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Theme 36: Holiday Season. Gift guide for Outlander fans!

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Well it is this time of the year when we are all trying to find perfect gifts for our friends and family! Black Friday, Cyber Monday and pre-Christmas sales are approaching and I will definitely be sharing some extra valuable insider information and show you some of the best shopping,  deals of 2017. But most of all I want to give you more personalized gift guides that will be fun, useful and will make your holiday gift shopping a little bit more easier :)

Today I am launching my OUTLANDER FANS GIFT GUIDE that I will be updating whenever I find something beautiful or fun to add to this handpicked selection of Outlander inspired gifts, books and fashion items. I am myself a huge fan of Diana Gabaldon's book series and The Outlander TV show, so I really enjoyed putting this together, and now I am (casually) sending this list to my friends (hint! hint!).

Nollaig Chridheil, lasses! May you find Jamie Fraser under your tree among all these goodies:

 

 

 

Get your Claire Fraiser-esque outfit for the holiday season! I have selected the most elegant, classy and flattering plaid dresses and cozy knits for you to wear (in Scotland perhaps? ;)) or to gift someone special. Get into Outlander mood!

 

Theme 35: Fall in New York. With Mer-Sea Luxe Collection

Ben and I are living in hotels again!  But you probably already know that if you follow my daily Instagram Stories and watched me try to fit my life into a hotel suite's limited space. The truth is the hotel hopping life is great, but I still need some special little details that help me transform a standard suite into our home.

I have recently discovered Mer-Sea & Co. brand and fell in love with their classy decor elements, lush bathroom products and travel accessories. Their new LUXE COLLECTION is rich and beautiful and is probably one of the most safest gorgeous gifts you can get your girlfriend, mother-in-law or just as a hostess gift to someone.

it became my ritual lighting up Amber Fumée candle every night and using a Mer-Sea Mystique roomspray that smells like a fresh field of grass, light flowers and lemon trees gardens after a rain. The candles and sprays really set up a dreamy mood, and look very chic as decor elements too, thanks to minimalistic luxury design.

Mer-Sea also carries a great range of travel accessories, and considering how often I fly all over the map, it is almost a necessity to have a set of quality functional items for the travels! First of all, I didn't even know how much one travel wrap can get used, but I love my black cotton cashmere wrap. It looks super stylish, it is comfy, it is soft and luxury (hello, it is cashmere!) and I wear it not only on the plane, but out, to a dinner over a dress, and, frankly, I often use it a blanket when I watch Netflix. It really gets much more use than I ever anticipated, so I recommend you to pick at least one travel wrap for yourself. Plus, it folds into a tiny pouch, which is always great as we all hate to stuff our carry-ons till the bursting point.

Second travel accessory I really like from Mer-Sea Luxe Collection is a Passport Clutch. It is also big enough to store couple of credit cards and my ID, and it is very pleasant and as always classy.

I wanted to show you my regular casual airport look, but I didn't want to force Ben or my photographer to shoot at the airport, so I thought I should take my readers to the Central Park, to the lake and to the trees touched by this magical fall. The beauty of classic Mer-Sea luxury items was really accentuated, in my opinion, by warm fall colors and I hope these pictures will give you a happy tingly feeling.

All the gorgeous photos taken by - Dennis  (if you are a blogger of just want killer shots, he is your person!)

Theme 36: Holiday Season. 70s Party Vibes with Revolve

Holiday season is approaching and we all are on a lookout for perfect gifts and beautiful outfits. Of course sparkling embellished dresses for New Years Eve parties and cozy sweaters for Christmas dinners are not going anywhere, but 70s style is making a huge comeback this season!

Revolve has always been one of the websites where I go to to find new cool designer pieces and the trendiest of outfits, and Clayton collection really caught my eye. I picked this stunning, but soft and comfortable Clement jumpsuit that is as perfect for a glam party as it is for a vacation in warmer places. Please bare in mind that the jumpsuit is quite tall, so either wear heels or prepare to get it shortened (or maybe you are actually above 6', so this is made for you and I congratulate you on your endless legs!) 

Theme 35: Fall in New York. National Geographic Encounter: Ocean Odyssey Review

Ben and I are loyal National Geographic subscribers, so we were very excited to visit a new attraction at the heart of Times Square - a NatGeo Encounter: Ocean Odyssey. It is a first-of its-kind immersive entertainment experience that lets you to take a plunge into a deep, undersea world and learn about ocean life in a fun and interesting way. I am a certified diver and I can tell that many of the experiences felt like a real dive, minus the getting wet part!

