There are gift clubs to appeal to most everyone on your list including the book lovers, wine tasters, chocolate lovers, coffee drinkers, and more!  There are even some really unique clubs out there like the “jerky of the month club,” the “tea of the month club,” and the “plant of the month club.”

If you’ve ever wondered about the different gift clubs out there, Gift-of-the-Month-Clubs.com can tell you about a wide variety of different clubs available and they even have a club finder where you can browse various monthly clubs!

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(ARA) – The holidays are a season of generosity and giving, so what better time of year to give wisely with gifts that are easy on the earth, respectful to the global community and even give back to charity?

You can make a difference in the world this holiday season if you keep your social conscience in mind and shop for gifts with a purpose.

Community Trade and Charming

Buy products that help some of the neediest communities in the world. Community trade benefits more than 25,000 people in more than 20 countries. The Body Shop is offering three limited edition Bath & Body selections (Merry Cranberry, Nutmeg & Vanilla and Black Velvet Apricot) that feature community trade ingredients.

For example, a gorgeous fragrance gift like Love Etc from The Body Shop is the first perfume to use alcohol made from community trade organic sugar cane. A luxurious combination of feminine jasmine with notes of vanilla and sandalwood, it’s a gift that definitely gives back.

Sumptuous and Sustainable

Look for products that contain sustainable and organic ingredients. These eco-friendly gifts are plentiful in every category and such social responsibility doesn’t need to break the bank. For example, beautiful eco-chic gift bags and boxes from The Body Shop can be filled with your own selection of festive purchases and are made of recyclable materials. What makes it even better is that for each bag sold, a donation is made to the Somaly Mam Foundation to help young girls.

Decked and Delicious

Give gifts that will be appreciated and gone in just a few bites. Edible goodies like breads, cookies, dried fruits and nuts made with organic and local ingredients are sure to delight. Package them in beautiful reusable tins and jars.

Gifts that Give Back

Look for products that give back such as the Soft Hands Kind Heart hand cream from The Body Shop. The lush moisturizer, with angelica extract and community trade olive oil, is kind to hands, but is also symbolic of a kind heart as each purchase supports the “Stop Sex Trafficking of Children and Young People” campaign with ECPAT-USA (a global organization working to combat child exploitation). Take a stand with your gifts and raise awareness this holiday season.

Holiday Hot

This season’s hottest makeup trends are also affordable and appreciated stocking stuffers . . . or a small and well-deserved personal indulgence. Strong, smoky eyes in colors of lilac, silver, warm plum and chocolate and flushed cheeks in sheer peach and golden pink are essential to the season’s sexy, sultry style. International makeup artist Chase Aston suggests adding a subtle hint of shimmery body powder to sparkle like the crisp night sky.

“Dip a blusher brush into the pot then lightly smile and dust over the apple of the cheeks, along the cheek bones, onto the nape of the neck, shoulders and decolletage for a barely-there shimmering highlight with a hint of color,” says Aston. He recommends products featuring community trade and organic ingredients to enhance your natural beauty.

Seasonal Sharing

Now is the most wonderful time of the year to clean out your closets of clothing and accessories you haven’t used in more than a year and donate them to charity. You’ll make room for this year’s holiday bounty and your donation may be someone else’s holiday treasure.

For more information on gifts that give back, visit TheBodyShop-USA.com.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

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(ARA) – The holiday season is quickly approaching and your shopping list is filled with loved ones awaiting the perfect gift. However, finding the right gift can be a daunting task when each person has a unique set of qualities and interests. Shorten your shopping time with this list of products that are sure to create smiles this holiday season. After all, it’s always easier when you get a helping hand – especially at this time of year.

For the snacker on your list

Snacking is synonymous with the holiday season, but with the abundance of cookies and other tempting treats, healthier snacking is not always top-of-mind. This year, satisfy the snacker on your gift list with Jack Link’s Beef Jerky. Jack Link’s snacks are made with premium cuts of 100 percent beef, pork, turkey or chicken and are naturally high in protein and low in fat, calories and carbs – making them a smarter, better-for-you snacking choice.

