Valen’s Vanity Square

If your boyfriend or husband is one of those who wants to look good all the time, and don’t mind using skin care and body care stuffs, why not pamper them with a selection of beauty products this Valentine’s Day?

(I know, not all men can accept or will admit that there is a hint of vanity hiding underneath their soul, haha!)

1. For long hours of skin hydration - Vichy Hydra Mag C Fortifying 24 hr Hydrating Care
2. Exfoliate away dead skin cells - Dr. Brandt Microdermabrasion
3. For a cleaner face - Biotherm Homme Hydra Detox Instant Anti-Dullness Detoxifying cleanser
4. To sooth away tiredness and aging signs on the eyes - Givenchy Anti-Fatigue Eye Lift
5. Need a more kissable lips? Try Uriage Lip Balm
6. Give the skin a boost of hydration - Neutrogena Hydraboost Mask
7. For a clean and cool shave - Clarins Men Smooth Shave Foaming Gel
8. Get rid of dry and dull-looking complexion - L’Oreal Paris Men Expert Hydra Energetic Anti-Dullness Moisturizing Gel Cream
9. Oouch! Hate the grease on your hair! Try Kerastase Bain Clarifiant Long-Lasting Regulating Shampoo for Oily Scalp-Oily Hair
10. Tone up the skin - Shiseido Men Hydrating Lotion

The products above are voted as 2008’s top skin and body care products for men in Taiwan.

Another Valentine’s Day gift idea here. This time mainly for girlfriends or wives who love scrapbooking. I don’t know if there are guys who actually likes to make scrapbook as a past time. If yes, then this idea applies to them as well, haha!

Mind you, scrapbooking materials are not cheap. From papers, card stock and stickers, to die cuts, embellishments and various paper cutting or shaping tools, scrapbooking can be considered an expensive hobby if you don’t know where to source for cheaper materials and best deals.

3D Embellishments available at ACherryOnTop.com

So, if your sweet heart is an enthusiast of scrapbooking, buying her (or him!) a box-full of embellishment can really make her day. Or give her coupon codes or vouchers from scrapbook store so that she won’t have to spend so much when she needs to replenish her paper or card supply. Other craft supplies such as rubber stamps and ink pads, a set of good quality paper cutters, or even papers of different surface texture, could make really nice Valentine’s gift for scrapbookers.

Don’t forget to wrap up the gifts beautifully, e.g. in a basket, and attach a Valentine’ Day card filled with your words of loving to it.

The craze of Christmas shopping had just ended a week ago, but the next shopping whirlwind is about to hit the globe…. in February… and that is… Valentine’s Day!

I suppose from now onwards I will be writing very often on shopping for Valentine’s Day gifts.

So, my first Valentine’s gift idea will be–coffee makers for those who can’t miss their daily dose of caffeine.

Espresso machine
For women or men who are sophisticated, tasteful, love the thick and rich aroma of coffee, and treat coffee drinking beyond it’s-just-a-cup-of-coffee, then an espresso machine is the perfect gift. Espresso machines are also suitable for those who like mixing and experimenting with different ratios of espresso and milk to produce different types of espresso-based coffee beverage, such as latte, cappuccino, macchiato, etc. Of course, with such high-end coffee makers, you should also aspect the price of espresso machines to be high-end, too.

Stove-top espresso makers
For those who love doing things the traditional way, then the stove-top Italian espresso maker is your best bet. People who who hates pushing buttons and turning knobs on hihg-tech machines will like these original espresso makers, haha!

French press
French press coffee makers are for those who are always on the go and want their caffeine fix fast, whether it’s in the morning, or while working in the office.

Whichever coffee makers that you are buying for your sweet Valentine, remember to accompany it with a packet of the best ground coffee powder or the freshest coffee beans. Enjoy your cuppa!

‘Luxury’ plus ‘vanity’ = LV! Yes, Louis Vuitton that is, haha! Sorry for my lousy joke.

Anyway, if you are getting something for your girlfriend or wife who is an LV fan, perhaps one of the LV charms or key rings can make a nice Christmas present for her. (Provided that you are willing to burn a hole in your pocket!)

