Could you be a secret santa?

I just read a tear-jerking story ('tis the season) on yahoo about a friend who is carrying on the tradition of Larry Steward, the man who used to walk around Kansas City, MO handing out $100 bills, and who was dubbed "Secret Santa."

Friends of Larry Steward have started a Secret Santa World website, where self-proclaimed secret santas from all over the country can come and share their gift-giving stories.

Give back

Want to give the gift of giving? (Wow, I just met my personal goal of fitting three forms of "give" in one sentence --- next year it'll be give, gift, giving, giftee)

Charity Navigator allows you to give a gift card for a specific $$ amount, and then the giftee gets to sign on and pick the charity that he or she wishes to give to! The site gives ratings of all the charities, which allows you to pick the best ones to give to.

Happy giving, gifters!

Time to make the donuts!

I have a few friends who are ADDICTED to Dunkin' Donuts. One so much so that when she moved she had to re-route her work commute so she would pass by one on her way. If I don't get a Diet Coke by 11:00 am, my skin starts itching and I get the shakes, so far be it from me to deny some one's caffeine addiction!

So, this year I hit up my local DD for her X-mas gift: A travel mug and a gift card. If you stop by the website, they offer gift sets with DD coffee and mugs.

Another great gift-giving idea---you can purchase books of $1 gift certificates, so why not buy the office a cup-o-joe on you!?

Don't forget to pick up yourself a gingerbread latte!

Get a gift for. . .a KID

I could go on and on about gifts for kids - there's such a huge market and tons of great stuff out there (and not all of it revolves around video games). Although I'll probably continue to post cool kids gifts throughout the holiday season, here are some that I think are pretty nifty right now.

The Dangerous Book for Boys and the Daring Book for Girls

Give a kid a guide on how to have real fun. With these books they can make "the greatest paper airplane in the world" and a willow whistle, and learn "the five knots every boy [or girl] should know" as well as how to skip stones and read palms. Both are available at Amazon.com for $14.97.

Okay, it's not a Power Wheels, but the American Retro Taxi Pedal Sedan from The TreeHouse Toy Shop looks like a great way to jump start the imagination. Bonus: no batteries required. ($178.00)

When I was a kid, I used to play "tennis" with a racquet by hitting the ball against a brick wall on my front porch. If only I had this Swingball set - my neighbors wouldn't have had to pick up all those balls from their yard when I missed and it went over the fence. This game can be played with one or two players and it comes in a convenient carry-all case. ($39.95, available at Highlights)

Does your child need a night-light upgrade? Try the "moon"light. It's authentic and comes with 12 different phase settings to adjust to your liking (or it can be run on an "automatic" cycle). A CD is included with moon facts. The moonlight operates via remote control. ($27.95, available at Fat Brain Toys)


And finally, because no child's holiday is complete without an animatronic dinosaur, here's the First Animatronic Dinosaur from Hammacher Schlemmer. According to the site, "It has a sophisticated sensory system comprised of a color camera, two sound sensors, two infrared sensors, 14 servos, 106 gears, eight touch sensors, an orientation sensor, and four foot switch sensors, all of which form a biomechanical skeleton that delivers smooth, natural movements. The dinosaurs unique accelerated lifespan passes through three distinct phases; when you first turn it on, it acts like a hatchling for the first 15 minutes. For the next two hours, it acts like an infant by exhibiting hunger. For the rest of its life, it acts as a juvenile, and is fully-responsive to light, sound, and touch. " Sounds pretty cool, right? It better be - it's $329.95

Make your own cookbook

Know anyone who's ever wanted their own cookbook? My friend Paola sent me over this link from the New York Times about a new venture from Conde Nast and Kamran Mohsenin - Tastebook.com. Through this site, users can create their very own cookbooks, using up to 100 recipes from Bon Appetit, Gourmet, Epicurious, and other chefs. You can even add your own personal recipes - which is why I really like this concept. The book comes in a hardcover binder (you choose the front image and the title) and allows you to add chapters that are tabbed for easy access.

How much does all this cost? $34.95!

