Page 2 - Last Minute Gift Guide 2014
P. 2
HURSDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2014 SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION OF THE MORNING CALL
playful Thames & Kosmos Crystal
picks Growing set, ($39.99,
under
toysrus.com): More than 1 million
5$50 of these kits have sold, checking
the STEM box and the FUN box.
Elsa’s cool, but she can’t Kids attest to growing a rainbow of
freeze out other hot toys colorful geodes and crystals, which
can be grown atop molded shapes
By Wendy Donahue | Tribune Newspapers like stars and dolphins. Kit in-
cludes three types of chemicals,
“Elsa, Elsa, Elsa.” We can hear Santa sighing — but in his dyes, plaster, clear chest with a
ho-ho-jovial way — as he scans yet another letter with the locking lid and a 32-page full-color
“Frozen” star at the top of the list. manual with experiments in crys-
tal chemistry. (Note that many of
Savvy parents have already saved him the sourcing; them require jelly jars and distilled
many snapped up the My First Disney Princess Frozen water.) Crystal growing time
Snow Glow Elsa Singing Doll ($49.99, amazon.com) and ranges from 24 hours to a week or
the Disney Frozen Sparkle Princess Elsa Doll ($24.66, more. Ages 10 and older.
amazon.com) before the first flakes fell. Those who didn’t
might find themselves paying a premium as supplies dwin- THAMES & KOSMOS
dle.
AMAZON The Nerf Rebelle Agent Bow MATTEL
But “Frozen” is not the only hot (or cold) property on
kids’ holiday wish lists. Here are five playful gifts under Blaster ($24.99, amazon.com): Hot Wheels Street Hawk remote-con-
$50 that cherry-pick from other toy gift guides. Consider trolled flying car ($49.99, toysrus.com):
this a “best-of” from so many other great choices. Delayed gratification has finally
arrived for fans of Katniss, Hawk- lands on both Toys R Us and Amazon’s hot
(Note that toy prices fluctuate mysteriously; these were eye and Merida. A major upgrade toys lists. Online reviewers say it earns its
accurate at the time of typing. It pays to comparison-shop from last year’s Heartbreaker place there with a combination of on-
up to the moment you’re ready to click to purchase.) model, the Agent Bow fires arrows ground remote-controlled steering plus the
instead of darts. The strings draw aerial performance of a plane that flies up to
My First Disney Princess Frozen back to launch, rather than being 200 feet in altitude. Ages 5 and older.
Snow Glow Elsa Singing Doll ornamental. Arrows whistle as
they travel up to 85 feet, landing
($49.99, amazon.com): Experi- decisively but not so forcefully as
ence the movie again (and again to injure a little brother who finds
and again) as this doll repeats 15 himself, somehow, in the line of
sounds and phrases that the fire. Forgive Rebelle the gimmick
whole family probably is saying in of “secret messages” on arrows,
their sleep by now. Touch her decoded to reveal silliness such as
snowflake necklace and hear her “LOL” or “Run!” The electronic
talk to Olaf and red dot sight is the only function
friends; her dress that requires the two AAA batter-
illuminates at the ies and isn’t essential. You’ll want
sound of her voice. more arrows: a refill pack is $6.99.
Raise her arm to Ages 8 and older.
light her snowflake
necklace and cue LeapFrog LeapBand ($29.99, amazon.com): We were leery of this at first
the anthem “Let It too. But while this is billed as an activity tracker, it’s not about kicking off a
Go.” Olaf and three lifetime of body-image anxiety at age 4. Animal avatars provide motivation to
AAA batteries move — even in the dead of winter — with challenges such as “Pounce like a
included. Ages 3-8. lion!” Kids earn points to unlock virtual pets and accessories as they com-
plete physical challenges and games. Parent controls on LeapFrog Connect
DISNEY let you set play times, load up to 50 challenges and more. One tip and one
caveat: Preload challenges and test-run it before your child opens the gift;
setup takes some time. Also, this isn’t the touch-screen that many kids know
like the back of their hand. Ages 4-7.
AMAZON
Gardeners will go for gadgets, whimsy
By Beth Botts CORONA
Special to Tribune Newspapers Blade sharpener
from Corona
Brighten a gardener’s holiday with a gift
that reminds him or her of the growing
season to come. Whatever the garden —
from houseplants to veggies — there’s a gift
that can make it more enjoyable.
