Holiday Gift Guide

HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE Holidays 2010

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Bright ideas for all ages

How to give the season’s best packages

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– DVDs with Oscar cred – Award-winning childrens’ books – Board games you know, sorta

« Wrap artist Wanda Wen, Soolip

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2 - HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE | 2010

Holiday Gift Guide

2010

When it comes to the perfect gifts, Santa always gets it right. The rest of us – Are they sleeping? Are they awake? Have they been good? Bad? – struggle. Help is in your hands. In this year’s gift guide you’ll find plenty of inspired ideas, with many more in stores right around the corner. So for goodness’ sake, get reading and get going. Time is short. And smarty-pants is coming to town.

The movers and shakers in your life will appreciate a gift that’s easy on the environment and looks great on the go.

Kids’ Gifts: Old-Fashioned Fun Gifts for children take a decidedly old-school turn.

BARBECK W

The

I

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BURGER KING

L

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S

Take 10: Best Pictures on DVD and Blu-ray

And the Oscar goes to…

A bumper crop of 10 films, rather than the traditional five, vied for best picture honors at this year’s Academy Awards. There was a lot to take in, from the riveting war scenes in “The Hurt Locker” to the tender animated antics in “Up,” where an 8-year-old Wilderness Explorer and a bunch of helium balloons inadvertently hijack an elderly widower. No wonder judges had difficulty narrowing the field. Every one’s a winner.

–Taniesha Robinson

1

Avatar (20th Century Fox) $39.99, two-disc DVD/Blu-ray combo The Blind Side (Warner Bros.) $19.99 DVD/$24.99 Blu-ray

3

District 9 (Sony Pictures) $19.94 DVD/$24.95 Blu-ray

The Lists:

4

An Education (Sony Pictures Classics) $28.96 DVD/$38.96 Blu-ray

10 Top DVDs: 2010’s Oscar-winning movies and finalists

5

The Hurt Locker (Winner) (Summit Entertainment) $26.99 DVD/$34.99 Blu-ray

6

A Serious Man (Focus Features) $19.98 DVD/26.98 Blu-ray

7

Inglourious Basterds (The Weinstein Company) $16.99 DVD/$19.99 Blu-ray

8

Precious: Based on the Novel ‘Push’ by Sapphire (Lionsgate) $19.98 DVD/$29.99 Blu-ray

9

Up (Walt Disney) $45.99, four-disc DVD/Blu-ray combo

A gift for someone special calls for, well something special.

Brought to You By:

Secrets of the Wrap Stars

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Get Personal When the one you love loves a car or truck, a certain gift-giving focus is called for.

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Sticks and stones?

Three of today’s most talented wrappers talk about their signature styles and share fresh ideas to help even the not-so-crafty gifter look brilliant.

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10 Top Books: Distinguished and new for children 10 Top Board Games: Let the matchups begin!

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HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE | 2010 - 3

Eat it up: monogrammed plastic plates for the modern prepster, from La Plates

Gifts for

Get

Gear Heads

Hands-free chat using an iPhone via the Belkin Tunebase

From a full-blown electric vehicle to a set of spark-plug cufflinks, auto enthusiasts will get a charge out of these car-crazy gifts

By Jim Gorzelany

runs much deeper than that of the average driver.

Tracking down gifts for a carloving friend or relative can be a lot of fun. There are more nicely designed, imaginative products more widely available – from

CTW Features Auto aficionados tend to be a breed apart from mere motorists.

No, motor oil does not course through their veins, but their interest in all things vehicular

Get his wardrobe running: automotive cufflinks

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auto shops and tech stores to the finest jewelry counters in town.

Here’s a look at a few gifts guaranteed to make their hearts race this holiday season.

The ultimate high-tech auto gizmo of the season has to be an electric car, like the stylishly aerodynamic Nissan Leaf. Delivering true “plug and play” operation with zero emissions, the Leaf promises as much as a 100mile range on a charge. It includes Internet and smart phone connectivity and a navigation system that can show the location of nearby charging stations ($32,780, select markets in December).

A less costly gift for environmentally conscious auto buffs is the nifty car care kit from Green Earth Technologies. It consists of five eco-friendly products made from plant oils: organic glass cleaner, brake dust shield, hydrophobic car wash, tire shine and wheel cleaner ($20, auto, hardware and big box stores; getg.com). Motorists who want to maintain the showroom shine of their rides also will appreciate Meguiar’s complete care gift kit ($20, auto and hardware stores; meguiars.com) Why not give an exotic sports car for a pittance? Upgrade his or her computer mouse with a racier model – a Porsche 911, to be exact. The Motormouse is a 2.4g wireless mouse that’s a strikingly detailed replica of the iconic coupe ($50, motormouse.us.com).

Another gift sure to appeal to enthusiasts

who can’t yet afford their dream cars is the Soundracer, which can make even an old beater at least sound like a Ferrari. The device plugs into a 12-volt power point and replicates the roar of a sports car engine through the car’s audio system via a built in FM transmitter. Soundracer works in perfect sync with the vehicle’s actual accelerations and decelerations ($40, auto accessory retailers, soundracer.se.)

Those who like to – literally – wear their affection for autos on their sleeves will enjoy a pair of car-themed cufflinks: charming miniature shift knobs, tires, spark plugs, dashboard gauges, headlamps and road signs ($45 to $425, department stores and cufflinks.com).

Leading the race to build a better travel mug is the aptly named Brugo, designed to eliminate spills and scalded lips. A “tip and cool” mode allows users to transfer small amounts of toohot take-out beverages to a temperature-controlled chamber, where it cools down a gulp at a time ($15 to $20, coffee shops and specialty stores; brugomug.com) Making driving safer and more convenient is the Belkin Tunebase with Hands-Free, which allows iPhone owners to con-

duct hands-free conversations through their car stereo systems.

The “Direct” version ($70) connects through an auxiliary audio input jack (found on later model cars), while the “FM” model ($100) transmits to an unused FM radio station. It also streams music stored on an iPhone and allows users to charge up to two mobile devices while en route (electronics retailers; belkin.com) Another hands-free calling adapter – this one using Bluetooth wireless connectivity – serves as a speaker phone, a personal safety device and a wireless “leash” to prevent motorists from losing their cell phones.

ZOMM attaches to a keychain and will flash, vibrate and even sound an alarm if an owner walks away from his or her phone ($80, Best Buy; zomm.com).

Speed enthusiasts can document and share their vehicular adventures thanks to the GoPro HD Motorsports HERO camera.

It mounts to a helmet or dashboard and records first-person high-definition video or a succession of still photos. It can store up to nine hours of footage on a 32GB SD memory card (not included). ($300, auto supply retailers; www.goprocamera.com) © CTW Features

Personal A gift for a special someone calls for, well, something special. Personalized gifts are all the rage.

Here’s how to look – and what to look for

By Danielle Cadet CTW Features Trends come and go, but the hallmark of a great gift remains the same: it’s personal. The gift that goes down in history, the one they’ll remember, is often the one that distinctively captures someone’s passions, taste and style.

These days personalization goes way beyond old-school monogrammed shirts and towels.

Think flirty flip-flops designed with interchangeable straps that Velcro on and off, to reflect a mood or a whim. A favorite phrase, icon or nickname creatively placed on a protective cover for an electronic device. A prepster’s initials or name, emblazoned on a plastic plate. “With personalization comes a sense of pride, and that’s a gift that everybody wants,” says Robyn Spizman, gift expert and founder of TheGiftionary.com.

Thanks to technology, it’s simpler than ever to purchase a gift that’s personalized with a name or initials. “The online world has taught retailers a lot more about their customers, and is making it easier than ever to give to customers what they want,” says Claire Hamilton, retail trend analyst at WGSN, a London-based trend forecasting firm. “The natural outcome of that is to actually offer more personalization services.”

The purchase of a personalized gift demands serious thought. Take some time to consider the recipient’s personality.

“You want to start looking at their interests: children, pets,

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their favorite colors, their style,” says Spizman. She advises purchasing a present the recipient is sure to use. “When you think personalization you want to think about the personal use of a gift.

Make sure the person is going to enjoy it,” she says.

Pigeonholing friends may not be a polite practice most times of the year, but when it comes to holiday gift giving, it’s one of the keys to success. “When you know you’re buying a gift for a traveler, an entertainer, a music or sports lover, then you can really pinpoint the perfect gift,” Spizman says.

Monogramming is a classic personalizing detail that never seems to go out of style. “People like to see their names,” says Roseanne Morrison, fashion director for trend forecaster Doneger Group, New York. “The more personalization that’s involved, the more it makes someone feel like this [gift] is designed for me.”

The trend is to bigger monograms with fresh fonts, styles and twists on tradition. And be selective about the item you choose to monogram.

“Monogramming clothes is totally out,” says Jess Zaino, celebrity stylist and former co-host of the Style Network’s “Modern Girl’s Guide to Life.” She suggests monogramming a small item and pairing it with a useful, related gift.

Here are some bright ideas for holiday gifts that might be perfect for someone you know. If they’re not, you won’t have to look far to find the perfect gift. This season, personalization is every-

where.

Lindsay Phillips’ Switchflops are fashionable flip-flops that can be customized to individual taste with a monogram button, name or favorite phrase, or a message embroidered on the strap. More than 70 styles of straps, attached with Velcro, can be changed out on a whim. The line has been expanded to include customizable ballet flats, clogs and accessories.

