Guest Post: Small Shop

Erika. Small Shop. Large style. Huge talent! I am so happy I ran across Erika's blog and her assortment of graphic bits! I am always looking for inspiration from ladies that have a passion for graphic design. I found one that meets every expectation I have for a mega graphic star! She's here to share some key winter must-haves today and it's time I let her take it away!

Hello Coral Cafe-inators, I'm Erika from small shop! So happy that Drew asked me to fill in whilst she is enjoying some time off with her family. I'm guessing I'm a new introduction to most of you, so let me first tell you I am a graphic designer (but I fancifully refer to myself as a "brand stylist") and therefore I tend to like fancy, pretty things....which are often out of my budget. But I do believe in quality, especially in the winter months, when good ingredients really do count for something! So here is my "Winter Checklist" that I like to replenish with a few new items every winter:

*carry-all black tote
We all need one to lug around our sweaters and gifts while shopping, right? I'll be putting one on my Christmas list this year, and this number by Cynthia Vincent is practical, sizeable and stylish.

*cashmere, cashmere, cashmere
Yes I need lots of cashmere in my life come winter, and this chunky James Perse piece is perfection. (Okay, so it doesn't get THAT cold here in So. Cal. but having that extra warmth is quite nice -- I'm a Hawaii girl, cut me some slack!). And don't forget to take care of your cashmere, so you can keep your pieces for years!

*dark nail lacquer
Vampy, sexy, and goes so well with all those darker hues of winter. I'm itching to try Butter London's La Moss...oh la la!

*best lip balm (ever)
La Mer is a splurge for sure, but it will last you all winter, and well into spring. It's soft, supple and just what the doctor ordered for our poor puckers this season.

*a nice hand soap
Who wants to catch a nasty winter cold when there is so much shopping and partying to be had? Invest in a nice line like Molton Brown so that your hands don't get as dry as they could be with less expensive (read: watery) brands. Plus it smells good too.

*signature scarf
Whatever your signature scarf is, wear it with pride. I received a Burberry keeper as a Christmas gift a few years back, and of course I don it all the time! Really the best accessory.

*day or night boots
Tall brown boots like these DVF's are just fine for our light winters out here - just enough to get me off the ground when wet, and covers up enough leg to keep me warm. Plus, goes with everything!

*a luxurious lotion
I have tried to budget-buy the body lotion. It just doesn't work. Besides, think of it this way: you don't have to use pricey perfume when you put a fragrant cream on like the new Diptyque line -- double-duty!

*lots of jeans!
I am obsessed with Mother "The Looker" jeans. Obsessed! I have them in three washes, and honestly, I would buy more if they were cheaper. They're heavier than "jeggings" (yuck!) but stretchy like yoga pants. Hey, I've had a kid and these still don't give me muffin top. I'm just sayin'...great investment.

So there you have it! Hopefully I've introduced a few of you to some new faves -- I know it can be scary to spend a ton of $$ on an unfamiliar product!

What are some of your winter splurges? Come tell me at my neck of the 'net, small shop!

Thank you ever so much, Erika, for this list of winter must haves! Hopefully it will help some of you get ideas on what to snag today while out in the hustle and bustle carrying your first load of shopping bags!

I need to go try on a pair of those jeans and sample some of that double duty lotion!

Now you MUST go check out Erika's creations and designs!