Gift cards are the perfect last minute gift and you don’t even have to wrap it! If you still have time to pick up a gift for a loved one you’ll be seeing after Christmas, consider getting them something unique and wonderful like a Double Wrap Bracelets with Multi Sized Studs!

With fashionable accessories, of course!

I have a boring, slate blue phone that’s pretty much constantly in my hand.  If you’ve got teens or workaholics people on your shopping list – and who doesn’t? – you know what I’m talking about. They might as well have the gadget glued to their palm, right?

I received the Lavish Leopard style phone “skin” from SkinIt and voila, my phone’s got a whole new look!  I get compliments daily, and everyone wants to know where I got it.  The “skin” is basically a sticker that can easily peel off without harming whatever device you apply it to.  That means you can be stylish without voiding your warranty, so no worries!

I love that the SkinIt covers don’t add any bulk to my phone, the way that expensive plastic covers do.  It offers the same protection and personalization without becoming uncomfortable in my pocket.  I certainly don’t need any extra in the thigh area!

I highly recommend SkinIt for all the teens on your holiday list – boys or girls – and fashionable adults as well.  And if you’ve got some shopping to do for those caught up in the Twilight craze, look no further.  SkinIt offers a wide selection of New Moon skins and stickers that will cover all your gadgets (no pun intended).

Ever been annoyed by the straps on your handbag slipping right off your shoulder? How many times have you been carrying too much to handle only to have your bag or your purse strap slip off your shoulder and down to the crook of your elbow? Or those days when you are wearing a bulky sweater or a coat and the strap on your handbag just don’t stay put and you have to keep slinging your purse back up on your shoulder over and over again.

StrapDiva is a no-slip purse strap cover that snaps on to a single purse strap or two handles together. It is made of super soft and luxurious leather with a suede lining. On the outside, there is a special material to prevent slippage and help keep your straps where they belong. And the best part of all? It works!!!

Both the Lambskin and Grain Leather straps are $24.95.  If you’ve got a handbag lover in your life, the StrapDiva is a great gift idea.  If you’re giving a purse as a gift or know that a lucky lady will be receiving one, this is a perfect pairing!  In fact, get one for all of your friends, sisters, daughters, and other lady friends and start the new year rolling in gratitude.

Don’t forget to check out The Fashionable Housewife’s StrapDiva Giveaway (ends 12/20)!

“Mike Natenshon started Marine Layer because he couldn’t find new t-shirts that fit and felt like his precious few favorites and his girlfriend was going to dump him if he kept wearing the same 5 tees from college.  It took about a year of trial and error and a heap of credit card debt to get the first shirt made, but it was a beauty.”

You can read about how Marine Layer sustainably manufactures their tees in the US here.

So what’s so special about Marine Layer?  Well for one, they’ve thrown normal sizing guidelines out the window and introduced a whole new method.  Simply use their “Fit Finder” to decide if you’re a Smedium, Medium, Marge, Large, Larger or Extra-Large.

Next, it’s all about the feel.  I received a tee from Marine Layer check out and hands down, it’s the softest tee ever.  Crazy, comfortably, you’ll want to live in these tees soft.  I was planning on giving it to my boyfriend, but now I’m tempted to claim it as my own.  If you want to check it out yourself before committing to a tee, Marine Layer will send you a free sun glass cloth made of their super-soft cotton for free.

If you read the manufacturing info above, you’ll also know how much effort goes into the making of these tees.  It’s evident that the tees are well made when you actually check on out; these won’t fall apart like the rest of the tees in your closet.

So to sum up:  perfect fit, super soft, high quality.  Oh and did I mention that Marine Layers offers free shipping AND free returns – on all orders?  So ordering is essentially risk free, as you’ll be refunded whatever you paid.  Perfect, right?

I’m not a big fan of logos, so I prefer the Blank tees.  The shirt I received is the Super Blank T ($29) in Shamrock Shake Green (pictured above).  The color is gorgeous, but if green’s not your thing, there are several other shades available.  All are rich and non-intrusive, so they’ll blend easily into your guy’s wardrobe – no worries!

