Because Your Totally Indie

Don't hate me, but I am about to use the C word.

That's right Christmas* is right around the corner and of course you want to give the best and most unique gifts possible and I think I might have have found the perfect site for you. To break it down, this site contains all the ideas that you were too lazy, too busy or just plain forgot to follow up on, not to mention things you never in a million years would have thought of and now that you know about it you can't live without it. Well lucky you (or unlucky if it was your idea first) somebody took their idea to the next level via Kickstarter or Indiegogo, actually produced the product and now you can buy it or weep about not getting to it first, or both. The site is called Outgrow.me and it is worth a look.

Here are some of the more brilliant products that I need to purchase now!

Honey Badger BBQ Sauce - Combines the tastes of real honey and freshly chopped Habanero chilli peppers in a tangy barbeque sauce ready for your burgers, ribs, chicken and even king cobra!

This is so brilliant that I can't believe I didn't even think about this first. I can cry about it later, meanwhile I need to purchase this for all the honey badgers in my life.

For real I should have thought of this.

Mason Jar Cocktail Shaker - A unique four piece cocktail shaker based around the iconic mason jar.

Like I need another reason to add another mason jar to my collection (thanks Pinterest).

LuminAID Light - Inflatable Solar Light. Charges in the sun and inflates to diffuse like a lantern.

I am not even sure why I need this, but I want it. Maybe to add to my earthquake preparedness kit. I think I will get two.

Kioky - Perfect fit applicators apply screen protectors in seconds to the iPhone.

This is bloody brilliant. SERIOUSLY. Do you know how many swear words I might have used trying to get a screen protector on my phone? I almost threw it at the wall. I plan on getting one for everyone I know.

Out of Print eBook Jackets - It's time to put the "book" back in eBooks. Made by the oldest book bindery in the U.S. to look, feel and wear like an actual book.

I tried to pick my  favorite one and I can't. I love this idea so very much and know a few people that need this in their stocking!

This is truly just scratching the surface, you really need to go to the site and check out all the different products yourself. I am pretty sure there will be a few that you will kick yourself for not pursing first!

*Did you think I was going to use another word? I suggest you wash your mouth out right now.

All photos via Outgrow.me

Gifts for the Most Difficult Man in the World

I love parties, I love birthdays and I love cake and ice cream, but I think for the month of June I am done. Except that I am not. This weekend we have one last celebration as the BF (and his twin sister) turns 43 and the party must go on. I am sure I will feel up to it by this weekend, but it's been hard coming around this month. Lucky for me the hardest part of the BF's birthday, finding a present for the world's hardest man to shop for, was taken care of by chance on a flight to Seattle. Usually I am searching the gift sites and blog lists for suggestions, but they all boil down to ties, golf paraphernalia and grilling accessories which is just not what I am looking for. I happened to sit next to this super friendly gentleman that mentioned that his girlfriend had given him the best gift ever for a traveler, Bose noise canceling headphones. As you know we both travel a lot so this was a "I can't believe I didn't come up with this on my own" moment. Then this got me thinking about how hard men in general are to shop for, so I created a list on Skinny Scoop that I can use as a go to the next time I am looking for a gift for those difficult men in my life. Rest assured there is not a tie or a golf reference to be found on this list, while it may work for some guys, that would not work for the ones in my life. So the next time you are pulling out your hair looking for a gift perhaps this list (and it will continue to grow) might help you out!

View this list »

Gift list for the hardest man to shop for in the universe

Juggle

Remember this? Yeah well I spent one day trying to make that happen and then it was tossed to the side. I already have fallen behind in about every category except work (the one that pays the majority of the bills). That doesn't quite equal balance in any sense of the word. Seriously I am baffled by my inability to get an hour a day to dedicate to me, myself and I. Perhaps I put too much pressure on myself to get this all solved immediately. How do you all juggle your life? Fake it till you make it?? Seriously I need to know! Currently the only place I can get writing done is in the plane, which on one hand is convenient since I am constantly on one, but there has got to be a better way or am I just being ridiculously optimistic? Hmm their seems to be a lot more questions than answers in this post.

In other news June seems to be the month of gift giving. I have birthday's (5), graduations (2) and father's day's (Technically only one day, but 3 people) this month and can't seem figure out what to give half of them. So I turned to the Internet for inspiration and that's when I discovered this:

Etsy MixTape Night Light

Someone has to have this, just can't figure out who yet. I found this via the SkinnyScoop Father's Day Gift Guide. There are a few creative ideas on there you should check out if you are stumped what to give the dad in your life.

Then I came across this on the Great Gifts for the High School Grad list:

Barnes and Noble

I want one too!! How neat is that? With any luck I will get my gift list checked off super quick!