2009 HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE

Gift Ideas For Women

SELECT COMFORT IN BALANCE SHEETS

Select Comfort In-Balance Sheets: Are you too hot at night? We’ve got your solution with the latest technology in temperature balancing materials. In Balance™ sheets help provide a more comfortable sleeping environment by balancing temperature swings. Outlast® Adaptive Comfort® sheets are 350-thread-count; 50% cotton and 50% Outlast® Adaptive Comfort®* Viscose fiber. In Balance sheets include SmartFit™, a patented fitted sheet that is completely surrounded by elastic, plus elastic anchor band at each of the corner pockets for a no-slip, smooth sleep surface. Fits any SLEEP NUMBER® bed. Extra-deep pocket fits beds up to 18 inches. Logic™ Label system takes the guesswork out of where to start making your bed.

HANES FOR WOMEN

This season, Hanes has a great offering of products under $10!  Perfect for stocking stuffers, to replenish your own basics, or to gift to friends. I love the new style of ladies sweat pants (more of a yoga pany style than traditional sweat pants) and would be a cute, inexpensive, and useful gift when paired with a long-sleeve tee. Hanes can easily get everyone marked off your list without blowing your budget.  Check out the Women’s Top 10 Under $10 for items pictured here + more.

CHIC BUDS & PINKTOOTH

 ChicBuds Earphones: Treat your ears to somethin’ sweet! Adorned with Swarovski Crystals, chicBuds transforms functional earbuds into a deliciously stylish experience. But don’t be fooled! chicBuds are not only yummy looking–they’re convenient too. The built-in retractor allows the cord to expand and retract to 5 stopping points for various lengths.

ChicBuds Wireless Headset (aka The PinkTooth!): This crystal adorned wireless headset comes packaged in a couture “candy” tin…making these o so SWEET! The crystal clear sound, comfortable inner earbuds and light handling weigh make listening pleasure able even when those long customer service wait time seem unbearable. Cell phone talk time is up to 6 hours which should be more than enough time for late night chats with your girlfriend– and standby time lasts up to 200 hours

BUTTONED UP

   
Greetings.stash: This nifty little package of 12 stylishly designed cards (6 birthday, 2 anniversary, 2 thank you, 2 blank) has you covered for birthdays, anniversaries…and any other occasion you can think of.

2009 HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE

Gift Ideas For Men

V-MODA VIBE II

  V-MODA’s new Vibe II with Microphone, is a dual-use headphone/headset that any man would appreciate.  The earbuds fit securely so users won’t be fumbling around as they enjoy their listening experience, which is heightened by the outside sound-reducing technology. Constructed from high quality materials, these headphones are built to last making them the gift that keeps on giving. Plus, he will look hip and trendy thanks to the sleek design. 

WATER LOVERS GIFT BASKET

   
   
Know a health & fitness nut, someone that just loves water, or perhaps has a goal of drinking more water?  Give a gift basket with everything they need!  Suggestions: Brita Water Filteration Pitcher, plastic / stainless steel re-useable water bottles such as those from Filter For Good and Tappening, & the book Cool Waters: 50 Refreshing, Healthy Homemade Thirst-Quenchers. Book description: With additives like sugar & artificial flavors, many commercial drinks aren’t as healthy as they seem. With Cool Waters, it’s easy & economical to create one-of-a-kind infusions that are healthier & better-tasting than anything found in stores. Recipes include Pineapple & Lime Seltzer, Pomegranate Flair, Mint Mist, & even flavored ice cubes.  You could put together a basket for around $40 for the basics (filter, book, bottle) or build a bigger basket to include additional water bottles & recipe ingredients. Take the Filter For Good pledge & get a $5 Brita coupon.

HANES FOR MEN

        
      
This season, Hanes has a great offering of products under $10!  Perfect for stocking stuffers (Christmas is the perfect time to replensih the guys’ socks & underwear + other simple essentials) and gift giving (tees or winter sweats always come in handy), Hanes can easily get everyone marked off your list without blowing your budget.  Check out the Men’s Top 10 Under $10 for items pictured here + more.

