What's in Store

Procrastinating gift givers have still time to get it there in time for the big day. According to our survey, one-third of Shopping.com merchants are offering Next Day shipping for purchases made by today, December 21, so your gifts will still arrive in time for Christmas.

Need some ideas? How about a gift card? Our recent consumer survey showed that they are the must-have gift this year, with 77 percent of consumers saying they’d prefer to receive a gift card to their favorite store over a tangible gift. Most of them may get their wish, as 59 percent of gift-givers said they’d prefer to GIVE a gift card than a tangible gift. The Home Depot gift card is the most popular on Shopping.com this season, with many other great cards available from everyone’s favorite stores.

Other last-minute ideas include a small bottle of perfume or cologne - still very personal, yet won’t weigh too much to rack up high shipping charges. Or, order your friend or loved one a subscription to their favorite magazine. Even though the first issue won’t arrive in time for Christmas, you can buy a copy off the newsstand and enclose a note telling the recipient to expect more issues to start arriving in the New Year.

Happy Holidays!!!

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This week we found Do it Yourself (DIY) and more last-minute gift ideas for those of you that have been busy, and for those of you that like to procrastinate:

DailyCandy gives us helpful ideas for DIY gifts. Share recipe cards and cookbooks, create CD labels or calendars, make a photo album, or whip up a batch of tasty cookies. These are just some quick, easy, and fun ways for you to show your friends and family that you’re thinking of them during the holidays. Now it’s time to get creative and have some fun during the process!

Parents magazine raves about the Silver Streak, an “it” purse that can make you feel pulled-together instantly. For all stylish moms, this metallic stunner is an incognito diaper bag (it converts to a stroller bag too). Heidi Klum wears it — wouldn’t you love a dash of her gorgeous mommy style?

Splendora adds the Zyken Night Cove Alarm Clock to its holiday wish list. A gadget which doesn’t look like a time keeper at all, but rather a minimalist lamp or second cousin of H.A.L. Insomniacs are meant to be enraptured by the Cove’s intuitive high-tech features: rotating hues of various wavelengths, tailored to help you fall asleep quickly and comfortably.

Engadget unveils its Holiday Gift Guide! Instead of tackling the crowds, the traffic, and hearing Jingle Bell Rock 80,000 times, find the perfect gift online. Got a dad who never gives any insight into what they want for the holidays? Look no further — the Oregon Scientific’s Crystal Weather Station tells time, daily weather and serves as a paperweight.

Stylehive arms us with fun, colorful, and full of personality DIY stocking stuffer ideas for kids and kids at heart. There’s an innocence that make them a welcome diversion from the Polly Pockets, bulked-up superheroes, and Barbies that kids think they want. Try making a deluxe socktopus for your loved one, as it’s always a classic gift, and the fact that it’s handmade will make it unforgettable and irreplaceable.

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Sarah Shirley, shopping expert for Shopping.com shares some sustainable holiday gift ideas with us this week. Below are some of her tips for us…

~ Everyone from Hershey’s to Levi’s seems to be touting “green” products this holiday season. What better way to shop with a purpose than buying an eco-friendly gift? However, it’s hard to tell if you are actually helping the environment, as there are so many confusing terms associated with the green movement.

A few years ago my college roommate went to work for an organic chocolate company. I thought - that’s nice but what does that mean? “Oh she’s working for a chocolatier that makes chocolate for vegetarians!” With all these new terms, it’s tough to understand how products with labels like eco, sustainable and organic really help make the world a better place to live.

Don’t fret! I’ve put together a cheat sheet of common terms related to the eco-movement so you too can shop green with ease. I love the idea of shopping and helping the environment at the same time. Talk about guilt reduction!

Sustainable - Sustainability in an environmental usage, and refers to the longevity of vital human ecological support systems, such as the planet’s climatic system, systems of agriculture, industry, forestry, and fisheries, and human communities in general and the various systems on which they depend. In other words look for something that can grow back easily like bamboo, or something that can return to its natural state once discarded.

