Give the Man in Your Life a Molner-Approved Birthday Gift!

John insists that a special belt is worth a splurge, which is why he recommends a nice, high-quality belt as a gift idea. His favorite belt is a glazed alligator belt from Paul Stuart. But for a slightly smaller splurge, you can’t go wrong with the similar style from Tecovas. 

You’ll have to preorder this memoir from New York Times opinion writer Frank Bruni, which comes out on March 1, but the wait is worth it. Bruni’s story of losing vision in his right eye — and coming to terms with the risk of losing it in his left eye as well — is uplifting and beautiful, and it’s one of John’s new favorites.

John loves a good tequila on the rocks, and it doesn’t get much better than George Clooney’s Casamigos. There’s both a Reposado and an Añejo for the liquor connoisseur in your life, and it’s the perfect drink for anyone tired of their usual roundup of brown liquors.

A word to the wise: Don’t serve John Molner wine in a stemmed glass. In his own words, “I don’t get it, I don’t use it. They don’t have balance and you can knock it over easily.” Point taken. Phase out your last unbroken pieces of stemware with this set of four red and four white glasses. The wine lover on your list will thank you for it.

There’s a lot to be said for investing in nice pillows: You spend a pretty important eight hours of every day in bed, so you may as well make them enjoyable. John prefers something with a little more structure than pure down, and this down alternative pillow from Bloomingdale’s fits the bill. It’s supportive without being uncomfortably firm, and machine washable for the easiest possible care.

John absolutely loves his new Ray-Bans, which are a slightly more squared off version of classic aviators. They’re polarized, so they won’t flatten the light or mess with your depth perception — perfect for golfing on sunny days or fishing on particularly sparkly water.

You might remember this wacky gift from Katie and John’s anniversary — Katie was a little less enthusiastic than John was. At more than $800, they’re quite the splurge, but Molner absolutely swears by them. They’re great for reducing anyone’s aches and pains after a long day of hiking or walking, and they’re particularly helpful for active people over the age of 40. You’ll never have to sit out your workout due to sore legs again.

In the vein of recovery tools, the Theragun Mini tops the list of practical and portable solutions to soreness. It can fit into your smallest carry-on bag while still packing enough power to soothe and loosen your muscles after traveling or working out.