The Modern Materialist : holiday gift guide

The 25 Mother's Day Gifts You Should Buy Immediately (5-1)

Steph Auteri — Fri, 08 May 2009 17:08:00 GMT

Ah...my mother.

First forced to give birth to me, and then expected to deal with my temper tantrums, my antisocial tendencies, my premarital sex, my decision to drop out of college, my later decision to write about sex for a living, my shopping problem and attendant crippling debt, and more.

And it's only been 28 years. Who knows what other shenanigans I can get up to in the coming years?

You better believe I'm not forgetting Mother's Day.

Time is running out, and this is our last installment of our monster Mother's Day gift list. After the jump, consider some final gift ideas and, for the love of god, get on it!

[choose your amount, Bed and Breakfast.com]

5. Bed and Breakfast Gift Card

Chances are, your parents haven't been on vacation in a reaallly long time, since they've been busy paying for your college education and stuff and, years later, they still haven't financially recovered. A couple years ago, I gifted my parents a bed and breakfast gift card, redeemable at nearly 4,000 B&Bs in the U.S. and Canada, and my mom still can't stop talking about it. I even researched a few B&Bs that were near enough for a weekend trip, with surrounding attractions, and put together a little packet for them, for inspiration. Yes, you can be as awesome a child as I am.

[$260, Swarovski]

4. Something Sparkly

Have you ever seen that commercial where a man gifts his wife with a vacuum cleaner and is sent to a subterranean purgatory until he learns his lesson? Women don't want things they need...things that relegate them to their allegedly rightful place in the kitchen or the laundry room or what-have-you. They will smile but secretly hate you for these types of gifts. What moms really want is to feel glamorous again. And what better way to provide her with that than with a bit of bling? My personal favorite pieces come from Swarovski. My mom has also loved every single piece I've ever gotten her from Whippoorwill Crafts. But you should know your mom's taste best. (Assuming you've been paying attention, you ungrateful brat.)

[LocalHarvest]

3. A Year's Worth of Groceries

Not to be completely hypocritical with what I just said above, but some moms do enjoy cooking. Which is why I think it's a good idea to consider giving your dear old mom a year's worth of groceries, with a membership at her local CSA (community-supported agriculture). Here's the lowdown: A farmer sells a certain amount of "shares" in the...um...fruits of his labors. Buy purchasing a share in that year's output, you're guaranteed to receive a certain amount of seasonal produce each week throughout the farming season. And you know that shit is way better than the crap your mom's finding in the produce section of your local ShopRite. You can search for your local CSA here.

[$820, Neiman Marcus]

2. Somewhere to Put Her Feet

Okay. Bear with me here. Not every ottoman out there is $820, but this is the one that I would want to be gifted by my fabulously wealthy daughter who does not yet exist. You could probably find something cheaper. I'm just sayin'. Sometimes, your mom just wants to put her feet up and pretend you don't exist. You cause her a lot of stress. Seriously. Or at least I did. Every holiday, when I ask my parents what they want, they tell me: "Peace and quiet." Maybe you should throw in a sleep mask as well.

1. A Grandchild

I've just spent an embarrassing amount of time watching videos like the one above and sobbing. In every video, the mother reacts in pretty much the same way: look of confusion...screaming...sobbing. The mere act of watching these videos is making me ovulate. I suggest getting yourself (or someone else) preggers and then presenting your mom with one of these. Don't forget your video camera!

As a reminder, here are the other posts in our Monster List of Mother's Day gifts:

The 25 Mother's Day Gifts You Should Buy Immediately (10-6)

Diana Vilibert — Thu, 07 May 2009 16:15:00 GMT

My mom is camera-shy and rightfully so, after dressing me like this for years. I can forgive the acid-wash denim, but Hawaiian-print shorts? I think the expression on my face says it all.

Despite the fact that she clearly dressed me to get a good laugh from strangers, and I should probably give her a package of family counseling sessions for Mother's Day, there are lots of other gifts she'd probably love so much more. So without further ado, the fourth installment of The 25 Mother's Day Gifts You Should Buy Immediately:

[Edited to add: I've been informed that I picked out my own clothes, and though I can neither confirm nor deny this, the blame for the shorts is allegedly my burden, not Mom's.]

[$24.95, Personalization Mall]

10) Picture Perfect Photo Personalized Coaster Set
This is one of those gifts where you'll have to swallow your pride a bit and understand that your mother's happiness when she receives and uses them will outweigh your humiliation every time you're home and are reminded that you have family photo coasters in the house. These personalized coasters are a neurotic neat-freak mother's dream--and just think of how much easier it'll be for her to brag to her friends about what a beautiful child they've raised when your smiling mug is right there! This set of coasters is missing something though...so don't forget to include a tasty alcoholic beverage to place on top of them. Like this:

[$40, Gourmet Gift Baskets]

9) Bloody Mary Gift Basket Stack
You've probably driven her to drink more than once, so save her the trip to the liquor store and get her a Blood Mary gift basket. This is probably enough to get her through the weekend, with a tasty Bloody Mary mix, a rimmer (that would be for the rim of your glass, FYI), "crispy dilly beans" and asparagus. Mom will appreciate the excuse to drink before noon, and it's so much classier than handing her a bottle of vodka (which actually happens to be totally acceptable in my family, but I'm assuming this isn't the norm.)

