Have you seen Diana Eng's fortune cookie change purses? So cute … 

They're made of recycled leather and "branded" with a number, and come with a little dust bag (and have a fortune ribbon inside). They're $45, and Diana's made 425 so far. [Full Disclosure, she sent me one, and I sent a copy of my book back to her. :-)] They even smell lovely, that new-leather smell … the kiss-clasp is nice and tight, too. I hate a sloppy kiss-clasp. 

Remember, if you give a purse as a gift it's traditional to put a shiny coin in it first. (I like to use Susan B. Anthony dollars.)

(If you like my blog you will really like Diana's book, Fashion Geek. She and I have had the best conversation about LEDs that it is possible for two people to have.)

[And we're still on the fundraising drive/Secret Lives poll:]

http://www.networkforgood.org/PCA/Badge.swf?BadgeId=114975

If we reach $1200 in donations by December 25, I will write a new "secret lives" story, that will include the top-two vote-getters below:

http://modpoll.com/poll.js?pid=agdwb2xsMmdvcg0LEgRQb2xsGLvHlwYM&theme=&width=200

I am a total sucker for these bookshelf illustrations by Jane Mount for 20×200. I have one of the children's books illustrations (not that one or this one, but a different one). This fashion book set is Robert Verdi's shelf, and just awesome. So is the cookbook version.

I love 20×200, in general — I love to browse it just to find stuff like this or this.

The best thing about 20×200 is that it's really affordable — prints start at $20, and you can get framed versions, too, often much cheaper than at the corner frame-it place. Plus you help support artists (which buying a cheap framed print at Target … not so much). 

 

[And we're still on the fundraising drive/Secret Lives poll:]

http://www.networkforgood.org/PCA/Badge.swf?BadgeId=114975

If we reach $1200 in donations by December 25, I will write a new "secret lives" story, that will include the top-two vote-getters below:

http://modpoll.com/poll.js?pid=agdwb2xsMmdvcg0LEgRQb2xsGLvHlwYM&theme=&width=200

You know that point in holiday shopping where you just break down and can't resist buying something for yourself? This is that point. This is that thing. It's the Betabrands Lust skirt. It's not too late to wear this on New Year's Eve!

This is the kind of clothing item that you will wear for YEARS. People will send you invitations to events and at the bottom of every invitation will be this note: "PS please wear your disco skirt." You will be wearing this in the nursing home, and you will be still be the life of the party.

Did I mention that it has pockets? 

If you can't buy this for yourself (it's $60, btw) I strongly recommend you email this to someone who traditionally buys you a present. (Subject line: HINT.)

[And we're still on the fundraising drive/Secret Lives poll:]

http://www.networkforgood.org/PCA/Badge.swf?BadgeId=114975

If we reach $1200 in donations by December 25, I will write a new "secret lives" story, that will include the top-two vote-getters below:

http://modpoll.com/poll.js?pid=agdwb2xsMmdvcg0LEgRQb2xsGLvHlwYM&theme=&width=200

Does everyone here know Archie McPhee? Funny guy, lives in Seattle?

One of the best things from Archie McPhee is the Jumbo Mystery Box: for $39.95 you get enough weird toys, disgustingly-flavored gum, and gross stickers to keep any ten-year-old (or the ten-year-old inside anyone) happy for hours.

(There's also a smaller surprise bag, for only $24.95. Or go all-out on the Jumbo Colossal Mystery Box, $119.95)

 

[And we're still on the fundraising drive/Secret Lives poll:]

http://www.networkforgood.org/PCA/Badge.swf?BadgeId=114975

If we reach $1200 in donations by December 25, I will write a new "secret lives" story, that will include the top-two vote-getters below:

http://modpoll.com/poll.js?pid=agdwb2xsMmdvcg0LEgRQb2xsGLvHlwYM&theme=&width=200

I really love t-shirts from the Australian-everything-cool store, REMO: Like the "always on" button t-shirt:

Or this nice skully shirt:

Or encourage someone to wear their heart on their sleeve, like so:

Or the very confusing "t-shirt t-shirt":

Or, of course, a fez!

 

REMO also lets customers design their own t-shirts! Years ago I made this one, and it's still up:

Why should you order t-shirts from Australia? (If you're reading this in Australia, feel free to skip to the end of this paragraph). After all, the internet is practically carpeted wall-to-wall in cool funny t-shirts, why pay the extra shipping? You should order REMO t-shirts because they are superior. They fit well, they wash well, they have women's sizes that aren't based on poorly-scaled-up Barbie clothes, and the fabric is good and sturdy. Plus, when your happy recipients asks you where you got their gifts, you can honestly say "Australia!" 

