Gifts for the Rich and Shameless We thought we’d add this category because we didn’t want to leave out the Donald Trumps of the world. We decided to include in our holiday gift guide, outlandish and extravagant gifts, and the above definitions describe these gifts to a tee. Need a $30,000.00 doll house? Or maybe you’d like to carry that $120,000.00 purse to the inaugural ball. Well, here is the place to look for that one-of-a-kind gift fit for royalty. 1942 Willys MB Junior Replica
Price: $9,900 What child wouldn’t want his own Jeep from F.A.O. Schwarz? He can read about big wheels and tonka toys when the stock market crashes. Since Christmas is just around the corner, don’t forget to run out and pick up this fun Willys MB Junior Replica. One of these babies will soften the blow of junior’s acceptance into his new military school. Bugatti Veyron – 2nd Legal Fastest Car Price: $1,192,057
Hermes Matte Crocodile Birkin Bag
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Tag: holiday gifts
Lucky Me Tees
Lucky Me Tee
There’s nothing like a soft great fitting tee-shirt to brighten someone’s day, especially when the message reflects the recipient. That’s why Lucky Me Tee is the perfect gift this holiday season. The comfortable yet affordable tee-shirts are well-designed and range in color and size, fitting mommies and babies alike.
Long Sleeve T-Shirts are v-neck and sheer rib tees, featuring longer body length and slim fit silhouette. They’re made of 98% cotton and 2% Spandex super soft knit and are available in black and white, retailing for $46. Other items in the collection include Tank Tops in pink, retailing at $36; Baby Number Long Sleeve T-shirts, designed for easy on-and-off in gray, retailing at $26; Hoodies, which are sweatshirts made of 50% cotton and 50% polyester, in navy, retailing for $50; and finally, Tote Bags, perfect for any outdoor occasion or a long weekend getaway. The tote has contrast straps, side panels with water-resistant lining for easy cleaning, and an outside pocket with velcro closure and inside pocket flap. Made of 100% cotton and comes in Natural/Fuchsia, retailing for $34.
Lucky Me Tee was founded by mother-of-three Marlo Moleski, whose designs are cutting
edge, providing moms the opportunity to flaunt motherhood on a trendy tee. For more information, please visit www.luckymetee.com.
Reviewed by Kaylene Peoples
Affordable Household Life-Saving Gifts!
Affordable Household Life-Saving Gifts!
Roomba cleans routinely so you don’t have to. With the touch of a button, Roomba automatically vacuums carpets and hard floors on its own!
- Roomba 400 Series
- Covers 2 rooms on a single battery charge
My neighbor across the street has two shedding dogs and her house is all hardwood floors. I could not understand how she kept her floors so clean and free of dog hair. I have one short-haired dog that sheds, and I have to vacuum my hardwood floors at least every other day. Recently, I popped in at my neighbor’s house and discovered her secret! There was a disc-shaped motorized robot quietly vacuuming the floor, the iRobot Roomba.
The Roomba navigates through your house, while avoiding furniture that’s in the way. It offers the option to stay in one room; it also has a timer so you can set it to run when you’re not home. It is the best solution if you have pets, kids, or are just a slob! Well, it won’t pick up your clothes or do the dishes, but it’s destined to make your life easier and your house cleaner. Oh yeah, and it’s affordable, too. I found it for as low as $125.
Black & Decker Brew ‘n Go Personal Coffeemaker & 15-oz. Travel Mug
$19.99
Ever just wanted 1 cup of coffee? Tired of wasting coffee when brewing a pot? You’re on the run and have to get to work but haven’t had your coffee yet? The Black and Decker Brew n’ Go Personal Coffeemaker is the right choice. At just under $20 this is a great gift. 15 ounces of delicious coffee is brewed directly into the stainless steel travel mug. With the mug’s rubber handle, lid, and tapered design, it fits most vehicle cup holders, making it ideal for those on the go. The coffeemaker shuts off automatically after brewing, and it has a permanent filter, which means no messy disposable filters. The mug is perfect for tea, hot chocolate, or soup.
