Ruum for the texting tween

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Don’t get stuck ‘tween a rock and a hard place when shopping for tweens.

Ruum American Kid’s Wear, seller of adorable garb for babies and little kids, also has lots of unique choices for the tween on your list.

Techy TweensThe nice folks at Ruum invited me to try out headphone hats and texting gloves for tweens, offered for both girls and boys.

Even though I am more than four times the age of the average tween, I can easily see the appeal. The knit gloves, with fingertips and cuffs in contrasting colors make it easy to LOL even on the coldest day. Mom will appreciate that they are machine washable. SRP: $9.95.

The hats also are fashionably functional. Wired headphones are woven into colorful contrasting patches on either side of the knit cap. No more yelling at kids to put on a hat before they go outside. Just plug and play. SRP: $19.95.

You can buy these cuties online or at Ruum stores, including boutiques at two of my favorite shopping destinations, Cherry Hill Mall and the Plaza at King of Prussia.

Escape to Bora Bora with Ravensburger

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If you are wracking your brain for a way to get your kids to spend at least an hour with you, it’s time to get in the game.

borabora-coverIt’s child’s play — or at least tween play — with Ravensburger, which has been making engaging games and puzzles for 125 years.

Bora Bora explores the ancient world of the South Pacific. The subtitle — Gods’ Goods and Greatness — sums up the strategy. Roll the dice and figure a way to island hop, build shelters, catch fish and gather shells. Send priests to the temple to gather offerings to native gods.

This is not a quick game of checkers. You will have to put on your thinking cap. Expect to spend 60-120 minutes struggling to outwit and outlast one another — and have fun while you’re at it.

Bora Bora is designed for two to four players age 12 and up.

The game includes:

  • 1 game board
  • 4 player boards
  • 250+ tiles
  • 100+ wooden pieces
  • 60 cards
  • 12 dice
  • Detailed instructions; 12 pages of them!

What you won’t find is video. The only electronics involved are in your brain.

Too tough for you? Maybe you can find your battered Chutes and Ladders at the bottom of the toy box.

Or maybe it’s time to kid up and play a challenging game that does not involve a joy stick.

You can find Ravensburger games and puzzles at lots of places, including Amazon, Target and Walmart. The MSRP for Bora Bora is $49.99.

 

 

Targus has your smartphone covered

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I’ve grown attached to my iPhone and iPad. I bet you feel a weird sense of electronic affection for your smartphone and tablet, too.

$_12Hey, they aren’t human. But, yes, we spend a lot of time hanging out together. So it’s important to keep our little buddies safe.

Targus has your smartphone and tablets covered.

This year, the iPhone 5s and Galaxy S4 are hot items on lots of gift lists. The Targus SafePort Rugged Max Pro offers military-strength protection with multi-layer coverage that shields smartphones from harsh weather, challenging working conditions, sudden drops and, naturally, the occasional oops. (If you accidentally toss your phone in the washing machine, you are on your own.)

Features include a polycarbonate shell, shock-absorbing silicone, silicone port plugs, removable media stand and built-in screen protector. It’s on the chunky side and decidedly masculine. I can’t imagine your smartphone getting hurt with this bad boy  protecting it. (MSRP: $34.99)

0006329_versavu-case-for-ipad-air-5th-gen-black-cherry_180The Versavu slim case is the perfect match for an iPad Air, with a hand-in-glove fit that protects  the tablet from dust and scratches. Added benefits:  a patent-pending 360 degree rotation feature that allows for viewing in landscape and portrait mode, and premium soft interior lining.

It’s available in black cherry, blue or just plain black. (MSRP: $59.99)

 

 

 

Ready, set, Beaujolais Nouveau!

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tas_wow120413_12018588_8colLet’s celebrate an exuberant wine, priced in the coveted $10 price range.

The new 2013 Georges Duboeuf Beaujolais Nouveau is not one of those wines you want to tuck away in the cellar. It’s meant to be drunk young. Now, baby. In fact, this year the winemaker is heralding this youthful pour with images of the Great Gatsby and the Jazz Age.

Over the years, the wine has established a following of fans, waiting for the cork to pop in late November. The cheerful purple-and-red label, with the year prominently displayed, encourages us to CELEBRATE!

Traditionally, the wine is fruity, of course. Expect notes of berries, especially strawberries. In the most recent release, the wine is an inkier purple than in past years. But otherwise it’s the happy seasonal refresher Beaujolais drinkers have come to expect. This wine is a pleasing pour, especially when nicely chilled in the Beaujolais tradition.

We suggest serving it at a party, with lots of fab friends and fun food. The makers’ suggest a menu of dishes inspired by the 1920s, including deviled eggs and stuffed mushrooms.

Charge it with Jackery

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‘Tis the season for gadgets.

$_57One of the most useful electronics offered this holiday season is the Jackery, an external battery that allows you to charge your smartphone and tablet on the fly. Imagine, up to 220 hours of extra operating time. That’s a little over nine days.

You’ll never get stuck with an dark iPad even on the longest flight — or if you lose power at home after a storm.

Frequent travelers say Jackery is as handy as a pocket on a shirt. And the smallest Jackery, about the size of a tube of lipstick, slides easily into a pocket — or a Christmas stocking.

The folks at Jackery sent me a Jackery Giant to try out, a cool orange model, which accommodates two devices and is still small, lightweight and portable. It measures 4.3 inches by 3.1 inches and weighs a scant 10.4 ounces. Doesn’t take up much room in the glove compartment.

With a full charge, the Jackery has enough power to stand by for six months between uses. No worries about running out of juice between blackouts. You can recharge the battery at least 500 times.

