My Little Black Book

A special edition holiday gift guide for the men in our lives.

Dear Friends,

With Thanksgiving landing so late in the U.S. this year, I find that here, we are all still scrambling to get ready for the gift giving holidays.

My favorite gift is, and probably always will be, a hand written letter on beautiful stationery sharing why the recipient means so much to me and how grateful I am to share our journey together in whatever capacity that is.

I also, however, enjoy the challenge of finding a gift that hopefully, if done well, my recipient will feel seen and known, and that also represents my taste in some small way.

I often hear and have personally experienced, that the men in our lives are the hardest to shop for. While we know so much about them, truly hitting the mark on what will light them up can be elusive.

So I focused my attention on doing the digging and research for us, compiling this Special Edition Gift Guide for the men in our lives.

I highly suggest using these ideas as inspiration not necessarily the final gift(s) you end up purchasing.

For example, the man who is active and on-the-go could really love a stylish, versatile jacket that can go from the office to the national park camp ground. (Yes I found that jacket!) But you may not prefer the color or exact piece I personally selected. So use it as a starting point to narrow down the specifics that your gift recipient will love.

To that end, I will include the links for each item but not a huge write up. Many of the items I’ve included are pieces that I’ve personally gifted and the men in my life have loved and use to this day. But I am also including finds that I am intrigued by but do not yet have personal experience with along with a handful that I am buying this year to place under the tree or in the stocking for the men in my life.

Happy hunting! And don’t wait! We’ve got two weeks till Christmas. I am running now to wrap up my last minute shopping, too.

Sending love!

WRW

P.S. Please note, nothing is sponsored. I do not receive anything at all by sharing these picks with you. And I always suggest shopping around to find the best price, shipping speed, and availability.

All gift inspos are clockwise from top left…

Onewheel Pint: $750, My son loves his Pint and continues to grow into his use of it. Helmet is a must.

Barbour Ashby Waxed Jacket: $398, This jacket looks great over a suit jacket while also performing well in the elements and everywhere in between. I love this jacket. And it is very on trend right now as the Barn Jacket circles back, yet it is as classic and timeless as it gets.

California Climbing School: $300 for 4 hours of private guiding for 1 climber or $175 each for 2 climbers in Joshua Tree (rates continue to decrease based on number of climbers), “Joshua Tree is famous among climbers from all around the world. It is considered a “must go” area for any serious climber, and in contrast, it is the perfect place for beginners to learn as well.” I think this is such a cool and unique experience to give.

Go Pro Hero: $180, Nothing new here, but if your adventurer does not have one, then this will tickle their fancy. My son will use his this winter snowboarding. I’m sure I will steal a try, too.

Anker Nebula Mars 3: $800, With good audio and picture quality as well as a rugged design, this is an excellent choice for an indoor/outdoor streaming projector. Fantastic for a movie in the park, the backyard, and the campsite as well as inside the living room for that big picture feel.

BigBlue Sun Power Charger: $70, Gotta have a solid outdoor power source when an outlet is needed but nowhere in sight. This speedy solar charger powers up to three devices at once and it converts sunlight into energy even in less ideal, cloudy conditions, which we like for our cloud covered beach surfing adventures.

The Spice House Best Sellers Deluxe Collection: $78, I buy all of our spices from The Spice House because their quality, origins, and freshness are unparralled. What they bring to any dish is well worth it. This collection is a great place to start or explore their website to find the flavors and ingredients that support your man’s favorite dishes. Of course, The Spice House has a brilliant Barbecue Deluxe Collection, too, for the grill master.

Bo Jin Silver Wakasa Chopsticks: $46, Hand carved in Japan, Wakasa style are perhaps the best high quality chopsticks in the world. This particular pair of wood chopsticks completely handmade and are silver leafed with a base of Jabon wood. For our sushi lover, these will elevate the “sushi and movie night at home” experience to a whole new level.

Craft Jerky Co: $20 - $59, The #1 beef jerky of the month club of small-batch artisan craft jerky from producers across the country. Subscription box options include Hot & Spicy, Booze Infused, Keto-Friendly, Gluten Free, and Paleo. Fantastic artisan snack to keep handy in his car, bag, or office desk drawer.

TINANA Crystal Clear Ice Ball Maker: $40, My son loves to make mocktails for our guests and family. He will love this highly rated ice mold that makes large, clear, glossy spheres to complement his mixology skills.

