The Holiday season is upon us and I know what you are thinking, “What are Lela’s favorite things for Christmas 2008?” I’m sure the questions began in early October as a tiny gnawing sensation in your stomach (or was that the tapeworm?) and it’s now become a full-blown, fingernail-biting fiesta of unbridaled curiosity consuming your every waking hour. Well, suffer no longer, my friends! Because here it is, Lela’s Favorite Things 2008!!!
Favorite gifts for your sassy, teenage sister
Nepali hand-knit stocking cap: $12.95 (http://theanimalrescuesite.com/store)- A cute and goofy looking hat that sends the message “I’m so cool, I can wear earflaps and get away with it.” Which is, of course, the goal of every teenager, right? I mean, right? That wasn’t just me, was it? Anyway, this gift comes with a bonus. For every hat purchased, 14 bowls of food will be donated to an animal shelter or sanctuary, which is sure to win you an additional squeal and a hug.
Recycled rice bag tote: $18.99 (http://www.globalgirlfriend.com/)- These chic and stylish tote bags are made by a women’s coop in Cambodia working to abolish human trafficking. They are beautiful, functional, and purchasing one will support efforts to end sex slavery.
Favorite stocking stuffer
Survival kit in a sardine can: $11.99 (http://thinkgeek.com)- It’s small, it’s thorough, it floats, and it’s got an “energy nugget” in the form of a tootsie roll! If there’s a cooler stocking stuffer out there, I haven’t found it.
Favorite gifts under $10.00
Titanium spork: $8.99 (http://thinkgeek.com)- thinkgeek.com is hilarious and wonderful and always worth browsing. But if you’re too busy, and need a cheap gift for a guy, one that will make almost any man immediately happy, this is it. It seems the powers of titanium and sporkiness combined creates the masculine ideal of silverware. It’s like the Captain Planet of the eating utensils.
Mini pet cactus: $9.99 (http://thinkgeek.com)- So I realize that after shipping this isn’t exactly under $10, but I think these little cacti are really clever, adorably fuzzy-looking, easy to take everywhere, and still very affordable.
Favorite gift for your Mormon neighbor
Vinjus gourmet grapejuice: $14.50 (http://www.grapeseedoil.com/)- They already don’t get to drink wine, why also deny them the pleasure of receiving one of those tall, thin bags with a bottle neck sticking, enticingly, out of the top? This juice is pretty, organic, all natural, and has an interesting and complex flavor that may even rival the fermented stuff.
Favorite gifts for your (cave)man
Swedish firesteel: $15.99 (http://thinkgeek.com)- Pretty early in our lives, we women realize that men have never really “gotten over” the invention of fire. This year, why not give him the gift that keeps on giving? He’ll thank you for it (though possibly in grunts) once his mind has returned from prehistory.
Wild soap bar shaving kit for men: $23.40 (thegreatergreen.com)- I confess I haven’t seen this kit in person, but all the components (wooden bowl, natural brush, sassafras soap and burlap storage bag) look absolutely lovely and classy, the rating is great, and the “wild” in the title may make your hairy man feel a little better about being given this not so subtle hint.
Favorite gift for families
Set card game: $10.99 (http://www.amazon.com/)- This game is awesome. It’s just awesome. And 1 to however-many-people can play it. So even if your family is not so awesome and went to the movies without you, you can still play this fun family game all by your lonesome, with the added benefit that you never have to lose!
Favorite gift for your nerdy, dungeons and dragons playing, cousin Larry
Wizard Paste: $24.95 (http://rawguru.com/)- This “alchemically blended” raw chocolate paste is composed of 21 superfoods making it the ideal snack, be you riding dragons or rolling dice. I won’t say it’s fantastic tasting, but it’s not bad, and when your cousin’s waste deep in the Smarmy Marshes of the Forsaken Forest, do you really think he’ll notice?
Favorite gifts for your classy lady
Leaf pendant w/green sapphire: $90.00 [$175.00 for earrings] (brilliantearth.com)- Jewelry is lovely. Fair-trade, eco-friendly jewelry is heavenly, and surprisingly affordable.
Brilliant Earth Diggers Pendant: $130.00 (brilliantearth.com)- This pendant features the imprint of a miner’s palm and includes a small, sparkly, Canadian diamond. It’s an artful reminder of the exploitation of the African diamond miners, and also that we have the choice to not buy into this violent industry.
Favorite gift for your weird, hippie friend
Yoga sandals: $30.00 (gaiam.com)- You know those cheap-o flip flops that only separate your big toe from the second guy in line? Tell your psychedelic sidekick to toss those one-strap wonders right out the window cuz these puppies have dividers for each and every toe! Gaiam’s yoga sandals are supposed to improve balance, flexibility, and ability to run across streets without suddenly sending a shoes soaring across a busy intersection.
