Gift Guide: My Baby Sister

This is a fun one...next up I'm shopping for my little sister (stepsister, technically). She's a recent college grad living it up in NYC. Basically me about 10 years ago.

WHO I'M SHOPPING FOR: my little sister

She's young and fun and trying to figure it all out: her style, her job, her love life, her master plan. She's got particular tastes and tons of opinions...but not nearly enough money to make it all happen.

WHO YOU'RE SHOPPING FOR: that crazy, carefree younger sister (cousin, friend, etc)...someone who is just getting on her feet...that junior colleague you've been mentoring...anyone who is young at heart!

Street Level Faux Leather Pocket Tote, $48

This tote bag is cool and practical and timeless. It's a nice upgrade from her usual bag and she'll wear it to death.

Lucy Shasta Sequin Leggings, $58

When you are 23, you should wear sequin leggings. It's just a law or something. These are fun but just a teeny bit toned down. I may be buying a pair for myself (because life doesn't end at 23...).

Broad City Tee, $30

Abbi and Ilana are her spirit animals, and now everyone will know it.

Why Not Me?, $15/Yes, Please, $10 /The Opposite of Lonliness, $9

This is a golden age of memoirs written by smart, funny, accomplished women. Give her a mini library of kickass female inspiration -- maybe one day she'll be publishing one of her own.

Have a Gneiss Day Coaster Set, $50

A sort of grown-up thing that's made infinitely more fun by the amazingly cheery and vibrant pink hue. 

Naked2 Basics Palette, $29

A perfect little palette of pretty, wearable shades. She probably has drawers full of Saturday night makeup, but she'll really appreciate having polished shades for work, brunch with her boyfriend's parents, and other glitter-free events.

Sephora Favorites Liquid Luxuries Sampler, $65

I adore this set from Sephora -- you get to gift mini versions of ten of the most popular fragrances, giving her a chance to try them out and find her new signature scent. Then she gets a voucher to redeem for a full-sized bottle of her favorite. This is perfect for someone who has outgrown sticky sweet scents endorsed by heartthrobs and is ready for her first adult fragrance.

Twinning Emoji Print, $32

A cheeky piece of art for her growing gallery wall. I love these watercolor prints of favorite emojis. You can also find hilarious (and inappropriate) artwork on Etsy -- a naughty needlepoint is always fun.

Zara Blanket, $50

Her favorite cozy plaid, this time in a version that she can wrap herself in for hot nights in with Netflix.

Trader Joe's Cookbook, $15

She's got her dinner delivery game down, but it would be good for her to master a couple of easy recipes. I love this cookbook, which is based exclusively on ingredients you can buy at Trader Joe's. It doesn't get any easier, cheaper, or tastier than this!

Rebecca Minkoff Ava Dome Stud Zip Wallet, $145

A chic, stylish wallet is always a great idea. Even if she doesn't have much to put inside, she'll just love pulling it out of her bag.

Fujifilm Smartphone Printer, $140

This photo printer is genius, perfect for the "pics or it didn't happen" generation. 

Moon Juice Beauty Dust, $65

She doesn't really need a lot of treatment products, so how about something fun to help her keep that youthful glow? This powder is packed with goodness and perfect for mixing into all kinds of tasty drinks.

And if you need a few extras...

You can never have enough pairs of earbuds, and this set is so pretty.

An inspirational water bottle to keep her chasing the dream.

These emoticon candies are silly but they actually sound pretty tasty.

A few pretty travel essentials (even if she's still doing the hostel thing).

This monogrammed keychain is preppy perfection.

Wednesday Wishlist: Carry All

This time of year, I seem to be perpetually in need of a giant bag to hold all of the stuff I'm lugging around. In the summer I can get away with a little crossbody bag, but once September hits it seems like I need to tote half of my life around with me, so a roomy shoulder bag becomes a very valuable thing. Happily, there are many good options to choose from. Let's take a look...

clockwise from l to r:

Vanessa Bruno Cabo Embellished Shopper ($253) -- These were everywhere ten years ago and were kind of overplayed in my opinion, but somehow a decade later this tote seems kind of fresh and interesting to me. I like the moody gray fabric offset by a bit of sparkle, like a cloud with a silver lining.

Monsoon Ticking Stripe Shopper ($38) -- crisp, clean, practical.

Target Leather Metallic Tote with Color Block Base ($60) -- Target seems to be introducing some slightly higher end bags to their inventory, including a number of interesting metallic options. I generally find their bags look and feel a bit cheap, but this two-tone tote is quite sharp.

Urban Outfitters BDG Convertible Tote -- I could never bring myself to pull the trigger on a Foley + Corrina City Tote, but I did quite enjoy the look and the cool slouchy shape. I'm digging this black on black inspired-by version from Urban Outfitters (though I may not be able to get over the fact that their parent company continues to be the worst).

Street Level Canvas Tote ($48) -- this bag has a lot to love -- practical shape, smart color combo, great price. A nice option if you're looking for an alternative to Madewell's popular Transport Tote.

Warehouse Leather and Suede Shopper ($69) -- this is about at sexy as a tote bag gets. The most fabulous way to schlep around way too much stuff.

Dogeared Big Canvas Tote ($32) -- a sturdy tote that comes with your choice of cheeky sayings. Since you know I'm going to end up at Chipotle, this one seems particularly practical.

Clare V. Matilde Backpack ($525) -- this a splurge (slightly less so if you can catch it during the Friends and Family sale), but it would be a nice investment piece if you have to tote around a lot during the workday. I have a lot of meetings and client visits and I always have to carry presentation materials, folders, tablets, and my own personal nonsense with me. This bag is chic and elegant and might even give people the impression that I have my shit together.