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Shopping for Luxury Holiday Gifts & Gets – 2010

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Holiday Gift Ideas: Finding fabulous holiday gifts for those who seemingly have it all can be a challenge at best. With this in mind, each season I scour the luxury marketplace to uncover new, innovative and otherwise exemplary must haves — the best-of-the-best across a range of product and price categories. My annual Haute Holiday Gift Lists feature a mix of tasteful, trendy, and high quality goods and services — some extravagant, some practical — that are all sure to please the lucky recipient.

Consider this assortment of glam gift ideas:

‘Universal’ Blu-ray Player ($8,000)

The ultimate movie watching experience begins at home — especially if you have the MVP881 BR high performance Blu-ray player from McIntosh Laboratory. Not just any Blu-ray player, this incredibly dynamic device is the first truly “universal” disc player loaded with Web enabled features that excel at playing virtually all of today’s advanced audio and video disc formats. In addition to its advanced Blu-ray capabilities, the MVP881 BR Universal Audio/Video Player excels at playing SACD and DVD Audio discs as well as standard CDs and DVDs.

The elegantly designed rock-solid “dreadnaught style” component features custom fabricated steel and protective aluminum casework. Its all-metal quiet-running disc mechanism is exceptionally accurate. The unit also features an SD card reader, an RS232C interface and an Ethernet connection for BD-Live content and future software updates.

Leading edge HDMI 1.3 audio and video are fully implemented and the latest Dolby TrueHD and DTS Master Audio codecs are also supported. On-board audio decoding with full bass management and a multi-channel audio output enable use with legacy A/V processors. Differential balanced, analog audio circuitry is used throughout. Industry-leading video reproduction capabilities provide a vibrant, noise free image worthy of the finest video displays.

Chef’sChoice Trizor Professional Steak Knives Hardwood Box Set ($429.99)

The Chef’sChoice Trizor 10X 4.5-inch steak knives will be extraordinarily well received by those who covet top-quality cutlery. These fine knives, nearly 9 inches from end-to-end, are fully-forged with a blade profile designed to minimize edge wear caused by cutting on fine china, porcelain and other dinnerware. They are made of hard, strong and durable Trizor steel, which guarantees an ultra-sharp edge that lasts up to 10 times longer than any European or domestic kitchen cutlery. The specially textured polymer handle on these knives is designed to eliminate bacterial contamination and ensure a superb feel and non-slip grip, wet or dry.

Handsomely crafted and styled for daily use, while also elegant enough for special occasion meals, these knives are perfect for all types of meat and poultry. This handsome set of six is nestled in an elegant hand rubbed walnut finish box with hidden hinges and full and padded velvet interior. With the perfect blend of form and function, the Chef’sChoice Trizor Professional 10X Cutlery Steak Knives set is an appreciable addition to any kitchen.

Mixed Metals 3-Piece Necklace Set ($228)

Known for its one-of-a-kind jewelry designs, 1 OAK is all about bringing you unique finds from around the globe. Vintage pieces from a flea market in New York or Paris, amethyst direct from the mines in South America and intricately carved pendants from India. One spin around the company’s Web site and you’ll understand what makes 1 OAK’s inspired jewelry designs so special.

While the company’s line featuring necklaces, earrings and rings featuring unique and colorful gems is downright spectacular, one necklace set in particular from the 1 OAK Metals Collection caught my eye for its unique combination of heavy gauge and delicate chains, quaint charms and beguiling quartz. One necklace in this gorgeous set features dual 26 inch gunmetal chains with a metallic gold snake as the interlocking clasp. This piece is both urban and chic, and would look great alone. But, add to it the other two pieces in the set and the style statement becomes something truly remarkable. The second piece is an 18 inch 14-karat gold filled chain with stunning gold-rimmed agate geode slice and precious heart charm. The third is a complimentary 18 inch 14-karat gold filled chain with a faceted iron pyrite charm and, separately, a whimsical wishbone charm. The three necklaces may be purchased as a set, or separately.

Whether worn layered together or individually, she can dress these pieces up or down and wear them day or night. Either way, this 1 OAK jewelry is sure to get her noticed.

NINJA Master Prep Professional ($59.99)

Anyone can be a pro in the kitchen with the newest Ninja Master Prep Professional. This revolutionary 6-blade device allows you to evenly chop, mince, dice, blend and puree in seconds by pulling ingredients through 6 levels of horizontal planes. Everyday ingredients are transformed into delectable drinks, snacks and meals with the speed and accuracy of professional-grade products.

Most blenders are unable to provide creamy, restaurant style frozen drinks. This devise allows users to do this and much more, and faster than ever before. This all-in-one kitchen gadget can blend and pulse to perfection, crush ice into snow in seconds, and also dice, mince and puree fresh ingredients far better than other mixers, food processors and other such appliances on the market.

The interchangeable power pod system allows for a quick and easy transition between recipes, bowls and pitchers, and can go right into the dishwasher for a quick and easy clean up. Three dishwasher- and microwave-safe containers are included: a 16 oz. chopping bowl, a 40 oz. “multi-task” pitcher and a 48 oz. large pitcher.

KIM KARDASHIAN for Women Eau De Parfum Spray ($47.99 – $61.99)

Launched just this year, KIM KARDASHIAN for Women is this year’s must-have fragrance. The distinctive scent blends crisp notes, mandarin, honeysuckle, orange blossom, jasmine, tuberose, gardenia, tonka bean, jacaranda wood, vanilla orchid, musk and sandalwood — all packaged in a chic black bottle as round and voluptuous as Kim’s fabulous figure. This provocative and alluring fragrance that will make her feel as good as she smells. Available with special pricing at Perfumania.com, the site also offers this scent as an Eau De Parfum Spray in 1.7 and 3.4 ounce bottles or as a .34 ounce roll on. Perfumania.com also offers a KIM KARDASHIAN Eau De Parfum gift set.

For those not familiar, Perfumania.com is America’s largest fragrance retailer specializing in the sale of genuine designer fragrances, bath and body, cosmetics, skin care products and related gifts and accessories for men, women and children. It’s a critical stop in your online holiday shopping travels!

‘The Cravory’ Cookies (Starting at $24 per dozen)

The Cravory is home to more than 950 customized cookie creations from sweet to savory. If you can imagine it, they can create it. I myself have indulged in the company’s Savory Rosemary Balsamic (which was curiously good), Red Velvet, Birthday Cake, Peanut Butter Overload, and Chocolate Chip varieties. ALL were incredible in their respective genres — perhaps the best I’ve had. Other surprising cookie concoctions offered by The Cravory include Pancakes and Bacon, Lemon Cherry Basil and Mexican Hot Chocolate. Additional notables include the Oreo Milkshake, Chocolate Truffle, and Oatmeal Pear Fig. Custom cookie services are also offered!

No matter which you choose, The Cravory’s cookies are the ultimate cookie experience — each with a perfectly baked surface and a soft cookie center that truly melts in your mouth. Yummm?.

 

***Some or all of the accommodations(s), experience(s), item(s) and/or service(s) detailed above may have been provided at no cost and/or arranged to accommodate this review, but all opinions expressed are entirely those of Merilee Kern and have not been influenced in any way as per the disclosure policy on our “Legal” page***

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