Bananagram by Flight001

Flight001 - the place for all things smart and whimsical to keep you comfortable and entertained during your travels. My friend Tom recommends this game which he says is even more fun than scrabble. It's small and lightweight including 144 letter titles and players compete to form and reform crosswords FAST! Available at Flight001.com

 

Have you discovered the latest board game? Email me or leave a comment.
 
Price: $16

For: Her, Him

Interests: Entertaining, Games

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Pink Sapphire Angel of the Sea

Finally, it's here. Sex and the City hits the theaters nation-wide today! For a special day like this - I've picked something exquisite, a red-white gold angel fish filled with 62 pink sapphires. This is something the girls would wear to their very chic restaurants like Buddakan and Pastis as they sip their cosmopolitans. Available at Mblife.com.

Have you seen it yet? Email me or leave a comment.

Price: $427

For: Her

Interests: Accessories

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Also available:

Sex and the City DVD set

Carrie Sex and the City necklace

Here's where we left off from the series, enjoy!

Bink Tee

Babies tumbling over as they learn to walk, talk and explore the world is all very cute. The only thing is that sometimes they can get quite messy and unhygienic, especially with the pacifier.

 

The problem: there is no easy way for mom and dad to hold, store and return the little gadget constantly... until now: here's a t-shirt that allows you to easily attach the pacifier to your baby. Available at ittybittyladybug.com. 

 

What toy or gadget is your baby most attached to? Email me or leave a comment.
 
Price: $24

For: Baby

Interests: Accessories, Gadgets

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Aloha Pima T-shirt by CrazyShirts

Continuing on my Honolulu shopping spree, here's another Hawaiian company I love. They make the softest pima cotton t-shirts. I wear them to do yoga and they feel silky soft and slightly stretchy, plus they just get softer when you wash them. So this time I stocked up on a couple designs for him and her. Available at CrazyShirts.com.

Got a favorite T, where did you get it? Email me or leave a comment. Price: $34.00

For: Her, Him

Interests: Accessories

Buy Now p.s. here's a pic of the clear blue pacific ocean:

Honolulu Cookie Company

Just got back from a few days in Honolulu. It was warm, sunny, breezy, sandy and a paradise for shopaholics! We went out one morning strolling along Waikiki beach and stopped by a very cute store designed in dark wood and filled with the aroma of shortbread cookies. We got to sample all sorts of delicious flavors: pineapple, lilikoi (passion fruit), hazelnut coated with chocolate, dark chocolate, white chocolate, chocolate chip, macadamia nut, gosh it was heavenly. So of course I asked them if they sell online and they do! I highly recommend the miniature chocolate chip cookies; they are flaky and moist, buttery but not too rich and best of all, sweet and satisfying. Available at HonoluluCookieCompany.com.

What's the best edible souvenir you've bought? Email me or leave a comment. Price: $9.95

For: Her, Him

Interests: Food, Snacks, Sweets

Buy Now p.s. here's a pic from a sunny weekend morning

Butterfly Necklace by Mblife.com

Shopping Tip for Him:

For most men, when it comes to diamond shopping they think about solitaires. Yes those are beautiful but women today love to wear designs, something unique and different that no everyone else has. Here's one that I love, a whimsical butterfly necklace made with 18 carat white gold and filled with 37 diamonds. Trust me, this will harness the wow-factor. Send him this tip now :). Available at Mblife.com.

 

What's the best and worst surprise gift you have received? Email me or leave a comment.
 
Price: $387

For: Her

Interests: Accessories

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Jamie at Home, Series 2, Summer Recipes

There are some things that I buy under 5 secs and this was one of them. It's the summer sequel to Jamie at Home, also a mouth-watering favorite.  Series 2 features a lot of summer vegetables and fruits like strawberries, peas, pickles, salads and more. Available at Amazon.co.uk. 

