Papery & Cakery's 2009 Gift Guide: For Him!

Boys can be impossible to shop for... wallets, belts, ties... been there, done that. Here are a few of the most creative buys for the holidays this year.

For the gamer:

I think there's a wii accessory for every kind of guy in the world! I'm dying to try DJ hero which lets you spin and scratch over 100 songs into unique mixes. Try Wii fit for a workout buff, Rock Band Beatles for a die hand Beatles fan, or go old school with Super Mario Brothers.

For the eater:

Just trust me when I tell you Graeters Ice Cream from Cincinnati (my home city) is the greatest thing that ever happened to ice cream. You can even have it shipped in dry ice right to your door step. He. Will. Love. You. Forever.

For the drinker:

Tired of Bud and Miller? He thinks he can make the best beer on his own? Let him find out with this home brew kit that even comes with 6 reusable bottles and caps. Create an awesome logo and voila: microbrewery!

Mr. Sporty:

Bored of the same old jerseys and t-shirts? Thanks to companies like Junk Food and Retro Sport t-shirts, sweatshirts and even waffle shirts can be stylish and sporty!

Mr. Travel:

Long flights mean less battery life. Save him the time, stress and hassle with this rechargeable backup battery for ipod and iphone from Brookstone.

Mr. Witty:

Let him play into (or make fun of) the current vampire craze with this Forks High School t-shirt from Urban Outfitters. Keep him out of the sun and you may even mistake him for a Cullen.

Mr. Suave:

Who doesn't think that having personalized billiard balls makes a guy sexy? Get him his own set from Neimans.

All Around:

Get him what he really wants. Tickets to the next awesome event. Maybe it's a concert. Maybe it's a sports game. Maybe it's the hottest Broadway show or something awesome at the theater. No matter what, check out Charm City Tickets and make his dreams come true.

Happy Holidays Boys!

xoxo,

Niki

Papery & Cakery's 2009 Gift Guide: For Her!

I'm so excited to launch our 1st annual gift guide! These are just a few of my favorite things right now. I tried to put something for everyone and hopefully inspire you.

For the dazzler:

These gold-plated, faux diamond bangle bracelets from Jennifer Miller could be a staple in anyone's wardrobe. They come in yellow and white gold and are the perfect way to dress up any outfit! Plus, there are tons of bracelets so you can always split them in half and give them as two gifts!

For the stilleto-junkie:

City Slips is a brilliant concept created by someone who clearly knows the wrath of stilettos. These flat and elastic banded shoes come in a carrying case that folds up to fit in almost every handbag. Then, the second you are ready to ditch the stilettos, put these comfy flats on and carry your "killer shoes" home in the bag.

Maybe you just "have to have" those killer stilettos. I've had my eye on these satin ones from Tory Burch with crystal signature medallions at Shopbop.com.

For the TV buff:

I'm not sure if anyone has seen each and every episode of Friends more times than my sisters, but if not then I found the perfect gift! Right now buy all 236 episodes on 40 disks for $100!!! Only catch is that the offer is only available in stores at Target, but honestly, EVERY SEASON for $100, organized neatly in a great case and booklets. Get Out!

For the coffee/tea lover:

Why not let them enjoy their beverage of choice out of this fabulous and happy hand painted mug from Robert Siegel Ceramics!

For the chef:

Something cupcake themed (duh!). Why not stay clean in style, with this fabulously amazing apron from Jessie Steele.

Plus, tote your cupcakes safely and in style with this cupcake tray from Martha Stewart at Macy's.

For the lover of nature:

Create your own miniature (dessert friendly) succulent garden, with this kit via succulent love. (while you're there check out the gorgeous wedding designs all created with these amazing plants!)

For the designer:

Pick up a copy of the oh-so-chic new book Hue by Kelly Wearstler. Ooh and ahh (and possibly even drool) over her incredible designs.

For any and everyone:

One of my favorite products in the world is Jo Malone's vitamin E lip balm. I consider myself a lip balm connoisseur and once I tried Jo Malone, I've never gone back. This balm is silk, smooth and even has SPF. I have one in every bag and never leave home without it. Trust me, it's amazing!

Eight Crazy Nights

Chanukah starts at sundown tomorrow. Here are my top eight Chanukah ideas for eight crazy nights!

1.

Keep your baby's tootsies warm and dry in these adorable socks from Land of Nod.

2.

Stash all of your extra "gelt" in this witty money clip from PopJudaica.com.

3.Need a quick makeshift menorah? Fill nine glasses with beautiful beads or even vase filler, insert the candles and voila--a stunning menorah from scratch! Thanks Martha.

4.Another idea for a quick menorah--make one out of a spray-painted manzanita branch via Martha.

5.

Take your gelt to a new gourmet level with these coins from Lake Champlain Chocolates.

6.

Direct guests to their seats in style with these dreidel place card holders via Pottery Barn.

