Family life on LA's Westside

Gift guide

The Holiday Gift Guide for Women

Gift Ideas for the Women in Your Life

Fly Girl

For the outdoors woman, outfit her in Exofficio, the stylish active clothes brand designed for her lifestyle.  The frequent traveler woman on your list will love the durable and sharp-looking FlyQ Vest ($100), featuring an advanced Travel Pocket System to help her breeze through airport security, sans purse.  She can save room in her luggage with the versatile hip-length Go-To Hoody ($49.91), featuring wrinkle-free drirelease fabric, that she can wear with jeans or as an extra layer on cool nights, or it doubles as a cover-up.   She can get cozy in the lightweight chenille feather-fleece Irresistible Neska V-Neck Sweater ($54.91 – $65.00), which is so soft she won’t  know if you should wear it or pet it. If she packs just one pair of pants on a trip, make it the functional and fashionable lightweight nylon Nomad Roll-Up Pant ($70.00), which covert from pants to capris in a snap.  Available at REI or www.exofficio.com.

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No purse needed with the multi-pocked FlyQ Vest from Exofficio
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Exofficio’s perfect roll-up pants for just about any activity
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Exoffico stylin’ clothes for the active woman – the super soft v-neck sweater
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The versatile long shirt that can be worn as a cover up or over jeans

She will feel rich anytime she reaches for the fashionable bi-fold wallet from Anais Gvani.  Made of contrasting hues of kid-soft Italian leather and lined with silky fabric, this spacious yet compact wallet features compartments for credit cards, change, and bills. Available in black, brown, deep coffee, grey, purple, red.  $52.19 and up, www.overstock.com

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Two-tone bi-fold wallet from Anais Gvani

Blend-Her

She’s been begging for one of those hi tech blenders, but you didn’t think you had the budget to get her one.  The Oster Versa Performance Blender is the answer. This super powerful blender is all that, and more.  The 1,400-watt motor spins its stainless steel blades at 28,000 RPM to blend smoothies, protein drinks, soups, dips, dressings, salsas and many other delicious treats in seconds.  The large 8-cup BPA-free Tritan plastic jar dwarfs the competition, and the affordable price makes it an even better value.  $249.00, Bed Bath & Beyond.

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The 1,400-watt Oster Versa Performance Blender

Shoe In

She loves sensible shoes, but most orthopedic shoes are dog ugly.  Not the stylin’ and comfy Vionic Orthaheel collection of good-for-your-health shoes designed by a podiatrist and recommended by the APMA.  For work, there’s the Olivia Ballet Flat ($89.95) that looks great with a pants suit or a tailored pair of jeans and treats your feet to proper arch support, heel cushion and orthotic technology that reduces over-pronation and associated aches and pains.  For weekends, there’s the playful Tahoe Casual Lace-Up ($99.95) that sports not just hipster style but a removable biomechanical orthotic footbed for all-day comfort.  At night, kick off your shoes and slip into the soft corduroy Geneva Slipper ($69.95) that feels plush on your feet either hanging out at home or out running errands.  Available at www.orthaheelusa.com

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The stylish Vionic Orthaheel collection’s Olivia Ballet Flat
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The dreamy house slipper by Vionic Orthaheel

Fish Her a Merry Christmas

The lady angler on your list will love to cast with Ladyfish combo rod and reel from Shakespeare’s Catch More Fish Series. The shiny pink two-piece tubular glass rod has a comfortable, ergonomic grip designed specifically for women, and is ready to go with a Synergy 10 spincasting reel with line and a utility box with and assortment of 102 tackles.  A portion of the proceeds from the sale of Shakespeare Ladyfish® products goes to help support the ABCF (American Breast Cancer Foundation). $24.99 – $34.99, www.shakespeare-fishing.com

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