Zaino suggests pairing a pair of the flip-flops with a beach bag full of vacation goodies. “It’s so much more thoughtful when you take the person into consideration without being cheesy or tacky,” Zaino says ($30 and up, department and specialty stores; switchflops.com) A personalized cover for the proud new owner of an iPad, Kindle or new smartphone can add to their techno-joy and help them stand out in a crowd. Since so many people have these devices, “the more that you can do to create that level of originality makes it special,” says Morrison. Power Support USA offers a range of products aimed to protect and personalize wireless devices.

Graphically smart City Cases star iconic images from cities around the globe, perfect for a globetrotter wannabe. Or, create a custom design by uploading original art or choosing designs from their library and adding words and effects for a one-of-a-

kind gift (custom designs about ping paper personalized with her $50, electronics retailers nation- name and special message. Cuswide;www.powersupportUSA.co tom gift wrap from online stationer Erin Condren can be m).

Brightly colored melamine imprinted with the message you plates from La Plates are a big choose – “Happy Birthday! With hit with celebrity parents, includ- love from Grammie,” for example. ing the Obamas. Customers can “It’s a functional thing to give choose design, background color, that is still so personal and so font style and color when creating much fun,” Zaino says. “It will their plates, which range in size make them smile every time they from 7 inches (sold individually) use it”(10-ft. length for $45). The to 10 inches (available in sets of “Everything Book,” a monthly four). The bright, fanciful plates calendar for tracking family acare durable enough to withstand tivities, can be customized with a horseplay at a barbeque but ele- name and photo on the covers. It gant enough for an adult lunch- comes with matching personaleon. ($22, specialty stores; ized labels, tab stickers and note pads ($45, erincondren.com) www.laplates.com ) Monogram a leather wallet or Custom-monogrammed Buta tote for a trendy friend or terscotch Blankees have relative with simple been spied swaddling tastes. “There are the babes of celebrity people who just like moms like Sarah Jesto keep it simple sica Parker. Company but still want perfounder Jodie Roth says sonal things that look her products make a beautiful,” says long-lasting gift that Morrison. And, to can follow the owner heck with trendfrom crib to dorm room. meisters who say The handmade blankets monogrammed clothwould make a great gift ing is out, out, out. for a newborn, young For those with a conchild or parents who want siderably larger to add flare to a nursery or bedroom. The hand- Switchflops from Lindsay gift budget, a wool made blankets range in Phillips can be tricked out or a fur coat with interchangeable an understated inisize, style and color. with tials inside “would ($125, specialty stores straps on a whim be wonderful,” and boutiques).

Personalized stationery is a WGSN’s Clair Hamilton says. classic gift. But for a new twist © CTW Features for a relative or friend who loves to wrap and give gifts try wrap-

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Old-Fashioned

Fun

Bilingual play: Chicco Bilingual Talking Farm teaches numbers, colors, animals and sounds with nursery rhymes in English and Spanish

By Sally Farhat Kassab CTW Features When buying gifts for children this holiday season, think back to your childhood and what you loved and consider buying new versions of those toys. This year, nostalgic toys – oldies but goodies – are very popular.

“Companies are feeding on our growing need to connect with the product,” says Mari Richards, toy designer and head of Smallforbig.com. “They are tapping old brands that parents remember from their own childhoods, or highlighting the handmade, homegrown aspects of a new product.”

The toys and gifts we feature in this guide are our favorite new ones. “Picking toys that serve

double-duty in that they entertain and teach is a surefire way to get more bang for your buck when gift-giving,” says toy expert Wendy Young, founder of Michigan-based Kidlutions Preferred Product Awards. We have many of those below. Still not sure? Another big trend that continues: anything eco-friendly is hot.

Newborn to 4 Years Old For those shopping for pregnant friends or baby gifts, California Baby unveiled a Holiday Cheer Tote Set complete with sensitive-skin bubble bath, spritzer (great for de-stressing over the holidays), a scrub puff and reusable tote ($30, major retailers).

Every child loves bubbles, and

there’s little that’s more fun than blowing them in the bathtub. Munchkin Bubble Monkeys let you do just that.

Two bubble monkey wands are fun to hold and include a dip tray that suctions to the wall (we love this part) and bubble solution ($9, major retailers).

For endless entertainment without mom, the Chicco Bilingual Talking Farm is a plastic, interactive “farm” with learning games such as naming, and it teaches numbers, colors, animals and sounds. This toy invites children to sing along with nursery rhymes (my son’s favorite is “Old MacDonald”) and flashing lights ($30, major retailers).

Cloud B’s Gentle Giraffe

on the Go Travel-Size Plush Sound Machine is a gift for both baby and parents. It helps baby sleep, especially on those long plane rides! The stuffed Giraffe

clean place mat on one side and a reusable chalk mat on the other and is perfect for restaurants and planes ($22, baby and kid boutiques, see bellatunno.com for stores).

Jojo Bump Bump by Silverlit Toys is a top-selling brand in France, and it’s no wonder. It’s a sleekly designed remote control car for little ones. Jojo Bump Bump comes with headlights and remote control carrot. After hitting a road block, Jojo spins and moves in another direction, until he hits too many obstacles and is ejected ($25, Walmart).

5 to 10 Years Old

Girls and dolls: the Dollie & Me collection includes holiday dresses for a young girl and 18-inch doll On The Go helps recreate sleep time routines by bringing familiar soothing sounds while away from home. There are four sounds, including a “babbling brook” ($23, boutiques nationwide; see cloudb.com for locations).

Another practical-yet-fun item for parents: The Designer Diner by Bella Tunno is a wipe-

At this age especially, think about the child’s personality when buying a gift, Young says. “The beauty of openended activities such as blocks, art supplies or dress-up is that they encourage active imagination,” Young says. “Imagination and intelligence are linked. We should encourage it whenever we can.”

When girls begin dressing up, they don’t want to look like their friends. Enter Snap Caps interchangeable necklaces Maddie Bradshaw is the 14-year-old president and designer. The jewelry is made of old-fashioned embellished bottle caps, which stemmed from an idea to decorate her locker with magnetic bottle caps ($17, 400 boutiques nationwide; see m3girldesigns.com).

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As for the latest cozy coverups, REI’s ecoSensitive line has something for everyone. The sweet recycled PET polyester down jacket for toddler girls comes in eggplant purple and punch pink ($49.50). The newest incarnation of the men’s Muir Woods fleece jacket is made with 50 percent recycled Polartec Thermal Pro fabric ($79.50). ’Tis the season for giving. With every pair of TOMS canvas shoes you purchase, the company gives a pair to a child in need. A fashionable woman would jump at the chance to receive a pair of shoes from TOMS new fall collection, especially the hip pink plaid Murray organic cotton vegan classics with faded toe or the sexy gray canvas wedges ($54, $69; toms.com for retailers).

HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE | 2010 - 9

Wrap Stars

Three of America’s most talented gift wrappers offer the season’s best presentation tips

By Taniesha Robinson | CTW Features

Mobile Distraction Long car and plane trips are far more fun if the kids are entertained. Why not let them read up about eco-friendly practices? Released in April to coincide with Earth Month, “The Greenzys” (Zeus Media Publishing, 2010) introduces a gaggle of animals that learn the importance of being green when they help save Orinda, the world’s oldest tree ($17.99). The Greenzys characters – such as Willow the Elephant, who collects rainwater for her plants and uses her trunk as the hose – are also available as cuddly plush toys ($29.99) made from soy fibers and non-toxic dyes in socially responsible factories.

Bonus: Each critter comes with a personalized certificate acknowledging that the Arbor Day Foundation has planted a tree in the new owner’s honor (FAO Schwarz).

You can also feel good about gifting your favorite cubs with the Green Toys product line, all made in the U.S. The company’s awardwinning recycling truck, dump truck and sand play set and the new fire truck ($20 - $25, available at toy stores) are BPA-, PVCand phthalate-free. The toys are made from recycled plastic milk containers and are durable enough for any park or beach adventure. © CTW Features

Expert gift wrappers innovate year after year, gathering inspiration for their fanciful creations from nature, the recycling bin – or the giftee himself.

Take notes as three of today’s top wrappers share thoughts behind their signature styles, tips for the not-so-crafty gift-giver and ideas for what to do with some of those oddshaped items.

Wanda Wen Wanda Wen, author of “The Art of Gift Wrapping” (2010, Potter Craft) is cofounder of Soolip, the fashionable West Hollywood purveyor of fine paper. Wen isn’t just a wrap star; she wraps for stars, including Will Smith, Charlize Theron and Halle Berry.

Gift-wrapping should say a little about you and something about the person receiving the gift. Of course, I have my own collection of papers that I’m drawn to, but first I think of the person.

Signature style: Organic and natural Must-have materials: twine, string, ribbon, pressed flowers, papers made of natural fibers like Thai unryu, kozo and Nepalese lokta

On her style: I’m really inspired by nature and looking at ordinary material in a new, fresh, enlightened way.

Her best wrap so far: a gift topped with a rock and twine. It makes me happy to inspire people to see such a common thing that is at our feet every single day and accentuate that.

Favorite embellishments: stones or a bundle of twigs Tricks of the trade: Always fold-in the exposed edges so there is a finished look to your gift.

When you’re done wrapping your gift, take your pointed finger and your thumb and pinch the edges.

It creates a sharper edge.

Ann Erickson Ann Erickson, winner of the 2009 “Scotch Brand Most Gifted Wrapper” award, encourages gift-givers to take a risk when they wrap. Here, she shares tips on achieving a unique style:

Don’t be afraid to do something unique because that’s what people will remember.

