What to get a soon-to-be Mom as a special Christmas gift.
Presents For A Mama-To-Be
Posts Tagged: Gift Guide
Holiday Gift Ideas: For The Little Ones
1. Jonathan Adler Zodiac Pillow ($98): It's expensive, but I love this as a gift for a newborn (or anyone, any age, really).
2. OshKosh Thermal Bodysuits ($20): I have a few of these, and they're great - really sturdily made and cozy.
3. Vulli Chan Pie Gnon Soft Chew Toy ($16): It's the same company that makes the classic Sophie Giraffe, but it's a Chan Pie Gnon. Whatever that is.
4. Leonor Greyl Mousse Douceur Fleurs D'Oranger ($25): For the baby (or mom) with fancy bathing habits.
Holiday Gift Ideas: For Her
If you're going big with a holiday gift for a special lady in your life...I say jewelry and bags. There is no one who doesn't like jewelry and bags. (Fine, that KitchenAid stand mixer works well, too.)
Jewelry (clockwise from top left): Alexandra Moosally Yellow Gold and Pave Diamond Artichoke necklace (price upon request; click here for contact info and use code AMGLAM for 20% off of any order through December 10, 2011); Swati Jr* Selene's Dangles earrings ($108); Lanvin Gourmette Bracelet ($390).
Kendrick’s 2011 Video Game Guide
So Jordan asked me to put together a video game guide for her site. Now, why should you take my advice rather than going to Metacritic or IGN or Gamespot?
You shouldn't. If you've even heard of these sites, you don't need me.
But if the last thing you remember about video games is not being able to beat the quicksand level in Mario Brothers 3...you're in for it. (Up there, that's Jordan discovering the joys of MarioKart for the very first time, back in 2009. It was an epic evening.)
60% of people play video games each month. That's more people than go to the movies. And that doesn't mean that 60% of the population are Mountain Dew-swilling, desensitized, computer savant tweens. It means that you can pick up a video game even if you haven't played one in, well, ever, and it'll take care of you like you're a VIP.
Holiday Gift Ideas: For Him
If you're looking to go big this holiday season, gifts for the guy in your life don't get better than these.
Try an old-school-upgraded record player (it records LPs onto CDs, too) and an assortment of vintage (or new) vinyl, an extremely badass leather jacket (this is the same one that Gregory House wears on the show), a rugged watch (either classic or carabiner), or a wireless speaker system perfect for everything from camping to conference calls.
Ion Turntable with Direct CD Recording ($299.99)
Vanson House Jacket ($575)
Guy Gifts Are So Freaking Tough
Guys - or at least the guys in my life - have this unfortunate habit of a) buying everything that they want for themselves when they want it, rather than waiting for a holiday, and b) answering the question "What do you want" with a foot-shuffle and an "I dunno...nothing, really."
Gift Ideas For A Dad-To-Be
Yes yes, we all know that dad-friendly diaper bags are a nice present for a guy who's about to become a father, but sometimes you want to give a present that's about celebrating him.
Best Baby Shower Gifts
From pretty to practical, my suggestions for what to bring to the ritual honoring of Mom-To-Be (no lily pads required).
Click here for the full list.
Hostess Gifts With A Side Of Nervousness
I've gotten a few emails recently asking me for some additional hostess gift ideas. One reader wanted to know what her new boyfriend should send her parents after a weekend spent at their place; another was just meeting her potential in-laws-to-be for the first time and didn't know enough about them to pick and choose based on their personal tastes.
While these are still my favorite ideas, if you're nervous about what to give your host/hostess, just remember this: even more so than with most gifts, this is all about the gesture. The point of hostess gifts isn't necessarily to rock the recipient's world; it's to express your appreciation and brighten their day in some small way, ideally with something they wouldn't have bought for themselves.
So if you're feeling stressed about what to get, play it safe with these can't-go-wrong items: they may not blow anyone away with their originality, but they are guaranteed to go over well.
Bachelorette Gifts From G-Rated To R-Rated
My bachelorette party was a three-day, extremely raucous affair involving bull-riding, beer-chugging contest-winning (left), and being "rescued" by off-duty firemen at clubs. By the time Sunday brunch rolled around, we were all such sleep-deprived, hungover zombies that we basically just sat there inhaling our eggs in silence (which is, by the way, why I recommend doing the bridal shower/brunch thing before the bachelorette festivities rather than the day after).
[Oop. Just noticed my oh-so-adorable souvenir straw in that photo. Ah, well.]
It was one of the best weekends of my entire life, but not everybody's idea of a "Best Weekend" involves tequila shots and pole dancing (I know, hard to believe, but it's true). Maybe the guest of honor is just on the shy side; maybe she's inviting family members, coworkers, or underage friends; or maybe her religious beliefs prevent her from engaging in more "typical" ladies' night out festivities. In such cases, handing over a pair of pasties may feel a little inappropriate - but you'd still probably like to get her something at least vaguely thematic.
Below, my suggestions for the bachelorette in your life who's more Princess Diaries than Fatal Attraction (you probably have the PG-13 and R categories covered - anything lingerie-related works nicely - but I included some fun picks for those ladies, too).
