Star Trek Outlet and Light Switch Plate Covers

This arrived last week from ThinkGeek.com, and I think it's my favorite thing that I'll be putting in my husband's stocking this year. For the uber-Trek-geek in your life: Star Trek outlet and light switch plate covers! I got my husband the outlet plate, which I see is now temporarily out of stock, but they also have light switch and slider light switch covers. The outlet cover was $12.99, and the light switch plates are $17.99 apiece. My husband and I each have our own "room" -- mine is an office and his is his game room -- and this will be Just Perfect for his game room. I can't wait until he opens it!

What: Star Trek Outlet and Light Switchplate Covers
Where: ThinkGeek.com
How much (as of today's post): $12.99-$17.99 (plus shipping)

Darth Vader Flexible Spatula

Williams Sonoma has been rockin' the Star Wars stuff lately! Sandwich molds, cookie cutters, pancake molds, and now this awesome Darth Vader spatula. It seems a strange combination of interests, but one of my best friends is totally into Star Wars/sci-fi and she loves to bake!

Details: flexible nylon-silicone head that won't scratch nonstick pans; stainless steel handle; and (most importantly!) dishwasher safe. It's 10 1/2 inches long. Which makes it perfect for sticking out the top of a stocking!

What: Darth Vader Flexible Spatula
Where: Williams Sonoma website or stores
How much (as of today's post): $12.00

Star Trek Enterprise Pizza Cutter

I'm pretty sure the folks over at ThinkGeek have figured out that if they make something Star Trek that's even just marginally cool, we science fiction geeks will snap it right up! Last year we bought the Star Trek Enterprise Bottle Opener for a number of our friends and it was a huge hit. This year we have the Star Trek Enterprise Pizza Cutter as an option!

At $24.99, this isn't cheap, so it definitely qualifies as a "luxury" stocking stuffer. But if the bottle opener is anything to go by, this is high quality merchandise. The description says it's a "Laser Etched Stainless steel blade with solid zinc-alloy chromium plated body" (technobabble!). The blade diameter is 4 inches and the total length is 8.5 inches. Since it comes in a box that will be slightly bigger than those dimensions, that might make it a little big for a stocking stuffer. Another potential drawback is that it's hand-wash only.

But it's a Star Trek Enterprise pizza cutter!

(Oh, and here's a hint: ThinkGeek participates in Mr. Rebates, so if you sign up for that, you can get 4% back on all of your purchases. There are a zillion other stores that participate too!)

What: Star Trek Enterprise Pizza Cutter
Where: ThinkGeek.com
How much (as of today's post): $24.99 (plus shipping)

Dr. Who Cell Phone Alert Charms

Even though I don't watch Dr. Who (I watch lots of other science fiction, but I'm not a Whovian, alas), I still think this Tardis cell phone alert charm is adorable. This charm spins and lights up when you get a call, even when your cell phone is on silent mode. And it doesn't even have to be attached to your cell phone -- instead, attach it to your purse, backpack, bag, jacket.... The product info on ThinkGeek notes that it reacts to the phone's wavelengths, which is why it doesn't need to be attached to the phone.

And if the Tardis isn't your thing, there are also Cybermen and Dalek charms available. They measure 1.75 inches tall and required three LR41 batteries, which are included. There's also an important note that the charms only work with 800-1600 MHz GSM network cell phones.

Myself, I'm holding out for a Star Trek version....

What: Dr. Who Cell Phone Alert Charms
Where: ThinkGeek.com
How much (as of today's post): $9.99 (plus shipping)

Star Wars Cookie Cutters

OMG! I know so many people who would love these Star Wars cookie cutters, which I just found on the Williams Sonoma website. As you can see from the picture, the set includes Darth Vader, Yoda, Boba Fett, and a Stormtrooper. They're a Williams Sonoma exclusive, so that's the only place you can get them. (We're fortunate to have a store in our mall.)

Do I really need to say anything further about these? ;-)

What: Star Wars Cookie Cutters
Where: Williams Sonoma
How much (as of today's post): $19.95 (plus shipping)

Retro Rocket Night Light

At 3.5 inches wide and 5.75 inches high, this retro rocket night light should work as a stocking stuffer, although it's hard to predict how big the packaging in comes in will be. And boy, would I ever have loved this when I was a kid! One of my favorite books was Eleanor Cameron's The Wonderful Flight to the Mushroom Planet, in which two boys build a rocket ship to help Mr. Bass save his people on the Mushroom Planet. (That reminds me, I haven't re-read that in a while....)

