“Massage?!?” You say, “Really?” Yes. Massage helps.

Massage has been shown to help accelerate muscle recovery in various ways. Massage helps muscles recover by aligning the muscle tissue to promote healing without the formation of knots. Massage can also help to temporarily increase circulation to flush out the build-up of lactic acid and waste in the muscles from working out to help alleviate post-workout muscle pain. Massage can also be beneficial to your overall health and well being by helping to increase flexibility, reduce heart rate and promote better sleep.

Soigneurs give warm-up massages before a race to prepare the cyclist’s leg muscles for the strenuous day of cycling. After, the post-race massage soothes the small set of muscles that the cyclists pushed to the limit for hours on end during the race.

“So…how does this relate to me?” You ask. “…I’m not a Tour de France cyclist.” Or
are you?

Many of us use a limited number of muscles day in and day out in our daily routines so that when we DO workout, cross-train, attend aerobics class, go on a run, lift weights, swim or even play soccer with our kids – we feel it after!

Any one of the Brookstone massagers is designed to help soothe muscles after a workout. To give you all the benefits of a powerful, professional massage in the comfort and convenience of your own home. Apply our massagers to your aching legs, arms, back, shoulders, neck and more to help your body recover after that workout and to keep going until you reach your resolution goals!

Start your workout, enjoy the ride, and help muscles recover more quickly with a rewarding massage!

Not my ankles, by the way.

FELLOW RUNNERS: Paul@Brookstone here. Just ran 9.4 miles in my HICKIES elastic laces and I declare them RACE READY. I’m pretty neurotic and was concerned about whether they’d hold my shoe as securely as I like. They’re actually better than laces in that regard. They contour perfectly to the top of my foot. No lace-shifting or shoe movement.

I also love that I didn’t have to quadruple-knot my laces and tuck them in and blah, blah, blah. Should a pebble ever get in my shoe, removing it and getting my shoe back on will take just seconds, as opposed to the minute+ with laces. Try’em out yourself. And next race, show off your HICKIES.

But what about the 12 days before Christmas? We didn’t want them to feel left out, so we made a list of our 12 best Christmas gifts this holiday season, perfect for anyone and everyone on your list. There’s Rovers spying, Speakers steaming, Keyboards typing…and a bunch of other really cool gifts.

#1. 1080p HDMI Pocket Projector
This one’s a show-stopper. Actually, it’s a show-starter… as long as they’re OK with mega-bright images projected in crisp HD up to 60″. Connects to smartphones, tablets or computers to project their favorite movies, videos, games, and presentations. It’s portable, rechargeable, and simply brilliant—no matter how they use it. $299.99*

#2. Rover 2.0 App-Controlled Wireless Spy Tank
Look out, Santa, we see you. More speed, 2-way audio, and remotely adjustable cameras make this our most advanced spy tank ever. Control Rover with iOS or Android devices and send it on secret spy missions—even in night vision mode! They can stream live or record missions and upload to their favorite social media sites. $149.99*

#3. Aero Wine Aerator
We designed a gift every wine drinker will love—and the experts are already raving about it. Aero infuses  wine with oxygen to unlock it’s hidden flavors and aromas. Faster than traditional aging and decanting, the wine-lover on your list will get smoother, better tasting wine in less than a minute. And if they don’t love wine yet, Aero will help. $39.99*

#4. Big Blue Studio Bluetooth Speaker
Stream music and other audio content wirelessly from any Bluetooth-enabled device—like their smartphones, tablets, mp3 players or Internet radio. Designed for big sound (and with really good looks) it’s the perfect desktop speaker to amp up all their favorite sound. $149.99*

#5. Scanner Mouse
It’s a mouse…and a scanner. And it’s the easiest way to scan anything. At the touch of a button, they can make instant e-copies by gliding the mouse over photos, documents, recipes, and more. Then they can edit, save, or send scanned images, too. Compatible with Windows® XP/Vista®/7 and Mac OS X 10.6 or above. $99.99*

