The Shape of Love

To continue with last year's tradition, here are our favorite heart-shaped items to commemorate Valentine's Day. From tops to accessories to home decor, we love heart-shaped anything (especially chocolates). And if this post doesn't fulfill your heart's desire (!), then check out assorted hearts, a pretty and sweet blog that shares random images of the universal symbol of love.

1. Top Shop | 2. Asos | 3. Delia*s | 4. Aqsa | 5. bhldn | 6. 8000 Nerves | 7. Yardsale Press | 8. Forever 21 | 9. Urban Outfitters

<3

Jen & Saira

The Great Christmas Wrap

Sorry for the late post, we're just too wrapped up (get it) in our giveaway that we lost track of time! Holiday wrapping paper is almost (almost) as important as the gift itself. Shiny tinsel, oversize bows, velvety ribbons, brown paper packages tied up with string... yea, those are our favorite things. Sure you could just wrap your gift up in any old wrapper and call it a day, but we here at PDR dream big. And as different packages require different homes, here are some options for you and all your gift wrapping needs.

1. Bombina Studios | 2. The Container Store | 3. Noble Earth | 4. Papyrus | 5. Martha Stewart  | 6. Good Kisser | 7. Paper Source | 8. Viva La Press | 9. Fresh Lemon Blossoms

And don't forget, tomorrow we start our 12 Days of Christmas Giveaway!!! Simply leave us a comment or add us on Facebook to automatically be entered into our giveaway. You have until the 25th to win, so let's get cracking dolls!

XOXO,

Jen & Saira

Nice Bootie

Our trip to the mall this weekend helped us scope out some of the things we hope to pick up during those black Friday and cyber Monday sales. One of the main items on our list is a cute pair of booties.  Recently Jen went on a boot bender and ordered at least a dozen boots from Zappos before finding the perfect pair of knee high boots to fit her wide calves. But while knee high boots are sexy, and great for those of us who can't bear the thought of giving up our skirts in the winter, the hassle that comes with finding a pair can be frustrating. Measuring calves, packaging and returning, struggling to zip them - it's all very time consuming and somewhat stressful. So, put down that measuring tape and focus your energy on snagging yourself a great pair of ankle booties. Ankle booties are really popular right now and can be dressed up for work or down for casual get togethers. Wear these heeled booties with your jeans and sparkly top or a cute dress and tights for a holiday worthy look that is casually cool and chic:

1. Nine West | 2. Anthropologie | 3. DKNYC | 4. Kimchi Blue |

5. Seychelles | 6. Jessica Simpson | 7. Madewell | 8. Steve Madden |

XOXO

Jen & Saira

The Second Day of Christmas Winner!

On the second day of Christmas PDR gave to LAUREN ... a set of screen printed holiday cards from exit 343 design and a vintage, soy candle in Winter Mint by Melo Studios.

Stephanie Harvey, of exit 343 design, is a very fun and friendly artist based out of Philadelphia, PA.  Stephanie received her BFA from Rowan University and her MFA from Penn State. Primarily a printmaker, Stephanie takes inspiration from every day life and channels her artistic talents into unique and remarkable pieces like screen prints, cards, handmade notebooks, and more! She sells a variety of prints and cards in her shop that are vibrantly colored, bold, creative, and, best of all, funny. For example, are you feeling a little left out of all the save the dates and engagement announcements you've been getting lately?  Get in on all that snail mail action and send one of Stephanie's "I am not engaged" greeting cards because..well..why should they get to have all the fun?  

 Lucky Lauren will receive this cheerful pack of Holiday cards by Stephanie Harvey.  Festive red and green are silkscreened onto bright white card stock in a design meant to emulate the look of letter pressed cards. With the unique design and charming gold stitching, these whimsical cards are sure to make someone's holiday merry and bright. 

There's more?  You bet!  We're feeling generous today, so we've decided to also give away a really special item to accompany these cards.  Liz and Olivia over at Melo Studios, in Ardmore, PA, make gorgeous candles that you can feel good about. These ladies strive to live a sustainable lifestyle and their products are made using only earth friendly ingredients. With soy based wax, essential oils, cotton wicks, and reclaimed or recycled glass, these candles are hand poured with mother earth in mind. These candles are fabulous, so much so that they are currently being sold in Whole Foods stores in Marlton, NJ, Philadelphia, PA, and more!

