Gift Guide: Stockings

Stockings are probably still my favourite part of Christmas presents.  In my family we like to make stockings something extra and exciting. It is the place for the random little things you would never otherwise get (like a vintage porcelain bear) but will adore.  Here are some of the things I'm hoping to slip into stockings and find in mine.

Remember Felted Soap, $13?  It was floating around one of my favourite stores a few years ago and I love how thick and foamy and lovely the suds get.  I'm thinking I might even have a crack at making some and if I run out of time, there is an abundance on etsy.

Porcelain Bear, $10 - When I was a little girl I collected the Hagen Renaker animals sold at the zoo gift shop in Syracuse, NY.  I recently rediscovered them and would love a bear or fox or rabbit or badger to add to my collection.

These temporary Tattly Tattoos, $15, would be perfect in everyone's stocking, regardless of gender or age.

Chocolate Espresso Beans are such a quintessential stocking treat in my mind and they'd be perfect for all of the students in my life who might need the boost when they go back to school in January.

I love these Guest Tooth Brushes, $13, because they are gorgeous.  I don't care if they don't work, they are beautiful.

The packaging of the Caru Skin Care Bars, $7.95, is lovely and I hear they are amazing.  Perfect for both genders and all ages.

My aunt exposed me to the loveliness that is Dragon Fly Earl Grey Rooibos, $7.41.  It has to be ordered from the UK and so it's a bit of a treat for me here but it's so exceptionally delicious that Christmas is the perfect time to get some (hint, hint, Mum).

In the same vein as the tea, British Candies are the best in the universe.  Don't talk to me about your Hershey bar.  My two favourites are among the most difficult to find here but a Crunchie Bar or chocolate Smarties taste like the very best day.

I'm the oldest of five McIntosh-Burke children and I call all the younger siblings 'the bunnies' because they are so cute, and sweet and patient when I snuggle them against their will (especially my brother).  Boiled eggs in egg cups with toast soldiers and a cup of tea is the breakfast of champions and I think that the bunnies might like to have theirs with an eggcup portrait of themselves.  Rabbit Egg Cup, $3.95

Is there anyone alive who doesn't like Legos? There is something so satisfying about sitting at the kitchen table on Christmas listening to David Sedaris read The Santaland Diaries and putting together some small project and this LEGO Architecture Empire State Building, $17.99, would be just the thing.  Plus it would be cool on your desk when you return to work in the dreariness that is January.

Gift Guide: Brothers and Boyfriends

Two of my favourite people on my Christmas list are my brother, Andrew, and my husband, David.  My brother is graduating from college in the spring and David is in the middle of his second year of law school so they are both in the grips of academic joy and deserve a Christmas holiday and lots of lovely pressies.

1.  My brother is a super stylish dude.  He always walks out of Goodwill with three vintage men's shirts in various amazing plaids and a perfect Aran sweater.  I would love to get him this gorgeous J. Crew Sweater, $74.50.

2. Anything Bill Murray has ever done is hailed by Dave as being the GREATEST thing and I think this Bill Murray Pillow, $20, is hilarious.  

3.  An hour from my parents' house is the most delectable bakery and within the bakery is the Shepherdstown Sweet Shop German Stollen, $26.  Stuffed with marzipan and dusted in sugar, the stollen is unreasonably good.  I can only imagine the luxury of having one all to your self.  They keep for weeks but they won't last more than a couple of days because no one can resist the deliciousness.  The.  Best.

4.  Last Christmas, David got me a vintage pennant from my alma mater and I've been on the prowl for one for my brother.  There aren't any on ebay right now for his school but there are plenty for our city and others that are meaningful to him (this one is $9 on ebay).

5.  Our schnauzer Roger is David's first pet and Dave adores him beyond everything.  He would love this Dog Mug, $15.29, for his first cup of coffee of the day, the one that has to be consumed with Rog in lap, paper in hand.

6. My brother is not much for liquor but as he approaches the job market this spring and tries to figure out what the hell he's doing with his life, he might need a drop or two from this TO HELL WITH WORK Flask, $23.

7. Harry's Winston Set, $15 - My husband and brother and dad are already on the Harry's bandwagon.  Started by one of the founders of Warby Parker, the razors are stylish and shaving cream smells amazing.

8.  Our first Christmas together I bought David a map of Maryland from ebay.  I think it cost me about eight bucks and he loved it.  I love getting vintage maps from the guy at Eastern Market or from ebay.  They cost so little and when framed they make a huge impact. 

