Click here to see the full line of Kaskey Kids sports figures, such as Hockey Guys

Imaginative play is important for your kids’ mental and emotional development.  It helps improve their intelligence, fosters psychological resilience, and teaches them to handle diverse circumstances.

There aren’t too many high-quality, inexpensive toys that can help expand your kids’ ability to play imaginatively, while at the same time being fun over the long-term.  But that’s exactly what the sports figures from Kaskey Kids are able to do. 

Not only can these creative playthings encourage your children to put their imagination into play, they also teach kids the fundamentals of team sports and how to think strategically.  As a result, the Kaskey Kids Football Guys, Soccer Guys, Baseball Guys, and more have won awards and become a notable success story in the toy marketplace. 

=> Click here to check out the award-winning Kaskey Kids Football Guys, Hockey Guys, and other team sports action figures, along with their “Bop Bags” and Go!  Go! Sports Dolls.   And, since you’re going through my site, enter code “CJ10″ during checkout to get 10% off your order!

You remember the toy soldiers you played with as a kid?  That was a perfect example of the imagination at play as you made up elaborate scenarios and stories for your army of action figures. 

Well, Kaskey Kids is just like that, except instead of soldiers the figures are athletes — baseball players, hockey players, football players, and soccer players.   See the video below for an in-depth look at the fun kids can have with Kaskey Kids sports action figures available at Kaskeykids.com:

For kids in the age-range of 3 – 10 years old, the Kaskey Kids sports action figures can provide hours of fun, unstructured play — as well as giving you the opportunity to teach your son or daughter about a particular sport, the rules of the game, how a team works together on the field, and so on.  They make excellent instructional play sets for your budding soccer player, hockey player, football player, or baseball player.

In addition to free-form play, there are also several different structured games that the Kaskey Kids company has created that enable you (or their siblings or friends) to play with their football guys, soccer guys, and other action figures along with them in ways that encourage strategic thinking and planning (see the Kaskey Kids site for more details).  For parents and for kids, Kaskey Kids sports guys are a win-win toy!

Click to see all the styles of Kaskey Kids Football Guys

Kaskey Kids are the brainchild of Christy Kaskey, a mother of three who in 2002 was trying to find action figures that her sports-loving kids could play with. 

She couldn’t find anything on the market that fit the bill — action figures other than soldiers or superheroes that her kids could play with while also focusing on the sports they enjoyed — so she created sports figures herself.  The Kaskey Kids company was born; the first production run of the Football Guys sold out in a matter of weeks, and the rest, as they say, is history. 

Kaskey Kids Sports Figures are Award Winners

Since they became available, Kaskey Kids’ sports-figure toys have received many accolades from the toy industry, including the Gold Seal “Best Toy Award” from Oppenheim Toy Portfolio, the 2011 Brilliance Award from Brilliant Sky Toys & Books (in the imaginative play category), the 2007 Best Toy Award from Learning Express (for the Kaskey Kids Football Guys), a “Four Star Certified” rating from WTS Toy Review, a National Parenting Center “Seal of Approval” in 2011 for the Hockey Guys… and the list goes on.  

Enthusiastic press reviews and articles have also appeared in national media — including, most recently, the Sports Illustrated for Kids 2011 “Gotta Get It Guide,” which is featured on the Kaskey Kids homepage.  In the “Gotta Get It Guide,” the Kaskey Kids NHL Hockey Guys, Rangers Vs. Bruins, are recommended.

The Kaskey Kids Football Guys come in both “pro” football and college football versions (with teams such as Auburn, Michigan, Ohio State, and Texas).  The Hockey Guys come in both generic (blue versus yellow) and NHL figures.  The Baseball Guys are classic red vs. blue action figures.  Each team of sports figures comes with a field (for the football guys and soccer guys — and there are also soccer girls), a rink (for the hockey guys), and a diamond (for the baseball guys), along with referee figures and other equipment that enable your kid(s) to play with their action figures on a surface that matches the sport.  The “outdoor” fields are made of sturdy felt — much more durable and satisfying to play with than a plastic sheet.

The Kaskey Kids sports figures are made of sturdy molded plastic and are in compliance with the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act.  They will stand up to years of play and are large enough for toddlers’ hands to easily grasp.

Customer (Parents’) reviews of Kaskey Kids Sports Guys

But what’s the bottom line?  What do parents have to say about how well their kids like the Kaskey Kids Football Guys, Baseball Guys, Hockey Guys, Soccer Guys and other toys?  Well, “5-star” reviews significantly outnumber any other rating for Kaskey Kids sports figures.  Here are excerpts from online customer reviews of Kaskey Kids creative playthings:

Kids of all ages can play with Kaskey Kids action figures in whatever ways they like (photo of an actual Kaskey Kids fan)

“So many toys advertise ‘hours of fun.’  This one should, because it is probably the most played-with toy my boys, ages 5 and 7, have.  We have the soccer guys, football guys, and baseball guys.  My boys play with them alone or together and have done so for several years.  This is one of our staple toys…”

“My nephew loves this [toy].  However, that being said, even without the [hockey rink] boards, he loved playing with the ice surface and players.  He would re-enact Bruins games and do the play by play.  As he grew, he wanted to have the side boards again and would often build them with blocks.  He plays with this toy so often that I wanted to give him a chance to have a new one now that he is older.  I love the fact that it is not an electronic [toy] but rather one that encourages his imagination…  He is now 7 and had the first one since he was 3 or 4 years old.”

“My boys use the field and baseball figures to track the the plays their ‘teams’ make on a baseball pinball game.  When used this way it brings the pinball game to life and adds the excitement of wondering what will happen next.”

“We’ve got three little boys, ages 8, 5, & 3, who love the hockey, soccer, football, and baseball guys.  For little ones who like ‘guys,’ these toys really encourage imaginative play.  For us, preferred over video games and movies.  Very fun to watch.”

“My 8-yr-old son has had the Baseball Guys for a couple of years, along with the Football Guys.  Great toys!  Very well designed and durable.  We love that one of the baseball teams is red (like our beloved Red Sox) and one blue (we pretend they are the Yankees).  The scoreboard that is included is so cute, you can adjust the score and it stands up.  Lots of imaginative fun with this toy!  Perfect for our little baseball fan.”

“My 5-year-old son absolutely loved [the Baseball Guys].  Although he received many other gifts for his birthday, many of which had pretty high ‘wow’ factor, this was far and away his favorite.  It won over Transformers, Star Wars figures, and Legos.  I’m still somewhat incredulous, but clearly he loves it.  One week later and he’s still happily playing and making up games.  In addition, it’s helped him understand some of the elements of the game that were beyond him.  He can position players and is starting to mimic the announcers he sees playing.  He’s even put #11 at short, since Jimmy Rollins is his favorite player.”

