Christmas Shopping

I like to shop online, and found a treasure-trove of new stores this month in a New York Times article.


The Container Store has great stocking stuffers, and so does Uncommon Goods. Curio City is a family owned place that advertises 'curious gifts for curious people.' There are wonderful soaps and scents for both men and women at Caswell and Massey and free shipping if you purchase $25 worth of goods.


Oxo carries innovative household and gardening tools. MXYPLYZYK is pronounced mix-ee-pliz-ik , from an early Superman comic, and their site is a browsing beauty. Smith and Hawken is another great site carrying home and garden wares.

Amazon 's Wish List feature has also been a godsend, reducing the chance of giving my children and grandchildren something they don't want or have already. Have the gift sent directly to the recipient's home, at no cost if you buy a small minimum.

Fat Brain Toys is another favorite, helping you choose a gift by age, sex, and interest. Reviews by parents who've bought the toys are helpful, as are lists from various toy and education experts. Pick out a toy from one of the lists and then do some comparison shopping on NexTag The "true price" including taxes and shipping is calculated by entering your zip code.

In fact, all of these sites are fun to look at, even if you've finished your shopping early. There are gift giving occasions throughout the year.

When you're looking for something but don't know where to find it, do a Google search. I wanted to buy fine chocolates, the sort that sell for $2 or $3 per piece, so I searched for "best chocolates". I came up with a 10 Best list from About.com, as well as list in an article from USA Today. One of the best is Romanico's Chocolate in Miami. Less expensive but very tasty are See's chocolates, and you can choose dark or milk chocolates or even a custom assortment.


Pittman and Davis offers edible Christmas gifts like fruit, hams, turkey, and cheese straws from them. They have some free shipping right now. IGourmet is another store that's great for sending gifts of food, especially cheeses.



Finally, what could smell better at the break of day than Peet's special roast coffee? I have fond memories of waking up early on Christmas mornings, turning on the tree lights, making a pot of coffee and then sitting there sipping my coffee and admiring the tree while waiting for the rest of my family to wake up............while I enjoy the calm before the storm.


Happy Holidays.