my favorite things 2007

When I worked at Barnes and Noble, I got used to having hundreds of people call and buy and order things moments after Oprah told them what they wanted. I can say, without a doubt, that there is nothing on Oprah's annual list of expensive crap you supposedly can't live without that looks even slightly tempting to me.

If you want actual nice things to buy for a girl you know, I offer (once again) my annual list of nifty things. I can promise that anything here will be greatly appreciated by whatever sister/wife/girlfriend/daughter-type person you have on your list. Plus nothing here even comes close to the price of Oprah's favorite cupcakes.

Actually Good and Affordable Gifts That Are Not From Mall-Wart

Necklaces with nifty literary quotes like this and this. (the latter was a gift I recieved last year, and I wear it every single day).

Maggie's organic cotton mantra socks and tights. Best. Thing. Ever. Girls like socks and big girl tights are generally icky.

Under the Canopy makes really pretty, comfortable, 100% organic pajamas/nightgowns that are also reasonably priced. I think just about any girl on your list would like these. Girls like pajamas.

Wonderfalls on DVD. The best television series you probably never saw because it got cancelled after a few episodes.

Dark chocolate with poetry.

Leaf Nightlight (I'll admit that I probably would not have bought this full-price, but I got one at Anthropolgie on clearance. It actually has turned out to be one of my favorite things, and now that I know how much I like it, I think it would be worth full price.)

You may think cleaning supplies are a crappy gift. You are so wrong.

For a child:
Me, my cape, and i . I admit - it's a wee bit expensive (although it's still cheaper than those darn cupcakes Oprah likes so much) - but does it get any better? (nope)
(also for boys)

Comments

[Robin M.]

Well, I'd like the new set of measuring spoons, and I already have the mixer featured on Oprah's list. My mother gave it to me for my birthday one year. Biggest present she ever gave me and I love it. But it's not a good choice for a wife, I'd say.

Is the poetry good that comes with the chocolate?

[amy]

robin - i don't enjoy cooking, so i am a horrible judge of appliances. i do have spoons/cups that look almost identical to these from crate & barrel and the handles on some of the spoons broke and they are chunky to store. i'm not a huge fan of melanime (sp?) because it gets so weird in the microwave.

the chocolate is good. i like the ginger one the most. it's not overly sweet - i like a low sugar/ high cocoa concentration in my chocolate. i've seen it at whole foods and even at one of our target stores.

[Rebecca]

I have to agree that most of Oprah's list are unnecessary and over-rated.... but the KitchenAid mixer is fabulous. If you can afford one, they are the most useful kitchen appliance ever and hold up to high levels of use and abuse. I actually have one on my wishlist:-)

[Gypsy]

*Ok, first of all, no cupcake should cost that much.

*Love the tip on Maggie's organics - can't wait to get some:) Comfy tights & socks make me happy. Man, and they need to make some good feelin' tights for pregnant women. When I was pregnant with Jack we had this fabulous getaway to Keystone for a friend's wedding. I couldn't find any good tights before I left and had to commit some kind of crazy cirque de soleil contortions to get into them. I almost hurt myself because once I got both feet in I was stuck and I was SO pregnant. It was not pretty.

*One of my favorite possessions is my Under the Canopy kimono bathrobe. I bought it one day at Whole Foods when I was pregnant with Ian and on a sushi craving run with Jack. Every time I put it on it makes me happy.

*Just checked out Wonderfalls on youtube to see what it was - love it:) Miraculously the military library here in Germany has it. They are notorious for having terrible libraries but the girl who orders for this one is eccentric and has great taste in films.

Love the chocolate & the nightlight! Anthropologie has never disappointed me and I'm afraid of the dark so I just might.

*I love Meyer's Lavender stuff - yum:)

*The only thing I liked on Oprah's list was the Shaklee stuff. My Mom used to sell it and though I wasn't on the bandwagon for organic/natural stuff at the time - it is still on my list of products I love. Mainly the cleaning stuff because it lasts a long time.

*I really like it when friends like you make lists like this!

[amy]

gypsy - you'll adore wonderfalls.

i am so anxious to have you closer. you have no idea.