Start whipping up those sugar cookies because, in less than a week, Santa Claus will have come to town! If you’re staring at the calendar in a panic thinking about all the presents you still need to buy, just exhale: there’s some major giftspiration coming your way! I stopped by CBS Austin´s “We Are Austin” yesterday with some last minute gift suggestions for the whole family.
Check the segment out above or click here to view it on CBSAustin.com — and keep reading for all the details on the products seen on air!
CAROLINA HERRERA GOOD GIRL GLORIOUS GOLD EDP
Talk about a gift that reaches new heights! When envisioning her now- iconic Good Girl eau de perfume, fashion designer Carolina Herrera combined two confidence-boosting elements:an enticing, feminine, sultry fragrance and some stunning, show-stopping, sky-high heels. This holiday season, Herrera’s stiletto-shaped fragrance is available in an Art Deco-flavored, glittery gold bottle that’s sure to add some major dazzle to any vanity. The scent itself is the same as the original — a medley of tuberose, jasmine and tonka bean notes — but the sculptural bottle has a festive new party dress that captures the magic of the season. The Carolina Herrera Good Girl Glorious Gold Edition is $122 at Macy’s and Macys.com
PACO RABANNE INVICTUS EDT
For the gents on your list, check out Paco Rabanne Invictus, a fragrance that embodies masculine strength, setting the stage for an epic battle, an unexpected clash of world and sensations: the vibrant and vital (as embodied by a refreshing grapefruit top note) versus the sensual and earthy (embodied by a heart of guaiac wood and patchouli). The result is a winning scent that comes in a victory-sealing, trophy-shaped bottle, so your fellow knows he earned the top spot on your list. It’s $90 at Macy’s and Macys.com
GREENERWAYS ORGANIC 100% USDA CERTIFIED ORGANIC BODY OILS
Sadly, many skin care and body care products are packed with toxic ingredients that could easily be on Santa’s naughty list. That’s why I love the silky, non-greasy 100% USDA Certified Organic body oils from Greenerways Organic, which are free of scary chemicals and artificial ingredients.
Instead of strange ingredients you can’t even pronounce, these body oils contain phytonutrient-rich ingredients like sunflower, coconut, and tea tree oils that hydrate and balance skin. Moreover, they contain essential oils with aromatherapy benefits like lemon, lavender and eucalyptus so you can invigorate yours senses, enjoy and energy boost, or relax and unwind as needed. All essential oils are sourced directly from certified organic farms around the world, providing customers with a seed-to-shelf experience. The Muscle Relax Body Oil ($9.99 at Greenerways.com) contains fantastic for easing aches and pains, while the De-Stress Body Oil ($9.99 at Greenerways.com) contains soothing lavender to clear the mind.
The Relaxation Body Oil 3-Pack and Daily Essentials Body Oil 3-Pack (which retail for $14.99 each) make excellent stocking stuffers or gift bag additions.
You can find these at Greenerways.com
NUBIAN HERITAGE BAR SOAPS
Now that the stocking have been hung by the chimney with care, it’s time to brainstorm about what to place inside them. These aromatic bar soaps from Nubian Heritage make great stocking stuffers. Available in great blends like Coconut & Papaya, Honey & Black Seed Oil, and Goat’s Milk and Chai, these luxurious soaps cleanse the skin while keeping it moisturized, plus they’re cruelty-free and contain no sulfates, parabens, or phthalates. They are just $4.99 each at The Vitamin Shoppe stores, so they’re also incredibly affordable.
Moreover, when you purchase one of these soaps, you’re helping to pay it forward. See, Nubian Heritage bar soaps feature fair trade shea butter ethically sourced from 15 women’s co-ops in Northern Ghana so, by buying one of these soaps, you’re helping to support these women’s economic empowerment.
NUSKIN AGELOC LUMISPA & AGELOC LUMISPA ACCENT
A healthy complexion starts with great skincare habits. This season, you can give the gift of great skin with the AgeLOC LumiSpa, a dual-action facial cleansing device from NuSkin Unlike other facial cleansing devices, the ageLOC LumiSpa features a soft silicone treatment head that contains antimicrobial silver, making it much more hygienic than traditional brush heads, which can accumulate dirt and bacteria in their bristles. The device uses a patent-pending counter-rotating action that gently but effectively removes dirt, oil, and makeup, refining pores and leaving skin fresher, softer, smoother, and radiant after just 2 minutes of cleansing. It retails for $199 at NuSkin.com
Now that you’ve mastered the facial cleansing routine, you can address specific concerns like puffy eyes and dark circles thanks to the new ageLoc LumiSpa Accent. This soft, silicone attachment can be paired with the AgeLOC LumiSpa device (just remove the silicone head and attach this one) and it works to gently exfoliate and stimulate the delicate under-eye area, reducing puffiness and minimizing dark circles. For best results, pair the ageLOC LumiSpa Accent with the ageLOC Lumi Spa IdeaEyes eye cream. You can buy them separately or buy them as a bundle for $100 at NuSkin.com
ANOOK ATHLETICS ACTIVEWEAR
Founded by Austin-based mom and prenatal yoga instructor Allie Lindenmuth, Anook Athletics specializes in high-performance activewear that has the ability to expand and retract from the first to the third trimester, as well as for years postpartum. These pieces, then, are designed to adapt to pregnant women’s changing bodies and hence they provide a better fit and more support than traditional activewear. If you’ve ever been pregnant and had to make do with leggings that constantly rolled under your bump and tanks that never seemed to cover your midsection, then you’ll understand just how groundbreaking this line is!
