These days, I live in a tropical zone with no snow or pine trees, and my beloved horse is just happy memories, which leaves me to get my holiday tree in a different fashion. Since deforestation is threatening the earth’s ecobalance, and I really can’t stand plastic plants, I have been looking for alternatives to the traditional Xmas tree. Below are some of the options I’ve found.

Wooden trees bring a piece of nature into your home. They can be reused and painted and decorated to fit any style. X’mas tree from Sandra Lindner and Green X-mas Tree from Buro North.

Live potted Xmas trees will make your home fragrant. Get a live rosemary tree or start a tradition by growing your own Xmas tree from scratch.

Shiny metal tealight holder Xmas trees will brighten your season and provide a place to hang your Xmas ornaments. The Estilo stainless steel tealight tree and Nickel plated tree tealite holder are great options.

Xmas tree wall stickers is a great modern alternative for rooms with limited space. Artsy vinyl Xmas tree by Phoebe Washburn and vinyl Xmas tree by Marilyn Minter. The Xmas tree wall graphic decal 1 and Xmas tree wall graphic decal 2 from Etsy comes in lots of different colors.

Something to consider for next Xmas?

SpareSoles are perfect for fashionistas who forgo comfort for style and sport killer heels (emphasis on “killer”) on party nights. (We all do it!) Light and portable, they’re easy to tuck away into an evening bag or clutch. While they don’t provide much support, they’re sure to relieve achy feet from four and five-inch heels during formal events and functions.

Help your pal make the most of the shoe collection she already has by giving her a pair of shoe clips. Shoe clips are an easy way to add new life and flair to a plain pair of shoes. Try Absolutely Audrey or Shoeworthy – some are even made out of vintage brooches and pendants!

You can also think beyond the shoes and about what will make her comfortable — what does she want after a night on her feet? Maybe this Davies Gate Seeds & Grains Best Foot Forward Super Luxe Foot Set will do the trick! It includes a Buckwheat Buffing Soap, a warming Mustard Seed Foot Serum, and a hydrating Cardamom Foot Butter. And, of course, comfy terry slippers are always a winner — and these are even monogrammable.

For a bit of humor, give her something fun but useful like a high heel cake server or stiletto letter opener.

Stiletto by Caroline Cox is a historical analysis about how the stiletto heel has been perceived since its invention (elegant or vulgar?). And if your friend is concerned with keeping up with the trends, sign her up for a subscription to Lucky magazine — each issue displays practical translations of runway couture to real world style.

None of these options quite right for your shoe addict friend? Send a Piperlime gift card her way and let her choose her gift — shipping is free, it never expires, and with their wide selection, she’ll definitely find a pair of shoes she loves!

1. Wine glasses

They’re the perfect gift for just about anyone, whether they drink wine or not. Sparkling cider or white wine alike can be enjoyed in this set of stemless Chardonnay tumblers (just $15)!

2. A Cozy Winter Accessory

Berets are totally on trend this winter, so I don’t think anyone on your gift list would be mad to unwrap this 100% cashmere topper. It comes in black and chocolate brown as well. At $25, you might wanna treat yourself to one as well.

3. Something Chic for the Home

Candles are always a great idea – which is why most people have one or two collecting dust in their homes already. I recommend a candle holder instead. It doesn’t burn away, so it’s automatically a better investment. This crystal, square-cut Vera Wang holder is a steal at $15.

4. Small jewelry pieces

Baubles are a thoughtful gift for the fashionista in your life. Just be sure you know their taste well. Your boho friend, for example, would totally dig this wooden bangle by Kenneth Kay Lane – and you’ll dig that it’s $20 on Bluefly, not $50 which is what it retails for.

If your budget’s a lil’ higher than $25, there’s a plethora tres chic wallets & cosmetics clutches for under $50. Take a look, and happy shopping!

Here are some of my picks for this Halloween, trying to walk the fine line of wacky, tacky, and tasty. If it’s too late for this year’s party, you might be able to pick up end-of-season bargains for next year’s bash!

Trick or treat?

From top left: skull candles, Murano Alzate deep black glassware, Skull cocktail shaker and glass, bleeding candles, skeleton yard flamingos, and bone soaps.

From top left: Haunted Chocolate Castle, Bat-suckers with glow sticks, Costume Kid Cookies, Chocolate Skulls, and Chocolate Coffins.

That’s THF and I. We both look kinda tired…I remember some Ikea trips and errand-running that weekend. In fact, most weekends we are too exhausted to do anything more exotic than sit around and watch movies with a bowl of popcorn. Wild, spontaneous dates and exuberant gift-giving aren’t an option when you have limited time and resources.

But, naturally, Valentine’s Day presents an opportunity to make all the romantic gestures you missed out on the rest of the year become a reality, if only for one day/night. And, although the holiday may be cliched and commercialized, you still can’t help but get caught up in it.

For THF and I, it’s the perfect excuse to relax, do something we don’t usually do and give each other meaningful gifts.

