Last-Minute Gifting & Shipping for Slackers

[image via PBteen]

Admit it: You kind of dropped the ball on Christmas shopping this year. Now you're faced with the choice of either joining the harried masses at your local mall or pulling an all-nighter to make DIY gifts that will surely go unappreciated. Thank heavens, then, for two-day shipping!

Here are three retailers that aren't offended by a little slacking off this holiday season, plus my top gift pick from each. All three shops have reduced, or totally done away with, shipping fees to make sure you get all the gifts you need by Christmas Day. Happy last-minute shopping!

One Gift: Eat Cake for Breakfast Apron by Kate Spade

The 'One Gift' series is a different kind of holiday gift guide. Every few days leading up to Christmas, I'll be handpicking just one truly amazing gift to inspire you as you shop this holiday season. The full series (plus guides from years past) will be collected here. Happy gifting!

A classic stripe apron gets an update with the ultimate words of wisdom from Kate Spade. "Eat Cake for Breakfast"? Don't mind if I do! With the cheeky advice emblazoned on the front and handy measurement conversions printed on the reverse, the apron makes an ideal gift for the one heading up the kitchen this holiday season. It'll arrive by Christmas, but at $30 with free shipping, it's a pretty perfect hostess gift any time of the year!

One Gift: Big Top Bookends by Imm Living

The 'One Gift' series is a different kind of holiday gift guide. Every few days leading up to Christmas, I'll be handpicking just one truly amazing gift to inspire you as you shop this holiday season. The full series (plus guides from years past) will be collected here. Happy gifting!

Here's one for the kids or just the kid at heart. Big Top Bookends by Imm Living are miniature resin replicas of Jeff Koons' ever-iconic masterpiece. Add a pop of color to the library of your favorite bookworm this Christmas with a mismatched pair, or infuse a little one's nursery with some functional modern art. Each costs $55, but you'll get free shipping when you order two, and the bookends will arrive by Christmas Eve if you order now.

Note: Some colors are sold out or unavailable at the link above. You can purchase the green bookend here, chartreuse here and orange here for $50 or less.

One Gift: Tory Burch Bowood Sandal

The 'One Gift' series is a different kind of holiday gift guide. Every few days leading up to Christmas, I'll be handpicking just one truly amazing gift to inspire you as you shop this holiday season. The full series (plus guides from years past) will be collected here. Happy gifting!

Well, if these don't just scream holiday cheer, I don't know what does. Bedecked in tiny mirrors, rivets and pyramid studs, Tory Burch's Bowood Sandal in red agate velvet is just the kind of gift to make a shoe lover squeal come Christmas morning. (Trust me—I would know!)

Best of all, they're on sale, so these babies are less of a stretch for gifting to a beloved bestie, sister or mom. Sizes and quantities are a bit limited, so try both Tory Burch.com ($315 down from $450) and Farfetch ($376.94 down from $443.96). Saks is still selling the shoes at full price (here), but at least you can earn yourself a gift card with the code DEC2015.

One Gift: Marble Watch by Analog Watch Co.

The 'One Gift' series is a different kind of holiday gift guide. Every few days leading up to Christmas, I'll be handpicking just one truly amazing gift to inspire you as you shop this holiday season. The full series (plus guides from years past) will be collected here. Happy gifting!

No logo, no numbers, just a sleek little marble sculpture for your wrist. After years of domination by oversized gold watches, the Mason Watch collection by Analog Watch Co. is a breath of fresh air for minimalists. Completely unisex, the Mason comes with a choice of black or tan strap, black or white marble body and circular or hexagonal shape to please just about anybody.

Following the success of Analog's flexible wood band Carpenter Watch, the company designed the Mason to show off the one-of-a-kind natural beauty of stone. Each genuine marble body is precision cut and combined with Swiss-made movement and a top-grain leather strap hand crafted by Amish leathersmiths in Lancaster, Pennsylvania.

Retailing for $299.99, the Mason is available to ship from Analog's website before Christmas. Here's to checking some hard-to-shop-for dapper dressers off your list!

8 Nights of Hanukkah Gifts and Stocking Stuffers Under $30

Hanukkah starts next week. Yay! But let's not kid ourselves: Those eight nights of celebration never produce gifts quite as grand as Christmas does. As kids, we Jews usually wound up with one good present and seven nights of chocolate gold coins that tasted ever so slightly of tin foil. With that in mind, I've rounded up eight little gifts under $30, one for each night of the Festival of Lights. And, best of all, these gifts don't discriminate—they make equally great Christmas stocking stuffers!

