Corinna B December 10, 2019

The Best Stocking Stuffers For The Traveler In Your Life

I always think that travelers or anyone planning a trip are the easiest people to buy gifts for! With Christmas just around the corner I wanted to give you some ideas for stocking stuffers for the travelers in your life.

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Beauty

Eos Lip Balm

Eos Lip Balms are ideal for travel. They are ideal for anything actually! Super hydrating and nourishing these little spheres will keep your kisser in good shape. Their bright colored dome shaped packaging makes them easy to locate in your bag too. Check Eos Lip Balm on Amazon here

Weleda Skin Food

Weleda Skin Food is my all time favorite travel moisturizer, especially for winter. It used to be a secret product I would bring back from Europe, but now you can get it on Amazon.

Winter skin needs extra TLC and this balm like moisturizer is incredibly nourishing, so is perfect for anywhere cold you are traveling to. I also like to use it when I am flying, as air travel is so incredibly dehydrating to your skin. You can get it in travel size or in regular size (still small enough to travel with) on Amazon.com

Korean Sheet Masks

I swear by these both for travel and at home use. They come in so handy when you travel as they take up no space. Sheets masks come in all kinds of formulas but I typically look for words such as moisturizing, nourishing and hydrating.

A day with too much sun or wind can be rectified with a 15 minute sheet mask. Skin that looks fatigued, dry, or lack luster can be repaired quickly with a sheet mask. Any time you want your complexion to look gorgeous and glowing, whatever the temperature or climate, a sheet mask is a win!

Skyn Iceland Hydro Cool Firming Gels

I have used Skyn Iceland Hydro Cool Firming Gels on my celebrity clients for years and always keep them in my personal travel bags too. Hydro Cool Firming Gels are little under eye masks that instantly hydrate and refresh tired looking under eyes. They are the best thing ever after a long flight, or any time you look or feel beat after a long day.

Nivea Body Products Travel Set

I always recommend taking your own body products when you travel. If you have ever had your skin dry out from hotel soaps you will understand why!

Also you never know if your skin will react to soaps and lotions it isn’t familiar with. I recommend avoiding any body products that smell sweet, fruity, or like food as they tend to attract more biting insects. The Nivea Nourish and Care Travel set has everything you need, won’t attract biting bugs. The regular set is for women but they also have a 5 piece travel grooming set specifically for men. It even comes in a manly looking duffle!

Anti Chafe Balm

Whether you are a cyclist, an athlete, a hiker or just someone who’s thighs like to meet in the middle, chafing can ruin a trip. From irritated skin to bleeding patches, it is not only unsightly but also can be incredibly painful and make something as simple as walking really difficult.

A good chafing balm is essential for any traveler, even if it is just to prevent the backs of your feet from rubbing your shoes and blistering. Body Glide Chafe Balm is considered to be the best. It comes in a variety of sizes too.

A Silk Pillowcase

Extend your blowout and stop your hair from roughing up on regular cotton pillowcases with a 100% mulberry silk pillowcase. Not only are silk pillowcases amazing for your hair, they are also fabulous for your skin, letting you wake up without pillowcase creases on your face.

I recommend getting a bold color or a patterned silk pillowcase as you are more likely to forget a white or cream one and leave it behind on the hotel bed. I never travel without one and have given them to friends and family for years. Try it once and you will be converted!

A Microfiber Towel

A microfiber towel is a perfect accompaniment for a traveler. Whether you want something to help your hair dry quickly, a fast drying towel to take to the beach and then throw in your suitcase, or a back up plan in case your hotel towel is anything like the ones in the horror hotel I got stuck in in Dallas recently, a microfiber towel is ideal. They pack down small and don’t take up space in your suitcase, tend to not get smelly, and generally save the day in multiple situations. This one from Rainleaf comes in a variety of different colors and only costs $12.

