Sit In A Barrel Of Wine

Reminiscent of a steamer deck chair, this folding barrel stave chair is made form salvaged 70-gallon oak wine barrels. When folded, the slats nest alongside one another, making the chair as flat as a comma: you can take it anywhere. Individually numbered with the name of the winery branded under the seat. Looks as good in the house as it does on the lawn.

Available at 1earth1design.com

Bird Is The Word

Bring the chirp-chirp closer with this recyclable plastic bird feed by Popoutz. The recycled bird feeder comes with a 5-oz starter bag of seed. Perfect size for little patio trees. Available at Popoutz.com

Bookie

Unique book holders always catch my eye. If I had the perfect spot in my place I would get this one from designwithinreach.com

Stylish Short Films

Fashion designers are now all creating inspirational short films about their collection or show. I like this Michael Kors one by Cyril Guyot:



The Tom Ford one is pretty cool too.

Are You Becoming An Ecoholic?

If you're on a mission to make your home green then this book will be your guide. "Ecoholic: Your Guide to the Most Environmentally Friendly Information Products and Services in Canada (When You're Addicted to the Planet" by Adria Vasil is the consummate earth-girl guide to responsible living. The book is full of information from renovations to baby products. Most books and articles refer to American products and companies so it is nice to find a Canadian guide. Available at Chapters. Check out the site for lots of cool info. ecoholic.ca

The Sun Worshipper

Solio, a universal hybrid charger, uses solar energy to juice cell phones, iPods, and other electronics. Purchase at solio.com

Rubber Ducky

Keep your toddlers feet dry on rainy days with these stylish rubber wellies. Just the thing for splishing and splashing around!

Juicy Culture

You get dual use with this juicer, magnificent fresh squeezed oranges and an elegant tabletop sculpture.
Available directly at Alessi and any high end kitchen/design store.

Hang It Out To Dry

So many wet towels, so little hanging space? Install thisshower-curtain rod that can be used as a towel rack. From Polder available at Linen and Things.

Thanks A Latte

Daily lattes leave a trail of cardboard sleeves (and trees!) in the trash. Slid this resusable Hip Grip cotton sleeve over a paper coffee cup to insulate with out extra cardboard waste. Tuck your coffee cash in the handy pocket so you're always ready for a java run. Save more trees and use it with your travel mug daily.

Available at Solutions.com

Clean Up Your Fridge Door

Nexxt Aluminum 10 Pc. Magnet Frame Set available in silver and black from KitchenStuffPlus.com

Pup Pillows

Finally dog beds that don't look like they are all made with leftover material from Marks Work Wearhouse. The Dog & Hydrant store in Yaletown carries a stylish selection of dog beds that will look fabulous in any home. Small (25"x25") medium (30"x30") & large (36"x36") are available.
All beds are 100% washable and come with a removable cover. The signature insert has stitched pockets of down and poly fiber and will not flatten or condense.

Design Help

Need help decorating? The Pottery Barn's Style House is loaded with fantastic ideas to assist all of your decorating needs.

Decorate With Love

Try these fun LOVE Gel Gems and express your love in more ways than one this Valentine's Day! These colorful, fun and reusable Gel Gems can stick to your windows, mirrors - virtually any non-porous surface. The ideas are endless. Available at London Drugs and other houseware stores.

Heart On Sleeve

Wear your heart on your sleeve this Valentine's Day. This sweater is available at Redenvelope.com (sorry blogger links aren't currently working)

Heather Ross Boutique

Heather Ross's boutique in Vancouver is a must visit. Heather scours the flea markets in France and Italy for authentic time worn treasures… china & rustic provencal pottery, chandeliers and sconces, Chinoiserie, botanical prints, objets d’art & whimsical curios. Her alluring canvasses have subtly nuanced layers of colors and glazing and finely etched pencil markings suggest a dreamy landscape with their ephemeral circular forms and horizon lines.

Keeper Of Keys

Have a messy key bowl at your front door? Jonathan Adler has created this elegant key holder that would look "Pretty" anywhere.

Keep It Fresh

Stick a digital DaysAgo monitor to the lid of a jar or a container after it's been opened. The reusable gadget, attached with a suction cup or a magnet, counts the days so you don't have to.

Check out the site for great suggestions of use www.howmanydasago.com

Who Killed The Electric Car?

If you liked "An Inconvenient Truth" then you'll need to watch "Who Killed The Electric Car?". It is a documentary about how the car companies, oil companies and government made the electric car extinct so that they could all profit from the oil. Available at all local video stores.

Naturally Clean Can Save You

My best Christmas gift was the book Naturally Clean.

Naturally Clean shares compelling evidence links with the chemicals in household products to cancer, asthma, allergies, multiple chemical sensitivity syndrome, hormonal disruption, reproductive and developmental disorders, and other conditions. .