There’s a full line of Jackery products so you can find just the right fit for your needs. Prices on Amazon.com start at $29.95.

 

 

Boss. Somebody oughta bottle this

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Here’s a secret, guys. Women like it when you smell good.

hugo-boss1Not that sweaty, just-got-back-from-the-gym smell. Women prefer a scent that says “I think you are special and so I splashed on a manly-man cologne.”

In the holiday season, men can score Man Points with women two ways with fragrances.

First, by wearing it. And second, by asking for a special scent as a gift.

Enter Boss Bottled from Hugo Boss. It’s a hip fragrance that subtly blends the scents of cinnamon, apple and vanilla, with masculine woody notes. The makers were intent on creating a persona that is assertive, yet elegant.

Ding, ding, ding! The Man Points are adding up. Take note of the appreciative look on her face when she asks for your gift list. Instead of a shrug — guy-speak for “I already bought everything I want for myself” — you are actually answering her question.

Boss Bottled comes in a sleek silver box. The glass bottle looks cool on the washstand. And it reminds her that you listened. MSRP: $67 at Nordstrom.

Ouidad’s Winter Wonderful Curls

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Santa has a secret. He once suffered from frizzy curls, an occupational hazard for a guy who works outdoors in the winter.

unnamedPutting the ho-ho-ho back in curly hair is as easy as one-two-three with Ouidad’s Winter Wonderful Curls, a trio of products designed to tame frizz. The set contains full-size 8.5 oz grooming aids:  Climate Control Shampoo, a sulfate-free formula that tames fly-aways; Conditioner, a humidity-defying detangler; and Heat and Humidity Gel, which tames frizz in all climates, from the steamy tropics to the frosty ski slopes.

Nicely packaged in a shiny silver box, Winter Wonder Curls is a prettily pragmatic holiday gift for someone you love — and that includes yourself. MSRP: $46. (Retail value $63 if sold separately.) The kit is available at Ouidad.com or ULTA.

Tickety Toc at Toys R Us

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Tickety Toc, the clock is ticking. Only 25 days until Christmas!

It’s time to get onboard the Tickety Toc Clockhouse Train Set, one of the season’s hottest playthings and available only at Toys R Us.

pTRU1-16746520dtPreschoolers can recreate exciting Tickety Toc adventures around the clock – and help those little cuties Tommy and Tallulah to chime the time with the brand-new Clockhouse Playset. (It’s also easy for mom and dad to assemble.)

Tickety Toc and the Chime Time crew help to teach kids teamwork. Hopefully, they are having so much fun that they don’t notice that it’s an educational toy.

There’s lots to keep the little ones merrily engaged. Young Chime Timers can give Pufferty a push around the track and take the twins on-board or turn special cogs to open the Clockhouse doors and unlock more fun inside. The set includes: Clockhouse, Tommy and Tallulah figurines, Pufferty mini train and track system. Ages 3+, SRP $39.99. Free shipping with an order of $49 or more.

Also steaming out of the store is the Musical Pufferty Train, outfitted with a rocking see-saw and spinning seat that keeps the action chugging full steam ahead. The set includes: Pufferty Train and figurines of Tommy, Tallulah and their friend, Tooteroo. Ages 3+, SRP $24.99.

Turkey and Pinot Noir, a perfect pair

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6a00d8341c5e0053ef017c32620f2c970b-800wiLet’s contemplate the Thanksgiving feast.

Turkey. Stuffing. Cranberry sauce. And wine, of course.

This year, we are serving pinot noir with the bird, a lovely red that compliments the roasted flavors of turkey. We recently sampled a pinot we are confident everyone will enjoy from Artesa Vineyards & Winery in Carneros, a spectacular setting in the Napa Valley.

Artesa’s 2012 Pinot Noir is fruity and complex, with good acidity and bright notes of cherry and strawberry that make it a good match with turkey, ham and roasted veggies. It’s vibrant and food friendly, with a pleasant long finish. MSRP: $24.99, but you can find it for a few dollars less at many stores.

Unlike most other reds, a pinot noir benefits from a bit of chilling. We pop our pinot in the fridge for about 15 minutes before serving. On winter holidays, when space in the fridge is at a premium, we set the bottles outside. We figure the pilgrims would have done it that way.

Wake up and smell the Dolce Gusto

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Let’s think about well-loved holiday traditions. Twinkling lights. Lots of parties. Baking cookies. And, of course, the gift of small appliances.

ht_nescafe_dolce_gusto_dm_130823_16x9t_608This year, we expect the NESCAFÉ Dolce Gusto espresso machine to find a place under the tree — and in the kitchen or any other place you need a quick pick-me-up for many Yules to come. You can serve Santa a perfect cup of espresso in less time than it takes to slide down the chimney.

It’s so easy to use even I can understand the directions. And this single-serve machine is sleek and compact, so it doesn’t hog counter space. So it’s an ideal fit for a home office, break room or dorm room. The Genio is fueled by air-tight, prepackaged capsules so there is no need for a coffee bean grinder.

You can buy the Genio at amazon.com, Dolce-Gusto.us and Kohl’s. MSRP: $129.99.

If you want to score points with your heart throb, consider the stylish, single-serve Fiorucci Dolce Gusto Genio machine designed by the iconic Italian label in a limited-edition design collaboration. Its fashion-forward surface is emblazoned in red, green and white with the inspiring words  “LOVE IS THE MESSAGE” on one side, and a pop art image of a couple exchanging a passionate kiss on the other.

Like the standard Genio, the limited-edition machine has 15 bars of pressure and 17 different hot and cold gourmet beverage options. Imagine visiting your favorite coffee bar, except you don’t have to leave home. It’s available online for a limited time only. ($139.99).