[€35,00, Tintamar]

8) Tintamar Purse Organizer
It's the gift that every woman needs approximately two hours after getting a new purse. No matter how many pockets and compartments Mom's purse has, it will never be enough. Within hours, there's smeared lipstick in the datebook, coins and pills floating around noisily, keys getting sucked into a dark purse abyss, and other purse-related shenanigans. Save her the trouble and get her something nifty like this--with anywhere from 9-12 pockets for makeup, glasses, books, cell phones and iPods, and more, Mom will have it totally together.

[$44, The Laundress]

7) The Laundress Starter Kit
OK, this one is iffy--chore-related gifts don't always go over too well, so I would proceed with caution, unless like my mom, your mother would be over the moon to get a present that makes laundry time somehow better. And this does just that. The Starter Kit from The Laundress comes with six best-selling formulas to make doing laundry feel very chic--Whites Detergent, Darks Detergent, Delicate Wash, Wool & Cashmere Shampoo, Stain Solution and Classic Fabric Fresh. They come in a black and white zippered pouch along with a Laundress Recipe Card, and according to the site, are "the perfect introduction to good, clean fun"...not that Mom really needs an "introduction" after doing your laundry for 27 years.

[$3.50, SupermarketHQ]

6) Thanks, Mom! Card
If you know anything about women or mothers, you already know that if you forget the card, you're pretty much dead to her, so make sure you pick something up, unless you want to break your mother's heart and hear about it for the rest of your life until you screw up in a new way. I love this one--inside, the card reads "Thanks for raising me."

Be sure to check out the Mother's Day gift lists from Shaun, Alex, and Laureen, and tune in tomorrow for Steph's!

The 25 Mother's Day Gifts You Should Buy Immediately (15-11)

Laureen Mahler — Wed, 06 May 2009 16:58:00 GMT

Check me out up there: adorable little me, brought into this world by one of the best women I know. And while this isn't a picture of me and my mom, it does have a mom story: it was taken for Mother's Day 1987, and it came on a card that said, "This little cowgirl loves her mama." I think that was also the year I gave my mom a clay pencil holder that very closely resembled a piece of poop. I've been trying to make amends ever since.

And since we're all a little too old to dress up in chaps with a pony (not to mention give crappy homemade gifts), I present to you the third installment of our 25 Mother's Day Gifts You Should Buy Immediately. Seriously, guys, time's a-wastin'!

[$13, Chronicle Books]

15. Porn for Women of a Certain Age

While erotic photos aren't for every mom out there, this collection of distinguished men doing (well, let's face it) sort of boring things might just be a mom's dream come true. Steamy scenarios include men sniffing flowers, pouring champagne, and vacuuming the house, and the sexy fun definitely doesn't stop there. Published by the Cambridge Women's Pornography Cooperative, Porn for Women of Certain Age brings together a total of 40 sexy yet distinguished men doing and saying the things mom loves most, from insisting she take early retirement to offering to clean the house. And don't worry: these hunks are all fully clothed.

[$99, Williams-Sonoma]

14. Three Months of Croissants

After everything your mom's done for you, what better way to give something back than by making her mornings easy and delicious? Sign her up for Williams-Sonoma's Three Months of Croissants, and she'll receive a shipment of chef Jean-Yves Charon’s buttery blossoms of delight once a month for three months. The first shipment includes 12 plain croissants, followed by 12 filled with premium Callebaut chocolate, then 18 mini versions. Croissants should sit overnight, then by the morning they'll be ready to pop in the oven and savor.

*Note: while it's too late to have the first shipment of these croissants arrive in time for Mother's Day, you can still sign mom up and send a card telling her about the tastiness to come!

[$38, A+R]

13. One Year of White Pages

It's no secret that your mom has spent an enormous amount of time on you; now you can help her make the most of her time. These gorgeous moleskein-esque notebooks were designed by Alessandro Esteri and are small enough to fit into a purse or pocket. The set comes with one journal for each month of the year, with each marked by tiny holes corresponding to the number of the month. In total, there is a page for every day of the year. The notebooks are filled with blank pages to allow mom ultimate creative license, and when the year is up, they slip into a matching box for safekeeping.

[$30, SkyMall and $40, Sur la Table]

12. Giant Cupcake Pan + Cupcake Apron

I don't know about you guys, but my mom is the best chef I know. Be it spaghetti or apple pie, she's a whiz in the kitchen, and she loves every moment of it. Bring some delight to your mom's love for all things culinary with this giant cupcake pan and adorable matching apron. The pan is two-section cast aluminum, with a nonstick interior and heat-reflective exterior to guarantee the perfect cupcake. The best part? It'll yield one gigantic (8" high and 7" diameter) cupcake. Match it up with Sur la Table's stylish cupcake apron -- complete with bow pockets and adjustable tie -- and you've got a gift that's equal parts delightful and delicious.

[$29, Mighty Leaf]

11. Chocolate Truffle Tea Collection

Ask any mom what her favorite things are, and I guarantee that tea and chocolate will both be on the list. Combine the two, and you've got the Chocolate Truffle Tea Collection from Mighty Leaf. This set includes six chocolatey teas, all tucked into a glamorous gift box. Flavors include Mayan Chocolate, Masala Chocolate, Chocolate Mint, Chocolate Orange, Mocha Pu-erh, and Pear Caramel, with both caffeinated and non varieties. The teas themselves are loose-leaf and come in stylish little tins, so mom can display her love for tea, chocolate, and you all at once.

Be sure to check out the Mother's Day gift lists from Shaun and Alex, tune in tomorrow for Diana's, and get shopping!

Recap: Gift Guides for Word Nerds

Steph Auteri — Wed, 24 Dec 2008 21:34:00 GMT

You knew it was coming...Here's a quick recap of all the word nerd gift guides that went up over the past month:

Stocking Stuffers for Word Nerds
Gifts Under $25 for Word Nerds
Last-Minute Gifts for Word Nerds
Oh! And we can't forget the official word nerd T-shirt.

Recap: Gift Guides for the Burgeoning Scientists

Steph Auteri — Wed, 24 Dec 2008 19:24:00 GMT

Time is ticking away. Just to refresh your memory, here are all the gift guides we did up over the past month in order to aid you in shopping for the burgeoning scientist in your life:

Happy hunting!

Recap: Gift Guides for Jetsetters

Diana Vilibert — Wed, 24 Dec 2008 19:02:00 GMT

The bad news: you've missed the boat when it comes to buying these gifts in time for Christmas.

The good news: people travel year-round, and people love to get presents year-round. Bid your jetsetting pals a bon voyage with a gift from one of these gift guides for travelers:

Gifts Under $25 for Jetsetters

Gifts Under $50 for Jetsetters

Gifts Under $75 for Jetsetters

Recap: Gift Guides for History Buffs

Steph Auteri — Wed, 24 Dec 2008 15:19:00 GMT

I can't quite believe it, but apparently, some people have waited until today to do their holiday shopping (you people are insane, btw).

Just for reference purposes, here are the two gift guides we did up for history buffs:

Recap: Gift Guides For Giant Nerds

Alex Zalben — Wed, 24 Dec 2008 15:02:00 GMT

What can I say? I like what I like, and I love nerd stuff. Here's all the gift guides I posted for you guys over the past few weeks, and as a bonus, you may not have noticed that I posted extra gift ideas every time there was a contest follow-up, so those are posted here, too:

Gifts Under $25 for Giant Nerds + Contest!

Reminder: Win FREE Nerdy Gifts

Last Chance: FREE Nerd Gifts Under $25

Gifts Under $50 For Giant Nerds + Contest!

Reminder: Win The Watchmen

Last Chance: Who Wins The Watchmen?

Gifts Under $100 For Giant Nerds + Contest!

Reminder: Win The Complete Scott Pilgrim Collection!

Last Chance: Complete Scott Pilgrim Collection + Bonus Gift

Recap: Gift Guides From Wendy

Steph Auteri — Wed, 24 Dec 2008 14:19:00 GMT

We'll be doing gift guide recaps all day long today, as we enter into the eleventh hour for shoppers everywhere. In order not to forget the impeccable sense of taste and style Wendy brought to her own gift guides, here they all are, in one convenient, bulleted list:

Gifts Under $50 for Mom & Dad

Diana Vilibert — Fri, 19 Dec 2008 17:09:00 GMT

[$49.95, Brookstone]

Now they can stop blaming each other when they can't find their keys. The Wireless Key Finder will locate them with the press of a button. After the jump, more gifts under $50 for Mom and Dad.

[$56, Amazing Clubs]

What Dad won't love to join the Hot Sauce of the Month Club? Just make sure to include some Tums in his stocking.

[$24.95, Red Envelope]

Two things you can never go wrong with for Mom--chocolate and booze. Get her a box or two of wine-filled truffles and you'll be her favorite.

[$29.95, Zazzle]

Don't just get Dad another tie--customize it for a personal touch.

[$34.95, Personalization Mall]

There's only so much Ramen you can eat. Show Mom how much you love her home cooking with an engraved cutting board.

