Own: The Yankee Gift Exchange...White Elephant...Whatever!

Getting gifts for people is a stressful affair for me.  I'm completely Obsessed with getting the absolutely, most -perfect, gift possible for each and every person I get a gift for.  So, when I'm confronted with a Yankee Gift exchange (also known as White Elephant), my brain doesn't even know what to think.

What do you mean, "get a generic gift??"  I don't even know how to really do that.  Thus, the birth of this post. I'll admit, it's really for a self-serving purpose that I write this.  I just need to get my ideas out.  I'd even be open to feedback.  I mean, what do you get for a group of guys and girls, especially when you have no idea who's going to be opening your gift?!

Let's venture into this challenge together.

Let's start with the obvious.  Utility.  I want to get something that people will think is useful.  One of the most useful things I think most New Yorkers can agree with is an auto open-close umbrella.  Sounds undesirable, but when you have your hands full of groceries, your gym bag is sliding off your shoulder, and you're trying to open your apartment door on a rainy day, TRUST ME, you'll be glad you have an auto open-close umbrella.  Totes has some that have cute prints and solid colors right in the price range of the gift exchange.

Depending on the friends you keep, gag gifts can get a little tricky (i.e. I have a cousin who received a Dong Bong and, yes, it is exactly what you think it is.  Lucky for the gifter, she thought it was funny), but luckily I have a light-hearted group of friends that's always open to a funny or two.  Mustaches have been everywhere so I want to choose something different.   How about some cupcake floss or some money toilet paper?  Urban Outfitters has an endless array of interesting gifts to brighten up any gift exchange.

Entertainment!  The world has gotten so digital that board games have almost become a relic, but a lot of the fun nights I've had at friends' houses have been playing board games.  Apples to Apples seems to have become a favorite, but if you want something a little more adult, try Cards Against Humanity

Don't want to commit time to a board game?  You can now play passive Scrabble with your roommate with this magnetic version which is pretty brilliant.

Wow guys, thanks for your help.  I've got plenty of ideas now!  Your listening really helped me work this one out.  Happy Monday!

UPDATE!!! Own: That Valentine's Day Dress

Want to know what outfit I have planned for my romantic Valentine's Day dinner? 

TADAH!  Thank you Asos.com :)

Own: Some Lucky Red for the New Year

As American as I may be now, I was raised in a Chinese household and I fight every day to try to keep my culture alive on my own.  I don't ever still wish I was living at home (though I love both my parents a ton!), but I  do wish that I had a mini version of my mom in my pocket to remind me of traditional Chinese things (like how to order the dishes I love at Chinese restaurants and how to make that wine chicken that I love so much) so that I could continue to make it a strong influence in my life.

Alas...I'm young and impressionable and sometimes I can feel parts of my culture slipping away...so sad.  BUT I always remember Chinese New Year and it's a tradition every year to wear red on Chinese New Year because it's supposed to bring you luck (which I need boatloads of on a daily basis)!  Red isn't my favorite color, but I think there are lots of ways out there to make it work.

 

Wear it mixed in with a print!  I love this American Retro dress.  Wearable with maybe a lacy black top underneath and simple enough that you can dress it up with some chunky jewelry like this Eddie Borgo necklace (MORE TURQUOISE <3 <3).

Since it's cold outside, put on a cardigan.  A fuzzy one.

Go Merlot!  While it's not bright-popping red, it's still red (kind of...).  I love this LA Made cowl neck maxi dress.

Paired with some great earrings.  Like these feathery ones!

Make it sheer!  Now THIS is what I call red.  Whatever bra you wear underneath, make sure it's a sexy OPAQUE one.  You don't want a nipple slip on New Years!

Wouldn't be complete without something Hello Kitty.  Like this bracelet.  Ahhh she's even winking here!

All affordable and all very red!  Happy Chinese New Year to you all!  Here's to the year of the Dragon.  Oh yeah and happy Friday (might mean more to some of you than Chinese New Year!).

I'd Own Again: PJ by Peter Jensen for Urban Outfitters

Last year, shortly after the New Year, the weather in NY was frigid.  I was on a constant search for absurdly oversized and warm sweaters.  I ended up at an Urban Outfitters because I realized that I couldn't continue to spend a fortune on sweaters.  I was also running out of space to store them.  Lucky for me and my bunny fetish, I came upon this sweater and just couldn't resist.

The sweater is perfect to wear over leggings and it's plenty warm.  I have a fear of itchy sweaters (is that an actual phobia?...lemme google that...), and fortunately for me, this sweater isn't itchy!  I love it and I wear it all winter long.  I thought that this might be the first and only collection from PJ by Peter Jensen at Urban Outfitters, but I was wrong.

Peter Jensen has returned!!  As much as I love bunnies, I actually love animals in general so and when they are the main feature of any fashion, I just fall in love.  Just look at these adorable knits:

They put Bambi on a sweater!  

And for the doggy lover!  Though this is represented as a boy's sweater, I think a girl can totally pull this off.

These sweaters are affordable at $88 a pop and currently, there's a 25% off $100 promo going on.  Check it out!