Play Ball! All Star Gifts for Baseball Fans

Chicago’s Wrigley Field, Canvas Photo Print by Nader Farzan

Baseball—you hit the ball wherever the other team isn’t, then run as fast as you can in a counterclockwise direction until you’re back where you started. That’s it, right? Oh no, there’s so much more—the peanuts, the hot dogs, the home runs, the wave! Serious fans will tell you, it’s the match-ups and the statistics that make the game. The rivalries and the history too.

The biggest match-up of the year begins this week. It’s World Series time! Even if your team wasn’t a playoff contender this year, it’s hard not to get into the excitement of the season’s final series and an American tradition 108 years old.

So Rangers and Cardinals fans, may the best team win! And for baseball fans from coast to coast, here’s 20 amazing gifts sure to knock it out of park.

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Men's and Women's Cardinals and Rangers gear from the MLB Shop

Home Plate Door Mat and BaseBall Bat Opener

Ball and Glove Fine Art Photograph by Alison Uher

Ernie Harwell's Game for All America, by Josh Harwell

Stadium Seating Solutions by Colemand and Venture

Inspiration

I’m Glad For Octobers

Here’s a bit of inspiration for the notes you write this month. The quote above comes courtesy of L.M. Montgomery, the author of Anne of Green Gables: “I’m so glad I live in a world where there are Octobers. It would be terrible if we just skipped from September to November, wouldn’t it?”

A nice starting point for any letters you might sit down to pen—try it out in your next thank you note or birthday card:

“I’m so glad I live in a world where there are Octobers.” I’m glad for Octobers. Octobers and you. Have a brilliant birthday, dear.

Charming isn’t it? For more reasons to celebrate this month, see our October Jollydays!

Stock Photo: F3rd4

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Say it

Groovy Grains: Greeting Cards by Sand Artist Naoshi

Grape Jam Bath by Naoshi for Red Cap Cards

There’s a lot of weirdness in the world. The fact that the Flinstones celebrated Christmas, for instance. Or passion flowers. Those things are bizarre.

Sometimes, though, you’ll find something that’s just weird enough to be really awesome, like cheddar cheese on apple pie or the amazingly cheery work of Naoshi, a Yokohama-based artist who uses only brightly-colored sand as her medium. You can watch the mesmerizing process below:

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Bouquet Train by Naoshi for Red Cap Cards

Balloon Girl by Naoshi for Red Cap Cards

Gift it

How to Make a Polaroid Wall With Your Sweetie

Polaroid Wall by His&Hers

Polaroid wall by His & Hers

I’ve always been a fan of the imperfect and unique images produced by Polaroid cameras. There’s something to committing a single, evanescent moment to that little 3×3 frame, knowing that the image you’ve captured is the only one of its kind, that it can’t be changed or reproduced.

The magic of instant film is in its simplicity. All you have to do is pick a subject, frame it, and—SNAP—instant art! The fact that anyone can use a Polaroid camera means that they make amazing gifts too. I recently came across a wonderful Polaroid wall made by Dave and Whitney, an adorable couple with a shared passion for photography. I was struck by how sweet a gesture it would be to make a Polaroid wall with someone special. Here’s how to do it:

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Escena de amor entre pareja anónima by Juan Felipe Rubio

Gift Well: Tips & Tools

Do You Fall Back on Digital Gifts? You Probably Shouldn’t

Photo by Charlene Precious

One of the primary goals at Wantist is to eliminate the stressful, often last-minute nature of finding the perfect gift. Still, we’ve all experienced that anxious rush to buy, wrap, and nonchalantly deliver a present like, “It’s no big deal. I’ve had this ready to go for ages!” Whether we were too indecisive while shopping around, or just plain forgot, it happens to all of us.

In situations where last-minute gifting is inevitable, a lot of people turn to digital products, like Kindle ebooks, Netflix subscriptions, and video games off Steam. In general, this practice is gaining a lot of popularity, largely due to how convenient it is—after all, many of us practically live online. But are non-tangible presents perceived as equal to their physical counterparts by those on the receiving end? As conscientious gift-givers, this is an important point to consider.

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Gifts for DIY Glamping

As a city slicker through and through, the idea of camping has always been a bit daunting. I actually enjoy doing the whole “nature thing”, as long as I can come home to a hot shower and a comfy bed. That’s what makes the concept of “glamping” so attractive to me—The New York Times may have put it best when they said that glamping was “camping, but not quite roughing it”.

If you’re not familiar with the concept, picture arriving to “camp” to find pre-pitched, pre-furnished tents, solar-powered heating, and bathroom facilities kept well enough for even the most squeamish travelers. At some locations, like the Clayoquot Wilderness Resort in Vancouver, BC or the Costanoa Lodge in San Francisco, there are even the occasional over-the-top resort amenities like on-premise laundry service, personal butlers, and spas.

While some hardcore woodsmen and women might shake their heads at the very idea of camping comfortably, glamping lets the less inclined enjoy the best of both worlds—gorgeous scenery and outdoor sports by day, cozy digs and gourmet food by night. Sounds like my ideal long weekend!

While there are many dedicated glamp sites around the world to choose from, we’ve rounded up our top picks for gifts that’ll make any foray into the great outdoors just a little more luxurious. DIY glamping, if you will.

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