By Sally McGraw from Already Pretty

Tell me that you hate getting presents and I’ll tell you that you’re full of lies. We ALL love presents, for Pete’s sake. I mean, when someone puts in the time and energy to pick out a thoughtful gift, receiving that gift lights us up from the inside and reminds us how beloved we truly are. And that’s priceless and precious. But it’s also just plain fun to get stuff, and gifties from friends and family provide little surges of joy whenever they land in our eager laps.

But there are some gifts that you can only give to yourself, and many of them will make you feel happier than a gorgeous pair of Prada boots or a brand new iPod. There are some gifts that center around self-knowledge, self-care and self-esteem, and it’s best for us to procure them on our own terms and on our own time. There are some gifts that we deserve year-round, not just around the holidays or on our birthdays, and now seems like as good a time as any to enumerate them.

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by Sara from Selfmademom

It’s easy to lose track of the trends when you’re watching your pennies. The last thing I feel like doing now is buying the latest issue of In Style only to realize I really can’t afford, and don’t really need the hottest pair of shoes.

But there are many ways to stay stylish without breaking the bank, or feeling guilty.

• Shop your closet.  Look back through the years and you’re sure to find some hidden treasures.  I recently dug up an old Bohemian skirt from a few years back, rolled down the waist, and voila! A now-trendy maxi skirt.  Don’t underestimate your savvy self back before you became a recessionista.

• Skip the salon. I know- it’s like saying skip lunch. But drastic times call for drastic measures and sometimes you have to do it yourself.  It’s near impossible to give yourself your own haircut. (Bang trim, maybe if you have a steady hand.) However, when it comes to coloring your locks, there are many do-it-yourself techniques available at an affordable price. (Frederic Fekkai, anyone?) Julyne Derrick of About.com has a great how-to on the ins and outs of coloring your hair.

• Host a clothing swap party. A friend of mine recently invited a bunch of her friends over for a clothes swap party. Bring stuff that you don’t wear, or doesn’t fit you any longer and swap it for someone else’s duds. It’s brilliant, and you’ll walk away with some new pieces from a reputable source.
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From Cool Mom Picks

Considering the first day of Spring has just passed, we’re anxious to retire our sweaters and socks and show a little (tanned) ankle. Since we’re not dropping as much cash as we might have in past seasons, we’ve been on the lookout for fun accessories that will help keep last year’s spring threads fresh. And since trends are pointing to bold statements made with vibrant splashes of color, who are we to argue?

Here you’ll find five accessory picks for spring, all under $50, to help you feel like you’ve hop ped off the pages of a magazine–without burning a whole in your wallet the size of those nursing bras.

1. DV by Dolce Vita Purple Sandals
If you’re generally a neutral shoe gal, take a risk this season with some of the gorgeous, saturated colors on the shelves. We’re loving these awesome purple (yes, purple) sandals which add a lot of personality to even a basic outfit without you having to think; always helpful when you’re running on no sleep. ($50 at Piperlime)
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By product guru Slynnro

After three years of informal “research,” which largely took place in my bathroom and at Neiman Marcus, I’ve finally found a system that works for my skin. It’s been a long process, but having skin to be proud of has definitely been worth the effort. So let me save you a little time, and hopefully some cash, with this list of what products you really need in your skin care regime!

Face Wash - I would like to think this goes without saying, but you need to wash your face daily! It is the foundation of your entire skin care routine. For normal skin, good old Cetaphil will get the job done. For drier skin, try a cream cleanser like Neutrogena Deep Clean . For the oilier complexions, like mine, nothing works like Chantecaille Rice and Geranium cleanser . I know because I’ve tried everything!
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By Jonna of Jonniker

Choosing a personal fragrance is very … well, personal. No perfume will smell the same on everyone, and one person’s heaven is another’s olfactic nightmare. With that in mind, I’m not going to torture you with varying categories of perfumes (Floral! Woody! Chypre! Oceanic!) because I firmly believe that no one fits into a single class, and who cares what box it fits in if it smells good to you?

Instead, I’m going to tell you how to find your perfect fragrance without searing your nostrils off or breaking the bank. Ready? Let’s go!

Get out of the department store.

I have nothing against many department store fragrances (some of my best friends are department store fragrances!), but unless you love smelling like everyone else, you’re better off elsewhere. Not only is shopping for a fragrance there the shortest path to anosmia (the conflicting scents! the makeup counter ladies doused in Emeraude!), but most department store scents are designed for broad appeal to keep sales high. They aren’t thinking about what you’d like to smell like, they’re thinking about how A MAJORITY would like to smell. And are you like everyone else? I didn’t think so, you unique petite little flower, you.

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By Kristen from Swistle

You betcha! Keep in mind, though, that you’re asking someone in her mid-thirties. Check back in ten or twenty years and see if I’ve changed my tune.

Here’s what you’ll need for the regimen my skin loves:
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By product guru SLynnRo

My mother, life-long lover of make-up, would not approve of this post. For my mom, “putting on your face” is an Event. While she always looks beautiful, her time consuming rituals have left many annoyed, irritated, and late in her wake. It may surprise some of the readers of my personal blog, due to the fact that I am so product obsessed, that my morning routine takes less than 10 minutes. Fueled by a desire to not have scores of family members frustrated with me, I have my make-up routine down to a science.

So let’s get down to business.
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