National Geographic has created a real game-changing interactive experience that makes me look forward to the future of educational media. Ocean Odyssey is a fast-changing, smart, multi-sensory journey fit for all ages, and includes innovative technologies that will make you gasp in awe. For example, Ben and I really enjoyed the kelp forest maze, and a 3D experience (no spoilers though!) for fun, but we found that the best part was actually learning about the watery part of our beautiful planet in different rooms filled with screens and interactive tools.

We never stood still as the journey took us through a beautifully and intricately designed 60,000-square-foot space that offered a variety of different entertainment, educational tools and information. 

I think this National Geographic Encounter is perfect for kids and will help them understand our oceans and marine life more, planting some fundamental knowledge into their smart, little heads. This knowledge, I believe, will help them to grow considerate and enlighten of the oceans and will help preserve our oceans in the future. Ocean Odyssey is an inspiring journey that will definitely spark the interest of young ones in marine science, environmental change and oceanography. 

The experience is also great for couples and friends who would love to do something other than drinking at a bar or watching endless stream of TV shows. If you are up for taking a dive into the oceans in the middle of Times Square, BOOK TICKETS here and prepare for some "blue-lit" fun.

Theme 35: Fall in New York. Beauty Essentials at Rite Aid

Every girl has beauty secrets for each season. When the weather is getting cold, my skin gets drier every degree it gets cooler, and I begin noticing my hair getting weak and dull. ThenI know I need to stock on my favorite beauty brands: Aveeno and OGX. These brands not only have amazingly effective products, but they are super affordable and easy to find in your local RiteAid store (that is where I buy mine!).

The first time I remember using OGX, I was living in London and my friend Takhmina, who has gorgeous, wavy, black hair let me borrow her Argan Oil. I not only got addicted to this oil's restorative superpowers, but also went and bought the entire OGX Moroccan Argan Oil line. I especially recommend the mask as it does wonders to even the most damaged hair.

Over the years, I have tried probably all of the OGX products and can highlight a few items that worked the best for my hair:

1. Moroccan Argan Oil Mask - It quickly restores my heat-damaged hair and gives so much moisture to my locks. I use this mask all year round and it is by far one of my most-loved hair products ever.

2. Coconut Oil & Argan Oil - Both of them smell good and nourish my hair. I love using coconut oil as an intense treatment mask and will apply it generously before going to bed and wash it off in the morning. Argan Oil is perfect for adding some shine and a bit of moisture after a blowout.

3. OGX Biotin & Collagen Shampoo & Conditioner - I have just recently started using these two, and I’m in love how much volume and healthy glow I get every time I use them both. OGX Biotin really does give my thin hair intense thickness and plumps it up. If you have long thin hair like me, you will love the Biotin line and will feel like a bombshell!

But what I love the most about OGX brand is that any woman with any type of hair can find the perfect hair products! There are so many OGX items at RiteAid that you will end up wanting them all! Don't worry, it is safe to mix the lines, although I do recommend choosing a shampoo and conditioner from the same line.

When it comes to body care, I get creams and lotions by Aveeno at RiteAid. The price is again VERY affordable, so I usually have a few bottles of Daily Moisture or Skin Relief all over the house (one in a bathroom, one next to my desk and of course one on my bed side table!). Aveeno products definitely help my skin stay soft and nourished 24/7.  A bonus is that Aveeno is non-greasy and non-comedogenic and doesn't have a strong fragrance smell, which is something really important to my husband (he can't stand if I apply really fragranced lotions!), so Aveeno creams and lotions are winners in my book!

By the way, if you are not using Plenti, I urge you to start now! It runs through American Express and my friends and I have saved so much money thanks to it. You literally earn Plenti points by just buying something at Plenti partners, which includes companies like Macy's, Hulu and RiteAid! Points are valid for two years and you get 1 point for every cent you spend.

This month, by the way, just spending $20 on OGX or Aveeno will give you 800 Plenti points, which already saves you $8 dollars(!). How insane is that? It is almost 50%!  You can literally buy something for $20 at RiteAid, and get $8 dollars worth in Plenti points. That’s practically a free OGX shampoo or a mask (they are $7.99!). I think it is amazing and they run this kind of deal all the time.

I also found out that there are new BOGO (Buy One Get One) promos going on at RiteAid almost every week. On the 22nd of October there will be BOGO on Aveeno products, so make sure you set a reminder in your calendar or diary not to miss this opportunity to get this fall season’s beauty product essentials at RiteAid!

 

This post is sponsored by Johnson & Johnson and ShopStyle.