Picking out gifts for men is quite easy! Whether you’re shopping for your dad, brother, boyfriend or hubby, today I’ve rounded up some of my favorite christmas present ideas for all of the men in your life. Some of my favorite go-to brands to shop for men each and every Christmas include Tumi, Burberry, Sonos, J.Crew, East Dane, Mark and Graham and Keihls.
When it comes to holiday gift ideas, there’s nothing more festive then giving holiday plaid gifts. From wool plaid blankets to plaid shirts, flats or kitchen accessories, there are so many great plaid gifts to give (and get!) this holiday season.
This is always one of my favorite gift guides to do each year since I personally love to invest in plaid home decor. I picked up these Ralph Lauren Plaid Pillows on Ebay this year but also love these pillows from One Kings Lane. I’ve been collecting wool plaid blankets from Pendleton, Ralph Lauren and a few collectors shops over the past few years and I love putting them on display. Plaid blankets are great to use throughout the winter months even when Christmas has passed!
What I love most about living in New York and on the East Coast in general is the ability to plan weekend trips to surrounding states and towns within a 48 hour window! So when the Annie Selke team invited me to Lenox, Massachusetts to visit her new luxury inn, 33 Main, of course I said YES!
I had never visited Lenox or the surrounding villages that make up the Berkshires but I was pleasantly surprised to learn that Lenox is only 3 hours from the city or about 2 hour 15 minute drive from Stamford, Connecticut! I invited my cousin Holly to drive up with me (or should I say, I asked her to drive US since I don’t have a car) to Annie’s new Inn so we can indulge in a relaxing girls weekend!
We hit the road quite early Saturday morning and arrived to Annie’s Inn around 10:30am. We were graciously welcomed by Becca, Annie’s Inn Keeper, who had breakfast and french pressed coffee waiting for us upon our arrival. Omg, you guys. When I say breakfast… I mean home made waffles with cream cheese and blue berries on top. Breakfast over the course of our weekend was our absolute favorite meal of the day!
The Inn is located right off main street and is housed in a historic, 4,320-square-foot building federal building and is made up of 8 rooms — two of which are pet friendly! I stayed in the blue and white room photographed below and it felt like I was in an actual home vs. hotel – so cozy! What I loved most is that each room is uniquely decorated and full of Annie’s furniture, textiles and linens. Each bathroom includes apothecary products from Farmaesthetics that are 100% natural and certified organic products (my favorite!). The beds are from the mattress company, Hastens, which are so luxurious. If you haven’t heard of Hastens, please do yourself a favor and google this brand right now. These mattresses are often passed down as heirlooms in Europe as the price tag that come along with these mattresses are pretty hefty! So needless to say we slept VERY well on Saturday night! Last but not least, you can expect freshly baked cookies, cocktail hour and complimentary wi-fi – yes, please!
Throughout the course of our stay in Lenox, we were able to visit the Crawnwell Spa, shop at Annie’s Pop Up Shop (located right across from the Inn), grab dinner at Bistro Zinc, and explore the surrounding villages of Stockbridge and Lee. Holly and I loved our weekend so much we already are planning on taking our moms back here next summer! We also popped in this little shop called Mackimmie Co. which has fabulous plaid wool blankets that are imported from Scotland.
A few must have items I discovered from staying at Annie’s Inn include: this fleece robe (you guys, you have to buy this – either for yourself, or for your mom, sister or aunt for Christmas). It is so plush, warm and fuzzy – perfect for these cold winter months! This Dover fleece blanket was also amazing to sleep with. I learned that I need a coverlet or a matelasse coverlet (right, Beth?!) I love this one and this one. Last but not least, this Lloyd Grey Micro Hooked rug and this Indigo Fairwood 4-Drawer Dresser were in the bedroom I stayed in and both are officially on my wish-list!
All in all it was amazing and relaxing weekend. So if you’re planning a trip to the Berkshires this winter or spring, you must add 33 Main to your list! Don’t forget to follow Annie and 33 Main on Instagram! Xo. Lauren
There’s something about the cool fall weather that makes me want to curl up on the couch with a delicious glass of red wine and watch movies all night. Who’s with me? Weekends at home are surely my favorite which means there’s plenty of time to have your best girlfriends over and catch up on your favorite movies! Today I’m partnering with Chloe Wine Collection to share 4 tips on how to host an elegant movie night in.
Pick Up A Tray For At Home Entertaining
Trays are my favorite accessory to use when it comes to at home entertaining. Bunny Williams sent me her Amala Tray (photographed below) and it’s one of my favorite entertaining pieces. For a casual movie night in, display your favorite bottles of wine and wine glasses with a fresh bouquet of flowers. Create a popcorn display with three different bowls of your favorite kinds of popcorn. Or, you could even create a sweets display for you friends to snack on just like you were at a theater! There are so many fun and different ways you can utilize a tray at home to enhance the atmosphere. For a more affordable tray option, I also picked up two of these white trays from Target for $12.99.
Serve Chloe Merlot
Whenever cooler temperatures arrive, I love to drink smooth red wines. Chloe’s Merlot is a delicious full-bodied and elegant red wine that pairs perfectly with a wide variety of food – even popcorn! What I love most about Chloe’s brand new Merlot is that is’ definitely a crowd pleaser. This fall, I play to have 1-2 bottles of Chloe’s Merlot displayed on my bar cart. The bottle is just too pretty not to be shown off!
Pick An Oldie But A Goodie
For an elegant movie night at home, I love picking an old movie. Lucky for me, my girlfriends tend to be on board with this! I personally love to watch old movies that take place in New York or classic romcoms from the 90’s. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve seen You’ve Got Mail! It’s my go-to. Whenever I host a movie night, I like to create a survey for my girlfriends to fill out prior to coming over with a list of movies to pick from. It’s so fun to see what everyone is willing to watch!
Display Fresh Flowers
Last but not least, displaying fresh flowers for your movie night in is a must! I tend to opt for white hydrangeas or elegant display of white roses. It’s such an easy and affordable way to enhance your space. My friends always appreciate that I have a fresh bouquet on hand at all times!
giftWhat are some of your favorite entertaining tips when hosting a movie night? Leave a comment below! For more information on Chloe Wine Collection, you can visit online at www.chloewinecollection.com or follow them on Facebook and Instagram! Xo. Lauren
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*In partnership with Chloe Wine Collection. Thank you for supporting brands that support Lauren-Nelson.com!
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