We are SO not the kind of people who ordinarily take quick Caribbean vacations (we’re more the “let’s visit an unknown city and contemplate the architecture types) but my husband’s got spring break, and I’ve got spring fever, and a few days sacked out on the beach sounds about PERFECT right now.

You know what one needs for a quick Caribbean vacation?  Beach coverups and flip flops and a few dresses to wear out to dinner.  But because this is a quick, last-minute, not-exactly-budgeted-for trip, though, I’m not interested in spending a bunch of money on stuff to bring with us.  So I’m proud to report that I’ve done all my shopping for the trip (and it wasn’t much) at Old Navy and Forever 21 (where I keep waiting for someone to ask me  “ma’am, are you lost? You know this is Forever 21, right? Like, a store named after an age you sailed by TEN YEARS AGO?”)

So you can imagine my delight when I walked into Old Navy and found this dress.  It is the perfect dress for this purpose, but I’d argue that it’s a perfect dress even if you aren’t boarding a plane in two days.

Sailor stripes are incredibly trendy for spring, which makes this super fun, but since it’s only $15 (or $7.99 if you get the gray stripe version), you won’t feel despondent when sailor stripes look incredibly dated in a year.  It has flattering elbow sleeves (also good for those times when you’ve gotten too much sun) and a short-but-not obscene length.  You could easily wear it as a beach coverup with flip flops, but it would be just as appropriate with some sandals and a long necklace for a spring dinner date.  It’s lightweight and cool without being skimpy or cheap looking, and I’m just in love with it.

Old Navy Sailor Stripe Dress, $15 for navy stripe, some colors on sale for $7.99 (!) at Old Navy stores and oldnavy.com

One of my best friends has a great story about going on a date with a guy who was an annoying know-it-all all night, acting like he was much more sophisticated than she was, bragging about where he’d traveled, boasting about his foodie pedigree, that kind of thing.  At the end of the insufferable evening, he topped it off by ordering the “pot de creme”- pronounced “paht dee creem,” rather than the more traditional “poh duh crehm,” thus redeeming the awful date by giving her a fun story to tell for all eternity.

So yes, pots de creme may seem a little…fussy.  But I cannot get over how cute these little pots are.  They have the classic lion’s head accent, and each hold two ounces.  They’re dishwasher safe, microwave safe, and oven safe to 350 degrees.

And at $13.96 for a SET OF TWELVE, I will FIND reasons to use them.  Chocolate pudding! Creme brulee! Really tiny portions of soup! Serving dips and condiments at a party! Heck, I’d use one on my bedside table to hold my rings at night.

If, like me, you’re eying the upcoming wedding season with some trepidation, I’d also note that they’d make an excellent classy-looking, not-too-expensive shower gift.

Set of twelve pots de creme pots, $13.96 on sale at Sur La Table.

Clinique Quickliner for Eyes

Line with one side, smudge with the other.  Comes in amazing colors, and much nicer quality than a lot of those drug store brands.

Quickliner, $14.50 at Clinique counters

Rosebud Salve

I put this magic  product in my mom and sister’s stockings one year, and now they get mad if I don’t do it every year.  A perfect lip balm that also works great on dry skin, and to tame flyaways, and a million other uses.

Rosebud Salve, $5.59 at Drugstore.com and drugstores everywhere

Tweezerman Mini

Tread carefully or you risk of sending a “wow, your eyebrows are super bushy!” message with this one.  But if you know she plucks already, you can’t beat the gold standard of tweezers. 

Tweezerman Mini, $10-$12 at Ulta, Sephora and elsewhere

Fancy Hair Minis

My sister once got me a bunch of travel-sized bottles of fancy hair products I would have been too chicken to try myself.  GREAT gift.  Recommended: Ojon dry shampoo (pictured); Fekkai products.

Ojon travel-sized dry shampoo, $10 at Sephora

Laura Mercier Hand Cream

Everyone needs hand cream at this time of year.  This is way nicer than the stuff she buys herself.  It goes on smooth, absorbs quickly, and smells divine.  (I recommend the Almond Coconut scent.) 

Hand Cream, $15 at Bloomingdales and at department stores

Gin & Titonic Ice Cube Trays

Hah! Gin and Titonic!  Get it? TiTONIC?  Hilarious!  (Jokes aside, these ice cubes are pretty cute.  And if the family gathering gets a little stressful, you can put them right to work.)

Ice Cube Trays, $6 at Perpetual Kid

Presto Cheese Slicer

Elegant, useful design is ALWAYS a welcome gift.  Perfect for cheese lovers, design-lovers, and those who will feel gratified that you thought they’d appreciate a gift that’s also featured in the permanent collection at MOMA.  Bonus: many, many opportunities for “who cut the cheese” jokes.  Presto!

