Rima Suqi

Best gift received this holiday season (from a dog, no less. A real dog, not someone behaving like one): Jo Malone Pomegranate Noir cologne. I’d never recommend giving cologne to someone, unless you know they wear it or want it, but my friend nailed it. This officially replaces my favorite Frederic Malle.

The site describes it thusly: “combines the sweet fruity notes of raspberry, plum, pink pepper and pomegranate with patchouli, frankincense and spicy woods to create a scent that’s sensual, totally sophisticated and utterly compelling.”  I agree on the spicy wood part, that’s what sold me. Makes it very unisex. There’s also a candle.

Door stop as hook. Love!

A dinner at Blue Hill at Stone Barns is, to me, a phenomenal gift. It’s also quite expensive (but trust me, worth every penny). So, you have the dinner, you’re blissfully bombed and overfed,  stumble into their store and buy decanters by Deborah Ehrlich.  They cost as much as dinner, but last longer (Water Carafe,  $285; Wine Decanter, $315, Magnum Decanter, $345):

Whenever you work on a gift guide there are many things left over that didn’t find a space. And while the NYT home section did take a stance against birds in decor – a stance I would generally support in an “I’m over it” way – for some reason I thought these items, by Whitney Smith, were worth considering. Cute things, cute pricing.

A cupcake stand, $34,

and this bird vase, $40

There are few things that depress me as much as all the Christmas trees, kicked to the curb, once their days of glory are done. Just get one of these instead – the The Needle Free Christmas Tree. You can leave it as it is, or you can decorate it — designer Helen Ige suggests “using water based or glitter paints, a BeDazzler can be dazzling too!”  Missing that evergreen tree scent? Buy a candle.

$88 here.

Namely, Galesburg, Illinois:

I recently did a story with Tyler Hays from BDDW, which meant a few visits to the store. I totally forgot they’ve got an archery thing going. Someone had talked to me about being on a team, and which I also forgot. Maybe it’s better I did – it’s a little intimidating:

The sugar at the coffee shop at the Gucci museum in Florence:

Charles de Lisle made this awesome wood chair. With a chain saw. It took him a month.

It’s called the Soundlink. Works with your phone, i-whatever, laptop, etc. Amazing sound, size of a book, totally portable,  great for apartments (or the beach, etc.). Cover comes in a variety of colors. Starts at around $300. Check it out here.