holiday gift guide 2024


Small Business Saturday 2024

Small businesses to support: HNW Luxury / Tiff’s Jeweldom / Compass Rose Design / Spirit Sox /

Happy Small Business Saturday! Today I want to highlight four businesses from the San Francisco Bay Area which are also women owned. All four also happen to make products which can be fabulous gifts for the holiday season. Love that!

The United States is powered by small businesses. Without them, we wouldn’t have the thriving commerce we enjoy. So, without further ado, make sure you support small businesses, and let’s talk about my favorite four!

HNW Luxury is a fun shop owned by a fabulous female and mom in the Santa Cruz area. She makes lighthearted tee’s we can wear everyday. They make great additions to our wardrobes as well as gifts this holiday season. Plus, they are under $50. Love that! You can check out her shop at Etsy.com.

Tiff’s Jeweldom is a Mother/Daughter designing duo based in Silicon Valley. They make beautiful and affordable gemstone bracelets you can stack with each other, or with other bracelets; you can also wear them alone. Most of their bracelets are under $100, with some under $50. You can find them on Etsy.com.

Compass Rose Design is a fabulous jeweler who creates her pieces using vintage parts and inspiration. Based in the Bay Area, this amazing designer creates unique jewelry with a story you won’t find elsewhere. I own a few of her pieces and I have given them as gifts too. You can find her at CompassRoseDesign.com.

Spirit Sox is a company owned by an amazing woman in Silicon Valley. She started her company as a fundraising idea, and it blossomed into a large-scale business which gives back to the community. You can find Spirit Sox at Sam’s Club! LOVE! These are comfortable, high-quality socks you will instantly become addicted to. They make the perfect stocking stuffer! Check them out at SpiritSoxUSA.com.

Well, there you have it. Four fabulous, women owned, small businesses which are located in the Bay Area and Santa Cruz County. Please support small businesses!

Have a fabulous holiday weekend!

XOXO
Cathy


Affordable Luxury Stocking Stuffers for her

Stocking Stuffers from top left: golden hoop earrings / travel bags / golden ring / silver star necklace / holiday powder / holiday nail polish / luxury lipstick / gemstone bracelets (local designer) / holiday top coat /

It’s always fun to have something other than chocolate in your loved ones stocking. These small luxuries will put a huge smile on her face Christmas morning when she reaches into her stocking and discovers them.

Everything pictured above is priced under $100, except the ring which is $125. They all happen to be luxurious and affordable. Love that!

So, without further ado, here are some fabulous and luxurious stocking stuffers which won’t break the bank:

Thanks for stopping by, and have a fabulous holiday season!

XOXO

Cathy


Gift guide for the holiday traveler

Gift ideas for the holiday traveler on your list from top left: makeup bag / travel iron / shower shoes / neck pillow / travel sized hand cream set / backpack /

‘Tis the season for holiday travel! This time of year, many people who don’t travel often will pack up and head to the airport for holiday season travel. This means, they may forget certain comforts which make travel easier. These holiday travel gifts will make everyone’s trips to the airport, through TSA, and on the plane easier and care-free. Love that!

I cannot stress enough the important of proper shower shoes. These plastic slides double as shower shoes and slippers, which saves room in your suitcase. Love! You can slip them on and off, even while wearing socks. Remember, never set foot in a hotel shower barefoot! The same goes for the hotel floor, always wear slippers! These are the perfect solution for keeping feet clean. Love them!

Not pictured but linked: Air tags! If you are traveling, especially if you have a layover or are traveling internationally, air tags are a must. Every once in a while, suitcases go missing. Air tags can help you locate your bag if it misses it connection, or boards the wrong plane. Also, several airlines have partnered with Apple. This means if your luggage is missing and you can see it on the tarmac at the last airport you left from, you can share your air tag with the airline, and they can easily locate your bag and return it to you. Love this partnership! Check with your airline to ensure they are participating. This new partnership is a game changer! Love!

Remember, your liquids and beauty items must be 3.4oz or less. Otherwise, TSA will make you check or toss the item. I always pack hand cream in my carry-on because airport soap is super harsh. This hand cream set makes a fabulous holiday gift for someone, a stocking stuffer, or a travel gift to yourself. I may have given this to myself. . .just sayin’. haha

Can I give this backpack a shout out? I know people love to carry travel specific backpacks or luxury totes as their personal item/carry-on, but this backpack has been better than both of those options for me over the years. It has two sections inside, so I can put my laptop in one section, and in the other section I place my beauty bag, a scarf, snack, charger, small purse, and phone. In the shoe compartment, I place my shower shoes. If my luggage goes missing, at least I will have my shower shoes. Did I mention how important they are? Yeah, seriously, never go barefoot in a hotel or a hotel shower. Just sayin’. . .but I digress. This backpack also has the perfect side pocket for a water bottle and a mini zipper compartment on top which fits my phone. Plus, since it’s technically designed for soccer, the fabric is easy to wipe down. I mean, who knows how dirty those airplane floors are, and your carry-on/personal item goes under the seat in front of you. Ew. Please stop putting your designer totes under there, you need a bag that you can wipe down. There, I’ve said it.

So, without further ado, here are a few fabulous holiday travel gift ideas to give to the traveler on your list or snap up for yourself!

Thanks for stopping by, and safe travels, Godspeed!

XOXO

Cathy