by 13 Gift Ideas for the Woman in Your Life
By Stephanie Walden on Mashable
As the holiday season approaches, we know you’re a bit stumped about what to get the woman in your life (who, seemingly, already has one — or two — of everything).
Luckily, there are a slew of gadgets and gizmos on the market this year for every walk of life, from the fashion-savvy to fitness-obsessed. Here are a few ideas to spark your creativity.
For the Hobbyist
1. Molecular Mixology Kit
Sometimes, simply drinking a margarita isn’t enough. In true Breaking Bad style, this fun mixology kit — a perfect gift for the adventurous palate — combines liquor, chemistry and art for in-depth experimentation with your favorite cocktails. The kit features three types of drink (margaritas, mojitos and cosmopolitans) and includes simple molecular recipes that make it easy to impress dinner guests. A great idea for a slightly geeky girls’ night in. Price: $85.
2. Polaroid Z2300 Instant Print Camera
Before Instagram, there was Polaroid — and the Z2300 is bringing back the instant photo-sharing technology with a modern take on the old classic. This 10-megapixel camera is microSD-compatible and features a 2.5-inch LCD screen, a 6x zoom, image stabilization sensors and “ZINK” inkless printing technology for portable (and instantly printable) pics. You can even record video via the camera’s built-in speaker and microphone. View, crop and add borders to your photos right from the digital screen, then upload easily to social media. The camera — available in black or white — comes with 10 pages of photo paper, rechargeable battery, AC adapter, USB cable and one-year warranty. Price: $179.95 on amazon.com.
3. Botanicalls Smart Plant Watering System
Everyone wants some green in their home, but caring for plants sometimes can feel like caring for pets. Botanicalls makes plant-ownership a bit easier for the absentminded one in your life. This high-tech device, designed by a team of artists and technologists, actually lets your plant tweet when it needs care (the developers call this “successful inter-species understanding”). There are a couple of similar options on the market for indoor gardeners, such as Parrot Flower Power. Price: $99.95.
For the Work-at-Home Woman
4. Verilux HappyLight
If your wife, girlfriend or mother spends most of her day cooped up indoors in the at-home office, Verilux HappyLight is an awesome product that delivers a dose of simulated natural daylight to any room in the house. These lamps are designed to increase focus and productivity, as well as lift mood and energy levels. Price: $89.95.
5. Boogie Board LCD Writing Tablet
The Boogie Board LCD Writing Tablet is bringing Post-It notes into the digital age. Go paperless with this tablet and stylus combination, ideal for note-taking, grocery reminders, to-do lists or doodles. The screen is pressure-sensitive, and the batteries last for up to 50,000 erases. Price: $39.99 or 2 for $70.
6. Kindle Paperwhite
Readers love the sixth generation of the popular Amazon Kindle e-reader (and so do we). The Paperwhite is a successful e-reader because of its Wi-Fi capabilities, improved visual clarity (no glare in sunlight), a 25% faster processor, extended battery life and a built-in light that reduces stress on your eyes. The e-reader is light — 30% lighter than an iPad mini — and therefore very portable, especially when you consider that the Paperwhite can hold more than 1,000 books. Price: $119.
For the Fashionista
7. 3D-Printed Jewelry
Move over diamonds — 3D-printed jewelry is becoming woman’s new best friend. If the fashion-conscious woman in your life is also tech-savvy, she’ll get a kick out of this unique trend in jewelry design. A number of designers, such as Kimberly Ovitz have featured 3D-printed designs in their latest collections. Check out Shapeways, an online 3D-printing platform, to browse through pre-designed items or, if you’re feeling particularly ambitious, try your hand at designing a custom piece. Price: Varies.
8. Del Sol Color-Changing Nail Polish
These nail polishes make great stocking stuffers or cute gifts for friends. Get two nail polishes in one — the color changes when exposed to sunlight. Check out the DelSol website for a full list of available colors and tutorials on how to create fun nail designs. Price: $10.
9. Hustle Bag
For the trendsetter on the go, Hustle Bag is a fashionable option to ensure a fully charged phone at all times. These handy clutches, bags and wallets are available in both faux and premium leather, and conveniently fit all the essentials (makeup, credit cards, cash and — of course — smartphone). The bags will charge a device up to four times before needing a recharge themselves. Be sure to check out these other bags that charge your devices for alternative styles, sizes and colors. Price: $199-$249.
For the Fitness Fanatic
10. Activity Trackers & Smartwatches
Fitness trackers are likely to be on the wish lists of many health-conscious consumers this season. A few of the most popular brands worth checking out include FitBit ($99), Nike Fuelband ($199) and Jawbone UP ($129), among others.
In general, wearables are picking up steam this year, as evidenced by the debut of the Samsung Galaxy Gear ($299) and Adidas smartwatch for runners ($399).
11. BlueBuds X Wireless Headphones
Listening to music and working out tend to go hand in hand, but obnoxious earphone cords and uncomfortable earbuds can be a major hindrance. BlueBuds X by JayBird are the official training headphones of the U.S.A. Triathlon, so you know they’re built for serious athletes. These earbuds are the smallest Bluetooth headphones in the world, and feature an eight-hour battery life, excellent sound quality, sweat-proof technology and over-ear or in-ear options. If these professional-grade earphones are out of your price range, find a few alternative options here. Price: $169.95.
12. Digital Cordless Jumprope
This sleek, rope-less jumprope is easy to throw in a gym bag, and it keeps track of calories burned, number of jumps and time spent working out. It’s available in black and pink, and the best thing about it is that you’ll never trip on the rope. Price: $17.75.
13. HAPIfork Smart Fork
You’ve heard of smartphones and even smartwatches, but how about a smart… fork? Designed to help you become more aware of your eating habits, HAPIfork keeps track of a variety of information when it comes to mealtime, including number of “fork servings,” time it takes you to eat your meal and built-in timer. You can then upload your data to HAPI.com for analysis, coaching and tracking progress. The forks are Bluetooth compatible, and the accompanying mobile app is available for Android, iOS or Windows mobile. Price: $99.99.