About the only critical comments reviewers made about the Kaskey Kids toys was that the carrying cases used to store the sets could be a little bigger — the size made it a bit hard for small kids (say, 3 years old) to put away.  Also, the play surface “fields” would sometimes tend to wrinkle, making it harder to stand the action figures up.  (However, those reviewers might not have followed the instructions from Kaskey Kids, which is to store the playing surfaces rolled up, and, when the new games are first opened and taken out of the box, let them sit flat for awhile to let the creases flatten out.  You can even iron the felt fields.)

Of course, Kaskey Kids sports figures not only encourage pretend play on the part of your kids, they’re also great for kids who have already developed a love of sports or an interest in a particular sport, such as football, hockey, or baseball.  Some kids — even 3-year-olds — take to such things early.  Just ask Christy Kaskey.  (Yes, 3-year-olds can understand the concept of a “body check.”) 

Click to see the Kaskey Kids Baseball Guys and accessories -- including field and scoreboard

And throughout the cold, short days and long nights of the winter months, letting your kids put their imagination to work with Football Guys or Soccer Guys will go a long way toward occupying their time when it’s hard for them to get outdoors and be active.

Further information on the benefits of imaginative or “pretend” play

Many studies have been performed on how kids develop both physically and mentally through play, as well as analyses of the types of play that foster healthy development.  With regard to pretend play specifically, much scholarly research is available and you can find this research summarized online, such as this article on pretend play entitled The Role of Pretend Play in Children’s Cognitive Development.

The bottom line, as summarized in the relatively brief article linked to above, is that high-quality pretend play fosters “cognitive competence” in kids.  A growing body of research suggests that pretend play, or imaginative play, plays an important role in cognitive, social, and academic development, that it may facilitate higher-level thinking and creativity, and that there is a clear link between pretend play and social and linguistic competence. 

Studies also suggest that children who lack opportunities to play imaginatively experience a diminished capacity for problem solving and social interaction, as well as a decline in the ability to handle academic subjects such as math, literacy, and science.  Complex skills and multidimensional abilities are most likely to be fully developed and thrive in an environment where high-quality pretend play is encouraged.

Kaskey Kids has also posted an article on their site written by Kara Bowman, an educator associated with the Museum Tour Catalog, entitled The Joys of Open-Ended Play.

You know, there’s a reason kids like to actively imagine things as they play:  it’s turning them into better all-around human beings.

Sports action figures are just a part of the creative, sports-oriented toys Kaskey Kids offers

As mentioned above, Kaskey Kids also has “Bop Bags,” which are 40-inch tall Tackle Buddies and Checking Buddies that your little guys can knock around and have bounce back for more.  Kaskey also has Mini Packs of action sports figures in different colors, so you can add new players and teams to your collection of Baseball Guys, Hockey Guys, or whatever teams you have.  And they also have the Sports Girls dolls, which are 14-inch plush, soft cotton dolls — girls doing various sports and other activities, such as Basketball Doll Taye, Dancer Doll M. C., and Tennis Doll Gracie — a collection of 9 Sport Girls dolls in all.

As with all the Kaskey Kids creative playthings, the Bop Bags and Sports Girls dolls are well-made and very reasonably priced.

There’s a big difference in how a kid is thinking, imagining, and interacting when he’s playing with something such as a Nintendo 3DS or with a truly 3-dimensional toy like the Kaskey Kids sports action guys.  

Not that there’s anything wrong with a Nintendo 3DS…  But your kid is not developing or expanding his imaginative powers in the same way when he’s pushing the controller of a video game as he is when he’s playing with a tactile, colorful, reality-based toy like the Kaskey Kids action figures — when he’s setting them up, imagining the plays the teams are running, doing the play-by-play like an announcer, and learning actual sports strategies.  Plus he can play along with his siblings and/or friends and expand the scenarios and action even more.

Give Kaskey Kids Football Guys, Soccer Guys, Hockey Guys, and other creative toys strong consideration for your young athletes-to-be (or whatever they want to imagine themselves being).  It’s hard to find a toy these days that offers so many positive benefits at such a reasonable price.  Plus offers your kids fun and satisfaction over the long term.

Related posts:

1. Paper Jamz Has Fun Musical Toys for Not Much Money
2. What Easier Place to Find Gifts for Guys than at “Presents For Men”?

Click to see the many benefits of giving a charitable gift from Gifts In Action

Maybe you’ve been racking your brain trying to come up with the ideal gift from someone who seems to have it all. Well, now you can give a unique gift that will help someone who doesn’t have that much — and simultaneously warm the heart and even inspire that person who doesn’t really need much in the way of material possessions. A charitable gift from Gifts In Action changes lives and spreads a message of hope, empowerment, and greater community.

And — perfect for you, the procrastinator — you can still get it to your recipient in time for Christmas!

=> Click here to get details about how Gifts In Action works and choose the charity gift that appeals to you (and your recipient) and fits your budget <=

Gifts In Action is a charity gift-giving organization based in the UK.  The Gifts In Action program is the brainchild of ActionAid, a non-profit organization that has been working since 1972 to end poverty and injustice in the world.  Now with programs in 40 countries, ActionAid — and Gifts In Action — attack the problem of poverty at the root, providing programs that help people become self-sustaining and financially independent.  It’s not just charity — it’s creative assistance that makes a long-term difference to endemic problems and changes the lives of those it helps.

How Gifts In Action Works

You give the gift of supporting a project somewhere in the world in the name of someone else.  The person in whose name you give the gift receives a personalized card from you — either a paper card that you can have sent to them (or have it sent to you to give to them personally), or an e-Card that Gifts In Action will email directly to your gift recipient.  They will receive the details of how the gift you’ve given in their name is helping someone in the world address problems experienced by their family, their community, or their country.

Do you know someone who is passionate about education?  Give a gift in their name that helps ActionAid train volunteer teachers to teach rural students in Cambodia — thus spreading the benefits of education and economic advancement.  Similarly, a gift to Gifts In Action of £20 will provide school books for a child in Haiti for an entire year.

You simply choose which gift program appeals to you and match it to the donation amount that fits your budget

Do you know an environmentalist?  Maybe they would like a gift of helping rural Vietnamese children plant 400 trees — teaching the kids about the value of preserving the environment, while simultaneously helping them rid themselves of disease problems caused by mosquitoes and flies.

Do you know someone who extols the virtues of entrepreneurship and financial independence?  Maybe that person would appreciate the gift of helping to support a chicken-breeding program in Malawi.  A donation of only £10 helps rural women buy broods of chicks.  The eggs the chickens produce helps feed their families and can be sold at local markets to support themselves financially.

