Hey folks! Let’s face it. Geeks are difficult to shop for. We tend to be highly intellectual individuals who obsess about fashions, foods, pop culture, fandoms and tech, so much so that our lifestyle revolves around these pursuits.
We are very opinionated, we are loyal to our chosen obsessions to a fault, we are know-it-alls, pridefully so. As such, we are notoriously pains in the ass to shop for. But fear not! This is my personal fave list of things I’ve come across, tested and written about just in time for holiday shopping! These are solid picks for that hard to shop for, lovable pain in the ass know-it-all geek on your list!
For The “No School like the Old Schooler”
Walleets Cassette Tape Wallets
Chicago based Walleets has been on Etsy since 2011. As they say on their Etsy page- “Just two chicks makin’ wallets out of cassette tapes, having a good time.” A “Walleet” is exactly that, a wallet made of a cassette tape. A cassette tape wallet. Measures about 7cm (2.8″) high and 11cm (4.3″) wide. Holds money, ID, earbuds, credit cards, business rewards cards, etc. These are handmade, one-of-a-kind wallets therefore the tape, fabric positioning & coloring on each wallet will vary slightly. Materials: fabric, cassette tape, paint, zipper & thread.
They are vintage items and mine has held up with continuous use. From Wallettes- “Very durable… We have each been using the same 2 Wallettes for over 2 years now.” The one sent to me as an editorial sample, the Star Wars Fabric Galaxy Cassette Tape Wallet when I opened it, instant nostalgia. I was ten, in my room, with the Star Wars sheets I loved! While I was covering NYCC, anytime I pulled my Walleet out for a business card, to a person, said “THAT’S SOOOO COOL! WHERE DID YOU GET IT!?”
Best part, they have all kinds! Awesome Mix #1&2 from Guardians of the Galaxy and other Fandom specific items! Costs only a saw buck! $20.00 and free shipping in the U.S.! Follow them on Facebook, Twitter, & Tumblr, & Pinterest to stay updated on new Wallettes for sale. Follow them on YouTube as well!
For the “Mac Books Suck” guy
AVITA CLARUS 14’inch Laptop
This is the first laptop Avita has released in the U.S., the 14-inch Clarus has a gorgeous design and a more than agreeable price tag. It’s a well-built good looking “MacBook” look-alike, boasting a sturdy premium aluminum design.
The premium build and generous offering of ports, HDMI & multiple USB ports sold me. The Clarus has about a 10 hour battery life, not setting the world on fire, but I got me through NYCC and my user heavy, constant WordPress article updating, note taking and social media posting while charging two batteries and my phone simultaneously.
It’s been panned by some for a “shallow” keyboard, which I prefer, my hands are quite large and I type for long durations. I appreciate generous palm resting space with it’s nice big center trackpad input. The company’s inaugural attempt offers one of the best designs for the price. There is ZERO “bloatwear” to dump once the intuitive Cortana Assistant walks you through a painless set-up (Looking at you HP).Took five minutes from unboxing to working on line.
The screen is large, bright and the display is quite crisp. It was comperable to a much higher priced IBM work laptop an engineering friend owned. The plucky Intel COREi5 processor runs full HD video at 1080 effortlessly, with rich blacks and an anti-glare screen you can see from any angle. This is no gaming rig. But you could do worse for an entry-level laptop used for work, school or travel.
Pros
Great price; Good Cam; Great screen for movie watching; Ease of set-up and use; Premium aluminum build; Lots of ports; No bloatware; Great screen and comfortable to type for long duration.
Average performance; Underwhelming battery life; Slow SSD
The Avita Clarus is a solid contender for students & professionals that are looking for an attractive, bargain laptop with decent specs, that like Mac Book looks, but hate Apple. Check out their site
For the Goths, bless their dark, little hearts
Beautiful Freak Cosmetics
Beautiful Freak Owner, DJ & Elder Goth Extraordinaire Avril Korman and I go back a long time! You can read my feature on her and her business, “Celebrate Gothmas with Beautiful Freak Cosmetics”.
We were childhood friends growing up in The Bronx, New York and reconnected right as she got her Goth Cosmetics line going and it’s really taken off! Super proud of her efforts and her ethics! Her high quality products are handcrafted, cruelty free, hypoallergenic, made in the USA by Goths for anyone!
I support her efforts running a small, female owned and operated business that celebrates the Goth community and is just plain funky! This year shes got so many awesome offerings you’ve got to see to believe!
So if you’re into a unique Gothmas gift idea or you want to try something new? Beautiful Freak Cosmetics provides skin care and make up solutions for people who live on the dark side, by Goths for everyone! Normal is over ratted!
