Gift Ideas for Father's Day

The fact that Father's Day is coming up is crazy to me! That means we're halfway through the year, guys. How did this happen?! Though I won't be spending Father's Day with my dad this year, I will definitely be sending him a gift! A few actually, since his birthday is 2 days after Father's Day. I had to share this really cool way to preserve a bunch of favorite memories for my dad. 

My dad owns his own business and often works from home, so when I found this wood block that came with some printed pictures, I thought it'd be a fun way to dress up his office. 2016 was a big year for our family-- both my brother and I got married months a part from one another! So I knew displaying some moments from those two days + some favorite memories over the years would be great. 

I even browsed the site and got some really good ideas for our one year anniversary, coming in September! It's safe to say that if I ever need to print images or give a gift with pictures, I'll be heading straight for Artifact Uprising. The quality is so good! Here are just a few pictures of what I got. I love this picture of my dad and I dancing at my wedding!

Artifact Uprising is offering 10% off gifts for dad with code GIFTDAD.

My parents' favorite place: Kauai!

Family pic from our wedding:

So many good memories:

Here are some other ideas for your old man incase you're on the hunt!

DETAILS
one / two / three
four / five / six
seven / eight / nine

Last year we got my dad a pair of Sperry's and he loved them. They live in California, so he can pretty much wear those year round! My dad also wears ties a lot, so that's always a safe option. I've gotten him a few chambray shirts before and they are some of his favorites. When I saw this one above, I knew I had to include it since it was such a hit for my own dad!

Don't forget about the Artifact Uprising discount for Father's Day!

Hopefully these gift options help you in your search. Happy Wednesday!
xoxo

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Mother's Day Gift Ideas

It is my goal to make my mom feel SO loved, known and appreciated on Mother's Day. If you've been around here for long, you know gift-giving (and receiving) is my love language, so any excuse I have to gift something to someone special is so fun and right up my alley! This year is the first year in probably 4 years I will actually be WITH my mama on Mother's Day! My husband and I will be in Dallas, celebrating my sister-in-law's graduation from Baylor, so my parent's will also be there. The fact that it happens to be Mother's Day that Sunday is the cherry on top! If you're reading and have no clue what date M-Day is, it's Sunday, May 14th ;)

I pulled together some of my favorite gift ideas for the mamas. There is something for everyone, so hopefully this is helpful!

Shop below:

The two blouses on the top row are tops my mom actually has and loves, so that's why I included them. They're mom-approved ;) For more of a lounge around shirt, that coffee one is pretty fun! If your mom is the jewelry type, a classic piece of Kendra Scott jewelry might be just the thing to make her day! If she's more sentimental, maybe the MOM necklace with the little diamond will do the trick. This is also a great time to get your mom a practical gift she might be needing, like a new purse, wallet or bag. Does your mom love making her house a home? A candle paired with some matches, a framed picture of the two of you, a cutting board (in the shape of a pineapple!!) or a recipe book for all her recipes would be perfect. My mom has been drinking lots of water with fruit in it lately, so when I found this floral infuser water bottle (you put fruit of choice in the infuser inside the bottle so it stays tasty all day), I thought it'd be perfect for her! Really hoping she doesn't read this blog post ;)



Here are a few other ideas I found (something for the athletic mom, too! I love our swell water bottles!)

I also found some ADORABLE Mother's Day cards!

If you like making your gifts really personal and curated, you have to check out my friend Lauren's shop called Box + Bow. Her Mother's Day gift boxes are just too sweet. Depending on the size box, they come with lotions, candles, bath bombs, a mug, tea, and a succulent. What mama wouldn't be overjoyed to receive this?!

ashley slater photography 


Hopefully these gift ideas help you in making your mom feel extra loved!!

Happy Monday!
xoxo
Michaela

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Creative Valentine's Day Gift Ideas

Hope you enjoyed your weekend! Did you all catch the Superbowl? I didn't watch much of it, except for the half time show (I thought Lady Gaga did a great job!) and the 4th quarter. I'm in California visiting my family right now, so other than catching glimpses of the game, we went to church, brunch, took our family dog for a few walks (in the rain) and relaxed.

