Snoop's Guide to Grad Gifts Part 2

Moving on with my obession love of gift-giving, today's installment will be about Girl Gifts.  My favorite!  Because I'm a girl.

-Girl Gifts-

A Cookbook

Austin Entertains from the JL of Austin

For the college grad, a good all-purpose cookbook is a perfect gift. She'll be (hopefully) living on her own and cooking for herself. I love the idea of giving one from the Junior League in your hometown. It would be super cute to throw in a monogrammed dishtowel, apron, or pot holder with the cookbook.  Along with wooden utensils.  You could do such a fun presentation!

Sorority Gear

This is a little unorthodox for a high school graduation gift, but if you know the girl is going to rush, you could wait on buying her graduation gift until she pledges. Then gift with something in her sorority's Lilly Pulitzer print and send a cute note about how you didn't rush on her gift so you could wait til she rushed. This is Lilly's Kappa Delta print. Holla, Chrissie the KD Prez!

Stationery

High quality, personalized stationery is a perfect gift for a high school or college graduate.   This Cranes art deco monogram is fun for a girl.

Nice PJs, robe, or slippers

from Williams Sonoma

For the high school girl going up north for college, get her a luxurious set of pajamas, a robe, and/or slippers. Monogrammed, of course. She'll need to stay warm up north, and who wants to have bare feet on a dorm floor.  Ick.

That's all for now as far as the chicas go... Next up will be the gentlemen!

Snoop's Guide to Grad Gifts Part 1

Tis the season... for graduations!  Confirmations!  All sorts of -ations!

Buying gifts for people is by far one of my favorite things to do.  So in case anyone is struggling to come up with a graduation gift idea this time of year and mostly because I just love gift-giving, I thought I'd start sharing some of my ideas over a couple of posts.  Here are my personal rules of thumb for all types of -ation gifts.

1. Personalization.  Being a southern gal, there are few things I love as much as a good monogram. 

2. Classic.  The person should be able to use your gift for years to come.  Which means it shouldn't go out of style and should be well made.

2. Utility.  In my opinion, a graduation gift should be something that you can also actually use.  No young person needs things that are just going to sit on the shelf.

I'm going to have to do several posts because I'm that crazy.  All of which involve monogramming, so prepare yourself. 

My first favorite, go-to graduation/confirmation/general -ation gift is....

-The Little Bag- 

Perfect for High School/College/Confirmation.  And for guys or girls.  Monogramed, of course.  Everyone can use a little bag for makeup, accessories, toiletries, odd n ends, etc.  It could go in your purse, bathroom, for travel...

I love the idea of ordering or monogramming a bag in college colors for the high school or college graduate.  Here are some of my favorites:

 Pic is from here

The Jon Hart Grande or the Jon Hart Mini Makeup.  Jon Hart is a Texas designer and his stuff is SO well made.  It lasts forever.  You can monogram the leather patch in the middle and it looks great.  Plus the bags come in a ton of colors.   

This terry Pottery Barn bag is such a good deal.  Right now it's on sale for only $14.  Wowsa.  Looks great with a monogram, and the inside is lined with plastic for spills.  This is a go-to gift for me. 
 

pic is from here

For a guy, a shave/dop kit is always a great gift.  They'll use it forever.  My parents got Mr. Snoop one for his college graduation and he loves it.  This Jon Hart is always a good option.

I also love these West Elm bags.  They have great, more under-stated patterns and designs for someone who is not as flamboyant as I am others might be.

For the designer-conscious gal, a little Kate Spade, Coach, or Tory bag like this one would be a cute gift.  I love the colors on this Tory Burch.  With a little bag like this you get the designer wow effect for a more reasonable price point.


Coming up next: Girl-specific gifts! 

Target Finds

In the interest of being a good friend, I have to tell you what I just found at that great treasure trove known as Target.  I've been coveting the colored cropped skinnies that are all over the place.  Like these:

from pinterest, where else

I was at Target today getting massive amounts of toilet paper for work so that the kiddos can roll each other up and pretend to be Lazarus on Sunday.  Yes, I really wanted to share that with y'all.  Anyway, in the black hole of Target, I found these babies:

found em here



Not bad, right? Especially for $22.99.  They fit really well for me and were true to size.  Since I have an unhealthy obsession with white pants, I grabbed a pair in white as well as coral (sorry about the bill, Mr. Snoop).  It sucks to love white pants as much as I do in New York.  You can't wear them til after Memorial Day.  They also have yellow, khaki, green, and stone blue.  I considered the yellow but I just don't have the girl cojones to pull that off.

