Need last minute gift ideas? Have a few gift cards sitting in a drawer or burning a hole in your wallet? Look no further than these items to surprise those on your nice list:
There are many products out there that serve as bath bombs and/or shower enhancements full of essential oils for an aromatherapy session that will leave you refreshed and recharged without having to go to the spa. Fan favorites include Lush and Da Bomb, sold at branded stores and Target, respectively. Costco has packages for Da Bomb that are hard to beat. If you don’t know what to choose, Lush and Amazon have assortment gift packages ready to roll.
These pop cultural icons are readily available in most stores. Hot Topic, GameStop, Barnes and Noble – these figurines are everywhere! Funko’s lines of products feature every character from real life and fiction imaginable. Harry Potter, Terminator Dark Fate, The Golden Girls, Marvel, DC. You name it, they got it! These vinyl pops are great collectibles for the young at heart. Wait, there’s more! The company has expanded to include different sized figurines, shirts, bags and other Disney and licensed products. There’s stuff for everyone.
STEM Toys
Goldieblox, LEGO and K’Nex to name a few, the need to develop the next generation of scientists and engineers has driven up the demand for this market. For toy ideas see my post STEM Related Gifts For Kids, Teens And The Young At Heart.
Smartphones and Tablets
ATT, Verizon, Sprint, MetroPCS and T-Mobile have specials to fit almost every need. For those who need the device without the 5G network, there are great options to choose from for iPads, Samsung Galaxy Tabs and Kindle products. Prices have dropped significantly in the last 3 years, with Chromebooks and other popular brands starting around $100. Samsung’s S10 and Note 10 models are popular for the Android crowd, and the iPhone 11 Pro is the newest tech from Apple; Google’s Pixel 4 and the new Motorola Razr are not too far behind in popularity. All these models have features to turn pictures into mini videos, create instant social media content, take high quality pictures, and store data in cloud services. Be aware not all have additional ports for external memory cards, may not include headphone jacks, and may have USB C charging and headphone ports. Get protective cases to extend life and avoid cracking screens.
Smartwatches and Fitness Trackers
New Year’s resolutions to get fit aside, as the Peloton Ad reminded us, fitness equipment and training programs are a good investment. Most if not all of trackers have apps and features that serve as equivalents to the Apple and Samsung Watch. Many health plans are getting serious about providing incentives to get fit, and these gadgets can help you reach your health goals since they aim to educate you about daily steps, caloric intake, and effective exercise plans. The Fitbit Versa 2 has Alexa as an assistant, and can do almost everything the smartwatch products can achieve, from sleep tracking and answering texts, to fitness programs. Check out Amazon, Fitbit and your favorite retailers for holiday deals.
Video Games and Consoles
Because the PS5 and next generation of Xbox products is still under development, the Nintendo Switch has proven to be the winner for the 2019 holiday season. Portable and backed by an expansive game library that includes third party games and portals to classic game emulators, the Switch is a great gift for the gamers in your life. If you don’t know what games they like to play, a gift card to Xbox Live or the PSN will do the trick nicely, allowing them to download their favorites right into their devices. New games retail anywhere from $40 dollars. Not a fan of gift cards? Colorful peripherals and charging devices are usually a safe bet. Lots of options to choose from!
Movie tickets
With so many movies opening on or around Dec 25th, seriously consider purchasing pre-sale or advanced tickets for the cinema connoisseurs and fans in your life. Check Fandango, and local theater apps to know your options; not all films will open wide, and many of the blockbusters will have multiple showings. Episode IX is coming out a few weeks prior, and it can serve as a good introduction of young children to the magic of Star Wars. Speaking of which…
Star Wars Memorabilia
The Rise of Skywalker is projected to become the highest grossing movie in the history of film. Disney+ has The Mandalorian which caused a Baby Yoda inspired frenzy. Get fans a gift worthy of using during the movie premier and beyond at Target, Walmart, Bed Bath and Beyond (use the discount coupons), and even your local Dollar Tree have items for your Sith or Jedi apprentices. The BB8 is still the most popular remote control toy from the collection but don’t be surprised to find Bluetooth speakers in the shape of your favorite spaceship. My sister’s Tie Fighter speaker was totally worth the $50 price tag.
Pandora Bracelets and Charms
The Disney Collection of charms alone has 75+ different offerings, including almost every princess movie cast member imaginable. On top of this, the newly released Harry Potter and Millie Bobby Brown add more styles and choices to their ever growing collection of silver and gold charms. For those not into the trend, the jewelry brand also features stackable rings, earrings and necklaces that compliment every wardrobe choice. You can find Pandora counters inside many jewelry stores like Jared and Ben Bridge, or stand alone flagship locations. Travelers take note, certain locations, like Las Vegas, have exclusive charms not available anywhere else. Visit the Pandora website for store locations and catalogs.
Audiobooks
Between Audible and traditional media (CDs, cassettes), there are thousands of titles available to listen to on the go or in the comfort of your couch. Narrated by celebrities, authors and even your own family members, there are tons of subjects to explore. Some even come with augmented reality or artificial intelligence programming for interaction through Google Home and Alexa. Purchases at Amazon Books qualify for two free audiobooks when signing up for a trial of Audible. It’s a great alternative for those who can’t sit down to read because they are stuck in traffic, are doing DIY tasks, or like to exercise with background noise. Interactive children’s books are available as well. Learning fun for the whole family!
If you need any suggestions for gifts, feel free to comment or send me a note.
Happy Gift Giving!
Mrs. Enginerd - Nerd Whisperer 