Affordable Wine Gifts That Are Sure To Please

If you're still on the hunt for adult gifts, you should consider wine. Check out these brands that have a fun and familiar twist. As a matter of fact, any of these wines would make a great gift for the New Year.

Santa Margherita Sparkling Wines
From celebrations, to a lively dinner, Santa Margherita's Prosecco Superiore DOCG and Sparkling Rosé will pair perfectly with a variety of cuisines while adding a festive touch to any occasion.

Bachelor Wines ($15.96 per bottle)
Bachelor fans rejoice! The fan-favorite show has launched The Bachelor Wines, a collection of wines inspired by the award-winning television series. The Bachelor Wines features three varietals: The Fantasy Suite, One on One, and The Final Rosé. Available for purchase at bachelorwines.com.

NPR Wine Club
This unique wine club was created for public radio supporters and wine enthusiasts alike, allowing listeners to enjoy premium wines from around the world and their stories - combining two of life's most enjoyable pleasures. As a member of the NPR Wine Club, consumers will receive a fully customized case of wine, shipped to the address of their choice every three months. As part of the introductory offer, new members will receive the inaugural releases of three NPR-Inspired Wines: All Grapes Considered Malbec, Weekend Edition Cabernet Sauvignon and NPR Uncorked Merlot. Alternatively, consumers can shop from a range of hundreds of different wines – and purchase in any quantity they wish (based on their taste and preferences) directly from the NPR Wine Club at NPRWineClub.org.

Epicurious Wine ($15.96 per bottle)
Epicurious, the pioneering digital food brand and one of the most trusted voices in food, has recently launched a new collection of custom designed wines for culinary and wine enthusiasts alike. Perfect for pairing with your favorite meals, Epicurious Wine varietals include a robust Cabernet Sauvignon and a delicate Chardonnay - both work well with cooking and drinking. To purchase the Epicurious Wines, visit epicuriouswine.com.

Turner Classic Movies Wine Club
The TCM Wine Club curates originally produced wines inspired by classic films as well as expertly selected varietals from renowned vineyards around the globe – all with the convenience of home delivery. As part of the inaugural offer, new members will receive fifteen special bottles including the first-ever release of Café Zoetrope, a custom-crafted red from the Francis Ford Coppola Winery. Members will also enjoy True Grit Limited Edition Zinfandel along with The Essentials Cabernet Sauvignon – the first in a series of single-varietal wines, specifically curated for TCM Wine Club members, to showcase the world's great grapes.

Which ones would you want to try?

What To Pack For A Winter Sun Holiday

The sun might not be shining in your hometown, but you do not have to stay there during the holidays. You can head to a sunny destination if you are looking to escape the winter chill. When the shops are full of winter boots and coats, packing for the beach can be a bit intimidating.

No matter where you are going, you need to pack light. To find the best hotels in your destination location, you should check out any travel website for some offers. Here are some things that you should include in your travel bag:

A Versatile One Piece Bikini
Pack a reversible bikini if you want to be versatile while keeping your bags light. Packing busy patterns and bold tropical prints will allow you to stand out. However, if you want to wear something elegant and classy, stick with a solid one-piece.

According to the owner of Wear Saga, if subdued elegance is what you are after, go for a plain black or blue swimsuit. Wearing classic colors will allow you to have the time of your life while looking stylish.

Stylish Cover-up
The ultimate beach accessory is an exotic and bright kaftan. If you want to lounge by the pool or sunbathe by the beach, head out in a colorful kaftan. Not only is this outfit stylish but it is also weather-appropriate.

A Chiffon Dress
In the hot weather, chiffon material is your best friend because it is light. You need to pack several lightweight mini dresses in a range of colors and styles to style up your beach wardrobe. Nude and white shades are flattering if you have a tan while bold and floral prints provide some flair.

You can slip on your chiffon mini dress when going to bask on a yacht. Moreover, you can wear it to lunch at an outdoor restaurant.

Beach-ready bag


A canvas backpack, quirky tote, and straw bag are all ideal for a day on the beach. You can use these carry bags to transform from a day on the beach to a night of drinking at the bar. You can use the bag to carry your sun block lotion, sunglasses, and a change of clothes.

Wide-legged Pants
You can opt for billowing, silky pajama style pants on breezy days when you are looking for more cover. Moreover, patterned wide-legged pants can add a touch of sophistication and style to your outfit. You should pair the pants with a flowing, loose blouse for a nonchalant yet classy style. Flat shoes will work just fine when navigating the sandy beaches.

Day to Night Heels
You do not want to sink in the sand as you enjoy some sun during your holiday. Moreover, you do not want to appear clueless as you trot along boardwalks in stilettos. Make sure to pack some chunky heels such as wedges and thick platforms when going on a winter sun holiday.

Accessories
When it comes to holidays in the sun, accessories are necessary. Sunglasses are necessary for defining your beach style and protecting your eyes from the sun’s glare. A hat also protects you from the sun’s rays and adds an haute feel to your outfit.

Hair and Skin Protection
Carry sunblock with an SPF of over 30 for anti-wrinkle action and maximum skin protection. You need to buy a moisturizer with sun protection for some light coverage during the evening. Using a lip conditioner will protect your lips from the sun and prevent drying. As for your hair, you need to buy moisture spray. 

