Holiday Gift Guide

What you want, baby, we got it...

smart car

World Wildlife Fund. Give the gift of a lifetime by supporting the largest multinational conservation organization in the world. Active in 100 countries with almost 5 million members across the globe, World Wildlife Fund gives you the power to help save endangered species such as the Sumatran tiger or the Amur leopard, protect diverse freshwater systems or varied coral reefs, preserve biologically significant deserts, productive fishing grounds, the “wildlife superhighway” of the Congo Basin and much more. Donations range from $25 to $3.5 million at worldwildlife.org.

Eat a Cookie, Save the Oceans. Virtually adopt a marine creature while helping to save the earth’s oceans. International ocean conservation group Oceana has teamed up with Warren Brown, star of the Food Network’s baking show, Sugar Rush, for a holiday gift-and-giving campaign. Donation levels range from $35 to $250. And to make sure you have something to put under the tree, you will receive ocean-themed cookie cutters, a baking mitt, an adoption certificate and more. To adopt, visit oceana.org/adopt.

Discovery Sky & Land Telescope

Aegix A1 jacket, R

Aegix A1 Jacket. Surf the slopes a bit more safely with the Aegix A1 Jacket, specially designed with built-in body pads for the aggressive snowboarder (or skier!). Also referred to as the “body armor jacket,” Aegix knows you can never be too safe in the snow. This lightweight jacket provides free movement down the hill, and a safety cushion on the hill. $390. REI, 1975 Diamond Blvd., Suite B-100, Concord (925) 825-9400; rei.com.

Edge 605 by Garmin. Follow detailed trail maps, upload your own preplanned courses, save workouts, share and compare personal stats with an online cycling community, and even compete against a virtual partner while keeping track of your speed, distance, time, calories burned and altitude. The Edge 605 snaps easily into an included bike mount to guide you to your destination hands-free. $430.75. Available online at garmin.com.

Spread the green with the GreenSender box. The box contains items—SIGG aluminum water bottle, an organic cotton grocery bag, a CFL energy lightbulb, and organic cotton T-shirt—that will help the recipient incorporate eco-friendly habits into their life. $49.99. Greensender.com.

iPod touch. Apple’s newest media player offers access to music, videos, photos and Wi-Fi web browsing. 3.5-inch widescreen display. $299 for 8 GB; $399 for 16 GB. Apple Store, 1129 S. Main St., Walnut Creek (925) 210-2020; apple.com.

Silent Instruments. Yamaha brings together sleek, artful design and function. Music lovers will swoon over this line of string instruments, which allows them to play to their heart’s content for practice or performance. $139-$900. Watermelon Music, 207 E. St., Davis (707) 758-4010; watermelonmusic.com.

Silent Instruments Watermelon Music

The roll-up grill. Yes, that’s right—a grill that rolls up into a tube the size of a bicycle pump. Made of rugged stainless steel, Grilliput Compact Grill weighs less than one pound, making it perfect for hiking and camping. $30. Restoration Hardware, 1460 Mount Diablo Blvd., Walnut Creek (925) 906-9230; restorationhardware.com.

Mind Games. Your body needs exercise—so does your noggin. Brain Age and Brain Age 2 will train your brain with math problems, memory skills, sudoku and other games. $19.99. The handheld Nintendo DS system ($129.99) is simple to use. GameStop, 1264 E. Gibson Road, Woodland (530) 661-3277; gamestop.com.

Citizen Folding Bike. Practicality meets its match with the folding bicycle by Citizen Bike. Develop a personal relationship with your bike, one where you never leave one another’s side. Take your bike on the bus, in a car, and even straight into the office; it’s easy to carry and strong enough to take you home. From $174-$254. Citizenbike.com.

Flip Video Camera. Become a filmmaker on the run with this state-of-the-art Flip Video Camera that is small enough to fit in your pocket. Create instant digital films anywhere you go, bring them home, flip out the built-in USB port, and create your own movie in minutes. $100-$150. OfficeMax, 2107 Cowell Road, Davis (530) 792-0824; officemax.com.

