In October, I had the fabulous opportunity to participate in an Influencer weekend organized through The Trend Tribe, right here in Las Vegas. It was top notch. Twelve influential female bloggers were hand selected and invited via The Trend Tribe to indulge in all things hip, cool and trendy for 48 hours. We stayed at the Aria Las Vegas, dined at Sirio Ristorante, Jean-Georges Steakhouse, Sage, Comme Ca and Nob Hill, partied it up at the Rock N Roll Fantasy Camp, and gifted the most amazing SWAG bags!

Inside these coveted bags, and the bag itself, just happen to be a few of my favorite things! With the holidays coming up, I thought I would share with you, my lovely readers, in case you are in need of some inspiration for gift giving this holiday season!

First up- the bag. Sent from Vera Bradley, the Carried Away tote retails for $99, and is my second Vera Bradley travel bag. Until recently, I have never owned a Vera Bradley product, but after attending the Colorful Day event last year in Las Vegas, I became an instant fan. I love their philosophy and culture and how every detail of every product is considered with a busy, fashionable, traveling woman in mind. After using my first Weekender bag from Vera Bradley, I fell in love with the ease and convenience of the product, and am proud to say, I now own 5 items! Their winter collection is full of bright and lively colors. I love the VaVa Bloom, Safari Sunset and the Tea Garden patterns. Purchases made from the Tea Garden collection goes to the Vera Bradley Foundation for Breast Cancer.

Next up…Henri Bendel. What is so lovely about Bendel is that there is now one right here in Las Vegas! Located at the Fashion Show Mall, the new Henri Bendel is a Girl’s Playground, filled with all kinds of accessories for all your home, bath and body, fashion and gifting needs. Full of glitter and flair, there is a gift for everyone on your list, even you! I recommend the Body Butter ($55) with the complementing Eau De Parfum ($65). We were gifted the Grapefruit and Vetiver fragrance which is awakening and warm at the same time. The Body Butter is amazing as it applies like a luscious lotion and turns your skin silky smooth. Perfect gift for your girlfriend, mom or sister!

Speaking of lovely body products…I am obsessed with The Body Shop’s Ginger Sparkle Bath Crystals ($20). Perfect for the holidays and a cozy way to feel festive and relaxed at the same time! I’m thinking this is a great gift for a teacher, a babysitter or as a hostess gift. I personally am a fan of The Body Shop products which are made from natural and sometimes organic ingredients. I feel confident enough to even let my kids use them in the shower or tub. Of course, always eco-friendly and free trade conscious as well, buying from The Body Shop is a feel good purchase for the Holidays!

 

During The Trend Tribe Influencer Weekend I was introduced to a new line of delicious cotton jammies from the Marigot Collection ($120). One of my most favorite things in life is climbing into bed made with clean, crisp, cool sheets and the perfect pjs. The Marigot Collection delivers perfection in a nightshirt and then some. Not to mention the whimsical designs and fun colors make these pajama sets a perfect gift for your girlfriends. In fact, why not gift them a set of Marigot Collection jammies and plan a good old fashioned Girls Night Out Slumber Party! What a great gift idea!

For the home, I suggest taking a visit over to the Demeter Fragrance Library ($25) where you will find yummy scents in perfumes like Mulled Cider, Snow and Gingerbread. My bag contained a home fragrance diffuser oil and bamboo sticks in Sugar Plum. Demeter is known for their off the wall scents like Grass, Dirt and Pure Soap, that at first sound wild, but will end up being one of your most favorite. Honestly, I’m not usually a big fan of diffusers because I’m not convinced they work. But, small and mighty, this Demeter product actually retains its smell. I have one in my hall and one in the guest bathroom and every time I pass through the Sugar Plum scent envelopes me in a perfectly pleasing kind of way. I’m thinking stocking stuffers!

And, now for a scrumptous treat to either gift of keep! Ethel M’s (prices vary), the sweet little chocolate shop whose parent company is the well known Mars chocolate company, is made right here in  Southern Nevada. The chocolate factory is located in Henderson, and also features a Cactus Garden which visitors are encouraged to explore their over 300 species of the prickly plants. What I personally love about Ethel M’s, besides the fact it is locally operated and provides jobs to our residents, is their products are preservative free and ingredients are top notch. During the holidays, there are seasonal collections available which feature flavors like Egg Nog and Pumpkin Spice, but the classics still remain an all time favorite. If you are gifting to an adult 21 and over, try the Creme Liqueur collection. You can purchase Ethel M chocolates on-line to be shipped all over the US, however, if you are local, you may want to make the trip to the Chocolate Factory to stock up on hostess, teacher, gift exchange or dessert boxes and stocking stuffers, and check out the Ethel M Cactus Garden all lit up for the holidays!

As mentioned, all of these items were provided to me as a Trend Tribe Influencer. I was not asked or expected to write about them, but loved the brands and the products so much, I chose to do so on my own.

 Photos in throughout this post were used by permission from ChamorraChica and It’sFitting blogs. Check them out, they rock!