The Holidays are just a bit more than 2 weeks away and there are millions of items to choose from. Here are some of the items that came across my desk that I like and I hope you do also. Some of these just might be the perfect gift(s) for your gay friends or loved ones. Have a wonderful holiday season!
HEALTH AND BEAUTY
Axiom for men
Axiom For Men, a new men’s skincare and hair removal company has already been named a Best New Hair Removal Product in 2013 by HairRemovalReviews
Gift sets start at $65. And, 5% of every order goes to support organizations working towards equality including Trevor Project, Athlete Ally and American Military Partners. http://axiomformen.com
AXIOM FOR MEN ph Balanced Hair Removal Cream retails for $24. AXIOM FOR MEN Face & Body Shave retails for $18. The same love and care that went into developing the hair removal products also went into the development of AXIOM FOR MEN’s complete line of skin care products for men including the Pearlized Cleansing Gel, Daily Restorative Moisturizer, Skin-Tone Balancing Cream, grooming kits, gift packs and accessories.
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Marrying nature and science, Michael Todd True Organics created recipes that resulted in 
effective organically based skincare solutions for all skin types. Whether your needs are to treat dry, blemished, aging, oily, sensitive, sun-damaged, pigmented or normal/combination skin, Michael Todd is committed to improving skin health by developing the highest quality of products and raising the bar once again in formulation and ingredient technology. MichaelToddtrueOrganics.com
Knu Anti Aging Face Lift Serum: $150.00
Defy age with this powerful formula of effective concentrations of these top anti-aging ingredients: Tri-peptides Matrixl 3000 and Syn-coll, Epidermal Growth 
Factor, DMAE, Alpha Hydroxy Acid, Snail serum (a natural substance with clinically proven beneficial skin regeneration properties), Arbutin, L-Arginine and 70% organic ingredients.
Peppermint Wake Up Wash: $14.00
Pumpkin Mask Nutrient-Rich Facial Mask: $34.00
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Badrick’s Skincare, Inc. was literally born through the owners scratching their own itch; the itch of that in between stage when you have more than stubble, but less than a respectable beard. Many do not commit and tragically succumb to premature shaving before their beard has a chance to flourish. Badrick’s set out to solve this problem. Badricks.com
Da Balm 19.95
A lightweight anti bacterial balm used to promote healthy beard growth while removing and healing redness and dryness due to coarse beard hair. Tea Tree oil helps heal the dry itch that beards can cause. DaBalm also prevents unwanted ingrown hairs and prevents breakouts after shaving on the most sensitive skin.
Mug Scrub 14.95
Clogged pores, imbedded facial hair, or just dry flaky skin. Mug Scrub rises above other scrubs by bringing it to you Daniel Badrick style- gentle but firm.
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TURO SKIN is a multi-beneficial, simplified skin care system specifically formulated for the personal care needs of men. This advanced collection offers essential quick and easy to understand solutions for face, shave, hair and body. TURO SKIN provides nourishing and safe skin care products ideal for the active lifestyle of men today.
TURO SKIN Dopp Kit ($119.95 at RedEnvelope.com) is an ALL NEW launch exclusively available at RedEnvelope.com starting in December 2013. It features a small toiletry bag made of leather and vinyl that is perfect for storing essential TURO SKIN products and additional grooming products for travel. Comes with:
- TURO SKIN™ Multi-Active Shave, Daily Moisturizing Lotion + Sunscreen Broad Spectrum SPF 15: and 3 in-1 Shower Cleanser:
Available at turoskin.com, RedEnvelope.com and at select physicians’ offices around the United States.
