Since last year’s photophile gift guide, I have amassed quite a long list of photography swag. So when Grace asked me to put together a photo guide this year, I obviously couldn’t refuse. There are so many amazing new products emerging in the photography realm, and I am thrilled to share a few of my…
It’s always fun to collaborate with other team members on gift guides, so this year, Kristina and I worked together to create a food-themed gift guide. We chose our favorite food products, cookbooks, tabletop accessories and entertaining pieces for the foodies on your list. From mercury glass cake plates to delicious apricot jam, there’s something…
I have absolutely no green thumb, so I’ve worked hard to cultivate friendships with people who do. From those talented florists and gardeners I’ve learned a few skills that have helped me keep a couple plants alive in my apartment over the years. Those plants and flowers make me so happy, so this holiday season…
When it comes to makeup, I’m a minimalist. When I have to pull it together, I turn to a few key products that I’ve relied on for years, but every now and then, I experiment with something new just to switch things up a bit. I’m always swayed by packaging, but I’m only loyal to…
Art-related gifts might not be as practical as sweaters, socks or kitchen tools, but they are one of the few gifts that can last forever. It’s easier than ever to find great art online, and I had so much fun culling the slew of online galleries and boutiques to pick out my favorite pieces. Don’t…
The book gift guide is one of my favorite gift guides to put together. There were so many great books this year that I had a tough time narrowing them down. Did I leave any favorites off the list? I’m always looking for book recommendations, so let me know in the comments. (For more book…
This is our first-ever Design*Sponge jewelry gift guide, which is a little surprising since we’re pretty much jewelry fiends over here. And jewelry is actually one of my favorite things to give (and receive!). It’s personal, fun and a little frivolous, like all the best gifts. I’ve spent weeks “shopping” for jewelry for this guide,…
If you’re anything like me, you are a GIANT sucker for pretty packaging. It’s okay to admit it; in an endless sea of products, each one promising to solve all of your consumer woes, why wouldn’t you opt for the most visually appealing? If it sounds dubious to judge a book by its cover in…
If you follow my Human/House/Harvey column here on D*S, or my personal dog+ design blog, House of Harvey, you know that I have a “thing” for well-designed pet products. I think that the chew toys and dog beds of yesteryear have made strides in innovative and stylish design, and some may say, have become pieces…
Maybe it’s being born south of the Mason Dixon, or the fact that I lucked out and got initials that weren’t embarrassing, but whatever the reason, I love monograms. I was probably the only kid at my school who was excited (and not mortified) to have to wear a backpack with “GSB” on it. And…
Whew! It’s been a long week of gift guides! And there are many more next week, but we’re wrapping things up this week with 50 gifts under $50. I love the idea of pairing many of these gifts with a little something special, like gifting a tray with homemade cookies, giving the nail polish set…
When picking out gifts for the holidays, it’s sometimes easy to forget that small things can count the most. A beautiful greeting card that comes unexpectedly in the mail or a thoughtfully wrapped present can say light-years more than a hastily chosen gift that will be discarded by year’s end. Although they may be tiny,…
DIYers are the easiest people to shop for, and I’m not just saying this because I am one. Does anyone remember the scene in Splash (Am I dating myself here? Oh well.) when Tom Hanks gives Daryl Hannah a wrapped gift, and she spends a few minutes petting and admiring the box, thinking it’s the…
Every year I get excited for one gift guide: ornaments and trimmings. I methodically save images and links starting in October and have to stop myself when my initial selections hit 400. This year it was nearly impossible to narrow it down to fewer than 100 decorations, but I just made it. There are few…
I love finding gifts, but finding just the right gift sure can be a headache when under pressure. We have lots of gift guides lined up — one scheduled every day for the next two and a half weeks — to help you find the perfect thing for everyone on your list. We’re starting the…
Image by MPessaris Every year when the holidays roll around, I’m overwhelmed by two very different feelings: excitement for the warmth of the season and time spent with family and friends and the somewhat icky feeling that comes with an intense round of shopping/buying/product talk. While gift guides are simply part of the season, I…
I love books. I have a master’s degree in library science, spent eight years at the New York Public Library before joining Design*Sponge and have a relatively large collection of books at home. So each fall, I anxiously await the moment I can begin work on this guide. This year while traveling around the country,…
Even nature fiends happily succumb to commercialized holiday commemorations. Since I launched my flower business this year and started writing a flower column for the site, I’ve got nothing but blooms on the brain. From a classic book by flower gods to rubber galoshes for morning garden runs and tongue-in-cheek gilded lily stationery, this list…
Early on during our 10 weeks on the road this fall, Amy and I started joking about starting a beauty blog. We both became obsessive about eye creams and face masks on the book tour in an attempt to cover up our lack of sleep and over-consumption of caffeine and sugar. Sadly this was nothing…
The time has come for the last of my gift guides, and I’m ending with something a little fancy, extra special and on the “splurge” end of things. But I’ll be honest — I don’t plan on doing much splurge buying or receiving this year. With all that’s going on with the economy and the…
