GIFTS
Guys are usually pretty easy to please when it comes to gifts, so why is it when the time comes to buy for our boyfriend, husband or significant other we rack our brains to come up with the most creative, cool gift idea that no woman in the past could have possibly thought of. While I don’t have a significant other that I need to buy for this holiday season, I did survey my group of guy friends to find out more about what guys really want. While many of the gifts range in price, I’ve broken these 25 fabulous gift ideas down into three separate categories based on how much you would like to spend. Some of the ideas on this gift guide are unique and fun, while others are simply there because you can’t go wrong with them ― sports tickets anyone?
High (Over $100)
You’ve made a list of everyone you need to buy for this holiday season: family members, close friends, co-workers, a significant other (and don’t forget your lovable pooch or kitten!) and you’ve applied the dollar amount that you wish to spend. Yet, how often is it that when you venture out to the malls, you exceed that dollar amount and your careful budgeting goes out the window?
Each year my social circle seems to expand, along with the list of people I need to buy for. If you don’t have the luxury of doing a “Secret Santa” or a gift exchange that permits you to exchange with only one other person in your household or workplace, the cost of buying gifts for every person on your list can easily range anywhere from a few hundred to a few thousand dollars – not an easy credit card bill to swallow.
Even if your workplace or financial institution offers some type of holiday savings club, (I partake in one offered by work) there’s still a good change you’ll run over what you are willing to spend. To help ease the pain of holiday shopping and spending, here's a list of several gift ideas for everyone on your list that will excite beyond the gift card (boring!) and will not require a whole lot of cash – let’s say no more than $50.
Dad: tablet/cell phone case, a box of cigars, his favorite bottle of wine or alcohol, car care kits, travel accessories
Mom: her favorite perfume, tablet/cell phone case, gourmet tea set, cosmetic case, fashion scarf
Sister: decorative journal/planner, nail polish set, hat/gloves/scarf set, ballet flats, cosmetic set
Brother: general admission tickets to a sports game, video games, docking station, movie passes, sport memorabilia
Grandmother: personalized photo mug, personalized towels and soaps, decorative candles, photo frames
Grandfather: books, music, movies, digital photo frame, personalized mug
Aunt and Uncle: Gourmet coffee basket, cheese and cracker sampler, gourmet chocolates, gourmet hot cocoa making kit
Pet: Gourmet treats, toys, blankets/pillows, collar or leash
Boyfriend: His favorite cologne, his favorite candy/food, movies, favorite bottle of wine/liquor
Girlfriend: Her favorite perfume, nail polish set, at-home spa kits, pajama sets, books
Co-worker: candles, baked good, gourmet tea or coffee sets, flower arrangements/poinsettias
All gift ideas on the list above can easily be found for under $50. If you have any gift-giving ideas you’d like to share, please comment on the story below.
Calling all chocolate lovers! It's always a treat to receive some sort of delicious chocolate no matter what the occasion is. As the holiday season sets you in a gift buying frenzy--go the easy way with giving out some delicious sweets! After attending The Chicago Fine Chocolate Show last month, and eating more than my fair share of chocolate over the last several months, I can confidently recommend the following as the best of the bunch for chocoholics on your Christmas list:
May 13th is quickly approaching and we know there are still some of you out there who have yet to buy a Mother’s Day gift. No matter which type of mom you are shopping for, it’s important to find a gift that shows how rockin’ this lady is. But if you've been procrastinating, don’t fret! We here at Glam Damn It have got you covered. Take a look at some of the latest trends suitable for every type of mom!
NOOK Simple Touch™ with GlowLight™ — Barnes and Noble
We love Tracy Reese. Not only for her amazing designs but for her big heart. Tracy has taken time out of her busy schedule to work with Fashion Fights Cancer to not only host fashion workshops for cancer patients and survivors, but to also create a limited edition tote. The adorable, colorful tote sells for $40 and ALL proceeds go towards therapeutic programs for cancer patients. The bag can be purchased online at www.tracyreese.com as well as at the Tracy Reese flagship in New York.
If you’re anything like me, the sight of a tall, narrow gift bag (presumably containing wine) under the tree is cause for both excitement and dread. Excitement because, well, it’s wine. Dread because there is a distinct possibility of there being a bottle of Barefoot Cabernet Sauvignon nestled in that tissue paper. It is a fact that choosing the perfect wine as a gift is never as fun for the buyer as it is for the recipient. Luckily for you, I sell wine to people looking for gifts just about every day. Before you go shopping, have a glass of wine yourself, relax and allow me to make a few suggestions to you that are sure to please your bank account and the lucky person you’re buying for. You can get these wines at Wolfe's Wine Shoppe, Total Wine, or Crown Wine and Spirits. The important thing about these wines is that they all come from small production, family-owned vineyards and, for me, that makes them worth buying and worth giving as gifts.
