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For certain gifting occasions and certain age groups, cash is king. This is true for graduates who are moving on to the next step in school or the next chapter in their lives. Even though money might be the gift they want (and need) you want to spruce it up a little, it is after all a gift! A Brand New Wallet (and then some) One of my favorite gifts to give a graduate going off to school is what I call The Stuffed Wallet! This gift gives the recipient a brand new wallet but stuffs it with money and gift cards. To really go the extra mile, do a little research and see what food chains are on their new university campus. With a quick Google you can see if there is a Starbucks, Subway, Jersey Mike's, Domino's, Chipotle. They will be delighted to see that all of the gift cards you have gifted them can actually be used during an all day and all night study session! I love this Ridge Wallet for the sleek, minimal guy graduate. I love this Madewell Wallet for any girl graduate that also doubles as a wristlet for a night out with the addition of a key fob. Money as Gift Wrap If you’ve already got the perfect gift for your graduate but you want to add a little cash to their pocket, add a little cash as a cherry on top of the gift! No matter what gift you’ve gotten for your graduate you can create an origami cash bow. Use dollar bills, fives, tens, twenties, or even hundreds to create a cute bow. To create this bow I followed these steps here by Make-Origami.com to create this origami bow gift topper. A (well fed) Piggy Bank One thing that so many college kids have in common is that they wear clothes. Just kidding (well, I hope not!) but if they wear clothes, they will have to do laundry (I hope!). Laundry in most places requires quarters and it can be a hassle to make sure you have enough change to do all of your laundry. Run to the bank, or get a roll of quarters as cash back from your grocery store in quarters and fill a cute piggy bank with ample quarters for laundry. Some laundromats have upgraded to allow you to put money on a card, similar to a gift card, so go ahead and top off the piggy bank with a little green! I love this PIGZstore Etsy shop full of cute and modern piggy bank options! How will you celebrate this year’s graduates? Could your graduate use a little cash-o-la? Do you have any other creative ideas to give money as a gift? Very, Happy Gifting! … VHM

College grads are entering into a new world! Soon they will start a series of job interviews, start a new job or get their own place. They are leaving academia behind and entering a world of responsibility. Responsibility for their own place and their own livelihood. These gifts will make adulting in the real world a little less intimidating. Gifts to help with Interviews Right out of the gate, they will be lining up interviews to find their first job out of school. In interviews they need to convey an appropriate look for job (creative positions need to look creative, more formal positions need to look more professional) but they also need to show a little personality and help them be memorable—but not too memorable! Shinola Guardian Belt Set | $295 It's all in the details and this quality belt set from Shinola helps any graduate keep their belt coordinating with the rest of the interview outfit. "When you look good, you feel good, when you feel good, you [interview] good!" Deon Sanders. Ok, he said "play good" instead of interview good, but you get the idea. J.Crew Men's Ludlow Blazer $300 | J.Crew Women's Regent Blazer $198 A blazer will take you places, straight to the CEOs office! Pair a basic blazer with different shirts to show personality in an interview. Pair it with a cute top or black tee for a night out, or jeans for a more casual outing. With a black blazer, you can't go wrong, especially if you slip a little cash into a pocket before you wrap this gift! Mark and Graham Resume Portfolio | $149 Organization is impressive, so help them show up prepared. They will always want to bring a few copies of their resume and pen and paper to take notes. This professional looking resume holder will hold everything your graduate needs. What are you getting for your graduate this graduation season? Very Happy Gifting! ... VHM

