Whenever the new year rolls around everyone has different resolutions. Whether it is to lose weight, have a healthier diet, or even try different recipes, it's always great to start the new year off by trying new things.

So when I received the Tasty Voxbox from Influenster last year, I was hesitant. There were some products I already knew I loved, but majority of those products were items I never wanted to taste or try.

For those of you that have never heard of the website Influenster, it is a website where members can leave product reviews and some lucky few get to actually test out some products for free! Members connect all their social media profiles, the more followers you have, the higher your influence. Every once and a while members get to take surveys to see if they match up for a product campaign, which are also known as Voxboxes. With the product campaigns, you get to test out some products and you are assigned optional social media tasks, the only requirement is to fill out the survey after! The best part is that, this website is 100% free! How cool is that?!

When 2017 came rolling around the corner, I decided this is the year I'm going to try new things. My first step towards this resolution was actually giving some of these products a chance.

Just to make everything completely clear, I received the following products complimentary to test and review. All thoughts and opinions are 100% my own.

Inside the Tasty Voxbox were the following products:

Splenda Naturals Stevia Sweetener

Frank’s Red Hot Original Cayenne Pepper Sauce

A Coupon For Smartmade by Smart Ones

French’s Orginal Crispy Fried Onions

A Coupon For Country Crock Buttery Spread

Yogi Tea Bags in Green Tea Blueberry Slim Life and Sweet Tangerine Positive Energy

Kashi Dark Cocoa Plant Protein Powder

Artificial sweeteners are always popular to use, especially for coffee or tea. People always pick the sugar substitute because it seems like the "healthier" option. That might be because they are low in calories. But most of the time, artificial sweeteners end up tasting a lot sweeter than actual sugar. But with the Splenda Naturals Stevia Sweetener, you get the sugar taste combined with the guilt free feeling because it is low calories, just like an artificial sweetener. But what's the difference? Well instead of using synthetic sugars, this type of Splenda sweeter uses natural and non-GMO ingredients. It has a Stevia extract which comes directly from the Stevia plant. So in short, it is like a healthy sugar alternative that tastes exactly like sugar! Sounds too good to be true right? Well us sugar lovers lucked out because it is as true as it can be!

When it comes to hot sauce, Frank’s Red Hot Original Cayenne Pepper Sauce is easily the best choice. Why? Well, the original sauce is made with a premium blend of aged cayenne peppers. It adds the perfect amount of spice and heat to all of your favorite foods. It really is the perfect balance of being not too hot while having a little kick, and it can be paired with anything. In fact, their slogan is "I put that s*** on everything," and you literally can. In all honesty, Frank's Red Hot Sauce has been my go to hot sauce for years and I really do put it on everything.

Microwaveable meals are always good go to meal, especially if you really don't have time to cook a full meal. But with most microwavable meals there are always problems. Either they're not too filling or they do not taste good at all. Smart Ones is known for their healthy and great tasting meals but now they have a new and different option: Smartmade by Smart Ones. Smartmade has a range of meals that are made just like you would make at home. They use ingredients and cooking techniques like grilling or roasting, and even added some even healthier options. Now if you're a vegetarian, there are only two vegetarian options, which is why I never redeemed the coupon. However, for all of the meat lovers out there, you're in luck. A majority of the Smart Made meals include meat.

The product that really made me step out of my comfort zone was French’s Orginal Crispy Fried Onions. I had no desire to try it, but nevertheless I stuck to my resolution and tried it. And to be quite honest, I did not (and still do not) understand the point of these. It is literally a box of chopped up onion rings. Personally, I would never add chopped up onion rings as topping to my salad or on my veggie burger. I even searched Pinterest to find a use for them, and nothing sounded good. And I certainly would not eat these as a snack. But to each their own.

In my family, our go to butter alternative is the Country Crock Buttery Spread. So when I saw the coupon for a free tub of Country Crock, I was stoked. When it comes to butter alternatives finding one that tastes just as good as butter but has fewer calories can be difficult to find. Country Crock's original buttery spread is made with real ingredients like a blend of oils, water and a pinch of salt. They also have at least 70% less saturated fat and 60% fewer calories compared to butter. Country Crock's buttery spread is a delicious alternative that can be used for just about anything! In fact, along with the coupon, Country Crock provided a cookie recipe. The Make It Yours Cookie Recipe is also on their website.

