To make it easy on you, we’ve already gone to the ends of the Internet and back to find the hottest and most unique gifts from over 300 retail sites big and small to get the creative juices flowing. You don’t even have to thank us. We’re gifting experts…it’s just what we do!

So without further ado…here are our picks for everyone on your holiday shopping list!

Gifts for Mom

Gifts for Dad

Gifts for Him

Gifts for Her

Gifts for Teens

Gifts for Tweens

Gifts for Kids

Gifts for Babies and Toddlers

And this is just the tip of the iceberg. Over the next few weeks we’ll be putting together “specialty” guides where we tackle everyone from the coffee addict to the fitness guru. So check back often. And, if you haven’t already signed up for our FREE service to get your own tailored reminders and recommendations, do it now! Nothing to lose but the stress you’d have if we didn’t have your back.

Repeat after me: I’m a gifting ROCK star and I can’t wait for holidays!

To discover more great sites and products, follow us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram or Pinterest. Happy gifting!

The post 2014 Holiday Gift Guides Are In! appeared first on Lily&Strum.

My boyfriend is a carpenter, and a good pencil is his trusted companion. You will almost always find one sticking out from under his hat. He also is very particular and when he finds something he likes, he sticks with it. The pencils I speak of were found at his Grandmother’s house still in their original box, all unsharpened. He swears they always keep a point and he loves the good solid mark they provide. Plus, he’s a history buff and lover of vintage tools, anything made with care and made to last.

So seeing that his birthday is coming up I thought I’d try to find some more of these precious pencils. I searched Google, and Ebay, and Amazon. No luck. Then I came across Bobby Truby’s Brand Name Pencils. His site is a thorough catalog of pencils through the ages. Who knew there were so many?! This was the first and only place I found the Venus Velvet American 880 HB that my boyfriend loves so much. Unfortunately, this was less of a shop and more of an incredible collection. But I figured it wouldn’t hurt to email Mr. Bobby Truby and ask his advice on other comparable pencils.

Long story short, my boyfriend is going to receive a dozen different vintage pencils in the same wheel house as the 880 HB with descriptions of each one packaged in a vintage box. This is the kind of gift I can’t put in our inventory at Lily&Strum and that probably no one else out there would even appreciate. Not all gifts need to be this specific to be great picks, but when you listen and pay attention to your loved ones you end up with thoughtful gifts that show you really care. And the feeling you get from giving a really thoughtful gift is even better than getting one.

To have Lily&Strum help you with your gifting organization and provide you with your very own customized recommendations sign up for your free account here. To discover more great sites and products, follow us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram or Pinterest. Happy gifting!

PS. If any of you out there know someone with a love of vintage pencils…I highly suggest you contact the extremely knowledgeable and helpful Bobby Truby. Thanks again!

The post Thoughtful Gifts: Listen up! appeared first on Lily&Strum.

At Lily&Strum, we are a passionate group of entrepreneurs with a simple goal – to make great gifting easy for you. And we know that being a “great” gifter takes organization, inspiration and even validation.

Our idea has always been a good one, and we’ve spent the last 16 months figuring out exactly what it takes by testing, thinking, listening, learning, improving, implementing, re-designing, growing, building, talking, sharing, laughing, and yes, even crying.

So what startup lessons have we learned?

1. You can’t build a skyscraper without a foundation. If you don’t start with something simple, it is no good.
2. You can have the most polished interface in the world, but if it is not intuitive, it’s no good
3. You may have a big network, a lot of friends or even a big family, but if you can’t figure out how to extend your reach, it’s no good
4. Your business model may work on paper, but if you don’t test, re-test and then adapt, it is no good

So we adapted and we changed. We are proud of our work and we are proud of what is ahead. Most importantly, we know we’ve got something good. Here is our promise to you.

We won’t ever let you forget important moments and we’ll always find you the most awesome and coolest gifts without any hassle.

Best of all, it’s now FREE. That’s right. No credit card needed, no annual subscription, just a simple sign in and you’ll have access to unlimited profiles, occasions and stellar recommendations all at your fingertips.

We are finally ready. Ready for YOU to give us a try. Now is your chance to make a difference in our start up and get the benefits of someone (a whole team!) looking out for you.

But don’t take our word for it. See for yourself. Give Lily&Strum a try. We bet you’ll wonder how you lived without us!

Happy Gifting,

Traci Lipple – Founder
Stephan Mueller – CEO
Rick Romero  – CTO
Lauren Urbschat – Director Of Curation

The post 4 Startup Lessons Driving our Success appeared first on Lily&Strum.

