Victoria's Awesome Holiday Gift Picks.

The holidays are here and whether or not you love it and go all out (decorating your cat with Christmas bells!, C'mon!) or sulk and wait impatiently until the music stops and the elves retreat, EVERYONE loves a well thought out gift!  I have always been told that I give excellent gifts and it's true!  I'm a good listener and I observe quite intently so gift giving is a piece of panettone for me.  (That's Italian humor if you didn't catch it.)

I created a list of gifts for specific people and when you sum it down that way it makes it easier to shop.  Check out my gift guide and perhaps it'll spark an idea or two for you.




The College Aged Niece and Inspired Chef

The Boutique Baker's Kit by Rancho Gordo is $48 and starts a new baker off right!  Your niece will get her groove on in the kitchen and if you're lucky she will start sending YOU baked goods the way you used to send her when she was a wee little nugget.

The "Love and Light" Friend

Kiva is perfect for the friend that signs are her emails with, "love and light" and spends her Saturday mornings at shelters feeding people and reading to Seniors.  We love that friend and cherish her huge heart immensely so imagine how thrilled she will be to receive a Kiva card allowing her to make a donation of her choice! Kiva is a micro-lending organization that helps individuals and communities all over the world start or sustain a business with small loans.



The Traveling Fool

Okay, this is a major hint to anyone in my life...I WANT THIS gorgeous custom map pendant!  Have a piece of your beloved Spain (ahem, my beloved) dangling delicately above your heart to remind you of wonderful travels and adventures.  From uncommongoods at $125.


The Health Nut or Your Mom and Dad

Let's face it: it ain't no picnic living in the Midwest in winter!  That's when I'm usually visiting my best friend in California or heading South to soak up some sun and natural Vitamin D.  It's also when we are envious of Californians with their great year round produce.  Irv and Shelly's Fresh Picks in Chicago help solve your veggie blues and deliver the freshest organic produce, meat and dairy right to your door from the nearest local growers.  This makes an excellent gift for parents who are intimidated by an enormous Whole Foods or loathe stepping out into a blizzard.  Irv and Shelly do it for you and with such eco-consciousness it almost wants to make me volunteer with delivery service, almost.



The Notoriously Single Guy

Do you know a single guy that's a catch, but is notoriously single?  Do him a favor and snatch that ugly, tired old Cubs hat off of his head and head him to a HatMaker!  Yes, it's his stinky, ugly old baseball cap that is driving the ladies (or dudes) away.  Spruce him up a la Johnny Depp style and help him pick out a refined fedora or a fun gatsby at Goorin Bros.  He will be a hit in no time when he shows up to the bookstore looking like a man and not a twelve year old.


The Beauty Goddess or Luxury Maven

You knew it was coming, didn't you?!  How could I not include our ownRepair  Decouverte-Under Eye Serum, $115 into my holiday gift guide?  Besides the fact that we make and sell this, it really does do what it claims to do.  It depuffs, eliminates those dark circles, smoothes wrinkles and fine lines and brightens up your eye area to make the best part of your face look vibrant, sexy and ready for action!  If you don't believe my biased opinion, believe trusted Natural Beauty and Health Expert, Sophie Uliano who has reviewed it on her site, Gorgeously Green and is also selling it on OpenSky. 


The New Dad

Give the new Dad in your life BEER!  Just give it to him and give it quick!  Poor guy has been yelled at by his wife enough during the last nine months and has made every effort to do things right that he needs a little love with the best beer you can buy him.  Sign him up for a beer of the month club or head over to the best wine and beer shop in town load up and deliver it right to his door.  He will be thrilled you thought of him and he'll need it to get through his first month of changing diapers.



 A few more great gifts are Kishr, a 1,000 year old wellness drink full of antioxidants, natural and organic Mom and baby care from zoe organics, soothing bath salts from Solay Wellness, and who doesn't need exotic chocolates from Vosges!

Happy Holidays to all (even the haters) and if you're reading this I made it pretty easy for you this year with my not so subtle hint for a gift.  Map pendant. Spain, Traveling fool.