Made using buttery soft fabrics, the Poppy Leggings and Hayes Jogger ($98 each at AnookAthletics.com) feature power mesh waistlines to support pregnant women’s growing bellies. The Nila Bra ($58 at AnookAthletics.com) meanwhile, is a lifesaver for breastfeeding moms since it features built-in nursing clips for easy access while also providing the support needed to power through tough workouts.
Check these out at AnookAthletics.com
PARTY-STARTING GIFTS AVAILABLE AT JCPENNEY
Next, we have some gifts — all available at JCPenney — that will set the stage for really fun, memorable moments. You can make every road trip a non-stop giggle fest with the Singing Machine Carpool Karaoke Microphone ($89 at JCPenney.com) It’s Bluetooth-enabled, so you can connect it to your car’s FM radio or stream music from your phone, then belt out your favorite tunes.
Next, you can bring the party wherever you go with the Color-Changing Speaker from the Sharper Image ($44 at JCPenney.com) which is portable, compact, Bluetooth-enabled and features mood-setting LED lights that transition from one hue to the next. It’s much more useful than a lava lamp and just as fun!
And you can document all your adventures in an adorable MixIt journal ($24 at JCPenney.com) with a chic floral print.
Let the good times roll!
KIDPIK SUBSCRIPTION
Ready for your little princess to do some serious twirling? Well, she will certainly do so if she gets a Kidpik subscription! Kidpik is a fully personalized fashion subscription box that will make budding fashionistas feel like the architects of their own looks.
You can decide whether to have a box delivered every 1, 2, or 3 months. Each box contains 7 high-quality fashion items, including clothing, shoes, and an accessory – all of which can be mixed and matched to create 3 head-to-toe looks. And, on average, each box costs $95 so you’re paying about $13.50 for each of the 7 pieces therein — how affordable is that? Plus, you only pay for the pieces you keep, so if your little one is unsure about any of the garments in the box, you can send them back free of charge. Kidpik, then, makes the hassle of going to the mall a distant memory, providing an alternative that is risk-free and beyond convenient.
And there’s no need to guess when it comes to your kiddo’s personal style. Instead, you take a 3-minute quiz on Kidpik.com and a stylist will select pieces that specifically cater to your girl’s taste.
Plus, since girls get a new box in the mail throughout the year, there’s always an exciting unboxing experience right around the corner!
TOYS FOR THE KIDDOS AT BURLINGTON
We all love the idea of our littles waking up and finding tons of presents under the tree. But unless you have the type of toy-making skills that could land you a spot in Santa’s workshop, making that dream a reality can get really expensive really fast. And who wants to break into a cold sweat while reviewing gift-related receipts? Not me!
That’s why I love Burlington: they offer up to 60% off other retailers’ prices every day, and they have an amazing selection of toys, clothing, and accessories for kids of all ages. They have new inventory coming in every week, so you’re sure to find some great toys— including some featuring popular characters like Barbie, Paw Patrol, Star Wars, and the Avengers. Whether your kids like coloring books, dolls, plush toys, remote control cars, walkie talkies, or building blocks, you’re certain to find something that will make their faces light up on Christmas morning —and at a price that can’t be beat.
You can visit Burlington.com to find a store near you!
HELLOFRESH SUBSCRIPTION
Even if the kitchen is your happy place, when you’ve had a busy day (or week) at work, preparing dinner for the family can feel like yet another daunting chore to check off the never ending to-do list. To change your mindset and once again associate cooking with joy, gift your loved ones a subscription to HelloFresh, the #1 meal kit delivery company.
Gift recipients can select meals depending on their dietary preferences, schedules, and household sizes. They can just look through a weekly menu that includes vegetarian and low-calorie options and decide which meals they want to try making. They can schedule a convenient day and time for their meal kit delivery and, on that day, they’ll receive a box with fresh ingredients and easy-to-follow recipes.
And here is the magic of it all: the ingredients are all pre-measured so you don’t have to worry about whether you’re missing any ingredients, nor do you have to spend a ton of time measuring, dicing and chopping your veggies and herbs. In fact, most recipes involve about 5 to 15 minutes of prep time and are ready in about 30 minutes.
Another reason why HelloFresh is mega convenient: subscribers can adjust their plan as needed — whether it’s to skip a week, reschedule a delivery, or change an order. All the need to do is visit HelloFresh.com or download the HelloFresh app on their phones.