5 Creative Ways to Use Cardboard Packaging Boxes

If you’ve just moved or bought tons of discount appliances during the Black Friday sale, you know how much of a struggle it can be dealing with all those boxes left behind. Chances are you have a lot of different boxes you don’t want to throw away but have no need for any more. Relax, so do thousands of other Americans. But what if you could use the boxes for creative purposes instead of having them gathering dust?

Cardboard boxes come in many styles and sizes, and all of them can be extremely useful if you know how to put them to use. If you want to repurpose those boxes instead of recycling them, in this article, we’ll give you a couple of creative ideas how you can use them.

Great Storage Alternative 
Obviously, the best way to use old boxes is for storage. You could use boxes to store things like old magazines, personal files, clothes you can’t fit into or don’t need this season, dishes you only take out for special occasions, old toys or Halloween costumes and other items you don’t use every day.

Of course, you wouldn’t want old, dull-colored boxes to ruin the look of your home. That’s why you should decorate them a bit before repurposing them for storage. Use paint or decorative paper to breathe new life into those old boxes.

Old-Fashioned Toys 
It’s hard to believe that children used to play with anything else other than smartphones once upon a time. Why not show them how kids used to play when times were simpler. Cardboard boxes make for excellent dollhouses, forts, playhouses or make-believe trains. You can also use them to build an obstacle course for a laser-tag game.

Boxes can also be used for a killer Halloween robot costume. All you need is a little bit of glue, spray color and a couple of markers. You could even go one step further and add led lights. The only limit is your imaginations.

Pets Love Boxes
Everyone knows cats and dogs both love boxes, and enjoy playing with them and taking a cozy nap there. They can be used to make great pet houses, but your cat will appreciate if you just leave it out like it is. The cardboard can also be used to create a cheap scratching post for your cat.

Christmas Gifts
Another fairly obvious choice is repurposing old cardboard boxes to create Christmas presents like those you see in commercials or on the Internet. A great part of the Christmas gift is getting to unwrap it, so why not do more than just wrap it in paper or put it in a fancy bag. Everyone, especially kids, will appreciate getting to unwrap a classic, bulky Christmas present.

Use them to Mail Items 
The main purpose of any box is to protect the item that came with it, so why not use them as originally intended. If you mail a lot of stuff all through the year, you can use the cardboard to protect the items you’re sending. You can also use cut-out cardboard to protect photographs or documents you’re mailing.

Winter Giveaway $140 PayPal or Amazon

Hi everyone! I have teamed with an amazing group of bloggers to bring you one last giveaway for the year. This time the prize is the winner's choice of $140 PayPal or Amazon gift code. It's the perfect gift to treat yourself after the hustle and bustle of the holiday season, and a great way to start 2018. I hope you enter! All details are below. 

How to enter: There are 14 blog listed. Each comment is an entry and you may comment once each day on a different post. Only comments posted during this giveaway are eligible. This giveaway starts December 10 at midnight EST. Entrants must be USA residents and at least 18 years old. One winner will be randomly selected from all qualifying entries and contacted via the email they provide. The email will come from joannegreco at gmail. The winner has 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. The prize is $140 in Paypal or Amazon online gift card, winner’s choice.
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Gifts For Guys Under $30

Are you are still scrambling around for ideas on what to buy for the guy in your life? My husband is a fairly simple man who tends to prefer useful, practical gifts over gadgety or trendy things. Any type of clothing or outerwear is usually a winner for him. I wanted to alert you all that Haggar is having a huge sale on December 9th, offering some of their most popular dress and casual pants for under $30. Haggar is one of our favorite men's clothing brands, and my husband has many pieces in our closet right now. Whenever I think of the Haggar brand, I think of a well-dressed, sophisticated man.

We generally purchase the brand at JCPenney, Kohl's, or Belk. This time we browsed the Haggar site and found exactly what he needed without getting up from the couch. Also, their prices are way better directly on their site. I was concerned about a specific fit of some of the pants, and tested out their live chat feature. I was quite pleased with how professional and helpful the rep was. My question was answered immediately, and she sent me some links of items that matched what I was looking for. I'm impressed with their excellent customer service.

Let me tell you about their big sale! The following styles are perfectly priced for gift-giving, and all under $30.

#1 Dress Pant in America: E-CLO (made from recycled water bottles) $27.99 These are a great addition to any man's weekly work attire and can go from day to night. And that price?!

#1 Casual Pant in America: Premium No Iron Khaki $29.99 This one is my husband's favorite, and comes in a variety of colors. They wash really well and are a staple in any man's wardrobe. 

Cool 18 Pro (Wick Dry, UV Protection Lightweight Pants) $29.99 These are lightweight and can go from the office straight to the golf course. 

All of these styles come in a variety of colors. My husband has heavily hinted that he needs each style in every color. I guess I better make sure to hit up that sale on the 9th! The Haggar website is super easy to maneuver. It's as if it was created with a man's shopping brain in mind. You know, get-what-you-need-and-go!

Don't miss out on these great deals from Haggar.com on December 9th. The good news is that they always offer great sales and deals, so check the site often. Follow Haggar on Facebook and Twitter for the latest deals and updates.