This holiday season, get your guy something he’ll really love – a super soft, super stylish tee from Marine Layer!

Still not sure what to get for that sporty brother, father, or boyfriend?  We feel your pain!  Men can be such a challenge to shop for, so it’s best to stick to the basics.

For guys who are big into exercise, sports, and the great outdoors, the gift solution can be really simple!  Think about what they need:  gear and accessories.  Since actual sporting gear can be expensive – and something to stay away from unless you really know what your guy wants, I suggest sticking to those accessories!

Icebreaker is a company that specializes in outdoor and travel related items.

“Icebreaker, like many great things, started by accident.  In 1994, an American girlfriend introduced me to a merino wool farmer she had stayed with as she backpacked around New Zealand.  Brian Brakenridge lived on an isolated island in Marlborough with his family and 8,000 sheep. He had developed some prototype thermal underwear made from 100% pure New Zealand merino wool.  He threw me a piece of this extraordinary fabric across the lunch table. It felt soft and sensual, looked lustrous and was totally natural.  It was nothing like the wool I had grown up with, which was heavy and scratchy. And you could throw this stuff in the washing machine.   My first thought was that maybe I could sell this to the Americans, and pay for a ticket to the US to see my backpacking beau. Hey, I was 24.  But as I wore this fine wool t-shirt, it proved to me – and to the others we showed it to – how well merino wool performed in the outdoors, and how wonderful it felt. I was so enthusiastic about this discovery that I never saw my American girlfriend again – she was jilted by sheep.”

Socks are a great gift.  They’re going to get a lot of use, and every guy could use socks – even though they think the ten pairs with huge holes in them currently hanging out in their sock drawer are fine. Having the right socks for sporting activities is super important; I once went cross country skiing with thin socks on and wound up with blisters the size of half dollars.

Icebreaker has four main categories of socks:  Alpine, Outdoor, GT, and Everyday.

Icebreaker sent me a pair of socks for review and while I’m passing them on to a lucky guy this Christmas, I did spend some time checking them out.  The pattern is definitely one that will appeal to guys, as it’s streamlined in bold, basic colors.  The material is durable and will protect feet, while keeping them warm and comfortable.  They’re also breathable and lightweight so no worries about bulk or overheating.  And none of those blisters!

If your guy already has a big selection of quality socks, consider some other basic necessities – hats, scarves, and gloves!

I love the Icebreaker Powder Hat ($41.99), which is available in four colors.  I received the Ink/Reef/Thunder combo (pictured above) and think the colors are gorgeous!  This beauty’s going to my step brother, who’s big into snowboarding and other winter sports.  He’s always tricky to shop for, but I know he’ll be a big fan of this sleek, stylish hat.  The non-itchy material and added length for ear coverage are going to keep him warm and comfortable all year long!

Icebreaker doesn’t just cater to men; there’s a wide selection of clothing and accessories for woman as well.

“Our Mission and Vision

Since 1989, Women’s Bean Project has been dedicated to helping women break the cycle of poverty and unemployment.

Our Mission: To change women’s lives by providing stepping stones to self-sufficiency through social enterprise.

Our Vision: Women’s Bean Project strives to break the cycle of chronic unemployment and poverty by helping women discover their talents and develop skills by offering job readiness training opportunities.

With this stepping stone toward success, the women will be able to support themselves and their families, and create stronger role models for future generations.

Our History

Jossy Eyre founded the Women’s Bean Project in 1989 as a result of her volunteer work at a day shelter for homeless women. Eyre saw that while the shelter kept women safe, if could not help them make lasting changes in their lives. Eyre bought $500 worth of beans and put two homeless women to work – the first step in building the social enterprise we are today. Our training opportunities have expanded dramatically over the years, and annual operating budget has grown from $6,100 to over $1.5 million.

In 1993, King Soopers became the first grocery store to carry our products.

In 1995, we purchased former Fire Station #10 from the City and County of Denver, and moved to our new home the following year, giving us permanent roots at 3201 Curtis Street.

