I recently discovered the Weatherman Travel Umbrella, and I’m impressed. I’m not the only one. This small-yet-might bumbershoot has a large and loyal following, which a scan of the Amazon reviews makes apparent. It’s compact and light, easily tucking into a tote bag or a carry-on. It’s also an ideal umbrella to leave in the car for those showers that come out of nowhere. Considering how easily portable it is, it’s surprisingly wind-resistant, beating back winds of up to 45 mph, and sturdy. It comes with a lifetime warranty, but something tells me those rarely get used. A high-quality umbrella is a can’t-miss gift for virtually anyone. And to those who might say that’s a “boring” present, I say … have you seen the 15 colors? So fun! The neon yellow and neon orange bring extra visibility, which in my opinion makes them the likeliest picks for dog owners, who are out walking in the dark every night. Moms with kids who play soccer, lacrosse, football, or baseball spend many a game cheering in the rain because, well, that’s what moms do. For her, perhaps the hot pink? (Oh, they do have black if your giftee is more the Wall Street type.) It can also make a super-nice stocking stuffer, as well as a white elephant or grab bag gift.
Digital tools, it turns out, are not always the best.
Nowhere is this more evident than in the unexpected resurgence of paper planners (except for maybe in all the independent bookstores popping up). I had never used a paper planner. I was ferociously loyal to my paper wall calendar, however, where I scribbled in birthdays, doctor appointments, and the like. I used my email calendar for work stuff. One day, I saw my daughter and her friend toting planners, of all things. Then my niece asked for a planner for Christmas. If the digital natives were so enthused about them, I started to wonder: could even I be a planner person?
In fact, I could be. A Happy Planner person, actually. Having everything – work, personal, all of it – in one spot and clear at a glance is … life changing would be overly dramatic … day changing. I feel more together. A sturdy (Happy Planner covers are tough as can be and wipe clean), supremely functional, and pretty planner is a smart and thoughtful gift, because it’s practical and personal at once.
There are plenty of perfectly adorable planners out there, but details are what make the Happy Planner perfectly-adorables stand out. I went with the Classic day planner, a vertical style, in the cheery Smiley Face design above. (There are scores of other zippy options, including Colorful Leopard.) Aside from happy vibes, it’s got plenty of space to jot down appointments, reminders, social events, and deadlines. I now break down my long to-do list into manageable chunks, which makes bigger projects less overwhelming. And when I’m not feeling overwhelmed, I’m less apt to procrastinate.
Aside from 12 monthly calendars, it has weekly spreads with three daily boxes that can be divided into different areas of life, or into morning, afternoon, and evening. The monthly divider pages boast pithy sayings, and it comes with two sheets of cute stickers to highlight special days or just to get creative with. Planner themes come and go with the seasons. While it isn’t my cup of tea, they have a hugely popular Disney collection, as well as the Coolest Teacher Ever Daily Notebookto take care of end-of-year teacher gifts. You’ll also find academic planners like the gorgeous Midnight Blooms, perfect for a high school grad gift. Whoever your giftee may be, remember: even if you don’t think she seems like a “planner person,” you (both) may be surprised.
