These days, wedding lists feature anything from a Nintendo Wii to his and hers skateboards. What ever happened to cutlery and teapots?

At Louis Wine Antiques, one can find traditional gifts for the couple that still appreciates the value of a silver gravy boat.

This fourth generation dealer (the family is originally from Ireland) specializes in fine period silver, old Sheffield and plated metal wares and antique jewellery from the 18th century to the early 20th century. Princess Grace of Monaco, the Getty and duPont families, and several heads of state and prime ministers have purchased pieces from Louis Wine.

Impress seasoned party throwers with an art deco cocktail shaker or a set of Georgian silver asparagus tongs.

Guaranteed to last longer than a skateboard.

140 Yorkville Ave., Toronto, 416-929-9333, www.louiswine.com

When you have kids, shopping for them can be over-the-top exhausting. Here are six holiday presents you can order online to make your gifting season easier.

Craft-time gets creative with kid-friendly do-it-yourself bath and body products from Kiss Naturals. Kids can create soap, bath fizzies, lip balms and solid perfume (from $14.95) using all-natural products free from dyes and synthetics. Now that’s good, clean fun!
www.kissnaturals.com

Kids in grades 4 and 5 can ski for free-ish ($20 administration fee to sign up) with the Canadian Ski Council’s Snow Pass, entitling them to up to three free ski passes at 93 ski areas (from Bromont to Tremblant!) in Ontario, Quebec and Atlantic Canada.
www.snowpass.ca

Pre-order the Harry Potter Signature Edition 7, scheduled for release on January 12, 2010 ($66.47). This will give you (and your little one) just enough time to re-read the entire series before the final movie is released in July. At Amazon.ca

Kids bouncing off the walls? Let them jump both indoors and out on this padded Kids' Safety Trampoline that folds flat for storage. Energy busting and good exercise, nap time is just around the corner. Now that's a gift. $99 at www.gosafetrampoline.com

For our little doll, we’re ordering a custom-made Raplapla doll, (starting at $130) created in Quebec from washable cloth. www.raplapla.com

There’s nothing that says Christmas like a bicycle under a tree. We’re ordering the Wishbone bike from Babybot.com to grow along with our little tyke. From $249, www.babybot.com

Scrapbooks are great, but who wants glue ruining a perfectly decent manicure?

A new website, blurb, creates gorgeous colour photo books (from $18.95) ready to print in less time than we’d spend at a craft shop.

Options include wedding books, baby books or a book to chart your trek to Machu Picchu. With plenty of ways to individualize your design, the blurb experience is creative minus the nail-chipping hassle.

Sounds like our kind of art project.

www.blurb.com

Mummy might think fancy frocks and cashmere booties are a waste, but what are aunties and godmothers good for, if not to spoil the little one rotten?

At Advice from a Caterpillar, you’ll find the most irresistible gifts, from delicate antique christening gowns ($90-$250) to the Baby Barolo organic cotton and down duvet papoose (pictured right, $320).


Owner Emily Dyer suggests the pleated coat from Le Vestiaire de Jeanne ($390) or the lovely wool joggers from L'Esprit de Luna ($75). Her favourite godchild gift is the illuminating animal globe ($135) or the ride on leather hippo ($220).

Now, if only our fairy godmother were as generous.

Advice from a Caterpillar, 8 Price St., Toronto, 416-960-2223, www.advicefromacaterpillar.ca

Gwyneth and Winona. Lauren and Heidi. Kelly and Brenda. Friend breakups are the worst.

Make sure your BFF knows you love and appreciate her with a You and Me necklace from elephantine (US$50). The ultra delicate piece comes in a shimmering silver or gold chain and a curved row of tiny beads in pink or gray. Each order is for two necklaces, one for her and one for you, so you can coordinate your looks just like in grade seven.


You and Me necklaces, US$50 for two, www.etsy.com/shop/elephantine

Dining al fresco doesn’t mean losing all décor(um).