2010 Chateau Pesquie Côtes du Ventoux Cuvee des Terrasses
Red Wine
Robert Parker, 94 points
Retails for about $16
This is probably one of the most delicious wines I’ve ever tasted at any price, much less under twenty bucks. Comprised of 70% Granache and 30% Syrah, this is such an elegant blend and tastes like a cinnamon-spice blackberry cobbler in a glass! Rich and expressive, with spectacular minerality, this wine offers such a smooth sensuality that it is hard not to love it.
Honig Cabernet Sauvignon, 2008
Red Wine
Wine Spectator, 91 points
Retails for about $35-$40
I love this wine! It’s a classic California Cabernet Sauvignon done very well. It is voluptuous, with discernible oak on the palate, has really pleasant acidity, notes of dried berries, chocolate and mocha, it is a total crowd-pleaser. There is such a lovely finish to this wine that you’ll find yourself wanting another sip just to experience it again.
Babich, Black Label Sauvignon Blanc
White Wine
Wine Spectator, 90 points
Retails for about $15
If you think you’ve tried everything there is to try in terms of New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc, think again. The Babich Black Label is yummy times, like, ten. There is a balance of zinging acidity to the fruit salad-esque bouquet of pineapple, passion fruit, and lemon. Try to find a way to drink this with the person you’re buying it for. It’s such a fun wine!
Domaine Huet Vouvray, Le Mont Sec, 2009
White Wine
Wine Spectator, 92 points
Retails for about $39-$45
This was our third favorite wine of the year at Wolfe’s Wine Shoppe, my wonderful place of employment. The soil of the region that these grapes are grown in lend this wine a chalky, pretty minerality. Creamy yet dry, this wine shows bright acidity with flavors of pear and grapefruit with honey on the finish. This is the perfect wine for a cool evening and a snuggly sweater.
Everything she needs to MacGyver her way out of any fashion emergency: fashion tape, deodorant removing sponge, lint removing sheets, sewing kit, stain wipe, earring back, instant button, hair band, nail file, blister pad, and shoe shine sponge all conveniently packaged in travel-sized case.
Hollywood Fashion Emergency Kit, $15; available at Hollywood Fashion Secrets
With Black Friday and the subsequent weeks of holiday shopping madness on the horizon, it’s time we took a look at the best gifts for the music heads in your life. As per usual this time of year, new music gadgets are hitting stores every week, even though classics like iPods and a trusty set of speakers never fail to be a great gift (unless you own said iPod and set of trusty speakers, that is). From guitar games to mini studio setups and beyond, here are some awesome items to stick in the stockings of your music-addicted friends.
Who knew a plan old tee shirt could make me this happy, but I have discovered the most comfortable, soft, inexpensive, amazing tee to pair with leggings and a cardigan. This semi sheer tee also looks incredible for dinner with the girls thrown on over a pretty colored bra, a pair of jeggings and high boots. It truly is a must have! Truth be told, I ordered eight, they are that good! They sell this at Victoria Secret, but I even noticed them because they are hidden in drawers in the sleepwear section. One tip...buy them online. They have a special buy two for $30.00, which they don't seem to promote in the stores. It is the Ultrasoft Sleep Tee, not just the V-Neck Tee which is nice too, but not nearly as perfect as the Ultrasoft Sleep Tee!
Nothing is more challenging than finding a really cool, unique gift for the guy in your life. Whether it be a boyfriend, husband, bestie, or brother, it's always nice to give something you know he'll love. Every time I read articles about gift ideas for a guy, they are filled with scarves, hats, and useless gimmick gifts he might think are funny for a second, but ultimately will end up in the back of the closet. Here are some ideas I have come up with that are sure to put a smile on his face.
Crystal Skull Vodka- Creator Dan Aykroyd mixes his two passions; crystal skulls and spirits to create this amazing Crystal Skull Vodka. Inspired by legend of the crystal skulls (think Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull) this vodka is pure spirit from Newfoundland glacial pool water and peaches and cream corn mash. The skull shaped bottle is from Bruni glass and is an amazing art piece in itself. As Dan Aykroyd says, "In ancient tellings the heads are living and sentiment, sources of knowledge, insight, and power." Crystal Skull Vodka sells for around $55.00- $85.00 depending on size.
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