What’s Hot in Southwest Florida
TRAVEL BOOK
For the person on your list full of wanderlust, Atlas Obscura, 2nd Edition: An Explorer’s Guide to the World’s Hidden Wonders has expanded to include an additional 120 unusual, curious, bizarre and mysterious places on earth, along with a full-color road-trip map. It paints a delightful picture of the exciting and sometimes strange world we live in. $37.50, local booksellers and workman.com
KITCHEN CUTLERY
Based in Tarpon Springs, Florida, F.N. Sharp brings a new edge to home cutlery with its striking designs, 67 layers of Japanese VG-10 steel and a hassle-free sharpening subscription model. The design also allows for maximum control while cutting. Knife owners can participate in a sharpening service that preships an identical set when yours get dull. Starting at $880 for a three-knife set, fnsharp.com
INTERNATIONAL GIFT BOX
Universal Yums is a subscription service for foodies, travelers and families. Its Holiday Box is filled with a smorgasbord of treats from around the world along with an international guidebook of seasonal celebrations. Get a one-time box or subscription to explore international goodies all year long. $13.75-$35.75, universalyums.com
COPPER LAZY SUSAN
Impress your party guests this holiday season with a stunning, hand-hammered copper Lazy Susan by Native Trails. Ideal for entertaining, it comes in four sizes. Made from recycled copper, the metal is mounted on a heavy-duty, smooth-turning base with acrylic feet to protect all surfaces. $195-$495, Ferguson Plumbing and Broedell Plumbing Supply in Fort Myers, and Ferguson Plumbing and Kitchens by Clay in Naples
COQUITO TO GO
Coquito is a homemade, holiday tradition in the Caribbean. Similar to eggnog, the celebratory drink is a rich mix of rum, coconut cream, vanilla and cinnamon. Bacardi is making it easier for party hosts with this limited edition ready-to-serve drink, using the traditional recipe. All you have to do is poor over ice and enjoy. $17.99, ABC Fine Wine & Spirits
DUAL-PURPOSE BANGLE
A stretchy tie on the wrist is an unfortunate accessory for many women with long hair. Go Girl Designs bangle-style bracelets integrate hair ties into their design. Ties with heart-shaped charms are conveniently held within the bangle, easy to pop out for your pony or bun while travelling or on the run. $15-$70, gogirldesign.com
FLYING EMBERS
Introducing alcohol that is better for you, Flying Embers Organic Hard Kombucha is made from a sparkling fermented tea kombucha culture and live probiotics. Try flavors such as Ancient Berry, Lemon Orchard and Ginger & Oak. Flying Embers gives 1% of its profits to firefighters in Southern California. $7.99-$13.99, Bailey’s General Store, Sanibel
WINE AND CHOCOLATE
Wine + chocolate = holiday happiness. Clif Family Winery’s library box of five sustainable bean-to-bar chocolates can be shipped on their own or with wines. Try the Dark Chocolate Cabernet Sea Salt or Dark Chocolate Espresso with Clif Family Cabernet. Other flavors include Dark Chocolate Smoked Spanish Pimenton Almonds and White Chocolate Lemon and Ginger. $45 for box of five, cliffamily.com
FINICKY FOODIES
Is there someone in your house who can’t stand foods to intermingle? Keep items separate with Food Cubby, a suctioned, BPA-free plate divider. Suited for not only picky eaters, but also anyone with developmental disabilities, or those working on their motor skills. It’s portable for travel and dishwasher safe. $14 for two, foodcubby.com
GOURMET ON A MISSION
These gourmet goodies are perfect for holiday baskets and stocking stuffers: delicious bags of Chili Spiced Mango, Thai Curry Cashews and Ginger Zing Trail Mix from the Women’s Bean Project. The organization hires women with a history of incarceration and puts them to work manufacturing gourmet snacks for a multifaceted pick-me-up. Starting at $2.95 a bag, womensbeanproject.com
HEART OF SAND
Keep your travel memories alive with this eye-catching Heart of Sand pendant from Dune Jewelry, custom made with sand and natural elements from around the world. Choose the beach or location sentimental to you, and artists dig into their sand bank to create a one-of-a-kind piece. Heart of Sand also comes in gold and can be engraved. $120, Suncatchers’ Dream on Sanibel or dunejewelry.com
HOME COCKTAILS
Cocktail hour at home just got easier thanks to Bartesian, the world’s first single-serve pod-based cocktail machine. Select your favorite base spirit, and then choose one of the recyclable cocktail capsules containing fruit juices, bitters and extracts. Press a button and voilá: Bartesian combines the ingredients for a perfectly balanced cocktail. $299, bartesian.com
WINE LUGGAGE
Safely transport your favorite wine or spirit in the same checked bag as your skinny jeans and toiletries. Dense foam cutouts in a variety of sizes can be configured to take up as much room as you need for break-free transit through airline cargo holds or rough taxi rides, with room to spare for clothing and shoes. $299-$349, Total Wine & More