Handcrafted Gifts: For Gals

1. Goat’s Milk Skincare Soap Trio, $21 Independently made by: Little Seed Farm

My skin felt healthier after just reading the descriptions. Plus, I adore the illustrations and you know our feelings on packaging here.

2. Infinity Cowl Neckwarmer, $42 Independently made by: KLJT

Oh hello winter. If it weren’t for cuddly infinity scarves like this one I’d want little to do with you. Check out KLJT’s cute scrunchy hats and leg warmers too. You can’t go wrong with this chunky knit.

3. Ikat Red & Grey Cosmetic Bag Set, $40 Independently made by: Frankie and Coco PDX

Little pouches are irresistible and ever so useful. I never buy them for myself but you’re welcome to buy me one…anytime. Check out all the other playful patterns too.

4. Triple Arrow Silver Earrings, $98 Independently made by: Meander Works

I say yes yes yes to all of Meander Work’s earthy yet elegant designs.

Handcrafted Gifts: For Guys

5. Shampoo & Shave Beer Soap Set, $18 Independently made by: Damn Handsome

Love the convenience of the shampoo bar! Total sucker for the rustic packaging.

6. Owl T-Shirt, $25 Independently made by: DKNG

I don’t recommend a lot of t-shirts, but the designs by DKNG really jumped out. I think this one would make the perfect gift.

7. Triumph Leather Glasses Case, $48 Independently made by: Draeger Handcraft

I know a glasses case doesn’t seem like a very sexy gift when you say it out loud, but just look at it! For the man who really cares about the quality of his accessories, this one’s a showstopper.

8. Mountain Sterling Silver Tie Clip, $75 Independently made by: EKMetals

If he must wear a tie, save him from throwing his up over his shoulder during lunch. That just looks good on no one. This little mountain however makes a much better statement.

Handcrafted Gifts: For Couples

9. Original Salted Caramels, $10 Independently made by: Shotwell Candy Co.

Little bites of heaven, that’s what I call it. Do yourself a favor and buy an extra box. We won’t tell.

10. Scone Mix & Fruit Jam Assortment, $31 Independently made by: Copper Pot & Wooden Spoon

Give the gift of a good morning. Warm scones and sweet jammy jam are the perfect way to wake up on a chilly fall day.

11. Custom Scalloped Wood Cutting Board, $39 Independently made by: Richwood Creations

So many people tell us that they love giving the personalized cutting boards we recommend. So here’s another one! The pattern makes it really special.

12. Orange House Serving Bowl, $50 Independently made by: Toast Ceramics

This bowl was love at first site for me. I think the feeling would be mutual for any young artsy couple in need of unique housewares.

So in closing, hooray for Shoppe by ScoutMob! Sites like yours make our job easier…and we thank you. And this little roundup is just the tip of the iceberg. Check out our Gifts from ScoutMob Pinterest Board for tons more ideas.

To have Lily&Strum help you with your gifting organization and provide you with your very own customized recommendations sign up for your free account here. To discover more great sites and products, follow us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram or Pinterest. Happy gifting!

The post Handcrafted Gifts from Shoppe by ScoutMob appeared first on Lily&Strum.

Instagram Gifts: Under $25

1. Teeny Tile ($4 each) ImageSnap

ImageSnap’s Teeny Tile is made of ceramic and just 2-by-2-inches of fun. Each tile includes a self-adhesive magnet you can stick anywhere (locker? fridge?) Perfect size for Instagram photos and fun, fun, fun.

2. Magical Marshmallow ($20) Boomf

We’d be remiss not to share one of our favorites! Boomf takes your memories from Instagram and makes them into marshmallow delicacies. They are UK based so expect about 2-3 weeks delivery time to the United States, but they’re well worth the wait. For $20 you’ll get a box of 9 with a 6-month shelf life. So creatively delicious!

3. Greeting Cards (set of 24 for $25) Printstagram

For the crafty “do-it-yourselfers”, custom greeting cards are a great gift idea. Their photos are printed on beautiful cardstock with Kraft envelopes. Now they will get to share their own inspiration with friends and family in a clever way.

Instagram Gifts: Under $50

4. Tiny Instagram Projector ($34.98) Projecteo

Cute, right? This little enticer fits right in your pocket but can make your images as big as your living room wall. It works like any ordinary projector but it’s so so small! The process is simple, Projecteo will develop 9 of your favorite images on to a single frame of 35mm slide film which is inserted onto a small black wheel. Just pop the wheel in and it beams your images. Gift certificates available (if you don’t have access to their Instagram) and you can even buy additional wheels.

