Gift Ideas: Cutting Boards

You can't go wrong with choosing a great cutting (or cheese) board as a housewarming, host, or wedding gift. Here are three places to shop, that in my humble opinion, are a cut above the rest:

Milled Home Good Co. ($40-$70): Constructed by locally fallen maple trees in Michigan and cut and sanded by hand, these cheese boards are finished with a touch of color giving them a fresh and modern feel. I love that these can be displayed on the wall, thanks to a leather cord, when not in use.

AHeirloom ($48): For a more personalized option or for those that appreciate a bit of kitsch, this Brooklyn based shop offers cutting boards in each of the 50 states' shapes. The cutting boards are made in the USA of bamboo. Hawaii would make an interesting cheese display for sure.

Richwood Creations ($48-$56): Operating out of Richwood, West Virginia, Richwood Creations is a not-for-profit wood business "founded...in an effort to create sustainable funding for Young Life Ministries" in their area. I like the laser engraved patterns and the choices of wood (many of the pieces are made from reclaimed lumber) and as well as the different size options. You can read more about this company's mission here.

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Gift Idea: Temporary Tats

I must have missed it but when did temporary tattoos become so hip? And well designed? And not marketed towards kids? I ran across this pretty temporary love tattoo recently and started poking around for more options. Two shops that stood out:  Pepper Ink and Tattly. Tattly has a giant selection (designed by lots of different artists you probably recognize), my favorites being from the typographic group. And if you're looking for a custom name tattoo, Pepper Ink has your back.

Wouldn't these make fun gifts? I'm thinking party favors, stocking stuffers, tucked into thank you notes or just give a few to the friend that's thinking about getting their first tattoo. Just for fun.

Another idea for temporary tattoos? Business cards.
I have six very permanent tattoos. You can see a couple of them peeking out in this photo.

Shop: Fifi Du Vie

Fifi Du Vie's shop description sums it up pretty well, "Simple products made by hand to make you happy." You may recognize the owner, Izabella Dennis' work from her popular Adventurer's print. Check out Fifi Du Vie's new colorful Spring collection - there are lots of fun gift options. Happy Monday friends!

Gift Idea: Handmade Wine Stoppers

walnut and maple wine stoppers ($22) by brighton exchange

quartz and druzy wine stoppers $40 by milk and honey

I feel like you can't go wrong gifting a unique wine stopper. Unless, of course, the recipient doesn't drink wine and then you can go wrong. Very wrong. But you and I are considerate people so we'd never make a mistake like THAT, now would we? Ok, so now that we've cleared that up, how about handmade wine stoppers in natural materials like wood and quartz? These are the kinds of gifts that are convenient enough to stock pile so next time your neighbors invite you over for a dinner party, you come prepared. Bonus points if you bring over a bottle wine too. In fact, if you're coming to my house, forget the cork and just bring the wine. We wouldn't need it anyways. Happy weekend! 

Gift Idea: V-Day fortune cookie

If you're looking for a unique Valentine's Day "card", might I suggest a paper fortune cookie ($3) by imeon design? You choose the color and the "fortune" and your paper cookie arrives in a cute kraft box wrapped in twine all ready to give to your special someone. So sweet.

p.s. Have you noticed the new "Pin It" button that appears when you hover over an image in a post? I'm so excited about that little tweak to the blog and a big thanks to Anna of IHOD for making that happen!

Gift Idea: For the new dog owner

I think this Starter Kit from Wildebeest ($60) is so clever. I can remember being a new dog owner 8 years ago and I was so unprepared when I picked Kya up from the pound (poor thing was drowsy from being spayed and she immediately peed in the living room and then passed out). I adopted her when she was one year old so a kit like this would have been perfect. The kit is available in 7 colors and has everything you need for a long walk- collar, leash, poo bags, poo bag holder, portable bowl, tennis balls and more.

Wildebeest is an eco-friendly shop whose products are 100% "proudly manufactured" in San Francisco. You can read more about this new company here.

