Joby GorillaPod Flexible Camera Tripod

So how is it it took me until July 31 to figure out this whole "Christmas in July" business?! No matter, here on my blog it's been Christmas since, well, last Christmas!

So, here's a little luxury stocking stuffer that's perfect for anyone with a compact digital camera. The Joby GorillaPod is a flexible, bendy, twisty tripod that you attach to the bottom of your camera, and then stand it up or even wrap it around a tree branch, a lamp, one of the rails in your banister, or anything else you can think of. I got one of these last year for Christmas and it really works. I wrapped it around one of our halogen floor lamps, which means I was able to position the camera at the perfect height to do a group self-portrait instead of stacking books, running around to look through the viewer to see if I had it right, stacking more books....

The Joby website says that the original GorillaPod is ideal for point-and-shoot compact cameras that weigh up to 325g or 11.5 ounces. They also make bigger GorillaPods for larger 35mm cameras, cameras with large lenses attached, and even video cameras. Their web page even has a useful feature that lets you use pull-down menus to select first the make and then the specific model of your camera, and then they tell you which size GorrilaPod works for it.

The original GorillaPod is $24.95 plus shipping direct from the Joby website. It's also available from Amazon for as low as $16.25, and it qualifies towards the free super saver shipping or Amazon Prime free shipping if you have it. I'm sure it's also available in dedicated camera stores.

The GorillaPod is smaller in person that you would expect from looking at it online, so it definitely works as a stocking stuffer. But it's still big enough to get the job done!

What: Joby GorillaPod Flexible Camera Tripod
Where: Joby website, Amazon, or camera stores
How much (as of today's post): ranges from $16.25 to $24.95

Chunky Animal Ink Stamps

Ink stamping and making art trading cards are among my hobbies, so I have a soft spot for cute ink stamps. This set is particularly designed for little ones (but not too little; it says for ages 3+) with easy-to-grip animal handles that coordinate with the stamped images. The stamps are 1.5 inches in diameter and are made from recycled rubberwood, which isn't surprising since the Stubby Pencil Studio website has the tagline "eco products for creative kids."

The set comes with five animals: duck, chick, cat, bird, and frog. It also includes a washable black ink pad. Now, the price isn't cheap -- it's $19.95 for the set of five. But you can tell from the pictures that this is a high-quality, well-made product. Plus, it you have more than one child of the right age, you can divide them up among the stockings, which divvies up the cost a little. You could save the chick for an Easter basket or otherwise stagger when you give these to your child over the year. Last but not least, you could go in with a friend on these and other stocking stuffers, to increase your variety without paying outrageous amounts for shipping.

If it sounds like I'm trying to talk you into buying these, I'm not really. I just think that it's possible to get high quality stocking stuffers without completely breaking the bank if you are a little creative as to how you go about it.

What: Chunky Animal Ink Stamps
Where: Stubby Pencil Studio website
How much (as of today's post): $19.95 for set of 5

Vince Mints

Are there any art lovers in your life? If so, they might appreciate finding the an artistic tin of Vince Mints in their Christmas stockings. This 2.75 x 1.6 inch tin features the instantly recognizable "Sunflowers" by Vincent Van Gogh, and is filled with sugar-free peppermints. I found it on the Shakespeare's Den website. At $1.95, the price is certainly right.

And I have to say, this tin of mints is in much better taste (no pun intended) than the Van Gogh ear keychain, which I will not be listing on this blog.

What: Vince Mints
Where: Shakespeare's Den website
How much (as of today's post): $1.95 (plus shipping)

Guest Blogging at "Look What Mom Found... And Dad Too"

Melinda and Rob of the Look What Mom Found... And Dad Too blog kindly let me write a guest post for them while they are on vacation. My post, about free samples from Dover Publications, which you can use to collect activity book pages for your kids and clip art for yourself, appears there, and only there, today!

While you're there, be sure to explore Melinda and Rob's blog in more detail. If you have kids, you find lots of useful reviews, tips, and even some giveaways. Have fun!

ZooBox Stencil & Pen Set

This pen and stencil set-in-a-box would be fun for kids' Christmas stockings -- it allows the artist to draw realistic animals or to invent their own by mixing and matching various animal features. As shown above, there are two stencils with head shapes, features, whiskers, and snouts, plus another stencil with antlers, ears, and horns. Three fine-point pens are also included. The set is available from the Perpetual Kid website as a clearance item -- nonreturnable, but down to $4.99 from the original $9.99 price. (There is also a FaceBox set at the $9.99 price, featuring different eyes, noses, hats, hairstyles, etc.).

The website doesn't list dimensions, but judging the size of the tin against the pens, I think it would fit in any reasonably sized stocking.

