One Stop for Last Minute Gifts

I have your answer for a last minute gift: DVF. I was strolling through the Meatpacking district yesterday after our office Christmas lunch and went into DVF. As per usual, I found about 400 things I wanted but 0 that I should be buying for myself right before Christmas. These are practical but super chic ideas; no hipster bearded hats here (sorry those are hideous).

I picked this up and opened it and fell in love. I want this Raffia clutch.

I love this shade of green and this cute flirty lopsided heart belt buckle. Get me one.

I was totally blown away by their travel accessories. Luggage, ipad and computer cases etc. ALL good looking and nicely designed--typical. Look at that fun red interior!

A travel adapter in a zipper case with a tassel? Just amazing design. Only 98 dollars.

I would LITERALLY buy a $500 iphone to see this phrase every day. Only $28!!

I love a good old fashioned key holder too. Apparently this is for coins but I would link my keys to this. You would NEVER have to scrounge around your purse looking for it.

And also, WHO would like to buy this for me for New Years Eve? Thanks!!

These are great gifts, right? Perfect for a (high end) stocking stuffer or the 8th day of Channukah. Anyhoo, we are off to CT for Christmas for my first Christmas with my new husband! I'm so excited to be sharing my favorite holiday with him. Have a happy holiday, Merry Christmas, eat tons of cookies, give and receive graciously, and enjoy time with your friends and family.

Alicia B.

Not enough room for a tree?

If you're like I am, and live in shoebox apartment, sometimes a Christmas tree can be a bit overbearing. Last year I got a mini tree but this year I'm really loving Poinsettias. I think they are the perfect alternative and a nice one is only about $10-15 !

From Homes and Gardens UK (best magazine ever), branches and poinsettias are put in this beautiful pottery vase. This looks so simple yet creates such a beautiful effect with the contrast of white and red.

Martha Stewart was inspired by poinsettias and fashioned a beautiful wreath out of ribbons made to look like flowers. To attempt this insanely involved how-to, go HERE.

Lauren Liess of Pure Style Home put a small white poinsettia in an antique trophy on to of her mantle. She has many more adorable Christmas decorations--take a look at them HERE. Her house is beautiful.

Oh look, a white Christmas. Or ivory/silver. I don't recommend getting a metallic tree but I love the idea of different white and metal tones here. Is that little pot mercury or pottery? From Country Living.

Fellow blogger, Aesthetic Oiseau shows off her adorable tree and instead of putting a star (or an ill fitting Santa with Rudolf) on top, she put a poinsettia! It's basically perfect in my book.

From Country Living, they put these poinsettias in silver urns and added some decoration underneath the console table. True, they had room for a big tree and branches in a vase, but whatevs, nobody's perfect.

If you're like I am and live in shoebox apartment, sometimes a Christmas tree can be a bit overbearing. Last year I got a mini tree but this year I'm really loving poinsettias. I think they are the perfect alternative and a nice one is only about $10-15 ! Side question: How many of you pronounce it "poinsettEEA"? Anyone? Do you have poinsettias in your home this year?

Holiday Gift Guide 2010 Alicia B. Style

These polka dotted ceramic trays ($48) from Apartment 48 would make the perfect gift. Apartment 48 has the most amazing gifts--visit their store in Manhattan if you have the time. They have amazing horn accessories!

Every year now all the bloggers come out with "Gift Guides" for Christmas, Hanukkah or other holiday events, which are basically all about, "look at me and what great taste I have!" Right? Well, now its my turn. I'm not going to suggest to you where to find ANOTHER ikat pillow, or a sparkly clutch, because the answer is Pottery barn, and J Crew. Or Etsy and Etsy. I have fun ideas and a little bit unusual taste. Here is what I want if I could buy it all for myself.

Stationary is always a hit. I love this one with the Florentine paper envelope liner. One Kings Lane has TONS of great gift options--cashmere throws, beautiful candles, and cards!

Ask yourself (literally, out loud), who wouldn't LOVE an oversized acorn? It would make the perfect coffee table accessory or bookcase display objet. This is from my new favorite store that I discovered down in Tribeca around the corner from where I work, Just Scandinavian.

I'm pretty standard when it comes to jewelry, and I should really jazz it up with some costume pieces. This Zebra ring for only $38 is designed by Rachel Roy my old roommate's designer flavor of the month.

Another great gift that rarely gets re-gifted are tea towels! How cute and Scandinavian is this one with fish on it?! Find it HERE at Just Scandinavian.

I'm really into these little bouquet necklaces. This one is from Boden: Boden Corsage Necklace for $64.

