Gift Guide for Him: $300-400

I've got one exam down and two more to go for this semester, so this blog is definitely my release from the constant studying. I've finally picked out and purchased my S/O's gift this past week, and let me tell you, boy was it hard! Neither of us are in the place and time of our lives to lavishly spend on each other, so each time a gift-giving season comes around, we try to set a limit and stay within it. We already spend so much on each other throughout the year in terms of taking each other out to eat and travelling, that the gifts are just a little extra. Not too be corny, but I've always felt that the time we spend together is already a gift in itself, although it never hurts to get a present! I can't quite reveal what I've purchased for him yet, as the sometimes reads my blog, but it will definitely make its way into a post once he's received it!

1. Holdall No. 101 - Ghurka | $350.00
Most guys that I know travel with their toiletries in a Ziploc bag because "makeup" bags are too feminine for them. But let's not lie, men carry quite a bit with them too and sometimes a Ziploc just isn't going to cut it for the amount that they want to bring. What's fantastic about this travel bag is that it can be unsnapped on the sites and opened up to a wider opening to allow for easier access to all of his items. I also love the leather construction of this bag as it makes it so durable. We don't usually take as good care of our toilettries as we should since we just toss them around when we travel, so the leather really helps the bag keep its shape.

2. Luxe Chukka Plain Toe on Leather Sole - John Varvatos Star USA (East Dane) | $363.33
Dress shoes are beautiful but they just aren't efficient in a Canadian winter, unless you like the feeling of snow on your ankles and wet socks. It's great that there are options where you don't have to sacrifice style to maintain the warmth and the design of this shoe is basically a high-top dress shoe. The best part is that no one even has to know that you're wearing boots since your pants should cover the tops of these.

3. Beats Studio 2.0 Over-Ear-Headphones - Beats by Dre (Chapters) | $330.00
I'm a huge sucker for sound quality and any pair of headphones that I use need to have excellent bass performance. These headphones are also wireless, which is fantastic for colder weather as I've found that the cords tend to get really stiff and can crack if they're covered in anything other than a fabric material. What's also great is that you can fold down these headphones when you're travelling so that they don't create too much bulk in your bag.

4. Checked Leather Belt - Burberry (Saks Fifth Avenue) | $329.56
I believe that a belt is to an outfit the way that the eyebrows are to the face, it finishes the look. Personally I hate loud belts that become the statement of the outfit as they tend to make the wearer look a little tacky. But hey, if that's your cup of tea, don't let me stop you. I like the fact that there isn't an actual logo on the plaque, and that the pattern is more discreet as it's embossed and not printed in a different color. I know black is a safe color, but it will match with every outfit without turning it into the centre of attention.

5. PlayStation 4 - Future Shop | $399.99
If the Xbox One wasn't his thing, then the PS4 definitely should be. I really like how it doubles as DVD player as well and isn't just used to play video games on (that means you can use it too for your girl's nights!)

Gift Guide for Her: $300-400

I wanted to put a little bit of focus on this Gift Guide for Her towards other things besides fashion, mind you I did include a beautiful pair of tortoise shell sunglasses, but everything else is different from the usual assortment you'd find in my Gift Guides.

I apologize for the sloth pace of posts the last month. I had planned on posting 2 more gift guides last week but was suddenly struck with a stomach flu and was bed ridden for a few days. Walking into working with a "puke bucket" doesn't set the best precedent. Anyways now that that has subsidded, I have begun studying for the dreaded final exams. Fear not, I have utilized my break time in between study sessions to compile and prepare my lists in hopes of keeping pace with my blog! Hopefully everyone snagged up the majority of their gifts this passing Black Friday or the upcoming Cyber Monday!

1. Stainless Steel Aroma Espresso Machine - Saeco (Les Cafetiers) | $400.00 $345.00
If the special lady in your life enjoys a well brewed espresso each morning as part of her routine, investing in a top of the line machine will save you dollars in the long-run. Also sold on the Starbucks website, score it for much cheaper and on sale at Les Cafetiers!

2. Daddy B Sunglasses - Oliver Peoples Eyewear (ShopBop) | $325.64
Perfect for that subtle cat-eye look, this pair of sunglasses is a nod to Audrey Hepburn's Breakfast at Tiffany's look. If you've got an even lovelier gift of a get-a-way planned, sunglasses are always a great hint-dropper!

3. Rand Brass Box - Tory Burch | $350.00
Every girl needs a jewelry box to keep her fine jewelry and watches safe. This beauty is perfect with its sharp and clean lines. I love how there are no patterns or designs on the outer surface of the box, so it will easily fit in with your decor as long as your color scheme can hold gold.

4. Artisan Stand Mixer - KitchenAid (Hudson's Bay) | $449.99 $349.99
This beauty can make any baking a breeze. My mother was gifted this model a couple years back and I never fail to use it whenever I am whipping up a confectionery delight. You can also purchase attachments in the future as gifts, an adult women's charm bracelet!

5. Lunares Stag Bust - Shopbop | $342.20
I live vicariously through my Gift Guide obviously, gold included. My room decor revolves around white and silver, so should I be able to track down a version of this bust in silver, it would definitely have its own property on my desk top. It would also look beautiful atop of a mantle, next to some Diptyque candles and a raging fire.