How to get salt stains off your leather boots!

Good Afternoon! I hope everyone had a lovely Christmas and enjoyed the snowstorm! I love the snow but after about a day of having a snow storm in NYC-it is one big mess! One thing that bugs me the most is there is salt everywhere! A big killer for shoes! Yesterday, I was having lunch with a friend of mine and wore leather boots instead of rain boots which was a huge mistake since there was puddles of water, snow, and salt everywhere. We also ended up at the same restaurant but in different locations. Yes there is two Cafe Gitanes in NYC! It is so delicious (definitely try it out, one in Soho and one in the West Village). After about a day of city wandering, I woke up to gross salt stained boots! I was so disappointed but tried this trick!

Mix one tablespoon of white vinegar with one cup of water. Dip a clean soft rag in the liquid and wipe the salt stains. Allow to dry and they should look as good as new. If you want to add some shine take a banana peel and rub all over boot, to get the banana out of zipper take a tooth brush. I then spray my boots again with leather protector (obviously let dry over night!)

Gifts Galore

Wow, it has been way too long since I have posted anything, but things have been so busy around here! The holidays are here and I am loving it! This is by far, my favorite time of the year (minus the NYC weather). I love the smell of Christmas trees, family gatherings, the sparkling decor, buying gifts for loved one, and searching for the best deals! This year most of my Christmas shopping was done via Amazon. One minus about online shopping is that you can not see the actual product in person. However, I usually go into stores and search for what I am looking for and than I will go on Amazon and order it on there. Another tip is do not wait till the week before Christmas to make purchases on Amazon, because all of their deals disappear, they up all the prices on the products the week before. In fact, I went back to look at all the gifts I had purchased and they had ALL gone up in price. If purchasing gifts at a clothing store, I would recommend just getting a gift card because we all know the best deals come after Christmas. Also I find that unless you know the person's clothing style, gift cards can be a safe bet. Some think its not personal, but I disagree...you still went out of your way to find a store they like and purchased the card.

If you are a guest at someones house this year, please do yourself a favor and order these as a gift to bring!! These William-Sonoma croissants taste exactly like the ones you get in a bakery in Paris (if not better). They are a bit pricey for $39 a box (but for 12 x-large croissants that taste out of this world, it's worth every penny). Another nice gift is Veniero's Cheesecake, a bakery in New York City. This is hands down the tastiest cheesecake I have ever had! And best of all the price is unbeatable for this amazing quality. I love the fact that both of these 2 gift items can be delivered right to your door!

Now, once all your gifts are purchased- PLEASE wrap them nicely and put some fancy trimming on it. I always find that nice gifts make a tree look even prettier. Presentation is everything, at least to me. I love big red bows and name tags that sparkle. I also love the natural look (brown bag wrapping) with a gold glitter ribbon. Get creative.