Holiday Gift Guide: For the Francophile in your life

Everyone has that friend: the one that is obsessed with everything French. It's not a bad thing, and being an expat living in France, I often fall into that category myself. It can be difficult to pick quintessential "french" things for a francophile, because they probably know exactly what quintessential French they are currently coveting. Don't fall into the trap of "oh this says something in French! I don't care what it says, it's in French!" and "oh this says Paris on it, let's get it for them!" Below you will find a whole slew of goodies that are unique for your Francophile to love.

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Stripes from St. James are a French staple...

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Wooden macarons for the little Francophile love in your life. Or grab some real ones from Laduree...

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Bistro chairs such as this one just scream Parisian cafe...

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French rain boots for the whole family, since 1853. 

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Your French is showing boys...and how cute it is! Marinieres all around!

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A little Tour Eiffel to hold all of their bijoux...

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And speaking of Laduree, a book from the best macaron house in all the land...

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A great French rain coat, which comes in both kid and adult sizes...just saying.

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A beautiful leather carrier and opener for pedaling with a fancy bottle of Bordeaux to all of their chic dinner parties...

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...or some fancy French crystal wine glasses to sip it in.

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Or how about a nice french pot to prepare their own dinner parties? (Because once you go cast iron it can be very difficult to go back...)

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Rotating wall mounted soaps are very common here in France...

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Le Parfait is to France what Ball Jars are to the US. Whether you friend annually cans all their preserves in these jars, or uses them to hold dry goods or leftovers (like we do!), these jars will be a hit for the Francophile in your life.

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For the babe of a Francophile..and it happens to be one of Oswin's favorite books. 

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Matchy matchy pom pom hats for babes and adults...or just for you. Whatever.

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This coat is so adorably French to me, and not just because it's called the Colette Coat...

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Breakfast is the most important meal of the day...and a french breakfast tends to be pretty tasty. Prep that little one for their eventual study abroad with some playtime petit dejeuner toys...

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Whether they're heading to a Farmer's Market in Omaha or an outdoor market under the Metro in Paris, this carry all will help them shop as the French do...

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Why buy french butter cookies when they can make their own with this rolling pin and cookie cutter?

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Sure, sure, you could get that Francophile loved one in your life a nice bottle of French champagne, but why stop there: I offer up to you, the champagne saber. Yes, this is a real thing. Yes, it is used to snap the neck off of a bottle of champagne, as in let's break some glass, but cleanly. Here's a great video to give you a better idea. Napoleon's armies made this manner of celebration, called Sabrage, popular in France after some of their victories by choosing to open bottles of champagne with their weapon of choice, their sabers. Champagne sabers are still sold today, and OH MY GOD DO I EVER WANT ONE. (Not to actually use of course, I enjoy my champagne sans chards of glass, but just to have it. I am obviously a very responsible adult.)

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Oooorrr, if the champagne saber isn't quite their style, how about a little more of a low key present from French Knife Company Laguiole: a cheese knife and board set that happens to be in the shape of France...

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And how cute are these tea cups? These couples sets were very popular in France in the 50s and 60s. I have nothing else to say about them except that they're cute and would make most any Francophile smile on a Saturday morning. 

There has been a lot of talk around the interwebs this year on non-present-presents: i.e. nothing new to clutter up the home or put more emphasis on material goods. In the spirit of non-present-presents, how could we relate that back to the Francophile? Well, how about signing up to take an introductory French course together? Or a wine tasting class? Or tickets to their favorite french artist's exhibit at a local museum? Or find a theater where a French movie is playing, and go see it (all while sneaking in a little bottle of wine and some cheese). Get creative! 

And what about stocking stuffers, you ask? 

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I will never ever ever get comfortable with quadrille paper, no matter how long I remain obsessed with all things French. But hey, when in France, am I right?

You could also stick a copy of French Vogue (often found in bookstores like Barnes and Noble), a nice bottle of French wine (which can you find at your local wine and spirits store), or hey, two tickets to Paris if you're feeling spendy...because after all, sometimes the best things do come in small packages. 

A la prochaine friends...

Honey 

Holiday Gift Guide: For the Blogger in your life

Stumped on what to get your best blogging bud for the holidays this year? Well don't worry, we've got you covered. From the expensive to the not-so-much-so, there's something for every blogger on your list. 

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As a blogger I always have some form of a camera with me, and lately I've been my reaching for my DSLR. A pretty camera bag that doubles as a purse would make a lot of on-the-go bloggers feel put together and ready to shoot, all while protecting their fancy shmancy camera. (And here's one for the dude bloggers, or the chicks who want something a little more messenger bag-ish...)

