Strawberries and Chocolate for Valentine's Day?

L'Age de Thé has the perfect treat for Valentine's day for a friend, a lover or even yourself. Their Valentine's day blend is a combination of black tea, strawberries and chocolate with a hint of rose petals. This time of year we brew a couple of cups of tea each day, this one needs to be in our rotation!

Intoxicated Zodiac Candles: Great Valentine's Day Gift

Intoxicated Zodiac Celestial Cocktail Candles would make a special Valentine's day gift especially since there are different "cocktail" concoctions for each sign.  We try travel with candles because no matter how nice your hotel is you run the chance of encountering some strange odors: mold, smoke, or cooking smells.  Creator Gwen Sutherland puts an unlit Capricorn candle on her tray table during flights (molasses espressotini scent-yum!).

You can find them at our Open Sky store and they're on sale this week for 25% off.  

Ralph Lauren Olympic Collection

The U.S. Olympic athletes will be outfitted by Ralph Lauren for the 2010 Winter Games.  It's more sporty than the Summer 2008 collection; but just as put together.  The collection is available for purchase on the Ralph Lauren website where you can also find some great information about the games and the athletes. We love the navy puffer jacket with the red stripe down the sleeves; but could do without the oversized logo. As far as the tapered white pants, it takes someone in great shape to pull those off.

 

The Opening Ceremony Knit Sweater (wool/cashmere blend) is beautiful and wearable.  The Olympic patch on the sleeve makes it sporty; but not too much so.  It would be perfect on a ski trip.

The Olympic Ceremony Knit Hat would be great for a ski trip as well, though we can't see wearing it on 5th Avenue.  Since it's unisex, we think it'd make a great gift for your SO and a not too gaudy souvenir from the Olympic Games.

Holiday Gift Ideas- Space.NK Candles

This summer we fell for the Space.NK candles on our beauty crawl with Daily Makeover's Beauty Bloggerati. Their scents are natural and inspired. We were particularly drawn to the Tomato Rhubarb (pictured above) that had the distinct smell of a tomato plant's leaves that makes you think of warm summer nights.We were excited to hear about the Wild Garden collection of candles available for the holidays in scents like Blue Hyacinth, Citrus Mint, and Neroli Spice.

Available at Space.NK stores, select Bloomindales and Spacenk.com.

Holiday Gift Ideas - Courtesy of Spa Week

We have a small obsession with maps and globes, so when we saw these on the Spa Week blog, our jaw dropped. Please, Santa, put these three continent pillows under our tree! We'll be nice to our little brother and walk the dog and everything! The pillows are batiked by artists in South West India who are paid fair wages and are available at Uncommon Goods. We don't even care if they don't go with the rest of the decor--we'll redecorate!

See what else is on SpaWeek's Gift Guide.

Happy Birthday Nars!

Nars is celebrating its 15th anniversary tonight with the release of 15X15, a limited-edition book filled with celebrity images and photographic representations. 100% of the proceeds from the book will go to the charities designated by the celebrities in the book. Wouldn't this make an excellent gift for that beauty addict on your list?

We'll be forever fans of Nars lipsticks, glosses, shadows (the perfect smoky eye made easy), and all of the erotic product names like orgasm, permiscuous, and hellfire.

15X15 includes photos of Marc Jacobs (below), Amanda Lepore, Amber Valetta, Carla Gugino, Isabella Rossellini and many more.



The sale begins tonight at 8:00 EST on the 15 X 15 Online Gallery.

Christine Mighion Jewelry: Eco-Friendly Jewelry

Yesterday we were introduced to the new "Lustre" line of jewelry by designer Christine Mighion. We were struck first by the natural, brushed gold and usual shapes of the stones she uses. Turns out both are the strategic design of an eco-conscious artist who uses recycled gold and stones from conflict-free mines.

"Clean lines and matte satin finishes lend itself to the modern appeal of my work, while the rough stones and irregular textures created through forging metal give an earthy balance. Each piece feels special and unique in this way - distinctively beautiful, but unpretentious," said Mighion.