A Room by Room Guide provides tips for:*a healthier kitchen*keeping your bedrooms safe*mold, mildew and soap scum: spotless bathrooms, and *special precautions for cleaning children's rooms.

Naturally Clean also features a comprehensive Product Selection Guide that analyses over 300 natural and traditional cleaners: everything from laundry products through oven cleaners, disinfectants, spot removers, carpet cleaners and bathroom cleaners. This handy easy-to-use reference rates the household cleaning products found on the shelves of natural food and grocery stores providing our pick of your healthiest and safest options. A resource guide tells readers where to find additional information, and an at-a-glance glossary helps understand key terms.

Under Armour

Under Armour sport wear is an all around perfect gift for the athlete or gymlete in your family. Available for men, women and kids at Sport Check.

Indian Yum

The Vij's cookbook is a hot gift for to the cook in the family. Costco has the best price on it.

Gift For The Princess

Principessa's products are yummy scented but not overpowering like most brands. The Principessa's candles are 100% pure VegeSoy wax for a clean, non-toxic burn. Sprinkle the new Principessa hair powder into your hair to absorb excess oils, product and create gorgeous body and volume!

Principessa is at loads of places. I've seen them at Beautymark, gift shops and I just saw them yesterday at a salon across from Club Monaco in Metrotown.

Buy Your Mate A Hippo

This is a gift that will never be forgotten. Help protect the future of nature and give a gift of adoption of an animal through World Wildlife Association. You'll receive a photo and certificate like shown below and a stuffed animal. Kid's would love it! Each adoption is symbolic and your donation will be used to fight threats like habitat loss and poaching faced by critically endangered species and to support WWF's worldwide conservation efforts. Your gift is fully tax deductible to the extent of the law. Order by the 17th and you'll receive it by the 22nd!

A Christmas Must Have!

Perfecting the art of excellence for over six decades, Tony Bennett has come to represent the essence of elegance, tradition and artistic accomplishments. Duets An American Classic features Bennett recording duets of his greatest hits with today's greatest stars including Bono, Elton John, Paul Mc Cartney, John Legend, Sting, Billy Joel, Michael Buble, Barbra Streisand, James Taylor, and many more!

Play It Loud

Ipod travel speakers are a great gift for anyone. Allows you to share your tunes while on the road. All electronic stores carry them. Just make sure that you know the type of Ipod your receiver has when you are purchasing them speakers.

Radio For Your Pod

Listen to FM radio on your iPod and control everything with a convenient wired remote. You also get a set of earphones with a shorter cable that's a perfect fit for the remote. Compatible with iPod nano and iPod with video. Ideal for the train commuter, so that they can listen to sports, news etc.. Available at Apples Stores everywhere.

Butter Up!

L'OCCITANE'S famous Hand Cream is their number-one selling product... and for a very good reason. Enriched with 20% Shea Butter, this rich & creamy balm quickly penetrates to protect, nourish and regenerate the skin. Almonds, honey and coconut oil are blended together, along with Shea, creating this minimally scented, ideal hand-cream. Every Christmas they offer the mini purse size three packs which are great to divide up into stockings, give along with manicure gift certificates or keep for yourself. Available at the Granville Street store and the Burrard Street store. They usually keep them hidden in the drawer so you have to ask for them.

Spare Change?

Pottery Barn's silver-plated canister offers a handsome home for pocket change. The lid removes easily for emptying and can be engraved with up to 3 characters at an additional charge to create a personalized gift. Felt bottom protects desk or dresser. Perfect for the office or home.

Stuffer For The Traveller

Restoration Hardware's chocolate-leather travel organizer has pockets for passport and tickets, plus a window for ID.

Fluidline

Out of the hundreds of eyeliners that I've tried in my life, Mac's Fluidline Eyeliner is my all-time favorite. I will never try anything else. It goes on smooth & thin, doesn't smudge and is waterproof.

Blitz & Glitz and Sweet Sage are my faves.

Get Popping!

This popcorn maker is a great present for the movie buffs in your family. It's on our list! Air popped popcorn is a healthy snack and much better for you then the microwave popcorn. This Cuisinart PartyPop Popcorn Maker is simply sensational. It can pop up to 10 cups (2.5 L) in less than five minutes, and you decide what and how much oil and flavouring to add. And it’s easy. Just turn it on, let it pop, and then flip the bowl to serve! It's pretty much available at all houseware stores.

Girly Galoshes

Does your little girl refuse to take off her shiny patent Mary Janes - even when it's raining? These rubber Mary Jane galoshes are just the footwear for her. Even on the rainiest of dress-up days, she can splash in puddles all day long with no warnings about ruining her party shoes. The shiny black rubber Mary Janes are available with pink or white "tights."

For Your Ultimate Man's Stocking

Kiehl's "Ultimate Man" Soap is a great stocking stuffer. This highly efficient scrub soap, made with sloughing Bran and Oatmeal, thoroughly cleanses skin and facilitates the exfoliation of dead surface cells, helping to alleviate roughness on tougher areas such as elbows and heels. Perfect for after the gym. Its scent is unisex so it's good for you both to share. Available at Kiehl's on Robson or Holt Renfrew.