Environmentally Friendly, also referred to as nature friendly, includes goods and services considered to inflict minimal harm on the environment.

Earth Friendly can be similar to environmentally friendly but buyers beware. Companies use these words to mean just about anything. Do your research before you buy, as many companies slap on these types of labels as part of a larger marketing campaign.

Recycled - Many items today are made from waste materials that have been reprocessed. For example, leather that otherwise may have been tossed, is used instead to make handbags, or plastic bottles that are repurposed into dog beds.

Organic - Involves materials grown with fertilizers that are of animal or vegetable origin (nothing artificially produced) as opposed to manufactured chemicals.

Organic Cotton- Cotton fiber grown without pesticides, toxic chemicals and other artificial agents - hence there is less wear and tear on the earth by not adding harmful chemicals to it.

Non-Toxic- Not affected by toxins or other poisonous and potentially harmful materials. Who wants a toy that is made with toxic dyes?

Solar- Using or operated by energy derived from the sun.

Green- Environmentally sound or beneficial in environmental preservation.

Hemp- A tall, coarse plant (native to Asia) that is a source of valuable fiber.

Repurposed- To convert or use in another format or product.

Know that you’ve taken my crash course in “eco” and are familiar with the buzzwords; it will be easy to pick out a few “eco-friendly gifts” in a flash. And if you are still a bit confused, I included a few of my faves.

Bamboo Hooded Towel & Washcloth Set in Natural 

This set includes the Bamboo Baby Hooded Towel 30″ x 30″ and 5 washcloths. Super absorbent and fast driving, bamboo is softer than cotton, making it a perfect choice for baby. It is also natural, regenerative and sustainable, making it an eco-friendly alternative to chemically infused cotton or other toxin-laden fibers. This remarkable textile is naturally anti-microbial meaning no additional chemicals are needed. Made in the USA using fair labor practices. Totally Bamboo Anacapa Vertical Grain Cutting Board

Bamboo is a renewable resource and is 16% harder and more durable than maple. Only food-safe, formaldehyde-free glue is used in assembly and dyes or stains are used to color the wood. Made with premium, hand selected bamboo — the variety chosen is neither a food source nor a habitat for the Giant Panda. I love Pandas so I am happy that I am not hurting their habitat by giving these to all my foodie friends who love to cook!

Citizen Elektra Diamond Eco-Drive BM0720-52A Wrist Watch Citizen Eco-Drive watches never need a battery, meaning - old batteries never end up in a landfill.  The watch uses a solar conversion panel and energy cells to power itself and has the ability to use light from any source to generate electrical power, meaning the supply is limitless AND free. Knowing that’s, is an eco chic statement that is always in style! Flote Faegan Recycled Leather Clutch

These beautiful clutches are made out of 100% Croco-Embossed Recycled leather! I know the designer herself and asked what does that mean? How can purses be eco friendly? Jill (the designer) replies, ” A warehouse was going to close down and throw all these beautiful materials out. I could not see dumping all this gorgeous leather into the land fill when I could make beautiful bags out of it.” When you give a clutch that looks this good and helps the environment, you are on your way to lowering your carbon footprint! How can that be vanity!

~ Sarah Shirley ~

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This week we found stylish and fashionable wear to help to keep you warm during the winter months:

Splendora ogles the Supreme Being Millie Jacket - an omnipresent cold weather staple with a twist. While winter pea coats seen on the streets and in stores often blend together indistinguishably, Supreme Being has created an inspired alternative with their Millie jacket. Its mixed fabrics and nipped-in waist with long hem looks both feminine and industrial, keeping you warm without sacrificing superb design.

SheFinds dotes on the pinstriped wool cloche hat from Helen Welsh. This flirty, ’30s-inspired cloche hat is THE winter accessory and goes nicely with a kicky houndstooth swing coat. The pinstripes lend a menswear-esque feeling of order, but the black velvet bow and sweet shape make the overall effect decidedly feminine.

