1. Caswell-Massey Lavender Water ($18)
2. Williams-Sonoma French Lavender ($5.95)
3. Tai USA Lavender-Scented Drawer Liners ($15)
4. Essie Main Squeeze Polish ($8)
1. Caswell-Massey Lavender Water ($18)
2. Williams-Sonoma French Lavender ($5.95)
3. Tai USA Lavender-Scented Drawer Liners ($15)
4. Essie Main Squeeze Polish ($8)
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)
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."
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.
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.
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.
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).
For you non-registry types, this Cat Cora Starfrit Cook 'n' Serve ($70) goes straight from the oven to the table (the casserole pot nests into the bamboo bowl, which can also be used separately to serve salad).
Tips for bridal shower gifting...plus tons of gift ideas!
Father's Day is on Sunday, June 19 this year...so if you're planning on shipping out your gift, this is a a good weekend to get cracking. Here are some of my favorite gift ideas from $6-$129: