MasculineCurves

12 Days of Favorite Things: Day Twelve

Write a letter.

Today's post marks the last installment of our 12 Days of (Aaron's) Favorite Things feature. Hopefully you've picked up a few ideas that will help you in your search for that perfect gift for that special someone. As you may recall, I had only two requirements for this list and those were 1) the gift must be meaningful, and 2) the gift must be affordable. Writing this series has actually been quite a walk down memory lane and took me to some unexpected places emotionally as I poured over some of the most cherished gifts I've ever received.

This evening I was walking around my apartment thinking about how I would round out this list.  As I reflected on all the precious trinkets and valuable treasures people have given me over the years I discovered that I have way too many favorite things to narrow it down to just 12. I have been so fortunate to have known so many wonderful people and I hope they all know how I feel about them. So today I am recommending an item that is very simple and costs practically nothing, but will allow you to declare your sincere appreciation for those closest to your heart. Write a letter. Yep, that's it. Write a letter.

Who doesn't enjoy receiving a personal letter? Your letter can take any form you choose. It can be e-mail. It can be snail-mail. Perhaps you want to thank a certain friend that you've had the opportunity to grow closer to this year. Maybe there's someone that you've lost contact with and want to let him or her know how much you miss them. Or maybe someone has provided you with a powerful source of inspiration. The purpose of the letter is to not only let your loved ones know how much you appreciate them, but most importantly, how they have made a positive impact on your life. When I write letters like this, I actually don't give them out at Christmas. I like to wait and send them out at the first of the year.  It's my way of thanking all of my special people for a memorable year and wishing them all the best for what's to come.

12 Days of Favorite Things: Day Eleven

Sometimes it's all in the packaging.

For me, part of the joy of giving gifts is choosing the wrapping. That's why I've made it one of my favorite things. In fact, I get so much into wrapping that it sometimes causes me a bit of anxiety when I can't find just the right paper to wrap it in. One year, at my office holiday party, I gave out gifts in cloth bags like you see here, and much to my surprise they were a hit. I received a lot of compliments -- not so much for what was inside the bag, but for the eloquence of the bags themselves. Best of all, it was really inexpensive. I picked up the bags at a favorite local importer, City Buddha, for about $2 each.

Granted, a cloth bag isn't appropriate for every present, but you can still be creative.  I'm not a fan of traditional "Christmas" themed wrapping paper. I feel all those snow flake, reindeer, and Christmas tree patterns are tacky (if the gift isn't for a child). Instead I like to keep it simple. I'll choose a solid color, and embellish it with ribbons and bows. Another tip for a classy yet inexpensive wrap is to use a few sheets of tissue paper and tie a real (not fake) bow around it. I find this works nicely for small gifts such as books or CDs.

12 Days of Favorite Things: Day Ten

For the fitness enthusiast ($18.45)

Okay, so I got a little deep and emotional with my previous two "Favorite Things" posts (here and here). But that's what favorite things do, right?  Today I promise to keep it on the lighter side. And getting myself on the lighter side is something I soon intend on taking on with the help of L.L. Cool J's Platinum Workout. This is probably one of the more realistic weight training/fitness books I've found on the market. The workouts are perfect for a busy 30-something like me (I ain't no young whipper snapper any more). They're demanding but manageable, and can be completed in an hour or less in the gym.  As an added bonus L.L. and his trainer give us some good advice on nutrition and share some healthy recipes. Platinum Workout can be purchased at Amazon.com (see the link under the "Aaron's Choice" widget in the far right column).

12 Days of Favorite Things: Day Nine

The handmade gift always comes from the heart. (priceless)

What you're looking at is one of my most precious pieces of jewelry. Anyone who knows me, knows that I'm not a flashy person. I don't own anything made of diamonds, gold, or silver, and quite honestly I never care to either.

In November of 2003 I went to dinner with a few friends and was introduced to this gorgeous Costa Rican man. Throughout the course of the evening I learned that he was a registered nurse and had been brought to the U.S. by one of the local hospitals that was suffering from the nurse shortage. I couldn't take my eyes off him, and little did I know that the night would end in a kiss that would commence the most memorable romance of my life. 

12 Days of Favorite Things: Day Eight

Give the gift of a guilty pleasure (priceless)

If I must fess up to a guilty pleasure then that would be my Who's That Girl DVD.  It came to me in the form of an unexpected gift, which is quite an interesting story.

