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Have a super-techie on your gift list that you still have NO IDEA what to give? No worries, our tech team* has scoured the internet and their very own wish list for gifts that will be sure to please even your most die-hard technophile.
[1] Makerbot replicator 2
Join the maker movement and print out your own things. Flex your creative muscles and make your own designs come to life. Or, take the easy way out and print other peoples' ideas from Thingverse.
[ 2] Arduino Uno Ethernet
Super popular Arduino Uno microcontroller board with networking built-in. Compact size, plethora of I/Os, and easy to use development environment make it a great choice for any physical computing project.
[3] Parrot AR.Drone 2.0
Remote controlled quadricopter with a 720p video camera. Control it with your smartphone and stream live video directly to your device. Sounds like fun to me.
[4] Raspberry Pi
Full Linux computer for $35. When the power of Arduino just isn't enough, or if you want an ultra-low-power media player.
Most importantly, supporting The Raspberry Pi Foundation's cause: help kids all over the world learn about programming and generally get them interested in computing.
[5] Beats by Dre, Beats Executive
Noise cancelling headphones that travel well and look good.
But wait...there's more! Perhaps your friend already has everything listed above (seriously though, if that's the case they don't need any more things) or the concept of pre-ordered goods really trips their gaming trigger. These are the things I love that you can't quite get your hands on yet. They are either on Kickstarter (or similar) currently, or have recently completed their fundraising campaign and are headed for market soon.
[bonus 1] Ouya
$99 Android based gaming console where all games are free-to-play
[bonus 2 ] Leap Motion
Control your computer in three dimensions with this motion controlling device. It can distinguish you individual fingers and track them with very high precision, making it far more sensitive and more flexible than a touchscreen.
[bonus 3] sticknfind
Bluetooth sticker that you can track with your smartphone. Stick them on things you often lose. Track up to 20 items at a time. Track things with the radar screen, or let the virtual leash notify you when something has gotten out of range. 'Find-it' can tell you when something that was out of range has come back in range.
* Our guestblogger today isn't afraid to try out the latest and greatest tech products or newest hacks out there. Please welcome Chad H.!
I seriously tried my darnedest to get all my gift shopping done before December 1st this year - an ambition I would have dismissed in previous years as being too obsessive or aggressive or some other kind of -ive that I can't place right now. This year, though, I realized if cards get mailed off and presents get wrapped before the final hours of Christmas then maybe - just maybe - I could take time to bake when I wanted, not when I had to. I could be leisurely and creative. This could be a very fun Christmas.
Having many presents bought and sitting around, I needed to figure out what wrapping paper to buy or make so when our tree went up an assortment of tastefully wrapped and arranged presents could magically appear. (This is what bloggers' dreams are made of.) Between Martha Stewart and Pinterest, the options for pulling together a gorgeous theme started getting out of hand. Newspaper with duct tape ribbons? Multicolored yarn? Washi tape? Brown paper packages tied up with string? Yes, yes, yes, yes!
Then I was thinking, "How cool would it be to have reusable wrapping paper?" The universe heard me and suddenly furoshiki was everywhere (wrapping using fabric.) Pinterest was filled with it; blogs were talking big time about it in 2009 (yeah, I'm only 3 years behind); my local art store had scarves you could buy for just such an occasion. This is what I was going to do...only I wanted to make my own squares.
A trip to Joann Fabric (I had coupons...and that seems to be the other thing bloggers' dreams are made of) and I settled on quirky-printed flannel fabrics. Though the scarves are usually light cotton or silk I thought flannel would have the added bonus of not allowing any peeking.
Here's how I did it - short and sweet:
1. Put on a reality show or soap opera or whatever trips your trigger for background noise.
2. Cut big squares from your fabric - you may want to roughly wrap your presents to measure out how big your squares should be. Be sure to unwrap before moving on.
3. Iron out your material and cut off any selvage sides.
4. Using fusible tape, hem the edges of your square. I used Steam-A-Seam, which I highly recommend as it holds the edges together with a loose adhesive and ironing makes the bond permanent. At this point, you could sew up the sides..yes, you could. I didn't.
5. Using the guide below, get to wrapping all those presents!
Ta-Da! I am pleased with the outcome, especially knowing it can be reused and cuts back on paper waste.
Of course any presents for children I'm going back to plain old-fashioned wrapping paper because I understand ripping into a present is initially half the fun...and I am not that crazy to think they'd be patient unfolding some fabric.
The good news is Pinterest is free, so all that time your favorite addict spends racking up crafty ideas and inspiration doesn't cost a (monetary) thing. The bad news is you can't go out and buy a Pinterest app or Pinterest gift card and call it a day. But, guest blogger Alyse has boiled all of Pinterest down to a few key ingredients. Here is what to buy your Pinterest addicted best friend/sister-in-law/coworker:
[1] Slow cooker
[2] mason jars
[3] mod podge
Lots and lots of Mod Podge
[4] baking soda, vinegar, hydrogen peroxide and Blue Dawn soap
Giving this to a die-hard Pinterester is like giving MacGyver a stick of gum and a bobby pin.