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Recently I picked up a copy of a vintage French gardening encyclopedia from an antique store, and not only was it leather, but it had the previous owners initials embossed on it. And then I realized I was missing something from my life: personalized leather bound books. Cut to today (and pretty much every writing day) where I find myself at a loss for words, and this personalized Thesaurus hits the mark. I'd pick the navy one, which one would you choose? (They also have a Dictionary option...)

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Sometimes the internet can get you down. Don't let your blogging friend forget how dope they AND their blog are...

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One day I'll have a desk. And when I do it will have pretty jadeite desk accessories...

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This lovely leather sleeve from Winter Session would make a lovely carrying case for any bloggers ipad...and it can be personalized. (Are we sensing a theme here? If you like it put some initials on it...)

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I probably sound a bit like a broken record when it comes to Sakura Bloom slings, but they're worth the hype. Half the time it's the only way I can get anything done, and that often included blogging when Oswin was just a wee thing. Now they come in most handy when we're adventuring, which let's face it, always leads to a blog post. 

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A beautiful woodcut of their favorite place on the planet to hand on a wall and keep them inspired would be nice...

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Coffeecoffeecoffeecoffee....this is a present for anyone, especially those who happen to be obsessed with monochromatic Swiss Crosses.

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When all the little one wants to do is play on your laptop, how about giving them their own? (I bet Oswin is naturally better at html than I am anyway...)

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A lot of bloggers work from home, which means all the perks of home...like slippers that don't look like slippers...

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Whether they work in an office, or just on that certain corner of the couch, a print connecting the inspiration for their blog to their work space would be a nice added touch...

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A beautiful vessel to hold beautiful blooms...

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For those cold and late nights where your friend is burning the blogging midnight oil, a cozy blanket to keep the creative juices flowing...

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Get 'em 'gramming early I say! A little wooden camera to keep the little ones occupied while your blogger friend is tackling the social media side of blogging...

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...and their own little wooden phone to Instagram their fake pictures with.

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Blog on my friends...

What would you choose?

A la prochaine friends...

Honey 

Holiday Gift Guide: A Cozy Winter's Day

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Today's gift guide is for those on your list that love a cozy winter's day spent indoors. And let's face it, even the most outdoorsy on your list enjoy one of those days now and again. Some hot coffee, a wool blanket, some tasty treats, a great book, you get the picture. So go pour yourself something nice and warm, and let's get started, shall we? 

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I'm a huge fan of this Scandinavian style wool blanket from BOTEH...and pretty much everything else in their shop. 

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How adorable is this Tilo nightgown from La Coqueta for the little ladies in our lives? I'm pretty sure this would make every morning feel like Christmas morning at our house...

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I'm not gonna lie, I would LIVE in this waffle crew sweater. My goodness. HATCH really has nailed the clothes to wear before, during and after pregnancy genre, and this sweater is a testament to that. I'm also a big fan of their cashmere joggers. (I have a pair from a few seasons ago that I adore.)

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A lovely crocheted pillow to make watching movies with the family a little cozier...because let's be serious, half of the people end up watching on the floor, am I right? 

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Isn't this just a gorgeous piece of coffee equipment to add to any coffee-addicts collection? What is a cozy winter day (or any day for that matter) without a cup of quality jo? This coffee pour over is crafted from brass and American walnut, and is adjustable to fit over your mug or decanter. And how pretty would it look on display when it's not being used?

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...because you are. 

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For those moments when little people get cabin crazy and need to get outside to throw a snowball or five...fuzzy earmuffs!

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This has been on my personal wishlist for a long time now. What a beautiful hood scarf! It would be a great accompaniment for throwing on with your pjs and coat for that ten minute snowball throwing session outside...

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It's Laduree and it's a candle. You really can't go wrong.

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Nothing says luxurious lounging like a pair of cashmere socks. These are also being offered by HATCH, as they are now carrying a select curated collection of goods to treat yourself. 

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Let's not leave our little ladies out of the cozy sock game: how about some knitted lace socks? These are so adorable I want a pair of my own.

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A little indulging never hurt, especially when it's from Whimsy and Spice. These cookies would go great with a cup of coffee or tea. Their marshmallows are also always a big hit! 

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And about that tea...how about picking them up some fancy French tea from Mariage Freres? We're big fans of their smokey earl grey...

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I'm a big fan of these crocheted lace up slippers...

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A cozy day is not complete without a book to keep you company. And if that book happens to be a beautiful one from Folio Society, well, all the better...

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Sometimes a new doll can help pass the time on a cold and blustery day. These dolls from Humblehouse Handmade are a big hit with Oswin. 

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And last but far from least, what would a cozy weekend in be without some cute pjs? 

What are some must haves on your cozy gifting wishlist? I'd love to hear them!

A la prochaine friends...

Honey 

PS: This is NOT a sponsored post. These are all items I happen to really dig, and thought you might too.