The Art Of Shaving

The Art of Shaving Shaving Cream is the ultimate gift for the man in your life. It softens and lifts the beard for a close and comfortable shave and protects the skin from irritation and razor burn. Rich with glycerin coconut oil and essential oils the hypoallergenic Shaving Cream leaves your skin smooth and moisturized. It can be lathered up with a Shaving Brush or with fingers. Available at Holt Renfrew, Spa Etho's on west 4th and Beauty Mark in Yaletown. Once your man tries it, he'll never use anything else.

A Safe Place

Pottery Barn has hit it big this winter with their multitude line of jewelry boxes for women and men. I also saw a really nice black one that is similar to the brown one shown here at Costco for only $76.00!

Slave In The Kitchen

A great gift for the kitchen slave. Fruits & Passion offers you this mini Hand Care Duo in Ginger and Sicilian Lemon fragrance for the holidays. This duo contains Regenerating Hand Cream with Olive Oil and Olive Leaf Extract and a Purifying Hand Wash with First Cold Pressed Olive Oil presented in a stainless steel stand.

Miraculous Cures

The Giller Prize was founded in 1994 to honour the memory of the late Doris Giller, an outstanding literary journalist who died of cancer in April 1993. Her husband founded the Giller Prize and was assisted by several friends - most notably the late Mordecai Richler, author Alice Munro, and academician David Staines - in building the Prize's creative template. It is the first ever co-sponsorship for Canada’s richest literary award for fiction. One of the shortlist books is a guaranteed good read for bookworm in the family. They most likely will not have any of the books because they were just released this month. The Giller Prize winner for 2006 was Bloodletting & Miraculous Cures.

Click

Ease the pain and purchase a universal remote control for the man in your life. Supports TV, DVD, VCR, Cable, Satellite and CD. Large colour-coded buttons with advanced DVD and satellite functionality. Available at Canadian Tire and all electronic shops.

Parfumerie Pendant

The D.L. & Co. Modern Alchemy brass pocket watch from Anthropologie reveals a soft scent and is a classic present for a dear friend or sweetheart. Enclosed is a scent made of soy and maple wax infused with plant and flower essences. Three perfume scents are available.

Yosemite

Ansel Adams Yosemite paperback original features Ansel Adams's photographs of his beloved Yosemite National Park. It includes "Clearing Winter Storm" and "Moon and Half Dome". From the age of 14, Adams visited Yosemite virtually every year of his life, and his short quotes about experiencing the grandeur of Yosemite are interspersed with his photographs. Over 75 prints are included in this book. It's a perfect coffee table book for the outdoorsman.

The Ansel Adams "Trees" book is also a favourite of mine.

Prince Charming

Bath toy scoop, drain, and storage. Attaches to virtually any bathtub wall. Fingers and toes act as pegs for hanging bath accessories. The removable scoop provides a quick and easy way to pick up bath toys. Drain holes in the scoop allow you to rinse and drain bath toys in bulk. Built-in shelf for bath products. Available at London Drugs stores.

Rub A Dub Dub

Bath Goods—a collection of fifteen bath appliqués, three balls, and two mini-scrubbies—makes bath time a creative and playful experience.These designer toys do not absorb water, reducing mold and mildew. Their contemporary colors and funky forms look great in the modern bath. The mini-scrubbies are designed to fit little hands perfectly. Available at all London Drugs stores and many online stores.

Sun Jar

Go Green and store up sunshine during the day so you can use it at night! Made of beautiful frosted glass, the Sun Jar comes equipped with a solar-powered cell and rechargeable battery. Its energy efficient LED light will automatically switch on when it gets dark to give you 5 hours of candle-like light. It's a perfect gift for the enviro friendly friend!

Everyone Poops!

Books about the human body, especially those about human waste or other body “by-products” seem to hold a special fascination for young children. Everyone Poops is part biology textbook, part sociological treatise and a total celebration of a very natural process. The text is simple and straightforward with a touch of humor. From elephants to mice, camels to grown-ups, kids will learn that no matter if you walk on two legs or four, or swim in the sea, we all have one this one thing in common! A great aid for children making the transition from diapers to using the toilet. Ages 2+. Also check out "The Gas We Pass".

Gift For The Crafter

Cherish your memories and make your moments in time last forever with this Glass Ornament/Magnet Making Kit. This kit allows you to make three personalized Venetian Glass Magnets or Ornaments with your treasured photos.

Family Tree

The tradition of the family tree was popularized by the Victorians, who used them as a means of tracking and remembering a family’s unique history. The tradition is modernized in our sophisticated birthstone family tree necklace. Here, up to three birthstones can be set within the delicately forged sterling-silver tree—one for each child or family member.