Holiday Gift Guide: Let's Get Personal

With just a few weeks left until Christmas, we're all scrambling to find that perfect gift for our friends, families, coworkers, mailman, etc. The best gifts are, of course, the ones that are the most personal and show the recipient that you really took the time and put a little thought into it.  So, what can make a personalized gift even better?  Choose a gift that is hand-made and unique, just like your loved one!  We'll leave it to you to get creative but, just in case you're stressing,  here are a few random ideas that put a unique spin on the personalized or monogrammed gift item.

Everyone loves some sort of hot beverage in the winter time, be it coffee, tea, or hot chocolate. So, personalized mugs are a safe gift choice.  Now, we're not talking about any old "Mom", "Dad", or "Grandpa" kind of mug.  We're thinking of something a little more unique, like this one by bailydoesntbark.  This mug is super sentimental and allows you to hand write your own message on it and then bake it into the mug permanently for years of enjoyment.

Being an urban cowgirl was never so tempting!  We love this one of a kind bracelet so much that Jen recently purchased it as a gift for a friend.  It's modern, industrial hammered metal is complimented perfectly by a rustic leather band and custom hand stamped letters. 

Have a musician in your life? Do they march to the beat of their own drum?  If so, these personalized drum sticks would be the perfect gift option for any little drummer boy (or girl!).

Tell your sweetie not to go to Jared this year and to consider getting you something a little more unique.  Sure, this handmade spoon bracelet doesn't have diamonds or gemstones, but it certainly has history and charm, which is definitely something we romantics can appreciate.

Looking for the perfect gift for any puzzle or word lover? This customized word find would be a great gift for a friend or loved one.  Personalize it with names, important places, inside jokes, etc. so they can hang in on the wall and always be reminded of how much you care.

Does your mom/sister/girlfriend/wife/babysitter/etc.etc. love snow?  Why not get her a beautiful personalized snowflake pendant.  Snowflake necklaces have become increasingly popular, but we're willing to bet none of the ladies in your life have one quite as unique as this one!  

Pretty stationary is always a good thing to have around and the prettiest and most impressive is the kind that's personalized.  Can't think of something to get for that coworker you happened to get for secret santa?  No worries! Cute stationary like this is an easy solution for any professional person or really anyone who appreciates good old fashioned snail mail.

Say it in binary!
We just 011011000110111101110110011001010000110100001010 (we hope that says "love") this great etched, sterling silver binary code bracelet!  Have a name, quote, or  secret message encoded in this bracelet for your loved one as a fun little surprise.  Even funnier -- don't tell them what it says and let them figure it out for themselves!

Who would we be if we didn't support our friends and local artists? Get Yard Sale Press's Letter Tile Coasters to represent names, words, jokes, etc. and you're sure to score major points with your favorite word sleuth or board game lover. Send Bryan an email if you're interested in placing an order.  AND, be sure to keep commenting because we're happy to say we have a set of these babies to give away during our 12 Days of Christmas!

XOXO
Jen & Saira

Color Day: Forest Green and Gold

Today's color day is inspired in part by Jen's Christmas tree, but really just the holiday season in general. Pine trees are majestic enough to begin with, but add twinkling white lights, delicate gold garland, and glittering ornaments and they transform into fabulously beautiful focal points for any room.  Forest green and gold are rich, warm, and regal colors not just for making a gorgeous Christmas Tree, but also for creating a luxe look for any holiday decor, dinner party, or winter wedding.

Forest/Emerald Green and Gold Color Inspiration Board

Images from: DavieandChiyo, Polyvore, Zimbio, JenniferaBoston, thisnext, shoeperwoman, yourperfectday1,   MyWeddingReceptionIdeas, Stylish Wedding Ideas

O Christmas Tree, O Christmas Tree, how lovely are your branches! XOXO Jen & Saira

Holiday Style: Red and Green Are the New Black

 Celebrate the first full week of December by dressing yourself in the colors of the season -- red and green of course! These two colors can pretty much only be worn together during the month of December so be sure to get your fill of this combo before the Christmas season passes us by!  While we're not huge fans of dressing up for holidays (i.e. wearing red on Valentine's day), adding some select red or green pieces into your wardrobe is definitely the easiest way to incorporate a little holiday spirit and get you feeling festive. Plus we love coordinating outfits and cohesive themes so wearing one of these shades is a great way to compliment all the holiday decor!

