For the Anglophile

Unless you've been living under a rock for the last five months, you know that there is this little event that happened in London last Friday. The media has gone crazy over the announcement that William and Kate were finally tying the knot, and all eyes have been on the great city of London.

But for some people, interest in the UK is nothing new. These Anglophiles appreciate the Queen's English, follow the royal family, and have an all-around uncanny fondness for the US's closest ally. If you have one of these people on your gift list, consider giving her a British or British-themed item. Fortunately, there is no shortage of such products, so you will have plenty of options to choose from.

You can find British products in many stores, but there are some sellers who specialize in items from across the pond. Some of my favorites are Aspinal of London, Highgrove Shop (Prince Charles's store that benefits his charities), Not on the High Street (like a British Etsy), the British Museum gift shop, Emma Bridgewater, the London Transport Museum, and Liberty of London.

In honor of the marriage of two people none of us know and will likely never meet, here are some gift ideas for the Anglophile in your life:

Map Products: Maps are one of the most recognizable representations of a city and make a great gift. For fans of the London Tube (Underground), choose from a vintage London Underground poster, Underground carriage maps, a Tube map mirror, a stainless steel pocket Tube map, a reproduction of Tube map using tubes of paint, films of London Underground maps, or an image of your chosen section of the rail or Tube maps. Other great London maps include one that uses place names to create the map, this original London print (an outline of London with place names marking their spot), these London transit and cycle maps, a map tracing the city's expansion, and a Map of London mug. My favorites are the London cityscape coat hanger (pictured below) and the UK counties jigsaw puzzle. Check out the London Transit Museum for more great options.

London cityscape coat hanger (photo courtesy of HookPegSupport)

Transit Blinds: A great way to bring home a taste of the UK is with transit blinds from the Underground, buses, or other forms of public transportation. You can buy vintage blinds or customized ones with destinations of your choosing. Lots of shops sell these blinds, but Not on the High Street has a great selection. They offer blinds from London and other UK cities, vintage London bus blinds, and rare London Underground and bus blinds, as well as the option to choose your own destination (both single and multiple locations). Pedlars also has a good selection of special destination blinds and vintage Notting Hill gate enamel signs (square or skinny rectangle).

Vintage London Underground blinds (photo courtesy of Not on the High Street) 

Books: Nothing transports you to another place like a good book. Send your recipient on a discount voyage with a book about or set in the UK. This vintage "This is London" book is a cool memento, while art and history lovers will appreciate the Masterpieces of the British Museum book and DVD. The London Transport Museum offers wide variety of transport-related books (along with DVDs), and the London Moleskin city notebook is a great gift for anyone planning a trip to the UK. You also can't go wrong with a work of fiction set in the UK, such as a classic like Pride and Prejudice (my personal favorite) or Great Expectations, or a modern book like Atonement or the Harry Potter series.

Keep Calm and Carry On: Originally conceived as a motto to help the British people through the German blitz in World War 2, this phrase has recently seen a surge in popularity. There is no shortage of "Keep Calm" products on the market today, so you have your pick of these gifts. One of my favorites is a print that features the saying in Welsh (pictured below). You can find a wide selection at the Keep Calm Gallery, Keep Calm and Carry On, Keep Calm, and Zazzle. I especially love the travel card wallet, notebook, wall decals, band aids, book, cufflinks, and wall clock.

Welsh Keep Calm and Carry On print (photo courtesy of Bouf)

Home Decorations: The UK is known for many icons, and lots of them come in desk-sized forms. The famed red phone box is available as a K2 bookend (also available in The Gherkin, double decker bus, and black cab), the black taxis and double decker buses also exist as ceramic planters, and Big Ben has been shrunk down to a desk sculpture. You can also decorate your Anglophile recipient with a Troika Ocean Liner desk organizer, rustic topiary crown, non-London bus models, Little London bobbles (choose from London bus, taxi, phone box, soldier, and Big Ben, or get the complete set), and cute model toys from the London Transport Museum's children's line. For fans of Her Majesty, go with these vintage Queen Elizabeth II jewelry boxes, featuring the Queen's portrait and on horseback.

Home Goods: Add a touch of British charm to your recipient's home by giving her a home accent piece. For a die-hard Anglophile, consider a wall decal of a famous British scene, such as a phone box, double decker bus, postal box, London skyline, Big Ben, street sign, or lamp post. For a frequent entertainer, choose a serving tray with various London images or with rows of British guards (pictured below). A tea drinker will appreciate a Britannia Royal Stafford or London Icons mug, especially when paired with a Union Jack porcelain milk jug and a blue toile tea cosy to keep the kettle warm. For a uniquely British touch, choose this Highgrove cockerel chopping board or this sheep Southdown Face egg cup, a Highgrove check rug in the traditional Prince of Wales check, London Underground map or Buckingham Palace pillow covers, Queen Elizabeth II enlarged stamp rug, transit travel card cushion, British Museum classic tray (featuring images of the Museum), or a vintage-style Union Jack throne chair.