Signature style: Ribboned and bowed Must-have materials: Simply designed paper, ribbons with wire On her style: I put a lot of effort into the ribbons and bows. I don’t usually use the traditional bow; I use the square-knot bow.

Her best wrap so far: Probably when I wrapped everyone’s gift in the same paper. It creates a nice cohesive look.

Favorite embellishments: small ornaments, candy, and Bright idea: Gina Tepper framed charming small stuffed animals for kids Tricks of the trade: Tease holiday photos on the tops of gifts to what’s inside the gift. Use a scarf indicate the recipients Wrapping odd shapes: To as a ribbon if it goes with somewrap a wine or champagne bot- thing inside the package. Also, tle, Wen suggests using thin tape paper to the box before paper such as tissue or translu- wrapping.

Wrapping odd shapes: For cent Thai unryu paper that will a plant, find some beautiful easily gather around the object.

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paper or fabric and make a giant circle. Put the plant in the center and pull the material up and around the pot leaving the top exposed. Try cellophane underneath the wrapping material so it sticks up at the top.

Gina Tepper Gina Tepper, founder of Giftdecorating.com and a freelance designer for 3M Scotch brand and others, instructs gift wrappers around the globe 24/7 through her website and newsletter. Her theory of design? Figure out the recipient’s hobbies and passions: Tailor the gift to their different hobbies and interests. Try to find some kind of color or embellishments that matches the theme of their life.

Signature style: Lofty layers Must-have materials: raffia, yarn, bans of color and any small thing of interest On her style: It’s the accents, the layering and the little extra touches that really makes someone take notice. My goal is to teach people to make beautiful and unique gift wrap designs that are easy to create using interesting household items and inexpensive materials found at local craft stores.

Her best wrap so far: A gift for an 18-year-old tough guy that was warmly layered and decoratively tied with raffia and a wooden bead. I gave him that gift and he was stunned. It wasn’t so much that it was beautiful, it was just the effort put into it.

Favorite embellishments: Pictures, small ornaments Tricks of the trade: For a perfect package, cut the wrapping paper two inches wider than the box; use the box length plus the two ends to determine paper length. Leaving too much paper is a rookie wrapping error that leaves a package looking lumpy and uneven.

Wrapping odd shapes: Print out a picture of the gift on cardstock and provide directions to the actual gift’s secret location.

Place the card in a small box and wrap it creatively.

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o G o

Good & Green

By Anna Sachse CTW Features Conserving resources, eating organic, using non-toxic cleaning products and recycling everything humanly possible – it’s 2010 and it seems like every household has gone green. The next step? Taking the ecofriendly lifestyle on the road – literally. From stylish bags, outerwear and outdoor dining accoutrements, to sun care, portable toys and transportation devices, this holiday season there’s something truly useful to please all the busy environmentalists on your list. Get ready to take green into the next decade.

People Movers Help your favorite guy, gal or techie teen go green and get fit with a folding bicycle. Perfect for commuters, these ultra-flexible peddlers have all the economical, ecological and health benefits of a standard bike and they’re easier to store or transport via car, train or plane. New this summer, the full-size Dahon Ios XL ($1,499 at bike shops) has 24inch wheels, an eightspeed Shimano Alfine hub, hydraulic disc brakes and puncture-resistant tires. The Ios weighs about 33 pounds and takes just 15 seconds to fold down to less than half its original dimension. A dynamo in the front hub uses pedal-generated energy to juice up a battery that powers an LED headlamp and can even charge a phone, iPod or GPS. Bike Friday, based in bicy-

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cle-obsessed Eugene, Ore., also produces high-end folding bikes, including a wide range of builtto-order models (from $898 at bike shops) If your gift-ee isn’t a serious gear head, Kent, Schwinn, Polaris and F-160 make simpler folding bicycles with smaller wheels and fewer speeds (from $150 at major retailers).

And what if your list also includes a little squirt who yearns for their own two-wheeler? Made from sustainable birch wood and non-toxic varnish, the awardwinning pedal-free Skuut ($90 at sporting goods and toy stores) is perfect for tykes between two and five years old. Riders kick off the ground as if running, thus gliding or “skuuting” themselves forward and learning balance and coordination. There’s a new metal version available, with adjustable handlebars, hand brake and bell.

Outside Eaters Your loved ones can always dine alfresco with a picnic basket made from sustainable materials like bamboo or rattan wicker.

Opt for a classic handwoven willow Picnic Plus eco picnic basket for two and you’ll also get recycled glass wine glasses, natural cotton napkins, and bamboo plates, flatware, cutting board and cheese knife, all packed in a chemical-free cotton insulated lining ($109.99 at sporting goods stores).

If you’re more inclined toward eco-chic, it’s tough to

recy-

beat the all-new cardboard (yes, cardboard!) Boxsal Picnic Boxes.

The three graphic styles were inspired by a boom box, a briefcase and color-by-numbers paintings ($35 at specialty stores and boxsal.com). Each reusable and recyclable box comes with a compostable trash bag and four sets of compostable cornstarch cups, trays, bowls and utensils. Even with a cardboard handle it can carry more than 20 pounds. Consider pairing a picnic box gift with a luscious bottle of Amity Vineyards’ 2007 Eco-Wine Willamette Valley Pinot Noir. No synthetic sulfites are added during processing, making it one of the few truly organic wines to be produced in the U.S. ($20 at wine shops).

To-Go Ware RePEat bamboo utensils will reduce your forkprint. The reusable place setting (bamboo fork, knife, spoon and chopstick), rolled in a handy utensil holder made from plastic bags ($11.95, upscale gourmet stores and groceries, outdoor retailers), would make a perfect stocking stuffer.

Hi-Tech Totes You’d be hard-pressed to find someone on your list who couldn’t use one of the latest green bags.

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636 W. Lincoln, Charleston

and fresh feminine designs, and are made with 67-percent recycled nylon, aluminum hardware and non-toxic dyes. Depending on her needs, consider the new Tupelo cycling backpack with hydration ($55.95), the uni-sex Rumba child backpack carrier ($229.95), or the Meridian expandable upright wheeled carryon luggage, which is small enough to use as a carry-on when zippered, but expands to offer more room for long car trips ($199.95, see sherpani.com for a list of retailers nationwide).

Modern men might like the decidedly un-lunch-box-looking

Now you see it… now you see just half: the Dahon Ios XL folding bicycle

cled PET, each durable, multipurpose satchel liberates 34 16-ounce plastic bottles from the trash. And, of course, it has a plethora of pockets for transporting all his adventure-friendly gizmos – perhaps an Eton Solarlink FR600 American Red Cross Digital AM/FM/shortwave/ NOAA and S.A.M.E. Weather Radio ($80, outdoor stores) with flashlight, siren, alarm clock, cell phone charger and four different power sources, including hand crank and solar power!

For the wanna-be in all of us, Paper Jamz are affordable and innovative play instruments that provide an instant rock star experience. Technology allows circuit-embedded paper, enabling you to play the thin, stringless guitars like a pro simply by touching the paper surface ($25, Walgreens and others).

Shopping Cart Dash by Pressman Toys is a cute board game.

Players take a moveable shopping cart and a shopping list and race along “supermarket aisles” to collect fruit, vegetables, meat and fish. By paying at the end of every turn, players get closer to winning ($15, specialty retailers).

The Dollie & Me collection includes a doll and matching girls’ clothing. The outfits are sweet, and the 18-inch doll has some very holiday-appropriate dresses ($30 for doll; girl clothes $7 to $80, major department stores).

Finally, some new books in this age category. “The WorstCase Scenario Survival Handbook (Junior Edition)” by David Borgenicht and Robin Epstein is a riot. From how to “survive a bad report card” to “time travel” to “being shipwrecked,” these three books provide endless entertainment ($20 for a boxed set, bookstores).

Teens Board games are fun for the whole family, and the classics are being repackaged. But there are some new great new ones, such as Truth Be Told by Buffalo Games. It helps kids get to know their friends. One player is the host and plays a question card, “Truth Be Told, my favorite snack is… ” The Host writes a True Answer: pork rinds. All other players pretend to host and write bluff answers: pretzels, carrots, pickles. The host reads all answers aloud, and players guess the True Answer to score points ($25, major retailers).

Tween girls love to journal, and Senario’s My Secret Circle gives them a special place to record their innermost thoughts.

Some are calling it the “safe” Facebook. Users can create photo pages and scrapbook in a digital world, keeping everything private or sharing only with friends ($20, Target).

Lunchbots are a cool way to take lunch to school. Think of a sleek, stainless steel box with a colorful lid, part of a trend steering away from plastic containers ($15, natural groceries nationwide; see lunchbots.com for stores).

Many companies are introducing new versions of old fa-

Alfresco Beauty & Style

GreenSmart Sifaka dual-compartment insulated lunch bag made of Neogreene, an ecofriendly and non-toxic waterbased alternative to neoprene ($29.95 at mass merchants). Or maybe he’d prefer REI’s new Quantum laptop messenger bag ($74.50), part of the outdoor chain’s ecoSensitive line (see rei.com for locations). Made from

Burt’s Bees is known for its all-natural, paraben-, sulfateand phthalate-free lotions, cleansers and lip balms, but did you know that they also make an herbal insect repellent? Rosemary, lemongrass and citronella oils ensure bugs buzz off, and are safe for children and pets ($8 at drugstores). For campers, package this sweet-smelling pest-rejecter with the Badger no-mess SPF 30 zinc oxide sunscreen face stick. One of the top-rated products in the Environmental Working Group’s 2010 Sunscreen Guide, it provides chemical-free protection and fits nicely in a beach bag or carry-on ($8.50 at Continued next page

HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE | 2010 - 5 Attention shoppers: players race along supermarket aisles to collect groceries in the Shopping Cart Dash board game

vorites, such as the OP skateboard

by Bravo Sports, a nod to 1970s skateboarders with its long deck and big, soft cruiser wheels ($60, Walmart).

