Visit My Pedz for other great gift ideas!

Wild Planet Hyper Dash
Hyper Dash is an award-winning fast-paced race course game from Wild Planet that encourages kids to be active and think on their feet. Designed to improve listening, coordination and math skills, this exciting game is easy to set up and is an ideal way to help kids aged six and above to practice addition and subtraction while exercising and having fun. It’s four games in one and costs around $25.

Visit Wild Planet for other great gift ideas!

Crayola Glow Board
With the Crayola Color Explosion Glow Board, kids can take their creations to a whole new level of fun. The glow board comes with six vibrant neon markers, which can be used to draw on either of the board’s two drawing surfaces. Once their drawing is complete, kids can illuminate the colored inks with the touch of a button, as the board’s lights give the ink an intense glow.

Visit Crayola for other great gift ideas!

EyeClops Bionic Eye
See your world as never before with the EyeClops Bionic Eye! With this fun and easy-to-use electric magnifier, kids six and up can view everyday objects at up to 400 times their regular size. The simple, hand-held bionic “eye” displays magnified images on any TV, providing hours of fun entertainment for the entire family. The hand-held EyeClops magnifying “eye” is made of brightly-colored, lightweight, durable plastic and features an ergonomically shaped handle that fits comfortably into small and large hands alike.

Visit Jakks for other great gift ideas!

Mozart Magic Cube
A true breakthrough in music education, the Munchkin Mozart Magic Cube will be music to your baby’s ears. Providing hours of interactive play for budding young composers of all ages, this award-winning toy is the perfect musical foundation for little ones. Fun, creative, and inspiring, the Magic Cube teaches how sounds combine to create eight Mozart masterpieces.

Visit Munchkin for other great gift ideas!

Wii Music
When it comes to music and rhythm games, Wii Music stands in a class of its own. Unlike other music games, which penalize players if they don’t play perfectly, Wii Music is a musical playground where there are no mistakes. Here anyone can pick up and master the huge array of instruments available, through simple motions like strumming and drumming. Musicians in your band jam by simply playing their instruments to the beat of a song or by improvising to their heart’s content. Play faster. Play slower. Skip a beat, or throw in 10 more. No matter what you do, Wii Music automatically transforms your improv stylings into great music.

Visit Wii for other great gift ideas!

Disney Wheel of Fortune
Disney Wheel of Fortune includes such classics as Cinderella, The Lion King, Snow White, Ratatouille, Monsters Inc. and Toy Story. It is a combination of two all-time family favorites. Combine the puzzle-solving fun of Wheel of Fortune with the magic of Disney-Pixar movies and you get a game that’s entertaining for the whole family. Spin the Mickey Mouse wheel, and then ask for a letter to the puzzle. Categories include: Heroes and Heroines, Villains, Movie Titles, Song Titles and more. All this family fun for under $25.

Visit Pressman for other great gift ideas!

Zero Gravity Air Hogs
The ultimate in indoor RC racing! Zero Gravity Micro is a full function RC car that drives on the floor, up wall, sand, even upside-down. Outstanding scale speed performance on any smooth surface. Working headlights also act as charge level indicators. 2 power settings - floor mode with venturi fan off, and suction mode for vertical and upside-down action! (Prices vary by models.)

Visit Spin Master for other great gift ideas!

You’ve Been Slimed!

Now kids at home can take part in the in the fun with the introduction of Nickelodeon’s first line of SLIME products! These safe, non-toxic, washable and water-soluble toys will be one of the hottest toys in 2009 and you can give them this Christmas and be a bigger hit. Some of the new products include: the Super Slimer that shoots 25 feet, the Slime Ball that hits a wall and oozes down, cans of Slime in six different colors and a Slime Bucket of course to hold all the gross stuff.

Visit Nickelodeon for other great gift ideas!