Stylebites blogs about oversized sweaters and reminds us that this season is all about staying cozy. Wearing voluminous sweaters is the easiest way to keep warm when the weather turns wicked. A sweater can look proper when worn over a white shirt and tailored trousers, or, if long enough, can be belted as a dress. Aside from having the vital details, like billowing sleeves or ultra-long lengths, these sweaters all come in this season’s hottest color-gray!

The Budget Fashionista goes gaga over The Red Coat. One of the hottest color trends in coats this season is red. Whether it’s a bright cherry or a muted burgundy, the color adds a much needed break from the traditional (and sometime boring) black coat. Check out the faux fur collar on this coat, which looks fabulous while adding much needed warmth!

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Consumer reviews site, Epinions.com, is offering reviewers another chance to earn $10 for every 10 reviews written this month. Called the “10 for 10″ promotion, participants can submit 10 reviews to Epinions.com for $10 this month by December 31 or until the first 30,000 reviews are received, whichever comes first. In fact, you should keep writing after you hit the 10-mark as you’ll continue to earn $$.

Reviews must be written about a product or service already in the Epinions.com database. Click here to read the required criteria for eligible reviews. Get started today and help defray your holiday shopping costs by earning some money back from Epinions.com.

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This week we found cheap holiday gifts with a whole lot of personality:

The Budget Fashionista raves about the Crazy Cat Action Figure by FredFlare for your friend who has a great sense of humor. At only $10 this gift is a great stocking stuffer as well!

Shiny Shiny touts the Emoticon Stamp for $5.99 that will allow you to squeeze it into a number of different emoticon shapes. This is a great small gift to get a bunch of your friends. Who knows, maybe they’ll start a trend of signing all of their notes with their emotions along with their signatures!

SheFinds.com pulled a list together of great gift ideas for your female BFFs and family members. Everything from jewelry, handbags, scarves and gift boxes filled with bath products made the list. The best part is that most of these products are discounted when purchased online!

CasaSugar highlights PressaRussa’s Star-Quality Holiday cards for when you just want to send a pretty note. The set includes four letterpress flat note cards with coordinating envelopes. All note cards are packaged in a clear sleeve and wrapped with an actual cigar band!

Uber-Review spotlights the wine glass holder necklace that gives chatterboxes the freedom to snack and socialize at holiday parties. The adjustable wine glass holder is only $25 so you can always pair it with a friend’s favorite vino as a gift.

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Is holiday shopping stressing you out? Wish you knew what the cool gadgets are this year? Shopping.com is here to help!

Back again this season as the most in-demand video game console is the Nintendo Wii. In fact, it sold out in many retail locations over the Thanksgiving weekend, so most shoppers will have to head online to a site like Shopping.com to find this in time for Christmas. eBay sellers also offer Wiis for an average selling price of around $430.

A super hot video game this year is the Guitar Hero III Legends of Rock game for the Xbox 360. Complete with new tracks and enhanced graphics, you’ll be less productive at home with this game in your collection. Find it for as low as $59.99 online.

Portable GPS devices are flying off the shelves this year as more and more people admit they have no sense of direction. In addition to helping you get from point A to point B, these devices will even direct you to the nearest gas station, hotel or fast food joint. Pretty handy when you’ve got an insatiable burger craving! The Garmin StreetPilot c550 is a great model, ranging from $300 - $500 on Shopping.com.

Everyone’s always talking about iPods, but what about the Microsoft Zune? They just released an 80 GB version, which is the equivalent of having a mini hard drive in your pocket! The good news is that it doesn’t weigh as much as one. Only slightly bigger than the 30 GB version, this player has a huge screen and comes with a built-in FM tuner so you can listen to news and sports on the radio. You can even wirelessly share songs, pictures and podcasts with other Zune owners. It’s tough to find offline, but you’ll find it on Shopping.com and eBay for roughly $210 - $420. I’m adding it to my list!

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Great news for all fashionistas AND holiday gift givers - 7th on Sale, a fashion charity auction of over 4,000 designer donated and authentic items, just launched on eBay.com on November 15 and runs through December 6.

