A Unique, Online Gift Guide for Last Minute Holiday Shoppers
Story by Explore, submitted photos/video
The year of 2018 has been our best yet for Explore!
While our publisher Cassie Hepler moved across the country to Phoenix, Arizona, it has helped expand the blog and gaining more traction and faithful followers every day. We have made some new partnerships and awesome blogger/influencer friends in the Valley of the Sun to California and beyond. We thank you from the bottom of our hearts for all who have helped us succeed in this crazy, exciting blogging world. From the East Coast to the West Coast, we looking forward to exploring more and outside the USA for 2019. In the meantime, as we all slow down and celebrate the holidays, here’s the weirdest holiday list we’ve come up with yet for all you last minute shoppers like us… and of course you can order online. We’ve tested everything to make sure it’s Explore worthy so no worries gang. It really makes no sense, rhyme or reason but then again doesn’t life follow suit sometimes? Enjoy our twisted list & keep exploring. Cheers to an outstanding 2019!
SpyPro Fine Leather Shoes
SkyPro is the leader in men and women’s stylish footwear for frequent flyers, professionals and the aviation service industry are now available in the U.S. via Amazon, Shoes.com, ShoesCentral and Zappos. Each style for men and women is handcrafted fine leather in Portugal to the highest standards earning them an IATA Certification – the world’s first and only certified footwear for aviation professionals. Because of this certification, consumers can trust that these shoes are the most comfortable, taking them through any busy day in style. Of course they are airport friendly with no security alarms triggered – ever.
Relay Walkie Talkie
Relay is the newly launched, screen free communications device that is as easy to use as a walkie talkie. Relay works a lot like an old-fashioned walkie-talkie, except that it’s powered by both WiFi and 4G LTE cellular so you can connect down the street, across the country and anywhere you’d use a cell phone. And parents with smartphones can connect with their kids’ Relay devices using the Relay app (for iOS, Android, and Microsoft). With Relay, you can start a two-way conversation by pushing a single button and stop worrying about screen addiction, questionable content, privacy, or the other concerns that come with putting a smartphone in the hands of young children. Or in our mind: cook dinner and drink wine while talking to your aunt!
Flosstime Automatic Floss Dispenser
Your teeth tell a lot about your overall health. Don’t be a snaggletooth! Flosstime is the world’s first automated floss dispenser. We love a unique gadget-gift, it’s under $40 and has been gaining popularity with tech lovers since it launched. You stick it to your bathroom mirror or tile and it reminds you to floss daily, dispenses just the right amount and gives you a smile when you floss. It also has attachments for the little ones like a red plastic crab to making flossing more fun!
The Smile Box Foam Teeth Whitener
The Smile Box, now sold on Amazon Prime is a unique whitening foam developed by a dentist for sensitive teeth. Smile Box and foam are part of the whitening process and not a single “whitening” event – mainly for people who have always wanted to whiten their teeth but have the fear of sensitivity caused by other whitening systems from their dentist or from lights. Developed by a pioneer in teeth whitening with over 30 years of dental experience, Dr. Wolf knows the main concern with teeth whitening is teeth sensitivity. Smile Box is designed to bring a safe, zero sensitivity daily whitening solution to your door with guaranteed results or your money back. So far, so good here!
East Coast MealPal Food App
Since we are bicoastal and everywhere in between, we want to be the first to share about MealPal, a food delivery service app starting on the East Coast (New York City, N.Y, and Philadelphia, PA) for now. Instead of treating a friend to a fancy meal or getting an older relative another Red Lobster gift card for the holidays, you can gift them an entire month of lunches! Each lunch is only $6 and comes with the added bonus of discovering new restaurants and skipping lunchtime lines. It’s a super easy process, the night before they order a delicious dish from a nearby restaurant. The day of, take a much-needed break from the office to stretch their legs by going to pick up their food with an added bonus – MealPal lets you skip the lunchtime lines. Eat up, nom nom!
