Holi-Daze: More Inspir-WRAP-tion

When Julie of Julie Ann Art offered up a collection of gorgeous gift wrap ideas, I knew I had to share. Some uber-simple, some tough, but all just lovely and inspirational. Click here to see!

I especially loved this one - Who hasn't run out of gift wrap for that last box and not known what to do? Voila : Find a coordinating color, a piece of ribbon, and make it look like it was meant to be!

And this collection, while falling more into the whoa-that's-complicated category, is so beautiful, isn't it?

Loving the derivations from the traditional red + green + gold. Happy wrappin'!

Holi-Daze: Wine Bottle Wrap

Instead of buying yet another wine bottle sized gift bag or slapping another ribbon around the neck, how 'bout trying something different with that hostess gift this year?

Enter : Furoshiki

There are a positively endless amount of furoshiki options out there for different sizes of gifts, but as we hit the holiday get-together circuit, what's easier than grabbing a bottle of wine and heading out the door?
Armed with nothing more than a scarf (or a large fabric scrap,or even a table linen) and a rubber band, try this:

Psssst! Square scarves are super easy to come by at your local thrift store for practically pocket change.

Holi-Daze: Hassle Free Gift Wrap

'Tis the season for trying to cut straight lines, walking around all day with tape stuck to unflattering places, and struggling with scissors and curling ribbon.

Image courtesy of cgtreasures.blogspot.com

Check out these super simple (not to mention super lovely) wrapping ideas from RealSimple. There are 21 of 'em, so you're bound to find something you can bust out in just a matter of minutes.

Sorry, tape still necessary in most cases. Keep a mirror handy.

Holi-Daze: Happy Feet

Next up on the personal holiday shopping list :

Stiletto Hardware

Image courtesy of en.paperblog.com

I don't know about you, but as much as I love the look of a sky-high heel or the perfect, slim-line ballet flat, the truth is : They suck.

Your heel throbs, the ball of your foot eventually goes [blessedly] numb from pain, your arch is screaming for support. Why do we do it, girls, why??

But we do. So here's why Stiletto Hardware is different from your average drug store gel pad : Memory foam. Yes, like the mattress. That way it offers actual * GASP * comfort to your foot, as well as offering the shock absorption qualities of the gel pads. Find them through the Stiletto Hardware website, where these gems retail for $7.95 a pair and they offer free shipping on orders over $10.

Stock up before you're teetering around those holiday cocktail soirees!

Holi-Daze: Wine Stain Remover

Kicking off a little mini-series today of sneaky tricks to utilize during this holiday crush that's fast approaching.

Under 40 shopping days until Christmas, peeps, can you handle that?

Anyway. First up on the things-you-never-knew-you-desperately-needed list :

Wine Away Red Wine Stain Remover

I've heard nothing but stellar reviews of this stuff, and although I'm not a huge wine fan I know there's no worse combo that gorgeous winter white and a glass of bordeaux. A handy spray bottle that uses no bleach and is safe around kids and pets, Wine Away can remove or fade a stain immediately... Although some toughies may need a run through the wash (or trip to the dry cleaner) to really make them disappear.

Regardless, enough of a trick to not have to carry an emergency brooch to cover a spot on your shirt or have to maniacally move furniture to cover a carpet blotch and keep the party going. Find it at Drugstore.com for $8.99 for 12 ounces, or your local Rite Aid (complete lists of stores that carry it here).