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)

Road Mice Wired Mouse

It's another luxury Friday, and this one is for the guys! If your guy is into cars and uses a computer, surely he would like a computer mouse in the form of his favorite car. I counted 22 different models on the Road Mice website, including Mustangs, Dodge Chargers, Cameros, Corvettes, PT Cruisers, and Ford GTs, and Dodge Vipers. There are different color options, and you can even get the Camero or Dodge Charger is a police cruiser version.

I also like that these are wired mice instead of wireless. Wireless mice eat batteries and it just seems like a big waste to me. This way, the mouse is powered by its connection to the computer, and it even makes the headlights light up!

What: Road Mice Wired Mouse
Where: Road Mice website
How much (as of today's post): $34.95 to $39.95 (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)

Bacteria Assassin Ninja Toothbrush Sanitizer

OK, this is way too expensive, but I've designated Friday posts for luxury stocking stuffers, so here goes: look at this Bacteria Assassin Ninja Toothbrush Sanitizer! It's new on the ThinkGeek website, and I think it's hilarious. Plus it's one of those gifts that works for kids, teens, college students, and even geeky adults, especially the men.

Instead of just raving about it, I suppose I should mention the particulars. It requires 3 AA batteries (too bad, I would prefer a plug), it uses ultraviolet light to eliminate bacterial growth, and it eliminates 99.9% of viruses. So it's both funny and practical.

What: Bacteria Assassin Ninja Toothbrush Sanitizer
Where: ThinkGeek website
How much (as of today's post): $36.99 (plus shipping)

Cable Monkey Organizer

I'm all disorganized with my posting this weekend -- I'm still finishing up my end-of-the-semester assignments, so please bear with me. Normally on Sundays I post about Etsy stocking stuffers, but for today I just have enough time to pop in here and show this cute little monkey cable organizer from the ThinkGeek website. Much cuter than using a twist tie to bind all those computer and printer cables together, don't you think? The little monkey's arm span is 8.5 inches, and his monkey body is 1.25 inches high.

What: Cable Monkey Organizer
Where: ThinkGeek website
How much (as of today's post): $4.99 (plus shipping)

U-Phono Vinyl & Cassette Ripper

[Today is the last day to enter my ongoing giveaway of stocking stuffers for girls, 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.]

Here is a wicked cool luxury stocking stuffer that I sure wouldn't mind finding in my own stocking: a U-Phono Vinyl & Cassette Ripper that you use to convert old cassette tapes or even vinyl records into audio files that you can then put on your iPod (or equivalent). I still have almost all of my cassettes from my college days, and in particular I have some truly wonderful audiobooks on cassette of the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy books. Since those particular editions of the audiobooks have long been out of print, I've been hoping for a way to convert them so I can enjoy them again.

What do you think? Perfect stocking stuffer for men! And also great for women who have a lot of older music to convert. The ThinkGeek product description even says that the included Audacity software "reduces clicks, pops, hiss and other noises from worn recordings to restore the full quality of your vinyl or tapes." It works with PCs or Macs, and you don't even need a power source because it's powered through the USB connector.

What: U-Phono Vinyl & Cassette Ripper
Where: ThinkGeek website
How much (as of today's post): $34.99 (plus shipping)

Splitterbot Headphone Sharing Robot

I've posted an entry about headphone splitters before, but that one was fairly utilitarian. I recently came across this Splitterbot version on the ThinkGeek website, and it was just too cute not to post about, so please forgive the overlap! I just think this is among the most perfect stocking stuffers for teens or college students that I've ever seen, especially since that generation seems to have headphones growing out of their heads! This little 'bot will allow two people to connect their headphones to the same audio device, and it's small enough to hang from a keychain or backpack. No batteries are required since it's just a connecting device.

If you have boys, don't forget to come back tomorrow for Week 2 of my stocking stuffer giveaways -- this one will be stocking stuffers for boys!

What: Splitterbot Headphone Sharing Robot
Where: ThinkGeek.com
How much (as of today's post): $7.99 (plus shipping)

80s Cube Clock

I grew up amidst the Rubik's Cube craze, and even (after reading a how-to book) learned to solve it. So this 80s Cube Clock from Vat19 gave me a wave of nostalgia! It's a little pricey for a stocking stuffer at just under $20, but it's both fun and functional, and would be cute for kids, teens, college students, or geeks of any age. You rotate the top to change modes from clock to alarm to calendar to temperature. It's three inches high and requires one AA battery. Pretty clever, don't you think?

