3 nice bathrobes

A good robe will make you want to stay home all day, which is probably not the best thing, but in the winter for weekends and holidays, they can't be beat.

I have an awesome one from my trip to Bali 2 years ago, but I hardly ever wear it. I should start, especially now that I work from home.

Here are 3 comfortable and attractive picks:

 
$95 Microfiber and terry spa robe
I like the contrast lining on these. The dual layers would be very warm. 
Spas really do have robes just like this, and they feel luxurious and heavy in a nice way.





$178 Silk Cashmere robe
This pink color is terrible, but there is a really nice graphite color that it also comes in. Imagine how soft it would be. And it drapes well over your body and the side tie and diagonal across the front elongates you so you don't look like a lump.


$80 Ruby velour robe
This one also has the side tie. The velour is a love it or hate it thing, so if you are buying this as a gift, be careful!

Bunny tank top

I really want this cute shirt!




$22 The rise and fall Bunny Tank in heather gray
This is nice and long so you can wear it over low rise jeans and not worry about your ass crack making an appearance. Or muffintop.


And this watch is cute too

The one thing that might make me enjoy owning 2 cats that I never wanted

 
$35 DJ cat scratch turntable

Who's a little dj? Who's a little dj? YOU ARE

As you can see, this brilliantly conceived cat toy has cardboard scratchy stuff in the shape of a record on top of a turntable emblazoned with anti-dog stickers.

The description:

DJ Whiskers

You may think that cats scratch in order to stretch their muscles and sharpen their claws. Wrong. When you think about it, isn't it obvious that within every feline lurks a wannabe DJ? Kitty is mad pumped to kick it behind the wheels of steel and throw down a dope set of old skool joints, yo!

The reviews and the response to the negative reviews are what really makes the product shine for me:

The scratching surface is not situated at an angle that appeals to cats, so they won't want to scratch it. If they try, it moves and they give up. We tried putting cat nip on top to get the cats interested but they just laid down next to it. . If you are looking for a scratching post to save your furniture or please your cat, save your money. If you want a funny item sitting on your livingroom floor, get this. It is funny, and it will last forever, since your cats won't touch it.

Merchant response: We're sorry your cats don't want to be DJs and we'll gladly help if you'd like to return or exchange it. Please call 1.888.365.0056 to speak with a member of our customer service team.

Are you one of those people who buys their pets holiday and birthday gifts? If so... Just a suggestion.

Merry Christmas!

Hope everyone is having fun this holiday season.

Senator the reindeer bunny is doing great.

Spiky backpack

 
$56 Spikepak

Badass!

This leather backpack has soft stuffed spikes all over it so you can show people what your evil personality looks like on the outside.

It has one interior pocket and one exterior tiny one.
I kinda wish it had another interior pocket and that it was padded for computers. This would be a great computer bag to have at the nerdy tech shows I've been going to.
I'd be the envy of all the Super Mario Brothers fans (i.e. everyone at the shows).

Here is the description from ThinkGeek:

King Koopa's Dirty Secret

The trick to taking out Bowser in 8-4 is to just hang back, jump over his first fireball, dodge his hammer throws, and fireball spam his spiky ass. Easiest boss battle ever. Truth is, he's not really as tough as he looks - that's not even a real spiked shell on his back. We know the secret, and the secret will blow your mind.
It is, in fact, a backpack. He's really just a big lizard with some reflux issues (hence the fireballs). He bought that backpack from ThinkGeek, and has been running around giving our favorite italian plumber a hard time ever since. Inside his Spikepack, he keeps a healthy supply of mushrooms, hammers, and a small number of Bob-ombs.
It's a good thing the backpack is big - he can carry quite a lot of things. If you were to somehow get a hold of his bag, you could easily cram a stack of schoolbooks, a giant laptop, all your power supplies, and still have room for your Nintendo DS and every cartridge you own... just in case you have time between classes to crank out a few levels.

Bosom Buddy Pillow

Women, there is a whole new product you need and if you don't get it, well, you're going to be horribly unattractive and no one will ever love you.

What is it?
Glad you asked.

It's a breast pillow.
What?
A pillow that goes between your boobs.
Why?
Well, when you sleep, your boobs might smush together and then you get chest wrinkles and then you die alone. See?

Ok then, here is what it looks like:

 
$29.95 Bosom buddy pillow 
It's pink, which is how you know it was made of us women. Who can only buy things that are pink. Fact.

It's normally $39.95, but guys, they are having a customer appreciation sale because they appreciate you and your wrinkly gross cleavage.
We're so lucky!

Want to see it in action? Thought so:


Make sure you read that quote from Autumn in Michigan who is trying to remain youthful and unwrinkled by any means necessary.

The good news with this product is that they donate some proceeds to breast cancer and uninsured women, but they don't say how much.

If you want to really offend a family member this Christmas, this could be the perfect gift.
Older woman? Check.
Older man? Double check.

Time for sparkly new years outfits!

Yes, get out your sequins and glitter, it's that time again. (Last year part 1 and part 2)
What are you going to wear?
You better look like a goddamn disco ball if you are going to get any attention this year. Sequins aren't going out of style anytime soon it seems, so do it up big and try to draw some eyeballs away from other sequinned party goers.




