Holiday Gift Guide: Campfire candle holder

This no fuss campfire is the perfect gift for the urban dweller or the camping enthusiast. The candle is powered by an on/off switch, so there's no messy wax to deal with. The price makes it a great gift for a friend, coworker, or neighbor.

$20 at fredflare

Holiday Gift Guide: Flying Alarm Clock

Maybe the most annoying but useful gift you can give that late riser in your life. The propeller flies off the base and the alarm doesn't turn off unless it's retrieved and returned. Ingenius and infuriating.

$29.99 at firebox

Holiday Gift Guide: Sun and Moon jars

Store up some sunlight with these solar-charged glow lamps. Beautiful, simple, and batteries do not need to be included.

$29-35 at thinkgeek.com

Holiday Gift Guide: Organic Wood bowls

These dramatic and rustic wooden bowls are technically serving bowls, but they can function as centerpieces or pure sculpture.

$39-69 at Pottery Barn

A portrait you can hold in your hand

... or set on a pedestal. Turn Your Head makes wooden statues that fill the space between two opposing views of a profile. Next to a wall, the shadow cast is a clear silhouette of the face.

$149.95 at Turn Your Head

Little Joseph Candle

Don't wait for Halloween to freak out your guests.

$79 at Gnr8 (generate)

Bowl of stones

Natural stone is always popular for its beauty in the home, but polished marble and granite don't exactly channel the great outdoors. This river stones bowl actually looks like rocks in nature- the pebbles in resin replicate their "native underwater appearance".

Only $155 for a bunch of rocks

Floating Round Settee

Inflatable paradise.

Now $79.50 on Frontgate

Staple-free stapler

Huh? That's what I said. But I'd like to believe that we've found a way to put it all together without refills. Paper joinery, if you will. It's en route to my house of empty staplers, so I'll let you know how it turns out.

$6.95 at cb2

Stormglass Weather Forecaster

My husband is always complaining about the poor track record of our weather forecasters. His running commentary seems to suggest that these meteorologists are merely guessing. So this weather predictor, used since the 18th century, will be his next gift. Supposedly in tune with the electromagnetic changes in the atmosphere, there are 5 crystal formations which predict whether changes.

$155 at the Monticello store

Still life bowl

You no longer have to be an artist to create a still life for your room. A bit tongue-in-cheek, the still life bowl designed by Barnaby Barford and Andre Klauser frames your fruit and other produce into an immediate work of art.

$79 at generate

Saggy balls

Catchy blog titles aside, these ceramic bowls look like deflated basketball and soccer balls in need of a good pump. Ahem. Fruitballs are a great buy for the sports lover in need of a new chip bowl or for cubicle dwellers in need of a catchall for their desk.

$59.95 at firebox

accessories of war

The tank U bud vase comes in white, silver, gold, and a particularly precious floral. A little statement for peace to dress up your home.

$90 at A + R store


This necklace brings together a floral garland and brass gun for a little jewelry juxtaposition. A small dagger hangs off the delicate chain for good measure.

$36 at Chocosho

kapoosh UNIVERSAL knife block

Thousands of rods shift and rearrange to make room for your knives and other big utensils, whatever their dimensions or brands. I'm guessing that the counter-space-stealing-slot-based knife blocks will soon be a thing of the past.

$49.99 on amazon

World's Tallest Roses

A rose is a rose is a rose is a rose, as Gertrude Stein's famous phrase goes. But I doubt Ms. Stein ever saw these roses, which are over five feet tall. The rose heads are 3-4 inches in diameter. They are sure to make a BIG impression, and hopefully the recipient appreciates the grand gesture and ignores the slightly sci-fi feel.

$249.95 on organicbouquet.com

floating bed

Just looking at this bed makes me drowsy. If the gentle rocking of a boat or a hammock puts you to sleep, then the floating bed is for you. If those same motions make you want to puke, then it wouldn't be your cup of tea. The site also tells us that you won't like it if you "go to bed extremely intoxicated on alcohol." So it's not for fall-down drunks.

But the makers promise that the floating motion will give you the most restful sleep of your life. For someone who suffers with major insomnia, this bed is mighty tempting. I feel the shopping cart itch to click, even if it is a few Gs and the website could use a serious facelift.


$3,195 for the queen

water sculpture

Don't groan, because this water sculpture is absolutely maintenance-free. There are no liquids involved. It doesn't claim to hold Zenlike properties or any feng shui power. A modern sculpture by Pennsylvania glassblower Gary Guydosh, it will transform any surface it touches.

$45 at uncommongoods

digital fireplace

You only need a TV and a DVD player to get this fire started and these flames will never go out. Completely safe and maintenance free, this fireplace comes in nine different versions from a fancy schmancy marble setup to an outdoor campfire to a just flames picture. The DVD also comes with soundtracks for background music or the sounds of a crackling fire.

$14.95 on vat19

To extend the experience, the site also sells fireplace scented candles. Go even further with a s'mores maker on amazon.

Safety first, as we learn from the streets of NYC:

Apartment Burning Fireplace Included

Woman on cell: Yes...oh, right! You haven't seen the place...Yeah, they just redecorated. Well, they painted. And used a lot of varnish on everything....The place is superflammable.

--91st & Lexington

via Overheard in New York, Mar 4, 2005

pippi fans unite!

This whimsical armchair in 'Helsinki floral' sports cute curves and legs. It belongs in Villa Veluka, home to the strongest girl in the whole world. She is also filthy rich, which explains why a nine-year old can afford this uncheap chair.

Confused? Make up for your deprived childhood and read some Astrid Lindgren. You won't be sorry.

$1,498 at anthropologie

wave table

This out-of-this-world console table is also far-from-cheap. But the wave design keeps all that mail and those magazines neatly slotted, and that’s worth at least $600, right? Front hall chic.

$1,059 at homefrenzy.com