more jingle and jangle

more gift ideas:

-- the king of pop (art) = Andy Warhol. And no matter how old or young your recipient may be, everyone will appreciate and love this Andy Warhol colouring book. | Illustrated by Andy Warhol, commissioned by Teddy and Arthur Edelman

Now back in print, A Coloring Book: Drawings by Andy Warhol (1961/2011) will amuse and charm a new audience with its delightfully carefree menagerie. Not long after arriving in New York City in 1953, a young artist named Andy Warhol began to make his way in the world of commercial illustration. Arthur Edelman, his former employer, recalls the first time he met Warhol in the introductory note: "In a hallway of the Empire State Building, outside a shoe manufacturer's office, stood a young man with Jackson Pollock shoes, a rumpled black suit, a portfolio, and a shock of white hair." Over several years, the Edelman's and Warhol worked closely together. Their relationship culminated in a coloring book that could have only come from the mind of Warhol, created especially for clients' children for Christmas in 1961, and somewhat of a cause célèbre when it was published in 1990. Published by W.W. Norton & Company in September 2011. US$19,95




-- Not only amazing headphones, a portion of the profits from the Beats Solo HD (PRODUCT)^RED Special Edition headphones will go straight to the Global Fund to fight AIDS in Africa. Proprietary titanium coated driver technology ensures they preserve every bit of the lush bass and vital details of your music. Plus, the ingenious tri-fold design make for easy storage when not in use. Solo HD's cable also features Monster ControlTalk™ for iPod® playback control and iPhone™/music phone hands-free calling. US$229.



-- I have no idea what this figurine/thing is, but I love it. I love l'Objet's fabulousity for the home, I love elephants, and I love the black and gold. I think it'd make a lovely hostess gift.




-- there's nothing more important than oral care. I know it sounds silly to recommend a dental hygiene product for a gift giving occasion, but this seems incredible and I have to have it. Sonicare AirFloss is specially designed to give your patients an easy, effective way to clean interproximally. It features microburst technology that delivers microdroplets of air and water to remove plaque biofilm between teeth, and it’s proven safe and gentle on gums and teeth. With one-button functionality and a guidance tip that ensures targeted cleaning interproximally, patients using Sonicare AirFloss can quickly clean the entire mouth in just 60 seconds. Sonicare AirFloss has been through meticulous clinical validation and adheres to the Philips Sonicare standards of performance and safety requirements. With Sonicare AirFloss, interdental cleaning has just been reinvented.


-- The Question: What to buy neighbors, friends, the doctor, colleagues, teachers, family members, or anyone else who you just need the perfect gift for? The Answer: the question mark!

Katarzyna Question mark 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon & Merlot 0.75 l. 36.00 BGL ( € 18.41)

What started as a simple question how we should present the first wine to be released from Katarzyna Estate made such a successful launch that we unanimously agreed the “question mark” is our good luck charm and decided to keep it that way. This wine is amazing for its deep, crimson color with garnet gleams. The abundant and intricate bouquet of plum scents, black forest fruits, pepper and dominating noble tinge of tobacco contribute to its explosive nose. It has powerful, rich, full body with velvet taste of black chocolate, mocha and caramel. The final is very pleasant with harmonious and soft tannins and long aftertaste. Perfect with grilled red meat, cheese.

Holiday suggestions 2011, part deux

'tis the season to be giving. more suggestions, in no particular order, of course:


-- I can't get enough of Santa Maria Novella, the storied Florentine bath and body purveyor. It's not cheap, and you know you always get what you pay for. Once you have tried Santa Maria Novella's Pomegranate soap, it is impossible to imagine ever using anything else. Triple milled, each exquisite bar is hand molded one by one using 19th century equipment, aged for 60 days in ventilated cabinets, and then hand-wrapped. The all-natural whole milk formula is infused with the classic Florentine scent of pomegranate oil for a lather that is rich, gentle and softly moisturizing. And because each soap is hand pressed, all Santa Maria Novella soaps will last about three times longer than ordinary soaps while maintaining their shape and scent, preventing that icky mushy pile most consider "soap". Suitable for all skin types.

-- I love Porsche Design - they make the coolest, most well done products. From kitchen knives to kicks, from covers for the car to your iPad, you can't go wrong with something from the German design firm.