Goldilocks & the 3 Bears Show DVD

Get ready for a very good time as Unstable Fables presents The Goldilocks & the 3 Bears Show. When Goldilocks, a sassy reality TV star decides to film her next show at the humble home of the Bears, she gives them a taste of the celebrity sweet life they’ve never had before. But the bears will teach her something even more important: what it’s like to be part of a family. Tune in for all the fairytale action in this funny, heartwarming movie, featuring the voice talents of Tom Arnold, Brooke Shields and Jamie Lynn Spears. It’s just right for a night of family fun!

Visit Disney for other great gift ideas!

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Visit Sur la table for other great gift ideas!

Yoga Toe Socks
If the woman you’re buying for loves Yoga and other floor excercises, then this will be a real treat! The Yoga-Pilates Toe Sox seperate the toes and have a patented non-slip sole - meaning you don’t need a mat. They are a hygenic alternative to going bare foot and they are made with 90% organic cotton. They retail for $13 a pair and come in a variety of colors.

Visit Toe Sox for other great gift ideas!

Swarovski’s Sparkle
Let’s face it, you can never go wrong with a little bling. For a little sparkle look at the delicate crystal Charmed Pendant from Swarovski. This $45 rhodium-plated pendant flaunts a small clear crystal pavé circle fixed into a larger circle that is partially set with clear crystal pavé. The lower part of the pendant can be used to create variations by affixing charms.

Visit Swarovski for other great gift ideas!

Salt Crystal Lamps
Solay’s beautiful salt lamps, from the foothills of Himalayan Mountains are more than just pretty to look at - they’re good for you. Salt crystal lamps generate healthy negative ions that cleanse the air. Ever experienced the change in the air after a good rain? That’s from negative ions and that’s what these lamps do. Every woman needs a Himalayan Salt Lamp that expresses it’s beauty and soothes the soul. Prices vary by the weight of a rock from $29.95 - $140.

Visit Solay Wellness Inc. for other great gift ideas!

Kohl’s 25 Days of Deals
You can find whatever you are looking for this season for her at Kohl’s. They have something to fit every budget. Check out the 25 Days of Deals each and every day through Christmas to see what item is being displayed at slashed prices. Kohl’s is giving away a $50 and $25 gift card to Props & Pans readers through our Holiday Picks & Cash For You giveaway.

Visit Kohl’s for other great gift ideas!

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Visit Every Man Jack for more great gift ideas!

Livestrong
Who hasn’t heard of Livestrong? For the fitness male in your family, the Livestrong edition of Oakley sunglasses are the perfect gift. Oakley has honored Lance Armstrong’s courage with these commemorative Half Jackets ($135) and Radars ($185). Decked with the colors of his foundation logo, this special edition has “LIVESTRONG” laser etched at the bottom corner of its pure PLUTONITE® lens. The Livestrong™ foundation inspires and empowers people affected by cancer, and Oakley is supporting its ongoing mission by donating $20 from each sale of these frames. Right now Oakley is offering free shipping on orders over $50.

Visit Oakley for other great gift ideas!

Clean Grandpa’s Closet
You must dress him right! You may have thought the cardigan’s your grandfather wears were way out of style, but they are making a fast comeback. Urban Outfitters carries many cool styles including the hot RVCA Hoodigan Knit Cardigan priced at $78. At first glance it looks more like a zip up sweatshirt jacket and it is made of soft cotton, but it has buttons and a little different fit. Choose black or grey for the man you know who might need some help in they style department.

Visit Urban Outfitters for more great gift ideas!

Monogrammed Golf Club Links
Every man who loves golf will enjoy monogrammed links from Red Envelope. They are an elegant way to personalize their clubs and also ensure they won’t be misplaced. Made with super light-weight Alcoa aluminum that will not impact the swing, they are available in brushed silver or gold. This set contains 14 links engraved with their full name, phone number and the initial of their last name centered on the link. A matching ball marker is also included. For $49.95 you can give this to the man who thinks he already has everything, but hasn’t seen these.

Visit Red Envelope for more great gift ideas!

