Skip to Content

gift ideas

Gizmobies Protect Your PDA in Style

Filed under: Gadgets, Services

Gizmobies Protect Your PDA in StyleWhenever I get a new cell phone, I obsess over protecting it from every scratch, but after fruitless shopping for a case that's not too bulky or too expensive or too blah, I usually just give in to the basic black leather case. Yawn. Now that I'm finally ready to join the modern era and get myself a BlackBerry, I started noticing all the cases for those and discovered ... Gizmobies. Forgive my excitement, but now NYC area residents can buy these at the Gizmobies store in Midtown or via its online store (more below).

Made of a thin yet durable gel-like material, Gizmobies provide superior padded protection, come in tons of colors and patterns, and are thin enough that your phone or PDA slips in and out of your pocket or purse easily, yet provide a great grip so that your device won't fall off a table or your lap. You can easily change skins without any trouble at all -- they peel right off, and don't leave any residue.

I recently chatted with Andrea Balkin, who owns the New York area Gizmobies franchise, and here's what I learned: Gizmobies were started about three years ago by a successful technology start-up team with the goal of inventing a product that allowed iPod and cell phone owners to customize and protect their device but keep it pocketable and enhance its aesthetics without adding bulk or weight.

Andrea noted, "I purchased a Gizmobie for my iPhone 1G at the beginning of 2009 and fell in love with the fact that my phone, my most used possession, now felt great in my hand, looked really cool, and had excellent protection! No more ugly bright pink rubber case, which got stuck in my pocket, collected dirt in it, and looked so very pedestrian.

"I loved my Gizmobie so much that I wanted to get another one, but found that there was no place on the East Coast to purchase them. A budding entrepreneur myself, I knew that Gizmobies would be an instant hit out east -- especially in the iPhone Apple mecca of Manhattan!" And so ...

If you're in the NYC metro area, you should stop by Andrea's kiosk in the Manhattan Mall, on 6th Avenue at West 33rd Street. It features more than 130 designs, with new ones arriving regularly, for most BlackBerry phones, Nintendo DSi and Lite gaming systems, Nokia N97 mobile phone, and the Apple suite of devices; iPhone, iTouch, iPod, and Nano ($20-$25). Gizmobies for laptops are due out before the Christmas holidays.

Gizmobies offer a lifetime guarantee that allows the customer to mail the product back to the company's headquarters in Las Vegas if anything should happen to the product. Gizmobies are made in the USA.

Check out the gallery for examples of the array of patterns available, and how Gizmobies look on some popular devices.

Fluid Forms Custom Made Streets Clock

Filed under: Timepieces / Watches, Holiday Guides


This custom clock would certainly make a good gift. Why? Well for one anything that is "custom" implies that you inserted that appreciated degree of personal touch. Which instantly makes a gift emotional and unique. At the same time it is functional. I mean who doesn't have space for just one more wall clock. Then, you can make the clock sentimental to the recipient, by choosing a city streets map that means something to them. Whether it is of a city live in, a city they miss, or where they were from. All good choices.

Fluid Forms is a site where you can get all sorts of custom made things, and this clock is one of them. I am not totally sure how it works, but you choose not only the city, but the proper segment of the map that you want to have as the backdrop to the clock. You then choose the material (wood or acrylic), one of many colors available. About $181 later (plus shipping) you can get the clock. It is made in Austria, and the quartz movement is apparently German. Designer John Briscella will go over the final design in detail with you before it gets made.

Learn more or get one at Fluid Forms here.

Ariel Adams publishes the luxury watch review site aBlogtoRead.com.

Luxury Gift Ideas From The Oprah Store

Filed under: Decor, Jewelry, Celebrity Shopping, Big Givers

In an "of course she does, and I can't believe I didn't know this sooner" moment, I discovered that Oprah has an online store as well as a real one in Chicago. There are indeed some nice items in the Luxury Gift Ideas section that weren't too expensive (but, alas, weren't too original, either). Some go to help a good cause, however, like the Beaded O Bracelets, handcrafted of glass beads by women in Rwanda. Check out the gallery for some other gift ideas from a woman who knows how to gift.