Now, these are not the crayola-colored, skin-tight skinny jeans that have been all over the blogosphere.  I tried those on a few weeks ago and I'm pretty sure I'm still regaining circulation.  These guys are khakis and have more of a slouchy fit.  Not slouchy at all really, just slouchier than cutting off your blood supply.

You better believe I will be rocking the pink ones as soon as the weather warms up enough to allow it!

And now a completely unrelated question: When do you begin decorating for Easter?  We're nearly a month out.  Too soon?  Discuss.

Downton Abbey Bandwagon

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That's right... Mr. Snoop and I have jumped aboard the Downton Abbey train.  I'm obsessed.  Mr. Snoop likes it just fine.  Last week I had a truly nasty cold for a good 3-4 days.  I'm usually a one good hard sick day kind of gal, so it was miserable and drawn out.  The only benefit was that we discovered Downton Abbey.  After being told to watch it a billion times by my mom and coworker, we dove in.  I loooooooooove it!  The intrigue, the dresses, the accents, the scenery, the snobbery, the dresses again.... love love love.

So obviously, you should watch it, if you don't already. 

If you are a Downton fan, you have to take the "Which Character Are You?" quiz, here.  As if you had to even ask, I got the Dowager Countess of Grantham, Violet Crawley. 

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Do you watch Downton?  Did you take the quiz?  If so, who are you?

Surviving Winter: Part 4

I don't know about y'all, but winter in the Great White North really dries out my skin.  Thank God for heaters, but they really dry out the air and thus everything else.  Here's what I've discovered to remedy the dry:
1.  Lotion.  Lots of it.  The last thing I want to do when I come out of a warm shower is put on lotion, but I force myself, otherwise I pay for it later.  By clawing off my horribly itchy skin.  This is my current favorite, which I found at Nordstrom Rack for about $70 off the purchase price:

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2.  Lip Stuff.  Lots of it.  I've learned to never let my lips go without a product of some sort or they turn into a flaky, bloody, mess.  Here's my go-to fave:

I buy it at sephora

3.  Humidifier.  Last and least fun but not least important, Mr. Snoop and I keep a humidifier in our bedroom and run it all night.  Aimed at my face.  Literally.  Here's the one we have, which we got on great sale at Bed Bath and Beyond one spring:

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So those are my go-tos for avoiding dry skin in the winter.  What products do you love?

Surviving Winter: Part ?

Well... the dark days of January--my least favorite month--have descended.  Time for me to hibernate.  While daydreaming about plants that are green and spending time outside, here's what's keeping me warm:

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Plus

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=

Winter is not so bad after all.

  Thanks, hot chocolate with bailey's. 

Portraiture

One of my (many) favorite things about my job is the wide variety of ages I get to work with.  Not many people in education get to work closely with ages 3 to 18, so I definitely consider myself lucky.  For comparison purposes, here is some relatively recent artwork I have been gifted.  Get ready, y'all.  You're about to see some talent.

From the Middle School Age Group:

By "M"

This is me.  Obviously.  Why would I show you art with anything else as the subject?  M had a little kit where you choose face shape, hair, outfits, etc and trace them.  So she replicated my entire outfit that day, down to my favorite gold Kate Spade flats, which I'm sure many of you recognized.  And the cardigan.  Duh.  Also, I prefer to stand and walk in the above pose.  At all times.

From the Preschool age group:

By "S"



As if you had to guess, this is also a portrait of moi.  As a mermaid, obviously.  S clearly intuited the many afternoons I spent in my best friend's pool pretending to be a mermaid when I was a kid.  Please note that S is right on target with my current hairdo.  Such perceptiveness is truly moving.

I hope y'all have enjoyed the lovely art.  What can I say, receiving portraits is one of many perks!

Pumpkin Spice

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After two trips to Oktoberfest and a apple-picking weekend coming up, I have finally accepted that it is fall.  My fall decorations are up and my summer clothes are packed away.  While I haven't been able to bring myself to unpack sweaters, the air is clean and crisp.  After an unbelievable rainy several weeks, the sun is finally out!  When Mr. Snoop got into med school up here, he attempted to lure me away from the south by repeatedly talking about how this area has "the most beautiful falls."  Let's hope that the leaves this year prove that to be true!