Electric Stapler
What man hasn’t tried to figure out the inner-workings of a stapler? Give him a totally see-through Cool Electronic Stapler this year for $29.95 and watch his eyes light up. This unique item does require 4 AA batteries (which are not included) to operate, but would make a neat addition to his desk. Check out the matching Tape Dispenser as well.

Visit Quincy Shop for more great gift ideas!

NCAA Grill Cover
Every man has a favorite college team, whether it be where he went to school or who he cheers for. Help him celebrate his favorite college by selecting a NCAA Collegiate Grill Cover to protect his other love - the grill. They are made with heavy duty reinforced vinyl with flannel backing. There are two sizes available and the prices vary from $53 - $59. Check out all the sports team available online and enjoy free shipping.

Visit College Gear for more great gift ideas!

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Boxed Set of Greeting Cards- I found this amazing set of cards at Costco for $12.99 and it is stocked with beautiful handmade cards for all kinds of occasions. This is a wonderful gift so that you always the right type of card on hand. These are a great communication tool for writing to friends and family without a constant trip to the store. It has come in so handy when she has a birthday party to attend or just wants to send a note to a friend.

Monogrammed Towels - I order them after the first month as an anniversary with our family gift. I find them very reasonably at Horchow, with free personalization and free shipping offers they are about $10 a piece or $20 for a set of two. Use this link and the coupon code “WELCOME” to save an additional 10%.

Memory Books - As a special memory book I have made pages on How Fast They Grow. These photo scrapbook pages are 12×12 and fit into the standard albums you can buy at Target. The website allows you to drag and drop the images from your computer and you can custom journal the script to personalize the information. Each page is about $6 printed, so you can make a very deluxe album for about $75 shipped. The owner of the website offered readers of my blog a discount by using the coupon code “TRIPLETS” and the pages arrived in the US Mail and are beautiful.

Personalized Stationary - My husband designed some amazing note cards, magnets, calendars and t-shirts at VistaPrint. The website has promotional offers that allow you to try many products for free and you just pay for shipping. We combined several gifts for Aupairs, teachers and other friends so that the shipping cost is reduced. The custom screened t-shirts are terrific if you have a photo of your children with your Aupair or Nanny. If you are already ordering photo holiday cards from them you can add on some other items for free. Note pads, post-it notes and the hats all turn out so cute when you use their own photograph. We made the cutest calendar magnets for the following year using a great photo of our Aupair.

Free Samples - About once a week I go to Start Sampling and sign up our Aupair for a bunch of trial sized merchandise. It arrives in a few weeks and gives her a chance to try products just for kicks. I use our mailing address with her name so that it is always fun to check the mailbox. The best offers are for health and beauty stuff like shampoo, shower gels and snacks. This would be a great idea for an elderly relative too!

Holiday Clearance - I wait until about 7-10 days past a major holiday such as Valentines, Fourth of July and Halloween and I stock up on decorative items and gift products at clearance prices. I keep these tucked away for the following year. Target and CVS clearance items at around 75-90% off and we just stash them for 11 months until it is time to bring them out again. This is true for winter items like hats, gloves, fuzzy slippers and OSU sweatshirts.

Custom Made Coupons - We had our kids make these on the computer and then we printed them on certificate paper from Staples. The offers were for random pampering like breakfast in bed, a morning to sleep in, a pay per view movie, an ice cream sundae, her night to pick a restaurant choice and a custom burned CD with her playlist.

Movie Gift Card - It will encourage her to go and see the latest hit.

Written by Helene, who is a “fly by the seat of her pants” mom with 6 kids, well really 7 if you count her husband. She is a die-hard bargain shopper, designer-clad domestic diva who writes reviews to maintain a sense of sanity and unleash her creative side. You can also keep up with their busy family at their blog.

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The Bissell Spotbot gets quite a workout in our home. With an older dog who has incontinence issues, my choices are to put my beloved Pupstar outside or find a really great carpet cleaner. I love the Spotbot for it’s hands free features. You fill it up, put it down and turn it on. It’s that easy.