In addition to the lovely holiday cards,  Lauren will also receive this truly one of a kind soy candle by Melo Studios. Liz and Olivia were so kind to allow us to choose an item to give away to you and, after many minutes of touching and sniffing every candle on the table (they were all so great, it was hard to choose!), we finally decided that this was the one for us, minty fresh and perfect for the holiday season.

Thanks, again, to Stephanie Harvey of exit 343 designs and Liz and Olivia from Melo Studios for your very generous donations and for supporting our blog.



Congratulations to Lauren for winning our Second day of Christmas prizes!  Lauren - be sure to email us your address so we can promptly ship these to you.

XOXO

Jen & Saira  

The First Day of Christmas

On the first day of Christmas PDR gave to me... some cheerful and charming holiday paper goods from Jenny and Marcy of befrank!

Jenny Yip and Marcy Zuczek are the extraordinarily talented designers responsible for befrank, based out of Philadelphia, PA. They carefully craft exceptionally lovely and modern holiday cards, garlands, gift tags, lists, and more using a variety of unique colors and materials.  Their attention to detail, love for vintage charm, and remarkable sense of style really sets befrank apart and we are thrilled to feature them on our blog for our 1st Day of Christmas! Jen had the pleasure of meeting with Jenny and Marcy at the Crafty Balboa fair last weekend and these generous gals were happy to share some of their favorites from their collection with us.  Today's winner will receive one pack of holiday cards, one adorable gift tag, and handmade, paper notebooks with a beautiful lace print!

This cute gift tag will make the perfect finishing touch to any holiday gift.  This cards is hand made, carefully stitched, and sure to bring some holiday cheer to your gift.  The best part?  It fit into tiny envelopes that is adorned by a one of a kind button snowman made out of both new and vintage buttons and colorful red thread.

This set of holiday cards is extremely unique and was one of befrank's items that first caught our eye.  Wish your friends and family a merry xmas and happy new year with these neutral colored cards that feature an original wintery design and modern, funky, card stock tags that are stitched for extra sparkle.

What a nice surprise these notebooks were! We had no idea that these would be included in the giveaway and we are so excited to have a set to give away to you.  These two notebooks are handmade and printed with a lacey pattern and sweet bird graphic and have blank pages for all your notes and doodles.

Much thanks to Jenny and Marcy of befrank for their generous gift donation.  Be sure to check out their Etsy shop and keep an eye out for more unique items from these lovely ladies.

Check back tonight when we announce the winner to see if you will be the lucky recipient of these great items.  Also, be sure to check back later for a sneak peak of giveaways yet to come!

XOXO

Jen & Saira

Holiday Gift Guide: Gifts for Guys

To continue with our holiday gift guide, let's hear it for the boys! Guys act like they're so easy to shop for, but after a while you get tired of buying them socks and video games every year. And unless they provide you with an Amazon wish list (which can actually be very helpful), you either end up getting the same thing every year or buy things that you want them to want... which can be problematic. So to help you with your quest, here are some gift ideas that the guys in your life are sure to love:

Give the gift of laughter, love, and videogames this season with the Scott Pilgrim Precious Little Boxset. Inside you will find all six graphic novels depicting Scott Pilgrim's quest to battle his true love's seven evil ex-boyfriends. It's packaged nicely in a colorful slipcase just in time for the holiday season, and it comes with a bonus poster designed by Bryan Lee O'Malley! And, if you know someone who already has all the books, you can buy just the slipcase and poster online for $10!

Most guys have at least one cell phone (personal and work), MP3 player, digital camera, etc. All of these tech devices need to be charged, resulting in a million different chargers getting tangled up at the bedside table. But, never fear, the grassy lawn charger is here! You can sort through all the wires and have them run neatly through the bottom of the box. The electrical devices can gently rest on a layer of very green (and fake) grass, resulting in a very aesthetically pleasing power station.

 This is one gift that we can guarantee will be loved by almost any guy. The Zombie Survival Guide provides you with all the necessary information on how to prepare for and subsequently survive a zombie attack. While categorized as "humor," this book can most definitely save the life of you and your loved ones. 

