Having just created my own registry, and making an ongoing list of possible registry items over the past few weeks, I thought that I’d go through and pick out some registry necessities. Even if you feel like you have everything, you have to remember, now is the time to go for things that you may not normally splurge on for yourselves.

Bed and Bath
Frette linens have the splurge department covered- they are by far the most amazing bed linens I’ve ever slept on. Their famous Frette Hotel Collection is 100% Egyptian cotton, 200 thread count and comes in classic styles. Frette also makes amazing towels in 100% thick and absorbent Turkish cotton.  With your new towels, spice up your bathroom experience with the Yuzu Jasmine Hand Soap and Lotion duo. If you decide to go with Frette linens, you may want to add a little pattern to your bedroom with a graphic patterned Marimekko Lehtimaja duvet cover available at Crate and Barrel. They also have complete matching sets if you want to get pillow shams and sheets.

Kitchen
I am a firm believer in spending a little more for quality kitchen ware. Most quality stainless steel kitchen goods will last nearly a lifetime and you’ll find that they actually make cooking easier. You’ll never regret having a good All-Clad stainless steel, heavy-bottom sauce pan or saute pan- it’s amazing heat conductivity will insure consistent heat disbursement, saving you from charred sauces and the like. A good set of Shun Knives, if sharpened regularly, will last forever. And for the baker in the household, a KitchenAid Mixer will always come in handy. There are so many different attachments for the mixer- you can do anything from making fresh pasta to crushing ice. Don’t forget the NordicWare Bundt Pan. Everyone needs to be able to make bundt cake!

Dining and Entertainment
All entertainers should have some crystal wine glasses on hand. Even if you keep them boxed up for special occasions, they are good to have. My favorite glasses are made by Riedel and come in a set of two. You’ll also need to have a crystal decanter like the one from Schott Zweisel. Crate and Barrel’s Cove Dinnerware and accessories (like the Cove Pitcher), although simple in white or blue, will ensure a sophisticated dining experience while letting the food speak for itself.  To dress up your table top a little more while keeping it simple, grab some interesting tea-light holders like the Pixie Candleholder and the Chilewich Bamboo Placemats that come in a variety of colors and shapes and clean up really easily.

I found most of my these registry must haves at Macy’s, Crate and Barrel, Sur La Table and Williams-Sonoma, but there are a ton of great places out there create a gift registry. Drop me a line if you have any must-haves that I’ve missed!

“My mother had a great deal of trouble with me, but I think she enjoyed it.” - Mark Twain

With Mother’s Day around the corner, I thought I’d do some preliminary shopping to find a cool and unique gift for my mom. Seeing as how shopping for Mom is not always easy, especially for the one who has everything, I put together a well-rounded list of little household goods, clothing, accessories and art.

Pick Your Mom Style:

Traditional Mom: The Mother’s Birthstone Necklace is something that you could go in on with siblings. Mom will love it and it solves the problem of siblings trying to out-do each other.

Young at Heart Mom: Since some Mom’s wouldn’t buy Uggs for themselves for fear of trying to seem too young, it might be a good idea to buy them for her. The Lo Pro Button Boot is a perfect way for Mom to have a pair that don’t look like everyone else’s Uggs.

Earthy Mom:The Heath Bud Vases , the Felted Wool Nesting Bowls , or the Urchin Bowls could be perfect for the natural mom.

Contemporary Mom: For the Mom who appreciates unique and interesting art pieces,  the Outline Vase, The Table Stories by Tord Boontje or the Flying Colors Print by Ann Tarentino are great little pieces to match Mom’s artsy personality

What’s your Mom Type??

I must admit that the idea of his and hers gifts is a little over the top, but they can be perfect for getting a good laugh at a wedding shower. Take for example, The Personalized Interlocking Initial Ceramic Mugs. Funny. Ha. Ha. Not necesarily something that a couple will cherish throughout their days together. Even the pic is cheesy.

I would go for something more along the lines of this His and Hers Lipstick and Moustache Coffee Mugs. Cute and quirky.

There’s also the option of having lifesized scales of the wedded couple-to-be made out of Legos by artist Nathan Sawaya.  All you do is send the artist detailed photos and measurements and he’ll go to town.

Check out some more quirky and fun His & Her’s gifts!

I’ve only recently started liking chocolate. I was always the kid who would go for plain vanilla or strawberry and never liked Thin Mint Girl Scout cookies. People would look at me like I was crazy. But I’ve always been a little bit proud to be left out of that annoying generalization that all women love chocolate. I have to blame my recent discovery of the wonders of chocolate on one man; a chocolatier based out of San Francisco, Michael Recchiuti (and also my boyfriend who would surprise me with said chocolate). Michael’s artisan chocolate sells at various specialty shops throughout the city and also at his shop in the Ferry Building. Most people I know are also huge fans of his. I once heard that when he was at a concert, the performer recognized him and abruptly stopped playing to tell him that she was obsessed with his chocolates.

With Valentine’s Day around the corner, I thought I’d put a list together of confections and chocolates for your sweetheart. I had to balance it out with non-Recchiuti chocolates to make it fair, but if I were to push you in once chocolaty direction, I think you know where my vote goes. Vosges also make some interesting chocolates. For the holiday, they are offering a package set with chocolates and sparkling Brut Rosé. Check out the rest of my picks here, Not Your Average Valentine’s Day Confections.

If you’ve been reading the news, watching TV, or listening to your friends, co-workers or family members (basically, if you don’t live inside a bubble), you’d know that the entire world is in the midst of an economic crisis. It’s especially bad for this to happen around the holiday season, where some retailers count on making over 50% of their yearly sales. Bad economy= bad news for retailers. I know a lot of people who’ve decided to cancel gift exchanges all together.

But, if you’re in need of a last minute small gift, I’ve done a little online scouring to find gifts for her that are really great for being both affordable and pretty amazing.  The ‘Keep Calm and Carry On’ ( a saying that is still relevant today)  poster is a reproduction of the 1939 poster made by the British Government’s Ministry of Information,  the Deer with Butterflies print is made by a photographer who creates interesting collages with archival prints and the Curiosities Book is a simple Moleskine book ready to be filled with thoughts and curiosities.   Check the rest of them and more out in Stocking Stuffers for Her.

Clockwise from top left: Barely There Cases for iPhone 3, Lulu Mesh Bow Necklace, Bestest Buds Earrings, Alice in Wonderland Curious Tea Party Pocket Moleskine, Turquoise Howlite Agate Stone Ring, Deer with Butterflies by John Murphy, Keep Calm and Carry on