Tech

An Electronics Organizer

Smart Electronics Organizer $14.99 on Amazon.com

Losing phone chargers, cables, earbuds or any other gadgets when you travel is so annoying and can also be expensive. This Smart Electronics Organizer let’s you keep everything together, keeps cables untangled and all your gadgets organized so you can find things quickly. The slim fit case slips into your handbag, briefcase or backpack easily and doesn’t take up any room.

An International Power Adaptor

If you or the person you are buying for are heading overseas an international power adaptor is a must. This one from Unidapt not only has multiple USB charging ports but also can be used in Europe, UK, Asia, Australia/New Zealand and the USA.

I recommend the Unidapt Universal Power Adaptor in a bright color, such as blue (that’s what I travel with) so that you don’t accidentally leave it plugged in when you check out of your accommodation.

External Phone Battery

You should never board any flight without a fully charged phone and a fully charged external phone battery charger. You can’t rely on your seat having a USB port, or one that works, and chances of you being able to access a power point to plug into in a busy airport terminal.

The Anker Powercore 10,000 is a slim fit, lightweight charger than can power up at least two devices from completely dead. At $25 it is not expensive. You can get chargers with a higher mAh, but definitely do not go lower than 10,000 mAh.

Other Ideas

Repel Windproof Travel Umbrella

As a rule travel umbrellas are rubbish. The first gust of wind turns them inside out, more than a spattering of rain soaks them through, and they seldom hold up in a storm let alone for a second rainy day outing!

The Repel Windproof Teflon Coated Travel Umbrella $22

The Repel Windproof Travel Umbrella With Teflon Coating is the best travel umbrella you will ever find! Firstly, it actually covers you in the rain whereas most travel umbrellas can’t seem to keep your shoulders dry. It won’t flip inside out in the wind, has a teflon coating, so it really does repel water and keep you dry, and on top of that is lightweight and compact. Even better, it only retails for $22

Books To Buy Your Traveler

The following blog posts have book recommendations for travelers to Europe:

10 Books To Read Before Going To Venice

15 Fabulous Books Set In Italy

8 Fabulous Books Set In Paris

Corinna B November 29, 2018

You Need To Know Why Life Is Beautiful With Lancome

La Vie Est Belle

Lancome fragrance La Vie Est Belle

This post contains affiliate links to Lancôme

What does your perfume say about you?

Does it speak to your hopes and your dreams? To your joys and your passions? Does your perfume tell the story of you?

When you apply your perfume do you close your eyes for just a moment and take an extra breath, luxuriating in its loveliness?

Your perfume should make you feel fabulous and free to be everything you want to be. Life is beautiful.

La Vie Est Belle by Lancôme celebrates a natural and simple beauty. It’s not complicated. It lets you express your individuality, your femininity your personal style.

With this fragrance Lancôme wants you to feel free to choose your own vision of happiness, live your life the way you want to, and fill it up with beauty.

The elegance of iris and the power of patchouli feel modern with a twist of orange blossom and jasmine. This is a fragrance to fall in love with. A beautiful gift to give or receive.

You’ve got a whole new year ahead of you, life is beautiful – shine like a diamond.

La Vie Est Belle by Lancome.

Photography by Kristina Beth Wood

La Vie Est Belle gifted by Lancôme Paris

Corinna B November 26, 2017

Gift Ideas For Coffee Lovers

Do you have a coffee lover to buy gifts for this holiday season?

I’m a huge coffee lover. The best part of getting up each day (I am NOT a morning person!) is making coffee. Most days I use a French Press to make my coffee, with one of my two favorite Italian coffees. I am not a Folgers girl and after spending time in Italy I don’t like American drip coffee anymore, so I got rid of my 12 cup drip coffee maker years ago.

The other way I make coffee at home is with my Nespresso machine. I only got mine last Christmas, even though I had been wanting one for years. My favorite Nespresso coffee is Arpeggio, a full bodied, rich, but not too strong blend. If you are going to Italy anytime soon you can stock up on Nespresso pods for only 35 cents each instead of 70 cents here in the USA. Be advised that the Vertuoline machines aren’t sold in Italy and you can’t buy Vertuoline pods there.

Gift ideas for the coffee lovers in your life.