Bendomino. Give the classic game of Dominos a twist. This new version plays like the original with the exception that the players have more control over the game, and the curving snake-like pattern is fun to watch develop. $15.99. Barnes and Noble, 1600 Gateway Blvd., Fairfield (707) 435-0484; barnesandnoble.com.

A Winter Retreat

Tiffany somerset bracelet

Tiffany Somerset Bracelet and ring. Sterling silver with a total carat weight of .21 in brilliant round diamonds, this sleek bracelet is a fabulous piece of jewelry to wear every day. Bracelet $1250, Ring $475. Tiffany & Co., 1119 South Main St., Walnut Creek (925) 939-6300; tiffany.com.

Blinc Kiss Me mascara. Thick luscious lashes are the envy of all women. With the mascara that is in every Hollywood celebrity’s makeup bag, painting lashes is out and tubing is the way to go. Kiss forms water-resistant tubes around lashes. $25. Blush, 601 First St., Benicia (707) 747-1114; blushbenicia.com.

Soft as sheep. Robin Lynde’s Jacob sheep from her Vacaville farm supply unique spotted wool which are then transformed into wearable or decorative works of art. Meridianjacobs.com.

Nature Jewelry. East Coast-based jeweler Michael Michaud fabricates jewelry that is cast from nature’s own creation, capturing each natural detail of the original. Pieces are then hand-finished with details in bronze, sterling silver or gold using genuine stones and pearls, creating gorgeous jewelry that is as unique as Mother Nature herself. Studio 41, 700 First St., Benicia (707) 745-0254; studio41.com.

The science of art. Made with Molecules, founded by Yale- and Berkeley-educated scientist Raven Hanna, sells jewelry and gifts inspired by the shapes of molecules, such as serotonin, dopamine or theobromine (otherwise known as chocolate). Madewithmolecules.com.

Napa Soap Company. How can you not love a wonderful local product with names like Soapignon Blanc and Shea-R-donnay? But take them seriously; they are artisan quality soaps and much more. One favorite is the shaving soap in a mug with a brush for the man on your list. Napa Soap Company, 651 Main St., St. Helena (707) 963-5010; napasoapcompany.com.

JumpSnap Ropeless Jump Rope jumpsnap.com

JumpSnap the Ropeless Jump Rope. Get all the health benefits of jump rope without the pesky side effects of tripping or being under a low ceiling. $59.95. Available online at jumpsnap.com.

Baby Your Back. BalanceBall Chair by Gaiam. The original balance ball is updated for comfort and ergonomic style. Designed for people 5’ to 5’11” tall. Greener Paths, Davis (530) 304-3873; greenerpaths.com.

Dreamsacks. Bamboo fiber is not only environmentally friendly, hypoallergenic and sustainable, but like silk to the touch. Dreamsacks uses the fiber to create both clothing and bed sheets that will keep you lounging around until well into the afternoon. Posh Bed & Bath, 635 First St., Benicia (707) 745-3139 or at dreamsack.com.

Woodhouse Chocolate. If you don’t mind perfection, then these are the confections to put on your shopping (or wish) list. Not only do they offer a dazzling array of chocolates year round, they do seasonal and holiday specialties that will make your head spin, and all are handmade. Woodhouse Chocolate, 1367 Main St., St. Helena (800) 966-3468; woodhousechocolate.com.

EDGE. Take the EDGE off gift-giving with a bottle—or two or three—of EDGE Winery’s 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon, a wine that will satisfy the novice wine drinker and well as those with more developed palates. $20. Edgewine.com.

Napa Uncovered

Caol Ila Single Malt 18-Year Scotch. This straw-colored single malt unites sea aromas with dry, peppery flavors for a pleasurably pungent as smoky maturity. Perfect for the avid scotch drinker. $72.99. BevMo, 1621-D East Monte Vista Ave., Vacaville (707) 446-4203; bevmo.com.

Engraved Flask. A personalized inscription leaves a lasting memory, and is made even better in a handsome stainless steel and leather flask. Starting at $25 without engraving; engraving fee varies depending on how many words. Things Remembered, 1388-B Solano Mall, Fairfield (707) 426-4100; thingsremembered.com.

