Retro Ice Bags

I take some very expensive prescription migraine medicine (I'm blessed to have good prescription benefits through my employer), but I have to admit, sometimes the least fancy remedies work wonders, such as a good old ice bag on the back of the neck. My ice bag is a pretty boring affair, but the Container Store has these designer "retro" ice bags which might make a cute and useful stocking stuffer for someone in need.

The ice bags are made from "rubberized cotton cloth" (I'm not entirely sure what that means) and are leak proof. The four designs are Black Dots, Green Boxes, Pink Hibiscus, and Yellow Ducks. Personally, I like the duckies the best!

What: Retro Ice Bags
Where: Container Store website or stores
How much (as of today's post): $12.99 (plus shipping)

Handisleeves & Dandisleeves

Almost every Sunday, my husband and I go to Panera for lunch. I drink iced tea (unsweetened!) and he drinks hot tea. The hot tea is always very hot, so he uses those cardboard sleeves so he can hold the cup comfortably. Now, we do always recycle the cardboard sleeves, but wouldn't it make more sense to use a re-usable one and save some trees?

Enter Handisleeves and Dandisleeves from the Container Store! The pretty Dandisleeve comes in pink and has a lovely cut-out pattern, while the more manly Handisleeve comes in either green, black, or red. They're $4.99 apiece, making them a nice, useful, affordable stocking stuffer.

And in the meantime.... Happy Thanksgiving!

What: Handisleeves & Dandisleeves
Where: Container Store
How much (as of today's post): $4.99 (plus shipping)

Lipstick Pen

I'm not sure what's going on, but I seem to be in girly-girl mode just now, which is odd considering I'm usually something of a tomboy. But I do know many women who would love to get this as a stocking stuffer: a realistic-looking lipstick pen. It's only 4 inches long so a great size for a purse, and the $5.00 is for a set of two, making it a pretty affordable stocking stuffer (as long as shipping isn't too exorbitant, of course...).

What: Lipstick Pen
Where: Spoon Sisters website
How much (as of today's post): $5.00 for set of 2 (plus shipping)

Bhutanese Coin Necklace

Today's Friday "luxury" stocking stuffer is an authentic Bhutanese Coin featuring "Buddhism's eight auspicious symbols," set in sterling silver. This is so right up my alley, because it's unusual, it has symbolism, and it's set in silver instead of gold. The product description also says (and this is all new to me) that "Kingdom of Bhutan is a landlocked Himalayan country bordered by China and India. The economy is one of the world's smallest and least developed; however, limited amounts of various coins are minted." I think this is one of those jewelry "conversation pieces," if that makes sense.

What: Bhutanese Coin Necklace
Where: Animal Rescue Site store
How much (as of today's post): $32.95 (plus shipping)

Buckyballs

I know that $29.95 for a magnetic toy seems super expensive, but I have played with Buckyballs and they are as fascinating as everyone says they are. Buckyballs come as a set of 216 tiny ball-shaped rare earth magnets that seem to take on a life of their own. Naturally they're not suitable for any child that might swallow them, but they're a fun gift for just about anyone else.

Seriously, check out the 2 minute demo video here. It's far more entertaining than anything I could say about them. ;-)

What: Buckyballs
Where: Buckyballs website, ThinkGeek.com, or elsewhere
How much (as of today's post): $29.95 (plus shipping)

Sneaker Socks

Here's a fun novelty sock for your tomboy daughter or sister: sneaker socks from the Signals website. They're made of a cotton-nylon-spandex blend and fit women's shoe sizes 5-9 ½. They come in black, pink, purple, and turquoise.

(I wore pink high-tops to my college graduation, so I can definitely relate to these!)

What: Sneaker Socks
Where: Signals website
How much (as of today's post): $7.50 (plus shipping)

Reusable Strawberry Shopping Bag

I was so pleased with myself because I pre-scheduled posts for Wednesday through Sunday because I was flying to the east coast for a memorial service. I was to arrive back Sunday night, in plenty of time to cook up a post for Monday to start the new week. US Airways had other plans, however; they stranded me overnight, and I didn't get home until late Monday -- and I was without internet access for what seemed like an eternity.

So no Monday post -- sorry! But now I'm back for our regularly schedule programming, with today's stocking stuffer: a reusable strawberry shopping bag. Look how cute it is when it's tucked into it's little strawberry shape! You wouldn't think a 15 by 15 inch shopping bag would fit in such a small space, but it does. It also looks so nice and springlike. If you know someone who loves to reduce and reuse, but keeps forgetting to take shopping bags with her, here is a cute one she can tuck into her purse to use anytime. It's also a nice eco-option for Mother's Day.

What: Reusable Strawberry Shopping Bag
Where: Perpetual Kid website
How much (as of today's post): $7.49 (plus shipping)

Zuni Flower Pin

Definitely a luxury item, this! This Zuni flower pin comes from the Southwest Indian Foundation, an organization whose mission is to "lessen the poverty and unemployment among the Native Americans of the Southwest, specifically members of the Navajo, Zuni, Hopi, Laguna, Acoma, and Apache tribes." I received their catalog in the mail the other day, and they have lots of lovely merchandise. Many of the items are handmade.

In particular, this pin is made of turquoise set in sterling silver, and measures 2 inches in diameter. I tend to prefer silver to gold myself, so this is just to my taste.

What: Zuni Flower Pin
Where: Southwest Indian Foundation
How much (as of today's post): $59.00 (plus shipping)

Bamboo Tealight Holders

Happy Earth Day! In honor of this day, here is a nice, eco-friendly stocking stuffer: Bamboo Delights, or tea light holders made of 100% organically grown bamboo. Each holder measures 3 inches long by 2 inches wide, and they come in a set of six for $19.00. You could give them all to one person, or you could give two holders to three recipients, or three holders to two recipients, or even just one apiece to six different people, which would make this a very affordable stocking stuffer. I love their sleek, modern lines.

What: Bamboo Tea Light Holders
Where: Branch website
How much (as of today's post): $19.00 for set of six (plus shipping)

Ruby Locket

I definitely prefer unusual jewelry to the standard diamond on a gold chain, and this ruby locket from Signals certainly caught my eye. According to the description, it has a 1/4 inch faceted ruby, hand set in a sterling bezel (whatever that is!). The hinged locket itself is 1 1/8 inches and has a safety clasp, and it comes on an 18 inch sterling chain. I guess it attracts me because it looks like it could have a mysterious and interesting story attached to it..... In any case, it's definitely a luxury item, but with the ruby it would also make a really unusual Valentine's Day gift.

What: Ruby Locket
Where: Signals.com
How much (as of today's post): $69.95 (plus shipping)

Soap Rocks

My husband is a planetary scientist, so we have a fair number of rocks around the house, some of which are very pretty. Years ago he went to Herkimer, New York for a day, where you're allowed to go into some "mines" and bring out any Herkimer "diamonds" (actually "double-terminated quartz crystals") that you find. My husband found me one still embedded in a large chunk of gray rock, which is one of the few things I took with me when we evacuated for Hurricanes Rita and Ike. But I digress....

In any case, I happened to come across these "soap rocks" on the Signals website, and I love how much they really do look like beautiful rock specimens! The product description says they're made from all-natural ingredients, and weigh 6-8 ounces. The choices are "Amethyst" (with a Cucumber Ylang Garden fragrance), "Agate" (Cool and Fresh fragrance), or "Black Onyx" (Cool Mist fragrance).

For a lovely paired gift, you might also consider the 4 by 3 inch sandstone soap dish. (*As always, be careful putting anything scented in a Christmas stocking if you also have chocolate in there -- chocolate picks up smells and tastes!)

What: Soap Rocks
Where: Signals.com
How much (as of today's post): $12.95 soap / 9.95 dish (plus shipping)

Neoprene Hand Weights

Now that the weather is finally getting warmer, it's making me think of nice long walks before the Houston weather turns too hot and humid. And that made me think of exercising, which made me think of these neoprene hand weights. Maybe these are slightly too big for a Christmas stocking, but I don't know -- people use some pretty large stockings these days!

The pink pair of weights pictured above are two pounds apiece, and they come together with an exercise wall chart. The weights have a non-slip grip. If 2-pound pink weights won't do, there are also 3-pound, 5-pound, 8-pound, and 10-pound hand weights in various colors. Just do an search on Amazon for "neoprene hand weights" and you'll find the rest. The price ranges from $9.68 for the 2-pound weights on up to $28.41 for the 10-pound weights. Even the 5-pounders are under $20.

What do you say? Time for an ultra-"healthy" stocking stuffer?

What: Neoprene Hand Weights
Where: Amazon or elsewhere
How much (as of today's post): $9.68 (plus shipping)

Fish Coin Purse

My husband just got back from Japan, so maybe I have koi on the mind. How cute is this fish coin purse? It's made from rubber with a nylon base, and measures 5 inches long by 2.25 inches wide by 3 inches high. At $16, it's slightly pricey for a coin purse... but it's so cute!

What: Fish Coin Purse
Where: Pylones website
How much (as of today's post): $16.00 (plus shipping)

Chinese Zodiac Necklaces

Oh dear, at this price these qualify as uber-luxury stocking stuffers, but they're so pretty I wanted to bring them to your attention. These are Chinese zodiac necklaces handcrafted by Mindy and Grant Searcey and offered by Uncommon Goods. They're made of recycled sterling silver with semi-precious jade, and come in each of the 12 animals of the Chinese zodiac: pig, ox, dog, dragon, horse, monkey, rabbit, ram, rat, rooster, snake, and tiger. If you click on each individual necklace, you'll see the years to which they apply.

The rabbit and tiger are shown above. But oh dear, I would have to go and be the year of the monkey....

What: Chinese Zodiac Necklaces
Where: Uncommon Goods website
How much (as of today's post): $60.00 (plus shipping)

Chalkboard Heart Paperweight

Oh, I wish I'd seen this in time for Valentine's Day last month! This clever paperweight is ceramic but the surface imitates a chalkboard, and it has an attached piece of chalk on a string to write a love message to your sweetheart. It's 4.25 inches wide, 3.75 inches long, and 1.5 inches tall, and comes in a gift box. Since we're now post-Valentine's season, it's on sale: originally $12.95, now $10.36, and $9.32 for members of the New York Public Library.

What: Chalkboard Heart Paperweight
Where: The Library Shop (NY Public Library)
How much (as of today's post): $10.36 ($9.32 for members) (on sale from $12.95) (plus shipping)

Sparrow Clips

These are a wee bit pricey for what are essentially clothespins, BUT look how cute they are! And consider: if it's $15 for a pack of 16 sparrow clips, you could divide them up, say four groups of four, and have a really cute stocking stuffer or small gift for four different people at a cost of just under $4 apiece! And if you think they look cute on a bag of potato chips, think how adorable they would be on a clothesline (assuming anyone still uses a clothesline!).

Oops, just noticed they're on "backorder" at the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) website, but they should be back in stock on March 30. The clips are made of plastic and measure 4.25 inches high by 3 inches wide. They make me feel like it's springtime!

What: Sparrow Clips
Where: MoMA Store website
How much (as of today's post): $15.00 ($13.50 for members) for pack of 16 (plus shipping)

Hummingbird Plant a Tree Pin

Down here in Houston we occasionally spot a hummingbird since we're on the edge of a migratory route. They're such fascinating little creatures! This pewter hummingbird pin from the National Wildlife Federation measures 2 inches wide by 1.5 inches high, and has the added benefit of being one of their "plant a tree" products -- you purchase the pin, and a portion of the proceeds will plant one tree.

If the hummingbird isn't for you, they have lots of other plant a tree jewelry. Perfect for springtime or Mother's Day!

What: Hummingbird Plant a Tree Pin
Where: National Wildlife Federation website
How much (as of today's post): $16.99 (plus shipping)

Nutcracker Collectible Box

This time of year is wonderful for looking at the websites of catalogs that tend to carry a lot of Christmas merchandise, such as Potpourri, because they're trying to empty their warehouses to make room for next year's new items. Case in point: this nutcracker collectible box, made of handcrafted "cast metal and intricately detailed in bright enamels, gleaming crystals and goldplated accents." Regularly $24.95 (so it would normally be a "luxury" stocking stuffer), it's now 48% off, for $12.99 plus shipping. It would be lovely for a little girl (especially paired with a book telling the story of the Nutcracker), or for a female of any age, really.

What: Nutcracker Collectible Box
Where: Potpourri website
How much (as of today's post): $12.99 (plus shipping) (regularly $24.95)

Bunny Tiny Taper Holders

It's way too early to post about an Easter stocking stuffer (i.e. an Easter basket stuffer), but I just came across these and they're so cute I couldn't resist. This set of four taper candle holders comes with one each of blue, yellow, pink and green bunnies, which hold 1/2 inch diameter taper candles (not included). You could split up the set and give two and two if you like, reducing the per-person cost. Wouldn't they look lovely on a springtime table, or even hopping among your windowsill plants when not in use as candle holders?

What: Bunny Tiny Taper Holders
Where: Williams Sonoma website or stores
How much (as of today's post): $19.00 for set of 4 (plus shipping)

Miniature Watering Can Clock

This graceful little watering can clock is the perfect stocking stuffer for a gardener -- and it's so Spring-like that it would also be lovely for a Mother's Day gift or an Easter basket. It's currently on sale for $12.95 from the Potpourri website. It measures 2.5 by 3 inches, and the battery is included. And by now, I'm sure most of you are ready for a taste of Spring!

What: Miniature Watering Can Clock
Where: Potpourri website
How much (as of today's post): $12.95 sale price (regularly 19.95) (plus shipping)