This morning I brewed  up a cup of my favorite thing about fall: Pumpkin Spice coffee!  My sister-in-law introduced me to the addiction that is Green Mountain Pumpkin Spice coffee over four years ago and I have been hooked ever since.  So once fall rolls around, I break out my Pumpkin Spice.  Mr. Snoop is not a coffee drinker (freak) but he does love the smell of my Pumpkin Spice. 

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I know my brother, who worked at this coffee company this past summer, will mock me for my plebian tastes -- flavored coffee, how quaint-- but I love it any way and I don't care.  So take that, coffee snobs!  Green Mountain Coffee is not cheap ($8.49 a bag), but it is my special morning indulgence.  I only drink one cup a day and I savor every second.  However, if you are inclined to give Pumpkin Spice a try, I just got an email that they have a discount code right now (E2302-4759).  Of course, I bought my hoard a month ago so I missed the deal.  Boo.

Do you have a special fall coffee that you love?  I'm sure that there are other equally delicious Pumpkin Spices out there... what do you recommend?

Missoni for Target

I'm sure everyone remembers all the hype around Missoni coming to Tar-jay (I prefer the French pronunciation, obviously).  Personally, though I do like Missoni,  I chose not to engage in the madness.  Apparently that was wise since our store sold out in two hours.  Yikes! 

I am at Tar-jay fairly frequently for work.  Last week, I stopped by in my search for a flame lamp, like this...

... to turn into a "burning bush" for work. 

[ Side Note: I found it at Strauss and hot-glued fake greenery on it.  It was awesome. ]

Anyway, while in Tar-jay searching for my flame lamp / burning bush, I noticed that some Missoni had come back in.  The girl working there told me that returns have been steadily trickling back in.  I tried some on, but let's be honest, horizontal stripes can be tricky when you are 5 feet tall.  So, I decided to satisfy my need for Missoni on the cheap with a toiletries kit:

This October, the Snoops have been invited to FOUR weddings.  Count 'em.  Between Mr. Snoop's rotations, the fact that we live so far away in the Great White North, and the fact that I work on Sundays, our weekends are limited at best.  So Mr. Snoop will be able to make it to two weddings and I'll go to one.  We also have my grandmother's 80th Birthday Weekend this month.  So I will be doing lots of traveling and felt that this little number was justified. 

Check out all the pockets and comparments.  You know my crazy organization loving heart is all a-flutter.  And it hangs up!

What about you?  Did you engage in the Missoni for Target madness? 

My Kind of Politics: Style a la Michelle

Warning: Political Post Ahead.  And by political, I mean talking about political wife style.  Michelle Obama, Kate Middleton, Carla Bruni... and most importantly, their clothes.  That is my kind of politics.  Forget what their husbands do.  Let's talk fashion.

Today we'll discuss Michelle.  I like to pretend we are on a first name basis.  I think her style is just fab.  There is a reason she is the first public figure on the cover of Better Homes and Gardens (see above perfection) in 60 years.  She wears everything from Michael Kors, Narciso Rodriguez, and Jason Wu to Talbots, Target, and Gap--and she makes it all look good.

Michele knows how to dress her body.  According to the interwebs, the gal is around 5'11".  She definitely has an athletic build.  By opting toward feminine, tailored silhouettes in great colors she avoids looking masculine or overly muscled.   

However, the styles Michelle wears would work for every woman's body.  By contrast, I am all of 5'0" and on the thin side, and I gravitate toward the same style.  You should see how many cardigans I have.

I think Michelle is a great role model for young girls, especially as there seems to be nothing but tiny and skinny on the cover of magazines.  She is healthy, fit, and makes it look great!  I also appreciate her commitment to furthering healthy eating and exercise in children.

I've identified the following as Michelle's Style Essentials.  See picture for evidence.

- Pretty cardigan

- Cinched waist

- Feminine touches: bows, pearls, fun necklaces or pins

- Perfect, tailored fit

- Classic hair

- Understated, elegant makeup

- Neutral flats or kitten heels

Classic Michelle: Cute flats, feminine detailing with the bow, cardigan, perfect fit, great color.

Just right.  Again with the cardigan, flats, fitted top, and cute pin.

Attention: Soccer Moms of America.  This is how you do it. 