Cheese slicer, $5 at MOMA Store

Please Please Me (Remastered)

The newly digitally-remastered versions of all the Beatles albums really do sound different- clearer and crisper- than the original cd releases.  Start someone off on collecting the new versions with the great 1st album- or pick what you think might be their favorite.  Who can object to the Beatles?  No one, that’s who.

Remastered Beatles Albums, $12.99 on Amazon

Dog Costume

Does your impossible-to-buy-for someone happen to have a small dog?  Will you please buy them this?  Please?  And then send me pictures?  Thank you.

Dog Rudolph Costume, $10 on etsy

Hibiscus Flowers in Syrup

These are so unexpected and so, so lovely.  Put one in the bottom of a glass of champagne for an elegant, delicious daytime cocktail.  Unusual items like this are perfect for hard-to-shop-for folks.  Plus, they’re tasty.

Hibiscus Flowers, $11 at Wildhibiscus.com

Hopefully, next year, these people will give us some suggestions or a wish list or something.  This is exhausting.

Spilt Milk Cereal Bowl

This adorable bowl looks like it has milk spilling over the sides.  But it’s not just clever- is nice and deep, perfect for late night bowls of cereal or microwaved macaroni and cheese.  Plus, it’s silicone, so it’s easy to clean and won’t break when its thrown in a box for storage over the summer.

Silicone cereal bowl, $13.99 at Perpetual Kid

Pick your nose paper cups

What’s better than cheap beer in your dorm room with friends?  Cheap beer consumed out of ridiculous paper cups with hilarious noses!  I call dibs on one with a mustache!

Pick your nose cups, $10.75 at Amazon

Red Vines Tub

I ate an unholy amount of these in college.  A tub of these in your room = instant visitors.  Probably best reserved for those traveling back to campus by car, so as to avoid overweight bag fees.

Red Vines 4-lb Tub, $10.66 on Amazon

Wood Grain Magnet Strips

Those quilted flower-fabric bulletin boards are SO 1990s.  Try something sleeker and more modern for hanging those embarrassing pictures of her Saturday-night antics.
Magnetic Strips with 6 super-strong magnets, $8 at Velocity Art and Design

Caladium Bowl

This lovely bowl is just made for sitting on a dresser.  Perfect for storing  rings, hair bands, or quarters for the laundry.

Caladium Bowl, $7.95  (on sale from $16) at Anthropologie

We Love Colors Tights

Would you have wanted it in the 80s?  Do the pictures of you wearing it in the old days mortify you now?  Perfect. That’s what she wants.  These tights come in 51 amazing colors, including neons.  Get a couple, secure your “cool aunt” status.

Tights, $8 each, at We Love Colors

Mixtape Headphone Winder

Use this little gadget to keep those pesky headphone cords at bay.  Sure, he never owned a cassette tape, but that doesn’t mean he can’t appreciate irony.

Headphone Winder, $8 at Fred Flare

Acoustic Amplifier

This super-cool contraption amplifies the sound from your iPhone just by the shape of the plastic, using good old-fashioned physics.  Excellent as a speaker for carrying with you in a backpack, or for those who are battery-phobic.  (Via Maggie)

Griffin Acoustic Amplifier, $14.99 at Amazon

Sharpie Mini Marker Set

Allows her to doodle her initials with those of her crush in many delicious colors.  Everyone loves new art supplies.

Sharpie Mini Markers, $11.73 at Amazon

DIY Duct Tape Wallet Kit

Imagine how cool she’ll feel when someone inquires after her badass wallet and she can say nonchalantly “oh, this old thing? I made it.”

Duct Tape Wallet Kit, $9.99 at Amazon

They ARE difficult- to shop for, to relate to, to endure- but we do love them, don’t we?

Vosges Minis

Vosges chocolate comes in outrageous and crazy-delicious flavors like Naga (with curry and coconut) and Bacon (with, um, bacon). I highly recommend the Barcelona (with sea salt and almonds).  With this, you can create your own set and give someone 6 different flavors for a very friendly price.

Mix n’ Match Minis, $12.50 for 6 at Vosges

Quince & Apple Shallot Confit

“Onion jam?” you ask?  Oh yes.  Spread this on some bread with tomato slices and sharp cheddar cheese for the most insanely delicious grilled cheese sandwhich of your life.  Or, if you’re a traditionalist, serve with a big bloody steak.  Either way: delicious.

Shallot Confit with Red Wine by Quince & Apple, $5.99 at Foodzie

Moravian Spice Cookies

Crispy, spicy, and addictively delicious.  No one will care one bit that your signature Christmas cookies aren’t homemade.

Moravian Spice Cookies, $13 at Amazon

Passionfruit Vinegar

Oh my god.  This vinegar is insane.  Make a light vinaigrette for a salad of greens and fruit, use it to dress some fresh strawberries or, my favorite, drizzle it straight onto some grilled fish.  Interesting, unusual, and delicious (and, at this price, a STEAL.)

A L’Olivier PAssionfruit Vinegar, $14.97 at Amazon

Beeline Honey

This honey has it all: great packaging, small-batch production, and the knowledge that you’re supporting a great cause.  (Beeline products are made by participants in a workforce training program for ex-offenders who are trying to reenter the workforce.  Cool, right?)

Beeline honey, 12 oz jar, $9 at Beeline Store

Yum.

Bamboo Serving Spoon and Fancy Pasta Sauce

Stock up on these nice-looking spoons- a total steal at only 95 cents each- and tie them to a nice jar of pasta sauce with a pretty ribbon for a different, delicious gift.  I’m partial to Lucini pasta sauces (available at Whole Foods and other grocery stores) for this purpose.  Beautiful packages, all natural, and delicious.  Trifecta.

Bamboo Serving Spoon, .95 each at Crate and Barrel

French Sea Salt

It seems too decadent to buy fancy salt for oneself- so you’ll get major points for bringing something so luxe.  And for the same price as a bottle of wine, this will last a heck of a lot longer.

Fleur de Sel, $12.50 at Williams Sonoma

Letterpress Coasters

Guests are messy.  Why not give them something to help combat those pesky rings from all those drinks?  These letterpress coasters are gorgeous, with unusual designs and rich colors.

Letterpress Coasters, $12 at Greener Grass Design

Mini 2010 Calendar

If you come to a party at my house, bring me this.  A beautifully illustrated, lovely-hued mini-calendar.  The case inverts to a stand! Brilliant.  (Helpful tip: also fits in an envelope for easy low-cost mailing to far-flung friends.)

Snow & Graham Mini 2010 Calendar, $12 at Greer Chicago

Vino Wine Glasses

What’s that? You’re going to a dinner party and have been specifically asked to bring wine?  Fine, I’ll allow it.  But why not make it a little more lasting with a set of these cute, dishwasher-safe and super-frugal wine glasses?

Set of 4 Vino Wineglasses, $9.95 at Crate and Barrel

There!  Now you’re ready for anything.  Party on, Wayne.

It’s awkward, isn’t it?  The buying of gifts for coworkers, perhaps someone you don’t even know at all?  And who really wants to break the bank on gifts for the cubicle-mate?  That money is much better spent on hot toddys.  Here, a few suggestions for gifts that will secure your status as rocking office mate, without breaking the bank:

Silly Face Stickers

Let them personalize their calculator, stapler, coffee mug, computer monitor, or virtually anything else with these silly stickers.   Goofy, fun, and does not even pretend that you know anything about the preferences of your coworker.  Plus: cheap!

InAnimate Stickers, $3.99, Perpetual Kid

Cake Wrecks: When Professional Cakes go Hilariously Wrong

This awesome book memorializes some of the best of the outstanding cake bloopers memorialized on the fabulous blog Cakewrecks.  Fun to pass around at the office party, entertaining for everyone.  Particularly good for editors and other grammar nerds.

Cake Wrecks Book, $9.35 on Amazon

Zoo and Animal Rubber Bands

Who knew office supplies could be so cute?  Just don’t shoot the rubber bands at the boss.  Even a cute giraffe rubber band can sting.

Pet & Zoo Rubber Bands, $7 at See Jane Work

Carol’s Cookies Coffee Mug

Take the traditional “coffee mug” gift to a whole new level of awesome with the inclusion of two of the world’s most delicious cookies.  Seriously, I have a friend who served these instead of wedding cake at her wedding, and people are still talking about it.  They’re that good.

Carol’s Coffee Cup, $12.95 at Carol’s

Wood Cut File Folders

They may have to have file folders on their desk, but at least they can be pretty.  (Or, if you draw a male coworker out of the hat: at least they can be manly.  Way to go, gender-neutral wood file folders!)

Wood Cut File Folders, $10 for 6 at Greener Grass Design

There! You’re an office legend!

No secret santa exchange in your office?  Stay tuned throughout the week for more gift guides!

• Edible Gifts
• Hostess Gifts
• Stocking Stuffers for Kids
• Stocking Stuffers for Grown Ups
• Gifts for the cook
• Smashing Secret Santa Presents
• Gifts for teenagers
• Gifts for college kids
• Surefire hits for hard to shop for family members
• Frugal beauty gifts

All populated with great gifts under $15!  Woohoo!  Happy Black Friday, everyone!