BakerEze 12-Pc. Bakeware Set
$29.88 – A baker’s dream, the BakerEze 12-Piece Bakeware Set includes virtually everything you need for both oven-cooked sweet treats and savory meals. Made of heavyweight steel
construction that ensures even heating, each pan sports a DuraGlide PLUS nonstick finish that ensures food releases effortlessly and makes cleanup a cinch.
BakerEze 12-Pc. Bakeware Set includes:
- 9″ round cake pans (2)
- 13″ x 9″ cake utility pan with cover (1)
- 12-cup muffin pan (1)
- 12″ pizza pan (1)
- 16″ x 11″ jelly roll pan (1)
- 13.9″ x 11.6″ cookie sheet (1)
- 15.9″ x 13.9″ cookie sheet (1)
- 10″ x 16″ cooling racks (2)
- 9″ x 5″ x 3″ two-piece Fat-Away meatloaf pan (1)
- Made of heavyweight steel construction that ensures even heating
- DuraGlide PLUS nonstick finish ensures food releases effortlessly and cleans up easily
Dishwasher safe
Reviewed by Kaylene Peoples
GiveCard – The Gift That Gives Back
Gift cards will be the most requested gift this year, with nearly 55 percent of consumers reporting they would like to receive a gift card this holiday season, according to the National Retail Federation. Each year, 70 percent of consumers purchase a gift card as a holiday gift and for the fifth year in a row, gift cards are expected to lead holiday purchases.
The main reasons shoppers purchase gift cards, according to a study by Deloitte, are
1. They allow recipients to select their own gift.
2. Gift cards are easier and faster to buy than traditional gifts.
However, nearly one quarter of respondents stated they would be less likely to buy gift cards because they feel gift cards are impersonal.
Offering the convenience of a gift card, but a more personal gift, the GiveCard is the first and only gift card that allocates $5 from every card for a donation to a charity of the recipient’s choice. Recipients have the choice of thousands of organizations that they can donate to. The sender has the option to personalize the delivery of the card through online capabilities on GiveCard.com. The rest of the money left on the card is for spending like cash, everywhere Visa debit cards are accepted. It’s like two personal gifts in one.
The idea for including a donation within a gift card came while founder Clayton “Nick” Nicholas was stationed overseas in the military. His mom liked to receive gift cards, but he always wanted to send her something more personal, which was often difficult with limited options and the distance separating them. A more meaningful, personal gift card that benefited a cause she believed in solved the problem–and an idea was born.
On average, if just one percent of gift cards given were GiveCards, an additional $50 million would be donated to charity. That’s the power of microgiving: small contributions adding up to a big impact. With the struggles charities have seen during this turbulent economy, these donations are providing a vital impact. Recipients can choose from thousands of national and local 501(c) registered charities like the American Red Cross, Susan G. Komen for the Cure, and the Humane Society.
By giving a GiveCard, one generates a small donation and joins the growing community of microgivers who realize that when a large number of people make small individual contributions, they can make a big difference. But microgiving is not just monetary; it’s the small acts of kindness and charity made by people around the world every day. Join the microgiving movement on Facebook at www.facebook.com/GiveDay. To learn more about microgiving and GiveCard, visit www.GiveCard.com.
How to Pick the Perfect Book and Give the Gift of Reading This Holiday Season
Every year at this time you start thinking about the great holiday dilemma. What do you buy the person on your list who has everything? Well, no one really has everything, but some people may be hard to shop for because no gift seems personal or general enough. Books are the perfect balance between personalized and universal, fun and intelligent. Your gift recipient doesn’t even have to be a book lover to love the book you give, as long as you put some thought into selecting just the right one.
Kelly Petersen Wong, bibliophile and founder of FictionDB.com, an online database of more than 200,000 works of fiction, offers a few tips for finding just the right book:
* Go with what you know – “If you know the recipient likes a certain author, check to see if that writer has published under a pen name that your loved one might not be familiar with,” Wong suggests. “Your gift recipient might enjoy a slightly different flavor of fiction from a favorite author.” You can search by author name and find not only a list of titles, but a list of pseudonyms and titles written under each pen name. For example, popular romance novelist Linda Howard is actually the pseudonym of writer Linda Howington.