 

Recently I've been receiving a lot of rhubarb from my local farmer. So I decided to give Jamie's rhubarb jam recipe a try (I added strawberries because we got boxes of it on our way down from Napa (look out for: "Strawberries Picked Daily" signs on cardboard boxes along the road). The finished product is slightly tart, totally fruity and very jammy. We mix it in with yogurt and granola or slather on top of a piece of multi grain toast. Nothing tastes like home-made jam.

 

My spin on the recipe: (makes 1 jam jar)

Step 1: Bring to boil, cover and reduce to a low simmer for 10 minutes: 2 stalks of rhubarb cut into 1/2 inch slices + 3 teaspoons of sugar + Juice of 1 orange

Step 2: Add 1 cup of sliced strawberries, cover and cook for 5 minutes. Don't walk away, it might boil over!

 

What's your favorite summer ingredient? Email me or leave a comment.
 
Price: $12

For: Her, Him
Interests: Cooking, Gardening, Outdoors
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Rainshower Watering Can

I know this doesn't really seem like anything special for most people. But as a gardener, I've gotten into collecting watering cans. I have one now that's silver with a single spout. This one with the spray spout would do wonders for my carrot or chili seedlings: just a gentle shower of moisture. Plus it's nice to adorn your green space with something that has a rustic appeal. Available at JamaliGarden.com.

 

Gift Set Tip!

To make this a fun gift set include: dragon carrot seeds or the Jamie at Home DVD, packed with delicious gardening and cooking ideas from Jamie Oliver. Fill the watering can with bright yellow or pink tissue and layer the additional goodies right inside. Don't forget a tag like, "Enjoy your summer garden!"

 

What's your favorite gardening gadget? Email me or leave a comment. 

 
Price: $21.99

For: Her, Him
Interests: Gardening

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Nic's Sticks by OPI

This is the coolest cosmetic gadget I've seen in a while. It's nail polish in a pen. About time, someone thought of this! All you have to do is shake, pump and paint. Check out the video. Need a last minute touch up on your way to the party, here's a tool that won't spill. See all the colors: Available at Amazon.com. 

What's your favorite nail polish color? Email me or leave a comment. Mines: Rose Petals by OPI.
 
Price: $7/each

For: Her
Interests: Accessories, Beauty
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Townhouse Wallet with Removable Passcase by Tumi

Following up to yesterday's post, here' the wallet for the guy who packs it up with stuff. It's a bifold with a removable passcase. The passcase also makes for a lightweight dinner party alternative to the full wallet. Tumi makes everything with the best European leather, it feels soft and wears beautifully without deep wrinkles. Available at Tumi.com.

 
Have a favorite wallet - what's the design? Email me or leave a comment.
 
Price: $225

For: Him
Interests: Accessories
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Stripe Wallet by Paul Smith

Wallets, one of the best gifts for men because 1) they don't bother to replace the old one 2) it's the one thing they use all the time. I use to work for an online department store managing men's gifts and accessories and discovered that there are *many* different kinds of wallets: money clips, bifolds, passcases, trifolds...very confusing.

 

But basically when you are shopping for a wallet as a gift you need to think about what kind of a person carries it. Is he a simplistic, no coins, no receipts, no photos, 2 credit card and 5 bills kind of person? Or is he the kind that packs the wallet with family photos and 6 credit cards? This Paul Smith designs fits the no-frills kind of guy. Read on tomorrow, and I will find you the ultimate pack-it-all-in wallet. Available at PaulSmith.com.

 
What do you put in your wallet? Email me or leave a comment.
 
Price: $195

For: Him
Interests: Accessories
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Halo Visor by Eric Javits

Summer's right around the corner, how do you stay outdoors, cool, calm, collected and freckles-free?

 

I'm always looking for a good hat - the kind that shades you from the blazing mid-day sun but at the same time provides ample view of the surroundings.  Two tricks about hats: first the fit, if any part of it gives your head pressure it's probably not a good fit because it will constrict your circulation and cause headaches. Two, construction and durability, the hats I love are those that can be packed in a suitcase but spring right back into shape when you wear it.