Royal Guards London tray (photo courtesy of  Liberty of London)

Union Jack: For the clearest image of the UK, you can't beat the Union Jack. Emma Bridgewater has a great selection of Union Jack and saltire items, and there is no shortage of these products on Etsy. Some of my favorites are this Union Jack throw pillow cover (also available in the Scottish saltire), dress form, and biscuit barrel tin (pictured below). For portable British love, check out these Union Jack high heels, scarves, and travel card holders. You can also bring the Union Jack home on coasters, magnets, frying pans, vintage pillows, illuminating coffee tables, personalized wooden cutting boards, and pillow covers.

Union Jack biscuit barrel tin (photo courtesy of Emma Bridgewater)

Art: Works of art are a great way to demonstrate a fondness for the UK. The British Museum offers many reproductions of items in their collection, including fine art, historical objects, and jewelry. A Keep Calm print (see above) is a great choice, as are these patchwork prints of the Liverpool skyline and Anglican cathedral, the "Quintessentially British" print (featuring 244 British icons, people, places, and things), and this God Save the Queen print. The London Transport Museum also offers a wide choice of London and UK prints.

Royal Wedding Commemorations: If your Anglophile is a big fan of the royal family, you might consider a gift related to the recent royal wedding. You could make a donation in her name to one of William and Kate's designated charities or give her one of the many wedding-related products. There is a wide variety of gifts, including official royal wedding commemorative items like china patterns, as well as not-so-official products like the royal couple refrigerator. Lots of stores currently carry these products, but you can find great selections at Highgrove, Emma Bridgewater, and Not on the High Street.

Official royal wedding commemorative plate (image courtesy of Highgrove Shop)

Miscellaneous: There are so many great British gifts, but these recommendations wouldn't be complete without including the rest of my favorites. For a recipient who lives in a rainy climate (or would enjoy a reminder of London's weather), go with the Prince of Wales check umbrella from Highgrove or this color changing umbrella featuring London landmarks that appear when wet. For a frequent traveler, I love this vintage tartan plaid suitcase and vintage suitcase featuring Queen Elizabeth, and this 5 pound note travel card wallet. Gamers and sports fans will love a UK version of Monopoly (available in Aberdeen, Bath, Birmingham, Blackpool & The Flyde Coast, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Leeds, London Underground, and Manchester) or vintage Wimbledon and football (US: soccer) items. You can also find London Tube cufflinks, reusable bags featuring various shopping areas (link: High Kensington), and blitz and wartime reproduction items. The London Transport Museum also has a great selection of souvenirs.

What are your favorite British products?

For the (non-video) gamer

Our world constantly inundates us with serious matters that require us to put on our mature personas and deal with. But we all have a child hiding somewhere beneath our adult exteriors, and games are a great way to encourage it to emerge. The next time you need a present, consider giving the gift of fun that a game offers. Even if your recipient isn't a huge gaming buff, she will likely appreciate receiving a new game as a gift - most people love fun presents they can use and enjoy! Games and gaming accessories also make great hostess, wedding, and wedding shower gifts - don't be surprised if you are invited to a game shower sometime soon!

These recommendations are limited to gamers of the non-video variety - not because of any prejudice against video gamers, but simply because there is no way to give substantive recommendations for both kinds of gamers without posting the longest entry ever in the history of blogging. Don't worry, I will cover video gamers at a later time!

Here are some suggestions for your next gift for a non-video gamer:

Special or different edition of her favorite game: If your recipient has a favorite board game, think about giving her another version like a retro (see below) or updated edition. For a Monopoly fan, give a different edition of the game (find a list of available editions here), like the Electronic Banking or City edition, or Photo-opoly (insert your own pictures for a customized and unique gift). For Scrabble lovers, consider this premium edition (one of Oprah's all-time favorite things) or the premier wood edition. For a chess buff, check out a modern version like the MOMA edition or this black and clear glass set, or even a giant garden set. If you want to spring for luxury (read: expensive) games, visit Luxuo, the British Museum store online (for chess and Mahjong), or Zontik Games (which also offers custom games and pieces) - or buy a collector's edition of her favorite game, like this Monopoly version from Franklin Mint. For a crossword puzzle lover, you can't give a bigger gift than The World's Largest Crossword Puzzle - or go with a more manageable but really cool framed copy of the world's first crossword puzzle plus the personal favorite of the crossword master himself, Will Shortz. If her favorite game has add-ons (like the Apples to Apples expansion set or Cranium booster box), these can also inject new life into her favorite gaming experience.

