Given to me one Christmas from my crazy uncle, this is a book I return to often. The first edition of Bartlett’s Familiar Quotations was compiled by John Bartlett in 1855 and was a mere 258 pages thick. Now in its 17th edition it weighs in at 1,500 pages. Bartlett's Familiar Quotations is jam packed with interesting, inspirational, and memorable quotes. It…
When he's not on vacation or at work, Jorge is meandering around New York capturing everyday slices of life through his viewfinder. There's no better way to document where you've been and what you've seen than with a camera. Between his photo essays and photographer interviews, he's learned that quality storytelling is key and he shares narrative of it on his site…
Boys, it's time to ditch the Mach 137 throw-away razors you buy at Walmart and start shaving like a man. Which means a classic safety razor, a badger brush, and a dash of renewed self-confidence. This classic safety razor complete shave kit form Classic Shaving has just what you need to get started: a razor, 5 feather blades, a puck of soap,…
If you’re persnickety about your coffee and brew some every day then the AeroPress may be your cup of tea. I own a drip coffee maker, a Turkish coffee maker, two french presses, a stove-top espresso maker, a siphon, and an AeroPress. The latter makes a cup of coffee as delicious as you'll get from a french press or siphon, yet with…
This mug from Best Made Company is forged at a 100-year-old factory in Poland and is top-quality enamel-coated steel. This cup is made for use by the campfire, but it's fine enough that it may find its way into your kitchen cabinet as well. If that happens, don't worry about it. Who could blame you?
Mat Kearney's music is the sort you keep hitting Play on. His 2011 album, Young Love has fun and up-beat beats, with clean and classy lyrics. Mat's music makes the perfect companion for late-night projects and August road trips alike. (Young Love is available on iTunes for $9.99, but is currently $5 on the Amazon MP3 store.)
Last summer my in-laws and I spent a week at Lake Sylvan in Colorado. Every morning my two brothers-in-law and I would get up just before dawn and take the canoe out and fish for breakfast. Silent moments like those are when you're grateful to God that you have a thermos full of hot coffee. Even if you're not out on a…
Crate&Barrel (a.k.a. The Helvetica Store) has, in my opinion, some of the finest glassware you can buy. So many of their pieces have a unique and classy style, and these Granda Glasses are no exception. They are handmade from recycled glass with swirls of orange, red, yellow, and turquoise. Available as a 19 oz. Highball and 11 oz. Double Old Fashioned .
Regardless of whether you make coffee in a french press, an AeroPress, or a Siphon Vacuum Pot, you're going to need to stir those grounds. Those who know better will tell you that a metal spoon or knife is rubbish for such a task — it steals heat from the brewing liquid and it's just not wise to go around banging a…
What's the sunglass style that never goes out of style? The Aviator. The Classic 301 from TOMS (which comes in several colors, but I like orange best) is a modern twist on that classic look. And if you buy a pair of the 301s then TOMS will give a pair of glasses to a person in need.
The Sony 7506 headphones are about as good as a headphone can come for the price. For less than a C-Note you get a studio-quality headphone that will last for a lifetime. Whether you're recording a podcast or the next platinum record, or even pumping the jams so you don't have to listen to your co-workers, these are a great choice.
If you've ever felt that brewing coffee should be like a fun science experiment, well my friends, the Siphon Vacuum Pot is for you. Not only is it a lot of fun to brew a pot of siphoned coffee, the end result is very delicious. While you're at it, be sure to pick up some extra cloth filters, some bamboo stir sticks,…
No living room is complete without a set of coasters to protect your coffee table while showing your guests you have class. And nothing says class more than a set of classic yet fun coasters. Especially this argyle-patterned set which is laser cut from bamboo.
Have you ever had the power in your home go out before you've had a chance to brew your morning cup of coffee? Me too. This man-powered ceramic coffee grinder from Kyocera is for just such an occasion. It makes a fine camping companion as well. Just don't let the others see you grinding beans for your fresh cup of coffee when…
It only took 10 years until the extended edition of the Lord of the Rings Trilogy was released on Blu-Ray, but it was worth every minute. This box-set has 12 hours of high-definition video and audio of what is arguably one of the best trilogies ever made. For those without a Blu-Ray player you can snag LOTR on DVD version or even…
A snowboarder is a snowboarder regardless if they're on the slopes or off. Burton's new line of plaid accessory cases are the perfect companion for storing school supplies, travel accessories, or spare snowboard parts. For only $10 it's never summer.
The Little Red Writing Book is a delightful resource for structure, style, and readability in your writing. The chapters are short, clever, and fun, and the book is illustrated and type-set with great care. If you want to write better, I highly recommend The Little Red Writing Book — it's informative and a pleasure to read. (Also available on the iBookstore.)
The board game for people who like Outer Space, buildings things, and blowing things up. You and your opponents create your ships, man them, equip them with guns and shields, and then traverse the wild and unpredictable limits of deep space. Tons of fun, tuns of adventure, and if you're lucky, no tears of sadness at your busted up space ship.
Perhaps the most beloved and niche pocket notebooks of the past decade. Who doesn't want to have a Field Notes notebook in their back pocket, backpack, glove box, and desk drawer? They're the quintessential example of a trendy utility.
These bad boys are the perfect companion to sit side-by-side with that big computer monitor of yours. Who cares if you're mixing an album or blasting your iTunes library, the point is it'll sound good and you won't make your wallet cry in the process.