Items received for Holiday Gift Guide
Holiday Gift Guide 2020
Over 50 items I recommend
With the Holidays just around the corner, I thought I would give you some suggestions on items for your loved ones. In a Covid world, where many people are struggling I am suggesting items as low as $3.99. I would like to take this opportunity to wish everyone a happy and healthy Holiday Season.
Health & Beauty
Scandinavian Biolabs – Hair Growth Routine For Men – Scandinavianbiolabs.com
This system features Hair Strength Shampoo; Hair Recovery Conditioner; and Hair Recovery Serum. The Hair Growth Routine is specifically developed to effectively prevent hair loss, grow new strands and maintain healthy, strong hair. One of our key active ingredients, Capilia Longa is developed to reverse the biological clock and foster ‘younger’ cells that are capable of producing strong, thick hair. All three products complement each other to strengthen, recover and increase hair growth in 150 days, guaranteed. Daily use results in healthier, sustainable hair within 30 days. Safe for sensitive scalps; Suitable for all hair types; Safe for dyed hair.
Bawdy – Self Love Trio ($75): Bawdybeauty.com
This trio includes the Nipple & Areola Stick, CBD Butt Balm and Clay Butt Mask. The Nipple & Areola Stick is like a lip balm but for your nips instead of your lips (it can be used on your lips too!). The CBD Butt Balm helps moisturize and promote faster muscle recovery and the Clay Butt Mask in stick form helps with skin purifying, detoxifying and firming.
God’s Greenery – Fit & Flex Capsules – $59.99
Michael Klein, founder of God’s Greenery and former Condé Nast Entertainment Vice President, launched his line of natural stress relief supplements at the height of COVID, committed to giving back to causes in need. One of these causes is Hand in Hand, a full-service international adoption agency whose mission is to provide the necessary foundations for orphaned children to develop to their fullest potential. Supports an active body and brain– – Ingredients: Fit & Flex is a proprietary blend of organic, full-spectrum, DNA-verified Hemp Seed Oil, along with pepper/clove oil for additional terpenes and full entourage effect. Contains powerful antioxidant benefits from grape seed extract, rosemary extract, and turmeric.
Keratin Complex – keratincomplex.com
Vanilla Bean Conditioner’ – A rich, vanilla-infused conditioning treatment that creates an indulgent aromatherapy experience while moisturizing the hair. 7oz – $26
Styling Lotion – This leave-in lotion provides lightweight styling control with thermal protection while cutting blow-dry time. 5oz – $24
Molding Paste – This firm hold molding paste defines, sculpts, and molds any style with ease. 5oz – $24
Eraclear – Eracleaskincare.com
Calming Facial Mist – A CBD infused cooling mist with organic aloe, Vitamin B5 and allantoin to soothe and calm the skin. 1.7oz – $75
Reveal Advanced Brightening Cream – eveal advanced skin brightening cream with Drone Technology uses dual encapsulated super-peptides. This revolutionary system targets specific cells and releases active ingredients directly where they are needed most, quickly producing outstanding results. 1oz – $95
Bamboo Exfoliant – This daily exfoliating micro-scrub removes impurities, oil and makeup and dead skin cells to leave the skin clean and fresh with a more youthful glow. 4oz – $45
Eye Surround – A light, targeted, hydrating and firming cream designed specifically for the delicate eye area. .5oz – $65
Tony Odisho – Osita Line – Tonyodisho.com
Restore Shampoo – Rebuild and revive. This silky shampoo gently cleanses and restores hair weakened by color, heat styling, and more. Its rich formula provides nourishment and long-lasting UV protection. 2oz – $6. Restore Conditioner – Smooth and nourish. This gentle conditioning crème delivers intense hydration while strengthening hair. Its perfect combination of bionutrients knocks out tangles and frizz for a smooth and healthy look. 2oz – $6. 3 in1 Mist – Detangle, shine, and protect. This vitamin-packed mist leaves hair soft, healthy and manageable without adding weight or buildup. It blocks UV rays, protects against heat and sun exposure, and adds hydration and shine. 4oz – $9
ApHogee – Curlific Line – Aphogee.com
Hydrating Curl Serum – Use this finishing fluid for locking in Moisture, Shine and Soft Hold. Hydrating, Curl Serum provides Gloss, Hydration and Control for Fine-Coarse / Wavy-Coily Hair Types with Quinoa Amino Acids, Panthenol, Phytantriol and PCA. 6oz – $8.99. Moisture Rich leave in – Curlific! Moisture Rich Leave-In detangles the snarls on any head, even on the toughest textured hair! This leave-in conditioner moisturizes the oval shape of curly strands that interlock like no other and may also be more prone to dryness. 8oz – $8.99.
