BoomerGirl Diary

We've only begun to shop. And this is but a brief selection of some of the cooler holiday items out there. Each store had many options, so it was tough to edit down. But it is a start, and hopefully it will inspire you to be creative this gift-giving season.

Whimsical and unique

Mass production makes the world go 'round, but there are a few things that stand out from the crowd.

• Much as we like useful gifts, sometimes it's nice to give something that's more inspirational than utilitarian. We found this collection of At-Choo glass pieces and were charmed by their design and the messages. The small vintage glass bottles hold slivers of glass or small seed pearls and are sealed with wax. Tiny baubles are inset into the seal and small paper tags explain their contents such as "Believe," small bells said to be from Santa's sleigh or "Wish Crystals." $39-$79. Wrapped in red velvet and tied with gold string are these Christmas glass tags, actually microscope slides sealed together with wax and containing "Santa's Whiskers" or "Santa's Note." $19-$25, www.at-choo.com.

• These wood molds from the Philippines are known as takaan and are used to create papier-mâche art objects. The hand-carved pieces, evolved from a 400-year old island tradition, often bear the scars of knife cuts used to separate the dried paper from the mold. Antiques dealer C.C. Griffith has been buying these molds from a Michigan source who's been traveling to the Philippines for some years. The pieces are getting scarcer to find, although Griffith has a beautiful selection of holiday-themed pieces at her Fort Worth shop. The Santa sits about 10 inches high, $175; snowman, $70. C.C.'s Touch of Nature, Fort Worth, Texas, 817-732-0942.

Adventure

Get outside or at least get the gadgets to help make it more fun.

• Suunto Lumi and Suunto Core men's and women's watches look great and do more than just tell time. Both feature an altimeter, barometer and compass and will give you the sunrise/ sunset times in four languages. $349 (women's) and $249 (men's), www.suunto.com for retail locations.

• Be just like the CSI investigators with this Surefire E2L Outdoorsman LED flashlight. The lightweight aluminum body comes with a handy belt clip, and the LED bulb offers an extra bright light. A lithium battery ensures a long life as does the weatherproof O-ring design. $129, www.surefire.com.

Kids stuff

No plastic here ... these guys are soft and cuddly.

• A veritable zoo of plush animal bookmarkers will make your young reader eager to hit the books. Styles include a lion, elephant, pig, dog and more. $5 each, Simple Things, Fort Worth, Texas, 817-332-1772.

• Anne-Claire Petit 100 percent cotton crochet machine washable toy is of heirloom quality and, also, is quite cuddly, $72, www.anneclairepetit.nl for retail locations.

Stocking stuffers

These small items are a far cry from your usual nuts and candy, but we thought it'd be nice to slip something a bit more luxurious into the Yule sock.

• These compact Moon boxes with hinged lids are just the catch-all for desk or vanity. Slip in a precious bauble and make it extra special. $220 each, Domain XCIV, Fort Worth, Texas, www.domainxciv.com.

• Just the name Cartier is timeless, and this Trinity timepiece takes it to another level. The clock is a play off Cartier's legendary Trinity ring, which features three bands for three colors of gold. The clock has a golden pink, golden yellow and palladium finish and features a white dial with luminescent hands. There also is an alarm function. $735, Neiman Marcus.

• B is for "Behold," as in behold the coolest flashcards we've ever seen. These might be designed for kids, but anyone interested in design will enjoy the M is for Modern Alphabet Flashcards by Jargon Boy. Forget A is for Apple; in Modern's version, A is for A-frame, B is for Bauhaus and C is for Constructivist. Sleekly designed, the cards feature hip colors and cool graphics. They also make unexpected, eye-catching displays. Frame them side by side or as a grouping for a unique piece of artwork. $16, www.jargonboy.com for retail locations.

Pamper

Spa packages are always good, but it's nice to have something to wrap in addition to an envelope. Here are few suggestions.

Origins picked a winner with its ginger-based line of products. Try the new Ginger Hug, designed to wrap you in scents of ginger, clove and citrus with warming (or cooling) effects. The removable cover is machine washable. $36.50, Origins. To treat your feet, try the Ginger Warming Socks. Heat them up and slip them on. The sock cover is also washable. $20, Origins.

• Rosanna offers beautifully boxed sets of porcelain dinnerware. This sassy quartet of A Charmed Life dessert plates expresses our holiday want list _ a gorgeous designer bag, a huge diamond ring, etc. $35, www.rosannainc.com.

Home

Sure you can wrap up that expensive espresso maker, but maybe you want to think outside the box this year.

• Another way to be cool in the kitchen is with these oven mitts by Kitsch'n Glam, whose motto is "Life Happens, Look Fabulous." The 100 percent cotton pads come in a subtle holiday pattern that would work year-round. $9 (matching aprons also available), www.kitschnglam.com.

• Ritzenhoff's pilsner beer glasses come in a festive box with five matching paper coasters signed by each artist (pictured is work by Stephanie Roehe). The hand-painted glasses are dishwasher safe and hold a 12-ounce pour. $37, www.ritzenhoffusa.com for retail locations.