Gifts Everyone Will Love

Necklace Diana Abitz has created a stylish collection of hand-selected rocks, minerals and shells to enhance the look and lifestyle of today’s sophisticated woman. Her pieces represent a wonderful balance of color and shape. Each piece comes with a card explaining the historical interest, the geologic information and the perceived metaphysical powers of the stones, all used to create a unique look that will stand out any time of the year. Leawood Fine Arts, 11843 Roe Ave., Leawood, Kan. 913.338.4999 or leawoodfineart.com

Memory Block Can’t remember what was on his or her holiday wish list? Maybe this will help. Inspired by historical architecture, bookshops and museums around the world, Sid Dickens’ Memory Blocks provide an affordable way of decorating your home with handcrafted original works of art at a starting price far below that of paintings or prints. Memory Blocks are moveable fragments of art, inviting us to imagine our own treasured stories. Start with a single tile and build your collection. Belle Maison, 6972 N. Broadway, Gladstone, Mo. 816.436.1446

Toffee An especially delicious and well-known type of toffee includes grade AA butter, pure cane sugar, Guittard chocolates, California almonds, Hawaiian macadamia nuts, dry-roasted pistachios and hazelnuts, dried tart Michigan cherries and Ocean Spray dried cranberries. It’s all handcrafted in small batches then portioned and packaged by hand without the use of artificial preservatives, high fructose corn syrup or trans fats. Shown here are milk chocolate almond, dark chocolate hazelnut and white chocolate macadamia. It’s a stocking-stuffer worth looking into. Tall Grass Toffee Company, Lenexa, Kan. 913.599.2158 or tallgrasstoffee.com

Handbag This chic, sophisticated vegan handbag by Matt & Nat makes for a great surprise under the tree. Inder Bedi designs handbags made of supple synthetic leathers, a gift all animal-lovers will appreciate. Shown is the Trench model in blueberry with dark brown stitching from the Japanese Paper Collection. Keil & Co. in the Hawthorne Plaza, SW corner of 119th and Roe, Overland Park, Kan. 913.451.0112

Body Velvet Undoubtedly found on many holiday wish lists is the Tryst body velvet by Lady Primrose. It’s sigh-inducing sensuous and has a captivating fragrance. It’s attractively packaged in a hand-blown decanter with a crystal band, which makes for a stylish and practical accessory for any bathroom. Annabelles of Hawthorne Plaza, 5017 W. 119th St., Overland Park, Kan. 913.345.0606 or annabelleslinens.com

Decorative Santa From Midwest of Cannon Falls, the Roly Poly velvet Santa is a great addition to any home for the holidays. For those who collect Santas, give it as an early present and start the season off on the right foot. Each Santa is made from reproduction vintage bottle brush trees. Shown here is the large Roly Poly Santa. The Yellow Barn, 11272 Ridgeview, Olathe, Kan. 913.888.8976

Barbecue Fan/Light For the grill master in the family, the double-duty fan/light generates a powerful breeze to cool the cook, blow away lingering smoke, and it has an independently controlled light for when the sun sets. It’s fully adjustable with an 18-inch gooseneck arm, and it attaches to the grill with a sturdy steel spring clip. Chic A’Dees Trophy, 10544 Metcalf Ave., Overland Park, Kan. 913.341.6242 or chicadeestrophy.com

Diamond Earrings It’s true; diamonds are a girl’s best friend, but you might be next if you surprise her with a set. These diamond earrings are made of white gold and platinum with a three-prong “Martini” setting. They range from .25 carat total weight to 4.0 carat total weight. (If you’re making up for past holidays, go with the 4.0 carat earrings.) Jewelry Arts, 8221 Corinth Mall, Prairie Village, Kan. 913.381.8444

Flameless Candles These unique wax candles flicker and glow like the real thing, but they are actually battery-operated with three LED bulbs, which create a flicker effect. Whether the candles are real or not (just like Santa), no one will ever know. They are available in a smooth white, beeswax drip and cinnamon red drip. Villa Decor, 8642 N. Boardwalk Ave., Kansas City, Mo. 816.841.9711

Kitchen Knives A chef is only as good as the utensils he or she has to work with. Wusthof’s Classic Ikon is a knife with many details. Along with its red logo, it has an innovative handle that is triple-riveted with contoured edgesfor an ergonomic, comfortable fit and a more contemporary look. The knife is precision-forged from a single blank of high-carbon steel, is easy to sharpen and has a laser-controlled and tested cutting edge. The blade is ground thinner for less resistance, and the logo is also embedded on the end of the handle. (Not recommended as a stocking stuffer.) Ambrosi Brothers, 3023 Main St., Kansas City, Mo. 816.756.3030 or abcutlery.net