Texture treatment – This is a strengthening conditioner formulated especially for curly hair. It contains Quinoa protein to strengthen the oval section of curly, natural hair. This helps strengthen the oval section to prevent damage. It also contains a heavy load of moisturizers to keep the hair moisturized. 8oz – $8.99
Alpha Male – Alphamalecosmetics.com
BB Cream – is a soothing lotion that gives the skin a natural glow. Gently squeeze a small amount onto your hands and then rub it smoothly onto your face and head out and enjoy your day. It’s as easy as 1…2…3! 36
Liquid Concealer – Their custom Liquid Concealer is made for dark circles under the eyes. Working long nights, without enough sleep, can leave you looking tired. To look fresh every day, simply grab this and apply a small amount with the tip of the applicator under your eyes. Smooth gently until all you see is the product blended naturally into your skin tone. Watch instantly as those dark circles gone and you look like you have gotten a full night’s sleep. $25
Unwrapped Life Holiday Bundle – Spoil Me – $65 (reg $76) Unwrappedlife.com
Spoil them, with all the plastic-free selfcare essentials, for those on your list that need all the TLC this Holiday season. The “Spoil Me” bundle includes: wildcrafted Travel Set (choose your hair goal), reusable bamboo rounds (black), calm (body/shave bar), Bar Dish (in white)
Veritas Farms Limited Holiday Edition Tinctures – $49.99; Theveritasfarms.com
Four seasonal flavors, including Cranberry Orange, Clementine Spice, Sugar Plum and Cinnamon Roll; the fast-acting CBD oil tinctures contain full spectrum hemp oil, extracted from the flowers and leaves of hemp plants grown on the Veritas Farms Colorado farm. Each tincture is in a 15 mL bottle with 250mg of full spectrum hemp oil per bottle.
Oracle Jayne Station – oraclejaynestation.com
Fragrances have always been marketed based on memories, emotions, and experiences. Rarely do they actually have anything to do with either. Usually, what’s inside the bottle, contains very little from the natural world. Oracle Jayne Station challenges all that. Everything she makes is about genuine moments in her life, and an authentic heritage. Her signature scent, El Arroyo, is inspired by the smell of the desert after it rains, and the sight of the creek running behind her grandparents ranch ($128).
El Arroyo – Hand & Body Bar: Made entirely from scratch with organic plant based oils and food grade charcoal, it features no artificial perfumes, dyes, or petroleum and creates a rich, ultra-moisturizing later. Each Hand & Body Bar is topped with chaparral leaves and essential oils of myrrh and rosemary. Price: $18/4.5 oz.
El Arroyo – Hand & Body Scrub: Featuring beautifully hand poured layers of salts, sugars, and scrubs to gently exfoliate, scent, and moisturize hands with one product, a pinch of these granules and a few drops of water at the kitchen sink keep your hands smooth, soft, and smelling great, or use over your whole body in the shower to get the full summer monsoon experience. The unique blend of salts (detoxifying and rich in minerals), raw sugars (moisturizing and skin softening), and chaparral leaves (which release their scent after it rains) create balance to eliminate dryness (that can be found with other salt scrubs) or stickiness (often found in sugar scrubs). No artificial perfumes or preservatives are used or needed. Price: $28/10oz.
Perfect Image – FACIAL bundle – Sale Price $90
Their Social Mission is to support a culture for greater empathy and education for those struggling with skin concerns. The Facial Bundle includes: Exfoliating and Clarifying UltraMUD – Clinical strength treatment that combines the exfoliating and cleansing properties of both a mud mask and peel. This mask helps clear the way for a softer, brighter skin appearance; SeaWhip Cucumber – An array of skin soothing and repairing ingredients help hydrate and calm irritated and sensitive skin in this refreshing moisturizing gel. Excellent after a sunburn, wax, mask, chemical peel or other facial treatment; Anti-aging Peptide MegaMUD – Their advanced Anti-Aging MUD treatment combines nutrient-rich clays and healthful botanicals to remove dirt and skin debris to reveal visibly smoother, silkier skin; and Microlumina Facial Scrub – This exfoliator combines Volcanic Sand and Dead Sea Salt to draw out impurities, buff away dull, dead skin cells, while Micro Alumina crystals resurface your skin for a more polished and smoother skin surface.
