Tis the Season for Gift Giving

So, the holiday season is fast approaching and for some of us, this is a stressful time of year. Trying to find the perfect gift for your family and friends can sometimes be down right painful. Here are a few tips on how to make the process easier...hopefully.

1. Do they have a hobby?
Sometimes it's as easy as this. Find out what they love to do and get them a gift related to that. You can help add to their collection or get them a gift certificate.

2. Cell phone accessories
Almost everyone has a cell phone these days. Even my grandma does. There are some really great accessories for phones like covers, cases, decals, lanyards and more! Help add some pizazz to anyone's phone.

3. Gift Basket
I know what you are thinking...I am not crafty or creative. Well, that is not true. Think "Big Idea". Think "Theme". It's easy. Again, think of something they like or need. And pull several different items together to form your own gift set. Once I put together some hand towels, dish soap and spatulas. Instant "Kitchen" gift set.

4. Big Fans
On the same lines as the hobby idea - are they a big fan of someone? Do they love Elvis, Marilyn Monroe or Lucille Ball. There are a ton of cool collectibles out there - there is barware, clocks, neon signs, bath robes, slippers and so much more.

5. When all else fails...
There is the gift card. Maybe not as personal but still just as appreciated.

I hope this helped spark some gift giving ideas. Have fun shopping!
Cheers!

Dorm Time!

Grab those books, kiddo. And the sheets. And the microwave. You’re not mommy’s little baby anymore. You’re striking out for the first time, and you’re going to make a mark on the world. But can you really expect to make much of a mark on the world if you can’t make a mark on the 10 x 10 cement-walled cube where you’re sharing a bunk bed?

We’re talking, of course, about your dorm—your first home away from home, the first place that you can truly make your own, the place where you will make your own rules (just don’t eat your roommates Doritos) and your own decorations.

The walls might be a bare shade of taupe, and the window might be barely enough to allow you to see the time of day, but think of those sparse conditions as a blank canvas—and get to work!

Add a little glow to your room with one or two (or three!) Ed Hardy lightboxes. While the colored boxes give off a soft neon glow, Ed Hardy tattoo designs will spice up the room with some much-needed edge.

Next pick some bathwear that will make you stand out. Make sure your shower towel is a knockout with an officially-licensed Rocky Balboa oversized towel; or if you prefer to show off a little bit of vintage feminity, choose a Betty Boop classic black towel.

Finally, make sure you actually have a way to get back into your dorm after a long weekend of studying. Keep an extra set of keys on hand and make sure your keychain is noticeable and easy to spot after all of that studying. You can pick something oh-so-hip, like an Ed Hardy tattoo design, or something kitschy, like a retro Pink Panther.

There you go! Make your dorm the most happening place to be on your floor, and we’re sure the RA will recommend you for an upgrade to the big kid dorms for your sophomore year. Keep stopping back to the Trendsetters Party Blog and the Trendsetters Online Store for more tips, tricks, and trends for keeping your life on the cutting edge.

Summer's Not Over! Not Even Close!

Okay. The pool you worked so hard to groom and perfect during a pre-memorial day summer high has people become a soggy cesspool of unswept leaves and paddling waterbugs. The days are still hot, but now they’re humid, and the sky breaks into rain either every morning or afternoon (sometimes both.) You had a few parties, but your weird uncle got drunk on the fourth of July and hit on your fiancé (well, ex-fiancé now) and your dad tried to mend the fence by explaining that you never dated or probably even kissed someone until they came along. This summer, as usual, was not what you had hoped for.

Thing is, you don’t want to give it up. Your swimming pool with an improper Ph balance and a sodden July heat are little slices of Shangri La compared to dark morning commutes with the moon still glowing or compared to mid-terms in a class you thought would the perfect senior blow-off until you found out it was being taught by a doctorate student with something to prove (you know what I’m talking about.)

But guess what? Summer’s not over. In fact, it’s barely even half over. So, put on your party clothes and get ready to host the bash that will have your friends (and their friends and their friends’ friends) talking well into the Spring of 2010.

And what could you use to make sure your party looks like a blockbuster bash, and not a cul-de-sac block party?


Why not start by adding a little bit of edge to your barware with a set of Ed Hardy leather-wrapped pint glasses? Ed Hardy designs just keep heating up, and it seems like these items still haven’t reached critical mass! Complement it with a few coasters, and you’ve created a cutting-edge set of barware; so invest in a few compelling designs and transform your barware for seasons to come!

Next, every hot party needs its king and queen of kitsch; so why not make it official with matching Pimp and Ho chalices by Royale Pimp? It’s funny, it’s funky, and it’s going to get whomever you pick as the Pimp and the Ho very, very drunk.

Finally, add a little something to keep the night illuminated with string lights and neon signs. Corona string lights are a natural choice for a backyard barbecue or to add a little tropical flavor to your bar or rec room. Top it off with a matching Corona neon sign, and it’s a party, whether you’re hosting a shindig or not.

So, there you have it. Summer isn’t over. In fact, it’s hardly begun! So, put on that swimsuit, get you’re your decorations together, and start partying!

And, of course, keep visiting the Trendsetters Party Blog and Trendsetters Online Store to always stay on the cutting edge of fashion, function, and decoration.