practically stylish
  • practically stylish
  • pursuit of practical style
  • contact
  • bread and flowers

father's day gift guide 2014

6/7/2014

0 Comments

 
Father's Day is only a week away and if you are like me, you are wondering how it managed to sneak up on you! My dad is incredibly hard to shop for and never has a specific wish list, so I usually have to do some creative thinking. Here are five gift ideas to jumpstart your own creative process:
#1. It wouldn't be a Father's Day gift guide without a suggestion for a tie, however I am going to push you to go one step further and give Dad the ultimate tie experience. First choose a tie and then add in a coordinating pocket square, a sleek tie bar, and for the most dapper of dads, a fun pair of cufflinks. I really like The Tie Bar because of their low prices, huge variety, and flat shipping rate. I have a gorgeous pair of cufflinks from The Tie Bar that I absolutely love and in college my boyfriend would buy ties from them to coordinate with my dresses for sorority formals. If you don't trust your own mixing and matching expertise, they also have a gift section of no-fail choices. There's even an array colorful and patterned socks so you can accessorize Dad from head to toe!
Picture
thetiebar.com
#2. Put together a picnic bag for Dad to bring along to the park while he enjoys an outdoor concert. Start with an insulated backpack and then add a picnic blanket, reusable plastic plates and glasses, a small cutting board, and a schedule for the outdoor music series in his town.

#3. If you're geographically near Dad, give him the gift of your time. Choose a favorite activity from your childhood and spend the day doing it. For example, when I was younger my Dad and I spent many Saturdays canoeing on the Carmans River. Whether it was a special place you visited, a favorite meal you shared, or project you worked on together, let Dad know how much it meant to you.
Picture
Canadiano Coffee Maker in Walnut $59
#4. Lots of dads drink coffee, but for the dad who really cares about the details, there is a new way to brew. For the pour-over enthusiast, Canadiano (which as you probably guessed from the name is a Canadian company) has created a new wooden filter. Like a cast iron pan that picks up seasoning as it is used, these wooden filters absorb some of the flavors of your coffee. There are several different woods available so you can choose the one that will best complement Dad's favorite beans.

#5. Finally, this is a re-post of a gift idea from my Mother's Day gift guide, but it still applies here. Scroll through the photos on your smartphone (you know, the ones you always take but never do anything with) and find a photo of you and Dad. Order a print and put it in a nice frame. Most photo centers let you upload a photo straight from your phone so this is easy as pie!
0 Comments

what to get mom

5/8/2014

0 Comments

 
Mother's Day is on Sunday so you only have a few days left to drop a card in the mail or schedule a flower delivery. Growing up, my sister and I would always give our mom a voucher for car wash and then on a sunny weekend afternoon we would drag out the hose and buckets of soapy water and make the car sparkle. As a result, my idea of what constitutes a great Mother's Day gift is somewhat skewed. While catching up on my television shows on Hulu last weekend, I kept getting a Macy's ad that was suggesting a diamond ring for mom priced at $1,300 which is pretty much the opposite extreme of the car wash voucher. So below is my practical gift guide for Mother's Day for everyone looking for a gift that is nicer than a car wash and cheaper than a diamond ring:
Picture
#1. Give the gift of beauty with a subscription to Birchbox! I love getting my box each month and trying out all the goodies. Best of all, you can choose how many months you would like to gift so this option starts at only $30 for three months of fun. 

#2. Chances are that most of the photos you take are with your smartphone and that you don't bother to print most of them out. Scroll through and find a recent photo of you and Mom to put into a nice frame. Lots photo centers now have apps that let you upload the photos you want developed directly from your phone so all you need to do is choose the size of the print!
#3. Get two tickets (one for you and one for Mom) to a local class in cooking, painting, or wine tasting so that you two can try something new together.

#4. Instead of sending a bouquet of cut flowers, head to the local market and pick up a selection of live herbs and plant a small herb garden in a portable pot or planter. Mom will think of you every time she takes a sprig of rosemary or a handful of basil leaves to use as flavor and garnish in her favorite foods and drinks.

