Argyle Ipod Cover by Mozi

Gift Challenge: My son loves his iPod and takes it everywhere he goes. The only problem is that the iPod shell is getting scratches left and right. Do you know of any affordable accessories (no leather, please)?

 

Here's an iPod sleeve that won't break the bank, scores high on the style factor and best of all, it's machine washable. Available at Mozi.com.

How do you carry your iPhone or iPod around? Email me or leave a comment. 
 
Price: $8.50
For: Him, Her, Kids
Interest: Accessories

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Nantucket Journal by Peter Pauper Press

I was strolling through Bookazine in a Hong Kong last week and noticed these amazing journals. The hardcover folds over with a slight magnetic touch to protect the paper inside.

 

For me, a great journal is definitely more about the inside than the outside. When you unfold the cover, you will find smooth high quality paper and 160 spaciously lined pages ready for you to savor all your thoughts, creativity and daydreams.

 

My favorite cover is actually the Japanese Screen but it's currently out of stock. The image online doesn't really do it justice, it has a very fine print, almost fabric like, delicate and tasteful. I've stocked up on a few for Christmas and Birthday gifts; they are generic enough for almost anyone but they also serve a very personal function.  Available at PeterPauperPress.com.
 
Do you have a favorite journal? Email me or leave a comment.
 
Price: $12.99

For: Him, Her, Kids
Interest: Accessories, Stationery
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Vitra Uten Silo - Large Wall Organizer

Gift Challenge: My husband's work desk at home is always a mess. There are post-its, staplers, name cards... little things that don't have a home. I'm looking for a way to organize them neatly. 
 
This is the ultimate wall organizer - it's very chic and will tuck away all the table scraps and make them look like art! Available at DesignPublic.com.

 
Do you have an idea for a cool work-desk gadget or stationery? Email me or leave a comment.
 
Price: $395

For: Him, Her, Kids
Interest: Accessories, Gadgets

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Leap Frog Tag Reading System + Kung Fu Panda Game Bundle

Gift Challenge: My best friend's son is a Kung Fu Panda fanatic. I want to get him something related but also educational. Any suggestions?

 

This is my latest favorite gadget from Leap Frog, it's the Tag Reading System.  It's a touch and talk reading device, with a small camera that reads aloud words and stories. This set comes with the Kung Fu Panda interactive book: Po's Tasty Training. For children from 4-8 years old. Available at Amazon.com.
 
What are your favorite educational toys? Email me or leave a comment.
 
Price: $74.79

For: Kids
Interest: Toys, Accessories, Gadgets, Books
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Reusable Glass Waterbottles by Love Bottles

Gift Challenge: My girlfriend loves bottled water. She carries it to the gym, the office, shopping... basically everywhere she goes. I want to get her a reusable water bottle. I've tried getting her the Sigg bottles but she doesn't like them.

 

Being a water-holic, I know how she feels about Fiji and Evian. But knowing the implications of millions of tons of plastic water bottles occupying landfills, I have been cutting back and drinking a lot of filtered water. I've looked at a lot of the Sigg bottles and even though they look fabulously colorful on the outside, I miss seeing the crystal transparency of pristine bottled water. So I've been searching everywhere for clear, reusable glass water bottles. Here's one to try, they come in all kinds of simple patterns while proudly showcasing earth's most basic quencher. Available at Lovebottles.com.

 

Do you have creative ideas on toting water? Email me or leave a comment.

 

Price: starting at $12

For: Her, Him, Kids

Interest: Accessories, Gadgets, Beverages

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Uglydoll Card Game

Shop Mini Gifts! These are gifts that I would add as stocking stuffers and morsels of fun in goodie bags.
 
Old fashion card games are getting a new twist with ugly dolls, charming creatures, each with its own attitude and charm. In this game, turn over cards and snatch every triple match you see. Available at UglyDolls.com.
 
Got ideas for goodie bags and stocking stuffers? Email me or leave a comment.
 
Price: $10

For: Her, Him, Kids
Interest: Gadgets, Travel, Games
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Saltbox Geo Travel Passport

Gift Challenge: My best friend is a fashion buyer. She's always travelling to Milan, New York and Tokyo. But she is extremely disorganized always losing her passport and travel documents. I want to get her something to help her stay organized. Any suggestions? 

 
Flying a lot and travelling between places with different currencies can be stressful with jet lag, unloading suitcases and full-time work. Here's a suggestion - get her a couple of these travel wallets. That way she can keep her Euros, Yen and Dollars separate and ready when she is. Included in the wallet are slots for her passport, credit cards and airplane tickets. Available at PopDeluxe.com.
 
