Gifts for Geeks + LG V30 Smartphone Giveaway!

Geeks sometimes have a bad reputation, but many of them can be passionate about one thing- cork dorks and their fondness for wine come to mind-but not other geeky topics.

Here are some gift ideas for the lovable geeks in your life - no matter what they're geeking out over this season.

• Va Va Video: If video is their life, then LG V30 smartphone is the only phone they’re gonna want this season (and you can win an unlocked one! Visit my Facebook page starting on 12/13/17 to find out details). The glass lens allows for superior photo capture, so images look more like they’ve been taken on a DSLR than a phone. As for videos, they can combine and edit up to 50 files (including gifs) and trim or edit in any way that they choose. It’s like a masterclass in modern film-making and editing all in the palm of their hands. I also just found out that the phone was designed to be ultra-reliable, so the Butterfingers in your life no longer has to worry about accidental drops. It has Gorilla Glass on the front and back, has passed 14 military standards tests and is water and dust resistant.

And if you want to amp up the gift of video, LIFIE, allows anyone to upload content and then create one to five-minute-movies and add royalty-free music. Best yet, it’s all hosted on the cloud, so sharing is easy. You can also work with one of their professional editors to create a more polished version.

BlackBerry KeyOne is an extremely stylish looking smartphone that operates on Android- but still holds onto that BlackBerry physical keyboard. It also boasts proprietary software that adds a level of security to all communications. (It’s slightly bigger than you might expect, so try it out before buying to ensure that it’s a comfortable fit)

• 360 Geeks: Earlier this summer, I tested out a Ricoh Theta 360 while traveling. (I won’t share those images, since I was still learning and have far too many shots with my thumb prominently displayed.) It really is the type of camera that has to be experienced to fully understand just how cool it is to be able to capture 360-degree shots of everything you see. I still haven’t mastered the editing part yet either, but if you have a photo loving nerd in your life, this will dazzle and delight them! (Though bear in mind that they’ll have to download the app to fully enjoy, download and share.)
• Eyes on the Road: Distracted driving is a major concern for any of us behind the wheel or in a car (please don’t ever text or use social media while driving). Hudly orheads-up display (HUD) lets drivers access important information directly on their windshield without taking their eyes off the road, so no peeking down to look at Waze or Google Maps. It also mirrors the smartphone’s screen, so there’s no learning curve.
• Less Tech, More Mindfulness: The Mindful Notebook from the folks at Mindful.org reminds us to slow down a bit every day and stay more grounded, organized and grateful in this fast-paced, tech-driven world. It also has a really radical idea: take some time and capture your thoughts using pen and paper.
• Floss Boss: Flosstime is the world's first automated floss dispenser. Stick it on your bathroom mirror or tile and it reminds you to floss daily, dispenses just the right amount and gives you a smile when you floss. And yes, it really is fun to use!
• Good Genes: Living DNA just launched this year in the U.S., and boasts more specifics about the regions, countries- even regions within countries, where your ancestors came from and moved across the world throughout human history beginning in Africa, at different points in history up through your most ancestry. Geography geeks will enjoy knowing  you can trace your roots from 80 worldwide regions.
• Get Sheepish: Marcelli Formaggi, the Italian farmstead cheesemakers and family business based between Abruzzo and the States, now allows you to send an Adopt a Sheep giftwhich helps support age-old farming traditions in Abruzzo. Many of the Marcelli’s cheeses are dependent upon a rare breed of sheep, the Sopravissana, which this gift supports. The gift includes a tote jam-packed with goodies, along with a personalized adoption certificate and a 20 percent off voucher for a stay on the Marcelli family’s farm.
• Cozy Up: It’s entirely possible that you already own a pair of Karen Neuburger’s gorgeous and snuggly pajamas, but did you know that you can buy matching ones for the entire family? You’re welcome.

Meanwhile, they may have outgrown their security blankie, but the Buffy eucalyptus and mineral-infused comforter (70 percent eucalyptus fiber, selected from EU-certified sustainable farms and 30 percent mineral-coated microfiber / spa-grade volcanic minerals) will make them want to climb under the covers for a while. It’s one of the lightest, fluffiest and warmest comforters I’ve tried and also 100 percent hypoallergenic, and resistant to dampness-related mold, mildew and mites.

• Waking Up is Hard to Do: Philips new Somneo Sunrise Wake-up and Sleep Therapy Light with Alarm Clock is one of those products I wish everyone I knew would use so we could compare notes. The design is retro fabulous, though there definitely is a learning curve to programming it, setting the wake-up sounds and even the going to sleep effects. Waking up becomes less of a chore as the light gradually goes on from a pale glow to a full sunrise effect, while going to bed takes you from a reddish glow to barely any light. Perfect for fellow night owls, not-so-early risers and anyone who hates overhead lighting.
• Let There Be Light: Along those lines, Verilux Happy Light mimics daylight by providing full spectrum light which on a daily basis is said to improve overall wellbeing and has powerful benefits for improved sleep, mood, energy, and focus. I’ve been using one at my desk since I read that using a HappyLight early in the day can help your body adjust to darker days or time spent indoors. (Never look into it directly and pay attention to the instructions.) It’s also great for travel or extra gloomy days, and is supposed to help with insomnia, but I haven’t noticed a difference there.
• Wet Hot American Summer: Camp is the greatest, most long-lasting gift a parent (or grandparent) can give a child, and every summer 20,000 kids spend time at Maine Camps. Kids can be kids and unplug from technology, connect with nature, have fun, make lifelong friends, learn new skills, gain confidence and more. Even if they hate it, it might fuel their creative endeavors for decades! Read more on their blog that showcases more about the experience of camp in Maine.
• The World’s Smallest Garden: Urban Leaf allows you to upcycle your glass bottles (100 bottles of beer anyone?) to grow The World's Smallest Garden filled with fresh herbs. It’s deceptively simple since this is an eco-friendly beginner hydroponic unit that lets plants water themselves.
• A Hand Embroidered Memory of their Vacay: Remember that time your cousin visited Brooklyn? Of course you do, because they still haven't stopped talking about it (and probably never will). Cat Studio makes quirkily beautiful gifts including hand embroidered pillows with small vignettes of interesting places to dream about - or revisit from the comfort of their couch.
• A vape that isn't exclusively a vape. In case the nerd in your life has been reading all about vaping but isn't sure it's for them, consider the fact that the DaVinci limited edition IQ Vaporizer is technically made for a specific kind of herbal ingredient, but can also be used with calming lavender or invigorating blends as well. In this way, it looks naughty, but is actually very very nice.
• Oh, and you thought Ugly Christmas sweaters were bad? Behold: 3-D sweaters.
• Meanwhile, still stuck for ideas? Check out Knack which includes sustainable gift items and gifts made by emerging artisans. All items can be customized and changed. (These Green Budz earbuds combine old school wood in the design, with a retractable mechanism to keep things snuggly in their shirt pocket- right next to those extra pens).
  

Rachel Weingarten is a beauty, shopping and lifestyle expert and beauty historian and the award-winning author of three non-fiction books, including Ancient Prayer: Channeling Your Faith 365 Days of the Year. Get social with her on Facebook, or Twitter. Rachel regularly writes for many top media outlets. read some of her recent stories at readsomethingby.me