What: ZooBox Stencil & Pen Set
Where: Perpetual Kid website
How much (as of today's post): $4.99 (plus shipping)

Twist & Pout Lip Balms

Last week I posted about the Ballmania Sports Lip Balms, so I thought I would go ahead and show you the same company's Twist & Pout line, which is just as cute but a lot more feminized. I came across these in a gift store and was charmed by them. The store display seemed to be a random assortment, but at the actual Twist & Pout website, you can view their various "spring 2009 collections." (Sounds like a fashion runway show, doesn't it?) They have:

• The Garden Party Collection (8 styles)
  
• The Decades Collection (8 styles)
  
• The Purr-Fection Collection (6 styles)
  
• The Pink Ribbon Collection (1 style)
  
• The Surfing Collection (6 styles)

Of these, my favorite is the Decades Collection. It includes lip balms named 1880s Victorian, 1920s Art Deco, 1950s Drive In (with a carhop on roller skates), 1960s Peace, 1970s Dyno-mite, 1980s Pink Leopard, 2000s Text Talk (perfect for tweens, teens, or college students!), and one just called Future. I think they did a great job choosing patterns that represented the particular decades. The Purr-Fection collection is all about jungle and faux animal prints, and the Surfing Collection is tropical, including a juicy-looking orange and pink hibiscus design.

As with the Sports lip balms, these are SPF 20. They don't have keychain attachments the way the Sports ones do, but that makes sense since girls and women who like these more feminine designs are likely to carry purses anyway. Ballmania also has a more expensive boxed-with-brush "Serenlipity" collection, but I don't find the designs as fun and flirty as the Twist & Pout line.

The website says that Twist & Pout is available at Dillards, Amazon, a website called Natural Selection Bath Hand & Body, and Kitson.com. There's a note, though, indicating that retailers may not carry every collection, and the Dillard's website, for instance, only seems to have the Garden Party and Purr-Fection collections (selling at $7 apiece, by the way). You can also check gift shops, but if you have your heart set on a particular design and can't find it, I would suggest going to Google, choosing their shopping option, and putting in the name of the design you want. Chances are, you'll get some results.

What: Twist & Pout Lip Balms
Where: Dillards, Amazon, gifts shops, etc.
How much (as of today's post): approximately $7

Cameo and Speech Bubble Geek Pendants

Here I go with the geekiness again! But I can't help it -- when I saw this cameo pendant of my favorite Muppet Beaker in the Ursula and Olive Etsy shop, and then noticed the "Hobbits are Hot" pendant, and then the "Muggle" pendant... well, I had to post about these, didn't I?! Let's face it, any Etsy shop that carries original and adorable merchandise covering Star Trek, Star Wars, general Sci Fi and Fantasy, Harry Potter, Doctor Who, Lord of the Rings, and 80s and pop culture, well, that's going to be one of my favorite shops!

And yes, just in case your teen or tween is among the Twilight addicted, there's even something for her: the "Twerd" (or Twilight Nerd) pendant, complete with the iconic apple. It's the perfect stocking stuffer for the Twilight fan! There's also an "Alice Cullen groupie" pendant. Each pendant in the shop comes with a chain or necklace as described in the individual listing, and they can also be made into keychains for the same price.

I know I say every time I do a Sunday Etsy post that I have trouble picking which items to show, but wow, it was really true this time. I can't tell you how many of these pendants spoke to my inner geek and my love of books and movies. There's even one with a vintage-style image that says "Librarians are Hot"! Make sure to explore the entire shop, or you might miss something that would be perfect for your loved ones' stockings.

What: Cameo and Speech Bubble Pendants
Where: Ursula and Olive (an Etsy shop)
How much (as of today's post): $15-20 (plus shipping)

Printable Gift Boxes from "Don't Eat the Paste" Blog

In my opinion, the best way to write a good blog is to read a lot of other blogs. That means exploring constantly to see what's out there, and trust me, you'll discover wonderful things! One of the nicest things about the blogosphere is that so many creative people are willing to share. Sometimes they're sharing ideas, but lots of bloggers even share their creations for free, like Shala from Alaska, who shares beadwork patterns on her Shala's Beadwork site, and downloadable, printable gift boxes on her Don't Eat the Paste blog.

From a Christmas stocking perspective, Don't Eat the Paste is an absolute treasure trove! Shala has three pages of every occasion gift boxes, a page of printable cards, a page of gift bag shaped boxes, and my favorite, the page of holiday gift boxes. Most of the standard box patterns make 2.25 inch cubes -- the perfect size for stockings! They're intended to be printed in color on cardstock; then you cut and fold, then presto! Naturally, since they're made of cardstock, they're not indestructable, but if you put them at the top of the stocking, just peeking over the edge, they should be fine with a little treat or small gift inside.