FEBREZE GIFT BASKET

 
    
A collection of Febreze products gathered in a gift basket makes a great - and useful! - gift.  With their new Destinations and Home Collection lines added to their array of products, there are lots of great options!  Pictured: Air Refresher (Moroccan Bazaar), Flameless Luminary, Noticeables (Moroccan Bazaar), Candle (from their Home Collection), and Febreze To Go. 

BELLESTAR JEWELRY

 
Since 1983 Bellestar Jewelry has been setting the standard by providing excellent customer service coupled with a quality product at a reasonable price.  We own a piece of Bellestar Jewelry - it is stunning, very well made, and was instantly (and still is) a favorite piece.  Check out Bellestar’s Top 10 Jewelry Gift Ideas.

MORE FABULOUS GIFTS:

X Rocawear Holiday Gift Set + Gift With Purchase: Eau de Toilette Spray 3.4 fl. oz, All Over Body Shampoo 3.4 fl. oz, Deodorant 2.6 oz.,  Gift with Purchase – Rocawear Duffle Bag. $70.00 (a $93 value) Receive a Rocawear duffle bag with your purchase of $65 or more	Warrior Tie: This unique tie highlights your fashion sense & your support of the fight against breast cancer. It is printed on a ribbed, 100% silk king twill, which adds texture & depth. The classic Warriors in Pink logo is screened into the bottom right-hand corner.	Rocky: The Undisputed Collection on Blu-Ray - Rocky, Rocky 2, Rocky 3, Rocky 4, Rocky 5, Rocky Balboa, Rocky Anthology Bonus Disc, Feeling Strong Now! Game, and Rocky Featurettes.
Clickfree Automatic Backup iPod & iPhone Transformer USB 2.0 T402 (white): Add Clickfree Automatic Backup to any iPod or iPhone. Lets you import music & playlists from the connected iPod/iPhone to any computer. Connect the Transformer Cable to your computer’s USB port, then connect any iPod or iPhone to the Transformer with its USB cable, then backup will start automatically.	Clickfree Automatic Backup DVD Transformer USB 2.0 T202 (Silver): Back up your computer effortlessly onto DVDs or CDs. Plug the DVD Transformer into your computer’s USB port & it will automatically search your computer for files that need to be backed up.	Clickfree Automatic Backup 160 GB Portable External Hard Drive HD801 (Metallic Silver): Just take it out of the box, connect the USB cable to your computer, and you’re done. All of your precious photos, music, video, email and so much more are automatically backed up. Clickfree Backs up over 400 file types.
Family Guy Presents: Something Something Darkside on Blu-Ray or DVD - The story of The Empire Strikes Back is retold. Darth Vader (Stewie) is hunting the rebel Luke Skywalker (Chris) and his troops relentlessly across the galaxy. It all comes to a head in a climactic confrontation with Darth Vader himself…	Bergino Handmade Baseballs: “Super Dad” from the Baseball Word Collection - Denim-colored suede, white embroidered wording.  Handmade to professional standards.  Includes Gift Box/Turf Base Stand.	Dremel 4000: Tthe brand’s most powerful and versatile rotary tool yet and it’s the only Dremel rotary tool compatible with all Dremel attachments and accessories. Plus, two new attachments are also debuting with the Dremel 4000 including a pistol grip that allows users to have more control over the project they’re working on. It’s great for detail work.
Dirt Devil Gator Series: a unique line of hand vacs designed to make dirt disposal easy. The Dirt Devil® Gator Series™ dirt cup flips open for easy emptying versus the traditional two-piece dirt cup that requires users to take the unit apart and remove dirt and dust with their hands. Now, they can just press the release buttons and empty debris without touching the dirt, saving both time and effort. No parts, no mess…clean hands!	Zuca is the gift that allows you to roll right into the New Year. The Pro is ideal for traveler & fits conveniently into overhead compartments. Comes with organization packing sacks & includes a TSA compliant toiletries pouch. The Sport is the rage w/students who carry books, sports equipment & games. Pets are cozy and comfortable tucked into the Sport. Even cats enjoy the car when they are traveling in ZÜCA style!	Bodum Brazil 3-Cup French Press: Incredibly versatile & the frame & handle are heat resistant. All of the components are dishwasher safe. Makes 12 oz. Using a French Press is an amazing way to extract the essential oils from coarse ground coffee beans. It is even a more eco-friendly option as you’re not constantly throwing away paper coffee filters after use, not to mention the amazing taste that you get from brewing!  Chuggin McCoffee is a coffee fanatic that has spent the entirety of his career cultivating & studying all of the best uses & brewing styles for optimal coffee & espresso flavor. Visit his specialty site for all coffee needs & supplies.
The Giving Tree GiveCard is a prepaid network branded gift card designed for people who want to make a difference. Scenario: Buy a GiveCard with a $50 value. Giftee receives the GiveCard w/ activation instructions then goes online to activate it & choose the charity to send the designated 10% ($5). He/she takes the GiveCard to the store to spend the remaining $45.	YesDVD Smileshow: enables consumers to enjoy and share digital photos and video clips as a movie slideshow, set to music, via a DVD. Great for busy parents or anyone who wants to preserve digital memories, the Smileshow DVD is easily created online in the comfort of one’s home on their computer with a variety of customized options. YesDVD Smileshow is also a really affordable way to share photos and videos with loved ones.	The Economical Guide To Self Publishing: Get your work to readers faster, while maintaining creative control & making more money! While it gives writers the nuts & bolts of publishing, such as copywriting, acquiring an ISBN, editing, typesetting, printing & distributing, etc., in an easy-to-digest manner, readers also receive an invaluable arsenal of conventional & sometimes unconventional methods for marketing, promoting & obtaining free publicity.