Today our product offerings have expanded to salsa mixes, spice rubs, coffee beans, and jelly beans in addition to our soups and chili, along with gift baskets, baking mixes and much more.”

Treat Your Sweetheart Bundle ($19.25) contains:  Jelly Beans, Chocolate Covered Espresso Beans, Brownie Mix.

Soup Lover’s Bundle ($35) contains:  Toni’s 10 Bean, Marian’s Black Bean, Sarah’s Spicy Split Pea, Old Fashion Chili, Firehouse #10 Chili, Certified Organic 6 Bean.

2 Chili & Cornbread Bundle ($17.25) contains:  Firehouse #10 Chili, Old Fashioned Chili, Golden Cornbread Chili.

Soup & Spice Rub Bundle ($16.50) contains:  Toni’s 10 Bean Soup, Marian’s Black Bean Soup, Uncle Bob’s BBQ Rub, Malaysian Spice Rub.

I had the opportunity to try some delicious products from the Women’s Bean Project earlier this year.  I’m particularly fond of the cornbread; it’s perfect!  I think I ate an entire pan myself…  Another big hit was the iced tea; I’m partial to the Mango Peach flavor.  I haven’t tried the dip mixes, but I think they’re another great gift idea – last year I paired dip mix with an inexpensive whisk or spatula and gave the sets!  Great for hostesses, teachers, parents…  Anyone who likes delicious food, really!

]]> http://www.fashionableholiday.com/2009/12/09/womens-bean-project-gifts-that-give-back/feed/ 0 http://www.fashionableholiday.com/2009/12/09/pinder-laptop-accessories-for-geeky-friends/ http://www.fashionableholiday.com/2009/12/09/pinder-laptop-accessories-for-geeky-friends/#comments Wed, 09 Dec 2009 12:00:15 +0000 Laney Knapp http://fashionableholiday.com/?p=212

When you’ve got a bunch of technology addicted friends like I do, it can be difficult to find gifts for them!  True geeks seem to already have amassed all the latest and greatest technology.  My little brother is a computer addict and already has the special keyboard, headset, gamer mouse – you name it, he has it.  So what’s left?

Surprisingly, he doesn’t have a laptop bag.  Something so simple, and yet it’s missing!  I find this to be the case with a lot of my tech friends; they’ve got high end equipment but they’re tossing into their backpacks or tucking it under their arms, rather than storing it safely.

When I got a new laptop in the fall, the first thing I did was start looking for a bag for it!  Probably because I’m so addicted to purses…  Pinder was kind enough to send me their GiddyUp bag (pictured above) in Black & Lime.

Best.Bag.Ever.  It’s so functional and convenient that I often toss a few vital items into this bag and skip bringing my purse altogether.  A bag that’s replaced my purse?  Seriously, you know it’s got to be good.

“Are you looking for a laptop bag that has room for files/folders, lightweight, protective, water repellent and doesn’t look like a traditional laptop bag? Then the new GiddyUp laptop tote is ready to be your new best friend. With a durable ballistic nylon exterior and 100% cruelty-free faux leather trim, the GiddyUp will keep you and your laptop looking snazzy. It offers one zip compartment to carry your laptop and another compartment to carry all that other stuff like your power supply, mouse, folders, files and magazines.”

The GiddyUp comfortably fits my Mac, laptop charger, cellphone, wallet, planner, two notebooks, a folder of press releases, pens, lip gloss, and whatever else I know I’m going to need during the day.  That’s actually more than my purse holds – by far! – so you can see why I’ve started carrying it all the time.

The GiddyUp is incredibly well made, stylish, and durable.  Currently, it’s on sale for $40 and offered in a wide range of colors.  I love the big handles, but there is another style available with a much smaller handle as well.  You can also visit sister site Gut Cases for a range of cases for hand held devices sch as Blackberries and iPhones.

The holiday season is one of indulgence.  Lots of big family meals, special treats, fancy desserts.  So what to do if you’re watching your weight, or have special dietary restrictions?