La Plates’ melamine dishware has the glamour of fine china without the threat of destruction.  Each plate ($22) can be monogrammed with your initials in classic colors like navy and kelly green, set against preppy prints like houndstooth, clovers or gingham. For a more subtle approach, go for tempered glass cutting boards (from $40), stripy place mats (from $18) or a personalized acrylic tray (from $32). Not sure which initials to use? Consult the site’s Monogram Etiquette guide.

Now that’s getting the dish.

www.laplates.com

It's the time of year when Dad finally gets his due. Herewith, our Top 5 Father's Day gift picks.

Crafty gifters can follow Alpha Moms’ lead with these bright and bold care package labels. Buy Dad’s favourite foods, print the handy label templates, trim to size and wrap.

Every dad with an ounce of style should own Tivoli’s sleek Audio Model One AM/FM Table Radio, which looks as good as it sounds. $169.95 at Bay Bloor Radio, 55 Bloor St. W., 416-967-7776, www.baybloorradio.com/tivoli

Put Dad in Rafael Nadal's company with the Babolat AeroPro Drive GT racquet. It’s the ace choice, obviously. $200 at Merchant of Tennis, 1621 Bayview, 416-932-3296,  www.merchantoftennis.com

For dads determined to wait for the next generation iPad, opt for the chic and lightweight Kobo eReader. Pre-loaded with 100 free books and just $149, it is a gentle first step into the world of books on screen. At Indigo.ca

For foodie fathers, special order a copy of Yotam Ottolenghi’s Plenty from The Cookbook Store. The inventive vegetarian recipes, mouthwatering photographs and Mediterranean focus make it a perfect choice for summer entertaining. $64.95 at The Cookbook Store, 850 Yonge St., 416-920-2665, www.cook-book.com

She wiped your nose and let you raid her wardrobe. She even dished out for a down payment on your first digs. In short, moms are marvelous! Spoil yours this weekend with gifts, flowers and bear hugs galore.

Director Thomas Balmès tracks the lives of four babies on four different continents (Nambia, Tokyo, San Francisco and Mongolia) in the heart-warming documentary Babies. Mom will coo all day long. www.movietickets.com

You could attempt the icky sticky buns of your childhood, but tea and sweet treats at Nadège Patisserie is a lot less messy. The macaroons ($2 each, 12 for $20, peach, cassis, rose) are divine and so are all the tarts, colourful cakes, truffles and pastries (from $6.50). Nadège, 780 Queen St. W., Toronto, 416-368-2009, http://nadege-patisserie.com/

Three kids later and she still has a fabulous figure. Accentuate mom’s waist with a stylish belt ($100) from trendy Canadian label, Brave Leather. http://braveleather.com/

Mom will love this pebble grey wool blanket ($260) from local textile designer, Bev Hisey. And hey, if she doesn’t, you’ll just have to keep it. http://www.bevhisey.com/store.html

She lusts after your Jessica Jensen bag every time you get together, so why not surprise her with one of her own. Toting this woven box satchel ($958) in blush, sea foam, black or storm grey, she’ll be the chicest lady at lunch. At The Bay, Queen St., 176 Yonge St., Toronto, 416-861-9111, www.thebay.com

Apologies are so much sweeter when wrapped with a bow on top.

With its unique selection of handmade, one-of-a-kind wares, So Chic Gifts is the place to shop for the perfect grovel gift.

From plush, personalized pillows ($78) to customizable letter pillows made from recycled suit jackets ($75) to retro-fabulous Pac Mac-themed iPhone covers ($50), we dare you not to go ga-ga for the gifts on this site.

www.sochicgifts.com

Frank Lloyd Wright credits simple wooden building blocks with his future career. So how to nurture the future eco-starchitect?

Try these award-winning, BC-made Tree Branch Blocks made from beeswax-coated kiln-dried alder.

And just think, by the time he's 8 he'll be stacking the woodpile like an expert.

$29.95 for a small set, at www.naturalpod.com