Sleigh The Holidays With These Last-Minute Gift Picks — As Seen On CBS Austin
Christmas is just a week away, so now is the time to check off those final few names on your holiday shopping list. For gifts that will bring smiles to all, check out my latest segment on CBS Austin’s “We Are Austin” and keep reading for details on everything seen on the show!
Mermade Hair Aircurl and Double Waver
Who doesn’t want to flaunt hair befitting of a magical mermaid? For a holiday gift that will make a major splash, check out these hairstyling tools from Australian-founded brand Mermade Hair.
To create stunning curls, waves, or add volume to strands without relying on extreme heat and potentially damaging strands, reach for the Mermade Hair Aircurl ($76 on MermadeHair.com), which is powered by air —yes, air!— rather than high heat. This revolutionary styling tool can be used on dry or damp hair. To start, grab a section of hair and wrap it around the barrel or, if you prefer, clamp the end and then roll the hair up the vented barrel. You can choose between three heat settings (a low heat of 140°F, medium heat of 200°F, or high heat of 240°F) and the air styling technology will set the curl. Within 10 seconds you can release the section of hair and move on to the next area of your hair! Not only will the lower heat protect your hair from damage, but the Aircurl features ionic technology that reduces static and fends off frizz.
And if you were obsessed with all the looks created using triple wavers circulating on TikTok, wait ’til you see what you can achieve with the Mermade Hair Double Waver ($76 on MermadeHair.com). The compact and lightweight tool features an innovative double-barrel design and anti-scald plates that allow users to create mini waves with ease. It’s great for all hair lengths — particularly short hair — and it’s incredible time efficient, waving hair in just 2 seconds!
Lumene Invisible Illumination Collection
Perfect for makeup beginners and pros alike, LUMENE’s Invisible Illumination Collection is designed to nourish, hydrate and brighten skin while also helping to add a touch of color to the complexion and enhance your natural beauty. Comprised of liquid bronzers, blushes and highlighters, this collection is the very definition of skin-loving makeup — in fact, each 100% vegan and cruelty-free product features naturally-derived, Nordic skincare ingredients including pure Arctic spring water, Arctic cloudberry seed extract, and Nordic algae.
The weightless, water-based, serum-like formulas feel lovely on the skin, and they’re user-friendly and totally non-intimidating but are also buildable so makeup lovers can customize their level of coverage.
The Invisible Illumination Liquid Blush is available in a range of perky and pretty shades like Coral Bloom and Pink Blossom, and it gives cheeks a natural flush of color. The Invisible Illumination Liquid Bronzer can be used to contour the face or to add warmth to high points, giving you e a sun-kissed glow year-round. Lastly, the Invisible Illumination Instant Illuminizer can be used as a traditional highlighter or mixed with your go-to moisturizer or foundation to give the complexion a dewy radiance.
Each product is $30 on Amazon
OnlinePilatesClasses.com Mat Pilates Flashcards
Can’t fit a Pilates class into your hectic schedule? Well, you can fit in a great workout at home or at your hotel while traveling thanks to the ultra-convenient Mat Pilates Flashcards from OnlinePilatesClasses.com.
Each deck features 40 full color flashcards, each featuring a photograph of one move or hold, the name of that exercise, and specific instructions on how to position your body to achieve proper alignment, as well as rep count suggestions, modifications or substitution options, and tips. Each card, then, perfectly explains how to execute an exercise, plus it features a QR code that, when scanned, opens up a video of OnlinePilatesClasses.com founder Lesley Logan (who studied directly under Joseph Pilates) demonstrating that specific exercise so you can feel like you’re learning directly from her!
These flashcards, then, are an engaging, interactive and portable fitness tool that both beginners and seasoned practitioners will treasure. They’re $49.99 on Amazon and OnlinePilatesClasses.com
The Winston Box
Does your spouse or boyfriend have the same three tops and three pants on rotation? Does he shudder at the idea of setting foot in a store — much less a mall? Well, then, he’ll probably appreciate the convenience of The Winston Box, the wildly successful men’s Big & Tall clothing subscription service founded by Wil Cuadros.
