Newsletters

Get Shop Around delivered to your inbox every Tuesday Morning.

Shop Around on Twitter

The holidays are a notoriously tricky time for a new relationship. Let’s see if we’ve got this straight—you’ve only been dating for a couple of weeks, so things aren’t quite serious, but you spend at least half your evenings together. When it comes to that first gift, you want to get him something that shows him how cool and thoughtful you are without giving the impression that you’re too into him too fast. How the heck do you wrap all that up in one present? We’ve got a few ideas.

Read More

Posted at 04:51 PM/ET, 12/21/2011 | Permalink | Comments ()

You’ve been doing such a good job: You’ve FedExed packages to far-flung friends, mailed the last of your holiday cards, decked the halls, wrapped the packages, hung the stockings . . . STOCKINGS!! Somehow what goes inside them got left off that list you so carefully checked twice. Don’t panic: We’ve tracked down 16 stuffers for each member of the family—all under $30—that are currently stocked in stores around the area.

Read More

Posted at 03:41 PM/ET, 12/21/2011 | Permalink | Comments ()

She was in her element in kindergarten arts and crafts and has since accomplished the equivalent of a master’s in DIY. With her arsenal of paints and brushes, scissors, needle and thread, and a trip to the thrift store, she can transform last season’s throwaways into covetable couture, and refurbish an old dresser into home decor that puts Ikea to shame. You know she’ll be giving you another fabulous handmade gift this year—so return the favor with classes, kits, and tools that are sure to get her creative juices flowing.

Read More

Posted at 08:57 AM/ET, 12/20/2011 | Permalink | Comments ()

If your company is the type that trades presents over the holidays, finding a gift that’s boss-appropriate can be tough. You want something you know he or she will appreciate, but nothing too over-the-top—it’s best to avoid looking like a total suck-up. Here are 14 thoughtful but not-too-personal options that totally fit the bill.

Posted at 01:11 PM/ET, 12/16/2011 | Permalink | Comments ()
Research shows that simple acts of kindness, like making a charitable donation, can boost happiness—so gift away! By Samantha Miller

The holidays aren’t just about receiving—they’re about giving, too. Research shows that simple acts of kindness, like making a charitable donation, can boost happiness. So to help you land a spot on the Nice List this year, we tracked down 16 gifts that benefit charities and nonprofits around the world—from cozy mittens that help employ female war survivors to a sequined tote that provides educational opportunities for children in Haiti.

Posted at 09:42 AM/ET, 12/15/2011 | Permalink | Comments ()

Slideshow: 16 DC-Inspired Gifts 

You don't have to be born and bred in the DMV to be utterly obsessed with its inner workings. People move to Washington for plenty of reasons (though most have to do with politics), and not everyone falls in love with it. But for those who do (or for those who grew up here and have no plans to leave), we've got 16 cool T-shirts, posters, accessories, and activities you can give to help show off, or perhaps even deepen, their bond with our nation's capitol.

Read More

Posted at 09:36 AM/ET, 12/14/2011 | Permalink | Comments ()
Snail-mail some cheer this holiday with these festive (and fridge-worthy) holiday cards. By Kim Forrest

In the age of texts, tweets, Facebook messages, e-mails, and all those other forms of virtual communication, receiving a printed holiday card through the good old-fashioned US Postal Service feels even more special. We combed through the wares of our favorite stationery companies and selected the best of the bunch. Some are cheeky, others heartfelt, but they’re all guaranteed to earn a prime spot on the mantel or fridge.

Posted at 09:25 AM/ET, 12/14/2011 | Permalink | Comments ()

For the friend who would rather spend Saturday night curled up with a cup of cocoa and a good book, we found 17 indulgent gift ideas. From cozy comforts like personalized mugs and handmade soaps to decorative details like splashy throw pillows and sparkly bookends, these homey treasures may cause her to never leave the house again.

Posted at 03:00 PM/ET, 12/12/2011 | Permalink | Comments ()

As a young girl, she could be found rummaging through her mother’s vanity, squirreling away tubes of lipstick, swiping topaz shadow across her lids, and plucking hairs that didn't yet exist. Nowadays, she’s the first to know about new products, can create a flawless cat-eye in five seconds flat, and has a complexion so dewy it’s downright annoying. Help her put her best face—and hair and nails—forward this holiday with one of these 17 beauty bestsellers.

Posted at 05:37 PM/ET, 12/09/2011 | Permalink | Comments ()

Your besties just had their first kid. Whether you think babies are cute and cuddly or frightening, smelly little monsters is irrelevant—you need to show your pals some love during what’s bound to be a stressful time. While everyone’s focusing on showering the sweet widdle baby with love and onesies, give the sleep-deprived new parents a gift they’ll actually use and appreciate—and that the kid won’t grow out of in three weeks.

Posted at 02:21 PM/ET, 12/09/2011 | Permalink | Comments ()
Washingtonian Magazine - June 2013

Make the most of your
SUMMER Get the magazine
Washington lives by
in print or on your iPad