December 2011 Holiday Gift Guide
by Houston Family Magazine
If you haven’t quite finished shopping for the holidays, don’t worry—the second section of our two-part Holiday Gift Guide should help you find something for all the stragglers on your list. Happy holidays!
Yonanas
Get ready for your new favorite snack: Yonanas! The Yonanas machine turns any combination of fruits and vegetables into a creamy frozen miracle that looks like soft-serve ice cream. Best of all, it’s totally delicious without having any fat or cholesterol and hardly any calories. Ideal for post-holiday dieting! Recipe book included.
Price: $49.99
Available at Target or target.com, as well as on the Home Shopping Network or yonanas.com.
XZipit Bar Stool
Pop a top off with your bros and watch the Sunday game on your new XZipit Bar Stool. With a stainless steel frame, 270 degree swivel, bar height, and changeable team logo, it’s an ideal addition to any “man cave.”
Price: $549.00
Available at www.xzipit.com.
Harman/Kardon SB16
The SB16 Soundbar provides incredible surround sound with a wireless subwoofer for epic (and relocatable) bass. The soundbar is also programmed in-step with the functions of your TV remote. Great for action movie fans and sound junkies alike!
Price: $689.99
Available at your local Apple Store.
Disney Princess Singing and Storytelling Doll
It’s a tale as old as time…but this time, Belle can tell her own story. This 20-inch Belle doll reads aloud a short story version of “Beauty and the Beast,” complete with songs. She also speaks to her friends, Chip, Lumiere, and Mrs. Potts. Belle is programmed to say more than 100 phrases. A deluxe brush is included for her lifelike hair!
Price: $79.99
Available at Walmart, Toys’R‘Us, or amazon.com.
Ultimate Dream Castle
This year, your little princess can take home her own Disney Dream Castle. Girls will be able to create their own fairytales with 50 play pieces and trademark rooms inspired by Disney Princess characters. Fly on Jasmine’s magic carpet or help Cinderella on her quest to find her glass slipper—the story is up to you! Dolls sold separately.
Price: $164.99
Available at Walmart, Toys’R‘Us, or amazon.com.
CSI Las Vegas Case Studies
Analyze evidence from a 40-page casebook in order to find and catch your suspect. Also included: a UV scanner, microscope, tweezers, suspect sheets, and crime scene evidence. Outfox the thief with your detective skills before the trail gets cold!
Price: $19.99
Available at Toys’R‘Us.
Words to Sweat By
We all know working out is hard, but you’ll find it easier to persevere with these inspiring words embroidered onto your towel. Keep up the hard work!
Price: $9.95
Available at wordstosweatby.com.
Bomb Blastin’ Mater
Mater is back…as a world-class spy! He has lights, sounds, machine guns, booster rockets, and eye and mouth movement. Mater also moves and talks by himself. Take this certified spy home today and watch him work!
Price: $69.99
Available at Walmart, Toys’R‘Us, and amazon.com.
Out of Print T-Shirts
Embark on a journey through the world of literature with this imaginative line of children’s and adults’ t-shirts. T-shirts are printed with original cover art for classic books like Charlotte’s Web, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, Moby Dick, The Song of Solomon, The Great Gatsby, and many more. Purchase of any shirt sends one book to a community in need. Available in children’s sizes 2T, 4T, and 6T; women’s sizes S-XXL; and men’s/unisex sizes S-XXL.
Price: Kids’ sizes $22.00; adult sizes $28.00.
Available at outofprintclothing.com.
Easy View Microscope
Embrace your inner scientist with this clear-view microscope that enhances objects up to 640x! Microscope comes with 19 accessories, including prepared and blank slides, petri dish, tweezers, vials, and more. See what you can discover!
Price: $49.99
Available from Lakeshore Learning, 2405 Post Oak Blvd., Houston, TX 77056. Call 713-355-4383 or visit M-F 9-8, Sat 9-7, or Sun 11-5. Online at www.lakeshorelearning.com.
Little House on the Prairie Complete DVD Box Set
Visit your kinfolk in Walnut Grove with the Little House on the Prairie complete DVD box set! This box set contains all 9 seasons—that’s 203 episodes—plus special features, original pilot episode, interviews, commentaries, and more. Relax into stories of a simpler time with this wonderful series.
Price: $149.98
Available at Target and target.com or at amazon.com.
Happy First T-Shirts and Wraps
Enjoy the luxury of these ultra-soft organic cotton and bamboo wraps and t-shirts! With a variety of different designs and colors, you are sure to find one that suits your tastes and personality. Happy First donates 10% of all sales to leukemia and lymphoma research, so you can feel good about your purchase twice over!