When it comes to tea, you either love it or you hate it. Personally, I strongly dislike most flavors. However, when I saw the Yogi Tea Bags in the Tasty Voxbox, I figured I'll give them a try, especially since the flavors I received were very intriguing. The two flavors I received were: Green Tea Blueberry Slim Life and Sweet Tangerine Positive Energy. The Green Tea Blueberry Slim Life tea, by far, was the superior sample. When you first take a sip of the tea it does not taste very strong, instead you get a subtle sweetness thanks to the blueberry flavor. But as you let the tea sit and absorb into the water it gets stronger by the second. The same goes with the Sweet Tangerine Positive Energy tea, it takes a bit to fully absorb into the water. But once it does, the taste is strong and any tea lover will enjoy it. The tangerine flavor is unique, but it gives the tea a sweet and fruity flavor. On the actually tea bags, they have compliments and encouragements on them! How sweet is that?

When you're a vegetarian or vegan, getting enough protein is always a main concern. Finding an alternative protein can be difficult, especially if you want something that tastes great. Most people go for a protein bar or shake, but most of the time those are not the tastiest. So when I saw the Kashi Dark Cocoa Plant Protein Powder in the box, I was hesitant to try it. I'm not a huge fan of protein shakes, but figured why not give it a try. Even though I'm not a big protein shake fan, Kashi's powder was actually pretty good! It contains 21g of plant protein, all while not containing any GMOs, be gluten free, and also be vegan friendly. This is a product that actually is really good for you. Mix this powder with your favorite kind of milk (or milk substitute) and maybe even add some other ingredients to have a filling meal while you're on the go. Or if you really want to get creative, add some powder to your favorite pancake mix and have some protein filled pancakes! Now that's really delicious.

Even though I was hesitant to try some of these snacks, I have to admit that Influenster was right, they were pretty tasty. Here's to the New Year and trying new things! Speaking of trying new things, join me on Influenster today! It's free, why not sign up and get one of these awesome boxes for yourself?

Until next time.

If you have no idea what to get someone or really do not want to buy anything huge, stocking stuffers will be your best friend this holiday season.

You can buy a stocking and even decorate it, especially if you feel like being really creative. Then add some little gifts and trinkets inside. And voila there's your gift! Here are some ideas for some great items to give as a stocking stuffer:

Travel Size Bath/Beauty Products: No one can really object to travel or miniature size bath or beauty products, they'll never go to waste. Shower gels, face washes, lip balms, Poo-Pouri, hair products, the options are literally endless. Travel size bath and beauty products are good for any person you're shopping for!

Tech Accessories: Little things like chargers, flash drives, screen protectors, battery packs, phone cases, and tech wipes are great gifts that are truly appreciated. They're things that you will need eventually at some point in time. Plus nowadays they make all kinds of little accessories for our smart devices.

Miniature Bottles of Liquor: Alcohol is always a great gift, especially if the person you're shopping for loves to enjoy an adult beverage or two. Plus the miniature liquor bottles are really cute and fit well in a stocking.

Socks: Nothing is better than a fun pair of socks or warm pair of slipper socks. They're so cozy and most of the time inexpensive. You can always find a fun pair of socks at almost every store especially during the holiday season. Plus it's a practical gift, who does not like or wear socks?

Candles: Candles are very popular to give during the holidays, and it's easy to see why. Many stores have holiday scented candles or you can go with something a little more basic. Candles are perfect for relaxing and they are always appreciated.

Fun Stationery: Stuff like crazy looking pens, funny tape dispensers, clever list pads, or even an adult coloring book are great little gifts, especially for the office supply lover. Plus it is extremely practical and it's more likely to get used at some point.

Sweet Treats: Most stores sell gift baskets full of sweet treats like candy, coffee, tea and etc. Plus there are plenty of holiday themed and limited edition treats out there. So why not put a few in a stocking, who would not like that?

Gift Card/Cash: When you're absolutely stuck on a gift and you waited until the absolute last minute, a gift card will be your best bet. Get them something practical, like a store they constantly shop at or their favorite restaurant. If none of that works, go for cash rather than one of those Visa or Amex gift cards, they charge an additional fee to activate them.