Anyway, this should be perfect for boys or girls who enjoy adventure stories and space tales, or as a retro-gift for adults into science fiction. For kids, you might also pair this with a book under the tree, such as Harry and Horsie or Curious George and the Rocket or any number of other titles.

What: Retro Rocket Night Light
Where: Perpetual Kid website
How much (as of today's post): $19.99 (plus shipping)

Ladies of Star Wars Playing Cards

Still at the science fiction convention, so..... today's stocking stuffer: the Ladies of Star Wars playing cards! This set features all the lovely beauties from all the Star Wars movies. And although this seems odd, I'm not joking when I say that any man at this sci-fi convention would love to get these cards for Valentine's Day!

What: Ladies of Star Wars Playing Cards
Where: ThinkGeek.com (where else?!)
How much (as of today's post): $4.99 (plus shipping)

Star Trek Enterprise Webcam

My husband and I are off to another science fiction convention, so in honor of that, today's luxury stocking stuffer is a Star Trek Enterprise Webcam from ThinkGeek.com. I've never used a webcam before, but I've been hearing more and more good things about Skype, so perhaps it's time to take the plunge. The product info page says it's compatible with Windows XP, Vista, and Mac.

To be completely honest, even though this is smallish, in its box it might be a tight squeeze for a stocking stuffer, so I hope you'll give me some slack. Of course, you could always put the DVD of the new Star Trek movie in the stocking and make this a paired gift by putting the webcam under the tree.

By the way, ThinkGeek.com participates in Mr. Rebates, if you happen to use that program. I did a lot of Christmas shopping at ThinkGeek, so I'm looking forward to a few small rebates. Nothing big... but every little bit helps!

Warp speed ahead!

What: Star Trek Enterprise Webcam
Where: ThinkGeek.com
How much (as of today's post): $22.99 (plus shipping)

Magic Wand Programmable Remote Control

At $89.99, this is an UBER-luxury stocking stuffer, but it's too fun not to post about. Are you a Harry Potter fan? Then how cool would it be to use a magic wand in place of your remote controls? This little gizmo "learns" from your existing remotes so you can change channels and adjust volume with just by waving or twisting the wand. According to Think Geek, the wand has 13 "magical" functions and is compatible with most makes of televisions, DVRs, and other devices with remotes.

In reality, I think the learning curve is probably pretty high, in terms of getting just the right "swish and flick" to accomplish specific functions. Also, I'm sure there are functions it can't replace. For instance, I can search shows on my DVR remote by typing in the letters, the same as I would with texting on a cell phone (and I'm actually getting pretty quick at it). That wouldn't likely work with this wand, so it's not as though I could actually replace that remote. That, in addition to the price, means that this is one of those things that I wouldn't actually buy unless I won the lottery. But it's definitely on my "if money were no object, wouldn't this be cool?" list!

What: Magic Wand Programmable Remote Control
Where: Think Geek website
How much (as of today's post): $89.99 (plus shipping)

JoCo Looks Back CD

If you don't already know Jonathan Coulton's music, you're missing something fun! I was first introduced to his song "Code Monkey" by a friend, and that jogged my memory -- I remembered reading in the NY Times online about this singer who put a new song up every week for a year, allowing people to listen, download, and (most fun of all) make their own videos or artwork. My friend also showed me a YouTube video that someone made of his "Skullcrusher Mountain" song using footage from the sci-fi show Firefly.

Needless to say, I was hooked.

About six months ago, Jonathan Coulton, or JoCo to his fans, came to Houston and we went to go see him. I decided to get a CD and listen up ahead of time so I would enjoy the concert that much more. I chose the CD "JoCo Looks Back" because it seemed to have the best of the many songs he produced during his "Thing a Week" project.

What does this have to do with stocking stuffers? If you have a sci-fi geek or computer geek in your life who doesn't already know Jonathan Coulton, he or she will LOVE you if you get them this CD. The songs include (but are not limited to):

• Code Monkey (about the life of a computer programmer in the cubicle fields)
  
• I Feel Fantastic (hinting that we may overmedicate ourselves at times....)
  
