Medieval Weapons Push Pins

A stocking stuffer for boys: a set of 10 medieval weapon push pins, featuring a sabre, a single-handed sword, a broadsword, a katana, and an axe (not that I know the difference between any of these things!). This would be fun for any boy into knights or medieval history or even Lord of the Rings. The set is a little pricey since it essentially comes out to a dollar a pin, but you have to admit they are clever.

I swear, I think ThinkGeek is my favorite retail website ever. :-)

What: Medieval Weapons Push Pins
Where: ThinkGeek.com
How much (as of today's post): $9.99 (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)

Football Desk Sign

So did you watch football today? Or was it on the in the background as someone else in your household watched it? I'm a casual football fan myself, but I know how fanatic a lot of fans can be! If you have a football fan in your life, here's a possible stocking stuffer: a "Warning - I'd Rather Be Playing Football" desk sign that measures 5 by 3 inches. And on the flip side: "Safe to Enter - Gone to Play Football". (Actually, I'm surprised the sign doesn't say "I'd rather be WATCHING football" as opposed to "playing football"!)

And just in case you missed all the Sunday football, there's always Monday night....

What: Football Desk Sign
Where: ChalkTalkSports.com
How much (as of today's post): $5.99 (plus shipping)

T-Rex Folding Comb

The Fred Flare website calls this the "bonehead folding cone," but I maintain that it's actually a T-Rex folding comb. And if you have trouble getting your under-ten-years-old boy (or tomboy, for that matter) to remember to comb his hair once in a while, maybe this will do the trick! The comb is plastic, of course, and measures approximately 3.75 by 4.25 inches when closed.

What: T-Rex ("Bonehead") Folding Comb
Where: FredFlare.com
How much (as of today's post): $8.00 (plus shipping)

Big Trucks and Diggers Matching Game

Every once in a while, I realize again that I tend to short-change the boys on this blog. They are just so much harder to buy for than girls! So I was happy to see this cute "Big Trucks and Diggers" matching game from Bas Bleu. This set has 72 square cards that each measure 2.75 x 2.75 inches. I love the yellow and black construction stripes on the backs of the cards, and I think this would be fairly challenging considering that I'm not that good at telling all that machinery apart! But you know that once kids' minds fasten on to a subject, it's amazing what they can learn and know, like when a four-year-old can tell you all about different dinosaur species!

What: Big Trucks and Diggers Matching Game
Where: Bas Bleu website
How much (as of today's post): $14.95 (plus shipping)

Ninja Star Pushpins

These are definitely on the pricey side, but I do know a couple of guys (of various ages -- they're all really just boys, aren't they?) who would love these ninja push pins as a stocking stuffer. They're 2.75 inches from tip to tip, and made of "injection molded ABS" (whatever that is!) with a chrome plated finish. They come three to a set for $9.99, which is why I said they're pricey, but they look so cool sticking out of a bulletin board, as if a ninja assassin just missed his target....

(Ages ago I posted about the ninja star coat hook, which would go nicely with the pushpins....)

What: Ninja Star Pushpins
Where: ThinkGeek.com
How much (as of today's post): $9.99 for set of 3 (plus shipping)

Got Boys? Week 2 of the Stocking Stuffers Giveaways!

Welcome to Week 2 of my blogaversary stocking stuffer giveaways! This one consists of stocking stuffers for boys, including:

• A Pirates of Davy Jones' Curse constructible strategy game, special edition box with 6 constructible ships plus a limited edition bonus ship. (For those not in the know, this is a game with heavy cardboard ships that you put together, plus tiny dice so you can face off in pirate battles. Recommended for ages 8 and up.)
  
  
• Two additional pirate ship packs -- each pack includes everything one person needs to play, including two constructible ships, crew or treasure, an island, game rules, and a die.
  
  
• One sheet of Star Wars: The Clone Wars stickers.
  
  
• A mini box of Russell Stover assorted chocolates.
  
  
• A Hot Wheels Mystery Car (ages 3 and up).
  
  
• A box of Wonka Everlasting Gobstopper Snowballs.
  
  
• An official NASA antenna topper/backpack clip.
  
  
• A $10 Target giftcard.

As with my last giveaway, all items are new and unopened, and the candy is fresh -- no leftovers from last year, I promise! Also as with my last giveaway, due to shipping and customs issues, this giveaway is for U.S. residents only. (My apologies to readers outside the U.S.)

To enter this week's giveaway, please leave a comment on this post telling me whether you open presents on Christmas Eve or Christmas morning.

Additional optional entries are available by: 1) becoming a follower OR already being a follower; 2) subscribing via an RSS Reader (such as Google Reader) OR already being a subscriber; and 3) posting a note anywhere on your blog (including sidebar) about this giveaway. If any of these options apply to you, please leave me another comment letting me know.

The entry period will run through Friday November 13, 2009 at 11:59 p.m. based on the timestamp shown by the comments. I will draw a random winner on Saturday and get in touch with the winner for his or her address. Good luck!

