House Beautiful

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Gift Guide: For the Guys

I’m going to get put on the naughty list for saying so, but every year, I look at the gift guides out there for dudes, and every year I scratch my head and wonder: Cufflinks in the shape of guns… hokey plaid everything… and things like soap that smells like charcoal.  Are those really what the guys we love want from Santa? Maybe they do…  What do I know?  I’m a chick, and I love doilies and things that are sparkly. So to make sure this list is on point for you guys, I enlisted the help of a few of my most discerning guy friends – the ones who have impeccable taste in everything, so nearly every gift idea below has been taken for a spin and gotten a serious stamp of approval.  Here goes!

1. Donegal Wool Cable Cardigan – Matt cannot get enough of these.  Nor can I. DILF sweaters (did I say that out loud?) like this one make *every* guy look a little more handsome.  I picture the men who wear them rocking cooing babies by the fire, sipping coffee at the kitchen table, or chopping wood in the front yard. Classic cold weather staple for any guy.

2. Bowl Tickets – Enter the Holy Grail of Christmas Gifts for Guys…  especially if they’re lunatics about college football like someone I know, who galloped around the room 18 times screaming last Saturday when Auburn turned Ray Finkle’s missed field goal into touchdown and history-making gold.  Even I shed a single tear.

3. Kiehl’s Facial Fuel Energizing Scrub – Matt loves using this to slough off dead skin in between shaves.  It’s also apparently “tingly and clean and smells really good.”

4. Moscow Mule Copper Mugs – I dare you to show me a guy who doesn’t wanna drink that delicious vodka / lime juice / ginger beer concoction out of these.

5. Go Pro – These are hi-def (1080p), waterproof, have built-in Wi Fi and are straight up AMAZING.  And at under $200, I feel like I’m straight up stealing. If you’re not familiar with GoPro, check out this YouTube video.

6. Marled Socks – Great for wearing under boots, or just lounging around the house.

7. Lululemon Post Gravity Pant – Buy these for him, then steal them every Saturday morning.  Everybody wins!

8. McLerran Leather & Flannel Boot – Matt got these earlier this fall, and they look KILLER with everything.  Classic with handsome details and a little edge.

9. Clary Sage Candle – you wouldn’t *normally* think to buy candles for the fellas, but this one is earthy and clean.  Email info@nathanturner.com to purchase.

10. Fit Bit – Definitely stuff yourself silly this Christmas, then after January 1st, wear this all day & all night to track your steps, distance, calories consumed, calories burned, etc.

11. Forage Haberdashery Handkerchiefs – or pocket squares…  whatever.  Here it is from the horse’s mouth:  “I wear my pocket square with my suit after I’ve taken my tie off but still have to meet clients out for dinners. It’s a little more dressed-down, but still kind of a classic cool look.”  Personally, I dig that there’s an old school, dapper, gentlemanly quality to them.  I loved the ones pictured from Nathan Turner‘s shop in LA. Email info@nathanturner.com to purchase.

12. Eco Heather 3/4 Sleeve Raglan Shirt – insanely comfortable (Matt and I both own one) and look H-O-T on dudes.  This one comes in a GREAT color combo and is on sale for $20.  BANG.

…Need more ideas?  Last year’s list is still full of solid picks…  especially the Big Green Egg, Ugg slippers, the Arcteryx jacket, and the Maps Rocks Glasses.

Happy Shopping!

Holiday Staycation

THIS is what it looked like in Columbus for the long 4th of July weekend.  Mmm hmm.

Which meant no basking by the pool (sniff)…  no sunny BBQ’s (double sniff)…  no fireworks (who wants to post-up 3 hours early in the rain?)… and no sunkissed tans (sigh).  But alas…  we made of the best of it shopping, cooking, eating and partying our way through the 4th.  Here she blows in pics (!)  Good recs ahead…

SCORED THIS GEM

at the local Goodwill for $3.99.  Have you scoured yours lately?

