Good morning!
Since the holidays are rapidly approaching and you guys are probably scrambling to pick up gifts for loved ones, I thought I would share some of my favorite things in the form of a gift guide! I’ve been checking out all sorts of websites lately debating gift options, and I’ve also been looking around on CSN Stores because I’ll be partnering with them to review one of their products soon. They have so much stuff it’s hard to decide what to review — Bar stools? Kitchen items? Hmmmm.
Anyway — here are some of my favorite things. I hope they give you some good gift ideas 
~ ~ ~
Gift Ideas for Your Favorite Runners:
~ ~ ~
Foam rollers are a life saver for runners — especially when training for a big race. I used this one daily when I was training for my half marathon, and it made a huge difference in recovery time! Use it after a run, no matter how short or long, to stretch out and massage sore muscles. Hurts so good!
Current price on Amazon: $18.77
~ ~ ~
Garmin Forerunner 305 GPS Watch with Heart Rate Monitor:
I never leave for a run without this! I’ve had mine for 4 years and it’s been wonderful for training. You can use it to track your pace, distance, total time, calories, heart rate, and more. It will even beep every mile so you can see your mile splits! Plus — it comes with a computer program that allows you to create graphs of your running data and see how you are improving, visually! Cool.
Current price on Amazon: $128.90
~ ~ ~
I never leave for a run, hike, or bike ride without my Road ID. Last year, I got tired of my mom saying “bring your ID!!” every time I went for a run — so I purchased one of these instead and put her contact info on it. Here’s hoping I never need it!
Prices start at $19.99 — get 10% off using Coupon Code: pcSAVE10. Valid through 12/7/10.
~ ~ ~
A must have for any runner. So superior to my previous icing method of choice, frozen peas! I love that they are cuffs so you can ice your whole knee/ankle/shin/whatever at once.
(You can see my full review of the ice packs in this post!)
.
.
.
.
.
~ ~ ~
A fANNEtastic t-shirt! (shameless plug):
Super soft and super cute! You can change the colors of the shirts and some are available in men’s, too. If you see something you want made into a men’s version and it’s not already, just ask — I can make it for you
Also — order a size up if you want the shirt to be loose, order your regular size if you want fitted.
Click here to visit my shop — shirts start at $17.90.
~ ~ ~
Gift Ideas for Your Favorite Foodies:
~ ~ ~
I LOVE this garlic press. It used to drive me crazy to chop garlic on my normal cutting board and then have it smell like garlic for weeks. Enter the garlic press — problem solved! Super easy to use, you just peel the garlic, stick it in, and squish! Perfectly chopped garlic comes out the other end
Current price on Amazon: $17.99
.
.
...
~ ~ ~
A Combination Wine Pourer and Stopper:
Super handy to keep wine fresh AND to look fancy when pouring it, too
Current price on Amazon: $6.35
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.~ ~ ~
I actually don’t own one of these, but I really want one! They are amazing because you don’t have to wait for hot liquids to cool and then transfer them (messily) to a blender to puree them. It would be particularly handy when making my Curried Carrot Soup!
Current price on Amazon: $28.95
.
.
.
.
.
~ ~ ~
Food processors are SO useful and really easy to use — make your own hummus, dips, sauces, and more, or simply chop veggies and garlic in a flash. You need a food processor to make my awesome 3-ingredient Cinnamon Raisin Almond Balls, too!
Current price on Amazon: $47.85
.
.
.
.
.
.
~ ~ ~
Perfect for finally trying those foreign recipes that require gram measurements instead of cups!
Current price on Amazon: $25.00
~ ~ ~
Cookbooks:
I have a few favorites:
LOVE this cookbook. Easy, healthy, and delicious recipes, all using whole, unprocessed foods and with a focus on seasonality — right up my alley!
Current price on Amazon: $16.50
.
.
.
Amazing and creative recipes you’ll love even if you aren’t vegan! Whenever I’m in a meal rut, this is where I start.
Current price on Amazon: $16.47
.
.
Essentially the vegan bible — again, awesome even if you aren’t vegan (which I’m clearly not!).
Current price on Amazon: $18.15
.
.
.
~ ~ ~
Lots more fun shirts are available — check out my t-shirt shop to see!
~ ~ ~
As for my own list, I’ve asked for two new lenses for my camera! I have the Canon Rebel XTI camera body, and I asked for these guys:
On the left:
-
A 50 mm f/1.4 lens for walking around, indoor photography, portraits, etc.
On the right:
-
A 60 mm f/2.8 macro lens for food photography! Macro lenses allow you to get SUPER close up very sharp shots — perfect for food
I also asked for a pretty wooden cutting board that would look nice in photos I just have ghetto white plastic ones right now!
~ ~ ~
Happy shopping! What’s on your Christmas list? Any great runner/foodie/etc. gift ideas to add to my list?
I’m with you on the wooden cutting board thing! Our pretty one is packed up in storage at my in-laws house waiting for our next move, ha. Right now we only have plastic white and plastic blue cutting boards lol!
Great list! I’ve asked my mom to stock me up on GU chomps and running socks!
Good call on the running socks! I could use some more, too…
Great ideas! I’m definitely asking for the Garmin Forerunner 305 this Christmas! So excited to get it!
You were so clever to ask for your lenses for Christmas – I got impatient waiting and just bought one on Black Friday. It’s pretty spiffy though, so I’m not too disappointed that I had to fork out all that money : )
I love my Garmin and my Foam Roller!