Like these for her (or buy them for yourself!):

Can’t find the right words to write to your sweetheart? Need some inspiration to jump-start your romantic mood? This book is filled with actual love letters, so there’s bound to be something useful. It’s only $22.50.

Wear something for yourself on Valentine’s, whether you have a date or not.

The problem with Valentine’s Day is that it’s usually freezing in DC (last year there was an ice storm), and yet you still have to make it to restaurant reservations, etc. A cute little jacket like this makes all the difference in the cold and doesn’t hide your hot outfit, either.

Elle Macpherson makes gorgeous lingerie. This set is soft, but still sexy. The pieces are also quite affordable.

These earrings are just incredible. The Carole Tanenbaum Vintage Collection has dozens of pieces that look similar to this on sale 24/7 on the website. Vintage jewelry is a great alternative jewelry gift to the overdone chain store specials that appear near Valentine’s.

For a jewelry gift that’s hand-made, try these pretty red rose earrings. For extra points, attach them creatively to a bouquet of real roses.

Homemade soaps are the ultimate in luxury because–at least for me–I’d never prioritize buying them for myself, but I’d love to receive them as a gift.

Etsy has a fantastic gift-giving guide section, which is where I found this homemade card that’s perfectly suitable for Valentine’s. I don’t have time to make a card myself, so the next best thing is buy one that looks like I created it.

For him:

So creative. Your guy won’t mind doing the dry-cleaning after you slip a couple of these hidden message collar stays in his shirt!

These cufflinks are really tongue-in-cheek and unexpected. Plus, there’s a large percentage of guys out there who are Superman fans, so your odds of the present being well-received are fairly good.

Not all presents must be romantic or expected. A t-shirt featuring the history of rock-and-roll hair would be a great gift for a certain type of guy.

A creative–and not too fluffy–card for the significant other in your life.

The ideal gift—no man can say “no” to Bestbuy. And, so you don’t accidentally get him something he already has…buy him a gift card instead.

Well…boyfriend training cards may not be the most appreciated present, but for a guy with a sense of humor…why not?

A man wouldn’t shy away from this game–it’s couples Truth or Dare. Have fun!

Can’t get your man to take Valentine’s Day seriously? Stop trying and just get him this shirt. And make him wear it. Out to dinner. Take lots of photos, too.

Men always need storage for video games and DVDs. THF has so many, he’s using his chest of drawers for space and stuffing his clothing elsewhere. This media storage unit would solve so many of his problems.

And for that guy,you know, the one that still shops at Spencer’s, I present the SplitShooter.

And a gift everyone can approve of:

If you don’t have an iPhone, you want it. If you don’t want to switch your cell service, get an iPod Touch instead. But, really, the technology is amazing and the features are addictive. Now that I’m the lucky owner of an iPhone, I’m hoping to get THF one as well so we can e-mail photos and snippets at will throughout the day.

This, of course, is not an exhaustive list. There are hundredsof gifts out there that would be perfect for Valentine’s. I suppose I’ve simply gathered things that I know that I or THF would approve of.

So, then, what are you getting yourself or your honey this Valentine’s?

If you’re having trouble getting inspired to stuff footwear, here are a few creative ideas culled from the StyleFeeder community.

If you’re a practical gift giver, you might like these shredding scissors. Because how often do you really use that hulking paper shredder hiding in the recesses of your office?

Here’s a stocking stuffer you can also benefit from. Why not gift a set of Topics to Go? These conversation starters with provocative questions will make the road trip home from Grandma’s house seem just a little bit shorter.

Finally, there’s the problem person on your list. But even the person who has everything probably doesn’t have a tooth floss holder shaped like a piranha:

For more holiday gift ideas, check out StyleFeeder’s Holiday Gift Guide.

Target has proven itself to be a veritable holygrail of cheap chic clothing, and I have to hold myself back from going shopping-cart-crazy more than once. Well, I must admit, sometimes it’s the fiance (i.e. Brandon) holding me back, saying, “Leave it! Walk away! Be strong!”

In times such as these, it’s important to have a back-up plan. Mine is to discourage Brandon’s presence by using a Target trip as an excuse to buy the most boring things possible. Toilet paper, dish soap, toothbrush, make-up, fashion magazines, pens & pencils…you do what you can to keep the male presence to a minimum.

But I digress.

The Hollywould for Target collection is one example where I’ll need to ignore Brandon’s conscience speaking in my ear.

For instance:

I put these glossy black heels on my StyleFeed and I haven’t been able to get them out of my head. A similar pair of heels from the actual Hollywould collection runs, oh, in the $500 range. These are $30.

This clutch is the perfect marriage of quirkiness and style, and naturally, would go great with the shoes.

As the holidays are coming up, I am feeling the need to stockpile party essentials: pretty heels, clutches, cocktail dresses, etc. Between myriad parties and a number of Christmas concerts coming up, I’ll need to streamline my holiday wardrobe to consist mostly of black items (it’s a requirement for concert attire).

Since the Hollywould for Target collection won’t be a permanent fixture, I would snap up these items as soon as possible, especially before the holiday shopping rush takes off.

What’s your favorite item from the new Hollywould collection?