Gift Scrap Blog

"Dona & Rabbana"

A friend of mine forwarded a great article to me (thanks @DuxieClothing) about the side effects of fake perfumes.  Living in NYC, we see tons of street vendors selling cheap, knockoff perfume.  95% of the time I walk by them because simply put, I just don’t trust it.  However, there has been that rare time where I decided to take the plunge and buy a bottle.

One afternoon my colleague and I were walking back from lunch when all of a sudden three guys pop out of a van and start yelling, “Hurry, get your perfume, get your perfume. This sells at Macy’s for more than $80, here…it’s only $5.”  I am one that absolutely loves a bargain, so I was like what the heck, I’ll pick up a bottle.  Here’s how my transaction went down…

1. All the bottles that the guys were holding out had the correct name of the perfume and looked exactly like the real deal. I pointed to the Dolce & Gabbana Light Blue box and said I will take one of those.

2. Guy #1 turns around and grabs one from the box behind him and passes it to guy #2 to his left.

3. Guy #2 puts it in a black bag

4. Guy #3 takes my money

5. I get the black bag and Guys #1-3 all encourage me to hurry off

As we walk to the door of my building, all of a sudden we hear police sirens.  Obviously, something pretty sketchy was going on!

I get upstairs to my desk and open the bag.  Instead of seeing a beautiful “Dolce and Gabbana” box like I originally saw outside when the guy was holding it up, I was now holding a fake “Dona & Rabbana” light blue box. I couldn’t help but laugh.  They totally pulled a fast one on me and did a complete swap.  Very clever I have to say.

I never ended up using any of it because honestly I was nervous I would break out into hives or something.  And after reading the article below, I’m glad I did not try it out! Bad reactions from knockoffs range from a runny nose to redness and eczema. Eek.  Article from Harpers Bazaar

How about you…ever try a fake perfume? Did it smell like roses or make you break out into a red blob?

flounder dinner

I am sitting here on my couch and just thinking about what I did this weekend.  Parts of it were very girly, others a bit boyish, and then whole other parts of it could classify me as an 80 year old woman.

Here’s the rundown of my last two days…
1. Made flounder
2. Drank wine 
3. Broke a glass pitcher because apparantly pouring hot water into it was not smart
4. Booked a hotel in Yountvile, CA for my friend’s wedding
5. Started a scrapbook for my friend’s son’s first year
6. Went to the Gym
7. Watched the Jets lose
8. Walked my dog
9. Spent some time on Twitter and Facebook
10. Cleaned my apartment
11. Started to plan a poker night
12. Had brunch with my parents
13. Watched “The Pregnancy Pact” on Lifetime. I really do love a good Lifetime movie.
14. Became very perplexed by the new Walmart “screaming clown” commercial
15. Checked out my horoscope and is now very excited for January 30th.  That apparantly is MY day for good change.

All in all, a very diverse weekend.  It makes me realize that I am pretty unclassifiable. 

How about everyone else? How would you classify your weekends?
Tame with a splash of crazy?
Boyish with a touch of Girl?
Party so hard you don’t even remember?
So lame that you wish you could forget?
Unclassifiable? 

…let us here about it!

Snooki dancing on the boardwalk

All good things must come to an end.  Last night was the finale of The Jersey Shore…it will be a long, cold winter without the outlandish fist-pumping, hot tub going, bar fighting, hook-up crazy shore crew. 

Here are some of my favorite highlights from last night’s episode:

