{all images via here}
Gooooooooooooooooooooooooooooood mornin’ and HO-LY pajamas, that’s a good way to start a post. GYAH. Who needs a towel? …Just kidding Mom. Anyhoo – when it comes to buying for boys, listen. I’m not saying I have the key to One-Eyed Willie or anything, but what’s with all the hokey, stereotypical “manly man” gifts I keep seeing this year on gift guides for guys? Wood grain cufflinks (whaaaaaaat?), wine-glasses-inside-a-beer-glass (wait, who?) and every useless object you could possibly imagine in the shape of a gun (why, why why). The list goes on. So, I don’t presume to know exactly what guys want for Christmas, but I’d betcha my left nut it’s not any of those things. So since I wanted to dole out some tried & true, testosterone-approved options, I enlisted the help of a few of my closest buddies to help me edit and round out my list. Visit this site to find the best testosterone booster on the market and get fit now.
1. The BIG GREEN EGG. Also code for a big green wad of cash, so this is definitely an investment. Generally speaking, they run from the $300’s on the low end (for the mini) to almost $1200 on the higher end for the XL Heavy Duty. Apparently, this thing can do anything… slow roast a Thanksgiving Day turkey, smoke a brisket, or sear a steak (temperatures can hold steady at 200 and get above 600). A lot of the hubbub comes from the fact that the shell is ceramic… therefore it holds heat perfectly inside without temperature fluctuations, but even at its highest temp is still cool to the touch outside. My former boss told me it was the best thing he’s ever bought in his entire life.
2. The ART OF SHAVING 4 ELEMENTS OF THE PERFECT SHAVE KIT, $60. When I first saw this, I thought it was one of those hokey gifts rigged to be a default item for holiday shoppers not knowing what to get the men in their life… almost like the boy-version of the Bath & Body Works Sun-Ripened Raspberry gift basket, popular the world over circa 1997. But then, this dapper kit got the unsolicited endorsement of one very sophisticated gent we know. He said that if you have 20 minutes to spend shaving (for a big interview, special occasion, whatever) then it will literally be THE best and smoothest shave you’ve ever had. A little luxury for the boys doesn’t hurt, eh?
3. BILLY REID ‘JACKSON’ SHAWL COLLAR SWEATSHIRT, $195. Kinda casual, kinda woodsy, kinda preppy, and ultra dilf-y. Yeah, I said it. The sweatshirt dresses it down, but the shawl collar dresses it back up a little – so it’s perfect for your family’s Christmas party or for a snazzy dinner on the town. Or, while he chops down a tree in the front yard. So versatile it might as well be an LBD for men.
4. PLAYBOY’S GREATEST COVERS, $24. Selected by Hef himself out of all the covers from 1953 to today, and with a foreword by Pamela Anderson. I’d love to roll my eyes, but I did just say “DILF” up above. Matt calls it “the gift that keeps on giving.” Truth be told, I suppose it’s a pretty cool, historic piece of American pop culture. Did I just say that outloud?? This blog post will self-destruct in 5 seconds.
5. ARC’TERYX THETA SL HYBRID JACKET, $369. The website says, “Lightweight, packable, waterproof GORE-TEX® jacket, designed for emergency storm-protection in inclement weather.” Matt – whose Mom bought him one years back – says, “It’s far better quality than North Face or Columbia, but they’re just a Canadian brand still flying under the radar. And it’s colder up there, so those guys definitely know what they’re doing.” Bahhaha, I’ll take it. And after having walked Gus in it for an hour in frigid weather recently, I say: “Light as a feather but surprisingly keeps you as warm as if you were rolled up in a giant blanket in front of the fire. That thing is money.” BANG.
6. MAPS ROCKS GLASSES, $25 per pair. 11oz each and etched with custom wraparound street maps of the following cities: Seattle, Los Angeles, Boston, South Boston, Atlanta, Austin, Baltimore, Chicago, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Portland OR, San Francisco, and Washington DC. I *also* heard a little rumor that custom locations are available… how cool is that?? And I’m a jerk, because I just checked back and they’re sold out through January. Sorry about that, guys. So maybe it’s something to keep in the think tank for his birthday (?!) I don’t know that these are something a guy would go out and purchase for himself, but he’ll definitely appreciate the understated, minimalist edge you just graced his cabinets & cocktails with.
7. Wait, what’s that in the glass up there?? Could it be FIREBALL CINNAMON WHISKY? Do yourself a favor and pick up a little bottle of this at your local liquor store for your favorite guy. One cold, rainy night in Columbus, we took home a bottle at the suggestion of the cashier on duty when we asked him what would warm us up. We also mixed it with some kind of amber beer that night, which was good, but it’s also delightful just to sip (“SIP” being the operative word) on its own.
PS, If you wanted to get really creative, you could gift him a little package with: a) The Fireball Whisky, b) The Mixers – and here are some recipe suggestions, and c) The set of Rocks glasses. But since they’re currently sold out, a set of my old faithfuls would do the trick… $12.99 for a 12-pack.
8. MICHAEL KORS CASHMERE SCARF, $135. In dark camel or in black. Yum.
9. TICKETS TO SOMETHING AWESOME – a concert (e.g., the Stones are playing in Jersey this weekend!), a sporting event (Bowl game?), or a wheelbarrow race – whatever. Anything he loves.
10. UGG ASCOT SUEDE MOCCASIONS, $110. THESE. ARE. HEAVEN. And I cannot stop buying them for everyone I know. He can wear ’em around the house, or around the corner to Sunday brunch.
11. MANLY-MAN CANDLES: Voluspa’s Suede Blanc (my favorite, $27) and Diptyque’s Feu de Bois (Karrie’s favorite, $60) are two of *THE* best ones out there. One whiff and you’ll be on the bandwagon. This is another something that I doubt they’d buy for themselves, but boys like their houses to smell good & clean, too. And yo – the standard “vanilla”‘s gettin’ a little old, right?
12. WEBER STYLE 6445 STAINLESS 3-PIECE BARBEQUE TOOL SET, $35. How can your pops, brother, grandpa and hubby flip steaks without ’em?
13. WEEKEND SHIRTS – 3/4 Sleeve Raglan Henley, $22 and J.Crew Oxford Buffalo Check Shirt, $75. I own the one on the left, and it is nubby paper-thin perfection. Fits boys better, but I like it to sleep in. Good staple to stock-up on at that price, too.
14. BOSE QUIET COMFORT NOISE-CANCELLING HEADPHONES, $299.95. Since I don’t know diddle about boy-techie-stuff, I had to have Matt weigh-in on these. And his breakdown went something like this: “So, you know how everybody knows Samsung makes the best TV’s? (insert blank stare on my part…) Well Bose makes the best headphones and sound systems. And the noise cancelling ones would be awesome if you’re traveling.”
All I needed to know. Who doesn’t wanna drown out the sound of the screaming toddler next to you on the plane? Or, maybe you got lucky and got seated next to this guy:
15. STOCKING STUFFERS
Cushioned Argyle Socks, Set of 3 in assorted colors, $22 | Mustache Coasters, $10 | Two of *THE* most swoon-worthy men’s colognes on the market – Versace Eau Fraiche and Tom Ford Noir | Homeland Season 1 DVD… aka the best show on television. Stop what you’re doing immediately and start watching it if you haven’t already. | Alexander McQueen skull tie – Karrie’s pick. She says: “There’s a hint of sophistication, and a hint of edge – just like I like my men.” Rawr. | Last but not least… an old-fashioned mixed tape… because making someone a homemade mash-up will never go out of style.
Happy Shopping!!
xoxo,
Steph, Karrie, and our trusty guest-blogger, Matt