There are designs suitable for everyone, like the yummy peppermint pattern shown above. There are even boxes that would be especially wonderful for boys or men, like the dreamy winterland fox shown right. Take your time looking around the site -- there are cone-shaped ornament boxes that can be filled with treats and placed on the Christmas tree, boxes designed especially to hold earrings, boxes meant for tea.... And make sure to bookmark the page to come back, because there are adorable Halloween and Easter designs too!

Special thanks to Shala for allowing me to post about her lovely work. Please note that the images shown here and on her site are copyrighted and cannot be reposted without permission, or used for commercial purposes. If you use Shala's work, please also consider making a small donation to help her support her websites -- it's not required, but there's a convenient Paypal donation button on the website.

Stargate Replica Coasters

I have to watch out that I don't start over relying on Think Geek for my stocking stuffer ideas, but 1) they have such fun stuff, and 2) the minute I saw these Stargate coasters I knew I had to post about them. At $29.99, they're way more expensive than I would like for a set of four coasters, which means I have to list them on a "Luxury Friday," but they are such perfectly detailed replicas that any Stargate fan would go nuts for them. The product description notes that the coasters have felt on the bottom to prevent table scratches, they measure 4.57" in diameter (which is awfully geeky in its precision!), and they do not actually create wormholes, which is good to know.

In fact, these coasters are so perfect for science fiction fans that I created a new stocking stuffer category in honor of them: "for sci-fi geeks". I already had a category "for computer geeks", but I can't assume that all computer folks like science fiction too, although I know there is a lot of overlap. I've also gone back and added the "sci-fi geeks" label to all of my previous posts to which I think it's applicable.

I haven't watched the Stargate shows yet myself, in part because I was turned off by the original feature film, but my husband and I do plan to play the DVD catch-up game one of these days. That's how we watched all of Buffy and Angel. And when we do get around to Stargate, I know I'm going to want these coasters!

What: Stargate Replica Coasters
Where: Think Geek website
How much (as of today's post): $29.99

Ballmania Sports Lip Balms

These key-chain-attachable lip balms are too cute for words, and suitable for boy, girls, teens, college students, men, women.... To the right you can see the soccer, basketball, and baseball lip balms, but there are also golf balls, softballs, tennis balls, volley balls, and even an billiards 8 ball!

The Ballmania website says that the lip balm is SPF-20, and mentions that the shapes mean they can be found easily in gym and duffel bags. They also attach to keychains, of course! Ballmania doesn't sell the lip balms direct from their own website, but I did find them at the Sports for Her website for $4.39 apiece (just don't tell your boys that's where you got them!). They're also available at Amazon, but most of the listings seem to be for a three-pack of the same design, which seems a bit excessive. If you happen to be in one of those big sporting goods stores, they might carry them as well.

It's rare to find a stocking stuffer that's the right size, inexpensive, and suitable for so many different recipients, but I think this one does the trick.

What: Ballmania Sports Lip Balms
Where: Sports for Her website, Amazon, or elsewhere
How much (as of today's post): $4.39 (plus shipping)

Single Malt Scotch Chocolate Bar

My husband loves Scotch, and even though I don't like it myself, he has drilled into me that it must always be single malt. He also loves chocolate, so I suspect that he would be very happy to find this in his Christmas stocking: a single malt Scotch chocolate bar from BonBonBar, a company that makes and sells handmade candy bars. (He doesn't read this blog at my request, so even with posting this I should be able to surprise him!)

This particular bar uses Talisker 1992 Distillers Edition Single Malt Scotch from the Isle of Skye. It's available in an assortment with other types of candy bars, or in a gift collection with caramels and marshmallows, but I would probably get the box of three Scotch bars for $15, which is the smallest quantity you can buy. That's not too bad, though, considering I could give him one in his Christmas stocking, one for his February birthday, and one for Valentine's Day!

And do take a look at the rest of their site -- they have lots of other yummy looking products, including handmade caramels and marshmallows, a peanut butter bar with strawberry jam or honey, and an orange candy bar with candied orange peel.

What: Single Malt Scotch Chocolate Bar
Where: BonBonBar website
How much (as of today's post): $15.00 for 3 (plus shipping)

Chinese Jump Rope

Behold Ye Perfect Stocking Stuffer: the Chinese jump rope! It's small, it's inexpensive, it's widely available, and it's just plain fun. An added bonus is that it will get kids outside and active -- but a Chinese jump rope can even be used indoors or in a garage on a rainy day as long as there's a sufficiently cleared space. Put it this way, I'd sooner have a child use a Chinese jump rope indoors than a regular jump rope!

Since I'm not a parent myself, I don't know: does your average kid these days know what a Chinese jump rope is for? If not, you and/or Santa will get extra points for a new and different stocking stuffer. This particular Chinese jump rope from the InterStore website says it comes with "directions," and I imagine most of them in toy stores do as well, but if you have to, you can always google "Chinese jump rope intructions" or "directions" and you'll find plenty of guidance online.

Wow, this is starting to bring back memories!

