Gifts For Men with Good Stories and Smiley Eyes

Oak Bar Tool, $39
He gets a cool toy, you get cocktails when you get home from work.

Mini Lumio Book Lamp, $125
We got one of these illuminated books as a wedding gift, and it’s one of the most magical things we own.

Tiny Everstrike Lighter, $10
So much of masculinity is based on the ability to call forth fire in myriad circumstances.

Arduboy, $49
Arduboy is a credit-card-sized, open-source game system that you can program yourself. It was funded on Kickstarter and looks pretty cool.

Ceramic Flask, $92
Now he can feel sophisticated sneaking booze into the movie theater.

Paper Bots: PaperMade, $13
Sometimes he misses getting toys for the holidays.

Felt Bedside Caddy, $20
What he really wants in life is first crack at the remote.

Robot Thoughts

This is an exhibit that contains a jar of soil from the site of each lynching in Alabama, on display at the Equal Justice Initiative in Montgomery.

I found it through Twitter, and posted it to my Social Justice board on Pinterest.

The post returned hundreds of related pins of people’s pantries.

Dinosaur Feathers!

“This is the first time that skeletal material from a dinosaur has been found in amber.”

Bathtub Number 8

This whole 100 bathtubs goal is moving way too slow. 2017! The year of 92 new bathtubs.

Thursdaaaay, Links!

Ha. Money-face challenge.

Christmas Tree Alternatives, in case you don’t want to cut one down. Our favorite tree farm lost a lot of trees to drought this year and had to truck them in. It felt so foreboding.

Isn’t this little fig ornament so pretty? Figs symbolize peace and plenty.

Some numbers on harassment triggered by the election from the Southern Poverty Law Center. Scroll down for info graphics.

Lots of new contributors to Shop Blue, a gift guide I made to support stores owned by dems who are minorities or women.

Mint is a gadget that tests whether you have bad breath and gives you a grade from A to F.

I’ve always wanted a pair of blue suede shoes.

I think this cat mug is funny, which was unexpected.

I didn’t realize beauty advent calendars were such a big thing. Huh.

I got you guys something.

Gifts for Little Kids with Big Eyes and Sticky Hands

Toysmith Hoppy Ball, $14
Remember these? I still want one.

Sit ‘n Spin, $27
One of these too.

Metal Race Car Kazoo, $15
She wants to drive race cars, you want her to consider the Philharmonic — compromises.

The Fairy Tales of Hans Christian Andersen, $31
We have this fairy tale edition, and the one by Brothers Grimm, and they’re top notch. Beautiful fabric binding and tons of full-color illustrations.

Boon Pipes Water Pipes Bath Toy, $25
You know how kids refuse to get out of the bath, this worsens that condition.

Boon Cast Fishing Pole Bath Toy, $20
Fill a casserole dish with water, put a towel underneath, and enjoy a little free time.

Moluk Oogi Figure, $15
Sticks to windows, mirrors, and itself.

Califone First Kids Headphones, $12
Now your neighbors on the plane don’t have to listen to Minions four times in a row.

Gifts for Sweet, Stumbly Toddlers

Dinosaur Sweatshirt and Tail, $55 KidHub
For the holidays, I got you a two-year old T-Rex shouting “ROAAAR!”

Moluk Bilibo, $30 Amazon
These things are awesome imagination pods. Kids use them as chairs, shells, boxes, you name it.

Upper and Lowercase ABC Blocks, $22 Uncle Goose
Blocks that look artsy when your kiddo leaves them scattered over the floor.

Submarine Bath Light, $10 Amazon
Everything in childhood is more memorable if it happens when it’s dark outside.

Left Right Ergonomic Crayons, $5
Crayons that fit perfectly in tiny fists.

Plui Bath Toy, $13
Squish!

Gifts for Tiny, Yawning Babies

David Bowie Rock n Sole’ Baby slippers, $39 MrsBojingles
Amost everything in this shop is amazing. Go consider all the tiny baby feet in Daft Punk slippers.

Felt Grey Whale Baby Rattle, $20 Newmies
Call me Ishmael.

Grimm’s Wooden Stacking and Nesting Bowls, $32
A pretty developmental toy.

Boon Marco Light-Up Bath Toy, $9 Amazon
1,000 Leagues Under the Sink Faucet

Rhino Toys Oball Original, $7 Amazon
These balls are so easy for babies to grasp.

Natural Disk Rattle, $21 Cooper Hewitt

Playable Art Ball, $30 MoMA Store

Also have a look at Toys that are Good for Baby Brains, 0-6 Months.

Sleep Tight

Toddler wakes at 4:40 a.m., and dad brings him into bed. Little guy struggles against sleep for half an hour, whispering “play” and “oh hi!” every few minutes. Finally he drapes himself over my neck, one knee in my right boob, and konks out. I’m laying here trying to decide whether this is more or less comfortable than being nine months pregnant.

Pinkies Up! Tea Gift Ideas

Tea keeps your hands warm, and your worries at bay. Let’s get all cozy.

Sori Yanagi Stainless Steel Kettle, $78
I bought this a few months ago, and it’s one of my favorite things. The handle feels beautiful when you lift it, it’s not heavy when it’s full, and the lid is loose enough that you can keep your hands away from the steam when you lift it for a refill.

iNeibo Tea Infuser, $8

Matte Grey Kitchen Canister, $20 on Letliv
Pretty for storing loose-leaf tea on the counter. Or weed, if you live in one of the seven hippie states.

Friend Mug, $28 on Aurelie Dorard
Hi, little guy. Handmade in France.

OXO Good Grips Anniversary Edition Uplift Tea Kettle, $80
Cork handle is so genius. Plus, when you lift the handle of this kettle, it triggers a lever that moves the whistle so you can pour.

Kusmi Tea Collection, $105 on Amazon
Kusmi tea tins are gorgeous, I save all of mine. This sampler set contains fifteen mini-tins, and the tea is very good quality. If you’re looking for a more modest gift, consider their tins of Prince Vladmir black tea ($18), or Rose Green Tea ($18).

Takeya Double-Wall Glass Tea Tumbler, $20 on Amazon
If your tea person drinks whole-leaf tea, half the point is watching the leaves unfurl.

Robot Hanging Tea Leaf Infuser Strainer, $7
Tea robot. Crucial.

Gifts are my thing. If you’re looking for more, here’s my gift board, which will likely have these items pinned to the top.