I seriously look forward to shopping for holiday gifts for our little one, and often find myself buying her toys that I myself loved as a child. Ever on the strict budget, I try to make sure we get her toys that will grow with her, and not the type that will offer her temporary gratification (plus, our apartment is small, so storage space is always an issue).

This will be my daughter Jo Jo’s third Christmas, and each year shopping for her gets more and more fun. For the past two years, she was somewhat out of the loop regarding presents. She didn’t know what she wanted, and my husband and I were somewhat reluctant to go all out for her since she didn’t really know what was going on. This year, shopping for her has been so much more fun because she is really loving toys and I have a really good idea of what she’s into.

If you have a little one to shop for this year and haven’t yet hit the stores, or if you just need some good ideas of gifts for different age groups, read on.

Ages 0+

My theory is that you really can’t go wrong with this Baby Whoozit by Manhattan Toy. We had two of them when Jo Jo was a baby, and she LOVED them. The Whoozit has been extremely popular over the past few years (pretty much since it was featured in an episode of Sex and the City), and what’s not to love? It is soft, colorful, funny looking and features a variety of textured appendages for a baby to play with. The nose also has a squeaky in it and lifts to reveal a mirror beneath it. Another great thing about this toy is that it has a velcro loop, making it possible to attach it to a crib rail, bouncy seat, stroller or baby carrier.

Get the whole scoop »

Shopping for my friends and family around the holidays is super-stressful. Lately I’ve been putting off my Christmas shopping, saying, “Ahh, I’ll just do it tomorrow…or next weekend…”

That kind of denial only gets me into trouble. Instead of going to buy a gift for my mother, I’ll procrastinate and stay home, curled up in my warm bed reading a good book. My justification? “But it’s been such a long day!”

But, shopping online for gifts instead is a great alternative. I can stay in my PJ’s, and it’s basically killing two birds with one stone–shopping and wrapping done at once (most online retailers offer free gift wrapping near the holidays).

The Mark by Avon Little Black Box can be customized with whatever combinations of makeup you desire. There are some pre-selected options, but it’s more fun to create a unique combo, don’t you think? It’s a great deal (about $6) and perfect for stocking stuffers for friends/cousins/nieces/etc.

My best friend Lisa is a make-up fiend. She adores Eyes Lips Face (E.L.F.), as do I, for their unbelievably inexpensive make-up. This “Ultimate Kit” is only–wait for it–$15. I know Lisa would just love this…and because she lives on the other side of the country, this kit would be easy to ship, as it isn’t perishable or a weird-shaped item.

Get the whole scoop »

Pulling the stockings off of the chimney on Christmas morning is one of my favorite holiday traditions…in fact, I can’t start shopping TOO early for perfect pint-sized gifts, or I can’t restrain myself. There’s only so much even a Sasquatch-sized sock can hold.

If you’re having trouble getting inspired to stuff footwear, here are a few creative ideas culled from the StyleFeeder community.

If you’re a practical gift giver, you might like these shredding scissors. Because how often do you really use that hulking paper shredder hiding in the recesses of your office?

Here’s a stocking stuffer you can also benefit from. Why not gift a set of Topics to Go? These conversation starters with provocative questions will make the road trip home from Grandma’s house seem just a little bit shorter.

Get the whole scoop »