It can be a challenge finding perfect Christmas gifts for your family and friends. But that's where we come in. Here at It's A Gift, we bring together the best gift ideas everyone on your list will love. And it couldn't be simpler. When you find a great gift, just click on the links provided and buy. And here's a great tip: most items are available for gift wrapping and you can have it shipped directly to the lucky person. Happy shopping!
For the gadget lover on your list, here are some great options to wrap up this year.
Samsung Series 9 - Think Air with Windows. (The MacBook Air, that is, running Microsoft operating system.) The Samsung is sleek, lightweight and powerful. Check it out here.
Sony 3D Bloggie - Record in 3D with Sony's new camcorder. This little gem gives you in-your-face action, and you don't need 3D glasses to see it. Read more about it here.
Beats Studio by Dr. Dre HD Noise Canceling Headphones - Superstylish and available in several colors. Check them out here.
Toshiba Thrive Android Tablet 16GB - This is a great iPad alternative that uses the popular Android OS. Features a touch screen, rear camera, front webcam and stereo speakers. Get product details here.
HDTVs are more affordable than ever. You can actually bring one home these days for under $500. Here are some great deals on HDTVs.
HDTVs for $500 or less!
LG 42LV4400 42-Inch 1080p 120Hz LED-LCD HDTV On sale now for $499 (regular price: $799)
This 42-inch LG HDTV is LED lit, which provides an amazing picture and is more energy efficient than a comparable LCD TV. Its TruMotion 120Hz technology virtually eliminates motion blur when watching sports, high-speed action or playing video games. Full HD 1080p resolution delivers superior picture quality over standard HDTV. It has an aspect ratio of 16:9.
VIZIO XVT323SV 32-Inch Full HD 1080p LED LCD HDTV with VIA Internet Application On sale now for $479 (regular price $559)
This 32-inch Vizio HDTV features Razor LED backlighting with Smart Dimming, VIZIO Internet Apps including a HULU Plus application, built-in WiFi and a bluetooth remote with slide-out QWERTY keyboard. It has four HDMI ports and an ethernet port. Its 120 refresh rate means super-sharp images.
TCL L32HDF11TA 32-Inch 720p 60 Hz LCD HDTV On sale now for $249 (regular price: $379)
This 32-inch LCD HDTV features 3D Y or C digital comb filter, 178° viewing angles, high brightness, 1366 x 768 pixel resolution, premium sound and a refresh rate of 60. This TV is practically an entertainment system with plenty of HD connections, a USB port, and is compatible with mp3, WMA, M4A (AAC), JPEG, and more file formats. A great gift for that special teen on your list.
Sharp LC32SV29U 32-Inch 720p LCD HDTV On sale now for $279 (regular price: $349)
Here's another 32-inch that would make a perfect gift for a teen. It features wide viewing angles, built-in atsc/qam/ntsc tuners, three HDMI inputs and a PC input. Sharp says this TV is so bright you can locate it near a window or other light source. The included table stand can be removed to mount on the wall.
The 32-inch LCD panel has 720p HD resolution (1366 x 768 pixels), five separate HD inputs (two HDMI, two HD component, one PC), a USB port for enjoying photos or MP3s from your USB devices and a light sensor that adjusts picture brightness based on ambient light.
Panasonic VIERA TC-L32C3 32-Inch 720p LCD HDTV On sale now for $316 (regular price $399)
This set includes an SD slot for SD memory cards to view your photos or videos in HD. It has a wide, 178 degree viewing angle, 1080i, 720p display, and fantastic sound. The TV's VIERA Link simplifies the operation of a variety of AV devices, so you can operate them all using only the VIERA remote control. Setup is easy—simply connect the devices to each other via HDMI cables.
Coby LEDTV4026 40-Inch 1080p LED HDTV/Monitor On sale now for $338 (regular price $649)
This 40-inch widescreen LED HDTV is on sale for the price of many 32-inch models. It is LED-lit, boasts a 1080p resolution, built-in digital TV tuner (ATSC/NTSC/QAM), three HDMI digital connections and full-range stereo speakers.
