EWP Gift Guide: Magazine Subscription

There's nothing more exciting than getting mail. Well, mail that you actually want. So aside from a promise to write a personal note to your giftee every week/month, why not go with a magazine subscription? It's the gift that they'll enjoy all year long. And maybe longer depending on what kind of subscription you get them.

My personal magazine faves:
For the fashionista - InStyle, Elle, Marie Claire, Vogue, W
For the celeb gossip junkie - UsWeekly, People
For the domestic goddess - Martha Stewart Living, Real Simple
For the guy - GQ, ESPN the magazine

EWP Gift Guide: Hunter Boots

I wouldn't normally put shoes on a gift list. Buying shoes for a person can be hard. Unless you're me, then you'd be awesome at it ;)

But these boots are too awesome not to be in everyone's closet. These rain boots are no joke. Sturdy and super dry, Mr. EWP has informed me that they're the brand the Queen of England wears when she's out hunting. I'm going to have to watch The Queen to fact check him, but I'll believe it, these boots are just that good.

And to keep that special someone both dry and warm when the weather takes a dip, try buying some Hunter fleece liners - available in cable knit or plain - Foodiebia says they are ridiculously warm.

Hunter, $125 @

Hunter, $40 @

Hunter, $30 @

@ Available in more colors

EWP Gift Guide: Amazon Kindle

I like to call it the gift that keeps on giving. The Amazon Kindle is any reader's dream gadget. And even will make a reader out of a non-reader. I swear in all the time I've known Mr. EWP, I maybe saw him read 3 books, but as soon as I got my Kindle, he was always stealing it and reading my books. So I thought it was high time to get him his own, and he has not put it down in months. And the fun part of a Kindle, buy multiple on the same account like I did and all the books each person orders are available on all the Kindles on the account, so we can share books without actually handing our Kindle to the other person.

Stores 3,500 books, weighs less than a paperback, and is so freaking small it can be thrown in any purse and taken on the go. And, my personal favorite feature, it is NOT backlit (computers/phones/ipads, etc. are backlit). Back lighting is a huge strain on your eyes and reading a book that is backlit really can cause some damage on your peepers, but without backlighting, read away like you would any regular book. And with the 3G Kindle, you can download books ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD. Never again will you lug 6 books with you on an international trip, just grab your kindle and you are all set. It's seriously amazing.

Y'all, I'm telling you, my Kindle may be the best thing that's ever happened to me. Don't tell my hubs. Actually, I'm sure Mr. EWP would understand, he really loves his Kindle too.

Buy one immediately. For yourself. For your brother. For your dog. Everyone needs one.

Amazon, $139 wifi, $189 wifi +3G @

@Also available in white.

EWP Stocking Stuffer: Envirosax

I've blogged about these before. They are totally my favorite thing. What's more useful than a big, and super cute, shopping bag that rolls up to conveniently tuck away into your purse for use at a moment's notice. I love Envirosax bags and keep them in all my purses. Yes, I have a million.

So what better stocking stuffer can there be? Super cute and super useful! And won't go straight to your thighs like a bunch of candy.

Or you can skip the wrapping paper or gift bag this year and just use an Envirosax bag to wrap up your gifts! I do actually plan on doing that. All that gift wrap going in the trash has always seemed like such a waste.

So be sure to pick up a few of these bags this holiday season.

Envirosax, $8.95, packs of 5 available for $35 @

@ Available in more colors

EWP's Favorite Things: Envirosax

I am a HUGE HUGE fan of reusable bags. A) I heart the planet and like to help out. B) When you shop as much as I do, the shopping bag build up can really get out of hand.

I had a few reusable bags but they were kinda bulky to carry around (though sturdy and perfect for a big grocery trip). Enter: Envirosax. In addition to being totally adorable in a bunch of fun prints, they roll right up into a little 1inch x 3 inch roll. I stick a couple in each of my purses whenever I leave the house. You never know when you might need one. I use them ALL the time. And you should too!

Envirosax, $10 @

@Available in more colors

EWP's Favorite Things: Calvin Klein Panties

It might be a strange thing to have a favorite type of underwear. But I do. I am head-over-heels-obsessed-crazy-in-love-with Calvin Klein panties. I'm currently in the process of throwing out all my other brands of underwear and replacing them with Calvin Kleins. Why? Because they are, in a word, heavenly. In a few more words - they're soft, delicate, and feminine. I want to wear them everyday for the rest of my life. You should give them a try.

Calvin Klein, $12-$30 (some styles 3/$30 or 5/$25)

EWP's Favorite Things: Christian Louboutin Nude Pumps

If there is one pair of shoes your closet should not be without it is the nude pump. Pure, wonderful, versatile, heaven I'm telling you.

A neutral so they go with everything. But so much more interesting than basic black. I wear mine all the time. I'm in serious fear of the day they die. Which can't be that far off since I wear them all the time. But so far, they've held up marvelously. As a great shoe is designed to do.

You need them. Now.

Christian Louboutin

EWP's Favorite Things: Aveda's Be Curly Curl Enhancer

I have very curly hair. It sort of baffled my family as they don't have crazy curly hair, and I had stick straight hair until the age of 12. They weren't quite sure what to do with it. Which led to some years of just brushing out. *cringe*

But then I figured out that I should stop with the brushing and start with the curl product. I tried this, I tried that. One frizzed out by the end of the day. One made my hair gross and crunchy. After much trial and error, I found this:

Aveda, $18

and I never looked back. It gives just enough hold for the day, but without making any crunchiness to my hair and leaving it natural and light. No frizz, just knockout curls. I couldn't imagine my life without it.

EWP's Favorite Things: Tory Burch Reva Ballet Flats

Over the however many next posts, I've decided to bring you my favorite things. It's just like Oprah's favorite things, but without the free stuff.

First up is one of my favoritest, can't-live-without-it items: my Tory Burch reva ballet flats.

Yes, I do actually wear flats. Walking around the city can really tear up a pair of heels, it was just too harmful to do anymore, so I switched to flats. The only problem: flats give me blisters. Yes, I can wear any ridiculous 5 inch heel out there, but put me in some basic flats, and the back of my feet break out in blisters. I think it's their way of rebelling. I've tried every brand, every flat, but they always just rubbed me wrong. Until I found these:

Tory Burch, $195 @

They are, in a word, heavenly. So comfortable. Actual soles that most flats don't give you, so you don't feel like you're walking barefoot on the street. And oh so pretty. I wear them ALL THE TIME. So much so that I had to cover all my neutral basics: black, brown, and nude. They are my babies and I couldn't imagine my shoe wardrobe without them. LOVE LOVE LOVE.

@Available in more colors