Allbirds: Made from New Zealand superfine merino wool, these are hands down the world's most comfortable shoes. The best part, they are designed and best worn barefoot; you can throw them in the wash when needed and you're off and running - good as new. I wear these every day in the Fall and Winter because they keep my typically cold feet warm. Silicon Valley is going crazy over these shoes - top executives at VC's and supposedly Zuckerberg himself is accessorizing his hoodie look with Allbirds! I highly recommend getting the classic natural grey - order now though, since they'll most likely be sold out for Christmas. Best of all - only $99!
Stio Lofted Sky Jacket: I love this jacket so much I bought it twice. Stio is a Jackson Hole based outdoor clothing company - think Patagonia high-end boutique. So, come winter time, everyone needs a good "puffer." I went crazy looking for the perfect puffer and finally ran across this gem while visiting a buddy in Jackson Hole. It is water resistant, has metal zipper teeth, an adjustable hem, zippered interior pocket, a cool interior color. Overall attention to detail blows away the competition - my favorite is Stio's acorn logo on the back shoulder of the jacket. I lost this jacket at my 20-year college reunion; I called the company crying and they gave me 40% off to purchase another - so I did :).
Honda Ruckus: This is my daily commuter from my house to my office; with no parking at the beach, this is a life saver. Don't worry Mom, I stick to the alleys and rarely go over 20 MPH. I look like Dumb and Dumber rolling through town, but you can't beat the $2 per month I spend on gas. I like this scooter because of its rugged look and durability - they say I'll never have issues, unlike more popular models like the Vespa.
Roku Ultra: If you have a new 4K television then you absolutely must have this. Roku is the leading streaming device and rightfully so - unlike Apple TV, it streams in 4K and there actually is a lot of 4K content available. Tons of movies and all of Netflix's killer new shows are all 4K - watching "Narcos" in 4K was sick! The Roku is also provider agnostic so you can search a show and it compares prices from all providers. It has a remote finder button, an awesome user interface and a remote control headphone jack if people in your household want you to "turn it down."
Sing Street: Now that you have your Roku Ultra, sit back and stream my favorite movie of 2016, Sing Street. No, this probably won't be nominated for an Oscar, but if you went to school in the 80's, you will love this movie. I was looking for a movie to download onto my iPad Pro for a flight (which you can do on Amazon Prime Video by the way); I was specifically looking at Flixster ratings and ran across a movie with 97% critics and 93% user rating. This is a small budget, coming of age story set in Dublin, but the music and characters are classic; this movie is sure to put a smile on your face. If you need another movie, stream "Hell or High Water" - unlike Sing Street this movie is assured an Oscar nod. And, if you're headed to the theatre over the Holidays, go see my other favorite movie of the year, "The Edge Of Seventeen."
Bose QC35 Wireless Noise Cancelling Headphones: There's a reason Apple released the iPhone 7 without a headphone jack - wireless is awesome and once you cut the cord, you'll never go back. My office mate and I both upgraded from the QC25's and working and traveling without a cord getting tangled in everything is a game changer - freedom! Bose's noise cancelling technology still leads the industry; the headphones are lightweight, comfortable and also come with a cord just in case. Pairing is easy and simple to switch between devices such as a phone and iPad Pro. If you don't like the silver and black options you can go to colorware.com and order a custom pair. Cut the cord and don't look back!
Apple Watch 2: I feel bad for my nice watches; they sit unwound and idle in an old safe. Except for suit occasions (weddings & funerals), I always gravitate to my Apple Watch. My favorite feature, and one often unused by most, is the ability to wirelessly sync your headphones; this is a must for working out. Watching people jog by holding big phones connected to wired headphones drives me crazy; I'm going to stand on the Strand and nail everyone with a Kooktech citation. Again, lose the wires people - wireless technology is here! Get yourself a pair of Powerbeats 3 Wireless Headphones, sync with your watch using Apple Music and enjoy a wireless workout. I also love the Apple Watch for its varied, custom complications; I can quickly glance at my watch, know the temperature, time, date, next calendar event and my favorite stock's price. It's also waterproof now, so you can enjoy swimming while it counts your calories and laps. You can also accessorize and buy multiple watch bands; I recommend a leather and stainless steel band from Amazon for under $20. I recommend the stainless steel Apple Watch model since it's easier to dress up.
Sunspel Cotton Riviera Mesh Polo Shirt: Throw all your polos out and replace your quiver with this shirt in every color. Specifically designed for Daniel Craig in Casino Royale, this mesh polo is the most stylish, best fitting most comfortable polo shirt made. From Nottingham, England, Sunspel has been making polo shirts since the 1950's. Eschewing the heat stifling pique cotton used in most polos, Sunspel developed a special fabric that's cool and comfortable to wear during a Riviera summer. Feel English - roll around in a Range Rover wearing your Sunspel polo and head home to watch "The Crown" with your new 4K Roku.
Zojirushi Stainless Mug (SM-KHE36/48): In my opinion, drinking coffee from a modern-day thermos kills the taste and I just realized why - I can't smell the coffee; it never occurred to me that I need to smell the coffee in order to really taste it! Enter the Japanese Zojirushi - its wide, pop-up mouth buries your nose in the fresh coffee aroma while eliminating spillage. Vacuum insulation keeps your coffee or tea hot for hours, the safety lock eliminates accidents during travel and best of all, its compact design is about 30% less voluminous than its rivals. I have both the 12 oz & 16 oz and use them both depending on the situation.