Winners: Nerd Gifts Under $100

Alex Zalben — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 14:24:00 GMT

Well, as a review, here were the prizes:

- The Complete Scott Pilgrim: Scott Pilgrim Vol. 1-4 + Scott Pilgrim Color Special + Scott Pilgrim T-Shirt , courtesy of Oni Press.

- 2 Good-Bye Elliot T-Shirts, Courtesy of Busted Tees

And I guess I'll just say a LOT of you wanted these prizes, but only four people are our amazing winners:

Derek (jokerzwyldd at yahoo dot com)

AJ (ajvickey at yahoo dot com)

Joshua Strasburg (jistrasburg at gmail dot com)

Ron Janson (ronjanson77 at yahoo dot com)

Congrats, and please shoot an e-mail to modernmaterialist@nerve.com with your full name and physical mailing address, under the subject "Nerd Gifts Under $100." We'll send you back your prizes, hopefully just in time for the holidays. And once again thanks to Oni Press and Busted Tees for providing the gifts.

If you didn't win this time, no worries, you still have a chance to win a free cell phone and service, so go check that out.

Last-Minute Gifts for the Burgeoning Scientist

Steph Auteri — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 16:23:00 GMT

[$85, Supermarket]

It's down to the wire now. (Unless, of course, you're of the type who rushes out to the mall the day before Christmas.)

Ideally, you would be done with your holiday shopping by now. After all, there are still menus to be drawn up, cookies to be baked, travel plans to be made...who has time to shop at this point?

This is why we're here, of course. A few clicks of the mouse, and you have everyone's perfect gift. Like this molecule necklace, fashioned from serotonin. Raven Hanna has even more of these bad boys here, based upon such molecules as resveratrol, capsaicin, and caffeine. After the jump, some last-minute gift ideas for your burgeoning scientist:

[$99.95, National Geographic]

With this hydrogen fuel cell kit, you can build your own hydrogen fuel cell–powered car, learning more about the chemical reactions behind how fuel cells create electricity in the process.

[$79.90, Exploratorium]

With this Milestones in Science package, learn about famous scientists and investors as you reproduce their experiments.

[$99.99, ThinkGeek]

This USB Digital Microscope allows you to capture some high quality images of objects around the house and then display them on your PC using a simple USB connection.

...

Last Chance: Complete Scott Pilgrim Collection + Bonus Gift

Alex Zalben — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 14:01:00 GMT

[$68, Oni Press]

It's your last chance to one of four prizes, as part of our Nerd Gifts Under $100 giveaway:

- 2 The Complete Scott Pilgrim Sets: Scott Pilgrim Vol. 1-4 + Scott Pilgrim Color Special + Scott Pilgrim T-Shirt , courtesy of Oni Press.

- 2 Good-Bye Elliot T-Shirts, Courtesy of Busted Tees

All you have to do to win is comment on the post linked here by the end of the day today. And, here's another bonus Nerd Gift Under $100:

For The Science Nerd: I just remembered this morning how much I loved my chemistry set growing up, and how much I wish I had one now. And, this set comes with goggles. Everybody loves goggles, right?

[$70, Amazon]

Christmas in Hell: My Shopping Trip To Rite-Aid

Alex Zalben — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 21:35:00 GMT

Earlier today, I stopped by the local Rite-Aid, which is on most occasions the most oppresive, soul deadening pharmacy I've ever been to. No joke. However, they were now cranking up the Christmas Holiday music, and presents were everwhere! Which jacked this up to the Ninth Circle of Holiday Shopping Hell.

Naturally, I took so pictures of the absolute most horrifying gifts available, and decided to, magnaimously, share them with you. Oh, and in case you don't catch on, they go in order of awfulness:

As I mentioned, this is in descending order of awfulness. Nothing paarticularly terrible with a hot dog cooker... Except, there's already something instantly saddening about being given a 50% off hot dog cooker from the pharmacy for Christmas. Also, vaguely insulting that all the gift buyer knows about you is that you like hot dogs. Everybody likes hot dogs.

"Hey, Billy! How's the root beer from that kit I got you for the holidays? You know, the one that was science fun? I can taste some? Thanks, buddy. Mmm... Tastes a little salty. Mixed with your own tears, you say? Okay, keep it up, champ!"

Gift certificates are a cop out for any gift, but for the holidays? Wow. And there are some that are mildly passable on this wall of hell, like Barnes and Noble and Starbucks. But a $10 gift certificate to Burger King? What the fuck kind of gift is that? Fuck you.

"Hey Midge, what's that show the kids like? Is it High School... Musical, right? Okay, let's get them a $7 tin of High School Musical popcorn, they'll love that." Buying this at the check-out should automatically send up a red flag at Child Protection Services.

And last but not least is the Welcome Bear. Which is on this list not for what it is, but where it is. They have an entire store to place a Holiday Welcome Bear, and decide the best place is in front of yeast infection medicine and douches? Seriously? It was a toss up between posting this picture, and the one of the other Welcome Bear, which was, naturally, pointing to the Trojan Magnums.

