Happy Fourth of July! What better way to accent your outfit and show off your patriotic spirit this Independence Day than with a stylish new handbag. Designed by Julie Feldman and described as an "Americana tootsie roll handbag" (now I'm craving candy) this classic and simple bag is made of distressed leather with two rolled leather handles and zip closure at the top. I love the earthy and worn looking stars and stripes because they're so much less obnoxious than the brightly colored versions, and make the bag that much easier keep using all summer. $490
Sting's wife Trudie put together a few Christmas hampers (well, 100 of them actually) filled with hand-selected items from the couple's country estate in Wiltshire, England and they've become insanely popular. Available in London at Selfridges, the hampers included a variety of organic goodies including a bottle of champagne, a Christmas cake, beetroot chutney, a couple of beeswax candles, and a chocolate coin. There were 9 treats total in the $300 hampers, and they must have be good because they've already sold out -- with "a number" of them going to Sharon Osbourne.
This very simple, very classic looking Life of the Snowman sugar dish could make either the perfect addition to your holiday table or the perfect gift for that friend who loves to cook or hostess but already seems to have everything she needs. Cute and simple, the only complaint I can possible come up with (not that I spend time trying to complain) is that the smooth clear glass design will quickly show every fingerprint and smudge! But what's a few smudges compared to all the adoring compliments? $53
Happy December. Today marks the first in a daily series that will last the month of December, and possibly beyond, highlighting great causes to give funds to. The first part of this month will focus in holiday-themed programs that some charities run. Up first, Oxfam Unwrapped. Oxfam works in 26 countries around the world and sells gift items that symbolically represent their work. The purchase of a gift is not a donation toward a specific program but it help the recipient connect with the projects that Oxfam does around the world. Their biggest ticket donation item is the $10,000 stilt house. Oxfam America builds these homes in flood-prone areas to offer families a place where they can live and adapt to climate change without having to relocate. You don't need to be a big donor to make a big impact. Gifts start at just $18 which can buy a blanket, children's toys and school supplies.
Matthew Buechner of Thames Glass in Newport, Rhode Island has been a glassblower for over 20 years. At Thames Glass he designs all the prototypes and trains a team glassmakers in the art of handcrafted glass. This gift box ornament is just one of the beautiful and delicate ornaments that comes out of the Thames Glass studio. This ruby ornament with gold leaf sells for $44.
One of the ultimate compliments that can be paid to a product is a seal of approval from one of the most influential women alive: Oprah Winfrey. Getting on her "Oprah's Favorite Things" list has got to be a nice feeling and a nice boost for sales -- even for already well-established brands and products. It must be nice for Oprah to have people so interested in sharing her personal preferences in everything from electronics to cupcakes that it warrants a whole show. and (generous spirit that she is) she of course gave all these goodies to one lucky live audience in Macon, Georgia. Oh to be part of that group on that day -- they cleaned up!
Gaudy? Flashy? Over-the-top? These are terms that come to my mind when looking at this Santa made of pure gold, but I'm sure somebody out there has a completely different take. Somebody is going to love this golden Santa so much they'll be willing to dish out almost $2 millions dollars to have it. Or at least that's what a store in Tokyo is hoping, as they've got not just one but two of these beauties going up for sale between December 21st and 25th. And they've even said they're willing to make more if people pre-order them (warning: they take 3 months each to make!).
Tis soon to be the season of gift-giving, which means many the wine bottle will be exchanged for everything from an offering to the host of a dinner party to an all-out Christmas gift to a wine connoisseur. And even if it's just a gift for yourself, maybe as a way to help deflect some of the holiday stresses we're all so familiar with, this Leather Wine Presentation Case from Royce Leather is both a handy and stylish way to indulge.
It's lined with suede, well padded, and features an attractive zip-around design. Available in 3 colors (black, coco, and tan) there's also a two-bottle size available for twice the toting pleasure. $72
Last year Absolut's holiday packaging was all about gold and bling. This year they've gone even flashier with the Absolut Disco. The one-liter Absolut Disco gift pack is built of exactly 1,000 reflecting prisms which serve as a bottle package and can be put into use as a disco ball. The Absolut Disco is a clamshell package that opens to reveal the bottle. The empty gift pack has a loop for hanging.
