Gift Guide 2013

A non-too-subtle hint of what I
want for Christmas.

Wow, it is November! I can hardly believe the year has gone by so fast. I’ve been thinking a lot about the holidays lately as this is my first holiday season in Italy. I am very much looking forward to experiencing a full Christmas season with Italians and can’t wait to go to the Christmas Markets that should be starting in the next few weeks!

I love to buy presents. Seriously. I start thinking about gifts sometime in October and obsess about what to get for whom for the next month or so. I really like to give thoughtful gifts that I think my loved ones will really like/use/want. Then I wrap it up in a pretty box with beautiful wrapping paper (I am addicted to pretty wrapping paper, it broke my heart to give it all away before I moved), and pop on a bow. Since I am in Italy this year, I will be shipping my gifts to family back in Texas so I started obsessing much earlier and need to be more organized so everything can get there in time. Fingers crossed.

All that being said, I have started my internet search on this year's cool gifts and thought I’d share a few with you, in case you too are in shopping mood. Without further ado… my picks. (Please feel free to share any suggestions you might have as well!)

GIFT IDEAS

FInnish wool throw

• Apple Valley Natural Soaps – who doesn’t love pretty soaps and scrubs? This is a family-run small business who uses natural ingredients for their products. I’m a sucker for mom & pop businesses and who doesn’t love to smell good! They can be great stocking stuffers, Secret Santa, or hostess gift.
• Tryst Dusting Silk – Lady Primrose products are not cheap but they are beautifully packaged and smell great!  They have a wide variety of bath and body products that help make a bathroom look and smell great. I use the dusting silk (or powder as we call it in my family – we’re not too fancy) and gave both my sister and mom some last Christmas. It was a huge hit, so if you’re looking for something a little special, check out their site.
• Sweet Life Paper – I found this shop on Etsy (who doesn’t love etsy!) and their stationary is so cute! Teacher gifts, note pads, journals, etc. – they can be personalized and are priced reasonably.
• Finnish Throw - This Finnish company is family owned and makes beautiful wool throws and washed linen kitchen towels - among other things. It's a splurge but really well priced for the quality. They are based in Finland but stores sell their products around the world and also offer direct online sales. 
• Banderole Pencil Set – come on… these are just fun! The link is for a UK site but the USA site has the pencils as well!
• Bottle Opener – this cool bottle opener would be an awesome gift paired with a bottle of wine!
• USB Key Ring – nice leather and useful.  A bit pricey but I’d like it.
• iPad Telephoto Lens – who would’ve thought? And it’s cheap too!
• Macaroon Ear Bud Holder – handy and convenient. Great stocking stuffer.
• Kung Fu Master Flash Drive – for techies of all kinds.
• Alessi Pencil Sharpener – ok, I will admit it. I want this for myself. How cute is a beaver pencil sharpener! It’s a little pricey but the funny factor alone makes it worth it. (It matches this cute paper clip holder too).
• Moleskine Passion Journals – You really can’t go wrong with any Moleskine product but I love the variety of the passion journals. These are great gifts for anyone you know (I have the travel one myself) – and fellow ex-pat blogger Sara Rosso actually contributed to the Dessert journal – how awesome is that?
• Vosges Chocolates – I have to include my favorite chocolate bars. The Mini Chocolate Bar Library is delicious as is everything they make. It is pricier
  than your average chocolate but so so good.
• Whiskey Rocks – no description needed J
• I eight sum pi plates – HAHA. The nerd in me loves these! (also the site has a ton of unique gifts. It’s worth a browse).
• Phaidon City Guides - for someone planning or dreaming of a trip, these guides are beautiful and make a great collection. (sorry if the site comes up in Italian from the link) 

More later…

Gift Guide 2008

I don’t know about ya’ll but I am freaking out a bit that Christmas is just around the corner! I am having a hard time getting in the Christmas Spirit this year. It doesn’t help that we are broke and the economy sucks. And I know that buying presents is not what the Season is all about, however, it is something I really enjoy doing each year.

I love to buy presents for people. I come from a family that doesn’t exchange presents except for a few times a year (birthday and Christmas). And friend-wise we are not in the habit of that either. Maybe now and then, but on a regular basis – no. So, you see, that is part of the fun of this Season for me. I like to really think about the gifts. Spend some time looking (on the internet) for unusual things that I think match the recipient well. I am not one of those women who likes to wander around the mall for hours at a time. You can’t do that in your pajamas right? Ugh I like to know what I want; go in and get it (or order it online.ha).

Anyway, I am always looking for gift guides with cool ideas so I thought I’d make my own this year. Kind of like a poor man’s “Oprah” list. ☺ Let me know what you think AND if you have any other ideas – post them. The more the merrier!

Girly Gifts

• Personalized Pocket Mirror ($14) - nice, simple gift. Who doesn't need a mirror for your purse?
  
