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Gifts Galore, Valley Scene's Holiday Gift Guide
By Cindy Ferraino
Long before the Halloween decorations were taken off the shelves and marked down at a deep discount, retailers were ready to take a ride on the Holiday bandwagon. Major stores like Target, Macy's and even Bed Bath and Beyond were decked out in holiday regale. Years ago, someone coined the sales pitch "Christmas in July" to catch shoppers in the buying mood while they were still wearing shorts and flip-flops but now it seems like any month gives us the opportunity to get a jump start on crossing off those must have gifts off your shopping list.
In keeping up the with the tradition of getting in the holiday shopping mood, Valley Scene Magazine has come up with some great ideas to top your 2009 Guide to Holiday Gifts for everyone on the list. And if your list includes your boss, the kid's bus driver, and so on, then we hope you can find that perfect gift just for them.
Giving the gift of relaxation and beauty is always a popular favorite especially for that special someone who needs to earn some extra brownie points because the Thanksgiving feast and football party left some interesting party favors behind. One fabulous place to score those brownie points is at the Spa Luce.
Spa Luce is located at the Renaissance Hollywood Hotel at the Hollywood and Highland Center. Honored with an appearance as a hot spot on the 2009 Conde Nast Awards Travel List, Spa Luce is 6400 sq. ft mecca of rest and relaxation. Guests of Spa Luce can get the total star treatment and indulge in the eucalyptus-infused steam rooms. If you are in line at the refreshment bar, you may be able to see some Hollywood A list folks like Cameron Diaz and Gwyneth Paltrow. Once you have been outfitted with a true celebrity spa extravaganza, guest may want to show off their manis (manicures) and pedis (pedicures) at the rooftop pool. While taking a few strokes in the pool, you can catch a glimpse of the beautiful Hollywood Hills. Spa Luce has just released a new line of products by Dr. Sharon Zadanoff.
Suppose the person on your list has started to begin their New Year's resolution promises in order to try to keep them past the dropping of the ball in Times Square, then there several options to browse from to help them stay on track.
If someone, you know has expressed the fact that they would love to see their clothes fit a little better, you have cinched your way to a perfect gift for them. The "Universal Contour Wrap (UCW) Home Care Kit" is an exfoliating treatment that promotes an "inch-loss that lasts up to 30 days in just 80 minutes." This product has gotten rave reviews from Hollywood queens Paula Abdul and Paris Hilton.
Suffering from an injury that was caused by an overzealous reason to get out a jog with the family dog can feel a little bit with the help of Herb Cool. Herb Cool is part of the healthy product line of Elemental Herbs. Monterey based Elemental Herbs offers an easy to way to ease aches and pains the safe and natural way. Herb Cool is a mixture of 100% organic compounds and methanol. This fast acting spray works to reduce the pain and inflammation. In addition to Herb Cool, Elemental Herbs has other products that are organically safe and healthy to use.
Keeping your pearly whites healthy and clean is an easy job with products from Coral LLC. Coral LLC specializes in products made with above sea coral. In the beginning, coral calcium was used as a supplement and now Coral LLC has made products using the healthful benefits of coral. Coral White Toothpaste helps restore worn down enamel caused by foods, drinks and whatever we put into our mouths. This toothpaste is fluoride free. Coupled with the enamel-restoring factor, this toothpaste prevents cavities and bad breath that can lead to long-term dental problems like gingivitis. Coral White Toothpaste comes in two different sizes and flavors. The 2oz. tube retails for $2.99 and the 6oz. tube retails for $6.99.
What about the expectant mom neighbor or new mom co-worker who is looking to stay fit without fighting to get to the gym or just outdoors, there are classes to keep their fitness goals in check. Before she has the baby, mom can participate in a Fit4Baby class. After the little bundle of joy makes his/her entrance in the world, mom can take the stroller to a StollerStrides class.
Some other great products for the new mom in your life are the Bob's Weather Shield and Fuzzy Baby products. The Weather Shield protects the baby from feeling the affects of the elements while strolling along without a care in the world. The Weather Shield retails between $40.00-$55.00. The Fuzzy Baby wraps the stroller in cozy comfort for those chilly winter days. The Fuzzy Baby retails for $44.00.
For the aromatherapy lovin' person, the ultimate must have gift is Conscious Colors. Conscious Colors is a wonderful color palette of unique aromatherapy scents to lift the spirits of mind, body, and soul. The set arrives gift wrapped so you don't have to worry about scrounging around for wrapping paper or a gift bag.
For the fashionista or the metro male or your list, you will be struttin' down the runway with these great gifts.
Santa Clara based Indigenous Designs have woven comfortable stylish clothing with a dash of fashion. This company uses organic materials that are only found the fair-trade market. Since 1994, Indigenous Designs strives to be part of the green revolution by providing products that are environmentally safe and organic as well as icons for fashion.
For someone on your list who sports those funny and funky 80's style t-shirts, you will be break dancin' all the way through the holiday with a gift from BLEU! BLEU has a great selection of those '80's t-shirts that would make the Chip's (the California Highway Patrol) police officers pull you over just to check out the fancy duds.
No one can go wrong in the gift-giving department if you have a small box tucked underneath your hand. Jewelry has always topped the list of anyone's holiday list.
When Los Angeles artisan Reagan Rowland stumbled upon the ghost town of Calico, she had no idea of what she would uncover in this small dot of land between Las Vegas and Los Angeles. Rowland met a couple named Henry and Lou who had a knack for creating beautiful pieces of art. With the flair of design from Rowland and the artistic craftsmanship from Henry, the first Henri Lou design was unearthed. This design is called the "Henry Bracelet." The design collection includes fashionable pieces catering to the discriminating tastes of both men and women. Proceeds from the sales of the products will be donated to the "Plant a Billion Trees" campaign.
