the it lists – fashion & trend blog

Computer, blackberry, i phone…sometimes do you forget to step away and fantasize for a moment?

Computers keep us connected to the real world, but what keeps us connected to our feelings and fantasies? The secret to a wonderful full life is having a healthy imagination and a healthy expression of your feelings. Your imagination can actually keep you on track with your turning your dreams into a reality with creative visualization. Here is even more incentive to get dreamy and writing in a space that is personal and spiritual…Payaya Journals

They are key to surrendering your thoughts to the pages. Every design is so surreal and beautiful. If you want to diary your own life as it is happening or be inspired do it in style and ambient energy with Payaya Journals. The best energy I’ve ever felt from a book.

Finally working out just got more glam’. No more grungy dumbells for you – if you can afford the hefty price tag that is.

Leave it to design maestro Philippe Starck to give us ergonomically designed Dumbbells that come in silver aluminum with metal inserts or in an anodised gold finish. The XO Philip Starck gold set weighs 2 kilos, the silver set weighs 3 kg. They’re fabulous and look more like sculpture than work out tools.

Dream objects to develop the muscles for whether you’re Sporty or Posh…there’s a whole bunch more from Yanko to Chanel. Check ‘em out.

DreamBank has the answer to the perfect gift – girly gift ideas or otherwise. No longer will you have to cringe at Aunty’s gift of bejewelled kitten sweatshirts. Solution found!

DreamBank provides a fun, easy way for you to receive your “dream” gift.  Post your dream gift – a trip, piece of art, Chloe bag, or down payment on a loft. Friends and family can contribute to the cost of the dream – and 10% of DreamBank’s net transactions are contributed to charities chosen by the dreamer.

Give Dreams…not Stuff. Micro-lending just became micro-giving for whatever the glam girl covets!

Here’s another cool phone cover from Miniot iWood – and a bit more masculine – for protecting your iPhone 3G. Especially this case inspired by a Shelby Cobra.

Each case is carved from a single piece of wood and can be monogramed with a logo, name or message. The only downside I see is that one of the things I like about the iPhone is that it’s so sleek and this does add some thickness to it. But it’s so cool you might not care.

Are you shopping for gifts in the 11th hour of Christmas frenzy? Here are our “it” list picks for gifts to pick up on the fly.

1-IPOD Touch (just happens to be the most requested)
2-Anything from Tiffany (even the box will get you props)
3-BOSE Alarm Clock (thumps like a stereo)
4-Gift Cetificate to get your car detailed (no one ever has time to clear their car) or a gas card
5-Personal Trainer for those who are motivated/Massage for those who are too uptight
6-Have a Glass (book about best wines under $20) or Off Duty
7-Flip (point and shoot) – now you can design your own!
8-Real Air Popcorn Popper with cute popcorn bowl (throw in some fancy napkins and a bag of corn)
9-WII Fit or Nintendo DS so you can get our picks of Zenses.
10-Really good Shampoo and Conditioner.  Nicole picks TIGI, but Shelley picks the new trendy (and sustainable) Davines.

I wish you all happy shopping and a happy gift giving. Nicole.

Okay guys listen up! You’re stuck on the perfect Christmas gift for the woman in your life. Well if she’s a girls’ girl you can’t go wrong with anything sparkly. Seriously, that’s the bottom line. And who does it best when it comes to sparkles? Swarovski crystals.

Geeky Smart Gal
Swarovski Lock In USB Memory Key. It’s a USB memory key disguised as a lock with 1 GB of data and password protection.

Traditional Gal
The 2008 Swarovski Christmas Ornament has been created from sparkling Swarovski Crystal and hangs on a dainty blue satin ribbon. As in prevoius years the Swarovski Annual Crystal Star Ornament will only be available until the end of 2008. The best part about this idea is that you’re now set up for your own tradition – every year you can get her the annual ornament in the collection.

