The Fifth Annual Submerge Holiday Gift Guide

By Submerge Staff

If you’re reading this, you’ve survived the madness that is Black Friday. Great job. The good news is we don’t have to hear the words “Cyber Monday” (which is sort of a creepy term, no?) for another year, the bad news is you probably still have lots of shopping to do for friends and family. That’s where we come in. Check out some of these cool gift ideas that we scoured Sacramento (and the interwebs) to find. We’ve got stuff for the home, stuff for the car, stuff you can shove in your mouth and stuff you can wear. Read on and be inspired, and happy holidays from your friends at Submerge!


All that eggnog isn’t playing tricks on you. These Areaware Paul Loebach Distortion Candlesticks, available for $24 each at Lumens, have an improbable design created by taking a traditional candlestick form and distorting it through a 3D rendering program. It’s then cast in resin and marble, making the malleable-looking figure exceedingly durable. Colors available: black, white, grey and rust.


This Pave Link Bracelet by Sacramento jewelry designer Gigglosophy is the perfect blend of cute and stylish, with just enough (but not too much) bling factor. Any fashion forward ladies on your list will love it! $50, available at Etsy.com/shop/gigglosophy.


Sacramento’s cocktail scene is exploding right now. You’ll look like you knew it all along with these Prepara Ice Ball 2-inch Molds. Pack them with mint leaves, basil, fruits and more. Fill them with juice, lemon or lime segments. Use them in pitchers, cocktails, punch bowls and tumblers. Larger ice cubes keep drinks cooler longer and they dilute less too, because who really wants a watered down drink around the holidays? Not us! $9.99 for a four-pack, $19.99 for a 10-pack, available at Prepara.com.


Sacramento history buffs will go crazy over local author Willam Burg’s new book Sacramento’s K Street: Where Our City Was Born, available for $19.99 at Time Tested Books. Join Burg as he chronicles the legacy of Sacramento’s K Street, once a boulevard of aspirations and bustling commerce and now home to a spirit of renewal.


It’s cold, it’s raining and the last thing you want to do is go outside to warm up the car. With this Code Alarm Remote Start and Keyless Entry System you can start up that bad boy from the comfort of your home. Get two keychain controllers for just $129.99, available at Audio Express. ****CLICK HERE FOR SUBMERGE DISCOUNT COUPON****


Do you abuse the snooze button? Well here’s an interesting solution for those of us that do. The Nanda Home Clocky Alarm Clock, available for $39 at Lumens, gives you one chance to get up, but if you snooze, Clocky will jump off your nightstand and wheel around your room looking for a place to hide, beeping all the while, forcing you to get out of bed to silence it.


Our friends at Bows and Arrows never disappoint when it comes to unique fashionable finds, and these one-of-a-kind handmade rings are no exception. Prices range from around $16 to $40. Stop into their store in person or shop online at Etsy.com/shop/bowsandarrowsvintage.


If you’ve got an iPad or iPhone and are jonesing for physical keys, hit up Brookstone at either Arden Fair or the Downtown Plaza and snag one of these Bluetooth Silicone Keyboards for just $59.99. It’s super slim, flexible enough to roll up and water resistant. Perfect for travel, business meetings or mornings spent at your local coffee shop.


Whether you need something soft for your baby, a new keychain addition or a new dog toy for Fido, Uglydolls are perfect for all of the above and then some! Submerge’s shop dog, a 3-year-old Boston terrier named Panda, has cuddled with her Uglydoll “Ice-Bat” every night since she was 8 weeks old, and she has another one, “Brip,” as a play toy. They’re durable, colorful, adorable and have silly names. Available in Midtown at Ladybug Ladybug. Large ones are $21, medium ones are between $10.50 and $11 and the little guys are either $6.50 or $7 and have clips attached to them for jeans, backpacks, keychains, etc.


When you’re a kid, getting a pair of socks as a gift is the worst. When you’re an adult, getting (or giving) socks is cool! Especially ones with skulls ($8.95) or your favorite dog breed on them ($8.50). Hit up Sock City in Old Sacramento for these and tons of other sock options.


Liven up any party or social gathering when you throw on the recently released Dance Central 3 videogame for Xbox 360’s Kinect. In this No. 1 rated dance game you’ll master favorite dance crazes from the past as well as today’s hottest moves. Heat up the competition in the new Crew Throwdown mode or cut your teeth in the Beginner mode.No matter what you’ll have a blast and burn some calories. Pick up your copy at any Dimple Records location for $49.99.


This Original Penguin V-neck Sweater, available for $85 in a plethora of colors at the newly opened men’s boutique Established Apparel, is a great addition to any guy’s wardrobe. Dress it up with a collared shirt underneath, or keep it casual with a solid T-shirt. Either way, you’ll look and feel great in one of these 100 percent lamb’s wool V-necks.


Anyone on your list who loves to cook, or anyone who loves to eat for that matter, will flip for olive oils, vinegars and balsamics from The Chefs’ Olive Mix in Old Sacramento. Stop in and try one of their many suggested pairings, like Fig Balsamic with Mushroom and Sage Olive Oil, or Honey Ginger White Balsamic with Persian Lime EVOO (extra virgin olive oil), or one of the most popular combos, Traditional Balsamic with Tuscan Herb EVOO. Prices vary, but most are $11.95 for 200ml, $16.95 for 375ml or $24.95 for 750ml.


Got someone artsy on your shopping list? Surprise them with a pair of The Converse Chuck Taylor All Star 12oz. Blank Canvas Sneaker and let them express themselves! Choose either high-top or low-top for $49.99, available at Utrecht Art Supplies. You’ll also want the Stained Markers by Sharpie, which are perfect for fabrics. Those are just $16.59 for a set of eight colors, also available at Utrecht.


Protect your investment and look badass doing it with these iPhone and iPod cases designed by local artist Jose di Gregorio. $35 for a hard case, $15 for skins, available online at Society6.com.


We all do it, be it at a stop sign or on I-5, maybe cruising down J Street. Whenever we see a car that has a screen playing a movie for kids in the back seat, we instinctually peek in and try and see what it is. Well why don’t you splurge and get yourself Pioneer’s AVIC-X940BT from Audio Express? Sure it’s $699.99, but this thing has a 6.1-inch touch screen, plays DVDs and CDs, has Bluetooth connectivity, built-in navigation for all 50 states (plus Canada) and a ton of other amazing features. You’ll never leave your vehicle again! ****CLICK HERE FOR SUBMERGE DISCOUNT COUPON****


Every man should have a nice wallet that he is proud to pull out of his pocket, regardless of how much cash it holds. We approve entirely of this stylish piece by Scotch and Soda Amsterdam Couture. Get one for just $38 at Established Apparel.


If you have friends with gauged ears, you absolutely have to turn them onto Plug Club, a Sacramento-based Web company that ships super rad custom plugs directly to customers. They’ve got classic designs like skulls and anchors and whatnot, but they’ve also got really wacky and downright hilarious designs like “Cat Attack,” which features a cat shooting laser beams out of its eyes. There are many to choose from, and prices vary from $13 to $18. They also have “fake plugs” for those weary of stretching their ears, as well as taper kits for those looking to stretch properly. ****USE PLUG CLUB CODE “SUBMERGE” TO GET 20% OFF****


Some say the best gifts are the kind you can eat, and you won’t find us disagreeing with that notion. Take care of any sweet tooth with delectable French Macarons from Estelle’s Patisserie Bakery and Espresso Bar, available in a variety of flavors like chocolate, pistachio, strawberry cream, blueberry cream, green tea and seasonal flavors. Just $1.75 each.

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