Olivia + Joey just launched a new handbag line that teens love. Our favorite is the “Knight Life” hobo bag. Very stylish and hip ($98, Macy’s).

If this article hasn’t sparked your gift imagination, “Ask,” Young says. “You can still keep the element of surprise if you ask questions about broad topics and subjects kids like, rather than a

specific gift suggestion.”

The most important person to treat this holiday season? You! “Don’t forget to treat yourself to something,” says Lyss Stern, CEO of DivaMoms.com “As parents, we are so busy with taking care of gifts for the kids, our spouses, the grandparents, cousins and teachers that we forget about ourselves.” © CTW Features

• Melissa & Doug • Thomas Kinkade - Puzzles - Throws - Lamps - Bible Covers - Mugs and more!

Beyond the brown bag: sturdy, reusable Lunchbots with colorful lids

Train Sets Make Great Holiday Gifts

Aabell’s

Sales & 18 13 01 Bro Service -0 3 5 3 adw ay • Mattoon • 2

• Wooden Toys - Barns - Trucks - Horses - Skidsters - Many More!

• Fabric & Notions • Scrapbooking Supplies -Over 1000 Stamps

Holiday Poinsettias Starting at $12.50!

Assorted Colors

Come in Today for the Best Selection 505 S. 23rd Street Mattoon, IL 61938

235-0331

1608 Broadway • Mattoon, IL 61938

(217) 234-4277

400E CR200N • Arcola, IL 5 Miles West of Arcola on Springfield Road

217-268-5144

Hrs: M-F 8-5; Sat. 8-3 Closed on Sunday

6 - HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE | 2010

JG-TC.COM

JOURNAL GAZETTE & TIMES-COURIER

HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE | 2010 - 7

Take 10: The Year’s Best Children’s Books

Take 10: Game Upgrades

Book an Award-Winning Adventure

Board Meeting

Books open a world of discovery in ways even the coolest toys can’t achieve. This season, tempt a kid to turn off the TV and find an adventure in words and pictures on a printed page. These acclaimed titles were winners or finalists for some of the most esteemed awards in children’s literature for 2010.

–Danielle Cadet

For old-fashioned family fun, nothing beats a board game. Not to be outdone by the new movers and shakers in home entertainment, motionsensing video game systems like Nintendo Wii and Kinect for Xbox 360, old school classics have upped their game. New editions use text messaging, electronic components instead of cards, and rules that reward speed and efficiency. Here’s a look at the new generation.

– Danielle Cadet

2

6

“When you Reach Me”

by Rebecca Stead (Wendy Lamb Books, $15.99) Newbery Medal

4

5 1

“Going Bovine” by Libba Bray (Delacorte Books for Young Readers, $17.99) Printz Award for Young Adult Literature

3

“Claudette Colvin: Twice Toward Justice”

by Phillip Hoose (Farrar, Straus and Giroux, $19.95) Newbery Honor

“The Lion & the Mouse”

by Jerry Pickney (Little, Brown and Company for Young Readers, $16.99) Caldecott Medal “Bad News for Outlaws: The Remarkable Life of Bass Reeves, Deputy U.S. Marshal,” by Vaunda Micheaux Nelson (Carolrhoda Books, $17.95) Coretta Scott King Award

ngs i k c o t ir S Fill the Cards from ll ift with G s County Mdaat ocate os the Cournty Mall Is CoEnavsetninienMtlayttLoonte. 16

1

8

“Where the Mountain Meets the Moon” by Grace Lin (Little, Brown and Company Books for Young Readers, $16.99) Newbery Honor

9

“Red Sings from Treetops: A Year in Colors”

by Joyce Sidman (Houghton Mifflin Books for Children, $16) Caldecott Honor

10

7 Gift C ard

“The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate” by Jacqueline Kelly (Henry Holt, $16.99) Newbery Honor

“Mare’s War” by Tanita S. Davis (Knopf Books for Young Readers, $16.99) Coretta Scott King Award Honor Book

“The Most True Adventures of Homer P. Figg”

by Rodman Philbrick, (The Blue Sky Press, $16.99) Newbery Honor © CTW Features

Monopoly: Revolution Edition (Hasbro, $34.99) Celebrating 75 years of miniature capitalism, Monopoly still rules. This contemporary version features a round game board, updated “here and now” pricing and a unit that plays sound effects and acts as an electronic banker.

Clue: Secrets & Spies (Parker Brothers, $24.99) The timeless game of murder and mayhem now includes a new optional textmessaging feature. Use an ultraviolet secret decoder to assist agents

Top Quality Pre-Owned Books Sell - Trade Gift Certificates Available!

1821 Broadway • Mattoon 234-2277

C

Christmas Goodies Christmas Goodies

G ine St Dept., que, Many BFanks, The Shoeks, Claire’s Bouti Stylists,

ir o & ldenbo egis Ha topher an, Wa dio Shack, R oes, , Chris m y r e e n e n B e a h R S er JC P ayless o Bell, rk, Eld eo, Tac dary Foods, P ter Hallma n n e Kirlin’s , Premiere Vid e C g e h L lt ck om’s y Hea H&R Blo , Maurices, M s Communit ils t, Cole lar One, e ff Pro Na u B Jumbo Works, Cellu s Super Body ervice Bath & unity Blood S m m Co

Come Come in in and and sign sign up up for for

204 Charleston Ave. E Mattoon, IL

217-234-8133 Buzz Club Rewards www.biglots.com

• Handmade Chocolates • Gift Certificates • Gift Baskets 1610 BROADWAY AVENUE

234-3858

The Game of Life: 50th Anniversary Edition (Hasbro, $17.99)Entertaining fami-

Scrabble Slam (Hasbro, $29.99) Arranging wood letter chips to make words is so ... last century. The latest version of Scrabble puts a premium on speedy, serious word building. Players must think and act fast. Get locked in a high-speed race to build a chain of words in 75 seconds.

4

Trivial Pursuit: Bet You Know It Edition (Hasbro, $29.99)In this version, participants field questions in a variety of styles with 1,800 fresh questions that include images and multiple-choice options.

Players don’t have to know all the answers to win; they also can bet chips on whether opponents know the answer. A good guess can mean one step closer to victory.

Holiday

SALE!

Ladies’ Quality Consignment

Gift Certificates Available

905 Broadway Mattoon 235-2525

7 Sorry! Spin (Hasbro, $24.99)Game night will never be the same as participants seek sweet revenge with a turn of the Sorry! Wheel on a new rotating board. Getting “home” is more unpredictable than ever, making it anybody’s game to the bitter end.

brick-based games. Participants build fleets of battleships, aircraft carriers, destroyers and submarines and must work to keep their ship safe and blow their opponent’s ships out of the water.

8

lies for 50 years, Life continues to present the milestones and mundane everyday tasks we experience in a lifetime. This commemorative edition includes golden accents and Life coins that spark conversation.

Spin the golden wheel and experience the ups and downs of Life.

Don’t miss our annual

No Mall Ho unday 9PM • S hanksgiving.

M A day 10 rting After T y-Satur se, Monda day Hours Sta Shop , Alamo Steakhou Holi NC ores To Ex

5

3

2

y R 57 On North Side roadwa 700 B cess From Ion is c ll A a asy ght, M With E Stop li PM to 3rd. t s e W urs: on - 5 it

Cross

Plum, Scarlet, Mustard and others on their international crime-solving adventure.

6

Operation Silly Skill Game (Milton Bradley, $16.99)Although it still requires a top doc to save the day, Operation boasts a revamped board that makes crazy new sounds like chimes, burps and barks. Press Cavity Sam’s nose to find out if a procedure was a success, and then listen up as the game dictates the next direction.

Name Brands Discount Prices Sizes Many 0-6X New With Tags!

Ladies casual & business wear featuring: Howard Wolf • Alfred Dunner Liz Claiborne • Coach • Prada Stewart Weisman • Chicos

Sale Now in Progress 25% - 50% off!

Cranium Scribblish (Hasbro, $19.99)A hilarious new take on the classic “telephone” game, this edition of Cranium requires players to create scribbles and sketches and pass them on.

The whole family is sure to enjoy the final product when the last player reads the accumulated story out loud.

9

U-Build Battleship (Hasbro, $19.99)Customization is key in this revolutionary new line of

10

Candyland: The World of Sweets Game (Hasbro, $9.99)The sweet classic looks much the same as it did back in the day, and continues to introduce little ones to board games via the magical world of tasty treats.

Colored cards and fanciful illustrations direct players to the Cupcake Commons and the Chocolate Mountains as they journey to the castle. A simple move of the pawn is enough to make imaginations run wild. © CTW Features

6Gift Certificates 5

$ .00 for $ .00 Nov 26 - Dec 24 ONLY While They Last e h T

BURGER KING

1508 Charleston Ave – Mattoon – 234-8122

USE OUR FAST FRIENDLY DRIVE UP!

After 58 Years: Still A Goin’ – Still A Growin’!

