Bitch in a Box

If you're still in the market for music gifts after Bitch in a Box: Music Lover's Edition, Part I, here's Part II with even more albums from 2011 that'll make great gifts!

With all the great music that came out this year, there's no excuse for not knowing what to get the music fan in your life. Here are some suggestions, with more to come!

Many of us have someone on our list who is a big old typography geek. She’s the person who hosted a screening of the documentary Helvetica, the obsessive typespotter who plays Kern Type like it’s Angry Birds, the mad genius who regularly thinks things like, "What if typefaces were dogs?" (Or perhaps your type-loving pal is this guy?) If you’re shopping for someone who loves type like Donna loves her Benz, you’re in luck: There is so much type-related goodness out there in the independent marketplace, it’s ridiculous. Here are just a few suggestions.

Today’s post is for all the art lovers out there: a half-dozen art ideas from some of the illustrators we’ve had the pleasure of working with in the magazine. Check out our back issues to see more of their work, and don't forget our own limited-edition cover prints at Bitchmart...

 

Leslie A. Wood’s (the Red issue, #52) Ron Swanson print would look fabulous hanging over your fireplace. (Perhaps she’s almost as big of a fan as we are.)  Maybe pair it with her tribute to Meatloaf Mondays? Or her Log Lady (from Twin Peaks).  Besides Society 6 and Etsy shops full of good stuff, she also has a couple of pieces left on her website store.

You may see them scoffing at the chanterelle selection in your local New Seasons. Last month, they flaked out on your lunch date because it was a perfect day for "hunting." The symptoms of a budding mycologist are clear and consuming; they can barely walk downtown without checking every patch of bark-chips for emerging fungi.

If you're shopping for a mushroom lover this holiday season, here are the essentials:

No matter how different everyone's holiday traditions and plans are, they tend to have one thing in common: food. Lots of food, and much of it homemade. As someone who loves to cook, even I'll admit that the excessive amount of it that the holidays require can be a drain on the culinary spirit. But nothing makes me more excited to start looking up recipes than new gadgets to cook with. Read on for ideas to re-inspire your favorite chef after the holiday season!

Holidays are a time of giving, food, and family. And travel. And stress. Some of us are going to want to relieve some of that stress. And those of us who do don't need to be reminded by a certain airline-employed stranger to "Get your freak on, girl" upon arriving at our destination. While we fully encourage flying your "freak" flag often and proudly, between full-body pat downs and X-ray scanners, some may feel that security fondles our goodies enough. Though traveling with sex toys is common—not to mention perfectly legal—certain toys, like the two-pound, foot-long, stainless steel Njoy Eleven dildo will, unfortunately, need to be checked. Gifting for a jet-setting, carry-on-only type of sexual human being? Here's what to give them.

As an avid tea drinker I can tell you that if you just went down to the grocery store and bought me a box of tea (any tea!) as a gift then I would be perfectly happy; a tea drinker can never have too much tea. Along with never having too much tea, an avid tea drinker can never have too many teapots or cups. You also don’t have to spend a fortune: go down to your local Goodwill and you will find an array of interesting teapots, sugar and creamer sets, and cup and saucer combos. One thing I like to do for the tea drinkers in my life is to buy a nice cup and saucer set from Goodwill, fill it with some candy or tea cookies, wrap it in cellophane, and finish it with a bow. You’ll get a fancy looking gift for under $10.

There are few things nicer than waking up on the first day of the month to flip the page on the wall calendar (you did that yesterday morning, right?), especially when it's a beautiful calendar that was picked out for you by a dear friend. Selecting the right calendar for a friend or family member is a very important decision, as your calendar recipient will be looking at that thing all year long. If you're unsure of where to go to find the perfect calendar you're in luck, 'cause I've rounded up several rad calendars to please all of the rad people you might be giving gifts to this year.

A small gift or "stocking stuffer" can be really be the kind of simple luxury that brings fun, color, and joy into your daily routine, which is why they are so fun to give and receive. And although they can be inexpensive, these gifts are often not the sort thing we buy for ourselves. During the winter holidays at Bitch HQ we draw names for a gift exchange, which is referred to alternatively as "Secret Santa," "Holiday Special Peer," and "Unknown Gift-giving Buddy." Here’s a list of gifts under $10 that are fun to give, fun to receive, a pleasure to use, and perfect for stockings or an office exchange!