1. Part of me really enjoyed watching Vinny, Pauly D, and Mike head out for some male bonding, which turned out to be pretty tame.  Another part of me was like, huh? When did they all of a sudden become guys who enjoy air hockey and darts? Where was “the situation” there?
2. I was pretty bored when Sammi bailed Ronnie out of jail.  He said he’s not sorry he hit some guy, only that he got caught.  Eh, lame.
3. I was definitely NOT bored when Snooki turned the boardwalk into club Karma…in broad daylight.  Her leopard print mini dress made it even better and watching her break it down in front of the entire shore made me laugh.  She was too lazy to climb the stairs to the bar to chat with guys, but she was definitely not too lazy to dance the afternoon away.
4. My good friend loves Sammi and Ronnie, so I am sorry in advance when I say that their little date should have been cut out of the show.  Although, I did enjoy their cheesy toast, “to their future, post-Shore.” Unfortunately, that is now up in the air thanks to the “unseen footage” on the reunion show. 
5. Pauly D had the most enlightening quote of the night, “”We stayed boys throughout this whole thing. This bond that we shared brings us together and no one can ever take that away from us, ever. Like, we take that with us for life, this bond … That was deep.” Yes Pauly, it was.
6. The hot tub scene with Snooki and The Situation took me completely by surprise.  That kiss was um, revolting? It was nasty to watch, but it was cute to see Mike being genuinely nice to her (before and after the make out).

Thank you MTV for another stellar show.  Keepin’ it classy! I can’t wait for “Snooking for Love!”

The Jersey Shore Cast

Tonight is the most exciting (and sad) night in a long time for many Reality TV show fans.

It is the season finale of the mega MTV hit, The Jersey Shore. 

This past season, people have never seen so much gel, bronzer, GTL (Gym, Tanning, Laundry), blowouts (fights and hair), Italian food, boardwalk, and accents.

When you Google “Jersey Shore Finale” there are over 2.3 million results.  Hmmm, I wonder if MTV is going to make a sequel to the show?  I think it’s a pretty safe bet.

So, tonight, what will I, along with millions of people in Amercia be watching at 10pm? Yes, you guessed it, The Jersey Shore Finale.  I am not ashamed to admit it either. It’s mindless entertainment and it makes me laugh.  Fist pump.

Fun facts

To all my Twitter fans out there – do you know that you can follow the cast? Here are their official account names…

@Sn00ki
@vinnygmtv
@RonnieandSammi
@MTVDJPaulyD
@JENNIWOWW
@ItsTheSituation

Do you know how Mike “The Situation” Sorrentino got his infamous nickname? He and a friend went to a club a few years ago when a woman walked by and complimented his washboard abs. The woman was with her boyfriend, who as you can imagine, did not take well to his girlfriend’s friendly advance.  Sorrentino’s buddy called the moment “a situation” and thus, the greatest male nickname was born. 

Favorite Jersey Shore quotes:
“I’m not trashy unless I drink too much” – Snooki

“I’d have sex with him…he’s a nice guy I mean he’s gotta be clean, right?” – Snooki

“I’m gonna break it down dancing, I love the beats, I got my creepy patent move.” – Ronnie

“We’re beatin’-up-the-beat, that’s what we say when we’re doing our fist pump.  First, we start off by banging the ground, we’re banging it as the beat builds ‘cause that beat’s hittin’ us so we’re fightin’ back, it’s like we beat up that beat.” – PaulyD

“G.T.L. baby. Gym, Tanning, Laundry.” – The Situation

What about you…Will you be fist pumping along with the finale tonight?
What are your favorite moments from the show?

I just had coffee with one of my friends who like many of us, always has a story about a guy.  The latest is definitely blog worthy and I thought it might be true for a lot of people.

You had a great relationship with someone and then sadly, it ended.  No more late night talks, cute dinner dates, or even drunken debacles.

A few months go by, and then all of a sudden you see him at a friend’s St. Paddy’s Day party.  As the shamrocks on your cheeks both glisten, you begin to reconnect over a Guinness.  It’s the luck of the Irish you think, and you begin your romance once again.

April. May. June. July. Yep – then, it’s over yet again.  You still remain friends but romance is certainly not in the cards any longer.

Over the next year, you go on dates with new men, but don’t meet anyone special.  For some reason, your ex is always in the back of your mind and you only remember the good times (because let’s face it, we never remember the bad times).

Then, this past weekend you go snowboarding a few states away.  Midway through your drive to the mountain, you realize you forget to pack your snow gear! Ugh, how annoying.  Now you realize you can buy $400 worth of new stuff, or take the more economical route, and rent some.

You go to the ski shop that you’ve never been to before and rent your wardrobe for the weekend.  After a couple days of snowboarding and drinking, you’re trip is over and it’s now time to return your rented gear.