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School of Wash
Handcrafted Shaving Mug – $39.95
Parker Rosewood Handle Pure Badger Shave Brush – Mid-Range – $49.99
MAN Handmade Dusting Powder – From: $10.95
MAN Handmade Body Lotion – From: $9.95
Handmade Rose Clay Shaving Soap for Her – $9.95
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Tata Harper Deluxe Beauty Set – is the perfect introduction to the Tata Harper Skincare Line. This set contains 7 essential facial care products to ensure the maximum nutritional, restorative and anti aging benefits for 10 to 12 days of use. Due to its small size, it also makes the perfect travel companion. $65 TataHarperSkincare.com
BOOKS
Cooking Inspired: Bringing Creativity and Passion Back into the Kitchen – Food writer Estee Kafra’s new cookbook takes the best recipes from KosherScoop.com and puts them into one encompassing collection of classic and innovative Jewish recipes. Including Estee’s recipes, contributors to the book read like a who’s who of Jewish food writers and chefs including: David Blum, Chaia Frishman, Levana Kirschenbaum, Norene Gilletz, Daphna Rabinovitch, Sharon Matten, Paula Shoyer, and Alexandra Zohn. Hardcover-$35.99. For more information on Estee and Cooking Inspired, go to www.KosherScoop.com.
THE BEST DOG TRICKS ON THE PLANET, 106 Amazing Things Your Dog Can Do on Command by Babette Haggerty. Man’s best friend can also be man’s most entertaining—and useful—companion. More than just roll over, sit, and fetch, all dogs, old and young, can be taught fun and exciting tricks that will wow you and your friends as well as keep your dog young, healthy, and happy!. $19.99
EASY AS PIE POPS, Small in Size and Huge on Flavor and Fun. In her new book, author and founder of Cakewalk Desserts, Andrea Smetona, shares her most popular and favorite recipes for miniature treats. Recipes range from Fruit Pie Pops, Savory Pie Pops, Cake Pops and Tea Cakes. 19.99
Bad Idea – Reclusive comic book artist Trip Spector spends his life doodling straight-laced superheroes, hiding from his fans, and crushing on his unattainable boss until he meets the dork of his dreams. Silas Goolsby is a rowdy FX makeup creator with a loveless love life and a secret streak of geek who yearns for unlikely rescues and a truly creative partnership. In this new book, bestselling author Damon Suede provides readers with a compelling love story, but this is not your grandmother’s romance novel as it also explores the heart of comic-book culture. Available at Barnesandnoble.com, Amazon.com and through all major booksellers. Approx – $16-$18
CD’s
EMMY, TONY, and Golden Globe-nominated star Matthew Morrison is excited to announce the release of his first-ever holiday collection entitled A Classic Christmas. The EP is a wonderful set of holiday tunes from one of the standards world’s most impressive crooners that brings a fresh sound to these cherished Christmas classics. For more information, please go to MatthewMorrison.com.
TRACK LISTING IS AS FOLLOWS:
1. It’s The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year
2. This Christmas
3. O Holy Night
4. Jingle Bell Rock
5. Let It Snow
6. I’ll Be Home For Christmas / Mele Kalikimaka
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Red-hot British pop-vocal sensation The Wanted – Tom Parker, Max George, Siva Kaneswaran, Jay McGuiness, and Nathan Sykes – recently released their debut full-length album Word Of Mouth on Island Records. Word Of Mouth features the first US lead single “We Own The Night” which was the perfect summer pop anthem, with killer dance beats, a reggae twist, and a catchy chorus that’s impossible to resist. Word Of Mouth will be their third album in the UK, and their debut album in the U.S., where they have sold over 4 million total singles since last year. TheWantedMusic.com.
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Grammy Award winner and multi-platinum recording artist Kelly Clarkson has released her first Christmas album, Wrapped in Red, which is available now. The album features brand new instant classics such as the first single “Underneath The Tree” and title track “Wrapped In Red,” as well as Christmas favorites including “Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas,” “Blue Christmas,” “Run Run Rudolph,” “Please Come Home For Christmas” and many more. The full track listing is below. KellyClarkson.com
Other
Alter Eco Foods Truffles ($7.99/10-pack)
You know those round colorful, twist-wrap truffles you see at grocery store checkout counters everywhere? Alter Eco has reinvented these much-loved favorites — using health-boosting coconut oil, organic ingredients, fair trade chocolate, and even compostable packaging. The silky, melty texture may be deeply familiar to consumers, but the sustainability-age makeover is all new, all Alter Eco. These Swiss-made, organic, fair trade truffles launched with two classic flavors: Black (Dark Chocolate) and Velvet (Dark Milk Chocolate) and is available nationwide.