So that's my experience... What's the worst holiday gift you've seen this year?

Last-Minute Gifts for Word Nerds

Steph Auteri — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 18:01:00 GMT

[$525, myTypewriter]

This Royal Quiet DeLuxe typewriter burst into the full-color scene in the 1950s, and we're so glad. Also available in pink, red, gray, and white, it makes typing up your next novel that much more fun. The myTypewriter site has a lot more on offer, from such brands as Corona, Hermes, Olivetti, Olympia, Remington, and Underwood, and provides the perfect gift ideas for those who are lovers of all that is most tangible about the written word.

Don't despair, though. I have cheaper ideas after the jump that are just as (well, almost...) appealing:

[$195, Eden & Eden]

This giant nib necklace is composed of a gold laser cut nib with black crystal "ink" drops. And it's pretty. Plus pretty perfect for the writerly girly girl in your life.

[$50, The Library Shop]

The Most Beautiful Libraries in the World was compiled by a photographer who visited more than 20 historic libraries across the globe. One can't help but be fascinated by the care taken in the housing of such multitudinous sources of knowledge.

[$50, Zwello]

I believe I've posted about these bird feet bookends before, but I can't help but include them in this gift guide. I want them. Bad.

[$36, Glimmer Train]

Finally, why not give a gift subscription to a literary mag, such as Glimmer Train?

...

Reminder: Win The Complete Scott Pilgrim Collection!

Alex Zalben — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 17:01:00 GMT

[$68, Oni Press]

Just a reminder that we're giving away four prizes, as part of our Nerd Gifts Under $100:

- 2 The Complete Scott Pilgrim Sets: Scott Pilgrim Vol. 1-4 + Scott Pilgrim Color Special + Scott Pilgrim T-Shirt , courtesy of Oni Press.

- 2 Good-Bye Elliot T-Shirts, Courtesy of Busted Tees

All you have to do to win is comment on the post linked here by Wednesday, December 17th. And, because we don't want anyone to be empty handed, here's a bonus Nerd Gift Under $100:

For The Hot Topic Nerd: I think this is officially the first thing we've ever posted from Hot Topic, so that's going on. Whatever you might think of Twilight, the series is undeniably a cultural force, and nerds like to stay current with pop culture. So help them bone up with the complete collection, when they're not gettin' boned. Yeah, I don't know.

[$83, Hot Topic]

Gifts Under $100 For Giant Nerds + Contest!

Alex Zalben — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 18:29:00 GMT

[$68, Oni Press]

We've already told you about cool gifts for nerds under $25; and gifts for nerds under $50; so let's jump it up a notch. And to help kick things off, we're giving away TWO complete collections of Scott Pilgrim, the best damn comic book series of the past decade (no joke):

- The Complete Scott Pilgrim: Scott Pilgrim Vol. 1-4 + Scott Pilgrim Color Special + Scott Pilgrim T-Shirt , courtesy of Oni Press.

If that wasn't enough, we're also throwing in TWO stocking (or menorah, if you prefer) stuffers, courtesy of Busted Tees:

[$20, Busted Tees]

- 2 Good-Bye Elliot T-Shirts, Courtesy of Busted Tees

So that's four winners, total. All you have to do is comment on this post (*See below for official rules) by Wednesday, December 17th, and you'll be able to win one of the above gifts, absolutely free.

Now, in case you DON'T win, check out several more nerdtastic gift ideas:

For The Star Wars Nerd: It's an R2-D2 trash-can, because we all need a good reason to say, "What an incredible smell you've discovered!" You either know what I'm talking about here, or you're not reading this post anyway.

[$99.99, Think Geek]

For The Violent Nerd: You've got to be a particular type of geek to want a 12" action figure of two of the most violent characters in comics (Punisher and Venom) mixed together, and I may actually know a geek just like that.

[$99.99, Sideshow Toys]

For The Nerd With a Family: Little Big Planet isn't just a super cute game, it's also a great bonding game for parents and little ones. Or so I'm told.

[$60, Amazon]

For The Games Nerd: I used to have a set like this as a kid... It was my absolute favorite thing ever. I used to play chess against myself. Sob.

[$97, Amazon]

*Official Rules for MM Contests:

- You can comment as many times as you want, as long as there's at least one comment between you and the previous commenter.

- Please leave some way of contacting you, whether a link to your Nerve account, an e-mail, or otherwise.

- The end of the contest will be announced in the comment section, and winner(s) will be announced in a separate post on the following business day.

Gift Splurges for the Burgeoning Scientist

Steph Auteri — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 18:00:00 GMT

[$199.99, Perpetual Kid]

For those of you with the money (please adopt me?), you can always impress your burgeoning scientist with a big-ticket item during the holidays. Such as this Homestar Optical Star Projection System, which projects a rotating field of 10,000 stars — with random streaking meteors — onto your ceiling or wall . What else could you possibly waste a huge chunk of your income on?