With Valentine's Day a week away now, I thought it'd be fun to show you some more unique gift ideas for your sweethearts! Sometimes it's exciting to step out of the box a little and get something more creative than a tie, gift card to the spa, or flowers. Except I sure do love those things! ;)

Here are a few creative gift ideas I found:

Shop the products here by clicking on the image:

Uncommon Goods is a great place to look for unique gifts like these-- they're a little quirky and fun! My husband would love these coffee beans for different parts of the day and I know I would love the box of bath bombs that look like chocolates. What a delicious smelling bath those would make! The tea making kit also looks adorable and useful, especially since I'm such a tea-lover. I also found some cool jewelry and jewelry trays that the gals might like. One of the gifts I think I like the most is the anniversary wine box. You can customize the look of the wooden box and then you fill the three drawers with three bottles of wine. You get to open and share the bottle on different anniversaries. They suggest your 1st, 3rd and 5th anniversary! Isn't that sweet?! If it was me, I'd even slip little notes in the box that we could read on those anniversaries as well.

They make shopping for Valentine's Day gifts really easy because they've separated it into categories, so you can shop for husbands here and wives here. Another thing I always appreciate about a company is when they donate a portion of sales to a great non-profit organization. Uncommon Goods does that by giving $1 of every purchase to the organization of your choice. Isn't that awesome?!

Hopefully this got your juices flowing for some more unique and creative gift ideas for Valentine's Day! If you missed my previous two Valentine's Day gift guides, you can catch them here:
For Her
For Him

xoxo

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This post was sponsored by Uncommon Goods, though all opinions are my own as always. I only support and work with brands I know, trust and love, and this collaboration is no exception! Thanks for supporting companies that keep MND doors open!

Valentine Day Gift Ideas for Him

Gift giving (okay, and receiving!) is definitely my love language! There is little that makes me more happy than going to pick out a friend or loved one something I know they'll love. Birthdays, holidays, and even Valentine's Day are such fun times of the year for me, because hunting down the perfect gift is something that brings me great joy. If you missed my Valentine's Day gift guide for the ladies, you can check out that post here. It's FULL of gift ideas for your wife, girlfriend or your best friends.

Today I'm highlighting Valentine's Day gift ideas for the guys. I love putting together something special for my husband. It will be even more exciting this year since we're married! Here are some of my favorite picks and ideas below:

DETAILS | fit bit / watch / slippers / coffee cookbook / north face fleece / travel case / s'well water bottle / plaid flannel / cologne /

Speaking from experience, guys are hard to buy for, so I put this gift guide together with what I know for sure my guy would love. I got my husband this exact S'well water bottle for Christmas and he LOVES it. He drinks way more water now and takes it everywhere. It keeps drinks cold for up to 24 hours and hot for up to 12. $35 well spent! I almost wish I had gotten him the largest size instead of the medium.

If you live in the midwest like we do, it's still a great time to gift a fleece or warm sweater. There are tons of great options out there, but I love this North Face 1/4 zip sweatshirt. It comes in a bunch of colors, which is always nice! Speaking of clothing for guys, a classic flannel button up is always a safe gift. I don't know about you, but I love my husband in a plaid button up and red is extra cute :) If your guy is a great outdoors person, check out tons of great clothes and shoes for that here.

A few other noteworthy items are this YSL cologne that I got my husband on our wedding day (ladies, trust me...it smells amazing!) and this make-your-own-coffee-at-home-book. In fact, if you've got a coffee lover on your hands, here are some other gift ideas you may like:

Other Valentine's Day gifts for him:

- Chocolate! Who doesn't love that?!
- Their favorite beer. I love going to World Market and picking one of these up to include in his gift.
- Make him dinner (and have it be a surprise!)
- Make him breakfast in. I'll be making these delicious oven pancakes!
- Make your own coupons for activities you know he'll love to do together (ie. see a movie, go bowling, go to a brewery, etc.)
- Frame a picture of the two of you for his desk at work
- Write him a handwritten card. (My husband has kept all the cards I've written him...so sweet!)