Premier Wood Scrabble Crossword Game with rotating board (photo courtesy of Amazon)

Retro Version of Game: Retro products are making a comeback, and games are no exception. Game lovers who also enjoy history will especially appreciate these older versions. You can find both original versions of the game (rarer and pricier) and new versions in vintage styles. I love this original retro 1954 Monopoly game and this 1949 Clue edition. Etsy is a great resource for these kinds of items, as are sites like Vintage Game World (which has hundreds of vintage games to choose from) and Vintage Board. For vintage (but new) editions, check out Monopoly Nostalgia (made like the 1957 edition, complete with wooden houses and aged money), Scrabble Retro, Risk Vintage, Sorry Retro, Clue Vintage, and Life Vintage.

Monopoly Nostalgia (photo courtesy of Amazon)

Mini or Travel Edition: Let your gamer have fun on the go with a smaller version of his favorite game. You can find travel games all over the Internet, but Amazon has a great selection. Even smaller versions of some games are available here, and many come in keychain versions that actually work, including Simon Says, Trouble, Sorry!, Battleship, Monopoly, Boggle, Cranium, Connect Four (also available in pen form), Scrabble, Operation, and Rubik's cube. Lots of larger games also come in table top versions, like air hockey, pool (complete with cues, chalk, and a table brush!), and foosball (which also comes in a pocket version).

Connect Four pen (photo courtesy of Amazon)

Game Accessories: Most games come with the basic items required for play, but upgrading your gamer's accessories makes a great gift. Consider dice (see below), a chess clock or storage container, backgammon checkers or dice cups, extra Monopoly money, a deluxe hourglass timer, or a Rubik's Cube stand. Visit The Chess Store, The Backgammon Store, or The Mahjong Store for a complete selection of products for their respective games. If your recipient likes to wager when he plays, he will appreciate a quality set of poker chips, like this World Series of Poker edition or this set that comes in a handy carrying case.

Dice: Every serious gamer deserves to have a premium dice set of his own. If you value quality over quantity, check out these Trademark Poker 19mm A Grade Serialized Set of 6 Casino Dice, available in a variety of colors, or this set with Swarovski crystals in an alligator case. If quantity is more important, go with this Fabulous Las Vegas Dice 200 Piece Set. For a nice, middle of the road version, check out these precision sets in various colors. For a perfect roll every time, throw in a dice tower like this miniature one or this portable version. Top it all off with a dice tray like this luxury version or this more affordable alternative.

Trademark Poker Casino Dice (photo courtesy of Amazon)

Accessories: For a less useful but more interesting gift, consider giving jewelry or accessories made from game pieces. For men, I like cufflinks featuring dice, Four Aces, Monopoly Money Pot Bag Token Pieces, Sudoku grid, Legos, and Scrabble tiles, as well as this Monopoly money tie. If you want a ladies gift, check out this Lego block ring, Scrabble earrings, Scrabble ring, Scrabble necklace, Dominoes necklace, Rubik's Cube necklace, Monopoly tiny house earrings, and Monopoly charm bracelet.

Furniture: For a hardcore game fan, consider giving a piece of furniture or home decoration inspired by his favorite game. A Scrabble lover will appreciate this set of four pillows that look like large playing tiles (available in your choice of letters) or these pillows available individually by letter (spell out his name or a special word). Rubik's Cube addicts will love this coffee table sized version that doubles as a mini storage unit, and these oversized chess pieces will thrill a chess aficionado. For Lego lovers (or anyone who needs storage in a game room), these giant Lego storage boxes are both fun and functional. I also love the Connect Four mirror, Hidden Word Wall Clock, and 6-in-1 game top dresser.

Hidden Word Wall Clock from chiasso (photo courtesy of Amazon)

New Game Like His Favorite: As fun as his favorite games are, sometimes a gamer needs a new experience to spice up game night. If you want to give a new game your gamer is unfamiliar with, either choose one you are personally a fan of (and think he would also enjoy), or look for a game that is the same type as his favorites (logic, individual, group, trivia, etc.) For logic lovers, give a Rubik's Cube in either the original or a more difficult version, or a "mindtwister" game like Pentago. Scrabble lovers will enjoy Scrabble Me (each player has his own board), Scrabble Flash, and Bananagrams (like Scrabble but without the board). Other twists on the classics include Anti-Monopoly (like classic Monopoly but players choose at the outset to play as a monopolistic entity or as a capitalist entity), Yamslam (like poker but without the cards), and Sudoku Cube. If you need some inspiration, visit Game Days, Gift Bee, or Amazon.

