Top Five Holiday Splurges for your Fiance

Tis the season, right? Hopefully you’ve gotten most of your holiday shopping out of the way for your friends and your family, but did you remember the most important person? Sometimes the people you know the most about and that you care about the worst are the hardest to shop for. There’s only a few more days left to shop, so if you’re ready to splurge on your sweetie we’ve got five items that will make them fall in love with you all over again.

BHL22.jpg.jpg

A Bit of Fit

One of the hottest splurge gifts this season is the FitBit. The FitBit is, at its’ core, a fancy pedometer but it can do so much for your fitness routine and overall health. It syncs to your phone so you’re able to track all your activity, track your calorie intake and calories burned, and you can even have it show caller ID right on your wrist! They may seem simple, but once you start being able to track your activity it’s really fun. Plus you’re encouraging your fiance to be fit before the big day- that’s always a plus!

BHL55.jpg.jpg

Game On

If your loved one is a little more of a nerd, pick them up a new handheld gaming console. We love the Nintendo 3DS which is being more and more common to find under $200. You’re able to download apps like Netflix and Youtube on top of playing a ton of fun games. If you have a PlayStation, you can get the accompanying handheld PS Vita to keep it in the family. Handheld games are much more fun than you remember them being, and they go way past Tetris.

BHL33.jpg.jpg

Throw Some Shade

If you’re dreaming of a white Christmas, but they’re holding out for a sunny Spring appease them and pick up some new sunglasses. If you love accessories, this should be a walk in the park. Sunglasses can be so hard to shop for, especially if you’re investing in a good pair. You know your fiance’s face better than anyone and you’ve got to know what they look good in. It’s a practical for life and will come in handy on the honeymoon. If you want something classic, we love the Ray Ban aviators and the wayfarers- they never aged and always look good in black.

BHL44.jpg.jpg

Tablet Time

This is one of the best seasons to buy a tablet- there are so many specials that it’s really affordable and easy to pick up a good tablet! If you’re partial to Apple products, check out Target which is almost always doing a gift card with purchase promotion with iPads. That pays off for your fiance and for you- save that gift card for doing another round of holiday shopping! If you’re not into apple, the Microsoft store is always doing promotions with the Surface Pro tablets. The Amazon Fire tablets are also a great value for the cost, plus you can get a free month of Amazon Prime for buying one. Score for both of you!

BHL11.jpg.jpg

Onesie Party

If your fiance is more the stay at home and cuddle type, invest in a fluffy soft onesie. It’s comfier than a snuggie and keeps you much warmer. It’s a fun departure from the classic holiday PJs that makes your gift way more unique. Plus you can get a fun one (we’re partial to dinosaurs) to make your loved one even cuter. They can range in price on a wide scale- we have found a few that were quite affordable, but it’s nice to spring for the super fluffy warm ones that will last forever.

Top Five Stocking Stuffers for Bridesmaids

Did you miss Black Friday? And Cyber Monday? Yikes! No worries, there are still a TON of sales, specials and promotions going on in time for the holidays. You’re going to want to try to get all of your holiday shopping done as soon as possible or you’ll end up at a mall at 11:30PM surrounded by angry, rushed shoppers. Yeah, that’s no fun. It’s a good idea to put your bridesmaids on your shopping list- they’re doing a lot to support you for your big day and you have the opportunity to thank them and give them something sweet. If you’re not sure what you can get to show you love them, we’ve got five awesome ideas that will be the perfect stocking stuffers.

BHL1.jpg.jpg

For the Business-minded Bridesmaid

For the girl who comes late to bridal party planning because she’s always caught up in meetings- pick up something fun from a Staples or Office Depot. We love fun things like 2015 planners, fun shaped post-its, and awesome tape dispensers. Scotch makes these awesome tape dispensers in shapes like martini glasses, puppies, high heels, and lizards. It’s easy to find fun stuff for under $15, and you know they won’t regift it.

BHL1.jpg.jpg

For the Sweet Toothed Bridesmaid

If you’re so over the mall and just want to fit your holiday shopping into your regular shopping, head over to do a specialty grocery store, like Trader Joe’s. Trader Joe’s has specialty packaged candy, chocolates, and even some home goods that are ready for holidays, like this holiday set of Joe-Joes. Just keep an eye out for the fun stuff while you pick up cereal and fruit. One of our picks is the chocolate sampler- it’s a small cube that has all sorts of different chocolates inside. It’s easy, a universal crowd pleaser, and will give your bridesmaids something to munch on while they’re watching you try on dresses.

