boys will be boys

Having a hard time shopping for the boys in your life? Let me start with the little ones. From my experience with my many nephews, there is an obsession with trucks that starts very early. First with a book that explains truck after truck, like this one. Then, they get their tiny hands on play trucks. You would think that a truck a year would get old but there are so many options to keep them interested. For years my sister has recommended the Bruder trucks (dump trucks, front loaders, tractors…the list goes on) and they never fail. Other options are the Hess trucks (they release new ones every year!) or just move onto trains (any!). And if your little guy isn’t interested in trucks, the gender neutral easy-bake over will be available soon thanks to one amazing big sister.

Now for the men. My friend recently introduced me to the men’s shopping site (with a few store locations) Bonobos. They are all about creating the perfect fit for pants and pride themselves on that. With free shipping, super easy returns and a customer service team that gets rave reviews, seems like a must try. In addition to pants, they have tons of other apparel options from a range of brands. Check it out.

Since many of my friends have also purchased work bags for their men this holiday season, I thought that providing a few companies would be helpful. In addition to those listed on the Bonobos site, I recommend Jack Spade (for a classic guy), Saturdays Surf (for a start-up guy) or The Herschel Supply Co (for the uber-casual guy). 

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do you see what i see

Ordering glasses online seems slightly counter intuitive. How are you supposed to know how they will look on? Who is going to help you pick the perfect pair out? Warby Parker has figured out how to solve this dilemma while offering incredibly affordable and stylish options. You can order up to 5 pairs of glasses to try on at home for 5 days free. Once you’ve picked one (or a few for only $95 each INCLUDING prescription!), you can return via a free shipping label that’s included. Amazing, right? And if you desire that hands on in-store experience, Warby Parker has a special holiday-only shop in New York’s Meatpacking District, open from November 17 to January 30. They also have a number of showrooms across the country. Frames are a perfect gift for your four-eyed friends (or those who want to look uber-cool). And if they are picky, get them a gift card and let them do the choosing themselves! 

$95 each

run it

I have been through MANY running headphones. They break all of the time (or get misplaced). It’s the worst when one of the ears just stops working. I have good news though – I think that I have finally found a life changing pair - Bose SIE2 sport headphones! Yes, the price is pretty steep but my hope is that they last for a while and since they are bright, I won’t ever misplace them again. Full transparency, I did misplace a pair (and rightfully got scolded) and then in a very savvy way, used credit card points to get my hands on them again. They are that good. Double bonus...there is a version that comes with a running armband and an inline microphone for taking calls so they can double as hands-free in the car. 

bose sie2 headphones

making a board & checking it twice

I’ve been a total delinquent with posts. That said, gift season mode is almost in full swing, and after many requests, I’m back for the holidays!

Anyone who knows me knows that I am a planner. To that end, I thought that it would be helpful to share three sites that will fully help you plan holiday gifts for others, as well as yourself. Here we go…

After much anticipation and demand, Pinterest unveiled secret boards – hooray! At the bottom of your profile, you will find three secret boards. Now you can pin must have gifts for you and your loved ones and not ruin the surprise!

Hukkster, is a fantastic website that allows you to track products on sites you love and you are notified when your swoon worthy items are on sale. Brilliantly, you are even alerted for site-wide sales and you choose when you want to be notified of a sale – 25%, 50%, etc. The site is invite-only currently but the approval process is very quick. You can “Hukk” items into “Gifts” or “Holiday Wishlist” and share with others. I’m anxiously awaiting my alert for some boots!

Lastly, Have to Have, allows you to see trending items and save all of your “have to haves” in one place. Items are tracked and you are notified of sales. You can even see friend’s must haves to take some of the guessing out of what they want for the holidays. 

a christmas miracle

At noon, on Friday, December 23, I received a gift inquiry...from my father. Like so many people, he had waited until the last minute to get a gift for his wife. I asked him the same questions that I ask my clients and on the busiest, let me repeat, the busiest (!) day of the year; I recruited my sister's expertise, and we headed to midtown Manhattan. From my father's perspective, he was thrilled - the "Dream Team" as he refers to us would come home with the perfect coat. We scoured what was left at many midtown locations, many times becoming frustrating with the picked-over sale racks, but finally came across a beautiful shearling coat at Bloomingdales. It was the last one and, in pure serendipity, it was her size. It was a very merry holiday in our household.  