[NOTE: Based on the first comment on this post, I realize that I should have been more explicit, since a lot of folks aren't familiar with these. The Chinese jump rope is either a rope or an elasticized band that's in a complete circle. Typically, two players anchor it with their legs, and the third player jumps through various repeating patterns like "inside, outside, left side, right side". Because there's nothing actually going overhead like a regular jump rope, that's why I think it's fairly do-able inside, as long as there's enough space around that a child wouldn't get hurt falling into any furniture -- although I don't remember falling while doing this as a child. I hope that all makes sense, but if not, maybe Wikipedia's page will shed some more light!]

What: Chinese Jump Rope
Where: InterStore website, toy stores, drugstores
How much (as of today's post): $3.49 (will vary)

Mini Shopping Cart Desktop Organizer

I don't know if this can really be fairly described as a "desktop organizer" -- but that's what the ThinkGeek website calls it, so now it's my story and I'm sticking to it! And see, the picture does show the cart holding office-like things....

OK, I admit it: I just like small cute things, and I think this is adorable! In all seriousness, at 5 x 3.75 x 5.75, this might be a tight squeeze for stockings unless they have a great big wide mouth at the top, but I imagine some of you have some pretty big stockings to fill.

What: Mini Shopping Cart Desktop Organizer
Where: ThinkGeek website
How much (as of today's post): $9.99 (plus shipping)

Custom Scrabble Blank Journal

Although I've featured handmade journals from Etsy artists before, this one has a new twist that I just couldn't resist: it's a custom-made journal fashioned from vintage Scrabble boards, and you specify what the Scrabble tiles will spell out! Sara of the Re:Paper Etsy shop refers to herself as a "hackbooker", or to quote Sara herself, one who indulges in the "craft of guerrilla bookbinding, using found objects and fine papers to create mixed-media books, albums, and folding frames." Since I love both books and recycling, it doesn't get much better than this for me!

This particular custom Scrabble journal measures 4.5 x 5.75 inches, which should just work as a stocking stuffer. There's also a taller version available, as well as many other lovely journals, including a custom wedding journal, a journal made from a vintage Chutes and Ladders board game, and even one made from beer boxes! It's definitely an eclectic collection. I'm drawn to many of the designs, but I admit I keep coming back to that Scrabble journal.

So what would yours say? I'm thinking "Book Lover", "Cat Lady", or one of Sara's own concoctions, which was "Word Nerd" (that one has since been sold, but she tells me she'll be putting another up for sale in the near future). If someone you know is a real Scrabble aficionado, "Scrabble Ninja" might be funny. That's what I love about Etsy; so many of its artists allow you to be part of the creative process too!

What: Custom Scrabble Blank Journal
Where: Re:Paper (an Etsy shop)
How much (as of today's post): $25 (plus shipping)

Space-Themed Stocking: Celebrating the Moon Landing!

Here in Houston, we're all very aware and proud of the 40th anniversary of the Apollo 11 moon landing. In honor of that event, here are some ideas for a space-themed Christmas stocking for the budding astronaut in your life. First, Johnson Space Center's gift shop carries this "Space Toob", a tube filled with small astronauts, space vehicles, and even a little space chimp. It's great for imaginative play, and the tube will look cute stocking out of a Christmas stocking. For those of you who don't live in Houston or Florida, it's also available from Amazon.

And you just can't have a space-themed stocking without astronaut ice cream! This used to be something exotic you could only get on a school field trip to a science museum, but nowadays, astronaut ice cream -- or even alien ice cream! -- is readily available from many retailers including the Perpetual Kid website. Heck, these days you can even choose chocolate chip, mint chocolate chip, or an astronaut ice cream sandwich! The Kennedy Space Center gift shop, which also sells online, even has a can of moon soup, although I doubt the little ones will find that exciting as the ice cream.

Another space-themed stocking stuffer: glow-in-the-dark stars and planets to decorate your child's ceiling. The previous owners of our current home included a teenaged boy, whose bedroom is now my office. We bought this house five years ago, and I still haven't taken down the NASA space shuttle wallpaper border or the glowing stars on the ceiling because I get such a kick out of them! These stars can be found at the Kennedy Space Center gift shop, and I imagine they can be found elsewhere where novelties are sold, such as Spencer's Gifts.

Once you start looking, you'll see that space-related stocking stuffers are remarkably easy to find. And if your son or daughter or niece or nephew is really into this space stuff, here is the ultimate gift to pair with your themed stocking: the NASA flight suit, which is available in orange or white. These aren't cheap, at $49.99. But we purchased one for our almost-nephew (son of a very close friend) a few years ago, and his mother reports that it's hard to get him out of it because he loves it so much! It does double-duty as a Halloween costume, and has provided hours and hours of play time for him. We purchased it at least one size bigger because we knew he would probably grow out of it quickly, and it turns out the danger is him wearing it out before he outgrows it!