The best thing about stocking stuffers is that any kind of little item could work. Lots of stores sell fun little trinkets and gag gifts that you could use to fill up a stocking. Best part of giving a stocking full of little gifts? You don't really need to wrap it. Put the items in and some tissue paper and you're good to go! What are some of your go to gifts for stocking stuffers?

Until tomorrow.

The best part of the holiday season, hands down, is decorating the Christmas Tree. Getting to decorate the tree for the holidays with your loved ones is a big tradition for most families. Plus, we all know it's officially Christmas time when the tree comes out.

When it comes down to picking out a tree there are so many options. Some people have a fake tree they use every year, which is very smart and saves a bunch of money. While others purchase an actual real tree, that smells really good. Plus let's face it, real trees are much better and are more authentic than a fake free.

So when Christmas time comes around to the Simpson household, we like to go as a family to our local Christmas Tree lot and look for our perfect tree. Traditionally, our perfect tree is a 6 foot tree with heavy flocked tips. For those of you who have no idea, a flocked tree is a tree is a tree basically covered in artificial snow. So the Christmas Tree looks like snow has lightly fallen. Because even though we can't really have a white Christmas in Southern California, the flocking makes it feel more wintery and festive.

The next part of the process when it comes to prepping the tree is picking a theme. Yes, we're one of those families that comes up with a different theme for our tree each year. In the past we have had a Frozen themed tree, an Ireland themed tree and so many more that I can't even remember. A lot of the time, we pick a theme based off how the year has been.

This year, my mom originally planned to have a really depressing theme. She wanted to have a tree in mourning, and decorate it in all black. Shockingly, no store sells solid black ornaments, thank goodness. So instead of being completely morbid we decided to have a happier tree. So this year's theme was around the world! Normally whenever my family travels purchase an ornament from the vacation destination. So over the years, we've accumulated a lot of ornaments so it was something easy and simple to do! Plus, we won't be home this year for Christmas, so the travel theme really works this year.

I may be a little biased, but I think the tree looks amazing! Plus, how can you not love the warm feeling you get when you see or walk by the tree. Plus seeing all the presents under the tree gives you that warm and fuzzy feeling inside, even though those presents may not be for you. It's hard to not feel festive when you take the time to decorate and admire the tree.

And there you have it, you have now seen the Simpson's Christmas Tree! What does your Christmas Tree look like this year, do you have a theme or maybe a color scheme? Let me know! Also, tweet me pictures of your Christmas Tree at @heykaitlinmary I'd love to see your Christmas Tree pictures this year!

Until tomorrow.

Sometimes during the holiday season, you just need to treat yourself. Most likely, there will be amazing sales anywhere you go! It's going to be really tempting, so if you find something you like for a great price why miss out? Nothing is worse than feeling like you missed out, especially if it's something you've been eyeing for quite some time. Plus we all have that one store that always has something we want or need. For me, that store is LOFT.

For those of you that do not know about LOFT, it is a magical and heavenly store that sells clothes and accessories that you can wear at home or even at your workplace. Basically, they have all kinds of wonderful things! LOFT is part of the Ann Taylor family, however it is the lower-priced and more casual young sister of Ann Taylor. Basically, LOFT is a store for the stylish and professional fashionista.

But anyways, the real reason why I got to do a little shopping at LOFT was because my Mom got some LOFT cash when she went shopping there last month. To simplify it, LOFT cash is basically a coupon rebate. Sometimes LOFT will have different weeks throughout the year where they will give out LOFT cash. Most of the time, you have to spend $50 to get $25 LOFT cash. Normally you get almost a month to earn these coupon rebates and then once that earning period is over you have a week to spend whatever LOFT cash you earned. So anyways, my Mom went shopping during the earning week and was kind enough to let me use her LOFT cash during the redeem period. So here are a few of the things I got:

Right now, flannel and plaid anything is all the rage. Which makes sense, because the print is cute and most of the time it will keep you warm. So at LOFT, I purchased two plaid items: a plaid infinity scarf, which is pictured, and a lightweight plaid tunic which sadly is not pictured.

