A sporting chance
Steiner Sports ( www.SteinerSports.com ) has thousands of items for your favorite sports lover, including the Chicago Cubs coaster set with certified authentic field dirt ( $39.99 ) . The coasters will help keep the tables clean while fans drown their sorrows until the Cubs win the World Series.
( Wall- ) POP life
WallPOPS ( www.wall-pops.com ) are vinyl designs of many different designs that stick on to walls—and are removeable, so you can change designs based on what strikes your fancy. There are literally hundreds of patterns ( some appealing, some quite busy ) , and you can even create designs. If you're a Wendy Williams type, you might opt for an animal print; if you're more into Oprah, then ice might be your thing—not that there's anything wrong with that.
Light makes right
Skokie-based company Tech Lighting ( www.techlighting.com ) and sister company LBL Lighting have launched railtones: whole home, wireless surround sound that is plug-and-play for nearly everyone with a popular track lighting system. Sure, it's a splurge ( $599, with the adapter running $125 and additional speakers and a wireless subwoofer available separately for a list price of $250 ) , but think of how appreciative that special someone will be.
Nature boy
The Morton Arboretum ( www.mortonarb.org ) has a variety of nature-themed items in its store, including ornaments made from felled trees, place mats made from cross-sections of trees and more. These gifts are perfect for those who consider themselves green.
Mixing it up
CSNStores ( www.csnstores.com ) , the third-largest online retailer of home goods in the country, has quite a fun mix of items this year. Among the goodies are the Naked Décor British Invasion Wake-Up Clock ( $35 ) , the stunning Orange 22 Botanist No Ornamentation End Table ( $1,780 ) and the Andy Warhol by Rosenthal Marilyn Monroe Turquoise Tray ( $145 ) . There are also Fabbys Glamazon Gold Rollable Ballet Flats ( $20 ) , in which a portion of the sales goes to breast-cancer research.
