Pampered Pets
By Jenni Terry
Gift giving during the holidays is not as easy as it was back in the “Little House on the Prairie” days when Pa just needed new boots and Ma had her eye on a stove.
In our consumer-driven generation most people get what they want when they want it, and the thing that some people really need (money to pay off the credit card debt from accruing all that stuff they wanted) is not something one should wrap up in a pretty box and stick under a tree.
Last Christmas, I was inspired by my mother-in-law who clearly uses the popular gift-giving technique of looking at the recipient’s personal interests. She gave me a canvas tote with the picture of a cat lounging on a stack of books with the words, “Cats. Books. Life is Good!” scrawled across the bottom of it.
An added bonus of the bag was that wearing it also eliminated the need for birth control, but I did love it. It was quirky. It was funny. It was something that I would not buy for myself, but the thought behind it was evident. And who couldn’t use an extra canvas tote for grocery runs?
Top 10 Holiday Gifts for Animal Lovers
1. For readers: “Unlikely Friendships: 47 Remarkable Stories from the Animal Kingdom” by National Geographic magazine writer Jennifer Holland, $8.93/paperback, $6.62/Kindle edition at www.amazon.com.
2. For creative types: Pictures turned into a paint-by-numbers project, $40 at www.paintapic.com.
3. For young children: PillowPets, $15.99-$24.99 at www.mypillowpets.com. The mom-turned-mogul creator of these smart but simple little stuffties is now filthy stinking rich. ‘Nuff said.
4. For winos with style: Jonthan Adler’s cat and dog bottle stoppers, $18 at www.jonathanadler.com. These perfect little stocking stuffers are less than 20 bucks.
5. For cat ladies who like to cook: Pinstripe Cats Vintage-Style Apron, $29.95 at www.surlatable.com. Help that special cat lady in your life embrace the role!
6. For home decorating enthusiasts with eclectic taste: Barking Mad Wallpaper, $108, or Sennenhund Handle Set, $78, at Anthropologie, multiple NoVA locations. Anthropologie’s vintage-inspired home accessories collection offers many pet-themed pieces.
7. For funny teens who like pugs—or any dogs: Gemma Correll Pugs Not Drugs T-shirt, $24 at Urban Outfitters, multiple NoVA locations. They’ll show off their funny bone and look hip.
8. For the productive: Pet pics turned into stamps, $5-$10 for a sheet of 20 at www.photo.stamps.com. Even mailing bills will be fun.
9. For hospitable cat people: 2’x3’ Cat Printed Rug, $18 at Urban Outfitters, multiple NoVA locations. This cute rug could make almost anyone a cat lover.
10. For nature lovers: Sparrow Lilac Graphic Knit Blanket, $68 at www.dwellstudio.com. Whimsical birds make this modern print look warm and welcoming.
December 2011, Photos: Courtesy of paint a pic (Dog) / Courtesy of sur la table (Apron); Courtesy of photo stamps (dog stamp); Courtesy of jonathan adler (cat dog bottle stop); Courtesy of dwell studio (blanket); Courtesy of Urban outfitters (Pugs not drugs)
Tags: gifts, Northern Virginia, Northern Virginia Magazine, NoVA, pets