Standing in line, you hear a familiar laugh.  You turn around – and who is it? Yep, it’s your ex.  It has to be fate you think – bumping into him at a random mountain rental ski shop doesn’t just happen, right?

I usually give a few possible outcomes, but this time I decided to just give one.  Tough Love I’m going to call this one.

It’s not fate, you’re just bored. You haven’t had any luck recently with men and running into your ex may seem like fate, but there is a reason why he’s your “ex.”  If it didn’t work the first two times, I can pretty much guarantee it’s not going to work again.

Don’t fall into the “it’s fate” trap.  Stop thinking about “what might happen,” and instead get a hobby and meet someone new!

Thoughts?

Scenario…
Your relationship starts out great. Your new man is charming in all those bad boy ways that all of us love.  You like his confidence, street smarts, sense of humor and he makes you feel special when you are together.  However, as you begin to get closer, you step into some awkward territory…

Step 1:  You are on your way back from a long day of work when you get a text, asking you to pick up some essential toiletries at CVS for him. You say “of course, no problem babe,” and bring him his razors, shaving cream, gummy bears, and deodorant.  He works nights, and needed to get ready.  He must have had an exhausting day of playing videogames that he didn’t have a minute to get the things himself.

Step 2:  His credit isn’t so good.  Yours is impeccable.  His pay-as-you-go cell phone isn’t doing the job anymore so he asks if you could get him a phone under your name.  He swears he will pay you monthly and would never dream of messing up your credit.  You agree it is important to keep in contact with each other frequently and could never picture him doing you wrong. 

There have been some roadblocks in your amazing love race thus far. His “can you pick up a few things” texts have become fairly frequent and he has missed some of his monthly mobile payments because he hasn’t “cashed his paycheck” yet.  Plus, he couldn’t stop talking about getting that meaningful eagle tattoo and how could you be the one to crush his dreams?  Despite some of the hazardous signs, you decide to trudge along…

Step 3:  His landlord kicked him out.  He asks if you would mind if he crashed at your place for a little bit, until he finds a new one.  He promises that he will help out with the rent and keep your little dog company during the day.  Sounds like a pretty sweet deal to you.  Three months pass and his stuff is all over your apartment, your wallet is emptier and your laundry bag seems to get fuller faster. 

Step 4:  The requests for loans get larger and the cell phone, electric and cable bills grow…What’s a generous girl to do?

Possible Outcomes…
#1 You continue to help him out.  He just needs to get back on his feet and when he does he will pay you back.  Who knows, maybe he will hit it big with his music career and make a really successful album. Of course he’ll dedicate it to you since you are his rock.  (Desirability: HIGH; Reality: LOW)

 #2 You kick him out and show him who’s boss.  Enough is enough.  You work hard and all he does is lay around your apartment all day.  Sure he has unlocked a lot of great prizes on your PS3, but is it worth it?  It finally hits you and you realize this is so not worth all this pain to your heart, and your wallet.  (Desirability: HIGH; Reality: MODERATE)

#3 It’s the little things that matter, right?  He starts to pay you back by cooking you romantic dinners, doing the dishes and walking the dog.  He even changes the battery on your smoke detector and the light bulbs that are too high too reach.  It’s like having your own personal handyman around.  It’s not so bad. (Desirability: MODERATE; Reality: MODERATE)

 #4 You give him an ultimatum.  He either pays you back or it’s over.  He says fine, and leaves you…with a $300 phone bill.  Next day, you see him arm and arm with some other gullible girl.  (Desirability: LOW; Reality: HIGH)

 #5 You continue to help him out.  The vicious cycle continues and you are stuck with some money grubbing bum who can’t even figure out how to program the speed dial on his cell phone that you are paying for.  As the bills continue to pile in, you happen to notice many unfamiliar phone numbers.  Got to love a guy who cheats on you on your tab.  (Desirability: LOW; Reality: HIGH)

 The Lesson…
“Money comes and goes…so should the losers who mooch off of you”

Twitter

Have you fallen for the 140 characters or less phenomenon, Twitter, yet? Many people have embraced the short and sweet social network but others look at it as just another nonsense trend.

I, like many, have fallen for the Twitter trap.