[$299, Discovery Store]

I don't know much about telescopes, but this Meade® ETX-80BB Backpack Observatory Telescope looks pretty nifty! Plus I trust the Discovery Store.

[$121.95, Discover This]

This family-friendly 3-in-1 digital nature camera has time-lapse, night vision, and motion sensor features.

[$450, National Geographic]

The Starship Earth Globe is pretty (and pretty expensive). What's in it for you? A superb learning/teaching tool, the Starship Earth II is a three-dimensional star atlas, displaying updated and improved data from Sky Catalogue 2000.0, all 88 constellations, and more than 1,100 naked-eye stars, plus many prominent deep-sky objects against a precision grid of Right Ascension and Declination lines. Color me impressed.

[Bruce Riley]

Bruce Riley's paintings are influenced by the natural sciences and physics. Pieces have names such as "Big Bang," "Biomorph," and "Sunshine Unit."

...

Gifts Under $50 for the Burgeoning Scientist

Steph Auteri — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 18:03:00 GMT

[$40.45, History]

What's the best gift I ever bought my nerdy-as-hell husband? The Universe on DVD. What made it even better? The fact I also bought him The Planets ($40.49) and Planet Earth (most definitely NOT under $50). It was most definitely worth the final hefty price tag and, a year later, he's still obsessed with it. Which is why I felt I should share it with you. You're welcome.

After the jump, a few more gifts under $50 for the burgeoning scientist in your life:

[$49.95, InnovaToys]

This celestial globe features Earth when the lights are on, but changes to show the constellations when in darkness.Neato!

[$39.95, National Geographic]

This portable family telescope includes a manual with suggestions for easy star-finding, and a carrying strap.

[$37.95, Home Science Tools]

Time out for an embarrassing disclosure! When I was young, my dad got me into the whole rock collecting thing. We used to hike along Garrett Mountain looking for interesting rocks. He used to take me to gem shows and nature shops. I had a small metal case filled with amethysts and geodes and gneiss and — guess what!? — I still have it. In college, I took a geology class and totally enjoyed it. This may, in fact, be at the root of my fascination with sparkly things. This particular set of rocks and minerals contains 50 specimens. Buy that future geologist a gift that will fill him with wonder...for a lifetime.

...

Winner: Gifts For Foodies Under $50 Contest

Alex Zalben — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 14:04:00 GMT

[$48, ILovePeanutButter]

Man, you guys are really getting the hang of this. Once again, the Gifts for Foodies Under $50 Contest was even bigger than our Gifts Under $50 for Giant Nerds contest. Only one person is getting sent a gift set of six delicious Peanut Butter & Co. peanut butters, and a cookbook, and that person is:

Kelly (kellywood23 at yahoo dot com)

Congrats, and please shoot an e-mail to modernmaterialist@nerve.com with your full name and physical mailing address, under the subject "Foodies Gifts Under $50." We'll send you back the most delicious stuff ever. And once again thanks to Peanut Butter & Co. for providing the gift.

If you didn't win this time, no worries, you can still enter to win a Destination: Sex City DVD. And we've got plenty more awesome gifts coming your way throughout the holidays, so stay tuned.

Last Chance: FREE Peanut Butter Set & Cookbook

Alex Zalben — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 20:02:00 GMT

It's your last chance to win this set of six delicious peanut butters, and the Peanut Butter & Co. cookbook, courtesy of Peanut Butter & Co. itself. All you have to do is go comment on the post linked here by the end of the day.

And before we go, here's one more bonus Gift Under $50 for Foodies:

It's probably a little too cold to be thinking about picnics right now, but at some point, your foodie friend will be thinking about 'em, and you could do no worse than this collapsible, storable basket.

[$48, Uncommon Goods]

Gifts Under $50 for the History Buff

Steph Auteri — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 17:19:00 GMT

[$49.95, National Geographic]

The 1935 World Map is a classic, instantly recognizable. It shows the viewer both eastern and western hemispheres simultaneously, which I, personally, care nothing about, but your little brother with the collection of WWII-style model airplanes might.

After the jump, some additional under-$50 gifts for the history buff in your life.

[$35.99, A&E Shop]

This DVD collection includes 10 one-hour documentaries on 10 individual days that "triggered change in America."

[$29, Smithsonian]

For a ridiculously low price, you can buy a Smithsonian membership for your loved one, which includes shopping and dining discounts, a Smithsonian magazine subscription, and more.

[$29.70, Amazon]

The Atlas of World History contains more than 450 color maps illustrating major themes and events of history. Which is sorta cool.

[$36, Etsy]

Give your stuck-in-the-past sweetie something that perfectly melds the historical and modern worlds, with a piece of steampunk or antique jewelry. Etsy is absolutely filthy with some choice picks.