#6. Bluetooth® Tablet Station with
Wireless Keyboard
Docks their tablet so they can zip through emails, spreadsheets and other typing jobs that are too tough for touchscreens. It holds your screen at the perfect angle for typing. Even better, the removable keyboard with real-click keys pairs with any Bluetooth enabled tablet—from up to 32′. $79.99*

#7. Grill Alert Talking Remote Meat Thermometer
Those 23 birds better watch out after Christmas. With Grill Alert, let them spend their time enjoying the day without stressing about what’s cooking. Select the meat type and desired cooking temp, close the grill and walk away. Grill Alert will let them know when the entrée is cooked to perfection. $69.99*

#8. HICKES Elastic Lacing System
Laces out, HICKIES in! The revolutionary elastic lacing system lets them customize their style again and again with 16 unique color combinations. Thread them through any shoe with eyelets and you’ve got easy-on, easy-off shoes—one size fits all. They can even see how HICKIES will look on your favorite pair of shoes using the free App for iOS and Android devices. $19.99*

#9. Max 2 Cordless Massager
Our most powerful massage is now cordless! Experience the gift of complete freedom of movement while giving or receiving a percussion massage. Use the two ergonomic handles to glide the massager over the body and control the pressure you apply to tight muscles. Cordless design. Endless reach. The ideal massage. $229.99*

#10. Bluetooth Keyboard with Tech-Grip Case for iPad® Mini Tablet
Did you remember to get them a case? Outfit their new iPad® mini with protective case that has a built-in wireless keyboard for tapping out emails, blogs and more at laptop speed. The rubberized Tech-Grip case leaves access to ports, buttons and controls and gives a better grip so their tablet takes fewer drops. $79.99*

#11. Nap^TM Throw Blanket
This one feels like it was engineered in the North Pole for sure. The Nap Throw Blanket is made of the softest fabric they’ll ever feel. The silky-smooth trim and sumptuous fabric will soothe and relax away the day’s cares. Cozy, warm and irresistibly soft, our throw is perfect for napping or cuddling up on the couch. $39.99*

#12. eComfort^TM Home Office
Everything they need in the office, right in front of them. Our all-in-one workstation is built for their tablet, netbook, small laptop, e-reader and other small electronics, keeping them organized wherever they want…couch, bed, car, anywhere. Store. Organize. Protect. Dry Erase. Carry. It does so much, they’ll forget it’s all from one amazing gift. $59.99*

* Note: Prices as of 12/13/12. Subject to change.

We’ve been together a long time, but this isn’t working anymore. My needs are different now. And I’ve met someone else. It’s the Big Blue Media Tower from Brookstone, the new all-in-one music and TV sound system.

No, really, it’s not you. It’s me. Well maybe it’s you. Let me explain.

When we first met you gave me everything I needed. But now I’ve got a smartphone, tablet, laptop and mp3 player, all with Bluetooth^® connectivity. Big Blue Media Tower lets me pair all my devices and stream my music wirelessly. No docks. No hassle. Pairing is easy, and it never forgets my devices. Or my birthday. Yeah, I haven’t forgotten. Still hurts.

Wait. You don’t think I would leave you just for Bluetooth, do you? Well I probably would. But there’s more. So don’t beat yourself up.

I can also connect Media Tower to my TV. It comes with optical and RCA cables so I can amp up my favorite movies, shows and video games. And I can switch from wireless to wired input with the touch of a button. It’s really the best of both worlds. How could you possibly compete? I don’t even need the soundbar anymore. But don’t say anything to him, OK? It’s better if it comes from me.

I guess we’ve just grown apart. I used to love your sound. Now I want big, crystal-clear audio in every corner of the room. Media Tower lets me hear details you never did. With two full-range stereo speakers set at different angles, Media Tower projects sound off walls and ceilings, filling the room with huge, omni-directional audio—no matter where I put it. It even has a powered subwoofer, ported to extend low frequency sound for deeper, richer bass.