Luca + Danni Jewelry
Luca + Danni is an accessories brand rooted in embracing the journey of life. They believe in the simple yet powerful belief that dreams can come true. An investment banker by background, founder Fred Magnanimi left a career on Wall Street to reconnect with his roots at his family’s Rhode Island based jewelry manufacturing business. In April 2013, Fred’s younger brother Danny lost a difficult battle with Leukemia at only 33 years old. Danny’s dream was to create a unique line of handcrafted, American-made jewelry that inspired others through the journey of life. Fueled by his brother’s passion and burning desire to carry forth his vision, Luca + Danni was born. Named after Fred’s two young children, Luca + Danni, it reminds us that through love, inspiration and passion, we should all boldly embrace the journey of life.
Make Your Own CardFool
CardFool.com, the leaders in hilarious eCards and traditional greeting cards, have designed a collection of cards. For $3.99, you can add your own personalized message and mail directly to anyone in the U.S. This can all be done right on your smartphone by downloading the CardFool app. Help everyone channel their funny bone and celebrate the lucky individuals on your naughty list. What makes the company unique is that they want everyone to know that it’s OK to be funny – in fact, let your weird flag fly high! They also offer FREE eCards. A small price to pay for a priceless gift. Not to mention, the card will never rot or break, or force furniture to be moved around to make it fit.
SodaStream Fizzi One Touch
Saving the world from plastic pollution has never been so easy, stylish or refreshing with SodaStream. The sleek Fizzi One Touch is SodaStream’s newest model and carbonates tap water at the touch of a button. With three levels of automatic carbonation, you can perfectly customize your sparkling water and there’s no worry of accidentally fizzing all over yourself. Imagine all the cocktails you can make with this little gadget and there’s flavors galore to add to your new best robot friend!
GoodJanes False Eyelashes
Perfectly wrapped in a turquoise bow in its own circular protective pod, each set of 100 percent cruelty-free GoodJanes mink lashes arrives in clear, protective trays. With proper care, they can be reused up to 25 times! Imagine all the time and money saved from getting falsies done more than once a month. GoodJanes has 18 styles of luxury false eyelashes ranging from dramatic, glam and natural for a custom look. GoodJanes lashes range in price from $29.95 to $59.95 and if you divide that by 25… yeah, you do the math!
Wendigo Tea Company
Wendigo Tea Company is a Cincinnati-based tea company that is changing the industry and breaking stereotypes of what a tea company should be as well as what good tea should taste like. Owned by Sky White, a former musician (Foxy Shazam), Wendigo carries a selection of loose-leaf, organic and delicious high-grade teas sourced from around the globe. Each of these teas embodies the mysterious essence of a cryptic namesake, paired with fantastical art for a bold presentation. From bold black teas and mysterious jasmine, to layered chai and fiery ginger “Siren” herbal, there’s something for everyone to enjoy and they’re all organic.
Happy Potter, Walking Dead, GOT & More Pop Up Books
Keepsake books for “adults” and children alike, these are a visual delight for anyone at every age. In partnership with Warner Bros. Consumer Products, Insight Editions has become one of the leading publishers of high-quality pop-up books, encompassing the universes of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Hearthstone, Walking Dead, Game of Thrones, and more. Their most recent is the most impressive yet: Harry Potter: A Pop-Up Guide to Hogwarts, by famed paper artist Matthew Reinhart. This immersive, amazing pop-up book is full of surprises and one of the most creative, fun gifts available for the Harry Potter fan in your life. This book features spectacular pop-up re-creations of key locations inside and outside Hogwarts castle, and it opens flat to form a pop-up map of the castle and its grounds—including the Quidditch pitch, the Forbidden Forest, and beyond. In addition to large pops on each spread, numerous mini-pops will bring to life beloved elements from the Harry Potter films, such as the Marauder’s Map and the Flying Ford Anglia. Look for more pop-ups from Insight Editions in 2019 and geek out on all of them, not just limited to muggles!