Nothing quite says Christmas like a bright red, warm and cozy sweater dress.  This one, from Victoria's Secret, is modest enough for your family party but also looks very sexy with the thin black belt.  Pair this with some black leggings and cute flats and you'll be ready to deck the halls in no time!

Look picture perfect in front of the tree this Christmas in this beautiful red and green (ish) print dress from Urban Outfitters. This dress is reminiscent of the dress you wore with the velvet bow in your hair to your great Aunt Mildred's house on Christmas Eve... but in a good way! Add some loose curls, maybe a headband, and definitely some black tights, and you're on your way to looking like your very own Christmas card.

 You can be Santa's sexy little helper in these ruffled peep toe pumps.  Add them to any basic black dress to jazz up your outfit, and get ready to sashay onto the dance floor... or kitchen floor, same difference.

This green satin dress from J. Crew is definitely at the top of our winter wish list, and just may be our dream dress for the holiday season. The rich jewel hemline adds just the right amount of sparkle to this simple satin dress, making it bright and festive, without being over the top. While it's a bit pricier than the picks we tend to share on our blog (we are pretty modest girls, after all), we just loved it so much that we had to share.

Feeling the holiday spirit, but not the satin or frills? Then try on this checked embroidered skirt from Mod Cloth. While the skirt is decorated with horses, not reindeer, we think this skirt would be perfect for Christmas eve with a cute little cardigan and black tights. 

Brighten up your gray December morning with this warm, green, cowl neck sweater from Macy's.  The extra long sleeves and layered neckline is exactly what the doctor ordered this winter.  It would look great with a pair of straight leg black dress pants and a chunky bracelet or ring and don't forget the red lipstick to really pull the look together! Also, you can recycle this sweater for St. Patrick's Day, so everyone wins!

Dressing up in a red satin dress is not for everyone, but dressing up with a red satin clutch is totally doable. Add on some glamor this holiday season with this red, satin rosette clutch available at Macy's. Dress up a beaded black or silver dress, and you'll be set for any holiday party.

For a more subtle way to show your holiday spirit, try out this silk, jeweled bracelet from Anthropologie. It's simple, elegant, and our favorite shade of green!

Stand out from the crowd in this red satin halter top by Ann Taylor. For a casual look, wear it belted with black pants (shown above) or dress it up with a pencil skirt for a chic and polished look. It already has some shimmer, so opt for minimal jewelry, such as small stud earrings or a sparkly bracelet.

Or, looking for a more laid back, casual look?  Show your Christmas spirit while being extra cozy in these fun green leggings!  Paired with a simple cream top and flats or boots, these cheerful leggings can be a really great way to wear holiday colors and ensure you have plenty of room for all those Christmas cookies!

Remember to comment on today's post to be eligible to win a prize in the Paper Doll Romance 12 Days of Christmas!  We picked up some really great items this weekend that we're so excited to give away!  Winners will start being announced once a day starting December 12th.  Best of luck!

'tis the season to be jolly!

XOXO
Jen & Saira

Hot Gloves for Cold Weather

The Christmas lights are up, the snow is falling, and pretty soon we'll be waking up early to de-ice our windshields and salt the sidewalk.  As much as we hate to admit it (except Jen, because she is actually a crazy winter lover), the chilly winter weather is fast approaching.  Don't get stuck fumbling for your keys in the bitter cold, or shivering as you try to drive your car with the ice cold steering wheel!  Keep your digits free from frigid temps with a warm and soft pair of gloves or mittens.  Know someone who needs a little warming up?  A great pair of gloves or mittens can be really handy (pun intended) and would make a really cute gift or stocking stuffer this holiday season.  And, speaking of gifts, don't forget to comment on today's post for another chance to win a prize during our 12 Days of Christmas Gift Promotion!!