-- Geneva Sound System - take your iPod to the iMax. Small system, big sound. Winner of the 2010 I.D. International Design Magazine Consumer Products Award, this small but mighty hi-fi system offers superb musical fidelity and the most versatility in its class. Minimal design packs maximum patented technology including invisible TouchLight controls, PowerDock connector for iPod/iPhone and digital clock radio with programmable alarm for radio, ipod or iphone. Energy-saving design consumes 80% less power than conventional audio devices. Sleek all-white high density polyresin hybrid with genuine piano lacquer finish. Perfect space-saving size for office, bedroom, shelf, tabletop, countertop. Optional table stand and remote included.

• High density composite resin with lacquer finish
• High fidelity sound in petite minimalist cabinet
• Plays iPod/iPhone, radio & alarm clock
• Seamless surface means no unsightly buttons
• Backlit TouchLight controls brighten on contact - full menu control of iPod, unique to Geneva
• Motorized PowerDock spins closed when iPod/iPhone not in use
• Stereo mini line-in jack for external audio (computer, MP3, TV, etc.)
• Digital radio with 6 presets
• Digital clock with alarm - wake to iPod, radio or beep
• Two 3" full-range speakers, individually powered
• Two digital, energy-efficient 15W amplifiers (30W total output)
• LED display for time, mode, track, volume
• Optional stand and remote control included
• Made in China

Note: This item is UL-Listed and manufactured in compliance with U.S. standards. If you are purchasing this item for use outside of the U.S. or Canada, use only with the appropriate outlet adaptor and voltage converter for your country. Do not plug into an electrical outlet higher than 110-120V as this could result in fire and/or injury.

I've seen this for sale at CB2, Design Within Reach, and Fred Segal.

-- Fortnum & Mason might possibly house everything delicious on earth. I especially love their jams, marmalade, and preserves. Each Christmas, they create the most lovely decadence, tucked smartly into a hamper (that's basket for my North American readers). £55.00 gets you a taste of several favourite things, including three classic loose-leaf teas, a St James Christmas pudding, handmade preserves, the exclusive chocolate bar and a bottle of rather good Cotes du Rhone.

Holiday Suggestions 2011

there are several things this year that I'm really loving, so over the next month, I'm devoting my blog posts to highlighting some fabulous finds. in no particular order:

-- Latissima Plus, by DeLonghi + Nespresso: Nespresso is owned corporately by Nestle, the world's largest food distributor. Collectively, they buy one third of the world's coffee, and reserve the top 1% of that for their own Nespresso pods - so the quality of the coffee is beyond incredible, and only $,57 per shot. Each machine has 19 bars of pressure and a flash heating system, so in less than 30 seconds, they instantly create the best espresso, with the perfect crema and are always between 186 and 195 degrees. Each pod is hermetically sealed, so they stay fresh for a year. And with a flat shipping rate of less than $7, you can order as little as 10 pods or 10,000 pods, and when you place your order by noon, you get them the next business day. What's not to love?! Plus this little gizmo froths the milk, so you get the perfect cappuccino or latte.
-- Garden in a Bag, Christmas Tree! Made by Potting Shed Creations, in Troy, ID, and sold through Branch Home, this plastic-lined kraft-paper bag contains soil, seeds, and the perfect amount of eco-friendly holiday cheer! This great gift allows the giver to color and sign the "tag" on the front of the bag, making it a work of art that also grows. When the plant has outgrown the bag, simply re-pot the plant by removing it from the bag. US$9.00.



-- take the guesswork out of giving with these "get the hint" gift tags from CB2! Ask and you shall receive (or at least be heard). Five not so subtle message pads peel, stick and flag your faves. Set of five pads includes: I Want This, Love These, Buy This, And This, Yes Please. Five assorted mini pads, 20 sticky notes per pad. US$5,95. -- fresh flowers from bbrooks. Why wait for an anniversary, a birthday, or Valentine's Day to send the most incredible bouquet? Sprinkle a bit of holiday cheer with an unexpected, unbelievable arrangement.

- it's not snooty to wear a snood! fur + snood = MUST. HAVE. NOW! I can't get enough - this might be the hottest (and warmest!) accessory ever. Available only for the coolest modelcitizen you know.


-- three things I love: GQ Magazine, Maison Martin Margiela, and my iPhone. Put them all together and you get the GQ recommended MMM iPhone case. Yes please! Here's what GQ had to say: "To paraphrase our pal Yeezy, "What's that phone case, Margiela?" Yes, yes it is. So does your iPhone really need a leather sheath and shearling interior? Probably not. Will it thank you every time you drop it behind the bar at 3a.m. after one too many whiskeys? Count on it." US$410 at porvocacao.com.