 Guys will never shop for themselves, even when their belongings are falling apart. This is especially the case with guys and bags. If you know a guy who is still wearing his old Jansport circa 1997, then it may be time for an upgrade. Brooklyn Industries make very durable, functional, and (in their own way) stylish messenger bags. They come in a few different colors and styles to suit your guy's style, and best of all, they are more or less gender neutral, which means you can use it too!  Another popular choice among actual bike messengers is the Chrome bag, with it's lifetime warranty!

We don't quite get the need to have giant headphones when everyone is all about having tiny MP3 players, but guys definitely seem to have a love affair with headphones. Now, you can go for something that's top of the line and break your bank, or you can choose something more affordable like these awesome headphones by Urbanears Plattan that both sound good and look good. They come in a variety of colors (we're partial to the baby pink) and they're a bit more compact than the other choices out there.

If your guy isn't into tangible gifts, or if he is someone who has pretty much everything, we also like the idea of gifting an experience.  If you ask Jen's husband, one of the best gifts she ever gave him for Christmas was a flying lesson. Adventurous guys like interesting gifts and a flight lesson, music lesson, scuba diving class, etc. would be perfect to create a memory that can last a lifetime.  These things are actually really easy to find and can be more affordable than you would think, with a flight lesson costing between $99 and $179.

And, along the same lines as the experience thing, don't forget about events like concerts, theatre, comedy shows, etc.  Many of us are fortunate enough to be able to just purchase what we want, which makes it difficult for other people to pick things out and buy them for us.  See if your grandpa/dad/brother/hubby/bf has a favorite musician or performer than will be in your area in the next month or so and book tickets ahead of time!  Then, wrap them in an oversized box so that they'll really be surprised.

Let's face it, Grandpas and Dad's are the hardest.  They've been around a while, have seen many Christmases, and pretty much have everything they need.  So, what is one to do?  Well, when one really has everything and you can't think of anything else, consider the tried and true "the way to a man's heart is through his stomach".  Does he love coffee or wine?  How about signing him up for a wine/coffee of the month club like the one shown above that provides a new flavor of fair trade coffee every month!? Or if he prefers food over beverage, you have plenty of options. You'd actually be surprised at how many "of the month" clubs there are out there ranging from cheese to lobster to steak and more!

XOXO

Jen & Saira

Holiday Style: Red and Green Are the New Black

 Celebrate the first full week of December by dressing yourself in the colors of the season -- red and green of course! These two colors can pretty much only be worn together during the month of December so be sure to get your fill of this combo before the Christmas season passes us by!  While we're not huge fans of dressing up for holidays (i.e. wearing red on Valentine's day), adding some select red or green pieces into your wardrobe is definitely the easiest way to incorporate a little holiday spirit and get you feeling festive. Plus we love coordinating outfits and cohesive themes so wearing one of these shades is a great way to compliment all the holiday decor!

Nothing quite says Christmas like a bright red, warm and cozy sweater dress.  This one, from Victoria's Secret, is modest enough for your family party but also looks very sexy with the thin black belt.  Pair this with some black leggings and cute flats and you'll be ready to deck the halls in no time!

Look picture perfect in front of the tree this Christmas in this beautiful red and green (ish) print dress from Urban Outfitters. This dress is reminiscent of the dress you wore with the velvet bow in your hair to your great Aunt Mildred's house on Christmas Eve... but in a good way! Add some loose curls, maybe a headband, and definitely some black tights, and you're on your way to looking like your very own Christmas card.

 You can be Santa's sexy little helper in these ruffled peep toe pumps.  Add them to any basic black dress to jazz up your outfit, and get ready to sashay onto the dance floor... or kitchen floor, same difference.

This green satin dress from J. Crew is definitely at the top of our winter wish list, and just may be our dream dress for the holiday season. The rich jewel hemline adds just the right amount of sparkle to this simple satin dress, making it bright and festive, without being over the top. While it's a bit pricier than the picks we tend to share on our blog (we are pretty modest girls, after all), we just loved it so much that we had to share.