There are many categories of gifts from Gifts In Action — projects and initiatives that should interest just about any gift recipient you have — from energy-saving stoves for women in Uganda to river ambulances for people without access to good roads in Bangladesh.  All of the charity gifts from Gifts In Action are reasonably priced and are used efficiently on long-term projects that can help entire communities.

And right now, you can get £1 off when you buy two or more Gifts In Action and use voucher code GIAAFF on the checkout page.  When you use this voucher, Bluefrog Ltd. (the corporate partner of Gifts In Action), will pay £1 (one British pound) of your gift for you.  Just choose two or more gifts and enter code GIAAFF on the checkout page.

If you use the e-Card option on the Gifts In Action site, you can still get the gift to your recipient in time for Christmas (sorry, but the deadline for paper cards to arrive by Christmas has passed).  Do something good for your fellow human beings around the world, please and inspire your gift recipient, feel better that you’re making a difference, and meet the Christmas deadline…  What could be better?  It’s a win-win-win-win.

I imagine your gift recipient will never have received a gift quite like the one you give them from Gifts In Action.  See the video below to get up close and personal about what they do:

Related posts:

1. What Easier Place to Find Gifts for Guys than at “Presents For Men”?
2. Kaskey Kids Football Guys and Other Sports Action Figures are Fun Toys That Encourage Your Kids to Play Imaginatively

Click here to get an authentic signed Tim Tebow Denver Broncos Jersey from Sports Memorabilia

Whether you enjoy the way Tim Tebow plays football, appreciate his clean-cut image, or even admire his devotion to his faith, one thing is for sure:  if you’re a Tim Tebow fan, there could be nothing more fun to get than a signed Tim Tebow Denver Broncos jersey.  And if you’re shopping for a Tim Tebow fan, what better gift to give him or her?

A signed Tim Tebow jersey might be the hottest sports memorabilia item in the world right now.  And you can get a Denver Broncos Tim Tebow jersey autographed by Tim from Sports Memorabilia by clicking here.

If you want a jersey signed by Tim Tebow, don’t wait, because these mementos of the Tim Tebow saga are going fast.  As you might imagine.

Tim Tebow and the Broncos versus the Patriots tomorrow

Tim Tebow and the Denver Broncos are slated to play the New England Patriots tomorrow in a game that has implications not only for the upcoming NFL playoffs, but for the ever-expanding scope of “Tebowmania.”  (And if you want to attend, there are still tickets for this game available from TicketNetwork.)

Since taking over as the starting quarterback for the Broncos, Tebow has played a big part in engineering a 7-1 record, which has enabled the Broncos to climb atop the AFC West standings.  This winning record has included miraculous comeback wins against the Chargers and Bears, due in no small part to Tebow’s uncanny knack for raising his performance in the fourth quarter.

It must be added, though, that it’s been far from a Tebow-only show.  The team has come together in a big way, and stand-out performers such as kicker Matt Prater and pass-rushers Von Miller and Elvis Dumervil are also driving the winning momentum.  But many of Tebow’s teammates credit his will to win and ability to lead for helping keep the Broncos’ confidence high — an attitude that leads to resilience and a will to work together even as the team falls behind (which they’ve done a lot).  The Broncos are almost making a Russian-roulette-style habit of  fourth-quarter comebacks.

Even if the Broncos lose to New England, they are very likely to make the playoffs, since they face only Kansas City and Buffalo in the remaining two games of the season.  How will Tim Tebow add to his legend when the Broncos appear in the playoffs for the first time since 2005?

It remains to be seen, obviously, and it should be entertaining.  But first there’s a significant game tomorrow that may be the most anticipated game of this NFL season — and all because Tebow’s fame has become a world-wide phenomenon.  People like a winner.  They like unusual characters.  They like athletes who defy the odds to win.  And for those reasons and more, they like Tim Tebow. (All except certain former NFL quarterbacks who just can’t seem to stop criticizing his play — and, you know, they might think about easing up on him; he’s getting better every week).

If you want a signed Tim Tebow Jersey for yourself, or to give as a gift, no time like the present…

You can get an authentic signed jersey with Tim Tebow’s autograph now and become a driver aboard the Tim Tebow bandwagon — or you can lose out on the opportunity because these pieces of sports lore are going fast.  Get the jersey and either keep it to enjoy one of your favorite players, hope that it appreciates as an investment as Tebow’s career unfolds, or give it as an amazing gift to a Tim Tebow fan.

This hand-signed, blue custom Denver Broncos number 15 Tim Tebow jersey is available right now from Sports Memorabilia — a trusted online purveyor of sports memorabilia and collectibles for 10 years, with a track record of reliable customer service in supplying the merchandise that rabid sports fans crave.  Click here to see Sports Memorabilia’s 100% guarantee of authenticity that applies to every piece of sports memorabilia they sell — a guarantee that means you can be confident that the signed Tim Tebow jersey you’re getting is authentic.

In other words, it’s guaranteed to carry the signature of the “Mile High Messiah” himself.

So, enjoy either getting or giving the Tim Tebow autographed Denver Broncos jersey this holiday season.

PS: If you want a piece of sports memorabilia from earlier in Tim Tebow’s career, you can also get a signed jersey from his Heisman-winning days as a player at the University of Florida — a college career than saw him lead the Gators to two national championships.

Also, Super Bowl XLVI deal at Sports Memorabilia…

Right now you can get $4.99 flat rate shipping on all Super Bowl XLVI orders over $50 at Sports Memorabilia (shop now; offer ends soon). 

In addition, get 10% off orders over $75 at SportsMemorabilia.com by using code AFFX10 (ends March 31).  Get the Tim Tebow jersey or any other piece of sports memorabilia you want and get it for less!  Enter code AFFX10 at checkout.

Related posts:

1. Hey Now! New Orleans Saints Win Super Bowl 44
2. A More Inspiring Gift — a Charitable Gift from Gifts In Action

Getting half off at Perry Ellis online right now is pretty simple. All you have to do is use the code “PESAVE50″ and you’ll get 50% off on anything and everything on their site.  Perry Ellis is one of the most popular and innovative men’s clothing brands, known for their stylish, well-made clothes — menswear that will fit your active lifestyle and creative expression.  And through December 19, they are offering everything on their site at half off using the coupon code above.

Just click the link below to shop and start saving…

=> Click here to shop at PerryEllis.com and get 50% off everything when you use code PESAVE50 at checkout <=

Click to get this Plaid Scarf from Perry Ellis at 50% off

At left is an example of just one desirable item of clothing that you can find at Perry Ellis now — a Plaid Scarf in warm tones of black and brown.  This scarf normally goes for $35, but if you shop today and apply code PESAVE50, you’ll get it for $17.49.

And that goes for EVERYTHING on their site!  Apply the code in the shopping cart when you check out and your entire purchase will be discounted 50 percent.

