Super Last-Minute Gift Guide for Chicks

by QuickieChick Laurel House

Either:
-Disbelief- You seriously can't believe it's almost the end of the year, and because of that you haven't really gotten into the festive spirit of buying gifts yet.
-Busy- You have been too busy to think about it.
-Party- You were invited to a party for someone you don't really know and have no clue what to get them.
-Forgot- You forgot to buy someone a gift… but they got you one.
Whatever your reason/excuse is, the fact remains that you have last-minute gifts to buy and you need some fab ideas STAT. Well, I compiled a list of gifts that I would want/want to give. Feel free to buy them too. Oh, and if you're like me and your mom/BFF/BF are asking what YOU want for the holidays, you can forward this list to them... That's what I'm doing.

BEAUTY PRODUCT OBSESSED
Because You Can't Not Share THIS
It might not seem like a holiday gift. But as soon as your BFF brushes this mascara through her lashes, she will definitely know that you have gifted her with something she will no longer be able to live without. Topshop's Smoke & Mirrors Lash Extender Mascara in Black Velvet is the best mascara I have tested in years (mascara is kind of my thing- it's the one thing that I must wear when going out, even if I'm wearing no other make-up). It lifts, lengthens, defines, and exaggerates the lashes. I mean.. show stopping! Pair it with their Smokey Eye Palette (which even has directions on how to get the perfect smokey eyes) and your gift, and her look, are complete.

Say Goodbye to your BFF's Pimples and Fine Lines
As a beauty writer I have tested hundreds of skin and body care products. And despite all of the "best new" and "miracle" potions I've tried, I tend to stick to a few faves. But for the past 6 months- following a bad breakup and a lot of airplane travel, my skin has broken out AND my fine lines have been deepening. Fabulous! After nightly fights with my face (I have a problem with picking), generally leaving it even worse off in the morning, and trying everything from prescription creams to Ayurvedic soaps, even herbs and acupuncture, I have found something that works! For anyone who has suffered from acne or pimples, this is a big deal! It's the answer to pimple problems. It's called ANSR and it's a DIY LED device that rids the skin of resistant pimples and minimizes the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. Any chick in your life wants, I would even go to the extreme of saying "needs," this.

Painted Perfection
No time to paint your nails? No problem. Sally Hansen Salon Effects limited edition holiday prints will give you compliment-worthy nails without risking smearing the not-yet-dry-enough polish that can instantly destroy a perfect paint job (let alone your clothes). They are so fab they may even upstage the gorgeous party dress that you spent way too much money on.

Inspire Creativity
Gotta admit… I bought this for my sister but decided to keep it for myself because it was just that amazing. Avon's Expert Mega Palette has lip glosses, eye shadows and blushes in pretty much every shade you will ever need. They are all organized in a petite enough box that you don't need to clear out your entire make-up drawer to store it. I have never been very creative with my makeup, but this palette has inspired me. Now I have to buy something else for my sister. Only $30!

Sparkles are THE In Thing This Year
I am all about sparkles. And apparently the rest of the world is too. Ok, so maybe a slight exaggeration, but the trend in beauty, bags, shoes, and nails is, no doubt, sparkles! Deborah Lippmann's seriously ingenious, totally dazzling uber-sparkly colors just might be the impetus of the trend. At least it was the start of my sparkle fixation. I LOVE the gold sparkles that look just as good two or three weeks later when chipped and peeling off as they did moments after they dried. And the red- perfect for any holiday party! Bedazzle your bestie's look (and, of course, throw in a polish for yourself too).

Give Gorgeous Hair
There's nothing wrong with giving essentials, especially when those essentials are also fabulous versions of themselves. When it comes to ceramic hair stylers, the amika Sultry Lace Mini Maxi stylers are about as essentially fab as you can find. You get a full size and a mini (perfect for overnights and travel) 100% solid ceramic floating, high-tech stylers to create straight, wavy and curly hair. Love! $125 at Sephora.

AND Healthy Hair
…Make it a complete gift with uber-luxurious Carol's Daughter Macadamia Styling Collection for thermal protection. LOVE the sweet, super-nutrient Macadamia Oil and Honey Extract. Just don't get jealous when your BFF suddenly has shinier, healthier, less frizzy, perfectly styled hair. $45

STYLISH MOM
GIVE Summer in Sicily
Ok, so you aren't actually going to give a trip to Sicily this summer, but GIVE Scent, created by yoga guru Elena Brower, was inspired by the citrusy/vanilla sultry scents of those first few days of summer. The notes of Amber, bergamot, grapefruit, musk, oak, moss, sage and vanilla are intoxicating. Beyond helping someone you love smell good, a portion of the proceeds benefit Women for Women International. It's good to give. $48

For the Karaoke-Averse Music Lovers
Just because your mom tells you that when you sing you sound like a dying cat (oh wait, that's me), doesn't mean that you have to suppress your love for music and the power of good lyrics. Lyric Culture has gorgeous and cozy scarves (totally trendy) and totes (that are perfect reusable grocery or farmer's market bags) based on the song lyrics of legendary artists such as Bob Dylan, The Rolling Stones, The Beatles, Joan Jett, David Bowie, Aerosmith, Blondie, Michael Jackson, Lil' Wayne, Miley Cyrus, and Carrie Underwood. Inspire your silent songstress friend without encouraging her to belt out a tune.