Why you ask? I’ve realized that…

-I love writing in 140 characters or less.
-I love following some of my favorite celebrities and reality stars. (big shout out to @Sn00ki, @JENNIWOWW, @JessicaSimpson, and @TheEllenShow)
-I love reading the news in one sentence. Why should I read an entire article ever again?
-I love my TweetDeck. If you do Twitter, and don’t have the TweetDeck, download it today. http://www.tweetdeck.com/  Everything I need to know is right in front of my face in beautiful columns. Nice and neat.
-I love when random people comment on my tweets. Who knew I had followers in South Dakota?
-I love see what the latest trends are and what people are tweeting about. I’ve connected with a lot of people who were looking for the perfect gift (ah hem, a GiftScrap book for instance), suggestions for where to go on a Saturday night in NYC, the best sushi restaurant in Midtown, etc.
-I love using #hashtags now.

Today in fact, I have a tutorial with my friend who has started her own business and wants to experience the power of Twitter. She will download that TweetDeck, post exciting things, follow the right people, and stay away from weird adult entertainment spammers.

How about everyone? Have you fallen for Twitter or do you not understand the hype? If you are a Tweethead, make sure to follow @GiftScrap on Twitter! http:///www.twitter.com/GiftScrap

Cheers

Scenario…
Going out with your friends is a great way to socialize and meet new people.  Usually, you end up at a bar. Once you find a bar you like, you get comfortable and it becomes your stomping ground.  You come to know the staff on a first-name basis and their friendliness and sense of humor becomes attractive.

A pattern develops in this new found home away from home:
Step 1: Pay as you drink
Step 2: A free shot here and there
Step 3: Hugs & friendly kisses start to be exchanged more frequently with the bar staff, along with the steadier buy-back
Step 4: You and the bar back wink “hello”
Step 5: When you walk in, your favorite drink is passed over to you even before you open your mouth.
Step 6: You close out the bar and are invited to stay for after hours.
Step 7: The bouncer lets you skip the long line and bypass the cover charge.
Step 8: The new after-hours spot becomes the bartender/bouncer/DJ’s (insert appropriate staff member here) apartment.
Step 9: You start feeling something for him, and plan your drinking schedule around his work schedule so you can hang more.
Step 10: Love is in the air, at least on your end. You treasure his winks from behind the bar, from the DJ booth, or from the door where he is stationed.

Are these the steps to your next happy relationship? I mean, it sounds pretty great…free drinks, no waiting in the cold on line, good conversation, and a desirable, hot man that is all yours! Isn’t he?

Possible Outcomes…
#1 You continue your pattern of going out.  Despite your day job and his night job, things seem to be going really well with him.  Your work suffers from exhaustion, and your colleagues ask quite frequently about your late nights due to the fact you practically fall asleep at your desk every day. But you are happy and make a note to buy concealer to cover up those dark circles under your eyes. (Desirability: MODERATE; Reality: MODERATE)

#2 As you continue going to the bar, you can’t help but notice the amount of “extra friendly” girls that also are there regularly and seem to be floating on cloud nine around him. Your man assures you that you are his one and only, and runs outside on his break to buy you a single rose. (Desirability: MODERATE; Reality: MODERATE)

#3 You get butterflies when your man winks at you from his position in the bar. But when you turn around, some hot blonde is returning the exact same smile that you are.  You start to wonder, who was that affectionate gesture really for? (Desirability: LOW; Reality: HIGH)

#4 You surprise him during his lunch shift with his favorite iced coffee.  He is making out with that redhead that you noticed coming around the bar more regularly. You go up and dump him and the coffee over his head, and march out. (Desirability: LOW; Reality: HIGH)

#5 You go to the bar to hang out with your man.  As he is at the other end of the bar hitting on a group of bachelorettes, the guy next to you leans over and says you have the most stunning eyes he has ever seen. You stop staring at your man behind the bar to turn and be blown away by the most beautiful man you have ever seen.  Time flies as you immerse yourself in conversation with the new man with a stool in front of the bar.  You cast one last glance at your bartender and realize that he hasn’t even noticed that you have been preoccupied for the last three hours. You have been dating your new hottie ever since that blissful night.  (Desirability: HIGH; Reality: MODERATE)

The Lesson…
“It’s time to raise the bar”

Guys always say that women are hard to shop for.  And many of us are.  However, the one thing that we absolutely love is a thoughtful gift.

