ASPCA Holiday Candles

The ASPCA has very nice looking candles for sale in their holiday online store. I haven't smelled them but the scents sound good and it's for such a great cause. For the animal lover on your gift list, check them out. Each  12 oz soy  "votive" is $ 21.99 at http://www.aspca.org/

Because it's cause dear to my heart, as an aside,  The ASPCA does so much to help animals in need , as do local shelters.  If you want to help, there are many ways. I know my local shelter is always looking for not simply monetary donations but pet food, old towels, hand sanitizer, baby wipes and so much more. Call your or hit their website  and you might just find you have these items they need so much lying around.

Also, if you are looking for a pet , please do look at your shelter or at a breed rescue. Most every breed of dog has a rescue in each state or close by . Shelters/rescues are not simply mixed breeds, not that there is anything wrong with that but as a former volunteer, I heard many times, well I want a purebred ______ and I don't think a shelter will have it. I have a  beautiful, papered German Shepherd , who was a rescue.  I have seen Borzois to St. Bernards at my  local shelter.

You can find rescues and shelters all over the US at http://www.petfinder.org/

Slatkin & Co Holiday Scented Candles

I've raved about candles from Slatkin before. Not only do they do their own namesake line for Bath and Body Works but also the fabulous NEST and Project Art brands. All have great throw and strong, realistic scent.

For the holidays candles as a gift might be cliche but there's a reason for that- most of us love them. One of my best friends recently told me that's what to get her husband. He loves them when he is winding down after work and catching up in the office.

Slakin makes some of the best holiday candles and this year the selection is large. I am one of those who loves the smell of pine and Christmas tree pure and fresh. So I am partial right now to Evergreen and Frosted Tree. Both  get the smell right , Frosted Tree has a few more notes than" tree", including a hint of rosemary. Evergreen is more straightforward. Both are perfect. Frosted Cranberry is an old and longtime favorite. It's sweet and tangy and has some peach and strawberry in there as well.

Hit up your local Bath and Body Works for these to make last minute gift giving easy. There are several sizes and the larger ones are triple wick.

* The 14.5 oz large size are currently  2 for $ 20.00
http://www.bathandbodyworks.com/

Majorica Pearls

Pearls are almost always perfect. But these days I think many of us ( myself included) are not into wearing that basic traditional single strand. I adore pearls though and have many both real and fake.  They get pulled  out to look extra dressy or to dress up any outfit depending on the piece. 

A find last year was Majorica, these are what I call Modern Pearls. Majorica pearls are man made , not cultured , but they look very good.  Done in gold vermeil or silver there are many styles , few of which are stuffy. Mine is a gunmetal grey large pearl on a multi sterling strand. It's casual but dressy and goes with pretty much everything.

There are rings, bracelets and necklaces and most fall in  the under $165.00 range unless you go really big. My necklace shown first image was $ 125.00 I believe.

You can find Majorica at Nordstrom, Saks , Bloomingdales , Macys and more.

Robert Verdi's Holiday Gift Guide Video

Super funny video  from one of my fav people- Robert Verdi. While you're laughing you 'll also get a look at his holiday gift guide and  his celeb inspired gift ideas.

I am partial especially to the Cindy Crawford One Kiss Diamond jewelry( because we should all be partial to diamonds).  He shows the earrings in the video, also available is this cute necklace in color enhanced black or white diamonds .

Next favorite is the FujiFilm Instax camera. I have one of these and I can tell you it's FUN. For those who remember Polaroids, it's  blast from the past you will enjoy , and for those who don't, it will be a  cool discovery.

You can find  more from Robert at http://www.thervtips.com/

Remington All in One Holiday Hair Kits

Remington has two hair tool sets that will you get all through the holidays looking good or make a great last minute  gift choice. Who doesn't love new hair tools?

 Both sets – Night on the Town and Weekend Wear – include combs, accessories, a mini straightener or curling iron, plus a detailed step-by-step guide for getting the look.

The sets are $ 19.99 each and available at WalMart.

Victoria's Secret Heavenly Stardust

Heavenly Stardust is a new LE, thru December, addition to the  Victoria's Secret Heavenly line .

 The new scent  comes in a very pretty bottle and is berry infused with light florals and a soft musky- amber drydown. It's  a lighter scent , not overpowering and the berry notes stay  into the drydown.  The musk isn't heavy here and to  me that's a plus.  A bit different from the original Heavenly  and possibly  great gift for the Victoria's Secret fan on your gift list .

The full note list is :
Top: Wild Red Winter Berries, Strawberry , Tangerine
Middle : Honeysuckle, Jasmine, Plum, White Peach
Bottom: Liquid Amber, Caramel, Touch of Praline, Sensual Woods, Liquid Musk.