Ahhh, high school is over, and college is right around the corner. It's bittersweet, especially this year! Oh the anticipation, the anxiety and the excitement! These gifts will help your high school graduate make the most out of their college experience. Sneakers Nike React Infinity Run Flyknit (left) | Adidas Superstar (middle) | Converse Chuck Taylor (right) If your graduate is going to a large university then a nice pair of sneakers is a great gift. They can be sporty, they can be chic, but they need to be comfortable! These classic shoes will go a long way, and take them a long way. Nike also offers Nike By You, the ability to customize the colors of several shoe models. Getting a pair of kicks in their school's colors would be great to complete the the team spirit look at college games. First year freshmen might be walking all over campus, going from class to class, and you want to make sure they have great footwear. For some, the euphoria of the first day of classes wears off quickly and they go from getting dressed and ready for every class to rolling out of bed popping an Altoid and just showing up. Needless to say, anything that makes looking great, really easy, is a great gift! What would take this gift over the top? Buy a pair of socks and get at least $20-$50 in dollar bills. Bunch and crunch up the dollar bills, fill up the socks as if to create fake feet within the socks. Then put the filled up socks into the shoes, it will be a nice surprise when your graduate opens the their shoe box! Bathrobe Stars Above Robe (left) | Ugg Lorie Terry Robe (middle) | brooklinen Super Plush Robe (right) Moving into the dorms can be an exciting and jarring experience for any freshman. Great gifts for any freshman ease the transition from their comfortable room in their parents’ house to a shared room, shared floor and a constant shared living space. A soft robe for the walk from their room to the community showers will help even the most outgoing of college students feel secure. What would take this gift over the top? Get it monogrammed! Eliminate roommate confusion so no one has to wonder whether it's their robe or not. On the breast, on the pocket, on the back between the shoulder blades, or even low-key initials on the inside of the collar. Smart Phone Photo Printer Canon Mini Photo Printer (left) | Fujifilm Mobile Printer (middle) | Lifeprint Portable Printer (right) With cameras on every phone, we post everything to Instagram to show off our photos, give them the option to have a real printed photo! This is a great gift to give if they will share a dorm room in college and want a little wall art of pictures they’ve taken with their roommate(s). Also, in college there might be some pictures taken of activities that really don’t belong on Instagram. Remember—future employers will check Instagram! What would take this gift over the top? Pair one of these photo printers with a cute cork board so they can dress up their dorm rooms! Backpack Dagne Dover Backpack (left) | Away Backpack (middle) | Mancro Backpack (right) As old fashioned as it seems, students still use backpacks at college. They still have to walk across campus and carry their things. The contents of the backpack might have changed. A trapper-keeper binder (remember those!) might be replaced with a laptop or iPad. But students are still needing a way to carry items from class to class. What would take this gift over the top? Filling some of the hidden pockets with money of course! My favorite is putting different amounts in different pockets (especially the small pockets) and having them find surprise money they didn't find initially, through out the semester. A student can always use a little extra cash and any monetary surprise will bring a smile to their face and you to their mind. So what do you have your eye on your recent or soon to be graduate? Would any of these gifts fit the bill? Very Happy Gifting! ... VHM

We all have a fur mother in our lives. They have one or more children with four legs! They show you pictures of their baby at the park, in their new sweater with other fur friends. We know them, hey we might even be them! If you need a gift for the one in your life that loves her dog more than anything, here are a few great ideas! Wild One Collar Walk Kit A matching leash, collar and pop bag set in different beautiful colors. Have you ever walked down the pet store accessory aisle and just wished there was something chicer for your pet, and for you to want to be seen with your pet wearing it? Enter Wild One Pets! This gift set is the perfect starter pack to pet chicness. Wild One Tennis Balls A sleek tennis ball perfect for her pooch! I know what you're thinking, a tennis ball is a tennis ball! But the truth is a tennis ball is made for tennis! When you take a tennis ball to the dog park it can be difficult to find the ball if Fido doesn't bring it back. These white balls stand out in the grass and differentiate themselves from the ones that the other dogs' are playing with. Automatic Ball Launcher For fur Moms with the most active dogs, this ball launcher is perfect! Sometimes a dog needs to play while their owner needs to rest. This ball launcher is great for both situations. Stylish Dog Beds If your gift recipient is in love with their dog, but also in love with their stylish home decor then this faux fur dog bed is perfect. This bed looks like a modern bohemian home decor accent, similar to sheepskin rugs that are draped over the backs of chair as a designer's touch. This gift allows their dog to feel super comfortable and yet super stylish. Bark Box When in doubt, a bark box subscription is a great gift! Bark Box delivers new toys and treats every month, and when the puppy is happy, Momma is happy! Are you surprising any Fur Moms this Mother's day? Very Happy Gifting! ... VHM