What: 80s Cube Clock
Where: Vat19 website
How much (as of today's post): $19.95 (plus shipping)

Mini Pocket Monocular

I have always had trouble using binoculars -- I cannot look through both lenses at once, no matter how many times I try and how close together I adjust them. So I'm intrigued by the idea of this mini pocket monocular from the National Geographic online store. I'm always closing one eye and trying to look through with the other, so this makes perfect sense for me. And I think it would make a nice "luxury" stocking stuffer, especially for men (who like gadgets anyway) who enjoy sporting events or even the opera or ballet.

The product description says that the monocular is lightweight and has a near-focus of 13 inches, making it great for close-ups of insects and other little tidbits -- so it's almost a microscope too! The magnification is 7x, it's 3.5 inches long and about 1.5 inches in diameter, and it weighs less than 2 ounces. If that doesn't say "stocking stuffer", I don't know what does!

What: Mini Pocket Monocular
Where: National Geographic Store website
How much (as of today's post): $35.00 (plus shipping)

Bedol Water Clock

Check out this funky little clock that runs on water and a little bit of salt -- batteries not included, because you don't need any! This is one of those stocking stuffers that would work for so many different recipients: it would look funky in a dorm room, teens will find it to be "cool", and it's a neat little gadget that even the hard-to-buy-for-men might enjoy. Although it's round, it has a flat bottom so it sits nicely. The clock face is 2 inches, and the overall dimensions are 4.25 inches in diameter by 3 inches high. Instructions are included for how to twist off the top and add the necessary water and salt, which powers the electrodes inside the clock.

What: Bedol Water Clock
Where: Solutions website
How much (as of today's post): $14.99 (regularly $19.95 / plus shipping)

Hi-Jack Headphone Splitter

Here's a trendy little stocking stuffer that would be perfect for teens and college students: a Hi-Jack headphone splitter, which allows two people to listen to the same iPod, MP3 player, computer, or whatever device with sound that they have. They still each need to have their own headphones or earbuds, but they can plug both pairs into the same device. I first saw this in a Borders store a week or two ago, and it caught my eye with its funky, trendy design. There are other more prosaic headphone splitters, but I think this one is more visually appealing.

This would also be great if you and traveling with your spouse on an airplane and have a portable DVD player -- you could both watch and listen to the same movie at the same time (if you don't like what they're offering on the in-flight entertainment system!).

As mentioned, I saw it in Borders, but it's also available on Amazon through a third-party seller, and I have to imagine you could find it at Target or Radio Shack or a multitude of other stores.

What: Hi-Jack Headphone Splitter
Where: Amazon, Borders, Radio Shack, Target, etc.
How much (as of today's post): $9.95 (plus shipping)

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

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)

DaysAgo Digital Day Counters

I just came across these DaysAgo Digital Day Counters on the Container Store website, and I can already think of about a zillion uses for them. These are little battery-powered counters that you stick onto leftovers, or air filters, or plant containers, so that you'll always know how many days ago you cooked/cleaned/watered them. The product description implies that you can even use them in the freezer, although I'd be a little worried about them lasting in the cold. But no matter; I could use them for how many days ago I scrubbed the litter boxes, how many days ago my husband cleaned the air purifiers, and so on. They track up to 99 days.

Best of all, these would make great stocking stuffers for both men and women. Men might want to keep track of how many days ago they checked the oil in the car they're trying to keep going for a few more years (ain't that the truth in this economy?!). Or heck, if you're trying to give something up (for me, it's Coke), you can keep track of how many days since you had your last one! This might also be good for young men and women just out of the house, as they, um, experiment with eating their own cooking.

The Container Store website sells a package of two in assorted colors (which you cannot specify) for $7.99. If you're lucky enough to have a Container Store near you, you can just go and pick out the colors you want.

What: DaysAgo Digital Day Counters
Where: Container Store
How much (as of today's post): $7.99/package of two (plus shipping)

Princeton Tec Fuel LED Headlamp

I first came across this odd looking little headlamp on someone's blog. I don't remember the specific blog, but I remember the person said that this little headlamp (technically called the "Princeton Tec Fuel LED Headlamp") put out a surprising amount of light. Anyway, it's a great gadget-y Father's Day if the Dad in question is handy, or happens to be into camping.