The Winston Box was born out of Cuadros’s own frustration when shopping for clothes that would properly fit his frame. After realizing that most clothing subscription services did not offer men’s big and tall sizes, he set out to fill that void in the marketplace. But Cuadros took things one step further. In order to ensure that his customers would receive high-quality garments and consistent sizing, he created his own clothing brand. The Winston Box subscribers, then, receive exclusive garments from the brand’s signature label.
Here’s how it works: customers visit TheWinstonBox.com and take a 60-second quiz outlining their sizes and style and color preferences. A team of stylists will then create a personalized package which can be shipped anywhere in the world. For just $75, customers receive a box with two to three fashionable, well-constructed garments from The Winston Box’s signature label. Options include plaid button-down shirts, stretch chinos, dapper sweaters, and more. Plus The Winston Box will soon be launching Newton’s First, the first athleisure brand catering to big & tall men, which is 100% sustainable and made with eco-friendly materials.
Pieces are available in sizes up to 6XLT and waists up to 64. And, on the off chance that something isn’t a perfect fit, members can exchange it for free.
Monthly, bimonthly and quarterly plans are available on TheWinstonBox.com
Ancient Olive Trees Dinner Party Pack
Hosts and foodies alike will be delighted by the Ancient Olive Trees Dinner Party Pack ($98 on AncientOliveTrees.com).
This kit includes a carefully crafted Extra Virgin Olive Oil which is cold pressed from premium olives grown around the world — in particular, a blend of early-harvest Arbequina and Arbosana olives. These olives are cold-pressed within hours of harvest to ensure that they retain their freshness and their rich polyphenol content. As a result, this EVOO exudes a fresh olive flavor with a hint of pepper on the edge. The oil is complemented by the velvety texture and slightly sweet tones of the imported and barrel-aged, Solera-style Balsamic Vinegar, which hails from Modena, Italy. This balsamic vinegar displays rich flavors of oak and fresh fruit. Both the olive oil and balsamic vinegar can be served to dinner guests alongside a fresh loaf of ciabatta, and the balsamic vinegar is also excellent for drizzling over fresh strawberries.
Once you’ve got some finger foods ready for dinner party gusts, you can reach for the Dirty Martini Juice in the kit, grab your favorite gin, and whip up some martinis. Cheers!
LangeTwins 2020 Cabernet Sauvignon Thirty Eight Vineyard
Holiday dinner parties call for a robust, full-bodied wine like the LangeTwins 2020 Cabernet Sauvignon Thirty Eight Vineyard, a food-friendly wine that pairs beautifully with hearty meats like prime rib roast and glazed ham.
It’s bursting with aromas of plum sauce, star anise and mission fig, while the palate unfolds with nuances of savory dried herbs, creamy textures from understated oak tones, and fine-grained tannins that build gracefully to the finish.
Established in 1982 by twins Randy and Brad Lange, the Thirty Eight Vineyard signifies the family’s transition from grape growers to winegrowers.
The LangeTwins family is committed to sustainable winegrowing, restoration projects and using renewable energy, so this is a lovely wine that’s also an eco-minded choice. It’s $38 on LangeTwins.com
2021 J. Lohr Hilltop Cabernet Sauvignon
Founded fifty years ago by Jerry Lohr, J.Lohr Vineyards & Wines grows, produces and bottles a fill line of internationally recognized wines.
Hailing from California’s Paso Robles region, the 2021 J. Lohr Hilltop Cabernet Sauvignon is an outstanding choice, boasting exhilarating blackberry and blueberry aromas enhanced by crushed violet, herbes de Provence and spiced tea. It features a bright finish thanks to juicy layers of black and red currants, accentuated by pastry notes from extended barrel aging. And it’s dense and soft on the palate, with finely textured tannins.
It’s $35 on JLohr.com
Ballotin Chocolate Whiskey Caramel Turtle Whiskey
Inspired by a love of bourbon and a passion for chocolate, Ballotin Chocolate Whiskey was created in 2015 in Louisville, Kentucky with the goal of creating elegant, delicious sipping whiskeys designed for flavor-craving friends.
This is the Ballotin Caramel Turtle Whiskey ($29.99 on BallotinWhiskey.com) which brings together rich and creamy caramel and pecan flavors, wrapped in dark chocolate and punctuated with a backbone of barrel-aged whiskey. It’s the ultimate indulgent treat and can be enjoyed on the rocks or in seasonal cocktails like Hot Buttered Rum.