Books
Flowers of West Hollywood – $25.25; Amazon.com
The book is full of beautiful images of flowers that Pingel, a resident of West Hollywood, took during his daily walks from the beginning of the pandemic in March through July 2020. The softback book is 8.5”x8.5” with 102 pages and almost 100 full color images of the flowers Pingel encountered during his walks. His walks around West Hollywood include La Cienega Blvd to Fairfax Blvd; Hacienda Place to San Vicente Bouvard: plus up and down side streets of Fountain Ave, Crescent Heights Ave, Laurel Ave, Kings Road, Sweetzer Ave, Harper St, Havenhurst Dr… or just simply … all-round the West Hollywood neighborhoods
This Was Hollywood – Forgotten Stars and Stories On Sale Now for $20.95; shop.tcm.com
In this one-of-a-kind Hollywood history, the creator of Instagram’s celebrated @ThisWasHollywood reveals the forgotten past of the film world in a dazzling visual package modeled on the classic fan magazines of yesteryear. From former screen legends who have faded into obscurity to new revelations about the biggest movie stars, Valderrama unearths the most fascinating little-known tales from the birth of Hollywood through its Golden Age. Drawing on new interviews, archival research, and an exhaustive library of photographs, This Was Hollywood is a compelling and visually stunning catalogue of the lost history of the movies.
Rainbow Revolution– Prices Vary; Magnushastings.com/rainbowrevolution
Magnus Hastings’ new coffee-table book, Rainbow Revolution is a collection of vibrant portraits that celebrate the expanding spectrum of queer identity and visibility. Inspired by the photographer’s social media campaign #GayFace — a project that quickly became a viral sensation for featuring an array of people representing all of the different colors of the LGBTQ community — Rainbow Revolution is packed with more than 300 photographs of everyday individuals and celebrities like Kathy Griffin, Boy George, Luke Evans, and fan favorites from RuPaul’s Drag Race. Accompanying Hastings’ gorgeous photos are powerful essays from some of the subjects, detailing their own personal battles in stories that are marked with sincerity and oftentimes, humor. “The essays elevate the book for me and give it a purpose beyond the social media recognition the images have gained,” says Hastings.
Taste Of Tucson: Sonoran-Style Recipes Inspired by the Rich Culture of Southern Arizona – Prices Vary; Amazon.com & Jackiealpers.com/cookbooks
This holiday season take a trip to the culinary region of the American Southwest with a delicious new cookbook dedicated to foods inspired by the cultural and culinary diversity of Tucson. The book. Written by Jackie Alpers, celebrates, through more than 70 recipes and photos, the unique mix of cultures that create Southern Arizona’s incredible Sonoran-style cuisine.
Liquor/Wines
Tequila Herradura – Herradura.com
Ultra – Anejo Cristalino ($59.99) – is an incomparable cristalino añejo tequila. This tequila is produced in Jalisco, Mexico at Casa Herradura, the last true tequila-producing hacienda in the world. Made from hand-harvested agave and barrel-aged to perfection, this premium añejo tequila undergoes a charcoal filtering process that creates a superior clear finish and unparalleled smoothness.
Selección Suprema – ($412) – is the finest expression of tequila there is and the very first Extra Anejo expression in the world. It is made from 100% agave and produced following time-honored techniques, that elevate the craft of premium tequila making to heights not found anywhere else. To achieve the perfect balance of cooked agave, rich vanilla, oak and dried citrus fruit, Selección Suprema matures in American white oak barrels for an industry-leading 49 months. The reward is well worth the wait. With over 41 awards including 25 gold medals since 2006, they recommend savoring the subtly-sweet aftertaste of the exceptionally smooth and complex seleccion surprema, neat.