$78 Ella sequin dress
A nice wide but shallow v neck to show some skin but not too much cleavage, and long sleeves to hide arm flab (not than anyone here has the dreaded chicken wings).
Short as hell, but you can get tights if you want.

















 
$78 Confetti sequin dress
Lots of colors of sparkles on this one, and a trendy mesh top. Make sure you have a good strapless bra if you want this.



 
$59 John Zack zig sag sequin dress
Nice colorful tube dress with a bandeau top








 
$24 Silver and black strip bodycon dress
Wheeee! I like when sequins look like liquid.
This dress might be a little short in real life for us normals, so feel free to wear it as a top with black skinny jeans.




 
$114 Lipsy sequin top dress
I like the shape of this dress, it screams party!

 
$59 Low back sequin dress
The drapeyness of this one is elegant

 
$15 High waisted sequin shorts
You have to be especially leggy to pull these off, but if you are, please do it! And wear them with a drapey button down blouse.



 
$16 Paillette tee
Large oversize sequins ftw, and not around your armpits where they can scratch you.


$23 Silver off the shoulder sequin top
A special occasion shirt to be sure, would also look good with a pencil skirt or with jeans.




 
$28 ASOS sequin high heels
Wear these with a normal black dress or a fun color and stand out at night.


 
$35 Sequin scalloped collar
This can go on top of any sort of dress or shirt to gussy it up and make it jazzy and festive.

Fingertip conductors for your gloves

Instead of getting someone ugly gloves with conductive pads that won't fit them and they will never wear, now you can get the pads themselves to stick in whatever gloves you want.

I like this flexible solution a lot better.
I would like a million of these so all my gloves for all types of weather and fanciness can have them.

 
$12 conductive glove pins
This gets you 4 pins, which is good for 1 set of gloves if you want 2 fingers on each hand, or 2 sets if you only want your right or left hand (this is what I would do)

The front and back pieces detach like pins and you screw them into the gloves of your choice.
Smart.

Rant about some beauty blogs

Dear Internet Beauty Blogs,
You know what is really annoying?
Those linkbait posts that some of you have advertising "5 AMAZING ways to alter your clothes."
You almost never deliver on those promises and the posts don't have anything new or anything interesting.
Plus you make me click through slideshows to find that out. Grrrr.

I recently fell for one of these when there was a "3 unexpected uses for lip gloss."
I clicked on it thinking, hey, I wonder what those are and since there are only 3 and not 12, maybe they will be real and not fluff.
NOPE
The first tip was to use your lip stuff as blush! OMG! Who would have thought?!
Thanks so much for telling me!
GUESS WHAT: TELLING ME TO USE ONE FACE PRODUCT 1.5 INCHES OVER FROM WHERE I USUALLY USE IT IS NOT NEWS.
It's something that could happen by accident on a bumpy subway!
 You are applying your lipstick and whoaaa, you turn your head really quick and some gets on your cheek, but HOLD ON! It looks like blush!! AMAZING DISCOVERY.
So glad someone revealed this secret of the ages.

No.

The second tip was to use your lip stuff as eyeshadow. So you know, if you want the shiny pink lid look that is all the rage NOWHERE, you can do that.
Sometimes I wake up wondering how to make it look like I have a gross conjunctivitis-type disease or that my face is super oily and I've been crying a lot.
Lip gloss lids to the rescue.

The third tip I don't even remember, probably because it was so boring and not a tip.

I'll tell you what it wasn't though; it wasn't anything useful or surprising or amazing or interesting or unexpected.
It wasn't telling me to put my lip gloss on my razor to make it last longer or that lipstick can patch tires or that chapstick is the perfect flea repellent when added to your dog's food. (Well, one reason it wasn't telling me that is because none of those things are true...)
But I want actually surprising tips. Not more of this same repackaged crap that pops up everywhere.
Ok, Internet?

love,
Rebecca

Under $20 gifts for acquaintences and secret santas

Secret Santa things can be tough. So can buying presents for anyone you barely know but owe something to. How annoying is it to shop for random people like your office mail guy or your kid's teacher or your grandmother?

I think the key to buying these is to make them general and regiftable just in case they don't hit quite right.

Also, consumables are good.
Scarves are not good. EVERYONE HAS A MILLION SCARVES ALREADY! Stop buying people scarves.
Socks are better, if you want to do the cliche "I don't know your size" gift.

Here are some universally appealing gifts that say "I am sure if I knew you better I would like you"

 
$11 Lego keyboard decal
Makes your coworker's laptop more festive


 
 $8 Shark bite socks
Even funnier if the recipient is not caucasian.


 
$20 Bath bomb 6 pack
Fun fizzy times, and they can give 1 or 2 away if they want.



$14.99 2013 Owl planner
Adorable owls, useful gift, easily regiftable if she doesn't like it.
Just make sure not to write in your birthday. People seem to take that the wrong way.


$10 Superman socks with cape
These will make him feel awesome. A secret confidence builder for big meeting days or interviews.



