With the holiday season nearly upon us (What!? We can’t believe it either!), it’s time to start thinking about those perfect presents for the people in our lives. Arguably the most important question, what can we give the women in our lives to show how much we care? While we don’t have the exact answer, we can give you some examples to help spoil any woman in your life, from mother, to sister, or significant other.

1. A deep conditioning treatment

Taking care of hair is hard. Just about anything can leave it damaged, from using too much heat, dying it, or even brushing it too often. A deep conditioning treatment is a great way to help restore any lady’s hair. It takes dull and damaged hair and helps restore its natural shine, strengthens the strands, and adds an extra level of protection. Not only are there practical benefits, but it allows the luxury of having someone else wash her hair.

2. A face mask

Skin care is just as difficult, if not more than hair care. In the hustle and bustle of our day to day, it’s easy to forget (or completely forgo) taking care of our faces. Sure, we wash them and make sure not to leave makeup on overnight… usually… but that’s about it. A face mask is an easy, and inexpensive way to spoil any lady and make her feel rejuvenated.

3. A stylish tunic

Tunics are the easily the best way to go when shopping for a woman. Not only are they stylish, but extremely comfortable and flattering. Any woman can rock the tunic at work, or at home lounging on the couch. She’ll be happy and look her best either way. We recommend our favorite fall/winter tunic, the Haiku Tunic in Grey! It’s easily dressed up or down and guaranteed to make any woman smile.

4. An at-home spa kit

Nothing beats the luxury and relaxation of spending the day at the spa. Finding the time to go to a spa? Not as easy. Instead of sending her away for relaxation, provide her with everything she needs to treat herself from the comfort of her own home. An at-home spa kit can include as much, or as little as she needs to relax. Bath bombs, scented candles, her favorite wine, a good book, a box of chocolates, a new robe, and a calming CD/playlist would all be great inclusions. The great thing about this gift is how personalized you can make it based on who’s receiving it.

5. A personal chef

Personal chefs aren’t just for movie stars and A-list celebrities. Anybody can hire a high quality chef to cook their meals, and they aren’t as pricey as you would expect. This season, give a gift that’s unexpected and highly appreciated. Gifting one night with a personal chef that not only cooks a delicious meal, but cleans up the kitchen mess is a real treat. All she has to do it sit back, relax, and enjoy the food.

How to Dress for Any Holiday Party You're Invited To

Holiday season is party season, and your social calendar is likely filling up with office parties, family gatherings, community potlucks and gift exchanges. The dress codes run the gamut from semi-formal to totally casual, but with a few wardrobe staples and accessories, you can combine any clothing into a glam party ensemble. This handy guide shows what you need to create dazzling, multifunctional ensembles for those multi-function holiday weekends.

Little black dress

It's a classic with good reasons -- the LBD is simple, stylish and suitable for any occasion. Wear with boots and a cozy scarf for an afternoon get-together with friends; then switch to strappy heels and pearls for your husband's office party. The Soleil Dress is perfect for holiday events with its long sleeves, flattering scoop neckline and trendy shark bite hemline. Use shoes, handbags and other accessories to add cheerful pops of color or pattern.

Versatile bottoms

Dressing with separates offers greater flexibility and lets you wear your favorite pieces again for different events. When putting together party outfits, consider function and tone. Choose bottoms with a stretch to them when you may be indulging in holiday treats or chasing kids around the living room. Jeans and leggings are great for relaxed atmospheres such as a friend's house or hosting guests in your own home. Dress pants and skirts are better for events where you may need to look professional and polished, such as a work party or holiday fundraiser.

Festive tops

Unless you're attending an Ugly Sweater party, save your oversized snowflake sweater for Christmas morning at home. Instead, look for rich jewel-tone blouses or tunics with an interesting neckline, flattering drape or a subtle sparkle. Prints and patterns are great for events where you might be juggling hor d'oeuvres and punch or wrangling sticky grandchildren. The bold print on the Kiss Tunic easily masks those drips, dribbles and tiny fingerprints.

Chic blazer

A dressy blazer in velvet, velour or shimmery brocade lets you transform ordinary separates into a full ensemble. Choose a blazer with a metallic thread or bejeweled buttons to bring sophisticated holiday flair to business casual attire. Throw it on over your work clothes to attend nighttime holiday events. If a blazer feels too structured, opt for a sequin cardigan or cocoon shrug with a metallic knit.

Sparkly accessories

Any outfit can be made with fabulously festive with costume jewelry. Top off your holiday look with a dramatic statement necklace, stunning earrings or a satin clutch. If you aren't the flashy jewelry type, consider using a bright, festive nail polish or apply decorative holiday-themed nail art.

Whether you're swapping presents with family or sipping eggnog with friends, you'll always look seasonally stylish.

Tunics are the greatest thing to ever happen to older women, second only to Spanx. They are amazing, dynamic pieces that can take you seamlessly from day to night. However, tunics can easily look frumpy if they aren’t styled right. So, since we are all about tunics here at Hand Jive, we decided to make a quick “cheat-sheet” for how to style a tunic without looking like you’re hiding something (even if you are!)