* Get the latest – Your recipient might already have a few works by a favorite author, but not the latest thing that writer has produced. “Many people wait for a new book to come out in paperback, so if you buy the newest hardcover edition you’ll probably be surprising them with something they want, but wouldn’t buy for themselves,” Wong says.
* Venture in a known genre – Your intended giftee doesn’t have to be a book fan in order for you to find something he or she would like. Does he live for Monday Night Football? Check out a list of authors who write about the sport. Or, search by genre. Is she a home design fanatic? Find a mystery featuring an interior decorator.
* Use online tools – You could spend hours in a bookstore shopping. “And if you’re like me, that’s not a bad thing,” Wong jokes. “But most of us have limited time to devote to holiday shopping, so online buying makes more sense.” Look for websites that give you the greatest flexibility to search for just the right book, without the need to sift through the sales clutter of big book sites.
Sites like fictionb.com, amazon.com, and barnesandnoble.com offer free access to more than 50,000 author book lists and 200,000 unique titles. Series lists, synopses and pseudonym information are all presented in a simple, easy-to-use format. You can search by author book lists, series, sequels, synopses, and pseudonyms. Buying is as easy as clicking on the link “buy” next to each title listing.
Spirit of the Season: Generous Gifts That Give Back
The holidays are a season of generosity and giving; so what better time of year to give wisely with gifts that are easy on the earth, respectful to the global community, and even charitable? You can make a difference in the world this holiday season if you keep your social conscience in mind and shop for gifts with a purpose.
Community Trade and Charming
Buy products that help some of the neediest communities in the world. Community trade benefits more than 25,000 people in more than 20 countries. The Body Shop is offering three limited edition Bath/ Body selections (Merry Cranberry, Nutmeg, Vanilla and Black Velvet Apricot) that feature community trade ingredients. For example, a gorgeous fragrance gift like Love, Etc. from The Body Shop is the first perfume to use alcohol made from community trade organic sugar cane. A luxurious combination of feminine jasmine with notes of vanilla and sandalwood, it’s a gift that definitely gives back.
Sumptuous and Sustainable
Look for products that contain sustainable and organic ingredients. These eco-friendly gifts are plentiful in every category, and such social responsibility doesn’t need to break the bank. For example, beautiful eco-chic gift bags and boxes from The Body Shop can be filled with your own selection of festive purchases and are made of recyclable materials. What makes it even better is that for each bag sold, a donation is made to the Somaly Mam Foundation to help young girls.
Decked and Delicious
Give gifts that will be appreciated and gone in just a few bites. Edible goodies like breads, cookies, dried fruits, and nuts made with organic and local ingredients are sure to delight. Package them in beautiful reusable tins and jars.
Gifts That Give Back
Look for products that give back, such as the Soft Hands Kind Heart hand cream from The Body Shop. The lush moisturizer, with angelica extract and community trade olive oil, is kind to hands, but is also symbolic of a kind heart as each purchase supports the “Stop Sex Trafficking of Children and Young People” campaign with ECPAT-USA (a global organization working to combat child exploitation). Take a stand with your gifts and raise awareness this holiday season.
Holiday Hot
This season’s hottest makeup trends are also affordable and appreciated stocking stuffers . . . or a small and well-deserved personal indulgence. Strong, smoky eyes in colors of lilac, silver, warm plum, and chocolate and flushed cheeks in sheer peach and golden pink are essential to the season’s sexy, sultry style. International makeup artist Chase Aston suggests adding a subtle hint of shimmery body powder to sparkle like the crisp night sky.
“Dip a blusher brush into the pot; then lightly smile and dust over the apple of the cheeks, along the cheek bones, onto the nape of the neck, shoulders and décolletage for a barely-there shimmering highlight with a hint of color,” says Aston. He recommends products featuring community trade and organic ingredients to enhance your natural beauty.