For gift-giving purposes, I suggest gathering up the family's favorite recipes and creating a cookbook using the family name (ie, The Smith Family Recipes) and gifting to all the chefs in your clan. This would also be great for showers, weddings, and office parties.

Thanks for the tip P!

Get a gift for. . .the IN-LAWS

They aren't technically my in-laws, but every year I struggle to come up with a good gift for my boyfriend's parents. In fact, I think buying gifts for your significant other's parents (married or not) is one of the most difficult gifts you'll have to buy. You usually don't know them as well as your own parents, but you want them to really like what you get them so it might, in turn, help them to really like you. Here are some tried and true ideas that I have used in the past.

Gift Certificates/Subscriptions

I suggest going with a safe-bet, and getting them a gift certificate to their favorite eatery. It doesn't necessarily have to be a dinner spot - e.g., Do they pick up coffee and bagels every Saturday from a particular place or have they raved about a particular bakery or candy shop that makes the best sweets?

Another idea on the gift certificate front is a gift subscription. Do they belong to Netflix? If not, a 12-month gift subscription starts at $107.88.

Flowers

How cool is this Peppermint Amaryllis Basket from Burpee? If your in-laws have a green thumb, pick up this blooming plant for $44.95. The site also has many other blooms to choose from.

A Game

Do dinner conversations at your in-laws make you want to run to the nearest ledge? Break the silence with the Table Topics Game. The game is available in several editions, but I suggest sticking with the "Family" deck to stop the conversation from heading toward TMI-land (and we all know how painful that can be). Pair the game with a bottle of wine and let the fun begin! ($26.95, available at Wrapables)

Something Edible

If you are a master in the kitchen, then definitely whip up some Christmas cookies or a cake to take over as a gift. However, if you are more like myself in the kitchen (I'm not even going to mention the toffee incident of '06), I suggest buying them something already delicious on its own. Dale & Thomas Popcorn is exactly that - I bought a sampler pack for my boyfriend's parents a couple of years ago and they haven't stopped talking about it ever since. You can even get them a "popcorn of the month" package (although the website says that more details on this will be coming soon). Try getting them the 6-Month Sampler ($28.00) or the Pop Bowl Set that includes 6 flavors and 4 popcorn bowls ($48.00). The popcorn comes in flavors like Chocolate Chunk N'Caramel, Peanut Butter & White Chocolate DrizzleCorn, and Twice-as-Nice Chocolate Drizzle Corn. Even their Hall of Fame Kettle Corn is to die for!

Get a gift for. . .the GIRLFRIEND

Here's some ideas for your other half...

Instead of heading over to Vicki's for lingerie this year (if that's your style), check out Free People's slips and jammys. The Flower Patch Slip is pretty enough to make her feel sexy, but comfortable enough that she'll want to wear it again and again. Sounds like a win-win to me. ($78.00)

A girl can never have too many jackets (just ask my closet). This year the jacket of my affections is this Cropped Tartan Trench from J. Crew. The pattern is absolutely brilliant and it passes my two rules of thumb: must have pockets and a liner. ($350.00)

I love the idea of gifting a journal. And if you can make it somehow more personal and private - all the better. There are a few Etsy sellers who are currently selling journals made from vintage books, which I think is really unique. Check out Nightjar Books - they have great styles to choose from (some pictured above). Bonus: write a romantic "entry" on the first page. (Prices start around $25.00)

And if she can't have a new coat, then how about a new tote? QueenBee Creations are all handmade and totally unique. The Vine Tote is a perfect carryall for books, weekend clothes, or whatever else her heart desires. ($86.00)

Do you and your significant other enjoy cuddling up on the couch and watching many, many hours of Food Network? If Iron Chef is one that you regularly watch, then consider picking her up this Iron Chef Gift Set. It includes a wok, stir fry tea oil, Kishibori Shoyu, an AUTOGRAPHED cookbook by none other than Chef Morimoto, and a kitchen timer to perform your own version of the show at home. No pressure! ($99.95, available at Sur La Table)

Finally, if all she really wants is jewelry, here are a couple of options that will stand out from all the rest.


Hollie Ten makes really cool pieces that may appear subtle, but they definitely make a statement. You can pick up some of her stuff through her website, but I found that Tobi has some awesome stuff of hers, too. Prices range around the $100.00 mark.