Press Coffee Festivus
For those in Arizona, we know Press Coffee is the jam! For those around the country or world, you can order it online to see what the Festivus fuss is all about. The holiday blend is not to be beat and is the seventh year Press has released the seasonal Festivus blend. The mix of Ethiopian and Brazilian coffees is designed to make sure the rest of us have that much-needed wake up call during the holiday season (it’s so tempting to hibernate like a bear). It is available by the bag and can also be paired with a seasonal Press Coffee gift card. Individual 12 oz bags of Festivus can be purchased for $16.50 at all Press locations and online for shipping anywhere in the world. Local Arizona shoppers can also pair a bag of Festivus with a $10 gift card for only $25. This offer is only available in-store at Press Coffee’s street-side cafes.
Mobile Edge Backpack
Designed by gamers for gamers, Mobile Edge’s award-winning Core Gaming Backpack provides easy-access storage, power on-the-go, and plenty of space for most popular models of gaming or plain old laptops (up to 17″), plus dedicated compartments for gaming accessories, keyboards, controllers, headphones and even snacks. It’s also TSA checkpoint-friendly, features a trolley strap for stacking, and is constructed of rugged ballistic nylon that delivers style, comfort and reliability for a lifetime of quality, guaranteed by Mobile Edge. And if you don’t like things on your back, Mobile Edge’s new Special Edition Metro Tote is perfect for commuters, students and travelers looking for the convenience of a purse, travel bag, briefcase, or book bag all-in-one. For busy moms and dads, it can even act as an accessory bag for diapers, bottles, and an infant’s favorite playthings!
Deep Eddy Vodka Holiday Gift Box
This Deep Eddy Vodka gift box set is available at select retailers nationwide and includes a 750mL bottle of Deep Eddy Original Vodka alongside a festive 6 foot string of Deep Eddy Vodka mini-lights plus a recipe for a simple apple spice cocktail. Deep Eddy Original Vodka, handcrafted in small batches in Austin, TX, can also be enjoyed in any of your other favorite holiday recipes, or simply mixed with seltzer and a citrus garnish. You can get the holiday set here or check out all of their fine flavors (our fave is the lemon, it tastes like lemon drops) from Deep Eddy Vodka.
Honestly Margo
Honestly Margo is the bath and beauty brand that was created by a mother/daughter duo when Margo was just 12 years old. Honestly Margo’s core beliefs and principles being “Inspired by Nature & You”. What began from a young girl’s dream to create a business that was was based upon inspiration, belief and persistence is now a thriving success. It was fresh and pure idea and mom saw that Margo was relentless in wanting to create a business. Start those boss bases early and watch them flourish!
Tussock Jumper Wines
Jump around the wine world with Tussock Jumper Wines! This company is a wine negociant (sourcing vs. owning the chateaus), similar to Barton & Guestier or Georges Duboeuf. In the wine industry, this is becoming more and more important as climate change and severe weather are impacting wineries around the globe. Areas that used to be famous for growing specific varietals can no longer do so as consistently. Acting as a negociant allows them to source from and develop relationships with winemakers and growers in lesser-known wine regions, to ensure that the quality of wines that they are bottling meet the quality and expectations of the consumer. It also becomes a much more sustainable process. Check out all the wines at Tussock Jumper above and order online at GetWineOnline.com.
Afternoon Delight Cheeky Intimates
Afternoon Delight replaces serious with silly and common designs with unconventional themes. Afternoon Delight is for bold, witty and wild ladies who have fun with their clothes and under their clothes. They want to give you something to smile about, so why not let it be the first thing you put on and the last thing you take off? Afternoon Delight is a brand that encourages women to feel comfortable and confident being sexy. Afternoon Delight is a sexy, silly lingerie and lifestyle brand. Making great traction with bachelorette, honeymoon and girls trips gifts, why not add tit to your stocking stuffer (puns intended).