These treats come in three flavors:
The Original: Jack Link’s Original Beef Jerky
The Savory: Jack Link’s Teriyaki Beef Steak Nuggets
The Spicy: Jack Link’s Flamin’ Buffalo Chicken Nuggets

This holiday season, give your snacker’s palate what it really wants – a bag of Jack Link’s Jerky. Jack Link’s is available in grocery stores, mass retailers, convenience and drug stores nationwide. With this gift, satisfaction is in the bag. For more information, visit www.jacklinks.com.
Suggested retail price: $5.99

For the angler

Make sure the angler on your list has the latest go-to lure from Rapala, the Flat Rap. The Flat Rap can be cast or trolled for multiple species, making it an ideal lure for any angler. The flat sides and scooping triangular lip combine to generate a hard flashing action that is paired with a quicker, tighter, wounded-minnow display that slices through the water, tantalizing predators that lurk between the two-to-five-foot water column. The Flat Rap is a unique, hard-flashing bait that’s in a category by itself and sure to keep any angler smiling all holiday season. For more information, visit www.rapala.com.
Suggested retail price: $7.99 – $8.49

For the pet lover

The Crypton Doodle Dog Apron features the artist William Wegman’s signature dog doodle. The apron is made of eco-friendly Crypton fabric, which is not only odor and bacteria resistant, but also includes a built in moisture barrier that prevents grease and liquids from penetrating the fabric and staining clothes. It is disinfectable when used in conjunction with Crypton’s EPA-approved disinfectant and deodorizer. The apron is also made from 100 percent post-consumer clear plastic bottles. It is easy to spot clean and machine washable. Aprons are available in a variety of colors, including Gipsy (pink), Kermit (green), Koala (gray), Persimmon (orange), Twig (brown) and Pool (blue). Aprons are available exclusively at www.cryptonfabric.com.
Suggested retail price: $30

For the cooking enthusiast

As winter ushers in the indoor cooking season, outdoor grilling enthusiasts are understandably reluctant to give up the grill. The Calphalon Removable Plate Grill means they don’t have to. It’s a great gift for home cooks who want year-round grilling perfection. Its oversized grilling surface makes it easy to sear large steaks, chicken and pork chops or even delectable panini sandwiches. The adjustable grill height suspends the top plate to fit thick burgers or to lightly brown more delicate foods like fish. Calphalon’s exclusive Opti-Heat system ensures even heat delivery and the high performance bronze nonstick surface allows for low-fat or non-fat cooking. And clean-up is simple; the internal drip tray and grill plates are removable and dishwasher safe. Part of Calphalon’s suite of kitchen electrics products, the Calphalon Removable Plate Grill is the perfect gift. For more information, visit www.calphalon.com.
Suggested retail price: $149.99

Courtesy of ARAcontent

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(ARA) – The holiday season has a way of creeping up on us, and it’s never too early to start thinking about the perfect presents for your loved ones. However, getting your children exactly what they want – no matter what the cost – can leave a dent in your budget. If you’re not in the know about what’s hot and what’s not, it’s easy to miss out on having the season’s must-have toys under the tree.

When making a toy selection, it’s important to make sure the toys you’re choosing are age-appropriate for your child, and to look for quality products that have longer-term play value. You don’t need to spend a lot of money to get a good quality toy, you simply need to plan ahead and look in the right places.

This year, for the first time ever, the toy experts at Kmart have released their Fab 15 Toys List featuring the hottest gifts for the 2009 holiday season to help parents stay in step with what children are talking about. Each toy on the list promotes creativity, role play and an amusement level that will keep kids engaged – not just for a few minutes – but for months after the holidays are over.

1. Baby Alive Whoopsie Doo
2. Baukgan 7-in-1 Maxus Dragnoid
3. Chixos Design Luxury Loft
4. Dora Loves Perrito (available exclusively at Kmart)
5. Handy Manny’s Repair Shop
6. Holiday Barbie
7. Laugh & Learn Learning Farm
8. Littlest Pet Shop Adoption Center
9. Liv Dolls
10. Moxie Artitude Airbrush Gallery
11. Nerf n Strike Raider
12. Paperoni Deluxe Studio
13. Sesame Street Tickle Hands Elmo
14. Transformers Bumblebee Helmet
15. Trio Kings Castle

It’s smart for consumers to plan ahead when it comes to holiday shopping. Many parents are starting to keep their eyes and ears open, and in doing so, it’s important for them to consider retailers that offer both quality and value. Retailers such as Kmart offer layaway programs that allow parents to stretch their budget and start their shopping early to ensure they get the most in-demand toys before they are sold out.

The retailer is also jump-starting the holiday season with goodwill by donating toys from its Fab 15 Toys List to local Boys and Girls Clubs throughout the holiday season. All of the Fab 15 toys are available in Kmart stores nationwide or through the retailer’s Web site at www.kmart.com.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

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(ARA) – Gift cards will be the most requested gift this year, with nearly 55 percent of consumers reporting they would like to receive a gift card this holiday season, according to the National Retail Federation. Each year, 70 percent of consumers purchase a gift card as a holiday gift and for the fifth year in a row, gift cards are expected to lead holiday purchases.

