Holidays

December 4, 2008 | 3:30 pm

Gwyneth Paltrow Shares Her Top Picks for Holiday Gifts

PA Photos /Landov

In this week’s installment of her newsletter Goop, Gwyneth Paltrow muses on the the spirit of the season and shares her favorite gift-giving secrets. “What is holiday spirit? For me, it means helping to create that atmosphere where loved ones feel full of cheer, like some happy secret is about to be revealed,” she says. “Holiday spirit is a feeling of warmth, of togetherness, of connectedness. We get that by giving. We get it by watching cheeks flush with color when something opened and in the hands conveys a message: I know you, I get you, I see you.” Her top gift choices to show she cares include the Flip Ultra Camcorder, ($149) — which is also one of PEOPLE.com’s choices in our Star Favorites: The Chicest Gifts. “This thing is genius,” she says. (We agree!) Gwyneth also loves Chris Bolton Jewelry Tag necklaces ($150) imprinted with a loved one’s name. “I personalized mine and I wear it everyday,” she writes. And while the star has been known for sticking to a macrobiotic diet, she lets us in on one of her favorite indulgences: Bridgewater Chocolates ($110), which are “My absolute favorite chocolate in the entire world. I send these out to special people every year.” Want more of her holiday favorites? Click here to read her full list. Then get the rest of your holiday shopping done in style now with PEOPLE.com’s exclusive gift guides, including Star Favorites, Best Gifts Under $50 and top 25 Holiday Deals and Discounts.

February 13, 2008 | 3:00 pm

Valentine’s Day Gifts for Everyone: Cute Kids’ Stuff!

courtesy of Plain Mary

Check out our picks for heart-motif gifts that are perfect for all the kids you love the most this Valentine’s Day.

Plain Mary’s “Loved” onesies, bibs, and tees, from $10, let celeb fans like Heidi Klum, Brooke Shields, and Jaime Pressly express just how much their little ones mean to them.

We love this cuddly stuffed anatomical plush heart by I Heart Guts, $18. Who knew an anatomy lesson could be so cute?

The cheery pattern of Gap’s Sweethearts Long Sleep Set, $17, makes bedtime extra dreamy.

Aristabrat’s Swarovski-encrusted pacifiers are perfect for all the bling-loving babies in your life–and you can’t go wrong with gift whose celeb fans include Jennifer Lopez, Salma Hayek, Nicole Richie and more.

This heart-shaped calculator, $14, can’t help but make learning fun.

Make bath time playtime with these Sweetheart rubber duckies, $5 each.

Your baby can’t help but put her best foot forward in these adorable heart baby shoes, $44.

Here’s a tee that expresses exactly what you want to hear most: “Thank you, I Love You, Mommy” t shirt, from $24.

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February 12, 2008 | 3:00 pm

Valentine’s Gifts for Everyone: Super Sweet Tees

Mighty Fine

Whether you have a Valentine or not, these festive tees are a perfect way to express how you feel on the most romantic day of the year!

Mighty Fine Barbie Smooch tee: Barbie always had a Valentine! Get this childhood favorite couple, $25, alloy.com

Might Fine Raggedy Ann “Love Is Togetherness” tee: The cuddly little couple gets cozy on a swing for this distressed tee showing the ultimate sign of love– being together. Snatch one up for you or a little one, $24, at 80stees.com.

Snoopy Card Tee: The most lovable pet offers up a Valentine to someone special on this grey and red T-shirt. Buy 2 and save $10 or get one, $25, at delias.com

Rockstars & Angels Kiss Me tee: Rockstars say it like it is with this Yellow “Kiss Me All Over” T-shirt. Give someone the hint or get it as a gift, $85, shopkitson.com

Lyric Culture Take A Piece Of My Heart tee: Janis Joplin bravely offered her heart in this classic song. Pay homage to the rock legend– and Valentine’s Day– with this Lyric Culture tee, $88, lisakline.com

Sublimated Love Tee: Don’t say it, wear it! Show-off the four-letter-word of the day without ever having to utter it. Scoop one up for you or a friend, $28, urbanoutfitters.com

February 9, 2008 | 1:00 pm

Valentine’s Gifts for Everyone: Find the Perfect New Perfume

courtesy Sak’s Fifth Avenue

Looking for something special this Valentine’s Day? You can’t go wrong with one of these romantic new scents.

Chloe’s New Signature Scent: This classic rose fragrance with hints of cedarwood and amber has everything you want in a Valentine’s scent–it’s warm, elegant and seductive all in one. Available exclusively at saks.com starting February 11th, with pre-orders available now.