1. HOT CHOCOLATE ON A STICK ($18) 
With a name so good, I don't think this needs any explanation, but here goes... Made of rich milk or dark chocolate, sea salt and natural flavors, Ticket Chocolate's Hot Chocolate on a Stick is meant to be stirred into a hot mug of milk for a sinfully delicious winter treat. Choose from French Truffle, Peppermint or Three Chili flavors for your favorite foodie.

Holiday Gift Guide: Gifts That Give Back Part II

eyeshadow / ornament / sunglasses / water bottle / women's sweatshirt / men's sweatshirt / ring / mug / backpack / hand cream / candle

I know it's awfully late in the game for a holiday gift guide, but let's face it: you probably have some shopping left to do. Besides, I found so many wonderful gifts with a charitable component that I'd be remiss not to share them with you. And no need to shell out for overnight shipping. Many of these can be found at your local mall.

Holiday Gift Guide: Gifts That Give Back

scarf / blouse / headphones / rings / lip gloss / sparkling wine / jeans / loafers / Kiehl's set / candle / clutch

Some of the best gifts I've ever received have been charitable donations in my name. Really! It just feels good to give back during this season of excess. Donations are always a wonderful option, but if you'd like to give your friends and family something for themselves as well this holiday season, there are plenty of companies that donate all or some of their proceeds to charity and make beautiful gifts to boot...

Playful Holiday Ornaments by Lladró and FriendsWithYou

If you still haven't decorated your Christmas tree or Hanukkah bush yet, perhaps these playful ornaments will give you the inspiration you need. The giftable holiday collection is a collaboration between renowned Spanish porcelain maker Lladró and American art collaborative FriendsWithYou, which is made up of Samuel Borkson and Arturo Sandoval III.

8 Gift Ideas for the 8 Nights of Hanukkah

chocolates / pillow / menorah / earrings / platter & bowl / coasters / cookbook / dreidel

Happy Hanukkah! The Jewish festival of lights begins tonight, and what better way to celebrate than with some seriously updated traditions? Michael Aram's Rock Menorah is a super modern stunner, while this Lucite dreidel by Jonathan Adler puts a new spin (see what I did there?) on an old game. The foil-flavored chocolate coins of my youth get a much-needed upgrade with Veruca Chocolates' Gelt for Grownups in dark chocolate with sea salt, and Jerusalem: A Cookbook by Yotam Ottolenghi and Sami Tamimi will come in handy for a holiday meal. (I got no fewer than three of these books for my wedding shower, and it's simply gorgeous—as much coffee table book as cookbook.) This latke plate and dip bowl are simply a necessity for serving fried deliciousness, and an Oy Vey pillow adds just the right amount of kitsch. And, I may be playing fast and loose with the Hanukkah theme here, but these blue and white sparklers from Dannijo and blue and silver Rablabs coasters certainly put me in a festive mood!

Holiday Gift Guide: For the Guys

shave set / sweater / scarf / headphones / wallet / key fob / cuff links / soap / board games set / pajamas / glassware / messenger bag / driving gloves / watch

Men might be relatively simple creatures, but gifting them ties is just plain lazy. Show a little more effort this holiday season with clothing and hobby-related accessories in neutrals, leathers and (my favorite) buffalo plaid.

Goodies from The Art of Shaving and Kiehl's keep your guy fresh and clean, while a cozy scarf and luxe driving gloves protect him from the elements. Dads, brothers, boyfriends and husbands alike can accessorize with this minimalist watch, a rugged messenger bag, and matching wallet and key fob. The subtly geeky Live Long and Prosper cuff links are an ode to Mr. Catwalk, pure and simple, though I'm sure he'd enjoy this wood backgammon and chess set as well. Audiophiles will appreciate the clear sound and low profile of Bose in-ear headphones, and whiskeyphiles (is there a word for that?) will love this marble glassware set. And, for opening all these gifts Christmas morning, buffalo plaid pajamas and a Jack Spade sweater make the perfect cozy uniform.

Holiday Gift Guide: For the Glamour Girl

earrings / jacket / sunglasses / watch / Rouge Louboutin / candle / bag / gloves

Some girls crave the finer things in life, so why not give it (or at least the illusion of it) to them? A faux fur jacket from Topshop brings the drama without the the high price tag, and Christian Louboutin's prettily packaged nail polish offers a little piece of red-soled cache. It doesn't get any blingier than this sequined and bejeweled Kate Spade watch with interchangeable straps, while J.Crew's crystal earrings are more subtle in their shine. Cashmere-lined leather gloves keep posh hands toasty this holiday season, and Valentino's Rockstud sunglasses protect glamour girls from paparazzi flashbulbs. On the splurgier side is the most perfect going out bag I've seen all season: the Soleil Mini in platinum from 3.1 Phillip Lim. Finally, a Jo Malone candle in Frosted Cherry and Clove perfumes the glamour girl's pad for the holidays.