Voga Italia Proseco 750ml – $12.99; Totalwine.com
This has a richly fruity bouquet with a hint of green apple. It is dry, fresh, medium in body and well-balanced. This wine is perfect alone as an aperitif or as a delightful complement to appetizers such as prosciutto or mild cheeses.
Hamel Family Wines 2017 – Isthmus – $85; Store.hamelfamilywines.com
The 2017 Isthmus is a Red Blend containing a mix of 71% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Merlot, 12% Cabernet Franc and 2% Petit Verdot. A soft, inviting entry displays fresh red and black fruits on the midpalate that carries through to a long finish. Pair this Red Blend with a grilled prime rib with garlic and rosemary.
ZYR Vodka; Prices Vary; Zyrvodka.com
Give the gift of the highest quality vodka this holiday season. Crafted in Russia and based in Florida, ZYR Vodka is the smoothest and the single highest rated vodka from every major reviewer in the world. Among all other distilled spirits, ZYR stands alone with a perfect 100 point rating on the Wine Enthusiast scale – it is the cleanest tasting, most versatile choice for sipping neat, on the rocks or in a ZYR Vodka Martini.
Disaronno Velvet Holiday Pack – $27.99; Disaronno.com
Known as the world’s favorite Italian liqueur, Disaronno Velvet was recently launched in April 2020 and is the latest innovation within the liqueur category. Incredibly smooth, at 17% ABV, boasts the floral character of almonds with nuances of chocolate and vanilla. Blending the unique flavor of Disaronno Originale and the richness of a velvety cream, Disaronno Velvet is best served over ice, or add a touch of Italian elegance to your favorite cream cocktails such as a Velvet White Espresso Martini and Velvet Godfather.
Escudo Rojo – Vivino.com
2018 Gran Reserva – $21.99 – Is a blended wine made from the four different red grape varieties of Cabernet Sauvignon (40%), Cabernet Franc (2%), which give the wine refinement and tannic power, while Carmenere (38%) and Syrah (20%) bring body, density and a touch of spice. Powerful ripe red fruit aromas can be detected in this wine with the nose gaining in complexity from aeration.
2018 Reserva Cabernet Sauvignon – $17.99 – This opens up to an array of refined ripe black fruit aromas, joined on airing by light toasted hazelnut notes. This red is vinified in the Bordeaux manner, favoring extraction of the fruit and a supple, well-balanced tannic structure.
Aperture Cellars – Aperture-cellars.com/wines
2017 Bordeaux Red Blend – $55 – Demonstrates a rich concentration of deep red fruits. Ripe currants combined with fresh raspberries and cherries, carrying with them a bright acidity. Laying in delicate violets and subtle tobacco the wine extends with a long, spice driven finish. Cut right through the incoming overflow of rose and sparkling as the temperature begins to rise with this red blend. With peak berry season just beyond the horizon, the raspberry and cherry notes will have your palate dancing in summer nostalgia.
2017 Cabernet Sauvignon – $70 – Focusing first on the cabernet fruit from four mineral-rich, volcanic soil sites nestled on cooler hillside slopes in the Alexander Valley, this vintage’s Cabernet Sauvignon is uniquely crafted with delicate inclusions of merlot, malbec, and petit verdot. The mouth feel is dense and round, with smooth, expertly structured tannins and subtle dark chocolate, vanilla bean and light spice notes leading to an extended and lasting finish.
Toast Vodka – $22.99 (750ml); Toastvodka.com
Toast Distillers, Inc. is a Black-owned, Miami-based spirits conglomerate best-known this Vodka. Established by CEO and founder Dieuveny “DJ” Jean Louis, the company’s profile includes a full range of ultra-premium to midline and well-line spirits products for vodka, rum, gin, tequila and whiskey. Toast Vodka is the world’s first ultra-premium, unflavored vodka made with coconut water. The vodka is 100% corn based, six times distilled, gluten-free and non-GMO.
Children’s Items
Inklings – Stuffed animals & infant novels; $19.99; Inklingsbaby.com
Inklings are bright, colorful and unique plush toys and books that spark a child’s imagination. Gus, Ollie, Wobby are lovable creatures who come to life through the imagination of children. The Inklings remind us that as long as you have your imagination, you’re never really alone.
