Hey Girl. It's okay that it's Monday.

Ever notice how things happen in threes?  My most recent experience with this phenomenon is with Ryan Gosling.  No, really.  And since it's Monday, let's not try to do any heavy lifting around here today. 

First, this bathroom from Bang Bang restaurant in San Diego featured in this month's Lonny is objectively brilliant and hilarious.  "Hey Girl.  Your lipstick looks great in this lighting.  And don't forget to order dessert."

On a completely unrelated note (or so I thought, but it appears The Gosling won't be denied), last week I was looking for suggestions for gray paint colors.  Guess who designer Emily Henderson tapped to assist her with that task? 

That's right.  Ryan Gosling (btw, this post has a ton of great gray paint suggestions.  And also, you know, other nice stuff to look at).   

And if that's not enough for your Ryan Gosling fix, perhaps I can interest you in this Chrome extension that will (no joke) replace all of the photos on any web site you visit with pictures of your good pal RG.  

Enjoy.  With my and Ryan's compliments.

PS: my personal favorite Ryan Gosling meme, Law School Ryan Gosling (you're welcome, legal nerds).

(Second image of Bang Bang Restaurant from Eater San Diego; bottom images via ABC News and Mashable.)

Valentine's Day Gifts for Dudes

Every year, I find myself wishing that Valentine's Day wasn't so close to Christmas, because I'm running low on both good ideas and funds.  Should you find yourself in the same position, a little help:

Fancy shaving cream (C.O. Bigelow, $10).

A Dopp kit for taking said shaving cream on the road (J. Crew, $48).

Fleece-lined boat shoes for the never-ending winter (Orvis, $129).

Because nothing says "I love you" like ridiculous violence and terrorists, the three latest Batman movies for a movie marathon (Amazon, $20). . . 

. . . and if you're feeling very generous, noise-cancelling headphones that make flying on airplanes a pleasure (and make the sound so clear you can finally figure out what Bane is saying) (Best Buy, $300).

A cozy sweater with elbow patches (Everlane, $120; and it's also available as a cardigan).

A flask for nipping into when the occasion demands (Smathers & Branson, $65).

A Season Pass for The Mindy Project, in case he was late to the most hilarious new show on television and missed the first part of the season (iTunes, $39.99).

A pizza stone for making delicious homemade pizza together (Williams-Sonoma, $50) . . . 

. . . or if you're far apart, a heart-shaped deep-dish pizza from Lou Malnati's in Chicago (with a heart-shaped cheesecake, $53.99 with shipping).

And the most important thing: an actual valentine.

And with that, we come full circle: the very first post on Tall and Salty was last year's Valentine's Day Gift Guide for Fellows, which you can check out for more ideas, if you're so inclined.  Thank you so, so very much for stopping in and for reading Tall and Salty.  I've had so much fun writing it, but your comments, emails, and visits have undoubtedly been the highlight.  Thanks for everything!

PS: More gifts for fellows.

(The Dark Knight Rises image via New York Daily News; The Mindy Project image via Vulture.)

Gifts for fellows

For Day Two of the Tall and Salty holiday gift guide bonanza, it's the gentlemen's turn.  I always have the most trouble with the dudes on my list, don't you?  For your difficult-to-shop-for husbands, boyfriends, dads, brothers, and brothers-in-law, fifteen suggestions for things he might actually like:

Classic Ray-Ban sunglasses that fold up to fit in his pocket.

For the man who hates the actual process of shopping: a subscription to Trunk Club, the service that sends him a trunk of clothes to try on, and a promise to get him the first thing he loves.  You pay only for what you keep!

  

A shiny gold holder for his razor or toothbrush so you'll quit bugging him about leaving it out all the time.  And isn't peace and quiet one of the greatest gifts there is?

Hilarious needlepoint keychain for your favorite chick magnet.

A cashmere forever sweater with elbow patches.

A 007-esque chrome lighter for starting fires (or, you know, lighting the Duraflame log wrapper, whatever the case may be).

A grown-up looking backpack.