  
Products were provided by respective companies / brands.

GIVEAWAY!

This Fancy Nancy Splendiferous Christmas Pkg includes:

Fancy Nancy Splendiferous Christmas Book
Fancy Nancy Wrapping Paper
Fancy Nancy Event & Activity Guide
Bells

BUY IT:

Pick up your copy of the Fancy Nancy Splendiferous Christmas on Amazon for $8.50.

WIN IT! 

HOW TO ENTER:

Leave a comment about what you expect to be splendiferous about this Christmas!

BONUS ENTRIES:

Subscribe to the RSS feed of Shake The Salt and the RSS feed of Savvy Frugalistas, my new blog all about saving & making money.  (1 entry each)

Follow me on Twitter or Facebook. (1 entry each)

Tweet this giveaway - include link & @SavvyFrugalista (1 entry per tweet, max 1 per day)

RULES:

You must follow the initial form of entry before being eligible for any bonus entries.

US only.

DEADLINE: 11:59 PM EST, Monday Dec 21, 2009

Winner must respond within 48 hours of winning announcement or another winner may be chosen.

This giveaway is provided by Harper Collins.

2009 HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE

Gift Ideas For Kids

ZHU ZHU PETS

     
  
Zhu Zhu Pets are THE hot toy of the season!  If you find them on the shelf or online, you may want to pick it up - I’m certain there’s a child in your life that would LOVE to find their own Zhu Zhu Pets under the Christmas tree!  The best alternatives to real live hamsters, Zhu Zhu Pets™ hamsters don’t poop, die, or stink, but they are still a riot of motion and sound.  Zhu Zhu was cleared by the CPSC of a contamination claim by a California group. Also available at Amazon (at a premium, unfortunately).

LEAPFROG LEAPSTER 2

     
With the Leap Frog Leapster2 educational handheld game system (ages 4-8), kids can learn on the go with 40+ games (including great titles like Disney’s Cars and Disney’s The Princess and the Frog), then connect online to unlock even more fun.  As a parent, I like the fact that by connecting the game to LeapFrog’s Learning Path online I can see my son’s learning progress.  The Leapster2 handheld offers a robust learning experience through built-in tutorials and learning levels that adapt automatically to your child’s pace. Its touch screen and stylus help develop motor skills used in writing. It’s also compatible with all 30+ Leapster learning games, so kids can practice a wide variety of skills for school as they play and learn with their favorite characters. Current Amazon prices: Leapster2 $48 & ships free, Disney’s Cars $24, Disney’s Princess & The Frog $24+.

