Holiday Gift Ideas: For The Guys #3

{Just a quick reminder that my friend Trae is guest blogging a series of gift ideas for dudes this week. Enjoy! -Liz}

For The Tech

Low: I got this last year and it is a great addition to my home entertainment system. You can stream Pandora from your iPhone, share pictures and rent movies from iTunes (since Netflix went all crazy and jacked up their prices). {Trae is super bitter about Netflix...}



Medium: My good buddy Rick turned me on to this little jewel from Jawbone. I was pleasantly surprised at the clarity and power this small and stylish guy can put out.



High: The ultimate gift for your gadget-minded guy is, of course, the iPad 2. It took me a while to find a place for this device in my everyday life, but now I absolutely love it and continue to find new ways to use it.

For The Home

Low: These stainless steel pint glasses are great for anyone who hosts a lot of BBQs or is outdoors a lot. They're a great alternative to the frat guy Solo cup and keep your beer icy cold.



Medium: On the "old is new theme," these cloth extension cords remind me of something I would find at my grandmother’s house...and steal. Great alternative to the cheap hardware store version.



High: Keep that man cave smelling nice with this candle in a vintage British Army soap tin, wrapped in camo. (If you don't live near one of their retailers, this one from Barney's will do the trick.)

For The Reader

Low: I’ve followed this blog for several years now and they are working hard to preserve the style and skills of being a true modern day gentlemen. Both these books are a great read: The Art of Manliness and Manvotionals.



Medium: Stock his library with these beautifully designed classic novels by genius designer/typographer Jessica Hische.



High: The debate of iPad versus Kindle could go on forever, but the Kindle Touch is great for the reader who doesn’t want any distractions—just a good story.

For The Foodie

Low: If he is a grill master, he’ll love this meat tenderizer and bottle opener. These are good for any man in your life, dads included.



Medium: You can’t go wrong with bourbon, but take it up a notch and get him these great whiskey rocks.



High: Tired of drinking vodka sodas and beer? Give him this great leather-bound cocktail book (or the less expensive paperback version) from the famous PDT in New York City and you’ll be drinking some of the best cocktails north of the Mason Dixon line.

{Vintage giftwrap image via hmdavid on flickr}

Holiday Gift Ideas: For The Guys #2

{Just a quick reminder that my friend Trae is guest blogging a series of gift ideas for dudes this week. Enjoy! -Liz}

For The Gamer

Low: If your man is into poker or just likes playing the occasional game of "Go Fish," why not let him do it in style? Theory 11 has some high quality cards that would be great for a stocking stuffer. My favorite is the Sentinels deck.



Medium: These things are great for passing the time (way better than the old fashioned twiddling your thumbs) or relieving stress. Perfect desk accessory for the young professional or a creatively inclined dude.



High: All things old are new again. Why play Words With Friends when you can play the original? This version is classy enough for the girl to keep in the house and will stand the test of time. If the price tag is a little much for you, the bookshelf version is just as nice.

Manscaping

Low: When I do have hair (September-May), I use this styling cream recommended to me by my barber at Freemans Barber Shop in NYC (some of the manliest dudes I know). It works great and my wife loves the smell of sage in the morning.




Medium: This is one to keep an eye out for. While the limited edition box is sold out, the subscription to Birchbox Man will soon be available. Another idea for an I.O.U.—it’s going to be great!



High: A straight shave from The Art of Shaving is a great experience to give. Perfect for the guy who has everything or for the guy who doesn’t want anything.

For The Traveller

Low: Again, Liz and I are on the same page, but I decided to butch it up a bit with this manly luggage tag from Colonel Littleton. It's simple and masculine.



Medium: Give the gift of power to your man...and I’m not talking about power tools. I recently started to travel with an extension chord and it's changed my life, but I’ve got my eye on this roll up version from Restoration Hardware. I love being able to charge my camera, phone and computer all at the same time.



High: If your guy is on the road for work or pleasure, he should carry his documentation in style. Let’s face it, the US passport isn’t the most exciting thing to look at, so give him this passport holder from J.Crew to keep your jet setter classy.

{Top image via The Art of Manliness, shaving image via falcon}

Holiday Gift Ideas: For The Guys #1

When I was coming up with ideas for my Holiday Gift Ideas posts, it was pretty obvious that they were skewing feminine. Rather than scraping together the few things I could think of for the dudes, I decided to phone a friend.

So, my friend Trae Watlington will be sharing his gift picks for the rest of the week. Thoughtful, stylish, and one of the nicest guys I know, I knew Trae would come up with some great gift ideas. And, boy, did he ever! I'm so excited to share them with you. Take it away, Trae!

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I know buying gifts for a guy can feel a little intimidating at times, but here are some ideas that should set you up for success with your significant other, boss, friend, and even your dad.

Growing up my brother and I always categorized our Christmas lists by price in order to get the most bang for our buck, so I decided to keep the tradition alive. Each category has a low, medium and high priced option.

For The Adventurer

Low: Liz and I had the same idea, but this is how dudes do hand warmers. Great gift for the non-smoker who has always wanted a Zippo.



Medium: Every guy needs Survivor Kit, whether he admits it or not. This one is great because it has all the essentials, plus you get a great water bottle out of the deal.



High: Who says camping has to be roughing it? These tents are pricy, but chances are you won't run into another camper with the same one. I support Americana, but there are some pretty interesting designs to choose from.



Be sure not to leave your man in the woods without the proper tools. This custom made axe from Best Made Co. looks like Tim "The Tool Man" Taylor and Kate Spade had a child and named him Hatchet.

For The Music Lover

Low: Whether your guy is trying to learn the guitar or he's already a pro, he can appreciate these leather guitar picks. I haven’t tried them myself, but they're supposed to have a richer, warmer tone.




Medium: Get him a year subscription to Spotify Premium (cheaper than that crazy Netflix) so he can listen to the latest and greatest music wherever he wants, on or offline.

High: I can’t leave the house without my iBeats. Walking everywhere in NYC requires a constant soundtrack, and these do the job at a decent price. If you want to really surprise him, give him an I.O.U for the highly anticipated Executive Edition.

Accessories

Low: These are great iPhone cases. Style and function at its best, without the high price tag. My favorite is this NYC one, but the selection is endless.



Medium: Replace that bottle opener key chain of his with this classic. I went to the Pop Up Flea last weekend and saw the guys from Billy Kirk making these by hand. Great quality and timeless design.



High: I have a lot of photographer friends who flipped out when I shared this camera strap. Hold Fast Gear from Tulsa knows how to make a manly product. Check out the Money Maker for those of you that are giving to a professional.

{Guys, that was just the first post. There are two more of these coming. Who else thinks Trae needs his own blog? Let him know in the comments! - Liz}

A Crunchy Valentine

{megan's granola}

My roommate Megan makes legendary granola. I know most people might not think granola can be legendary, but hers is. Think of the perfect oatmeal cookie, rich with butter and sweetened just enough, and then deconstruct it: add dried fruit, your favorite nuts, and chocolate if you're feeling fancy. That's Megan's granola in a crunchy, sweet nutshell.

She made a batch the other day, and the next morning I woke up to this adorably packaged little sample on the counter. It turns out, she made it for a guest post on Herban Flavor. Head over there for the recipe—this girl knows her granola.