on the rocks

Now that all of the holiday gifts have been given, I wanted to share one of my favorite gifts that I gave that can be great for New Years. When heading to a Christmas Eve party, I wanted to bring the hosts something a little different since I knew that they already had endless bottles for the night. I came across the "two of a kind" engraved double Old Fashioned glasses from Kate Spade. The "his" and "hers" glasses are perfect for a couple that enjoys a little night cap together. I added a set of the whiskey rocks to make the gift complete. 

kate spade two of a kind glasses $50

office gifting

It's often hard to understand the protocol for gifting at the office. Every office is different but I thought that I'd share my strategy with you. I am a big believer in purchasing something small for direct reports, and if you like, giving cards to others (like your boss). Wine and champagne are always great go-to's, but I'm also loving the cute, colorful, multi-purposes notebooks from Archie Grand. I recently purchased one in a bright hue with a clever saying on the front like this one from J. Crew. They have tons of options in store or you can find them on Amazon. Another great option is something for the office. If someone on your team is a coffee addict, get her the perfect everyday coffee mug. Anthropologie  has adorable monogrammed ones. 

Additionally, If you want to get something for everyone then you can bring in treats from a local bakery or something sweet that you've made for all to enjoy.  Happy employees, make happy bosses. 

archie grand notebooks

last minute + no shipping

Recognizing that many of you may not have finished your list just yet, and guaranteed shipping is no longer an option, I wanted to provide some ideas that don't include shipping - just a little thought and creativity. One of the best gifts that I've ever received was a tasting menu at an incredibly renowned restaurant while on vacation. All of the arrangements were made in advance and I received a perfectly penned handwritten notecard that unveiled the gift. I was so touched. With a little bit of research, you can easily find a restaurant or experience that would be perfect for a friend, loved one or family member. In terms of restaurants, you can make the gesture whatever you want - from pre-purchasing a bottle of wine at their local spot to arranging for an entire culinary experience at a sought after restaurant such as Blue Hill. Ensure that you delivery the gift in a cute way. You can print out the menu or write out the gift on a notecard like this one from Paper Source. 

In terms of experiences, if the person you are purchasing for is a foodie, you can help teach them some techniques in the kitchen with a cooking class. Many local culinary schools offer these. You'll create a memorable and thoughtful experience. 

blue hill at stone barns 

sought after beauty stocking stuffers

Yesterday I focused on stocking stuffers for the guys, so it's only fitting that today I focus on the ladies. Buying your fave makeup finds and sharing them is one of my favorite stocking stuffer ideas. From your newly discovered mascara to your life saving winter hand cream, your friends and family will be thrilled to receive these little goodies (and to try them!). For expert recommendations,I'd recommend that you tap into the fabulous team at Beauty Blitz that has compiled their top $20 and under gifts. My friends rave about the Eos Lip Sphere (and how easy it is to find in your bag!). I'll have to get my hands on these soon. Happy gifting! 

eos lip sphere holiday pack $8.99

studly stocking stuffers

CNET is the go-to resource for the tech-savvy and tech-obsessed. That's why I wanted to share their top last minute tech finds that will make perfect stocking stuffers. I personally am a fan of the Mophie Juicepack Air, a case + battery pack for your iPhone - perfect for those who take long trips or use WiFi all of the time. For more inspiration, click here to review their top picks. 

Another fave stocking stuffer this season is the Moshi Moshi Retro POP Handset. These are FLYING off of the shelves. It works with most phone and tablet devices and touts that it eliminates up to 99 percentage of the radiation absorbed compared to a direct use of mobile phones. You still have time to get these items via Amazon in time for the holidays. If you're like me and order online all of the time, I'd highly recommend upgrading to Amazon Prime for a yearly fee to always get guaranteed 2 day shipping. It's pretty amazing. 

moshi moshi headset $30

the white elephant gift

We had our holiday party a little early this year at work and I wanted to share with you the top three gifts for a white elephant gift swap so that you don’t need to waste your precious time thinking of what everyone will want. In case you’re not familiar with the concept, the white elephant gift swap is when everyone brings a wrapped gift in. You then  pick numbers. The first person picks a wrapped gift. The next person can then take the gift from the first person or take his chance on a remaining unwrapped gift. This process continues with lots of swapping along the way. If you pick first, you get to go again at the end and take anything that you want. We had a $10 limit. The clear winners that got people excited were (1) gift cards (for iTunes, Starbucks, etc.) (2) gifts for kids that parents fought over (kind of amazing to watch – an example would be a very cool and desirable lava lamp) and (3) WINE (bags were carefully examined to check for alcohol). If you go the wine or champagne route, I love the idea of including a note about the specific bottle’s rating. So even if it’s $10, show why it’s so amazing.  Of course, you can always go with the clever and funny gifts, but the above were definitely a hit and I’d highly recommend them. Cheers!  