Calabasas residents JB and Cheryl Hertz can delight any person on your list with a special piece of uniquely handcrafted jewelry. Each piece of jewelry that JB Hertz designs is one of kind. Hertz uses old world techniques with a splash of trendy fashion to retell a wonderful story about the person that wears it. The husband and wife duo have been making memories last with their company called Ausloe Designs. Ausloe Designs will customize any type of jewelry that will keep you in the gold and silver lining of in the heart of someone special.
To keep the feet of someone special feeling so neat and sweet, a perfect gift treat will have you putting a definitely spring in your step.
If you are lucky enough to know someone who is planning a winter getaway vacation, what about treating them to a great pair of sandals from Flojos. The two hip styles for men and women are the Voyage for the sea loving guy and the Keira for the beach loving gal. The Voyage is designed for comfort as you slip on the shoes back on to stroll to the bar for another road of drinks. The Voyage retails for $48.00. The Keira is fun, freshly styled wedge with a comfortable strap that is perfect for cruising from shop to shop looking for the perfect sundress to add to your collection. The Keira retails for $28.00.
Oh no socks again for Dad. Dad won't have a chance to grimace a thank you when he opens up the box of Injinji Outdoor Performance Socks. These socks have a patented five-toe sleeve design that Dad will have round the clock comfort from morning until night. Another great product from Injinji is the Performance Toe Sock. The patented five-toe sleeve design reduces the friction between the toes while using the socks for sports, rest, and play. These fun colors and cool designs make the perfect gift for anyone. The toe socks retail for $14.00.
For the pet lovers who want it all for their best friends, you won't be heading to the doghouse or the fence to be howling or singing the gift giving blues.
To keep Fido safe from running the neighborhood at night in chase of the neighbor's cattail is the PupLight. The PupLight is a small light powered by three AAA batteries that can be attached the dog's collar or leash or even wide enough to fit around the dogs head. When the light is illuminated, the dog becomes more visible in the darkness. Inventor Jacki Simoni believes this product will "addresses a serious threat for dogs that all too often suffer trauma injuries or death when hit by motor vehicles, heart-breaking accidents."
Cat lovers can purr like kittens with a gift from Kitty City. Kitty City specializes in gifts for cats and the ones who love them. To indulge the senses of your furry little friend, the Velvet Catnip Mouse is a definite must. This mouse boasts a belly full of the aroma of catnip.
Cool twits will abound after the techie guru in your life receives a great holiday gift from you. CanvasPop can download pictures applications from your cell phone, Facebook and Twitter onto a fun piece of art you can display on your wall. CanvasPop has been designed to work with any size resolution and you can enlarge into multiple panels. Depending on what you want to create, CanvasPop starts at $35.00.
For the quirky person who always makes it on your gift-giving list, rub some DNA from a cup or napkin and send it off to DNA.com. The folks at DNA.com can take your DNA and transform it to great conversation piece as well as a quirky piece of artwork to display on a fuscha wall. Although this gift can maybe put a little dent in the budget at $199.00, it will definitely be worth it to tell everyone there will always be a piece of you on the wall.
Music lovers will enjoy the sounds of music when it comes from their number one gift giver. Vintage record shops can provide you with great ideas for someone who still knows what an 8 track or a record player looks like. For the ever-growing I-Pod and MP3 playing generation, legal musical downloads or music gift cards are must for these musically charged people.
A gift certificate to a favorite restaurant or one you recommend to go out on a limb for is a great gift idea. Gift certificates can be used at any time (just check the restaurant's policies) and most places allow you to use them on take-out orders too.
If you are still in doubt about what to give someone for the holidays, gift cards to food stores, local businesses, and shopping centers are a great gift and a way to bring attention to the businesses that need you to survive through this economy.
The holiday season may be fast approaching but the hype does not have to send you into a shopping frenzy nightmare. Most places offer online and over the phone services to make the shopping experience a little less hectic.
The best gift we can truly give is the gift of ourselves first and then we can follow up with another gift that celebrates the person's time and treasure that they pass along to us throughout the rest of the year.
For information on the products listed:
Spa Luce-Jennifer Craig
(310) 899-2900
The Universal Contour Home Wrap Kit
Zoe Grams
Curve Communications Group
Ltd.
122-1020 Mainland Street
Vancouver, BC V6B 2T5
T. 604-684-3170 x 106
C. 604-671-1648
F. 604-684-3171
zoe@curvecommunications.com
www.curvecommunications.com
Ausloe Designs
JB and Cheryl Hertz
www.ausloedesign.com
PupLight
Mrs. Jackie Simoni
President
CPA Systems, Inc.
Phone: 866-787-5444
Email: puplight@aol.com
The Catnip Mouse
www.kittycity.com
Bleu
www.bluprintcorp.com
DNA and CanvasPop
Adrian Salamunovic
Co-Founder
DNA 11 / CanvasPop
:: phone | 866.619.9574 x111
:: mobile | 310.796.9112
:: fax | 866.619.9574
DNA11.com
CanvasPop.com
For more information on Henri Lou, please visit www.henriloujewelry.com or contact carly@carlycompanypr.com
Injinji, Indigenous Designs, Elemental Herbs, Coral LLC, Bob products, Flojos, Conscious Colors, Stroller Strides and Fit4Baby
If you'd like catalogs, photos, samples or more information on any of these clients, please contact us at info@thepressroom.com or at 805-773-1000.
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