 
$20 Korres lip butter trio
I've heard these are really smooth and silky and amazing

 
$16 Melee mug
He likes his coffee strong? How strong?

Under $100 gifts for the woman in your life

Girlfriend, wife, sister, aunt, whatever. Get her these things.


$72 Labradorite stud earrings
These cushion cut stones have a cool shine that changes color depending on the light you are in, so they always go with your outfit. Big earrings are in now, but studs never go out of style.


$38 C Wonder contact case pouch
This cute metallic pouch holds a contact cast and a little bottle for lens solution. She won't forget it if it's always in her purse.







 
$78 Haushund wool slippers
Cute! These look warm and I like how the dog spans both feet, like real dog who decide to settle down on you sometimes do.


$45 Sephora Lash Stash set
A collection of 10+ of the most popular mascaras at Sephora in sample sizes, plus 2 full sized ones.
It would be extra nice of you to include a $25 gift certificate to Sephora so she can later get the full size one of her favorite sample.


$89 Philosophy Care Package
This set includes a bunch of great full sized products including
- 8 oz Purity Made Simple® 
- 8 oz The Microdelivery Exfoliating Wash™ 
- 2 oz Hope in a Jar™ 
-1 oz The Microdelivery Peel™ Vitamin C/Peptide Resurfacing Crystals 
-1 oz The Microdelivery Peel™ Lactic/Salicylic Acid Activating Gel 
- 0.5 oz Hope in a Tube® High Density Eye & Lip Firming Cream



 
 $50 Betsey Johnson Cashmere blend heart tights
These also come in gray, and they look really soft. 



 
$26 Gold leather envelope clutch
She can use this as a purse or to hold her checkbook and cash, or to store makeup in, or hold small things in a larger bag..... 

Under $50 Gifts for the Man in your life

It's the time of year when you really should have bought everything for your friends and family already but you probably haven't.

That's ok! Neither have I.

Let's start with the guy in your life. These are presents for your boyfriend, husband, nephew, cousin, whatever.

 
$48 Turquoise ipad sleeve
The geometric prints are very "in" right now, and these are made by Native American craftspeople and 20% of proceeds go straight to the artist (which is much higher than if you buy the equivalent of this at Urban Outfitters or something).


 
$20 Malin + Goetz peppermint shampoo
Men like fancy beauty products too, and this line has masculine scents and non-girly bottles like this peppermint shampoo or cilantro conditioner.
I gave a travel set to E and he said he came out of the shower smelling like a thai salad, which I think is a good thing.





 
$18 Vertical Aluminum Business card case
It's amazing what a little difference it makes that this card case opens from the vertical instead of horizontal axis. Everyone will be astounded and think he is the coolest when he pulls this out.




$42 Rothco M51 engineers bag
This canvas and leather bag looks way more expensive than it is.
 It's a good carry-all for a dude and can be casual or work- appropriate as long as he is not in a very corporate place.



$27 Custom size belt
Why do guys have the worst belts? I don't know. It seems like it is hard for even the best dressed guy to realize that maybe the reversible belt from when he was 14 isn't in style anymore.
These come in black or brown. Show him it's ok to have two belts.




 

$37 Double sided bow tie
Chic and useful (I know I just made fun of reversible belts, but these are different). I like this one that is red and black patterned.

Target and Neiman Marcus collaboration

Target and Neiman Marcus have paired up to offer a bunch of gift items by high end designers that will sell in both stores for the same prices.
I've heard that the NM ones are sold out but that pieces are still available at Target because the prices are low for NM and high for Target.

If you want to buy them, try Target first.

Here are my picks, based on what I like and then also the reviews on Target's website. I liked some pieces that then got terrible reviews for not being made well, so I removed them.



 
$29.99 Band of Outsiders Best Friends hat set
Comes with 2 matching hats, which are apparently pretty big so not for my tiny noggin, but maybe for yours?

 
$69.99 Rag and Bone men's sweater
I got E a non-Target sweater similar to this one for Chanukah two years ago and he wears it all the time. It's really soft. This one looks like it would be equally awesome, though it's made of cotton and wool instead of wool and cashmere. That's probably where the price difference comes in.

 
$79.99 Altuzarra tray
This is a lot of money for a random tray that you probably won't use that much, but when you do use it, it's going to be great. Really modern and elegant, and the reviews are over the top happy.
Just learned a lesson, too: it's Altuzarra, not Altazurra, like I'd thought.

 
$39.99 Carolina Herrara makeup bag set
Comes with 3 linked bags in different sizes and with cute prints featuring elephants and dogs.
These would be really good for packing.

 
$69.99 Philip Crangi trinket box
This looks like a grenade, so I like it.
It has an unknown quality which makes me keep wanting to look at it. The bronze color would go with pretty much any room. It's small (3") but would make a great gift, maybe with something fun inside it like earrings or a little figurine.

 
$39.99 Tracy Reese Dessert plate set
These have gold edges that the internet can't seem to get enough of. The prints are pretty and the set would make a great hostess gift if you are going to a nice holiday dinner at someone's house.
Dessert plates are also great for when you want to cut down on the amount you are eating and use them as dinner plates instead.