CHRISTMAS GIFT GUIDE FOR HER

 

CHRISTMAS GIFT GUIDE FOR HER

 

 

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With Christmas only a few weeks away, it’s this lovely time of the year again where we buy gifts for our loved ones, and share the holiday spirit! I love getting gifts for all my family and friends more than getting stuff for myself. Although many of you like to get your gifts quite early and have a stress-free countdown to Christmas, I am quite naughty and I always end up getting my gifts on the very last-minute, which completely stresses me out. Therefore, this year I decided not only to get my presents earlier than usual but also to suggest some pretty cool gifts for your favorite ones! I am so excited since this is my very first Christmas gift guide post and I really can’t wait to share with you guys some lovely things I have picked out.

Photo credit: http://lutecia.ge/?lang=2&menuid=14&id=114&page=2
Photo credit: http://lutecia.ge

A perfume set is always a lovely idea for a present. I absolutely love perfumes! Who doesn’t right? Valentino’s Valentina Eau de Parfum set is perfect! I am quite picky when it comes to perfumes but I am in love with Valentina. It is such a sexy and feminine yet fresh scent, that you can’t go wrong with. This set is great as it also contains the body lotion. Layering the perfume on top of the body lotion will make the scent last longer and be more intense. And how cute is that box right?

Photo credit: http://www.lauramercier.com/new-arrivals/sweet-temptations-ambre-vanille-luxe-body-collection-12615222.html#start=2
Photo credit: http://www.lauramercier.com

In the whole spirit of layering and smelling amazing, another great gift and personal favorite is Laura Mercier’s Sweet Temptations Ambre Vanille Luxe Body Collection. I actually got this set for myself and it is amazing! The set has a body wash, body lotion (or soufflé), perfume and honey bath, all with the Ambre Vanille scent. Everything is so pretty. You can use the body wash for a quick shower or the honey bath, which is a best-selling product, for a more relaxing bath. Then layer the body soufflé (which is brilliant!) and the perfume. The scent is quite sweet but not in a sickening way. Such an amazing gift!

Photo credit: http://www.net-a-porter.com
Photo credit: http://www.net-a-porter.com

Since we all know how important skin care is to girls – and it should be to guys as well – I find that a luxurious skin care set would be a great gift to your special someone! There are so many out there that I can’t wait to get my hands on, but Sarah Chapman’s Facial In a Box set has really stand out to me. It is a lovely set of 5 products, including a 3-D mask and 2 professional cleansing mitts. It is such a lovely introduction to the brand and such a luxurious set. Using these products will make you feel like you are being pampered in a spa.

Photo credit: http://shop.lomography.com
Photo credit: http://shop.lomography.com

In an era where we capture every moment on our phones and cameras, what a better gift than a lovely camera that ties the old with the new. Fujifilm Instax Mini 8 is a wonderful present for everyone; boy or girl. I have the bigger one and I absolutely love it. However, it is quite heavy and big which makes it really hard to fit it in my purse and carry it around all the time. The Mini 8 is a cute camera that immediately develops the pictures taken. It has a vintage vibe combined with modern design. Plus, it comes in a variety of colors. I personally love the powdery blue one! Don’t forget to get a pack of film!

Photo credit: http://www.diptyqueparis.com
Photo credit: http://www.diptyqueparis.com

As a proper candle-addict, I believe that Diptyque’s Seasonal Candle Set is another amazing gift. Diptyque’s candles are just wonderful. They smell amazing and last forever, plus they are perfect for creating a relaxing atmosphere. This seasonal set includes 5 mini candles with different scents which is amazing. It is a perfect introduction to the world of luxurious candles. I have a review of my favorite Diptyque scent, that you guys should check out!

Photo credit left to right: www.urbanoutfitters.com, www.amazon.com, www.anthropologie.com
Photo credit left to right: www.urbanoutfitters.com, www.amazon.com, www.anthropologie.com

The last gift I would recommend is a little bit more complicated. Personally, whenever I get gifts for my people I always like to get a couple of gifts instead of just one. I don’t know why but I just love the moment when the present is unwrapped and there are more presents in it. Like the babushka dolls! Therefore, I believe a big stocking filled with many small gifts would be a great gift itself. You could fill the stocking with a book, like Madeline Shaw’s Get the Glow book for the healthy eater, or Jemma Kidd’s Jemma’s Makeup Secrets for the makeup addict one! Great stocking filler could also be a cute little journal like Urban Outfitter’s Oh Snap leather journal, along with some cute stationary. This Gold Monogram Mug from Anthropologie would also make a lovely stocking filler. You can add any bits and bobs you like and personalize the present which makes it even more perfect! Don’t forget the Christmas candy!

