Gifts for guys

If you're stuck looking for the perfect gift for your Dad, brother, boyfriend or guy friend, I feel your pain. And I can help! While I find it easy to buy gifts for the ladies (probably because there's a million things in my head that I'd like for myself), I'm often at a loss for what to get for the blokes in my life. I've come up with a few good ideas over the years so I figured I should share them for anyone out there who might be in a Christmas gift buying jam.

Socks n' jocks!

I don't care that it's unoriginal, everyone appreciates nice socks and undies. Vanishing Elephant do really nice socks, and I like these Topman underwear packs. One year I got Mr Meet-Cute Ellen underwear, but it's probably a bit late to order those online for Christmas.

A simple grey sweatshirt is a wardrobe staple. You can't beat Carhartt for simple sweats, and I love this MJ grey pullover, which I would probably be pinching for myself.

Jiro Dreams of Sushi dvd is what I'm getting my Dad this Christmas (Mum, if you're reading this, don't let Dad see!). Zombie Tits, Astronaut Fish and Other Weird Animals by science blogger Becky Crew is a cool read about odd animal behaviour.

Everyone needs a good backpack or duffel and Herschel Supply Co do both really well.

Note to Self are a small Melbourne company making really great, 'comfortable and unassuming' men's jeans. And Head Full of Snakes motorcycle magazine is what I bought my brother this year. He's impossible to buy things for, but he likes motorbikes so I was pretty chuffed with myself when I found this.

This Beard Elixir sounds so amazing I almost wish I had a beard myself, though you can also use it straight onto non-bearded skin as a deluxe moisturising oil. Status Anxiety make all manner of 'fine leather goods' to treat yo' man with, but it's mostly wallets.

Nice Socks

Nice socks are one of the little luxuries in life that I cannot do without. Socks with holes actually really depress me. I got these pairs from Vanishing Elephant a few weeks ago and they are just so nice that they have barely left my feet. I haven't even been able to part with them to wash them. Which is pretty gross. I haven't really been going out much though. Alright, it's still pretty gross.

Markit trinkets

I went along to Markit at Fed Square on Sunday, full of good intentions for starting my Christmas shopping. Instead I ended up buying lots of presents for myself. Oops.

Actually, I did buy one cute gift for my brand new niece Evie, who was born two weeks ago! That gift is not pictured above, though I doubt Evie is quite at blog reading level, I'd like to keep it as a surprise!

Special Blanky

There's a lot of excitement in my family right now because my sister is a few weeks away from having a baby - my parents first grandchild, and I will be an aunty for the first time!

I wanted to get something really special as a gift, and found these gorgeous handmade baby blankets on Hello Polly which fitted the bill perfectly. They are made by Odds and Ends in Melbourne using reclaimed offcuts from mohair, lambswool and cashmere jumpers, making them incredibly, deliciously soft. It's almost a shame they only come in baby sizes! I chose the blanket in neutrals/greys and it was very well received by my sister, so hopefully the new arrival will enjoy it just as much, once they have arrived!

CERES Saturday

Before I started my pottery class on Saturdays I was a regular at CERES market and shop. There was a break between pottery terms this weekend so it was nice to go and visit CERES once more. I'd been missing it!

There's a lot going on at CERES, which stands for Centre for Education and Research in Environmental Strategies. As well as the shop and market there's the sprawling urban farm, community education and environment centres, an awesome plant shop and nursery, and a cafe, where we had some delicious breakfast. And there's always lots of good dogs there.

My first daffodil sighting! A sign that Spring is just around the corner. Also: BLOSSOM.

This is part of what I bought. Everything at the shop is in bulk so you need to bring your own jars and bags to fill up. The first time I went to the market I forgot to bring my reusable shopping bags - oh the shame!

I wasn't paying attention to what I was doing when I was filling up the quinoa - I accidentally mixed in some red quinoa that I wasn't going for. The perils of self service.

Weekend Markets #2

Finders Keepers was on a week or so ago. It was huge! And much fun.



Beneath The Sun had a great stall, I loved this kitty pillow.

This is what it was like outside. Autumn was going crazy.

And this is what I bought - some lovely Beneath the Sun cards …

… a Stampel Studio vase, which is my new favourite thing.

And the new book Owl Know How by Cat Rabbit and Isobel Knowles, which has now been gifted to a three year old birthday girl. I hope she likes it as much as I did!

Spendy Spenderson

I know everyone keeps saying this, but this year is FLYING BY! Seriously. For me this means that my overseas trip to the US of A is even closer and I really need to tighten my belt. My great plan of saving before I leave has not been going well at all. Probably something to do with all these things I keep 'accidentally' buying online…

Twenty Seven Names for Glassons sunglasses (that I wrote about here) and floral print trousers. It was quite tough only ordering these two things - Glassons online is looking so good! Not to mention that money raised through purchases from their Cure Shop Collection goes towards the Breast Cancer Cure Research Trust.

Nature Baby Hei Tiki t.shirt. In LA I'll be catching up with some old friends, and meeting their new baby, who judging from the photos I've seen is the cutest baby ever! And, seeing as he is half kiwi, he will need some Aotearoa inspired baby-wear. This is actually quite organised of me to have this sorted already *pats self on back smugly*

In even more smug forward planning, I have ordered this to be blasted this year on December 25!

Dawn Tan's meaty pillowcases - I saw these at a market Dawn was involved with earlier in the year and couldn't stop thinking about how awesome they were. So I had to get in touch with her to see if I could order my own - and I could! This photo is from Dawn's blog, but once my own pillowcases arrive I will very likely be sharing them here!

Weekend Markets Shopathon

One of my oldest and dearest friends was in Melbourne for the weekend, and we had quite the shopathon! After much trawling of second hand and vintage stores I feel as though I have seen every single vintage dress in this city! We also hit up the Camberwell Markets, where I picked up these trinkets above, and below…

Glass boot! Everyone should own at least one of these.

I need all the help I can get in the plant department. That palm in the background will be thanking his lucky stars now that I have this book.

I bought this rug for a song and it's now doing an amazing job brightening up the place. I also got the magazine/record rack, and a few records. This song has been on my mind for ages, so I'm pleased to have tracked it down on vinyl.

And we had to hit up the Pop-Up Studio Sale that was on this weekend. Lots of lovely crafty ladies were involved in this. I got my own Emily Green necklace finally! The photograph above does not do justice to this item, it is so bright and happy in real life. I also picked up a Dawn Tan recipe print, because I just can't get enough of these.

And thanks go to my lovely pal for this - the sweetest card in the world.