2012 Holiday Gift Guide

Holiday NOVEMBER 2012

INSIDE… Gifts for the hard-to-gift Rugged cameras to take outdoors Gifts for the garden Gifts for your animal friends

The Ultimate Gift Giving Issue A production of the Mid-Valley Media’s Advertising Department

GIFT GUIDE

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Mid-Valley Newspapers, November 20, 2012

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Mid-Valley Newspapers, November 20, 2012

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Try these suggestions for the tough people on your list | by Jennifer Rouse

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in all shapes, colors and sizes, to fit anybody’s taste,” she said.

Think beyond the ordinary scarf or hat. Options include headbands, fingerless gloves, and even leg warmers. You may have heard of jeggings – the popular mash-up of jeans and leggings – but have you heard of glittens? Glittens are a fingerless glove with a fold-over, mitten-style top half. If you want your hands to stay toasty, use the mitten part. If you need to grab something, fold the mitten part back and use your still-gloved hands.

And if that’s not unique enough for you, try something that’s just for fun.

After all, your grandma may have woolen scarves. She may have woolen hats. She may even have glittens. But does she have her very own set of hand-crafted woolen finger puppets?

Grown-up toys donna deacon, co-owner of Village Blooms & Gifts, shows photo letter art at her store in north albany. (david patton/democrat-Herald)

The scenario: It’s Dec. 23.

You still have folks on your holiday gift list with no presents awaiting them. What’s more, you have no idea – not one -- what to buy for that handful of hard-to-shop-for people.

Do you resort to handing out IOUs? Cross your fingers and hope your loved ones won’t notice your slacking in the gift-giving department? Pray that maybe, by some holiday magic, the stockings will fill themselves this year?

Or, you could avert this entire December Doomsday scenario by reading on.

a thank-you gift later. But we’ll understand if you procrastinate.

Warm and snuggly gifts

We’ve talked to mid-valley business If wintertime makes you want to owners for a wide variety of unique give a gift that’s warm and cozy, try gift ideas. checking the Wellness Department at Every item on this list is the First Alternative Natural Foods interesting, unique, and available Co-Op in Corvallis. Department right here in the mid-valley from a manager Natalie Laqerquist said the local business. It’s your holiday gift Wellness Department carries both guide for the hard-to-buy-for person. locally made and fair-trade woolen goods. “They are unique, and come Don’t worry. You can send us

Trump’s Hobbies in the Timberhill Shopping Center in Corvallis is what owner Jim Trump calls “an oldfashioned hobby shop.” Do you like trains? How about magic tricks?

Games like “Dungeons and Dragons” or “Magic the Gathering?”

Paint-by-number artwork? Trump carries a little bit of everything.

Radio-controlled helicopters, cars, and airplanes are popular for all ages and come in a variety of sizes and price ranges, from small ones under $50 to huge ones that cost hundreds of dollars. Trump said he aims to carry higher-quality RC devices that

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Mid-Valley Newspapers, November 20, 2012 won’t give out after a few flights. “We a good bet with any food lover on really stress quality,” he said. “We your list. carry stuff that can be repaired.”

Jeannie Holiday, manager of And, if you have an expensive RC the cheese department at the First aircraft and you don’t want to worry Alternative Natural Foods Co-Op, about making repairs to it, a good gift said that the store’s cheese buyers for someone learning about the world of personally taste and select the RC flight is a flight simulator computer product mix every holiday season. program called RealFlight. Developed Want something exotic and in Corvallis, the program comes with imported? “Bries, Triple Creams, a controller just like the one you’d use and other soft cheeses from France, if you were flying your expensive RC Italy, and the U.S. are extremely aircraft outside, with one big difference popular this time of year,” Holiday – a “reset” button that allows you to said. “Manchego, from Spain, and simply start over if you crash.

P'tit Basque, from France, are both “It is extremely detailed and realistic,” Trump said.

popular for snacking and travel well thanks to their aged character.”

Bonus for Oregon State University Want a cheese that’s truly local? fans: the simulator even lets you “fly” “We have an outstanding selection through the Truax Indoor Center on of blue cheeses, many of them made the Oregon State campus. in Oregon at the world-famous A good gift for the history buff is a Rogue Creamery,” Holiday said.

Other locally made cheeses at the model boat kit – Trump’s Hobbies carries everything from exact replicas Co-Op include Fraga Farms chevres, Willamette Valley cheese havartis of Spanish galleons to Viking war ships. Some are simple, while others and goudas, Full Circle Creamery smoked cheeses, and La Mariposa are extremely elaborate. authentic Argentinian-style cheeses.

“Some of these would keep you busy If you’re not sure what to buy, for months or years,” Trump said. think custom: you can put together Tantalize the taste buds a gift basket with meats, wine, and a variety of cheese and crackers.

Paired with wine, spread on a “Choosing a theme like ‘local’ or cracker, or melted for fondue, a ‘Italian’ can help people decide how selection of high quality cheeses is to put together a selection of items

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looks like a letter J,” Deacon said.

You can take this eclectic mix of letter photographs and spell out Something beautiful for your loved any message, either standard or one’s home is another good gift-giving custom. “You can buy a set that says, bet. Donna Deacon, co-owner of ‘Christmas Joy,’ or you could buy a Village Blossoms and Gifts in North custom set with someone’s last name Albany, suggests artwork by Oregon for a wedding gift,” Deacon said. artist Dean Crouser. Village Blossoms She said she’s had customers carries his paintings in greeting purchase letter sets spelling out “golf” cards, posters, and art tiles. Crouser’s in honor of someone hobby, or letters brightly colored artwork focuses on that spell out a name for a baby gift. wildlife and natural themes.

Village Blossoms carries ready-made that makes sense,” Holiday said.

Deck your halls

“I’ve had women buy it for their husbands because some of his pieces have a fishing motif,” Deacon said.

“People absolutely love them.”

Another gift that can be tailored to your unique gift recipient is artwork involving architectural photos of letters. “For instance, the picture might be of a part of a fence that

sets, or staff members can help you order a custom word or phrase.

For the whole family If you’re still not sure what to buy, think back to your childhood and try a gift from your local toy store. The Toy Factory, with locations in both

Continued on Page 6

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Gardeners and gadgets go hand in hand | by Jen Matteis

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Village Blossoms & Gifts sells ceramic coasters and tiles featuring prints from original water color painting from oregon artist dean Crouser. (david patton/democrat-Herald)

Continued from Page 5 Albany and Corvallis, offers a wide variety of puzzles and games that are fun for both adults and kids.

If you’ve got someone on your list who enjoys a challenge, owner Errol Noel recommends “Perplexus.”

“Perplexus” is a maze game that requires players to maneuver a marble through a series of twists and turns. “It’s not an easy thing to do, but it’s fun,” Noel said.

If you have friends who enjoyed the wildly popular board game “Settlers of Catan” but are ready for something new, try “Ticket to Ride.”

It, too, is a strategy-based board game, but it allows you to become a railroad tycoon in the Old West rather than a settler in a fictional country. “If people liked ‘Settlers of Catan,’ they will like it,” Noel said.

“Zenith” is another game that’s good for children or for adults, Noel said. It involves strategically stacking triangle-shaped wooden playing pieces until the last player stacks a piece of his own color on top. “At its simplest level, a 5-yearold can do it. But there is strategy involved, so it can appeal to a lot of different people,” Noel said.

From specialized tools such as the horihori to rocking seats designed to navigate garden rows, it's easy to find gifts that are both novel and useful—as well as a few classics that are always appreciated, such as holiday houseplants.

Here are suggestions from a few local garden experts:

Brighten the home Lynnette Shonnard of Shonnard's Nursery Florist and Landscape

in Corvallis recommended traditional Christmas plants such as paperwhites or amaryllis as a way to brighten a gardener's home during the winter.

The bulbs of both can be made to bloom indoors at the holidays, creating white flowers that appear about four weeks after planting.

“They're fragrant; you can plant them indoors and have them bloom around Christmas,” she said. “You

can either give them as gifts or have them blooming inside your home.”

Another winter staple is the Helleborus; the plants are a little more expensive at $15 and up, available in a wide range of flower colors from green to pink along with newer, darker shades.

