Yumbot Cupcake Molds

Not long ago, I posted about a cupcake pop mold as a possible stocking stuffer; today I have Yumbot Cupcake Molds from (who else?) ThinkGeek! For $17.99 you get a set of four robot-shaped silicon cupcake molds into which you pour the batter directly for baking and then decorating. I think they're adorable, and if you split them up among recipients they're not too expensive.

Of course, it's unlikely anyone would ever want to make only four cupcakes at a time, but the robots would make a cute centerpiece for a display that is rounded out by more traditional cupcakes. The set has one each of red, yellow, blue, and green. They're oven-safe to 450 degrees, and of course they're dishwasher safe as well.

What: Yumbot Cupcake Molds
Where: ThinkGeek
How much (as of today's post): $17.99 for set of four (plus shipping)

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)

Ninja Salt & Pepper Shakers

What's with all the ninja stuff out there these days?! In the past I've listed ninja star coat hooks, ninja star push pins, a ninja toothbrush sanitizer, and ninja-bread men cookie cutters. They're almost as ubiquitous as zombies and vampires! For today, I found these adorable ninja salt and pepper shakers online at The Afternoon. I normally don't "do" cutesy salt and pepper shakers, but I do find these appealing. They strike (no pun intended) just the right tone for a college student or young adult in his or her first apartment, especially if they're into anime or manga or martial arts films.

The shakers are approximately 3 inches tall and made of ceramic.

What: Ninja Salt & Pepper Shakers
Where: The Afternoon
How much (as of today's post): $19.95 (plus shipping)

Microplane Herb Mill

Although I don't bake -- trust me, I'm really bad at it! -- I do like cooking, and I've been gradually trying to make more and more things from scratch. I love the idea of using fresh herbs to enhance flavor, but I admit it does take time and it's a mess to chop up a lot of parsley into itsy-bitsy pieces. So when I saw this herb mill at a Williams Sonoma store I instantly coveted it. The first thing I checked, of course, is that it's dishwasher safe!

Once that was out of the way, I looked more closely, and found that it uses a wrist-twisting motion to chop herbs finely, without (according to the online product description) "tearing, bruising or blemishing herbs’ delicate leaves." It measures 3 x 2.5 x 3.75 inches. In the photo it looks a bit larger than that, but the top closes to make it a bit shorter when not in use. Judging from the one I saw in the store, it should fit in a reasonable-sized stocking easily.

What: Microplane Herb Mill
Where: Williams Sonoma website or stores
How much (as of today's post): $19.95 (plus shipping)

Chewdriver Utensil Set

Check out this cute "Chewdriver" Utensil Set, featuring a fork, spoon, and knife top, each of which can attach to the screwdriver handle! I admit this certainly isn't an inexpensive stocking stuffer, but at the same time I think it is so much harder to find good stocking stuffers for boys!

(And my usual caveat stands -- I was a such a tomboy growing up, that I would have loved this. So don't forget this can work for girls too, depending on their tastes!)

What: Chewdriver Utensil Set
Where: Spoon Sisters website
How much (as of today's post): $15.00 (plus shipping)

Nightmare Before Christmas Yahtzee

Just in time for the season that stretches from Halloween to Christmas, this Nightmare Before Christmas Yahtzee game, complete with a Jack Skellington dice cup! It's funny about this movie; it first came out in 1993, or 17 years ago, yet every year these is more and more new merchandise for it. I guess it has quite the cult following!

I should note that it might be a tight squeeze for a stocking stuffer. The Amazon page lists the dimensions as 13 x 11.5 x 7 inches, but that doesn't seem right to me because I saw it in Borders today and it wasn't anywhere near that big. In any case, this plays the same as regular Yahtzee except the dice have characters from the movie instead of numbers, but you still try for four-of-a-kind, yahtzee, and so on. It's a fun little variant on a classic.

What: Nightmare Before Christmas Yahtzee
Where: Amazon, Borders, or elsewhere
How much (as of today's post): $16.13 (plus shipping)

M.C. Escher Mirror Puzzle

I went through an M.C. Escher phase in high school, when I was convinced he was the world's most brilliant artist. I even tried recreating some of his work in pencil, with limited success.... Seeing this Escher mirror puzzle from Vat19 brought back those memories, and I think it would make a nice stocking stuffer (assuming a generous-sized stocking) for a teen or a college student who likes puzzles.

So what's this puzzle about? Each of 9 cubes, measuring 1.25 inches apiece, has two mirrored sides plus pieces from five different Escher images. I'm not quite sure how the math on that works.... I think I need to see this in action! I especially want to see how the mirrored sides play into the solution.