Le Creuset Alpine Outdoor Skillet: $160, Crafted in France from enameled cast iron and specifically designed for cooking over an open flame, this skillet is ideal for cooking culinary yummies normally relegated to the kitchen. Think seared fish, fried eggs, toasted sandwiches, new potatoes, pancakes and the list goes on.

GE Profile Smart Indoor Pellet Smoker: $599, Short on outdoor space or want to more easily enjoy smoked salmon, ribs, or brisket without stepping foot outside, this first of its kind innovative smoker is calling.

Wolf Heritage Double Winder: $448, Clean lines and contemporary looks melded with Wolf’s 185 years of great functionality.

Fratello x Bergeon Mini Tool: $44, The Bergeon Tool company is the oldest surviving watchmaking tool company, providing the best equipment for over 200 years. This is a versatile multi use tool with a spring bar tool, flat-head screwdriver, phillips screwdriver, and small push-pin.

Buben & Zorweg Traveller 2 Watch Case: $470, Carry your watch(es) safely while on the go. I love that this watch case is designed more linear and less round so that it is more packable. It is available as a single watch case, too.

The Impossible Collection of Watches: The 100 Most Important Timepieces of the Twentieth Century by Nicholas Foulkes: $1,200, British historian and journalist Foulkes has selected the 100 breakthrough timepieces developed since the advent of the twentieth century, weighing the virtues of rarity, costliness, innovative functions, historical importance, grand provenance and pleasing design. This homage will delight any and all serious watch enthusiasts.

Wrist Clean Enthusiast Plus Watch Care Kit: $28, The watch cleaning kit the most discerning collectors swear by.

A Man and his Watch by Matt Hranek: $45, Perhaps no book in recent memory has explored the deep and unbreakable bond between watch owners and their most beloved timepieces quite as compellingly as this book. The tales range from the historic to the intimate, from the Omega that JFK wore to his inauguration, to the Rolex that Sir Edmund Hilary wore on Everest, to the watch that Ralph Lauren purchased from Andy Warhol’s private collection.

Made To Order Personalized Song: $100 - $250, Collaborate with singer/songwriter David Morgan to create a one minute or three minute song performed in the gift receiver’s favorite musical style. You provide the personalized details and anecdotes and David creates the rest for you to review and edit before the finished piece is recorded and sent to you as an MP3.

Waterman Carene Fountain Pen: $234, If you want to surprise one of your loved ones with a fountain pen with an 18K nib for Christmas but don’t want to break the bank, look no further. The Waterman Carène is a classic but somewhat peculiar fountain pen. It is an average pen in size and weight, but its iconic silhouette, inspired by the design of luxury boats, is charismatic.

Aura Frame: $199, Experience the most elegant way to share your favorite photos from phone to frame. Ours lives on our kitchen counter where we are greeted with an endless rotation of delightful, tender, joyous, riotous, and even wistful memories. This is one of my favorite things to give.

First Edition, Fast Times at Ridgemont High: A True Story by Cameron Crowe: $950, New York: Simon & Schuster, 1981. “The author, employed by Rolling Stone magazine, posed as a student and enrolled in high school at age 21. His experiences were the basis for Rolling Stones articles as well as this comedic, coming-of-age novel, from which the 1982 film was adapted. Now a cult classic, the movie had an all-star cast, including: Jenifer Jason Leigh, Brian Backer, Phoebe Cates, Robert Romanus, Sean Penn, Judge Reinhold, Nicolas Cage and Forest Whitaker, among others.” A first edition is always a beautiful and thoughtful gift when you tap into the recipient’s interests or nostalgic time periods.

DIY Custom Recipe Box: $Priceless, As the story goes, the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach. I have already started making a recipe box to memorialize the Persian recipes my mother-in-law taught me a hundred years ago, along with recipes my hubby and children love. This will be a wonderful gift for my son one day when he launches and has his own apartment and wants to wow the woman who steals his heart by cooking her dinner.

A Box of Love by Em & Friends: $16, “Let your person know all the ways you love them with this box of 8 fill-in-the-blank letters, personalized by you to create a one-of-a-kind gift they’ll treasure. Each letter is designed to be opened at a specific time, ensuring your heartfelt message is read at just the right moment.”