 

The last time we were in Honolulu I popped into a hat shop and discovered a line of wide-brim and pristinely woven hats by Eric Javits. Here's one from his latest collection. The price tag screams couture but believe me, it's worth the splurge especially if you are giving this to someone special, once they wear it, they will know, this is not just any hat. Available at EricJavits.com.
 
How do you stay cool by the pool? Email me or leave a comment.
 
Price: $165

For: Her
Interests: Outdoors, Accessories

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The Dinner Diaries: Raising Whole Wheat Kids in a White Bread World

Lately I've been addicted to Jon and Kate Plus 8, the adorable, realistic and hilarious show of parents raising 8 kids (6 of which are under 4 years old). It's amusing and intriguing to see what it takes to maintain sanity and be practical, flexible and still enjoy life with all the ups and downs of toddlers.

 

Right now, I only cook for two, so it's not exactly a massive ordeal.  But being a manic foodie, I love all things delicious, organic and healthy. Since I work full time, figuring out how to cook fresh dinners was hard. How do you get korean bbq steaks marinated and ready to fire 30 minutes before dinner? How do you get roasted garlicky chicken wings on the table in 25 minutes?  

 

My tricks: head to WholeFoods once every 7 - 10 days and pick up all the meat and veggies for prep. Whether it be: lamb chops, spareribs, rib eye steaks, chicken drums. Once I get home, everything gets cleaned and placed in individual zip lock bags and the marinades go in. Then I mark each bag with its contents and pop them in the freezer. Every day before I head out to work, I set the timer on the rice cooker and pull a bag from the freezer and let it defrost and marinate all day.  When I get home, it's just a matter of tossing together a salad, reheating a pot of soup and roasting a set of balsamic honey pork chops or steaming ginger and scallion chicken legs. Voila, dinner's ready.

 

So of course when I saw this book (coming out in July 2008, available for preorder now), I just couldn't help but wonder, what kinds of tips and funny stories does Betsey Block have in store for us. Can't wait to see. Get a glimpse inside. Available at Amazon.com.
 
What are your fast tricks to great meals? Email me or leave a comment.
 
Price: $14.95

For: Him, Her, Kids
Interests: Books, Food, Home
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Swordbird by Nancy Yi Fan

Engaging a child's mind in creativity and imagination can be a priceless gift. Reading and writing, the two most fundamental ways for humans to access, record and translate information are often under emphasized in young children's education. Too often parents become competitive in test scores and arranging a broad array of extra-curricular activities. Overwhelmed kids become distracted and unable to concentrate and savor the learning experience. Sometimes the best way to open a young mind and build quality family time comes simply from a book read quietly together. Once you power up the mental engines, they will seek to learn by themselves. Available at Amazon.com.

Got a young book-worm? What is he or she reading? Email me or leave a comment. Price: $11.99

For: Kids Interests: Books Buy Now

Ceramic Bug Catcher by Smith & Hawken

We just came back from a weekend in Napa and got a glimpse of what summer will be like: clear blue skies, fruity smoothies, crispy calamari and pool-side hangouts. The only draw-back? Mosquitos. With summer coming up and all the outdoor festivities, it's definitely worth investing in some natural bug deterrents.

Neither the smell nor the touch of bug repellent is very appetizing, so I try to scout out other options like: bug repellent stickers, incense or this very cute contraption: a ceramic bug catcher: hang this on a tree or place it on a table and fill the container with sugar water which attracts the insects into it from the bottom and keeps them away from your skin. Available at SmithandHawken.com.

Got an anti-mosquito trick? Email me or leave a comment. Price: $19

For: Her, Him, Kids Interests: Outdoors Buy Now

Butterfly Diamond Ring by Mblife

Aaahh the butterfly ring. Sixty six diamonds studded over this piece of 18 carat white gold rock candy. If you want to say I love you like you mean it, this is your answer. Now if you are shopping for yourself, this can be one of those milestone treats. Challenge yourself to achieve something great and mark that accomplishment with a gift that you will remember forever. Available at Mblife.com.