Give the Gift of Green

Handbag Handbags come in a close second to diamonds as a girl’s (or guy’s) best friend. Envirosax is a brand that offers eco-modern bags for men and women in five different designs — flora, retro, graphic, monochromatic, amazonia and retro kitchen. They’re not only stylish but also lightweight polyester, portable and waterproof. Purchase one as a gift or an assortment of five bags that are contained in a small pouch. envirosax.com

Necklace From the Tarma collection, the Mariposa chain necklace is in the shape of a butterfly to represent the dawn of a new year. For the eco-friendly family member, the chain is adjustable, lightweight and made of a delicate recycled stainless steel. If you really want to wow someone this holiday season, it’s also available as earrings.  tarmadesigns.com

Centerpiece or Wall Art The Alam Eco Divider is made from a collection of wood remnants with each piece containing different timbers, which creates inimitable combinations. From The HomePort Collections, each item is sealed with a clear, semi-gloss finish. It can be used as a centerpiece on a table or hung on the wall to display photos, figurines and maybe even seasonal decor.  thpcollections.com

Book This how-to household cleaning book is a practical guide for cleaning the home in an environmentally conscious way. It lists ways people can help save the planet, including safe household ingredients and recipes that won’t harm your home or environment. If you’re looking for a practical holiday gift, one that will potentially help save the earth, start with Clean: The Humble Art of Zen-Cleansing. zencleansing.com

Deck Chair loll DESIGNS is taking a stand on green living. The Adirondack deck chair, like all of the company’s other outdoor furniture, is made from 100 percent recycled post-consumer HDPE (high density polyethylene, a plastic resin). The clean lines give it a modern look, while the curved back and seat are designed to fit the body for maximum comfort. It’s maintenance-free and comes in eight different versions, as well as a picnic table, bench, stool and ottoman. Created in-house, 90 percent of the waste goes back to the recycling plant. lolldesigns.com

Area Rug There’s nothing like an area rug to complete the look of a room. The Original Bamboo Shag Area Rug Collection by Anji Mountain Bamboo Rug Co. not only makes the room look great, but it’s also antimicrobial, hypoallergenic and odor-resistant. The dense woven yarn is made of 80 percent bamboo, 20 percent cotton and has 100 percent cotton backing. The stylish “green” rug is soft, luxurious and comes in five popular colors and two sizes. 888.344.5004 or anjimountainbamboorugco.com

Gift Cards and Certificates

Imagine finding the perfect gift for everyone on your list with every item being just the right style…the perfect fit…their favorite color. Imagine every keepsake being exactly what they’d have picked out for themselves. That’s easy with a gift certificate from Crown Center, which houses more than 70 unique shops. Holiday hours: 10 a.m.-9 p.m., Monday-Saturday, November 23-December 23; noon-6 p.m., Sunday; 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Christmas Eve. Crown Center, 2450 Grand Blvd., Kansas City, Mo. 816.274.8444 or crowncenter.com

The shops and restaurants at Tuileries Plaza offer distinctive gifts for everyone on your holiday list. Select the perfect gift or let them do the shopping with a gift card or gift certificate from fine retailers and restaurants. Fabulous fashions, distinctive home interiors, personalized spa treatment services, athletic pursuits, delicious dining and decadent desserts all await them in the Northland. Tuileries Plaza, located a half mile west of I-29 on NW 64th St., Kansas City, Mo. tuileriesplaza.com

Oak Park Mall houses top national favorites and local boutiques, with more than 185 specialty stores. It boasts many stores exclusive to Kansas City, such as Sephora, Puma, aerie by American Eagle, Arden B, Steve Madden, Fossil and many more. Anchored by Nordstrom, Macy’s, Dillard’s, JC Penney and The Rainforest Cafe, Oak Park Mall gift cards surely offer something for even the most discriminating shopper’s desires. Gift cards are available at customer service during mall hours or online. Oak Park Mall, 95th and Quivira, Overland Park, Kan. 913.888.4400 or  thenewoakparkmall.com

Who doesn’t love to be pampered? Treat your loved one to an hour of bliss, with a certificate for a Tuscano Float — the first of its kind in North America. Floatation therapy provides a way of improving physical, emotional and psychological health through a process of placing the body into a state of total relaxation. This rejuvenating therapy will leave her feeling revitalized, refreshed and renewed. Spa Tuscano, 4133 N. Mulberry Drive, Kansas City, Mo. 816.746.5333 or thespatuscano.com