Visit Beautiful Geek Cosmetics website http://beautifulfreakcosmetics.com follow on a Instagram and Facebook
For the Instagram Foodie that makes you wait to take pictures before eating
Empanada Fork by HL UNICO LLC
They say, “Necessity is the mother of invention.” We’ll, Hipatia Lopez CEO & Inventor of this ingenious little gadget is the perfect example of this old adage! The Empanada Fork makes perfectly uniform, restaurant quality empanadas, turn-overs or mini calzones in your home kitchen!
“Our household is Ecuadorian and Dominican and between our two cultures we definitely enjoy our time in the kitchen. In fact, the idea for the Empanada Fork was born during the holidays when I was left to seal a whole 100 empanadas with a regular fork…I thought, there has to be a better and easier way. After searching and not finding the proper utensil for this, the journey to inventing one began. The Empanada Fork not only saves time in the kitchen but it also makes the empanadas look gourmet. It really is a must-have addition to your kitchen.”
-Hipatia Lopez
I’ve already put this labor saving pastry press to good use this holiday! I made Henry’s Beef Empanada Recipe that you can find on the website (they were delicious) and the Empanada Fork was SUPER easy to use! Place the Empanada Fork over the pastry, press down on the handle, then put your fingers on the metal crescent for a neater seal. Turn it over, press again.
It’s made of durable stainless steel for easy clean up, has a slip proof handle and it’s 3.25”L x 5.25”W x 4”H for easy storage in my kitchen drawer! The foodie on your list will love you for it! You can order on Amazon or direct http://www.empanadafork.com
For the ” I love Crochet, but I have ZERO time to make anything” posure
StarsandBeyondCo
Crocheted Photo Props and More
I had the distinct pleasure to meet Yuba City, CA, based writer, thinker, single mom & savy businesswoman on-the-bounce Britney on Instagram and I think her work is incredible! The pictures don’t do her work justice. I’ve seen a lot of different products offered on Etsy that seemed a little too “crafty” and not very professional. Brittany’s items,
be it home decor, socks, hats, scarves or unique crocheted photo props, are VERY professionally done. Her attention to detail and quality of finished product ensured her inclusion on my list this year. Her informality and customer service are also top notch. Here’s her Etsy introduction –
“Welcome to Stars & Beyond Crochet, I am Britney Star! How did I choose the name Stars and Beyond Crochet? Well, Star is my middle name, which I love to embrace. Beyond, because not only do I love to crochet but I love doing crafts, such as canvas work, painting, and anything that involves ribbon, lo ts and lots of ribbon!
Everything is handmade with love and attention to detail, from photo props (I mean what baby wouldn’t look adorable in a mini top hat and bow tie?) to home decor. The goal of Stars and Beyond Crochet is to help build memories, to make every occasion unforgettable. Let me help you go above and BEYOND in making those memories!!”
Order from her Etsy shop https://www.etsy.com/shop/StarsandBeyondCo,
For the “I’m training with a headlamp for a 5K this weekend” gal
SHUX Clothing
The FX1 Pullover and The AX1 Attachable Hood From Shux is the ONLY Hood that Uses Magnetic UX Technology to Attach to Any Shirt, Sweater or Jacket! Shux launched an Entire Line Featuring Built-in Pouches to Provide Convenience, Style and Instant Portability!
“We’ve built the best technology and quality into this premium line of clothing, with more features than what other designer brands offer customers,” said Jonathan Pinsky, CEO of Shux. “What makes Shux special is quite simple and complex at the same time. While others offer packable items, most come with separate pouches. Ours are seamlessly built right in. And no one has offered a hood that can attach to just about any piece of clothing!”
Also available during the Kickstarter campaign is the FX1 Pullover™ which is packable into its own pocket. The dry fit fabric always stays wrinkle-free no matter how many times you pack and unpack it. My wife and I swear by these well, she gets up early and runs. And she loves her FX1 Pullover!
The FX1 Pullover is available in various sizes and colors for men and women:
● Men’s sizes: small, medium, large, Xlarge
● Men’s colors: Black, Tech Grey, Indigo Blue, Ion Red
● Women’s sizes: Xsmall, small, medium, large
● Women’s colors: Black, Tech Grey, Turquoise, Deep PinkAll sizes and colors are available via Kickstarter for only $78.00.
Shux is also offering an Early Bird Combo Pack for only $125 (normally $188) that includes the AX1 Attachable Hood™ and the FX1 Pullover. After the Kickstarter campaign concludes, the suggested retail price will increase to $99.For more information please log on to https://www.kickstarter.com/pr
So that’s all for now! I’ll have part 2 up shortly! So stay tuned! Follow me on Instagram at Instayarde Twitter @thatalexyarde and my YouTube Chanel Alexander Yarde (yeah, but I’m the only one so..)
Art Credit- author/manufacturers