[5] Box of crayons and a hair dryer
crayon image via bookgrl
These gift ideas are for your loved one that puts food on the table...and enjoys doing it. So go on and butter their bread a little this Christmas with these cool kitchen tools.
[1] Chef Sleeve
If they use their iPad as a recipe book, get them the Chef Sleeve to prevent that precious piece of technology from being battered and fried...again.
[2] Adjustable Rolling Pin
Trying to eye dough thickness is hard when you have no concept of fractions of an inch (as in, the dough is either see-through or 1 inch thick every time.) This rolling pin adjusts to specific thicknesses so your can continue to work on your perfect crust.
[3] Ruhlman's Twenty cookbook
Forget sorting by apps, sides and mains - this cookbook studies techniques and gives associated recipes. So more like cooking lessons than a recipe book.
[4] Bamboo tongs
Don't these just look useful?
[5] Date Dots
Genius. Set a date, suction them on to leftover containers for instant recall if stir fry was last Tuesday or Sunday.
[6] Cork trivet
You can never have enough trivets. Especially one this stylish and easy to stash away.
My sister and I were racking our brains to figure out a gift for Mother's day (which we scheduled to celebrate a bit early on Cinco de Mayo.) iTunes gift card? Meh. Cash? Weird. A patio makeover? YES!
You see, my mom rents a house and lives in St. Louis during the weekdays to take care of her grandkids (lil' Indy and Rubes). Another way to put it: she gives up retired life and runs a second house during the week to take care of her grandbabies. While her days are spent breaking up fights over puzzle pieces, making frequent treks to local parks and doling out breakfast and lunch, her nights are her own and we thought adding to her outdoor oasis would be the perfect gift for a great momma.
  
First, we decided to set the scene by stringing frosted globe lights across the patio. Joe was enlisted to head the project (he is the resident carpenter, after all) and he insisted that he needed to climb a tree to do it...all in the name of his profession, claro que si. In true makeover style, we also bought a few accessories to tart the place up, including a set of seagrass-wrapped tumblers (perfect for little outdoor drink), a glass oil lamp with citronella oil and a small vase of flowers.
[1] Globe lights . Target [2] Seagrass tumblers . World Market [3] Glass oil candle . Pier 1
Now, on to the party...We had all the fixins for homemade burritos, a selection of Mexican beverages and a dessert buffet, thanks to a bake sale my mom hit up earlier in the day. You know it's a rockin' party when you end up riding on the back of a tractor sans shirt.
   
Where is Daniel in all this? We relegated him to kitchen duty to make us some delicious guacamole. (He wasn't there all night.)
Where are my mom, Alyse and I? Stuffing our faces with the aforementioned guacamole (with photos intentionally omitted).
This Christmas I decided to try something new out and participate in a gift exchange organized by a blog I follow: Oh, Hello Friend. The blog is about brown paper packages tied up with string and other of my favorite things, so how could I go wrong getting paired up with another like-minded paper geek? I couldn't go wrong and, subsequently, I didn't. I love it when a plan comes together.
For the package I sent, I went into full-on cyber-stalking mode, reading my giftee's blog almost in its entirety. It turns out, I love her blog and now follow it (hope this doesn't creep you out too much, Ali). After collecting my intel, I went antiquing deep into the heart of rural Missouri to find some interesting stereocards from the turn of the (last) century and a completed history book with perfect penmanship and tissue paper maps from the 20s (it just refers to WWI as 'The War'). I topped it off with some vintage fabrics I'd been hoarding and then some modern day gift certificates to a local pastry shop and iTunes. Hopefully, it was right up her alley. I would have snapped a few shots if I hadn't been getting my act together at the last minute.
Anyway, when I got my package in the mail just a few days before Christmas, I was totally excited...
Seriously, home-girl combined a crazy, sketched wrapping paper pattern with a kraft and black primitive-patterned paper, tied it together (literally) with a velvet aquamarine ribbon. Genius. Along with a cute tag card were recipe cards (bundled with baking twine) on the outside and upon unwrapping the present I found...a...wait for it...wait for it...mortar and pestle for my collection!
Welcome to the family!
You can't go wrong if you give your die-hard handyman (or woman) something off this gift guide composed by a professional carpenter. Bonus: almost all of this list can be picked up at your local Home Depot - they won't even have to know you waited until the last minute!
[1] Blue Framing Square
Blue squares are easy to read and find on the job site.