Notice the cardigan is recycled from the above outfit.



In Michael Kors.  Love.

So what about you?  Is Michelle's style a hit or miss for you?  If you like her style and are looking for a little inspiration, you must check out New York Magazine's Michelle Obama Look Book, from which I got all of these photos.

Pinspiration Friday

I've decided to copy Miss Keely and others on the blogosphere.  I'm doing Pinterest Friday!

I can't really adequately describe how much I adore Pinterest.  I am crazy in love with it.  If you follow me there, you know I am beyond obsessed.  It's a sickness.  If you don't follow me, I am Emily F.  I'd love to be your Pinterest friend :)

In addition to drooling over recipes and beautiful porches (True story: I have an entire pinboard for porches), I have actually found some great kiddo crafts for work and some ideas that I can use at home.  For example:

Pinterest Freezer.  Drool.

Newly organized freezer de Snoop



So mine is not nearly as adorable as the Pinterest one, but it is life changing.  My dad and brother hunt (go ahead and be mad and stop reading...), so Mr. Snoop and I keep a lot of frozen venison as well as other foods in the freezer.  It really got pretty wild and crazy in there.  I would freeze my hands off organize our freezer monthly, but then Mr. Snoop would go in there for something and leave a disaster zone in his wake.  I'd come to open the door and there would be an avalanche of deer meat, pasta, etc.  So I'm loving this.

Eventually I'd like to get square tubs like on Pinterest to save space, but these babies were $1 a piece at Target.  Can't beat that deal.  The little yellow bins were 4 for $1 at Target.  The labels are another Pinterest resource:

Free Printables for Home Organization



As you have undoubtedly realized at this point if you are still reading past all the talk of venison and labels, I'm kind of obssesed with all things organization, so I have made great use of this Pinterest find!  I re-organized my baking cabinet with labels as well as my recipe binders.  I'm a freak.  Have you ever taken the Meyers Briggs test?  If you have, I'm a 100% J to the max.  In case you couldn't tell.

Off to alphabetize my pinboards,

Snoop

Erin Condren Life Planner

Well, I caved and got an Erin Condren Life Planner.  And it is absolutely everything it is cracked up to be.  For the past year, I've been juggling the calendar that my work provides and my iphone calendar, the first of which is so not portable and the second I just can't frekin stand.  Then once this beauty came in the mail the heavens opened and the angels sang.  Without further ado, here's my planner in all her glory...

Isn't she gorgeous?



I love the way it is organized into morning / day / night, and the To-Do list on the lower left.

Isn't my week just so exciting?  I know you're jealous...

These stickers are great- I have used them to color-code work events.  I also ordered the personalized notepad.

Don't these pretties just match perfectly?

Since I work in education, August is my ramp-up month and September is pure insanity.  Hopefully this year will be more organized with my spankin new planner.  After I transcribed all my appointments and major events, I went on a huge organization bender.  I am currently re-organizing ALL of my recipes.  I'll show and tell once I'm done.  I'm sure everyone is holding their breath...

TV Shows

Mr. Snoop and I love to get hooked on TV shows.  I vastly prefer them to movies, and I love the convenience of netflix-ing each season so we don't have to deal with commercials.

While I have shows I watch on and off (Glee, Bones, anything having to do with Teen Pregnancy... don't judge me), there are other shows that Mr. Snoop and I enjoy together.  Previously, we have been into the following:

We've seen all the seasons of Scrubs, and we are considering re-watching it now that Mr. Snoop is in his 3rd year of Medical School.  It has more relevance now, ya know?  Carla and Jordan are my faves.

We will watch House if it is on, and I just love the whole mafia genre.  Plus it helps me perfect my imitation of a New York / New Jersey accent, which is epic if I do say so myself.

However, without a doubt, Mr. Snoop's and my favorite TV show of all time is....

The.  Greatest.  Show.  Ever. 

For those of you saying "I don't really like football, wah, wah, wah..." it is not all about football.  It is about life.  Seriously, if you must watch this show.  Mr. Snoop has a major crush on Tami Taylor, which is cool with me because I want to be her when I grow up.  Plus, it is filmed in my hometown!  Really, just go watch this show.  We are anxiously awaiting the release of the final season on Netflix.  After that, I will cry and then we will need a new show to watch.

Some options we are considering: True Blood, Treme, The Wire....

Any suggestions?  What are your favorite shows?