Halloween is still a few days away but the Christmas ornaments are already out. This one is the Swarovski's 2007 Annual Edition ornament. The snowflake-like crystal piece on a blue satin ribbon has detailed facets that duplicate the Swarovski star that will sit on top of the Rockefeller Center holiday tree. Swarovski will donate $250,000 from sales of this ornament to the Starlight Stabright Children's Foundation, a national, non-profit, charitable organization that is dedicated to making a world of difference for seriously ill children and their families. The ornament sells for $70.
For me the holiday season really starts to hit once November comes and Halloween is over and everything switches to Thanksgiving in a big way. But it seems to be getting an early start this year thanks to Lamborghini launching its collection of Christmas goodies this week. There are bright orange Christmas ornaments inspired by the Gallardo Superleggera, a set of orange candles bearing the Lamborghini shield, and a set of 20 Christmas cards featuring the Lamborghini Reventón. And there's even Lamborghini stuff for the kiddies: coloring books and crayons perfect for stuffing in stockings.
Not to be left out by other department stores, Saks Fifth Avenue has their own version of over-the-top holiday gifts but a portion of the price of each of their gifts are donated to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. The most coveted is the chance to own the first-ever SLR Mercedes-Benz Roadster Convertible. As part of the package you will fly to Monaco for the 2008 Formula One race and take private lessons from the pros at the Circuit Paul Richard Racetrack in Provence, France. The package costs $520,000, $10,000 of which will be donated to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. The rest of the five gifts are a concert experience with Matchbox Twenty ($25,000, $5,000 of which will go to St. Jude's); a vacation experience in Bora Bora with chef Jean Georges Vongerichten which costs $115,000 ($5,000 of which goes to St. Jude's); a weekend in New York City which includes the chance to create a customized ring with jewelry designer Temple St. Clair and formulate your very own fragrances with Bond No. 9 founder Laurice Rahme, dine at Gramercy Tavern and go on a private shopping spree at Saks Fifth Avenue before the store opens which sells for $60,000 ($5,000 of which $5,000 will be donated to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital) and lastly five customized snowglobes to share with family and friends for $3,000 ($1,000 will be donated to St. Jude's).
Looking for a Valentine's Day gift that shows your love without being overtly sappy and borderline corny? Perhaps the heart shaped box chocolates and teddy bears have been done one too many times? Then the Pianegonda Trait D'Union Multi-Strand Heart and Circle Bracelet is a perfect candidate. The sexy sterling silver chain bracelet allows you to show your love and sense of style. It features a snap hook closure and measures at 7.3" in length. Price: $343.
SnoWonder, which I mentioned yesterday, is a powdered plastic polymer that turns to snow instantly when a small amount of water is added to it. I got the opportunity to try it first hand yesterday, only hours after my first mention, and am pleased to say that it is all that it promised to be.
The snow looks and feels very real and is slightly cold, since it maintains the temperature of the water that makes up 99% of the product. The only things that mark it as less- than-natural are the facts that it will not melt and isn't sticky in the least, so packing it down could be a challenge. For home use, however, these are not drawbacks. The "snow" will not ruin floors, carpeting or other surfaces because it retains water and it can easily be brushed off anything that you don't want to see it on. You can even vacuum it up, if necessary, although the water will evaporate (unless it is refreshed, of course) in about two weeks, leaving behind the original plastic powder that can be reused again and again.
It's probably too late to order this online in time for Christmas, but I found my "snow" at a local mall, so keep your eyes out while doing last minute holiday shopping. It adds a great look to any Christmas display!
Hanukkah started a few nights ago, it's a bit late to start picking out menorahs now, but since we've already seen so many amazing ones, I couldn't resist adding in one more for good measure. The Shapes Menorah is composed of nine stand-alone pieces that, when aligned in a traditional order or the order of your choice, will come together as a menorah. The bases are made of polished aluminum and each hold a .5-in. candle. Price: $38.
SnoWonder