Black and elegant, these gloves from Anthropologie are the perfect pair to shield your fingers from the winter chill.  The pearl and jewel embellishments are very retro chic, perfect for your dressier occasions or if you're just feeling fancy.

These teal gloves from Modcloth are bright and fuzzy, perfect for keeping your hands warm and dry on a brisk winter morning.  Plus, not only are the lightweight and practical, they are adorable with their sweet ruffle detail on the cuff.

Beads and bows are just so classically girly that we can't help but adore these Milly gloves. Available in 3 colors, these wool gloves are as warm as they are charming!  Also, bows kind of remind us of Christmas, and, well..if the glove fits..

Send a text or keep your fingers?  Is this what our world has come to with the advent of the iphone and the touch screen?  Well, lucky for you, we just might have found a stylish solution.  Avoid the risk of frostbite with these dainty and super colorful gloves. These pretty gloves are fashion friendly and have a special touch pad on the thumb and ring finger so you'll never have text while glove-less again!

These cute knit gloves from Urban Outfitters remind us childhood fun with their bright gold color and bit of sparkly glitter.  Best of all, these gloves are super thick and warm, with a furry lining to keep your fingers extra cozy.  Let the snowball fights begin!

You'll be saluting in style with these gray military inspired gloves.  The gray cable knit pattern is classic and understated, but the three rows and gold buttons give these gloves just the right amount of personality that we think will pair perfectly with some black boots and your navy blue pea coat.

Planning ahead for some serious blizzards?  We suggest a great pair of gloves like these by Dakine.  Sure, they may be bulky and unattractive, but gloves made for winter sports are waterproof and are particularly designed to keep your hands completely warm and dry for hours!

And, finally, is it a glove? a mitten? It's both! The perfect marriage of glove and mitten, the "glitten" gives you the dexterity of gloves and the warmth of mittens all in one. Target seems to have the largest variety of colors and styles, but you can really find a pair of these pretty much anywhere these days.

Baby, it's cold outside.

XOXO

Jen & Saira

Color Day: Red, Black, and Khaki

December is finally here and that means today is the first day of our 12 Days of Christmas promotion!  Please start commenting and you'll be entered into our random drawing to win a great little prize from a local artist or crafter.  We have things to give away from cards to candles to prints, soaps, jewelry and more! 

Now, in the meantime, to get us into the holiday spirit here is a color board that says Christmas with style.  One look at this color board will leave you longing for a snow day where you snuggle up with a warm blanket and sip cocoa by the fireplace. Red is a signature shade of the holidays and it very vibrant, but here it is toned down with the neutral khaki, black, and white to create a rustic, country look with a level of sophistication that we think even the people over at Burberry would be pleased with.

Khaki, Red, Black, and White Inspiration Board

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Images from: designandink, ootch, hankandtillie, cottonbirddesigns, lovegrowsbygiving, sewnnatural, anniewhere, pattisprimitives, boopteylu, inburberry, with this ring, modcloth     

May your days be merry and bright!

XOXO

Jen & Saira       

On the first day of Christmas PDR gave to me...

...some earrings?  some coasters? a print? a candle?  

You'll just have to wait and see!!

Paper Doll Romance is pleased to announce our very first gift give-away promotion, The 12 Days of Christmas. We have a handful of lovely items, donated to us from some local Philly/New York/New Jersey crafters and artisans, that we're very excited to give away this holiday season. We will randomly select one winner per day for 12 days and the lucky winners will receive prizes that could be anywhere from $5-$40 in value.