6 - HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE | 2010

JG-TC.COM

JOURNAL GAZETTE & TIMES-COURIER

HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE | 2010 - 7

Take 10: The Year’s Best Children’s Books

Take 10: Game Upgrades

Book an Award-Winning Adventure

Board Meeting

Books open a world of discovery in ways even the coolest toys can’t achieve. This season, tempt a kid to turn off the TV and find an adventure in words and pictures on a printed page. These acclaimed titles were winners or finalists for some of the most esteemed awards in children’s literature for 2010.

–Danielle Cadet

For old-fashioned family fun, nothing beats a board game. Not to be outdone by the new movers and shakers in home entertainment, motionsensing video game systems like Nintendo Wii and Kinect for Xbox 360, old school classics have upped their game. New editions use text messaging, electronic components instead of cards, and rules that reward speed and efficiency. Here’s a look at the new generation.

– Danielle Cadet

2

6

“When you Reach Me”

by Rebecca Stead (Wendy Lamb Books, $15.99) Newbery Medal

4

5 1

“Going Bovine” by Libba Bray (Delacorte Books for Young Readers, $17.99) Printz Award for Young Adult Literature

3

“Claudette Colvin: Twice Toward Justice”

by Phillip Hoose (Farrar, Straus and Giroux, $19.95) Newbery Honor

“The Lion & the Mouse”

by Jerry Pickney (Little, Brown and Company for Young Readers, $16.99) Caldecott Medal “Bad News for Outlaws: The Remarkable Life of Bass Reeves, Deputy U.S. Marshal,” by Vaunda Micheaux Nelson (Carolrhoda Books, $17.95) Coretta Scott King Award

ngs i k c o t ir S Fill the Cards from ll ift with G s County Mdaat ocate os the Cournty Mall Is CoEnavsetninienMtlayttLoonte. 16

1

8

“Where the Mountain Meets the Moon” by Grace Lin (Little, Brown and Company Books for Young Readers, $16.99) Newbery Honor

9

“Red Sings from Treetops: A Year in Colors”

by Joyce Sidman (Houghton Mifflin Books for Children, $16) Caldecott Honor

10

7 Gift C ard

“The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate” by Jacqueline Kelly (Henry Holt, $16.99) Newbery Honor

“Mare’s War” by Tanita S. Davis (Knopf Books for Young Readers, $16.99) Coretta Scott King Award Honor Book

“The Most True Adventures of Homer P. Figg”

by Rodman Philbrick, (The Blue Sky Press, $16.99) Newbery Honor © CTW Features

Monopoly: Revolution Edition (Hasbro, $34.99) Celebrating 75 years of miniature capitalism, Monopoly still rules. This contemporary version features a round game board, updated “here and now” pricing and a unit that plays sound effects and acts as an electronic banker.

Clue: Secrets & Spies (Parker Brothers, $24.99) The timeless game of murder and mayhem now includes a new optional textmessaging feature. Use an ultraviolet secret decoder to assist agents

Top Quality Pre-Owned Books Sell - Trade Gift Certificates Available!

1821 Broadway • Mattoon 234-2277

C

Christmas Goodies Christmas Goodies

G ine St Dept., que, Many BFanks, The Shoeks, Claire’s Bouti Stylists,

ir o & ldenbo egis Ha topher an, Wa dio Shack, R oes, , Chris m y r e e n e n B e a h R S er JC P ayless o Bell, rk, Eld eo, Tac dary Foods, P ter Hallma n n e Kirlin’s , Premiere Vid e C g e h L lt ck om’s y Hea H&R Blo , Maurices, M s Communit ils t, Cole lar One, e ff Pro Na u B Jumbo Works, Cellu s Super Body ervice Bath & unity Blood S m m Co

Come Come in in and and sign sign up up for for

204 Charleston Ave. E Mattoon, IL

217-234-8133 Buzz Club Rewards www.biglots.com

• Handmade Chocolates • Gift Certificates • Gift Baskets 1610 BROADWAY AVENUE

234-3858

The Game of Life: 50th Anniversary Edition (Hasbro, $17.99)Entertaining fami-

Scrabble Slam (Hasbro, $29.99) Arranging wood letter chips to make words is so ... last century. The latest version of Scrabble puts a premium on speedy, serious word building. Players must think and act fast. Get locked in a high-speed race to build a chain of words in 75 seconds.

4

Trivial Pursuit: Bet You Know It Edition (Hasbro, $29.99)In this version, participants field questions in a variety of styles with 1,800 fresh questions that include images and multiple-choice options.

Players don’t have to know all the answers to win; they also can bet chips on whether opponents know the answer. A good guess can mean one step closer to victory.

Holiday

SALE!

Ladies’ Quality Consignment

Gift Certificates Available

905 Broadway Mattoon 235-2525

7 Sorry! Spin (Hasbro, $24.99)Game night will never be the same as participants seek sweet revenge with a turn of the Sorry! Wheel on a new rotating board. Getting “home” is more unpredictable than ever, making it anybody’s game to the bitter end.

brick-based games. Participants build fleets of battleships, aircraft carriers, destroyers and submarines and must work to keep their ship safe and blow their opponent’s ships out of the water.

8

lies for 50 years, Life continues to present the milestones and mundane everyday tasks we experience in a lifetime. This commemorative edition includes golden accents and Life coins that spark conversation.

Spin the golden wheel and experience the ups and downs of Life.

Don’t miss our annual

No Mall Ho unday 9PM • S hanksgiving.

M A day 10 rting After T y-Satur se, Monda day Hours Sta Shop , Alamo Steakhou Holi NC ores To Ex

5

3

2

y R 57 On North Side roadwa 700 B cess From Ion is c ll A a asy ght, M With E Stop li PM to 3rd. t s e W urs: on - 5 it

Cross

Plum, Scarlet, Mustard and others on their international crime-solving adventure.

6

Operation Silly Skill Game (Milton Bradley, $16.99)Although it still requires a top doc to save the day, Operation boasts a revamped board that makes crazy new sounds like chimes, burps and barks. Press Cavity Sam’s nose to find out if a procedure was a success, and then listen up as the game dictates the next direction.

Name Brands Discount Prices Sizes Many 0-6X New With Tags!

Ladies casual & business wear featuring: Howard Wolf • Alfred Dunner Liz Claiborne • Coach • Prada Stewart Weisman • Chicos

Sale Now in Progress 25% - 50% off!

Cranium Scribblish (Hasbro, $19.99)A hilarious new take on the classic “telephone” game, this edition of Cranium requires players to create scribbles and sketches and pass them on.

The whole family is sure to enjoy the final product when the last player reads the accumulated story out loud.

9

U-Build Battleship (Hasbro, $19.99)Customization is key in this revolutionary new line of

10

Candyland: The World of Sweets Game (Hasbro, $9.99)The sweet classic looks much the same as it did back in the day, and continues to introduce little ones to board games via the magical world of tasty treats.

Colored cards and fanciful illustrations direct players to the Cupcake Commons and the Chocolate Mountains as they journey to the castle. A simple move of the pawn is enough to make imaginations run wild. © CTW Features

6Gift Certificates 5

$ .00 for $ .00 Nov 26 - Dec 24 ONLY While They Last e h T

BURGER KING

1508 Charleston Ave – Mattoon – 234-8122

USE OUR FAST FRIENDLY DRIVE UP!

After 58 Years: Still A Goin’ – Still A Growin’!

8 - HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE | 2010

T

ECOWISE GIFTS HIT THE ROAD

JOURNAL GAZETTE & TIMES-COURIER

JG-TC.COM

o G o

Good & Green

By Anna Sachse CTW Features Conserving resources, eating organic, using non-toxic cleaning products and recycling everything humanly possible – it’s 2010 and it seems like every household has gone green. The next step? Taking the ecofriendly lifestyle on the road – literally. From stylish bags, outerwear and outdoor dining accoutrements, to sun care, portable toys and transportation devices, this holiday season there’s something truly useful to please all the busy environmentalists on your list. Get ready to take green into the next decade.

People Movers Help your favorite guy, gal or techie teen go green and get fit with a folding bicycle. Perfect for commuters, these ultra-flexible peddlers have all the economical, ecological and health benefits of a standard bike and they’re easier to store or transport via car, train or plane. New this summer, the full-size Dahon Ios XL ($1,499 at bike shops) has 24inch wheels, an eightspeed Shimano Alfine hub, hydraulic disc brakes and puncture-resistant tires. The Ios weighs about 33 pounds and takes just 15 seconds to fold down to less than half its original dimension. A dynamo in the front hub uses pedal-generated energy to juice up a battery that powers an LED headlamp and can even charge a phone, iPod or GPS. Bike Friday, based in bicy-

• Giant & Haro Bikes • Child & Adult Bikes • Kiwi Kayaks

Oakley’s Bike Shop 2601 Marshall Mattoon 234-7637 Call for hours

cle-obsessed Eugene, Ore., also produces high-end folding bikes, including a wide range of builtto-order models (from $898 at bike shops) If your gift-ee isn’t a serious gear head, Kent, Schwinn, Polaris and F-160 make simpler folding bicycles with smaller wheels and fewer speeds (from $150 at major retailers).

And what if your list also includes a little squirt who yearns for their own two-wheeler? Made from sustainable birch wood and non-toxic varnish, the awardwinning pedal-free Skuut ($90 at sporting goods and toy stores) is perfect for tykes between two and five years old. Riders kick off the ground as if running, thus gliding or “skuuting” themselves forward and learning balance and coordination. There’s a new metal version available, with adjustable handlebars, hand brake and bell.