Wanna give your girlfriend some bling? Get her a mini silhouette ring pendant from Carrie Weston. Available in silver for $90.00.

Get a gift for. . .the Boyfriend

Is your boyfriend tired of getting the Sports Illustrated Football Phone/Subscription combo every year? (For the record, I checked, and they are no longer giving them as the "free gift.") Try mixing it up with one of these gifts.

Let me guess. Your man's wallet is brown, leather, and completely falling apart. Give him a stylish upgrade with one of these wallets designed by Hlaska. ($48.00, available at Chocosho)


Album covers have been gracing urban apartment walls for years. Take your boyfriend's love of vinyl to the next level with a Vintage 45 Clock by Vinylux. The numbers are laser cut and it comes ready to hang or place on a stand (which is included). ($28.00, available at Elsewares)




And while we're on the subject of vinyl, if your boy-toy has tons of old records and bootleg tapes just piling up, why not hook him up with an Instant Music Ripper? It converts records and cassettes into MP3, WAV, WMA, AAC, and CDs. In fact, he can capture audio from the TV, radio, or a DVD player too. Just think of the hours of fun he'll have...($59.95, available for Macs and PCs, at Firebox.com)

The long winter months are just around the bend, so warm your boyfriend up with a new coat this season. I love the Military Duffle Jacket from Lucky. It has a removable lining and a faux-fur lined hood. That's toasty! ($228.00)






It goes without saying, beer gear will always be a hit with the old ball and chain. And if your boyfriend's got his own make-shift bar, consider getting him a spiffy beer tap. Ebay has a huge selection of vintage and new beer taps. One thing's for sure, it's bound to get lots of use!



We all know the saying, so I'm not even going to mention it. Feed your man's heart with the gift that keeps on giving - 12 months of Omaha Gourmet Entrees! But you better make sure he invites you over to share - this gift will set you back $49.99 a month!


And finally, if your guy's heart is as big as his stomach (I promise, last cliche), buy him a La Concha Restoration t-shirt from Unica Home. The shirts cost $25.00, and 100% of the profits are donated to restoring this icon to a Neon Museum.

Get a gift for . . . DAD

Next up in our gift-giving extravaganza is dad. Dads can be either one of the easiest (eg, your dad likes a particular sport like golfing or baseball) or the most difficult (eg, your dad likes golf or baseball, but has every piece of memorabilia/jersey/equipment for that sport made by man) persons to buy for on your gift list. Hopefully this helps, or at least jump starts an idea or two.


Sick of seeing dad drinking out of one of those toxic-smelling foam can coolers? Why not give him an upgrade with these embossed leather can caddies from Orvis? The inside of the caddie boasts neoprene liner, which is the same material used in wetsuits ($119.00 for a set of 4).

If your dad is a slave to the office, give him something good to look at (besides the desk photos of you from first grade) with a framed print from imagekind. The site has thousands of well-known artists to choose from, but I am partial to picking up a print from a member, like Daniel Pelavin. His work is masculine, without being too overpowering for office decor.


What's the draw to Flight Simulator? I can remember my dad playing it when I was a kid, and it's still proving to be a hit among pilot wannabes (and some pilots, even) today. If you can remember your dad playing the original, or have caught him watching those "History of Flight" programs on TV, then this might be the perfect gift for him. ($44.99 at Amazon.com)


Don't forget the joystick! ($58.02, also at Amazon.com)

Maybe your dad enjoys the simpler things in life, like a nice cold Jones Soda. Did you know you can personalize a pack with a family photo? For $29.99, you can choose from multiple flavors, such as Green Apple, Root Beer, Berry Lemonade, and Cream Soda. Also available in sugar free!


Want to give your dad something less common? How about a handmade bird call from uncommon goods? Choose from Woodpecker, Blackbird, and American Robin. (starting at $38.00)


And finally, if your dad can't seem to take a hint, pick up this grooming kit from Eddie Bauer. It has a folding toothbrush, comb, nail clippers, and a nose and ear hair trimmer (hint, hint). ($29.50)