We are taken with the 14K Gold Rhodolite Garnet Earrings ($285) pictured above and the 14K Gold Tanzanite Stacking Ring Set ($440), pictured below. Here's hoping someone close to us is checking in on JSG for gift ideas.

Hostess Gift: Map Plates

We've never actually bought anything from SkyMall, but we're kinda tempted to get these Map Serving Plates. Our guests will be so impressed when we serve spaghetti Bolognese on Italy, weiner schnitzel on Germany or a spread of cheeses on France. Each country measures from 6-10" wide, 10-15" long and costs $14.95.

Need other hostess gift ideas?

Hostess Gift

If you're lucky enough to get invited to crash at a friend's beach house this summer, be sure to bring along a fab gift. Here are two that you could bring us if you come to visit from Uncommon Goods.

These fun Fortune Cookie Soaps not only look good enough to eat, they smell delish, too. They come in scents like sweet tart martini, rain shower, candy addict and oatmeal cookie. Each has a fortune inside.


Put it together with the Chopstick Soap Dish, offer to pay for Chinese food the morning after (nothing cures a hangover like wonton soup) and you'll be a shoo-in for a repeat invite next year!


Our pick for the eco-conscious hostess is these Recycled Windshield Glasses. Made of a car's old windshield, you can now finally get drunk and save the world!

Win a Smythson Jewelry Roll

We dream about the day we can afford the Smythson Weekender bag for our short jaunts—til then, we’re satiating our leather lust with their accessories, like the jewelry roll,

a passport cover


and the classic travel journals.



The buttery leather and sunny colors keep us happy, even after our plane has been delayed for the third time. JSG is excited to be partnering with Smythson to giveaway a jewelry roll in mustard, valued at $465. To enter, go to our message boards (click on the message boards hyperlink at the upper left of this page) and tell us what you went on your best girls’ getaway. We'll pick a winner at random and email you for your address.



The contest is open to US readers only. You must submit your response before Monday, April 20, 2009. We love all your girls' trips! Please leave a comment on our message boards to be entered. This will also hide your email information. Click on "message boards" at the top of the page. Thanks for reading!

Holiday Gift Guide: Gifts for Him

We found some great gifts for dad, your bro, your BF or husband at Target (these are on line in case you can't stand to fight the crowds). This flask will make it into the stadium with no worries about the pesky security check- it's shaped like a pair of binoculars. For a bargain $10, this one could suit more than one man on your list.

This charging station can power up his iPod and his cell. Super models with bells and whistles will run you $60 to $120 at Pottery Barn; but at Target this one is only $10.
We love the retro look of the Vers Wood iPod Speaker Dock and the gushing reviews from customers are convincing enough to think he won't be disappointed with the sound output. For $149.99, it's more substantial than the other gifts we found; but this one will score you big points.

Free shipping on orders over $50 at Target on-line. Order by today, December 18th to get it there by Christmas using standard shipping. If you're running late, Target offers 1 and 2 day shipping for an extra charge.

Holiday Gift Guide- Noodle & Boo Baby Soap

This French-Milled Baby Soap set is perfect for that little person on your Christmas list. The mom palm sized bars are engraved with "nudie cutie" and "clean bean" and come in a sweet pink and blue gift box. Available for $12 at Noodle & Boo.

While on their site, learn about the Raise Your Hand Campaign- Noodle & Boo's inspiring effort to bring safe drinking water to children in Africa. 100% of profits from the sale of their Believe Honey Bar (below) will go to Raise Your Hand.

Pussycat Dolls Lingerie

If the response to Smashbox's Pussycat Doll makeup collection last spring is any indication, the Pussycat Dolls lingerie line, available at (where else?) Bebe and Fred Segal is destined to be a mega hit. The line is designed by head doll, Robin Antin who says she designed the line "For women to feel empowered, strong, feminine, sexy and a little naughty." Sign us up!