• Mandelbrot Set (about the fractal and the mathematician who discovered it)
  
• Tom Cruise Crazy (making a LOT of fun of you-know-who)
  
• Chiron Beta Prime (a funny Christmas "card" from a family sentenced to a mining asteroid run by robots)
  
• I'm Your Moon (Charon singing a song to poor no-longer-a-planet Pluto)
  
• Skullcrusher Mountain (a mad scientist/supervillain sings to the girl he's captured trying to woo)
  
• I Crush Everything (a sad sea monster laments the fact that he accidentally crushes the pretty boats he loves so much)
  
• You Ruined Everything (a love song to his newborn baby)
  
• Re: Your Brains (an office memo from a zombie to a former co-worker)
  
• The Future Soon (a geek looks forward to the future in which he'll take over the world)
  
• The First of May (warning! this song is very adult in nature -- about something we might want to do outdoors instead of indoors at the beginning of spring....)

Anyhow, my absolute favorites are Code Monkey, Skullcrusher Mountain, Chiron Beta Prime, and Re: Your Brains. (And I love the "code monkey dance" video -- you can find it on YouTube.)

What: JoCo Looks Back CD
Where: CDBaby.com or Amazon
How much (as of today's post): $13.99-$15.00 (plus shipping)

Star Wars Lightsaber Chopsticks

I'd heard about these and was hoping they'd be available in time for this Christmas -- Star Wars Lightsaber Chopsticks! These are Japanese imports, and come in blue (Luke Skywalker), red (Darth Vader), and green (Yoda). These are the perfect stocking stuffer for any science fiction fan, young or old. (Droid not included!)

What: Star Wars Lightsaber Chopsticks
Where: ThinkGeek website
How much (as of today's post): $12.99 (plus shipping)

Rocket Salt and Pepper Shakers

[Click here to enter my ongoing giveaway of stocking stuffers for little ones! Giveaway ends Saturday December 5, 2009 at 11:59 p.m. Apologies, but U.S. residents only.]

For an out-of-this-world luxury stocking stuffer, check out this set of rocket salt and pepper shakers! Measuring 5 inches high, they are handmade in the Philippines from natural and blond acacia wood, and the fins are made from stainless steel. The Uncommon Goods product page says that they were designed by Richard and Vicki Kung for the Museum of Robots. I love the retro look!

My husband and I actually have a pair of handmade metal salt and pepper "zoomie" shakers, shaped like flying saucers, which unfortunately don't seem to be available anymore, but these wooden rockets certainly capture the same spirit. And they would also make a terrific wedding present for a sci-fi minded couple.

What: Rocket Salt and Pepper Shakers
Where: Uncommon Goods website
How much (as of today's post): $48.00 (plus shipping)

Pon Farr Perfume and Tiberius Cologne

[Today is the last day to enter my ongoing giveaway of stocking stuffers for men, which ends tonight at 11:59 p.m. (based on the comment timestamp). Enter here, and remember to check back next week for another stocking stuffer giveaway! Apologies, but U.S. residents only.]

Not too long ago, I posted about the Star Trek Red Shirt Cologne that I had found on the Think Geek website. Then I received a Wireless catalog in the mail, only to find the Pon Farr perfume for women and the Tiberius cologne for men. I love it -- equal opportunity geekdom! Depending on how well you know your Star Trek, you may or may not know that Pon Farr refers to the mating cycle in which Vulcans go into, ahem, heat once every seven years. (And if I'm not mistaken, the shape of the bottle's stopper is reminiscent of the weapons that Kirk and Spock used while fighting over the fair Vulcan female....) The Wireless website description describes the perfume as blending "feminine floral notes with sandalwood and citrus." The bottle contains 50 ml.

For the men, this 100 ml bottle of manly cologne is named after James Tiberius Kirk, and is "spicy and woody, commanding yet casual." I note that the website already shows it as backordered! Well, it would certainly be easy to get a Trek-themed stocking going, what with this cologne, the just-released DVD of the new movie (which I thought was terrific fun), the Star Trek Enterprise bottle opener on ThinkGeek.com, and so on.... I would buy this cologne for my husband in a second, but sadly, any perfume or cologne tends to give me a headache. But never fear, Star Trek and science fiction will be well represented in his stocking this year!

What: Pon Farr Perfume and Tiberius Cologne
Where: Wireless Catalog website
How much (as of today's post): $31.95 (plus shipping)

101 Uses for Customized Dogtags

I was very excited recently when Matt from MyDogTag.com contacted me about the possibility of customized dog tags as stocking stuffers. He kindly offered to send me a sample to evaluate, which just arrived the other day. And they were just as much fun as they looked like they would be!