Apparel
Ibkul – Men’s Space Dye Mini Grid Waffle Knit Pullover – $92 – Ibkul.com
IBKÜL is a leader in the athletic apparel world and known for their patented IceFil technology that regulates your body temperature as you move, it is moisture wick, and SUPER comfy. These shirts are perfect for the man who goes from casual day at work to a meeting on the golf course seamlessly.
Brave Hoods – T Shirts and Hoodies $35-$45; Bravehoods.org
Each one has an uplifting, fun message such as, She’s little but fierce, Strong like Mom, and Brave (in different languages), or It’s All Good in my BraveHood! For each shirt purchased, they gift one to a kiddo fighting cancer. To date, their supporters have enabled them to gift over 8,000 BraveHoods to kids all over the US. BraveHoods were designed with comfort as the top priority – they are super soft, lightweight and great for all seasons.
Spiritual Narcissist; Prices Vary; Spiritualnarcissist.me/
This is a newly launched consciously created men’s luxury streetwear brand made in Los Angeles, CA. SN uses responsibly sourced fabrics, an environmentally conscious process, and employs fair labor wages. The brand represents quality, responsibility and sustainability in every respect. Each piece is hand cut and sewn in Los Angeles at a family-owned manufacturer.
Snacks and Drinks
CBD Zero Defy Performance Sampler 6 pack 16oz each, – $35.94;
Redefine your focus and recovery with six bottles of their zero-sugar-added CBD performance drink in three delicious flavors (Orange Mango, Mixed Berry, Lemonade). Discover your new favorite and begin your journey of defying the everyday.
Epic Gourmet Popcorn Holiday Gift Set – $44.95; Epicpopcorn.com
Elegant enough to dazzle a crowd, yet too delicious too share, this beautiful white and gold mix combines savory White Cheddar popcorn with sweet and buttery Caramel popcorn. Freshly made gourmet popcorn, with free personalized greeting card included with handwritten message and free shipping.
Sugar Plum’s Beer & Bourbon Nuts Gift Tin – $30; Sugar-plum.com
Sugar Plum’s very adult take on classic Beer and Bourbon Liquor Nuts Gift Tin will have everyone thanking you and craving more. This 16 ounce assortment of their mouth-watering, hand-crafted, and small-batch roasted nuts features three of the brand’s most popular booze-infused flavors, including Irish stout-infused cashews, Jamaican lager-infused peanuts, and Kentucky bourbon-infused almonds.
Misc
Barner Screen Glasses: Black Kreuzberg Man – $120; Barnerbrand.com
Based in Barcelona, Barner was founded in early 2017 by two friends. After living their lives totally immersed in the digital world, they had identified a problem that was not only affecting them, but millions of people all around the globe: overexposure to blue light. As hard workers and technology lovers, their eyes couldn’t withstand the long hours spent every day in front of screens. They wanted to find a solution that would protect their eyes and improve their quality of life without sacrificing their style. After realizing that current solutions on the market weren’t good enough, they decided to create their own.
iRoller – $19.95; Amazon.com
This is a liquid-free, reusable touchscreen cleaner perfect for smartphones, iPads, tablet, Kindles, laptops, GPS/car dashboard screens and more. iRoller is easy to use, immediately cleans – as well as helps sanitize – and is effective on any touch screen. With a few quick rolls, iRoller instantly removes fingerprints, smudges and smears better than any microfiber cloth can. iRoller is completely liquid-free, in contrast to many liquid sprays on the market which can easily damage your devices, and is safe to use on any surface. It’s also reusable, simply wash it with liquid soap and warm water occasionally and you will have countless uses.
Celestial Silk Pillow Cases – $35; Celestialsilk.com
Silk is synonymous with luxury. The smooth texture and shine of silk looks fantastic on a bed, but more importantly – silk feels luxurious. And it just gets better – Silk pillowcases help you sleep better too. Silk is temperature-regulating – helping you sleep better. It’s hypoallergenic – making it perfect for allergy sufferers. AND it’s a natural way to get your beauty (& grooming) sleep. Celestial Silk pillowcases can match any bedroom décor as it comes in 25 colors & prints, and donates 10% of proceeds to charity.