5. Instamatic Wooden Toy Camera ($45) Twig Creative

Twig specializes in handcrafted modern wooden toys and strives to create beautiful products that encourage imagination and creativity. Maybe you can create an Instagram addict early on?

Instagram Gifts: Under $100

6. 4 in 1 Photo Lens for iPhone ($63) Amazon

The OlloClip 4-IN-1 is a quick-connect lens solution for the iPhone that includes Fisheye, Wide-Angle and 2 Macro lenses in a tiny package that fits in your pocket. Perfect for those that like to add fancy to their photos. Check out OlloClip’s other photo products too!

7. Instagram Custom Photo Album ($73.77+) Etsy

We always find awesome gifts on Etsy, even great Instagram gifts! Check out this custom album just for instagram photos and held together by nickel screw posts. Albums can expand and be refilled. You can have an image, logo or any design engraved too. Such a thoughtful gift idea!

8. Wristlet ($82) Stichtagram

Stichtagram. Get it? Like Instagram but with stitches! That’s because they design pillows and bags with photos from Instagram.The wristlet clutch was our favorite and will make you look like a gifting super-hero to any of your tween fans.

To have Lily&Strum help you with your gifting organization and provide you with your very own customized recommendations sign up for your free account here. To discover more great sites and products, follow us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram or Pinterest. Happy gifting!

The post 8 Instagram Gifts for Insta-addicts appeared first on Lily&Strum.

As gift seekers, we know finding a gift for someone that has that “feel good” touch makes it all the better. So we’ve searched high and low to come up with some great ideas for gifts that give back. We all want to do our part. Now you can do yours just by being thoughtful in giving gifts!

Gifts that Give Back: For Her

1. Gift Set ($69) Proper Bath & Body Products

Proper has a range of bath and body products that are both high quality and socially responsible. Every sale contributes a donation towards preventing or eradicating disease due to poor hygiene or unclean water. We think that’s beautiful. Use code 30FREESHIP to get free shipping!

2. Black Armadillo Song Necklace ($48) TOMS Marketplace

Simply put, for every purchase you make from TOMS, they help someone in need. They call it One for One. Starting with shoes, TOMS has given more then 10 million pairs of new shoes to children in need. And that is not all. Their marketplace is now much larger including apparel, eyeglasses and accessories. Stylish products that make a statement. Just check out this necklace we found and look around for more goods and make a difference in someone’s life.

Gifts that Give Back: For Him

3. Beech Wood Troubadours ($149.99) LSTN

LSTN is all about details, music and all things classic. And they’ve come up with the most sophisticated headphones we’ve ever seen. Made from real wood, no two pairs are exactly the same. Best part about it? For every pair sold, LSTN helps restore hearing to a person in need. They’ve given the gift of sound to over 15,000 people from their consumers’ support. And they are just getting started.

4. Lap blanket to King blanket (starting at $59) Project Repat

Recycle T-shirts? I bet you’ve never even thought about it, but now here’s a way to do it in a clever, usable and socially conscious way. Project Repat takes your old T-shirts and creates blankets. Yep, blankets. You can feel good about your memories being preserved because they pride themselves on bringing jobs back to the USA while being environmentally friendly.

Gifts that Give Back: For Them

5. Coffee Lovers Delight ($100) Laughing Man

What do you get when you mix Hugh Jackman with entrepreneurship? An organization that helps entrepreneurs help humanity by creating and developing new business where 100% of the revenue goes back into education and community development. We found this well-designed gift set that any coffee addict would love. To learn more or check out the other products, visit Laughing Man.

Gifts that Give Back: For Kids

6. Canvas Storybook Kit ($26.95) Design with Benefits

This creative kit from Design With Benefits allows you to explore and build your own story with fabric art. Great for kids who love hands-on activities, all products are made with social and environmental benefits in mind. And a percentage of their profits goes toward projects using design to solve social problems.

7. Esperos Backpack ($75) The Grommet

If you haven’t checked out The Grommet, you must! They have many unique gifts and innovative products including a whole line of products under their “citizen commerce” where they help undiscovered products with a purpose get launched. We found this Esperos backpack, which means “to hope”. Each backpack sold sends a child in a developing country to school for a year. Sound surprising? You can read more about how here.

