Last minute shopper? Order from Amazon.com and you can still get it there by Christmas, and wrapped too! Click here for details on how it works!
Shopping for a kid? Then you've got to see the 2008 Holiday Toy List to watch the hottest Toys, Video Games, Electronics and more in action, and discover the perfect holiday gift by age or by price.
Bakugan Mania is here and my kids are already buzzing.
Bakugan Starter Park
So what is Bakugan?
Well mix an anime cartoon, action figures and cards, add a games of marbles twist — and that is Bakugan. The animated cartoon series started the first of 2008, however the tiny Bakugan brawlers are already popular in Japan and Canada.
There are 100 Bakugan action figure warriors tucked into plastic balls that pop open when they’re rolled onto a magnetic game card, where they gather points. “Boys want to throw things, collect things, trade things, battle and, of course, win,” Matt Wexler, executive producer of the television show and head of global licensing, said in an e-mail.
My kids are telling me that Bakugan Starter Packs are apparently the game all our 4-12 yr old kiddos want. Strategy is key in this game as the players have to place their metal Gate Cards with intent as each card affects the battle differently. Plus it is cool how my kids must learn marble shooting skills to roll their Bakugan into battle.
Bakugan Battle Arena
The good news is the relative inexpensiveness of the game. The sets get you going and then most of the required pieces, such as the action cards, are under $10, and the Bakugan Battle Arena runs about $30. These things and the Bakugan Launcher do not come with the sets. However, you can use the tried and true launcher, your thumb!
Bakugan brawlers are selected at random when shipped. The Bakugan Starter Pack includes: 3 - Bakugan Morphing Marbles 3 - Metal Cards. You can upgrade if you want a fuller set to the Bakugan Battle pack which comes with 6 Bakugan Brawlers and 8 Metal cards. This seems to be a good deal.
I have read in Time Magazine and Newsday that this is one of the hottest must-have Christmas toys. Still, with a hundred different spheres and dozens of different cards up for grabs, as well as some of the items already being tagged as “rare,” I think buying early can save us a nagging holiday headache.
This just in! These items are extremely hard to get! However, you can find them at right now! There are lots of them you just have to bid!
Once again, the Nintendo Wii Gaming System is going to be one of the top sellers this Christmas season. Shop early if you want to get the best price on Wii this year. The Wii has been out for a couple of years now, and because of the new and innovative games like the brand new Wii Music they keep coming out with, it remains more popular than ever.
So where can I get the Nintendo Wii best price?
To find the , your best bet is some of the auction sites. You can get the best prices, bid for the price you want to pay, and get fast delivery. There are many places to get “new in box” systems, and also some places where you can get “out of box” systems for much less. Some of these “out of box” Wii systems can save you a bunch of money.
Of course, the main auction site to find the best price on Wii is . Ebay is the place where you can get just about anything – new systems, bundles, stripped down systems, and used Wii consoles. The number of sellers on Ebay is unbelievable, and they you’re most likely to find the on one of the auction sites like Ebay.
is especially nice if you don’t mind getting a used system. They are very well regulated and controlled, so if you do buy a used one you’ll be sure to know what you’re getting. Plus, sometimes the used systems are just like new, hardly played at all!
You can also go to local retail stores, but you will probably be paying top dollar there. The nice thing about shopping locally is you don’t have to pay for shipping, and you can walk right home with the Wii under your arm. However, these places are not recommended if you’re looking for the best price on Wii.
Rock Band Special Edition For Wii
Another great place to try is Amazon Marketplace. At Amazon, you have the benefit of ease of use, reliable shipping, and ease of return if something is wrong. Once again, at Amazon you have the choice between new and used systems. Plus, you can also buy games there. The selection of merchandise you can get for your Wii is mind-boggling at Amazon.
These are a couple of very good sources for getting your Nintendo Wii and the best price possible. But get shopping – the closer it gets to Christmas, the more you’re going to pay!
One of the holiday traditions we have started in our house is watching Oprah’s favorite things show. Every year, right before Thanksgiving, she does a show that showcases a wonderful variety of good Christmas ideas.
In years past, her ideas cover a great range in prices as well as interests. I have found things for my mother and for my UPS man (I am an online shopper for sure!) recommended in the show.
It is so cool because the research on the product is done for you, just sit back with a great cup of tea and your favorite treat and take notes. It is a timesaver too as to find all these good Christmas ideas online would take a lot longer than the hour the show is.
This year, it was still Oprah’s favorite things, but with a twist – they cost next to nothing! Oprah felt that in the current economic condition of our country, it was best not to recommend items that cost several hundred dollars or more, so she focused on gifts you could make or give cheaply.
To add to your ideas, this year Oprah highlighted some additional items - all under $100 - in her “O” Magazine. We’ve posted some of our favorites at our Favorite Things 2008 Store, and reviewed them at our Oprah’s Favorite Things 2008 website. Enjoy, shop, and don’t go broke doing it!
Here are a few examples that Oprah chose:
Treasure boxes
Treasure Box
Oprah had a gal named Connie on the show that bought inexpensive treasure chests and finished them herself. Then, she put memorabilia of her children’s that she had been saving for years in them and gave them to her kids. It might have been report cards, an Eagle Scout badge, or a piece of carpet from their first room - anything special and memorable for the child.
Connie wanted it to be a piece of furniture that they could put on the shelf and keep forever, which is why she chose the treasure boxes. She suggested that once you have your keepsakes collected together, that you organize them by year using folders and plastic sleeves from an office supply store.
We’ve done some research and found a box that looks like it would work very well for this project – but if you look for coupons in the newspaper or online, you may be able to find boxes on sale at a craft store like Connie did! When you do find the box, if it’s unfinished all you need to do is go to Home Depot or Lowes and pick up some wood stain and a can of spray on or brush on polyurethane finish. Put a coat of the stain on with a rag, then apply 2 or more coats of the polyurethane finish. You can choose either flat, satin, or high-gloss finish. Personally, I like a satin, or semi-gloss finish. Then, if you want, you can buy a little decorative lock, and your treasure box is ready to give and get huge smiles on Christmas morning!
What a special gift for those most special members of the family!
Holiday Hits 2008
Another great gift is the gift of music - and this year Oprah has picked out eight new Christmas CD’s by some of her favorite artists. From artists like Aretha Franklin, Harry Connick, Jr., Josh Groban, and Tony Bennett, you just can’t go wrong buying one of these CD’s as a gift. Oprah has also included offerings from Faith Hill, Il Divo, Brian McKnight, and Amy Grant.
What a stellar array of artists with their takes on all your Christmas favorites. Here’s your chance to make someone’s Christmas special - and maybe even pick up one or two for yourself!
The Story of Edgar Sawtelle
The Story of Edgar Sawtelle
One of the gifts that Oprah loves to give and receive the most is a great book. She says “And if it’s a book you loved reading, then you’ll be sharing something special.”
This year, Oprah has fallen in love with The Story of Edgar Sawtelle by David Wroblewski. “It’s an epic tale about the magical bond that this mute boy shares with his dog,” Oprah says. “But it’s so much more than a dog story.”
The gift of a book - a great idea for anyone on your list, but especially for that person that has everything.
Last Year’s Show
Here are a couple of things that were presented last year, but they hold up just as good this year:
Rachel Pally Swing Turtleneck and Sailor Pants. This outfit by L.A. designer Rachel Pally is made from stretchy fabric that’s both lightweight and super soft. “It barely feels like you’re wearing anything!” Oprah says.
Melamine Bowls, Measuring Cups and Spoons from Williams-Sonoma. The Melamine Bowls, Measuring Cups and Spoons come in a rainbow of colors to brighten up your kitchen. They feature built-in, no-spill spouts for easy pouring and can be stacked to save space. Plus, no-slip rubber rings at the base keep your bowls in place.
Amazon Kindle
One more thing - Oprah was recently raving about the Amazon Kindle portable ebook reader on her show. In fact, she said it was her “new favorite thing”. We’ve checked out the Kindle and written a review and also an article about how to use your Kindle. If you’ve got someone to shop for that has everything, this just might be the ticket for them!
More of Oprah’s Favorite Christmas Gifts
Don’t forget to check out Oprah’s additional picks from her “O” Magazine. We’ve picked out some of our favorites and put them on our Favorite Things 2008 Store. Plus, you can read our reviews at Oprah’s Favorite Things 2008. Great ideas that don’t break the bank - they’re all under $100!
they keep coming out with, it remains more popular than ever.
