50 Under $50 Gift Guide

Thoughtful gifts with panache (or peanut butter) that won’t overwork the bank

November 14, 2017

Eliza Karlson,

We love Colorado maker Mario Esparza and his many PB LOVE nut butters in assorted flavors, from $6; thepbloveco.com

RUDY THE DEER with a copper twist. And no one was harmed in the making, $39.95; cb2.com

RESIST & PERSIST BENEFIT GLASSES. Class and attitude in a single package. A win-win. $44/ pair; loveandvictory.com

Boulder bike store Rapha is a cyclist’s dreamscape. We love their SUPER CROSS CAP, $30; rapha.cc/us/en_US/clubhouses/boulder

THE PICNIC KNIFE is perfect for hiking, camping or just having cheese at cocktail hour, $35; wandpdesign.com

JOHN DERIAN ENGAGEMENT CALENDAR. Mr. Derian is high on our design crush list (you may remember our story about his vintage treasures). This planner is a gorgeous must for those of you who still like to write things down, $19.99; johnderian.com

HOME PILLOW. Boulder-based creator Shari Moraga blesses us with a variety of art from her sewing machine, from $50; leosdrygoods.com (Learn more about Leo's Dry Goods.)

The USGA’s SENIOR OPEN comes to the Broadmoor June 25-July 1, 2018. Practice round tickets are $25 and championship round daily tickets start at $50. But seriously, why not expand your hang time? Holiday Packages include two single-day tickets, two lanyards, a hat and a holiday card from honorary chair John Elway for $99; 2018ussenioropen.com

RAW WHIPPED HONEY by Björn’s of Colorado. Mix this with with PB Love nut butter (top of the article) and you have a perfect pairing, $15; bjornscoloradohoney.com

The bandana never goes out of style, and this VINTAGE BLACK iteration is a design-forward wow, $32; imogeneandwillie.com

ZEFIT⁴’S ACTIVITY TRACKER, in sexy red, commands your attention and encourages some healthy movement without saying a thing, $39.90; mykronoz.com

DAY OF THE DEAD SUGAR SKULL LUMBAR PILLOW. A colorful blast of fun that works all year long, $19.99; worldmarket.com

Portland artist Lisa Golightly has an Etsy store called Kiki and Polly where she offers a slew of stunning prints like NIGHT SWIMMER, above. Her affordable art starts at $22; etsy.com/shop/kikiandpolly

Tried and true. Everyone loves a beautiful mug, and this one’s a classic. HOMEGROWN MONOGRAM MUG, $8; anthropologie.com

The folks at Cured in Boulder sure do know their cheese. THE CHEESEMONGERS CHOICE package is an excellent bet for pleasing even the most discerning host. $50 (small); CuredBoulder.com (And if you're a big Cured fan, take a look inside the home of the masterminds behind the shop.)

These BUFFALO SKULL ROCKS GLASS just seem to scream Colorado, and with a small pour of whiskey they look downright handsome. $48/set of four; counter-couture.com

PROTECTION EVERGREEN CANDLE helps our National Park Service. Yes, please! It also lends a bit of the forest to your bedside, bath table or reading chair, $38; ourgoodsmatter.com

TRITAN ICE BUCKET by Mark & Graham. Your initials and a home for your bubbly. Cheers! $35; markandgraham.com

TERRIERS SALT & PEPPER SET. Jonathan Adler often slays us with whimsy. In this particular case, with salt and pepper pooches, $48; jonathanadler.com

Why put all your eggs, keys or glasses in one basket when you can place them in a nest? VETIVER BIRDS NEST BASKET by IBU, $50 (medium); ibumovement.com

SAHAR TOWELS, assorted colors. Soft and lovely even when they’re just lying in a pile, from $30; the-citizenry.com

FRENCH TABLE CRUMBER. A broom for the French waiter in us all, $46; food52.com

Leather gloves with a Western feel. Perfect for cowgirls everywhere. WOMEN'S WORK GLOVES, $48; shop.goop.com

GET YOUR DRINK ON LETTERPRESS COASTER by Bunny Bear Press. We’re not advocating a lush life, just a swell coaster, $10/set of four; periodsix.com

FOOD LAB COOKING CLASS. Experiential fun with a dollop of edification and really fine chow, $50 gift certificate; www.foodlabboulder.com (Learn more about the hip neighborhood hub.)