Priced from $20 to $98, Pussycat Dolls Lingerie makes a spicy gift for you-- and him!

Jet-Setting While You Shower

We love maps. Whenever we travel, looking at the world map in the back of the in-flight magazine can keep us entertained for hours (well, at least a good 20 minutes). We love to picture the places we've been, dream about the places we're going and get a quick geography lesson (Thailand does border Cambodia). Believe it or not, it seriously relaxes us, even at 12,000 feet squeezed in next to an arm rest hog.

No surprise, our very first purchase for our soon-to-be new home, is this World Map Shower curtain from Target. Now we can lather up and shave our legs while we plan our next girls' trip!

Father's Day Gift Ideas

We covet our Rebecca Norman bracelets, so much so that we take turns wearing them when we're on a girls' night out. All of her jewelry is handmade with an unfinished, hammered look. Best of all no two pieces are the same. We saw her collection of menswear and think it would make a great father's day gift. Our pick for dad (or husband, boyfriend, or brother) are the silver cuff links with champagne diamonds.

It's Not Too Late to Get Mom Breakfast in Bed

One of our favorite things about staying in a hotel is ordering room service breakfast. There's something so decadent about having coffee and Eggs Benedict brought directly to you. We know mom would love breakfast in bed just as much. If you can't be there: order by 7:00 p.m. today to have this tasty breakfast sent to her. It includes everything she could want: coffee, tea, syrup, pancake mix, granola, and two mugs. Available on-line from Dean & Deluca.

Give the Gift of Spice

We all have a girlfriend who still wears boxers and old t-shirts to bed. You saw her on your last girls' trip and thought it was time she got intoduced to the post-dorm look. This red Elle McPherson chemise is naughty and nice. She can wear it on your next trip or surprise her significant other with a new look when she gets back home. If you order by this afternoon, Figleaves.com will make sure to get it to her by Christmas.

While you're on line, Figleaves is a great place to stock up on everyone's favorite Hanky Pankys. Because while we love to give, we do like to get a little something, too. Hey, Santa!--we've been really good all year long!

Don't forget to enter our contest to win pair of Aerosole's boots! Today's the last day!

Give a Helping Hand

JSG has been known to overindulge on rare occasion (wink, wink), so we love products or tricks that bring us back from the dead. On that note, here's another must for all the jet set girls on your list: Korres Party Survival Kit, available at Sephora. It bills itself as “Designed to wake up your skin and your senses after a long night out on the town.” Sounds like just what the doctor ordered!
It comes with, among other things, guava shower gel, primrose eye cream, wild rose moisturizer and, get this, Lemon Refreshing Chewing Gum. Kinda wish we had a piece right now! No wonder the NYC store of the Greek cult fave caused a sensation when it opened in Soho last fall. All their products are made with high concentrations of all-natural ingredients and smell heavenly!
If you don't have a Sephora store near you, be sure to order online today to still get upgraded shipping for free for a guaranteed Christmas Eve arrival.

Don't forget to enter our contest to win pair of Aerosole's boots!

Give the Gift of Travel

No surprise here, we love to travel. What would JSG put on her wish list? Gift cards from airlines. Jet Blue has them from $10 to $1000. You can purchase them off their website; but we saw them at Safeway today (Southwest and American airlines, too).

In January, Jet Blue begins service from NYC to the Dominican Republic and St. Maarten. Two locations JSG would love to review for you!

We figure you can give your friends bronzer or you can give them a suntan, it just depends on the size of your wallet...

Don't forget to enter our contest to win pair of Aerosole's boots!

Give a Little Bit

There's a word for anyone who's done with her holiday shopping already: show-off. The rest of us need help. This week, we're helping by giving out our best bets.

For the man on your list, your dad, husband, boyfriend, brother: how about this great looking scarf? It'll keep him cozy when your away on your girls' trip. Bonus, Neiman's is offering free gift wrapping and free 2 day shipping with the code NMHURRY.

Happy shopping!