Gift Guide Archives - StyleCarrot

Mother’s Day Gift Guide: The Best Chocolate Desserts to Order Online

I’ve been on a bit of a diet of late, but if I weren’t, I would be really, really happy if my UPS or FedEx guy buzzed with any of these chocolate desserts in hand for me. (Is it any wonder I need to cut back my calories?) Let’s discuss the best chocolate desserts to order online.

No, I’ve not been satisfying cravings by fantasizing over photographs. In an effort to be more frugal (how conscientious, saving calories and dollars), I was clicking through to some online coupon sites for promo codes and was distracted by a free shipping offer for Harry & David on Frugga. (While you can order some crazy amazing food online, sometimes shipping can be pricey.)

It turns out Harry & David is so much more than fruit. They’ll ship you full-on Cheesecake Factory confections. Or just go with chocolate covered strawberries, Hailing from New York I’m a longtime fan of Dean & Deluca which not only has delicious food, but gorgeous presentation. Chocolate and salted caramel layer cake anyone? If your mom’s palette is stuck in tweendom, go for chocolate covered Oreos from Neiman Marcus.

I also recommend the honey sweetened, chocolate dipped marshmallows from Boston maker Apotheker’s Kitchen, which I discovered at the Eat Boutique holiday pop up. And let’s not forget another Boston area favorite, Dancing Deer. (Remember when they invited me on a factory tour?) I often send my own mother Dancing Deer brownie snacks.

One of the best gifts I get during the holidays are the chocolate covered pretzels and chocolate covered graham crackers that Matouk sends as a thank you. But I can’t remember where they come from. (Note to self: Find out!)

Here are 7 of the best chocolate desserts to order online for Mother’s Day, or any time really.

Best Chocolate Desserts To Order Online For Mother's Day

S H O P P I N G

1 Chocolate Cake with Salted Caramel

2 Chocolate Covered Strawberries

3 Parallel Chocolate Bar Set

4 Chocolate Covered Marshmallows

5 Crispy Chocolate Pearls

6 Chocolate Covered Oreos

7 Dancing Deer Chocolate Chunk Brownies

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Gift Guide: Personalized Baby Gifts

I have a friend who is obsessed with these stretchy fleece personalized baby blankets by Admiral Road. She gives them as baby gifts to almost everyone. (Personalized baby gifts are the best; my son still has the red fleece baby blanket with his name and birthdate received at his bris.) She likes them so much she’s started working with the company (very small and based in Canada) to help them spread the word.

And that’s how I ended up with a personalized baby blanket from Admiral Road. As cute as they are (and they are totally cute and cuddly), I decided my now teenage sons were a tad too big for a new fleece baby blanket. So I ordered one for another friend’s daughter, Daisy.

Personalized Baby Gifts Admiral Road Fleece Baby Blanket

Turns out, when I asked them to hold the corner of the baby blanket for this photo, one of them requested a blanket for himself. Of course.

Personalized Baby Gifts Admiral Road Fleece Baby Blanket

Daisy’s fleece penguin baby blanket is so cute. Hopefully I will see her mom soon so I can give it to her!

Personalized fleece baby blanket by Admiral Road, $69

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Here are half a dozen more personalized baby gifts for you from StyleCarrot partners and others, in case anyone you know is having a baby. It seems like half the people on my Facebook feed are new moms.

More Personalized Baby Gifts

Personalized Baby Gifts Baby Blanket Lovie Booties

S H O P P I N G

1 Amor De Colores Pillow, $39.99 – $44.99 at Shutterfly.

2 Monogrammed Baby Moccasins, $45 at Soft Star Shoes.

3 Preppy Icon Tote, $44.50 at Pottery Barn Kids.

4 Adventure Map, starting at $50 at Minted.

5 How Do You Zoo Fox Sleeping Bag, $99-$106 at Land of Nod.

6 Farm Buddy Lovies by Apple Park Organic, $27 at mak•a•boo.

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Gift Guide: Father’s Day Gift Guide For Drink-Loving Dads

For my second installment of my partnership with World Market, the go-to, on trend, affordable furniture & accessories site, I’ve pulled together 10 goodies for guys who like their alcohol.

As I’ve mentioned before (numerous times in fact), I always think about setting up a bar for my husband, who is definitely a drink-loving dad. When he looks at real estate, the big draw after a garage is a butler’s pantry. The poor urban-dwelling dude doesn’t have a parking space or a bar cart.

Here is a cocktail-themed Father’s Day Gift Guide for dads who drink, with a reclaimed wood bar cart, mixers, copper mule mug, light-up letters, and even a sake-making kit. You know what could be cute too? A homemade cocktail recipe book. Get the kids on it ASAP.

PS — Select Father’s Day Gifts from World Market Ship Free from through June 7, 2015.

