Your Go-To Gift Guide for Holiday Shopping, #2

Give everyone the gifts they really want this holiday

Published on December 19, 2010

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Click here for the first installment in Jared’s 2010 Gift Guide series, (bags by MZ Wallace, scent by Marc Jacobs, ice cream from Dundee’s eCreamery, and more!)

Nothing gives me a rush quite like the holiday season. For me, it is the culmination of a year of product testing and ventures around the city and the World Wide Web to discover new cravings and must have items for gift shopping. I couldn’t possibly keep all of this knowledge to myself, so here I bring it to you in my holiday gift guide.

This week’s guide is all about adding that extra touch of luxury, from finding the perfect platter for a holiday table setting or the most indulgent sweets to adding that finishing touch of decadence to a winter ensemble. These picks are some of my personal favorite things, but I assure you they are sure to satisfy anyone and everyone on your gift list. Stay tuned to Omaha.net each week leading up to Christmas as I’ll reveal more of my holiday gift picks.

Let Them Eat Cake

Bliss Baker in Omaha There is just something about giving baked goods around the holidays that just seems so heartwarming. This year, I haven’t been able to get my mind off of the dreamy confections at Bliss Old Market Bakery. Owner Autumn Pruitt serves up, among other treats, mouthwatering cupcakes like pink champagne, key lime, and car bomb, as well as adorable-as-they-are-delicious caketinis (truffle-like balls of moist cake and frosting goodness covered in a chocolate shell). Bring a box of these to a tree-trimming party or surprise someone you love with these delectables and you will win their heart and stomach! These treats are sure to top off the season.

Availability: Bliss Old Market Bakery, 1031 Jones Street.

The Hostess Gift

Porcelain Serving Set I am always looking for fun and creative ways to serve food, and sometimes a revisited classic is all it takes to give new life to your menu. This porcelain Nutcracker serving platter from West Elm is the perfect companion to the many holiday gatherings and dinners this season. It is just festive enough to evoke the yuletide spirit yet still elegant and sophisticated with its simple design. Any host or hostess from down-home country to the gourmet chef-next-door would be thrilled to receive this charming and useful gift.

Availability: Nutcracker serving platter ($8-$24), West Elm.

High-tech Support

The techie and the jetsetter on your list will bow down to you upon receipt of a Powermat charging station. These sleek mats are the solution to lugging around multiple bulky chargers and endless tangled cords. Simply equip your personal electronic device with a Powermat receiver, and after that, you are able to drop it onto a Powermat mat and charge! The Powermat comes in several different styles to accommodate everyone’s charging needs, including a home and office mat and an unfolding portable mat. The options range from a one to a three device charging mat. Powermats are compatible with iPhones, iPods, Blackberrys, HTCs, digital cameras, portable game consoles, and with a Universal Powermat Powercube, so much more. Technology just got simple.

Availability: Powermat ($39.99-$129.99), Amazon.

Sensible Luxury

It is no surprise that the Nebraska winters can be rough. Help your loved ones be prepared for the arctic battle with a pair of Coach rabbit fur mittens. I have learned from experience that there is no better shield from the cold than fur, and these mittens are the perfect antidote to the bone-chilling temps we are sure to have ahead of us this winter. Fur adds instant luxury to any look, and these mittens are as practical as they are stylish. The cozy beauties are lined in silk and come in black, natural, and magenta to suit any fancy.