I know this is hard to hear. But sometimes, so are you. That’s why I couldn’t help but fall in love with Big Blue Media Tower.

With sadness (but not really),

Me

Before you purchase your next holiday gift, ask yourself one question. Does your person like football? If so, you now have the power to make said fan scream and convulse and do a little end-zone dance. It’s your holiday. How intense do you want your gift to be?

Top Football Gifts at Brookstone
1) Autographed NFL Football
This is what we in the business call a game-changing gift. Put this under the tree, and we guarantee your partner will change his or her worst domestic habit (whether it’s not taking out the trash or trash-talking your mother).

Football gifts shopping tip: enter your team’s name in the search box here.

2) Bubba Inflatable NFL Player
Here’s another other approach. Instead of trying to change your spouse into a better, more tasteful individual, just put a giant inflatable lineman on your front yard and be done with it.

3) Autographed NCAA Helmet
If anything, the tribal bond is even more intense when schools are involved. If you’ve married an Irish fighter, a Lou Holtz helmet will have them weeping like a baby till the final bowl game has them weeping like a baby.

4) UltraSoft NCAA Blanket
Bonus: cuddle with each other while cuddling up under your colors.

5) Wireless TV Headphones 
Ok, this is more a gift to yourself. If you don’t like football (or at least not enough to watch Red Zone all night), give these to your spouse and save your marriage. Think of the children.

1) Don’t dry out the bird.

Are your relatives looking a little parched after that last bite of turkey? Next year, use the Brookstone® Grill Alert® Talking Remote Meat Thermometer.

Stick the probe inside the breast, pop the bird in the oven, and Grill Alert will actually tell you when the turkey’s perfect, even if you’re in the other room setting the kids’ table. Mmmm, juicy.

2) Lose the pucker face.

Grammy’s hitting it a little harder than you expected, so you find yourself serving wine that hasn’t had a chance to breathe. No problem. You’ve got the Brookstone Aero Wine Aerator.

Insert its tip into a freshly opened bottle and in less than a minute, Aero “breathes” your wine, bringing out richer, smoother and more complex flavors and bouquet. It prevents that pucker face that comes from drinking younger and, ahem, modestly priced wines.

3) Keep your father off the roof.

Yes, thank goodness he didn’t hurt himself seriously last year, but, really, he shouldn’t be up there. Instead of running heavy electrical cords all over the place, use our Cordless Prelit Greenery. It makes it much easier to decorate indoors and out. It also helps keep the mail carrier from tripping over cords in your front yard.

4) Don’t have another tree fight.

During the first December of my marriage, my mother called up and asked, “Did you have the tree fight yet?” How could she have known?

Many (happy) years later, Brookstone brings peace on earth to all couples attempting to marry different holiday traditions…with Color-Changing Christmas Trees. Full, lush, and easy to put up, and best of all, the lights go from all-white to multi-colored with just the flick of a switch. Couples can switch off and have the kind of tree they grew up with.

5) Use Band-Aids® if you run out of tape.

Don’t ask.

That’s why we made Scanner Mouse. And yes, it’s exactly what it sounds like­­—a fully functional mouse with a built-in scanner.  Not only is it the easiest way to scan anything, but it replaces your current mouse. So in a sense, Scanner Mouse takes up no space at all.

Works like magic

At home or in the office, doing work or just surfing the web—you’re always using your mouse. When that mouse is Scanner Mouse, you barely need to lift a finger to start scanning. All you do is click the Smart Scan button on the mouse…and then the magic happens. As you swipe Scanner Mouse over your document (in any pattern you like), the image assembles itself right before your eyes in perfect alignment. It’s that easy. And to be honest, it’s pretty cool to watch. See it in action!