The Lyrics: 1956 to the Present (Two-Volume Set): $100, “With images from McCartney’s personal archives—handwritten texts, paintings, and photographs, hundreds previously unseen—The Lyrics, spanning sixty-four years, becomes the definitive literary and visual record of one of the greatest songwriters of all time.”

Victrola Stream Sapphire Turntable: $1,300, Flagship Victrola streaming turntable with unrivaled connectivity to most network audio devices.

Maison Margiela Replica Jazz Club Candle: $70, Its warm and smoky scent recalls the refine and cozy atmosphere of an evening at a jazz club. Yes please.

Artiphon Orba Portable Synth: $80, A great gift for the young musician or any on-the-go producer. “Eight sensing pads can switch between percussion, bass, chords, and lead. Move it around for different effects and you can create an entire song in the palm of your hand. Then link it via Bluetooth or USB-C to a preferred music-making app.”

Custom Vinyl Record: $99, I am obsessed with this gift as I love the personalization of it all for the recording artist musician(s) in my life.

Che Guitar Strap by Colleen Cordero: $385, Handmade leather guitar straps in different designs with some detailed in solid nickel or brass signature art, all in limited quantities. This one featured here is dark brown lizard with black art.

Bleu de Chauffe Messenger Bag: $390, “Made at the brand's workshop in France, it's crafted from smooth green suede with brown leather buckle fastenings and a durable canvas strap.”

Tom Ford Knitted Silk Tie: $280, Gorgeous, classic, and refined. In a slim width, conjuring the Kennedys, it’s knitted silk drapes and knots handsomely.

William Lockie Ribbed Cashmere-Blend Socks: $42, A treat for the feet! “William Lockie is one of the oldest family-run luxury knitwear brands and it’s a specialist in natural fibers like cashmere.”

William Lockie Ribbed Cashmere Beanie: $80, A classic staple that will stand the test of time. Not to mention how yummy soft and lux it is thanks to the pure water of the River Teviot William Lockie uses to wash its Mongolian cashmere. Depending on his mood, this beanie can be worn slouchy or he can roll the edge to create a cuff and snug fit.

Eye of the Idol Gold Multi-Stone Beaded Bracelet: $498, Luis Morias handmade bracelet with a marquise-cut amethyst stone as the ‘Eye of the Idol’ symbolizing balance and peace.

Saint Laurent Cardholder: $300, I love that this cardholder fits in any pocket without any bulk and without creating a lasting imprint of their wallet on their pant pocket. And every man, imo, needs an “adult” wallet. No velcro please. It’s made from upcycled cross-grain leather that's stamped with a gold logo on the front slip pocket. Slim, neat, and tidy.

Hatch Restore 2: $170, Part sound machine, part alarm clock, helps your guy sleep with soothing tracks and sounds and “offers a more natural way to wake up with a dimmable alarm clock design that wakes you using a calming combination of light and sound.”

Bambu Lab X1C 3D Printer: $1,299, 3D Printing Industry Award Winner and Desktop 3D Printer of the Year and top of my son’s birthday, Christmas, Valentines, Easter, 4th of July…you get my point…gift list.

DJI Mavic 3 Pro (DJI RC): $2,199, Obviously a huge splurge! Considered one of the best drones you can buy with a three-camera system consisting of Hasselblad cameras plus 43 minutes of fly time up to 15 kilometers away from his location.

Seestar S50 All-In-One Smart Telescope: $449, The ZWO Seestar is reviewed as a simple to operate automated camera excellent for photographing the Sun, Moon, and other celestial objects and an excellent entryway into amateur astronomy.

Rabbit R1 Pocket Companion: $199, For anyone who's ever wanted a digital TaskRabbit for their growing to-do list, this AI-powered device accesses the web to complete any and all tasks, like ordering food, taking notes, and making purchases, plus it makes calls and takes photos, too.

Invoxia Minitailz: $99, Vet recommended health and GPS tracker for man’s best friend. Awarded at CES 2024 for the best innovation in the AI category. “ Minitailz allows your man to easily monitor his dog’s heart health, position, activity, appetite, behavior, and whereabouts.”

I hope this gift guide for the men (and “boys”) in your life has proven useful and inspirational. I would love to know what you plan to give regardless of if anything spawned from the ideas above. Please share in the comments.

xoxo,