San Diego Unseen: An Urban Portrait
What is that cat thinking?
This year, I can confidently say that I've found something for everyone on your list.
For Your Loving Grandma
I picked up one of these Grandma Journals for my daughter’s Grandma—they make them for Grandpas, too. Essentially it’s a questionnaire in a pretty package, but who doesn’t like to talk (or write) about themselves? I do! I truly think this is the Grandma Gift of the Year. Oh, and as a side note, Paper Source carries Edward Gorey’s Tarot Cards (The Fantod Pack), also an awesome gift. But probably not for Grandma.
For Your Down-to-Earth Gramps
This is how I want to imagine your Grandpa (mine is dead, so I have to imagine yours)—he’s robustly chopping wood, then digging a big hole for that pine tree he’s a-planting. He’s taken a short break to eat some tomato soup out of his faded green Stanley thermos and then he builds a roaring fire. After truly enjoying all those activities, he’s settling down by that fire with a good book. But wait! What's missing? A rugged-looking throw over his lap to keep him warm! The Woolrich Civil War Cavalry Blanket makes my eyes tear up, just a bit.
I interrupt this blog post to tell you about something else I want this year: The 10-key USB calculator. I have been looking for one of these forever and here it is all design-y and it even makes the comforting clicks I’m so used to on a 10-key. If you have an accountant or bookkeeping cousin who's also on Macs (a rare combo, for sure) this is the perfect gift for them.
For Your Mom, the Cat Lady
It’s a cabin, for her cat(s). And it’s Canadian. It’s called the Corrugated Cardboard Canadian Cat Cabin and the kids can decorate it with markers and stickers and the cats can go inside and your Mom, the Cat Lady, can ooh and ahh at how clever and funny it is.
For Your Stoic Dad
Here are two things Dads usually like: puzzles and the NY Times. Combine his two passions (OK maybe that’s a strong word for love of a puzzle) into one gift—The NY Times Puzzle. But here's the ingenious catch—you can select the date of the paper you want put into a puzzle! Your birthday? His wedding day? The day he lost all his money in that Ponzi scheme? The possibilities are endless.
For Your Germa-phobe Brother-in-Law
I’m not sure about the validity of the science of this product. I make no claims. But when I start to think about the germs that are probably crawling insidiously all over my toothbrush, I want to whole-heartedly put my faith into the technology. Talking about the Vio Toothbrush Sanitizer and they come in cute rainbow-adorned panda shapes or industrial chrome mega sizes.
For Your Nervous, Paranoid Sister-in-Law
This is what the Bodyguard 7 does: breaks glass, cuts seat belts, sounds an emergency alarm and projects an LED light. It can also glow in the dark, tell you the temperature and check your tires. And it fits in a purse!
For Your Sensitive Niece
Get her a Manatee. Or rather, adopt one for her. And if she’s under the age of 9, there will be tears of joy.
For Your Kooky Little Sis
She’s crazy, always flitting around the world and trying new things. It makes perfect sense, really—what she needs this holiday season is a Glockenspiel, handmade in Sweden.
For Your Slightly Less Kooky Younger Brother
Let’s keep the Swedish theme going. The Fjallraven Backpacks (it means "arctic fox") were initially created for children, but pay no mind—these have a high hipster quotient and are genuinely cool (and large enough for an adult). Very industrial-looking with their square shape, they come in a bunch of colors and have that big Swedish patch on the front.
For Your Competitive Older Brother
Who can jump rope the longest? C’mon who? OK, maybe that isn’t a question that's been asked in your household, but it should be! Get your brother’s motor running with an Olympic Jump Rope. You can pick the size—there's a chart that tells you which is right for his height.
For Your Zen Older Sister
She doesn’t need no stinking yoga studio to work out; your sister can downward dog anywhere. At least now she can with Yoga Paws—grippy gloves and feet sleeves that eliminate the need for a mat, sort of.
For Your Drunk Uncle
You could get him booze, but that’s just obviously enabling. Instead, go for the present that winks at his addiction but actually subversively slows him down. Ice! There are a ton of great ice-cube trays, but my favorite is the Ice Orb, which takes up less space in the freezer and makes cute tiny round balls of the cold stuff.
For Your Lapsed Jew BFF
Two words: Jewish Rosary.
