HOLIDAY GIFT IDEAS
With Chanukah and Christmas falling so close together this year, (actually, at the same time!,) you can do your shopping for both at the same time!
I’ve tried to include a little something for everyone. And everything is ultra-affordable, which everyone should appreciate nowadays, especially for how wonderful all these goodies are. I hate when magazines give us lists that only their top editors can afford!
Here, as usual, are some of my top gift suggestions this holiday season:
JEWELRY
This photo does not do this stunning jewelry justice! You have to see these jewels in person to get the full breath-taking effect.
Marco Polo Designs Jewelry—this gorgeous glass and crystal jewelry collection is absolutely hypnotizing. When I first discovered it at a Secret Room Suite, I noticed that the entire assemblage was drawn to it. I had to fight my way through the crowd to get a gander at the colorful pieces.
Any item from Marco Polo Jewelry would be a super-appreciated gift for any occasion but, just in time for the holidays, designer Claude Cruz has come up with many new designs, including necklaces, bracelets, and earrings. He does it all! Every single one is gorgeous, but when I saw the Moon Shadow collection, it made my mouth water.
I’ve seen an awful lot of jewelry in my life, so believe me when I tell you that this design is special. Done in sterling silver and Swarovski crystals, it features lunar shadows of indigos, contrasted with pearly silvers and speckles of copper dust that represent the changing phases of the moon. I think this design is the perfect holiday jewelry gift because it takes us out of the bright colors of the season, which many of us are goony enough enough to wear the whole month (anyone else already getting sick of red, green, and blue?,) and offers a super-classy palette for New Year’s Eve and beyond.
Just try not to wear your Moon Shadow bracelet if you’ll be at the same soirees that I am because I can tell you right now, I’ll be rocking that baby for all of 2012, beginning on December 31! www.marcopolodesigns.com
COSMETICS
NYX Cosmetics—I finally found that supreme sparkly eyeshadow I’ve been writing about! The discovery made me realize what a fabulous gift any item from NYX Cosmetics would make, especially for teens and glamour girls such as moi.
This affordable collection is my new favorite cosmetics company. And trust me on this, because I have more make-up than Sephora!!!
What a fun gift for any female (or Adam Lambert or Johnny Weir) to open, no matter what age or level of make-up talent. You can either put one or two items in a Xmas stocking, or even better, place several choices from this fun line in one big box, tie it up with a bow, and have a great gift for less than $50! And, if the recipient is a girly-girl like me, don’t forget to include that sparkly eyeshadow (or eyeliner) that’s just in time for New Year’s Eve! www.nyxcosmetics.com
SPORTSWEAR
Discrete—the second I saw this colorful sportswear at a gifting suite, I knew it would be the perfect gift for hipsters, and sporty guys, like Mr. X! It turns out that the guys behind the company are skiers—the young, hip, daredevil kind. The cute kind of guy I knew in Aspen.
They carry all types of sportswear, including headwear for both sexes, but, with Mr. X being a krump dancer, of course I was drawn to the hoodies. It’s like a krumper’s uniform! I loved the colors they had at the suite, but this being the holidays, I suggest a red or green one. But if the recipient is a fun person, such as I, then I’d go with one one of the striped delights. (Okay, now I’m just getting punchy. It must be the altitude; I’m not in it, but thinking of the skiers is giving me contact altitude high, I think.)
Another plus is that they run big. (The company actually says that they’re tailored for a long, trim fit; they call it “the fit of the generation.”) The large is super-roomy and long, so they’re perfect for those big, tall guys who can never find really hip sportswear. Or for the guys who just don’t want to freeze their nuts off, literally. You know who you are! (In both cases.)
This is the kind-of gift you can’t go wrong with. The hoodies are warm, cozy, colorful, and fit everyone’s taste. They’re perfect in snow, obviously, and—the part I like best about them—in the lodge afterwards! Or in my case, during. www.discretedomepiece.com
HATS
Home Baked Beanies–I found these adorable hand-made unisex hats at a trunk show in Burbank a few weeks ago. There were some other companies there, but I had eyes for these hats only.
Some are decorated with cupcakes, some with animals, and some are simply fun colored yearns, but all have the two “braids” coming down the sides and all are fabulous! They’re perfect for all ages, both sexes, and all cities because it’s winter, you guys!
You can also choose to have them smell like cupcakes, which, of course, I did. Now I’m hungry for sweets all the time. But I’m also definitely toasty, hip, and adorable! www.homebakedbeanies.wordpress.com
LIQUEUR
MF Liqueur—I have a feeling that by now, we all know I don’t drink because I hate the taste of alcohol. But everyone else seems to love this new entry into the world of liqueurs, so I have to go by them. And I love the look of it! I got myself a bottle just to look at when i’m down! The crystal blue color is mouth-watering to me, as the flavor is to my advisors.
It’s a blend of vodka, rum, and exotic fruits, and can be served alone or as I’ve been instructed, mixed with pineapple juice and coconut rum. That sounds yummy to even me!
And the name cracks me up! It’s just MF, so you can make-up what you want it to stand for. I have a feeling that Chris Rock and I would come up with the same thing, but I’ve heard it most often referred to as More Fun. I’m thinking of including them in my food fest early next year, and having a contest to come up with the most creative name for it. You can copy my idea, if you like, as long as you tell your guests you read it here! www.mfliqueur.com
ECO-FRIENDLY GIFTWARE
Anything from new store EcoXOXO in L.A.’s Farmer’s Market!–I’ve been meaning to do a whole column about this wonderful new store that we Angeleno’s are lucky enough to have in out midst, but something else always comes up. Now I can totally recommend anything from them as a holiday gift that will be welcomed by any recipient. But don’t trust just me; look at this clip from a local NBC show, featuring EcoXOXO owner John Cole: www.nbclosangeles.com/video/#!/on-air/as-seen-on/Small-Business-Saturday/134520668
Every item in the store is made from recycled materials, most of which we can recognize, and go “Ahhh!” over. I wish I had a picture featuring several of their unique items at once, like purses and make-up kits made out of comic books, bowls fashioned from old lPs, and drinking glasses made from used booze bottles, but, alas, I don’t. The best thing to do is got to the shop itself and see it all for yourself. I think you’ll be amazed at what planet-conscious artisans can come up with.
For those of you who aren’t lucky enough to be in L.A. to visit the actual store for yourself, they also have a shopping site: www.ecoxoxo.com. But–please be aware that it’s still a bit under construction. And bear with them for a week or so more. You’ll be glad you did! Trust me.
[Note: I just realized that you can see some of the items from the site in my write-up here: www.itsnotaboutme.tv/news/2010/03/16/miscellaneous-ecoxoxocom/]
