Category: 2011 Christmas Gift Guide

There’s nothing like gathering your family around a roaring fire during the holidays.  I agree with that statement, except for the fact that I don’t have one (boo).  So it was with great delight that I received Disney’s Magical Fireplace DVD (mrsp $19.95) to display on my TV for Christmas.  But this isn’t just any old ‘yule log’ it has that added bit of Disney magic!

Between two small nephews and a good friend’s son we tend to feature quite a few ‘boys’ toys on Three Different Directions.  And those three boys love anything that has wheels, lights and noise!  Toy State has teamed up with DUB Magazine, the authority on custom car culture, to roll out a new exciting line under the DUB Garage brand.

PERPLEXUS is a maze game where players maneuver a small marble around challenging barriers inside a transparent sphere. Unlike traditional flat-surface mazes that are composed of one path, PERPLEXUS houses various challenging tracks with 100 barriers providing a frustrating three-dimensional experience. The Perplexus Maze Game includes a super spiral, a tightrope, and a swing arm to form 3 different puzzles.

In October my family made a road trip to Dallas.  My daughter was interested in a degree from the University of Texas Dallas, and we thought that we might relocate there if we felt it would be beneficial for our family.  We decided not to, but it was a great trip nonetheless.  There is so much to see, do and EAT in the Republic of Texas!

Whether you’re looking for the perfect stocking stuffer or a sweet treat to fill your candy dish, Hershey’s holiday collection has a variety of items sure to top every wish list this season.  This year Hershey’s has quick and easy festive crafts to make with the kids, holiday décor ideas, gift tags, cards and photo options.  There are so many great treats you can fill those stockings with and gift including: 

Ready to try the new generation of hair clips?  If you love your trusty claw clips, but think they could use a little update, say hello to the Linziclip by scünci!

The Linziclip is as simple to use as your go-to claw clips, but with a cleaner, more polished look!  Like a claw clip, springs and “teeth” are used to grip the hair tightly, but they are hidden within a sleek cylinder exterior that comes in a variety of sizes, colors, designs and finishes.  Its unique flat bottom design allows for a firm, yet comfortable hold (feel free to lay your head back), while the hinges are placed discreetly on the sides of the clip- no more “butterfly” wings on top of the clip!

Green Mountain Coffees introduce NEW Barista Prima Coffeehouse K-Cup portion packs.

I like a really good cup of coffee, and so when I was asked to review these new K-cups, I was excited to try these ‘gourmet-at-home’ blends.  To me the best way to really get the flavor of a cup of coffee is in the evenings when we’re ready to relax as a family and watch some TV or a movie.  First thing in the morning, I need a coffee hit, but will admit that I sometimes use a ‘cheaper’ coffee for that as I’m not fully awake to enjoy it.  So I tried the full variety of the Barista Prima Coffeehouse K-Cups in the evenings when I could savor the taste of them.

I have shared about Novica before on my blog, and just in time for holiday gift giving I’m going to share about them again!  This is a great online store to find everything from accessories to walking sticks!

Back in October I enjoyed speaking with Dr. Salzer to find helpful answers to those Halloween candy questions I had.  Dr.Salzer  has developed some great tips for surviving the holidays while maintaining healthy teeth.

As the race towards the holidays heats up, moms everywhere are dreading the influx of snacks, cookies and sweet treats their children will face throughout the holiday season – but what they may not realize is how bad these foods can be for their children’s teeth. Believe it or not, candy is not the worst snack children can eat.

This summer’s hit drama, “The Help,” comes home for the holidays on Blu-ray Combo Pack, DVD, Digital Download and On-Demand, today!

The movie takes place in the early 1960s in Jackson, Mississippi, where a female journalist Eugenia “Skeeter” Pehlan (Emma Stone) decides to tell the story of the ‘the help’ from their own point of view.