A Bar Above four piece craft Cocktail Shaker Set – $40.49; Shop.abarabove.com
A Bar Above makes professional barware for home cocktail enthusiasts and newbies alike. What started as a blog almost a decade ago is now a thriving e-commerce business selling great and affordable bar tools, mixology certifications, and coming soon….pre-packaged holiday parties for friends and companies alike. As an added bonus, A Bar Above also offers a go-at-your-own-pace deep-dive certification course into Mixology, a surefire way to become an at-home bartender/mixologist and impress all of your family and friends this holiday and beyond!
Sok – $16 and Under; Sok-it.com
JavaSok – cold sleeves fit most major brands like Dunkin, Starbucks, McCafé Cups and many other similar sized cups, and not only retain ice so your beverage stays cold longer, but leaves you happy with dry hands, no mess, puddles or watermarks to worry about. HotSok sleeves shield your hands from extreme heat and fit most disposable cup sizes. Made from thick, insulating, 4MM coated neoprene fabric on its inner and outer sides to provide natural barriers to various elements, JavaSok and HotSok are also washable. Your first order qualifies for FREE shipping.
Viking Acacia Butcher Block Prep and Serving Board – $99; Vikingculinaryproducts.com.
This is a reversible Board that has built-in multi-use compartments in the front for prep and serving. Reverse carving surface features a Juice wall.
Rush Charge – $24; Rushcharge.com
Now more than ever we rely on connectivity from afar and Rush Charge has the worlds most convenient AND stylish portable chargers to keep you wirelessly connected on the go! Forget the cables or bulky powerbanks, Rush Charge fits in your pocket and keeps you powered and allows you to recharge smartphones, tablets and small electronic devices on the go with up to 18 hours of talktime/usage; up to 12 hours of internet use, and provides high-speed charging in 5 stylish options to choose from: Leopard, black, blue, purple and wood.
Nomader Collapsible Water Bottle –$24.95; Nomader.com
The uniquely versatile collapsible water bottle makes portable hydration incredibly convenient and sustainable. Made of flexible BPA-free silicone, the Nomader rolls-up or collapses flat to save space between use, yet it’s as comfortable to drink from as a conventional bottle thanks to its ergonomic grip-sleeve and sturdy design. Its patented leak-proof twist cap eliminates spills while protecting the spout from germs, and the wide mouth underneath the cap allows for adding ice and easy cleaning with a bottle brush. Lightweight with a 22oz capacity, this innovative water bottle includes a durable carry strap, handles hot and cold drinks, is dishwasher safe, and comes with a lifetime warranty.
Hot Logic – $39.95; Hotlogic.com
In a new COVID-19 world, Hotlogic reduces mealtime and workplace lunchtime stress and fears by providing a solution to heat better, tastier and safer with meals prepared and touched only by you. Hotlogic precisely cooks and reheats prepared meals, leftovers and frozen entrees to the perfect temperature and holds it there for hours through using its exclusive HeatDeck™ technology, which preserves moisture and enhances flavor. Pictured: Hotlogic Mini Oven™ XP (personal oven) & Hotlogic 12v Mini Oven™ XP.
Ornament Anchor – $3.99 to $39.99; Ornamentanchor.com
Ornament anchor keeps your ornament from falling off the tree keeping them in place, making sure they’re secure. Traditional ornament hangers only drape or hook over a branch- leaving precious ornaments at risk. With Ornament Anchor, sentimental ornaments no longer have to be left up to chance. Ornament Anchor’s patent-pending loop and pull secures ornaments safely in place. Each anchor can hold up to 48 ounces (3 pounds). The anchors come in packs of 3, 12, 24, and 48, and you can score free shipping on any order over $20.
Amped & Co – Hustle Neon Light – Ampedandco.com
They make unique neon lights that speak to many generations. All the original designs they create have meaning behind them. They love the mood neon brings to a room – from motivational words to icons that represent personalities. There’s a design for everyone!
Their real neon signs are hand-crafted from glass by professional benders using the same techniques as vintage neon signs – an artform that requires years of practice to master. No two pieces are alike, making them a perfect statement piece for any room. Some of my favorites are:
Ice Cream Mini LED Light – $14.99; Micro Rose Gold Lightbox – $19.99; Original Cinema Lightbox (classic) – $29.99; Flamingo Neon Desk Light – $69.97, and Cactus Mini LED Light -$14.99