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Gifts for the sophisticated non-girly ladies in your life

Because sneakers are the new stilettos. Robert Clergerie Teba Sneaker, from $168.

Because this is basically a no nonsense men’s style wallet with a zipper. Except it’s golden. Comme Des Garcons wallet, $120.

Because believe it or not, there are lots of women who aren’t really into jewelry. But pretty much everybody has to carry around keys. Jill Platner bolt key chain, $285.

Because the less make up she wears, the more important it is for her skin to be naturally radiant. And there’s nothing like a monthly influx of new, all-natural products to help ensure that particular reality. Beauty Heroes monthly subscription, from $39.

Because, lets be honest, who doesn’t want a full length cashmere robe? Chinti and Parker cashmere robe, $1000.

Because we all want that I-just-came-off-the-beach look for our hair… Especially in the winter. Brooklyn beach Hair Mist in Winter Scent, $25.

Because we are all busy and tired and sometimes can’t even deal with figuring out where to order from. Lovewild Design Take Out Block, $14.

Gifts for your husband/sister/neighbor/business partner who kind of has everything but would appreciate an upgrade if it’s really good

decor - shopping

Because if all of our storage items were this beautiful, we’d probably be much better at putting things away. Irvington 24 oz canister, $60.

Because there is NO WAY they already have this keyboard. USB typewriter, $899.

Because these cups are incredibly thin, incredibly beautiful and made out of wood, for Pete’s sake. Kami wooden cups, from $60.

Because 3 flat and 3 Phillips head screwdrivers are all you ever really need. And a matching set, with beautiful wooden handles, might motivate a few useful projects around the house. Screwdriver set, $48

Because why would you charge one thing at a time when you can get everything running at once? Twist Plus+ World Charging Station, $53.

Because evidently the special design of this spout makes this the essential kettle for making manual drip coffee. Period. Hario buono drip kettle, $75.

Because everybody could use a key ring upgrade. Contour key ring bell, $16

Because who doesn’t want to be the envy of everyone in the office when you show up with this lunch box? Austrian picnic pot, $54.

Because this is not just a cutting board. It’s a chic cutting board. Blackcreek Mercantile cutting board, $235.

Because if you’re going to give a wireless speaker, it may as well be made of wood and shaped like an acorn. Kikkerland acorn speaker, $46.

Because why should a house smell like a house when it can smell like cardamom and amber? Red Flower room diffuser, $82.

Gifts for the kids of your design obsessed friends. Or maybe just give these straight to your friends and skip the middlemen.

Because who doesn’t want a deliberately lo-fi tic tac toe version of that chess game Mr Spock loved to play on Star Trek? 3-D tic tac toe set, $25.

Because all kids should learn to write thank you notes (which are so much more fun when you can convert them into a mask.) Oh and same goes for grownups sending handwritten notes… times 1000. Fredericks and Mae animal mask notecards, $16.95.

Because when your kids leave these blocks in a pile smack in the middle of the living room floor it looks like art. Cinqpoints archiblocks, from $70.

Because, lets be honest, this is the most beautiful music box you have ever seen. Mozartkugel music box, from $75.

Because evidently, coloring is a form of meditation, which is good for humans of all ages. Lost Ocean coloring book, $10.17

Because when one gets a new coloring book, one should also get some new pencils to color with. In a brass case that takes the whole situation to a new level. Just sayin’. Colored pencils in brass case, $76.

Because when you sing the song “Let’s Go Fly A Kite” this is the kind of kite you’re talking about. Plus the skies could use a few more pirate ships… Sailing Ship Kite, $40.

Monday, Monday… or a Holiday Guide to some of my favorite 2015 Holiday Gift Guides

links - shopping

I’m still in the midst of posting my own holiday shopping guides, but I thought I’d take a break and point you all towards some other compendiums of potential purchases as well. Because when it comes to giving presents, the more the merrier!

The adventures in cooking gift guide is superbly minimal and beautifully shot, just like the blog. To be honest, I want everything on this list.

If you have some time, and want to check out tons and tons (and tons) of great gift ideas for the home, go to Remodelista and search for Gift Guides. Or just click here. You won’t be disappointed.