toys for the tots

With the holidays around the corner, and my niece and nephew's birthday party this weekend, it's only fitting that I share some ideas for the little ones. I always seem to run into the same dilemma – what will be useful, and something that the parents are thrilled with. Parents seem to rave about most LeapFrog products. Kids enjoy them and they are very helpful with child development. The LeapFrog Tag Learn & Love to Read Set is great for the 4 year old set. Another incredibly desirable item is the LeapFrog product is the LeanPad Explorer Learning Tablet. It's for kids ages 4-9, but has a higher price point. This generation will be pros on tablet devices! Pretty amazing. 


If you're shopping for a younger tot, I've been told that a tunnel is perfect. Little ones absolutely love them and it provides hours of fun and exploration (I've fully witnessed this). Here is a great tunnel option for the toddlers in your life. Another gift for this age group is the Fisher-Price Go Baby Go! Poppity Pop Muscial Dino - it helps to introduce cause and effect.  

leapfrog tag reading system $30

give a little bit

At this time of year, it’s hard to not get caught up in all of the purchasing, but it’s important to remember that the season is also about giving for those in need. Why not combine the two? A friend shared a great site with me that allows you to bid on unique and fantastic gifts – best part is that your shopping is for a great cause! Bidding for Good is a small company with a big heart. You can bid on everything from dinner with your favorite celeb to tickets to a show to the must have toys of the season. 

Another great option is to give a very “cool” gift – the gift of wind power!  You can do this directly through New England Wind Fund. Currently they are running a $15 gifting special. I also love the option of supporting the Mayor’sFund to Advance New York City. You can find a list of the funds supported this year here. 

Little gifting tip: For every person that you purchase a gift for, think about spending a few dollars less (you can even make a pact among your family to do this) and putting the money aside. At the end, you'll have at least $25 to donate to a cause that you support! 

city love

Everyone has friends or family members who live in a particular place that they absolutely love and will always have a natural affinity for, no matter where they ultimately end up. Getting a painting, drawing or poster that represents this, makes a perfect gift. There are two vendors that I love for this - Ork Posters and a new one that I just came across, Line Posters. Ork creates posters and screen prints that show the city by neighborhood and Line Posters, demonstrates the transport lines (hence the name). If you want to create a very special gift, you can even custom frame the item versus having the giftee do themselves.  We have two of these framed in our apartment (San Francisco and New York City) and we love them. If you have a Michael's craft store near you, I'd recommend going there for your framing needs. They have a "good" collection of frames that are affordable and there is something for everyone's style. 

ork posters $27

lineposter $28 (frame not included)

arm candy

From cuffs to bangles to string bracelets, the layering look is very en vogue and rightfully so. This holiday season, take the friendship bracelet to a new level. You can purchase a variety of options for your friends (at varying prices). I love that you can look down at your wrist and your bracelet(s) will remind you of your amazing friendships or allow you to associate it with a memory or experience. You can get fun, chunky jewelry for festive occasions like the Lulu Frost collection for J.Crew. Or go the layered route with colorful bangles from Kate Spade. They come in so many different colors and playful patterns that you are guaranteed to find something perfect for each of your friends. The Idiom bracelets are my fave to layer. I came across a NY based designer, Iwona Ludyga, at a local event and she had very perfect every day bracelets that can are ideal for layering. At the same event, I was incredibly inspired by Same Sky. All of their bracelets are created by women in Rwanda who are rebuilding their lives. Purchasing these bracelets supports an amazing cause. 

For further inspiration, check out the best dressed wrists in New York, which was curated by Refinery 29. 

iwona ludyga skully wrap bracelet $90

goop’s gift guide

Over the next few weeks, I will be sifting through the clutter to find the best holiday gift guides out there so that you don’t waste your time or money. In case you didn’t see it today, GOOP, a site carefully curated by Gwnyneth Paltrow, sent out their 2011 gift guide and I wanted to share it. The guide spans a wide range of prices and offers some very cute, creative and unique gifts. In case you want more, there is a link to view the 2010 recommendations for even more great ideas. Happy gift idea generating!

maya brenner designs bi-coastal necklace - starting at $165