Holiday Gift Lists - The Best of the Web
'Tis the season for holiday gift lists, and everyone and their mother has one on their website. Don't troll through tired, uninspired lists for hours — we've already done that for you! Check out the very best, most delightful, most smile-inducing lists we found in five Tonic-friendly categories below. You don't even have to leave your house to get this year's holiday shopping done!
Green Green Green These gifts are good for you, your loved ones, and the world.
- Let's Be Ecological is a DailyCandy list that includes eco-friendly goodies like repurposed family heirlooms jewelry, all-natural, hand-harvested wreaths and a DIY convert-your-car's-engine-to-run-on-veggie-oil kit (it's expensive; $595). Whoa.
- EcoStiletto's guide to green household gifts is full of wonders like organic dog treats and gadgets to shut off your electronics when they're not in use. As a bonus, they also link to some great reusable gift bags and offer exclusive discounts on just about everything they list.
- We had to include EcoStiletto again, because their list of green beauty finds highlights all kinds of chemical free and affordable products from $10 shampoo by Kate Hudson's hair stylist (it benefits WildAid) to lip glosses by supermodel Josie Maran. You can also enter to win all the items for free.
- Etsy's eco-friendly gift list includes ideas of which you've never dreamed. Eco-friendly dog clothes, bottle stoppers, slipper socks and more, all with that handmade, created-with-love feel.
Geeky Gadgety Goodness Fun techno-nerdy-fascinating finds.
- ThinkGeek has long been our go-to for geeky wonders. This year, they've got great gifts in a bunch of categories and price ranges, including exclusives like geek wrapping paper, an electronic guitar T-shirt you can actually strum, plush zombies for your dismembering pleasure, caffeinated soap and, my personal favorite, a USB pet rock that doesn't actually do anything. Hysterical.
- DailyCandy's Full Tech Support has 99 cent cardboard iPhone covers, porcelain speakers, a fancy-looking "magic wand" that uses infrared technology to sub for your remote control, cute Japanese robot dogs and cool, old-school-looking webcams. "Just don’t pull a Leighton Meester," they add.
- Urban Daddy's Gear archives are an endless source of amazing gifts for men, many of them tech-related. Browse through the national version or find your city for more localized gifts. Imagine projecting The Godfather or your favorite Harry Potter from a device that fits in your pocket (the WowWee Cinemin Swivel)!
Great for Kids and Teens There's nothing worse than a pity smile from a child — except a "this gift sucks" tantrum!
- Piperlime got some big names to spill their holiday shopping desires, including Rachel Bilson (click here for Rachel Bilson's shopping guide), Brooke Shields, Rashida Jones and Kristen Bell (upcoming). What teenager wouldn't love a gift hand-picked by Rachel Bilson? If it's from her "What I Want" list, it's fair to assume she'll be getting the same thing.
- It must be included. Twihards (Twi-Hards, get it?) may want one thing only: New Moon gifts. Hot Topic has a terrific assortment. If you're looking for something more off-the-beaten-path or want to make your own, check out this list of Twilight gifts at Zazzle. Mrs. Pattinson T-shirt, anyone?
- 17 Holiday Gift Ideas for Geeky Kids on ReadWriteWeb. This is great for future (and current) geniuses — frankly, we want this stuff, too! Also see ABC News' list of Smart Gifts for Kids.
- Going broke but got nieces and nephews? These ten gifts on CrossCut.com are well-chosen and all under $15.
- Lastly, for the truly stylish infants and toddlers, check out these beautiful Baby Gifts on SomeoneSpoilMe.com, all under $100.
Don't forget to check out W.A.T.C.H.'s annual list of the "10 Worst Toys" that could be dangerous for children!
Yummy for the Tummy Because food is gooooooooood. Need we say more?
- Without being rude, can we say that Oprah knows food? Her list of Cookies and More Sweet Tidings includes wreaths of cupcakes, gingerbread yoga cookies and more well-presented, perfect edible holiday treats.
- DailyCandy's Gifts for Gourmands is a drool-worthy list of great gifts like Himalayan salt slabs you can use for serving or cooking, rolling herb gardens, paint-by-number dessert plates, kombucha kits and jewelry made from fragments of china.
- The GOOP gift guide, courtesy of Gwyneth Paltrow, is ripe with fresh ideas like wine-of-the-month memberships and Debrett's Guide to Modern Manners (be careful that one doesn't get taken like a hint!), a whole list of cookbooks, and great foodie gift basket ideas. It wasn't meant to be a list for gourmands, but it's clear that Gwyneth knows that the holidays are all about indulgence!
Holiday Cheer! The most smile-inducing stuff on the net.
- The Spoon Sisters have a flawless eye for smile-inducing gifts. Their Holiday section includes snowman and Star of David loofahs, Christmas Tree in-a-Box, inflatable fruit cakes, Naughty & Nice guest towels and more.
- Holidash is running an Etsy Gift Guide, which so far includes funny gifts like reindeer poo bath soap and Ctrl Alt Del throw pillows, as well as cool messenger bags for the college-bound. They're featuring different, unusual categories like Slacker Brother and Mom to Be, so stay tuned.
- Speaking of Etsy, Etsy knows we tend to visit there for unique and exciting items, so they compiled a list of Etsy Statement Gifts (as well as gifts in various price ranges and more). The Statement Gifts are worth looking through just to lubricate your mind. It's amazing what people can make! For even more fun, check out their Gag Gifts — they're taking it way beyond the whoopie cushion. How about a beard hat, reindeer antlers for your dog, a hand-knit moss toilet-seat cover and more?
- 27 Beauty Gifts for Glamourgals by DailyCandy is maybe a little longer than it needs to be, but click on through for assortment of really fun beauty finds like festive, multicolored glitter nail polish, monogrammed bars of soap, gift bow hair pins, a mini perfume-making distillery (!) and even Bluebeards Original Beard Wash for men. Everyone loves a little pampering.
- Need a concierge? When you go to Amazon.com, you can't help but wonder if their gift guides are just computerized; done by the numbers. Not so with the gift guide on Oprah's site! Oprah's gift finder is so good, you'll think she knows you.
Happy holiday shopping! And, as always, don't forget to check out the exciting projects in the Tonic Shop!
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