Clothing/Accessories
UNIVERSA PONDERA is a health bracelet made from genuine as this bracelet releases negative ions, which deactivate electromagnetic waves and help recover from stress and exhaustion Tenerarca.com
Universa Pondera 2 Buterfly Aqua Green – Top of Form $35.00
Universa Pondera 2 Modern Canary – Top of Form $35.00
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Isabelle Grace Jewelry‘s stylish and masculine personalized accessories for men. Shield Initial 
Tag – A stylish and masculine accessory that is sure to be a conversation starter! Made of fine silver with a matte finish and a distressed look. Retails for $125.
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Greeting card company Hallmark’s recent snafu replacing the word ‘gay’ with the word ‘fun’ on a 
holiday sweater ornament has prompted Chicago-IL based Rocco Shirts to produce three holiday sweatshirts, featuring the traditional ‘gay’ apparel as well as sweatshirts with ‘straight’ and ‘bi’. The original Christmas Carol of course featured the words “Don we now our gay apparel.” $24.99 RoccoShirts.com
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Stock your favorite man’s stuffing with Timoteo double crossed slingshot jock in red. The brief 
features superior fit, great stretch, plus an added butt lift with the patented elastic leg straps. 96% Cotton, 4% Spandex. Machine washable. Made In the USA. They’re $20 at Timoteo.net
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Leather sandal (90% leather – 10% poliester) with a leather upper sole and a personalized fine low rubber sole.Personalized logo on leather strips and lined with ottoman for a comfortable but sporty look. Designed and made in Barcelona, Spain. $195 at ESCollectionUSA.com
DVD’s
The Way Way Back – Dive into this “smart, imaginative, first-rate comedy” (Karen Durbin, ELLE) featuring an all-star comedic cast, including Steve Carell, Maya Rudolph, Toni Collette, Allison Janney, Sam Rockwell, and Amanda Peet! While 14-year-old Duncan (Liam James) is being dragged on a family trip with his mom (Collette) and her overbearing boyfriend (Carell), he finds a gregarious friend (Rockwell) at a local water park. The two form a powerful bond as Duncan learns to swim through the challenges of life, love, family and friendship, resulting in a vacation he’ll never forget.
Glee S4 – Season Four of the exhilarating Emmy®-winning series* finds Rachel and Kurt in New 
York City, Finn with a surprising new career, Will and Emma at a crossroads and Sue confronting a shocking situation! Meanwhile, tension mounts as the kids in New Directions head for regionals, facing new challenges. Featuring exciting new cast members, electrifying musical numbers, and superstar guests like Sarah Jessica Parker, Kate Hudson and Whoopi Goldberg, Glee remains TV’s most enthralling, most topically relevant show!
Shrek the Musical – Shrek The Musical tells the story of a swamp-dwelling ogre who goes on a life-changing adventure to reclaim the deed to his land. Joined by a wise-cracking donkey, this unlikely hero fights a fearsome dragon, rescues a feisty princess and learns that real friendship and true love aren’t only found in fairy tales.
The East – From producer Ridley Scott and directed by Zal Batmanglij 
comes a taut, sexy thriller starring Brit Marling (Arbitrage), Alexander Skarsgard (TV’s “True Blood”) and Oscar® Nominee Ellen Page. Sarah Moss (Marling) is an ambitious new recruit at an elite private intelligence firm. Her first undercover assignment is to infiltrate “The East,” an elusive activist collective that terrorizes corporate leaders who commit crimes against humanity. The more involved she gets, the more Sarah’s life is in danger in this “great conspiracy thriller” (Joe Neumaier, New York Daily News).