I already got my Christmas present from my parents (my Garmin), so I am asking for money from my other family members…I want to save up for a D-SLR.
Love my foam roller. I’ll second that idea!
I so could use a food processor. Someone send word to my family…
Great running picks! I asked Santa for a Garmin this year – I think it’s going to change my life! No more mapping out every single route and wondering what pace I’m running at!
Other great gifts for runners are reflective running gloves (for winter running), massage gift cards, and arm sleeves.
the foam roller….. can you explain how you use this every day after your runs?
Runner’s World has some awesome videos showing how to use a foam roller
Check them out! http://www.runnersworld.com/video/1,8052,s6-1-0-5,00.html?bcpid=2888993001&bclid=75609222001&bctid=75636545001
Awesome gift ideas!!! Thanks!
This is awesome! I’m a newbie runner and had no idea about the Road ID! So smart! And I’m with Lindsay…can you show how you use the foam roller???
I love the Clean Food cookbook and your shirts! They are so cute!!
Runner’s World has some awesome videos showing how to use a foam roller! http://www.runnersworld.com/video/1,8052,s6-1-0-5,00.html?bcpid=2888993001&bclid=75609222001&bctid=75636545001
Great ideas! Clean Foods is absolutely one of my favorite cookbooks too
Speaking of food scales…
Great list! Thanks for the ideas. My favorites are probably those t-shirts, not gonna lie.
Great gift ideas girly
Can you believe I STILL don’t have a Garmin?? Dear Santa….. 
Can’t wait to run with you next weekend!!! We should grab brunch after
Yay run!! We can email/exchange phone numbers later this week and figure out a meeting place so we can run together!
Sadly I can’t do brunch after (my ride is leaving after the race), but excited to see you!
I love the road runner I.D. I want that for myself. I love the T-shirts. Just bought two for myself. I finished my Christmas shopping this past September. I start on December 26 and shop all year when there is a bargain. I have 8 very young grandchildren and you have to hit the bargains when you see them. Our twin granddaughters will be 9 years old on Dec. 17th and their brother will be 15 years old on Dec. 26th. Thanks much daughter. (Hahaha)
I’m so impressed that you finished your shopping in September! I should have done that… sadly I haven’t even started yet! Ack. It’s being postponed until after finals
When our 5 were young, I used to stress out at Christmas and make everyone else stress out. Finally about 10 years ago, I thought, this is silly, I can’t even enjoy the Christmas season. I finally got wise. And know I enjoy.
My wish list includes luggage. I would love foodie gifts though! I told my family to surprise me with some they think I would like.
OMG I asked for a foam roller for Christmas AND a gps watch…my mom laughed at the foam roller one! I had to explain it. Awesome ideas for Christmas!!! Great post idea, I hate coming up with ideas and these are amazing. If you have any for dads (they are always the hardest) Im all ears!
I need some dad ideas myself!
I love the running shirts – super cute!
I’m totally putting about 10 of those wearable ice packs on my list! I’ve been looking for something like that forever! Thanks for sharing
Love your t-shirts!! And I would definitely say that the foam roller is the all time gift that keeps on giving.
Here’s another great fitness gift idea post:
http://www.leighpeele.com/55-fitness-gifts-you-will-beg-people-to-give-you
I have an immersion blender and I LOVE it, best $20 I ever spent! Smoothies galore! I also have a fANNEtastic Tshirt and can attest to it’s awesomeness
I’m asking for a Garmin 305 and a Flip camera to start documenting my training and first triathlon in the spring! Also asking for Target giftcards because I love their sports bras and workout attire!
My mom would be all about that wine stopper/pourer!
I totally have the same lenses on my list! I wish they weren’t so darn expensive!
Thanks, great ideas! Love ‘em -
I just got a Garmin for myself for Christmas and found it for $99 at Walmart.com. I just checked and it’s back up to $128.
eheh jessica don’t be too sad…I paid mine around 200 EUROS !!!!!!!!!!!! Go Italy
I’m thinking about buying like 100 of them next time I visit the US and then sell them here eheh
I love the “will run for wine” shirt! Once I get running again it will be totally accurate for me. Very cute!
From CSN, I think you should review one of the soft serve frozen yogurt makers. I have been think about getting one (wouldn’t it be awesome to be able to make your own swirly soft serve WITH toppings?!?!), but I’m curious about how well they actually work. Could be fun to test out!
Oo great idea! I’ll have to see how much those cost… I have $75 to work with!
I love the ideas! I think these would be more for me than anyone else I would be buying gifts for, hehe. You should do a whole list of cookbooks you love. I’ll probably have to go buy the ones you just mentioned.
I actually hardly use cookbooks! Those three are the exceptions
http://www.etsy.com/shop/RedOnionWoodworks?ref=top_trail
these would be great gifts for cool/ unique cutting boards.
Oh how neat! Those are awesome. Wish they weren’t so $$, though!
Great ideas, I’d love to have a foam roller but I can’t find it here and buying from the us will cost me an arm in shipping expenses
Another thing I am adding to my list is a subscription to fitness/other magazines (running world, shape,cooking light…)
Good ideas Annabel! I asked for a food processor this year. This might be a stupid question, but I think I might need a tutorial on how to get the most out of foam rollers!
Hi Lisa! Runner’s World has some awesome videos showing how to use a foam roller
http://www.runnersworld.com/video/1,8052,s6-1-0-5,00.html?bcpid=2888993001&bclid=75609222001&bctid=75636545001