Hello and Happy Friday!
At this point, there is really no use in denying that the holiday’s are just around the corner. I’m officially kicking off this holiday season here at homestilo with some themed gift guides by some lovely fellow bloggers. This series is a sort of gift from me to you and I hope you enjoy it as much as I know I will.
First up, Erin from like / want / need shares some French/Parisian inspired picks…Ooh la la!
•••
Hello! I’m Erin from like / want / need and I am both a raging Francophile and a shopping addict. Thankfully, Santa knows my strengths and has generously asked me to compile a Paris-themed Holiday Gift Guide. How could I say “non”? Everything is under $60, which is way cheaper than a trip to Paris, and perfect if you are like moi and love a good bargain. Without further ado, here are 13 gift ideas for that special someone in your life who pretends they are Parisian and maybe wears a beret everywhere (ahem).
1. Mariage Frères tea / $24 The most délicieux tea, from the oldest operating tea house in Paris (established in 1854!). You don’t have to go all the way to Paris to buy it, though the selection is obviously more extensive. My favorites are Paris Breakfast and Vanille des Iles.
3. 2013 Wall Calendar / $22 – Ironically, this wall calendar is printed in Italy, on gorgeous cream card stock but features vintage maps and posters from turn-of-the-century Paris.
4. Masterpieces of the Louvre / $60 – Visit (or revisit) the classic masterpieces housed inside the Louvre. A perfect coffee table book (en Francais!) to brush up on your art history. I tried seeing everything in the Louvre in one visit, and il n’est pas possible. This helps you cheat a little bit.
5. French Toast bread stamp / $6 – Super whimsical and fun, simply stamp it onto a soft piece of bread and then toast or fry it up. Voila! Edible Eiffel Towers. Of bread. Win-win.
6. Paris Neighborhoods Pillow / $39 – Your sofa will be instantly more chic with this hand-hooked wool pillow. Pick a neighborhood, day-dream about living there, and take a nap. That might just be my plan, but feel free to share.
7. Set of 3 Notebooks / $10 – Nothing says “Parisian” like a passionate writer, so toss one of these mini notebooks in your bag and use it to scribble down ideas for novels, blog posts, grocery lists, or your phone number for a particularly dashing gent.
8. Macaron scented candle / $27 – This should be a no brainer. I’ve never met a macaron I didn’t like, and this candle lets you enjoy that sugary sweetness without adding a single calorie.
9. Washi tape / $13 – Decorative paper tapes are really having a moment, and now you can get crafty with this set of 5 rolls, each featuring a different Parisian motif. You could wrap presents with them, but they might be too pretty to use.
10. “Bienvenue” Enamel sign / $11 – Enamel signs are so quintessentially French. I’ve always wanted a vintage street sign, but I could easily settle for this smaller sign to welcome guests. Bienvenue! Erin fun fact: my 10th grade French text book was called Bienvenue.
11. Vintage Air France tin / $42 – I love the distressed, real-vintage look of this tin. You could use it purely for decoration, or you could stash love notes or vacation souvenirs in. You could even hide it behind a wall tile in your bathroom and hope that in 40 years a young waitress from Montmartre finds it and returns it to you, setting her on a quest to do good. Oh, nope, wait, that’s the plot of “Amélie.”
12. “Cafe et Cigarette” Print / $6 – An absolute steal for a reprint of a Roger-Viollet historic archival photograph. This is a more subtle way to bring Paris into your home, without being all Eiffel-Tower-and-poodles-in-neckerchiefs. Don’t you wonder what those two ladies are discussing? Probably how impossibly chic and fabulous they are.
There you have it! Joyeux shopping, mes amies! And thank you again Santa for having me! bisous xo
These are all great selections! I esp love the frenh toast stamp! I need to get one 🙂
Bread stamp is very cute!
Quel Surprise!!! And a macaron scented candle features too, ha! I forgot to tell you that Laduree in Rome had a queue a mile long to get into it. Yes, even the Italians have Laduree fever x
I didn’t go in, boooo! x
Love all of Erin’s pick – the French toast stamp made me laugh!
Thank you for having me, Santa! I swear, I made out better in this arrangement: I got to blab about Paris somewhere else! 🙂 xoxo
Merci beaucoup to YOU Erin! (I think now every home will have a toast stamp 😉
love these. i am thinking i will probably need to be getting that calendar. i also adore the little french toast stamp and purchased one last year as a little stocking stuffer.
Awesome selections, Erin. I love that vintage tin…who doesn’t need more vintage tins, oui? But OMG, that French toast stamp? That’s an absolute must-have!
Love love love! Don’t mind me if I starting sending this link out as my Christmas Wish because you pretty much covered all the bases! That pillow would totally match my Postes France pillow that I got for xmas last year! And I am totally swooning over here for that vintage Air France tin. I’ve always been a Pan Am kind of girl since they no long exist, but Air France is just as lovely 🙂
Perfect, now I know what to get you for Christmas! 😉 Of course all your picks are fabulous. You did have me at number 1 – The stunning tea tin. I might have to buy it just for the packaging. I’m so into black and gold right now.
Excellent choice in picking Erin to kick off your holiday guide, Santa. Looking forward to more!
Ooooo, so many great things! I’m after that tape! My mum and sister are in paris right now and they keep texting me saying things like ‘just having a glass of champagne under the eiffel tower’ I mean, is that really necessary when I’m sitting at home in the grey in Sweden?
Oh Niki, that’s just mean! But hopefully they’ll bring back some awesome pressies- like the items above from Erin’s list!
Que linda tu selección de imágenes inspiradas en París. Ame ese cojín con MontmatreOooh amo París
Cariños
What a fab selection, I never knew there was such a thing as a Francophile! Love the washi tape and the Macaron scented candle. x
Ooooh I’ll take it ALL thank you very much! I’ve got a birthday coming up too so don’t mind if I do put these beauties on my list too! (Macaron scented candle = genius)!
oh I love that photo Erin. I can totally see you and me in Paris dressed like that x
Très chic Erin! Looking forward to see who will be participating and what themes they chose for their gift guides. I definitely need some inspiration for my christmas presents…