Perry Ellis Men’s Shirts

Perry Ellis is, of course, known for quintessentially-American men’s shirts, both dress shirts and casual shirts.  You can get half off now on well-designed shirts for the office — 100% cotton, flatteringly-tailored shirts in solids, plaids, and stripes.  Most are priced at $50 – $60, so you’ll be getting them today (through December 15) for $25 – $30. This is a good chance to stock up!

Much More Than Shirts — Suits, Jeans, Shoes, Etc. — A Complete Men’s Clothing Store Online

Of course, Perry Ellis carries a complete line of all types of men’s clothes, so you can shop for coats and sweaters, fashionable blazers, ties, jeans, dress pants, underwear, shoes, slippers, socks, belts, cufflinks, sunglasses, wallets, watches, suits, resort wear, and more.  (Check the video below to see examples of what’s new for 2011 from Perry Ellis.)

Like I said:  it’s like your favorite men’s clothing store suddenly announced a store-wide half-off sale.

Women’s Clothes, Too (Rafaella)

But what’s more, Perry Ellis does not just sell men’s clothes and accessories on their site.  They also offer something for women:  bikinis!  Now, you may debate the merits of buying a bikini in winter — unless you’re traveling to Mexico or Hawaii for the holidays, in which case it’s important — but I don’t think a guy would ever argue with the wisdom of a woman having plenty of bikinis.  So, be assured, those are half-off, too!

And if you’ve got a gal pal (or you are a gal) who wants to shop for additional women’s clothes at good prices, go to the site of Perry Ellis’s sister company, Rafaella Sportswear, where you can get everything at 40% off for a limited time with code RFL40.  Tell your fashionista buddies about this sale.

Or, if that 40% site-wide deal at Rafaella has expired, you can get 30% off 2 items (use code SAVE30); 40% off 3 items (code SAVE40); or 50% off 4+ items (code SAVE50) at Rafaella Sportswear.

Anyway, back to men…

Shop between now and December 15, use code PESAVE50, and save on well-made men’s attire and tons of accessories from Perry Ellis.  If you don’t need anything personally, are you done with Christmas shopping?

I figure you would regret it if you didn’t take advantage of this sale — after all, you have to wear clothes at some point, right?

Perry Ellis on Vimeo.

Related posts:

1. 10 Days of T-Shirts: Day 3 – Pat Perry Tee from Chrome
2. Win a $10,000 Shopping Spree at High-End Fashion Clothing Store SSENSE

Are you trying to find a gift for a man who’s hard to shop for?  When it comes to shopping for gifts for guys, you will certainly be able to find something suitable at Presents For Men — the UK men’s store online that features 2,000 gifts, tech gadgets, and manly accessories for men, travelers — even women.  But mostly for men.  Presents For Men has gathered some of the most interesting, unusual, useful, and fun gifts in one convenient place.

If you can’t find a present for a man at PresentsForMen.co.uk, then you are not online.  That is a prerequisite — you must be able to get on the Internet.  Presents for Men will take it from there.  (Even better, see below for a special, secret deal.)

Fun Gifts for Men

Click to get a Camera Lens Cup from Presents For Men

For example, at Presents For Men, you can find a Camera Lens Cup — a mug that looks just like a camera lens, and includes a removable lens cap that doubles as a coaster.  How many male photographers do you know who would enjoy a cup that looks like a lens?  All of them!  (If they don’t, they have no sense of humor or whimsy, so why are you hanging out with them?)

This lens looks and feels like a real lens and is insulated to keep hot drinks hot and cold drinks cold.

Hey, photographers get thirsty, too.

Puzzles and Games

Do you know a guy who likes to solve puzzles?  Does he enjoy the challenges of things like Rubik’s Cube and Sudoku?  Then what better gift to get him than a Sudokube — a 3-dimensional Sudoku game where the object is to get the numbers 1 to 9 on each face of the cube by rotating the different rows.

Click to get the Sudokube for a puzzle-solving guy

Get him a Sudokube and he will probably miss his next flight because he will be too absorbed in enjoying his new puzzle and won’t hear the boarding announcement in the terminal.  He will blame you.  But it will not be your fault.

Anyway, he will forget all about it after he boards the next flight out and continues to play on the plane.  And the Sudokube is just £3.99! (Multiply that by 1.6 to get approximate US dollars.)

Travel Gifts

You don’t want your traveler guy getting lost, so a handy tech-related gift you can get him at Presents For Men is a Universal GPS Nav-Pack.  This ingenious travel case will hold and protect his portable GPS device — and, when he wants to use it, he can set it up on the dashboard of his car so he can easily read the screen.

Get a Universal GPS Nav-Pack for your techy traveler

No more fumbling with or holding the GPS device when driving.  Instead, the Universal GPS Nav-Pack will position the screen of the GPS at 3 different angles, depending on preference.  And the case will not slide off the dashboard because it has a weighted base.  It will hold most standard portable GPS devices 3½” and 5″ in size.  The case is padded to protect his unit.

See the video below that explains the uses of the Universal GPS Nav-Pack.

You can also explore their travel-related gift store at Travel Paraphernalia for even more gift ideas related to travel.

Brilliant!  Click here to get the Universal GPS Nav-Pack from Presents For Men.

I could go on listing dozens of cool, unusual gift ideas for men that are available at Presents For Men, but where would be the fun in that for you?  I think you get the idea.

It will be much more fun for you to explore the site yourself and find just the right present for that man who’s hard to buy for.  (You know the one I mean.)  Plus, see the text link below for a special Christmas deal!

Just for your holiday-shopping ease…  Click here to go to a “Secret Christmas Gift Ideas” page at Presents For Men and get 50% off everything you see there by using code SECRET50 at checkout. This is a special code that is not generally available!

The Presents For Men website has guides to Best-Selling Christmas Gifts, the latest fun products (see “New Products”), and Stocking Fillers.

Presents For Men even has an interactive “Gift Finder” that helps you find just the right present for your guy (or gal).  You input the recipient (man, teen, grandparent, etc.), the price range, and an area of interest — Presents For Men then suggests many different gift ideas suitable for that person.  What could be easier?  You can do all this while wearing your pajamas.

They have gifts in the categories of Home, Garden, Travel, Gadgets, Fun & Games, Health & Beauty, Books, and more.  They even have Clearance items on sale for ridiculously small amounts of money, so you can shop economically there, too.  (If you’re shopping from the US, shipping to American addresses is not terribly expensive — starts around $18).

The Presents for Men site is laid out intelligently and is easy to navigate.  It has a search function and will let you know whether items are in stock or not.

The Presents For Men company has been in business for 22 years.  They have built their success on word-of-mouth recommendations and repeat orders, so you can shop there with confidence.  Presents For Men pride themselves on their customer service and providing quality, practicality, and value when it comes to shopping for a gift.