Father's Day Gifts For Dads Who Like To Drink

S H O P P I N G

1 ”Bar” LED Marquee Sign

2 Moscow Mule Copper Mug

3 Sake Making Kit

4 Galvanized Ice Bucket

5 Cocktail Crate Old Fashioned Mixer & Ginger Bee Mixer

6 Black Hexagonal Wine Rack

7 Stainless Steel & Leather Camping Flask Set

8 Aiden Bar Cart

9 ”Iced Tea” Recipe Book

10 The Republic of Tea Black Mojito Iced Tea Bags

MORE F A T H E R ‘ S D A Y G I F T S from WORLD MARKET

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Gift Guide: 25 Last Minute Gifts You Can Get At the Mall

It’s two days before Christmas. Are you panicking over last minute holiday gifts? We celebrate Chanukah in our home, so not only am I finished buying, we’re just about through with our eight nights of giving. If you do the whole Christmas celebration thing, you’re probably required to come up with a whole slew of presents for friends and family. It’s now officially too late to order online unless you’re willing to pay exorbitant overnight shipping costs, and even then, it’s risky. So, off to the mall it is. Here are 25 last minute holiday gifts you can pick up at the mall and/or the free-standing chain stores in town.

S H O P P I N G
1 Bose SoundLink Color Bluetooth Speaker, $129.99 at Target.
2 Brass Love Object Paperweight, $29 at West Elm.
3 Back-Zip Pullover Sweater, $69.50 at Madewell.
4 Pagoda Salt & Pepper Shakers, $34.99 at Jonathan Adler.
5 Downing Embossed Leather Clutch, $88 at J.Crew.
6 Nate Berkus Faux Fur Stripe Pillow, $29.99 at Target.
7 Magical Thinking T-Bar Jewelry Stand, $34 at Urban Outfitters.
8 Gilded-Edge Agate Coasters,$98/set at Anthropologie.
9 Buttery Leather Satchel Crossbody Bag, $100. at Gap.
10 Oh Joy! Acacia Serving Board, $19.99 at Target.
11 Pascale Monvoisin Georgia Ring, $125 at Club Monaco.
12 Pop Art Dry Erase Calendar, $19.99 each at The Container Store.
13 Tom Dixon Eclectic Mini Candle Gift Set, $120 at Anthropologie.
14 Ribbed Cashmere Hat, $78 at J.Crew.
15 Fuse Sweatshirt, $71.99 at Athleta.
16 Space Age Floral Crystal Studs, $58 at Kate Spade.
17 Printed Tablet Case, $33.99 at Gap.
18 Glass Bud Vases, $14 each at West Elm.
19 Marc Jacobs Beauty Lust For Lacquer Lip Vinyl , $28 at Sephora.
20 Fujifilm INSTAX Instant Smartphone Printer, $199 at Urban Outfitters.
21 Ray-Ban Sunglasses, $104.95 at Sunglass Hut.
22 Selvedge Japanese Chambray Utility Shirt, $98 at J.Crew.
23 Chemex Classic Drip Coffee Maker, $34.95 at Sur La Table.
24 Dipped Leather Bill Holder, $128 at Jack Spade.
25 Mauviel Copper Butter Warmer, $90 at Williams-Sonoma.

Get the Look: 22 Men’s Watches

We seem to go through a lot of watches at our house. I still have my prized Cartier (thank goodness; I’d be crushed if I lost it…too expensive to replace), but oftentimes, especially in summer, I just like to throw on a Timex with a stretchy metal elastic bracelet. (I wear it to the movies too; Indiglo rocks.) Unfortunately, the batteries don’t last very long. At least mine don’t. I’ve taken to treating them as disposable, which is of course ridiculous.

My husband also favors a Timex. For him it’s a plain white face with black numbers and black (imitation?) leather strap. I’ve tried to buy him nicer watches, but he protests. I think I did finally get him to wear a similar style, slightly upgraded, but he does so begrudgingly. He loses them, which I don’t really get since he’s generally pretty organized. But whatever, not my problem. My son loses his watches too, which is my problem, but he just bought himself an expensive Swatch, so we’ll see.

I love wandering through watch stores, whether its Tourneau in Boston, Cartier in New York, or Wempe in London. (Admittedly, if there’s also jewelry I tend to get sidetracked by the diamonds.)

I did a roundup of 15 stainless steel watches for women in March, but with Father’s Day upon us, I thought it would be a good time to pull together a variety of men’s watches too. As with Mother’s Day, we don’t really observe Father’s Day either. (We’re equal opportunity holiday ignorers.) I kind of ignored my husband’s birthday this year too, which I wasn’t all that nice (but he didn’t want to go anywhere, do anything, or want anything), so he deserves some recognition. Obviously, not a watch.

Here are 22 men’s watches, from sporty to sleek from StyleCarrot partners.