...

Reminder: Win a FREE Peanut Butter Gift Set

Alex Zalben — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 18:33:00 GMT

Just a reminder, folks: you could win the above gift set containing six varieties of gourmet peanut butter, and the Peanut Butter & Co. cook book, which normally costs $48, absolutely free. All you have to do is go comment on this post. I think you guys know how this works by now, so head on over and post a comment before Wednesday night.

And, naturally, here's a bonus Gift Under $50 for Foodies:

This is getting a little NYC specific, but if you live in Park Slope, head on down to RoseWater, probably the best restaurant in the area, on Thursday, December 11th. When you spend $50 on dinner (which is surprisingly difficult to do; their prices are cheap), you'll get a free gift certificate for $25, which will cover almost all of a brunch for two at the establishment. Pretty sweet deal...

[$50, Rosewater]

Gifts Under $25 for the Burgeoning Scientist

Steph Auteri — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 17:57:00 GMT

[$14.99, NaughTee]

I'm not a science nerd, and this T-shirt design still makes me giggle. The fairly low price makes me smile even more. Possible gift item? Perhaps. After the jump, a number of other nifty gifts for the burgeoning scientist in your life:

[$22, Etsy]

These science lab calling cards feature a vintage illustration of a scientist in a lab coat, and are standard business card size.

[$13.57, Amazon]

Icarus at the Edge of Time is a re-imagining of the Icarus fable written for children, by leading physicist Brian Greene. And yes, it was suggested to me by a 30-year-old enginerd.

[$9.99, ThinkGeek]

This beaker/coffee mug is silly in a geek sort of way.

[$10.88, Amazon]

On Intelligence is a book too involved for me from a person much smarter than me...the inventory of the palmpilot, no less.

[$14.99, ThinkGeek]

I don't think The Ultimate Hitchhiker's Guide from Douglas Adams needs any explanation.

...

Winner: Watchmen Hardcover!

Alex Zalben — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 14:01:00 GMT

Okay, remember yesterday when I said our Gifts Under $25 for Foodies contest was our most popular ever? Turns out, people want the Watchmen more than peanut butter cups, because this Gifts Under $50 for Giant Nerds contest was even MORE popular. Sadly, there was only one winner, and that winner is (drum roll):

Nikki (nikkihaney at gmail dot com)

Congrats, and please shoot an e-mail to modernmaterialist@nerve.com with your full name and physical mailing address, under the subject "Giant Nerd Gifts Under $25." We'll send you back a free copy of Alan Moore's graphic novel. And once again thanks to Midtown Comics for providing the gift.

If you didn't win this time, no worries, you can still enter our Gifts Under $50 for Foodies contest. AND, I know I'm sounding repetitive, but believe me when I say the next contests are going to be EVEN bigger than this. You're welcome...

Gifts Under $25 for Word Nerds

Steph Auteri — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 19:05:00 GMT

[$12.95, Barnes&Noble]

Let me tell you something. I have a weakness for purses. And a weakness for a-line skirts. And a weakness for things that sparkle. I also have a weakness for olives, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer-themed ornaments, newsboy caps, and many other things.

But my biggest weakness (and the reason I never have any money) is the bookstore, and everything contained therein.

Which is why I always buy big bags, ones that can fit at least two or three books: one that I'm reading, and a few more that I just bought but want to pretend I already owned so that no one can actually tell how much money I'm spending on books. The Stephen Colbert tote bag, above, is so perfect for this, plus Stephen's manically smiling visage always makes me giggle. Barnes & Noble also has a bunch of other tote bags to choose from, if political satire just isn't your thing.

After the jump, the things you should fill it with when shopping for your special word nerd:

[$12.95, The Library Shop]

I didn't love the book itself, but I love the concept behind this book lust journal. This book is meant to be used to jot down favorite passages in the books you're reading, or to take notes on meaning, context, and anything else you can think of or feel while reading. Additional page formats enable readers to record books on their "to read" list, and to keep track of books lent to friends and family.

[$9.60, Amazon]

Ah...the moleskine notebook, beloved by writers both well-known and unpublished. An elastic for bookmarking, and a small folder on the inner cover make this perfect for jotting down ideas for the next great novel, scribbling snatches of overheard dialogue, and taking down interviews.

[$11.53, Amazon]

A good thesaurus is key for any writer's reference shelf. I have this Bartlett's Roget's Thesaurus, and refer to it often (when I'm having a brain spasm mid-article).

[$18, Levenger]

You can use Margin Maker to take notes in the margins of whatever book you're reading. Cut or tear it to the length you need, place it in your book, and then remove it easily at any time. You can keep it extra long to double as a bookmark.

...

Gifts Under $50 for Foodies + Contest!

Alex Zalben — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 17:06:00 GMT

[$48, ILovePeanutButter]

Okay, now we're getting into it. Gifts under $25 for foodies were nice, but we all know you're not really a foodie unless you blow a nice chunk of change on something ridiculous.

