Turlip Diamond Pendant

Nothing signifies the glorious days of spring like a bed of multi-colored tulips reaching high up to the sky. For all you tulip lovers - here's one that will last forever. It's so cute! Filled with 44 diamonds and made with 18 carat white gold, it tilts just like the real flower would towards the sun. Available at Mblife.com

 

What's your favorite spring flower? Email me or leave a comment. 

 
Price: $427

For: Her

Interests: Accessories, Diamonds
Buy Now

Mendoza All-Purpose Glass by Crate & Barrel

Glass, honestly is my favorite material to serve food in - it doesn't conflict with the array of colors of a simple green salad with marinated Spanish onions or a deep dark lamb stew with butter noodles. Dessert and parfaits are best served in glass, that way you can see all the fruity layers. Most dessert glass-wares are quite thick and lack the refined curvature of a drinking glass. So here I've picked the Mendoza All Purpose glass, it has a thin texture but is not egg-shell like fragile. Available at Crate&Barrel.com.

 

Featured here is my favorite weekend palate-cleansing, energy-filled breakfast: a fruit salad of sliced strawberries and seedless grapes topped with organic yogurt and crunchy granola.   

 

What's your favorite yogurt brand? Email me or leave a comment. 

 
Price: $6.95

For: Her, Him

Interests: Food, Gadgets, Home
Buy Now

Cuisinart Mix It In Soft Serve Ice Cream Maker

With pool-side season coming up, it's time to scour the market for summer gadgets. Here's one by Cuisinart: make it and serve it - all in one. Don't forget to fill the built-in condiment dispensers, maybe: captain crunch, chocolate sprinkles and golden raisins along with your special recipe for rum raisin or cinnamon oatmeal soft serve. Available at Frontgate.com.
 
Know of a small, neighborhood ice cream shop? Email me or leave a comment. 

 
Price: $99

For: Her, Him, Kids
Interests: Food, Gadgets, Home
Buy Now

I Am Not A Paper Cup

The "I'm Not Plastic" bag went into a great whirlwind world tour. I wonder if this cup will too. Don't worry about getting separation anxiety from your favorite coffee hangout paper sippy cup. Here's one made with ceramic and looks just like what you are familiar with. Stock it up in your office and get the $0.10 off your next Starbucks run without comprising your machiatto container. Available at APlusR.com. What's your favorite coffee-shop fix? Email me or leave a comment. Mines: Matcha Au Lait. Price: $20 For: Her, Him Interests: Food, Gadgets, Home Buy Now

Sunshine Bulb Garden by ProFlowers

Although I'm not a super fan of mass market flower purveyors, this arrangement caught my eye. The woven Nantucket-like basket creates a subtle, country style to the assortment of yellow turlips, narcisscus and grape hyacinths, almost like they were plucked straight from a field of wild flowers. Spring a surprise on someone with this delighftul medley of the season. Available at ProFlowers.com.

 

What's the best arrangement you've ever received? Email me or leave a comment.
 
Price: $39.99

For: Her

Interests: Home,Gardening

Buy Now

Le Creuset Tea Kettle by WilliamsSonoma

Sapphire blue, the color of the Mediterranean ocean under a hot summer sky. This Le Creuset tea kettle made of porcelain-enameled steel conducts heat fast and whistles when the water is ready for your morning cup of jasmine. The tea-lover in your life, will appreciate this gem both for his or her AM boost or simply a dash of the ocean in the kitchen. Available at WilliamsSonoma.com.

What's your morning wake-up drink? Email me or leave a comment.
 
Price: $65

For: Her, Him
Interests: Home, Food, Cooking, Entertaining

Buy Now

Kee-Ka Organic Baby Clothing

Although I love Baby Gap, Pottery Barn Kids and Janie & Jack, there is something special about finding unique, one of a kind designs and prints for new babies and tots. Kee-Ka offers a selection of free-style drawings bound to melt you. All the prints come in different styles: onesies, bibs, toddler sizes and even pet sizes. Available at Kee-Ka.com.

Seen a super sweet onesie? Email me or leave a comment.
 
Price: $48 for 3 piece set

For: Baby, Kids
Interests: Home

Buy Now

Summertime Anytime by Dana Slatkin

The brilliance and heat of Summer makes it my favorite time of the year. Even food tastes better on summer days when tomatoes pop with sweetness and grilled steaks sizzle with richness. As we approach the season that offers fresh abundance, savor every day with great meals and sunshine. Get lots of ideas from Dana Slatkin's new book: Summertime Anytime, inspired by her family's sea-side hotel, Shutters on the Beach. With recipes for: sweet corn chowder, cucumber gazpacho, plum tomato soup and iced nougat with honey and figs, your August days will be splashing with yumminess. Available at Amazon.com.