Try ‘em!  Solve all your challenging gift-shopping problems now!

Related posts:

1. A More Inspiring Gift — a Charitable Gift from Gifts In Action
2. Kaskey Kids Football Guys and Other Sports Action Figures are Fun Toys That Encourage Your Kids to Play Imaginatively

Today you can get this deal from Groupon:  Get 8 regular-sized subs at a Quiznos location of your choice for just $26.  (I’ll save you having to do the math:  that’s just $3.25 a sandwich.)  See the links below for your city. (Or for other good Groupon deals if this one is done.)

I don’t know about you, but I like Quiznos subs (my favorites are the Turkey Bacon Guacamole and the Prime Rib & Peppercorn).  They have that toasty quality going on (which everybody else has copied), the ingredients are fresh (and ethically sourced — see their site for info), and they got a pepper bar!  Plus, I tend to enjoy their ads, which are usually creative and entertaining in a sea of otherwise tepid TV ads (who could ever forget the sponge monkeys?).

Here’s a great opportunity to get 8 regular-sized Quiznos subs for just $26 through Groupon, but it’s only available today, May 18, through midnight.

You choose the Quiznos location you want to get the subs from, take your Groupon there, and they’ll give you a punch card for your 8 subs (up to a $51.92 value).  The punch card does not expire, but you must use your Groupon to get the punch card by July 4, 2011.  (This would also make a good gift for a sub-loving friend.)

Not familiar with Groupon?  Basically, it’s a business that offers good deals at local merchants and services in your area.  They aggregate the buying power of a “group” approach to purchasing.  You, the consumer, get a good deal.  The business who offers the deal gets a lot of new customers.  Thus, a win-win.  Each day, new deals are offered by Groupon.  Each deal usually only lasts for one day (such as today’s Quiznos deal, which expires at midnight tonight).  If not enough people buy the deal, then Groupon returns your purchase price.  If enough take advantage of the deal, the Groupon site says, “The deal is on!” and that means it’s good to go.  “Groupon” is a combination of “Group” and “Coupon.”  Group + Coupon = Groupon.  Simple.  Take a look at the video below for further explanation of how Groupon works and what it can do for you (it’s only 1:34).  And check the Groupon site.

By the way, Groupon is the only group-buying service I’m currently recommending.  I like the way they run their business and I like the attitude of their people.  Plus their ratings and reviews are good.  They care about their customers.  All of the other aggregate-deal services have some problems, it seems, at least for now.  As with every business I recommend here at Best Stuff for Men, it’s something I’ve researched and something I use myself and recommend to my friends.  And you and I could be friends if we met, right?

(Be sure to read all the “fine print” of any deal on Groupon so you know exactly what you’re getting.)

Okay, so you want the Quiznos deal (which, if you already like Quiznos, will save you about 25 bucks on sandwiches you were probably going to get anyway).  Below I’ve created links for most cities (or counties or regions) in the US where you can take advantage of this deal.  Click on the city name:

• Albuquerque, NM
• Asheville, NC
• Atlanta, GA
• Austin, TX
• Baltimore, MD
• Billings, MT
• Boise, ID
• Buffalo, NY
• Charlotte, NC
• Charleston, SC
• Chicago, IL
• Cincinnati,OH
• Cleveland, OH
• Colorado Springs, CO
• Columbus, OH
• Dallas, TX
• Denver, CO
• Des Moines, IA
• Detroit, MI
• East Bay Area, CA
• Erie, PA
• Eugene, OR
• Fort Worth, TX
• Green Bay, WI
• Houston, TX
• Indianapolis, IN
• Kansas City, MO
• Knoxville, TN
• Las Vegas, NV
• Lincoln, NE
• Louisville, KY
• Los Angeles, CA
• Madison, WI
• Memphis, TN
• Miami, FL
• Milwaukee, WI
• Minneapolis, MN
• Mobile, AL
• Napa – Sonoma, CA
• Nashville, TN
• New York City, NY
• Oklahoma City, OK (enjoy a sub before the Thunder game)
• Omaha, NE
• Orange County, CA
• Orlando, FL
• Philadelphia, PA
• Phoenix, AZ
• Pittsburgh, PA
• Portland, ME
• Portland, OR
• Providence, RI
• Reno, NV
• Richmond, VA
• Sacramento, CA
• Salem, OR
• Salt Lake City, UT
• San Antonio, TX
• San Diego, CA
• San Francisco, CA
• San Jose, CA
• Santa Cruz, CA
• Seattle, WA
• Sioux Falls, SD
• Springfield, MA
• Springfield, MO
• St. Louis, MO
• Toledo, OH
• Topeka, KS
• Tucson, AZ
• Ventura County, CA
• Washington, DC (The District)
• Wichita, KS

Okay, that was a lot of link building.  Enjoy your subs!  Let me know in the comments below if you have thoughts about Groupon.  Click the banner below the video for Groupon deals tailored to your area.

Related posts:

1. Good Deal: Overstock Is Having a Sale on Watches, Including Rolex
2. Good Deal on a Tough Watch: Invicta Russian Diver’s Watch

It’s ten days until Mother’s Day, guys.  You’re thinking, geez, should I get my mom flowers again?  Nothing wrong with flowers (and if you go with flowers for Mother’s Day, use Fleurop, the world’s most extensive flower delivery service), but why not surprise her with something a little more exotic?  How about some beautiful handmade turquoise jewelry from Nepal?  You can get Turquoise Teardrop Jewelry — a necklace, earrings, or a set of both — from the international collection at the National Geographic Store.

Click to get Turquoise Teardrop Jewelry at National Geographic Store

The Turquoise Teardrop Necklace and Earrings are artistic and graceful (just like your mom), and come out of the ancient jewelry-making tradition of the Shakya clan, which in ancient times dwelt in the foothills of the Himalayas and had their capital city located in what is present-day Nepal.  The Shakya were known for their skill in metalwork.

You’re probably aware of the importance of turquoise to the Navajos, but did you know that it has been an important stone to ancient cultures throughout the world?  In Tibet, the sky is referred to as “the turquoise of heaven,” and most Tibetans own at least one piece of turquoise jewelry.  The Anasazi Indians believed that their ancestors first entered the world through a cave that is now a famous turquoise mine in New Mexico.  As early as 3100 BC, the Egyptians made jewelry out of green turquoise; the Egyptian name for turquoise (mefkat) was synonymous with “joy” and “delight.”  The Aztecs inlaid turquoise with gold, malachite, jade, and other semi-precious materials and used it to make ceremonial masks, knives, and shields.

This classic teardrop design from the National Geographic Store is a modern rendering in sterling silver and turquoise of a shape used by the Shakya to help one focus on one’s spiritual intentions.  These handmade earrings and necklaces are works of art, yet are very reasonably priced.

