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, Oprah went all out and showcased great ideas for 2 days! We've compiled a list of these items at Oprah's Favorite Things - go there and check them out!

To add to your ideas, in 2008 Oprah highlighted some additional items - all under $100 - in her "O" Magazine. We've posted some of our favorites at our Favorite Things Store, and reviewed them at our Oprah's Favorite Things website. Enjoy, shop, and don't go broke doing it!

Here are a few examples that Oprah chose:

Treasure boxes

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

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:

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.

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 Store. Plus, you can read our reviews at Oprah's Favorite Things. Great ideas that don't break the bank!