(Top Image Courtesy of The FRS Company)
FRS Energy Drink
If you like an extra boost around workouts, but want a drink that is good for your energy levels and good for your body, defer to FRS. Formulated with Quercetin, derived from anti-oxidant rich blueberries, apples and grapes, and infused with a minimal amount of caffeine – equivalent to half a cup of coffee – FRS harnesses the power to jumpstart tough workouts and work days. Lance Armstrong sits on the company’s board of directors, and Olympic athletes have responded well to the energy drink, enjoying the added benefits of decreased inflammation and a better immune system. FRS comes in chews, as a concentrate, a powder or in a can.
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Perfect Pushup V2
The pushup may at first appear outmoded by other, more complex fitness regimes. However, Alden Mills, a seven year veteran of the U.S. Navy Seals and a former platoon commander, discovered that focusing on functional exercise could decrease the number of injuries his Seals incurred while on the job. He revamped the Seals’ elite training methods and developed a tool that helped them do bedrock exercises more correctly and effectively.
The Perfect Pushup allows arms to rotate naturally while doing pushups, garnering deeper muscle contraction that increases an athlete’s overall performance while protecting the shoulders and arms from injury. The Perfect Pushup’s newest model (V2) features an ergonomic grip, a rubber, anti-slip bottom and better all-round construction; Mills’ company, Perfect Fitness, was recently named #1 Consumer & Product company by Inc Magazine. $40.
Clotheshorse: Tired of jeans? Check out Bonobos for a selection of relaxed, but styling, trousers.
Yardman: Battle the leaves with a gas-powered Stihl SH 86 C-E Vacuum/Blower ($270) or an electric Toro Super Blower Vac ($70). Both produce hurricane force winds and can mulch/bag as well.
Executive: Check out custom suites, shirts and come-to-your-office pampering with the Tom James Company. Shirts from London-based clothier Thomas Pink are a good option and for the accoutrements, keep Mont Blanc in mind.
Hiker/Camper: Keep hydrated and free from stomach bugs with the Katadyn Hiker Pro Water Microfilter ($60 on Amazon).
Sportsman: Versatile, reliable and virtually indestructible, the Benelli SuperNova ($500) shotgun is a well-regarded option for the hunter. For those who prefer the quiet trout waters, consider the ultra-packable, and top of the line LT5 fly rod ($700) or the award-winning Vapor ($315) rod. Both are made by Winston, a premiere outfitter, break down into 5 and 4 pieces respectively and come in a variety of ‘weights’ to finesse the small streams of N. Georgia or the open waters of the Rocky Mountains. For less expensive outdoor options, look at Filson, Orvis and the London Trading Co. for appropriate apparel and accessories.
Fitness Buff: Developed by a Navy Seal, and now travel-ready, try the Perfect Pushup hand grips that help develop the upper body properly and cheaply ($50). If you’re a runner, consider the Nike+ Runners Gift Pack, ($129) which includes a shoe sensor, iPod adapter and $100 Nike gift card to purchase the new pair of Nike+ shoes. (Nike+ shoes have a slot for a shoe sensor which communicates instant voice feedback through your iPod of run distance, time, pace and calories burned.) Also available is the compatible Nike+ iPod watch remote for $69.
Music Lover: If you can’t leave home without the iPod, but are always on the go, see the super-portable and affordable Altec Lansing Orbit ($30) iPod speaker. If you’re a homebody and audiofile, consider the extraordinary Zeppelin ($600) by Bowers & Wilkins. To keep you in the know, put a subscription to Atlanta-based, national music magazine Paste on your list.
Chef: Ask for the gift of knowledge with Viking Cooking Classes.
Tech Junkie: For those who have not yet made the plunge into the land of LCDs, you’re in luck as they just keep improving. The following options (all by Samsung) are considered some of the very best available: LN52A650 (52″), LN46A650 (46″), LN40A650 (40″), & LN22A650 (22″). For a less expensive option, check out the miniature Flip Video Mino HD video camera for $230 on Amazon.
RoadWarrior: Look to the new breed of mini-laptop, the netbook. Dell tops the CNET charts with their Inspiron Mini 9, weighing in a 2.28 lbs. (Starting at $349)
Bookworm: For a tale of the famous southern maverick, pick up Call Me Ted about none other than Mr. CNN himself. Others of interest include Warren Buffet’s The Snowball, Malcolm Gladwell’s Outliers and Billionaire energy entrepreneur T. Boone Pickens’ The First Billion is the Hardest. Peruse the NY Times Bestsellers List here for options and consider a year-long print and online subscription to the Wall Street Journal for $99 or just print service of The Economist for $117.
Energy (or money) Saver: Look at the Black & Decker Power Monitor ($99). It comes with a wireless transmitter that attaches to your electric meter and a handheld unit (for inside) that gives real-time feedback on power use and corresponding cost. The information enables you to monitor the effects of various appliances and living situations, receive month-to-date power costs and an estimated end of the month bill total.