Butterfly sipping station
Wildlife gardeners know butterflies need
water as well as nectar, and this artful piece,
made of stoneware and recycled glass, will
offer these charming garden visitors a pud-
dle that’s not too deep. Butterfly Puddler,
$40, Uncommon Goods (uncommongoods
.com)
Touch of the forest WOMANSWORK
Give houseplant or orchid enthusiasts a These purple paisley gardening gloves have an extended cuff and a cinch to keep dirt out.
fitting showcase for their beauties with
these plant stands with glass shelves and Counterattack Sharpen on the go
woodsy metal frames. They nestle together
to save space. Nesting Branch Plant Stands, Someday it will be August, and the weeds Every gardener needs sharp pruners, so
$199, Gardener’s Supply Co. (gardeners will be taking over. That’s when your gar- any gardener will appreciate this handy
.com) dener will truly appreciate this fierce- little sharpener to tuck in a stocking or a
looking Dutch tool called a wrotter, with a pocket. Corona Quick Sharpener, $9.99,
Pop-up raised bed sharp point to stab next to a weed and A.M. Leonard (amleo.com)
barbs to pull it out by its roots. With a
An instant raised bed is just right for a new handsome ash or cherry handle. Wrotter
vegetable gardener. Spread the fabric bag on by Sneeboer, $33.30, Garden Tool Co.
an outdoor surface with good drainage, fill (gardentoolcompany.com)
it with potting soil and plant away. Smart
Pot Big Bag Bed, $39.95 for 50-inch, $24.95
for 36-inch. (bit.ly/1p9oJC2)
Glam garden gloves
Purple paisley cotton twill gloves are joyful
and practical too, with a long cuff to protect
against thorns, a cinch to keep dirt out, and
a reinforced synthetic palm. In three sizes
for women. Garden Gloves With Arm Saver,
$29, Womanswork (womanswork.com)
WOMANSWORK
Eco Watering Spout from Womanswork.
Stoneware and recycled glass Butterfly Puddler. Dry toes, no mess
UNCOMMON GOODS The handles make these low waterproof
rubber boots easy to pull on for gardening,
and the low height makes them easy to slip
off for trips into the house. With insulation
and good traction, in dark green, plum
purple, chocolate brown, raisin red or
black. Seattle Women’s Rain Boots, $85,
Bogs Footwear (bogsfootwear.com)
Water bottle spout
This nifty stocking stuffer is a great way to
reuse soda or water bottles. Screw it on and
you’re ready to start watering the garden —
even if the garden is a houseplant in an
office cubicle. Eco Watering Spout, $7.95 or
three for $18, Womanswork. (womans
work.com)
playful Thames & Kosmos Crystal
picks Growing set, ($39.99,
under
toysrus.com): More than 1 million
5$50 of these kits have sold, checking
the STEM box and the FUN box.
Elsa’s cool, but she can’t Kids attest to growing a rainbow of
freeze out other hot toys colorful geodes and crystals, which
can be grown atop molded shapes
By Wendy Donahue | Tribune Newspapers like stars and dolphins. Kit in-
cludes three types of chemicals,
“Elsa, Elsa, Elsa.” We can hear Santa sighing — but in his dyes, plaster, clear chest with a
ho-ho-jovial way — as he scans yet another letter with the locking lid and a 32-page full-color
“Frozen” star at the top of the list. manual with experiments in crys-
tal chemistry. (Note that many of
Savvy parents have already saved him the sourcing; them require jelly jars and distilled
many snapped up the My First Disney Princess Frozen water.) Crystal growing time
Snow Glow Elsa Singing Doll ($49.99, amazon.com) and ranges from 24 hours to a week or
the Disney Frozen Sparkle Princess Elsa Doll ($24.66, more. Ages 10 and older.
amazon.com) before the first flakes fell. Those who didn’t
might find themselves paying a premium as supplies dwin- THAMES & KOSMOS
dle.
AMAZON The Nerf Rebelle Agent Bow MATTEL
But “Frozen” is not the only hot (or cold) property on
kids’ holiday wish lists. Here are five playful gifts under Blaster ($24.99, amazon.com): Hot Wheels Street Hawk remote-con-
$50 that cherry-pick from other toy gift guides. Consider trolled flying car ($49.99, toysrus.com):
this a “best-of” from so many other great choices. Delayed gratification has finally
arrived for fans of Katniss, Hawk- lands on both Toys R Us and Amazon’s hot
(Note that toy prices fluctuate mysteriously; these were eye and Merida. A major upgrade toys lists. Online reviewers say it earns its
accurate at the time of typing. It pays to comparison-shop from last year’s Heartbreaker place there with a combination of on-
up to the moment you’re ready to click to purchase.) model, the Agent Bow fires arrows ground remote-controlled steering plus the
instead of darts. The strings draw aerial performance of a plane that flies up to
My First Disney Princess Frozen back to launch, rather than being 200 feet in altitude. Ages 5 and older.
