Last night I had a nightmare. I was shopping and finding loads of cool stuff that all happened to be on sale. At this point in the story, you’re probably thinking, “Emily, that is not a nightmare. That sounds like the best dream ever.” But it’s at this point that we take a drastic turn for the worse.

You see, as I picked up the designer merchandise I quickly realized that something was very wrong with all of it. The first bag I selected from the rack of goods was a beautiful Gucci satchel. Or so I thought. When I picked up the bag with the traditional Gucci horsebit detailing, it said “Christian LaCroix” across the front. Imagine my confusion. In fact, I was so confused in my dream that I slid the bag to the back of the rack and picked up my next find, which was a Versace purse that was very obviously Versace (the famed logo of Medusa’s head was clearly visible). Yet when I opened shiny leather purse it was lined with Burberry’s nova check. I couldn’t understand what was happening.

This type of confused shopping went on for what seemed like an eternity. I found sweaters, scarves, belts and more bags, and each one appeared to be the bastard child of two famed fashion houses. Hermes and Louis Vuitton, Prada and Chloe, Chanel and Marc Jacobs. No wonder this is all on sale, I thought.

I share this dream with you not to tout my knowledge of fashion, but because I think this dream was symbolic in meaning. What can we learn from it?

At the very core of fashion, there lies a vision. If a designer is good—and if the legacy of that designer lives on through his or her fashion house—then that vision will be applied to every collection ever created by that brand. But today, consumers are so focused on labels that sometimes artistic direction is ruined for the sake of mass selling.

While fashion is changing and morphing and brands traditionally reserved for the elite are making their way to the masses, I think it’s important that anyone with an interest in fashion truly understand this lesson: a logo or label does not make something designer. For something to be designer it must be a tribute to that brand’s very essence—it must embody the spirit and artistic direction of that brand.

And if Burberry and Versace ever get together and have a love child, I don’t want a birth announcement.

There’s no rule that says when you fall off the blogging bandwagon you can’t stand up, dust your stilettos off and hop back on. So that’s exactly what I’m doing. I’m going to dust off my stilettos (and my writing skills) and make a commitment to write more blog posts starting now. After all, I joined a gym this week…anything is possible (and it might be cold in Hell right now).

Stay tuned for upcoming posts! (What a tease.)

I am horrible at wrapping gifts. Generally speaking, a four-year-old could do a better job wrapping presents than yours truly. That's why I love Lush's selection of already wrapped gifts! Lush is a cosmetic company with a quirky flair and a wide selection of products that are natural, safe and non-offensive. Lush's selection of unique bath and body products, coupled with their adorable gift wrapping job, make these gifts absolute no-brainers! Here are my favorites.

Hello Gorgeous

For $40, you can give the gift of pampering. This gift, from Lush, contains a moisturizer called Gorgeous (to leave skin silky, smooth and delicious) as well as a bath bomb, bath melt, shower gel and hand cream. And the best news? This little delight is all wrapped up and ready to roll.

Tin of Pure Imagination

This tin looks--and sounds--like oodles of funky fun times. It's filled with limited edition holiday bath treats, sugar scrub, lip scrub, shower jelly and solid toothpaste. This gift is perfect for the friend who likes to live life on the wild side.

Dirty Gift

This is one for the boys! Want to encourage good grooming for your guy friend? Look no further than the Dirty Gift from Lush. This collection contains mint shower gel, soothing sandalwood shaving cream, hair gel and tooth tabs (for sparkling, shining chompers). And the best part? It will come wrapped in man-friendly wrapping paper for under $30.

Once again, Lush has made it easy to impress your friends with creative, thoughtful and unique gifts. And if you liked these, check out Lush's website for TONS more wrapped gifts.

Layered leather cuffs are very in fashion right now. And for good reason. The right leather cuff (with the right studs or bling) is a great casual piece of jewelry that can be thrown on with any outfit to add instance jazz and sass factor.

That's why I love Tory Burch's leather studded bracelet. This thin piece of double wrapped leather is adorned with Tory's infamous gold logo. Imagine how adorable this would look layered with gold bracelets or worn by itself! It's a great go-to piece. It's designer. And it's under $100. Impressive. That's why it's one of my nifty gifties.

Who would this be great for? Your stylish mom, your best life-long girlfriend or a sister. And this would also look great on YOUR list, too!

Pizza is really good. Chocolate is also really good. Give me a pizza made entirely of chocolate and now we’re talking.

Think that sounds too good to be true? It’s not. When I was in high school, my neighbors invented a tasty delight called the Chocizza—a chocolate pizza. My parents used to order these for parties and gatherings and these chocolate pizzas were delicious and perfect for entertaining. I’m older now, and I can see what a great gift idea a Chocizza could potentially be. That’s why it’s my Nifty Gifty number 46!