Game-Inspired Items: To extend the gaming experience beyond game night, give an item inspired by her favorite game. For chess lovers, there are wall hooks, salt and pepper shakers, and bookends. For Scrabble fans, check out the Scrabble keyring (with a single letter tile) and Scrabble board sketchbook. I also love the Rubik's Cube salt and pepper shakers, Rubik's Cube alarm clock, chips and dice salt and pepper shaker set, Battleship USB hub, "Board Game Expert" mug, and NY Times crossword tray.

Brainteaser Salt And Pepper shakers (photo courtesy of Amazon)

I love finding new games that are fun and challenging. Some of my favorites are BananaGrams, Wits and Wagers, Apples to Apples, Catch Phrase, Guesstures, Scattergories, Taboo, Cranium, Sudoku, and crossword puzzles.

What are your favorite games?

For the political junkie

You've probably heard that you should never discuss religion or politics, and that certainly is good advice for new and casual acquaintances. But having been a political science and religion double major in college, I've often found it difficult to completely avoid these topics that occupy so much of my time. For today, I'm ignoring the rules and talking politics 100%. If you know someone like me, who keeps up with politics like its her job or watches C-SPAN for fun, this post is for you. Everyone knows there are plenty of humorous and parody political products on the market, but what about a more serious gift for a serious political junkie? 

When buying for a political buff, be wary of anything too partisan. Even if you know where your recipient stands on the political spectrum, you can't go wrong with a non-partisan gift. Your ultra-liberal recipient might love a parody doll of Dubya, but his wife might find it offensive and his kids might learn that the Presidency is only good for a laugh. However, if you are beyond certain that your recipient will appreciate a partisan gift (and your relationship is close enough to make such a gift appropriate), be sure to use discretion if you choose a politically charged present. When in doubt, it is better to be safe than sorry, and this goes double for politics!

In honor of President's Day, here are some ideas for the political junkies in your life:

The West Wing: The West Wing is TV at its finest and a must-have for any political junkie. Martin Sheen, Allison Janney, Rob Lowe, and Bradley Whitford are just a few of the great actors in the series, which takes place over the course of a two-term presidency. I recommend springing for the complete series (which comes in a super cool dossier), but if you have to pick a single season, you can't beat the first one.

The West Wing: The Complete Series Collection (DVD) (photo courtesy of Amazon)

Presidential Memoirs and Biographies: As I've said before, regardless of political persuasion, presidential memoirs are a rare and unique look into one of the world's most exclusive, demanding, and private jobs. Even hatred for a particular president can't overshadow the opportunity to delve into the mind of the world's most powerful person. Most presidents have memoirs, including Bill Clinton and George W. Bush. Biographies are another great source of inside information about presidents, and although they may include fewer personal anecdotes, they have the benefit of being told by an outside source who can provide some perspective and criticism. Don't just stick to the US - most world leaders have memoirs and biographies that give this same insight, including Nelson Mandela, Winston Churchill, Golda Meir, Charles de Gaulle, and Tony Blair. Whether your political junkie prefers life overviews, war accounts, or leadership guides, you can find plenty of books to satisfy her curiosity.

Miniature Figures: If your political junkie enjoys displaying his love of politics at home or in the office, a replica doll might be just the thing. You can find stationary versions, bobble heads, and parodies, but my favorites come from Jailbreak Toys. They offer Barack and Michelle Obama, Mahatma Gandhi, Che Guevara, and Mao Zedong individually, along with a revolutionaries collection with Che, Mao, Gandhi, and Malcolm X (the old version also included Lenin). They also offer various other historical figures and collections of writers, artists, and scientists.