Michael Kors Valentine’s Gift Set: Michael Kors offers his three best scents: Michael Kors Eau de Parfum, Eau de Toilette and Very Michael Kors Eau de Parfum in an autographed box, $40, michaelkors.com

Annick Goutal Petite Cherie: In honor of the fruity-floral scent’s 10th anniversary, it’s now available in a limited-edition range of fragrance, bath and body products, including a hand-painted Butterfly flacon exclusively at Neiman Marcus.

Crabtree & Evelyn Lost & Found: These perfume solids make it easy to take your fragrance on the go. Lost is composed of sweet ginger flower and peach notes while Found is highlights cassis, bay rose and cardamom, $30 each.

Vera Wang Princess Gift Set: The playful, unpredictable scent blends water lily, lady apple, and mandarin meringue. Get the spray perfume, body polish and lotion set for $58 (valued at $83) at sephora.com.

Lancome L’Amour Gift Sets: Just in time for the most romantic day of the year, Lancome is releasing gift sets in four of their most popular fragrances: Tresor, Hypnose, Miracle and Miracle Forever. Each of the fragrance and bath kits is packaged in a chic quilted satin cosmetic case that any woman would love.

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February 7, 2008 | 3:00 pm

Valentine’s Gifts for Everyone: Just for Him

Art of Shaving

No one ever said that guys were easy to shop for (especially the romantic gifts), so we’ve rounded up our favorite gifts out there to make it easy for you to fulfill his heart’s desire.

The Art of Shaving’s luxe kits add a little style to his morning routine. Choose the 4 Elements of The Perfect Shave set, $38, to give him everything he needs for the perfect shave. Or splurge on the ultra delux Travel Kit, $200, which puts the luxury back in travel.

Brookstone is our go-to shop for all the gadget lovers on our list. We love the ingenious My Life wallet, $50, which flips open to reveal a digital display that stores 55 images. And you can’t beat the Photo Frame Speakers, $50, which show off his favorite digital photos on great-sounding speakers disguised as modern picture frames.

Indulge his daring side with a day of adventure from excitations.com. The regional gift certificates allow you to give anything from an antique fire engine tour to a trip aboard an America’s Cup racing yacht. Many cost under $100.

Keep reading for all of our gift ideas for the guy in your life!
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February 6, 2008 | 3:00 pm

Valentine’s Day Gifts for Everyone: Perfect Picks for Pets!

courtesy Juicy Couture

Show your loyal pup how much you care with a sparkling gift from one of our favorite pet stores! Every dog deserves an extra-special treat this Valentine’s Day.

Sexy Beast: Let her know just how adorable you think she with one of SexyBeast.com’s specialty gifts. Our favorites include this limited edition couture Doggie-T encrusted with Swarvoski crystals, $65, and this signature Sexy Beast fragrance, starting at $50. Have the money to burn? Get the Limited Edition fragrance bottle engraved and covered in Swarvoski crystals for $850. For something a little more affordable try the Stainless steel Doggie Tags, $25, complete with a luxe velvet pouch and chic Sexy Beast jewelry box.

Juicy Couture: Juicy Couture’s Princess Necklace, $75, is perfect for getting your dog a little glam. To making him as cozy as can be, try the Heart-Shaped Dog pillow, $159. Acknowledge your pet’s real true love with this “I Love Bones + Juicy” tee, $30.

Luxe Pets: On day of love, let your cat or dog know she’s truly your best friend with this Best Friend Charm necklace, $12. Break it apart and put one on your pet’s collar and keep the other for yourself!

The Wagging Tail: The highly fashionable WagWagWag.com has just what you need to make your pet feel loved. We adore the heart engraved dog tag, $54, and the pink sparkle harness vest with a warm and fuzzy inside, $45.

Trixie + Peanut: Why should you be the only one getting a blue box for Valentine’s Day? With Trixie +Peanut’s Sniffany & Co plush bed, starting at $129, your pet can get in on the action too!

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February 4, 2008 | 10:00 am

Valentine’s Gifts for Everyone: Candles to Light Up Your Night

Illumecandles.com

Check out our favorite Valentine’s Day candles, that’ll burn almost as bright as your love.

Illume’s gorgeous His & Hers 65 Hours of Love candle, $36, is housed in an handblown glass bowl and scented with a mix of their popular men’s and women’s fragrances. Even better, you can sign up at illumecandles.com for a chance to win a luxe $160 Valentine’s gift basket.

The sultry scent and red glass holder of Diptyque’s tuberose rouge candle will set the perfect mood for a romantic holiday.

For a limited time you’ll receive a full-size Rare Love Body Balm when you purchase Burn’s Rare Love Candle, $90.

We love everything Voluspa has to offer this Valentine’s Day, but the entire collection of Triangle Perfume Candles, may be our favorite.

Who need a fireplace to make things romantic? The elegant DayNa Decker Environments Chandels, from $32, feature a patented EcoWood Wick, that crackles like a fire as it burns.

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