Gift Guide – For Him

for him, for her – this is for anyone who loves androgyny

Keeping with the theme of supporting local and shopping small, I want to highlight some of my favorite items to gift that special fella in your life. These brands have inspired me to lean into my own androgynous side, they’re perfect for a sexy wind down, a lil spark up, and the all around chill-mode time.

Custom woodwork from my friend Aaron – hand crafted, pure art, these custom designs by my friend A Massey Design are one of a kind! I just ordered a personalized cutting board from him and this Connect Four game caught my eye when I was on his Etsy! It’s made of Walnut and brass and the game tokens are made of Zebrawood. Best part, you can customize anything in his shop with your (or your friend’s) name or logo! Gogogo

DoubleBlind Magazine – maybe they’re a reader! I love a good reader ha! This is such a good read, blending spirit and science, DoubleBlind prints biannually and should be a staple on everyone’s coffee table <3

The Sexy Smoker (of plant powered offerings…) – these perfectly pre-rolled Barbari CBD spliffs are made with CBD-rich hemp flower Suver Haze. They’re citrusy and reel in the focus while bumpin’ up the productivity… or just bumpin’ 😉

Concrete Cat Incense Bowl + Ashtray – the perfect spot to rest their Barbari spliffs or favorite incense, this ashtray bowl is handmade (so every piece is unique) and made of concrete. So dreamy!

Give them a spa day! – this cushy robe is everything! It’s luxurious and soft and will make you want to snuggle them all day. Pssst: this is a hard gift to try and not keep for yourself

Talk about Kush(y) – I swear I’m like, so good with the puns. This Kush candle from The Flower Pot is hand poured in L.A. and burns the scent of florals and brushed suede. Everything from Boy Smells is divine, but this cannabis candle is one of my favorites from their line and I know who ever you gift it to will love it just as much as I do

BONUS! Use code FLOWERPOTFRIDAYS for 15% off your cart total for anything purchased from The Flower Pot, let’s get to shoppin’!

Can you believe there are only 21 sleeps left until Christmas?

Polaroid Picture Frame

DIY- POLAROID PHOTO FRAME

I love that pictures freeze moments in time and allow you to relive them again and again. Pictures are a physical memory since we can’t always rely on our mind memories (mind memories…totally a thing) to recall a special occasion, or remember exactly what that moment looked like. I toted a Polaroid camera along with me for Linz’s bachelorette party in Vegas last month, and asked that everyone take photos of the weekend and then give the Polaroids to me for a gift we’d make for her. This is what I did with all the photos, a Polaroid photo frame! Thank you Pinterest!!!!!! When in DIY doubt, Pinterest out!!!

polaroid photo frame
For this you’ll need:

  • a frame of your choice
  • sturdy string or wire
  • mini clothes pins or metal clips
  • your photos
  • scissors
  • hot glue gun and glue
  • measuring tape

polaroid frame prep
Method:

  • You’ll remove the back cardboard and glass from the frame so that you’re just left with the frame body
  • line up your photos so that you know how many columns you’ll have and how many rows
  • use the tape measure to figure out where you’re laying down your string or wire so that your rows are evenly distributed
  • lay down a dollop of hot glue into the nook of the frame to hold the string in place on one side than line up the other side and do the same
  • allow the glue to dry and then hang your photos onto the string with the mini clips and walaaaa!

polaroid frame

All of your memories in a cute lil DIY frame, handmade by you, with love…and a few burned fingers 😉 I hope you enjoyed this DIY post, I love doing home decor, especially at a level that my skills or lack there of are able to grasp! haha!

polaroid frame

Let me know what other home decor/DIY things you’d like to see, and I hope your weekend is awesome!!!

Hugsssss!

 

Jess

Coconut donuts!

Valentine’s Day Ideas When You Have NO Idea!

I hope today, right now in this moment, is not the first time you’re remembering that it’s Valentine’s day. I have mixed emotions about this holiday honestly – I’m a romantic at heart, but I also think every day should be special right?! I’ll save my love rant for another day, for now, if right now you’re scrambling to find a gas station teddy bear and some chocolates that will pass for the “I totally had this planned out” impression well here’s your guide to ‘fakin’ it ’til ya make it’….to the mall!

Valentine’s day gift ideas for when you have NO idea!