Snow Glow Elsa Singing Doll ornamental. Arrows whistle as
they travel up to 85 feet, landing
($49.99, amazon.com): Experi- decisively but not so forcefully as
ence the movie again (and again to injure a little brother who finds
and again) as this doll repeats 15 himself, somehow, in the line of
sounds and phrases that the fire. Forgive Rebelle the gimmick
whole family probably is saying in of “secret messages” on arrows,
their sleep by now. Touch her decoded to reveal silliness such as
snowflake necklace and hear her “LOL” or “Run!” The electronic
talk to Olaf and red dot sight is the only function
friends; her dress that requires the two AAA batter-
illuminates at the ies and isn’t essential. You’ll want
sound of her voice. more arrows: a refill pack is $6.99.
Raise her arm to Ages 8 and older.
light her snowflake
necklace and cue LeapFrog LeapBand ($29.99, amazon.com): We were leery of this at first
the anthem “Let It too. But while this is billed as an activity tracker, it’s not about kicking off a
Go.” Olaf and three lifetime of body-image anxiety at age 4. Animal avatars provide motivation to
AAA batteries move — even in the dead of winter — with challenges such as “Pounce like a
included. Ages 3-8. lion!” Kids earn points to unlock virtual pets and accessories as they com-
plete physical challenges and games. Parent controls on LeapFrog Connect
DISNEY let you set play times, load up to 50 challenges and more. One tip and one
caveat: Preload challenges and test-run it before your child opens the gift;
setup takes some time. Also, this isn’t the touch-screen that many kids know
like the back of their hand. Ages 4-7.
AMAZON
Gardeners will go for gadgets, whimsy
By Beth Botts CORONA
Special to Tribune Newspapers Blade sharpener
from Corona
Brighten a gardener’s holiday with a gift
that reminds him or her of the growing
season to come. Whatever the garden —
from houseplants to veggies — there’s a gift
that can make it more enjoyable.
Butterfly sipping station
Wildlife gardeners know butterflies need
water as well as nectar, and this artful piece,
made of stoneware and recycled glass, will
offer these charming garden visitors a pud-
dle that’s not too deep. Butterfly Puddler,
$40, Uncommon Goods (uncommongoods
.com)
Touch of the forest WOMANSWORK
Give houseplant or orchid enthusiasts a These purple paisley gardening gloves have an extended cuff and a cinch to keep dirt out.
fitting showcase for their beauties with
these plant stands with glass shelves and Counterattack Sharpen on the go
woodsy metal frames. They nestle together
to save space. Nesting Branch Plant Stands, Someday it will be August, and the weeds Every gardener needs sharp pruners, so
$199, Gardener’s Supply Co. (gardeners will be taking over. That’s when your gar- any gardener will appreciate this handy
.com) dener will truly appreciate this fierce- little sharpener to tuck in a stocking or a
looking Dutch tool called a wrotter, with a pocket. Corona Quick Sharpener, $9.99,
Pop-up raised bed sharp point to stab next to a weed and A.M. Leonard (amleo.com)
barbs to pull it out by its roots. With a
An instant raised bed is just right for a new handsome ash or cherry handle. Wrotter
vegetable gardener. Spread the fabric bag on by Sneeboer, $33.30, Garden Tool Co.
an outdoor surface with good drainage, fill (gardentoolcompany.com)
it with potting soil and plant away. Smart
Pot Big Bag Bed, $39.95 for 50-inch, $24.95
for 36-inch. (bit.ly/1p9oJC2)
Glam garden gloves
Purple paisley cotton twill gloves are joyful
and practical too, with a long cuff to protect
against thorns, a cinch to keep dirt out, and
a reinforced synthetic palm. In three sizes
for women. Garden Gloves With Arm Saver,
$29, Womanswork (womanswork.com)
WOMANSWORK
Eco Watering Spout from Womanswork.
Stoneware and recycled glass Butterfly Puddler. Dry toes, no mess
UNCOMMON GOODS The handles make these low waterproof
rubber boots easy to pull on for gardening,
and the low height makes them easy to slip
off for trips into the house. With insulation
and good traction, in dark green, plum
purple, chocolate brown, raisin red or
black. Seattle Women’s Rain Boots, $85,
Bogs Footwear (bogsfootwear.com)
Water bottle spout
This nifty stocking stuffer is a great way to
reuse soda or water bottles. Screw it on and
you’re ready to start watering the garden —
even if the garden is a houseplant in an
office cubicle. Eco Watering Spout, $7.95 or
three for $18, Womanswork. (womans
work.com)