It has held up through frequent use in our home for over a year and hasn’t taken on the odors that it is cleaning like our previous carpet cleaner did. For any pet owners who have carpet in their home, the Bissell Spotbot is a must have.

by Canape

It doesn’t seem to matter what kind of oil free products I use on my face, by the end of the day it looks like a grease pool right around my nose. I’ve tried oil free make-up, lotion, toner, etc… As a last resort I finally spent $5 on a package of Clean & Clear Oil Absorbing Sheets at the drugstore and they actually worked! I was shocked!

I expected them to work about as well as a tissue, but to my surprise you could see the oil on the blue little sheets and they didn’t smear my make-up as I rubbed the sheet around the oily areas. The shine was gone from my nose and my face looked very fresh. I didn’t even need to reapply my powder, which was usually what I did that created the excess oil. The package now stays in my purse all the time.

by Emily

There are a lot of candles on the market you can choose from, but I’ve found the best available are made by Votivo. I was introduced to this line by a friend who gave me the Red Currant scent for my birthday and I was instantly hooked. They not only look cute in the simple glass jar, but the aroma lasts well beyond when you blow it out.

Votivo candles are made to burn for at least 50 hours and thus far mine have all exceeded that. You can choose from a variety of scents and the make perfect gifts. Although the price tag of just under $25 seems high, the quality is well worth the expense!

by Lisa

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Props and Pans will be giving away 5 sets of the DVD’s we reviewed below. You can enter to win a set of 4 by leaving a comment up until Friday, December 21st at midnight (EST).

Tell us which Nick Jr. character your children, grandchildren or you love! All four are new releases and ready to entertain your preschooler over winter break.

Go, Diego, Go! Safari Rescue

You can follow Diego as he and his friends travel to Africa in search of the magic drum. My son’s pre-school class enjoyed the animals displayed in this episode. Special features include a double length episode, a safari photo gallery with rich images, two unique songs and a language format selection. The entire class enjoyed learning about animals from Africa and Latin America, and can now identify animals associated with that continent. (Retails for $16.99)

Dora the Explorer: Dora Saves the Mermaids

If you have a special princess who loves all things mermaid, then this will make their day. Our niece asked to watch Dora perform several music videos over and over again! I like that Dora keeps kids active with motions and involvement. My favorite thing about Dora is her Spanish skills and how she teaches counting and spatial skills to young children. (Retails for $19.99)

Blue’s Room: World Travelers

Who better to accompany Sprinkles on a pretend voyage around the world then your child? What a great way to develop a strong imagination in your little one. Before he can set sail, Sprinkles finds that his suitcase is locked and the only way to open it is to track down 3 special keys. This DVD includes a dance and ABC bonus feature in full screen format. (Retails for $16.99)

Wonder Pets! Save the Reindeer

When Christmas is in trouble, who are you going to call? Wonder Pets of course! They all come to the rescue after one of Santa’s reindeer goes missing. I admit that I didn’t really understand the “wonder” with these pets, but our 5 year old seemed very intrigued by their unique adventures. This DVD features 8 action filled episodes that allow children to participate by singing along and learning about teamwork. (Retails for $16.99)

Written by Emily, who is a married working mother of a very energetic 5 year old son. They reside in Southern Indiana (a little too close to the Kentucky border). Someday she’d like to visit Intercourse, PA and have her picture taken with the welcome sign. She writes at her personal blog, Fenicle and loves free samples and trying new things!

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The kicker is that it plugs right in to your computer with a little USB thing that flips out of the side of it (it FLIPS! Get it?). NO cables or cords are necessary and get this — the software needed to get it into your computer and onto Youtube, MySpace etc. is built into the camcorder so no more install disks or any of that nonsense. It’s really so idiot-proof that anyone (you know, like your barely computer literate in-laws for example) could use it.

It also comes in different colors, for the style conscious, and a few different configurations for the price conscious. Additionally, Flip Ultra Video was recently touted by Oprah for it’s awesomeness and I recently heard someone on the radio talking about it, too.

