Friday's Fab Five

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Happy Friday to you!

Hope the New Year has been fabulous so far. And if you want more fun and fab treats, please enjoy today's recommendations.

Friday's Fab Five

1. Stretch Cuff with Purple Stones

Cuffs make a bold statement--and one in gold and purple is even more loud and proud. 

Find it at B.young clothing.

2. Avena Hand and Body Moisturizing Cream

Protect winter skin with an all natural moisturizing cream that brings elasticity, softness and nutrition. The formula is rich, creamy and non-greasy; and it smells amazing!

Find it at Avena Cream.

3. Nutri Ninja Juice Extractor

900 watts of professional power, plus extractor blades that break down fruits and vegetables to their finest to extract the most nutrients. Then, all you have to do is turn the cup upside down, and enjoy.

Sold at Nutri Ninja.

4. Fruit Topped Salads

Add healthy fruits to luscious greens; drizzle your favorite organic dressing, like today's poppy seed, on top; and a super food salad is done.

5. Date Nights In

Flowers and wine are always fabulous, especially when you share them with your sweetheart on date nights in.

Thank you for your time!

Happy Friday, and have a FABULOUS weekend!

A Flowerless Valentine

Sick of receiving -- and sometimes sending -- flowers on Valentine's Day? Here are ideas for a flowerless -- yet still romantic -- Valentine's present:

All pictures provided by GoGoFlorist at www.gogoflorist.com, trusted online florist in Thailand.
 

1. A Bouquet of Chocolates

Who says only flowers come in bouquests? This bouquet of Forrero Rocher looks just as pretty, and tastes sweet too.

 

2. A Yummy Dessert

Who needs flowers when you can indulge in a delicious treat?

 

3. A Basket of Luxury 

This Valentine's Day, love yourself by spending me-time in bubble bath.

 

4. A Cuddly Friend

Awwwww. How cute. Stuffed animals aren't just for kids, you know.

 

  Thanks for reading. 

Do you have suggestions?

3 for Mind, Body and Soul - A 3 X 3 Christmas Wishlist

For the mind:

1. Adobe Creative Cloud Membership

Membership includes all of Adobe's latest software (like Photo Shop and Illustrator), free upgrades, MAC and Windows compatiblity, desktop access, and up to 20 gigs of cloud storage.

This is a great way to learn web and graphic design, even if you are just a blogger.

$49.99 per month for a year's membership at Adobe.

 

 

2. Rubik's Cube 4x4

This should keep me busy for a while, like a decade or so.

$15 at toy stores.

 

3. The Kirk Report Membership

Everyone's investment style is different, but this lawyer-turned-investor has been so successful that his advice is hard to ignore.

$100 per year at kirkreport.com.

 

For the body:

1. Asics Women's Thermopolis LT Capri

 

Soft, comfortable and breathable -- the perfect pair for running in rain. (It's a Seattle thing.)

$34.99 at Amazon.

 

2. Subscription to Oxygen Magazine

12 months of the cool muscle-building moves -- I want!

$19.97 for one year subscription at various magazine sites.

 

3. This is Why You are Fat (And How to Get Thin Forever) by Jackie Warner

To me, Jackie Warner has the perfect body. She's strong, lean, and powerful. I want her secrets, as well as receive motivation to lose the last 10 pounds of baby weight.

$11.55 at Amazon.

For the Soul

1. Spending an Hour at (Any) Spa

Just one short hour away from the kids gives me plenty of recharge.

$60 - $100 per hour.

 

2. Getting Involved

Perhaps 2013 is the year I become more active in communities close to my heart.

3. Saying Prayers.

Don't we all need to do this more often, especially when so much bad is happening in the world, like last week's shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary?

     

Last but certainly not least, I wish everyone a joyful holiday season!

 

What's on your wish list?

 

 

5 Unusual Gift Ideas for Moms

Moms are awesome. They are everything to their kids: personal chefs, caretakers, and one-woman cheerleading squad. Don't all moms deserve a special present this holiday? 

