Christmas Gift Guide

I have posted my personal wish list but now it's time for a gift guide. I hope this will give you some creative, practical and inexpensive gift ideas.

Ipod dock/ charger/ alarm clock from KMart. Cute, compact and convenient. Great for phone-addicts (like my sister). It also comes in black or white, and is therefore suitable for the phone-obsessed male.

Feeling creative? Check out Whip Up Tutorials for creative hand-made gift ideas, like this adorable stocking.

Looking for a creative way to wrap a present? I have been meaning to make a few of these drawstring bags for a long time. You can use drawstring bags to store lots of little presents or to wrap an individual present. If I made a christmas drawstring bag I would want it to look like the one from Ntake.

I have been meaning to make a drawstring laundry bag and drawstring shoe bags for when I travel. If you're thinking about making drawstring bags don't forget to iron on a picture and write a description. Need inspiration? Check out the laundry bag from Tea for Joy.

Need an inexpensive gift idea for a younger brother or sister? Try making them a colour-in or word-find activity book. Just print word-finds and colour-ins (there are heaps of free ones on the internet) from your own computer, make a funky front cover (don't forget to include a personalized christmas message) and staple the pages together! I love this idea because it fits all categories - it's practical, creative and inexpensive. Try Kaboose's Christmas Coloring Pages.

Save the best for last. This is an early christmas present I brought for myself. It is a great gift for an organised person, or someone who needs more organisation in their life. It's the ideal gift for a stationary junkie (like myself). Check out the Kikki-K Cute Diary. It is a week-to-view diary (my preferred style) and includes a PVC jacket, a 'my notes' section, monthly calendars, a removable notebook and sticker sheets. Ah... stationary love at first sight ;-)

My Christmas Wish List

First of all, I need to emphasize that this is a 'wish list', meaning it will include some items that are either A. a bit expensive or B. items my own family are unaware that I want. I think it's fun to do a visual wish list. It may also give you ideas for your friends and family :)

Clockwise from left:

• The major works of Charles Dickens (Penguin Classics hardcover boxed set) from Amazon
• Arosa Executive Chair in Pink from Office Works
• Sony Digital CD Radio Cassette Player from JB HI-FI
• Polaroid 300 Instant Camera in Blue from Polaroid
• ipod Touch from Apple
• Dumbledore quote in frame from Etsy
• Estee Lauder All-Day Lipstick in Frosted Apricot from Estee Lauder
• Lancome Blush Subtil in Mauve Coquette from Lancome
• Samantha Wills Bohemian Bardot Ring in Peach from Samantha Wills [currently sold out :( ]
• Tickets to a concert - in this case Taylor Swift's. This is one item I am receiving for Christmas, so I can tick it off my wishlist :)

Finally an owner of a Samantha Wills ring

Well I haven't posted in a while but a few months back I received my first Samantha Wills ring. The best part was it came with a subscription to Madison magazine.

Wanting

My favourite Bohemian Bardot ring in peach (featured in an older blog post) is still sold out but I have my eye on the Bohemian Bardot Ring in sand. From Samantha Wills' website.

Celebrity Fashion Inspiration Take Two

Selena Gomez in a sheer Robert Rodriguez shirt and Nuj Novakhett shorts from Instyle magazine.

Such a cute outfit. I love the boots with the top, and the skirt breaks up the black. Her legs look very tall in this outfit.

Model Hailee Steinfeld in a nude slip-style dress with embellishments from Instyle magazine.

I've fallen in love with this shade for winter and summer. Unfortunately it doesn't suit my skin shade, so I just admire it on other people.

Lauren Conrad in a two-tone minidress by Rebecca Minkoff from Instyle magazine.

I think this dress is adorable. I love the soft two tone look. It's a very young look, which is perfect for Conrad.

Self Manicure

How to do a simple french manicure:

I started off with a clear layer of Natio: Top and Base Coat

I then used Nailene Perfect Tip french polish guides (stickers) to get a smooth white tip.

I painted the white tips using BYS French White

After pealing off the nail stickers, I used Maybeline New York Mini Colo Rama in 60 Baby Doll for all over the nail.

And finished with two coats of Natio Top and Base Coat.