Favorite gifts for the kids in your life
Jamtown Jr. multicultural rhythm pack: $44.95 (http://worldofgood.ebay.com/)- A fantastic gift from an equally fantastic website. This pack includes three fair-trade, gorgeous rhythm instruments made for small hands, a rhythm CD, some instructions cards and a book. You have to look at this if you’re doing any shopping for little ones, and while you’re there, check out the stunning clove boxes. They’re lovely and smell wonderful!
Classic jumprope: $16.00 (http://globalexchangestore.com/)- A lovely twist on a classic toy, this fair-trade jump rope is handmade of wood, vegetables dyes and plant resin. A portion of the profits made goes towards an organization dedicated to supporting and educating impoverished women living in the slums near Madras, India.
Favorite gift for your crazy uncle
Stainless steel table torches with colored-flame oil: $24.99 (http://thinkgeek.com)- Help your uncle’s sci-fi action figures and Princess Leia posters really shine with these stainless steel torches and included lamp oil that burns in color (red, green or orange). If you like the colored flame idea, but are not so keen on making your house look like an alien dungeon, thinkgeek sells tea candles (red, green or purple flamed) with this feature.
Gifts finer than a frog’s hair split three times
Georgia Ice Cream (speckled grits): $3.95
Hushpuppy mix: $5.95
Sorghum syrup: $9.95
Peach syrup w/cinnamon stick: $6.95
(noramill.com)
You might could give some these to anyone with an appreciation for southern food. All of these are really tasty, beautifully packaged, and delightful to receive at Christmas.
Favorite gift for your clingy, overbearing girlfriend or boyfriend
7-day Jungle boogie tour: $492.00 + airfare to Cancun (greentortoise.com)- Give yourself a break and your significant other a chance to get hopelessly lost in the jungles of Mexico. Green Tortoise is a travel company that offers eco-friendly, low-cost tours around North and South America. Can’t afford this trip? GT offers local trips to state and national parks and festivals starting from $99.00.
Favorite gift for your obnoxious roommate who’s always hogging the house phone
Lanka Gift Pack: $15.00 (http://mrelliepooh.com/)- A beautiful, boxed stationary set featuring 8 cards with envelopes, a little matching notebook, and some sheets of writing paper all handmade in Sri Lanka. Want the punchline? All these products are 100% recycled and 75% elephant poop, mostly from orphaned Sri Lankan elephants. To drive your message home, I recommend getting the natural white version of this gift pack, as all products on this feature an oddly adorable picture of the paper’s bodily origin (who knew elephant butts could be so cute?). Seriously though, all the products on this website are wonderful. I think they’re clever and quirky and I’m dying to buy this pack for myself!
Thus concludes this edition of Lela’s Favorites for 2008. I realize I haven’t covered your cat-loving Aunt Margery, or that sort of stinky co-worker that sits across the hall from you, but come on, I can’t make all your decisions for you! Next thing I know you’ll be expecting me to trek over to your house every morning to pick out your clothes and I just don’t have time for that. If none of these gifts quite fit the people you’re shopping for I highly recommend browsing the sites posted after the items on this list as they are all chock full of wonderful and unique gift ideas. Here are a few more sites you may want to check out while you’re at it:
www.intrepidtravel.com– for the serious eco-adventurer
www.goodcleanlove.com– for the amorous
www.beeswaxcandleworks.com– for your sister-in-law
www.starterkitforchange.com– for the reluctant
www.makershed.com– for the well-meaning, but guidance-needing DIYer’s in your life
Happy hunting and Happy Holidays!
Enjoyed this comprehensive list of lela’s favorites. Question: Is titanium safe to eat with? Does it leave a metallic residue on foods? Is this the stuff Superman was allergic to? Is it organic? Do sons-in-law like titanium sporks? Thanks.
It took me a while to get here, I was delayed by the copy & paste since rhinofoot.com was the only link NOT hyperlink’d in your MySpace blog, ha ha
Perdy cool list. Speaking as a man though, that shaving kit is way too much work.
And while it is a very noble cause, does anybody really think handmade rice sacks are going to end sex trafficking? Well, I guess it’s a step towards something.
Titanium is awesome. It is non-toxic and strong. Our bodies don’t absorb it or reject it, which is why I was able to get two posts of titanium in place of teeth.
One son in law is a fan of the titanium spork, and he keeps it in his bag, in case he’s caught without a spoon or fork. (It happens more than you’d think.)
Jon: If you don’t think handmade rice bags will solve sex trafficking, then the terrorists win.