Shipping from Australia in time for Christmas may be dicey at this point but you can always give a gift certificate … or as they call them, REMO dollars, which are "magically equivalent to Australian dollars."

While you're on the REMO site, you should definitely poke around — they have tons of cool, funny, and useful items.

[And we're still on the fundraising drive/Secret Lives poll:]

http://www.networkforgood.org/PCA/Badge.swf?BadgeId=114975

If we reach $1200 in donations by December 25, I will write a new "secret lives" story, that will include the top-two vote-getters below:

http://modpoll.com/poll.js?pid=agdwb2xsMmdvcg0LEgRQb2xsGLvHlwYM&theme=&width=200

Chocolate is a pretty traditional holiday gift (and there's a lot to be said for a big box of See's) but I really love this new mini chocolate bar set from Vosges. First of all, it's all holiday flavors (including gingerbread!) and also (unlike the big box of See's) it's just enough chocolate (in a very pretty box) to feel happy about, and not so much that you groan and imagine all the hours you will need to spend on the treadmill (or insert exercise here) come January 2. And it's just $25! 

Plus: Vosges? Is DELICIOUS.

[And we're still on the fundraising drive/Secret Lives poll:]

http://www.networkforgood.org/PCA/Badge.swf?BadgeId=114975

If we reach $1200 in donations by December 25, I will write a new "secret lives" story, that will include the top-two vote-getters below:

http://modpoll.com/poll.js?pid=agdwb2xsMmdvcg0LEgRQb2xsGLvHlwYM&theme=&width=200

As everyone knows, the perfect gift is something that the recipient wants, but wouldn't buy for her- or himself. And fancy umbrellas fall into this category. Everyone loves them (like the ones above from Modcloth, $27.99 and $37.99) but nobody wants to buy them, because umbrellas are #1 on Family Feud responses list under "Items You Often Lose." 

Umbrellas are also good "I don't know you very well, but I like you enough to give you a present" gifts, if you stay away from the overly cutesy (nothing anthropomorphized) or the overly branded (no sports logos).

[And we're still on the fundraising drive/Secret Lives poll:]

http://www.networkforgood.org/PCA/Badge.swf?BadgeId=114975

If we reach $1200 in donations by December 25, I will write a new "secret lives" story, that will include the top-two vote-getters below:

http://modpoll.com/poll.js?pid=agdwb2xsMmdvcg0LEgRQb2xsGLvHlwYM&theme=&width=200

The idea behind Birchbox is really simple: they send you a (beautifully wrapped) box of beauty samples (skin cream, makeup, hair stuff) each month, and if you like them, you buy the full-size products in their store (and if review the products you get points towards … more products). A month of samples is $10, and I've gotten at least one sample in each box that I would consider bigger than "sample size".

Everyone knows that the free samples are the best part of buying makeup, moisturizer, or perfume (and that often the "sample size" of something is all you really want) so why not just sell the samples? Genius.

A year of Birchbox is a very pricey present (you do get one month free, making it only $110) but I have to say I love getting those nice little boxes in the mail … you're basically giving someone a beauty grab bag every month for a year. It's about the same as buying one drugstore makeup item a month … or doing what I do, blunder into department stores to buy expensive lipsticks that don't suit me. If you consider it that way, I actually think I might break even on my Birchbox experience. (8 drugstore foundations, 12-13 clumpy mascaras, or 4-5 expensive department-store lipsticks a year < 1 Birchbox subscription).

[And we're still on the fundraising drive/Secret Lives poll:]

http://www.networkforgood.org/PCA/Badge.swf?BadgeId=114975

If we reach $1200 in donations by December 25, I will write a new "secret lives" story, that will include the top-two vote-getters below:

http://modpoll.com/poll.js?pid=agdwb2xsMmdvcg0LEgRQb2xsGLvHlwYM&theme=&width=200

I love these cases from Walker Bags: 

They make fantastic presents — if you pre-load them. A quick trip to the drugstore or dollar store and you can give a great emergency kit: aspirin, nail files, safety pins, bandaids, gum, lip balm … you can also add a $20 if you're so inclined.

NYCers: They sell these at Ricky's and they often go on clearance in January — stock up for next year! And if you live near a Kinokuniya or a Muji you can find similar bags there (although Walker's are the nicest, and they're based here in San Francisco …)

 

[And we're still on the fundraising drive/Secret Lives poll:]

http://www.networkforgood.org/PCA/Badge.swf?BadgeId=114975

If we reach $1200 in donations by December 25, I will write a new "secret lives" story, that will include the top-two vote-getters below:

http://modpoll.com/poll.js?pid=agdwb2xsMmdvcg0LEgRQb2xsGLvHlwYM&theme=&width=200