This is the largest designer sample sale in the world with arguably some of the best prices. Bidding for women’s, men’s, children’s and home items starts at 90 PERCENT BELOW RETAIL.  You read it right. That means a starting bid for say, a $3,000 Prada bag, would be just $300.

Shop for items from more than 500 top designers including Diane von Furstenberg, Dolce & Gabbana, Marc Jacobs, Calvin Klein, Carolina Herrera and MANY others. Each item is on sale for seven days and new listings are added daily so check back often before Dec. 3 to see all the new items available to win.

The icing on the cake is that all proceeds from this eBay Giving Works auction benefit AIDS charities, with up to $500,000 matched by the M.A.C. AIDS Fund.

Now if that’s not a reason to bid…

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This week, we found some great ways to prepare for Thanksgiving that make it easy for the host:

Splendora recommends The Art of Simple Food by Alice Waters as a “what to gobble.” Concur with her outspoken philosophy on food or not, no one can deny that she is one of the most influential figures in the culinary world and has been for the past thirty years. The latest cookbook from the kitchens of Chez Panisse is The Art of Simple Food, a collection of recipes which, as the title suggests, aren’t complicated, and which emphasize the importance of seasonal, local ingredients. It appears that Waters’ “delicious revolution” continues to blaze ahead with vigor.

Delight gives a helpful hint on using the Slipper Genie and its cousin, the Fuzzy Wuzzy Microfiber mitt, as ways to slip and slide to a clean house. Slipping and sliding are among our favorite pastimes - skiing, sledding, skating, moonwalking and, lest we forget, the seminal toy of summer fun, the Slip N’ Slide. Now with a little help from these amazing slippers, you can keep your floors and furniture looking beautiful, and get some exercise while you’re at it! Just slide on the slippers and mitt and slide your way around the house.

Productdose raves about the Digital Wine Cooler and Warmer. The beauty of this product is that it chills TWO wine bottles at once. Usually people drink with others, so having the capability to exactly control the temperature of two bottles of wine at a time, using neither water nor ice, is a great convenience.

Stylehive gobbles about using more than just a big sharp knife and touts the following cool kitchen tools and gadgets to use this Turkey Day:
• Talking meat thermometer
• Turkey lifter and roasting rack
• Nordicware ‘great pumpkin’ cake pan
• Le Creuset petite pumpkin covered casserole

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This week, we found wonderful decorating ideas and easy do-it-yourself creations for Thanksgiving:

The Smarter Home & Garden Blog gobbles up these leaf napkin rings which help set the festive Thanksgiving mood. These are versatile and can help set your table throughout the fall.

About.com: Landscaping revels over outdoor Thanksgiving decorations to replace the Halloween ones you’re taking down. While you may be on a tighter budget this holiday season, try to get in the fall spirit and make your own lovely wreaths with Indian corn and dried ornamental gourds. These natural touches give your outdoor Thanksgiving decorations a harvest theme that is so appropriate this time of year.

Now you don’t have to eat your vegetables, you can decorate with them. The Decorating Diva ogles the Better Homes and Gardens Thanksgiving Veggie Centerpiece, a floral and gourd decoration that’s easy to make at home. Use an apple corer or knife to carve holes in sturdy vegetables. Place candles of different heights in each vegetable, then light, and “serve”.

Good Housekeeping teaches us how to create do-it-yourself place cards. Among the myriad tasks associated with prepping a big meal, ensuring everyone sits in the right spot at the dinner table can get lost in the holiday shuffle. Plot out your seating plan with this cornucopia of fast and easy place card ideas. Dress up your dining room and make space on the table for heaping plates of food: Tie ribbon (any width or pattern is fine) around the backs of chairs and hang on folded place cards.

MarthaStewart.com thinks that paper turkey place settings are a “good thing”. Getting these brilliantly feathered friends to the table requires pasting (but no basting) and some cutting and folding. For a gobbling-good centerpiece, set out two or three in the middle of your table. Or let smaller toms do service as place cards.

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