Bathe Like a Pirate Washcloth Set

Technically this Bathe Like a Pirate Washcloth Set from the Uncommon Goods website has to be posted as a "luxury Friday" stocking stuffer because of the cost, which is $25 for a set of three. But you could split these up among recipients, lowering the per-item cost a bit.... I admit they're still a little pricey, but I do think they're funny. The set includes:

• A clean booty is a happy booty. (black)
  
  
• Live clean! Fight dirty! (red)
  
  
• No one likes a smelly pirate. (beige)

The washcloths are made in India of 100% cotton terrycloth, and each washcloth is 12 inches square. The best thing is that this is the rare gift that can work for recipients of almost any age. Kids as young as five who like to play pirates will love them, and even teens and college students should enjoy them, especially if they liked Johnny Depp in the Pirates of the Caribbean movies.

(At least I didn't post about these on Talk Like a Pirate Day, which I swear, seems to come around at least two or three times every year!)

Today is the last day to enter my ongoing stocking stuffer giveaway, 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!

What: Bathe Like a Pirate Washcloth Set
Where: Uncommon Goods website
How much (as of today's post): $25.00 for set of 3 (plus shipping)

Out of This World Marbles

I can't believe it's September already! In my mind, this is the true beginning of fall -- although it certainly isn't fall yet in my hot, humid, Houston reality. Oh well, I can dream ahead....

Today's stocking stuffer is marbles, but not just any marbles! The Escapade Direct website has a huge selection of classic marble sets with various themes. Their "space" line includes Stardust, Milky Way, Galaxy, Asteroids, Comet, Jupiter, Mars.... Each set comes with 24 player marbles (16mm), 1 shooter marble (25mm), 2 marble display rings, and a game net with header card. The marbles are made of 100% glass and are colored according to the theme of the set. The only problem is that I can't tell from the photo how the sets are packaged, and there are no package dimensions listed, but I have to imagine they'd fit in a stocking somehow. Each set is regularly $2.99 and currently on sale for $2.79.

If space-themed marbles aren't what you have in mind, they also have an entire line of insect themed marbles, including bumblebee, centipede, dragonfly, grasshopper, and katydid. And there's a terrific collection of dinosaur-themed marbles: brontosaurus, pterodactyl, stegosaurus, T-rex, triceratops, and velociraptor.

Since the price is so reasonable, not only would these make great stocking stuffers, they would also be great favors for kids' birthday parties! They look to be of higher quality than the usual plastic favors you find in party stores, and what little boy wouldn't enjoy a space, dinosaur, or insect-themed party? Even as a girl, I would have loved a space or dinosaur party. The insects? Not so much....

What: Out of This World Marbles
Where: Escapade Direct website
How much (as of today's post): $2.79 (plus shipping)

Ninja Star Coat Hook

Here's a stocking stuffer for boys, teens, college students, and even some grown-up (or not so grown-up!) men: a ninja star coat hook. One point of the stars screws into the walls, making it look as if the recipient has narrowly escaped a ninja attack!

According to the Think Geek website, the hooks are made of a strong nickel-plated zinc alloy. The dimensions are 4" x 4" x 0.31", and the screw is permanently attached, so you don't need any hardware of your own. Any boy (or tomboy, for that matter) into martial arts movies or anime would enjoy having this in his room. I think it would be great for dorm rooms, too, as long as they don't have those cinder block walls that I remember....

What: Ninja Star Coat Hook
Where: Think Geek website
How much (as of today's post): $12.99 (plus shipping)

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)

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)

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)

Children's Western Wear Novelty Socks

Continuing the "Western" theme from the Leanin' Tree website, these children's novelty socks, currently clearance-priced at only $1.45 per pair, would make great stocking stuffers along with yesterday's featured item, the cowboy/cowgirl miniature water globes. There are designs suitable for both boys and girls, and each design has available sizes listed. Remember, though, that these are clearance items and quantities are limited, so if you have little cowboys or cowgirls, now is the time to get them.

What: Children's Western Wear Novelty Socks
Where: Leanin' Tree website
How much (as of today's post): $1.45 (plus shipping)

Cowboy / Cowgirl Mini Snow Globes

If your children like to play cowboys and cowgirls, they will love to find these miniature snow globes from the Leanin' Tree in their Christmas stockings! Living here in Texas, it's not unusual for me to see little boys and girls tromping around in their cowboy/girl boots, but I know that suburban and even city kids everywhere like to pretend they're having wild adventures on horses.

And at the sale price of $1.95 (down from $7.95), you'll love them too! There's a choice of pink cowgirl boots, blue cowboy boots, and even a horse with a sheriff star. The bases are polyresin, and the overall dimensions are approximately 2 x 3 inches. Remember, though, that these are clearance prices and quantities are limited, so if you want to have these on hand come Christmastime, you should get them now.

(NOTE: Tomorrow's post will also feature a clearance item from the same website, so if you're interested, you'll want to order at the same time to combine shipping into one order!)

What: Cowboy / Cowgirl Mini Snow Globes
Where: Leanin' Tree website
How much (as of today's post): $1.95 (plus shipping)

Baseball Cookies from the Cooperstown Cookie Company

It's not quite Father's Day yet, and I won't be starting my "official" Father's Day posts until Sunday, but I couldn't resist posting about these baseball cookies from the Cooperstown Cookie Company. As many of you know, Cooperstown is home to the Baseball Hall of Fame, so what better place to get a gift for the baseball lover in your life?