A French Press.

Copper French Press Coffee Maker from Target

French Press coffee makers are fabulous. The standard size makes 2 to 3 cups of coffee. They are very chic to bring out when you have guests over for coffee, but are also wonderful for daily use. Typically you will make stronger coffee in a French Press than in a regular drip coffee maker.

I’m loving this copper French press from Target! It is very sleek, makes a gorgeous looking gift, and is only $24.99 I have Bodum Chambourd French Press, which is silver colored. It costs a little more at $39.99, but I have had it for more than 20 years, so it has been worth it’s weight in gold. Both of these, plus a huge variety of others are available online at Target.com

A Nespresso Machine

This is a great way to make an Italian cup of coffee. Where Keurigs make large cups a Nespresso is designed to make espresso style coffees. You can make cappuccinos, macchiatos, lattes etc using the Nespresso as the base for your coffee. There are several different Nespresso machines to choose from. I loved the look of the Vertuoline machines, but the coffee pods were more expensive so I went with the Inissia model. You can see it here. Its a smaller model, but is everything that I need. I love it. I didn’t know that Target carried Nespresso until writing this post, but they have a great selection of them to choose from! You can see them all here.

A Moka.

A moka makes Italian stove-top espresso, or what Italians just call coffee. The coffee is strong but really, really good! The Moka Pot pictured above is the Bialetti Moka Pot, which retails for $34.99 at Target.com and comes with free shipping. You can also find other Moka pots online at varying price points at Target.com

A Milk Frother.

To make a cappuccino or a latte you need a milk frother. I didn’t think I needed one until I got one – now I can’t imagine mornings without it! I prefer freestanding frothers to the ones that come attached to a coffee machine. They are easier to clean, and in my opinion the fewer gadgets attached to your coffee machine, the fewer things there are to breakdown. The Cuisinart Tazzaccion pictured above is just fantastic. I definitely prefer the electric frothers to the hand held ones, as they make a thicker foam. See a selection of milk frothers here.

A Keurig

Keurigs are designed to make a full cup of coffee, in a speedier, more efficient way than a drip coffee maker. Choose between a small Keurig for just one person, or a larger model like this one pictured above. There are lots of models to choose from, you can see them all here at Target.com

Keurig Coffee Pods.

There are endless choices available for K cups (the coffee pods that go inside your Keurig). I used to have a Keurig like the one pictured above, and would have K cups for coffee, cocoa/hot chocolate for my son, apple cider – all kinds of things! You can see an assortment of K Cups here at Target.com

Keurig Refillable Pods.

Buying pods for each cup of coffee you are planning on drinking each day can get expensive. You can buy re-useable, refillable pods that you can fill with your favorite coffee, and cut the cost down. There are several to choose from and you can see them here at Target.com

Keurig Accessories

There are all kinds of accessories available for Keurigs, from drawers to hold your K Cups to carafes, to all manner of gadgets. If your coffee lover already has a Keurig you can check out potential accessories here.

Nespresso Pods

You can buy assorted Nespresso coffee pods, flavored coffee pods, or choose to just get your favorite. The darker color the pod, the stronger the coffee. My personal favorite is Nespresso: Arpeggio. (Arpeggio is the purple colored pod.)

A Coffee Bean Grinder

To get the richest, most aromatic coffee you need to start by grinding fresh coffee beans. If your coffee lover enjoys freshly ground coffee beans you cannot beat this chic, sleek coffee bean grinder from Tru. The Tru Burr Coffee Grinder is only $34.99 at Target.com. You can see Target’s full selection of coffee grinders here.

Italian Coffee.

My two favorite coffees are Lavazza Crema E Gusto andIlly , both from Italy. If you come to my house for coffee chances are you will be having one of these. Or a Nespresso – I will let you choose!

Biscotti

You can’t beat a biscotto with your morning coffee! If you are buying coffee centered gifts, add a box of Biscotti to the parcel. Your coffee lover will appreciate it!

Most of the above items are available online at Target.com

This post contains affiliate links. See Disclosure page for details.