The main reasons shoppers purchase gift cards, according to a study by Deloitte, are:

1. They allow recipients to select their own gift.
2. Gift cards are easier and faster to buy than traditional gifts.

However, nearly one quarter of respondents stated they would be less likely to buy gift cards because they feel gift cards are impersonal.

Offering the convenience of a gift card, but a more personal gift, the GiveCard is the first and only gift card that allocates $5 from every card for a donation to a charity of the recipient’s choice. Recipients have the choice of thousands of organizations that they can donate to. The sender has the option to personalize the delivery of the card through online capabilities on GiveCard.com. The rest of the money left on the card is for spending like cash, everywhere Visa debit cards are accepted. It’s like two personal gifts in one.

The idea for including a donation within a gift card came while founder Clayton “Nick” Nicholas was stationed overseas in the military. His mom liked to receive gift cards, but he always wanted to send her something more personal, which was often difficult with limited options and the distance separating them. A more meaningful, personal gift card that benefited a cause she believed in solved the problem – and an idea was born.

On average, if just 1 percent of gift cards given were GiveCards, an additional $50 million would be donated to charity. That’s the power of microgiving: small contributions adding up to a big impact. With the struggles charities have seen during this turbulent economy, these donations are providing a vital impact. Recipients can choose from thousands of national and local 501(c) registered charities like the American Red Cross, Susan G. Komen for the Cure and the Humane Society.

By giving a GiveCard, one generates a small donation and joins the growing community of microgivers who realize that when a large number of people make small individual contributions, they can make a big difference. But microgiving is not just monetary; it’s the small acts of kindness and charity made by people around the world every day. Join the microgiving movement on Facebook at www.facebook.com/GiveDay. To learn more about microgiving and GiveCard, visit www.GiveCard.com.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

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“It may be true that every woman welcomes a gift of jewelry, but not every woman wants to receive and wear the same thing everyone else she knows will also be wearing,” says Jody Christian from PANDORA Jewelry. “Call it a backlash against the current piece du jour, but some women – a lot of women – will want something unique this holiday season.”

So how do you find that perfect blend of wearability, uniqueness and personalization that makes a jewelry gift truly special? Christian offers some tips:

* Go your – or her – own way. “No matter how lovely an item is, if everyone else is wearing it too, it will lose its cache for many women,” Christian says. Don’t just go with the crowd and purchase the ubiquitous gift of the year, especially if it doesn’t fit with her personality. How many women received that trendy cuff bracelet when what they really wanted was earrings or a necklace?

* Leave no stone unturned. Some women love diamonds, while others prefer colored gemstones or even simple pearls. Still others don’t really care for stones at all, opting for simple, elegant designs in precious metals. “A good way to find out what a woman prefers is to notice what types of jewelry she already wears,” Christian says. Does she wear a lot of colored stones? Or is she a diamond-only gal? Is her daily earring choice more likely to be a pearl stud or diamond drops?

* Personalize her gift. One way to ensure you give her a gift she won’t see on anyone else is to customize a piece. A charm bracelet, for example, allows her to create and wear something totally unique to her – and that tells her personal “story” in a beautiful way. “PANDORA has created a charm bracelet for today’s woman that is completely customizable, with more than 800 charms that fit virtually every budget and taste,” Christian notes. “It’s a gift that can ‘give’ for years to come as she adds new charms.”

* Test her metal. Some women think gold conveys an unmatched richness. Or, perhaps she’s in love with silver’s conservative, timeless durability and beauty. Again, pay attention to what types of metals she already wears and look for a piece that pays homage to her preference. “At PANDORA, we offer bracelets, charms, and other jewelry in a range of metals, including 14k gold and sterling silver – because we know how vast women’s preferences are,” says Christian.

* A little predictability is OK. “If she really loves bracelets and isn’t a big fan of pendants, by all means go with what you know works for her,” Christian advises. “Most women agree they can never have too many of their favorite types of jewelry, so don’t worry about giving her the 50th bangle in her collection, if that’s what she really loves.”

Courtesy of ARAcontent

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(ARA) – Every year at this time you start thinking about the great holiday dilemma – what do you buy the person on your list who has everything? Well, no one really has everything, but some people may be hard to shop for because no gift seems personal – or general – enough.

Books are the perfect balance between personalized and universal, fun and intelligent. Your gift recipient doesn’t have to be a book lover to love the book you give, as long as you put some thought into selecting just the right tome.