What do you get for your guys?! Do share...I haven't quite landed on what I'm doing yet, though I have ideas!
xoxo

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Valentine's Day Gift Ideas for Her

Can you believe we're only a few weeks out from Valentine's Day? I know a lot of people think this is a dumb holiday, and I sort of agree, but it can also be really sweet if you think about as a day to intentionally show those you care about that you love them! Every day should be like that, but we have a special day every year to devote to making others feel loved. With this being our first married Valentine's Day, we're embracing it. My husband is planning our evening and I'm really looking forward to it! Whether you're celebrating with a spouse or significant other or with your best gals, I've found a bunch of sweet gifts for the occasion.

DETAILS | drop earrings / coconut and mango candle / blush watch / iphone peony case / ruffle cold shoulder blouse / valentine's day socks / 52 lists for happiness book / posies body & hair oil / marc jacobs perfume

I just LOVE the idea of this 52 lists for happiness book. The book helps you generate a ton of lists, all pointing toward joy and thankfulness. And the cover is gorgeous! A candle is always a great gift-- I don't think you could have too many. I often use this day to give little soaps, bubble bath or oils to my girlfriends as a way to pamper themselves. This is also a great time of year to gift perfumes. I don't think I've ever loved a perfume more than I love the one I have right now, so that's why I included the Daisy Eau So Fresh perfume.

I found a few other things I think could be really cute gifts, too! Guys (all 4 of them who read my blog), listen up! This would be a sweet puzzle to do together then frame and hang in your house:

If you are a tea or coffee lover like me, a thermal mug like this (especially one that's called "Hot Stuff") is a perfect gift! Free tip to the men: fill the mug with chocolate and a gift card to the nail salon and we'll love you forever. #amirightladies 

This gift is a great idea for your wife or girlfriend OR for your best friends if you're celebrating galentine's day! You know Sprinkles Cupcakes? (THE best!) Well, they made a red velvet lip scrub. I need!

Need some new PJ's? A good time to hint you like these pants and this top. I love PJ Salvage brand...they're pretty true to size, but I did get an XS instead of a S in my Christmas pjs from them this year. They fit a bit better, since pajama pants tend to stretch out a little.

Major brownie points to the husbands out there who go with this idea. My love language is "gifts" and "words of affirmation", specifically in hand written form...ha! SO if my husband did this alone on Valentine's Day I would cry tears of happiness. This is a cute little book that has fill in the blanks, for you to write in what you love about your spouse. Gift this to your wife with all the blanks filled in and she is promised to melt. At least I would ;)

A great idea for your girlfriends are these cute heart of gold mugs! Even if you're in a relationship, it's always fun to celebrate your bffs, too!

Another awesome idea for the guys to get their ladies! Date Night In (we got this for our wedding) is full of fun recipes to make together at home. Get this for your girl and cook her a recipe in the book on Valentine's Day if she's the type who wants to stay in :)

Lastly, whether your a guy looking to turn up the romance or a bunch of girls hosting a panty exchange (this is a really fun thing to do on Valentine's Day!), the verdict is in. These are absolutely the best panties. Soft, last forever, lacey, come in many colors and are on sale. What more could you ask for?! I prefer the low rise. (Just noting this is the first time I've ever posted intimates on my blog. Insert emoji face with rosy cheeks!)

More gifts for her:

- Flowers!

- Chocolate

- Gift card to the spa or nail salon

- Gift card to favorite coffee shop

- Night away with her best friends

- Dinner and a movie out

- Cooking dinner for her in

Okay ladies, what did I miss?! I'll be back with some gift ideas for the guys later in the week.

xoxo

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Gift Guide: Gifts Under $50 & $25

UNDER $50: Long Sleeve Sweater / Cardigan / Beanie / Lollia Candle / Gold Swell Water Bottle /
UNDER $25: soap / buffalo check scarf  / champagne print / sugar lip balm / socks /


Today I'm sharing my top picks for Christmas gifts under $25 and under $50 so you don't have to break the bank while Christmas shopping! When I give gifts that are on the more inexpensive side, I try to make them more personal and wrap them up really cute so the thought is still there.