Have you checked out the Kate Spade Home section lately? Do so immediately. These plates, designed by Bella Foster for KS are just adorable and they have a corresponding hors d'oeuvres plate.


Scarves are fun all year round, so this is really the perfect gift for anybody (or me). This Lilly Pulitzer Murfee scarf is $118.

My fiance has been gabbing about how much I would love this book that I'm wondering why he hasn't bought it for me yet. Syrie Maugham has so much style its amazing that they were able to put it in a book. I will have this book, thanks!

I'm the middle in our family, so this wine label "Middle Sister Wines" really spoke to me. They're based in California and have such a cute concept. I gave a few bottles to my older sister for her birthday this past year! Wine is ALWAYS (almost) the perfect gift.

So if you're looking for a gift for pretty much anybody, take your pick from the choices above! I'm super behind this year on my gifts. Life gets hectic but you always have to be thinking of others at this time of year. The time for giving. Anyway, no ikat pillows or sequin clutches here although those are great gifts too! You can fine some cute pillows at MY store, as well. How about you all? Are you behind like I am?

Alicia B.

I fell off the wagon, and landed on One Kings Lane.

I usually hold out until after Thanksgiving to let myself get excited about Christmas but whom am I kidding, I've been secretly listening to Christmas music (pop and otherwise) for about a week and a half now. And I know I'm not alone, because they were playing it ON THE RADIO (!!) in the car on the way to Newport this past weekend. Anyway, my point is, let's not hold back because nobody else is; especially One Kings Lane. They KNOW that we need the holiday spirit; Christmas, Hanukkah and other holidays right away. We need to shop and feel warm and great--right now! If you're not a member, it's easy and SO worth it. Sign up through me HERE!

Bar tray as in the picture above--PERFECT!

One Kings Lane is having a Holiday store event and I'm going all out. I love Christmas, and Thanksgiving, and holiday/family spirit! I also love tasteful decor and appropriately themed tablescapes and you'll find all the accoutrements for that HERE.

I love nice stationary--seriously, there is nothing better, but what really gets me is the inside. If the envelope is lined with some beautiful unique paper, I'm in. I'll take 20 of those please...HERE. Also, I love getting letters--who doesn't?

Or these holiday party invitations. I might just throw a party so that I can buy these cards...is that okay? I love the one on the left--chevron pattern! Or the quatrefoil on the right...eesh hard decision!

These highball glasses aren't anything I would go for normally but they are SO perfect for Thanksgiving cocktails, don't you think? Red and gold--so pretty!

This year my older sister is hosting us all in Chicago for Thanksgiving (SO proud of her!) and I know she has some really great Thanksgiving and Christmas serving ware but maybe she needs some new fun things! If you like anything fun, or holiday inspired then you'll LOVE the One Kings Lane Holiday section--they even show inspirational pictures. Check them out HERE. Also, OKL isn't paying me or giving me anything--I'm just a fan. A super-fan.


Alicia B.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

I am now at home with most of my beloved family (we are just missing my sister and BIL. Tear.) and we are nearly ready to celebrate Christmas! Christmas and Thanksgiving are two of my favorite holidays because it's a great chance to gather with family and feel grateful and happy about all that you have, even if all that you have is family. Didn't expect something as sentimental to come out of this hardcore Connecticut girl? Christmas does this to me.

These are little shots of a gingerbread Christmas village at Eli Zabar's on the Upper East Side. Check out the most amazing Holiday windows in NYC HERE on 1st Dibs!

One of my favorite Christmas traditions is reading the old Christmas stories. In our family that means The Sweet Smells of Christmas( a scratch and sniff book that we've had for about 30 years), The Night Before Christmas (obvi), The Polar Express (I can still hear the bell at Christmas), and Apple Tree Christmas (an absolute classic that not many people know about). Then we all have to go to bed at about 9:30 and as 26 and 21 year olds, we wait for Santa! Do you still carry on traditions like these? Anyway, have a very Merry Christmas, be good to each other and yourselves, enjoy giving and receiving, being with family--and if you're not celebrating Christmas, hopefully you're with family too, so have fun going to the movies!


Alicia B.

Friday Faves

Fun doily tin decoration for all the cookies I'll be making (eating) this Christmas season!

It is the last Friday before Christmas and the second to last day of Hanukkah! I have nearly all of my Christmas gifts purchased and the last of it I will do this weekend when I finally have time. I have finished my class for the semester so that stress is behind me and I did pretty well so I'm quite happy about that. Here are the Friday Faves!

This year my family used a photograph that I took for our Christmas card! If you like it and want to buy one, I'm offering 20% off until next Monday. Time is limited and deals are GOOD. www.aliciabdesigns.com for more!