Joanna Goddard’s gift guides for A Cup OF Jo are, in my humble opinion, the gold standard when it comes to holiday shopping. Hands down. The archive of past years are also well worth checking out…

It is true that at times T Magazine can feel a bit overly aspirational, but every once in a while a person just needs to buy a spectacularly designed, perfectly round, handcrafted in Germany, wooden music box that plays Mozart and costs a bit over $100. And their gift guide will always deliver the goods.

My friend Andrea Linett is a master of finding super chic stuff at shockingly good prices. So needless to say, the I Want To Be Her Fun Chic Gifts Under $100 list is not to be missed!

Who in their right mind doesn’t want to check out a selection called The Cut’s Weirdly Specific Holiday Gift Guide? Especially if you appreciate The Cut’s ability to be 100% on trend and totally subversive at the same time…

Last year, I remember being pleasantly surprised at the caliber of gifts on the Esquire Gift Guide… and it looks like 2015′s selection is even better, especially for the finicky men in your life.

Gifts for the people in your life who are really into cooking, eating and just being around nice food

food - shopping

Photo by James Ransom

Because you want to keep your bread, veggies, pasta etc fresh but you are trying oh so hard to stay away from plastic. And also because you want the inside of your fridge to look all cute and full of striped bundles and whatnot. Bee’s Wrap (set of 3 sizes) $24.

Because we all need a place to store our knives, but most of us don’t have a magnetic knife rack made of wood, now, do we? Cherry Magnetic knife rack, $45.

Photo courtesy of Gather Journal.

Because what part of a book called Chicken Makes the Ice Cream Taste Better (written by Harlem middle schoolers about their experiences with food and the Edible Schoolyard Program) don’t you want to read? At 826NYC.org, $15.

Photo courtesy of potterandwoodsworth.

Because… well… just because these plates are really nice and will make your table feel special without being all precious and overly formal, if you know what I mean. White Lace Dinner Plates by potterandwoodsmith on Etsy, $18.

Photo by Rocky Luten and Alpha Smoot for Food52.com.

Because it’s rugged (waxed cotton) and grey (the new black) and long (because we’re messy) and will last forever (which is always a good thing). Grey waxed canvas apron, $150.

Photo courtesy of The Brooklyn Larder.

Because it’s like a book of the month club, but for cheese. But even more useful than literature because now, when folks just show up all unexpected like, you will actually have something to serve them. Brooklyn Larder Monthly Cheese Club, from $199.

Yesterday, at some point…

music - photography

This is something that one might not expect to see backstage at a Dinosaur Jr show at the Bowery Ballroom.

And yet…

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Yesterday, at some point is a series of photographs that describe a moment I experienced during the previous day. The posts are meant to be stand alone images, though at times I can’t control myself, and I end up expanding the caption into a more lengthy bit of text. Hopefully the extra information is useful, or at least interesting. If not, feel free to ignore it.

5 great gifts you can get right now on Etsy

home - kids - shopping

Felt gnome and mushrooms set by BlueRooster Arts on Etsy

Ok first off, here’s a little thing you may not have known about me: I am a sucker for tiny handmade felt figurines. I love them. I have not gone whole hog, acquiring dozens of the little creatures and placing them all over our house, but if I were to go into someone else’s home who had such a display, I’m sure I would throw my hands in the air and squeal with delight.

Now that I’ve gotten that off of my chest, I wanted to start my own holiday gift guide season with a few ideas from the one and only center for all things handmade: Etsy. Because the sellers are just regular people, and not Amazon Prime, one has to be a bit more organized when ordering from them. But at this point we still have plenty of time to get the gifts to where they need to be. So now is the time to troll Etsy for the good stuff. And maybe even get something personalized while you’re at it!

First up (above) the felt woodland figurines. Maybe they are a gift, or maybe they are destined to become part of your own home decor. I like the gnome, but there are others to check out as well. Lovingly made in Montana by BlueRooster, $20.