My mom and I have always had a hard time communicating and it’s because she’s just a difficult, difficult woman. I love her to death and I’m so happy she’s able to be there for me in all the ways I need her to but I wish that it was easier to sit down and talk to her than it is. She’s really insecure and gets defensive a lot and it seems like everything always ends up being a big fight but at the end of the day I know we love each other. I got her http://www.cabletvadvisor.com/satellite last year for her birthday and it’s actually been great – we make an appointment to watch the same show and then we talk about it later. It keeps us from discussing our own lives which can be a minefield and then we’re able to still chat, even if it is about something frivolous like TheReal Housewives or something like that. It’s how we keep our relationship afloat at this point!
Bring out your kids inner artist with a uDraw Game Tablet. The uDraw is a wireless tablet with a connected stylus your kids use to sketch and paint. It hooks up to your Wii remote to track your kids' artistic strokes and play games.
uDraw Disney Princess Storybook edition is perfect for your little Princess. It features her favorite characters -- Ariel, Belle, Jasmine, Cinderella, Rapunzel and Tiana, and includes bonus Snow White coloring book pages. Click here to read more about uDraw Princess.
For your little superhero, there's uDraw Marvel Superhero Squad. It features 10 Marvel heroes he can choose from to fight Dr. Doom and his evil associates. Read more about it here.
A great gift idea for that lady in your life who loves sleek hair is a flat iron, be it your teenage daughter, niece, wife or mom. Even if she has a flat iron - and, yes, your hair goddess probably does - it's still a great gift because the technology just keeps getting better and better. Many of today's flat irons are less damaging, style faster and even give you the option of creating waves or curls. Here are some of our favorites:
HSI flat iron - For a limited time, this particular model comes with a free sample of argan oil. Ninety percent of the reviews for this product are 4 star and higher, but some women felt it was too bulky, pulled their fine hair or didn't heat up fast enough. See more about this iron here.
Straighten, flip and curl your hair
Adjustable temperature from 240 F to 410F to suit all hair types
Ceramic/tourmaline ion plates to give a shinier, silkier result in lesser time
1 inch plate width, wide enough for any hair length and hair types, yet narrow enough for bangs
Transform frizzy, dull hair into gorgeously straight, sleek locks
Corioliss flat iron - The UK company makes a variety of straighteners of varying sizes, features and materials. While they make flat irons with ceramic plates, they say their titanium plate models are smoother and less damaging on hair. (You can read some Corioliss flat iron reviews here.)
Babyliss flat iron - Another popular maker of flat irons and other hair styling products, the Babyliss Nano Titanium pictured here offers many great features.
Croc flat iron - Just one look and you'll see why this flat iron is called Croc. In addition to its unique shape, the Croc flat iron heats up fast, up to 450 F, has a digital temperature readout and smooth titanium plates that glide through hair.
Amika flat iron - If you're looking for something fun and eye-catching, check out Amika flat irons. They come in colors such as pink and gold, and patterns from animal prints to tattoos. They're lightweight, have dual voltage (great for travelers) and smooth ceramic plates. (Check out more great-looking Amika irons here.)
The Kindle Fire tablet (above) is the latest e-reader sensation from Amazon, and it is sure to be at the top of wish lists this holiday season. The Kindle Fire features a color, multi-touch display and 8GB of storage capacity. It's easy to use, making it an ideal iPad substitute for the less tech savvy. But it is just as appealing for eggheads. With it, you can surf the net, play games, watch movies, listen to music and, oh yeah, read your favorite books and magazines - in color. Click here for great deals on the Kindle Fire.
Kindle Touch - The Kindle Touch features a sleek new look, a touch screen, and the ability to turn text into speech (meaning this e-reader actually can read to you - how cool is that!) You not only can download from Amazon's extensive collection, but you can also borrow books from your library. Click here or on the image for great deals on the Kindle Touch.