Chocizza’s contain chocolate “crust” topped with layers of other chocolate toppings. Some of the specialty pizzas include the Peanut Butter Cup Chocizza, a decadant combination of milk and dark chocolate, peanut butter cream, graham crackers, peanut butter chips and melted caramel drizzle. No. I won’t stop there.

Another awesome Chocizza is the Raspberry Crunch Chocizza. This one has milk and dark chocolate, raspberry cream filling, Oreo cookies, toffee bits and white chocolate chips.

Still not stopping. They also have a s’mores Chocizza and a mint Chocizza, among others. Even better? You can also create your own Chocizza using numerous chocolates, nuts, fillings, candies and drizzles. A delicious chocolate pizza…just for you.

Chocizzas make awesome treats for holiday parties as well as gifts for your friends or family. They’re also delightful little client gifts (and guaranteed to disappear in any office break room in under 90 seconds). Grab one of these to make any chocoholic smile this holiday season!

These gifts are from everyone’s favorite monster, Lady Gaga. To celebrate the release of her artistic (I’ve warned you) new video, I’ve picked a couple gifts that only she could dream up.

There are several things I want from Santa’s Lady Gaga’s workshop at Barney’s this holiday season. If you’re a fan of Gaga and her funky fashion, chances are you’ll be able to find something from Barney’s to tickle your monstrous fancy. All of the accessories and the apparel is ridden with studs, leather and bling. It really is, in my opinion, a fierce little gift shop. And this Nifty Gifty comes straight from Miss Gaga herself.

These Gem Moto Gloves from A-Morir by Kerin.Rose are straight out of a Gaga video and are enough to make any regal lady feel like a rebel child. These gloves play with one of the juxtapositions I love most in the fashion world—badass meets chic. When you can correctly mix those two things you’ve mastered an imperative fashion concept.

While they may be a wee bit spendy—at $425—for someone who perpetually loses gloves (cough cough), the idea and design is fabulous. If Santa stuffed these in my stocking, I’d not complain. (Are you getting the feeling that Santa needs to have lots of disposable income?)

And if you really want to shop Gaga’s workshop on a budget, I would opt for the Lady Gaga Nutcracker Cookie. It’s a Nifty Gifty, too! And at under $20, it makes a hilarious treat for your favorite Gaga fan this year.

If you know what it’s like to wake up at 6:00 a.m. and clap and chant ridiculously loud songs with your closet girlfriends, then this gift is for you. Sorority girls always have a soft spot for their sorority heritage. Kappa Alpha Theta alums love that kite; Chi Omega’s can’t get enough of the owl; and Kappa Kappa Gamma’s just love their fleur de lis. That’s why I love this Nifty Gifty.

Lilly Pulitzer now makes something for the sorority girl in all of us—something that’s subtly sorority so we can allow the legacy of our college days to live on long after we’re on campus. Lilly has designed prints for many of the major sororities.

She has prints for:
:: Alpha Delta Pi
:: Alpha Phi
:: Chi Omega
:: Delta Delta Delta
:: Delta Gamma
:: Delta Zeta
:: Kappa Alpha Theta
:: Kappa Delta
:: Kappa Kappa Gamma

Each of the prints is filled with important symbolic references significant to each sorority. And all of these prints can be applied to different merchandise options. While some of the merchandise is a little “collegiate” looking and more appropriate for active members, the piece I would wear is the scarf. It’s subtle and would be a nice piece for the sorority girl of any age who wants to keep a little piece of her college years close.

For a gift with symbolic reference that helps you think of college years gone by, opt for the Lilly Pulitzer scarf in your sorority’s print.

I was really bewildered by the name, but very attracted to the magenta, black and gold bottle. I was also very attracted to the letters P-R-A-D-A. (Funny how that happens.)

I mean, if I wanted to smell like candy I might as well rub myself down in Raisinette’s. Right? Wrong. The perfumers at Prada have mastered the sophisticated scent of a sultry, sweet aroma—turning it into a delightfully sinful fragrance perfect for the feminine lady. Prada’s Candy is an ode to the temptingly sweet notion of bathing in chocolate, diving into a pool of jellybeans or tap-dancing on taffy.

I’ve been wearing Prada’s Candy for several days now and I’m in love with this succulent scent. Every time I spray it on, Def Leppard’s “Pour Some Sugar On Me” begins to blast in my head…which I’m sure the makers of this perfume did not anticipate. This might just be my fragrance for 2012.

And if you’re looking for an alluringly sweet way to pamper yourself or the woman in your life, Prada’s Candy might be just the answer to all of your problems.

*Note to Santa: I would like the big bottle. Thanks!