Christmas is my favorite time of the year! The holiday spirit is just everywhere and everyone is happy and cheerful. I love that is a gift giving period, because buying presents for my loved ones is ony of my favorite things and it makes me very happy. On my Christmas gift guide for her, I am sharing some ideas of presents for your favorite girls; mom, aunt, sister, bff or loved one!! I personally love all those things; I even have some of them and the ones I don’t have, I really want to get! Following this post, there will be a Christmas gift guide for Him, with some nice gift ideas for the special guys in your life, so stay tuned! Are any of those gifts on your wish list or do you even have any of these and if so what do you think of them? Also don’t forget to pop over Twitter (@vickyinlalaland) and Instagram (@blueberrylover) and say hi!

Till next time take care dolls 😉 xxx

Vicky

 

NOVEMBER FAVORITES

NOVEMBER FAVORITES

 

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November and autumn – which is my favorite season – might be gone, but December has set in, with Christmas just around the corner. Since it’s the end of the month, I have done a roundup of my most loved and used products! This is so exciting, as it is also my first “monthly favorites” post and I can’t wait to share with you guys everything that really got in my heart this month. I am going to mention not only my beauty favorites, but also my fashion ones as well as some random things!

Beauty – Skincare – Hair care

As a nail polish hoarder, I fell in love with H&M new nail polishes (see full review). Reinventing its beauty department, H&M came up with a new nail polish line, which looks higher end than their usual nail polishes and is a bit more expensive. However, they are absolutely amazing! I am completely converted. They are easy to apply, they dry in merely 5 minutes and they last for a little over a week with minor chipping. Also they so shiny you don’t even need to apply a top coat. I can’t say enough good words about them! I have already got 6 colors and I intend to get more, since the variety is huge!

I absolutely love Burberry’s Velvet foundation (see full review). It is very light and watery, so it is easy to apply and has a sheer, velvet finish. It blends in to my skin in such an easy way, that I can’t even tell I am wearing anything. I really love the sheer finish, especially for every day casual makeup because it doesnt burnden my skin. This foundation has by far the sheerest coverage I have seen. I love how the shade I have has a rosy undertone which is perfect for my pale, pinkish skin. In total, it is a wonderful foundation, perfect for those who seek something sheer and light.

Another makeup monthly favorite is my Anastasia Beverly Hills clear brow gel. Up until recently I was using either a pencil or a shadow for my eyebrows. Lately though, I started using my ABH sample sized clear brow gel and I am in love. I know it is just a clear gel but I love how it sets my eyebrows in a perfect way. They look naturally full and groomed and you can’t see the imperfections and sparse areas.

I got Lancôme’s Renergie Lift Multi Action from a magazine and I decided to give it a try. I am so glad i did! It is amazing. Although it has anti-aging properties, for me it does wonders in moisturizing my skin. It is quite thick, almost like butter and it is absorbed instantly from the skin. I find my face so smooth the following morning and it looks clear and bright. I am very surprised with this cream and very happy I came across it. It is part of my nighttime routine now!

Moroccanoil hair treatment (see full review) is my holy grail! I had heard so many great things about it that I decided to give it a go. This product is simply amazing. I use only a pump for my entire hair and it makes my hair incredibly soft. Also my hair is easier to detangle. I am so shocked at how good this product is. All these reviews weren’t lying. You only need a little bit and your hair will be so nourished, soft and shiny. Definitely a favorite!

Fashion

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My Public Desire over the knee boots (see full review) is my favorite pair of shoes for this month. They are so comfortable and pretty. They have a lovely fit, even though they are a bit big around my thighs, and they look so sexy. I love over the knee or thigh high boots. They look good with everything, either jeans or skirts and dresses, and they can be worn for a casual look or a fancier nighttime one. So perfect!

I absolutely love this ASOS black and red checkered coat. It is so pretty and because it has a biker jacket style, there is a rock vibe to it that I find very cool. I love how it’s black but the red checkered lines are so discreet. It is woollen so it’s very warm and has huge pockets which is perfect for when I am lazy and I don’t want to carry a bag with me. Also the detachable black furry collar makes it even cooler and warmer, plus it adds some sophistication which is perfect for the nighttime.