About two years ago a friend from D.C. called me up to ask if I would entertain a friend of his who would be visiting Cleveland on business.  We all know that "please entertain my friend who is visiting your town" situations can sometimes be dreadfully awkward.  However, I was pleasantly surprised when I met Corey.  I found him to be such a genuine person and we had a great conversation over dinner.  Somehow during the course of discussion we got on the topic of 80s music and movies. I told him that there was this one Madonna movie that I hadn't seen since I was a kid.  It was Who's That Girl and I had been searching for it on DVD for years, but to no avail. I figured it was so bad that it probably wasn't slated for DVD release.  I explained that the movie's significance to me was because it was released at a particularly trying time in my childhood. 

It was 1987 and my younger sister and I had been permanently removed from our home and placed in separate foster homes. Being bounced around from foster home to foster home was a tough reality for an 11-year-old, and add to that the uncertainty as to the whereabouts of my baby sister. There was nothing I could do to control the situation.  Other than getting my family back together there was only one wish on my list that summer.  I, like many other 11-year-old gay boys at the time, was absolutely in love with Madonna.  So I begged and begged someone, anyone, to please take me to see Who's That Girl. Finally, one of the foster parents made that wish come true. At the time I was too young to realize how bad this film really was. All I know is that I got to escape my life and spend 94 minutes with my idol on the silver screen. I laughed at every cheesy joke and memorized every silly one-liner.

A few weeks after I shared this story with Corey, I came home and discovered a package was waiting for me at the front desk.  I about flipped when I opened the box and it was the very DVD that I've spent years searching for:

"Aaron, you mentioned you loved this movie...watch it and reminisce." - Corey

Yes, Who's That Girl is my guilty pleasure and a very sentimental one at that.  I watch now and know that the movie is bad (it is really bad), but it reminds that despite all that happened in the past I was still a happy child.

12 Days of Favorite Things: Day Seven

For the poetry lover. ($12.95)
As I've mentioned before on this site, NYC poet Rob Bless happens to be one of my closest friends (he's also featured in our January pictorial).  But that doesn't influence my endorsement of his book Fall Into the Sky. I'm just not the type of person to lend my endorsement unless I am sincerely enthused about the item or person.  Having seen Rob perform spoken word I can truly say that it's an incredible experience.  I liken it to attending the concert of a uniquely talented vocalist.  You won't be disappointed.  Rob has cleverly adapted what he does on the stage into a story of poems.

Seemingly autobiographical, this collection is a powerful journey through the poet's actualization of self-acceptance and acknowledgement of the world around him.  It's a story of overcoming adversity, confronting sexuality, and achieving empowerment told through a series of short poems. At 138 pages, this is most definitely an enjoyable read for the poetry lover in your life! Fall Into the Sky can be purchased at Amazon.com (see the link under the "Aaron's Choice" widget in the far right column).

12 Days of Favorite Things: Day Six

Give the gift of Phyne Art ($20)

Phyne Art marks novelist Ricc Rollins' first photography collection.  This black/white pictorial essay features 16 gorgeous men who collectively define all that is beautiful, masculine, and sensual about today's man of color.  Not only is this work amazing, but it's also obvious that Ricc put a lot of emphasis into gathering a group of models that represents the diversity that exists amongst the urban male population. This is a photographer after my own heart, and Phyne Art is certainly my favorite coffee table book purchase of the year.

Phyne Art can be ordered exclusively at www.phyneart.com

12 Days of Favorite Things: Day Five

Give the gift of cherished moments. ($5 and up)

Today's Favorite Thing is perhaps one of the most simple but most cherished gifts I've ever received.  Over the past year you've probably gone on an outing or attended a special event with friends or family, and those digital pictures you took are probably just sitting on your hard drive eating up space.  Who prints pics these days?  So, why not produce hard copy memories for those special people in your life?  There are a slew of online digital media management companies out there where you can upload your pics and produce high-quality, bound memory books.  Shutterfly comes to mind here.  And if there's not enough money in your budget for a custom memory book, just head out to your local crafts store and purchase an inexpensive scrap book.  If that is still too cost prohibitive, then you may want to consider simply having 4x6 prints made and purchasing a nice picture frame for $5 or $10.  It's the memory your loved one will cherish, and picture frames and scrap books are so-o-o-o easy to wrap!

12 Days of Favorite Things: Day Four

For the photography lover ($10 paperback)

This is an absolute "must have" for any photography enthusiast. It's no secret that Phaidon Press produces some of the most thorough art and photo anthologies on the market.  Most of my friends are on the artsy side, or at least appreciate it, so one year I purchased everyone a paperback copy of Phaidon's The Photography Book.  From photo-journalism to  silver-gelatin abstracts to Hollywood icons this book is jam packed with more than 500 pages covering every genre of the art.   All the legendary photographers and every iconic image throughout history graces its pages.  Each time I open this book I learn and see something new.  The Photography Book comes both in paperback and hardcover (I believe the hardcover was a limited edition, and may be out of print at this time).