Finally, for some extra quality time with your child, you could spend some of your Christmas vacation helping him or her build a space shuttle out of cardboard boxes. Back when I was a kid, I built a "viper" out of cardboard boxes based on my favorite show, Battlestar Galactica (yes, I'm dating myself -- I mean the old version, although I also love the new show!), and it's one of my fondest memories.

Digital Speed Sensing Baseball

Here's a luxury stocking stuffer for your Little Leaguer if he dreams of becoming the next great pitcher: a digital speed-sensing baseball. (And don't count out your tomboy daughters either -- have you seen the newspaper stories about Eri Yoshida, the 16-year-old girl drafted to a men's professional baseball team in Japan?)

I think any baseball-playing kid would love to find this in their stocking on Christmas morning! It clocks up to 100 mph, and registers the speed immediately upon impact. My only concern is that according to the Discovery Channel website product page, there's only a two-month manufacturer's warranty, but maybe that's the best that can be expected from something you know is going to take a beating.

What: Digital Speed Sensing Baseball
Where: Discovery Channel Store, sporting goods stores, etc.
How much (as of today's post): $24.95 (plus shipping)

UV Monkey

This product has kind of a strange name -- it's not as though it looks like a monkey! -- but the Think Geek website explains that it's like the monkeys we sent up in space to make sure it was safe for humans. This UV Monkey, then, it designed to show UV levels so you know how much sunscreen protection you might need. (It also mentions that it will help you know best when to charge your solar-powered devices. I always assumed solar-powered devices charged on visible light, not UV, but I guess I should take the geeks' word for it!)

How does it work? The center circle changes color to indicate four different levels of UV intensity. The UV Monkey measures 1.5 inches in diameter and attaches easily to a keyring, making it the perfect size for a stocking stuffer. But since we're in the middle of a hot summer (I can't tell you how many 100+ degree days we've had in Houston so far this year), you may not want to wait until Christmas!

What: UV Monkey
Where: Think Geek website
How much (as of today's post): $9.99 (plus shipping)

Maple Cinnamon Sugar

If you know someone who loves baking, he or she might enjoy finding this maple cinnamon sugar in a Christmas stocking or gift basket. It comes from Pelican Bay Ltd., a company that carries a lot of baking and drink mixes. A lot of their products come in really cute packages! But back to the maple cinnamon sugar -- in addition to being suitable for baking, they also recommend sprinkling it on hot cereal, french toast, pancakes.... doesn't that sound yummy?

The website unfortunately does not list how many ounces it is, and their contact information doesn't include an e-mail address, but I would guess this is about the size of your standard spice bottle that you see in the supermarket, or a salt shaker.

What: Maple Cinnamon Sugar
Where: Pelican Bay Ltd. website
How much (as of today's post): $9.95 (plus shipping)

EcoTools Lash & Brow Groomer

With the environment being on everyone's mind these days, it's not surprising that eco-friendly products are springing up everywhere, including make-up and beauty lines. I first stumbled across the EcoTools line of products at Kroger's, where I picked up this eyelash brush for a mere $2.89. I love that the bristles are 100% cruelty-free, the metal is recycled aluminum, and the handle is made of highly sustainable bamboo.

If Santa is feeling extra generous, there are also sets of brushes bundled in a natural cotton and hemp carrying case. The six-piece set I looked at online has a blush brush, an eye-shading brush, an eyeliner brush, the lash and brow groomer shown here, and a concealer brush. Since the EcoTools line is already carried in Kroger's and perhaps elsewhere, it can also be a great last-minute stocking stuffer if you get caught short.

What: EcoTools Lash & Brow Groomer
Where: Kroger's or elsewhere
How much (as of today's post): $2.89

Patch, Flip & Finnie Terry Cloth Bath Toys

You might have to squish these terry cloth bath toys a little to fit them down inside a stocking, but surely it's worth the trouble! You can choose from Flip and his submarine, Patch and his pirate ship, or mermaid Finnie and her whale. Because they're made of terry cloth, they're machine washable in cool water, and the submarine, pirate ship, and whale are also water squirters for a little extra fun. Each set comes in a reusable plastic case with fabric edges.

Personally, what I would do is put the character peeping out of the top of the stocking, and put the case with the water squirter toy under the tree, wrapped or not as your own tradition goes. Flip and Finnie are only five inches high and Patch is six inches, so I think it would work nicely and would be adorable. The website says these are recommended for ages 10 months and up, and I would think kids up to at least age five or six would like them.

What: Patch, Flip & Finnie Bath Toys
Where: Calliope Boutique website
How much (as of today's post): $14.00 (plus shipping)

Givaway Results - Swarovski Rhinestone Stretch Bracelet

Congratulations to SandyM204,the winner of the Swarovski rhinestone stretch bracelet! She was entry number 6 out of a total 75 entries. SandyM204, I will be contacting you via e-mail tomorrow to get your address.

Thanks so much to everyone for stopping by my blog and taking time to enter the giveaway contest. And extra thanks to the Just Jen website for providing the prize!

Ducky Soaps

Although the Ducky Soaps shop on Etsy has something for everyone -- and I do mean everyone -- the soaps I chose to show here are the ones most appropriate for boys and men (=large boys), since we all know they are lots harder to buy for than girls! The first soap that caught my eye was this adorable little hockey player duck, because my husband is Canadian and therefore he, my brothers-in-law, and my nephews all love hockey. (I'm convinced it's actually genetic!) The glycerin soap is hypoallergenic and gentle enough for babies, and the rubber ducks themselves are soft and safe for children, which is great because it means these soaps make great gifts for almost any age.

Next up is this adorable construction worker duck. He happens to come in an "orange dream" scent, but all of the soaps are available scent free if desired. And if the "slow" construction sign isn't your first choice, there are three other construction worker ducks holding other tools of the trade.

And before I start talking about soaps for your other gift recipients, I just have to show one more for the guys: this little referee duck. This one is perfect if the man in your life is a complete sports nut and can't settle on just one sport!

But I really would be doing Ducky Soaps a disservice if I didn't mention their other offerings. There's a section in the store for birthdays and holidays, another for weddings and baby showers, one with fairy tale characters and pirates, one for pigs, cows, and bears, and then the sports and occupations section where I found the soaps shown above. But even that section has lots for girls and women: cheerleader ducks in various colors, a funny dentist duck with a great big white smile, an adorable chef duck, a pilot duck.... Even different branches of the armed forces are represented.

And then there's the "All Other Ducky Soaps" section with several miscellaneous items, including a glow-in-the-dark duck, a breast cancer awareness duck, and even a rainbow hippie chick that comes in a grape soda scent! Honestly, I've barely even scratched the surface. You could easily find something for every single person on your stocking stuffer list here.

What: Ducky Soaps
Where: Ducky Soaps (an Etsy shop)
How much (as of today's post): $6 (plus shipping)

Star Trek Minimates

I'm spending this weekend at a science fiction convention that has a heavy emphasis on Star Trek, so in honor of that, here are some Star Trek Minimates, which are perfect for stocking stuffers! If you take them out of the package, you can even fit them into the little drawers in a wooden Advent calendar. The price for these can vary widely; I've seen a pair of them sell for $5.99 up to $9.99. You can find them at Target, Toys R Us, Amazon, and comic book and game stores. On Amazon, just search for "Trek minimates", and you'll get tons of results, ranging from classic Trek to Next Gen to Deep Space Nine to the movies.

And now, back to the convention!

[Note: Last chance to to enter my ongoing giveaway for a Swarovski rhinestone stretch bracelet! The giveaway ends tonight (July 11, 2009) at 11:59 Central time, based on the comment timestamp.]

What: Star Trek Minimates
Where: Amazon, Target, game stores, etc.
How much (as of today's post): price varies

Handmade Wooden Nursery Rhyme Blocks

OK, I am completely in love with this set of handcrafted wooden nursery rhyme blocks! Each block has two sides with embossed and painted (non-toxic inks!) images, and four sides of text. The set of 28 blocks tells these nine Mother Goose rhymes:

• Three Little Kittens
  
• Jack Be Nimble
  
• Hickory Dickory Dock
  
• Humpty Dumpty
  
• Jack & Jill
  
• Pat-a-cake Pat-a-cake
  
• Mary Had a Little Lamb
  
• Hey Diddle Diddle
  
• Little Miss Muffet

I admit that nobody would want to put all 28 blocks in a Christmas stocking, but there's certainly no reason you can't put at least a few of the blocks in the stocking, then have the rest under the tree -- perhaps paired with a book of nursery rhymes? And because they're made of wood, these are the kind of quality toy that could be passed down from generation to generation.

What: Handmade Wooden Nursery Rhyme Blocks
Where: Uncommon Goods website
How much (as of today's post): $38.00 (plus shipping)

[Note: Don't forget to enter my ongoing giveaway for a Swarovski rhinestone stretch bracelet. The giveaway runs through Saturday, July 11, 2009.]

Bunco Coasters

Do you know anyone who plays Bunco? My mom belongs to a Bunco group, so I'm thinking these coasters might make a fun stocking stuffer for her. I love the retro look! These coasters, which come in a set of four, are made of sandstone with cork backing, and measure 4.25 inches in diameter.

And if your mom (or other gift recipient) is not yet a Bunco player, you can get her the game and make it a paired gift!

(By the way, if it's sexist of me to list this stocking stuffer for women only, it's just that I've never known any men who play Bunco. Well, that, and the coasters look a little girly anyway!)