The frame or base for the puzzle makes the total dimensions 5.25 x 5.25 x 1.5 inches. The product description actually says it's appropriate for kids age 7 and up, so if you have a younger little brainiac, I'm sure they would like this too! This puzzle/game is also a great candidate for paired gifts, such as an Escher book under the tree, an Escher bookmark in the stocking, and so on.

What: M.C. Escher Mirror Puzzle
Where: Vat19.com
How much (as of today's post): $19.95 (plus shipping)

Halloween Nesting Dolls

I know it's not quite October yet, but I've found that Halloween merchandise often tends to sell out, since merchants don't necessarily stock large quantities. So I wanted to mention these Halloween Nesting Dolls from the Spoon Sisters website a little early. I think this is a great take on a classic! This set is made of plastic, and the six dolls measure from 4 1/2 inches high down to 1 1/4 inches high. Kids enjoy stacking and storing shapes, so I think these would be fun as long as the child isn't too young that the smallest piece presents a choking hazard.

As an alternative, I know you can buy blank wooden nesting dolls that you paint yourself. That could make for some fun Halloween decorations!

What: Halloween Nesting Dolls
Where: Spoon Sisters website
How much (as of today's post): $15.50 (plus shipping)

Cat Puzzle Box

Girls -- especially those in the 'tween years and younger -- love puzzle boxes, diaries with locks, and other places to hide thoughts or treasures. For those who are also cat lovers, this puzzle box would be a lovely small gift (and can double as a stocking stuffer due to its 5 x 4 x 2 inch size). It's also nice knowing that the boxes are handmade by HSSS artisans in India. This is a nonprofit organization of underprivileged artisans with educational, training and/or health related issues. Last but not least, this is an eco-friendly gift; according to the Uncommon Goods website, the boxes are made "of sustainable Shisham wood, native to the Indian subcontinent, bought under supervision and quota from the government of India (which sells the wood of dead trees)."

What: Cat Puzzle Box
Where: Uncommon Goods website
How much (as of today's post): $20.00 (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)

Homemade Cookie Stamp

Spoon Sisters has such cute kitchen stuff! Here's a great little gift for any bakers you know: a homemade cookie stamp, so everyone will know the goods are homemade! It's 3 inches in diameter and measures 4 inches long, and it looks to me like it's made of high quality materials.

What: Homemade Cookie Stamp
Where: Spoon Sisters website
How much (as of today's post): $17.95 (plus shipping)

Real Pansy Pin

Happy May First! To me, May means Mother's Day is coming right up, so today I have a stocking stuffer suggestion that works wonderfully for Mother's Day: a real pansy that's been preserved, edged with gold, and turned into a lovely pin. Each pansy is about 2 inches tall and is mounted on a gold-plated stick pin. It looks like they currently only have blue and white available, but check back if you're interested in the other colors, or perhaps you can find a similar pin elsewhere.

More than any other flowers, I associate pansies and lilies of the valley with my mother. What flowers do you think of when you think "Mom"?

What: Real Pansy Pin
Where: The Hunger Site store
How much (as of today's post): $16.95 (on sale from $19.95) (plus shipping)

Bamboo Tealight Holders

Happy Earth Day! In honor of this day, here is a nice, eco-friendly stocking stuffer: Bamboo Delights, or tea light holders made of 100% organically grown bamboo. Each holder measures 3 inches long by 2 inches wide, and they come in a set of six for $19.00. You could give them all to one person, or you could give two holders to three recipients, or three holders to two recipients, or even just one apiece to six different people, which would make this a very affordable stocking stuffer. I love their sleek, modern lines.

What: Bamboo Tea Light Holders
Where: Branch website
How much (as of today's post): $19.00 for set of six (plus shipping)

Concerto Crackers

Do you do Christmas Crackers? I was introduced to these by my British/Canadian husband's family. They're a fun British tradition in which you pull the crackers apart with a partner, making a loud "pop", then get a prize from inside. There's also usually a paper crown to put on. In any case, here's a really neat twist on the idea -- with this "Concerto Crackers" set, each of the eight crackers has a different-pitched whistle inside, and there are play-by-number music sheets so your group can play songs together!

Also, with their black, white, and red color scheme, these don't have to be limited to Christmas. I think they'd be great for a child's birthday party.

