If giving either of these as gifts, I'd suggest careful wording and/or explanation, as in, "You certainly don't need these, but..."

Seletti Leather Skip Rope: $60.00, Buy it here.

Seletti's BoxItalia range lets you recreate gym conditions in your own home. This professional-standard 2.5m leather skipping rope with gold metal handles comes in a drawstring bag for training when travelling.

Vita Weights: $115.00, Buy it here.

Made from stainless steel, these ergonomically shaped weights are both an ease to use and beatiful to look at.

[posted by katie]

This would be an excellent gift idea...though you'd be smart to order now to make sure it arrives before the holidays.

Go ahead - say something sweet in sterling silver. Our custom bracelets are expertly cast and hand-stamped with your message. Made in USA. Ships in 1-3 weeks.

Measures 1/8" wide, 5 1/2" circumference.
$60.00, Buy it here.

[posted by katie]

Come on, be man or woman enough to admit it's cute and that you want one too.

30 x 30 cm (12 x 12")
$75.00, Buy it here.

[posted by katie]

It's not even cold where I live and I'm already sort of obsessed with gloves and arm warmers. Sorry.

you don't have to feel bad about splurging a bit because they act not only as daily-wear short gloves, but also have a button-on elbow length extension for super cold nights (and extra va-va-voom). Made from 100% Cashmere. Available in black or heather grey. One size.

$59.50, Buy it here.

[posted by katie]

Drives are super easy to misplace, but this loop and lanyard one looks like it has that particular problem solved.

Technology comes full circle. A simple geometric shape adds fun and function to this 2Gb USB travel drive. The lanyard and bold shape ensure that it won't get lost amid your other travel accessories. The sealed plastic shell is durable and easy to clean, and the cleverly-designed shape creates a substantial spot for holding, inserting and removing.

White or Orange.
$59.00, Buy it here.

[posted by katie]

Perfectly simple, this digital clock is an excellent choice beside the bed; it's durable, minimal in style, and rather affordable.

Streamlined and functional, this clock has a rubberized resin case, large easy-to-read digital display, beep-alarm, date function, and a 12- or 24-hour format option. Two AA batteries required (not included).

3.25h x 7w x 1.5"d
$65.00, $58.50 Members, Buy it here.

[posted by katie]

I've posted the Bailey Doesn't Bark Wall Plates before, and seeing as this cup and saucer set is a bit more affordable it deserves its own place in the spotlight.

The ants were individually hand painted by me, Re Jin, then transfered onto ceramic decal paper. Hand decorated onto a beautiful, classic set of cup and saucer. decals fired. microwave + dishwasher safe. original illustration by re jin lee @ bailey doesn’t bark...all bdb items are wrapped in a gift box.

Porcelain, Cup: 3Hx3.5D (8oz), Saucer: 6D
$55.00, Buy it here.

[posted by katie]

Does anyone else think these look infinitely more comfortable to use than regular two-pronged (for lack of a better term) scissors?

A great all-purpose scissor to have around the house for precision cutting of paper, fabric and other materials, these Craft Scissors are forged from high-grade carbon steel with tungsten. Called a “grip scissor,” the centuries-old design has been discovered in several ancient cultures, including Greece, Egypt and China. Made in Japan by Kiya, a 200-year-old cutlery specialty shop.

H 4.25" W 1" D .25" Carbon steel with tungsten
$55.00, Buy it here.

[posted by katie]

Barnes & Noble recently expanded their inventory to include home items and other miscellany, and look what had me looking twice- this elegant messenger bag made from natural recycled leather for $56 buckaroos. This same style is also available in the orientation of a regular briefcase for $59.00: Buy it here.

Hand crafted in Fabriano, Italy, this handsome Messenger Bag boasts a simple yet striking design. With a retractable handle/shoulder strap and enough room for folders, magazines, portfolios, etc., it's the perfect combination of functionality and style. Plus it's made from natural recycled leather, a rugged, environmentally friendly material that is used for furniture and other heavy-duty applications. Easy to care for and extremely resistant to stains, wear, and tear.

by San Lorenzo International, Inc.
Also available in Cognac.
12.5" x 10.5" x 2"
$55.95, Buy it here.

[posted by katie]

If you're the type to take notes or write down your daily observations, these notebooks make it easy to mark the date.

Art museum catalogue designer Atremio Croatto created these striped tone-on-tone blue Notebooks (2007) for the Milan-based Nava Design, which specializes in highly stylized paper products. Clever page headers allow the diarist to circle the day, month and year for accurate tracking of observations. Perforated sheets make passing notes a snap. Sold in packs of 5.

Pocket (Small)- Set of 5: H 5" W 3.5", $40.00
A5 (Medium)- Set of 5: H 8.25” W 6”, $50.00
A4 (Large)- Set of 5: H 11.75” W 8.25”, $60.00
Buy it here.

[posted by katie]