BHL2.jpg.jpg

For the Team Photographer

You know that one girl that immediately instagrams everything you all do as a group? She’s secretly dying to get a selfie stick but feels silly buying one for herself. For most this will be a gag gift, but if you get it for the right bridesmaid it’ll actually be used. Most selfie sticks can be under $20, and it’s not hard to find them for under $15. You can get one for your photo-friendliest friend in a color that matches her bridesmaid dress, so when she inevitably whips it out on the big day it won’t clash with her outfit.

BHL3.jpg.jpg

For the Bag Lady

You know that one girl that comes out and needs a chair for her purse because she stuffs all sorts of fun stuff in her bag? You know how bummed she is everytime you go out and there’s no purse hooks at the bar? Fix that problem for her! Get a purse hook that she can stick in her purse and will create a place for her bag no matter where she goes. You can cruise etsy and find some awesome personalizable ones. You can put a picture of the both of you on there to remind her of how awesome you both are! She’ll thank you on your next girl’s night and she can have her purse next to her no matter where you go.

BHL2.jpg.jpg

For the Bombshell Bridesmaid

For the bridesmaid of yours that keeps hinting that she can do your makeup- give her some new toys to play with! All your favorite brands are doing fun holiday packs right now so it’s the perfect time to buy for your bridesmaids. Our favorite store for deals right now is Ulta- they are constantly offering bonus freebies, bonus rewards points, and have the best packages for both high end and drugstore level cosmetics. We love the Benefit Benebalm package- there’s three whole sets of the Benebalm and Benetint shades that are individually packaged and ready for gifting. We also love this EOS gift set for your girlfriends that need a little extra hydration this winter, and this kitty lip balm from Forever 21. Your bridesmaids will look so cute for all the photo ops coming up, and they’ll have you to thank for it!

 

Top Five Tokens of Thanks from Brides

Tis the season of thanks! We’re all in the process of getting ready for Turkey day, but remember- the day isn’t just about eating until you’re bloated and getting pumped for cheap flat screens. If you’ve also got your wedding on your mind, this is the perfect time to say ‘Thank You’ to the people that are helping make it happen (or made it happen, if you’ve already gotten to have the best day of your life!). We’ve got five small cute things that are perfect gestures of gratitude.

Drinks on You!

A staple for a reason- the coffee shop gift card. Why is this on our list? Because with this little thank you token, a little bit goes a long way. A ten dollar gift card is realistically at least two trips- maybe more if they’re tea drinkers. To make this little thank you go a little farther, add in a note on their favorite drink (“A hot cup of coffee for the hottest bridesmaids I know!”). Be sure to really work in why you’re thanking them- they’ll feel much better and more willing to help with any upcoming wedding tasks.

2015 Planners

Beat them to the punch on the organization game! Pick up a 2015 planner/organizer early, and post it the big date ahead of time for them. It’s a sweet, thoughtful gift that they’ll actually use, plus it’ll keep them on point for the coming months. Be sure to post it birthdays and special dates as well!

Personal Cards

If you want to just do something small for a lot of people, say, your soon-to-be in laws or all members of the bridal party, do personalized thank you cards. Get a great group picture and have them printed up on cardstock and write something sweet and meaningful on each one. It’s a cute little memento for a desk, fridge, or vanity station that shows you really care.

Mini Monday-Buster

A ‘Monday-Buster’ or stress-relief pack is a perfect small DIY pack you can do for your friends to say thank you. Get little paper lunch bags or small boxes and stuff them with small versions of things that would make your friend smile. Get tiny bottles of champagne, their favorite candy, a stress ball, a tiny journal, fun things like that. Keep the theme to mini versions of fun stuff and leave a note along the lines of “thank you for all the little things”. It’s cute, thoughtful, and totally practical! This will work for any vendors who have been going the extra mile, your bridal party, and even your fiance!

Good “Bad” Movies

Time to dig into the guilty pleasures! Go out to the older movie section (i.e., non-new releases) and pick out some silly, funny movies. Lots of stores like Target and Walmart have really affordable movies that you can pick up for $5 (or less!). Search through that section for the silliest movie you can find (Talladega Nights, anyone?) and pass it off to a friend. You can leave a note with something along the lines of “thank you for all you do- you deserve a laugh/night in!”. It may be a little silly, but it’s a great gesture.

 

Top Five Fall Bridal Party Gifts

It’s customary for the bride and groom to give little presents to the friends that they ask to stand by them on the big day. Bridal party gifts can range depending on how big the event is or what your budget is. It’s a sweet way to thank your best friends for helping you out (or putting up with you) while you plan the biggest party of your life. No matter what your budget is, we’ve got fun fall gifts for your girls! Pick one to go with, or pick a few and make a gift basket!