Prettier in the Shade
Umbrellas are necessary to protect from rain. Parasols are necessary to protect from sun. Sure, they were used as fashion accessories in the old days, but now some of the most modern chicks like Jessica Biel, Demi Moore, Selena Gomez, and Christina Hendricks are carrying them. Penelope Parasols are the ideal combination of form, function, style and substance, plus they are so glamorous! Get one for all of your gorgeous girlfriends, because everyone is prettier in the shade. $189.

THE FOODIE
Chef-Made Chocolates
Love chocolate? MarieBelle Fine Chocolates (Oprah, Blake Lively & Jake Gyllenhaal are fans) has created seriously addictive Frangelico Truffles that I have a hard time giving to anyone else only because I have a hard time not putting them in my own mouth. Which is why you should buy 2 boxes- one for you and one for them… Prices starting at $15

Sweet & Fresh
Lemon and Clementine are two of the freshest, most energizing, happy-making, and just clean scents around. For foodies and outdoors obsessed alike, give L'Occitane Delice de Fruits Lemon and Clementine essential oil-infused home and skincare products, a collection of nourishing Lip Balm, creamy Shower Jelly, nourishing Body Cream, cleansing Perfumed Soap, an effervescent Bath Ball, protective Hand Cream, Sweet Candle AND a Home Perfume Diffuser. $4-$35 each


FITNESS BUFF
So Fab... So Statement Making- the new Obsession!
Many of us have that one pair of sneakers that are our go-to. Year after year they fit perfectly. So regardless of the style or colors available, we buy it each time we're in need of a new set. BUT STILL, most fitness geeks, want to test out what's "new" just so we can say we did and to make a statement that we're in the know. I do love MBTs and Shape-Ups- I got my first pair of MBTs when they very first came out and seriously lacked style. But my current obsession: Fila Skele-Toes AMP. More than just being new and hip (Nicole Richie was recently photographed wearing them), they are also super comfortable and literally feel like you are wearing nothing on your feet, expect for the fab additional arch support (which I need since I have high arches). You can actually feel the wind chill between your toes. THESE are a must for any fitness lover! They also come with awesome toe'd socks. I love cool socks. $75.

Complete Fitness in Half the Time
Warning: This is for the super elite. The people who walk (or want to walk) red carpets and schmooze with celebs and pro athletes. It's the Power Plate my7, a state-of-the-art whole body vibration piece of exercise equipment and it's THE must-have item for fitness enthusiasts. Not only does it cut workout time in half, but it helps reduce the appearance of cellulite, slim, strengthen, and improve stability. Plus it has a massage function. Oh, and Cindy Crawford, Mark Wahlberg, and LeBron James are devotees. $7995

It's a Win/Win with this Video Game
Your honey is a gamer. You're a fitness freak… this is the perfect "gift for him" (that is actually for you). Your Shape Fitness Evolved 2012 for Kinect on Xbox360 is pretty much a personal trainer in your home 24/7… well if you want them there that often. But beyond the workout, it's also seriously high-tech gaming technology that will fulfill your guy's need to feel like he has the newest techie toy out. He (and you) will also love the workouts- everything from Boxing to Boot Camp, Bollywood to Hip Hop, Running through the streets of New York to mind easing Yoga. But you aren't just "playing" some game. This is a totally hands-free workout that puts you in the game- literally on the screen, and it's totally intuitive. It's as interactive and "real" as it's going to get when it comes to fitness in a box. Beyond the game, you can also connect with the online community and engage in friendly competitions, as well as get daily fitness, diet, and lifestyle tips on their YourShape Facebook page. Everyone wins!

Empower Your Friends
There are few pieces of fitness equipment that I actually use, let alone like. The Cardio Core and More Fitness Hoop from Empower is one of my faves. It's a hula hoop- so it's fun and doesn't feel like fitness, and it's weighted- so it's a serious workout that really gets into your abs. Plus it's pink and orange and perfect for the girly chicks on your list. My mom even uses it daily as an addition to her morning walk and 10 minutes of toning Pilates- yeah, she's pretty fab.