What's your favorite summer time quencher? Email me or leave a comment. Price: $21.45

For: Her, Him Interests: Home, Food, Cooking, Entertaining

Buy Now

India Rose Seersucker Apron

Created by former Pottery Barn designer, Carter Bolick, India Rose offers a selection of refreshingly unique everyday designs for your bed, bath, kitchen and beyond. This whimsical cotton apron makes everyday sauteing, souffleing and brewing a casual cafe affair. Available at IndiaRose.com.

Where do you shop for one of a kind home goods? Email me or leave a comment.
 
Price: $29

For: Her
Interests: Accessories, Home, Food, Cooking
Buy Now

Love Pearls Jewelry Set

Mother's Day is seriously just around the corner (May 11th!). Think of all the people that would expect something from you: mom, grandmom, mother-in-law, mom-to-be. Here's a gift set I know will wow any of them: a white pearl bracelet in a persimmon leather jewelry box.  The trick with gift sets is that you have to find one with a substantial gift inside and a multi-purpose container. For only $100, it's a steal. Available at Mblife.com.
 
Got mother's day ideas under $100? Email me or leave a comment.
 
Price: $100

For: Her
Interests: Accessories
Buy Now

Salmon Village

Up in Vancouver there is this small Japanese shop right off Robson (the main shopping street) that sells some of the best smoked salmon. I prefer the King Salmon over the Sockeye, the flavor is slighty milder and the fish is more oily. The best part about this store is that they pack everything up for you with ice packs, so you easily bring a couple packs of fresh salmon (with no additives) back home. Available at SalmonVillage.com.

What's your favorite travel food-find? Email me or leave a comment. Price: $28/16oz

For: Her, Him Interests: Home, Food, Entertaining Buy Now

Just Who Will You Be?: Big Question. Little Book. Answer Within. by Maria Shriver

Just who will you be? With graduation coming up in a few weeks, this will be a great gift for all those ready to take on the world.  Oprah and Maria Shriver were talking about this question, one that we think we are supposed to have answered before 25. But the truth is, everyone in my life in there 10s, 20s, 30s, 40s, 50s, 60s and 70s are always evolving through this question. Growth takes a struggle, it takes stretching our capabilities, turning what we know for sure upside down and believing that the little voice inside speaks the truth. So starting today, listen to yourself, speak up for yourself and act on your truth. Available at Amazon.com. 

Got other inspiring books? Email me or leave a comment.
 
Price: $10.17

For: Her, Him
Interests: Books
Buy Now

Saturday Breakfast on the Riviera

Here's one of my Saturday breakfast ensembles:

Smoked salmon (Sockeye from Salmon Village, Vancouver, BC.)

Toasted Ciabatta

Cucumber salad: diced and mixed with 1 tablespoon of tartar sauce + 1 tablespoon of yogurt + salt/pepper to season

Fresh baby watercress tossed with a light Japanese yuzu dressing

Red seedless grapes

This mix of salty, crunchy, fresh, creamy and sweet flavors will wake up your taste buds for a long sunny weekend.

Being a glass-aholic, I'm always looking for glass cups, plates and bowls. This Riviera collection is one of my all time favorites. It looks like slab of ice crystals, so when you are serving home-made sushi or a Mediterranean salad or a grilled panini, you get to see all the vivid colors of the food glistening against the reflection of the glass. Available at CrateandBarrel.com. Got a favorite kitchen gadget? Email me or leave a comment. Price: $7.95/each

For: Her, Him Interests: Home, Food, Entertaining Buy Now

Silver Strawberry

Shop Mini Gifts! These are gifts that I would add as stocking stuffers and morsels of fun in goodie bags. Spring is seriously here, to stay. It's hot and I'm getting allergies from all the pollen. But nothing is going to stop me from planting my strawberries. I just potted them the last few days outside. The sweet, summery pop of red makes them one of my favorite fruits savored when they are just ripe. Here's an ever-lasting version of my favorite fruit, made with Italian craftsmanship in platinum plated silver. Available at Mblife.com.

Planting your summer harvest? Email me or leave a comment. Price: $87

For: Her Interests: Accessories

Buy Now

Splash Drying Rack by Skip Hop

Baby season is in full swing, I have so many pregnant friends and I've been searching high and low for practical, beautiful and contemporary gifts. Here's a baby bottle drying rack for any modern mommy kitchen. Available at BabyGeared.com.

