Holiday Hits

We combed the web to find fantastic gifts for everyone from fashionistas to fitness buffs. 'Tis the season...

By Maryanne Murray Buechner Monday, Nov. 21, 2005

    • • For Honeymooners Havaianas--the incredibly comfortable, highly durable rubber flip-flops made in Brazil--are must-haves, and not just for the beach bound. The wide range of styles includes Bandeiras for him (lawn green), $16, and Flash Way Etnics for her (shown here in citrus), $20. Search for retailers by ZIP code, or order online at havaianasus.com

    • For the Pop Artist Now you can create your own fizzy drinks at home. To use the Penguin sodamaker, fill the carafe with still water, place it in the barrel, close, and pump the beak until you hear the squeak. Voilà--bubbles! The $300 starter kit comes with fun flavorings like pink grapefruit and orange mango. At sodaclubusa.com

    • For the Gardener Grow-a-Note greeting cards are embedded with wildflower seeds (a mix of California poppy, catchfly and others). Read the card, then bury it to see what sprouts. The paper degrades naturally in the soil. Four for $15. At greenfieldpaper.com

    • For the Cat Lover It's worth clearing some counter space for this basketball-size Sassy cat-treat jar, made and hand-painted by Alyson Whitney Idrees and sold for $60 at chowtimeproductions.com Find more of Idrees' pottery--plates, bowls, goblets--at alysonwhitney.com

    • For the Fashionista Designer duds--like this Alice & Olivia French-cuff diamond blouse, $194--are the specialty of shopbop.com Browse by category (cocktail dresses, jeans) or brand. You'll find Juicy Couture, Chip & Pepper, True Religion and dozens more. Looking for cool earrings to go with that top? Try fragments.com

    • For the Host Going to a dinner party? Show up with a sweet medley of almond dragées from thecocoa room.com Prices start at $6 for a 4-oz. box. For more casual get-togethers, consider a tin of chocolate caramel crunch from hamptonpopcorn.com

    • For the Audiophile This vinyl tote bag, $65, comes with classic rock album covers tucked in the side sleeves. Don't like what you get? The Velcro enclosures make it easy to swap in two favorites from your record collection. At eco-artware.com