Tag: holiday gifts

simplicity, sparkle & shine: the christmas gift guide

Happy holidays! Each year we do a little shopping, focusing on the witty, thoughtful and elegant things that we’d love to give and receive.

Of course the best things in life aren’t things at all, so we’ll begin with a link to our favorite charity, Cycle for Survival.

Secondly, can we agree to forget ugly Christmas sweaters? Instead let’s start a gorgeous holiday sweater trend.

Here’s one for him. One for her. For the girls. And for the boys. This proves once and for all that adorable and elegant can totally coexist.

We love gifts with a cause, so check out this stationery that benefits Sanctuary for Families.

Is someone you know getting engaged? This Kate Spade ring holder is perfect. We can imagine a hopeful boyfriend wrapping it up and when she opens it, he’s down on one knee with the ring to go with it! Lovely.

Got kids on your list? Nothing feels as special as a personalized gift. Make it easy on yourself, and go here.

Got a fashionable lady-who-has-everything? Light up the room with these message candles by Kate Spade. They’re the real deal: witty, sleek and soy!

Know any at-home mixologists? These cocktail napkins take it to a whole other level stylewise.

This is intriguing: it holds your technology on your dashboard, so it’s perfect for using your phone as a GPS. Very budget-friendly and who wouldn’t want one?

And lastly, there are a few more charity-based gifts that caught our eye. Kiva gives loans to women to develop businesses, and when they pay back, you get to invest in another woman entrepreneur. Amazing!

And World Bicycle Relief gives people wheels, who really need them. Very cool charity, don’t you think?

We love gifts that make the world a better place, don’t you? Keep spreading the joy and kindness everyone, it makes a difference!

We Love: Father’s Day Gifts

“Fatherhood is pretending the present you love most is soap-on-a-rope.” – Bill Cosby

We say it’s more than that! Father’s Day is a chance to say thanks to your dear dad, with a present that makes him feel cool and loved and appreciated, all at the same time.

Here are some Father’s Day gift ideas we really like.

We couldn’t resist. It actually looks pretty cool, right?

For the naturalist dad with an appreciation for retro style, there’s this path-finding book from 1931.

For the surf-loving dad, these T shirts by M. Carter are the perfect way to kick off the summer.

For the dapper dad, these hand-dyed linen ties make the traditional tie-gift so NOT lame. These chambray ties are awesome, too.

Wouldn’t your dad love if you showed an interest in his record collection? This portable record player’s an excellent start. No, you can’t steal it back after a while!

Socks?! Yes! Trust us. If you get Dad some memorable socks, he will smile every time he wears them. These are great. As are these.

And if you’re picking something out to show your husband what a special dad HE is, you can always replace a boring wedding band with this. Maybe it’ll even inspire him next Mother’s Day!

Got any cool Father’s Day gift ideas of your own? Share away!

Photo via ann-dan, via visualid.

Also, ‘Like’ us on Facebook!

We Love: Inspired Valentine’s Day Gifts

We still have a couple of weeks to order up a Valentine’s Day to remember. Here are some creative and heartfelt alternatives to flowers and candy!

FOR HER

1. Let’s be honest, a Jeff Cooper ring is the ultimate way to say “be mine.” Shown above, a custom Tara Engagement Ring with an “old euro” cut diamond. It totally works as a non-engagement ring, too!

2. We can’t imagine the woman who wouldn’t love this Chanel nail polish collection.

3. We can’t stop imagining these Anthropologie jeans with a simple top and Jackie O glasses on a chic European honeymoon.

FOR HIM

1. Nothing says love like monogrammed barware.

2. And love demands courage, right? This pocket knife is just so cool.

3. Lobsters mate for life, don’t they? He’ll actually want to wear this T shirt by M. Carter.

FOR GIRLS

1. Skip the candy heart this year. This heart pendant is so pretty and so appropriate for a little girl.

2. These girls’ heart tights are pretty darn adorable, too.

3. We wish they made these for women! Chic ballet flats for girls. Festooned with hearts!

FOR BOYS

1. How to give a boy a Valentine heart? Problem solved!

2. With a design this cool, you can get away with buying a boy a Valentine’s Day T-shirt.

3. A necktie with candy hearts, skinny enough to look hip. He can wear it ironically, right?

Have fun surprising your loved ones, everybody!

And don’t forget to ‘Like’ us and enter our Facebook Giveaway!

 

We Love: Made in NY

What’s on your holiday wish list? We have some cool things picked out that are made in New York, and a few other irresistible somethings from everywhere. Here’s our round-up of enviable items to we’d love to give & receive.

For the art & design-types on your list, the most gorgeous fishbowl imaginable.

How pretty are these gem-shaped soaps, by husband & wife designers in Red Hook, Brooklyn!

Also made in Brooklyn! The best Hanukkah gelt. 

These killer neckties are made in NYC, too.

Yes, yes, yes, more awesome presents made in Brooklyn!

Speaking of color, who wouldn’t want to wake up with this every morning?

European dream weekends! How fun would it be to find this in your stocking?

And this, from artist Yayoi Kusama’s too-cool Louis Vuitton Collaboration.

Of course, the best things in life aren’t things. Have fun this weekend!

Photo: Aruliden’s Fish Bowl, from the A+R design store.

Like us on Facebook.