Price: $32.00-$54.00
Available at www.happyfirst.com.
Schwinn Roadster Trike
Start your kids off right with this Schwinn Roadster Trike. Available in a variety of colors, these sturdy trikes sport a set of 12” x 8” wheels with inflatable tires, a vintage frame, mustache handle bars, chrome fenders, and a wooden rear deck. This baby is ready for the blacktop!
Price: $89.99
Available at Toys’R‘Us or toysrus.com.
Lionel Electric Train Set “G-Gauge”
Ride the rails with this “Polar Express”-inspired electric train set! Assembled set is 55” wide by 72” long. Train includes a working headlight and a button that exclaims “All aboard the Polar Express!” Also included are detailed passenger cars with two opening doors, a remote that allows train to move forward and backward, three Polar Express figures, 12 curved and 4 straight track pieces, 6 C batteries, and 2 AA batteries.
Price: $119.99
Available at Pottery Barn Kids or potterybarnkids.com.
Perfectly Pathetic Tree
Forget the tree farm and don’t bother borrowing your neighbors’ pickup—Charlie Brown’s famous Christmas Tree is waiting for a home this year! All it needs is one red ornament and you’ll be ready to celebrate a Peanuts Christmas. An exact replica of the tree from the cartoon!
Price: $20.00
Available at Urban Outfitters or urbanoutfitters.com.
Linus Blanket
The classic “Linus Blanket” from the Peanuts cartoon is here for your snuggling pleasure. Five dollars from each sale will be donated to Project Linus, an organization that delivers blankets to children in need. Give yourself and a child the gift of warmth this winter.
Price: $36.00
Available at Urban Outfitters or urbanoutfitters.com.
Recordable Storybook
Hallmark’s recordable “Charlie Brown Christmas” storybook makes it possible for you to record yourself telling the story along with background music. Make the traditional Charlie Brown story come to life and watch the sparkle in your toddler’s eye!
Price: $29.95
Available at Hallmark Gold Crown Stores.
Universal Remote
End the clutter and confusion! Take home a Universal Remote. Remote controls up to eight devices, including TV, DVD, cable, satellite, sound and gaming systems, and more. 800 factory presets, automatically learned codes, and a built-in bottle opener make this the ideal couch potato’s accessory.
Price: $21.45
Available at amazon.com.
Mugz Ice Cream Maker
Mugz are the cutest, quickest ways for you to make ice cream at home! They come in a variety of animal shapes—choose your favorite and fill it with ice cubes, salt, and water, as well as milk and your favorite flavors. Put the cap on and shake for three minutes and presto…instant ice cream!
Prices start at $11.85.
Available at amazon.com.
Cake Pop Maker
If you love sweets but don’t want the temptation of having a whole cake in your kitchen, this may be the ideal solution. This Cake Pop Maker bakes 12 pops in one batch—they’re the ideal size to satisfy your sweet tooth.
Price: $24.99
Available at thebabycakesshop.com.
CarLahLah Magnets
Add style to your ride with these creative 6” car magnets. A portion of each purchase is donated to organizations that offset carbon emissions!
Price: $8.99
Available at CarLahLah.com.
Handstand Kids Italian Cookbook
Taste amore with these kid-friendly Italian recipes. From salads to spaghetti to pizza, your child will learn the tried-and-true culinary traditions of Italy. Kit includes a pizza box, chef hat, and kids’ cookbook.
Price: $25.00
Available at handstandkids.com.
Cutting Board
Enhance your kitchen with this bamboo cutting board, polished with an olive oil finish. Board measures 14”x10”x1” and can be laser-engraved with any 2-line personalization of your choice!
Price: $36.95
Available at personalizationmall.com.
Spa Day
Have a girls’ night and make chemical-free beauty products! Included are project cards, citric acid, cosmetic glitter, and beauty products. Create your own beauty concoctions and host the best slumber party in town!
Price: $29.99
Available at smartlabtoys.com.
Trigger
Slap yourself silly in this ridiculously fun party game. Players answer “true” or “false” to statements as quickly as possible by slapping the target. Right Hand = “TRUE,” Left Hand = “FALSE.” Sound easy? Here are some sample statements: groundhogs have teeth; you are wearing a ring on your left hand; there are 6 Olympic rings; cows drink milk. Great for developing social and cognitive skills and reflexes in older elementary-school-age kids!
Price: $12.99
Available at Fundamentally Toys, 1963 W Gray St., Houston. 713-524-4400. Also available from Imagination Toys, 3849 Bellaire Blvd., Houston. 713-662-9898. Online at amazon.com.