“They start blooming now [midNovember] and they're great shade plants,” Shonnard said. “We have new colors: purples and maroon.”

Mid-Valley Newspapers, November 20, 2012

She also suggested gifts to brighten a garden during the winter, such as Christmas-themed flags, solar lighting, tuned windchimes, and — of course — garden gnomes. “Our gnomes are still popular in all sorts of different styles,” she said.

Succulents or cacti are another good choice, especially the blooming zygo cactus, also known as the Thanksgiving or Christmas cactus.

“They're fun; they're starting to bloom right now: pinks and peach and whites,” said Shonnard.

Other items that bring color indoors during the winter include intricate glass bird baths and decorative bowls, she added.

For the knees After hours spent standing, sitting, and kneeling, many gardeners might appreciate a kneeler, a versatile piece of equipment.

“Those are really popular,” said $11.99 for the hand-tools.

Shonnard. “You can kneel on them; “They're ergonomic, they have a you can set them up so you can sit on lifetime guarantee, and they're all them; they have raised-up arms on sorts of super-cute colors,” she said. them so you can stand.”

The Japanese weeding tool “We have probably seven different the hori-hori ($34.99 for carbon styles of kneelers, garden cushions; steel; $41.99 for stainless steel) it just makes gardening so much also remains a popular item for easier,” said Erica Powell of Garland gardeners.

Nursery, between Corvallis and “It does everything,” Powell said.

Albany on Highway 20, where “You can use it as a transplanter, kneelers run from $6.99 to $17.99. you can use it as a weeder; it has a Another variety is the garden serrated edge to cut through roots.” rocker ($40), an adjustable garden And: “Everyone should have a seat used for weeding or other work pruner,” Powell added. For a highin the garden. “It rocks back and forth so you can move it and go down end pruner, try the Felco pruner, while “Zenport has some more the row,” Shonnard explained. affordable pruners.”

Susan Yaukey of Schmidt's Garden Yaukey suggested a device called Center in Corvallis also mentioned Grandpa's Weeder ($29.99), a tool knee pads to protect gardeners' used to pull up dandelions in the knees, specifically Knee Benz ($25.99), which strap directly onto your knees.

“They're super-comfortable knee pads; you can use them inside for cleaning or outside for gardening,” she said.

Tools and so forth Finally, tools are perhaps the mainstay of the trade. All gardeners have their favorites. Powell recommended a line of tools called Radius Garden Tools, which start at

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“It has a four-foot handle on it so you don't have to bend over,” she said.

“That's one of our most popular gifts.”

Yaukey's favorite tool, however, is the Winged Weeder ($24.99). It's a hoe with a flat blade used to shuffle weeds out of the soil from where they come up in aisles and walkways.

“It cuts off new weeds and they just die; you don't even have to pick them up,” she said.

Whichever you choose, odds are that unlike the toy you just bought your 3-year-old, a gardener's tool will see use, use, and then more use.

And who knows, maybe your gifted gardener will reward you with a box of tomatoes or summer squash down the line.

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Ultimate Ultrabooks

Thin is in! If someone on your list is after a new laptop this season, give them one that is sleek, lightweight and, above all, powerful

By Greg Scoblete CTW Features Say what you will about laptops, but no one would ever mistake them for stylish – until now.

Once Apple unveiled the super-slender MacBook Air in 2008, the tech world has been in a frenzy about “ultrabooks.” The term, coined by Intel, refers to a notebook computer that’s less than 1-inch thick and weighs less than 4 pounds. These incredibly thin notebooks also offer quick start-ups times – often less than 10 seconds – and longer battery lives alongside drool-worthy styling.

You will make a few trade-

Ultra and Ultra-er: The 13- and 11-inch Apple MacBook Airs.

offs if you spring for an ultrabook this holiday season: There are no optical-disc drives, and external ports like USB and HDMI often are sparse. Plus, all these good looks and computational brains demand a premium price.

Still, if you’re looking for the latest and greatest in portable computing, these ultrabooks won’t disappoint.