What's the best baby shower gift you've ever received? Email me or leave a comment.
 
Price: $28

For: Her, Baby
Interests: Home, Kids

Buy Now

Songbird BloemBox by Smith and Hawken

With Mother's Day coming up in just a few weeks (May 11th!), you might want to start piling up the little goodies for mom. Here's a beautiful concept inside and out. Within the gorgeous hat boxes are rolls of biodegradable paper studded with perennial seeds for flowers that attract songbirds. All mom needs to do is plant the seed roll in the garden, top it with some soil and watch it grow all summer long. Available at SmithandHawken.com. 

Ideas on how to wow mom? Email me or leave a comment.
 
Price: $29

For: Her
Interests: Home, Garden

Buy Now

Five Good Minutes Books

How we start each day sets the energy level and emotional state for what we do and how we do it. Early morning rituals are key to my everyday momentum.  I kick start the morning with a 20 minute walk to wake up the muscles and breathe fresh oxygen into my system followed by green tea, fruits, cereal or oatmeal and another 20 minutes of quiet reading to engage my mind before my 8 hour day in front of the computer. Whether your ritual is a strong dose of java or a refreshing minty shower, here's a book to give you more tips on how to make everyday glow with excitement. Available at Acacia.com.
 
What are you morning rituals? Email me or leave a comment.
 
Price: $14.95/each

For: Him, Her
Interests: Home, Books, Health
Buy Now

Bahamas Plush Elephant by PBTeen

The first hot day of spring arrived yesterday. Finally. I almost forgot what warm weather feels like. It's just beautiful outside: bright blue California skies, blazing hot sun and gorgeous green leaves everywhere. These peaceful plush elephants remind me of summer afternoon naps and they splash a summery feel to any shelf or bed-side table with their exotic prints and fresh fabrics. Available at PBteen.com.

 
What's your bedside plush pet? Email me or leave a comment.
 
Price: $19/each

For: Him, Her
Interests: Home, Accessories
Buy Now

The Yale Book of Quotations

Some truths are told with just a few words. Here's a book filled with distilled thoughts from Shakespeare and the Bible to children's books and advertising slogans. 12,000 diverse pespectives on pursuing crystalized thoughts. Available at Amazon.com.

What's your mantra? Email me or leave a comment. Price: $31.50

For: Him, Her Interests: Books

Buy Now

Bialetti Mukka Glass Cappuccino Maker

During my visit to Sendai, Japan a few weeks back, we dropped into a little cafe by the train station. It was this traditional shop with dark wood floors, shelves of books and some of the most ornate coffee cups I've seen. The owner wrote the menu by hand and made each of our coffee creations with the utmost attention to detail. In Japan they use these glass containers and a pressure process to heat up the water that pulls the coffee bean mixture in at the last minute. Add cream and sugar and you have a delectable warm drink. The picture above features my Matcha Au Lait which is a green tea au lait with a little bit of cream and sugar. It was velvety smooth, sweet and fragrant. So I've been thinking about making my own at home and found this new gadget. Take a look at the video online. It's very similar to the mechanism I saw in Japan. Available at WilliamsSonoma.com

What's your favorite coffee or tea concoction? Email me or leave a comment. Price: $99.95

For: Him, Her Interests: Home, Food

Buy Now

Jamie Oliver Spice Shaker

For those who have been following my posts, you know I love Jamie Oliver. See his latest series: Jamie at Home. But for all you gadgeteers out there, here's a tool that will replace the mess and noise of the pestle and mortar, it's Jamie's Flavor Shaker or Spice Shaker. Available at AmazonUK or GiftsDirect2U.com.

What's your favorite Jamie Oliver recipe? Email me or leave a comment. Price: starting at $19.00

For: Him, Her Interests: Food, Cooking

Buy Now

Minicards by Moo

Another awesome idea from my friend Tom. He's printed a set of minicards with vacation pictures. I can't wait to print a set of cards for ShopLittleGifts. You can either submit you own photos to design the mini card (28mm x 70mm) or pick from a funky selection of ready made designs like ColorLovers. Available at Moo.com. 

 

What was the coolest business card you've ever received? Email me or leave a comment.
 