The plaid infinity scarf is literally the warmest and softest scarf I have ever touched. It's so comfortable and easy to wear. Plus, what's really cool about this scarf is that it has a different print on each side of the fabric. The front is a blue and green plaid while the back is a black and white houndstooth. So it's basically a reversible scarf! You can mix and match the patterns and surprisingly they go well together, they do not clash one bit. The plaid tunic is a thin long sleeve shirt. The shirt is a lightweight blouse with 3/4 sleeves and is a little on the long side.

The last shirt is a black sleeveless peplum top. In the picture it looks brown but it is definitely black. This shirt is on the short side because it is a petite top. One of the great things about LOFT is that they do sell petite clothing, so to my fellow short people you can find great quality and reasonably priced clothing that does fit true to size.

Last but certainly not least, I got the one item I was lusting over. That's right. It's a unicorn sweater. They physically did not carry it in the store closet to me. So I had to order it online. I'm always a sucker for a good sweater. But what is the real selling point is the unicorn, aka the greatest animal of all time. The sweater fits well and while also being really comfortable and cozy.

LOFT is one of my favorite stores and whenever I go there, I have no problem finding something I like. All their clothes and accessories are great quality and are worth the price you pay. Check out their website, most of their winter items, like sweaters, outerwear, and accessories are 50% off! Now, you tell me, what is your go to clothing store? Or what store can you always find something you either really want or need?

Get out there and treat yourself!

Until tomorrow.

Living in a place where winter means 60 degrees is cold, it's safe to say that cold weather is not my speciality.

So having to travel to a place where winter actually exists can be a little challenging. Especially when there are so many restrictions when it comes to traveling nowadays. The best thing to do when you travel is to pack as light as you can. The less stuff you have to drag around, the better!

Here are some of the tips and tricks I've learned when it comes to packing light, especially for colder weather:

Bulky sweaters are always a great go to when it comes to cold weather. However, when you're trying to pack they're not so great. They may keep you warm but they take up so much room in your suitcase. If you have space for bulky sweaters, pack as many as you can! But, if your space is limited take less big sweaters and pack more tops that can be used as layers. With a variety of options you'll be able to mix and match to create a new look each day. Also don't forget your accessories! Hats, gloves, and scarves will freshen up your look. Plus it's easier to pack more smaller accessories rather than bringing extra tops and sweaters.

When it comes to pants, there's not much you can do to keep warm. Sure you can wear leggings or tights underneath but doubling up on pants is not comfortable. Jeans will always be your best bet! Also, the best thing to do is to pack socks that you know will keep your feet and legs warm. Pro tip: knee high socks will be a life saver and keep your legs super warm. And for shoes, your best bet will be boots. Whether it's combat boots or UGG boots, you want something that will keep your feet warm.

But the most important thing to remember when you're packing for colder weather is to not pack your heaviest and bulkiest items. Instead, you will want to wear them or carry them while you travel. This works best especially when it comes to bringing a coat. Plus you will only need one coat, so that will save a lot of room in your suitcase, especially if you wear or carry it.

The best thing to do when you're packing is to always be prepared. Make a list of everything you want to bring and especially what you will need to bring. If you're really concerned about space in your suitcase, invest in packing cubes! They'll help you organize your suitcase and all of your items.

So there you have it, that's my quick little guide and a couple of tips for packing for colder weather. What are some tricks you have up your sleeve when you pack for a trip?

Until tomorrow.

Something that every person from Southern California knows is that we're completely spoiled. California is the greatest place to live, and that's mainly because we have the best weather in the world. No one can fight us on this. Sure it does not rain or snow a lot and we're constantly in a drought, but hey you win some and you lose some.

California in the the winter is like everywhere else in the fall or towards the end of it. The temperature is a high of 70 degrees and depending on the day it can get as low as the 50s, and on very rare occasions it can get down to the 40s. The only thing is that during the winter, that is when California is supposed to get its rain.

So if we don't get snow or a lot of rain, what do us native Californians do in the winter for fun? Well, there's lots of things to do that are special to California and there are some normal winter activities we participate in.

Just because we live in California, that does not always mean we haven't seen snow. In fact, we have plenty of snow towns that are a couple of hours away. Lots of people will travel to these towns for a weekend getaway. See, us Southern Californians are smart. Instead of living in the snow, we travel to it. One of the most popular getaways in Southern California is a trip to Big Bear. Big Bear is a cute mountain town with several ski and snowboarding resorts. But for a further trip there are other ski resort towns up in Northern California like Lake Tahoe and Mammoth Mountain.