Apple MacBook Air

Having created the category, Apple continues to innovate with its 2012 MacBook Air 13-inch model. At its thinnest edge it’s an amazing 0.1 inches thick, reaching a mere 0.68 inches at its thickest point. The appropriately named Air weighs in at just a shade less than 3 pounds. Despite its delicate looks, the MacBook Air still packs a computational punch thanks to a 1.8GHz dual-core Intel Core i5 processor, 4GB of RAM (upgradeable to 8GB) and Intel’s HD Graphics 4000 engine. There’s a built-in 720p webcam for HD chatting over FaceTime or Skype.

The 2012 MacBook Air 13-inch starts with 128GB of flash storage and is upgradeable up to 512GB worth for those needing more space for their digital life. As far as connectivity goes, you’ll find a pair of USB 3.0 ports, an SD card slot, and a Thunderbolt port – a newer type of connection that’s even faster than USB 3.0. Not many peripherals use Thunderbolt yet – but they will – so you’re futureproof. Battery life clocks in between 5 and 7 hours.

Last, but certainly not least, the new 13-inch Air comes in at a base price of $1,199. The MacBook Air also is available in an 11-inch model, which bases with a 1.7GHz processor, 4GB of RAM and 64GB of flash storage for $999.

Samsung Series 9

Samsung is Apple’s arch rival in just about everything, and a slim notebook is no exception. With the Series 9, the company comes to the fight with a 13.3-inch LED display, Intel’s 1.7GHz Core i5 processor, a 128GB solid state drive and 4GB of RAM standard (upgradeable to 8GB). Graphics are powered by Intel’s HD Graphics 3000 engine, and

Samsung Series 9

you’ll find a 1.2-megapixel HD webcam plus a pair of built-in, 3-watt speakers for cranking out the tunes.

Unlike the MacBook Air, there’s no Thunderbolt port, but there are a pair of USB 2.0 ports and an HDMI output, which the Air doesn’t have.

The Series 9 Ultrabook measures in at 12.9-by-8.9-by-0.64 inches, and it weighs in just less than 3 pounds thanks to its “duralumin” body – a lightweight substance that’s twice as strong as aluminum yet lightweight.

Expect to pay around $1,300 for the basic configuration.

Sony Vaio T13

If you’re shopping on the budget end of the spectrum, Sony’s Vaio T13 is worth a look. This $765 ultrabook features an Intel Core i5 processor (1.7GHz) with 4GB of

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Mid-Valley Newspapers, November 20, 2012

Powerful Peripherals These super-mobile accessories are just the thing to make the most of a new ultrabook Western Digital My Passport Most ultrabooks are pretty light on the storage side. If you need to add memory for those HD movies and digital music collections, Western Digital’s My Passport portable drives are a good choice. They’re

sleek and stylish – just like an ultrabook – and come in capacities of 500GB ($129) up to 2TB ($250).

My Passport uses USB 3.0 for quick file transfers and comes with automatic back-up software and encryption for keeping digital files safe.

Linksys Smart Wi-Fi EA6500 The Linksys Smart Wi-Fi EA6500 ($219.99) wireless Internet router uses the latest version of Wi-Fi technology (802.11ac, for those keeping score at home) so there’s plenty of bandwidth for streaming

Western Digital My Passport

Sony Vaio T13

RAM and Intel’s HD Graphics 4000 engine. Somewhat unique among ultrabooks, it pairs a 320GB hard disk drive for ample file storage with a 32GB SSD for faster boot-ups.

HD movies to a Smart TV or media player, web surfing, music downloading and gaming. No need to update other devices, though – it’s backward-compatible with all networked gear. This router has two USB ports for adding network storage plus four ethernet ports for super-fast hardwired routing.

Epson Home XP-400 Despite the prevalence of wireless and cloud technology, printing and scanning remain a necessary evil.

Epson’s Home XP-400 ($99.99)

Epson Home XP-400

packs a printer and scanner in one, and it’s compatible with Apple AirPrint and Google Cloud, so you can wirelessly print from mobile devices like ultrabooks, tablets and smartphones. It features a 2.5-inch display, memory card slots and uses four individual ink cartridges. You can expect print speeds at around 8.7 pages per minute for black or 4.5 pages per minute in color.

–G.S. © CTW Features

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What's better than an adventure in the great outdoors?