[2] Black Resin Tool Tote
A tool box that holds 2 drills, drill bits and anchors in the top removable section. And room on the bottom for a hammer, tape measure, knife and other tools.
[three] Steel Countersink set
3 sizes for detail trim work.
[four] 90 Piece Drill and Drive Set
Everything you need for a drill
[five] Heavy Duty Radio Charger
A radio that charges your batteries, will run on a battery and is iPod compatible.
[six] Cantilever Plastic Organizer
A bin with removable cups to hold all your screws, nails and anchors. Perfect size because it holds enough, but won't get too heavy to carry.
[7] 2.5 Amp Oscillating multitool kit
The newest tool in the "how did we ever manage without it" category. Many different brands available, but Bosch always makes a good tool.
This gift guide brought to you by our favorite carpenter, Mr. Kuhlrock. Just pray you don't meet him in a dark Home Depot aisle when he's got some gift card to spend.
I sometimes lose myself looking at Japanese toys and gadgets on the interwebs. There are some truly absurd and amazing trinkets out there, making for a wellspring of gifts, from quirky to astonishing. Here are some favorites.
[ichi] finger tentacles . thinkgeek
Go ahead, freak people out with these things.
[ni] Poking Box . gizmine
You can fight a little karate stick figure guy with your digital digit, c'mon!
[san] Lumindot . Japan Gadget Shop
Like the old school Lite-Bright but waaaay better. Seriously, watch the video.
[shi] Electric Butterfly . Japan Gadget Shop
[go] Solar pet bottle car . japan trend shop
Got to get a cool shaped bottle, I suggest Ito En.
This gift guide brought to you by our friend, plasticblog. He can probably count to ten in Japanese.
If you're dreaming of a gourmet holiday season, the following wishlist is for your home chef extraordinaire...
[one] Global chef knife . Amazon
A good knife is a necessity.
[2] Cutting board . korin
THE cutting board.
[three] the smoking gun. williams sonoma
I want to smoke my own salmon like Marcus Samuelsson.
[4] Profession immersion blender . williams sonoma
Soups in a snap.
[five] Silicone spatulas . amazon
All silicone and sturdy.
[6] herb keepers . prepara
I'm obsessed with them, as you can see.
[seven] larousse gastronomique . amazon
A classic.
This gift guide brought to you by DomesticEsq
, an attorney/culinary school graduate who is spending this holiday drooling over kitchen gadgets.
A collection of items every card carrying member of STL* would be proud to own or at least totally understand why it belongs in their closet/fridge/wall.
[one] I Love St. louis Block print . Lucius art on etsy
Forgive me this is a Chicago artist. But it's too cool!
[2] bird feeder . joepapendick on etsy
Modern birdfeeder by local artist Joe Papendick.
[three] STL flag. desertjuan on etsy
Okay, so maybe not the most high class artwork ever, but: St. Louis flag done in Mardi Gras beads. Be still my heart.
[four] STL microbrew selection . list by stl hops
For the ultimate St. Louis microbrew champion, why don't you pick up a bottle from each brewpub in this list?
[five] David freese jersey . mlb
He's the hometown boy for the hometown team. Thats like STLove x2!
[6] I (fleur-de-lis) STL . STL STYLE
I <3 STL, only redesigned.
This gift guide brought to you by Mrs. Kuhlrock, the proudest St. Louisan outside of St. Louis proper.
*For those not familiar, STL is the common abbreviation for St. Louis, MO. There, now you are an honorary, STLien.
Ahh, the great outdoors. There is nothing quite like it. Here is a list inspired by those who find solace under the canopy of a hickory-oak forest.
[one] travel vest . national geographic store
While you wear the most legit trekking vest ever...it is offered by NatGeo, after all.
[2] field guide to urban wildlife . amazon
Go collect all 135 species!
[3] birch pillar candles . world market
Bring the indoors in with fake wood.
[four] seed bombs . visualingual on etsy
Bring the animals to you with wildlife habitat seed bombs.
[five] burl wood light switch plates . timbergreenwoods on etsy
One way to bring the outdoors inside is with flowers. Another way is to cover your light switches with interesting wood
[6] missouri botanical garden membership . mobot or your local garden
The best trekking is done in your local botanical garden. Get a membership and support local and worldwide efforts to sustain the flora you so admire.
This gift guide brought to you by Mrs. Kuhlrock, an ethnobotanist that hikes for extended periods in the jungles of Madagascar and the mountains of Peru.
Dear new mom - Ah, the joys of being a new mom. Is anything the same as before?
[one] softened edges robe . anthropologie
A beautiful silky robe to feel pretty when you are up way too early and not getting a nap anytime soon.
[two] gold loop hoops . kateszabone on etsy
Hoop earrings that easily slide out when a little one grabs at them.
[three] transatlantic bag . anthropologie
A beautiful bag that can hold all of baby's stuff without letting anyone know its a diaper bag.