We need new napkins and I totally want these, which are linen and hand dyed using the ancient Japanese shibori technique. Just in case there are any people out there looking to give me something for the holidays. Made in Massachusetts by ShopPromisedLand, $32.50.

I’m not quite sure I understand how this teapot is “handmade”, but it sure is pretty. And that’s gotta count for something right? This comes to us via Unihom in the UK, which might be slightly inconvenient, but hey– they ship worldwide, so who’s counting? $24.50.

This is one of those memory games that you play with your kids before they can read and if you’re me, your kids actually do much better than you because your memory is shot. Hopefully, you are not me, and you will kick your kids’ a**es. Regardless, this version is handmade by fourthavenue in Minnesota and if you get in touch with them, you can even customize the game with imagery of your choosing! $12.

I mean, if this wooden iPad dock and charging station doesn’t have ETSY written all over it, I don’t know what does. This is the kind of thing that the online emporium of handmade is all abut. Plus who else do you know who has one of these? I rest my case. Handcrafted from barnwood by valliswood in Croatia, $80.

The search for a jumpsuit continues…

style

The Evermore Jumpsuit by Rachel Comey.

Ummm…. instead of thinking about gifts that I’m going to give other people (’tis the season of the gift guide, and I must add my voice to the throng before it’s too late, damn it!) I have found myself trolling the internet for the ever elusive jumpsuit of my dreams. Not sure why it’s taken me so long to pull the trigger, but evidently, this is my way. I either spontaneously buy something the minute I see it, or I take ages to commit to buying a certain item. Take sneakers for example. I have needed new kicks forever. I’ve even written about it on this blog. And yet I’m still wearing the same old green Tretorns I got before my kid was born.)

Whatever.

What I really want to say right now is oooooooooh isn’t this Rachel Comey jumpsuit the bomb? Utilitarian and sexy at the same time. I’ve got to hand it to her– she cuts a fine garment. Maybe I’ll finally take the plunge.

And then I can turn my attention to getting those gift guides up!

Monday, Monday– or a few links to some helpful post holiday cold & flu remedies

health/beauty - links

Every home should have a neti pot. And this one is handmade out of ceramic (unlike the blue plastic one we have in our medicine cabinet) so it’s easy on both the eyes and the environment…

The day after thanksgiving, my daughter woke up with a sore throat and a barely audible voice. I’ve been in high octane remedy mode ever since… and I figure I’m not alone. So in honor of this particular and pernicious part of parenting, I give you a few links to some information and solutions to help beat that ubiquitous cold.

You probably already have some apple cider vinegar in your cupboard. If so, start sipping. You can also add a bit of cayenne pepper to the mix to help knock out that fever before it has the chance to really take hold.

An herbal face steam with thyme, rosemary and oregano will do wonders for your cough or congestion. Plus it’s kind of like turning your kitchen into a spa!

According to several studies, elderberry, when taken regularly, is as effective against influenza as a flu shot. I keep some homemade elderberry syrup in our fridge all season long.

We all know that Vitamin C is great against a cold. Why not make your own chewable tablets?

Omega 3 fatty acids boost the immune system, increase airflow to your lungs and generally make your brain work better by helping to strengthen the outer layer of your nerves. Clearly we all need to have some of this fat in our lives…

Astragalus is one of those plants that is on every herbalist’s list of things-to-take-all-the-time-during-cold-and-flu-season because, among other things, it boosts the immune system, supports liver function and gives you more energy. But did you know that it also helps to prevent white blood cell loss during chemotherapy?

And then, there is always the dreaded neti pot. No one likes them. But they clear up sinus congestion like nobody’s business.

Oh and ps… here’s a link to a post I wrote this past spring that lists a number of other remedies/supplements/etc you might want to consider as the temperatures fall and the health falters…

The perfect thing to put on a loop that plays during a dinner after an art opening

art

It is the day after Thanksgiving.

Some people are going shopping. Some are still asleep. Still others are doing the rest of the dishes and eating turkey sandwiches while starting to make soup from the bones of the bird.

And some of us are spacing out, watching this video of Das Triadische Ballet that I found on the Ace Hotel blog.