Beer of the Month Club. Choose a domestic club of microbreweries, an international club of exotic flavors, or a combination of both. Sign up to receive 12 beers a month with up to four different beer styles. If beer isn’t the thing, there’s a selection of other gourmet clubs such as wine, chocolate and flowers. $19.95-30.95. Beermonthclub.com.

WineStyles wine club membership

WineStyles wine club membership. Treat your friends to a membership. It can be charged directly to your card, and you will receive a discount on any purchases you make in the store. Truly the gift that keeps on giving. $30 a month for minimum two bottles. WineStyles, 11-B Town Square Plaza, Vacaville (707) 447-9463; winestyles.net.

Give the gift of health and longevity through a quiet cup of tea. Teance, producer of premium loose-leaf teas, offers tea classes in their Berkeley Tea Room. Classes cover topics such as Health and Tea/Nutrition 101-White & Green, Introduction to Tea Steeping-How to Steep and Phoenix Mountain Oolong Unique Teas of the World. $50 for five classes. 1780 4th St., Berkeley (510) 524-2832; teance.com.

Hat and scarf by Lucy Della Rosa, The Artery

The Artery. A member cooperative of more than 60 Northern California artists, always exhibits and rotates a wide array of unique, handcrafted items. From fabrics and metals to jewelry and home decor, you’ll always find the perfect gift that you can’t find anywhere else. The Artery,
207 G St., Davis (530) 758-8330; artery.coop.

Willow Barware collection. Designed and created by Smyers Glass in Benicia, this collection features jeweled tones and luster finishes, and comes in seven sizes to fit any entertaining need. $85-$90. Smyers Glass, Inc., 675 E. H St., Benicia (707) 745-2614; smyersglass.com.

Jessie Steele ultra stylish aprons. The line includes hostess full and half, chef and kids aprons. Prices range from $16.95-$35.95. Bower Bird, 129 E. St., Davis (530) 750-2473.

Smart Shopper. The name says it all. This easy-to-use electronic device helps making a grocery/shopping list a breeze with voice recognition of 2,500 grocery items (more can be added manually). Once your list is made, simply print and be off to the store. $149.99. Available at Sur La Table, 1211 Broadway Plaza, Walnut Creek (925) 210-0103; surlatable.com. Or go directly to smartshopperusa.com.

AeroGarden. This self-contained hydroponic garden is great for growing herbs in no time—about six weeks—using energy-efficient light bulbs, water and nutrient tablets. Fits on the kitchen countertop, so that adding fresh herbs to homemade dishes is convenient. $199.98. Everything Green Hydroponics, 915 Texas St., Fairfield (707) 432-0774; 448 Georgia St., Vallejo (707) 647-0774.

Holiday Espresso Set

Bailetti Holiday Espresso Set. Have authentic espresso in just five minutes. Simply place the cast aluminum base on your stovetop burner and two mugs under each pour spout, and two cups of espresso are made at the same time. The set includes the base and two porcelain mugs. $29.99. Crate and Barrel, 1115 Broadway Plaza, Walnut Creek (925) 947-3500; crateandbarrel.com.

Artcentric. With hundreds of pieces of pottery, as well as glass mosaic and fusion pieces, creativity runs wild. Once a piece has been created, it takes a week to go through firing. Kids, adult and lady’s night classes are available. Prices vary depending on pieces chosen. Artcentric, 733 First St., Benicia (707) 745-9553; artcentricbenicia.com.

Pamper your pets. Do it naturally with Pet Botanica’s 100% natural Jojoba Chamomile Exotic Pet Shampoo (for cats and dogs) and their Fiji Tropics Aromatherapy mist for dogs. You treat yourself to the spa, now indulge your four-legged friends. PETCO, 161 Plaza Drive, Vallejo (707) 649-8081; PETCO.com.

The Puppy Pocket

The Puppy Pocket. Coming in an array of colors and patterns, these ultra-cozy sleeping bags for your pooch are hand-made in Fairfield by David and Wendy Breen. Order one of their ready-made pockets or have one custom-made. Prices range from $18-$25. (707) 428-3261; thepuppypocket.com. 

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