Kindle DX - The Kindle DX is huge - in a good way! Its 9.7" (diagonal) screen makes for easy reading, even in sunlight. It also includes free 3G wireless and free book samples. It auto-rotates so you can read on its side, landscape mode, as well as upright. This Kindle is great for reading newspapers as well as books or magazines. And when you come across something you just have to share, you can tweet it or post it on Facebook directly from your Kindle. Click here for a great deal on Kindle DX today.
Kindle Keyboard - The Kindle Keyboard has the great features of the other members of the Kindle family with the addition of a physical keyboard which makes taking notes or searching easier. It's still lightweight at just 8.5 ounces, never gets hot like laptops do, has built-in Wi-Fi, adjustable text and font sizes, and the same crisp e-ink technology for hours of reading pleasure without eye strain. Click here for a fab deal on Kindle Keyboard.
Kindle Gift Card - Want to give even more? Then include a Kindle Gift Card with whichever great Kindle model you choose so the lucky recipient can start filling up his or her Kindle library. This is also a great gift idea for the people on your list who already have a Kindle.Grab a Kindle Gift Card here - makes a great stocking stuffer!
Another great gift idea is a Kindle cover like the colorful oneshere.
Kindle Keyboard cover. Click image for details.More great colors available.
No one wants to be alone, right? Especially during the holidays (and that's closing in faster than you can say Christmas). So if you know someone who's still a singleton or has been through a breakup, then why not give the gift of love. Here are some ways you can help:
* Give them a membership to a dating service. No, it's not weird. It's very considerate. Your lonely friend probably has wanted to join one anyway, but couldn't drum up the courage. But it's almost the easiest thing in the world to do. Certainly a lot easier than striking up a conversation with a handsome or beautiful stranger in a bar. There are many services, but here's a good one to try.
* Maybe your lonely pal is still pining away for their last love. If this is the case, here is another unusual little gift that could make their romantic dreams come true. Breakups don't necessarily mean that the relationship isn't meant to be. Sometimes men are just stupid, and don't know when they've got a great thing, or they're approaching an age they believe is their last chance to get a fresh, new model (you can take this either way and it'd be accurate!) and they start sniffing around every young skirt that passes by. Women can be pretty stupid, too, turning their noses up at that great guy who worshiped the ground she walked on in favor of some flashy fella who's probably a love 'em-and-leave 'em loser! Anyway... click right here for the perfect gift if your friend would love nothing more than to get back together with their former sweetheart.
Sure, chai and green tea and yerba mate -- whatever that is! : ) -- are growing in popularity as we try to become a leaner, greener society. Maybe you're sipping on some now yourself.
But I bet you know plenty of people who prefer the jolt of java. There's one probably in the cubicle next to yours.
With the giving season upon us, sometimes the hardest people to get gifts for are our colleagues. You don't want to spend too much and you don't want to look cheap and maybe you don't really know them that well to begin with. But you do know that you see them every day in the break room getting their coffee fix.
A great gift idea is to get a couple of different premium brews for a group of your co-workers. Per person, you won't be spending very much, but there's no doubt your gift will be appreciated. If you want, you can toss them in a nice basket and throw in coffee flavorings, creamers or sweeteners.
At ROASTe.com you can shop from your desk (on your lunch break, of course, wink!). The site is easy to navigate; you can shop by type (regular or espresso, for instance), roast, popularity, rating, brand and more. Right now you can get free shipping if you spend over $39. So set down your yerba mate, buy your co-workers some coffee and get some for yourself while you're at it.
UPDATE: Check it out - save $5 off your first coffee purchase! Use the coupon code BLOGME5
'Tis the season … almost. But it'll be here before you know it! And while it's a fun time, filled with family and friends and food, it is also one of the more stressful times of year. One way to ease that stress is being prepared, and by that I mean, start shopping. NOW!