So it’s crunch time…. you forgot the thoughtful gift – you’ve been busy! You skipped out on making breakfast in bed to rush out to get a gift that’s you think will be more personal in gesture than making that breakfast in bed idea. Well there are a few things you can do to make it seem as though you totally had today in the bag! Also, this is for men and women, all of the ideas listed below will work whether it be for your boyfriend, girlfriend, fiance, husband, wife, child, pet goat…..all of them:

  1. Breakfast in bed – before you rush out the door to frantically find a teddy bear that’s larger than life, why don’t you just cook their favorite breakfast meal and serve it to them in bed? This will work every time, it’s so thoughtful! AND it’s budget friendly, just use what you have already in your fridge
  2. Hand picked flowers – great for men and for women, hand picked flowers are the cutest gesture, it’s sweet and Earth friendly and you can find them anywhere in your front yard… or a neighbor’s…PLUS they’re FREE! Unless your neighbor comes after you with the garden hose
  3. Love notes – love notes are great because they’re building blocks! Leave them around the house, in the bathroom (extra points for notes left in heart shapes and smiley faces), on your loved one’s car, all with personalized messages to show them that you care, that you listen, and best part…it buys you time. To either make a reservation or go out and get their favorite icecream
  4. Dinner cooked by a real life chef – yep that real life chef is YOU bud! Nothin’ says ‘”I love you”, more than a home cooked meal made with love. And bacon. Besides, all the restaurants will be over crowded and over priced. Save yourself the cold sweats of having to call around to make a last minute reservation and set the dining table for two
  5. A love basket – this is my all time favorite go-to gift! You get a basket, or a bucket, or a shoe box, whatever – you fill it with their favorite items, trinkets, snacks, and a couple of tickets to the movies and BAM, YOU are the most thoughtful gift giver evaarrrrr!

Now I’m not saying these gifts will blow them out of the water with surprise and romance, but it will make your gift more interesting, and personal to your relationship, AND it’s not super expensive or super over the top ‘buy a star and name it after them’ status. Those are for movies like “The Notebook”.

If all else fails, make them some ‘love donuts’. Picture below along with the recipe. It’s gluten free because… love. And remember, “if you’re a bird I’m a bird”.

coconut donuts
xoxo- Jess

Gluten free donut recipe for my love, Corrine.

What you’ll need: (yields 12 donuts)
For the Donuts:
1/2 cup GF flour or coconut flour
6 eggs
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
1/2 cup sugar
1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
2/3 cup melted coconut oil
1/4 teaspoon baking soda

– Mix wet ingredients together and then stir in sifted dry ingredients, bake in a donut mold for 15 minutes at 350 degrees

For the Chocolate Glaze:
3 tablespoons cocoa powder
2 tablespoons melted butter
1 cup powdered sugar
3 tablespoons hot water

– Mix ingredients all together in a bowl and then glaze over the donuts once they’re cooled, top with sprinkles and kisses and you’re all done! Enjoy!
Coconut Donuts!

ACCESSORIZE WITH STYLE- THE BEAUTY CORNER WITH DW

Mother’s Day is this weekend and I thought what better time to empower all my fellow moms out there than now, I mean we create life … you’re goddess status! Every woman deserves to feel sexy and be told she’s a goddess. Today I’ll share with you the TOP 3 ways to accessorize your sexy self from the inside out!


#1 CONFIDENCE AND A SMILE!


Your number one accessory is your confidence! It’s something that CAN be seen and is your best invisible accessory because it’s something that comes from within. That may sound super cliche but it’s sincerely the best thing you can give yourself. It’s a genuine feeling that you can easily follow up with a HUGE ear to ear smile! Which by the way, is the most beautiful part of being a human … our ability to SMILE!

Confidence is something you can’t teach someone and if you’d told 14 year old me to build more confidence, I would have had no idea what you were talking about. You can feel good about the skin you’re in today … flaunt what your momma gave ya! *another reference to mom’s day*

#2 STYLES YOU FEEL SEXY IN


Sexiness is also something that’s hard to explain to people because so many people hear the word ‘sexy’ and associate it with something bad, but being sexy is empowering! You’ll find yourself feeling fierce and you’ll settle into that confident feeling … remember, you’re a force!

If you feel fierce in sweat pants and a tank, rock it! If you feel fierce in pencil skirts and pumps, rock it! I feel FIERCE in rompers and jumpsuits! Something about finally loving the skin I’m in and being able to show a little bit of it without being self conscious about my body, is so empowering. Confidence is also a timing thing. For me, the past couple of years I’ve really grown to love myself and love my body, and that’s complete growth from the person I was, even just 5 years ago.

#3 CHIC AND CLASSY OUTERWEAR- ACCESSORIZE WITH STYLE!

Any accessory that can make it on its own as a statement piece and not just an accessory item, is number one on my list. I chose to highlight and feature this Daniel Wellington Sheffield watch for a few reasons. One- it’s one of the most elegant and sophisticated accessory items I own; that elevates any look with its simplicity, and two- pardon the pun, it’s a timeless piece that pulls any ensemble together with ease. I paired it with my Gwyneth jumpsuit, some open toe heels, and I was ready for my Mother’s Day weekend!