The National Geographic Store partners with artisans from around the globe — but particularly in economically- and politically-challenged areas — to produce products for their customers that will reflect the highest standards of craftsmanship and quality, while simultaneously helping provide a stable income to areas beset by instability.  Their products are thus a win-win for their customers and the artisans with whom they work.

Here are two more interesting jewelry designs from the National Geographic Store that would also make excellent, thoughtful gifts for Mother’s Day:

Click for Kashmiri Floral Bangles

These Kashmiri Floral Bangles are made by artisans in the mountains of Kashmir using an advanced form of papier-mâché.  Richly-colored local pigments and gold accents are then used to paint traditional floral, paisley, and bird patterns on each bracelet.  You get 5 lightweight bangles for only $29.

Get your Mom a truly unique necklace

If your mom is into history, archaeology, or truly one-of-a-kind jewelry, she will appreciate this Ancient Roman Coin Necklace.  The  artist who makes these necklaces uses Roman coins from the second to fourth century A.D., each one depicting a Roman emperor of the era.  The coins are set in sterling silver and can be worn with either side facing out.  Who was the last person to spend one of these coins?  Was it used to purchase a dagger?  A basket of grain?  This is living history.  And where else can you find items like this but at the National Geographic Store online?  Of course, they have many more jewelry designs to choose from, so check them out.

Everything they sell is unconditionally guaranteed.  You (or your gift recipient) must be satisfied with your purchase or you can return or exchange it.  From high-tech to classical-tech, they have a huge selection of fascinating, educational, unique, and beautiful products from around the globe.

Related posts:

1. Costume Ideas and Deals for Halloween — or Whenever
2. A Valentine’s Gift Sure to Please Her

Sweet!  Easter is the time of year when most people indulge their craving for Peeps, the popular, chick-shaped marshmallow candy that has been hatching at about this time for over 50 years.  Marshmallow Peeps are a classic American candy, have inspired a cult following, and now appear in numerous variations — including tasty Chocolate-covered Bunny Peeps that you can get from Chocolate.com, one of the best places to get all kinds of scrumptious chocolate online.

You can order these Chocolate-covered Peeps today and have them in time for Easter.  (But even if it’s after Easter, why not get some anyway?  You know you want to.)  Of course, as a guy, you don’t eat Peeps, right?  (wink, wink)  So get them for your girl.

These Easter Bunny Chocolate-covered Peeps are made by the Chocolate Chocolate Chocolate Company of St. Louis, Missouri.  They take 8 innocent bunny-shaped Peeps and smother them with their award-winning milk chocolate, creating one of the sweetest, most luxurious marshmallow candy treats you can find.  Customers come back for these year after year.  Here’s what one customer review stated at Chocolate.com:

“Please take my word for it…  You will be loved from the receiver of a gift from a fine place like this… even if it [is] yourself!  10-star rating… easily!”

There are other positive and even more coherent reviews for these Chocolate-Covered Peeps at Chocolate.com.  The bottom line is that this sweet, marshmallow-chocolate Easter treat will be a hit, whether you scarf them all yourself or get them for your family or a loved one.  You can get 8 chocolate-covered, bunny-shaped Peeps for a sale price of $11 right now from Chocolate.com.

Peeps Lore

Did you know that Peeps are born — er, manufactured — by the Just Born company right here in the USA?  Just Born has been making iconic American candy for over 80 years.  In 1953, they acquired the Rodda Candy Company of Lancaster, Pennsylvania, which was well-known for its jelly beans. Coincidentally, Rodda had a small side-line making marshmallow candy called Easter Peeps, which they produced by hand-squeezing marshmallow through pastry tubes.  Bob Born, the son of Sam Born, who founded the Just Born candy company in 1910, figured out a way to mechanize the marshmallow-molding process and the rest, as they say, is Peeps history.  (You can’t really beat a product name like “Peeps,” can you?)  Today, 4.2 million Marshmallow Peeps march out of Bethlehem, PA every day.

The Born family apparently has candy-making in their veins.  Sam Born, the founder, who emigrated to the US from Russia, invented a way to mechanically insert sticks into lollipops.  He might have been the first to put a hard chocolate coating on ice cream bars.  Sam’s successors invented HOT TAMALES candy in 1950.  And the company is being run by members of the Born family to this day — definitely an American success story.

Think of all that the next time you run across a package of yellow Peeps or snowman Peeps or Valentine Peeps.

By the way, here’s an interesting factoid you can impress your colleagues with when you’re waiting to board a plane at the airport:  Marshmallow was originally made from the mucilage obtained from the roots of the marshmallow plant, which is indigenous to Africa, and grows in damp areas such as, well, marshes.  The root extract was mixed with honey by the ancient Egyptians to use as a treatment for sore throats.  In fact, various parts of the marshmallow plant have been used medicinally by a number of cultures.  But it was the French (of course) who figured out a way in the 1800s to whip it into the more candy-like substance we’re familiar with today.  Nowadays, there is no marshmallow root in marshmallow candy — it consists of gelatin and corn syrup and dextrose and other stuff that might not be too good for you, but who cares?

Actually, if you get some Chocolate-Covered Easter Peeps from Chocolate.com, at least you add some of chocolate’s healthy properties.  Although that’s not the main point, is it?

Chocolate.com success

Chocolate.com is another American success story.  In business for about 6 years, they gather artisan chocolate makers from around the globe and make their products available in one huge online chocolate emporium.  Most of the small chocolate shops associated with Chocolate.com are located in the US, so when you buy from them you know you are supporting small businesses and family-owned enterprises (just like Sam Born started in 1910).  And you’re supporting chocolate!  Chocolate.com brings together some of the most passionate, skilled, chocolate-making artists in the world under one online “roof” and makes their best products available to you.  They have a blog and a Chocolate-of-the-Month Club that you can check out.

Of course, it being Easter, you should explore some of their other delicious offerings for the holiday.  As well as other times of the year…  Chocolate knows no limitations of time or menu.  It’s just one of those things that makes life fun.  Like Peeps.

And, because you’re you, here are some deals…

Get 15% Off Select Gifts at Chocolate.com With Code GIFT15!

Free Ground Shipping on Select Gifts at Chocolate.com

Related posts:

1. Find Your Chocolate Heaven
2. Sure, Your Mom Would Appreciate Flowers for Mother’s Day — But What About Something Sorta Different?

You may be wondering how to help the people of Japan cope with the aftermath of the devastating earthquake and tsunami that occurred March 11.  You can do it by buying goods from Japanese companies online.  This post tells you the best way to shop Japan via the Internet.