I do believe this is THE HOT GIFT of the season and while I personally won’t be dropping $120-$150 on one for anyone, you can bet teens, tweens and proud new parents everywhere will be sporting one of these after the holidays.

Written by Izzy, who is a work-at-home mom of two young children. She can usually be found writing at her personal blog, IzzyMom, venting at Moms Speak Up, or designing something.

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When I was little it was the Sears Wishbook. Now, it’s the new Smith-Thompson catalog at my house. They have everything Thomas the Tank Engine that you might ever need, want, or conceive of. Toothbrushes, sheets, towels, curtains, cups, cake pans - it goes on. Want to decorate a bedroom or bathroom in Thomas? They’ve got it.

And their prices are really reasonable. It doesn’t have to break you to pick up a few things here or there to add to the never ending Thomas collection at your your house. Or is that just my house? They also have a wide selection of discontinued cars and engines that they list as discontinued so you are aware of items you might WANT to get sooner rather than later.

A word to the wise though, for those of you just beginning your journey through the land of Sodor. There are various “types” of Thomas sets. There is Take Along Thomas - which is plastic and there is a wooden Thomas with all wooden tracks and cars. You’ll also see a couple of different Thomas electric trains, including at least one that is HO scale.

None of these sets work together. None of them. They are all different sizes, although theoretically you CAN play with them together, they are specifically designed so that they do not work like that. My advice to you, PICK ONE STYLE and stick with it.

Tell your friends, your neighbors and the grandparents what type of Thomas set you have. I promise it will save a lot of frustration.

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Maybe you have seen the commercials, but if not go here and get your free bags by paying only shipping (which is around $5).

Personally, I am not a big popcorn fan. Granted I’ll dig into a bucket of buttery kernels at the movie theater, but for the most part I’m not a big fan. That is until I tried this popcorn.

I choose Chocolate Chunk N’ Carmel and Butter Toffee & Walnut Crunch. Oh, so sinful and delicious! Now I must try the other flavors they offer like Country Smokehouse Cheddar and Peanut Butter and White Chocolate Drizzle Corn.

Did I mention this popcorn has been featured as one of Oprah’s “Favorite Things”? You know it must be good if she loves it.

With Christmas approaching I often search for gifts that can be enjoyed by anyone, especially grandparents and relatives who live far away. They offer many options of gift tins and sample packs that can be shipped to loved ones. They are pricey, probably a bit more than I like to spend on people who live far away (especially my husband’s family), but totally worth it!

They may have a store near you so be sure to check out their locations (which are mostly on the East coast). Just be prepared to purchase a larger size in your jeans after you finish the two bags.

During the course of the interview, the owner of the company says “You have to try this.” and goes in to a room, fetches a box of dried berries and gives them to me. It sounds cool, but in fact I had to carry around this box of dried fruit, to explain to everyone I interviewed with after this why I was carrying around the box. And I felt like a dork.

I got the job. But what was even better than the job (which turned out to be nightmare incarnate) was the fruit. Delicious, sweet, plump, dried fruit. Berries to be exact. Blueberries, strawberries, cranberries, cherries; quite possibly the most delightful mixture of fruit ever assembled.

Smeltzer Orchards are located in the magical land of northern Michigan where, for reasons unknownst to me, all berries that grow seem to have the sweetest flavor in the world.

When I was pregnant with my twins, my mom bought me a CASE of the dried mixed fruit because she knew I loved it so much.

And I gobbled up the sweet, fruity goodness box by box, nearly beating anyone who came near my Smeltzers. I caught someone eating the strawberries out of it once, it’s 3 years later and I’m pretty sure I’m still not speaking to that person.

Since then I’ve purchased dried berries of various sorts at the grocery and they were nothing but a pale reminder of how good the berries from Smeltzer are.

They might seem a little pricey. But when you take your first delicious bite, you will know where the money went. This is one case where you absolutely get what you pay for — the very best dried fruit of its kind!