PSL Mug

When you think fall, what do you think? Crunchy leaves, sweaters, and the return of fun fall hot drinks. The pumpkin spice latte is probably the most common and loved fall drink (for a reason!), so give your girls something to drink it out of. Mugs are cute, easy to make or order, and you can find fun mugs at any budget. You can get unmarked ones at a dollar or craft store and Pinterest them to be personalized if you have a free day to do arts and crafts. If you have a little more money to spend, you can get personalized mugs made with pictures or nicknames done for your girls. To make this gift a whole present, stuff the mug with candy or small knick-knacks and wrap it all in cellophane. This practical present is super cute and will be loved until the handles fall apart!

Selfie Set

If you’re going to be #hastagging your wedding, give your girls the proper tools to do so! These new toys have been popping up everywhere and we’re starting to see cute versions come out. We (unapologetically!) love selfies, and so do so many out there. Our selfie sets include a selfie stick and a selfie remote. Selfie remotes are little buttons that are on a cord that plugs into your phone’s headphone jack. You just turn on your camera and hit the button for a sneaky selfie! And of course, the selfie stick has been out, but we’re starting to see more compact versions that you can stash in your purse. This gift is a little more gag-gift, but it’s still fun and will be used! You can get cute stickers for them, or if you have time go ahead and rhinestone them for a glamorous selfie set!

Glam Bag

Diamonds be a girl’s best friend, but fun makeup is a close second. Pick up makeup bags (we love the cheap ones from Ulta, Forever 21, and Drugstores or high end ones from boutiques) and stuff them with some of your favorite things! If you want your bridesmaids to, say, all have red lips with their outfits this is the perfect time to spring for that lip color for them. Keep an eye out for sales at places like CVS, Rite Aid, and Ulta. Those stores tend to do makeup sales like BOGO and can seriously help keep your budget down for these. If you’re going to go a little higher end, be sure to shop at stores with rewards programs (like Nordstrom, Sephora, and Ulta) so you can get something fun for yourself too. If you stick to more skin-neutral things like palettes, glitter, black eyeliner, and red lipsticks you can get everyone the same thing that they will be able to use.

Forward Thinking

Since we’re starting to get towards the end of the year, get your girls set up for success with some 2015 planners/agendas. Fun brands like Moleskine and Kate Spade already have their 2015 agendas available online and they are too cute, practical, and perfect to keep your girls on track. We love stationary, cute agendas, and anything that keeps us organized. You’ll be the first person to get them ready for the next year, which means you’ll be their favorite all year long (probably)!

Cozy Kit

It’s starting to cool down, get your girls ready with a cozy kit! Get a cute tote bag (that can range from $1 to however much you’d want to spend) and stuff it with warm accessories like infinity scarves, cozy aloe socks, and lined leggings. It may be a little silly to buy in bulk for your girlfriends, but it’s totally practical and they’ll be thanking you when they’re bundled up marathoning shows on Netflix. You can get them all different pieces depending on their personality or the same ones so you all have BFF outfits.

 

Top Five Practical Wedding Gifts

Are you sick of buying blenders? Sure the new Ninja model is fantastic, but what if you want to gift something that goes a little farther than that? We’ve got a few things on our wish list that would be pretty awesome alternative gifts for the newlyweds (other than what’s left on their registry, of course!). We do suggest that you always check the registry first (afterall- that’s EXACTLY what the couple wants!), but if everything’s gone or not in your price range (go figure the four figure silverware wasn’t claimed first) then we’ve got some good gift ideas.

Get Them Going

One handy tool for the new couple? An awesome GPS device. Sure, most people use their phones right now, but it’s much safer to have a mounted GPS rather than looking down at your phone every so often. Plus they’re much less likely to have that awful “re-routing” message when your data comes in or out. It’s easy to find GPS devices for under $100, with fancier models running just over that.

Take Care of Date Night

If you’re anywhere near Southern California, Orlando, or really any major area that has a theme park spring for season passes! They may not be able to register for it, but it’s something awesome lots of couples love to have. Season passes are usually the price of one to four (tops!) visits to the park, so if they go once a month everyone got their money’s worth! It’s a great place for default dates, holidays, and playing hookie from work. You’ll be able to give them a great experience and they may even bring you home a funnel cake!

Personal Touches

If you’re looking for something original that you can do for under $100, put their face on something! There are awesome websites that are able to do personalized wine bottles, beer bottles, flasks, trinkets, you name it! Often times, discount sites like Groupon or LivingSocial will do deals too, so you’d be able to really get a deal. Something sweet like a bottle of wine with their picture, wedding date, and names could be a really sweet heartfelt gift. It’s a great keepsake from their wedding that they weren’t expecting, and bonus points if it’s good wine!

