In the busyness of the holiday season, you may have forgotten your once-best social-media friend, Pinterest. Luckily, this year’s gift guide features all the presents fit to pin — without the hassle of having to find a wireless connection.
My Style
Three-tier personalized necklace
A hand-stamped personalized necklace with your choices of initials and a heart detail on the top tier. Made of sterling silver, antiqued copper and brass, the piece can be worn on your choice of 16-inch or 18-inch faceted ball chain. $58, Creative Kidstuff
Minnetonka Moccasins, Wren line
The L.A.-based ready-to-wear design team puts a modern spin on the Thunderbird classic. Adult styles start at $65, General Store of Minnetonka
Leather wristlet
A timeless gift for a friend who’s got it all, this leather wristlet is great for carting the essentials to holiday party after holiday party. Styles start at $24 for smaller sizes, $34 for larger sizes, Ooh La La
Gilbert Dot red tie, the Shelby Knot Collection
Former WCCO anchor Don Shelby made the Shelby knot famous and now he’s created his own line of classy neckwear. The Gilbert Dot red tie has subtle patterning that stands out above the rest. Gift it with free Shelby knot lessons from Don himself (see shelbyknot.com for details). $85-$90, King Brothers Clothiers
For the Home
Voluspa candles and diffusers
These candles use a coconut wax blend to offer an extremely clean burn compared with soy waxes. With many sizes to choose from, these fragrant candles are must-haves. $8 to $20, Lili Salon Spa
Custom throw pillow
Made in the good ol’ U.S. of A., this linen and cotton pillow serves as a lovely welcome-to-our-home sign. Personalize it with your family’s name and address or use it to commemorate a wedding or anniversary. $130, Creative Kidstuff
Toffee mother-of-pearl soap/lotion pump
New from Orono artist Julia Knight, this soap/lotion pump, hand-painted with crushed mother-of-pearl to give it a beautiful luster, is a lovely addition to your bathroom. $60, Five Swans
Rustic wall art
Handmade in Wisconsin from salvaged tobacco lath, these pieces come in many different sizes and some even have a spot for a photograph. A unique addition to your home. Starting at $29.95, General Store of Minnetonka
Michaelian home rug
This rectangular Woodbyne outdoor rug is part of the newest collection of outdoor rugs from Michaelian. The hooked wool and leafy pattern make for an inviting porch welcome mat. Offered in a variety of sizes, prices start at $90, Five Swans
Products I Love
Ouidad climate control gel
A “smart” gel formulated with heat-activated wheat protein that breathes in humidity, protects the hair shaft and prevents hair from expanding. Even the most unruly curls stay calm, cool and collected with style that will last and last. Also works as great protection against blow-dryer heat when styling straight. $23/8.5 oz., Ovations Salon & Spa
CND Vinylux polish
The newest polish on the market offers five to seven more days of chip-resistant shine and color compared with other leading nail polishes. Applied like a regular polish, it continues to harden and strengthen in natural UV light. $8, Lili Salon Spa
Hand-warmer mug
Keep your hands toasty while you sip with a hand-warmer mug. Handmade in the United States, they’re dishwasher- and microwave-safe, making them practical and easy to clean. $19.95, General Store of Minnetonka
Revision Intellishade
This moisturizer offers a touch of sheer healthy color while providing SPF 45 to protect skin from UVA and UVB damage. Even though it’s winter, it’s still important to protect your skin. $48, Lili Salon Spa
Whiskey stones and wine pearls
Keep your whiskey, scotch, liqueur or wine cool without watering down your drink. These stones or pearls can be frozen and added to a cold beverage or microwaved to keep coffee or tea hotter longer. Eight large whisky stones or four wine pearls, $24.95, General Store of Minnetonka
Books Worth Reading
David and Goliath: Underdogs, Misfits, and the Art of Battling Giants by Malcolm Gladwell
The bestselling author of The Tipping Point, Blink and Outliers, Malcolm Gladwell’s newest release offers a new perspective on how we think about obstacles and challenges. $29
Counting by 7s by Holly Goldberg Sloan
When 12-year-old genius Willow Chance loses her adoptive parents, the only people she’s ever felt connected to in a car crash, she pushes through her grief to discover the real meaning of family. A great read for middle-schoolers. $16.99
Tamarack County by William Kent Krueger
Local author William Kent Krueger again takes readers into Tamarack County, Minnesota, the gateway to the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, to follow former sheriff Cork O’Connor as he digs into a recent disappearance that has ties to a 20-year-old murder case. $24.99
The Day the Crayons Quit by Drew Daywalt; illustrated by Oliver Jeffers
At school, Duncan discovers a stack of letters from his crayons: They’ve had enough. Illustrator Oliver Jeffers captures the problems and personalities of each color, from Red’s “You make me work harder than any of your other crayons” to orange and yellow’s feud over who is the real color of the sun. A pleasure to read aloud; children will appreciate Duncan’s brilliant solution. $17.99
All books are available at Excelsior Bay Books
Food
Pizza stone by Emily Henry
This stone cleans easily thanks to the enamel coating, so you don’t have to worry about the greasy residue that often happens with more traditional, porous-stone pizza stones. Comes in round and rectangle, red or black. $55 for the round, Five Swans
Mini Minnesota gift basket
Featuring Lunds & Byerly’s private-label pure maple syrup, Minnesota pancake mix, Minnesota wild rice and a special Northern Lights seasoning, these delicious items come in an adorable Minnesota-shaped basket. $39.99, Lunds, Wayzata
Modern Mediterranean: Easy, Flavorful Home Cooking, by Melia Marden; photographs by Lucy Schaeffer
Melia Marden makes the heart-healthy Mediterranean diet almost irresistible in this sumptuously photographed cookbook. The executive chef at The Smile in New York gives advice on stocking the pantry and encouragement to try new things (like preserving your own lemons for Moroccan recipes and making ricotta cheese from scratch). Most recipes are simple and manageable for the real-life cook, which means your copy will be full of bookmarks in no time. $35, Excelsior Bay Books
Gefu french-fry maker
Gefu is a new line of high-quality German kitchen gadgets that has recently been introduced to the United States. This particular gadget cuts french fries and other veggies into perfectly square slices. $74, Five Swans
Silicone lids
Aside from keeping your food fresh (and eliminating the need for plastic wrap), these airtight lids are made from silicone that is safe at temperatures up to 450 degrees, making them perfect to cover steaming vegetables or prevent spills while cooking. The lids come in sizes to fit all different types of container, from cups to baking dishes, and are available in several patterns, including classic sunflower, hibiscus, a banana leaf and a festive fall pumpkin. Prices start at $7.95, General Store of Minnetonka
Three dipping oils
This trio of dipping oils is perfect for enhancing meats and vegetables or dipping your favorite artisan bread. The Napa Valley dipping oil set features the Lunds & Byerly’s private-label classic Tuscan, roasted garlic parmesan and sun-dried tomato balsamic dipping oil. $24.99, Lunds, Wayzata
Where to Shop
Creative Kidstuff
1135 E. Wayzata Blvd., Wayzata
952.249.1701
Excelsior Bay Books
36 Water St., Excelsior
952.401.0932
Five Swans
315 E. Lake St., Wayzata
952.473.4685
General Store of Minnetonka
14401 Highway 7, Minnetonka
952.935.7131
Lili Salon Spa
5757 Sanibel Dr., Ste. 1, Minnetonka
952.935.5000
Lunds
1151 Wayzata Blvd., Wayzata
952.476.2226
Ooh La La
274 Water St., Excelsior
952.474.1743
Ovations Salon & Spa
2461 Highway 7, Excelsior
952.474.8777
