Guest Blogger: Cassandra of Coco+Kelley - (10 Last Minute Gifts for Guys)

Hey Everyone! Cassandra here from coco+kelley. I was thrilled when Jen asked me to contribute a little piece on last minute gifts for guys here on her fabulous blog. (Does this girl have style and talent or what?!) I find gift giving to be a huge challenge because I really like to keep it personal, so I hope that in my selections you'll find a little inspiration for ways to do that!

1. J. Crew Classic Messenger Bag: I always seem to end up shopping J. Crew for the holidays - from their classic sweaters to their smaller accessories, I don't think you can go wrong with a gift for your guy here! Check out "The Always List" for their best men's picks. My favorite is the classic messenger back. It will only get better with age (and hopefully, so will he!).

2. In it To Win it Card Case: For a business guy who takes things seriously... well, kinda. I'm in love with this classic case contrasted by casual writing and lots of personality. Why not slip him a little note inside too?

3. Every 'manly' man needs one of these. Or so I've been told. This classic pocket knife from the Sundance catalog is just gorgeous with its bone and brass detail, and the monogram makes it much more personal.

4. We could all use some cool pieces to dress up our workspace a bit, so why not go vintage and get him something one of a kind? Do a little search for 'vintage desk' on Etsy to find your own unique accessories? Try a brass scale for your lawyer, bookends for the classics lover, or vintage globes like this one for your world traveler.

5. For the guy who never (or always!) pays, I love these dice by Jack Spade. A perfect little stocking stuffer that leaves the bill up to chance.

6. The Nixon 51-30 watch is one of my favorite styles. Classic with a bit of an edge, this specific edition is only available at Barneys, and I adore the chocolate brown face details with the brushed stainless steel band.

7. We couldn't do a gift guide without an option for the sports lover! While season tickets and paraphernalia are always a good option, why not try something a little different? These ballpark cufflinks from Red Envelope are classy and contain a little piece of baseball history - each inset is crafted from an authentic seat from stadiums around the country! I'd take a Fenway pair myself...

8. Barware is another classic gift for the man in your life. I always like to go for swanky sets, monogrammed accessories or vintage goods. These decanters would be ideal for any cocktail connoisseur or entertainer. Find something that fits his personality and go with it!

9. We all know guys hate to grow up, so give him a print that let's him know he can still party with the best of them. This poster from CD Ryan should get the job done.

10. One of my best girlfriends has been dating a car lover for about a year now, and I think I'm going to have to recommend this book just for her! The Chapman's Car Compendium is a must have book of random trivia and car knowledge for any enthusiast.

-- luv&ciao!


cassandra lavalle

coco+kelley

Holiday Feast

I was at a Christmas party last night (my boyfriend's company party) and there was so much food! I started to snap pictures to post on my blog and I got strange looks from people who were wondering what I was doing. So, I explained that it was for my blog and that readers like to see these sort of shots. They found it interesting. At the party I tried to curb my eating a bit, sticking mostly to veggies & potatoes and of course a teeny slice of coconut cake, as you can see in the picture above with the cute BLUEBERRY accents!

Many of us LOVE to eat a lot during the Holidays and then we end up regretting it in the early part of the NEW YEAR, so I didn't want to do that. I mean I have a STATIONERY SHOW to attend in May and I have to look my best! LOL I'd like to wish you all a HAPPY HOLIDAY AND A HEALTHY NEW YEAR! A BIG thanks to the cooks behind the party! * Please remember to Recycle and start making those small changes in your home to reduce the environmental effects.

P.S. Make sure to check out MadeByGirl.com for the newest designs coming after the Holidays!

Feeling Pink?

I've been really thinking about getting a PINK tree this year. When I first saw the one on the cover of BluePrint Magazine I fell in LOVE with the color. Anyhow here it is on my blog once again for fun!

Featuring MBG

Hi again, Hope everyone is having a great week so far! I wanted to share a few of my HOLIDAY card collection here..... If anyone is interested in featuring my Earth Friendly designs on their blog, you may use any of these pics or from my shop website: MadeByGirl. .....
*QUICK TIP: To use these pics, first CLICK on them for a larger and sharper image. All the designs,

including the website were created by MBG, unless otherwise stated. :)

For the Holidays...

Hello everyone! The HOLIDAYS are quickly approaching and I wanted to let you all know that I have some great X'mas cards on my site this year! Today I spent a good part of the day creating some more designs for the collection on MadeByGirl. Here's a SEXY card you can get for your husband/bf this Holiday season! (Sorry for the Dithered look, when it drops down the size it makes it blurry on the blogs. But click on the pic to see a better quality image) More available via my shop: MadeByGirl.

All I want for X'MAS is......

Just in time for the Holidays here is one of my favorite cards that I designed. The message I hope will inspire people to spread Environmental awareness. It is now available via my shop at: MadeByGirl.

*ALSO...... I WISH EVERYONE A HAPPY THANKSGIVING!! *