MENTALLY REDESIGNED THE BEDROOM

FABRIC SHOPPED

at Calico Corners with my new Fairy Godmother (what up, Sandra!)… and loved Swaying Palms Aloe (left) and Vari (right).

DELIBERATED ON WHERE TO USE SAID FABRIC…

…perhaps the swaying palms print as throw pillows on our all-white bed (???)  Or better yet, on me, Rose & Blanche’s Lanai.

FOUND THIS AT CALICO ONLINE WHEN I GOT HOME

and would absolutely d-i-e to make long, dreamy drapes out of it.  $100/yard is steep though when you need a whopping 10 yards.  That’s a flight to Europe, yo.

HIT UP A HOUSE PARTY

on Wednesday night and Snoopy-McSnapped a pic of this VERY cool wedding invite on the host’s fridge.  Unconventional but super fun and super sweet.

RAINY-DAY-SHOPPED

at Easton with my main squeeze and stumbled on these steals:

Petal Cutout Tee – $78 | H&M skinny jeans – $39.95 | Tracy Reese heels ($64 and sold out)

Perfect Summer Wedges at Aldo – $70

Anthro top by Lil – $23 (similar to shown here) | H&M Skinnies in Black – $29 and SUPER SLIMMING/AMAZING – go get them NOW, in umpteen colors | H&M Grey Denim Button-Up on Hot & Sleepy Arm Candy Matt – $29.  It’s this one, but in the store they have it in grey.

Mila Cap Toe Leather Ballet Flats – got mine on crazy 4th of July super sale for about $30

UNWOUND POST-SHOPPING WITH A STIFF CUCUMBER GIMLET

at local hotspot Ocean Club.  This place is my *official* Columbus fave.  Requested the live jazz man play “You Are the Sun” (Lionel Richie) and then sang along WAY, way too loudly from our perch at the bar.  #whoops

(Appetizer recs: Surf & Turf with Scallops + Short Ribs, Goat Cheese Ravioli, and by all means, Oysters on the Half Shell.  Best Oysters I’ve ever had, and that is no lie.)

NURSED GIMLET HANGOVER WITH HOMEMADE MINI-QUICHES

Loose recipe: chop up whatever veggies you have handy (I did sun dried tomatoes, zucchini and spinach) into a ramekin…  whisk together 2 eggs, a splash of 1/2 and 1/2, some chopped herbs (I used rosemary this time), and a dash of salt & pepper…  then grate whatever cheese you have handy (I used Pecorino Romano) into the egg mixture and pour over the veggies in the ramekin.  Bake on 375 degrees for about 20-30 min with foil on top, then about 20 more with foil off.  (Bake time depends on the size of the ramekin, so you’ll have to watch ‘er.)  Cool about 10 min and serve.

WATCHED MOVIES WITH FUZZY

…who hides under the coffee table when it rains.

WHOOPED IT UP AT LINDEY’S

…another local fave (Appetizer rec: Beef Carpaccio | Dinner rec: Grouper | Vino rec: Peregrine ‘Mohua’ Sauvignon Blanc)

RENDEZVOUS’D AT THE PEARL

with Matt’s mom (aka Sunny D) + her beau-friend afterward.  Great, hustly-bustly atmosphere at the bar…  great service…  very see-and-be-scene-y right now…  and feels kinda south-uhn.  (App rec: House Smoked Salmon)

I especially loved the photo bomb selfie our adorable, Kate-Winslet-lookalike bartender took.  Bahhahaa.

GARDENED MY FACE OFF

…and pruned more mint than Heinz has pickles.  Discovered new uses for it by: a) Freezing it in ice cubs for cocktails and iced tea, b) Toss it into a Watermelon & Heirloom Tomato salad with basil and feta, c) Make Mint Pesto…  who knew?

FOUND ANOTHER GOOD SAUVIGNON BLANC

at Whole Foods for about $10.99.  How often do you try a good wine you like and then forget what it is?  Had to share.

The weather aside, it was dee-lightful to sleep in, see some good friends and putts around all weekend.  Hope you guys got some good down-time in, too!

Is it Friday again yet?