Trivets by Fort Standard

I started noticing the trivets people use during this holiday season as I attended many a food based gathering. Random, I know, but true. Trivets are functional, of course, but rarely have I seen one that I like and thought, "I MUST have that trivet." Until now. These stone and leather trivets by Fort Standard are trivet perfection.  They're available in the Fort Standard shop and at The Future Perfect ($80). I'm pretty sure trivets fall under the category of items you want to buy once and not have to buy again, right? I'd be willing to make the commitment with a couple of these. Oh, and if you're looking for another beautiful, functional kitchen tool, might I suggest these Fort Standard bottle openers?

Gift Idea: Calendar Tea Towels

1// zodiac tea towel $22 by hello tenfold 2// 2013 calendar towel $25 by avril loreti 3// calendar year dish towel (set of 3) $32 4// veggie towel $22 by meghan mccrary 5// tomato varieties towel $28 by katherine codega 6// retro aqua tea towel $22 by hello tenfold

The great thing about giving a calendar tea towel, as opposed to a paper calendar, is that there's no pressure on behalf of the receiver to display the calendar. Of course, displaying it is always an option but tea towels are fun because they're functional, right? So why not gift your friendly hostess a tea towel that helps her keep track of time?

Gift Ideas: Ombré blanket for baby

Available in three different colors - pink, blue and grey (for the ultra modern baby) these knitted ombré blankets ($39) keep babies on trend too. Fun, right?

Fall/Winter Must Haves: Knit Hats

1// miss pom pom spot beanie $41.34 2// cross stripe hat $32 3// cashmere hat $68 4// bead dusted beanie $38 5// stripe merino hat $29.50 (on sale) 6//  dotted hat $35 7// winter breeze pom pom hat $19.99 8// moss stitch hat $19.95 9// dash dot wool hat $54 10// earlsfield hat $39.50

Not only are knit caps totally functional and a must-have when walking the dogs in cold weather, but they also make great gifts. #1 is my personal favorite and #3 would make a nice, luxurious gift. Which do you like? Would you give a knit hat as a gift?

Gift Idea: Vintage Cake Servers

I think these charming, dipped vintage cake servers ($60) by Ladies & Gentleman would make a unique gift for the baker/newlywed/vintage collector in your life. The cake servers are available in three colors: white, mint, and charcoal. They vary in patina and are food safe. And now I want a piece of cake...

Gift Ideas: Jewelry for Girls

I do not have a little girl of my own, but I do have a niece and she's turning 8 this year (holy heck, how did that happen?). I'm thinking this might be the year to give her something a little nicer than hair clips and crayons. Perhaps some pearls that are still kid friendly? I really like these new, limited edition necklaces by Bloesem Wears, handmade by Irene Hoofs (details on the creative process and the materials used can be found here), whom you probably already know from her amazing blog. These necklaces are not only kid friendly but they're adult friendly too which might make the actual giving part a little more difficult.
Check out the full selection here. 

Gift Idea: Gift Box for Mother's Day

Gift boxes are a tricky business but I think this gift set from Mignon Kitchen Co. is pretty sweet. It contains dainty handmade earrings by Elephantine, chocolate from Barcelona, and a heart shaped cookie cutter and all for $30. Mignon Kitchen Co. will ship the box to the mum of choice (I think it would be perfect for a new mom) and sign it with your name. Gift giving made easy. Gotta love it.

Gift Ideas: For the gem of a hostess

mineral magnet sets $36 via leif

rablabs bottlestoppers $60 via orange and pear

gem-inspired soap $12 via furbish (seen on design for mankind)

Magnets, bottle-stoppers and soap all of sudden seem a lot more interesting when shaped like a gemstone, don't you think? Pretty and functional. What's not to love?

Gift Ideas: Bespoke Post

Well, here's a fun gift idea for the man in your life- a curated subscription "club" by Bespoke Post. Each month, members receive a "Box of Awesome" with all the the gentlemanly accoutrements they could ever want. Each box is guaranteed to have at least $65 retail value in items and Bespoke Post charges $45. My favorite box of theirs was from last November entitled "Whisky, It’s What’s for Dinner: hand-blown Italian crystal tumblers by Sempli, whisky stones by Sparq, and content written by experts about how to enjoy this sullen & delicious drink." Sounds like my perfect gift (yeah, good luck sharing this one with B)! Read more about how this unique and oh-so-clever service works right here. 