STEP2 LIFESTYLE DREAM KITCHEN

 The Step2 Lifestyle Dream Kitchen: Surprise your children with the most realistic toy kitchen they’ll ever see! This compact, upscale kitchen is designed to match today’s home décor with “granite-look” counter tops. Made in USA of US and imported parts. Phone, play food, silver doors and faucet made in China. Five electronic features, Framed window with working overhead light and dish rack, 37-piece accessory set included (accessories may vary), Adult assembly required, Requires 6 “AA” and 5 “AAA” batteries, not included. Dimensions: 44.75 H 35.50 L 15.50 W / Weight: 48.00 lbs. Step2 is currently offering this kitchen for $119 ($40 off).

 DISNEY DVDs

 
You can never go wrong with a Disney DVD for the kids on your gift list.  From Playhouse Disney features for toddlers & preschoolers, to films for older kids, to old and new classics alike for kids of all ages, Disney DVDs are always a hit!  New releases & best bets for Christmas 2009: Tinker Bell & The Lost Treasure (review), G-Force (review coming soon), Mickey Mouse Playhouse: Mickey’s Choo Choo Express (review), Up (review), Monsters Inc (review), Santa Buddies (review), Handy Manny’s Motorcycle Adventure (review coming soon), and Mickey’s Magical Christmas: Snowed In At The House of Mouse (review coming soon).

HANES

This season, Hanes has a great offering of products under $10!  Perfect for stocking stuffers (Christmas is the perfect time to replensih the kiddos socks & underwear + other simple essentials) and gift giving (a warm play outfit for the child on your list would be well used over the winter months), Hanes can easily get everyone marked off your list without blowing your budget.  Check out the pictured items in Hanes Top 10 Under 10 For Kids: Short-sleeves, long-sleeves, sweatshirts, sweat pants, socks, underwear, & more for boys and girls. 

AND LOTS MORE FABULOUS GIFTS:

VTech V-Motion: Wireless, motion activated joystick is also righty or lefty adaptable; 100% compatible with the entire V.Smile Smartridge library; Web connect features allow for bonus game play downloads; Includes sports title; Includes V.Link. Chk out this deal on games.	First Act Discovery Guitars: The FG1133 is a 30” acoustic guitar, specially sized to accommodate a child’s smaller build. Its thinner body is more comfortable to hold, while the low string action makes playing easier for little fingers.	LeapFrog Tag Junior Book Pal encourages toddlers to explore while helping build confidence with books. Each Tag Junior board book introduces a different preschool skill¿such as the alphabet, counting or social play through 24 playful, book-based activities & more than 130 audio responses
Smooshies! Soft, touchable shapes that you put together to create the smooshiest character of your choice. Create a monster, dog, robot or an alien from another planet. Easy as 1-2-3 simply velcro your pieces together. Available online at JoAnn’s & Amazon.	Toy Story 6-piece dining set from Zak Designs: Includes 8-inch melamine plate, 5.5-inch melamine bowl, 9 oz plastic tumbler, cup, 2-piece flatware set (stainless steel spoon & fork with easy grip handles), and plastic placemat with a 3D effect.	Kushies Zolo Play Garden: Build your imagination with this magnetic build and stack activity garden that is sure to delight! Magnetic creatures stick to the garden and the magnetic plant pieces stack and build! 50% OFF right now!
My Sporty Soccer Ornament from Lenox: Celebrating their favorite sport, and personalized with their name, this ornament will be a hit with all the soccer fans in your family. And they make great holiday gifts for friends, teachers, and especially coaches.	Fabkins are soft and durable everyday cloth napkins for kids, available in an array of bright colors and playful designs. Sized for kids’ laps and lunchboxes, Fabkins come in themed packs of five that reflect kids’ interests	Handprint Ornament from Child To Cherish: Here’s a one-of-a-kind keepsake gift new parents will love. It’ll be the most treasured ornament on the tree. Includes plaster, molding tray, ribbon and easy directions in a festive box.
Fancy Nancy’s Splendiferous Christmas: Nancy is especially excited about decorating the Christmas tree. She bought a brand-new sparkly tree topper with her own money! But when things don’t turn out the way Nancy planned, will Christmas still be splendiferous?	Elf Magic: From discovering an Elf’s magical arrival in the home, to searching for their hidden Elf after a night full of mischievous adventures – children know the magic in Elf Magic is real!	FunFelt Christmas Tree Advent Calendar: Count down the days of Christmas with the Christmas Tree Advent Calendar wall hanging. Includes velcro pieces, 25 felt figures, felt background, dowel to use it as a hanging & literature explaining each symbol of Christmas.
Veggie Tales Saint Nicholas: A Story Of Joyful Giving: When Junior Asparagus & friends learn Laura Carrot’s dad lost his job on Christmas Eve, Bob the Tomato decides to tell the kids a very special story about giving. Using a big storybook & a little imagination, they travel to ancient Greece to meet Saint Nicholas.	PakNaks are fun soft rubbery 3-D decorations for kids (and adults too!) to personalize all of their stuff. Backpacks, lunchbags, headbands, computer bags, household items, the list is only limited by your imagination.	Gotta Catch Santa Claus DVD: Trevor & friends embark on the adventure of a lifetime to catch Santa in action and reveal the true magic of Christmas. But they’ve got to find Santa before LeFreeze & his snowman minions put Christmas on ice forever!
Christmas Magic: Santa begins to prepare for his big night of giving: he gathers  his reindeer, polishes his bells & sled, then lovingly chooses toys for every child in the world. For Santa loves them all & knows what each child at heart wants most.	Santa’s Elves Magic Cookie Kit from Sassafras: Includes: Color-changing cookie mix, icing mix, holiday sprinkles, rhyming recipe.	The Nutcracker And The Mouse King: With beautifully detailed illustrations, the story will become an instant classic. It’s a story readers of all ages will delight in.