1. Pair it with a slim pant

One of our favorite things about tunics is that you can wear them with leggings, and still look put together. A+ for comfort! Still not into leggings? Pair your tunic with skinny jeans, or a slim fitting pant. We don’t recommend bell bottoms- it can throw off proportions and draw attention to common problem areas.

2. Balance the billow

There is no denying it- tunics are billowy! Balance it out with a cute statement pendant, or by throwing a belt over it but do not do both! Choose one or the other, or it will be far too much “look”

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3. Try flowy pants- if you’re brave!

Okay, this sounds crazy- but we have seen it done well! Plus, it is insanely comfortable. If you’re going for a pattern on top, go for a solid on bottom, and vice versa- this will break up the look a bit. Additionally, pair with a statement necklace to look effortlessly stylish!

4. Hiding your middle? Go for a V-Neck

V-necks can create the illusion that your torso is even longer and leaner than it is. Plus they draw attention up to your face- which we love!

Being a conscious consumer is not only great for the planet, but it can be great for your wallet too! Unfortunately, clothing shopping is hard enough as it is- and making sure you’re buying the best stuff can be a daunting task. So, we’ve devised a little cheat sheet of things to look out for on your next shopping trip.

Shop Small

Small businesses often have less waste, as their products are produced on a smaller scale. Additionally, without having to cater to a board of directors who are concerned mostly with profit, small business owners have full discretion to ethically source their materials. For instance, at Hand Jive, we use remnant fabrics from the mill to conserve resources. You won’t find that at national chains!

Get high-quality clothing, and less of it

According to planetaid.org, the average American contributes up to 82lbs of textile waste alone. Furthermore, it can take up to 40 years for clothing to breakdown- leaving it to pile up in landfills. Fast fashion is a fun, and easy way to keep up with trends, but buying high-quality clothing you’ll wear and keep forever will take less of a toll on the environment, and your finances!

Stay away from dry-clean only

This one is tough- some things will just need to be dry cleaned. But the fewer, the better. Did you know that the chemical used in 85% of dry cleaners, perchloroethylene is “a probable human carcinogen," according to the EPA. And that’s not all- when this chemical gets released into the environment, it plays a big role in breaking down the ozone layer. Not good! Luckily, many dry cleaners are “going green”, so if you have to dry clean your clothes, try to find one of these good players!

Of all of my skills, one I am most proud of is my ability to pack well. I know it seems silly, but how often have you had to check a heavy bag, and then wear less than half of what you brought? Or worse, you get to your destination only to find that everything is wrinkled? Well, that will be your reality no more! Here is a quick guide to packing for a Fall weekend getaway.

What Clothes to Pack

For a two-night trip, you can easily get away with only two bottoms, either two pants or one pants and one skirt or dress. For tops, one with short sleeves and one with long sleeves are all you need, especially if they layer well.

Since fall often brings a mix of warm days and chilly nights, you'll want to pack a cover-up, which can double as another top. You can wear a light sweater or jacket over long-sleeve or short-sleeve tops to give you just the right amount of coverage. Also, a pair of leggings under a tunic or dress works wonders to keep your legs warm.

Fabrics That Travel Well

Look for fabrics that are lightweight and dry quickly. They should also be wrinkle-resistant, even when packed tightly. Cotton blended with polyester or rayon is a good choice; this combo combines the breathability of cotton with the drape and comfort of rayon and polyester. And it's easy-care; just wash and dry. Also note that the fabric construction is as important as the fiber content; knits wrinkle less and can be more comfortable than wovens. We often hear from customers that our pieces are their go-to travel wear, as they are easy to care for, and difficult to wrinkle. We agree!

Selecting Shoes

Choosing which shoes to take on a weekend trip can be problematic, especially if your plans include such disparate activities as hiking and going out on the town. Luckily, current fashion trends favor shoes that are both stylish and comfortable, so you should be able to find a walking flat that's pretty enough for an evening out. If you absolutely must take more than one pair, wear the bulkiest while you're traveling and pack a pair of ballet flats for dress-up.

Packing to Maximize Space

Now that you've chosen what you need to take, follow these pro packing tips to maximize the space in your bag.

Roll Your Clothes

Rolling is truly is the best way to pack. Not only does it maximize space, it also minimizes wrinkles. Regular travelers have their preferred technique, be it plain rolling, military-style rolling or the "clown car" method. Choose the one that makes the most sense for your clothes.

Use Packing Cubes

Once your pieces are rolled up nicely, pack them into cubes to keep them tightly in place.

Consider Resealable Bags and Compression

If you really want to save space, consider packing your clothes into resealable bags, then compressing the air out. Only do this if you're sure the fabric won't wrinkle or you can relax the wrinkles while you shower.

Well, now that you have all of my packing tips, you should book a little vacation to try them out! ;) And remember, the less clothing you bring, the more room in your suitcase to bring home goodies and special finds.