Then There is ALWAYS a Blue Box from Tiffany's ...

I don't EVER want to hear a husband say he doesn't know what to get his wife. Because I have yet to come across a woman in this world who wouldn't love a blue box under the tree. And I've said it before, but I'll say it again - even if you only have $100 to spend, Tiffany and Co. has a perfect something. 

And just in case you need a few ideas...

All I want for Xmas comes in a blue box... by hipmamab on Polyvore

And if you are in the San Diego area... Tiffany and Co. just opened a new store in the UTC mall in La Jolla. That means you North County men no longer have the "it's too far to Fashion Valley" excuse.

And by "men," yes, I do mean Jason. 

What would you like to find in a blue box under the tree this year? 

The Gift of Make-Up: I'm Lovin' Votre Vu Winter Sets!

I've now been using Votre Vu cosmetics since August and I'm still head over heels in love. So when I opened the door to find a box full of their holiday gift sets for me to check out, it was like Christmas morning had come early. 

And? I've now found presents for all the hot mamas on my list. 

For the girl who has it all, the Little Miss Hard To Buy For set ($45; $83.25 value)

My FAVE - Eiffel Power mascara made with curative cotton bloom and luminous carnuba and sunflower waxes.  

Tarte D’Amande Body Soufflé - an almond smelling decadently rich in tropical nut oils and shea butter for truly haute hydration.

bébé Duette Framboise - a little tube of jojoba-based hand crème with a citrus-kissed lip balm and mirror tucked in the cap.

For my Party Mamas: Party Crashers ($49; $98 value)

We're not 21 anymore so Votre Vu’s Party Crashers skin-redeeming threesome will totally come in handy as we are rushing from Holiday performances, dinner parties, work parties and any NYE celebrations. 
 
1st start on the inside by having a SnapDragon shot for the skin. Toast to restored radiance while sipping this delicious blend of powerful anti-aging superfruits and antioxidant teas, plus calcium and collagen with a botanical boost.  I've been downing this stuff for the past few days - I'm desperate for a little holiday glow!

Late-night puffy peepers are soothed with a dose of SpécialEyes serum, infused with curative nutrients like primrose and avocado oils to promote a brighter, more toned eye area.  

Finish with a wake-up call to the complexion, as Tragic Magic stabilizes and hydrates your visage with a restorative recipe of fruit extract, botanicals and vitamin E.

For my mamas dreaming of a shopping trip to Paris.. Pretty in Paris ($34; $76 value)

This set includes my other GO-TO make-up love of the past few months;  Le Joli Crayon-Aubergine, Vu’s eggplant-tinted gel pencil that feels like a liquid but allows ample time to smudge and feather before setting its mineral-based mix. This liner is a fabulous color alternative to brown or black and really lasts all day on your eyes. 

Helping to make eyes POP, this set also includes Eiffel Power mascara, which illuminates lashes with natural waxes while cotton bloom strengthens the hair’s keratin.

Lastly, Vu-On Rouge in the perfect red "ma cherry" , an anti-oxidant rich, moisture tint in the perfect color for cheeks and lips of every skin tone.  

SO many good choices... Which would you choose?

Here's to a beautiful December!

Holiday Traditions

This week, Zoe had her first “homework” assignment. It was a collage of our family holiday traditions. Since it was her very first project of {transitional} kindergarten, I helped a lot. Okay, I may have done most of it. Whatever. She’s 5.

As we were talking about it, I realized that when she thinks “Holidays” she thinks solely of presents – not of the zillion other things we do each year to “make memories.” Which would lead me to think I’m a horrible failure of a mother, if it wasn’t for the fact that she this is only her 5^th December and probably really only the 3^rd one she has any comprehension of.

And let’s be honest, December hasn’t really a shining month for me in the past… maybe it’s better she doesn’t remember much.

A few years ago in a desperate attempt to fight my December demons, I signed up for a scrapbook “challenge” of sorts - Journal Your Christmas – as a way to “take back December!” The thing is, I don’t really scrapbook. And I get a little OCD about crafting. But a store I had never seen before, Paper Source, had just opened by me and I needed an excuse to buy all that paper and to heat-emboss EVERYTHING IN SIGHT. Amazingly, I actually got the book done {sometime in February}.But now every year, I know it’s the Holidays when I start getting my daily “prompts” from Shimelle.

But, if I learned one thing about myself, it's that I’m a really crappy scrapbooker. So how excited was I to hear about her Instagram photo version this year! That I can totally do.

The first assignment was all about “first signs” of the holidays in your area. How do you know when the Holidays are here. It was fitting that this prompt came in as I was at Disneyland, for a Holiday visit that has become a bit of a tradition for us.

As Zoe and I sat and chose pictures to use, her beginning to understand the concept of “tradition” – she chose the picture I took this past weekend of Sleeping Beauty’s castle all lit up for the holidays.  

It was the same picture as I used for the first day of my challenge – first signs.

Because in Southern California THAT’S how we know the holidays are here. This is our Winter Wonderland.