Seasonal Sharing
Now is the most wonderful time of the year to clean out your closets of clothing and accessories you haven’t used in more than a year and donate them to charity. You’ll make room for this year’s holiday bounty and your donation may be someone else’s holiday treasure.
For more information on gifts that give back, visit TheBodyShop-USA.com.
Gadgets Are a Guy’s (and Gal’s) Best Friend Every Holiday Season
By Anthony Heredia
1. MiFi Wi-Fi 3G Wireless Router
a. Wish you had an iphone with Verizon coverage? Tired of never having decent internet connection? This little baby extends 5 of your devices 3G Wifi internet simultaneously so you can browse on your ipod touch and laptop at the same time. Great business tool. The Intelligent Mobile Hotspot is your portable, wireless Wi-Fi hotspot. From wherever you are in the coverage area, it detects the Verizon Wireless network and allows you to access a reliable broadband connection. In Wi-Fi mode: Connect up to five Wi-Fi-enabled devices at once. Use the lithium-ion battery for up to 4 hours (40 hours standby) of usage or plug the device directly into an outlet. In USB mode: Connect the MiFi device to your notebook via the included USB cable to use it as a modem.
b. Where Can I Get It? www.verizonwireless.com
c. How Much? $100 or $50 with a 2 year contract
2. Acer Aspire One 11.6″
a. Need the world at your busy fingertips, then it’s time to take on a netbook. These
wonderful machines do it all in the compact size of your palm now.
b. Product Description –
i. The definition of a Netbook keeps getting fuzzier around the edges, with displays growing from the original 7-inch designs, and the selection of CPUs expanding to include Intel, AMD, and Via. If we are to take 12-inch systems such as the HP dv2 and Samsung NC20 as Netbooks (we’ve so far let them slip in under the wire), then an 11.6-inch model is a sure thing. The slightly larger $379 Acer Aspire One AO751h-1545 is an excellent compromise between size and usability as too small can be a pain if you type a lot. The catch is that Acer has decided to use the 1.33GHz Intel Atom Z520 as its CPU, instead of the faster (and much more common) 1.6GHz Atom N270 version.
| Price as reviewed | $379 |
| Processor | 1.33GHz Intel Atom Z520 |
| Memory | 1GB, 533MHz DDR2 |
| Hard drive | 160GB 5,400rpm |
| Chipset | Intel SCH US15W |
| Graphics | Mobile Intel GMA 500 (integrated) |
| Operating System | Windows XP |
| Dimensions (WD) | 11.8 x 8.5 inches (8.8 inches with battery) |
| Height | 1.0 inches |
| Screen size (diagonal) | 11.6 inches |
| System weight / Weight with AC adapter | 3.0/3.6 pounds |
| Category | Netbook |
c. Where Can I Get One? http://www.acer.com/aspireone/ or any computer store
How Much? $379
3. Vuzix® Wrap(TM) 920
a. Wish you could carry your massive big screen around with you or work on a larger computer screen when on your laptop? Well it’s time.
b. Product Description –
With unmatched styling and performance the Vuzix® Wrap(TM) 920 video eyewear is the most advanced wearable display available today! This sunglass-style eyewear, with a virtual 67-inch screen as seen from 10 feet, displays crystal clear 2D and 3D video while sitting by the pool or in an airplane at 35,000 feet. With support for standard 2D movies as well as virtually all common 3D video formats, you’ll be able to watch all the latest movie releases, as they were meant to be seen.
Vuzix’ Wrap 920 eyewear connects to all NTSC or PAL audio/video devices with video-out capabilities and composite video connections. An included* Composite A/V Adapter for iPod®/iPhone® ensures simple plug ‘n play connection to today’s most popular portable media player. Optional Wrap Adaptors provide connections to HDMI equipped devices and even desktop PC and laptops for watching movies. A single pair of video eyewear for all occasions. Never before has a single pair of eyewear offered this degree of connectivity.