At $24.95, this isn't prohibitively expensive but still qualifies as a Friday "luxury" item. It comes in black or gray/green, and there's even a pink and white version, although I suspect Dad won't want that one....

What: Princeton Tec Fuel LED Headlamp
Where: REI website
How much (as of today's post): $24.95 (plus shipping)

Coffee Cup Power Inverter

Ahh, the power of caffeine! This Coffee Cup Power Inverter is designed to give your portable gadgets the same kind of charge; it plugs into your car lighter and has two 120-volt AC outlets (i.e. it takes the same plugs you would plug into the wall), plus a USB charging port, so you can charge three devices at once. And the coffee cup shape isn't just cute; it also fits into your standard cup holder next to the driver's seat.

At 6 inches tall and 3.5 inches in diameter, this could fit at the top of a Christmas stocking, or if the recipient is actually into designer coffee, you could make up a funny little gourmet coffee gift basket with this clever "decoy" at the center. It's perfect for any man (*cough* Father's Day *cough*) or woman who can't live without their morning drive-through at Starbucks.

What: Coffee Cup Power Inverter
Where: Think Geek website
How much (as of today's post): $29.99 (plus shipping)

The EarPod

Here is a not-too-expensive stocking stuffer that can work for just about anyone: older kids and teens, men and women, and especially college students and computer geeks. The EarPod is a felt-lined earbud case with a door that rotates open, and eight wire notches so that you can store your earbud headphones without them getting all tangled in the bottom of a pocket, purse, or backpack. The notches also let you shorten your earphones' cable, and it includes a removable belt clip. It's useful and modern, and I can't think of many people who wouldn't enjoy finding this in their stocking.

What: The EarPod
Where: Vat19 website
How much (as of today's post): $8.50 (plus shipping)

Magnetic Bottle Opener

While I do find this a wee bit pricey for what is essentially just a bottle opener, it is both functional and aesthetically pleasing -- and I do know that when we have parties, we are forever misplacing the bottle openers, so having one stuck to the fridge would be quite handy. And it does have a high customer rating on the Solutions catalog website where I found it.

If the recipient happens to have a blue or green kitchen, so much the better. And although the bottle opener doesn't exactly look like a daisy, it's certainly reminiscent of them.

What: Magnetic Bottle Opener
Where: Solutions website
How much (as of today's post): $17.95 (plus shipping)

Pocket Pedometer with Health Management Software

Wow, even pedometers are super high-tech these days! This particular model, the Omron HJ-720ITC Pocket Pedometer, gets a high review rating on Amazon, with an average of 4.5 out of 5 stars from over 700 reviews. It holds a week's results at a time, but it also comes with PC software for Windows 2000 or XP, so you can download your results and track your progress over the long term. Theoretically, you can even put this in your purse or bag instead of clipping it to your belt, although I would think you'd miss a lot of your daily step counts by doing it that way.

As usual, it's a bit difficult to tell whether you're getting a good deal from Amazon's prices or not. Amazon says the list price is $59.99, but they're selling this item for $29.50. (Since that's over $25, free standard shipping is automatic.) Of course, if you don't want to spend this much or go this high-tech, you can always find much less expensive pedometers without the software. I have to admit, though, that I find these bells and whistles kind of attractive, especially when the product has such positive reviews. I would also note that the Amazon product page has a convenient chart letting you compare the features of several different kinds of Omron pedometers in case there are certain features you've decided you do or don't need.

Because I'm assuming the software comes on a CD to load on your computer, it's not clear to me how big the overall package is and whether it will fit into a stocking. But you could take the pedometer out and wrap it separately for the stocking if you wanted to.

What: Omron HJ-720ITC Pocket Pedometer with Advanced Omron Health Management Software
Where: Amazon.com or elsewhere
How much (as of today's post): $29.50 (plus shipping)

Super Kid USB 4-Port Hub

If you've got a computer in the house that has a distinct lack of USB ports, or if the ports are inconveniently located at the hard-to-reach back of the computer, here's a stocking stuffer gadget that you and your family will find useful. It's a "Super Kid USB 4-port hub", otherwise known as a port that lets you hook up to four USB devices to your computer at the same time, via the same port. I found this at the Gadget4all website, and it's currently on sale for $12, down from $14.

Cute, isn't it? ;-)

What: Super Kid USB 4-Port Hub
Where: Gadget4all website
How much (as of today's post): $12.00 (plus shipping)