Little Giants Revolutionaries (L to R: Gandhi, Che, Malcolm X, Mao) (photo courtesy of Amazon)

Political Books: There is certainly no shortage of political literature, and new books are published weekly, meaning that you have a constant flow of gift possibilities for a politico who enjoys reading. For the latest books, just check the NY Times bestseller list or the displays at your local bookstore. However, there is a good chance that your recipient doesn't have every older political text, so here are a few suggestions if you want to avoid the latest (and likely quite partisan) books. My number one recommendation to anyone remotely interested in politics is Thomas Goldstein's The Lexus and the Olive Tree, which provides a comprehensive look at globalization and how the world came to face our current political issues. Every political junkie should own classics like Plato's Republic and Rousseau's The Social Contract. If you want some humor mixed in, look at Stephen Colbert's I Am America (And So Can You!) and Jon Stewart's Earth (The Book): A Visitor's Guide to the Human Race, or pick up a book of political cartoons like The New Yorker Book of Political Cartoons or American Political Cartoons, 1754-2010. For Supreme Court fans, you can't beat The Nine, The Oxford Companion to the Supreme Court of the United States, or any book written by a former justice (I am partial to O'Connor's The Majesty of the Law: Reflections of a Supreme Court Justice). For a more global perspective, consider Why Europe Will Run the 21st Century or The Post-American World. And for a general overview of American politics, choose Politics in America or The Almanac of American Politics.

Vintage Paraphernalia: If your political junkie appreciates historical items, consider giving a vintage political gift like a pin, poster, signature, or flown flag. The place to start is definitely Legacy Americana, which specializes in American historical and political memorabilia, including one of a kind and limited edition items like this Order of the Procession given to mourners at Lincoln's private funeral (one of only a few remaining copies and the only one on the market in recent times) and March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom button from the 1963 rally (just like the one worn by Martin Luther King, Jr. when he gave his "I Have a Dream" speech). Next, visit USA.gov, which links to many different agency gift shops and offers items like flags flown over the US Capitol (which are also available here, with flown state flags offered on various sites). You may also have some luck finding memorabilia on Ebay and Etsy or through a quick Internet search.

Sandra Day O'Connor Autograph (dated 12/18/1994) (photo courtesy of Amazon)

Subscription to a Political Publication: The one thing a political junkie needs to feed her addiction is political news. Don't be afraid to be an enabler - a subscription to a political journal or magazine like the Harvard Political Review or Newsweek makes a great gift. If your recipient prefers to get her fix in electronic form, go for an online source such as The New York Times or The Cook Political Report.

Games: Although political junkies are often thought to be stuffy and uptight, I can assure you that they will enjoy these games featuring a political element. For casual games to play among a gathering of friends, Loaded Questions: Political Party and Politico are great choices. For more prolonged and individual games, let your recipient run her own political campaign with computer games like President Forever and The Political Machine. President Forever lets the user run presidential and congressional campaigns, with add-ons available for state races and foreign elections too (available in UK, German, Canadian, and Australian 

versions, with a 2012 US election version expected soon). The Political Machine is similar, but with fewer candidate options and more political speech opportunities.

Intellectual Devotional: The Intellectual Devotional series provides a bite-sized dose of education on a different subject each day of the week. For the political fan, pick up the American History (book or audio) or Biographies (book only) edition. Also available in original (various topics), modern culture, and health editions.

The Intellectual Devotional: American History (photo courtesy of Amazon)

Great Speeches: Political milestones often come in the form of great speeches from political leaders, but unfortunately, most political gurus didn't get to witness these orators for themselves. Give him the next best thing with a collection of history's great speeches. You can find lots of speech collections, but the most comprehensive for recent years is the Great Speeches of the 20th Century series (CD), available in Vol. 1 (Presidential Addresses), Vol. 2 (The New Frontier), and Vol. 3 (Dreams and Realities). Also check out Great Speeches of 20th Century, Lend Me Your Ears: Great Speeches in History, The World's Great Speeches (4th Ed.), The Greatest Speeches of All-Time Box Set (DVD), and Great Speeches of our Time (book). If you want to stick with a single orator, you can find collections of speeches by Churchill, Ronald Reagan (Vol. I and Vol. II), and Lincoln, among others.

Picture or Print: Pictures and prints of political institutions or events make a great memento for political buffs. You can find plenty of great photos of Washington landmarks (both in their current and historical forms) like the White House, the US Capitol, the Supreme Court, and the monuments (online gift shops are a great place to find these kinds of prints). Pictures of historical spots like Independence Hall and the Liberty Bell also make inspirational gifts. I also love Aaron Foster's Fifty States One Union print, which features state license plates in the shape of that state (you can get an authentic version here if you have $4500 to spare) There are lots of great prints like copies of historical documents (link: US Constitution) and enlarged political cartoons, but my favorites come from the Visual History series. These prints from Timeplots give a visual history of various American political institutions, including the American Presidency, the Senate, the Supreme Court, the Democratic Party, and the Republican Party. They would look great on a wall and provide your politico with a new source of knowledge about her favorite US government branch.

A Visual History of the United States Supreme Court (photo courtesy of Amazon)

What are your favorite political gifts?