Got ideas for staying organized while travelling? Email me or leave a comment.
 
Price: $34.99

For: Her

Interest: Gadgets, Accessories, Travel

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The Eden Project: Gardening at Eden and How to Do It At Home

Give Generously: These are gifts that benefit great causes. It's the best of both worlds: shop and do good.

 

The Eden Project is the world's largest green house built inside domes located in mid-Cornwall, England. I recently heard about this when I was watching a show on the Water Cube - the aquatic center for the Beijing Olympics which is built with the same structure of interconnected hexagons.

 

The various domes create climates zones that house a variety of plants from the tropical to dry zones resulting with crops like coffee, bananas, rubber, giant bamboo, olives, lavender and more. The location hosts exhibits, workshops and educational programmes for people to explore the joys of nature and the brilliance of biodiversity.

 

Learn more through Gardening at Eden and How to Do It At Home. Available at EdenProject.com.

 

Have you heard of other interesting green community projects? Email me or leave a comment.

 

Price: $39

For: Him, Her

Interests: Gardening, Nature

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Bacon & Eggs Bandages

Shop Mini Gifts! These are gifts that I would add as stocking stuffers and morsels of fun in goodie bags.
 
Here's a set of fun band-aids for all your accident prone friends to heal the little scratches here and there. Throwing a kids' camping-themed birthday party? Pop these into the goodie bags (along with a small flashlight, butterfly net and apple juice box) and they will be able find some joy when the next boo-boo hits. Available at Wishingfish.com.
 
Got ideas for goodie bags and stocking stuffers? Email me or leave a comment.
 
Price: $4.99

For: Her, Him
Interest: Gadgets, Travel
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Printed Yoga Mat & Mat Bag

Gift Challenge: "My roommate hates shopping - she's sorta a minimalist (last year I got her a coupon for a Swedish massage and I don't think she really liked it) so I'm really not sure what to get her for her birthday this year. Her favorite things to do are yoga, swimming and hiking."
 
Let's try to get her something that will enhance her favorite sports. Take a look at these yoga mats which are non-slip, beautifully designed and come with matching embroidered cotton bags. It's something she can use everyday and tote to her next yoga class or retreat. Available at Gaiam.com.
 
What kinds of yoga products do you use? Email me or leave a comment.
 
Price: $34

For: Her
Interests: Accessories, Yoga, Fitness

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How To Manage Your Gift Budget: 3 Easy Tips

Common problem: Remember last year's last minute scramble to get all your Christmas gifts on Dec 23rd? Plus the insanely insurmountable credit card balance in January and February?

 

Here are 3 easy tips for you:

 

1. Plan & Shop Early

It's much easier to shop for gifts when you are not on a time crunch.

 

Start a list of all the people you plan to give gifts to this Christmas.

 

Next to each name, write down a couple ideas that you have for what they might want: a Le Creuset dutch oven, a spa-robe, an iPhone, a photo book, a bike or a new PC.

 

Once you have the list, you can cluster together people who like similar things. This way you can get a rough idea on quantity. For example, Uncle Ben and Colleague Jane are both chefs at home. So when you discover an awesome deal on a new cookbook you can quickly get 2 copies.

 

2. Summer Sales

At the end of summer, everything goes on sale. Pick up that journal, fragrance set, designer tie, computer monitor now to save money and also get something that looks fresh and different from all the red and green wintry themes during the holiday season. 

 

3. Spread the Balance

Divide and conquer is key to keeping the credit card balance manageable. Catch all the low hanging fruit in the summer sales.

 

Beginning in mid October brands will run sales events every 2 weeks to build up to the holiday season. Pick up a few more items then.

 

From August to November you have four months, so try to take advantage of the seasonal sales and get through at least a quarter of your list every month.

 

What are your Christmas shopping strategies? Email me or leave a comment.

 

 

Butterfly Bangle

Gift Challenge: "My wife and I have been married for 9 years. We normally don't get anything for each other on anniversaries but this year I want to surprise her with something special."

 
Here's my pick for something symbolic and beautiful - two butterflies made with everlasting diamonds. It's a bangle casual enough she can wear to Sunday brunch but can also stand out for date night at a three star restaurant. Available at Mblife.com.
 
What anniversary presents have you received? Email me or leave a comment.
 
Price: $644.74

For: Her
Interests: Accessories, Butterflies

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Digital Luggage Scale

Shop Mini Gifts! These are gifts that I would add as stocking stuffers and morsels of fun in goodie bags.
 