La Perla Holiday Song Collection

Filed under: Apparel, Holiday Guides

La Perla Holiday Collection
La Perla has come through with one of the finest holiday collections we've seen in years.

Above, you see a delicious pile of some of the items from the Holiday Song Collection:
  • a scalloped lace pushup bra for $289
  • a stretch lace panty with "flirty scalloped hem" for $168
  • a silk lace-up slip with lace detail and adjustable straps for $489
Each of the items, along with the rest of the Holiday Song Collection in tasteful, lovely colors, is available for purchase from their website, LaPerlaUSA.com, or click here to locate a store near you. All pieces are displayed in artful little heaps, as above.

$25,000 Bob Dylan Harmonicas

Filed under: Art, Holiday Guides, Men's Style

Bob Dylan Hand-Signed Harmonicas$25,000 may sound like a hefty price for a couple of harmonicas, but not when those harmonicas have been touched by Bob Dylan himself!

In a way, this is your chance to sort-of-almost kiss Bob Dylan. In case you wanted to do that.

Hohner is the manufacturer of these luxury harmonicas. They've been making musical instruments for 151 years, so these harmonicas are definitely not just for show; they are top of the line "blues harps." Hohner claims to have had a "special relationship" with Dylan over the years.

$25,000 will get you a set of five harmonicas hand-signed by Bob Dylan, or you can purchase an individual one (still comes in a nice box) for $5,000. These are, naturally, limited edition, and may sell out before the holiday.

The Hohner Bob Dylan Marine Band Harmonicas are available only from Sam Ash.

[via Sam Ash Music - thanks, reader Ben, for the tip!]

The Surefire Pen

Filed under: Writing Instruments


Here we have a pen for those who want a writing instrument that's top notch but still masculine and, most importantly, durable and functional enough for regular use. It's the SureFire Pen, from SureFire (of course), and among its list of features you'll find that it has a sleek, aerospace-grade aluminum body, a "virtually indestructible" stainless steel tip, and a tail cap that's designed to function as a window-breaker in an emergency. And how does it write? The SureFire pen is fully adjustable to accommodate almost any of your favorite ink cartridges, but to make things even easier it comes standard with its own easy flow cartridge featuring high-performance Schmidt® Technology.

A perfect gift for that hard-to-buy for guy on your holiday shopping list! $125

Via acquire

Donna Wilson Creatures are Cute and a Little Creepy

Filed under: Children


Cute? Yes. Cuddly? Yes. A little bizarre and screwy looking? Yes.

That's how I describe these stuffed animals from Donna Wilson, the collection being called simply "Donna Wilson Creatures." And 'creatures' is really the only way to describe this eclectic mix of plush creations which includes a snail named Stick, a dog named Oscar, and several mystery creatures named things like Stripey Head, Peeping Tom, and Angry Ginger. They look hand-drawn and unique, which I love, but most of them also have eyes that sit way too far apart, which I don't like (makes them look like they're missing a chromosome or something). Prices range from $84 to $164 each.

Smythson Watch Cabinet, Stylish and Sneaky

Filed under: Men's Style

It's red, white and blue ... and pigskin leather. It's a Watch and Accessory Cabinet that's coming out this fall (next month) as part of the latest men's collection from Smythson. It features compartments of all shapes and sizes, perfect for storing watches and all kinds of other goodies, plus a perpetual motion watch rocker/winder that pulls out to reveal a secret storage space in the back. The interior is decorated in bright blocks of white alternating with primary colors, while the exterior is simple and classic in black pigskin leather. Get yours (or start your Christmas shopping early) next month for $6,475.

Handpresso, Make Your Own Espresso on the Go

Filed under: Dining, Gadgets

The name might not be particularly sophisticated but the idea is a fun one: portable espresso whenever and wherever you want it. No need to rough it the next time you go camping! Well, not in the hot beverage department anyway.