Gift Giving: My Roots Lie Here

The My Roots Lie Here collection was designed by Children Inspire Design to "tell a story of how families come together from all parts of the world." I think these prints are the perfect gift for children (perhaps for a nursery?) and adults alike and I would love one of my own featuring Puerto Rico. Check out the selection here ($40 each).

Gift Giving: Chocolate Editions

Who doesn't love receiving a little chocolate every now and again, especially chocolate that's been created in small, handmade batches like these from Chocolate Editions. The neopolitan bar ($10) is my pick but the salted dark Valentine edition bar ($6) looks pretty yummy as well. Check out the full selection right here.

Shop: Brook Farm Generalstore

Brook Farm General Store is a brick and mortar/online shop based in Brooklyn. This well curated shop includes many items made in the U.S.A. at variety of price points so there's a little something for everyone, including the kiddos. I love these recycled tooth brushes ($10) and this leather and canvas tool bag ($110) that I'd use for overnight trips. So many goodies in this shop! Check it out here.

Gift Ideas: Down and Out Beauty

We all do it; wait until the last minute for holiday shopping. Makeup and skincare make useful and thoughtful last minute gifts. Here's a few ideas to make your shopping experience a bit less stressful.

(1) For your friend that likes nothing better than lounging in the tub, Indigo Wild natural soaps smell delicious and will soothe dry winter skin. This gift set ($62) even includes a sample of their all natural laundry detergent so her clothes can smell just as good as she does.

(2) Dior Homme ($54) is the perfect gift for the single guys in your life because it is like a chick tractor beam. A good friend of mine wears this cologne and has to beat the girls off of him. It has a warm, woodsy scent without any musk

(3) I like these Korres lip sets ($15) for dirty santa, white elephant, teacher gifts, or secret Santa gifts that have a price limit. The color of these lip butters is amazing. Its opaque with a creamy gloss and it feels like the most emollient lip balm.

(4) For your makeup maven bestie I love these eye enhancing palettes ($42) from Smashbox. Its a very personalized gift and you can't go wrong with the color choices as they are selected to enhance specific eye colors.

(5) I adore the packaging for this Butter London nail duo ($25)! We all have that one friend whose favorite color is sparkles! This would be perfect for her.

(6) Philosophy makes quality crowd pleasing scents that are a gift no-brainer. This set ($49.50) would be amazing for your mother, mother in law, grandmother, aunts, or anyone put off by over powering perfumes. The scent is very clean but also feminine and lovely. 

(7) My nieces are obsessed with makeup so I always include some inexpensive "big girl" makeup for them to destroy, along with their Christmas gifts. ELF makes super cheap palettes ($10) with all the fun colors for them to play.

Happy Holidays everyone!
-Layne
Layne is a licensed aesthetician and makeup artist working at Urban Sanctuary in Athens, GA. She writes the bi-weekly column, Down and Out Beauty.

Gift Ideas: For your color loving BFF

canvas and leather clutches in two different sizes by velle $28-$40

valise leather journals $28 via anthro

cocktail rings (choose from gin, mint julep, martini, or manhattan) $78 via kate spade

scotch naturals cocktail trio (you choose the three colors) $48.99

three rivers necklace $68 by minoux

velvet pintuck pillow $34 via uo

sampler pack including 8 hair ties and 2 headbands $19.60 via mane message

knit stocking hats $48 by annie larson

Pantone has announced tangerine tango as the 2012 color of the year. The limited edition mug is available for $25.

Happy Monday! How's your holiday shopping going? We've been working hard to check off our list and we're almost done. Whew! So how about that color loving friend in your life? Perhaps one of these under $100 items fits the bill?

p.s. what do you think about Pantone's color choice for 2012? I love it!