It could be as simple as a card to as extravagant to a piece of jewelry with the date of when you first met engraved in it.  A gift with a little meaning behind it can go a long way.

Valentine’s Day is only a month away and why not give your woman an unforgettable gift this year?  Here are some of my suggestions…

1. Take her to the restaurant that you took her to on your first date. Have her favorite flower waiting for her at her seat.

Or you can really go above and beyond by doing a little research and find a restaurant that reminds you of her.  Take her to a restaurant with her same name. Or did you have the best vacation in Spain? Take her to a Spanish restaurant and recreate the trip.

2. Engrave a special saying or date on a piece of jewelry. Her favorite quote? Your nickname for her? The date you first met? Any of those would do!

3. Rewrite her favorite poem.  Even the thought that you took the time to actually sit down and write something important to her is incredible.

4. Cook for her.  It doesn’t even have to be complex, and if it comes out bad, make sure you have enough wine on hand… she won’t remember how awful it tasted.

5. A GiftScrap book.  I had to get a shameless plug into the list.  But in all honesty, if you have 15-20 pictures of her, you, or you both together – all you need to do is send me the link to them or upload the pictures on our site and we will create a beautiful scrapbook that she will adore.  It will score you so many points…you have no idea. http://www.giftscrap.com/order.php

Please share some more ideas! What were some of the best gifts you have received? Or even the worst gifts?!

Scenario…
Immediate connection as your eyes meet across the Golden Tee machine at your local watering hole. He is drinking your beer of choice, sporting a baseball cap of your beloved baseball team, and you catch a whiff of your favorite cologne as he approaches. Could he be the one? You hit it off, and your friends all love him too. He is hysterical, and you spend the rest of the evening laughing over a few more drinks. He calls the next day, and you plan a date, which also goes famously. Months pass, and things start to heat up. Going out becomes more routine, as do affectionate kisses and sleepovers that eventually lead to the best loving you have ever had. However, strange patterns begin to develop as you become more comfortable with each other.

Guy: I love you
Next morning, girl rolls over
Girl: I love you too. It meant so much to hear that from you last night.
Guy: (looking at girl like she has two heads) Huh?

Guy: So, my lease is up next month. I think we should look for a place together.
Girl: Do you think it is too soon?
Guy: No baby, this is it for me. You are the one.
Next morning
Girl: So, when do you want to start looking for places?
Guy: (looking at girl like she has two heads) Huh?

Whether it be a severe case of alcoholism, a split personality disorder, or a simple case of forgetfulness, you have a huge dilemma on your hands. Continue to date the fun loving, affectionate night guy and risk the morning “Huh?” man? Or drop Question Mark altogether?

Possible Outcomes…
#1 You stick it out. You love the way things are at night, and hey, you are little tough to deal with in the morning also. Spontaneity is the spice of life, right? (Desirability: LOW; Reality: HIGH)

#2 You stick it out and confront the situation. You get in to massive fights every morning and go home in tears. But don’t worry, he will call you three hours later not remembering a damn thing…and invite you to Florida to meet his parents. (Desirability: LOW; Reality: HIGH)

#3 You realize that his craziness is rubbing off on you. You begin experiencing mood swings and your relationships with your coworkers and friends suffer as a result. Your best friend finally calls you out on it, and you finally leave Mr. Forgetful. (Desirability: MODERATE; Reality: MODERATE)

#4 You stick it out. Night guy finally fades to day and he loves you 24 hours a day, instead of just 12 hours. (Desirability: HIGH; Reality: LOW)

#5 You both realize it is not working out. You decide to become best night friends and continue to have the greatest sex of your life. Don’t feel bad that your relationship with him is just a booty call; it will be your best kept secret, because he won’t remember to tell a soul in the morning. (Desirability: MODERATE; Reality: HIGH)

The Lesson… 
You will always remember true love – Don’t forget that