Too expensive, huh? Well, a Christmas gift doesn’t have to be luxurious, after all it’s the thoughts and true feelings that count, right? Here are some Christmas gift ideas for women that you may want to consider to get for your wife/mom/girlfriend/grandmother:

• A hand and/or feet pampering kit (for women who do a lot of housework and in desperate need to take care of their dry hands and feet)
• A spa treatment voucher for you and her (if she complains her is always tired and need some form of rejuvenation, and that you’re not spending much time with her)
• A birthstone pendant or necklace (for her to proudly wear on her neck)
• A photo bracelet or a silver bracelet with her name inscribed on it (tells her how special she is)
• A personalized craft bag (if she loves making craft)
• A fanciful coffee- or tea-making kit (if she must have her caffeine fix everyday)
• A business organizer bag (for a career lady)
• A trendy looking feather yarn beanie (to keep her head warm while strolling with you during the cold winter nights)
• A pillow with your photo printed on it (so that she won’t miss you when you are away from home), haha!

Whoever the lucky woman is, use these holiday gift ideas to make her feel special! (And it doesn’t have to be expensive.)

Have you sent anyone Christmas cards so far? It’s only about a month away to Christmas.

Can’t remember when was the last time I sent out Christmas cards. Probably it was 9 years ago, given to my boyfriend (now husband); the card was attached to the X’mas present.

It would be nice though if you have several special persons to send them your greetings. How about printing your own Christmas cards this year? Printable Christmas cards (or any greeting cards or invitation cards in fact) seem to gain much popularity these days.

You can choose your design online, pay to download the design to your computer, then print the cards out with your own printer. Alternatively, you can also get free printable Christmas cards by designing them yourself! It would be even better if you could personalize the printable Christmas cards by adding a photo of you or anything related to you. That would add a dose of personal touch to the greeting cards, don’t you think?

If the cards you printed out have minor flaws that you decided not to send them, well, recycle them! Hang them on the your Christmas trees, or just let them stand on the coffee table as part of your Christmas decorations. There are ways to use printable Christmas cards creatively besides as greeting cards.

Santa Claus is coming to town…. next month! Another one month plus to Christmas. It’s going to be jingle time again!

Do you already have a list of gift ideas for Christmas? I know it’s a pretty hard time for everyone now, you know, with the recession. However, I’m sure the current situation will not dampen the Christmas spirit. Who said Christmas presents must be expensive?

Say, Christmas gifts for him may not necessarily be a luxury men’s watch. It can be a Christmas gift basket carrying his favorite cookies baked by you! Or a self-printed voucher for him to redeem a full-body massage with his personal masseuse - that is you! (But please, don’t ever consider giving him tape drives even if he needs it, because that is so unromantic! :P)

And yes, you can come up with a variety of self-made Christmas gift baskets for other members of your family. Besides cookies, you could put in knitting wools for mom if she knits, a couple of bottles of supplements for dad if he needs an extra dose of vitamins and minerals, a beautiful scarf bought from the craft fair for your sister… just get creative!

So, let your brain works and come up with a list of affordable yet unique gift ideas for Christmas for your loved ones!

I don’t know much about golf. Although I’ve been to a driving range a few times, too bad it didn’t ignite my interest in this sport. And watching golf tournament on TV puts me to sleep. Actually, I won’t even switch to the channel if it’s showing a golf game!

I’m sure at least one or two of the people you know are golf enthusiasts, including your very own other significant half. If you gals need to buy a gift for your golf freak husband or boyfriend, knowing that giving him something related to golf would make him very happy – except that your wallet is not ready to accommodate a full Ping Golf set – here are some interesting homely gift ideas, all about golf, hehe.

Golf soap dish

Golf soap dispenser

Golf tissue box

Golf towel set

Golf throw

Golf quilt set

But guys, if you are getting a present for your golf freak girlfriend or wife, this will delight her and make her feel so pretty while golfing… a Nicole Miller Pink Golf Glove set.