Oh-So Gorgeous Gym Bag
Sometimes you need a little more than self-powered motivation to get yourself up, at-em and out the door on your way to the gym. This Beverly Bowtie Gym Bag in Dusty Rose is enough motivation for me! I'm over those black, duffel-y, personality-less gym bags. This glamorous number from oGorgeous might look girlie, but it'll go up against any black duffel when it comes to function, form and strength. Sure, it has a bow, but it also has a hidden front yoga mat carrying slot, a ventilated zip up compartment for sweat-soaked towels and clothes, a matching shoe bag so you don't dirty everything else, a jewelry pocket, phone slot, and even a laptop sleeve. So fab and oh-so gorgeous!

STYLISTA
BFFs and a Friendship Bracelet to Prove It!
You're BFFs and you want to advertise it to the world. Or whoever happens to look at your wrist. When I was a kid I spent entirely too long making lanyards for my girlfriends for life, now Threads of Friendship does the work for you and turns out hand woven Initial Friendship bracelets in a rainbow mix of colors that are, gotta say, better than any I ever came close to making. And THEN they adorn them with woven rhinestones and a pull tie to make them adjustable and removable. $40.00

Not Diamonds, But Possibly Better
Yes, diamonds are a girl's best friend and, admittedly, I have been discreetly asking every boyfriend for the last 7 years to buy me a diamond necklace… and that's why BFFs are so fab. No, you're not going to buy her a diamond necklace, instead you are going to buy her this sparkly, edgy, outfit-enhancing Cali Wrap Bracelet by Farrah Karina Jewelry. I love the dark metal crystals w/bronze for the edge-factor, but there's also clear crystal w/gold, and peach with bronze. You'll be borrowing it. $60

Stackably Smitten
Smitten With Luxe multi-colored glass bead bracelets look luxurious but without the luxury price tag. They are fair trade products made by women living in the villages of Khathmandu and sold to help improve their quality of life. Diamond Girl, the company that sells them, will it "pay it forward" by donating a portion of the proceeds to a variety of charities throughout the year. Buy one or mix and match the colors. I, of course, selected pink. $18

Waisted... Not Drunk
Millionaire Matchmaker's Patti Stanger famously shrieked on one of her recent episodes- "Don't wear a belt! Nobody in L.A. wears a belt… unless they're a twiglet, crack-smoking fool." Well, Patti, I like belts. The reason: they add a little oomph to an eh outfit, they create waist definition, and they break up the jeans to top so as not to look like you're wearing a jumpsuit. BUT I have found the perfect middle ground between belt and non-belt wearers- Waisted Beautiful. These are jeans accessories with a little chain that adds some fab flair without making you appear to be a "twiglet, crack-smoking fool." Love. $65.

Like Suri's so fab Blanket
Know a baby? I don't mean a childish guy. I mean an actually baby, an infant, a small child… then give them one of these so fab, insanely cozy Max Daniel blankets. It will look like you dropped some serious cash, but really, for the quality and gorgeousness, your wallet will thank you (or at least not yell at you). You can also buy a big throw-size one for any friend who loves luxury. $18-$240

Brave iPad case
The ipad is great, but it really needs a case to make it your own (or your friend's). And that's why I'm a fan of The Alex iPad case made from Italian leather, available in orange, purple, green and turquoise, tan, brown and black. Beyond the bright, personality-illuminating color, it also protects your precious ipad. Which color suits you best?

YOUR BFF
What ONLY a Best Friend Can Buy (or yourself)
I'm not going to beat around the bush… chicks like vibrators. Problem is, they are often expensive and it can be kind of tough to rationalize that kind of expense on yourself. That's why your BFF is the perfect person to buy you such a personal present. Babeland's Lyla from Lelo uses SenseMotion technology allowing you to change the vibration pattern and strength with the flick or tilt of your wrist on the remote control (which also vibrates… in case you want double duty). It's also super fun for couples to play with… and with each other.

For all of those many Minimergencies
If there is one purse essential, it's this Minimergency Kit for Her from Mr. & Mrs. And that's because it's 16 essentials in one compact, stylish little (I mean seriously small) carrying case that slips into pretty much any purse. Forget fingering through your bag desperately looking for that advil, sewing kit, breath spray, tampon, bandaid, clear nail polish, etc, because it's all right here ready to go. You know it feels good to be able to say "I have one," when someone asks at a dinner party, "does anyone have a…" Yeah, someone has it- you do. Well, your friend does because you're buying it for your BFF remember?

Happy Gifting!

xx
Laurel House is a Fit Living Expert, 3x published author, and believer in living a life of balance. See more of her "Quickie Tips" on her website QuickieChick.com. Her 4th book- "QuickieChick's Cheat Sheet to Life, Love, Food, Fitness, Fashion and Finance on a Less than Fabulous Budget" (St. Martin's, May 2012) is available NOW for PRE-ORDER.