urban essentials
W
hen "the holidays" come around, what becomes most essential for many of us is coming up with the perfect gift for
someone we love, without breaking the bank. Whether that's a homemade dinner or tech gadget, an indulgence or
a service, we hope to find something special and unique. Gift certificates are always welcome (for ideas, see pages 34–39).
Here are a few more tangible suggestions.
The gift of sleep
The first medically designed
pillow that
guarantees pain
relief while you
sleep is made
from breathable,
environmentally
friendly materials so there is no off-gassing or allergic
reaction. The unique design literally cradles
your head. In addition to alleviating neck
pain, Pillo1 helps to relieve snoring, migraines and insomnia. www.pillo1.com
The gift of warmth
The Kantha 100 percent-wool
scarf, handcrafted by Indian artisans, is soft, light, warm and beautifully embroidered. It can be worn
as a scarf or make a striking statement as a shawl or wrap. Mela
Artisans endeavors to provide a
sustainable global market for artisans while
fostering entrepreneurship
within communities. www.
melaartisans.com
The gift of music
The gift of time
You might wonder why a cooking
device is listed as a gift of time. Here's
why. The VitaClay Multicooker self-adjusts heat based on the ingredients in
the pot, volume and set time, so you
can turn it on, head out to the office
holiday party and know a great dinner will be waiting at the other end.
It's made from organically harvested
Zisha clay, so there are no nasty metals,
chemical leaching or toxic non-stick
coating. www.vitaclaychef.com
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Taking your music to class, a party
or the beach has never been
easier or more earth friendly. The Rugged Rukus portable boombox is powered by
solar, splashproof, Bluetooth
compatible, and can charge
your iPhone. Battery life: eight
hours. www.EtonCorp.com
The gift of relaxation
It may be called Bed of Nails, but this contemporary
reinvention of the ancient Indian healing tradition fulfills
the mission of supporting circulation and decreasing
stress without causing damage. Covered
with 8,820 plastic nails and accompanied by a 2,000-nail pillow, the mat
can also help increase energy levels
and lower blood pressure. It's the
perfect antidote to afternoon fatigue—
particularly satisfying on the scalp—and
can be used on any flat surface. www.
bedofnails.org
wholelifetimesmagazine.com
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11/24/13 10:34 PM