Style Lush

Valentine's Day Gift Guide: For the Men

By Jonniker

Who said Valentine's Day had to be a chick holiday? Dudes need love, too! But, as any girlfriend (or boyfriend) knows, they are impossible to shop for. Hopefully, we've gathered a few ideas to make things a little easier. Enjoy!

 

 

 

 

iPad joystick

Save the finger!

 {Photo credit: Thinkgeek.com}

 

My Robot Nation

For the man who, like my husband, believes the robots will eventually take over, a miniature talisman you can personalize to ward off evil machines. ("Like Wall-E!" I said. "Not really . . . " was his reply.)

 {Photo credit: My Robot Nation}

 

RFID-blocking wallet

For the paranoid type. Blocks magnetic waves emanating from your credit cards so that the government can't track your covert missions to Whole Foods. 

{Photo credit: Thinkgeek.com}

Ka-bar military blade

Military-grade ultimate man knife for the Bear Grylls inside every man. (We have one. It's a hit.)

 {Photo credit: Kabar.com}

Personalized beer holster

You know, for those times when he needs both hands AND a beer. 

 {Photo credit: Red Envelope}

Sports propaganda print

We have a few of these in our house, and while artist Chris Speakman's specialty is baseball (and yes, he's a hometown Boston fan), he does all sorts of gorgeous prints for all sports and all teams. I can honestly say that we have these displayed in our living room, and people comment on them constantly. Beautiful, original sporty artwork with a modern pop-art feel. Big fan. 

{Photo credit: Sports Propaganda.com}

 

Star Wars Old Republic

It's like World of Warcraft, but for Star Wars fans. Only downside: It's PC-only. 

{Photo credit: Swtor.com}

Grass-fed steaks 

Get a couple of extra and stash 'em away for Steak and BJ Day while you're at it.

{Photo credit Lacense Beef}

Homebrewing starter kit

For the at-home boozer.

{Photo credit: Mr Beer.com}

Bose noise canceling headphones

Pricey, yes, but my husband uses his every day. Every day! 

{Photo credit: Bose.com}

Wicked Good moccasins

They really are awesome. Plus? LIFETIME GUARANTEE.

{Photo credit: LL Bean}

And finally, get the guy a gift certificate to your favorite sex shop and tell him to pick out a toy for the two of you. We like Eden Fantasys (our sponsor in general, but not a sponsor in this context), but really, anywhere will make him smile. Guaranteed. 

(You can expect to see the "For the Women" guide on Wednesday!)

Peacock!

By Leah

About a month ago I bought a shirt at Target that had tiny little peacock feathers over a navy background. It's not the sort of thing I'd normally pick out, but it was on sale, and the peacock motif made me feel like I was getting away with something--maybe because it's animal print without being, you know...animal print.

While looking for a link to the shirt, I found almost nothing else peacock-patterned at major retailers that wasn't completely hideous (these rain boots from Target are pushing it), but there was a ton of great stuff to be found from--who else?--our friends at Etsy. Here's small sampling:

Peacock pendant ($8.95) from The Pendant Emporium.

Smoky crystal peacock ring ($15.65) from Angeltodora98.

Peacock feather earrings ($4.99) from I Am Superstar.

Wooden peacock necklace ($16.00) from Juniper Rush.

Custom painted peacock Toms shoes ($149.00) from Blake Barash.

Peacock pumps with crystal ($60.00) from Paris XOX.

Custom printed peacock feather dress ($24.00) from Wear Yeti.

Handprinted peacock shirtdress ($40.00) from Seal Maiden.

Peacock tie ($30.00) from Cyberoptix.

Reclaimed redwood peacock clock ($65.00) from Nica and the Newfie.

Henna-inspired burned wood peacock spoons (3 for $38.00) from Greenwood Creations.

Peacock pillow cover ($45.00) from Pop O Color.

Peacock hip flask ($16.00) from Lezlee Elliott.

"Time" for a Thoughtful Mother's Day Gift (See What I Did There?)

By Rebecca

I have wanted a big wall clock forever. For years I have been pointing them out to my husband and attempting to sell him on the idea of buying one to hang above our mantel.

This year, I was not expecting a gift this Mother's Day at all. We are buying a new house and have been consumed with the paperwork/money/details/appointments/signatures this entails. SO MUCH PAPER! I digress. But on Saturday evening, he came to me and said "I really want to give you your Mother's Day gift right now, but I'm a little nervous because it isn't a personal gift like I usually get you. I know it's something you want, though."

Never one to refuse an early gift, I happily obliged. He had me sit down on the couch and close my eyes. When I opened them, I saw that he had picked out the perfect clock! It was exactly what I had envisioned for the wall.

I guess he thought it wasn't a Mother's Day-esque enough gift because it wasn't jewelry, or a purse, or something that he usually gets me. The man is an excellent gift-giver, I must say. But he had listened and knew this was something I had wanted for a long time. Doesn't get more personal than that!

(Plus, it'll look great in the new house.)

I hope you all had a wonderful Mother's Day!

{Photo credit: me!}

 

DIY Bowtie and Necktie

By Leah

Easter is next Sunday, and so is my wedding, and that means I have extra leeway to dress up my two-year-old like a springtime fancy lad. Think sweater vests, seersucker knickers, saddle shoes, wee suspenders, a tweed newsboy cap, and the pièce de résistance, a bowtie in an unapologetically cheery fabric. 

After last year's fruitless search for a bowtie pattern that didn't require advanced math involving protractors and Texas Instruments, last month I found this bowtie pattern (specially sized for toddlers) from Say Yes to Hoboken. The entire project took me ten minutes, even on the first try (my sewing ventures usually don't go so smoothly), and because you're only creating the bow--there's no strap that goes around the neck*--the pattern is endlessly adaptable for things like headbands and barrettes, belts, pillows, purses, even gift boxes and Easter baskets. If you have a 10x10 square of fabric or have been waiting for an excuse to raid the bin of fat quarters at the craft store, this is the craft for you. 