So, how can you get in on all this holiday fun?  It's easy!  Just comment on any of our December posts from 12/1/10 until Christmas Eve (December 24th, 2010).  In your comment, be sure to tell us what you like about that post, what you like about our blog in general, or what you'd like to see us write about in the future and you'll be automatically entered in a random drawing to win a prize. 

We will start drawing winners once a day starting on December 13th and finishing up on December 24th so be sure to leave your comments early for the best chance at winning some great prizes.  

RULES: Yea yea, we know, rules are not fun, but we have to have a few. Only comments on posts from 12/1-12/24 will be considered for prizes. Only one comment per person per day will be eligible but you can certainly comment once a day, every day, if you'd like (we love to hear from you!). Be sure to include your email address so we can contact you if you win!  Entries submitted by email will not be considered.

First chance to enter starts tomorrow, 12/1, so be sure to check back and get commenting!

Best of Luck and Happy Holidays!

XOXO

Jen & Saira

Holiday Greetings

Black Friday has come and gone and it's almost December, so let the Christmas countdown begin! In a week or so you'll start collecting holiday cards from friends, family, and the dentist's office, which means that you'll need to reciprocate with cards of your own. Now, we're not huge fans of the typical "matching sweaters in front of the tree" theme (or really any photo card unless it's an adorable child or pet dressed in people clothes), so we decided to pick out a few cards that are stylish, fun, cheerful, or otherwise solid choices that will save you from being mocked at the next holiday gathering.

Celebrate Christmas this year with this layered holiday card available at Target. It's sure to make your card stand out from the rows upon rows of greeting cards lining your friends and family's fireplace, and a little texture goes a long way.

For a traditional look featuring Santa and his reindeer, try this letterpress set by Kirtland House.  Maybe it's the vintage design or the ornate font, but something about these cards just remind us of "A Miracle on 34th Street" (the original one, not the one with the little girl from Mrs. Doubtfire). We can just picture writing out these cards in front of the fireplace with a mug of of hot cocoa... how wonderful!

Even though red and green are the traditional colors of the holiday season, we're partial to blue and silver. It tends to stand out a little more from all the other cards, and looks a bit more chic. Share visions of a winter wonderland with this set of cards from Papyrus. It's simple, pretty, and a little bit glitzy, which is just the way we like it.

A partridge in a pear tree in metallic gold? Yes, please!  We love these screen printed cards by treasurydesigns.  They are whimsical, fun, and sure to stand out with their beautiful metallic ink and simple white silouhettes. And they are printed on recycled paper, which is always a plus.

Too much tinsel can be a headache, so be low key this holiday season with these printed cards by Etsy seller thecraftpantry. We love the earthy feel to these cards, and think it's a lovely, understated way to say "Season's  Greetings."

Celebrating Hannukah?  We found the cutest card to wish your friends and family a Happy Hannukah this year.  We love this handmade card from cutiepiecompany for it's totally mod, bright, and fun menorah design.  Send your wishes with this card and you're sure to make their holiday cheerful.

Saira longs to be back in Brooklyn, so we had to share this Brooklyn Bridge holiday card by Moon Tree Press. Perfect for New Yorkers, this card adds a nice personal touch, especially if you have friends and family across the country.

These cards by desTroy are simply charming.  We love their simple design, bright colors, and the beautiful layered look that the screen printing creates.  This cards definitely make a statement and is sure to be a favorite this holiday season.

 While the holiday season is all about peace and love... it also makes spending hours at the mall a selfless act. We at PDR are all about peace, love, and shopping, which is why we love these sassy retro holiday cards by Anne Taintor. They are fun and fabulous, just like you!

Feel good this holiday season with this holiday card from UNICEF. Every year UNICEF produces a series of holiday cards representing all the children that UNICEF helps support.  This years design is just as sweet, and proceeds from the sale help children all around the world, so not only will you feel good, but you'll also do good this holiday season.

Seasons greetings, dolls!  

Be sure to check us out tomorrow for a special holiday announcement!

XOXO,

Jen & Saira