Outside Eaters Your loved ones can always dine alfresco with a picnic basket made from sustainable materials like bamboo or rattan wicker.

Opt for a classic handwoven willow Picnic Plus eco picnic basket for two and you’ll also get recycled glass wine glasses, natural cotton napkins, and bamboo plates, flatware, cutting board and cheese knife, all packed in a chemical-free cotton insulated lining ($109.99 at sporting goods stores).

If you’re more inclined toward eco-chic, it’s tough to

recy-

beat the all-new cardboard (yes, cardboard!) Boxsal Picnic Boxes.

The three graphic styles were inspired by a boom box, a briefcase and color-by-numbers paintings ($35 at specialty stores and boxsal.com). Each reusable and recyclable box comes with a compostable trash bag and four sets of compostable cornstarch cups, trays, bowls and utensils. Even with a cardboard handle it can carry more than 20 pounds. Consider pairing a picnic box gift with a luscious bottle of Amity Vineyards’ 2007 Eco-Wine Willamette Valley Pinot Noir. No synthetic sulfites are added during processing, making it one of the few truly organic wines to be produced in the U.S. ($20 at wine shops).

To-Go Ware RePEat bamboo utensils will reduce your forkprint. The reusable place setting (bamboo fork, knife, spoon and chopstick), rolled in a handy utensil holder made from plastic bags ($11.95, upscale gourmet stores and groceries, outdoor retailers), would make a perfect stocking stuffer.

Hi-Tech Totes You’d be hard-pressed to find someone on your list who couldn’t use one of the latest green bags.

Active women will love the Sherpani carryall collections, which feature clean silhouettes

Tanning Gift Certificates make great Stocking Stuffers!

Ta n E x p r e s s 1516 Lakeland Blvd.

Mattoon

N. Rt. 45 Mattoon

134 Dettro Drive Mattoon

636 W. Lincoln, Charleston

and fresh feminine designs, and are made with 67-percent recycled nylon, aluminum hardware and non-toxic dyes. Depending on her needs, consider the new Tupelo cycling backpack with hydration ($55.95), the uni-sex Rumba child backpack carrier ($229.95), or the Meridian expandable upright wheeled carryon luggage, which is small enough to use as a carry-on when zippered, but expands to offer more room for long car trips ($199.95, see sherpani.com for a list of retailers nationwide).

Modern men might like the decidedly un-lunch-box-looking

Now you see it… now you see just half: the Dahon Ios XL folding bicycle

cled PET, each durable, multipurpose satchel liberates 34 16-ounce plastic bottles from the trash. And, of course, it has a plethora of pockets for transporting all his adventure-friendly gizmos – perhaps an Eton Solarlink FR600 American Red Cross Digital AM/FM/shortwave/ NOAA and S.A.M.E. Weather Radio ($80, outdoor stores) with flashlight, siren, alarm clock, cell phone charger and four different power sources, including hand crank and solar power!

For the wanna-be in all of us, Paper Jamz are affordable and innovative play instruments that provide an instant rock star experience. Technology allows circuit-embedded paper, enabling you to play the thin, stringless guitars like a pro simply by touching the paper surface ($25, Walgreens and others).

Shopping Cart Dash by Pressman Toys is a cute board game.

Players take a moveable shopping cart and a shopping list and race along “supermarket aisles” to collect fruit, vegetables, meat and fish. By paying at the end of every turn, players get closer to winning ($15, specialty retailers).

The Dollie & Me collection includes a doll and matching girls’ clothing. The outfits are sweet, and the 18-inch doll has some very holiday-appropriate dresses ($30 for doll; girl clothes $7 to $80, major department stores).

Finally, some new books in this age category. “The WorstCase Scenario Survival Handbook (Junior Edition)” by David Borgenicht and Robin Epstein is a riot. From how to “survive a bad report card” to “time travel” to “being shipwrecked,” these three books provide endless entertainment ($20 for a boxed set, bookstores).

Teens Board games are fun for the whole family, and the classics are being repackaged. But there are some new great new ones, such as Truth Be Told by Buffalo Games. It helps kids get to know their friends. One player is the host and plays a question card, “Truth Be Told, my favorite snack is… ” The Host writes a True Answer: pork rinds. All other players pretend to host and write bluff answers: pretzels, carrots, pickles. The host reads all answers aloud, and players guess the True Answer to score points ($25, major retailers).

Tween girls love to journal, and Senario’s My Secret Circle gives them a special place to record their innermost thoughts.

Some are calling it the “safe” Facebook. Users can create photo pages and scrapbook in a digital world, keeping everything private or sharing only with friends ($20, Target).

Lunchbots are a cool way to take lunch to school. Think of a sleek, stainless steel box with a colorful lid, part of a trend steering away from plastic containers ($15, natural groceries nationwide; see lunchbots.com for stores).

Many companies are introducing new versions of old fa-

Alfresco Beauty & Style

GreenSmart Sifaka dual-compartment insulated lunch bag made of Neogreene, an ecofriendly and non-toxic waterbased alternative to neoprene ($29.95 at mass merchants). Or maybe he’d prefer REI’s new Quantum laptop messenger bag ($74.50), part of the outdoor chain’s ecoSensitive line (see rei.com for locations). Made from

Burt’s Bees is known for its all-natural, paraben-, sulfateand phthalate-free lotions, cleansers and lip balms, but did you know that they also make an herbal insect repellent? Rosemary, lemongrass and citronella oils ensure bugs buzz off, and are safe for children and pets ($8 at drugstores). For campers, package this sweet-smelling pest-rejecter with the Badger no-mess SPF 30 zinc oxide sunscreen face stick. One of the top-rated products in the Environmental Working Group’s 2010 Sunscreen Guide, it provides chemical-free protection and fits nicely in a beach bag or carry-on ($8.50 at Continued next page

HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE | 2010 - 5 Attention shoppers: players race along supermarket aisles to collect groceries in the Shopping Cart Dash board game

vorites, such as the OP skateboard

by Bravo Sports, a nod to 1970s skateboarders with its long deck and big, soft cruiser wheels ($60, Walmart).

Olivia + Joey just launched a new handbag line that teens love. Our favorite is the “Knight Life” hobo bag. Very stylish and hip ($98, Macy’s).

If this article hasn’t sparked your gift imagination, “Ask,” Young says. “You can still keep the element of surprise if you ask questions about broad topics and subjects kids like, rather than a

specific gift suggestion.”

The most important person to treat this holiday season? You! “Don’t forget to treat yourself to something,” says Lyss Stern, CEO of DivaMoms.com “As parents, we are so busy with taking care of gifts for the kids, our spouses, the grandparents, cousins and teachers that we forget about ourselves.” © CTW Features

• Melissa & Doug • Thomas Kinkade - Puzzles - Throws - Lamps - Bible Covers - Mugs and more!

Beyond the brown bag: sturdy, reusable Lunchbots with colorful lids

Train Sets Make Great Holiday Gifts

Aabell’s

Sales & 18 13 01 Bro Service -0 3 5 3 adw ay • Mattoon • 2

• Wooden Toys - Barns - Trucks - Horses - Skidsters - Many More!

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Old-Fashioned

Fun

Bilingual play: Chicco Bilingual Talking Farm teaches numbers, colors, animals and sounds with nursery rhymes in English and Spanish

By Sally Farhat Kassab CTW Features When buying gifts for children this holiday season, think back to your childhood and what you loved and consider buying new versions of those toys. This year, nostalgic toys – oldies but goodies – are very popular.

“Companies are feeding on our growing need to connect with the product,” says Mari Richards, toy designer and head of Smallforbig.com. “They are tapping old brands that parents remember from their own childhoods, or highlighting the handmade, homegrown aspects of a new product.”

The toys and gifts we feature in this guide are our favorite new ones. “Picking toys that serve

double-duty in that they entertain and teach is a surefire way to get more bang for your buck when gift-giving,” says toy expert Wendy Young, founder of Michigan-based Kidlutions Preferred Product Awards. We have many of those below. Still not sure? Another big trend that continues: anything eco-friendly is hot.

Newborn to 4 Years Old For those shopping for pregnant friends or baby gifts, California Baby unveiled a Holiday Cheer Tote Set complete with sensitive-skin bubble bath, spritzer (great for de-stressing over the holidays), a scrub puff and reusable tote ($30, major retailers).

Every child loves bubbles, and

there’s little that’s more fun than blowing them in the bathtub. Munchkin Bubble Monkeys let you do just that.

Two bubble monkey wands are fun to hold and include a dip tray that suctions to the wall (we love this part) and bubble solution ($9, major retailers).

For endless entertainment without mom, the Chicco Bilingual Talking Farm is a plastic, interactive “farm” with learning games such as naming, and it teaches numbers, colors, animals and sounds. This toy invites children to sing along with nursery rhymes (my son’s favorite is “Old MacDonald”) and flashing lights ($30, major retailers).

Cloud B’s Gentle Giraffe

on the Go Travel-Size Plush Sound Machine is a gift for both baby and parents. It helps baby sleep, especially on those long plane rides! The stuffed Giraffe

clean place mat on one side and a reusable chalk mat on the other and is perfect for restaurants and planes ($22, baby and kid boutiques, see bellatunno.com for stores).

Jojo Bump Bump by Silverlit Toys is a top-selling brand in France, and it’s no wonder. It’s a sleekly designed remote control car for little ones. Jojo Bump Bump comes with headlights and remote control carrot. After hitting a road block, Jojo spins and moves in another direction, until he hits too many obstacles and is ejected ($25, Walmart).