(Click for a closer view.)

*I was wary about attaching the tie to my toddler with a safety pin, so I took a clip off another tie and slipped it into the one I made. Here's a set of ten tie clips available through the Divine Domestication shop on Etsy, where you can also buy sweet bowties in the cutest fabrics if you're not up for making your own (yet). 

Bonus project: Here's a pattern from the Purl Bee (also via Say Yes to Hoboken) so you can make a matching necktie for the willing grown-up boy in your life. To die for!    

My Husband Wrote this Post

By Beth (but really by Chris)

My husband is a strikingly handsome man.  Every day he gets up, puts on a nice suit, grabs some breakfast, kisses the kids on their foreheads and takes off for work.  And when he heads out the door, he slings a cheap, green backpack that he paid approximately $10 for at Target over his shoulder.  As I said, he's devastatingly handsome but the backpack totally ruins the image.  He looks like a geeky, prematurely gray high school kid all dressed up for prom. 

He finally fixed the problem this week.  Granted, he did it by buying a black messenger bag he paid $40 for at Target.  Still, it's a step in the right direction.

 

Backpacks have a time and a place.  That time is not 38 years old.  The place is not over the shoulder of a professional.  Even my devastatingly handsome husband couldn't pull that off.

(Photo credit: Target.com and my husband)

(Post credit: My husband.  I've had a month solid of sick kids, latest iteration pneumonia and pink eye, and he asked what he could do, so I made him write my post.)

Stuff I Love: JOOP! Homme Fragrance for Men

By Hillary

When I first met the man who would become my husband, one of the things that really stood out about him was how good he smelled. I have JOOP! Homme to thank for the one part spicy, one part sweet, all parts delicious smell that still makes me weak in the knees. 

If you've got a man in your life who is looking for a new fragrance (and can handle the bright pink colour!) I highly recommend this cologne. 

{Image credit: amazon.com} 

Star Wars geeks rejoice: Super funky retractable earbuds

By Kristie

I mean, come on, these don't need a lot of fancy words, right? I'm no hardcore Star Wars fan but if I was you'd better believe I'd be getting a pair of these retractable earbuds.

I'd pick the Darth Vader. Which would you pick?

{Photo credits:  treasureseekersgifts.com}

Recycled Coke Bottle Bracelet Giveaway and Discount!

By Leah

Last week I had the pleasure of meeting Kathleen Plate, who has built her business--Smart Glass Jewelry--around two things near and dear to my heart: fun accessories and recycling. Kathleen gives new life to old bottles in the form of handmade earrings, bracelets, necklaces, rings, and even cufflinks made from wine and beer bottles for the menfolk (as well as chandeliers and couture gowns and hardware and, oh my, how cool is this pillow?). The story of how she went from grad student to accidental jewelry designer is inspired and inspiring, and her work speaks for itself:

 
Triple Circles Necklace; $112 

 

Bangles; $38 each 
 
Recycled Bar Necklace; $72

 

Chandelier Earrings; $78 
 
Coke Recycled Circle Ring Bracelet; $84

Here's a closer look at the mega-cool bracelet made of recycled Coke bottles, which I think it's important for you to see because I'm giving you a chance to win one of your own right now! To enter, tell me your favorite Coke product and/or your favorite type of accessory (one comment per person, please) and you'll be entered to win, easy peasy. The contest will be open until next Monday, November 22, at midnight PDT, and everyone is eligible to enter. (Well, everyone except Style Lush staff. Boo.) Good luck, all!

Psst! If you can't wait until next week or if something else in the shop has already caught your eye, today's your lucky day because Kathleen has provided Style Lush readers with a discount code good for 25% off all online purchases at Smart Glass Jewlery through the end of the year! Use code BLOG2010 to take advantage of this generous offer. Thanks, Kathleen!

Magnetic Collar Stays

By Beth

It is quite possible that I am the only person married to a man who had the daily habit of fashioning himself a set of collar stays from his cut-up business cards when he got to his office every morning.  But just in case you also know a man who has stumbled upon that ingenious but less-than-ideal solution, may I present magnetic collar stays, $30 for three sets from Uncommon Goods.

So, the long dohickeys go in the little collar pockets, and the round bits go inside the shirt collar and ta-da!  No more business cards, and nobody goes to work looking like Saturday Night Fever.  Also, they are far easier to retrieve from the washing machine than the plastic kind, to make no mention of the number of soggy bits of business cards that I no longer have to peel from our wet clothes.

I thought these were a little pricy when I bought them in desperation for Christmas one year when I had very few ideas, but they have proven to be well worth the money.

(Photo credit: uncommongoods.com)

For the Man Who Has Everything

By Beth

Men are hard to shop for, yes?  I mean, you have ties, tools, gadgets, maybe DVDs or iTunes gift cards, and then what?  If my husband buys me a nice sweater, I'm thrilled.  If I buy him a nice sweater, snoresville.   But last Christmas, I really hit it out of the park with one of his gifts.  And because I'm not selfish, I'm going to share my divine inspiration with you.

Are you ready?  Here it is.

Yes, that us a wallet made of duct tape.  I bought it as a joke, because hey, men love duct tape.  But my husband really likes it.  He likes it because it is thin (it really is).  And apparently sitting all day in a cushy leather chair in your comfy office on top of a bulky wallet can get uncomfortable.  (Not that I am bitter about the massive diaper bag I have been carrying around for five years.)  Also, the picture doesn't do it justice, because it really looks pretty cool.  And at $15, it is definitely worth considering for the men in your life.

(Photo credit: uncommongoods.com)