A-List: Best Bets for January

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IN THE DEPTHS OF January, views of verdant landscapes and ocean horizons are welcome fodder for fantasy. The Private Oasis: The Landscape Architecture and Gardens of Edmund Holland Design, Volume One, by Philip Langdon, is a large-format tease of what spring and summer have to offer — particularly when the perspective is impeccably and creatively designed. In addition to the voluptuous photographs of work by Hollander’s highly regarded firm, the tome offers tips, including this: “A home must connect to nature.” $49.95, from various booksellers.

CARITA PRODUCTS FOR hair, face, and body are among the most exclusive on the market, but they weren’t available in Michigan — until now. Along with products, facials using the Carita line are available exclusively in the state at Margot European Day Spa in Birmingham. We tried the aqua-colored hydrating Lagoon Cream (pictured here, $118) and were impressed. Rich in noni (a tropical fruit) extracts, the cream is quickly absorbed into the skin, giving it a radiant glow. 101 Townsend, Birmingham; 248-642-3770, margots.com.

 

 

 LEGOS ARE MORE than child’s play. Just consider the number of parents who build with the colorful blocks after the kids go to bed. For those who appreciate the toy’s somewhat geeky appeal, there’s a trio of books from No Starch Press: The Unofficial Lego Builder’s Guide (including a “Brickopedia” of pieces), The Unofficial Lego Technic Builder’s Guide, and The Lego Adventure Book. $24.95-$29.95, at area bookstores and nostarch.com.

 

RED IS A COLOR ASSOCIATED most often with February, but we tend to forget that the ruby-red garnet, also a symbol of love, is January’s birthstone. Although garnets are found in a carnival of colors, red is the most popular hue. These David Yurman garnet-and-black onyx drop earrings will add dramatic flair to stylish women lucky enough to claim a January birthday. $495 at area Tapper’s locations in West Bloomfield, Troy, and Novi; tappers.com.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

FEW THINGS IN LIFE ARE more satisfying than popping bubble wrap. If anything else comes close, it’s crossing off the days on a calendar. But thanks to the 2013 Bubble Calendar, the two need not compete. The fully functional, poster-sized (48×18-inch) calendar eschews traditional paper squares in favor of bubbles overlaying dates. Weekends are bolded; all major holidays are marked. Enjoy 365 gratifying pops, as well as the satisfaction of buying a product handmade in Brooklyn, N.Y. $20 at uncommongoods.com.