Nifty Gifties for Him! A Men's Gift Guide

Here are some gift ideas for that guy in your life.  Guys are so much harder to shop for than women, for the most part. Hope these suggestions are helpful!

Gifts for Him by janalyssa on Polyvore

1. Shaving Set ($60) - Even guys deserve pampering sometimes, and this set includes fancy soap and a bristle brush for a closer shave.  You could also get him a gift certificate to The Art of Shaving, where he can get a fancy-shmancy shave with a straight razor.  I gave a gift certificate to my husband  before our wedding; I figured, if I was getting spa treatments, maybe he'd like something somewhat similar (but manlier, of course!).

2. Robot Tea Infuser ($15) - If he's a tea drinker, he might like this cool robot; it sits in your tea cup and helps evenly infuse hot water.  Pair it with a fancy loose leaf tea blend, and you have a great gift. 

3. Death Star Ice Mold ($10) - If he prefers to drink something a little stronger, he might like this awesomely geeky ice mold.  Large spheres of ice melt more slowly, so they cool your drink without watering it down.  I got my husband these simple sphere molds for Hanukkah, but the Death Star ones are just so cool!

4. Adidas Track Pants ($30) - My brother asked for comfortable pants that he could actually wear outside the house.  He usually relaxes in giant basketball shorts, but those aren't always the best things to wear to a grocery store, and sweatpants can look somewhat sloppy.  These pants are comfortable and breathable but cool enough to wear in public. Plus, they have pockets!

5. Merino Wool Sweater ($80) - Every guy needs a warm, fashionable sweater this time of year. This one has features a v-neck and neutral stripes that will go with jeans or dressier pants; even the pickiest of guys can't argue with simple navy stripes! J. Crew has been running some great promotions, so watch for those!

6. MistoBox ($45 for 3 month subscription) - If he's a caffeine addict, he might appreciate this subscription box delivered to his door each month.  Each box contains 4 unique types of coffee beans from artisan roasters.  If he finds one he loves, he can order it on the site with free shipping.  Make sure he has a grinder - or you can add one on if you'd like.  Check their website and Facebook page for special deals!  Right now, you can get your first box for $5!

7. Modern Briefcase ($248) - This practical office essential is cool, not stuffy, and has a great vintage patina.  It will help him get organized and look professional yet stylish.  It may seem pricey, but it's high quality leather and can be worn as a messenger bag or briefcase-style. It's the kind of thing he'll carry for years.  This one is from Fossil, but you can find similar styles at Banana Republic, J. Crew, Kenneth Cole, or department stores.

8.  Automobile Magazine Subscription ($10 for a year) - If he's into cars, he'll love this monthly magazine - and he'll think about you for a whole year!  Magazines are awesome (and generally affordable) gifts.  If he's not a car guy, there are about a zillion other options. Just google his interests plus "magazine," and check out what comes up!

9. Record Coasters ($18) - These colorful, useful coasters are made from real vinyl record labels.  They're the perfect gift for a music lover - everyone needs coasters, especially if you're hosting any holiday parties, and these ones have personality!

Happy shopping!  Remember to check RetailMeNot for coupon codes before you buy online!

Review - Zoom Groom

I'm taking a quick break from holiday cheer to bring you a review of a new product I received yesterday.  Our dog, Wilson, is the best dog ever.  He's sweet, loving, and loyal, and it doesn't hurt that he's also super cute and mega soft.

Glamour shots!  Anyway, Wilson, who is a rescue dog of indeterminate breed, but likely some sort of cross between a mini Australian Shepherd and a long-haired chihuahua or dachshund, is one sheddy long-haired puppy.  Seriously.  Now that we have wood floors, we sometimes see tumbleweeds of black Wilson fur gathering in corners.  Yikes.  On the one hand, his fur rarely needs to be cut, but on the other, there is fur everywhere!

We have used the Furminator deshedding tool since we adopted him; it works really well at getting the under layer of loose hair out.  However, it's a little bit rough on him - it's made of metal, and he gets squirmy when we use it and runs away.  Some dogs love it, but Wilson seems to think it's too harsh, which makes us not want to use it.  

A groomer friended recommended Zoom Groom by Kong, maker of all things durable and rubber for dogs.  They're much less expensive than the Furminator - mine was about $5 on Amazon - and are made of rubber with little rubber fingers.  I tried it right away, and to my surprise, Wilson loved it! It likely just feels like being pet and is very gentle.  It trapped a good deal of hair, though  not as much as the Furminator... though I think it's worth it to use the Zoom Groom instead, because Wilson tolerates it so much better. He holds perfectly still while we're grooming him and even leans into the brush instead of struggling to run under the table.  A good brushing with the Zoom Groom left Wilson very sleek, as the rubber fingers also help with natural oil production, which helps keep his coat shiny.

The Zoom Groom gets an 8 on the Awesome Meter.  I don't think it gets as much excess fur off as the Furminator, but it's a more gentle choice. I read that it works better on short-haired dogs.  It can also be used when bathing and shampooing your dog.  I purchased the small one (Wilson is 13 pounds), but there is a larger model for bigger dogs, and there's even one for cats!

This could be a great stocking stuffer for a pet lover.