Kelly Petersen Wong, bibliophile and founder of FictionDB.com, an online database of more than 200,000 works of fiction, offers a few tips for finding just the right book:

* Go with what you know – “If you know the recipient likes a certain author, check to see if that writer has published under a pen name that your loved one might not be familiar with,” Wong suggests. “Your gift recipient might enjoy a slightly different flavor of fiction from a favorite author.” At FictionDB.com, you can search by author name and find not only a list of titles, but a list of pseudonyms and titles written under each pen name. For example, popular romance novelist Linda Howard is actually the pseudonym of writer Linda Howington.

* Get the latest – Your recipient might already have a few works by a favorite author, but not the latest thing that writer has produced. “Many people wait for a new book to come out in paperback, so if you buy the newest hardcover edition you’ll probably be surprising them with something they want, but wouldn’t buy for themselves,” Wong says.

* Venture in a known genre – Your intended giftee doesn’t have to be a book fan in order for you to find something he or she would like. Does he live for Monday Night Football? Check out a list of authors who write about the sport. Or, search by genre at FictionDB.com. Is she a home design fanatic? Find a mystery featuring an interior decorator.

* Use online tools – You could spend hours in a bookstore shopping. “And if you’re like me, that’s not a bad thing,” Wong jokes. “But most of us have limited time to devote to holiday shopping, so online buying makes more sense.” Look for sites, like FictionDB.com, that give you the greatest flexibility to search for just the right book, without the need to sift through the sales clutter of big book sites.

The site offers free access to more than 50,000 author book lists and 200,000 unique titles. Series lists, synopses and pseudonym information are all presented in a simple, easy-to-use format. You can search by author book lists, series, sequels, synopses and pseudonyms. Buying is as easy as clicking on the link “buy” next to each title listing. Visit www.FictionDB.com to learn more.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

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When you shop for a new computer, find out if security software's included, to give you peace of mind in case the computer is lost or stolen.

(ARA) – With the holidays fast approaching, it is time to start thinking of practical gift ideas in this tough economy. As the wireless revolution continues to dominate our personal and professional lives, a laptop or netbook is a hot gift for those close to you this holiday season. Netbooks were even included in Amazon’s list of top holiday gifts last season and their popularity is only growing.

Laptops and netbooks are not just for college students anymore. They make the perfect gift for the busy person who is always on the go. But how do you know which laptop or netbook is best suited for your loved one? With so many options available, it is important to know the different features of each computer, as well as how the owner will be using it.

“There is a wide variety of laptops and netbooks available today. Purchasing a new laptop can be daunting and overwhelming, especially when it is a holiday gift. Creating a list of ‘must haves’ is a good way to start your search,” says Mark Grace, vice president of consumer business of Absolute Software, a company specializing in computer theft recovery, data protection and IT asset management. “Security is one aspect that is too often overlooked and, with the size of laptops decreasing, that new laptop will be a prime target for thieves.”

Absolute Software has developed a list of basic questions to help make choosing a laptop or netbook an easy part of your holiday shopping:

* How will the laptop be used? Laptops are becoming more than just the family computer and are being used for movies, photos, gaming and music. So before purchasing a laptop, figure out what it will be used for most to determine what features it should include.

* What is your budget? The economy is affecting each and every one of us so now, more than ever, it is necessary that you get the most bang for your buck. So before shopping, identify how much you want to spend and what features you can skimp on to stay within your budget.

Laptops and netbooks make the perfect gift for the busy person who is always on the go.

* Is security software included? With laptops being stolen at a rate of one every 50 seconds, theft recovery is an important aspect of a new laptop purchase. Backed by an elite theft recovery team, software like Computrace LoJack for Laptops by Absolute Software is an easy and inexpensive way to help recover stolen laptops or netbooks and protect the data stored on it.

* How durable is the laptop or netbook? To truly get your money’s worth on the purchase of a new laptop or netbook, it needs to last. It is crucial that your new equipment can hold up in a variety of conditions. It should have a long battery life and an exterior tough enough to handle being carted about.

* How much will you be storing on this new device? When purchasing a laptop, think about how much information will be kept on the laptop versus an external hard drive. If the owner is planning to store larger items such as videos or digital photos, choose a laptop with a larger hard drive.

* What accessories will you need? An extra battery for longer use, a discreet laptop bag or an extra power cord could come in handy and will ensure your gift is ready to be used and enjoyed right out of the box.