• Shea Butter Lotion Sticks ($7.50) - I think these are just cool.
  
• Monogrammed Sticky Notes ($14) - Stationery is awesome. so are sticky notes. Can't go wrong with these babies. Check to see if you have a store in your area because it looks like several letters are sold out on the website.
  
• Scented Stationery ($16.50) - Anyone who loves stationery has to love these. I mean look at the boxes! They alone are worth buying! You can find them on other websites but this one also donates to causes. Look around the site - lots of things to see. A gift that gives!

Techy Gifts

• Flash Drives ($24.95) - I love these drives, they make me laugh.
  
• iTurbo iPod charger ($19.99) - I bought these for S. & I last Christmas. They work! and also come in a Razr charger, if you have one of those cell phones.
  
• Mini Doc Amplifier ($3.99) - how freaking cool are these?? AND they look like legos.
  
• Screwdriver Set ($7.99) - can't have too many of these sets. not only for glasses but also computer tweaker types.
  

Food Gifts (some may also qualify as girly.ha)

• Vosges Haut chocolate bar set ($25) - This website is overflowing with nice gifts. It was hard for me to select just one. Check out the travel guide/chocolate set. yoga and choc. wine and choc. ohhh too many to count. plus its delicious.
• Joe Kelly Truffle Fudge ($13) - This is the best fudge I have ever eaten. and I've eaten my share of fudge. You can order it online or if you live in a town with a Central Market, they have it too.
  
• Effin Sauces ($5) - ok so this is more Texas-y. But the name itself is a keeper. That's really their family name. HA just spreading some Texas culture ya'll.
  
• Tea Pots/Sets ($24.95) - You can probably find some cheaper pots but I love these glass ones. Then you put one of those flowery, bloomy tea things in it - tasty and pretty.
  
• Smoked Turkeys - Yummy smoked turkeys out of East Texas. We get one almost every year and they are delicious. Was also on Oprah's Favorite things list one year. Sure makes dinner easy.

Miscellaneous

• Table Topics ($29.95) - this game may not be new but I've just discovered it. Thought provoking "break the ice" questions. Perfect for that couple who has everything.
  
• Phaidon City Guides ($9.95) - If you have a traveler to buy for who has an upcoming trip - just pick their city and your done. I love these guides. the clean modern look and the contents. They also have other cool books so look around.
  
• Cool Mouse Pads, etc. ($6.95) - If you are anything like me, you LOVE office supplies. This website has so many fun things, I almost just posted the link. check out those cool paper clips, and journals, and staplers! whew I need to stop, I can go to town on office supplies, especially if they are cute!
• Funny kitchen timers ($8.95) - These are just fun. would totally complete that nice gourmet gift basket you're working on.
• Alessi - ahh Alessi. again, too many things to chose. Being Italian and therefore very stylish, many are priced higher than my budget can handle. but I love the wine stoppers and bar equipment. We have several pieces collected over the years and I always want to add more. Those that know modern style will definitely appreciate these things.
  
• Pocket Pad ($3.99) - just because I am ALWAYS looking for paper in my purse. aren't you? and its cute.
  
• Document Envelope ($7.99) - another for the traveler. All your necessary info in one place. makes it easier to go thru check-in and security. A must have.
  
• Movies. Here are a few that I think are cool for men and women. Also, if you have a movie buff to buy for, any movies in the Criterion Collection are classic must haves (or so my nerdy, movie loving husband says).

So how about that? :)

More later...

Fun with Mail

YAY!! they're heeeeeerrrrrrreeeeeeeeee.

Have you heard of Moo cards? My friend Sara, who is in fact a networking guru and always seems to be ahead of the curve with great ideas (I'm a little jealous), has talked about these cards for ages. I finally got around to checking the site out and it is so cool!

Basically, you can send them any pictures you've taken or created, crop it and make postcards, note cards, stamps, greeting cards and minicards. They print the order and zip them to you. It was the minicards that caught my attention. I decided I need to have just some "networking" cards with my info on them to pass out to people I meet along the way. If in fact I meet new people - lol.

However, I was too impatient to actually send them any of my photos. Well, to be honest, since my mac crashed I don't have too many on the computer and was too lazy to go thru my backups. (I will one day though) so, I used some pre-made designs available and came out with some REALLY CUTE cards!

Aren't they cute? So bright and fun! They are smaller than regular business cards, so of course I had to buy a holder too.

Anyway, I thought I'd share because I think it is a really cool idea. They take about a week to print and another week to receive them as they are shipped from the UK. But so worth it. They are reasonably priced too.

You should see the creative ideas people have with these cards. My favorite are the framed vacation pics that are actually minicards - you know like in one of those multi-pic frames? So creative!

Ok - this is my hip and trendy tip of the week. I'm not sure how many of these I can do as I am not as hip and trendy as I'd like to be. hehe Be cool with me - order some moo-cards!

More later...