5 to 10 Years Old

Girls and dolls: the Dollie & Me collection includes holiday dresses for a young girl and 18-inch doll On The Go helps recreate sleep time routines by bringing familiar soothing sounds while away from home. There are four sounds, including a “babbling brook” ($23, boutiques nationwide; see cloudb.com for locations).

Another practical-yet-fun item for parents: The Designer Diner by Bella Tunno is a wipe-

At this age especially, think about the child’s personality when buying a gift, Young says. “The beauty of openended activities such as blocks, art supplies or dress-up is that they encourage active imagination,” Young says. “Imagination and intelligence are linked. We should encourage it whenever we can.”

When girls begin dressing up, they don’t want to look like their friends. Enter Snap Caps interchangeable necklaces Maddie Bradshaw is the 14-year-old president and designer. The jewelry is made of old-fashioned embellished bottle caps, which stemmed from an idea to decorate her locker with magnetic bottle caps ($17, 400 boutiques nationwide; see m3girldesigns.com).

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As for the latest cozy coverups, REI’s ecoSensitive line has something for everyone. The sweet recycled PET polyester down jacket for toddler girls comes in eggplant purple and punch pink ($49.50). The newest incarnation of the men’s Muir Woods fleece jacket is made with 50 percent recycled Polartec Thermal Pro fabric ($79.50). ’Tis the season for giving. With every pair of TOMS canvas shoes you purchase, the company gives a pair to a child in need. A fashionable woman would jump at the chance to receive a pair of shoes from TOMS new fall collection, especially the hip pink plaid Murray organic cotton vegan classics with faded toe or the sexy gray canvas wedges ($54, $69; toms.com for retailers).

HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE | 2010 - 9

Wrap Stars

Three of America’s most talented gift wrappers offer the season’s best presentation tips

By Taniesha Robinson | CTW Features

Mobile Distraction Long car and plane trips are far more fun if the kids are entertained. Why not let them read up about eco-friendly practices? Released in April to coincide with Earth Month, “The Greenzys” (Zeus Media Publishing, 2010) introduces a gaggle of animals that learn the importance of being green when they help save Orinda, the world’s oldest tree ($17.99). The Greenzys characters – such as Willow the Elephant, who collects rainwater for her plants and uses her trunk as the hose – are also available as cuddly plush toys ($29.99) made from soy fibers and non-toxic dyes in socially responsible factories.

Bonus: Each critter comes with a personalized certificate acknowledging that the Arbor Day Foundation has planted a tree in the new owner’s honor (FAO Schwarz).

You can also feel good about gifting your favorite cubs with the Green Toys product line, all made in the U.S. The company’s awardwinning recycling truck, dump truck and sand play set and the new fire truck ($20 - $25, available at toy stores) are BPA-, PVCand phthalate-free. The toys are made from recycled plastic milk containers and are durable enough for any park or beach adventure. © CTW Features

Expert gift wrappers innovate year after year, gathering inspiration for their fanciful creations from nature, the recycling bin – or the giftee himself.

Take notes as three of today’s top wrappers share thoughts behind their signature styles, tips for the not-so-crafty gift-giver and ideas for what to do with some of those oddshaped items.

Wanda Wen Wanda Wen, author of “The Art of Gift Wrapping” (2010, Potter Craft) is cofounder of Soolip, the fashionable West Hollywood purveyor of fine paper. Wen isn’t just a wrap star; she wraps for stars, including Will Smith, Charlize Theron and Halle Berry.

Gift-wrapping should say a little about you and something about the person receiving the gift. Of course, I have my own collection of papers that I’m drawn to, but first I think of the person.

Signature style: Organic and natural Must-have materials: twine, string, ribbon, pressed flowers, papers made of natural fibers like Thai unryu, kozo and Nepalese lokta

On her style: I’m really inspired by nature and looking at ordinary material in a new, fresh, enlightened way.

Her best wrap so far: a gift topped with a rock and twine. It makes me happy to inspire people to see such a common thing that is at our feet every single day and accentuate that.

Favorite embellishments: stones or a bundle of twigs Tricks of the trade: Always fold-in the exposed edges so there is a finished look to your gift.

When you’re done wrapping your gift, take your pointed finger and your thumb and pinch the edges.

It creates a sharper edge.

Ann Erickson Ann Erickson, winner of the 2009 “Scotch Brand Most Gifted Wrapper” award, encourages gift-givers to take a risk when they wrap. Here, she shares tips on achieving a unique style:

Don’t be afraid to do something unique because that’s what people will remember.

Signature style: Ribboned and bowed Must-have materials: Simply designed paper, ribbons with wire On her style: I put a lot of effort into the ribbons and bows. I don’t usually use the traditional bow; I use the square-knot bow.

Her best wrap so far: Probably when I wrapped everyone’s gift in the same paper. It creates a nice cohesive look.

Favorite embellishments: small ornaments, candy, and Bright idea: Gina Tepper framed charming small stuffed animals for kids Tricks of the trade: Tease holiday photos on the tops of gifts to what’s inside the gift. Use a scarf indicate the recipients Wrapping odd shapes: To as a ribbon if it goes with somewrap a wine or champagne bot- thing inside the package. Also, tle, Wen suggests using thin tape paper to the box before paper such as tissue or translu- wrapping.

Wrapping odd shapes: For cent Thai unryu paper that will a plant, find some beautiful easily gather around the object.

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paper or fabric and make a giant circle. Put the plant in the center and pull the material up and around the pot leaving the top exposed. Try cellophane underneath the wrapping material so it sticks up at the top.

Gina Tepper Gina Tepper, founder of Giftdecorating.com and a freelance designer for 3M Scotch brand and others, instructs gift wrappers around the globe 24/7 through her website and newsletter. Her theory of design? Figure out the recipient’s hobbies and passions: Tailor the gift to their different hobbies and interests. Try to find some kind of color or embellishments that matches the theme of their life.

Signature style: Lofty layers Must-have materials: raffia, yarn, bans of color and any small thing of interest On her style: It’s the accents, the layering and the little extra touches that really makes someone take notice. My goal is to teach people to make beautiful and unique gift wrap designs that are easy to create using interesting household items and inexpensive materials found at local craft stores.

Her best wrap so far: A gift for an 18-year-old tough guy that was warmly layered and decoratively tied with raffia and a wooden bead. I gave him that gift and he was stunned. It wasn’t so much that it was beautiful, it was just the effort put into it.

Favorite embellishments: Pictures, small ornaments Tricks of the trade: For a perfect package, cut the wrapping paper two inches wider than the box; use the box length plus the two ends to determine paper length. Leaving too much paper is a rookie wrapping error that leaves a package looking lumpy and uneven.

Wrapping odd shapes: Print out a picture of the gift on cardstock and provide directions to the actual gift’s secret location.

Place the card in a small box and wrap it creatively.

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HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE | 2010 - 3

Eat it up: monogrammed plastic plates for the modern prepster, from La Plates

Gifts for

Get

Gear Heads

Hands-free chat using an iPhone via the Belkin Tunebase

From a full-blown electric vehicle to a set of spark-plug cufflinks, auto enthusiasts will get a charge out of these car-crazy gifts

By Jim Gorzelany

runs much deeper than that of the average driver.

Tracking down gifts for a carloving friend or relative can be a lot of fun. There are more nicely designed, imaginative products more widely available – from

CTW Features Auto aficionados tend to be a breed apart from mere motorists.

No, motor oil does not course through their veins, but their interest in all things vehicular

Get his wardrobe running: automotive cufflinks

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auto shops and tech stores to the finest jewelry counters in town.

Here’s a look at a few gifts guaranteed to make their hearts race this holiday season.

The ultimate high-tech auto gizmo of the season has to be an electric car, like the stylishly aerodynamic Nissan Leaf. Delivering true “plug and play” operation with zero emissions, the Leaf promises as much as a 100mile range on a charge. It includes Internet and smart phone connectivity and a navigation system that can show the location of nearby charging stations ($32,780, select markets in December).

A less costly gift for environmentally conscious auto buffs is the nifty car care kit from Green Earth Technologies. It consists of five eco-friendly products made from plant oils: organic glass cleaner, brake dust shield, hydrophobic car wash, tire shine and wheel cleaner ($20, auto, hardware and big box stores; getg.com). Motorists who want to maintain the showroom shine of their rides also will appreciate Meguiar’s complete care gift kit ($20, auto and hardware stores; meguiars.com) Why not give an exotic sports car for a pittance? Upgrade his or her computer mouse with a racier model – a Porsche 911, to be exact. The Motormouse is a 2.4g wireless mouse that’s a strikingly detailed replica of the iconic coupe ($50, motormouse.us.com).

Another gift sure to appeal to enthusiasts

who can’t yet afford their dream cars is the Soundracer, which can make even an old beater at least sound like a Ferrari. The device plugs into a 12-volt power point and replicates the roar of a sports car engine through the car’s audio system via a built in FM transmitter. Soundracer works in perfect sync with the vehicle’s actual accelerations and decelerations ($40, auto accessory retailers, soundracer.se.)

Those who like to – literally – wear their affection for autos on their sleeves will enjoy a pair of car-themed cufflinks: charming miniature shift knobs, tires, spark plugs, dashboard gauges, headlamps and road signs ($45 to $425, department stores and cufflinks.com).

Leading the race to build a better travel mug is the aptly named Brugo, designed to eliminate spills and scalded lips. A “tip and cool” mode allows users to transfer small amounts of toohot take-out beverages to a temperature-controlled chamber, where it cools down a gulp at a time ($15 to $20, coffee shops and specialty stores; brugomug.com) Making driving safer and more convenient is the Belkin Tunebase with Hands-Free, which allows iPhone owners to con-

duct hands-free conversations through their car stereo systems.

