Joe Coscarelli
Salon’s Celebrity Gift Guide: Michelle Obama
From a nifty pedometer to luxury bedding -- presents of rest and relaxation for the busy, successful mother
First Lady Michelle Obama Michelle Obama is a mother on the go. Not only is she keeping her own family healthy and on track, she’s steering the entire country in a positive direction through education, exercise initiatives and community outreach. For an overloaded woman like her, you’ll need to keep it practical — and spoil her in simple, straightforward ways.
- Help the mom who never stops prove it to the world with a pocket pedometer from Omrom ($32.99), which will quantify her activity by measuring steps, calories and distance. A seven-day history catalogs an entire week of exercise, while the whole device weighs only a pound and can be dropped in a bag or purse and still work uninterrupted. It’s both offbeat — poking fun at the nonstop bustle — and functional, with included software that graphs heart rate and blood pressure.
- To insist she take some alone time, give a woman like Michelle a Manduko Pro yoga mat ($100) in the purplish Black Magic shade (for extra flash). Channeling all outward energy through yoga will help to slow down her mind, optimize her breathing — and assure her that a nervous breakdown is not an option. It’s something to fall back on, literally, and it comes with a lifetime warranty.
- When it’s finally time to rest, she should do so like a queen: on a royal bed that’s as soft as a cloud, with a thread count that’s off the charts. Area makes an elegant set of Pearl sheets, made from 100 percent organic cotton sateen, basic and clean, with various components available in white, ivory, cement and shadow. Group a king-size duvet ($310), a fitted sheet ($200), a flat sheet ($210) and pillowcases ($110) and it all adds up to a heavenly night’s sleep.
Salon’s Celebrity Gift Guide: Justin Bieber
From a cool side satchel to a must-have flip camera -- what to buy your tech-crazy, music-loving teen
Justin Beiber The musically talented, girl-crazy teenager is honing his look and developing an interest in style. But it’s his love of music that really gets him going: He dreams of taking over the entertainment world — and never leaves the house without his headphones.
- Backpacks are for children, but a guy like Bieber is always moving, so the solution is a stylish bag from Topman like the Dunlop Despatch Bag ($44). It’s hipper than a messenger bag, still convenient and appropriately manly for a kid who aspires to toughness (but probably hasn’t shaved yet). It’s vintage enough to always be in and girls will be impressed so long as the little Bieber pretends Mommy didn’t pick it out.
Salon’s Celebrity Gift Guide: Jonathan Franzen
From Ken Burns documentaries to electronic bikes -- what to buy your favorite bookish, guilty liberal
Jonathan Franzen As the author of the year’s most critically acclaimed novel, “Freedom,” a guy like Jonathan Franzen comes from a place of extreme empathy, with an understanding of both intimate familial relations and progressive politics. The right gift allows the bookish type — slightly neurotic, a little pretentious and always worried about the environment (with a passion for bird-watching) — to indulge in his many interests.
- The work of legendary documentarian Ken Burns fits the Franzen type well, both in terms of style and subject matter. “The National Parks: America’s Best Idea” is available in a six-disc DVD set ($65.99) and with a companion hardcover volume ($31.50), both packed with nature facts and footage; “Baseball,” updated this year with “The Tenth Inning” ($50.99), takes the same historical approach to America’s pastime, for the heady sports fan who’s either past his prime or never had one.
Salon’s Celebrity Gift Guide: Steven Slater
From aromatherapy candles to alcohol -- what to give the stressed out, disgruntled employee in your life
Steven Slater The JetBlue flight attendant caused a pop culture sonic boom when he quit his airline job by telling off his passengers and exiting through the plane’s evacuation slide. But we all know that under every disgruntled employee, there’s someone who just needs to take a load off (and wants you to buy them nice things). This holiday season, the ticking time bomb in your life is in luck!
- After the sort of workday that calls for either a bloodcurdling scream or a full-body cleanse, comfort is key. Lest he bite your head off after a hard day of labor, help your breadwinner chill with something soft, like a comfort neck pillow from Flight 001 ($16). Even sitting on the couch can become an exercise in positive visualization if he’s extra cozy, and imagining a trip to the glittering Mediterranean is easier with a lightweight sleep mask ($14). Light some lavender, lemongrass or tangerine aromatherapy candles ($19.95) and it’s like paradise in your living room.
Salon’s Celebrity Gift Guide: Snooki
From fluffy slippers to yoga wear -- the perfect presents for the pampered princess
Snooki When not on reality television, Snooki may live at home, but she still gets what she wants. Spoiled, verging on bratty, lovable — it’s all about the pampering and the partying.
- A Snooki would squeal for these fluffy thong slippers ($6.80) from Forever 21, perfect for shuffling around the house in her pajamas. They come in black or turquoise, but both colors feature beaded button accents for extra panache. Toenail polish from her latest pedicure will not be obscured and the furry comfort is a must after the hurt of last night’s high heels.
Salon’s Celebrity Gift Guide: Oprah
From luxury showerheads to super-soft sheets -- what to give to the woman who won't stop giving
Oprah Winfrey What do you give to the gift-giver? Oprah is always showering those around her with shiny new things, doling out vacations, cars and gadgets like they’re fruitcakes. It’s your job to remind them that they, too, deserve to be satisfied.
- TOMS Shoes are made for the selfless. Founded by a young entrepreneur, TOMS is committed to providing footwear worldwide, and for every pair of shoes sold, the company donates one to a child in need. Plus, the product is made in factories that promise safe conditions and fair wages in China, Ethiopia and Argentina. For a busy woman, the slip-on design of a classic black pair ($44), based on Argentine alpargatas, are convenient and all-purpose.
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