Feeling the holiday spirit, but not the satin or frills? Then try on this checked embroidered skirt from Mod Cloth. While the skirt is decorated with horses, not reindeer, we think this skirt would be perfect for Christmas eve with a cute little cardigan and black tights. 

Brighten up your gray December morning with this warm, green, cowl neck sweater from Macy's.  The extra long sleeves and layered neckline is exactly what the doctor ordered this winter.  It would look great with a pair of straight leg black dress pants and a chunky bracelet or ring and don't forget the red lipstick to really pull the look together! Also, you can recycle this sweater for St. Patrick's Day, so everyone wins!

Dressing up in a red satin dress is not for everyone, but dressing up with a red satin clutch is totally doable. Add on some glamor this holiday season with this red, satin rosette clutch available at Macy's. Dress up a beaded black or silver dress, and you'll be set for any holiday party.

For a more subtle way to show your holiday spirit, try out this silk, jeweled bracelet from Anthropologie. It's simple, elegant, and our favorite shade of green!

Stand out from the crowd in this red satin halter top by Ann Taylor. For a casual look, wear it belted with black pants (shown above) or dress it up with a pencil skirt for a chic and polished look. It already has some shimmer, so opt for minimal jewelry, such as small stud earrings or a sparkly bracelet.

Or, looking for a more laid back, casual look?  Show your Christmas spirit while being extra cozy in these fun green leggings!  Paired with a simple cream top and flats or boots, these cheerful leggings can be a really great way to wear holiday colors and ensure you have plenty of room for all those Christmas cookies!



Remember to comment on today's post to be eligible to win a prize in the Paper Doll Romance 12 Days of Christmas!  We picked up some really great items this weekend that we're so excited to give away!  Winners will start being announced once a day starting December 12th.  Best of luck!



'tis the season to be jolly!



XOXO

Jen & Saira

Color Day: Red, Black, and Khaki

December is finally here and that means today is the first day of our 12 Days of Christmas promotion!  Please start commenting and you'll be entered into our random drawing to win a great little prize from a local artist or crafter.  We have things to give away from cards to candles to prints, soaps, jewelry and more! 

Now, in the meantime, to get us into the holiday spirit here is a color board that says Christmas with style.  One look at this color board will leave you longing for a snow day where you snuggle up with a warm blanket and sip cocoa by the fireplace. Red is a signature shade of the holidays and it very vibrant, but here it is toned down with the neutral khaki, black, and white to create a rustic, country look with a level of sophistication that we think even the people over at Burberry would be pleased with.

Khaki, Red, Black, and White Inspiration Board

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Images from: designandink, ootch, hankandtillie, cottonbirddesigns, lovegrowsbygiving, sewnnatural, anniewhere, pattisprimitives, boopteylu, inburberry, with this ring, modcloth     

May your days be merry and bright!

XOXO

Jen & Saira       

On the first day of Christmas PDR gave to me...

...some earrings?  some coasters? a print? a candle?  

You'll just have to wait and see!!

Paper Doll Romance is pleased to announce our very first gift give-away promotion, The 12 Days of Christmas. We have a handful of lovely items, donated to us from some local Philly/New York/New Jersey crafters and artisans, that we're very excited to give away this holiday season. We will randomly select one winner per day for 12 days and the lucky winners will receive prizes that could be anywhere from $5-$40 in value.

So, how can you get in on all this holiday fun?  It's easy!  Just comment on any of our December posts from 12/1/10 until Christmas Eve (December 24th, 2010).  In your comment, be sure to tell us what you like about that post, what you like about our blog in general, or what you'd like to see us write about in the future and you'll be automatically entered in a random drawing to win a prize. 

We will start drawing winners once a day starting on December 13th and finishing up on December 24th so be sure to leave your comments early for the best chance at winning some great prizes.  

RULES: Yea yea, we know, rules are not fun, but we have to have a few. Only comments on posts from 12/1-12/24 will be considered for prizes. Only one comment per person per day will be eligible but you can certainly comment once a day, every day, if you'd like (we love to hear from you!). Be sure to include your email address so we can contact you if you win!  Entries submitted by email will not be considered.

First chance to enter starts tomorrow, 12/1, so be sure to check back and get commenting!

Best of Luck and Happy Holidays!