These H&M jumpers are simply amazing. I love how they are so long that can be worn with leggings or opaque tights alone. They are very warm but not woolen (wool itches my skin). Also they have the distressed detail at the bottom which adds some spice to the otherwise ordinary jumper. I have both of the colors they come in: grey and white-grey. They are so flattering and perfect for winter!

 Lifestyle

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I am a proper book-worm! I love reading books more than watching movies because while I am reading a book, I become creative and built the stories and the characters in my head. I feel like I am living the story myself. Although I have over 50 unread books in my library, I just can’t stop buying new ones. I am a book-addict! Lately I have been reading the 7 Letters from Paris book and I like it a lot. It is a romantic novel about a woman who met the love of her life at Paris and let him go. 20 years later, after a failed marriage, she goes back to Paris to find that one love and apologize to him! I am a sucker for love stories, what can I say! I recommend this book to all the romantic souls out there!

I absolutely love my Diptyque Violette candle (see full review). I don’t have much to say, since I already have a post raving about it, but this has to be the best candle I have ever used. Like it is amazing! It has a powdery, discreet scent that makes me feel calm and happy. I loved this so much, that I actually finished it in merely a month and repurchased it immediately!

I am so excited to share all the things I loved this past month with you guys. Either they are makeup and skin care or fashion and lifestyle, those things took a special place in my heart and made November a much better month for me! Do you have any of the things mentioned above and if so how do you feel about it? I would love to hear from you guys and also don’t forget to pop over Instagram (@blueberrylover) and Twitter (@vickyinlalaland) and say hi!

 

Till next time take care dolls 😉 xxx

Vicky

JO MALONE OR DIPTYQYE?

 JO MALONE OR DIPTYQUE?

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I always loved candles! There is something relaxing and soothing in the air when there is a lovely candle burning in the room. The scent is all over the space and it makes the tension disappear at once. Because of this love I have for candles, in the last couple of years, I have evolved into a great candle hoarder. I have about two dozen candles of all shapes and sizes and possibly a dozen candle holders to go with.  Yankee Candle have been my favorite brand for years and almost all my candles are Yankee ones, however, recently I felt the need to get myself a more high-end candle. There are two brands that are increasingly popular for their candles; Jo Malone and Diptyque. It seems that everyone talks about them lately and you can basically find them in every youtuber’s and blogger’s house. The choice was so hard, since both brands have a variety of amazing scents, so I decided to pick one of each.

Photo credit: Nordstrom
Photo credit: Nordstrom

When I smelled Jo Malone’s Peony and Blush Suede, it was love at first sniff! That candle is gorgeous! It has such a subtle, flowery scent that is very relaxing and calming. It has a lovely packaging with a cute black bow on the top and it comes with a pack of long, black matches to light it up. I also really like the box, as it looks luxurious and it can be used as storage space or simply for decoration. It was at 53 Euros (58.40 $) for 200g and it is supposed to burn for 45 hours.

Photo credit: Diptyque Paris
Photo credit: Diptyque Paris

Although I liked a few different scents from Jo Malone, it was a little harder to pick a few good ones at Diptyque; not because the candles didn’t smell nice but because most of the scents were not my cup of tea. One that really caught my nose’s attention, was Violette. That must be the loveliest scent I have ever smelled. It is quite strong but not overwhelming; even when the candle was still in the box, my whole room smelled like it. It is a powdery flowery scent that lingers in the room and for some reason makes me smile by bringing up happy memories in my head. I can’t really explain it; basically, it is a candle that makes me smile! It doesn’t have a lid unlike Jo Malone’s, but in the box it comes with a little booklet that shows the entire process of making the candle, which I find really interesting. It gives the impression of a brand that is indeed specialized in the art of making candles. Another bonus was that the lady at the counter threw in a couple of perfume samples so I also got a taste of Diptyque’s perfumes; overall, I am highly impressed! It was at 44 Euros (48.5 $) for 190g and it is supposed to burn for 60 hours.

I love both of the candles as each one is different and unique in its own way. However, I can’t deny that Diptyque has impressed me beyond words. The scent is wonderful, stronger but not unpleasant, lasts way longer and is cheaper. Jo Malone is an incredible candle as well but it does last less and is more expensive. Overall, I recommend both candles, as they are both luxurious and far better quality than many other candles hence the quite high price tag. If you are about to buy your first high-end candle, I would advise you to begin with Diptyque and then expand to Jo Malone. Both brands have some amazing scents! Comment down below and let me know which brand do you prefer and why, as well as which one is your favorite scent. I know I need to get my hands on Jo Malone’s French Lime Blossom!

Till next time take care dolls 😉 xxx

Vicky