One idea for economic recovery that I have not seen mentioned is to shop directly with Japanese businesses online.  Americans and others around the world have donated millions of dollars through various relief organizations, such as the Red Cross, and many others have traveled to Japan to volunteer their services.  But, while donations of money satisfy the immediate need to get supplies to the people in the towns of the tsunami-ravaged Tohoku region, dollars can be infused into the Japanese economy long-term by shopping via the Internet from anywhere in the world at Rakuten.

Click to explore Rakuten's huge online mall

Many people outside Japan have not heard of Rakuten.  It is an online shopping company.  It is Japan’s equivalent of Amazon.  The Japanese name “Rakuten Ichiba” translates to “Rakuten Shopping Mall,” which is exactly what it is — an aggregation of 33,000 Japanese shops and businesses.  This huge online shopping site offers 60 million products.  Rakuten is the second most visited site in Japan, with over 50 million registered users.  In fact, this Internet shopping giant is the reason Amazon has not been able to make much headway into the Japanese market.  It is estimated that one-third of households in Japan shop at Rakuten.  And that says something:  Japanese consumers, particularly online, are known for being finicky and demanding.  Rakuten has met their needs to the point that it is now one of the top ten Internet companies in the world, and has an international presence.  In addition to products, it also has its own extensive travel services site, which anyone in the world can use.

Rakuten is now actively expanding its shopping services in other markets throughout the world, including Europe and the United States.  Amazon may be the largest online shopping company, but sheer size is no guarantee of quality (Microsoft sells more operating systems than any other company but no one thinks their OS is the best, and General Motors became the largest automaker in the world selling cars inferior to a number of other makes), so I would not be surprised if, in a few years, Rakuten has noticeably eroded Amazon’s market share.  You can think of Rakuten as the Honda of online retailing.

What does that mean with respect to helping the Japanese economy weather the aftermath of the earthquake?

We know that the world’s economic fortunes are subject to ripple effects that transcend national boundaries.  Mortgage foreclosures in the American mid-west affect the value of the Euro.  The price of labor in China impacts how much Walmart pays its US workers.  The Russian wheat harvest affects the price of food in Delhi and Des Moines.  With respect to the world economy, Japan is a titan, boasting the third largest economy after the US and China.  So any financial woes that Japan experiences as a result of the triple whammy of the earthquake, tsunami, and radiation contamination from damaged nuclear power plants will affect not only the Japanese people but people in the United States and around the world.  (Already, it is projected that demand for the Prius will not be able to be met, since there are parts suppliers for the car in the affected region.  And US beef exports to Japan may be hampered by damaged port facilities.)  In other words, the domino effect from an economic slowdown in Japan coupled with the need to re-build infrastructure could affect your personal financial situation.  So it behooves you to help your neighbor.

Thus, if you shop for Japanese goods, you can help not only Japanese businesses and consumers as they recover and re-build, but your own economy as well.  The easiest (and most enjoyable) way to shop in Japan from outside Japan is Rakuten. Spend a few bucks there, get yourself some interesting, well-made Japanese products, and you’ll be helping float everyone’s boat.  After all, just imagine what it would have meant to a local hardware or stationery store in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina if they had had a steady influx of customers…  If they had experienced damage or hardship from the hurricane, sure, packets of freeze-dried food and blankets would have met their immediate physical needs, but long-term, it’s customers buying from businesses that sustain an economy, whether in Bay St. Louis, Mississippi or Ofunato, Japan.

You can find just about any kind of product at Rakuten, from books to ice cream to motorcycle parts.  But why not get something interesting or unusual?  How about:

• Sake
• Momotaro Jeans (maybe the best jeans in the world)
• Japanese Sandals
• Tea Sets
• Samurai Clothes and Accessories
• Edible Seaweed from Ofunato (the northeast region)

You can also try using the search field on the Rakuten homepage to search for city names in the northeast region, such as Sendai, Kamaishi, Miyako, and Kuji, in order to find stores in those cities from which to buy.  Keep in mind that operations at those stores might be curtailed or slowed for awhile — but they will still appreciate the business!

Rakuten currently ships to over 50 countries (and the list is expanding) and their site has pages optimized for a number of countries, including the USA, Canada, China, France, and the UK.  If you’re outside Japan, when you place an order you’ll usually be put in touch via email with the shop that sells the item to arrange a shipping method and cost.  (Note that some shops offer special free international shipping promotions, or $1 international shipping.)  There is a weight restriction on items shipped to the US via certain carriers, but many shops can arrange a shipping method to the US that gets around this limit.

When you first explore the site, you may wonder where to go and how to approach it, but anyone familiar with online shopping can quickly figure it out.  Explore.  In addition, they have a handy instructional page here.

Think of it as an adventure, man.  As well as a good deed.

Here’s a testimonial from a customer in the US posted on the Rakuten site:

“I recently found Rakuten via Facebook, and boy I couldn’t be happier. As a person interested in Japanese culture, this website is great. I’ve found many things I had been looking for as well as new items that have caught my eye. The website is well laid out and very intuitive to navigate. And the search feature is one of the better ones I’ve encountered for a merchant website. And this is all from a website that isn’t set up for business in the USA. If the USA website is half as good, then it’ll be better than most merchants that I’ve purchased from.   by Nick M – NJ, USA”

Hey, if Nick can do it, you can, too.  And remember, you’ll be helping the cause.  It all adds up.

If you have found something interesting or useful here on Best Stuff for Men, please consider making a donation, so others can benefit, too.  Thanks!

Related posts:

1. Father’s Day: Get Something Good for Your Dad (or Yourself)
2. Sure, Your Mom Would Appreciate Flowers for Mother’s Day — But What About Something Sorta Different?

What will please your main squeeze?  In a word — jewelry.

Freud asked the question, “What do women want?” and apparently never came up with a satisfactory answer.  Millions of other guys have continued to ask that question, particularly on Valentine’s Day.  Are you having trouble figuring out an answer?  Well, I’m here to tell you that it’s not that hard — there is a can’t-miss Valentine’s gift that will have your significant other expressing passionate gratitude to you.

If only a guy like Frank Harris could have sat down with Freud over a drink and said, “Look here, Sigmund, I know exactly what women want.  There’s no mystery,” we wouldn’t have all this second-guessing about satisfying feminine desire.  (By the way, Harris was born in 1856 – the same year as Freud — only Harris was born on (hey!) February 14.)

Yes, there is no mystery.  It’s known what women want.  They want jewelry.

Preferably diamonds.

Of all the options for a Valentine’s Day gift for your sweetie — flowers, chocolate, perfume, etc. — jewelry is number one, and diamonds the jewel of choice.  They really are a girl’s best friend (thanks, Marilyn Monroe).  Below are some excellent jewelry options from some of the best jewelry merchants in the world.

