't worn them in so long I was worried I had lost them or given them away! After a frantic search I'm glad to say that I did locate my giant boots, as well as about a million hats and scarves I forgot I owned, so I should be nice and cozy outside. And if not, there's also a bar at the event that should help to warm me up ;)

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Previously on KDTI - navy sweater:

 

Linking up with Style Me Wednesday, Mix It Monday, Style Sessions, Confident Twosday.

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