BHL_Gifts.jpg

Join the Club

This is especially thoughtful if they’re just moving in together- get them a membership to Costco or Sam’s Club! If they’re starting a home or family together, a membership to a wholesale store could come in handy. Particularly if the newlyweds will be hosting parties together or just in general getting used to living together.

Foot The Bill

Pick up the tab for  some fun bills, like a Netflix or Hulu subscription. Take care of an Amazon Prime membership or a year’s worth of Audible. Fun little extras like that can be hard to find wiggle room for sometimes, but they’re always great to have. A new couple that has to take care of a wedding may be pinching pennies right now- help out their budget by taking care of some fun extras here or there.

 

Five Fun Valentine’s Day Gifts for Grooms

It’s almost Valentine’s Day! Are you ready? Even if you’re not, there’s no reason to worry. Save the stress for the ceremony and check out our gift guide for your groom.

For the Chef

If you landed a man who’s great in the kitchen, you might as well get him the right tools for the job. A good knife block is a great addition to any kitchen, and will encourage him to cook more! Knife blocks can range anywhere from $40 and up, depending on the quality and how big the set is. Just remember, a knife set is a great investment and you do get what you pay for. 

For the Man of Mystery

Boys do love their toys, and spy toys are a sure-fire hit. A spy pen camera or spy watch is something fun for him to play with and are typically under $50. Typically the cameras in spy gear aren’t very high quality, so he really can’t get into too much trouble. It may not be as practical as a knife block, but it sure will be fun.

For the Gamer

Are his thumbs always sore from all the video games? Trick out his device in a cool way. Get a cool skin for his handheld device so it’s easier for him to find in the man cave. We’re obsessed with these fun skins from Etsy ($6-$10 each skin). You can also spring for  another year of either his PlayStation or XBox online membership, or load his Nintendo account with some funds for downloadable play.

For the Pop Cultured

Does he speak in movie quotes and wish he were the long lost Bluth brother? Find some fun fan art from his favorite television show or movie. Just search the title in Etsy and you’ll find tons of cool fan tributes that would be perfect and original for him. If he’s a Potterhead, we love this fun flask (Etsy, $20).

For the Architect

If your groom likes to tinker and create fun things, give him a blast from the past with a cool lego set. It’s a great fun activity that you can help out with, plus it’ll look great as a centerpiece. We’re obsessed with the limited edition ‘Back to the Future’ set ($35, lego stores) that builds a floating Delorean.

Five Budget Friendly Groom Gifts

Hello Bridal Hot List beauties! We love grooms here at BHL, and it’s our duty to help you show your appreciation for them too. The groom gift is an important way to show not only your appreciation for your man, but also create a statement based on who you are as a couple.  Flasks and personalized cufflinks are a classic for a reason and won’t go out of style, but these fun gifts will definitely score you some points for creativity. Plus, they’re all wallet-friendly (because you don’t need to be stressing over another wedding expense right now).

First Date in a Basket

If you’ve been together for a long time, it can be good to take a look back at how far you’ve come. Did you go out for a movie on your first date? Pick that movie up on blu-ray. Did you go to a concert? Pick up a live album or a greatest hits compilation. If you headed out to a bar, go see if that bar has shirts for sale. Recreate your first date in a gift bag that will make him remember falling in love with you. These can be done fairly inexpensively (around $50-$75, depending on how much you can add to your basket) and you can probably get everything you need at target or at least on amazon.com.

Puzzle

If your groom is more of a critical thinker, get a puzzle made of either a collage of the two of you or your engagement photos. Give him all the pieces jumbled up in a keepsake box and give him something to work on for a while. For bonus points, write him little notes or inside jokes on the back of the pieces. Shutterfly, or even Walgreens can turn your pictures into a puzzle for under $30.

Personalized Wine/Beer

If he’s a wine snob or a beer aficionado, celebrate that! Pick up a case of his favorite brew or a bottle he loves and get a special label made for him. It’s a sweet gift that he’s more than likely to share with you. You can get labels made online on sites like bottleyourbrand.com for around $10-$15. If you throw a few extra bucks at it, you can add pictures and make it super sentimental and sweet.