Pretty Dress Inspiration

Selena Gomez

Dress: periwinkle J. Mendel dress

Bag: Crystal Judith Leiber clutch

Picture from Instyle magazine.

I love the colour and the neckline. I think the length is elegant and helps balance out the dress. She has impressive style for someone so young.

Cat Deeley

Dress: Dolce and Gabbana lace shift

Shoes: strappy Zara sandles

Picture from Instyle magazine.

It's no secret that I love lace. And this dress is simple and cute and perfect for a night out. I am also a fan of T-bar heels.

I thought it looked familiar

I thought Katie's dress looked familiar...

Dress: Backless Contrarian New York Design.

Shoes: Lanvin pumps

Taylor in the same design 2010

Both photographs from Instyle magazines website via Look of the Day

Fashion Inspiration - Rachel Bilson

Bilson looks sophisticated in the cream dress and nude pumps. It's not my favourite outfit choice of hers, as I think the cross over fabric at the bottom makes the dress look too wide.

I love this outfit. She almost always nails it. The leather shorts are softened by the detailed white top and Bilson dresses up the look with a black blazer and pointed heels.

I like her signature hair-do, the soft waves. I wonder if this is her natural hair?

Both images from Instyle magazine's website via Look of the Day

Pink Lacy Top

I should have used a tripod.

New soft pink lacy top from the Miss Shop, Myer.

$50 down to $30.

My sister got this top a few weeks ago and I told my mum to keep her eye out for it when we were shopping there. She found it, one left and it happened to be my size, $50 down to $30.

Unfortunately, the sleeves are not full length and the band at the bottom is a tad wide. They should have used more lace, less band and made full length sleeves.

I'm wearing a pink singlet from the Miss Shop, Myer underneath ($14.99). It is a more vibrant pink than the top.

Celebrity Fashion Inspiration

I love the backless section of this dress and the pastel lilac colour. The shoes were the perfect choice. I'm liking the simplistic styling, with minimal jewelry.

Bilson can dress up anything and the denim shorts look super cute with the nude colour heels, tucked into the white blouse. Lovely handbag as well.

Love the sweater and the shorts and the tights and the shoes.

Simple and elegant, always with gorgeous hair.

Two much beauty in one row!

Love the nude pumps. The dress is vampy with subtle sex appeal, not sure about the clutch.

I think the skirt could loose the frills, as there is too much going on in this photo. Kick ass boots and tights though.

She's done it again. The blouse softens up the leather shorts and the heels make her legs look twice as long. Loving the fabric of the shoes as well.

This would be the perfect 'meet the parents' outfit. She looks 'darling' (for want of a better world). Cute dress print and on-the-mark accessorizing. Tan always looks great with that shade of blue.

I'm posting it just for her shoes, hat and killer hair do. I love those Attwood pumps.

Ah the beloved pumps feature again. Liking the rest of the outfit as well. She looks effortlessly stylish and somehow, comfortable.

Gorgeous colour.

She does cute and sophisticated so well.

Love the nude colour dress and matching heels.

All photographs are from Look of The Day on Instyle Magazines website.

Unique Jewlery

Gorgeous 'Petite High Style Ring' in peach by Samantha Wills.

I want this Bohemian Bardot Ring by Samantha Wills but it has sold out.

This library stack necklace featured on the Making It Lovely blog just reminds me of me.

Vintage Inspired Heels

I saw these shoes on the Making It Lovely blog and had to blog about them.

I love everything about them... the colours, the trimming, the lining, the size of the heel.

If only I wasn't a poor uni student! ;-)

Interior Design - Furniture

I'm going to buy a comfy couch when I buy a house. I love a neutral pallet for lounge sweets. This one would be perfect.

Beautiful House Inspiration

Please build me a house that looks like this... although perhaps not a double story.

White is probably my favourite colour. I love white furniture and quilt covers.

I adore the vintage style bed head, the quilt covers, and the wallpaper.

Love Stationary

Floral floral floral... I can't get enough

I wish all my notebooks were as pretty as these

I love stationary. It's something I am constantly using (as I am a uni student) and I don't feel as guilty about buying it for that reason. The last picture is of my own notebook. I use it to write 'to do lists'.