Once you’ve digested your holiday turkey, like it or not, the next thing that comes to mind is shopping. Black Friday offers shoppers great deals on holiday gifts — with the only question being “what to buy?” Well, just in time for your holiday shopping spree, theGrio team has a few gift ideas for you…
TheGrio’s Life and Style editor Alexis Garrett Stodghill (@LexisB) thinks the women on your list would love the gift of comfort. Her recommendation? a pair of folding flats. “They range from expensive (Tieks by Gavrielli), to more affordable stocking stuffers,” Stodghill says.
Other gift ideas on Alexis’ list? Women who are looking for hair styling ease might love this Coolway flat iron. Beauty enthusiasts will love this all-in-one makeup palette by BlackUp Cosmetics.
For the men, Alexis recommends this Art of Shaving Kit, or a pair of Nike for J.Crew Vintage Collection sneakers.
And for couples: “I love the book: Cooking With Love, by Carla Hall,” says Alexis. “It’s a great start to a wonderful evening in the kitchen with your mate.”
TheGrio’s news associate Ugonna Okpalaoka (@ugonnaokpalaoka) has a few ideas for younger gift recipients, starting with these items for the techies on your list. “The Windows 8 tablet can convert from a tablet to a laptop,” says Ugonna, noting that the tablet retails for around $500, so you’d have to give it to someone you really, really love. There’s also the Google Nexus 7 tablet. “It has gotten a lot of good reviews, and it’s cheaper than an iPad,” Ugonna notes, though the iPad Mini also makes her list.
For the gamer in your life, there’s the Nintendo Wii, of course. The hottest phone? Try the Samsung Galaxy 3 cell. A cheaper recommendation from Ugonna are the touch gloves by Echo, which are “winter gloves that work with touch screens,” and a bargain starting at just over $34.
For kids, Ugonna suggests you check out the Just Dance 4 video game (at around $40), or a Rock N’ Style microphone hairbrush, a perfect stocking stuffer at $16 — because who hasn’t used a hairbrush for a microphone at least once in their life?
For women, Ugonna’s recommendations include a monthly subscription to Birchbox, which for $10 per month delivers lifestyle and beauty sample products to your door; a Sonia Kashuk Glided Cage six-piece holiday makeup brush set (at around $25); or Lucky minimergency kits. These “cute emergency kits” feature dental floss, a mini hairspray, chapstick, a nail filer, Advil, etc. in a stylish patent leather pouch for just $15. This is perfect for that friend or family member who’s always forgetting their travel essentials.
Birchbox also has a monthly product sampling service for men, in case you’re looking for a gift for him as well.
So what else is out there? How about a KitchenAid single serve coffee maker, which allows you to use fresh grounds instead of K-cups, and even comes with it’s own 18 ounce travel mug? Or a down mitten covered ice scraper, which could come in handy for the next winter snow storm? Cute gifts like these are both unisex and universally practical.
And if you’re looking to patronize a black-owned business this Black Friday, here’s an option: ByBrooklyn, a shop owned by Gaia DiLoreto, which sells household items, artisanal foods, clothing and jewelry.
TheGrio’s entertainment editor Chris Witherspoon (@WitherspoonC) has a few recommendations, too.
For the music fan, Chris recommends two tributes to musical greats we’ve lost: the Michael Jackson Bad, 25th Anniversary Edition CD box set, an essential for any fan of the late King of Pop, and I Will Always Love You: The Best Of Whitney Houston, also an amazing collector’s box set. Meanwhile, the DVD for Whitney’s last film, Sparkle, hits stores (both old school and online,) starting November 30th.
You don’t have to wait that long for Beyoncé’s perfume, though. Midnight Heat is already available as a great gift set. You can also pick up Nicki Minaj’s Pink Friday Perfume. Both are available at Macy’s.
Keeping with Chris’ gift theme of all things Whitney, if you have a Houston fan on your list, he also recommends the new coffee table book, Whitney Houston: Tribute to an Icon, which is filled with beautiful and iconic pictures of the late superstar.
Also on Chris’ list: clothing or an accessory from Queen Latifah’s Queen Collection, or a chance to find your inner Charles Barkley or Jennifer Hudson with a Weight Watchers membership, just in time for those New Year’s resolutions.
TheGrio also asked our interns what they would recommend for the holidays.
Melissa Noel (@noelknowswell) has a few ideas for the kids on your list, starting with It’s Hip Hop, Baby, a DVD series that teaches young children (ages 2-6) their letters, colors, numbers and animals to the beat of hip hop music. Melissa also highlighted a couple of doll collections. Jacq’s Dolls features handmade dolls representing every ethnic group and shade, designed by J. Bryant Campbell. And SkyKay Dolls by artist Diana Stanley include great, ethnic dolls for collecting and play for everyone from children to adults.
TheGrio’s newest team member video producer Hassan Washington (@Hasswash) has some recommendations too, including some humorous gifts for men: the Girlfriend Body Pillow is “just the thing for when the wife is out of town, or if you just live alone and need a hug,” Hassan says. And since two can play at that game, there’s a Boyfriend pillow, too.
Expecting moms on your list might enjoy a comfy item from Lowe Blow tees, by African-American broadcaster Audra Lowe, host of the syndicated lifestyle TV program The Better Show.
Two other black-owned enterprises that make Hassan’s list are Miss Zee coloring books and apparel, and Chocolate Me, a children’s book by actor Taye Diggs. It’s site also offers branded apparel.
Whatever you choose to give this holiday season, theGrio team wishes you a happy and safe holiday. Happy shopping!
Follow theGrio on Twitter at @theGrio.