What: Bunco Coasters
Where: Perpetual Kid website
How much (as of today's post): $14.99 (plus shipping)

Godiva Key Lime Truffles

Oh, yum! I'm not really a chocoholic at all, and oftentimes I think really good chocolate is wasted on me (I'm a Hershey's Kiss kind of girl at heart). But I think could make an exception for Godiva Key Lime Truffles! Available for a limited time only, the five individually foil-wrapped pieces consist of key lime ganache covered with dark chocolate. And I think it's a good sign from the photo that they don't attempt to make the filling look green -- it's always a good sign when an actual key lime pie is yellowish rather than bright green in color.

[Note: Don't forget to enter my ongoing giveaway for a Swarovski rhinestone stretch bracelet. The giveaway runs through Saturday, July 11, 2009.]

What: Godiva Key Lime Truffles
Where: Godiva website or stores
How much (as of today's post): $13.00/five truffles (plus shipping)

Paw Print Key Covers

I know I've featured key covers (also called key caps) before, but I just came across this particular style at the Animal Rescue Site and I had to list them because 1) they're too cute, and 2) at the moment they're super cheap!

Originally $6.95 for a set of four, these paw print key caps are now at an "anniverary special" price of only $2/set, with a limit of six sets per customer. You really can't beat that for an inexpensive and fun stocking stuffer! I will note one thing, though -- it looks like you have to use loop/ball chain to attach the key to a keyring, since there's not an opening big enough to go on your actually keyring without it. Still, these would be especially good for extra house keys for your family, neighbors, or petsitter.

[Note: Don't forget to enter my ongoing giveaway for a Swarovski rhinestone stretch bracelet. The giveaway runs through Saturday, July 11, 2009.]

What: Paw Print Key Covers
Where: Animal Rescue Store website
How much (as of today's post): $2.00 set of 4 (plus shipping)

Removable Inanimate Object Stickers

Here's a cute idea: eye, nose, and mouth stickers to personalize inanimate objects such as tape dispensers, staplers, mugs, etc. This would make a fun stocking stuffer for anyone who works in an office, or for a college student's dorm room. And since they're removable, they'd be great for kids too. Finally -- again, since they're removable! -- you could also use them as a little gag gift to decorate everything in someone's office without warning them ahead of time (think April Fool's Day).

[Note: Don't forget to enter my ongoing giveaway for a Swarovski rhinestone stretch bracelet. The giveaway runs through Saturday, July 11, 2009.]

What: Removable Inanimate Object Stickers
Where: Pop Deluxe website
How much (as of today's post): $4.99 (plus shipping)

Set of Sweet Anthem Solid Perfume Samples

Most of us (including me) don't have the slightest idea how perfume is actually made, but I certainly do know that it's an art. And since Etsy is the place for artists, naturally there will be lovely perfumes to be found there.

And what better stocking stuffers than this sampler set of solid perfumes from perfume artisan Meredith Tucker, who runs Etsy shop Sweet Anthem? Solid perfumes are pretty and compact, and they travel easily in a purse or handbag without spilling. This set of four 3ml containers allows you (or your gift recipient!) to try out four of Sweet Anthem's more than twenty choices, such as the "Caroline" scent, which combines ambergris, bergamot, champagne, lemon, oakmoss, sarsparilla, and vanilla. (Doesn't that sound yummy?) Each of the samples are poured, tagged, and labeled by hand.

At a very reasonable $16 for four samples, you can use this set for one or more stockings. If you have two sisters or daughters, you can give them two apiece. If you have three recipients in mind, well, obviously the answer there is to keep the fourth sample for yourself! In any event, with so many scents to choose from (see Sweet Anthem's profile page for a list of scents, ingredients, and a wealth of other information), you can't go wrong.

And I'm thrilled that all of Sweet Anthem's perfumes are vegan, which means they are cruelty-free. The profile page also notes that Meredith uses "ethically and locally sourced ingredients only with a focus on natural and sustainable goods used whenever possible." I love that so many Etsy sellers strive to be eco-friendly.

In any case, be sure to explore her shop thoroughly, because there are all kinds of possibilities besides the solid perfume samples, such as perfume in liquid form, custom perfume orders, scents for guys, and even a do-it-yourself perfume kit. Happy sniffing!

What: Set of Sweet Anthem Solid Perfume Samples
Where: Sweet Anthem Handmade Perfumes (an Etsy shop)
How much (as of today's post): $16 (plus shipping)


[Note: Don't forget to enter my ongoing giveaway for a Swarovski rhinestone stretch bracelet. The giveaway runs through Saturday, July 11, 2009.]