Past Gift Guides:
Bundle Up
For the Hostess
Monogram Gifts
For Her 
For the Home
For Him
Stocking Stuffers

Happy Wednesday!
xoxo

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Gift Guide: Stocking Stuffers

DETAILS | matches / hot tools curling iron / fuzzy socks / lip gloss set ($35!! $199 value!) / Aveda hair style prep / necklace / mini candle / 7 day nail polish / philosophy body wash /


Stocking stuffers have always been my favorite part of Christmas morning (other than the delicious breakfast my mom makes!) Stockings are perfect for little gifts like lotions, bubble bath, lip stick or gloss, nail polish, a tiny candle, sock, perfume, or makeup. Smaller gifts are often the most special (and fun, let's face it!), so I rounded up lots of goodies that can fit into your stockings. Since guys are often hardest to shop for, I also included some ideas for them below! If you missed the gift guide I dedicated to the men, check it out here.

More Stocking Stuffer Ideas:

Stocking Stuffers for Men:

Past Gift Guides:
Bundle Up
For the Hostess
Monogram Gifts
For Her 
For the Home
For Him

Noteworthy Sales:

Anthropologie: 20% off all monogram products + FREE SHIPPING on everything!

LOFT: 40% off everything with code STYLEEVENT

Macy's: TONS of deals for Green Monday + Free Shipping on orders over $25!


J.Crew Factory: 50% off- prices as marked. THEN additional 15% off with code SNOWGOOD + FREE shipping at checkout! I love their gifts for men and sweaters for women.

H&M: extra 30% off one sale item with code 8996


This is really the last week to order gifts in time for Christmas, so be sure to get on it! Happy Monday :)
xoxo

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Gift Guide: For Him

YSL cologone / phone + wallet case / plaid shirt (under$25!) / striped sweater with elbow patch / fitness watch / tie box set (tie, socks, pocket square) / whiskey rocks (under $20!) / non-iron button up shirt / maccasin slippers / wireless headphones / plaid PJs / beanie /

Is it just me, or are guys HARD to shop for? My dad, my brother, my husband...ah! It's so helpful when they provide me with a list, so I took their wish lists and made them into the Gift Guide For Him. I also threw in a bunch of things *I* would love to gift the guys in my life.

I got my husband this cologone on our wedding day, so it's a favorite of mine. We went to the store together and tried on a bunch of different scents, then surprised each other with the one we liked best. This was the winner! This particular cologne comes in a set with a small travel sized bottle and a normal size that you can leave on the dresser. In our house, we're huge fans of things you don't have to iron, so this shirt is a favorite. I got my husband wiskey stones last year and they were a hit. Recently, he came home with these wireless headphones, because often he has to work at night on his computer, so I wear the headphones to watch my tv shows ;) This year he's asking for a few new warm shirts and sweaters (I'm obsessed with elbow patches!) and he's been wanting slippers for a while now too.

We absolutely LOVE this record. It has 2 discs, so 4 sides of great oldies and christmas classics. My husband is obsessed with vinyl and records, so this would have been the perfect gift for him!

He also loves our french press! I wish I could have you all over in the morning for my handsome husband's coffe! I don't drink coffee, so we don't bond over that ;)

Here are lots of other gifts at various price points for the men:

What are you getting the guys in your life? Would love to hear more ideas!

ATTENTION GALS! Anthropologie is having a 30% off all clothing sale now. No code needed! This never happens! I LOVE this top for the holidays.

Past Gift Guides:
Bundle Up
For the Hostess
Monogram Gifts
For Her 
For the Home

Enjoy your weekend, friends!
xoxo

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