Edit, save and share

Wish you could make that old photo a little brighter? Scanner Mouse comes with software that allows you to edit the contrast, brightness, size, orientation, and zoom level of your scanned images. You can even erase what you don’t need. After you’re done, you can save, send via e-mail, or upload directly to Facebook^®, Twitter^®, or Flickr^® directly from the included software.

And who doesn’t like saving a little time, too? With built-in OCR (optical character recognition), Scanner Mouse lets you edit text in the documents you scan. So if you need to make a few tweaks to something you only have in hard-copy, that means you won’t have to re-type the whole thing to make changes. Just scan, edit and print.

A scanner, always at hand

Scanner Mouse can scan images as large as 16.5″ x 11.7″ in high-resolution 320 dpi, so it’s perfect for just about anyone and any scanning project—at home, in the office, school­ (imagine scanning classroom notes!), or even travel. After all, it’s super-portable so you can take it anywhere.

Want to try Scanner Mouse? Stop in and scan with your hand…and let us know what you think.

That’s right. This holiday, we’re gifting YOU. When you spend $99 at any of our retail stores or online at Brookstone.com, you will receive $20 Brookstone Bucks to spend however you’d like during the holiday season.

Shop for them, then treat yourself—on us.

Got a hard-to-buy-for type on your hands? No problem. Find great gift ideas here.

Surprise them with a gift that will amaze. Wrap up our very best and wow them. And in return, we’ll give you a little something, too: $20 to spend however you’d like through December 29. There’s no limit to how many Brookstone Bucks you can receive. Every transaction of $99 or more will get you another coupon worth $20.

What’s not to love?

Everyone loves their kicks. But we’d probably love them a lot more if we didn’t have to tie—and struggle to untie—them all the time. So we thought, “why not lose the laces and turn your normal shoes into something extraordinary?”

If you’re thinking that’s a problem because they’d just fall off, we might have agreed—until we discovered HICKIES, the revolutionary elastic shoelaces that replace traditional shoelaces with colorful, fashion-forward bands.

Turn your sneakers into slip-ons

All you do is thread HICKIES through your eyelets and fasten them together. Just like that, you’ve got easy-on, easy-off shoes with no knots or loops required. And because they’re stretchy, HICKIES give you the perfect amount of tension to keep your shoes secure without being too tight.

The secret behind the stretch is that HICKIES laces are made of a specially-designed compound of elastic copolymers. That means they’ll loosen and contract with the movement of your foot for a more comfortable fit.

One size, anywhere your shoes take you

If you’ve got shoes with eyelets, no matter how big or small (even kids’ shoes), HICKIES will fit. And they always return to their original size so you can wear them with different pairs of shoes.

For example, you can add HICKIES laces to athletic shoes–the supportive, yet flexible material keeps your shoes secure during high-impact activities–we even heard of someone who ran a marathon in them! HICKIES are also airport-friendly and make going through security a breeze.

Redesign your feet

HICKIES laces let you customize your style again and again with 16 unique color combinations. You can even see how HICKIES laces will look on your favorite pair of shoes using the free App for iPod touch^®, iPhone^® or iPad^® devices, as well as Android^™ devices.

Are you going to replace the lace? Give them a go and let us know how you like your HICKIES!

So what do we do? We try sleep aids of all sorts, but how often do we consider a massage? Massage has the power to gently knead, pat and soothe our muscles, helping unlock stress and tension from the day. And anyone who’s ever received a massage (even the caressing fingertip massage on your back counts) knows how relaxing a massage can be.

This month, we’ve introduced the Shiatsu Bed Lounger. Its advanced Shiatsu massage (a circular-motion, deep-kneading technique) gently massages the lumbar muscles in your lower back to soothe your body and mind. Control the massage motion forward and reverse to target muscle tension and tightness. Plus, you can plug in your tablet or e-reader through the USB port to recharge your device as you lounge before bed.

Incorporate a little massage into your evening routine and see for yourself how ready for bed your body will be.

Try the Shiatsu Bed Lounger with a free demo at Brookstone stores.

Find a store near you >