Feel soothed, work more efficiently. Here we introduce our staff's favorite picks, delivered to everyone working hard out there.

Spring is a season of new encounters and farewells. Whether you want to express gratitude once more for everything so far, or offer encouragement for a new life ahead, how about gifting an encounter with one of these items?

For those who want to experience true relaxation

Wheat Hot & Cold Neck Pillow, Lavender, Washed Linen

A lack of movement from desk work, housework that keeps you looking down, necks and shoulders stiff from the cold winter months. Warming your neck with a hot towel brings such relief that, for a moment, you forget just how tense you were.

But that relief really only lasts a moment.

No matter how many times I try it, getting the temperature of a hot towel just right is tricky—straight out, it's hot enough to burn, and just when it reaches the perfect warmth, it cools down again. I've often found it more inconvenient than I'd like.

I wanted something that would let me relax more slowly and easily, soothing me gently over time. That wish was granted by KLIPPAN's Wheat Hot & Cold Neck Pillow, Lavender, Washed Linen.

Place a cup of water and the inner bag in the microwave, and heat for about 4 minutes at 500W, or 3 minutes at 600W. The warmth then lasts about 30 minutes to an hour. It's said that about 20 minutes of warming is enough to feel your body properly heated, so this offers more than enough effect for a truly relaxing experience. It's also nice to use the remaining warmth to heat your stomach or lower back, letting your whole body relax.

Under a futon, the warmth stays for an impressive 4 to 5 hours, so if you warm it up before bed, you can use it much like a hot water bottle. And since it doesn't require any hot water like a hot water bottle does, there's no worry about forgetting to close a lid—making it safe to use even in bed.

What's great about a hot & cold neck pillow is that, since it doesn't get wet, you can use it anywhere—at home or in the office. A damp shirt collar from a hot towel might seem like a small thing, but for those who value a sense of cleanliness, it can actually be surprisingly bothersome.

Not just at home—if you keep your own mug at the office, the office too can quickly transform into a relaxing space.

It serves many purposes—warming your hands at the office during the cold season, or easing discomfort by warming the stomach during a woman's difficult time of the month. A neck pillow that shows this kind of care for someone's wellbeing is truly a gift that conveys gratitude. Unlike a disposable heat pack, it can be cherished and used for a long time, which makes it perfect as a gift—and the real charm is that it does more than just warm you up.

What's remarkable about the hot & cold neck pillow is that, true to its name, it doesn't just warm—it can cool too. When an unexpected fever strikes, you can pop it in the fridge and use it like an ice pillow. A chilled pillow can also be placed over the eyes to soothe eye strain. With both HOT and ICE uses available, this is a truly versatile item you'll be glad to have on hand whenever you're feeling under the weather.

As you can see, the design has a Nordic feel, with an understated, natural linen texture that doesn't clash with any styling and evokes the spirit of Scandinavian craftsmanship. Regardless of gender or preference, it's a neck pillow that's a joy to have one of at home—something everyone from small children to older family members can share.

A Moment Like Being at a Café

Mug

When it comes to expressing gratitude and sending someone off into a new life, a mug is one item that naturally comes to mind. It's a classic, ever-popular gift choice—priced neither too high nor too low, practical in everyday use, and easy to picture playing an active role in someone's new life.

At the same time, tableware can be used for as long as it doesn't break, which tends to make people more cautious when choosing a piece for themselves. Even so, there was one item I still couldn't resist wanting—the Burleigh mug.

Your eyes and heart are captivated by its bold, striking pattern. It's a truly one-of-a-kind mug, with a lovely design that feels almost like a British Liberty print brought to life in cup form.

Whenever you come across a cup with a pattern like this in a shop, it's common to think things over—"Will I get tired of it?" "Will it limit what I can put in it?"—and end up giving up on it in the end. And then, when you go back to the shop later, it's already gone, leaving you thinking, "I really did want that one after all." Quite a few people have probably had this experience. That's exactly the appeal of antiques and one-of-a-kind pieces.

This Burleigh mug, too, seems to carry that same charm. That's because the design on each and every mug is hand-applied, piece by piece.

It's made using a traditional printmaking-like technique called "copper transfer printing," which has continued in England for 200 years. You can read more about this technique here.

Thanks to this, each mug shows its own individuality—whether in the seams where the pattern joins together, or in tiny pools of ink. Neatly uniform mass-produced pieces have their own appeal, but an item where you can see and feel the human touch of handwork is truly something to be happy about, whether you receive it as a gift or buy it for yourself.

▲The way the light and dark tones are expressed through halftone dots, much like letterpress printing, is also part of its charm.

▲A different design is also applied to the back side using a pattern.

The beautiful floral pattern, being made in England as you can see, gives off a presence and dignified grandeur as if you had just stepped into a shop with a long and distinguished history. Of course, you can put things like soup inside, but filling it with coffee or tea will be an absolute delight for anyone with a discerning taste.

What's more, while it's made using traditional methods—English clay, English patterns, applied by English craftsmen—we shouldn't overlook the fact that it's surprisingly tough, being both microwave and dishwasher safe. You can even pop it in the microwave together with the hot/cold neck pillow introduced above. (And of course, reheating your drink is a breeze, too.)

This time, we've introduced some soothing gift ideas that won't overlap with what everyone else is giving. Both items can be used year-round, making them highly recommended picks—whether as a gift or as a treat for yourself. Life becomes so much richer with just one thoughtfully chosen item. The neck pillow and mug cup let you experience that firsthand.

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