Holiday Gift Guide 2011 Part #4: Your best friend who loves to travel and has a knack for finishing your sentences.

Ban.do’s signature scarf because red is her favorite color and she’s so loving, $95 (this love barrette is cute too).
Funny bandages to make her laugh and heal her broken heart, $6.25.

A T-shirt honoring her favorite food, $21.
A set of 3 city prints to bring her love of faraway lands to the walls of her office, $75.
A letter book she can share with her daughter one day, $35.
Star bracelet because she’s your shining star, $19.
This prism light so she’ll always have a rainbow in her life, $30.
A set of temporary tattoos because she’s always been too afraid to get a real one, $25.
An attitude vase in honor of her sometimes-loud personality, $60.
Journals for her to record all her travel adventures, $12.50.

Holiday Gift Guide 2011 Part #3: Your sister bear who is a complete bookworm, takes early-morning jogs and absolutely loves tea and coffee.

Sam The Duck because, well, just because he’s cute…just like your little sister, $32.
A set of 6 “Me & You” engraved pencils because you two go together like salt and paper, like eggs and bacon and like milk and cookies, $12.
A Chemex coffee maker ($58) and a porcelain teapot ($48) to take her brewing skills to a new level.

A throw blanket because she’s always cold and loves to curl up on the couch and read, $88.
A box of healing words magnets to cheer her up when she’s having a rough day, $13.95.
Farmaesthetics winter soap trio because she has the longest getting-ready-for-bed routine you’ve ever seen, $34.

Forget-me-knot rings — one for you and one for her — so you two can always be connected, $48.
A wooden animal play set for her window sill to remind her of the hours she spent playing with plastic animal toys as a child, $20.

Warm mittens for those early-morning runs, $38 (another cute set here).

Sisters print because, well, no matter how old she is, she’ll always be your little sister, $26.

Holiday Gift Guide 2011 Part #2: Your papa bear who loves pop culture, tells corny jokes and is still the smartest man in the world.

A pocket tissue holder because, whether he admits it or not, he’s really just one giant softy at heart. Warning: He’ll probably tell you he uses it as an iPhone holder, $13.
The complete Jurassic Park Trilogy because he took you to see the movie three times while it was in the theater, $54.99.
A subscription to the Bacon of the Month Club because, well, bacon makes everything better, $145.95.

This wave & sun T-shirt because it reminds him of the Beach Boys, his all-time favorite group, $28.
The Meatball Cookbook because he loooves meat, remember? $16.29.

A Periodic Table shower curtain (just like in The Big Bang Theory!) because without him, you never would have survived (and passed!) high school chemistry, $29.99.
A chalkboard mug to leave him corny jokes, $10.

An animal print that he can hang above his desk and look at on those long days when he’d rather be outside than stuck at the office, $20.
A scratch map ($24) and a travel stub diary ($14.95) to record all his retirement adventures.
…and a soup and sandwich ceramic tray duo for when he comes home, $30.

Sneak Peek: Holiday Gift Guide 2011

So here we are, friends! Can you tell how utterly excited I am about So About What I Said’s first-ever Holiday Gift Guide? I’ll be posting a new guide each day this week as well as a couple days next week, and each round-up will be filled with affordable, creative and fun ideas for everyone from your mom to your tiny little cousin. There are so many cool things out there, and I hope you’ll enjoy my picks.
Look for the first guide (for mamas!) this afternoon, but in the meantime, I’d love to know, friends: What’s your holiday-shopping strategy? Who’s the hardest person to shop for? Who’s on your list this year? Do you do most of your shopping online now, or do you still brave the mall — I honestly don’t remember the last time I went to the mall. Yikes!

And speaking of shopping, Happy Cyber Monday. Here are 5 ways to save…
*Macy’s is offering free shipping on orders of $75 or more. Enter promo code CYBER.
*Wal-Mart is offering free shipping all week if you spend $45 or more on items marked HOMEFREE.
*American Eagle Outfitters is offering 25% off your order and free shipping — TODAY ONLY! Just enter promo code 49827101 at checkout.
*J.Crew is offering 25% off your order and free shipping — TODAY ONLY! Just enter promo code SURPRISE.
*Target is offering free shipping for 7 days if you spend $50 or more.

And here are 5 Etsy shops offering awesome deals…
*Laura is offering 10% off her lovely prints. Just use promo code CYBER10 at checkout.
*Barberry & Lace is offering 30% off — TODAY ONLY! Just enter coupon code CYBER302011.
*Upper Metal Class is offering 20% off orders — TODAY ONLY! Just enter promo code UMC20.
*Much Love Illy is offering 25% off your order. Just enter promo code CYBERMONDAY.
*June Designs is offering 20% off your order. Just enter promo code CYBERMONDAY2011.

P.S. If you’re in a browsing mood, check out my previous shopping finds.

[Photos via Pinterest]

Sponsor Spotlight: KOKOON

Friends, on this lovely Friday morning, I’m excited to share an interview I did with Laine, the brains behind KOKOON. As the designer and founder of the contemporary clothing line, she’s a woman who knows her stuff! Read on for the inspiration behind her shop and her tips for online shopping…

Keep in touch…
Official Web site: KOKOON
Check out on Facebook
Follow Laine’s blog Daydreamer Was Here

So tell me a bit about KOKOON
KOKOON is fashion line centered around a private pop-up shop concept. We bring our designs to women via appointments or in-home trunk shows, but with a modern and fresh approach. By that, I mean we simply offer the best of boutique shopping (cute clothes, reasonable price points, limited-edition designs, personal service) without the trappings that most people have come to associate with home trunk shows. It’s very simple…just shopping!

What inspired you to start the shop?
Well, I started the business in college with my boyfriend (Dik-San, now my husband) 25 years ago. I was working 3 jobs trying to pay my way through college; I was impatient and extremely stubborn, and I just couldn’t see waiting to get started. I began selling my designs at some local boutiques, then Dik-San took my first sample line on the road and came back with boutique orders. We both dropped out of school when we had some initial success designing and selling to major department stores and catalogs. We developed a very nice wholesale business for many years, and started the home trunk shows about 10 years ago, completely by accident…they started as a way for us to sell off all our cancelled orders in the aftermath of 9/11. It took us quite a few years to develop the business properly, but we absolutely love it now.

In this recession economy, what are some ways people can still look chic for less?
I believe you can look fabulous without spending a ton of money. First, visit your own closet often. I do this all the time! Add newness by only purchasing a few items that you absolutely love, and make sure those pieces are ‘mileage’ pieces…ones that you will not only wear often, but are pieces that others SEE you in…it’s important that your coat or layering sweaters look great and that you feel wonderful in them. Personally, I’m crazy about shoes and handbags, and I love mixing vintage and consignment finds with my wardrobe.

What is your favorite item in your shop and why?
Well, I love so many of our knits, but if I have to choose, I’d say I’m crazy for our Jennifer dress and tops. They’re sexy without being overtly so, and they’re still warm and cozy!