The reason I am so excited about these dogtags is that I can think of a zillion uses for them, as stocking stuffers and otherwise! Here is the sample I chose for myself:

Now, this may seem strange, but if you've seen Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog, you'll get the reference. Neil Patrick Harris plays Billy, an aspiring evil supergenius trying to get into the Evil League of Evil, and also trying to get the girl, Penny (played by Felicia Day of The Guild). Nathan Fillion, of Firefly and Castle, plays Captain Hammer, the supposed hero who may not be as heroic as he seems. The entire 45 minutes is done as a musical, and Neil Patrick Harris in particular can really sing!

Anyway, for our annual New Year's Eve party this year, my husband and I decided we would have a Dr. Horrible-themed party, consisting of open auditions to the Evil League of Evil! Champagne served in test tubes, mad scientist decorations, and glowing green things everywhere. And maybe we'll use these souvenir dogtags as prizes for the best supervillain costumes!

So just think of what else you could do with these:

• I FIGHT FOR TEAM JACOB or I FIGHT FOR TEAM EDWARD dogtags for your Twilight-crazed teen or 'tween
  
  
• Re-usable family gift tags, one for each family member
  
  
• Souvenir gift tags for a baby gift, noting the baby's name, date and time of birth, and weight. Silver dog tags would look right in place on a baby blue or baby pink package with a silver bow!
  
  
• Birthday party favors
  
  
• AMANDA'S BEST FRIEND and JENNIFER'S BEST FRIEND -- in other words, best friend tags to give to your daughter and her best friend!

Part of the fun is that you design the dogtags yourself right on the website, choosing the text, style of the dogtag (there are even brass and copper ones), color of the "silencer" (the elastic rubber that fits around the edge to reduce jangling), a long or short chain, and optional gift/storage pouches. The dogtags come in sets of 2 for $7.99, and the two tags can be completely different! The tags ship from Toronto, Canada, and shipping for any number of tags to the U.S. is extremely reasonable.

Last but not least, you might also want to check out the survival gadgets under the "Extras" drop-down menu, for a number of other items that might make useful stocking stuffers. My favorite is the lightweight aluminum howler whistle, a great emergency whistle especially for women.

What: Customized Dogtags
Where: MyDogTag.com
How much (as of today's post): $7.99 for two (plus shipping)

Doctor Who Tardis USB Hub

For today's luxury Friday stocking stuffer: The Doctor Who Tardis USB Hub! Just as the tardis is Doctor Who is much larger on the inside than on the outside, this tardis hub lets you connect more USB devices to your computer than you otherwise could. At 4.5 inches high, it should fit into a stocking, and with the revival of Doctor Who in the last few years, it's perfect for both sci-fi fans and computer geeks!

(You might try shopping around to see if you can find a better price on this -- it's bound to be carried by lots of other companies too.)

What: Doctor Who Tardis USB Hub
Where: Gifts for a Geek website
How much (as of today's post): $29.99 (plus shipping)

Red Shirt Star Trek Cologne

Next week I will get back to the regularly scheduled program of Etsy stocking stuffers on Sundays, but since I just got back from the science fiction convention I was attending this weekend, here is one more stocking stuffer for science fiction geeks: Red Shirt Star Trek Cologne!

If you know much about Star Trek, you'll know that the unnamed extra character in the red shirt is the one who always gets killed to show just how serious the situation is, but without harming one of the main characters. As the Think Geek website advises the brave men considering wearing this cologne, "That's right, you're probably toast, but at least you'll smell good on the way out." The scent itself is described as having notes of "green mandarin, bergamot and a hint of lavender (your hope), finishing with base notes of leather and grey musk (your smoldering shoes after you've been vaporized)." The bottle holds 100 ml, even for several "away missions". So Trekkies, er, Trekkers unite!

What: Red Shirt Star Trek Cologne
Where: Think Geek website
How much (as of today's post): $29.99 (plus shipping)

Star Trek Enterprise Bottle Opener

Normally on Saturdays I do a more general post, but as I'm at another science fiction convention (my husband and I go to four or five of them a year), I'm a bit pressed for time, so here is a terrific stocking stuffer for the Star Trek fan in your life: an Enterprise bottle opener! I admit that I wouldn't normally pay $20 for a bottle opener, but this is too perfect, and my husband will definitely be finding one of these in his stocking this year.

What: Star Trek Enterprise Bottle Opener
Where: Think Geek website
How much (as of today's post): $19.99

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)

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

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