Heavenly Stardust is available in EDP , Sheer Fragrance Mist and Shimmering Body Lotion.

Elemis Exotic Spa Secrets Set

Packaged like a beautiful box of chocolates ,but it's not. It's Elemis  Exotic Spa Secrets gift sets. I 've raved before about the Monoi scented products- the Exotic Frangipani Monoi Moisture Melt  is DIVINE and the matching body wash pretty great too. This set also includes a milk bath which I haven't tried, but given the general awesome-ness of Elemis, I'm going to assume it's good. 

This is one of those easy gifts., Buy  and give. No need to even wrap, and I can't imagine anyone who wouldn't be  thrilled with it.  I've recommended the  body oil to many people and no one hasn't loved it.  All items in the set are full size.

 The set is $ 95.00 and available at http://www.timetospa.com/, and Nordstrom.

Calvin Klein Euphoria & Chocolates GWP

Calvin Klein's Euphoria is repeating a great GWP from last year with Lake Champlain Chocolates.

I got a box of the chocolate last year and can tell you they were quite good. It's a great  treat and one your giftee is sure  to love.  The tin they come in weighs 7.75 oz , matches the fragrance colors and has been specially designed for Calvin Klein. Honey Caramel, Hazelnut Flower, and Maple Crunch are just a few of the selections in the tin.

Through December 31st, purchase any 3.4oz fragrance from the Euphoria Calvin Klein fragrance collection and receive at the time of purchase, the gourmet tin of chocolates as a complimentary gift.

3.4 oz EDP for Women is $ 78.00

3.4 oz EDT for Men is $ 68.00

More on Lake Champlain chocolates at http://www.lakechamplainchocolates.com/

Victoria's Secret Black ( Pink) Friday Specials

Victoria's Secret is having Pink Friday instead of Black. They've got some great prices on fragrance  gifts and some are available online  so you don't even have to leave the house. ( Comparable value is the regular VS price )

-Must Have VS Gift Set, $25

Comparable Value: $38

Available at Victoria's Secret stores and VictoriasSecret.com

-Bombshell 1.7 oz. Eau de Parfum, $25

Comparable Value: $45

Available at Victoria's Secret stores

-Dream Angels Heavenly Fragrance Gift Set, $25

Comparable Value: $50

Available at Victoria's Secret stores and VictoriasSecret.com

-Star Bright Beauty Rush Color Lip Gloss Set, $15

Comparable Value: $25

Available at Victoria's Secret stores

-Secret Garden Splash &Lotion Set in Amber Romance, Love Spell, Pure Seduction or Secret Charm, $15

Comparable Value: $25

Available at Victoria's Secret stores

-Secret Garden Deluxe Gift Bag in Amber Romance, Love Spell or Pure Seduction, $15

Comparable Value: $25

Available at Victoria's Secret stores and VictoriasSecret.com

-PINK Original Body Fresh & Clean Tin, $15

Comparable Value: $20

Available at Victoria's Secret stores

SoftLips Holiday Flavors and Gift Pack

Winter means cold weather, which I love. It also means chapped lips which I hate. My thoughts soon turn to stockpiling lip balms again.

To help with my stash, SoftLips  has 5 new winter scents out .  These are LE and exclusive to their website.  All are nice  but I am especially loving the Sugar and Spice which is a strong spice, with clove, nutmeg and cinnamon, and Sugar Plum Berry, a  fresh big berry scent. All are very soft and creamy but without shine.

The remaining flavors are : Sugar Cookie, Winter Mint, and Mint with a hint of Vanilla.

You can buy all 5 in a fun gift pack perfect for giving to everyone on your list. The set comes in a blue sachet pack.  and is great stocking stuffer . Gift them all, or break up the set and add them to packages.

The SoftLips Holiday 5 pack is $ 9.99 at http://www.softlips.com/ . With  free Shipping  – Starting 11/26 through 12/10.

Angel by Mugler Dazzling Lights Ring

Theirry Mugler's Angel has come up with one of the prettiest holiday fragrance gifts- the  Dazzling Lights Ring .   The ring is adorned with 70 Crystallized Swarovski Elements and contains Angel in solid fragrance form.  

Seriously, this is something I'd think about buying whether I liked the fragrance or not. As it happens I like Angel. Yes it's been a long time since I've worn it but this is making me think about revisiting it. It's always been a fragrance that needs a light touch and a solid is the perfect way to get that.

This is LE and available only ay Saks Fifth Avenue and is $ 65.00.