The “Direct” version ($70) connects through an auxiliary audio input jack (found on later model cars), while the “FM” model ($100) transmits to an unused FM radio station. It also streams music stored on an iPhone and allows users to charge up to two mobile devices while en route (electronics retailers; belkin.com) Another hands-free calling adapter – this one using Bluetooth wireless connectivity – serves as a speaker phone, a personal safety device and a wireless “leash” to prevent motorists from losing their cell phones.

ZOMM attaches to a keychain and will flash, vibrate and even sound an alarm if an owner walks away from his or her phone ($80, Best Buy; zomm.com).

Speed enthusiasts can document and share their vehicular adventures thanks to the GoPro HD Motorsports HERO camera.

It mounts to a helmet or dashboard and records first-person high-definition video or a succession of still photos. It can store up to nine hours of footage on a 32GB SD memory card (not included). ($300, auto supply retailers; www.goprocamera.com) © CTW Features

Personal A gift for a special someone calls for, well, something special. Personalized gifts are all the rage.

Here’s how to look – and what to look for

By Danielle Cadet CTW Features Trends come and go, but the hallmark of a great gift remains the same: it’s personal. The gift that goes down in history, the one they’ll remember, is often the one that distinctively captures someone’s passions, taste and style.

These days personalization goes way beyond old-school monogrammed shirts and towels.

Think flirty flip-flops designed with interchangeable straps that Velcro on and off, to reflect a mood or a whim. A favorite phrase, icon or nickname creatively placed on a protective cover for an electronic device. A prepster’s initials or name, emblazoned on a plastic plate. “With personalization comes a sense of pride, and that’s a gift that everybody wants,” says Robyn Spizman, gift expert and founder of TheGiftionary.com.

Thanks to technology, it’s simpler than ever to purchase a gift that’s personalized with a name or initials. “The online world has taught retailers a lot more about their customers, and is making it easier than ever to give to customers what they want,” says Claire Hamilton, retail trend analyst at WGSN, a London-based trend forecasting firm. “The natural outcome of that is to actually offer more personalization services.”

The purchase of a personalized gift demands serious thought. Take some time to consider the recipient’s personality.

“You want to start looking at their interests: children, pets,

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their favorite colors, their style,” says Spizman. She advises purchasing a present the recipient is sure to use. “When you think personalization you want to think about the personal use of a gift.

Make sure the person is going to enjoy it,” she says.

Pigeonholing friends may not be a polite practice most times of the year, but when it comes to holiday gift giving, it’s one of the keys to success. “When you know you’re buying a gift for a traveler, an entertainer, a music or sports lover, then you can really pinpoint the perfect gift,” Spizman says.

Monogramming is a classic personalizing detail that never seems to go out of style. “People like to see their names,” says Roseanne Morrison, fashion director for trend forecaster Doneger Group, New York. “The more personalization that’s involved, the more it makes someone feel like this [gift] is designed for me.”

The trend is to bigger monograms with fresh fonts, styles and twists on tradition. And be selective about the item you choose to monogram.

“Monogramming clothes is totally out,” says Jess Zaino, celebrity stylist and former co-host of the Style Network’s “Modern Girl’s Guide to Life.” She suggests monogramming a small item and pairing it with a useful, related gift.

Here are some bright ideas for holiday gifts that might be perfect for someone you know. If they’re not, you won’t have to look far to find the perfect gift. This season, personalization is every-

where.

Lindsay Phillips’ Switchflops are fashionable flip-flops that can be customized to individual taste with a monogram button, name or favorite phrase, or a message embroidered on the strap. More than 70 styles of straps, attached with Velcro, can be changed out on a whim. The line has been expanded to include customizable ballet flats, clogs and accessories.

Zaino suggests pairing a pair of the flip-flops with a beach bag full of vacation goodies. “It’s so much more thoughtful when you take the person into consideration without being cheesy or tacky,” Zaino says ($30 and up, department and specialty stores; switchflops.com) A personalized cover for the proud new owner of an iPad, Kindle or new smartphone can add to their techno-joy and help them stand out in a crowd. Since so many people have these devices, “the more that you can do to create that level of originality makes it special,” says Morrison. Power Support USA offers a range of products aimed to protect and personalize wireless devices.

Graphically smart City Cases star iconic images from cities around the globe, perfect for a globetrotter wannabe. Or, create a custom design by uploading original art or choosing designs from their library and adding words and effects for a one-of-a-

kind gift (custom designs about ping paper personalized with her $50, electronics retailers nation- name and special message. Cuswide;www.powersupportUSA.co tom gift wrap from online stationer Erin Condren can be m).

Brightly colored melamine imprinted with the message you plates from La Plates are a big choose – “Happy Birthday! With hit with celebrity parents, includ- love from Grammie,” for example. ing the Obamas. Customers can “It’s a functional thing to give choose design, background color, that is still so personal and so font style and color when creating much fun,” Zaino says. “It will their plates, which range in size make them smile every time they from 7 inches (sold individually) use it”(10-ft. length for $45). The to 10 inches (available in sets of “Everything Book,” a monthly four). The bright, fanciful plates calendar for tracking family acare durable enough to withstand tivities, can be customized with a horseplay at a barbeque but ele- name and photo on the covers. It gant enough for an adult lunch- comes with matching personaleon. ($22, specialty stores; ized labels, tab stickers and note pads ($45, erincondren.com) www.laplates.com ) Monogram a leather wallet or Custom-monogrammed Buta tote for a trendy friend or terscotch Blankees have relative with simple been spied swaddling tastes. “There are the babes of celebrity people who just like moms like Sarah Jesto keep it simple sica Parker. Company but still want perfounder Jodie Roth says sonal things that look her products make a beautiful,” says long-lasting gift that Morrison. And, to can follow the owner heck with trendfrom crib to dorm room. meisters who say The handmade blankets monogrammed clothwould make a great gift ing is out, out, out. for a newborn, young For those with a conchild or parents who want siderably larger to add flare to a nursery or bedroom. The hand- Switchflops from Lindsay gift budget, a wool made blankets range in Phillips can be tricked out or a fur coat with interchangeable an understated inisize, style and color. with tials inside “would ($125, specialty stores straps on a whim be wonderful,” and boutiques).

Personalized stationery is a WGSN’s Clair Hamilton says. classic gift. But for a new twist © CTW Features for a relative or friend who loves to wrap and give gifts try wrap-

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2 - HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE | 2010

Holiday Gift Guide

2010

When it comes to the perfect gifts, Santa always gets it right. The rest of us – Are they sleeping? Are they awake? Have they been good? Bad? – struggle. Help is in your hands. In this year’s gift guide you’ll find plenty of inspired ideas, with many more in stores right around the corner. So for goodness’ sake, get reading and get going. Time is short. And smarty-pants is coming to town.

The movers and shakers in your life will appreciate a gift that’s easy on the environment and looks great on the go.

Kids’ Gifts: Old-Fashioned Fun Gifts for children take a decidedly old-school turn.

BARBECK W

The

I

R

E

BURGER KING

L

E

S

S

Take 10: Best Pictures on DVD and Blu-ray

And the Oscar goes to…

A bumper crop of 10 films, rather than the traditional five, vied for best picture honors at this year’s Academy Awards. There was a lot to take in, from the riveting war scenes in “The Hurt Locker” to the tender animated antics in “Up,” where an 8-year-old Wilderness Explorer and a bunch of helium balloons inadvertently hijack an elderly widower. No wonder judges had difficulty narrowing the field. Every one’s a winner.

–Taniesha Robinson

1

Avatar (20th Century Fox) $39.99, two-disc DVD/Blu-ray combo The Blind Side (Warner Bros.) $19.99 DVD/$24.99 Blu-ray

3

District 9 (Sony Pictures) $19.94 DVD/$24.95 Blu-ray

The Lists:

4

An Education (Sony Pictures Classics) $28.96 DVD/$38.96 Blu-ray

10 Top DVDs: 2010’s Oscar-winning movies and finalists

5

The Hurt Locker (Winner) (Summit Entertainment) $26.99 DVD/$34.99 Blu-ray

6

A Serious Man (Focus Features) $19.98 DVD/26.98 Blu-ray

7

Inglourious Basterds (The Weinstein Company) $16.99 DVD/$19.99 Blu-ray

8

Precious: Based on the Novel ‘Push’ by Sapphire (Lionsgate) $19.98 DVD/$29.99 Blu-ray

9

Up (Walt Disney) $45.99, four-disc DVD/Blu-ray combo

A gift for someone special calls for, well something special.

Brought to You By:

Secrets of the Wrap Stars

2

Get Personal When the one you love loves a car or truck, a certain gift-giving focus is called for.

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Sticks and stones?

Three of today’s most talented wrappers talk about their signature styles and share fresh ideas to help even the not-so-crafty gifter look brilliant.

Good and Green… to Go!

Shop in the Fast Lane

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10 Top Books: Distinguished and new for children 10 Top Board Games: Let the matchups begin!

10

Up in the Air (Paramount) $22.99 DVD/39.99 Blu-ray © CTW Features

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HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE | 2010 - 11

HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE Holidays 2010

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How to give the season’s best packages

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– DVDs with Oscar cred – Award-winning childrens’ books – Board games you know, sorta

« Wrap artist Wanda Wen, Soolip

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