A pan for making lasagna or brownies with crisp edges in every bite.

A set of plain, heavy, old-fashioned glasses for getting his Don Draper on.

A cool bottle opener.

Puppy bookends.  Because who doesn't smile at puppies?

A striped cap and socks.

A new shirt for his team's national championship game (or perhaps tickets to the game -- a pair is only $2,400!).

Membership in a wine-of-the-month club (or this service, if he's more of a whiskey man).

  

(Wine image by Jamie Beck via From Me to You.)

Stocking stuffers

I'm working on a few Tall and Salty gift guides to help out with your holiday shopping, but in the meantime, a few ideas for stocking stuffers to give before Christmas:

For the fellow (or whisky-loving) woman in your life, the Whisky Advent Calendar is cheekily - although unfortunately, not cheaply - awesome.  For every day leading up to Christmas, there's a shot of whisky behind the little door.  How fun is that?  (Order soon -- Advent starts this Saturday!)

And for your ladyfriends, sisters, moms, or anyone else who sends out Christmas cards, a beautiful calligraphy address stamp will make her life easier and a little prettier.  (Throw in a bottle of wine for card-addressing purposes and she'll really be grateful.)  Lots of pretty stamp options here, here, and here.

Itsy bitsy teeny . . . man swimsuits?

According to The New York Times, this image of Daniel Craig has brought back tiny swim trunks for men.  I don't know about you, but I don't keep the company of any guys who are quite brave enough to sport these just yet.  This still looks pretty European to my modest Midwestern sensibilities!  What do you think?  Do you know any dudes ready to embrace their inner Bond, James Bond?

(Images: Daniel Craig as James Bond by Sony Pictures via James Bond Lifestyle, From Here to Eternity photo via Telegraph)

Happy Father's Day!

Happy Father's Day, dads old and new!  Hope you all had a great day doing whatever it is that you love to do, with the people who love you.  We met a really cool family at our local coffee place today (they moved to Chicago from New Zealand, so of course they had fabulous accents!) with three young kids and a new puppy.  They were getting ready to go on a bike ride for Father's Day, but the mom joked that "Dad's a bit hungover today, so this could be interesting!"  

A special shout out to my dad, who (in addition to still having his full, handsome head of hair) is the most dependable, reliable, and wise dad out there.  Thanks for being yourself and for always, always doing so much for me!

Have a great rest of your weekend (no Mad Men tonight, sad!) and I'll catch you all tomorrow.

(Image belongs to Tall and Salty)

Father's Day Gift Guide

Is your dad impossible to shop for?  Mine is.  Whenever you ask him what he wants, he just says "peace."  Given that that's not exactly something one can wrap in a box and drop in the mail, here are a few other suggestions.  

A Brooks Brothers shirt that can be washed instead of dry cleaned and never, ever, ever has to be ironed ($88).

Manly coasters (who knew such a thing existed?) for his man room ($24).

Ice molds so that he can make awesome giant round cubes for cocktails ($20.99).

Or if he's more of a beer man, a fancy beer koozie ($24.99).

OR if wine is more his style, a wine carrier for his bicycle ($28.55) (apparently, dads drink a lot).

A numbered coffee mug for analytical types ($7.95).

Or a Scrabble coffee mug for those who prefer Words with Friends (or the old school version, since dads tend to pride themselves on being of the old school persuasion) ($11.95).

Speaking of old school: a pair of shoes that he likes because they're classic (and doesn't realize are hip again) ($60).

A book about trips to get him thinking about going on a fun vacation ($39.99).

A leather money clip to upgrade his beloved rubber band ($36).

A hamburger press for making perfectly uniform burgers this summer ($9.99).

A copy of Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives, so he can replicate the cuisine of the world's best greasy spoons (his favorite!) ($12.95).

A super strong golf umbrella ($42.46).

And lastly, what would Father's Day be without a tie?  This one is probably a lot cooler than the ones in his closet ($34.99).

And don't forget a card to say you love him and try to begin to thank him for everything ($4).