Wrapped Up: For Dads and Grads

For this edition of Wrapped Up, I was originally going to a combination board for Dads & Grads. But, I got so inspired by all the great things I was discovering for dads that my post just sort of took off in that direction. Honestly, many of these gift ideas would also be good graduation gifts for young men. Or, if you're still in a gift rut you can check out Blueprint Modern or my Pinterest boards for more ideas.

Baseball; Key; Charger; Watch; Leather belt; Bookends; Trunk Club; NBA Socks; City Socks

Wrapped Up: Inspired Mother's Day Gifts

With Mother's Day around the corner, this month's "Wrapped Up" is focusing on gifts for the female caretakers in our lives. Whether shopping for your wife, an aunt, a mother-in-law, or your own mother, these gifts are meant to inspire you as you search for something representative of the woman you see as "Mom." Follow me on Pinterest or head on over to Blueprint Modern for other gift ideas or comment to share other fun ideas!  

Printsagram Prints; Giles & Brother Cuff; Jo Malone Candle; Organized with Style Gift Basket; One Line a Day Memory Book; All The Wire Necklace; MATTA Sarong; Georgia Clutch; Heirloom Seed Kit

Wrapped Up: Stylish Housewarming Gifts

Hello again! Katie from Blueprint Modern here with another edition of "Wrapped Up." Spring means new life outside and often refreshing the inside. I have several friends buying new homes this season and so I started brainstorming original housewarming gifts. Below are some of my favorites; some are inspired by gifts I have received like a sweet sketch of my new home or a guest book and some are simply things I have found and know I would enjoy or appreciate in a new place. Do you have a go-to gift to give a friend in a new home? What are your favorites?

Eric Condren Life Planner; Paper Coasters; Linen Coasters; Custom House Portrait; Scatter Garden; Guest Book; Address Stamp; Candle

Wrapped Up: Valentine's Day with a Twist

The beauty of Blueprint Modern's "Wrapped Up" series is that February essentially offers a built-in theme. And while I tend to be of the camp that believes Valentine's Day is somewhat of a manufactured celebration, I can certainly see the value in letting someone important to you know you love them, no matter what day it is. So using St. Valentine as inspiration, I started thinking of tokens of appreciation that could be given any day of the year for whatever reason, or for no reason at all.

Green Branches Print; Foxy Freak of Nature Notecard; Artifact Necklace; Succulents Image; DIY Concrete Heart; Eleanor & Park Book; Stay Up All Night Sleep Set; Acrylic Boxes; Heartthrob Bracelet

Wrapped Up: Going Green

Happy New Year LDV Readers! Katie of Blueprint Modern here with another installment of Wrapped Up. As we clean up all that is leftover from the holidays, I am reminded of the waste that is created each year with our gift-giving traditions. I started thinking about different ways to wrap presents that are more eco-friendly. Below are some of my favorite ideas. Do you have any secrets for keeping green when giving?

Tea Towel; Woven Palms Baskets; Gift Tags; Chalkboard Jar; Newspaper Image; Reusable Bags; Wrapping Paper; Storage Bins

Wrapped Up: Personalized Gifts

Hello, La Dolce Vita Readers! I am Katie from Blueprint Modern and I am honored and excited to be a new contributor. My series will focus on gifts and all that surrounds the art of giving. In this first post, I am focusing on personalized gifts. Bespoke gifts are one of the most thoughtful ways to give as they necessitate customization and a certain amount of planning. Since we are little over a month a way from Christmas, now is the essential time to order this kind of present. Here are my favorite picks for everyone on your list.

For Her: Lucite Tray; Jewelry Pouch; Earrings; NightShirt For Him: Pool Balls; Tie; Whiskey Seasonal: Ornament; Wreath Holder For the Kids: Memory Game Stocking Stuffers: Initial Trays; State Notepads To Spoil: Art; Red Handbag; Men's Duffle For the Party: Stir Sticks

Meet LDV's New Contributors

About two years ago, I made the decision to bring on a fabulous group of contributors to La Dolce Vita. I am so thankful to our amazing group of contributors for taking the time to craft original content and sharing their voices on LDV. Though this time around, I had an open call for contributors, ultimately, every contributor on La Dolce Vita has been personally hand-picked by me for their style and unique point of view. 

Moving forward, Arianna, Nancy, Brendan, and Erika will continue bring us their fabulous columns. Joining these talented ladies will be a new group of contributors whose style is perfectly in line with what you’ve come to expect from La Dolce Vita. They will be developing insightful, chic posts filled with visual inspiration and helpful advice. Each contributors’ series will appear on the blog every 4-6 weeks on Wednesdays and Thursdays. I am thrilled to welcome this talented group to La Dolce Vita as we have some very exciting things in store for you. Please join me in welcoming this talented new roster of contributors!

Katie Dalrymple enjoys giving gifts almost as much as she enjoys receiving them. With a knack for finding perfectly unique gifts for people and a passion for interior design, Katie started Blueprint Modern, an artfully curated home accessories and gift boutique. Katie fancies herself a Houstonophile and amateur foodie, and she is unapologetically addicted to her custom Starbucks order and reruns of Castle.

Dominique DeLaney is an interior designer + blogger and a North Carolina native. She has a weakness for all things vintage...and is a habitual brass hoarder. When she's not designing or treasure hunting you can find her playing with her adorable doodle, Harper or enjoying a low key evening with her Mr. 

Nothing makes Erin Hodges, the founder and editor of  Fig + Cotton, happier than watching her friends and family gather together to enjoy a delicious meal in a beautiful setting.  Luckily,  her boutique stationery company,  Fig + Cotton Paperie, helps ensure everyone knows about the party.  In June 2013, she created the  Fig + Cotton blog  to share her passion for cooking and entertaining with a larger audience. Erin lives in Austin with the two most important men in her life, husband, Mat, and, two-year-old son, Rex.

Capella is a Phoenix-based Interior Designer.  Her specialty is designing homes for jet-setting creative types who want a home that feels relaxed, layered, collected, and lived in, never “decorated”.  She has three rescue dogs, loves a good bottle of wine and is always up for a road-trip.  

Valerie McFarland is a banker and lifestyle blogger living in Houston with her husband, David, and her pup, Charlotte. In her free time, she enjoys making her new house a home, sipping cocktails with friends and living life to the fullest.

Two designers, two cities, one blog. Besides running their individual interior design companies on opposite coasts, together, Rebecca June Stringham and Paula Jean McIntosh write their popular blog Sea Island Drive. They share a mutual love of design, fashion, and perfectly spicy salsa.

P.S. LDV sponsor and one of my favorite shopping destinations, Memorial Antiques & Interiors is hosting their "Gifts & Guilty Little Treasures" holiday market this Thursday, November 14th. They'll have lots of fabulous gifts from vendors such as Presmer, Manready Mercantile, Initials Gifts & Monogramming, Noble House Designs, Watson Gardner ikat pillows, and many more. In addition, they'll have drawings every hour for MAI gift certificates of $100-$400, along with mimosas and snacks all day! It's a great opportunity to do some holiday shopping and find some treasures for your home.