New mothers and expecting mothers are category of mothers that deserve some attention on Mother's Day. Even if they aren't technically a mother yet, they are about to embark on a lifelong commitment of love and care. One of my rules for these special mothers is that you are giving a gift to the MOTHER, not the child. The child's birthday is another day, and they can be spoiled then. For Mother's Day it is definitely acceptable to give a multi-functional gift that both the mother and child will love, but it has to be for the mom. As cute as baby shoes are, you won't catch Mom going out to dinner in baby shoes! If you're looking to treat the expecting mother or new mother in your life here are some great ideas! HATCH-to-Hospital Box This divine gift box is filled with little luxuries to make a soon to be mother feel super comfortable in the hours before and after birth. It’s an assortment of hospital essentials designed to take the guesswork out of packing and help you feel cozy and pampered during this incredible time. The box includes: An organic bamboo undie, which offers full coverage and flexible movement, clean finished with no elastics or labels against the skin. An organic bamboo nightgown that’s an extension of your softest, coziest tee and nursing-friendly for added convenience, with a henley shaped neckline and delicate natural shell buttons. A matching organic bamboo robe made for sweet little snuggles, along with a pair of delectable grey socks made in Italy by HATCH x Maria La Rosa. Beaded Teething Bracelet Babies chew on stuff, in case you didn't know-enter these Beaded Teething Bracelets! These bracelets are a fashionable accessory for new moms to wear for and their teething baby to chew on. These functional and fashionable beaded bracelet is made with non-toxic, food-grade silicone. Win-win! French Enameled Lockets I love a keepsake as a gift and this little locket is a perfect way for her to wear the image of her new baby, and keep them close to her heart everywhere she goes. Available in several enamel colors and a few different sizes this necklace makes the perfect gift! You can even add pictures of her child to make the give extra special when she opens it! Do you have any expecting or new moms in your life? What are you getting them for Mother's Day? Very Happy Gifting! ... VHM

When it comes to giving gifts from a child to a parent, at any age, it can be tricky. Parents have raised you and given you their love from the start so giving them a gift that speaks volumes can be difficult. My go to gifts for mothers are personalized gifts. Items from the heart that attempt to say, “thank you for all you’ve done over the years, you’ll never know how much I love and appreciate you!" Here are some gift ideas to help you speak from the heart! For the Mother that's a Chef or Baker: Personalized Pottery If your mother has a famous, take-it-to-the-grave, known for it, brings it to every party recipe, then may I suggest a gift from Prairie Hills Pottery. My mother has a pie recipe that she prides herself on and makes it for every Thanksgiving! So to honor her and her recipe I gave my mother this personalized pie dish. With Prairie Hills Pottery you can hand write a recipe and put it on a dish, or immortalize a loved one's hand writing. You take a hand written recipe from you mother, grandmother or and take a picture or scan into your computer. Since my Mother's handwritten recipe was pages (and pages) long, she is VERY thorough, I typed up the recipe and added a few graphics. The blur below is simply because well, it's a family recipe! If I see you at the next family wedding or reunion, it's all yours! With the vintage-esc color palette my graphic recipe is turned into an heirloom worthy pie plate. Again, the printing from Prairie Hills Pottery is crisp and clear, but the family recipe is top-secret, hence I added the blur! For the Mother that Loves to be Cozy: A Personalized Blanket If your mother loves to lounge, or loves a good home decor accent then she will love Swell Blankets! I these are so great because you can pick a luxe blanket or throw, compose a custom message to a loved one, pick your font and they will use it to create a custom tag on a beautiful blanket. For Christmas last year I gave my Mom a blanket from Swell and she loved it! It made her cry, and isn't that the true barometer of any Mom's happiness? For the Mother that's a Family Historian: Personalized Photography If your mother loves taking photos at family functions, loves archiving photos and perhaps is a scrapbooker, then she will appreciate this unique way to immortalize photos! The RetroViewer by Image3D is the cutest throw-back way to give photos. Available through Uncommon Goods and Image3D's own website. I purchased one of these for my friend who had a new grandson and kept emailing EVERYONE pictures. It was a great gift! Then going forward, you can keep creating and purchasing updated picture slides or re-purchase older slides for others. Those are my top ideas for personalized gift ideas for your one and only Mother who deserves nothing but the best! Does you Mom love personalized gifts? Very Happy Gifting! ... VHM