9.  David and I love Le Pain Quotidien so much.  Their Tuscan white bean salad?  Too delicious. They have come out with Le Pain Quotidien Book, $25, and I feel like everyone needs it.  Gorgeous photos, gorgeous food, good reason to cook for me.

Gift Guide: Sisters, Biddies and Friends

I have the greatest of women in my life.  Three sisters and a core group of fantastic women friends.  They are loud and sassy and hilarious and they are my favourite people to spend time with and shop for.  This year I'm loving: 

1.  Going Clear and Pilgrims Wilderness - I read both of these this fall and devoured them.  They are about the darker side of American life but my girls are a hardy lot and I think my friend the teacher, always down for a bit of creepy Americana, would love them both.

2.  I love these little Minimergency® Kits.  I saw them recently and at $13 each I'd love to get them for all of my sisters, shoved down in the toe of stockings, right next to the orange.

3.  This Badger Jumper, $35.58, from Asos is one of my favourite things for sale anywhere this winter.  Perfect for my sister, the teacher, who dresses to amuse her students and herself and who's always cold.

4. The Black Geode Druzy Necklace, $95.00, is so edgy and cool.  Perfect for my sister the costume designer (I've got a lot of sisters) to wear in Dallas, perfect with the pink measuring tape she wears around her neck.

5.  My littlest sister is a senior in high school and has just started getting interested in real jewelry.  This Bumble Bee Bracelet, $15.95, would be lovely piled up with a bunch of other bangles on her wee wrist.

6.  The best friend from high school just got engaged and is planning a gorgeous spring wedding (I'm hat shopping, more on the hats later) and I'd love to get her these gorgeous agate coasters for her new married house.  At $18.95 they are loads cheaper than all the other agate coasters around.

7.  Ever since I saw these Whale Best Friends necklaces, $40, in the spring I've been looking forward to giving one to my main biddy, maid of honor, college roommate and all around favourite.  She needs to know she is my whale best, and I am her whale friend.

8. For my friend and her enormous, very loved, black, shaggy dog, I'd love to get one of these amazing Billy Wolf Porter Wool Coats, $60.  They are made in the US of vintage and discontinued fabric and they are so beautiful and soft.  She's super stylish and her dog deserves some good accessories.

Gift Guide: Littles

This week I'm doing gift guides.  Everyone does them but I love reading them and putting them together so I'm throwing my two cents out there.  We're starting out today with Littles:  children, nieces, nephews and godchildren.   I am generally the mean aunt/friend/godmother who gives books but I also love things that kids can do, read and make. Little and big things and one shameless plug.

1. Little Train, $4.25 - I love this little train in a stocking with some simple paints and brushes. 

2. Like I said, mostly I give books. Some of my favourites when I was small and now to give are the Katie Morag books (about a sassy Scottish girl in the Highlands) and the always wonderful In the Night Kitchen  (it's amazing how many kids I know have never read it and everyone should be able to shout "I'm in the milk and the milk's in me!" randomly).

3. To go with your book I LOVE a Custom Bookplate, $16.50 and my nieces, both ten and both voracious readers, might need some of these gorgeous ones. Fabulous for all ages.

4. Another thing for the slightly bigger Littles is this lovely Monticello Children's Garden Kit, $18.  The book covers how to grow your seeds and care for them as well as a bit about the gardens at Monticello and includes Love-in-the-Mist, Nasturtiums, Johnny-jump-ups, Calendulas, Scarlet Runner Beans, Bachelor's Buttons, Sweet Basil, and Globe Artichokes seeds.  

5. I love this vintage children's Tool Kit, $20, with actual tools for slightly older children. Lowe's also has one the same price with a saw (which might be a good or bad thing).

6. These Wooden Deer Family Figures, $24, are so beautiful and wintery.  I think they would be beautiful on a mantelpiece but are sturdy and wooden and good for little hands to play.

7. When I was a little girl I loved to have grown up things. This Hard Bound Sketch Book, $3.09 would have been just the thing, as good for children's drawings as it is for  adults.  For the very little on my list I'll add these Crayon Rocks, from $4.75 and for the bigger kids some coloured pencils.

8. And a shameless plug for Ellen Rabbit, $40.  It's my blog so I can.  She's lovely and soft and squishy and her arms are bendy and she wears a smart red coat and was named after my baby sister.