Toto Washlet S350e Seat Cover: This was my very first favorite thing in 2011 and continues to be my favorite thing of all time. I'm repeating this because the technology, while very popular in Japan, just has not caught on in the US. No, it's not a bidet; a little pressure washer wand moves out and cleans your underside with high-pressure, warm water. No more toilet paper! How can we use water to clean every part of our body with water but leave arguably the dirtiest for paper? You will need an outlet next to your toilet, which might require your handy man's help. The remote attaches to the wall, controlling the angle, water temperature, pressure and the dryer - that's right - hot hair blowing and drying your bum :). The seat is also always warm and the lid opens automatically when you get close.
10% Happier: Dan Harris, an ABC news anchor/correspondent had a panic attack on national television; this book is his story and the best book I've read yet for introducing, understanding, validating and getting you started in mindfulness & meditation. I was always a skeptic and thought meditation was for hippies walking around with crystals - you know, Cal students. Well, at the urging of a friend I gave this a shot and I can attest that meditation has changed my life. So, all I can say is, just give it a shot. When you're done with the book, I highly recommend his meditation App titled "10% Happier: Meditation for Fidgety Skeptics." In the App, "The Basics" with Joseph Goldstein is an amazing intro meditation course and the best place to get you started.
Manduka Pro Yoga Mat: Now that your meditating, it's time to go all in and give yoga a shot. So, I'm at dinner in a Woodstock, NY barn (yes, seriously), having dinner with an Indian friend; we were talking about yoga and he told me he wanted a "Manduka" mat for Father's Day and went into this big spiel as to why it's the ultimate yoga mat. Well, as it turns out, that was also my wife's and my favorite mat; when I pulled it up on the internet I was surprised and delighted to find out it's my fraternity brother's company. I love the mat's comfort, durability and the little frog logo is my favorite.
Red Notice: Nothing like a good novel to take down over Christmas break. From the New York Times: "The grandson of the head of the American Communist party commits the ultimate act of rebellion: He gets a business degree from Stanford. From there, he goes on to build the biggest hedge fund in Russia." What happens after that is truly unbelievable; the twists and turns will keep you spellbound and you're guaranteed to finish the book in a couple of days. Ever wonder what it would be like to be on Putin's bad side? Well, you're going to find out and I doubt you'll be investing in Russia any time soon.
Tumi Alpha 2 Hanging Travel Kit: If your travel kit does not hang then throw it out - now! Hotel bathroom counter space is valuable, especially if you're traveling with your wife that brings an extra suitcase just for her toiletries. So, hang your Dude Wipes and manscaping clippers out of her way. The Tumi Alpha 2 is the perfect size with numerous compartments and Tumi will personalize the bag with your initials in one of its colorful, signature monogram tags. Now that you have a new travel kit, you'll need to fill it with a couple items from below.
Hazel Hygiene: This is a new sub-category to the list this year - my favorite 2016 hygiene products. Dude Wipes: If you don't have a Toto Washlet, you need these; I still don't see how you think dry toilet paper is adequate - close with a nice moist, flushable Dude Wipe. Panasonic ER430K Ear & Nose Trimmer: If you are talking to me with a nose hair sticking out, the conversation is over. My friends, you are now over 40 and your nose and ear hair are aggressive - trim it for God's sake! Dentek Easy Brushes: Carry in your pocket and pluck out those leftovers after your meals - these reach crevices toothpicks cannot. ArtNaturals Argan Oil Shampoo, Conditioner & Body & Foot Wash: All three of these are really inexpensive on Amazon and contain tea tree oil, eucalyptus and peppermint - they smell awesome and the oil is key for dry hair.
Postmates: It's 10:30PM and I'm in bed watching Netflix when my teary-eyed daughter remembers she forgot to buy clear, overhead projector sheets for her presentation the next day. I'm in the middle of “Narcos” and not moving - Postmates to the rescue! I open the App, enter Fedex Kinkos and specify I need 10 sheets of projector paper. Twenty-seven minutes later, the Postmates driver is at my door with the sheets. Basically, Postmates delivers just about anything from anywhere. I'm slowly losing all reasons to leave my house.
Heal: Think Uber of Dr's. Home health care, just like the old days - click on this App and a white-coated Dr. shows up at your door with a nurse. No more waiting in urgent care waiting rooms sucking in everyone's contagious illnesses. My daughter was having a difficult time breathing during a beach volleyball tournament and the Dr. showed up at the tournament, gave her an inhaler and she was off and running (or hitting I guess). The actual Dr.'s are wonderful - most of them where I live are UCLA Medical ER Dr.'s. I'm not sure why more people in my area have not heard of this App. Heal currently serves LA, San Diego, Silicon Valley & San Francisco.
Postmates: It's 10:30PM and I'm in bed watching Netflix when my teary-eyed daughter remembers she forgot to buy clear, overhead projector sheets for her presentation the next day. I'm in the middle of “Narcos” and not moving - Postmates to the rescue! I open the App, enter Fedex Kinkos and specify I need 10 sheets of projector paper. Twenty-seven minutes later, the Postmates driver is at my door with the sheets. Basically, Postmates delivers just about anything from anywhere. I'm slowly losing all reasons to leave my house.
Heal: Think Uber of Dr's. Home health care, just like the old days - click on this App and a white-coated Dr. shows up at your door with a nurse. No more waiting in urgent care waiting rooms sucking in everyone's contagious illnesses. My daughter was having a difficult time breathing during a beach volleyball tournament and the Dr. showed up at the tournament, gave her an inhaler and she was off and running (or hitting I guess). The actual Dr.'s are wonderful - most of them where I live are UCLA Medical ER Dr.'s. I'm not sure why more people in my area have not heard of this App. Heal currently serves LA, San Diego, Silicon Valley & San Francisco.llllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll
