Jess's Holiday Gift Giving Guide Part 1

Well the holiday season is upon us. Hobby Lobby made it official last night by playing the first bit of Christmas music I'd heard so far this year. To help all you folks out, I thought I'd do a multiple part series on gift-giving. Today kicks that off with my first installment, Gifts $25 and Under.

Tickle Me Freud, available at Uncommon Goods would make a lovely gift for your shrink, your little brother who's a psych major, or your loopy aunt. An excellent converstaion piece and always good for a (manical) laugh. Freudian slippers are also available.

The new parents, and their sprout, too, would love one of these cool bibs from MyRetroBaby. They velcro for ease, have a soak-proof lining and come in a wide array of patterns. $18.

This handy microplane, $10 at Amazon, is a great addition to any kitchen drawer. It's perfect for grating hard cheeses (like parmesean) or zesting your lemons, limes, and oranges. A mini salad/herb spinner is also a good call ($18 at Amazon).

For the philanthripist in your life, Heifer International makes it possible to send gifts of livestock to developing countries giving the people means of making money, clothes, and getting food. Shares of sheep and pigs are $10, a llama share is $20 as is an entire flock of baby chicks!

The nerd in your life will certainly appreciate this little device. It turns an ordinary ethernet cable into a cross-over cable. Now if you're not in the know, this may seem silly to you, but that you can plug two computers directly together (no router or hub required) for gaming and file transfers. $5.99 at ThinkGeek

This Global Warming Mug from Uncommon Goods ($12) has a fun little secret. When you fill it full of your favorite hot beverage, the icecaps melt and the oceans grow. It's a mug and environmental lesson all in one.

This laser level, $19 on Amazon, is the perfect gift for your favorite DIYer. Especially useful for hanging pictures, it even sents its beam around corners. Every toolbox should have one.

I mentioned the savings machine in my post yesterday. It's a great bank for kids where they can add up the dough they've got and take it out with their own ATM card. It's all about saving money … a good lesson for any kid. $15 at the ING Direct store.

Any proud iPod nano owner would surely love to jazz up and protect his or her little gadget with one of these funky fabulous covers from Gerbera Designs. They come in a wide array of patterns and will set you back $25.

I just love the funky colors of these great LED reading lights. Since they have LED lights instead of traditional incandescents, they take less juice and produce lots of light. They have a slim design that will fit almost anywhere. $8 at Wishing Fish

Never forget magazine subscriptions. These are gifts that keep on giving year round. Domino, Lucky, Everyday Food, Real Simple, Cooking Light, Shutterbug, and Sports Illustrated are just a few of the many many magazines you can subscribe to for less than $25 for a year. Domino and Lucky are especially good values … they run $20 for TWO years.

Last, but certainly not least, are board games. Not only are they a cheap, fun gift, but they give you something to do on Christmas day. Phase 10 has earned a special place in our hearts for its simple play and long-lived games not to mention portability. Clue, Cranium, Scattergories, Trivial Pursuit, Uno and Pictionary are also perrenial favorites. Most are available for under $25.

That about wraps up my first gift guide. More to come.