While I am a huge fan of antique or vintage ornaments, these little crocheted ones are so sweet! Its very cold today in NYC and these are making me feel warm already. From Etsy shop, Amy Gaines.

I love this warm interior by Miles Redd and the different mixes of patterns. I love how he put the Asian art work in the little mirror niche on either side of the fireplace.

Now I have to get cracking on my gifts. I have lots of ideas and I'm finding it so hard to narrow it down. I just love to GIVE (I also love to shop)! I might be going to a carol-sing this weekend with the beau, might play some squash, might get some more Christmas decorating done, and might have some egg nog! Egg nog anyone?

Alicia B.

Alicia B. Christmas Decorating

This is the sort of thing that I do when I'm not doing homework lately. I'm loving decorating for Christmas with little pine trees scattered about, my advent calendar and my latest addition: this gorgeous little fir tree with a tartan accent! Next stop is hanging the lights.

This is the before shot. This fabric is actually a Lee Jofa fabric sample and the ribbon is a red gros grain that I keep on hand.

And voila! I think it looks perfect on top of my little stack of antique books. I think the plaid adds a very old and cozy feel to my Christmas decorating this year.

If you need more tartan inspiration, check out Eddie Ross's bit on HGTV (one of the rare moments that I was really inspired by HGTV--sorry!!) where he decorated Kathy Lee's home in Greenwich CT, and Claire at High Gloss Blue's tartan tablescape. Both are fabulous!

Alicia B.

My Charlie Brown Christmas Trees

It even snowed, making my weekend even more amazing!

In my fantastic weekend in Philly/Chestnut Hill, PA, my friend and I toured a few houses that were decorated for "The Holidays". Some were inspiring, and some were disastrous. I don't have much room in my apartment and not a lot of time either so I have started with a few mini mini trees. They are branches that are stuck into a cut off stump from a tree that sold. They are like the ultimate Charlie Brown Christmas trees, and I got three of them!

These little guys will be displayed on my chest in the front hall area. They are the left overs from the Christmas trees and are all alone and sad! I had to pick up a few! I put a little red gros grain around that one above. I'm going to get some mistletoe, and another mini tree for the living room. No fake trees here because I love the smell of pine. This is only the beginning and I'm certainly feeling excited for the Christmas season. I just need to stop getting distracted with decorating and figure out gifts for everyone....OOPS. What do you guys think?

Alicia B.

Holiday Gift Guide: Kitchen Edition

"Shots" would look perfect in any kitchen and quite an inspiration for a good baker!

This posting should really be titled: "I will accept any of these items with open arms", but alas, it is not. It's officially the holiday season now that we've pushed past Thanksgiving (I still have tons of leftovers, YUM), it's time to think about the season of giving no matter what you celebrate! Here are some great gift ideas for the kitchen.

I received these as a gift from my sister a few years ago and i will never forget how delicious, flaky, and buttery these croissants were. I wish I had some right now. From Williams Sonoma for $39.

I'm pretty sure that I gave this to my mother last year for her birthday as one of those gifts that says "I really want to keep this for myself but I guess you can have it." I love Italian food and the recipes that my mother has made so far have been so delish. Urban Italian from Amazon.com is only $23 but I suggest buying it from your local independent bookstore...

I seem to have started a collection of aprons from Anthropologie. I keep getting them as gifts and I'm not even sorry--they're adorable! The Twittering Tea Time apron is $28.

I just straight up need this. Le Creuset Mortar and Pestle from Bloomingdales for $38.

This is the perfect little colander for one serving of pasta and is the perfect size for a tiny New York kitchen. Also from Anthropologie for $12.

These jute wine bottle bags are perfect for a gift of wine! A set of four from Wisteria for $19.

This scalloped edge silver bowl is so gorgeous. It would be perfect for a little display of ornaments, or grapefruits in the kitchen! From Eddie Ross's Etsy Shop for $55.

I'm always offending people with my current bottle opener from college and this would be the perfect upgrade... I love keys too! The Castle Key bottle opener from Anthropologie for $12.

The Brook Farm General store has so much to offer, these hand towels being one of them. They are 100 % cotton and only $18.

How adorable and vintage is this VINTAGE ice bucket!? I love the round shape of it--perfect for the Holiday Cocktail party from Brook Farm General Store for $55.

Two things I love: objects in miniature and organizational goods! These mini numbered spice jars take care of both of my needs. Digit spice jars for $5 from Anthropoligie.

I love giving gifts just as much as I love to receive them but I'm sure these will all be big hits! I'm hoping to do a guide for every area of your life but we shall see. Happy Monday!


Alicia B.