What's your latest and greatest sense of achievement? Email me or leave a comment. Price: $906

For: Her Interests: Accessories Buy Now

Artisan Salt Company

Salt, we use it all the time, anytime, sprinkled over the yolk of a hard boiled egg, a crusty Gruyere cheese bread and in a quick chili-flake, garlic, tomato sauce. During the ancient times, it was a prized ingredient to preserve and flavor fresh food. With mass production, diverse artisanal varieties are harder to find, but once you try them, it will be like tasting an heirloom tomato for the first time, opening up a spectrum of possibilities in flavor. Travel the world with your taste buds, featured here are salts from the Mediterranean, India, Hawaii, Portugal and France. Available at ArtisanSalt.com.

 
What's your favorite salty bite? Email me or leave a comment.
 
Price: $14.99/each

For: Her, Him
Interests: Food

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Sea Kelp Body Polish by Sea Flora

Increasingly, I try to stay away from the mainstream cosmetics market. Notice that all the advertising campaigns focus on celebrity faces and glossy magazine placements rather than the products themselves. Natural beauty comes from nature. My mom grows her own aloe vera plants and after a hot summer day outside, she snips a leaf, slices it open and places it in a glass of ice to quickly chill the natural gel that soothes sun-soaked skin like no other product. Along the same lines of natural beauty, seaweed hand-harvested in Canada's Pacific Ocean creates products that are rich in potassium, seasalt and minerals. Available at SeaFlora.com.
 
What's your natural beauty secret? Email me or leave a comment.
 
Price: $42
For: Her, Him
Interests: Health, Beauty
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Peugeot Rechargeable Electric Wine Opener

Planning your next wine and cheese get together? Throwing a celebration with your latest case of bubbly? Although I'm proficient at opening any kind of wine or champagne bottle, it's not really a skill I would bank on. For a task like this, I'm always looking for the stylish, mechanical, sure win gadget. Here's one made exclusively for Williams-Sonoma: a rechargeable electric wine opener. Simply place the opener over the bottle and press a button.  Available at WilliamsSonoma.com.

 
Where does your favorite red wine come from? Email me or leave a comment.
 
Price: $119.95

For: Her, Him
Interests: Food, Entertaining, Wine
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5 Gift Ideas at 5 Price Ranges, For Her.

Mom, sisters, girlfriends, nieces, neighbors, teachers, golf buddy, boss, colleague, best friend - SHE can be hard to shop for. Here are 5 tips for you, in 5 price ranges, so whether it's a birthday, an anniversary, Mother's Day, Christmas or Valentine's Day you will have the tricks to wow and get super brownie points.

$25

Candy Stop for Sweet Returns

With twenty five dollars, stop in a candy bar and fill a couple of cellophane bags with her favorite gummi bears or other retro candy. Get the shop keeper to tie a lovely bow on each. Alternatively, stop by a cupcake store and get a half dozen simple chocolate cupcakes with white frosting. Hang the candy bag off her front door or set the cupcake on her pillow before bedtime. Sweetness memories. Try Dylan's or Miette in San Francisco. Better yet, make your own, with Sprinkles CupCake Mix.

Get something that pays for itself down the road. Most women are sugar lovers. They can't tear themselves away from the smell of a chocolate éclair fresh from the bakery. If the person you are shopping for loves sweets and can bake, get her a dessert book. The photos are always mouth watering and who knows; maybe you will get to enjoy a slice of the double decadence next weekend. Try Tartine, recipes from the popular San Francisco Bakery or Hello Cupcake.

$50

Soft Skin

Body soufflés, hair potions, bath bubbles and all things indulgent for the skin and body always pass the "useful" bar. Get a set with all the jams and jellies that lavishly take care of her hard-worked hands and make for a relaxing recipe for a deep soak after a long day at work. She will think of your every time the crackling sensation of dry skin is soothed with revitalizing vitamins and oils. Try Sabon, lotions with rich minerals.