#5. Create a gift basket for a day of relaxation with a box of her favorite tea, a new book, and high quality chocolate.
Picture
Photo credit: Suzette Pauwels via Flickr
What other gifts have you found to be successful for Mother's Day? Share your ideas in the comments!
0 Comments

the 2013 holiday gift guide

12/5/2013

0 Comments

 
Are you stressing out about finding the perfect gifts this holiday season? Here are my favorite picks for all the women on your list. Hopefully these will be able to inspire you so that your shopping this year is easy and you can enjoy spending time with friends and family instead of waiting in long lines at the mall. 
For your practical friend:
Picture
J. Crew Three-Pack of Socks Gift Set $29.50
Picture
Lands' End Dot Scarf $29
For your kid's teacher:
Choose a calming candle scent to help her relax during the holidays or a journal for collecting her thoughts.
Picture
Archipelago Botanicals Soy Candle $29.50
Picture
Barnes & Noble Chrysanthemum Lined Journal $8.95

For your sister:
Picture
Banana Republic Shauna Printed Scarf $59.50
Picture
Ann Taylor Bow Clutch $48
For your niece:
Picture
LOFT Wild Damask Print Cotton Pajama Set $49.50
For stocking stuffers:
Picture
Essie Winter 2013 Nail Polish Cube $17
Picture
Philosophy Amazing Grace Fragrance Spray $15

For your friend who is always chilly:
Picture
Lands' End Hearthside Slippers $39.95


For the office gift exchange:

Picture
OPI Take Ten Mini Nail Polish Set $24.95
Choosing a gift for an office "secret santa" style exchange can be quite the challenge. Even if you are friendly with your colleagues, you may not know their exact preferences. Choose a gift set that includes several options to increase your success rate.

Bring a small bouquet of flowers already in a vase with water so all your hostess needs to do is find a surface to place them on! If she already has lots of vases, then she can pass it onto the next person that she brings flowers to.

For a hostess gift:
Picture
CB2 Cuboid Vase $4.95

For your fashionista friend:
Picture
WHBM Imperial Purple Bauble Earring $28
Picture
Banana Republic Stardust Cuff Bracelet $49.50
For your hard-to-shop-for friend:
Picture
Paper Source Gold & Cream Mums Stationary $14.95

What are your favorite gifts to give and receive? Let me know in the comments!
0 Comments

last minute gifts

12/21/2012

0 Comments

 
Only a few days left until Christmas and the malls are filled with people. If you have any last minute gifts to pick up, make sure you have a game plan before heading out into the chaos. Here are a few last minute, and practically stylish, gift ideas for those left on your list.

For your coworker:
Picture
BR Watercolor Floral Scarf $59.50
Picture
WHBM Hematite/Jet Crystal Stud Earring $12
Picture
Gap Rainbow Stripe Gloves $21.99
Picture
Cole Haan Crosby Wristlet $38.95
For your daughter's stocking:
Picture
LOFT Boot Socks $6.50
Picture
Essie Nail Polish $8
Picture
Ann Taylor Exotic Skinny Belt $34
Picture
BR Gumdrop Stud Earring $29.50
For your collegiate niece:
Picture
LOFT Flower & Sparkle Slippers $29.50
Picture
Ann Taylor Makeup Bag $28
Picture
J. Crew iPhone 4 Case $20
For a fashionable friend:
Picture
Ann Taylor Zebra Print Haircalf Gloves $78
Picture
Cole Haan Envelope Clutch $73.95
Picture
Banana Republic Lana Dot Silk Scarf $49.50
0 Comments
    Tweets by @practicalstyl

    RSS Feed

    Visit Practically Stylish's profile on Pinterest.

    categories

    All
    12 Days Of Holiday Parties
    Accessories
    Athletic Wear
    Beauty
    Birchbox
    Blogher
    Books
    Casually Stylish
    Cold Weather Wardrobe
    DIY
    Emily's Closet
    Evening Chic
    Fabulous Shoes
    Fall Essentials
    Fashionable Food
    Fashion Finds
    Gift Guide
    Guide To Elegance
    Halloween
    Holiday
    Inspiration
    Jane's Closet
    Key Pieces
    Men's Fashion
    Nautical Inspired
    Office Attire
    Ootd
    Outerwear
    Outfit Guide
    Packing Tips
    Polyvore
    Q&A
    Review
    Room For Debate
    Shopping Tips
    Spring Style
    Style At Home
    Style Tips
    The 10 Basics
    The 10 Basics
    Warm Weather Wardobe
    Wedding Season
    What To Wear
    Work To Weekend
    YouTube

    Picture
    Picture

    archives

    February 2016
    December 2015
    October 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012

    Picture
Proudly powered by Weebly