(more…)

*** LINK CORRECTED ***

Visit HomespunPreschool.com’s Christmas Spectacular for 22 great giveaways - lots of goodies you’d love to put under your tree. 

Highlights:

Ice Age 3 DVD (3 winners)

2 VeggieTales DVDs

Elmo’s Animal Adventures DVD

Other DVDs

Labyrinth Balance Board valued @ $80

Other games & toys

Books

Kids accessories

& a lot more!

CONGRATS WINNERS!

HANES $50 GIFT CARD:

#11 Cyndie

I love the ten for under $10 cute tops for the winter I am in need of some new ones :)) I even like the dress they have too…

SANTA BUDDIES BLU-RAY/DVD COMBO + “TINY” PLUSH:

#9 April W.

I’m looking forward to this movie because my kids love it! (Even the older one who doesn’t want her friends to know.) Obviously I am looking forward to watching this movie with my kids.

SANTA BUDDIES BLU-RAY/DVD COMBO:

#43 Michelle P.

My kids (7 and 5) love these movies. We just had to rent Space Buddies to be ready for the release of this. I can’t wait to watch this with my kids.

Please email me ASAP with your mailing address so these prizes can get on the way to you!

Mickey Mouse Clubhouse:
Mickey’s Choo Choo Express

Available: Dec 1, 2009

Mickey, Minnie, Donald, Daisy, Goofy, Pluto, Professor Von Drake, and Toodles are off on an adventure as Professor Von Drake plans to create snow that never melts.  Once he sets out and makes it, he’ll need something to carry it back to the clubhouse… something like the Choo Choo Express! 

While Professor Von Drake sets about making his snow, Mickey, Toodles and the gang have to find all the Choo Choo pieces, get the train put together, then head off to meet the Professor to pick up the “nicey-icey, easy-freezy” snow that never melts.

Snowy goodness abounds at clubhouse and Mickey has invited all his friends to a snow party.  Toodles restocks his Mouskatools, additional train cars are added, Mickey puts together a train schedule, and off they go to pick up all their friends for the party.

The Mickey Mouse Clubhouse Choo Choo Express starts with the familiar Clubhouse show intro and includes fun new songs (like Choo Choo Express by They Might be Giants).  It isn’t Christmas-y, but all that snow makes it festive enough for Winter watching.  Likewise, it isn’t one that will have to be packed away until next Christmas once the New Year rolls around - it is a great show for any season.

Bonus Episode: Mickey’s Big Job.

The DVD has 3 fun ways to watch and play featuring interactive adventure mode.

Mickey Mouse Clubhouse: Choo Choo Express DVD provided by WDSHE.
Image © WDSHE. All Rights Reserved.