With the chilling winds of winter incoming, and the snows on the horizon (or already collecting in white pearlescent splendor, depending where you are in the world), it’s about that time… What time, you say? Well, duh! It’s the most wonderful time of the year! With Thanksgiving over, and football season moving into the post-season playoffs, the holiday cheer and that familiar festive feeling is upon us! With all the wintery goodness, the sugary treats and presents abound, and with all of the love shared when we gather together, it is indeed the most wonderful time of the year. And if you’re like me and my family, you’re scouring the stores and the inter-webs for the perfect gift for each of your loved ones.
It seems as though it’s every year that I must work harder and longer to find the perfect gift for that one person who has everything, so to welcome in the 2017 holidays, I thought it would be fun to highlight and feature some of my favorite finds of the season…
It seems as though it’s every year that I must work harder and longer to find the perfect gift for that one person who has everything, so to welcome in the 2017 holidays, I thought it would be fun to highlight and feature some of my favorite finds of the season…
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Buck Knives’ 4 Piece Cutlery Set
One of the finest blade and cutlery craftsmen on the market today is Buck Knives, who are famous for their legendary survival blades, as well as their fine kitchen cutlery sets. Buck produces cutlery sets that range in size and shape, from 4 to 13-pieces, with chef knives, slicers, fork knives, paring knives, spreaders, and steak knives. Beyond offering high quality cutlery, their sets range as far as handles go too, as their elk antler sets are stunningly gorgeous.
My favorite aspect of the holidays is to bring family and friends together for Christmas and New Years; as an avid cook, I prefer to get the best cut the first time around, so I tend to gravitate toward thicker, sharper, and longer lasting cutlery in my kitchen, which are Buck Knives. Their cutlery sets are beautifully made, and their knives are among the top in durability, sharpness retention and style. Buck Knives’ 4-piece set includes a large and powerful chef knife, a slicer and a large paring knife, which offers every kitchen and cook a versatile set of cutlery without the worry of replacing what has been a mainstay in the kitchen prior to this gift set.
One of the finest blade and cutlery craftsmen on the market today is Buck Knives, who are famous for their legendary survival blades, as well as their fine kitchen cutlery sets. Buck produces cutlery sets that range in size and shape, from 4 to 13-pieces, with chef knives, slicers, fork knives, paring knives, spreaders, and steak knives. Beyond offering high quality cutlery, their sets range as far as handles go too, as their elk antler sets are stunningly gorgeous.
My favorite aspect of the holidays is to bring family and friends together for Christmas and New Years; as an avid cook, I prefer to get the best cut the first time around, so I tend to gravitate toward thicker, sharper, and longer lasting cutlery in my kitchen, which are Buck Knives. Their cutlery sets are beautifully made, and their knives are among the top in durability, sharpness retention and style. Buck Knives’ 4-piece set includes a large and powerful chef knife, a slicer and a large paring knife, which offers every kitchen and cook a versatile set of cutlery without the worry of replacing what has been a mainstay in the kitchen prior to this gift set.
Catalyst’s Waterproof Case for 12.9” iPad Pro
For all the techies, designers, artists out there, it can be difficult to find something that will support their craft, something that they don’t already have. Though, the starving artist out there will likely have a want list as long as any, a simply yet powerful way to support one’s digital craft is to give the gift of protection. Catalyst is one of the leading tech safety companies, offering a way to protect and prohibit harm to many devices, from iPhones to iPads and beyond.
I currently employ Catalyst’s case for my iPhone and have had a wonderful experience with it thus far, as their cases are indeed waterproof and drop resistent (at varying heights). The Catalyst case wraps around the device snugly, creating a watertight, all-inclusive fit that doesn’t take away from the use and ergonomic comfort. Their unique take on the iPad Pro exceeds my expectations, as it’s loaded with features like waterproof protection (IP68, 2 meters) and drop protection (1.2 meters), as well as dirt and snow proof. The soft rubber bumpers grip the iPad Pro like a beautiful hug. The screen film offers seamless access to all iPad features, while the case fits precisely around the Touch ID, audio ports and cameras, providing an acoustic clarity for sound as well.
