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Holiday Gifts for Overworkers Courtesy of Gina Pell and Amy Parker

By Gail Goldberg

It’s only been about a month since longtime San Francisco style soul sisters Gina Pell and Amy Parker launched theWhat, a weekly email they (justly) call a cocktail for your inbox. As the founders of Splendora (circa 1999), Ms. Pell and Ms. Parker have been recommenders of “the best shit on the web” for quite the while. In other words, this fashionable duo is the real deal. Naturally, we wanted their top holiday gift picks; and they most graciously obliged with this fail-safe list for workaholics.

When Gina sent the picks our way, she added this note: "We really love and use everything we recommend especially that Thera Cane—it's a miracle stick!" Thanks ladies, and we’ll be stalking our inbox on Wednesday for your latest makes-us-feel-clever-and-chic newsletter.

Also, emoji addicts, check out the just-launched theWhat pack, featuring 60+ whimsical illustrations, by LOLy—another fab Gina Pell creation. (We die for the donuts and spilled-milk stickers...way to go, artist Forsyth Harmon.)

Racked is no longer publishing. Thank you to everyone who read our work over the years. The archives will remain available here; for new stories, head over to Vox.com, where our staff is covering consumer culture for The Goods by Vox. You can also see what we’re up to by signing up here.

Let the gifting begin...

  1. Leather Touchscreen Gloves

    You’re out ice skating or enjoying the brisk weather while she's huddled over her phone trying to create pivot tables in Excel. Might as well enable the madness (just this one last time) with these touchscreen gloves from AHAlife. Chic cotton and leather crochet makes for a slim fit that’s also toasty and touchscreen-friendly.

    $109

  1. Thera Cane

    It’s a magic stick—a therapeutic self-massager that releases Myofascial trigger points in the shoulders, neck, and lower back. Plus it eases tension headaches and gets deep into painful knots all over the body. We discovered this odd-looking device from a renowned PT who prescribes daily use to keep muscles supple. It’s a bargain, easy to stash by a desk and feels absolutely aah-mazing. Here’s a down-home video we made to show how to use one.

    $40

  2. Coloring Books

    Stress-relieving coloring books are all the rage. We love the Zen-inducing patterns in Joyful Designs. Or, if you know a giftee that loves mermaids, here’s a winner, illustrated by our former colleague and friend Maxine Mannion.

    $8

  3. Sensory Deprivation Float Session

    Float spas are popping up around the country and have even caught the attention of The New York Times. Give the gift of sensory deprivation and total mind and body relaxation in a soundproof, warm, salty pod. We’re both fans of Reboot Float Spa Spa on Lombard Street. (Note: First-time customers pay $59.)

    $89

  4. Corkcicle.Air Wine Chiller

    If you have any white wine lovers on your list (and who doesn’t?), they’ll flip over this wine chiller. It’s a wand you keep in your freezer then pop into your wine bottle, keeping the wine perfectly chilled all night. Simply brr-illiant.

    $25

  5. Gift Subscription to Plated

    For the workhorse foodie who is too busy to cook, Plated delivers everything she needs to make elegant home-cooked dinners without the hassle. A box arrives with an inspired recipe—and all the ingredients, washed and measured, for easy assembly. Slow food luxury but farm-to-table faster. (Subsciption gift cards come in various dollar amounts.)

    $60

  6. Masterclass Gift Certificate

    Masterclass is an online learning platform taught by legendary talents like Dustin Hoffman, Serena Williams, James Patterson and other luminaries. Your favorite workaholic can brush up on tennis skills at her desk or learn the art of performance from Usher.

    $90

  7. Muse Meditation Assistant

    The Muse is a personal meditation assistant that looks like headphones but goes across the forehead and fits snugly over your ears. Using a mobile device (via Bluetooth), it monitors brain activity, guides your mediation practice, and gives audio and visual feedback on your progress. The feedback feature is perfect for competitive personalities who are maniacal about improvement (The opposite of meditation, true…but whatever it takes to get and keep them calm, right?)

    $299