Well, at the very least begin planning your holiday purchases. Brainstorm gift ideas for everyone on your list and start researching. Once you have decided on on a gorgeous Bulova watch for your husband, for example, a dazzling blue diamond ring for your beloved wife, or a Wii console for the kids, the next step is to go comparison shopping. Deals are to be had and you have to take more than price into consideration when purchasing online. Remember to include taxes and shipping costs. One site might offer a rockbottom price, but charge an exorbitant shipping rate that makes your great gift more expensive than if you'd gone with the higher-priced place that had low-cost or free shipping.
You can save time and energy getting your gifts by using comparison shopping sites such as Pricegrabber, Shopzilla and Nextag, to name but a few. You've probably heard of them.
But what if you're wanting to compare cameras and camera accessories, say, for your favorite cousin in Canada? I just learned that www.Canadapost.ca has a comparison shopping section that includes deals from retailers across the border and the U.S., too. It provides lots of information, including price history, customer service numbers, warranty details and more. And my Canadian readers will benefit from the Cross-Border Comparison tab, which spells out if they're better off getting the item they're looking for from a local shop or one in the States.
The important thing, and I can't, um, stress this enough, is to get moving on your gift-buying! While everyone else is frantic as the holidays draws near, schlepping from store to store, fighting crowds and standing in long lines, you can kick back and relax knowing your holiday goods are wrapped and ready to go.
How do you ease holiday stress? I'd love to hear from you!
I only have one child, but I think that I give her enough attention for three kids. I wouldn't say that I spoil her, but I love to spend so much time with her and make sure that she's prepared with as much learning and reading as possible to help her in her future. Well, she recently read a book about mummies and decided that she wants to go as one for Halloween.
She told me that she wants the costume I make her to be historically accurate. Well, I told her I would make it look as good as possible but I wouldn't be mummifying her just for Halloween. I used my wireless internet for laptops to look online and get some great ideas for how to make her costume. Between her book and that stuff, I had all kinds of ideas.
Her kids DIY mummy costume actually has turned out really well! I thought that it would be fun to put some jewelry over her wraps, so I found some good, cheap costume jewelry for that too. She thinks it's historically accurate enough, thank goodness!
Call me crazy, but it seems to me that shopping online was easier years ago. Now the choices are mind-boggling. Do a search for dining chair pads, say, and you will get shopping results from big box stores to WAHMs who've set up a little online store front and everything in between.
One of those "everything in between" might just be Become.com. When you're doing your shopping research, Become.com provides product information, reviews, specs, and comparison prices.
The shopping site also allows you to zero in on the information that's important to you. Maybe you're looking for a housewarming gift and decide to check out queen comforter sets. Want specs such as thread count and care instructions? Click the product details. Want reviews of the peace sign bedding that caught your eye? Click that button or discussion forums to "listen in" on the chatter about the pros and cons of the item you're looking for.
Sony 3D Bloggie - Record in 3D with Sony's new camcorder. This little gem gives you in-your-face action, and you don't need 3D glasses to see it. Read more about it here. 
Toshiba Thrive Android Tablet 16GB - This is a great iPad alternative that uses the popular Android OS. Features a touch screen, rear camera, front webcam and stereo speakers. Get product details here.
See the entire Kindle lineup right here.
For your little superhero, there's uDraw Marvel Superhero Squad. It features 10 Marvel heroes he can choose from to fight Dr. Doom and his evil associates. 
The UK company makes a variety of straighteners of varying sizes, features and materials. While they make flat irons with ceramic plates, they say their titanium plate models are smoother and less damaging on hair. (You can read some 
- how cool is that!) You not only can download from Amazon's extensive collection, but you can also borrow books from your library. 
Want to give even more? Then include a Kindle Gift Card with whichever great Kindle model you choose so the lucky recipient can start filling up his or her Kindle library. This is also a great gift idea for the people on your list who already have a Kindle. 
