Un-Boring Valentine's Gifts for Men from All Over the Web

Hi, folks!  Jonathan here with a few possibly helpful suggestions for what to get your/a man for Valentine's Day, besides the obvious (insert tasteless-but-true joke here).  The prices on these vary wildly, so you can find ideas whether you're looking to really knock someone's socks off with manly jewelry, or just to tug on the toe of the sock a little with some thoughtful slow-melting ice (but, oddly, there are no socks on the list*).

1. Bespoke Post

A great option, especially for someone whose tastes you're not super-comfortable guessing.  Unlike most subscription boxes, you get to see the contents before ordering, so the gift-to-pleased-recipient ratio is one-to-one. 

*This month's Bespoke Post selection actually is an array of socks.  

2. Aeropress

The smallest, cheapest, best, and most fun coffee maker out there.  The coffee is smooth, the press is easy to clean, and ejecting the “puck” of compressed grounds is as satisfying as the coffee itself.  Well, almost. 

3. Proof Sunglasses

Who knew wooden sunglass frames were lighter than metal?  Maybe everyone but me, but the lightweight comfiness was a pleasant surprise to me.

4. Kaweco Sport Fountain Pen

Class up the joint with this perfect-for-a-pocket fountain pen.  Cartridges eliminate the mess of tradition ink refills/need to learn how to refill a fountain pen.  Available in a variety of materials (plastic, aluminum), and colors, including clear plastic. 

5. Dollar Shave Club Subscription

Is it an offensive stereotype that many men forget to replenish their essentials?  Yes.  Is it a relief to get quality blades delivered without having to remember to reorder them?  …Yes.  Worth the extra couple of bucks to go with the mid-range or upper-level razors (I'm a 4X man, myself).  Also worth the few minutes to watch their insane/hilarious/insanely hilarious commercials.   

6. Large Ice Cube Tray

Less surface area = slower melting = less watered down drinks.  Well known for its benefits in cocktails, the large ice cube is also great in iced coffee. 

7. Marvel Digital Comics Unlimited Subscription

Like Netflix for Marvel Comics, the subscription allows access to tens of thousands of back issues, and updates more than weekly.  If your gift-worthy friend/relative/mate doesn’t mind perpetually being six-to-eight months behind publication, everything Marvel publishes eventually ends up available, and if you’re looking to relive some childhood memories, or catch up on classic stories you may have missed (possibly because you weren’t born yet), a year subscription can pay for itself in a lazy Saturday. 

8. Custom Converse

To add a personal touch to a classic, Converse’s website allows for the creation of a completely customized Chuck.  And if your soon-to-be-grateful recipient is already the owner of, say, six pairs of Chuck Taylor All-Stars, and you can sneak a peek at the size, you can sleep easy that it’ll be a perfect fit. 

9. Edward Mirrell Jewelry

For manly, manly jewelry, there’s nowhere better.  Rings, bracelets, cufflinks, key chains and more feature unusual and manly materials like titanium and cable for a unique and low-key accent piece. 

Un-Boring Valentine's Day Gifts for Ladies from Etsy

I know. Some (probably the most well-adjusted) people don't do Valentine's Day gifts. And to that I say, "Good job!" If you're one of those people, this list can serve as birthday or holiday inspiration. For the rest of you suckers, you better get your shopping done before you run out of time. We've only got two weeks to get this sh*t together. Let's go!

Keep in mind that if I knew which lady we were shopping for here, these choices would be more specifically targeted. Instead, I aimed for that category of things almost all ladies enjoy: pretty.

  

 1. Linen Goldfish Clutch, JCarterHandmade, $49.

2. Chunky Knit Scarf, VitalTemptation, $70.

3. Rose Necklace, SimplyChacha, $18.

4. Blue Tree Swing, HoganTreeSwings, $74.

5. Tote Bag, rougeandwhimsy, $50.

 

 6. Lace Necklace, TopiaryDesigns, $30.

7. Neuron Necklace, NewtonAndTheApple, $44.21.

8. Mend My Black Heart Giclee Print, NanLawson, $10.

9. Dandelion Necklace, Ural Nature, $36.

 

 10. Maple Seed Helicopter Necklace, Honeybee, $50.

And now a few cards from which to choose:

1. I Hate Everyone But You, PageFiftyFive, $4.

2. Larry David, RestlessExpress, $5.

3. I Mustache You to be Mine, duvdesigns, $3.95.

4. I Still Love You, witsicle, $4.

5. Jesse Pinkman, TurtlesSoup, $3.85.

Best Birthday Gift Ever?

I realized that I meant to post this last year, and it was somehow still saved in my drafts. I can be pretty scatterbrained at times. In any case, feast your eyes on this!

Jonathan ordered a custom illustration from Nan Lawson for my birthday! That's us, with our dogs and the quilt I made! We're also wearing our favorite pajamas. I will treasure this forever and ever and ever!

Speaking of gift-giving occasions, it's been a long time since I've done a gift guide... I have ideas, let me tell you. Okay, doing it!

Happy today!

Purge of the Day: Jammies/Lingerie

It seems an appropriate purge for Valentine's Day, no? Ugh. I hate this so much. I attach to jammies and lingerie a weird amount, so it's really hard to let them go, even when they've shrunken and/or were pronounced dead by Cosmo over three years ago. But it had to be done. When I'd go to put on my jammies, there were ones I'd always avoid. You would think after purging pretty consistently for over a year, I'd be able to read the signs, but no.

I've been consoling myself with some replacements from Blackheart. Before you busty ladies get excited, they don't have bigger cup sizes. But they do have adorable jammies, workout clothes, and panties, if you find black lace, skulls, and various other Gothic iconography adorable, which I do.  And I have a Figleaves order that should be finally getting here someday. It will be good to have homes nice and vacant in my drawers for the new stuff. And even if new stuff wasn't forthcoming, keeping things I don't use would be unrealistic, and I've decided to be realistic. No more unfinished projects. No more maybes!

End rant. Happy Valentine's Day! I hope you spend it doing something you love!

Prima Donna's Hawt Geek-Out

Um, so, if you've been reading this blog, you may have guessed that I like-like lingerie. I don't know if I spend enough hours on it in a typical week to classify it as a full-blown hobby... What is the cut-off? Does anyone know? But, yes, we have a storied past, and I believe it knows how I feel.

Now Prima Donna is trying unnecessarily hard to reel me in yet again with their current collection... by naming styles after planets in Star Wars!

Tatooine

Endor

Naboo

And one Lord of the Rings locale:

Edoras

These designs seem to have little to do with their namesakes, but this is the best strategy I've ever seen to get guys to buy bras. (The second best strategy I've seen is the stack of vintage lad mags in the waiting room at Jenette. The third best strategy is convincing him he's a philanderer in an 80s movie.) 

While I can't recommend any of these (yet), I CAN recommend Prima Donna's Madison and Deauville collections with several exclamation points, but you won't find them at the end of this sentence, because I'm telling you about the exclamation points in a very calm and serious tone. They're the kind of bra that's comfy enough to laze around in all day, but when you take your shirt off, it will look like you really tried. That's my favorite kind of thing, generally speaking.