The Handpresso works by using your own personal manpower to create the necessary pressure by pumping the handle, after which the machine produces one shot of espresso. And according to our sister site Slashfood's product review, the espresso isn't half bad.

For me part of the fun of camping is drinking something different, like coffee made in a steel pan over the fire, and laughing about how bad it is. But then I can't remember the last time I actually went camping so maybe there's something to bringing a little bit of home out with you to the wilds. $155

Via Shiny Shiny

Cocoa Gourmet Chocolate Jewels

Filed under: Dining, Jewelry


The blog Jewelry Insider hit upon a great item that combines jewels and chocolate -- perfection! A Swiss chocolate company, Cocoa Gourmet, has created what its calls its "Royal Collection," which features 12 chocolates made with safe-to-eat gold or silver, or sprinkled with diamonds. Priced at $1,250, the collection has four 22-carat gold chocolates, four pure silver chocolates and four sweet diamond pieces. There's also a $520 Gemstone Collection. Lovely, and an unusual gift idea, but I'm not convinced that ingesting metal is such a hot idea, though I guess if you have dental work you're ingesting it all the time ... Order here, if you're braver than I. Free worldwide shipping!

The Animal Rescue Site, Charity of the Day

Filed under: Charity, Charity of the Day

The Animal Rescue Site has harnessed the immense power of the Internet and put it to use for a good cause. The site features a button that visitors can click as many times as they want to provide much needed food to the millions of animals in shelters across the US. The food is payed for by sponsors that advertise on the site, and it's distributed by volunteers. So, next time you're bored at work... click away! Like most charities The Animal Rescue Site has an online gift store, except this one is more like and online gift mall, I was blown away by how much cool stuff they have (jewelry, cute clothing, home and garden supplies and pet accessories and much more), I put the shopping link in my favorites, I will definitely check back next time I'm buying a gift! If you're going to be shopping online it feels good to know you aren't just fueling the mass consumerism lifestyle, when a portion of the money goes to a good cause it makes shopping so much more enjoyable! Plus I can justify spending more knowing the proceeds go to animals!

Nars Candles

Filed under: Decor, Cosmetics and Fragrance

You might be familiar with Francois Nars for his makeup line but Nars also has created a line of candles. The candles are simply packaged in red, white or black glass with the Nars logo and burn for 70 hours. The latest scent is Jaipur, a citrus blend with notes of pomegranate and light florals and a warm base of amber and vanilla. The candle is red wax in a red glass making it holiday friendly without the heavy pine or cinnamon scents that too often dominate holiday-themed candles. It sells for $45.

Volupsa Six-Candle Gift Set

Filed under: Decor, Cosmetics and Fragrance

voluspaNow that the cool weather is upon us, it's time to bring out the candles. Voluspa has a set of six candles in a golden box that would be great as a hostess gift for upcoming holiday parties. The six candles use exotic scents: linden blond tabac, cocoa tamarind, mimosa martini, enfluerage, jasmine brown sugar and mignonette. Each candle burns for 25 hours and the set can be found for $36 online.

Neiman Marcus Fashion Fortune Cookies

Filed under: Dining

Still getting your shopping done? Neiman Marcus can help. They are offering upgraded shipping and can get your presents to you in time for Christmas as long as you order by noon tomorrow CST and spend more than $150. We like these fashion fortune cookies which namedrop brands like Baccarat, Roberto Cavalli, DKNY, Fabergé  and, of course, Neiman Marcus. A container of two dozen cookies sells for $30 and would make adorable party favors.

Featured Galleries

Aperion SLIMstage30 Speaker System
Fortis Spaceleader Volkswagen Design White Watch
Gustafsson & Sjogren Stockholm watches
Sensai Summer Skin Care and Makeup Must-Haves
Four Season Provence
Casa Noble Tequila
Turks & Caicos Style
Ulysse Nardin Lady Diver Watch New Colors
Vacheron Constantin Historiques Aronde 1954 Watch