XOXO

Jen & Saira

Holiday Greetings

Black Friday has come and gone and it's almost December, so let the Christmas countdown begin! In a week or so you'll start collecting holiday cards from friends, family, and the dentist's office, which means that you'll need to reciprocate with cards of your own. Now, we're not huge fans of the typical "matching sweaters in front of the tree" theme (or really any photo card unless it's an adorable child or pet dressed in people clothes), so we decided to pick out a few cards that are stylish, fun, cheerful, or otherwise solid choices that will save you from being mocked at the next holiday gathering.

Celebrate Christmas this year with this layered holiday card available at Target. It's sure to make your card stand out from the rows upon rows of greeting cards lining your friends and family's fireplace, and a little texture goes a long way.

For a traditional look featuring Santa and his reindeer, try this letterpress set by Kirtland House.  Maybe it's the vintage design or the ornate font, but something about these cards just remind us of "A Miracle on 34th Street" (the original one, not the one with the little girl from Mrs. Doubtfire). We can just picture writing out these cards in front of the fireplace with a mug of of hot cocoa... how wonderful!

Even though red and green are the traditional colors of the holiday season, we're partial to blue and silver. It tends to stand out a little more from all the other cards, and looks a bit more chic. Share visions of a winter wonderland with this set of cards from Papyrus. It's simple, pretty, and a little bit glitzy, which is just the way we like it.

A partridge in a pear tree in metallic gold? Yes, please!  We love these screen printed cards by treasurydesigns.  They are whimsical, fun, and sure to stand out with their beautiful metallic ink and simple white silouhettes. And they are printed on recycled paper, which is always a plus.

Too much tinsel can be a headache, so be low key this holiday season with these printed cards by Etsy seller thecraftpantry. We love the earthy feel to these cards, and think it's a lovely, understated way to say "Season's  Greetings."

Celebrating Hannukah?  We found the cutest card to wish your friends and family a Happy Hannukah this year.  We love this handmade card from cutiepiecompany for it's totally mod, bright, and fun menorah design.  Send your wishes with this card and you're sure to make their holiday cheerful.

Saira longs to be back in Brooklyn, so we had to share this Brooklyn Bridge holiday card by Moon Tree Press. Perfect for New Yorkers, this card adds a nice personal touch, especially if you have friends and family across the country.

These cards by desTroy are simply charming.  We love their simple design, bright colors, and the beautiful layered look that the screen printing creates.  This cards definitely make a statement and is sure to be a favorite this holiday season.

 While the holiday season is all about peace and love... it also makes spending hours at the mall a selfless act. We at PDR are all about peace, love, and shopping, which is why we love these sassy retro holiday cards by Anne Taintor. They are fun and fabulous, just like you!

Feel good this holiday season with this holiday card from UNICEF. Every year UNICEF produces a series of holiday cards representing all the children that UNICEF helps support.  This years design is just as sweet, and proceeds from the sale help children all around the world, so not only will you feel good, but you'll also do good this holiday season.

Seasons greetings, dolls!  

Be sure to check us out tomorrow for a special holiday announcement!

XOXO,

Jen & Saira

Color Day Themes: Turkey Day Delight

Since 1863, Thanksgiving has been celebrated each year in the United States.  Often overshadowed by Christmas, Thanksgiving doesn't typically get enough credit and many might look at it as the day they can finally start playing their Mariah Carey X-mas CD.  While we do love Christmas, we think Thanksgiving is just wonderful and deserves equal celebration.  Tell the people in your life you're thankful for them and go ahead and gobble up some yummy food.  Traditional thanksgiving day foods like turkey, sweet potatoes, cranberry sauce that is shaped like the can, delicious pies -- these are things we look forward to all year!  Don't forget to wear your stretchy leggings so you have plenty of room for that extra helping of stuffing!

Thanksgiving Inspiration Board

Images from: The Sweet Occasion, Manolo Brides, Our Wedding Plus, Raina Dawn Events, The Allan House, The Budget Minded Bride, Inspiredbythis, RitzyBee, Le Bride, Weddingbee, Social Couture, West Elm, Sophie's Favors



Have a Happy Turkey Day!



XOXO,

Jen & Saira