Gifts that Give Back: For Babies

8. Take Me Home Gift Sets ($115) – Tea Collection

Let’s start our little citizens of the world off on the right foot! When you buy from TEA, a globally inspired children’s online clothing store, you help advance the dignity of children and youth around the world. Take these cute pajama sets for instance. Each year, TEA designs 2 sets and donates all proceeds directly to The Global Fund for Children. Learn more and shop here!

To have Lily&Strum help you with your gifting organization and provide you with your very own customized recommendations sign up for your free account here. To discover more great sites and products, follow us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram or Pinterest. Happy gifting!

The post 8 Socially Conscious Gifts that Give Back: 2014 appeared first on Lily&Strum.

Bike Gifts for the Commute

1. U-Lock Holster ($118) Hatch.co – Designed by Walnut Studiolo

Because, yeah it’s cool to carry your u-lock in your pants, but how comfortable is that really?

2. Short Rear Fender ($29.99) WoodysFenders

Because no one likes a muddy backside.

3. Ringtool Steel Bike Tool ($28) ScoutMob

Because you can never be too prepared.

Bike Gifts that Carry

4. 6-Pack Frame Cinch ($28) Hatch.co – Designed by Walnut Studiolo

Because its ingenious!

5. Wood Bicycle Crate ($85) ScoutMob

Because it will hold everything.

6. Swiss Military Bicycle Panniers – Set of 2 ($120) ScoutMob

Because they’re already worn in.

Bike Gifts for the Home

7. The Evolution of Bicycles ($29) Pop Chart Lab

Because it’s highly evolved.

8. Poplar Wood Bike Rack ($140) ScoutMob

Because it’s so stylish and study.

9. Trophy Bull ($115) Outline Works

Because it’s great design and totally functional.

Bike Gifts for Kids

10. Schwinn Bugle Horn ($6.13) Amazon

Because what kid doesn’t like making loud noises?

11. Chalktrail ($19.95) Fat Brain Toys

Because every kid in the neighborhood will want one.

12. Yakkay Kids Bike Helmet ($120) Heritage Littles

Because they’ll want to wear it even when they’re not riding.

Bike Gifts from the Burgh

13. Premium Rip-proof, Waterproof Pittsburgh Bike Map – 5th Edition ($10) Shop @ Bike Pittsburgh

Because anyone new to Pittsburgh needs a little help with direction.

14. Merino Wool BikePGH Jersey – Pre-Order ($150) Shop @ Bike Pittsburgh

Because they love biking…and Pittsburgh!

15. Reflective Cycling Cap ($45) Fiks: Reflective

Because you can be safe without looking nerdy.

To have Lily&Strum help you with your gifting organization and provide you with your very own customized recommendations sign up for your free account here. To discover more great sites and products, follow us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram or Pinterest. Happy gifting!

The post Bike Gifts…Just Because appeared first on Lily&Strum.

And guess what? They even let us set up our own boutique! We’re featuring all our favorite handmade gifts which will also now be available in our growing inventory of recommendations.

We’ve just started looking around but have already found some really great gems. Maybe we were shopping for ourselves…but these gifts are all for the ladies. Here’s a taste of what we found so far:

Sentimental Gifts

Laser Cut Silhouette Pendant, $88

Love One Another Tiny Bowl, $32

Practical Gifts

Large Walnut Cake Stand, $199

Large Cork Bowl, $150

Pretty Gifts

No.6 Mint Green, $40

Yogita Scarf, $85

Modern Gifts

Pattern Block Medallion, $80

Dots Furoshiki, $48

Whimsical Gifts

Awesome Stuff Zipper Pouch, $32

Inverse Mini Airplant Pod, $35

And there will be more where this came from! New makers join the site daily and we’ll be searching their studio pages for more great gifts. So check back often!

To have Lily&Strum help you with your gifting organization and provide you with your very own customized recommendations sign up for your free account here. To discover more great sites and products, follow us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram or Pinterest. Happy gifting!

The post Handmade Gifts on Great.ly appeared first on Lily&Strum.

So why not use that theory to your advantage every time you give a gift? Simply put, a good delivery means taking the time to wrap the gift. Boom. Now, check out these 3 ways to make an impression with gift packaging:

1.) Get Creative

Need inspiration? Well, check out one of our favorite gift packaging blogs (yes, this blog is all about gift wrapping!) and let the inspiration find you! You’ll find it all at “Older and Wiser”. Nothing but creativity here.