For an awesome mom, who gives and gives and gives, and never asks for anything back, here are five gift ideas -- unusual in nature and totally unique -- to make her feel one-of-a-kind:

1. Hire a Tutor - For the Ultra Involved Mom

A child's education is perhaps one of the most important things to a mother. For moms who value education, and who are completely involved in their children's learning, hire tutors for her child. 

You can go to tutor websites like TutorSpree to find local tutors in various subjects.

Giving her child maximum opportunity to learn and grow is the ultimate gift to any mom.

 

2. Shoot for the Moon - For the Science Mom

For moms who would rather watch the Mars Rover landing than the Real Housewives, give her a piece of the moon, literally.

For $29.99, you can purchase one acre on the moon at at lunarland.com.

Hey, you never know. That acre could be a million-dollar property one day.

   

 

3. Sanitize Her Toothbrush - For the Germ-phobic Mom

If your moms is always dusting, sweeping and mopping, how about a toothbrush sanitizer, to further her cleaning spree? Now, even her toothbrush won't get dirty.

 

4. Let Her Live Out Her Dream - For the Adventurous Mom

Has your mom always wanted to go deep sea diving, bungee jump, or dominate a dog fight? Give her the gift of adventure, and let her live the dream she never had the time for.

For the ultimate air combat experience, try classes at Cloud 9 Living.

 

5. Liven her Wild Child - For the Party Mom

P**n for Women of a Certain Age is a book written by the Cambridge Women's P*rnagraphy Cooperative that taps into older women's deepest desires. Who doesn't want that?

Just make sure your mom has a good sense of humor.

  

Moms are special.

 

Make them feel more special this holiday.

 

Any unusual gift ideas you want to add?

 

Gift Guide for Men - How to Find Gifts for the Men You Love

How do you find gifts for men who have everything they need? 

My husband and my father, two of the most important men in my life, both claim that they have everything they need. This makes finding gifts for them extremely difficult. With the holidays fast approaching, I better get a clue. Wouldn't an easy-to-follow gift guide for men be nice right now? Here's one that helped me, and perhaps you can use it too.

What does he NEED?

Despite what he tells you, what does your man need right now? Because, c'mon, everyone needs something.

My husband insists that he has enough shoes, but his sneakers are torn and his boots are worn out. Because he actually needs a pair of sturdy, comfy shoes, I plan to visit shoe stores like Schuler Shoes, a family-owned store that sells comfortable shoes for men, women and kids. In addition to multiple locations around the country, Schuler Shoes is now online, making shopping extra easy.

Maybe you should look into his closet, and examine his everyday stuff like shirts and ties. Perhaps you will find something he actually needs?

These Merrells are from Schuler Shoes. They are perfect for hiking.

 

Okay. He really doesn't need anything. But what does he want fantasize about?

Asking a grown man what he wants is a bad idea, because a grown man (with an income) can afford anything he wants. Asking him what he fantasizes about, however, is better.

And if your man has smarts at all, he better fantasize about you -- you in anything from Victoria's Secret, licking whipped cream, with your eyes closed...okay, I'm going on a tangent :O)

You, in anything from Victoria's Secret, makes the perfect present for him.

What does he value?

Look through his belongings, and you will find what your guy values the most -- keepsake that he has held onto forever. Perhaps his letter jacket from high school? Awards he neatly hung on the wall? Or one of the first apple desktops from the 80's?

A man's keepsake defines who he is. Giving him something similar tells him that you have done your homework.

Some men prefer simple gifts, like a family photo.

What fills up his 5-To-9?

Besides sleep, how does your man spend his free time? Giving him something that helps with his hobbies will certainly make him smile.

My husband likes to work out. Therefore, a workout shirt is perfect for him.

What does he laugh at?

Men's sense of humor puzzle us. But then again, our passion for beauty products puzzle them too. Regardless, men love being entertained. So entertain your man with things that he finds funny.

You might not understand his humor. But at least you know he will like the book.

 

 

Can you believe the holidays are already here?

 

How do you find gifts for the men you love?