12 Days of Favorite Things: Day Three

Give the gift of comfort. ($30 to $50)

Yes, in case you're wondering, this really is my living room.  I took the snapshot this morning to showcase one of my absolute favorite things I received this year.  What is it?  It's the tiger print throw you see on the back of the chair.  My godmother sent it to me for my birthday, and it is just the softest, warmest, coziest thing in my home.  On Sunday evenings I just love to curl up on the sofa and wrap my legs in it and watch Desperate Housewives. 

Since it was a gift, I'm not certain what the price tag is for this particular throw, but I've seen similar ones in stores between $30 and $50.

12 Days of Favorite Things: Day Two

Something for the unexpected. ($10)

There's always those unexpected things that just seem to pop up during the holidays. It could be the unexpected guest that shows up at your holiday shin dig.  It could be an unexpected invitation to the Christmas brunch hosted by your boyfriend's favorite cousin. Or it could be that one friend you haven't seen all year who suddenly decides to stop in to drop off the gift he got you -- which of course, you weren't expecting.

Yes, I am a gay man, and like many of us I LOVE shopping at Target.  It's the only discount department store I'll step foot in (well, not really, but it's the only one I'll admit to - lol).  All I can say is thank God for Target where I discovered this adorable line of soy candles.  They come in all sorts of aroma therapy scents, such as Calm, Harmonize, Reflect, Inspire, Revive and Soothe. They're made exclusively for Target so you'll find them in the candle aisle (or buy at target.com). Don't let the picture fool you.  These aren't your typical votives.  These slow-burning candles measure about 3"w x 4"h and smell oh so delightful.  My personal favorite is Harmonize with tea leaf and papaya.  I like to keep a few on hand all year round.  Not just for myself, but for those unexpected moments.  They make great host(ess) gifts, and whomever receives this candle is sure to feel like a pampered prince/princess when he/she lights it up. Plus, they're packaged in really cool Zen-like boxes so no need for wrapping paper.  Just slap a bow on the top of the box and your good to go!

tip: if you plan on hosting a holiday get together and a gift exchange is involved, always keep a few extra 'untagged' gifts under the tree.  You'll surely impress your unexpected guests when you pull that box out from under the tree and announce you have a gift just for them.

12 Days of Favorite Things: Day One

Now that we've officially entered the madness known as the holiday shopping season, I thought I'd do a 12-day series on my favorite things.  Fortunately, we have an unspoken rule around the holidays in my immediate family: we make the gift giving all about the children.  My two sisters and father and I all know we ain't got no money for lavish gifts, so we just enjoy spoiling my two young nieces. Knowing that all of the adults in the family are healthy and well, and getting to spend time with each other is gift enough for us.

On the other hand, we all have office parties, social gatherings, husbands, wives, boyfriends, girlfriends, and all those others who insist on conducting gift exchanges to consider.  So what to get all these people without breaking the bank?  You don't have to max out your credit cards over the holidays.  Think about giving presents that are meaningful and share a little of yourself with those you love the most.  And what better way to share a little of yourself than to conjure up a few of your favorite things.

Over the next 12 days I'll be posting some of my personal favorite gifts that I've either given or received in years' past.  Some may be old and some may be new, but if you're stumped looking for that perfect (and affordable) item, perhaps these will spark an idea or two.  Note: the MasculineCurves blog is an Amazon.com associate, so anything that is available on Amazon I will place under the "Aaron's Choice" widget in the far right column.  When you make a purchase on Amazon through a link you've clicked on this page a portion of the sale will help support this blog.

Day One: Give the gift of inspiration. (under $10)

For me that gift was Respecting the Soul: Daily Reflections for Black Lesbians and Gays by Keith Boykin.  Many years ago, not long after I came out, a dear friend got me an autographed copy of this book for my birthday.  It couldn't have come at a better time.  This pocket-sized paperback features daily affirmations by its author, along with empowering quotes from some of history's most influential people of color.  I loved this book so much that one year I ordered a dozen copies and chose to give it to all of my black LGBT friends that Christmas.  Unfortunately, I think it may be out of print, so you may experience some difficulty tracking down unused or gently used (in "gift-giving" condition) copies.  But if you can, the fact that it's a rare item makes it even more special.  I checked Amazon.com and there are just a few left (see "Aaron's Choice" on the right hand column).