Your girl wants a gift that will both celebrate and enhance her desirability and femininity.  Jewelry fits the bill — and diamonds, being one of the highest-status adornments, particularly so.  She wants to feel not only acknowledged, but treasured, as a woman.  She appreciates a symbol that tells her that no woman is more important to you than her.  Diamonds do that — though sapphires, rubies, and emeralds work well, too.  For whatever reason, women “get” the significance of precious jewels more vividly than the average guy.  Why?  Well, maybe it’s the advertising — but we know that a woman like Cleopatra was as gaga over jewelry as, well, Lady Gaga.  Basically, women’s lust for jewelry is one of those constants, like gravity, or the Yankees winning the pennant.

So get your girl jewelry for Valentine’s Day.  She will really, really like it, Freud notwithstanding.

Diamond Stud Earrings

Now, statistically, as I said, diamonds are your best bet.  And the easiest and most versatile style of diamond jewelry to get — something she can wear just about any time, or to dress fabulously on special occasions — are diamond stud earrings.  Following is a choice selection of diamond stud earrings, in order of price.  These will do the trick.

Princess cut diamond stud earrings from Katarina

Here are some one-fifth carat diamond stud earrings set in 14K white gold.  These are from Katarina, an online jeweler that specializes in a wide range of diamond jewelry and is known for good customer service.  These studs are elegant without being overly ostentatious and they won’t put a hole in your budget big enough to drive an armored truck through.  Your girl will be pleased and impressed.  But if for some reason she decides she’d like something a little different, Katarina has a 30-day return policy (unlikely to be used).

Moving up a bit in quality, these round brilliant cut diamond stud earrings are quarter-carat designs (pictured at left) that are a step up in color and clarity than those described above and thus a little more pricey — but still won’t break the bank.  (For those who care about such things, the color is G-H (near colorless) and the clarity is SI2-I1 (slightly included to included).)  They are set in 14K white gold and are, again, from Katarina.  They are a nice size and the round cut complements just about any look, from jeans to a little black dress.

Diamond Flower Earrings in White Gold from Allurez

Finally we have these beauties from Allurez:  Diamond Flower Earrings set in 14K white gold.  These are by jewelry designer Morris & David, known for their historically savvy yet modern designs that are carried in upscale department stores throughout the USA (and favored by a number of Hollywood celebrities, among others).  These earrings each contain 7 brilliant cut diamonds arranged in the shape of a flower.  The 1.19 carats of diamonds are set into white gold and are a quarter-inch wide — a stunning pair of earrings with which to grace your lovely lady.  The dealer, Allurez, is located in the heart of New York City and is known for their high-quality jewelry and custom designs (including the capability to create your own).  Their prices are good (for example, the diamond flower earrings here are discounted 48%)  and they have a 100% satisfaction guarantee. They have a selection of hundreds of jewelry designs for men, too, so do some exploring of their site while you’re getting your Valentine gift.

Custom-made Jewelry

As I said above, diamonds are (statistically) a girl’s best friend — but maybe your girl is interested in things that are a little more iconoclastic than mainstream diamond jewelry.  Well, we’ve got you covered there, too.  For the woman who looks for unusual expressions of creativity and personal style, there is jewelry from Gemvara.

White gold & black diamond "Naked Pave Petite Pendant" from Gemvara

For example, at left is the white gold and black diamond “Naked Pavé Petite Pendant” from Gemvara (a pavé is a piece of jewelry with stones set very close together).  This pendant necklace is just one of hundreds of customizable designs at Gemvara.  For example, if you didn’t like this with black diamonds, you could have it set with white sapphire or lolite. Instead of gold, you could use silver for the setting.  Or you could change the shape entirely. And you can accomplish all this customization online at Gemvara’s site.

Gemvara has rapidly become well-known among jewelry connoisseurs for its large selection, creative designs, high quality, and attention to what its customers want.  For example, the “Naked” collection of jewelry from Gemvara debuted on the red carpet at this year’s Emmy Awards and appeared on the runway at Spring 2012 Fashion Week.

Matt Lauzon, Gemvara’s founder, must be doing something right — he was named one of Inc. magazine’s “30 Under 30 Coolest Young Entrepreneurs.”

Give Gemvara a look — if you create a unique piece of jewelry for her, just imagine how that will go over!

Alternatively, get a gift card for your sweetie from Gemvara and she can design her own piece.

When you get jewelry for her from Gemvara  — either something made by one of their own designers in the U.S. or something you create yourself — you will impress her with your thoughtfulness and knowledge of quality jewelry.

Besides, what could be more impressive than a gift you design yourself?  Click the banner below to explore the options at Gemvara.  They have a ton of cool designs priced around $100, which will leave you enough to get a really good bottle of wine.

Designer Jewelry

The next source of unique designer jewelry I want to recommend is Wishgiving – fine jewelry with spiritual intentions mixed in.  Wishgiving is the brainchild of designer Vanessa Leu, who combines eastern cultural influences, shapes and materials from nature, and precious gems to create elegant, one-of-a-kind jewelry that has generated significant buzz in the jewelry and fashion worlds (and has been worn by actresses on shows such as Grey’s Anatomy and Heroes).

For example, here is one of Vanessa Leu’s multifaceted pieces of wearable art:  Cranberry Baroque Pearl Bracelet.  This bracelet consists of baroque pearls (each one unique) in a cranberry shade strung together with sterling silver.  As is true of most of the jewelry at Wishgiving, no two of these bracelets are alike.

Or your girl might like a Green Sapphire Necklace with a miniature heart:

Explore all the Valentine options at Wishgiving (and more).

If you’d like more in-depth info on jewelry and what it signifies, see my post entitled “The Jewels.  It’s All About the Jewels.” That post also provides further options for buying jewelry online, including additional items from Wishgiving.

More Valentine’s Gift Options

Okay, I’ve been going on about jewelry and, you know, I’m right about it being about the best Valentine’s Day gift you can get.  But it’s not the only Valentine’s Day gift you can get.  Most women are sensualists at heart when it comes to their other senses, too, and in keeping with that, I want to mention another option for your consideration:  perfume.  Think about it:  it also fits the bill with respect to accentuating and enhancing her femininity and, for some women, the realm of fragrance is a gateway to a world of passion.  And Valentine’s Day is about nothing if it’s not about passion — so explore various scent options for her at Perfume Worldwide (or click the banner below for FragranceX).

After all, can’t Valentine’s Day be a multifaceted expression of love and lust?  In that respect, you can also consider chocolate and lingerie.  Combine them all and she won’t know what to do with herself.

Shop well and thoughtfully at one of the merchants above, buckaroo, (and expedite shipping) and your Valentine’s present(s) will be a passport to a passionate reward that she will be happy to bestow.

Related posts:

1. Mother’s Day Gift Ideas: Turquoise Jewelry and More from the National Geographic Store
2. She said: “The jewels. It’s all about the jewels.”