Being able to bring back proof for your friends, of course! | by Nancy Raskauskas

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Island combined and has a combined population of 7,500, of which twothirds is in the northern end."

paul Rentz brought his camera to the remote landscape of the Malheur Wildlife Refuge in eastern oregon in 2010 and 2012, to document wildlife, especially birds. (photos contributed by paul Rentz).

Capture the picture-perfect holiday gift for the outdoor explorer in your life by outfitting them with some rugged gear that can stand up to the elements while still delivering quality photos or video.

We asked two mid-valley image experts, Sean Brown and Paul Rentz, to share their picks for the best gear and accessories out there.

This time of year, Rentz -- a longtime local photographer known also for his job in sales at Oregon Camera and as the former owner of Rush Hour Photo -- can be found at Finley National Wildlife Refuge, south of Corvallis, documenting the annual ebb and flow of migratory birds with his birding buddies Andy Hoffman, Wayne Seim and Dave Butcher.

"It's time to get the camera out for geese, ducks, eagles and so on," he said.

Rentz favors either the Canon EOS Rebel T4i ($800 to $1,250) or the Nikon D3200 ($700) for his professional work and recommends either the Canon SX260 ($250) or the Nikon S9300 ($350) for those looking for a simpler point-and-shoot option that still gets great results.

For water enthusiasts who plan to submerge their gear or simply Rentz loves remote landscapes and run the risk of it happening, Rentz the challenge of nature photography. suggest a rugged waterproof camera He's made a photographic pilgramage to such as the Nikon AW100 or the the Malheur Wildlife Refuge in eastern Canon D20. Both have GPS built-in Oregon twice in the past few years. (and cost about $350).

"I enjoy the quiet of such a secluded Rentz often uses a tripod or place," he said. "Harney County is monopod for stability ($20 and larger than New Jersey and Rhode

Mid-Valley Newspapers, November 20, 2012

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up). He suggests getting a few inexpensive rain protectors (less than $10) and investing in a good camera bag ($40 to $200) that can both protect and help you keep track of your gear so nothing gets left behind.

Cinematographer sean Brown is no stranger to bringing camera gear into harsh conditions, such as an outdoor gear photo shoot at snowy smith Rock in Central oregon last winter. (photo contributed by sean o'Connor)

On Rentz' wish list: The Canon 600 mm 14L lens. The top-of-theline lens is weather-sealed. It costs a steep $12,999, however, which is why it's just a wish for now, he said.

Traveling to vibrant locales all over the world, such as Tibet, Hawaii, China, Thailand and New Zealand, is on Brown's bucket list. But, in the meantime, he feels lucky to live in a beautiful state where some of his favorite places to explore with a lens are Mount Hood and Smith Rock.

Harsh conditions Brown, a cinematographer, always seems to have something going on. His creative projects of the moment include a series of Nissan Leaf car commercials that he is shooting to spec. Mid-valley residents might notice some familiar faces and scenery such as the Benton County Courthouse and Peoria Road in the segments, if they air.

DSLR and a good microfiber cloth to wipe moisture off.

There are also solar chargers available from companies such as Goal Zero ($130 to $2,000)

He's also deep in pre-production planning and fundraising for an upcoming documentary to be filmed in Kumari, a community in the heights of Nepal. Proceeds from the project will On that same benefit education projects in the remote shoot, his team also town. (Learn more at Kumari.org). used Gorillapods by Joby (short, Brown favors high-end DSLRs flexible tripods, $20 to $100) that such as the Canon 7D 5d mark ii they wrapped around their gloves ($3,000 to $4,000) or the EOS Rebel or mittens to run through the snow t3i ($750 to $800). with. The pods both helped protect Not surprisingly, some of their hands from the elements while the harshest conditions Brown keeping the cameras secure. encounters come from shooting To stay comfortable during long in the mountains, in the snow. He days behind the camera, Brown recalled a recent photo shoot he believes in quality outdoor gear, worked on for New Zealand gear including boots and rain gear, and company Aarn, in the Cascades, suggests brands such as The Clymb, where the camera kept freezing over Icebreaker and Keen. and had to be brought into a warm Another great gift for a photographer place to defrost the back viewer. is fingerless gloves, or gloves with "You need extra batteries -- in the capacitance built into the finger tips winter they run out faster and you're (available at Fred Meyer, $5 and up). usually in a place where charging is Brown uses a pair to keep his hands slow or impossible," he said. Brown warm while working a touch screen brings up to 10 extra batteries for his camera or smartphone. He also suggests