This super classy Sheffield rose gold watch (I’m ruled by all things rose gold) is uber feminine, and minimalistic with its sleek, slender leather strap. The sexiness of this watch includes the Swarovski crystals that span the circumference of the face and the interchangeable straps!


Huge thank you to Daniel Wellington for sending over this must-have accessory that prompted this entire post about timing (pun intended), confidence, and empowerment. I love what their company stands for and if you wanna snag your own swag (that should be a hashtag), they were kind enough to also give my audience 15% off all their products. Just click HERE and enter in “JESSLIZAMA” for the discount. I do not make a percentage off of any of the sales, I truly just wanted to share this beauty with you all. I hope this inspires you to start feelin’ yourself!

Happy Mother’s Day to all you mommas and I hope you feel loved and appreciated this weekend <3

What are your special plans for this weekend and what is the number ONE accessory that makes you feel like a million bucks?!

 

 

GIFT IDEAS FOR HER AND FOR HIM!!!

As Christmas morning quickly approaches, I thought I’d share with you some of my favorite gift ideas! For him, for her, and whether you’re on a budget or not, these are sure to put a smile on their face! Just so that this list doesn’t turn into my ‘favorite last-minute gift ideas’, try and pick a few of these up this weekend! Only fourteen more sleeps!

GIFTS FOR HER UNDER $20 
Nail polish and perfume sets are sure to make her chuckle because you’ve been paying attention to what she likes, why YES, she DID get a new haircut, go YOU! Blanket scarves are all the rage, keep her cozy and in style! The infinity necklace is like your love, infinite and cheesy!

GIFTS FOR HIM UNDER $20
This bonsai tree will be like your love fern; if he can keep it alive then he’ll be great with the future babies you have together right? Right! Make him fall in love with you all over again with this ultra cool drink koozie! Love says, “I’ll bring you a beer AND make sure it’s nice and chill, like me, because I’m a COOL girlfriend”. Pun intended. Also, his sock game can be on POINT now, just slip these into his stocking. The other socks he owns are probably holey or missing its pair anyway!

GIFTS FOR HER UNDER $50

Nothing says ‘I love you’ more than an engraved bracelet, and this has the bow to go with it! Kate Spade you just get us. Eyeshadow and makeup palettes are always a good gift! We love the many options because lets face it- we change our makeup look like we change our outfits … ok maybe wrong analogy. If she loves to write, doodle, or sketch out her first name paired with your last name … she’ll love this sophisticated and sleek stationary set! Do it!!!

GIFTS FOR HIM UNDER $50

The fastest way to a man’s heart … is through his belly! Not a beer belly per say, BUT this makes a wonderful gift set! It’ll make him kiss you faster than he can make the beer! If he’s all about that Axe body spray life (ahem Joe!) and you want to ease him into a sexy man scent, try gifting him with a cologne that you LOVE! He’ll love it too and he’ll appreciate the extra sniffs and nuzzles from you! Flannels are just as sexy as they are fashionable in my opinion, and nothing screams, “I’m a sexy AND strong lumberjack”, quite like a flannel does!  Or a man bun. And a burly beard.

GIFTS FOR HER UNDER $100

Team building skills are best created through adventures and activities! Make some memories and find some incredible things for the two of you to do on sites like Living Social and Groupon! Double that with a polaroid camera to capture all the moments because you KNOW how much she likes taking photos of YOUR food! Besides, nothing makes a better Instagram photo than a collage of polaroids! Speaking of collages, you can one-up that gift by creating beautiful frames and art work with those photos by using services like Shutterfly and other photo making programs! Look at you, you’re a gifting PRO! PS she totally needs this getaway bag to go with, because truth!

GIFTS FOR HIM UNDER $100Men love taking selfies with us and FOR us, just about as much as they like talking about how AWESOME our love fern/bonsai gift was! Why not at least let him capture the moments HE loves, in style! Gift him with a rad camera … and be the 1st photo he takes with it! See, win win! Accessories really polish a man’s look off with just the right amount of taste and class. I think he’ll absolutely LOVE this watch with its man band and all! Last but not least, for the gamer inside of every man, be the coolest girlfriend/boyfriend/wife/ husband ever by surprising him with a new game or accessory! It shows that you semi-approve of all the time he spends gaming, AND that you’re actually listening to him talk about the game through all of those eye rolls of yours!

I hope this quick gift guide helps you in picking up a gift or FIVE the next time you’re out scrambling with the rest of us, in a frenzy at the mall the night before Christmas!

Happy holidays from me to you and let me know what your go-to gift is for that special lady or fella in your life!