Price: $19.99 for a set of 100 minicards

For: Him, Her, Kids
Interests: Stationery

Buy Now

Tartine Bakery

Truly one of the best bakeries in San Francisco. Tartine makes the best cheesy Gougere's (other goodies: banana cream tart, eclairs...). You definitely want to know some of their baking secrets. Available at Amazon.com. Update: I finally tried out the Gougere recipe. It's so good. Elisabeth is right, you have to make sure that the outside of the dough is encrusted with a lot of cheese before you bake it to give it the strong cheese flavor. Once it's hot out of the oven, a glass of red wine makes the perfect pairing. Highly recommended. Watch how she makes it.

Buy Now

Price: $23.10

For: Her, Him

Interest: Food

The Real Deal Pregnancy Guide by Erika Lenkert

Do you follow all the celebrity baby stories? (I do, secretly, see CelebrityBabyScoop, Shiloh is still my all time favorite.) Having your own baby? Well, my friend Erika Lenkert has just released a new book that will answer all your questions. Her writing style is fun and entertaining and knowing her, the book must be packed with important facts, delightful surprises and useful advice on love, life and your way to motherhood. Get a glimpse inside. Available on Amazon.com.
 
What was your biggest surprise about pregnancy? Email me or leave a comment.
 
Price: $11.53

For: Her

Interests: Home, Baby

Buy Now

Kids Watering Can by Sprouts Smith and Hawkens

Want to get your little ones to love fruits and veggies? Get them started in growing their own. The wonder of growing 10 potatoes from 1 and brightly colored carrots from little seeds will spark the love of food for kids. Here's a great tool to begin with: plastic watering cans in Orange or Pistachio. Available at SmithandHawken.com.

 
Have pictures of your latest blooms? Email me or leave a comment.
 
Price: $12/each

For: Kids

Interests: Garden, Outdoors
Buy Now

Flower Mix Shaker by Smith and Hawken

Spring is my favorite season of the year. It's so exciting to see little green shoots from my veggie garden. Starting to plan your spring/summer green paradise? Here's a quick way to get a variety of beautiful blossoms: flower mix seed shakers. Available at SmithandHawken.com.

 
Have a prized plant in your balcony or garden? Email me or leave a comment.
 
Price: $15/each

For: Her, Him
Interests: Home, Garden, Outdoors
Buy Now

Chinese Thermos T-Shirt

Spruce up your summer t-collection with a fun new design from Beijing based Plastered T-Shirts. Watching the news there has been a lot of political gestures around the Olympics in Beijing. However, isn't this suppose to be a time where countries come together, play sports and realize that we are all so much more similar than different? I remember the last Olympics in Greece, I visited Athens about a month before the games started and the city was buzzing with excitement and good spirit. Hopefully, that will be the energy around the 2008 Olympics. Available at PlasteredTShirts.com

 

What's your favorite Tee? Email me or leave a comment.
 
Price: $14

For: Her, Him
Interests: Accesories
Buy Now

Angel Heart Silver Bracelet

I'm always in search for thoughtful design. How can you turn something simple like a silver bracelet into something uber chic and filled with a sweet meaning? Here's my new favorite design, a blend of Roman mythology and modern day craftsmanship. Available at MBlife.com. 

Got a fabulous accessory design that means the world to you? Email me or leave a comment.
 
Price: $133

For: Her

Interests: Accesories
Buy Now

Hello, Cupcake!

Last night I was watching a segment on the Martha show about creative cupcakes. Gosh, it's like magic, Karen Tack (one of the authors) cross pollinates ingredients like jelly beans and turns them into cute corn on the cob creations. The most breath-taking design was Van Gogh's Starry Night. Get more ideas from her latest book. Available at Amazon.com

Are you whipping up crafty cupcakes? Send me pictures or leave a comment :)
 
Price: $10.85

For: Her

Interests: Food

Buy Now

Blast from the Past by The Candy Store SF

I was just talking with my friends yesterday about yummy childhood goodies. Something about your favorite five minute pizza, bag of salty chips and old-fashion bubble-gum that brings forth bright memories. Here's a box of sweets sure to swing you back in time. Available at TheCandyStoreSF.com.

 

What's your favorite childhood snack? Email me or leave a comment.
 
Price: $30

For: Her, Him
Interests: Food

Buy Now Order Form

 

Seashell Pillows by Pottery Barn

Growing up on an island, I spent of lot of time at the beach. Carrying a little plastic blue bucket, picking seashells was always one of my best childhood past-times. This probably explains my love for all things sea related and this season don't miss Pottery Barn's great new collection of colorful, seaside living. Available at PotteryBarn.com.
 
Price: $29

For: Her, Him
Interests: Accessories, Home
Buy Now