7.

Celebrate the festival of lights with fido--all decked out in this getup from Pop Judaica.

8.

An edible menorah? Ok so maybe you can't light it but this looks so deliciously gorgeous and incredibly easy to create. What a brilliant idea from Amy Atlas!

Happy almost Chanukah!

xoxo,

Niki

Brown Paper Bag Perfection

I was honored and excited when Stephanie & Ela from the Elite Bridal Network asked me to design programs for their wedding planner seminar in Key West this month. I racked my brain for something creative and beautiful and was thrilled when Stephanie sent me these favors she saw on Martha Stewart as inspiration.

I blogged about my obsession with kraft paper a few weeks ago and mentioned these fantastic gifts. I wanted to do a take on the brown paper bag, because the programs for the Elite Bridal Network were filled with goodies and snacks for the planners to enjoy during the weekend! I really love the idea of having something be both stylish and practical.

Creating a program or favor like this is not only simple, but it's also extremely economical. The programs looked so elegant and chic when they were assembled! Here's how I did it:

1. I purchased a package of large lunch bags. You can find there anywhere, I found them at my local grocery store.

2. I purchased wood clothespins, again a staple at the grocery store or Target.

3. My final purchase was this vase filler from Target. It's a mixture of glass accent rocks and stones, usually used for floral arrangements. I chose the brown mix to match the Elite Bridal Network logo.

4. I hot-glued a brown glass stone at the top part of each clothespin.

5. I designed the program and printed it on white card stock. We used a simple brown font and printed their gorgeous logo at the top.

6. Lastly, I attached each program to the bag with a clothespin. I rolled the bag down 3 times at the top for a neat and folded look.

Voila! Fabulous programs/goodie bags!

The best part is that there are tons of options to make brown paper bag favors fantastic for your next fete!

Here are a few alternative suggestions:

a. Try closing the bags with a beautiful button like the ones featured in Martha Stewart. You can create your own fabric buttons on Busy Beaver Button Company. Have a button printed with your own slogan.

b. There are tons of things you could hot glue onto a clothes pin. A few of my favorite ideas are seashells, mini sand dollars, sequins, swarovski crystals, fabric flowers, or paper flowers {like these above via paper-source}.

c. Fill the bags with meaningful food, candy and/or favors. In the Martha version, the couple filled their lunch bags with grits from a local farm. They attached a recipe for "Shrimp and Grits" onto the outside of the bag, and gave them out as a favor for their Southern Savannah wedding. Yum!

Hope you are inspired by the incredible versatility of a simple brown paper bag.

Thanks to the Elite Bridal Network!

xoxo,

Niki

Danielle Stevens: Monogram Chic

I love giving gifts. Yes, even more than I love receiving them. I think that there are few things more satisfying than giving the perfect gift. Letting your friends and family know that you put effort and thoughtfulness into picking out a gift is truly fulfilling.





Customers are constantly asking me for great gift ideas. I adore giving something personalized. When the amazingly talented designer, Danielle Stevens launched her engraved line of jewelry, I knew I had found a gift that I could recommend to any and everyone.





Many of these necklaces and bracelets can be personalized with one to three initials for a monogram. Others can be engraved with your favorite inspirational word or quote. They come in fabulous shapes like circles, ovals and hearts. Certain styles allow you to choose an accent birth stone as another layer of customization.





This would be a fantastic way for a bride to show off her new monogram. It's perfect for bridesmaids, since the jewelry can be personalized for each friend. I love these for Bat Mitzvahs, birthdays and holiday gifts. Maybe you're even feeling like you need to treat yourself to a gift too! Check out Danielle's site for tons of other great jewelry.

Happy personalized fabulous gift giving!

xoxo,

Niki

Sugar Sugar, Honey Honey

One hundred and one, pounds of fun, that's my little HONEY bun.

I love honey! Since I blogged about apples yesterday, it's only fair that I give honey (and its parter: Bees) 15 minutes of fame.

Honey and bees are on paper! This comb invitation by Louella also features an engraved bee. The comb pattern is so graphically chic. Also adore this fantastic bee stationery by Cheree Berry.

One of my favorite honey gifts is this delicious box from the Savannah Bee Company. It's a real piece of comb made by actual bees. You can spread the comb on crackers, serve it with cheeses or spread it right onto hot toast. It's outrageously amazing and incredibly elegant.

"Buzz"worthy? These adorable little bee earrings from Anthropologie sure are!

"B" is for? Check out these inspiring honeybee ideas from Lollipop Events & Design featured on Hostess' Blog.

Give your friends a sugarbuzz by giving out honey as your favor, or use labeled jars of honey as a seating card. {via Martha, Once Wed & Style Me Pretty}

Lastly, don't forget about Cakery's mini honeybee cupcake recipe.

Get a load of honeybun!

xoxo,

Niki