Taurus star sign dates: April 20 – May 20 The Taurus symbol is the Bull because of their resilience and stubbornness! And, like a bull, they can be both frighteningly fierce or serenely gentle. Taurus' are calm, organized and materialistic. They like the good things in life, and they have a hidden artistic/aesthetic side. Money is important to them because it provides security AND the ability to indulge in pleasure... both of which are their ‘catnip’. ... When I think of this description of a Taurus, I think of a dear friend of mine. This describes her to a T! Now, not all Taurus’ are the same but what she has in common with this description is that she is organized, materialistic, likes the good things in life and finds money important. If your Taurus is similar they will love these gift ideas! Their Materialistic Nature and Love of the Finer Things: Being materialistic isn't necessarily a bad thing and I'm not sure any of us would turn down "the finer things" if they were offered to us. This Taurus attribute makes me think that they will like established brands that scream luxury. A drybar gift certificate is the perfect way to allow your Taurus enjoy the finer things. If you're unfamiliar with drybar, they offer hair blowouts and styling which can be indulged in prior to a big event or to make an ordinary day feel extraordinary! This Slip Sleep Set is a little touch of luxury, great for anyone's bed. The silk pillowcase decreases friction on the face and hair and doesn't absorb moisture like a regular cotton pillowcase. Leaving your face and hair less frazzled in the morning. Their Love of Pleasure: When I read "Money is important to them because it provides security AND the ability to indulge in pleasure... both of which are their ‘catnip’." I immediately thought of experiential gifts! Gifts where you can pay to give them joy, pleasure, excitement etc. This big, cozy bathrobe is the perfect pairing to a spa gift certificate! Find their favorite local spa or one they've been dreaming of going to and slide the envelope into the opening of the robe so when it's opened there is a double surprise! I love Lids for their selection of caps for all sports! Find the perfect sporting event that will exhilarate you Taurus and pair it with a cap to wear to the game! Baseball, Basketball, Football, Soccer, what ever tickles their fancy! Organization: My Taurus friend writes everything down in a list, and has to tackle one obstacle at a time. If the Taurus in your life is anything like this then they will benefit in some lovely organizational accessories! I love these cord organizers because they are so chic and so useful! They also offers monogramming and you know a Taurus would love a little extra touch that makes these personal! This Tech Organizer is perfect for the purse, car or suitcase, this organizational insert keeps everything in its place and has a place for everything. Also, monogramming is available! Do these gifts fit the bill for your Taurus? What traits do they embody and what traits are absolutely NOT them? Very Happy Gifting! ... VHM

Giving the gift of food is always a great way to show you care. Everyone needs to eat! And a new wave of food gift packages is just a click away! We all know and love the classic food gift go-to's such as Harry and David, Gourmet Gift Baskets, and Stonewall Kitchen. And they are great! But if you’re looking for a new approach to food gifting check out these vendors. MOUTH Mouth has a variety of unique, foodie inspired gift boxes, but they are my go-to source for guy food gifts. They have boxes that will appeal to even the most discerning of gentlemen! Some of my favorite gifts are Bacon in a Box yes, you read that right! And Whiskey Business with whiskey inspired gifts, obviously. GOLDBELLY Goldbelly has an incredible selection of incredible food. I keep this source in my back pocket for travelers and friends who live away from their hometown. Goldbelly is great for being able to source that Philly Cheese-steak from Philadelphia, that Pizza from Chicago, that bar-be-que from Texas, that Pastrami from New York, and… well you get it… if you have a regional craving, Goldbelly’s got you covered. Me, myself, I’m a sucker for a good lobster roll. SPOONFUL OF COMFORT Spoonful of Comfort sends soul-warming, mouth-watering meal packages. This is such a lovely gift to send someone (or yourself) right now, to show how much you care and hope they are well. This also makes a great gift for someone that is sick or dealing with the loss of a loved one. JENI'S Delicious, mouthwatering ice cream is Jeni's specialty! I could go on and on about how I've personally over indulged but I won't. My flavor pick from Jeni's ice cream is Skillet Cinnamon Roll (pictured here). They also have collections for our current social distancing situation and create your own gift boxes. Milk Bar Milk bar specializes in cookies and edible cookie dough. "Did someone say cookies????" —said in an authentic Cookie Monster voice. Um, yes please! This adorable tin is a great gift to send to someone who is OBSESSED with cookies, myself or my niece comes to mind. She would love this tin, even after the cookies are gone! What foods are you craving right now? Very Happy Gifting! ... VHM

One of my favorite places to purchase gifts is on Etsy. With an immense assortment of crafters and makers, Etsy makes it super easy to support small businesses. Today's store feature is Tea Heritage. I love these uniquely shaped tea bags, they make the gift of tea so much more unique and personal. Check out these gift combinations to pair with Tea Heritage's super special tea bags. Perfect For: Your Bohemian Friend This combination of mug + tea + honey is perfect for your bohemian friend that is always positive! I also love this for an office gift exchange or for anyone who brings makes your day just a little bit happier. Perfect For: Your Outdoorsy Friend This cute combo of a forest mug, leaf shaped tea bags, and raw wild flower honey will keep your outdoorsy friend warm on any camping trip. Perfect For: Your Mother-In-Law This sophisticated pairing is perfect for your mother inlay or if you have an ornithologist friend, they will love this too! A subtle bird painted mug, a hummingbird shaped tea bag and lemon tea stirring spoon are the perfect thoughtful gift. I love how flexible and cohesive the same gift idea can be, and yet still really nail your gift recipient's taste and personality! Very Happy Gifting! ... VHM