The Wrap 920 is designed to connect to all NTSC or PAL audio/video devices with video-out capabilities. Supported devices include
· Apple® iPod® / iPhone® / iPod touch® media players
· Portable DVD players
· Cellular phones with video out
· All composite video devices
· Digital cameras
· Camcorders
· PC and Laptops with VGA port*
c. Where Can I Get It? www.vuzix.com
How Much? $ 349.95
4. Fueltank DUO
a. Tired of your iphone, itouch, earpiece, Smartphone or other gizmos running out of
power with none around? It’s time for a Fueltank.
b. Product Description –
(1.) Fueltank® can simultaneously charge two small electronic devices without the use of an outlet. It contains a rechargeable lithium ion battery which has more than 7 times the capacity of a standard mobile phone. The Fueltank utilizes device-specific adapters – the same ones used for Chargepod® – so you can customize your Fueltank(TM) to meet the exact needs of you and your family. Proprietary voltage regulator technology senses the amount of power required to charge your devices. LED fuel capacity indicators display when charging indicator button is pressed.
(2.) Performance
· Rechargeable power for two devices simultaneously
· Indicator lights display battery capacity level
· Charge your devices multiple times without refueling
· Weighs less than 8 ounces and is perfect for traveling
(3.) Compatibility
· Works with thousands of mobile devices such as iPods, cell phones, Bluetooth headsets, PDAs, digital cameras, navigation units, mp3 players, digital readers, and portable gaming systems
· Uses the same device adapters as Chargepod
(4.) What’s Included
· Fueltank base unit
· AC/DC Wall Plug
· Mini-USB adapter (MUSB-0001)
· Carrying pouch
· Voucher for 1 FREE adapter redeemable at Callpod.com
c. Where Can I Get It? www.callpod.com
How Much? $49.95
5. Kodak Zi8 HD Pocket Video Camera
a. Missing great moments that need to be captured on video because you don’t want to carry a bulky camera around? Capturing 1080p HD video from a pocket cam is now available.
b. Product Description
Define yourself in high definition.
It’s small enough to fit in a pocket, but why would you ever want to put it there? Whether out on the town or just hanging with friends, the Kodak Zi8 Pocket Video Camera captures every experience in stunning 1080p HD video. Stay in focus while you’re on the move with integrated image stabilization. Then kick back and watch all the action on your HDTV or share your scene on YouTube with the built-in USB. The Zi8 pocket video camera has all you need to define yourself in high definition.
Product Features
· Take full HD 1080p videos wherever you go
· Get sharper videos and less blur thanks to built-in image stabilization
· Premiere your videos in the palm of your hand with the vivid 2.5-inch color LCD
· No cables to worry about-just swing out the USB arm to upload, share and charge
· Get a new perspective-take amazing 5 MP 16:9 widescreen HD still pictures
· Share on Facebook and YouTube with ease-built-in software makes editing and uploading simple
· Compatible with PC and MAC (Use with Apple iLife Suite of products) operating systems
· Compatible with iTunes for syncing with Apple TV, iPhone and iPod Devices
· Plenty of room for more-record up to 10 hours of HD video (Record ~20 min per 1 GB at 720p HD at 30 fps) with the expandable SD/SDHC Card slot that can hold up to 32 GB
· Capture your friends in their best light with smart face tracking technology
· See more details and accurate colors in low light
· Make audio awesome-the external microphone jack lets you record in stereo
· Be ready for the big screen right out of the box with complementary HDMI cable
· Record from a distance or play back on your TV with ease with available remote control
Grab attention and define your style with the ultra-compact design, stunning looks, and a range of colors
What’s in the Box:
· Kodak Zi8 Pocket Video Camera
· KLIC-7004 Li-Ion Rechargeable Battery
· Adapter and cable for battery charging
· HDMI and AV cables
· Wrist strap
· User’s Guide
· ArcSoft MediaImpression Software for Kodak (on-camera)
a. Where Can I Get It? www.amazon.com or www.kodak.com
How Much? $149.99 – 179.99
