Holiday gift ideas for her 2025

Holiday gift ideas from top left: Chanel fragrance / CZ earrings (designer under $100) / Summer Fridays gift set (under $50) / classic sweater (under $50) / bracelet set / suede handbag (under $500) / east/west handbag (under $500) / Chanel holiday nail polish / turtle Christmas tree ornament /

It’s the holiday shopping season! Seems earlier this year right? That’s good news, because we can all get the bulk of our shopping done before Thanksgiving since the gift sets, and gift ideas, are already on store shelves! Love this!

As you know, I love to shop early. Unless something will definitely go on sale closer to Christmas, I am all in on shopping before Thanksgiving. The Black Friday sales aren’t as good as the ones closer to Christmas, but the good stuff is often sold out by then, so taking advantage of sales and deals right now during the fall sales, and the sales leading up to Thanksgiving, it the right choice.

For the 2025 holiday season, fabulous handbags which display quality and style are hotter than hot. Steer clear of tacky logos! As we move into 2025, the anonymous handbag will still reign supreme, so look for beautiful handbags, not brands. Love!

This holiday season is more celestial in color than past seasons. Look for purples, blues, and inspiration from the stars. Darker hues and sparkles which are reminiscent of the night sky are hot. So, when it comes to your manicure, look at Dior and Chanel for the perfect mani. You can check out Chanel’s holiday colors here, and the Dior holiday collection here.

Since timeless style is hot, classic jewelry is the perfect gift along with fragrances, handbags, and sweaters. Loving these chic looks right now!

Summer Fridays is hot among Gen Z, so this holiday gift set will be the perfect choice.

More gifts for her:

Handbag gifts:

Beauty gifts:

Thanks for stopping by, and stay tuned for more holiday gift ideas and along with holiday coverage!

XOXO

Cathy

Holiday online shopping tips 2025

‘Tis the season for online shopping! There is nothing better than sitting comfortably at home, away from the crowds and crazy drivers, while getting all of the holiday shopping done. Love!

Most retailers offer free shipping, so sitting at home and avoiding crowds is my favorite way to shop! In addition to free shipping and peace, there are other ways to sweeten the deal when it comes to online shopping.

So, without further ado, here are my five top tips for online shopping!

  1. Check for credit card offers. Most credit cards partner with retailers and offer cash back promotions for a limited time. Before shopping online, check your credit card through their website or app, and clip all of the offers from retailers and brands you frequently shop at. You’ll find a variety of offers at online shops, streaming services, and more! The catch is that you have to clip them; just supermarket coupons! Wondering how to keep track? I keep a list next to my laptop so I know which credit card to use at which retailer.
  2. Shop from your cart. It can be easy to overspend when everything is a click away. So, in order to make thoughtful purchases and not impulse buys, I always place items in my cart and then walk away. This way I can think about what I am purchasing and ensure I am making the right decision. This is helpful when gift shopping since it gives you time to make sure you are picking the right gifts for your loved ones.
  3. Think the best deals are on Black Friday and Cyber Monday? Think again. The best deals are the two weeks before Christmas. But, buyer beware. If you are eyeing something popular, it might sell out before the best deal hits. So, if you want to make sure you will get your hands on it, and there is no second choice, then buy it when you see. You can watch the price and always request a price adjustment from the retailer if it’s within the adjustment period. Always check the terms on your receipt.
  4. Make sure you are clicking real links! The links in my website are real, so they are always safe to click. When looking outside my blog, be sure to google the retailer and check your spelling. I recommend using an in browser extension which tells you if a link is safe. I recommend McAfee Safe Browsing. It gives you green check marks for safe websites, so you can rest assured the link is real and safe when you click through Google.
  5. Shop early! If you can, try to buy as much as possible before Thanksgiving. This way you can relax during the holiday season knowing your shopping is done. Unless of course, you are waiting for a specific sale! Then, let’s do this!

Well, there you have it, my five tips to an efficient, money-saving, peaceful holiday shopping experience.

Thanks for stopping by, and stay tuned for holiday gift guides, style, beauty, and more!

XOXO

Cathy

Visiting the butterflies

wearing: sunglasses / statement earrings / lightweight jacket / long sleeve tee / classic jeans (old, also love this pair) / nail polish / water bottle / east/west handbag / sneakers (also, also love this pair) /

It’s Monarch Butterfly season! Every year, from mid-October to January, the Monarch Butterflies visit Natural Bridges State Park in Santa Cruz and dazzle us with their beauty.

The butterflies gather on trees and enjoy the natural foliage around the area. Although there were large groups hanging out together on trees, my iPhone camera was too far away to get a good photo. That being said, I was able to get the up-close picture you see above!

Natural Bridges State Park offers an easy hiking trail, made up mostly of a wooden bridge, through the area where the butterflies enjoy gathering. This allows for the perfect view of the butterflies.

The parking lot is conveniently positioned between the butterfly trail and the beach. So, you can do both on the same day without moving your car. Love that!

After we viewed the butterflies, we relaxed on the beach and watched the waves and surfers. The view of the ocean at Natural Bridges State Park is fabulous. If you are local, it is a must-see!

After our visit to the beach, we went to downtown Santa Cruz and enjoyed a delicious meal at El Palomar. The food was top notch, and the service was friendly, fast, and beyond expectations. It’s my new favorite restaurant in Santa Cruz! Love!

So, if you are local or visiting the area, I recommend this fall/winter activity. You will love seeing the butterflies and relaxing on the beach!

Thanks for stopping by!

XOXO

Cathy