And we're going to kick it off with an EVEN BETTER contest than last time, courtesy of Peanut Butter & Co. The set you see above contains six jars of peanut butter: Smooth Operator, Crunch Time, Cinnamon Raisin Swirl, The Heat Is On, White Chocolate Wonderful, and Dark Chocolate Dreams. Plus, you'll get The Peanut Butter & Co. Cookbook with a foreword by Jerry Seinfeld.

All you have to do to win one of these sets is comment on this post (*See below for official rules) by Wednesday, December 10th, and the set is yours to, er, give as a gift. To yourself. And before you go a-commenting, here's some other Under $50 gift ideas:

Of all the cheesemakers in America, Cypress Grove is probably my favorite. They're best known for the superb Humboldt Fog, and I love the delightful Purple Haze, but other than those two, you can't do much better than this Holiday Assortment, which contains Truffle Tremor, Fog Lights, and an herb flavored chevre of their choice. Perfect for the fromage lover.

[$49, Cypress Grove]

Normally I wouldn't bother with a mass produced, faux olde-timey foodstuff, but Williams-Sonoma's Peppermint Bark is the best. You can get a set of two, so you have one for a friend, and one for the friend who has the same name as you.

[$45, Williams-Sonoma]

Gorilla Coffee isn't for the faint of heart; they brew this stuff strong. But if you like your coffee like a jolt of bitter lightning, this is some of the best damn brew in the country. The box set comes with three pounds of your choice, and, er, the box.

[$37, Gorilla Coffee]

Okay, so... This is a little over $50, but it's close enough, and cool enough that I'm going to include it on this list. In case you don't watch Top Chef, this handy dandy egg topper clamps onto the top of an egg, and neatly slices it off, so you can serve an amuse bouche (or soup, or whatever else) inside the egg shell. Next time you're having a sit down brunch, this is a must have.

[$55, Sur La Table]

*Official Rules for MM Contests:

- You can comment as many times as you want, as long as there's at least one comment between you and the previous commenter.

- Please leave some way of contacting you, whether a link to your Nerve account, an e-mail, or otherwise.

- The end of the contest will be announced in the comment section, and winner(s) will be announced in a separate post on the following business day.

Winner: Gifts For Foodies Under $25 Contest

Alex Zalben — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 14:01:00 GMT

So it seems you guys were pretty interested in our Gifts Under $25 for Foodies contest; there were more entries for these tasty peanut butter cups, courtesy of Peanut Butter & Co., than any other contest we've had. It was as simple as commenting on a post, and one lucky winner is being sent a tasty treat:

prof_jezebel (fastblonde79 at yahoo dot com)

Congrats, and please shoot an e-mail to modernmaterialist@nerve.com with your full name and physical mailing address, under the subject "Foodie Gifts Under $25." We'll send you back a package of delicious peanut butter cups.

If you didn't win this time, no worries, you can still enter our Gifts Under $50 for Giant Nerds contest. AND, we've got another delicious contest coming up later today, so stay glued to your computers...

Last Chance: FREE Gourmet Peanut Butter Cups!

Alex Zalben — Fri, 05 Dec 2008 15:01:00 GMT

It's your last chance to win a free package of gourmet peanut butter cups, courtesy of Peanut Butter & Co. All you have to do is head over to this post and comment before the end of the day, and you may have already won! It's as easy as that!

And, naturally, here's one more bonus Gifts Under $25 for Foodies:

Foodie Fight is a simple trivia game, pitting your knowledge against up to three other budding chefs. Get this game, invite me over, and I will HOUSE you.

[$19, Sur La Table]

Gifts Under $25 for the History Buff

Steph Auteri — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 19:34:00 GMT

[$10.17, Amazon]

History is the only class I ever failed. This was due to an inability to memorize facts, and a momentary refusal to actually do my homework. I am surrounded, however, by smug individuals who actually pride themselves on remembering useless facts, and other who actually enjoy history.

I know. Beats me.

If you're shopping for someone similar, perhaps you should consider one of these under-$25 gifts, such as Napoleon's Privates, pictured above. A sexy history book, a quick perusal lets me know that Napoleon's wee-wee resides in Englewood Cliffs, NJ, while Einstein's eyeballs are somewhere on the Jersey Shore. Why, me and the wee-wee are practically neighbors! After the jump, some more historic gems:

[$12.99, Etsy]

This collection of vintage history books is as old as history itself!

[$12.23, Amazon]

This book was suggested by a nerdy friend of mine, whose judgment I trust. I also trust The Onion to be consistently hilarious. Hopefully, that history buff you're shopping for has a sense of humor.

[$24, National Geographic]

This boatswain's whistle is of the sort used in "the golden age of sail."

[$10.99, National Geographic]

This Holy Land Thematic Map features modern maps with historical notes.

...