Oh Nuts! is a candy company that far goes above and beyond the usual selection of common candy.  I was really excited to see their selection of Sugar Free Candy.  One member of my family has a health-based need to minimize sugar intake this year, and the rest of us are trying to lose a few pounds.  Of course, this doesn’t mean we want to give up our holiday treats and snacks altogether!

Oh Nuts! features five main categories of Sugar Free Candy:  Wrapped, Unwrapped, Chocolate, Gum, and Gifts!  So if you have a diabetic or otherwise restricted friend or relative, you can still send them an indulgent gift without endangering their health.  And if you’ve got a snacker who won’t comply with their “health rules,” start stocking some of these goodies instead of the usual grocery store fare!

Gum is a great stocking stuffer, and I’m particularly intrigued by the selection of “Must” brand gum featured on Oh Nuts!.  Flavors include:  Peppermint, Spearmint, Fruit, Cherry, Orange, Mango Peach, Whitening, and Kids Fruit.  I’m a big gum chewer, so I’d be happy to unwrap some Must this Christmas!

While I haven’t tried any sugar free gum yet, Oh Nuts! did send me several sugar free selections to review.  After much debate, I chose the Salt Water Taffy, De’ Mint Truffles, and Viennese Crunch.

Assortment includes:  Strawberry, Banana, Pineapple, Chocolate, and Vanilla.  $5.99/lb.

Everyone in my family loves taffy!  It’s usually a treat we bring home from Maine vacations, but I thought it would be a nice surprise for Christmas!  The taffy is delicious and has a wonderful texture, just don’t eat too much – according to Oh Nuts!, “excessive consumption may cause a laxative effect in sensitive individuals.”

“You won’t find a tastier truffle delight than our sugar free De’Mint Truffle, packing a wallop of flavor and completely no sugar.  This is a special chocolate for those who seek the refreshing taste of mint and dark chocolate.  $12.99/lb”

Chocolate is something I couldn’t bare to give up, and the mint in these truffles is a perfect pairing!  Wonderfully delicious and totally satisfying.

“You’ll have to restock quickly on these irresistible crowd pleasers!  Our sugar free Viennese Crunch bars offer the outstanding taste of our classic Viennese Crunch, with the added benefit of being sugar free.  Viennese Crunch bars disappear in the blink of an eye; they are that scrumptious, so we suggest ordering extra so you don’t run out.”

Smooth, creamy chocolate is wonderful…  but way too easy to overeat, even when it’s sugar free!  I find that adding a crunch to my candy makes me feel satisfied faster, as having to chew more really makes me feel like I’m eating!  The Viennese Crunch is a perfect mix of sweet chocolate and crunch!

Of course, if you and your loved ones don’t have any dietary restrictions, Oh Nuts! has plenty of candy for you, too!  Check out their vast selection of Christmas and Hannukah gifts and goodies to cover all your sweet needs!

Hanky Panky Original Signature Lace Thong in a Candy Rolled Package Panty – $18

Biatta Holly Cheeky Boyshorts Panty – $3.99

Hot Sox Women’s Novelty Capuccino Casual Socks – $6

K. Bell Women’s Footsies 6-Pack – $10

Forever New Delicate Fabric Wash – 32 oz – $15

I received the K. Bell Women’s Footsies for review and think they’re adorable!  I have a lot of black flats that need a little pop, and these do the trick.  I love the bright colors that I can match to my outfits, or spruce up plain outfits with when I need it!  They’re soft and stretchy, and are a great quick fix if you don’t want to go bare foot but aren’t in a full on sock or stockings kind of mood.  They come in a tiny package are are sweetly rolled up and nestled together, which makes them a perfect stocking stuffer or gift that you can easily palm or pocket and surprise someone with!

Bare Necessities has an amazing selection of gifts, so make sure you explore the whole site after you check out my picks!

As much as I love getting whimsical gifts and pretty trinkets, my true favorites are the most practical.  A practical gift doesn’t have to be “un-fun” or boring – I’m not talking a set of spatulas or monogrammed hand towels.  There’s a huge middle ground, where practicality meets fun; no matter who you’re shopping for, you find items they need AND want!