AHS: Asylum – Experience the chilling new incarnation of TV’s most daringly provocative series. The sins of the past haunt the present at the notorious Briarcliff home for the criminally insane, ruled with an iron fist by Sister Jude. Forbidden desire and terrifying evil lurk around every corner…from alien abduction to demonic possession to a skin-wearing psychopath known as “Bloody Face.” Emmy® winner JESSICA LANGE leads an exceptional ensemble cast, including ZACHARY QUINTO, JAMES CROMWELL and SARAH PAULSON. “It’s genuinely, unrelentingly horrific and creepy” (Time Magazine) and a “totally addictive” (The Washington Post) show.
Liquor/Wines
Product name: SIMI is Sonoma Taster By Out of the Box Collective
Retail: $65 – $75 *pending wine selection
Brief description: Featuring foods sourced from all over Sonoma County – from the most well known, like Sonoma Sea Salt from Merchants & Millers, Chardonnay Savory Salt Wheat Crackers from WholeVine Products and Chardonnay-infused jam from Dry Creek Peach & Produce to the so-glad-you-finally-found, like Pickled Beet Relish from Preserve Sonoma, Fig & Port Vinaigrette from girl & the fig and Black Pig Bacon Piggy Pops from Black Pig Meat Co – the SIMI is Sonoma Taster by Out of the Box Collective offers a true taste of Sonoma County, delivered direct to your door. Taster comes complete with your choice of the SIMI Landslide Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon ($75) or Russian River Valley Reserve Chardonnay ($65)
Monterey County-based winery, Estancia, teamed up with luxury fragrance designer, DayNa 
Decker, to celebrate the connection between wine’s taste and scent. Drawing inspiration from the balanced taste of Estancia’s signature Monterey County Chardonnay and Monterey County Pinot Noir, the home fragrance collection is an ideal complement to a delicious meal. The Estancia Monterey County Collection by DayNa Decker is now available for purchase on DayNaDecker.com for $44.00 each or $80.00.
Grand Marnier Raspberry Peach (SRP $39.99)
This year’s Signature Collection Blend (No. 2) from Grand Marnier is Raspberry Peach, which combines succulent European raspberries and rare red peaches from Ardèche in the South of France. These complementary flavors are blended with the famous Grand Marnier orange essence and the same blend of premium quality Cognacs – sourced from the best crus of the Cognac region and aged in French oak barrels – used to craft the original Grand Marnier Cordon Rouge.
Vikingfjord Vodka, which retails for under $15, is the perfect fit for a 
entertaining, hostess, or holiday party story. A signature cocktail is a must at any holiday get-together and we are excited to announce that Vikingfjord Vodka has partnered with master-mixologist, Meaghan Dorman of Raines Law Room, to create a series of festive Vikingfjord Vodka cocktail recipes. The best part? The cocktails are easy to recreate at home, making them your perfect go-to drink for the holidays. Not to mention, it is naturally gluten free! One example is: Jack’s Frosty (2 oz. Vikingfjord Vodka, .5 oz. Violette , .5 oz. Dolin Blanc); Combine all ingredients in a mixing glass, Add ice and stir. Strain into a cocktail glass and garnish with a grapefruit twist.
Master Mixologists call Antica Formula the ‘King of Vermouths’. Deep scarlet in color with layers of aromas and flavor like baked orange, fruit compote, marinated cherries, black tea, vanilla, and even wood tannins from the oak barrel maturation. This sublime palate makes Antica Formula perfect for sipping neat or for any cocktail that calls for a sweet vermouth exploding with flavor – such as a Negroni or Manhattan. Antica Formula: 1L Tin, $29.99 ; 375 ml, $19.99
If you are searching for a spirited gift that is craft distilled and properly balanced, look no further than Concannon Irish Whiskey. This offering was developed as a joint collaboration between the Livermore Valley-based Concannon Vineyard and one of Ireland’s renowned distilleries. The liquid is a refined blend of malted barley and corn, then craft distilled. It is matured in bourbon barrels for a minimum of four years then mellowed in Concannon petite sirah wine barrels for four months before blending. This is known as the ‘Concannon Effect’, which gives Concannon Irish Whiskey a uniquely fruity character with a full, clean and balanced taste. Concannon: 750 ml, $24.99