2.) Add a Personal Touch

Who said gift packaging has to be fancy? Adding that personal touch might just supersede that fanciness. Also, you’ll better understand that 3 letter word, DIY, that sounds so cool but you don’t know what they are talking about. (Do-It-Yourself). Check out these easy DIY steps from Artifact Uprising and make it your own!

3.) Go Classic

Maybe it’s that you just don’t know HOW to gift wrap or you need a refresher? For a great tutorial we turn to a true classic for advice, Martha Stewart. Once you master the basics, it becomes quite simple.

It suddenly isn’t about the sweater and that you remembered (although good for you!) but that you were thoughtful. Whatever happens, don’t hand it over in the bag with the receipt still in it or we might come and find you.

To check out some of our favorite wrap jobs, check out our Pinterest Board. To discover more great sites and products, follow along on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram or Pinterest. Happy gifting!

The post Gift Packaging Matters: 3 Ways to Make an Impressionable Gift appeared first on Lily&Strum.

Meet Kit Mueller. If you don’t already know him, you should. He’s not only one of Pittsburgh’s biggest advocates on innovation, but as an investor, organizer and advisor, he lives it. He knows the ins and outs of the Burgh’s growing company scene and lends a helping hand to the great startups. He’s the chief evangelist at Rustbuilt and co-founder of Fygment, a purpose driven textile shop that supports makers with equipment, supplies and time. Business aside, he’s a huge Pittsburgh fan and you can easily find him out and about (Sometimes three places at once).

So what does that have to do with gifting? Well, as a gifting company, Lily&Strum’s primary service is to provide our users with tailored gift recommendations (and also a ’Burgh Rustbuilt certified startup), we sat down with Kit to learn more about all the great Pittsburgh companies and get his take on those who offer great products that well…would make great gifts.

Moving beyond manufacturing, healthcare & technology, Pittsburgh is clearly becoming a growing hub for consumer and services companies. Do you see that as a trend and why are they building here?

One of the reasons is that the cost of launching a business and building an audience is so much lower than it used to be and there really aren’t many geographic barriers. So some folks are using this opportunity to get back to Pittsburgh with its’ low costs and high quality of life or to leave their corporate job. Building a consumer brand or a services business still isn’t easy, but it is now in the realm of possibility.

What are some of the Pittsburgh consumer focused companies with “giftable” products that stand out to you?

Some of the most recent companies I’d note include Moop, Thread, Lifeshel and Fiks Reflective.

Messenger # 1 by Moop +Thread – $169

Moop designs and manufactures awesome bags. They recently teamed up with Thread, a responsible fabric company (and another burgh startup!) to create products using fabrics from recycled plastic bottles from the streets of Haiti.

Cool bags, cool concept. I own and love this one.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Whistl by LifeShel (Pre-Order) $60

Talk about innovation. LifeShel designs and manufactures solutions designed to help in distress situations. It’s a great concept and they are currently revving up and taking pre-orders for the Whistl, an alert system smartphone. Get on the list and get this for your loved ones and be a part of this innovation that will soon sweep the nation!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Wheel Stripe by Fiks Reflective – $15.00

Bikers are everywhere and bike riding is not just a means of pleasure anymore but truly a way for transport. And when you bike, you want to bike in style while being safe. Fiks Reflective makes reflective wheel stripes for your bikes that well…are cool! If you know any bikers, you’ve got to add this to their gift list.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hoodie – by Fygment $75.00

And I’d be remiss not to mention that you can support the burgeoning maker scene by purchasing a host of goods on Fygment.com (coming soon!)

What is the best Pittsburgh gift you ever received and why?

Classes to the Pittsburgh Tech Shop gave me access to all their machines and tools. It’s such a fun community and a great gift idea for inventors, tinkerers, students and even entrepreneurs who want to make things happen.

Pittsburgh is known for its’ great food and food always makes a great gift. What are some of Pittsburgh’s best that you’ve gifted before?

Pittsburgh has a ton of notorious foods that are so popular they are now available online! You’ve got to check out Prantls Burnt Almond Torte and Mineos Pizza (yes, they actually fed ex) for 2 of the best!

Thanks again to Kit Mueller for pointing out some of Pittsburgh’s finest companies and gifts. We’re proud to already count many of these Pittsburgh products as our own gift recommendations.

To have Lily&Strum help you with your gifting organization and provide you with your very own customized recommendations sign up for your free account here.

To discover more great sites and products, follow us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram or Pinterest. Happy gifting!

The post Startup Certified Pittsburgh Gifts from the Man who knows Best appeared first on Lily&Strum.