BLOG GIVEAWAY !! - Swarovski Rhinestone Stretch Bracelet

Happy Fourth of July! In honor of the holiday, I wanted to show this very appropriate photo of "red, white, and blue" Swarovski rhinestone stretch bracelets from the Just Jen website. Technically, these colors are named crystal, light siam, and sapphire, and the bracelets also come in crystal AB and fuschia. Any one of these would make a perfect stocking stuffer, or a lovely gift for any time of year. They measure 5" and stretch to about 8". According to the website, all of the bracelets are manufactured by Swarovski and "use their patented Xilion crystal for maximum sparkle."

And Just Jen is not just about bracelets -- in fact, their main focus is rhinestone apparel, including t-shirts, sweatpants, flip-flops, aprons, caps, and more. They will even make customized logo rhinestone apparel.

Best of all, Just Jen has kindly offered to sponsor a giveaway of a Swarovski rhinestone bracelet to one of my readers! To enter, look at the Just Jen custom t-shirt page (a new window will open) and then leave a comment below telling me what custom t-shirt you would most like to design (shirt style, font, and what you would have written). Please be sure and leave your e-mail address in your comment, or make sure it's available from your comment profile.

You may earn one additional entry by subscribing to this blog (click "follow blog" at the top of the page, or use the "subscribe here" buttons in the right column to add this blog to your reader) and leaving a separate comment telling me that you've done so, but the first entry is mandatory in order for the second entry to count! You have from today until Saturday July 11 at 11:59 p.m. CST (based on the timestamp shown on your comment). I will use a random number generator to choose the winner on Sunday July 12.

In the meantime, have a safe and Happy Fourth of July!

What: Swarovski Rhinestone Stretch Bracelet
Where: Just Jen website
How much (as of today's post): $18.00/one, $45.00/three, $72/six (plus shipping)

Stainless Steel Modern Oil Candle

At this price ($88.00), this stainless steel modern oil candle would be a super-luxury stocking stuffer, and I'm also not too sure about the environmental implications. But my Friday luxury posts are for those items that would go in my fantasy stockings, and I have to say, I wanted this modern, minimalist oil candle the moment I saw it. Its design is so simple and elegant, and I can just see it as part of a blue and silver themed stocking, and as part of chic, silvery table setting....

On the off chance you're rich enough that you really could spend $88.00 on a stocking stuffer, I'll mention that the stand is 4" x 2" and the candle is 5" long and 1" in diameter. It uses high-quality smokeless lamp oil available at hardware stores, and one filling of oil lasts about eight hours.

And just in case you're in sticker shock now, don't forget that it's only on Fridays that I post the luxury items! You can click on my "under $5" or "under $10" labels in the left column of this blog to get back to reality!

What: Stainless Steel Modern Oil Candle
Where: Uncommon Goods website
How much (as of today's post): $88.00 (plus shipping)

Announcement: Blog Giveaway Coming Soon!

I've got a giveaway coming up: details to be revealed on the Fourth of July! The ladies won't want to miss this one.... I'll just say this: does the word Swarovski mean anything to you?

If you don't want to have to remember to come back, you can always subscribe to this blog through Google Reader or the RSS feed/reader of your choice. The entry period for the giveaway will be for one week, running from Saturday July 4 to Saturday July 11, 2009.

Klean Canteen Classic Sippy

Last Christmas, all the eco-friendly gift idea blogs and websites featured a variety of reusable steel water bottles, in an effort to wean people off the plastic-bottled water that is so eco-unfriendly. Now it looks like the Klean Kanteen company has found a way to bring this to our smallest generation, by introducing an adaptor with a sippy cup spout for their classic 12 ounce bottle. The cap and spout are BPA-free, and the bottle is food grade stainless steel. As the website says, it will "never leach chemicals, toxins, or funky flavors into your child's water or juice."

Me, I think it's a great idea to make kids environmentally aware as young as possible. Plus this sippy cup bottle is cute! It comes in six colors: green moss, orange sunset, ocean blue, black eclipse, pink renewal, and tree bark. It's also super convenient, because it's dishwasher safe, fits in most cup holders, and has a wide opening through which ice cubes will fit.

Whole Foods carries this line, or you can order direct from the company. Happy sipping for your little ones!

What: Klean Canteen Classic Sippy
Where: Kleen Kanteen website
How much (as of today's post): $17.95 (or 2/$33.90) (plus shipping)

Edible Wild Hibiscus Flowers

I swear I'm not making this up! You can buy a jar of edible wild hibiscus flowers from (of all places) the Think Geek website. Each 8.8 ounce jar has at least eleven full flowers; the only other ingredients besides hibiscus are cane sugar and water. The website, being all geeky and all, describes them as looking like baby Cthulhu, but they also say they're delicious and taste just a little bit like raspberry.

You have to admit they would certainly make a most unusual stocking stuffer! They'd do pretty well for Valentine's Day, too, don't you think? I love the way it looks at the bottom of the champagne glass....

What: Edible Wild Hibiscus Flowers
Where: Think Geek website
How much (as of today's post): $9.99 (plus shipping)