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Gift Idea for Crossword Lovers: American Values Crossword Subscription

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My brother is mildly obsessed with the New York Times crossword puzzle — so I was really interested when Wired had an article earlier this year on “crossword upstarts” offering “younger” clues, shall we say:

One of the names, ROXANE, could have been clued as a reference to best-selling (and living) author Roxane Gay but instead defaulted to a character from the 19th-century play Cyrano de Bergerac. 

One of the presents my brother has coming his way this year is a crossword subscription to American Values Club Crossword, also known as the AVCX because it's affiliated with the pop culture publication A.V. Club. A subscription for the year was only $20, and I liked that you could pick the date your gift recipient would get the email. If you really want to go all-in on a gift, you could also get a small iTunes gift card or Play gift card so they could get one of the supported crossword apps. 

Sales of note for 1/22/25:

  • Nordstrom – Cashmere on sale; AllSaints, Free People, Nike, Tory Burch, and Vince up to 60%; beauty deals up to 25% off
  • AllSaints – Clearance event, now up to 70% off (some of the best leather jackets!)
  • Ann Taylor – All sale dresses $40 (ends 1/23)
  • Banana Republic Factory – Up to 50% off everything
  • Boden – Clearance, up to 60% off!
  • DeMellier – Final reductions now on, free shipping and returns — includes select options like Montreal, Vancouver, and Venice
  • Eloquii – $29 and up select styles; extra 50% off all clearance, plus ELOQUII X kate spade new york collab just dropped
  • Everlane – Sale of the year, up to 70% off; new markdowns just added
  • J.Crew – Up to 40% off select styles; up to 50% off cashmere
  • J.Crew Factory – End of season sale, extra 60-70% off clearance, online only
  • Rothy's – Final Few: Up to 40% off last-chance styles
  • Spanx – Lots of workwear on sale, some up to 70% off
  • Talbots – Semi-Annual Red Door Sale – extra 50% off

And some of our latest threadjacks here at Corporette (reader questions and commentary) — see more here!

Some of our latest threadjacks include:

23 Comments

  1. Can I get some kudos? In the last week, I sat in 8 hours of internal meetings involving tense conversations and employee performance and salary reviews. I helped staff our firm booth at a conference and then had a long rehearsal (all after the first 3 hours of meetings). I had my work holiday party and successfully encouraged my husband to come with me even though he had a man cold. I took the kids to all of their weekend activities on the same day that I had a concert, in which I gave all the pitches and sang well even though I also had a cold and was running on little sleep (and brought cookies to the post-concert reception that I had previously baked). I made 4 cookie doughs for cookie-baking with my friend and we made 500 cookies. I ordered the presents for my niece and nephew on my husband’s side. I addressed most of our holiday cards and did the stamps and return address labels. I sent out a bunch of projects to clients. Maybe someday I can sleep?

    2. You have my congratulations and blessing for a long nap. This is a crazy season both for work and for kid stuff and many of us have to be superwomen for handling it all. Also, you just reminded me I haven’t ordered the presents for the nieces and nephews on my husband’s side. (I choose to do this because it’s fun). Thank you!

    5. This is why I don’t eat cookies from strangers during cold season. And your sick husband could and should have stayed at home for something non-obligatory. Nice you guys have recovered in time to enjoy your holiday. Hopefully others around you and their families get to experience the same.

      1. Rude. You could have made your point in a much more graceful way, unless you just enjoy being graceless and grumpy and snotty to people.

      2. Also reading comprehension fail: “cookies I had previously baked.”

        Sheesh. Don’t be mean.

      5. Man colds are typically when a man is very dramatically acting like they’re at death’s door when it’s an extremely minor complaint. Hence why she specified and convinced him, I imagine.

        SA addressed the “previously baked” part, but also she said she made cookie dough for cookie baking. Ovens kill germs.

  2. I’m looking for a relatively inexpensive (ideally under $50 USD) Christmas gift for my SIL. She’s very fashionable, travels lots for work and is a mom to two toddlers. She likes cooking gourmet meals, but doesn’t have lots of time. She also has lots of stuff already (her closet/makeup counter is literally what dreams are made of) and a smallish house, and I’m a little hesitant to do most typical consumables because I believe she’s trying to avoid extra calories (chocolate) and I’m traveling internationally with a carryon so I can’t do wine due to the liquid limits. The only thing I can come up with is a little travel jewelry case and nice hand cream, so I’d love options.

    1. -upgraded travel accessory? like a nice portable charger, cord organizer, or pouch? think Mark & Graham. I NEVER have enough pouches when traveling internationally in particular. Packing cubes? Pretty silk eye mask?
      -I love doing crosswords when I travel but prefer the NYTimes ones because I have better random arcane knowledge than the “modern” Roxane reference mentioned above, lol – a subscription just to the crosswords would be in your budget. Or a few e-books for her to add to her Kindle?
      -if you’re coming from Europe, skincare brands can be far less pricey for you to buy there than for her to buy at home, so the fancy cream idea isn’t as boring as it may sound!

    2. Uncommon Goods has an infinity scarf that has a blow up travel pillow in it that I plan to buy myself if I don’t get it for Christmas. I hate lugging regular travel pillows. They always fall off of my luggage. I like that I can just wear it as a scarf until I need it and the scarf will keep it in place while I’m using it.

    3. Fancy spices. I would love a spice blend from La Boite, or you could order from Penzey’s, Burlap and Barrel, Daphnis and Chloe, or any international specialty store, especially if there’s a particular cuisine she enjoys cooking.

    5. Monogrammed packing cubes?

      Monogrammed luxe leather organizer such as: https://www.markandgraham.com/products/monogrammed-soho-organizer/?cm_src=AutoRel

      Mongrammed leather pouch: https://www.markandgraham.com/products/monogrammed-colorblocked-striped-pouch/?pkey=cmonogrammed-pouches-cosmetics&isx=0.0.1200 or mini roll: https://www.markandgraham.com/products/everyday-italian-leather-mini-roll/?pkey=cmonogrammed-pouches-cosmetics&isx=0.0

      Metallic clutch bag (pouch?): https://www.bodenusa.com/en-us/astwood-clutch-bag-navy-metallic/sty-a0559-nvy?cat=C1_S2_G1

    6. If she’s on the road alot, she probably could use a sleep mask or something similar to help her catch a few zzzzzzees.

  3. A collection of W&P carry-on carry on cocktail kits. They are bit cutesy but makes an otherwise annoying plane ride amusing and mini-luxurious.

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