Plus if we really want to stay local but still see snow, plenty of theme parks will re-create that snow feeling. Disneyland will create snow for their holiday firework show and Knotts Berry Farm has holiday music and falling snow on Ghost Town’s Main Street. However, you won't find any snow at Universal Studios but you will see The Grinch and rest of the residents from Whoville.

The same goes with the outdoor seasonal ice rinks. Every major city has their fancy outdoor ice skating rink but what's so cool about California's outdoor ice skating rinks is that you get to skate under the sunshine with some gorgeous almost summer like weather. What could get better than that?

One of the best things to do in the winter in California is to go whale watching. During this time gray whales are migrating from Alaska and are heading south to Mexico. They migrate to Mexico in the early winter and return to Alaska in February and March. Lots of coastal cities offer boat tours for whale watching. They'll take you out so you can watch the whales swim by.

Since we're already on the topic of the ocean, why not take a trip down to beach? Sure it may be a little cool with the ocean breeze and the water will be freezing, but there's nothing like sitting on the beach with a blanket and a comfy sweatshirt. Plus you can always have a bonfire!

As you can see, California has it all. We don't get to miss out on winter, instead we have things that make winter even better. Have you ever seen a palm tree with Christmas lights on it? It's pretty cool. California has everything you want and need. I might be a little biased when I say this but California really is the best state. Now you tell me, what's winter time like where you're from?

Until tomorrow.

One thing that really seems to be forgotten during the holiday season is giving. Sometimes the focus is solely on the sales and presents. But what is more important is that we focus on what the holidays are all about, giving back.

Here are some ways that you can give back this holiday season:

Use AmazonSmile. AmazonSmile is a way to support your favorite charities while you shop on Amazon. All you have to do is use the link: smile.amazon.com, sign in to Amazon, and then choose a charity. There are over one million charities to choose from and Amazon will donate 0.5% of your purchase price to charity of your choice.

Visit A Nursing Home. Nursing homes can be pretty lonely, especially during the holidays. So why not take some time out of your busy schedule and spend some time chatting with a senior citizen. Maybe bring them a holiday card to get them in the spirit.

Donate Toys and Clothing. Why wait until spring to do some decluttering? Why not take the time to go through your unused toys and clothes and donate them. Local shelters and churches will take these donations and put them to good use. There are also organizations like Toys For Tots and the Salvation Army who also take any kind of donation.

Adopt A Family. Lots of local organizations and religious groups can give you the opportunity to sponsor a family in your area. When you sponsor a family, you help provide them Christmas. What that means is that you will provide food for their meal and some presents. It's a great way to help a family in need!

Donate Can/Boxed Food To A Food Bank. During the holiday season, your local food banks could always use extra items. Why not donate a couple extra food items to those in need? There's probably plenty of cans or boxed food items in your pantry that you don't need right away.

Anonymously Pay For Someone’s Lay-Away. When you put items on lay-away, you pay a deposit to secure an item for later purchase. This can be paid off by using a payment plan or paying it off in full when you can. For those who are tight for money or have bad credit, it is a popular alternative for holiday shopping. If you really want to give back, you can go to stores like Wal-Mart or K-Mart and anonymously pay off the rest of someone's lay-away balance. The family will get a call and they can come retrieve their items. It's a great way to really make someone's holiday.

Volunteer At A Shelter/Soup Kitchen. Not everyone has lots of money to donate to charity, so something even better that you can do is donate your time. Any kind of shelter or soup kitchen can always use extra help no matter what time of the year. Donating your time and energy is a really valuable and gratifying experience.

Do A Simple Act Of Kindness. Sometimes people can be selfish, so why not do something small that could really make someone's day. Why not pay it forward when in line at your favorite coffee house and buy a drink for the person behind you? Or give a generous tip to a waiter or server. Or maybe buy a homeless person something to eat! Anything small like that really could brighten someone's day, and it could inspire them to be just as kind and generous as you.

If you decide to give back somehow during the holidays this year, just remember it's not a competition. It doesn't matter how big or small your gesture is, what really matters is that you decided to take the time to be selfless. Whether you donate money, items, or your time, someone will appreciate the effort you made. So tell me, how do you plan to give back during the holidays?