CYOA Book

Do you remember those choose your own adventure books from elementary school? Yeah, they’re still pretty awesome, and they’re surprisingly easy to write. Instead of creating a photo album, write a choose your own adventure book with photos of you both. Tell the story of how you met or how he proposed, doing a page for each milestone you overcame. Write it in second person, so the narrative is making decisions that affect where the story goes. At the end of each page, get the reader to go to one page to progress your story (turn to page four to go in for the first kiss, etc) and another page to go to (to blow her off, go to page twenty). Have one page set aside as a gag page and the rest as a linear story (just numbered and out of order like a true choose your own adventure book!). These can be done for under $50 on websites like Shutterfly or Picaboo, and you can use photos from facebook and flickr. You’ll score serious creativity points without breaking the bank, plus you’ll have a cool way to look back on pictures of you two over time.

The Ultimate 3-1-1 Travel Bag

Heading out of town for your honeymoon? If you’re flying, you’ll score some serious wife points by creating an awesome 3-1-1 travel bag. Remember, if you’re going to bring liquids on a plane one person gets one quart transparent bag and each liquid has to be in a three ounce container (it’s actually 3.4 ounces, or 100 ml but 3.4-1-1 doesn’t have the same ring to it).  Pick up tiny bottles of his favorite spirits to kickstart the honeymoon. Pick up some rum and ask for orange juice on the plane for a make-shift mai tai, or grab tiny tequila bottles to relax him before a long flight. Just make sure you get behind the wheel of the rental car when you land!

 

Mother’s Day Chocolate Bars from Michelle Haut Chocolat

It is a sweet Monday today!  When we thought our Monday could not get any better, it just did. Our friends at Michelle haut Chocolat  have delighted our inbox with something extra sweet and special. Oh, our sweet loving hearts could not be any happier. With Mother’s Day approaching, we wanted to share some lovely and delicious treats with you all.  For all the beautiful mothers out there, Michelle Haut Chocolat is offering three gorgeous and delicious crystallized flower bars. Each bar is wrapped in the most pretty way. The bars are placed in a french style black wire basket, and then wrapped in a clear cello wrap, all tied with a double satin luxurious french ribbon. So, if your mother has a sweet tooth like we do, then consider ordering one these beautiful chocolate bars for her. I think she will be very content.
So order your Mother’s Day M bar Basket by May 3rd  to ensure arrival before Mother’s Day! (which is Sunday, May 12th).
  • The Crystallized Rose M bar:  A crystallized whole rose that is hand layered into 73% pure Belgium chocolate and sprinkled with crystallized rose petals.

Screen Shot 2013-04-27 at 8.23.50 AM

  • The Crystallized Violet M bar: Two crystallized violet flowers are layered in white chocolate surrounded by beautiful crystallized violet pieces.
Screen Shot 2013-04-27 at 8.24.00 AM
  • The Crystallized Pansy Bar: The beautiful pansy is layered in 73% pure Belgium chocolate and surrounded by delicate french lavender.
Screen Shot 2013-04-27 at 8.24.12 AM

The Perfect Gift from Bottega Louie

A few weeks ago my sister and I headed to downtown LA to go to a concert at LA LIVE. Before heading over to the show, we stopped by Bottega Louie, a nice restaurant in downtown LA. This was highly recommended by a friend, and so we decided to go. We walked in and something caught my eye. A tower of macarons.  I was mesmerized! Then I saw a huge glass case of colorful macarons displayed for my tasteful eyes to see. It was so amazing. I could not stop staring at all the different colored macarons. Here we are taking a photo with the beautiful display behind us. We were very happy! We were so distracted, we forgot we were hungry for dinner and were ready to order some dessert instead. After some time of drooling over the delicious treats, we decided to sit down for a nice dinner. A nice dinner indeed. We made sure to save room for dessert, so we can go back and order some macarons. Bottega Louie has more than just macarons. They have a huge array of pastries. I felt like I was back in Paris where I had some of the best pastries.

Everything looked so good, I could not decide what to order. I knew for sure I was going to order macarons. That was already decided on when I walked in earlier that evening. There was so many other yummy treats that I wanted to try as well.  As I was trying to decide what to order, my sister noticed the cute gift boxes of wrapped sweet treats behind us.

I loved how they were packaged, very elegant and stylish.

These make for a perfect gift for your guests at your wedding, or for those out of town guests, you can include them in the welcome guest bags. These also make great gifts for bridal shower favors, or rehearsal dinner treats. Whether is is chocolate, macarons, or any other declicous treat, they are great for gifts!

So what did I order? Well, I ended up ordering a pistacho macaron, a salty caramel macaron, and  a vanilla macaron. Oh I also got an eclair, they looked too good to pass up.

Did they taste good? I took one bite, and my eyes rolled in the back of my head. It was fresh, and tasted like heaven. Yes, if I could taste heaven, it would taste like a macaron. I recommend stopping by and trying it out. You will see why they make the perfect gift.

!bon appétit!