Starting small, there's a little package of classic shortbread "bunts" for $1.59, shaped like little baseball trading card packets, and available in New York Yankees, Boston Red Sox, or Minnesota Twins. If those aren't the right teams, though, there is an adorable 3 oz. tin (shown at bottom of this post) simply labeled Cooperstown Cookie Company; it costs $5.99, and you have three flavor choices: classic shortbread, Mudville Mudball Chocolate Chip, or Boys of Summer Lemon.

And stepping up one more size, there's an adorable 4.8 oz tin (shown at top left) available with choice of those same three flavors, with a choice of 30 Major League Baseball team logos to adorn the tin! It's $12.99, and should fit comfortably in a gift basket, and maybe even a Christmas stocking....

Finally, there's a note on the website that some of their products are available at Whole Foods and Nordstrom's -- this list shows where their products are carried, although of course you can order direct from the website.

What: Baseball Cookies from the Cooperstown Cookie Company
Where: Cooperstown Cookie Company website
How much (as of today's post): $1.59, $5.99, or $12.99 (plus shipping)

Themed Easter Baskets for Boys

Let's face it, girls are generally easier to buy for than boys. So before I know it, I've posted about dozens of stocking stuffers and gift ideas for girls before I come up with anything for boys. To address that lack, I wanted to post today about themed Easter baskets for boys (or tomboys!), as opposed to all of those cutesy, pastel-colored things that are lining the grocery and drugstore shelves at this time of year. For instance, this soccer ball bank from the Blair Candy website is filled with soccer ball chocolates -- not quite egg-shaped, but maybe close enough? If soccer isn't the thing, they have basketball and baseball banks filled with the appropriate chocolate balls also. And at $6.95, they're not too pricey.

If you want to fill out the Easter basket with other items along the same theme, here is a soccer-playing chocolate Easter bunny (this one's a little on the expensive side, though), and even a roll of personalized address labels featuring a soccer-playing rabbit. A younger boy might like having his own return address labels, and they can be used on schoolbook covers and notebooks and elsewhere.

And even if you don't care for any of these particular ideas, don't give up! Instead, try doing an internet search to put unusual things together, such as "soccer" and "rabbit", or "basketball" and "rabbit". You just never know what will be out there, and before you know it you may have a really unique themed stocking or gift basket -- even one that's suitable for boys!

Earrings, Cufflinks, Charms, Etc. from The Clay Collection

Let me just say right up front: the hardest part of writing this post was choosing which of the many cunning little designs to show here. Etsy seller Lauren of The Clay Collection sculpts little creations from polymer clay, which she then turns into earrings, cuff links, pins, and charms. She can also make zipper pulls (great for boys), cell phone charms, pendants, or charms for a charm bracelet. If you see a pair of earrings you like but just want a single charm of the same design instead, she even lists the price for that. Whatever you want, just ask! You can upgrade the earrings to sterling silver, or change the silver-tone cuff links to gold-tone. The possibilities are endless.

And the designs! There's a whole category for faux food, including the pancakes, cupcakes, and pecan pie shown here. A lot of the food designs remind me of the small, cute Japanese toys that are so popular now. And some of them, like the Snowman S'Mores shown at the end of this post and the pumpkin pie (not pictured), are especially good for the holidays. But there's plenty here for any time of year and any occasion.

There's another section for "jewelry geekery", including the computer floppy disks shown here. Plus there's a whole section for "jewelry Nintendo", featuring not only the characters from various games, but also the Nintendo controllers themselves. These are just perfect for teenagers into video games!

Once again, I'm amazed at the creativity displayed on Etsy. I'm also impressed with the details on these little creations -- I mean, look at the strawberries and bananas on the pancakes above (or click here for a closer look), and the pecans on the pecan pie below.

(Note: the prices range all the way from $5.00 to $34.00, so I have tagged this post under all of my price categories.)

What: Earrings, Cuff links, Charms, Etc. from The Clay Collection
Where: The Clay Collection (an Etsy shop)
How much (as of today's post): Range from $5.00 to $34.00 (plus shipping)

Swatch Watches

I don't know if Swatches are still quite as trendy as they were when I was a teenager, but I have to say, their fun designs do still appeal to me, and I think they would appeal to pre-teens, tweens, and teens as well. The Swatch website boasts many different designs suitable for boys or girls (the middle watch pictured is specifically for skate boarders, for instance).

Unfortunately, the website inconveniently does not list prices, which is always a bit of a bad sign, and it looks like you have to set up an account just to get to the order pages. I think it's safe to assume that the price is high enough that Swatches belong in a "luxury Friday" post! In any case, you can check the website to see if there's a store near you (we have one in the Houston international airport, for instance). Or, you might want to see if your local JCPenney's has a less expensive but still teen/tween appealing alternative to Swatches.

What: Swatch Watches
Where: Swatch website or a Swatch store
How much (as of today's post): ????