Until tomorrow.

Last night, country music star Kelsea Ballerini performed in Downtown LA at the Wiltern for a sold out crowd. For those of you who do not listen to country music or have been living under a rock, Kelsea Ballerini is the newest and next big thing in country music. Think of her as a combination of Carrie Underwood and Taylor Swift. In fact she was recently nominated for Best New Artist at the Grammys.

The show was brought to you by Go Country 105, LA's hottest country music station. Their street team was at the venue passing out all kinds of swag like chapstick and mints.

The opening act was Australian country music singer Morgan Evans, who is actually Ballerini's boyfriend. His style of music is very similar to another Australian country star, you might know him, the one and only Keith Urban. Charming and talented, it's easy to see why Ballerini is dating him and picked him to open for her in Los Angeles. In fact, he said his "one job was to get everyone ready for Kelsea," which he definitely did.

Once it hit 9:00 pm, the lights dimmed and Ballerini's name was lit up on the backdrop after an epic light show that certainly hyped up the crowd. She came out in an adorable sparkly pink and blue dress (or romper, it was hard to tell) and started the show with her latest hit, "Yeah Boy," which got everyone off their feet. That wasn't the only feel good song you could dance to. In fact most of the show was filled with songs that did just that. Especially songs like "Square Pegs," "Dibs," and "XO."

It was not all one big dance party, Ballerini slowed it down a couple times to sing some of her ballads, like her big hit "Peter Pan" and "Stilettos" a song off her debut album. Besides singing some of her biggest hits and the other songs off her album, she also sang a couple of new songs from the newest album that she has already started working on. Also what's a concert without a couple of cover songs? Ballerini covered two of her favorite songs: one country song and one pop song. She sang David Allan Coe's "Tennessee Whiskey" and Adele's "Send My Love (To Your New Lover), absolutely beautifully.

Ballerini ended the show with an encore that she performed within the audience. She was set up on the side of the pit filled with her biggest fans who kept trying to get a selfie with the star. This moment captured what Ballerini wants all her shows to be like, a great time for all her fans and friends.

Last night's stop in Los Angeles was the seventh stop on Ballerini's The First Time Tour. And yes you guessed it, this was her first ever headlining tour. She just finished performing shows on the East Coast and is now headed to Las Vegas and Texas to wrap up her tour. If you're in the area, check out her show, you won't regret it! And if you missed her this time, she should be back with another tour sometime in the future!

Until tomorrow.

When it comes to Christmas shopping, sometimes it can hard to find the right gift. Yesterday I made up a little gift guide for him. So today, I thought I'd do the same, except this time we'll be focusing on what the ladies want for Christmas this year. So for all you guys and girls out there who are stuck on what to buy your mother, sister, girlfriend, or even a friend, this guide is for you!

Makeup. For the beauty lover in your life, you can't go wrong with one of the hottest makeup palettes this year. The Urban Decay Naked palette has been a popular palette for the past couple of years. However this year other brands are trying to give Urban Decay a run for their money. Too Faced has their Chocolate Bar palette, Anastasia Beverly Hills has their Modern Renaissance palette, and Tarte has their own Tartelette Amazonian Clay Matte Eyeshadow palette. Even Sephora came out with their Disney inspired Minnie Mouse palette. There are so many different palettes, odds are your beauty guru does not have all of them. But if she does have all the latest palettes try a beauty subscription service! Even beauty subscription services like Birchbox offer a gift option!

Jewelry. Jewelry is always an easy gift. Bracelets, necklaces, rings or earrings, the options are endless! If you're looking for something sentimental Alex and Ani is your best bet. They offer a variety of bangles and each one of their bracelets has a meaning and symbol behind it. Also you don't always have to a big name jewelry store to get a a great gift. Brands like Kate Spade and Betsey Johnson have a great jewelry selection!

Tumbler or Travel Mug. If your girl is always on the go, odds are she functions daily because of coffee. Tumblers and travel mugs are always great to have. She can make her coffee before she goes out for the day and use her travel mug daily. Or, if she prefers to stop on the way and buy her coffee she can take the mug in to her favorite coffee shop. Sometimes those coffee stores will offer a discount if you bring in your own cup. Plus they're always cute to have!