One of my favorite gifts this season is a stylish coffee mug!  Whether you’re shopping for a business woman, a student, a mom with errands to run – or really, just anyone who leaves the house – a coffee mug is a gift that will be used over and over again.  And each time your lucky lady pours in her favorite blend, she’ll think of you’re fabulous gift giving sensibility!

Aladdin is a brand that immediately caught my eye due to their huge range of products and the gorgeous graphics.  I was sent some fab products to review, each and every one of which is a perfect gift for the ladies on your list!  Let’s check out some of my faves.

16oz Create-Your-Own Mug, $13

“Consider this mug your blank canvas. It can display just about anything you can dream up– original artwork, photos, even your beloved sticker collection.”

What a genius idea!  If you’ve got a doodler on your hands, this is a great gift for them.  I think that teen girls will like this mug a lot as well; they’re always writing each other notes and writing on end of the year tees & yearbooks is a big deal.  So how about giving them a DIY mug that their friends can design for them (probably during a boring math class)?

16oz Hybrid Stainless Steel Travel Mug, $10

“A classic everyday item, this mug is made with a mix of stainless steel and plastic so you can enjoy durability without sacrificing style.”

This is a totally chic option for moms, aunts, and anyone else who likes a little pop but not a lot of flair.  Totally streamlined, this mug is perfect for travel and the wide handle will make grabbing your mug while navigating your morning routine perfectly simple! The top trend purple makes this a total winner, but there are also gorgeous shades of blue and grey available.

12oz Artist Series Insulated Mugs, $20

“The worlds of art and coffee collide in the new Aladdin Artist Series that puts art in your hands! This first-edition collection features the orginal artwork of six different artists.”

These fun insulated mugs immediately made me think of my graphic design major friends!  They’re such a great update from the usual, boring silver/grey mugs.  These are really fun for kids that like to take hot chocolate with them in the morning, or ones that go camping (even if it’s just in the backyard).

20oz Artist Series Insulated Art Bowl, $20

“Spend your lunch hour savoring beauty with the new Aladdin Artist Series that puts art in your hands. This first-edition collection features the orginal artwork of six different artists.”

Another great graphic piece!  Mini fashionistas can take their lunches, while big girls will be happy to do the same.  I love the color coordination between the bowl, lid, and graphic design.  Last night’s leftover’s are suddenly much more appealing in one of these beauties, and so are those healthy soups and salads that weren’t much fun to eat before.  Oh and did I mention that these bowls remain cool to the touch, but are microwave safe?  Score!

10oz Recycled & Recyclable Snack Container, $7

“Do your part for the planet (and your wallet) with this fun recycled snack container. Make your own munchies (or buy in bulk) and pack it all to go so you can snack wherever, whenever.”

Now that’s affordable!  This is one piece I’m definitely keeping for myself; it fits perfectly into my purse or laptop bag.  I’ve been filling mine with trail mix, dried fruit, or nuts for healthy snacking.  The vending machines on campus are so much less tempting when I know I’ve got a delicious option with my already – plus it’s a lot cheaper to bring snacks from home!

24oz Clean & Clever Water Bottle, $12

“Don’t be fooled by its good looks. This water bottle is good for you, too! It’s made with Bisphenol-A free Eastman Tritan copolyester plastic, which is durable, crystal clear and dishwasher safe.”

This is the same bottle pictured at the very top; it’s my favorite piece!  I buy water in 3L jugs, which aren’t exactly portable.  However, they’re much cheaper and more eco-friendly than buying 8oz bottles in bulk.  I have a stash of water bottles, but a lot of them get “gross,” and don’t seem to get clean enough when I wash them.  The Clean & Clever Water Bottle is a real gem; it’s big and see through, so I can remember if I’m drinking water or ice tea and not top off with the wrong beverage.  It also fits perfectly into my purse or laptop bag, even when I’ve got the Recycled Snack Container in there as well.

For more Aladdin products, check out their website.  There’s are four main sections:  Drink It Hot, Drink It Cold, Do Lunch, and Kiddos.  Each are chock full of products you are your loved ones will use all year long!