On Brown's wish list is the GoPro Hero 3 (Black Edition, $400). The tiny remote camera is possibly the most sought-after photography gadget this winter with a flood of prea headlamp for orders. The Hero 3 captures in highthose winter definition for still or video and comes evening projects in a waterproof casing with a range or starry night of mounts that can be used to attach sky time-lapse it to everything from a snowboarder's images. helmet to the tip of a surfer's board.

A few It would be a mostly recreational other must-have piece of gear for Brown. "I wouldn't accessory suggestions from make a movie with it, but it makes Brown: a waterproof housing ($70 great b-roll," he said. to $300 made for everything from He’s also hoping to add a few new iPhones to DSLRs), "but protection filters for his digital SLR to his collection of any sort (even a rain coat) is better ($7 to $130). "It's really bright in the than nothing"; and an intervalometer snow," he said. "You can't underestimate ($15 to $40), so that he can spend the power of a good filter." some time snug in the tent while the (Note: All prices are approximate.) camera works out in the elements.

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Gifts for Pets Here's what to get your animal friends for the holidays | by Maria L. Kirkpatrick

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Reptile supplies has been added to the inventory at all For Fish in albany. (david patton/democrat-Herald)

Regardless of the nature of your family pet, local shops offer a wide array of possible gifts to wrap and give for the holiday.

Ryan Juntenen at Albany's All for Fish said LED lighting for fish tanks is the new rage.

owner Ryan Juntunen shows a 54 gallon corner aquarium recently at all For Fish in albany. (david patton/democrat-Herald)

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Mid-Valley Newspapers, November 20, 2012

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New aquariums come in a variety of shapes and sizes that can nestle in a corner or perch atop a desk.

A full line of cube and column shape aquariums offers fish lovers something different from the traditional rectangular tanks.

GloFish fluorescent fish are taking off in popularity and Juntenen sells aquariums specially equipped to show off the yellow, red, pink, green, blue and purple swimmers. These fish are specially bred with an added gene and not injected with dye.

New at All for Fish are reptile supplies. Everything needed to help create a natural environment for all things scaly is available. From decor to lighting to crunchy treats, Juntenen stocks it all.

Animal Crackers in Corvallis offers a variety of pet gift ideas for the holiday season.

(Amanda Cowan | Corvallis Gazette-Times)

For those with furry pets, Animal Crackers in Corvallis offers much for dog and cat lovers looking to pamper their pets with holiday gifts.

Store manager Tresa Henderson has been ordering artistic and fun products while keeping the planet in mind.

Paw-print keepsakes are new this year. Help your pet make an imprint to hang on the tree and then store it in its own tin.

Other tree decorations include fired-clay snowflake ornaments for

cats and dogs made by local artist Gale Everett Stahlke.

A new line of organic gingerbread cookies make a tasty addition to any dog's stocking and holiday catnip mats add appeal to any cat's favorite spot.

An assortment of plush toys has been stocked and awaits wrapping.

Made from felt and wool remnants, one variety can be thrown in the dryer and reshaped after a period of rough play. Eco-fleece toys, made from recycled soda pop bottles, have

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catnip or squeak devices inside for Kim Sielski of Animal Crackers poses for a photo with a selection of pet gift ideas for the extra appeal. Made from recycled holiday season Nov. 9 in Corvallis. rubber, Planet Dog toys come shaped (Amanda Cowan | Corvallis Gazette-Times) like holiday lights.

Henderson likes to offer customers locally made options as well as environmentally friendly products.

For customers taking their shorthaired canine into cold weather conditions, red and green fleece jackets and sweaters make for warm and seasonally appropriate attire.

Make sure, however, that your dog would benefit from outerwear; many

breeds are warm enough with their own fur.

If that’s the case with your dog, think accessories: Animal Crackers has an assortment of collars and scarves to deck out four-legged friends for holiday parades and parties.

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Mid-Valley Newspapers, November 20, 2012