Stationery. An easy go to gift for a girl who always loves to be organized is stationery. A nice journal, planner, or even a pen set can be a great gift. A nice notebook or journal is always needed no matter what age you are. Plus with the New Year coming up, it could be a great and useful gift!

Mermaid Blanket. These blankets are all the rage right now. The mermaid blanket is a blanket that is shaped like a mermaid tail. What girl would not like this gift? Plus if your special lady loves to get all cozy and cuddle by the TV and watch Netflix this may be the perfect gift.

Bath Products. I don't know any woman who would turn down any kind of bath gift set. Bath bombs, lotions, perfumes, shower gel, any kind of product like that is an easy gift to give. Stores like LUSH or Bath and Body Works already have gift sets made up, all you have to do is pick the fragrance.

Recipe Book/Baking Supplies. We all know that one girl who is obsessed with searching new recipes on Pinterest. There are so many different kinds of books filled with all kinds of recipes. If she doesn't like books and would rather stick to Pinterest get her some supplies! Cookie cutters, frosting kits, or even one of those really pretty and fancy mixing bowls would make your aspiring chef/baker happy.

And voila! Those are some of the few gift ideas that pretty much any woman would like or at least appreciate. Hopefully these gift ideas inspired you and now you know what to get that special lady in your life. What are some of your go to gift ideas for women?

Until tomorrow.

Shopping for men can be very tricky, especially for the important men in your life. I know when I need to buy a gift for my brother, my dad, or my boyfriend, I'm always stumped for ideas. So this year I thought I'd get a head start and create a little gift guide to help ease the process.

Wallet. Something every man needs is a nice wallet, and it is easy to find a nice wallet for a decent price. Stores like Marshalls, TJ Maxx, and Nordstrom Rack sell designer wallets for a reasonable price.

Comfy Socks, Slippers or Loungewear. It's safe to say that men like to be comfortable, especially after a long day. So why not treat your special guy to a fun pair of socks or some comfortable loungewear. Odds are he will appreciate it and get a lot of use out of it.

Alcohol. If the man you are shopping for is of the legal drinking age, alcohol is always a safe bet. Beer, wine, or liquor, you really can't go wrong with that. A lot of stores will have gift sets for wine or liquor, and some stores will have special variety packs of beer. But if you're not sure what type of alcohol to buy, a flask or any kind of alcohol accessory should work nicely.

Watch. Just like every women should have a nice professional purse, a man needs a nice professional watch. Which is why watches are a very popular gift during the holiday season. The only problem is that they can be pretty pricey, especially the really nice ones. But thanks to outlet stores like Nordstrom Rack or Saks Off 5th, you can actually find a decent deal for a really nice watch.

Tech Accessories. We have that one guy in our life who is obsessed with technology and wants/has all the latest gadgets. Just because they have everything from a MacBook to an iPhone, that does not mean they all have all the accessories to go along with it. Speakers, headphones, cases, sleeves and etc, there are plenty of options for the tech obsessed guy in your life!

French Press/Espresso Maker. For the coffee lover you can't go wrong with a french press or espresso maker, especially if they love strong coffee. You don't need to go out and buy them a really fancy coffee maker. In fact, stores like Marshalls, TJ Maxx, and Homegoods have really nice french presses and espresso makers for a decent price. Plus you can always pick up a nice bag of coffee there to go with it.

Backpack or Duffle Bag. For the traveler or student in your life, a nice backpack or duffle bag is a great gift. Especially if they are always on the go whether it be on a vacation or constantly running around because of a busy schedule.

Cologne. Cologne is always an easy go to gift for a man, especially if you know what scent they like. Cologne is expensive but most stores like Sephora or Macy's will have sales on fragrances or offer some kind of deal. Sometimes they even offer a sample pack of different colognes.

Sports Merchandise or Tickets. For any sports lover, an easy go to gift is any kind of merchandise that reps their favorite team. If you want to go all out, surprise them with tickets to a game. That's an experience you can share and spend some time with your favorite guy.

And there you have it, just a few little gift ideas for the men in your life. These gift ideas can give you some inspiration if you're stuck on a gift for your father, brother, boyfriend or even your best friend. Now you tell me, what is your go to gift for some of the men in your life?

Until tomorrow.