bltd

Here’s to a very Happy New Year to you and your favorite people. On a side note, we’re taking this next week off for travel. Enjoy your first few days of 2017!
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Can you believe 2016 is coming to a close? Whether this year has been wonderful or difficult, now’s a good time to reflect and ruminate on what you’d like the new year to be. I’m planning to travel to more far-flung destinations and learn at least one new language. And you? What will you do?
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Here’s hoping this holiday weekend will be the best you’ve had yet. Relax, have fun, and stay warm!
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Still on the hunt for the perfect gift? You’d best be quick. Remember, you can click on over to our Gifts category, where items have been sorted according to price. Plus, the Gift Guides are always fun to peruse. Some retailers are offering next day shipping, but if not, best hit the sidewalks or roads for local shops. Happy shopping!

Gifts Under $25
Gifts $26-$50
Gifts $51-$75
Gifts $76-$100
Gifts $100+
GIFT GUIDES

Stefan Boublil, the creative director of the apartment, is next to share his wish list of gifts to give/receive this holiday season. Thank you, Stefan, for continuing the tradition!
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A beautiful bottle opener? In this case, it’s true. Cofield’s bottle openers are solid brass with three available patina finishes. A polished edge sets off the patina nicely, and somewhat gives an illusion of inset stone. Now, the hard part will be deciding which patina you prefer- do you like the Polychrome, Turquoise, or Black best? Be sure to take a look at Cofield’s Brass Clocks too, which have the same patina treatment.
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These silicone lids will make leftovers a snap. Just stick them on any sheet, pan, or bowl, and you’re done- no separate container necessary. That’s music to anyone’s ears, but especially to those of us with a slight case of lazybones around the holidays. They also keep food hot (a small one for your coffee, perhaps?), or can stand in as the top of a saucepan. Get them for yourself, or as a ‘happy holidays’ sort of host/hostess gift. Also available in a rectangular shape.
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There’s a good chance someone you know will give or get a VR Headset this holiday season, especially as many retailers are promoting them like crazy. And, yes, you could plonk down $130 for the Zeiss VR ONE Plus Headset or $40-$60 on the many other options, but maybe you’d rather spend $15 just to see what all the fuss is about. These paper Virtual Reality Glasses are easy to assemble/disassemble and could be the perfect stocking stuffer or Secret Santa gift.
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– Women Who Draw (via slate)

– Cute Wooden Toys

– Useful Stedi Hands-Free Funnel

– Something to think about for the new year: I kept a Happiness Jar for a year to get data on how to build a more joyful life

– A versatile furniture system on Kickstarter: GO – Growing Object

– Cute: Recycled Skateboard Geometric Air Plant Holder (the cutting board is pretty neat, too)

– Another interesting travel pillow: Infinity Pillow

– Precision Machined Pepper Mill

– Pretty Painterly Spectrum Resin Lamp

Simplicity at its best, designer Athanasios Babalis reimagined the corkscrew to sidestep all the extraneous design elements in favor of pure function and form. The O Corkscrew requires only a twist and pull. The bronze and stainless steel will look right at home next to all your fancy bottles of wine and holiday fare, so feel free to leave it out to make imbibing that much easier, and possibly more delightful.
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Does full realization of adulthood hit when you start lusting after nice glassware? If you’ve led a fortunate life, perhaps so. The Rare Whiskey Glass by Fferrone has a slight curve towards its mouth which helps enhance the flavor of your favorite distilled beverage by concentrating the aroma. Each glass is handcrafted by master glassblowers in the Czech Republic from borosilicate glass. Sold as a set of two, it’s a perfect gift for someone who cares about their whiskey.
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The next wish list is from Simon Yuen, a former writer for us here at BLTD, and an all around maker of stuff. He runs Recreation Department in Portland, so if you ever have a party there and need some games, you know who to call. Thank you, Simon, for sharing your list!
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However will you keep track of your daily habits in the new year? Well, get this big SuperYR Calendar by Supergraph, as then you’d be able to cross off each and every day that you complete your task. Seeing a visual of your impressive progress will keep you on track and focused… that’s the plan, anyways. It can be used every year thanks to the UV laminated surface, and you can always flip it to the other side for a horizontal/vertical change. It’s magnetic too, so use a few magnets to pin notes and miscellany, if you so desire. Fun fact: the calendar was inspired by Jerry Seinfeld’s motivational technique.
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Remember the Ostrich Travel Pillow from Banana Things? Those same good folks are back with the Ostrich Pillow Go, which is a little more like your normal travel neck pillow, but better. Total neck support is possible thanks to the big, comfy headrest made of high-sensitivity memory foam. Hidden magnetic buttons ensure three different positions for all neck sizes. You may still get a few funny looks walking through the airport or train station, but you’ll have had a wonderful, restful journey, while all those other suckers will be complaining about neck pain. Note: there’s only 22 hours left to back the project over on Kickstarter.
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Um, how excited are you about a button-down shirt that has hidden reflective strips? If your answer is less than exclamation-point-worthy, you may want to ask someone who depends on alternative means of transportation, like bicycles or skateboards and the like, and see how excited they are, because then I can give them a high five.
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