What: Concerto Crackers
Where: Signals website
How much (as of today's post): $19.95 (or 15.95 each when you buy two) (plus shipping)

Chocolate Financial Crunch

As soon as I saw this, I knew I had to post about it right around tax day.... This "Financial Crunch" tin features a banker's dozen (11 pieces!) of chocolate with a "bite" already taken out and a message that says "Bite back!" And biting back gives you that "crunch," which comes from corn flakes. The coins themselves are 2.5 inches in diameter by 0.25 inches thick, and the green and gold embossed tin is 5 inches high by 3.75 inches in diameter.

I'd say we could all use a laugh right around tax day!

What: Chocolate Financial Crunch
Where: Spoon Sisters website
How much (as of today's post): $20.00 (plus shipping)

Magwear Magnetic Wristband

Here's one for the men, if any of the men in your life happen to be handy (or like to think they are!): a magnetic wristband to keep screws, nuts, bolts, nails, and so on in one handy place while working on a project. This one, available in red or blue, runs $19.95 on the Red Envelope website where I first saw it. You might also want to check your local Home Depot, Lowe's, or regular hardware store to see if they have something comparable, hopefully at a lower cost.

What: Magwear Magnetic Wristband
Where: Red Envelope website
How much (as of today's post): $19.95 (plus shipping)

Soap Rocks

My husband is a planetary scientist, so we have a fair number of rocks around the house, some of which are very pretty. Years ago he went to Herkimer, New York for a day, where you're allowed to go into some "mines" and bring out any Herkimer "diamonds" (actually "double-terminated quartz crystals") that you find. My husband found me one still embedded in a large chunk of gray rock, which is one of the few things I took with me when we evacuated for Hurricanes Rita and Ike. But I digress....

In any case, I happened to come across these "soap rocks" on the Signals website, and I love how much they really do look like beautiful rock specimens! The product description says they're made from all-natural ingredients, and weigh 6-8 ounces. The choices are "Amethyst" (with a Cucumber Ylang Garden fragrance), "Agate" (Cool and Fresh fragrance), or "Black Onyx" (Cool Mist fragrance).

For a lovely paired gift, you might also consider the 4 by 3 inch sandstone soap dish. (*As always, be careful putting anything scented in a Christmas stocking if you also have chocolate in there -- chocolate picks up smells and tastes!)

What: Soap Rocks
Where: Signals.com
How much (as of today's post): $12.95 soap / 9.95 dish (plus shipping)

Kids Garden in a Bag

The other day in one of my online communities that has to do with food and nutrition, a person asked about Easter basket stuffers that are non-food, since she didn't want the Easter bunny to bring just candy. Here's something that would do nicely: a kid's "garden in a bag" from the Branch website. I love plants myself, and I like the idea of getting kids interested in growing things. This kit contains a plastic-lined kraft paper bag, soil, flower seeds, and a wood planting stake. The bag can be colored and personalized, and then the plant is grown right in the bag which is also waterproof. Once the plant is big enough, it can be transplanted elsewhere.

I wasn't sure whether to call this an eco-friendly gift since the bag is plastic-lined, but I think it does pretty well, all things considered. Where I live we can recycle all kinds of paper, so I would even be able to recycle the bag once I took the plastic lining out.

The following plants are available: sunflower, nasturtium, strawberry, tomato, a pretty Mother's Day assortment, and more! Altogether I counted 21 different options. Cat grass, dog grass (I never knew there was such a thing!), a "thank you" assortment, a number of herbs.... It's a lovely selection. The prices vary based on the plant, from $9.00 to $16.00.

What: Kids Garden in a Bag
Where: Branch website
How much (as of today's post): ranges from $9.00 to $16.00 (plus shipping)

Organic Bamboo Coasters

Aren't these bamboo coasters lovely? They are made from organically grown bamboo, by a company named Bambu in China. According to the description on the Branch website, "Bambu works only with manufacturing partners who demonstrate a commitment to health and safety, environmental protection and fair labor practices. In turn, Bambu supports and reinforces worker health and safety measures, and funds international third-party auditing procedures." This makes sense, considering that Branch's tagline is "Sustainable Design for Living".

The coasters come in a set of four, and measure 3.75 inches square. I like that they look elegant and natural at the same time.

What: Organic Bamboo Coasters
Where: Branch website
How much (as of today's post): $16.00 (plus shipping)

Fish Coin Purse

My husband just got back from Japan, so maybe I have koi on the mind. How cute is this fish coin purse? It's made from rubber with a nylon base, and measures 5 inches long by 2.25 inches wide by 3 inches high. At $16, it's slightly pricey for a coin purse... but it's so cute!

What: Fish Coin Purse
Where: Pylones website
How much (as of today's post): $16.00 (plus shipping)