Mother’s Day is coming up on May 9th, so now is the perfect time to start shopping for the perfect gift for mom! Why not treat her to something on trend and fabulous! These gemstone bracelets are perfect for stacking; and bracelets stacks are hot for spring. They are only $25 each, which means you can buy three for the perfect stack, and still be under $100. Love that!
You might be wondering why I am swinging my head behind me. I originally tried to pop off my mask for a few quick pictures, but was quickly intercepted by a security guard who reminded me of the local mask policy. Despite being outside, and vaccinated, I am still required to mask outside here in Santa Clara county. I popped my mask back on, and took a few photos. The pictures where you can actually see my mask, well, I didn’t like them, so I am sharing this one with you where my mask is hidden. I mean, do you like photos of yourself in a mask?
Photos of myself in a mask make me a little sad. I was fine with masked photos earlier in the pandemic, but now that people are getting vaccinated, and we are opening things back up, I prefer to see peoples’ smiling faces in photos. I’m done with seeing masked people in pictures; I see enough of that on the streets. What are your thoughts?
Well, let’s move away from the mask discussion, and onto casual spring style! Everyone in the Bay Area has a casual denim go-to look; and more often than not, it involves a black top and bag. We kind of have a basic go-to look here in the Bay Area; black top, jeans, IT bag, and comfy shoes. Each season I like to have at least one fabulous black top; after all, basic tee-shirts can get boring. A black top which reflects the current street style and/or runway trends is always a must!
Puff sleeves were huge on the runways for spring 2021, and they are also a huge bay area street style trend. This black top is comfy and ideal for everyday wear, yet it reflects the important puff sleeve trend. Love that!
Denim trends are also important; especially for daily looks. This spring 2021 season, we are seeing wide-leg jeans, “mom” waist-lines, which is really just a ’90’s silhouette, and classic cuts. These light wash jeans offer a wide leg, and higher waist. I also love the button fly; which is very ’90’s!
We also love our IT bags in the San Francisco Bay Area; which is why I am constantly talking about them! So of course, to finish off the ideal Bay Area street style look, one needs an ideal IT bag. I topped off my go-to look with my spring go-to IT bag, the Prada Cleo. Love!
I wore this look to Valley Fair mall with my daughters, and my Mom, last week during spring break. We wandered around window shopping, and then picked up Shake Shack burgers to-go. They have the yummiest burgers and fries!
Go-to looks are always important since it’s an outfit you know will always work. Do you have basic go-to looks each season?
It’s that time of year when seniors are graduating from high school and college; and also graduate students are completing their advanced degrees. While some graduates may be continuing their education, many will be entering the workforce full-time. I know watches and fancy jewelry are always fun graduation gifts, but what does a modern grad really need?
Practical graduation gifts are where it’s at these days. Graduates no longer need a fancy watch on their wrist when they graduate; to be frank, this generation doesn’t really wear watches anyway! Here is what happens when someone graduates; they suddenly live on their own, with a pile of bills, and a low paying job. Let’s give them something for graduation they can actually use; and may not be able to afford.
Work Tote: Even if someone works from home, they eventually will need to carry their work with them to meetings or for travel. A work tote is must! A young worker would love a practical, black tote bag which isn’t too stuffy to carry around files and a laptop. The tote is even better if it fits a spare pair of shoes. Look for black tote bags without too much fuss or labels. There is a chance your graduate may need to take public transportation to work. Logos and large labels could make them a target. Look for simple yet chic tote bags which aren’t too boring. I found a few around the web:
Backpack: Whether your grad is heading back to school for another degree, or diving into the workforce, they will need a backpack! May I suggest my all-time favorite backpack? This backpack from adidas is strong and sturdy. I use it as a carry-on when I travel. There are multiple compartments making it easy to separate electronics from shoes or toiletries. My laptop and cord fit nicely inside with plenty of room to spare. It’s also comfortable to wear on my back for long periods of time. This backpack is great for more than just travel. Your grad can use it for work too! It’s easy to wear while commuting to work on public transportation. It also makes a great gym bag. This backpack is sturdy, strong, grown-up, and under $100. It really is a must-have!
Coffee mug, travel tumbler and water bottle: If your grad drinks coffee, they will probably make their own at home to save money. I mean, let’s do some quick math. Coffee made at home for about one dollar is roughly $20 per month. Coffee drinks purchased at a coffee shop average five dollars per work day, which equates to roughly $100 per month. As a new grad on a tight budget, this won’t be rocket science. Encourage good spending habits by gifting your grad a coffee travel tumbler; also a water bottle! Your grad should not drink coffee all day. At some point they will switch to water. Gift them a good quality water bottle they can carry on the bus, as well as proudly place on their desk. Love!
Hair Dryer: OK, whether your grad’s hair is short or long, it will need to be tidy and styled. I made the mistake of going to work with wet hair in my 20’s one day. I got in trouble. Don’t be me. Encourage your grad to go to work with dry hair by gifting a fabulous hair dryer. This one is pricey, but it’s soooooo good.
Cook books: Most graduates went through school having their meals made for them, or by eating ramen. Since they will be tired after work, and won’t be able to afford to eat out every day, why not gift them a cookbook with quick and easy meal ideas? There are two I find fabulous; one for meat eaters, and one for vegans. Why not gift both!
Shop practical graduation gifts around the web:
What does your grad want for graduation? I hope you like my practical graduation gift ideas!
Happy graduation to your grad, and thanks for stopping by!
This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.