Just got this tip from my Aunty Dora. It's a fabulous idea for friends who love to travel. With luggage weight restrictions narrowing strictly down to under 23 kg or 50 lbs, this digital luggage scale is a compact gadget you can bring with you, especially to mega-shopping locations where you will be going home with more stuff than you started with. Pack and weigh your luggage before heading to the airport and save yourself the hassle of opening and transferring goods at the check-in counter. Available at Target.com.

 
Got ideas for goodie bags and stocking stuffers? Email me or leave a comment.
 
Price: $24.99

For: Her, Him
Interest: Gadgets, Travel

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The Produce Bible: Essential Ingredient Information and More Than 200 Recipes for Fruits, Vegetables, Herbs & Nuts

Gift Challenge: "My sister is going to culinary school next month. She loves good restaurants but virtually knows nothing about cooking. Is there something I can get to help her prepare for culinary school?"
 

One of my super foodie friends recommends the Produce Bible. It will help your sister get to know more about seasonal produce. A lot of people who like to eat good food don't actually know what the fresh produce looks like and the myriad varieties available. This book will hopefully inspire your sister to discover more flavors, ingredients and be a great starting point to her culinary experience with recipes, nutritional information and tips on how to choose, store and prepare fresh produce. Available at Amazon.com.

 

What's your go-to recipe resource? Email me or leave a comment.
 
Price: $19.77

For: Him, Her

Interests: Food, Cooking

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Cloud Suitcase Set by Restoration Harware Child & Baby

Gift Challenge: "My friends are jet setters. Every weekend, they are heading out to the Hamptons or flying to Paris. They have a little girl, my god-daughter who's just 3, I'd like to get her something princess-like but semi-functional for her trips." I haven't looked at Restoration Hardware in a while but just discovered their new Baby & Child collection which carries the perfect suitcase set for your god-daughter. The large one is ideal for a weekend getaway: fits a few sets of clothing, a swimming suit, pjs and maybe a pair of flip flops. The small one can carry her baby blanket and toys. Also in petal and silver sage. Available at RHBaby&Child.com. How many suitcases do you travel with? Email me or leave a comment. Price: $139

For: Kids

Interests: Accessories

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Memory Flash Cards by Pottery Barn Kids

Gift Challenge: "I'm looking for gifts for my grandmother's birthday. Preferably something that she can use everyday and exercise with."

 

Even though with modern nutrition and medicine, 60 is the new 50, aging adults still need to exercise to stay healthy. In this case, it is exercise for the mind. Just 5 to 10 minutes of memory training will help to keep the neural pathways firing clearly. Who knows maybe a game of flash cards might attract different members of the family to join in the fun. Available at PotteryBarnKids.com.

 

Do you have other fun family games? Email me or leave a comment.
 
Price: $16

For: Kids, Him, Her

Interests: Home, Games

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How did I get so busy? By Valerie Burton

Gift Challenge: "My co-worker is a superstar. She has two kids under the age for 5, works full-time, makes home-cooked meals every night, does yoga 3 times a week, throws parties on the weekends, takes the kids to gymnastics and art classes, operates a pet charity part-time and basically runs non-stop. Lately she's been getting sick a lot and seems a little overwhelmed. What can I get her to help her out?"
 

Just because someone "has it all" doesn't always mean they are happy and content. Your co-worker will appreciate this book, a quick resource to help her slow down her schedule and focus on the absolute priorities without compromising her health. The 28 day plan has tips on: work-life balance, taming the to-do list and adding a sachet of fun to life every week. Available at Amazon.com.

 

Gift Set Tip!

Include a journal, a bag of skittles and a personal note to let her know that you are there for her if she needs anything.

 

What are your tricks to keeping a sane schedule? Email me or leave a comment.
 
Price: $10.36

For: Him, Her

Interests: Well-being

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Owl Plush Pillows by Pottery Barn Kids

Gift Challenge: "I have a college friend who loves anime and all the cute Japanese imaginary characters from artists like Hayao Miyazaki. But she has all the comic books and DVDs, what can I get her?"

 

Miyazaki has a very colorful, imaginative and spirited approach towards creating characters. The comedic mix of colors, textures and simple expressions of his characters radiate a sense of hope and playful energy. His fans generally have a very similar eye towards fantasy. So I would look for goods along the same lines. Here's a pair of adorable owl pillows. Available at PotteryBarnKids.com.

 

Where do you shop for cute characters? Email me or leave a comment.
 
Price: starting at $24

For: Kids, Him, Her

Interests: Anime, Accessories, Home Decor

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