For more information, visit www.absolute.com.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

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(ARA) – Mom, sister, daughter, wife – they’re all special women in your life and you want to get them luxury gifts this holiday season. But your budget is limiting your spending. You can do luxury without spending the big bucks on beautiful gifts. All it takes is a little creativity and a good eye for quality.

Here are some luxurious gift ideas without the large price tags:

Spa package:
Women love to be pampered, but heading to a spa can be very expensive. Instead, create a beautiful gift basket of lotions, creams, gels, oils and exfoliating products for the bath. Make sure you schedule free time for her to relax in her spa and let the stress seep away. Add a calming CD or a manicure set to top off the package. To keep this gift extra special, look for products with a scent the recipient appreciates and enjoys.

If you are in an area where a spa training center is located, give the company a call and find out if you can schedule an appointment at a reduced price. This way you’re still able to give the luxury spa getaway, without the extra cost.

Jewelry:
“Pearls bring elegance and beauty to any outfit and also are an affordable jewelry choice,” says Jeremy Shepherd, CEO of PearlParadise.com. “Freshwater pearls are very versatile – they come in a variety of pastel colors so you can match an outfit or skin tone perfectly, and you can look for the perfectly round classic pearls or mix and match some of the more unique and creative shapes.” PearlParadise.com offers pearls up to 80 percent off retail price, and freshwater pearl earrings to complete strands of freshwater pearls start at $22.

Another popular style of pearl is the Tahitian drop pearl – a pear-shaped pearl with no banding around the middle like circle pearls. Tahitian pearls come in darker colors including green and peacock. Every woman – no matter her age or style – should have a beautiful drop Tahitian pearl necklace or earring set to enhance the elegance of her wardrobe. To learn more about Tahitian pearls and see the huge variety of settings and designs, visit PearlParadise.com.

“Nothing says luxury and good taste as cultured pearls. Known as an icon of style for centuries, pearls take on a woman’s personality, her distinct luster,” says Kathy Grenier, director of Marketing and Communications with The Cultured Pearl Association of America Inc. “Today, cultured pearls of all shapes, colors and varieties are available making pearl jewelry options plentiful.”

Afternoon out:
With children, work and extra activities, sometimes the best – and most luxurious gift – is an afternoon out on the town. Depending on your budget, you can expand this into an evening on the town or a mini getaway as well. The months of January and February are ideal for traveling because hotels, flights and tours are lowering their costs in an effort to fill vacancies.

If you plan on the afternoon out, special discounts are often available for lunch menus and afternoon matinees. Get dressed up, have a great lunch at a well-known restaurant and catch the latest theater production while keeping the cost affordable.

Shop off-season:
This tip will take a bit of extra work, but if you’re willing to dig, you can find many summer clothing and accessory items for reduced prices during the winter months. If the recipient is big into purses, look for bags made from linens and light-weight fabrics. Search for some extra-stylish shades or a beautiful summer hat. For the professional female, look for a cool warm-weather suit made from flowing linens. If the clearance racks in the stores don’t have anything, go online to find the great deals.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

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There are many ways to enjoy football — watching at home, tailgating at the game, playing in the backyard and more. True fanatics love them all, so make their football fantasies come true by covering a little bit of everything.

* Give a top-grain leather football for play during the day and a light-up or glow-in-the-dark football so the game can continue well into the evening. Discourage injury inducing tackles by gifting flags for a rousing game of touch football.

* Don’t settle for basic sports memorabilia like a jersey or team ball. Go the extra mile and find an autographed version. You’ll get points if you track down a favorite player and have them sign and personalize something for your gridiron addict.

* Get ready for game day with a basket filled with favorite snacks and beverages to enjoy while watching the action. A six-pack of premium beer, fresh tortilla chips and hot salsa and a gift certificate for pizza delivery are just a few ideas for your snack menu.

* A recent study for Samsung by Kelton Research found that 64 percent of Americans are football fans and 54 percent of them say that if there’s room in their budget, they’d purchase a new television for the start of football season. Eighty-one percent of fans say the quality of the TV picture is more important than the food while watching football. Put a season-long smile on their faces with a Samsung HDTV, the official HDTV of the NFL.

The Samsung HDTV has a huge, 1080p high definition screen and a slim and stylish design with a wide screen, so everyone in the room can see every play. Sharp resolution and multifunctional features like an InfoLink RSS feed and DLNA certification make the TV the digital hub of the living room.

* Give a DVD collection of highlights from a favorite team, and classic football movies like “Knute Rockne, All American,” “The Longest Yard,” “North Dallas Forty” and “Rudy.” You can even find candles scented like pigskin and the grass on the field to make you feel like you’re in the middle of the action.

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