For guys

One of my friends e-mailed me about an anniversary present for her boyfriend of 3 years. Here are some of the ideas I came up with:

1. Belkin Tunecast auto with clear scan $37.99
2.Beats by Dr. Dre (tour) $89.99
3.Heart rate monitor workout watch, $87.99
4. Smith I/0S interchangeable optic goggles $98.97

Wood you like some?

Wood is so classic and beautiful. Here are some good ideas for all gifts wood.



1. Square Palm Leaf Wood Setting, $59 for 25 settings. Eco Friendly, bio degradable plates perfect for a bbq or birthday party.

2. Lights Up! Woody Pendant lamp , $622 a sleek beautiful wood light to hang over the dinner table. Very zen.

3. Ipad original maple cover, $30. Protects your ipad and looks cool. each piece is hand sanded and stained.

4. Wood Mantle Clock, $39.50 perfect to put on a work desk or bed side table. comes in different color faces.

5. Lemon Wood combs, $12 hand carved and truly unique combs.

6. Keiji Ashizawa Design Drawer Shelf, sliding motion ability, sleek and beautiful

HAPPY BIRTHDAY CASEY!

My baby brother is 20 years old today!
Here are his prezzies waiting for him to wake up and open!

Soda Machine

Make your own sodas at home with a soda stream.
All you need: Soda Stream, price ranges from $79.99 here to $199.95 here

Make your own flavors like cranberry lime using flavors found online here.



Or add your own fresh flavors from fruit like limes and oranges.

Peace. Love. And Birthday

Everone has one of those friends who just love peace signs, heck, it might just be you. So treat your peace loving friend to one of these gifts on their big day.




1. Gold Peace Sign Dinner Plate, $29
2. White Peace Sign Wall Light, $129
3. Peace Sign Shower Curtain, $15.44
4. Peace Sign Book Ends, $11.99
5. Peace Sign Black and White Backpack, $8.00
6. Peace Sign Car Magnet, $4.50

Trinkets for guys

Small things that will make him happy :)

1.
Philips Norelco QT4021 Stubble Trimmer,$36.99For times when he is on the go, and needs to shave that 5 o'clock shadow coming in.

2.

Woodland Camouflage mini Army Style Flashlight, $5.89. For him to keep with him at all times, just in case.

3.
Solid Suede Palm Convertible Glove, $19. For those days in between cold and hot.

4.
Skull and Cross Bone Gloating Pirate Boxer Brief , 13.50. Just for fun

5.
Open Bottle Opener, $16. For his wallet, and to open his beer.

Bento Box

Bento Box, basically an Asian lunch box.
What's so interesting about a plastic box?
The presentation. The Japanese eat with their eyes first, and a bento box present their meal to go in the most creative and beautiful ways.

An example of a bento box from here

This would be a perfect birthday gift (or Christmas) for a girlfriend. In each compartment you could stash a piece of jewelry or trinket. So it's like a stocking (fun to open) and they can use the bento for their lunch at work. here are some Bento boxes from online:



1. Slim Tree Automn Bento, $18.99
2. Wooden Bento cherry oval bend, $28.56
3. Kotobuki 2- Tiered bento box, black with flower lid, $30.18
4. Vivo Small round bento box, $32
5. Eco Lunch Box, stainless steel, $17.60

Water Bottles for Everyone

Help a friend out on their birthday by eliminating their water bottle expenses. Reusable water bottles are all the rage especially now that disposable water bottles are getting more expensive and trash the environment.

Because there are about a thousand different designs for water bottles keep your birthday boy or girl in mind: here are some options to look at:

1. 16 oz Modern glass and rubber water bottle, $23.08. For your on the go, in the know, business man or woman. Comes in all different colors.



2. LIVESTRONG water bottle, $14.99. For your sporty friends.

3. Platypus Platy Soft 0.5 liter water bottle, $7.99. For someone who never has any hands and needs something they can stuff in their pocket or purse.
4. bobble Filtered Water Bottle BPA Free, $9.99. For those germ freaks out there, the built in filter system needs to be replaced every 2 months or 40 gallons.


5. ALEX 20 oz White/pop neon, $25.95. For people, like me, who don't like reusable water bottles because the bottle never feels clean. This water bottle unscrews in the middle for easy cleaning.

6. Copco Sierra Cold Tumbler, $7.99. For people who like more than just water to go.

My Favorite

The Quote Book.
My favorite, go-to gift for all my dearest friends.

*This particular one I made for one of my best friends 22nd birthday. The best part about this gift is how personal it is. I would say this is a gift just for girls, but for the right guy, this idea could totally work.

Here are some of my favorite quotes to write as a first quote in the book:

"Believe in yourself all that you are. You know that there is something inside you that is greater than any obstacle." Christian D. Larson

"For beautiful eyes, look for the good in others; for beautiful lips, speak only words of kindness; and for poise, walk with the knowledge that you are never alone." Audrey Hepburn

"The only way the find the limits of the possible is by going beyond them into the impossible." Arthur C. Clarke

"If ever there is a tomorrow when we're not together...there is something you must always remember. You are braver than you believe, stronger than you seem and smarter than you think. But the most important thing is even if we're apart..I'll always be with you." Winnie The Pooh

Essential Mineral, Essential Gift

Salt. The universal gift.
For someone who has everything, for your aunt, grandma, best friend, boyfriend... everyone loves salt. And best of all you can find it as unique and wonderful as the person you are giving it to.







With an expansive variety, you are bound find the perfect salt that fits everyone on your gift giving list.

AND, contrary to popular belief, salt is actually good for you (in moderation) Check out this article from Experience Life Magazine

Places to find a variety of fun and unique salts
1. Napa Style World of Salt Collection, $12.50 each
2. Himalayan Salt Plate, $29.95
3. Book: Salted: A Manifesto on the World's Most Essential Mineral, with Recipes, $18.99
4. Pasta Salt Tablets (46 tablets), $8.00
5. Cyprus Black Lava Salt, $10.99

Twist on the Go-To gift for guys

What are the typical gifts given to guys...
1. Cologne
2. Watch
3. Sunglasses
4. Beer

Now, i'm not saying any of these are bad...here is just a twist on the everyday gift, making it that much more fun and thoughtful!

1.Cologne Sampler Sephora, Calvin Klein Package $37
2.Polar Heart Rate Monitor Watch, Amazon $147
3.Classic Aviator Ray Band Sunglasses, Nordstrom $139
4.Boddingtons Beer 4 cans for $9.48

Homemade Sign

It's a Party...Sign

21st Birthday Best: make it personal.
Everyone can give a hangover kit- water, Gatorade, Aspirin, and another bottle of booze. So change it up a bit as you stick with the 21st birthday theme and make a party sign!

Sign Materials:
1 piece plywood- $7
1 can spray paint- $4
2 packs of clear push pins- $3 (found at Target)
String- $4 (Found at Joanns)
Total= About $18.00

Compared to Anthropologie's letters:

$14.00 a piece
1 piece Plywood- $7
Total for "Party" Sign= $77.00

For $59 Dollars cheaper you can make a personal sign for your friend to hang on their wall and remember you by!!