PS - Head over to http://www.beautystat.com/ for a giveway of this very ring in my Holiday Fragrance Gift  post.

Balenciaga Purse Spray

The new purse spray from Balenciaga seemed a good idea when I first saw images of it.   It's part of the line called  Balenciaga Black and White .  What I didn't know is that  it's really a set almost. The spray comes with 2 refills as well as being filled itself.  Each refill is .5 oz EDP.

 Then there is the  case. No little plastic thing. It's heavy and feels like marble glass but is actually made of what is called Zamak, which sounds like a character from Stargate.  It's substantial , weighty and tough.

  The Black and White collection also has a Black Body Scrub and  a Body Lotion infused with shea butter as well as the pretty woodsy -violet based Balenciaga scent.

-Perfumed Body Cream 150ml/5oz  $95
-Black Scrub 150ml/5oz  $95
-Purse Spray 15ml  $95
-Purse Spray Refills 3 x 0.5 oz  $80


All are available at Neimans , Nordstrom,  Bergdorfs.  You know, the usual suspects.

Smashbox Wish -The Gold List Set

Smashbox has once again partnered with the Children's Miracle Network for their Christmas sets. $ 1 from each purchase goes to the charity. Each is in a nice box ready to  wrapped.

A personal favorite is the  The Gold List set. I have  this already set aside for someone's gift.

 First off you get a really nice makeup bag. Not all makeup bags in sets are all that but this  one is gold and braided leatherette. It's one you want to use. Then you get 4 Smashbox products  including a new O-Gloss in Gold.

The new Gold O-Gloss looks very metallic in the tube but when you put it on, it's really a sheer, shimmer.  The Fusion Soft Lights in Baked Starburst will keep you or your giftee looking  blushed and bronzed.  This, too, is not deep. It goes on light for just the right color.  Good for all over  or just the cheeks.

The set has :


-Fusion Soft Lights in Baked Starburst
-Photo Finish Luminzing Foundation Primer
-O-Gloss Gold
 -Photo Op Under Eye Brightener

$ 49.00 at Sephora.com

The Holiday Gift Guide- Hints Logo

I have a small logo called Holiday Gift Approved that will run on  all items that I think are great holiday gifts. I will also be tagging them Holiday Gift Guide, so if you want to see more, click on that tag and it will take you to all the gift ideas.

Thanks to Kathy aka http://minxbeads.blogspot.com/ for making my little logo.

NEST Blue Garden Candle for Autism Speaks

I have an autistic Godson. He has Asperger's and is an amazing, smart little boy( that's him  pictured) His mother , my  dearest friend, works tirelessly to make his life better every day and for him to be all that he can . When I saw that the Slatkins, the people behind Nest candles had done a charity candle called Blue Garden for Autism Speaks, I knew I had to spread the word.

With gift  giving season fast approaching, not only can you give a fabulous smelling, beautifully packaged candle but also one that helps a  great cause. Autism Speaks, celebrating it's 5th year,  is the nations largest Autism  science and advocacy  organization.

 Blue Garden has notes of hyacinth, blue hydrangea, forget- me- nots, fresh green notes and a dew drop accord according to the official information. I smell a lot of dewy and green florals. It's very lush, not perhaps typical for fall/winter but also something different for the season.  A house that smells of a big fresh garden is not a bad thing at all.

 It's hard to find better quality candles then those done by  Slatkin ( they also do candles for Bath and Body Works and Project Art brands) . All are intensely scented, burn cleanly and last long.    

Available at  http://www.neimanmarcus.com/ ,  http://www.candledelirium.com/    for $32.00

Hourglass Extreme Sheen Gloss Set

I'm a  big fan of Hourglass cosmetics and I think this  is the first time I have seen a holiday set. The Extreme Sheen Set has 3 of their hydrating and highly pigmented glosses.

The shades are : Siren (metallic red), Ignite (rose/beige shimmer), and Child (sheer nude)

The Set is LE and online now at http://www.hourglasscosmetics.com/   and Sephora.com for $ 45.00

Good to know also is that these glosses have NO parabens, sulfates, synthetic fragrances or dyes .

( If you're interested in more about Hourglass- here's my post on their Femme Rouge Lipstick)

Bath and Body Works Holiday Hand Soaps

These new figural hand soaps from Bath and Body Works are cheery and make great gifts.   Or maybe as a way to get kids to wash their hands more easily ?

They contain Anti Bacterial Hand Soap  in these scents: Vanilla Bean Noel- Snowman, Twisted Peppermint-Peppermint Swirl and Winter Candy Apple- Christmas Tree.

$ 10.00 each