Here are some other great resources:

Origins

Jo Malone

Savannah Bee

Tip: smell the fragrance before you buy. If you don't like it, she probably won't either.

$150

Workout Gear

You may not notice it, but all women have a work out routine. Glamour up her kick-boxing, spinning or yoga lessons with workout gear. She will use it often and it will make a strike on the thoughtfulness factor. Try the Chocolate Yoga Bag.

Here are some other great resources:

Lululemon

Athleta

Gaiam

$200

Make Memories

An experience is worth a thousand gifts. Pamper her with a gift certificate for a Swedish massage. Better yet, take a bike ride by the countryside and stop for a picnic by the lake with wine and cheese. Or take her on a night trip to see the city from a beautiful vantage point, like the London Eye and tote along a basket of cakes, petit fours and chocolates. Try the WilliamsSonoma picnic basket.

$250

Jewels with meaning

From the ancient times, jewelry has always held a sacred meaning to endow the bearer with a special spirit. Although there is an excess of all things glittering and gleaming today, some of the best gifts for women are still jewelry, those designed with a meaning behind. Try the Circle of Love Bracelet by Mblife.

Here are some other great resources:

Fragments

Jcrew

The Indomitable Citadel Board Game

This past weekend I got introduced to a couple of new games - here's one from Germany that's quite intriguing. Challenge your tactical mind and encourage a fun dessert get together or casual cocktail hour as you travel back in time to a Medieval town as a Grand Master leading an order of knighthood to build, protect and expand your territory. Board games are retro and engaging in a way that the Wii or Karaoke can never really be. So gather a couple of good friends (especially those who love Monopoly, Risk or Chess) and spend some old-fashion quality time together. Available at GamesLore.com.

What's your favorite board game? Email me or leave a comment.

Price: $31.86

For: Her, Him
Interests: Games

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Carved Spa Trays by VivaTerra

Every few weeks I try to head out for a spa trip, just to unwind and re-energize the mind and body. The problem is that the zen-feeling dissipates as I drive home. One of my ways to keep the spa-sensation going is to deck our the bubble bathroom with natural, coherent and calming accessories. It can be simple, like this collection of wooden trays made from hand-carved Honduran sagebrush wood. Available at Vivaterra.com.

 

What's your favorite spa treatment? Email me or leave a comment. 

 
Price: $59 for set

For: Her, Him

Interests: Health, Beauty, Home, Decor

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Island Golf Pool Game

Growing up on an island, I spent most of my summer days outside. Mornings were filled with swimming lessons but in the afternoons we got to just have fun in the azure pool under the sun with our floating boats and water weapons. Start making some of your family summer memories whilst staying cool and chipping in a round of afternoon mini golf. Available at Frontgate.com.
 
What are you coolest poolside toys? Email me or leave a comment. 

 
Price: $69.50

For: Her, Him, Kids
Interests: Outdoors, Gadgets, Home
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Thank You cards by TinyPrints

Say thank you in style. Hand-written, snail-mail cards are underrated in this digital age but they are the most sincere way to say thank you for all those baby-shower treats, birthday gifts and sumptuous dinners you've received. Available at TinyPrints.com.

 

Where do you print your custom stationery? Email me or leave a comment. 

 
Price: $59.50 for 50

For: Her

Interests: Stationery
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Savannah Bee Honey Hand Soap

Antibacterial soaps and wipes remove the healthy bacteria on our skin and actually makes us more susceptible to germs and other skin problems. Whenever available, I try to pick up some local beeswax butter at my farmer's market. They make for the most moisturizing hand lotions. Featured here is a selection of hand soaps from Savannah Bee, honey-based potions infused with Blackberry and Orange Blossom from Georgia. Available at SavannahBee.com.

What's your best honey based recipe? Email me or leave a comment.

Price: $13/each

For: Her, Him

Interests: Health, Beauty

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