Holiday Gift Guide: For the Jetsetter

luggage tag/ passport cover / 2015 notebook  / sweater / headphones / watch / spray-on moisture / weekender bag / cosmetic cases / slippers / luxe city guides / pillow + sleep mask

If you spent any time traveling over Thanksgiving weekend, you know how important it is to travel in comfort (stylish comfort, of course). So, today's gift guide is for the jetsetter—for that semi-nomadic friend who is always taking off for parts unknown or for the slightly less glamorous business traveler who is endlessly crossing time zones.

Cyber Monday Deals Are On!

I regaled you with some seasonably cozy interiors last week in lieu of Black Friday savings, so now that you're thoroughly relaxed, it's time to dig into the deals. If you weren't willing to brave the stores over the weekend, Cyber Monday may just be your saving grace when it comes to holiday shopping, and I've rounded up some of the best Cyber Monday 2014 deals on the interwebs. I've even categorized and alphabetized them for you, so get shopping!

• BLOOMINGDALE'S: 25% off a selection of regular and sale price items
• LES NOUVELLES: additional 25% off first fall markdowns with code TURKEYTROT
• LUISAVIAROMA: extra 20% off with code BFRS
• NEED SUPPLY CO.: 20% off sitewide
• NORDSTROM: up to 40% off select products
• OTTE NEW YORK: 20% off sitewide
• PIPERLIME: 30% off sitewide + 40% off markdowns with code CYBERSALE
• RENT THE RUNWAY: $40 off when you spend $100
• REVOLVE: 25% off final sale with code CYBERMONDAY20
• SCOOP NYC: 25% off sitewide + free shipping
• SHOPBOP: 15% off $250, 20% off $500, 25% off $1000 with code GOBIG14
• SINGER 22:  20% off sitewide with code CYBER
• SSENSE: up to 50% off
• STYLEBOP: 30% off winter items & jewelry + free shipping
• THE DRESLYN: 20% off sitewide with code CYBERMONDAY

Holiday Gift Guide: For the Hostess

A rare Sunday post today, since I know you are all probably shopping in earnest this weekend. (Keep an eye out for my massive list of Cyber Monday deals tomorrow morning!) With all the sales going on, I want to give you plenty of inspiration for holiday gift shopping so you can be prepared. Today's gift guide is for the hostess with the mostest who deserves something special this time of year... because wine is just so expected.

For your next holiday soiree, pick up something sweet (drunken chocolate figs), something fragrant (Tocca soaps), or something sparkly (a crystal wine stopper) for the host. Have a family member whose door is revolving during the holidays? A gilded quartz serving platter will make her hors d'oeuvres table shine. And design types will love Erin Gates' stunning coffee table book or Jonathan Adler's Muse candle.

Check out my other gift guides and my Pinterest board for more inspiration, and be on the lookout for more holiday gift ideas throughout the week.

Holiday Gift Guide: For the Snow Bunny

Ready for all the madness that is Black Friday? Or will you be hiding under the covers and shopping the Cyber Monday deals like me? Either way, I figured I'd help you get a jump on your holiday shopping with the first of several gift guides. And, with the storm we're expecting in New England, what better giftee to start with than the snow bunny?

Sperry Top-Sider® for J.Crew boots ($160) will keep feet toasty and dry in any weather, while cashmere pants from Theory ($365) are the ultimate indulgence for warming up by a fire. The Chateau Parka ($365) is a classic, perfect topped off with leather and knit convertible gloves ($90) and TopShop's faux fur earmuffs ($22). If choosing a size is a problem, there's Diptyque's "Winter" candle ($34) that smells just like, well, winter.

I went a little crazy this weekend with my Holiday Gift Ideas Pinterest board, so check it out for other great finds. More gift guides are in the pipeline over the next couple of weeks... stay tuned!

Gifting: Watermill Center x illy Art Collection Cups

True coffee lovers are never easy to shop for, what with all the pour over/shade grown/single origin/[enter ridiculous hipster phrase here] options you're faced with these days. But if you've got a caffeine snob on your holiday gift list this season, illy has you covered with its latest Art Collection.

Produced since 1992, the illy Art Collection is a series of coffee cups by such contemporary masters as Marina Abramović, Julian Schnabel, Robert Rauschenberg and Jeff Koons. Now, Robert Wilson and five other artist from the Watermill Center have put their spin on things.