[four] organic cocoa facial mask . dress green
And while you are not sleeping as much, a little TLC for your tired face. Why not use one made out of chocolate?
[five] flower of the month club
Fresh flower of the month club!
[six] organic argan oil . josie maran
Argan oil. Mix it in to your conditioner or use it as a serum, apply to your face, hands, everywhere! So helpful for drying out of skin that comes with washing your hands every 10 minutes.
This gift guide brought to you by Mrs. Kuhlrock, a new momma who is gearing up to spend her first Christmas with her little one and husband.
The 2011 wish.list gift-giving guide is here! Look for more guides throughout the holiday season.
This gift list is for the gal that likes a little umph in her daily lineup, but nothing too glitzy. We like to call it casual chic. (Also, I've been told you can't wear yoga pants all the time...)
[1] kallia bag . milloo on etsy
[two] handcut silver earrings . gemagenta on supermarket
[three] stripes pullover . anthropologie
[4] sneaker customization kit . uncommon goods
[five] t-shirt jewelry . uncommon goods - or - make it yourself
When I was a little girl, I had a tiny little* Hello Kitty stationery set. It came with a tiny little pencil, tiny little notepaper, tiny little stickers and - my favorite part - tiny little envelopes. It all fit neatly into a tiny little plastic folder with sleeves and I thought it was the best thing in the world. I would actually write little notes to people and then erase it all so as not to actually loose any of my stationery stock - how weird is that? It can't be good to hoard paper products as a child, but I did. If you have a paper-lover in your life you need to realize they are a different breed and must be gifted for differently. A good pen might make their heart pitter-patter; a stationery set might really light their fire. We are freaks, what can I say?  1 BIRDIE PAPER CLIP MAGNET . PAPERSOURCE
Hate when your paperclips are scattered about your desk all willy-nilly? Yeah, I don't have this problem, either...but if I did, this little feathered friend is the cutest little desk mate...and it chirps when touched! 2 SHARPIE STAINLESS STEEL MARKER . SHARPIELong known as the workhorse of the indelible ink market, Sharpie has decided to class it up a bit with a new stainless steel Sharpie with replacement cartridge. This is only for the most hardcore of the Sharpie users. 3 LETTERPRESS CLASSES . LOCAL LETTERPRESS PRINTSHOPI have drooled over countless letterpress products - from crisp and classy stationery to funky posters - this is a trait many paper pushers share. Many local working letterpress printshops also provide classes on the side for hands-on fun. 4 CUSTOM-MADE NOTE CARDS . MOO.com
For my mom's last birthday I printed a set of 10 custom note cards from pictures I took of the alpacas and ranch (where she lives). I was really pleased with the printing and she has a set of custom notecards she can send whenever she wants (assuming she doesn't write them in pencil and then erase it so she can hoard the cards.) 5 INDIVIDUALIZED JOURNAL . ETSY
Journals are always cool for the paper pusher, but kick it up a notch by getting a journal that suits their needs - graph paper for the enginerd, music staff paper for the composer or focus on getting or creating a unique cover for your paper pusher. *Yes, tiny and little are redundant. But that is how small the set really was...I am talking 2 inch square paper with tiny little 2 inche square envelopes. At least that is how I remember it. So cute.
This list is for the baker that keeps you fat and happy. Not fat and happy? Then you aren't giving the right type of gifts. A suggested list of items that puts the icing on their cake.  1 SILICONE BAKING SHEETS . SILPATSilicone mats that you place on the cookie sheet and bake on top of yielding no stick glory. Once you start using these, you won't go back. 2 CUSHIONED FLOOR MAT . GELPROBaking can be surprisingly hard on your back and feet - especially during those marathon holiday baking sessions. I got the GelPro mat a few years ago and it really makes a huge difference underfoot. 3 MIXING BLADE SPATULA . SIDE SWIPE BLADEA mixing blade and spatula all-in-one for the KitchenAid type mixer - no more stopping to wipe down the sides of the bowl. Last year we got one for my mother-in-law and she gave it a great review. 4 MAGNETIC MEASURING SPOONSI didn't actually know these existed until today - but it makes so much sense. The magnetic measuring spoons all click together so you don't have to root around the drawer to find them all. I have metal shelves that I would love to stick them on so they are always ready to go, just in case I have a baking emergency. 5 SILICONE DOILIES . 'DOILEEZ' MODERN TWISTAfter seeing these yesterday at my favorite neighborhood general store I drooled all over them. They are silicone doilies you can place your finished goods on for display, but its not your grandmother's doilies. 6 CAKE STANDS . WHITNEY SMITHWhen all is said and baked, you need something to display your culinary works of art. I love the ceramics by Whitney Smith - very simple styling with a slight touch of whimsy and femininity.
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