For all the techies, designers, artists out there, it can be difficult to find something that will support their craft, something that they don’t already have. Though, the starving artist out there will likely have a want list as long as any, a simply yet powerful way to support one’s digital craft is to give the gift of protection. Catalyst is one of the leading tech safety companies, offering a way to protect and prohibit harm to many devices, from iPhones to iPads and beyond.
I currently employ Catalyst’s case for my iPhone and have had a wonderful experience with it thus far, as their cases are indeed waterproof and drop resistent (at varying heights). The Catalyst case wraps around the device snugly, creating a watertight, all-inclusive fit that doesn’t take away from the use and ergonomic comfort. Their unique take on the iPad Pro exceeds my expectations, as it’s loaded with features like waterproof protection (IP68, 2 meters) and drop protection (1.2 meters), as well as dirt and snow proof. The soft rubber bumpers grip the iPad Pro like a beautiful hug. The screen film offers seamless access to all iPad features, while the case fits precisely around the Touch ID, audio ports and cameras, providing an acoustic clarity for sound as well.
  GSI Outdoors’ Moka Espresso Pot For the campers and espresso drinkers out there, GSI Outdoors has created a high quality espresso maker which can be used outdoors and around the campfire with ease. It works so smoothly that the Moka Espresso Pot brews 10 double shots within minutes. Seriously, minutes! For those who struggle to be at our sharpest upon wakening, this is the perfect device to save one from the grumpies. Imagine waking up in the winter chill of Autumn, wrapped up in your tent, and yet even though you’re awake, the last thing you want to do is to move out of the comforts of your sleeping bag… The Moka Espresso pot can help you wake up and get warm within minutes. I don’t know about you, but this is the type of gear that saves my butt on off days. The design is simple and easy to use, and looks striking with its shiny, ultra-rugged stainless steel construction. GSI Outdoors has cut no corners in the production of this brew pot, as it’s made extremely well with the aim of offering reliable brewing for years to come. The Moka Espresso pot measures at 4.6” x 4.4” x 8.5” and weighs 30.9 ounces, and includes espresso body, carafe, folding handles, basket, and gasket.  Cheapass Games’ Deluxe Pairs Card Game Are you looking for a small gift or stocking stuffer? Cheapass Games specializes in off-beat, unique game titles that can bring together a group of family and friends on the holidays. I’ve featured their TAK: A Beautiful Game prior, and look forward to trying our some of their other games. Pairs is an unusual family card game with a deck of illustrated fruit cards, which numbers them 1 through 10, with different numbers of each: 1x1, 2x2, 3x3, all the way up to 10x10. There’s a basic game created for Pairs, where the goal is to not get a pair. But what’s really fun about Pairs is that there are 30 game variants, with the most popular being The Judge, Deadfall, Hawthorn and more. Pairs is great for bringing families together over the holidays. |   Outside Inside’s Sleigh Checkerboard Game If the people you’re struggling to find the perfect gift for are not techies, cooks or coffee-loving campers, then perhaps Outside Inside’s beautiful wood sleigh checkerboard game might be a lovely option. The Sleigh checkerboard game is a striking holiday decor piece, guaranteed to bring people together in competition, as well as aesthetic beauty. Outside Inside has created a beautiful, aged checker set that has been made to look as though it’s weathered decades of patina through thousands of intense check matches. Reminding one of a fine crafts piece, Outside Inside’s Christmas Sleigh game is a fantastic way to celebrate the spirit of the winter season with a bit of nostalgia. Even if this gift is used as a decoration, it’s an idea that works for anybody, even a grinch who simply enjoys playing checkers (or chess, if you add a set of pieces to match). The Sleigh is hand-crafted, made of hand-painted wood, and includes 25 checkers with a storage pouch; it measures at 27.5 x 19 x 2.8 in. I am hoping you found inspiration for your holiday shopping, but the most important thing to remember during the holidays is that it is the love we give that matters. Material gifts have meaning, but it is the love that endures, so please, give with your heart, even if that means you simply give a hug, a compliment, or those three beautiful words. Happy holidays from all of us at Eye & Pen! Main photo by wwarby via Flickr iPad photo © Catalyst Pairs photo © Cheapass Games |
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