Trendy Gal
Give her more bling in her wink! Sparkle™ contact lenses complete with genuine Swarovski crystal embellishment!

P.S. Gals you can use the ’share this’ function on this post to forward this as a hint to you guy, and spark his imagination.

Okay! Here’s my fav find in a long time. I love tea, but really you don’t get new things happening in tea very often.

First there was a ‘trend’ wave of Rooibos, then Macha, and most recently I found some blends of cucumber tea and carrot tea. Um, interesting but not my cup of tea.

The latest I’ve been trying is blooming tea. They’re cool tight balls that burst into elaborate, statuesque flowers. The best I’ve seen are the teas from Teaposy – who’s tea potions are seriously gorgeous. Try the Falling Water or the Medley Mix.

Not only are they beautiful and my friends and I have ooh-ed and aah-ed over them, but Teaposy is really good tea too – all with silver needle; white tea leaves.

Want to look like a ‘gift-giver’ star?! The Teaposy gift collections include both tea and clear glass teapots, cups or mugs designed to that spotlight the blooming (the detailing & packaging are wow). My pick: their insulated mugs are super modern looking,  plus they’re double-walled so not hot to the touch. And my guy likes them because they’re not too girly (and despite the cute, subtle white daisy etched on the bottom).

Following the “It’s Not A Plastic Bag” trend (only one of ‘the’ most buzzed about eco-fashion find) there are more reusable bags than ever. But the problem is that I never remember to take the darn thing with me.

Solution – Flip & Tumble because they make it so easy to always have an extra bag with you. The bag has a roomy shoulder strap and folds into a convenient teeny, tiny ball. 

When I first found these they were low on stock on my fav brown, but now they’re so popular they’re all out of stock! But you can reserve now and they’ll start shipping Dec 13.

Christmas Online-Ordering Advice: Done stress yourself about delivery coming in time. If it does great, if not just print off a picture of it and slap that in a card. Then give the real deal whenever it does arrive.

I don’t know why I’m so ‘all about’ this gift idea. When was the last time I used a hot-water bottle? But maybe if one was this glam’ I would. That’s the best rationale I can come up with for my craving. Oh, and maybe it’s the cashmere.

Restoration Hardware has a sophisticated take on the utilitarian water bottle Cashmere Hot-Water Bottle $49 in chocolate, heather grey, garnet, eucalyptus or camel. Okay, for liking this I’m now being mocked in my own house. But come on! – did you see the cute pocket and the turtle neck.

If you’re feeling DIY crafty – then make your own out of felt cover.

It’s already that time – time to start dropping hints for the Christmas "it." I love getting that thing that you can’t quite justify spending on yourself, and so you covet from afar. Here are my three:

Coach Purse:
Big bags are hot – and are here for the next few seasons. Come spring you might as well add water because they’re only bigger. This Coach Soho Braided Leather Tote (love the braided detail) is a ‘just right’ size that won’t look obnoxious when the trend fades. Or for a little smaller and more classic – Legacy Signature Top Handle Pouch.

Acme Laptop Bag:
It’s pricey compared to other options – but my eye always, always catches the Acme Bags. It’s like the Kate Spade of laptop bags. Their designs are sleek and prints very stylish, but a classic fav is the grey flannel which looks very luxe. The Slim bag is almost a sleeve, holding nothing but your laptop. It’s ultra-minimal design allows you to put your laptop in another bag. Friends highly recommend the extra spend for the Slim Cargo if you need a bit more storage.

 

Prada Sunglasses: Prada’s feel so good on your face and the big shades give you instant glam’ privacy. These are my favorite two – the classier Prada 01HS (aka pricier) in tortoise shell/clear and gold. And while the Prada 09GS are more trendy I have to note the picture doesn’t do justice to them. They’re this bronzy chocolate color and there’s a sleek white keyline on the outter face (very hipster). PRADA SUNGLASSES Model: PR 09GS