I recently read an article about “inside clothes” and how some people have never heard the term used to describe the comfortable clothes we wear inside of our homes, and never wear outside. Even if we’ve never used the actual term “inside clothes” it’s fair to say that when you work in an office (usually) with any type of dress code, as soon as you come home you’re changing into something much more comfortable or straight into your pajamas. Now that we’re all stuck inside for a while, it’s a great time to upgrade your “inside clothes” and get some great gift ideas to upgrade the ones you love as well. Cue Beyoncé, “Let me upgrade you!” Here is my go-to formula for the coziest gifts and the best gift combos (or individual gifts) of the "stay inside" variety. Pajama Set + Comfy Cardigan + Soft Socks + A Personal Favorite = A Killer Cozy Gift All of the these items in this combination are pretty self explanatory except for the "personal favorite". That item is something that is special to the gift recipient that is that added cherry on top of this cozy gift. It could be their favorite book, a homey candle or a soft blanket. Cozy Gift Set Option One: This luxe cozy gift set features a comfy tee, leggings and cardigan from Lunya paired with Bare Necessities cozy socks and a Capri Blue Volcano candle from Anthropologie to really make anyone’s home feel luxurious and comfortable. Seriously, I do not know a single person who doesn’t love this candle. sweater | long-sleeved tee | legging | socks | candle Cozy Gift Set Option Two: This casual set features a comfy top and jogger pant as well as a super soft and chic Sherpa robe coat from Splendid. All paired with the cutest throw to allow anyone to look super put together, even their only going to their sofa! robe-coat | sweater | jogger pants | socks | blanket Cozy Gift Set Option Three: This chic set makes it impossible for anyone to feel blue! This satin camisole and jogger set pairs perfectly with a cozy cardigan and socks, just what you need to curl up with a best-selling book by Michelle Obama. cardigan | camisole | joggers | socks | book Hopefully you’ve found something for your coziest friend or family member, or for yourself. What do you think about “inside clothes” do you wear them? Do you love them? Very, Happy Gifting! … VHM

Easter is April 12th and although our Easter Day celebrations might be different this year amid the COVID-19 and social distancing orders, I’m still planning on sending some love to my niece! My niece is young so I wanted the basket to be bright and eye catching while still giving her parents a few things that they would use with/for her. Here are my tips for creating the perfect Easter basket for kids. Start with a show stopping basket! Think beyond the usual brown wicker basket. For anyone you are creating a basket for, think about unique types of baskets and containers to put your Easter goodies in. For your Mom, fill a new picnic basket or laundry basket. For your Dad, fill a tackle box. For your Husband, fill an ice chest cooler. For your wife, fill a purse or a tote bag. I found this bright happy face basket on sale at Pottery Barn Kids. They also have an incredible selection of super cute baskets for any child on your Easter list. Then add some on theme Easter gifts. After deciding on a basket, then add a few items that they will love for now and for years to come. Think about items to add that will be cohesive with the theme or color of the basket. Here are a few ideas on what to include: A cute piggy bank with a few dollars and some pennies to make it jingle just a little. A soft, stuffed animal toy Some Easter treats (if their parents will allow it) A book to read because learning is fun! In my basket for my niece I also included a wipe-clean place mat for her that her parents would also find useful. Add any additional gifts that your recipient will find personal and touching! What goodies are you including in your Easter gift baskets? ... VHM

Aries star sign dates: March 21 – April 19 Aries symbol: The Ram - because of Aries’ brave, tenacious ability to climb to the top of the mountain, no matter what. The first sign of the zodiac and maybe the ‘rawest’ in that they’re honest, spontaneous and open-hearted; there’s no subtlety or conniving sophistication with an Aries, they say it how they see it. They’re exceptionally competitive; everything’s a challenge and everyone’s a rival. Keep them on your side, or face a Battle Royale! … For these fierce competitors, I love playing on the theme of games! Do they have a favorite childhood game that you can give them and bring back all the feels? A game that brought out that first, initial spark of competition could be a great gift. Recently, I gave the Monopoly for Millennials game to a family member of mine who was obsessed with Monopoly as a kid and is a Millennial themselves, so this was perfect! As the cherry on top of this gift I hid some actual money inside of the game, along side with the game's Monopoly money. After tucking the cash safely inside, I wrapped up the gift and waited for them to play the game that would inevitably bring back memories as well as bring cash back to their pocket! Do you have an Aries in your life? What do you plan to get them for their birthday? ... VHM