Body-friendly products made by a gifted sister in Golden. HOME SPA DAY GIFT SET, $44; spinstersistersco.com (Learn more about the microsoapery and some of their best-selling products).

They had us at felt. FELT STORAGE BIN, 16" oval, $12.48; target.com (We really do think this fiber hits all the right notes.)

BOGO Ho! Ho! Ho! Buy a ONE-YEAR SUBSCRIPTION TO CH&L for $9.95 and get a second year free! That’s two years at less than our annual rate of $14.95. Subscribe online at coloradohomesmag.com/Subscriptions with CHL-HOLIDAY promo code.

Just make sure Ryan Gosling has the keys post-heist. PINK GETAWAY CAR KEY RING by Dear Keaton, $15; dearkeaton.com

If someone you love is a cook (or an enthusiastic eater) you can’t go wrong with these self-explanatory crocks. MARBLE SALT & PEPPER SET, $38; dearkeaton.com

Cheery spoons for tea, yogurt or anything worth savoring in small tastes. SABRE DEMITASSE SPOONS, $5 each; thelarkdenver.com

Can’t you just taste the ramen? NOODLE BOWL + CHOPSTICKS SET, $14; urbanoutfitters.com

PATAGONIA SUN MASK in Fish Splash is both chic and versatile—a neck gaiter/face protector in winter and a sporty headband all year long, $29; patagonia.com

Like every item at Alpine Modern, this BLACK + BLUM THERMO-FLASK has mad style; plus, it will keep your cocoa warm for eight hours. Also available in white, $20; alpinemodern.com/shop (Meet Lon McGowan, the founder of Alpine Modern here.)

It never hurts to let your dishes be your guide. URBAN COWGIRL CERAMIC BOWLS, $18 each; Show of Hands, Denver, showofhandsdenver.com

Perfect for an evening cross-country ski or walking the dog. It’s impossible not to look a bit dorky, but at least you’ll see the light. BLACK DIAMOND IOTA RECHARGEABLE HEADLAMP, $39.95; feralmountainco.com

An elegant Scandi-inspired way to display your current favorite photo. Simply switch out when your next great shot comes along. WOOD BLOCK + PRINTS, $25 (3' square block, 12 prints included); artifactuprising.com

Who doesn’t love a well-packaged artisanal chocolate? NUANCE CHOCOLATE BARS are made in Fort Collins and come in more than 20 varieties, $8.50 each; nuancechocolate.com

Everyone needs a tote for the farmers market, and this one is oh-so French. BOHEMIA CROSS BASKET, $40; truckandbarter.co

The Savannah Bee Company is scheduled to open a Boulder store in 2018. Meantime, proceeds from this “BEE-CAUSE” T-shirt go toward promoting honeybee awareness by installing observation hives in U.S. schools, $20; savannahbee.com

A lid with subtle swagger. Denver’s Topo Designs makes this WOOL BEANIE in Gray, Navy and Black, $45; topodesigns.com

Oh-so attractive and they protect your Pinot. These Vacu Vin CLASSIS GLASS MARKERS look like wine seals and attach with a suction cup. $10.99 for a set of 8; amazon.com

A must for the tent-pitchers on your list, FIFTY PLACES TO CAMP BEFORE YOU DIE, $24.95; alpinemodern.com/shop

West Elm’s Fair Trade Certified felt ornaments are handmade in Nepal. Choose from mistletoe, penguin, cactus or FELIZ NAVIDAD MESSAGE GARLAND, $29; westelm.com