Nothing But Nets

Nothing But Nets provides bed nets for families in Africa – where every 30 seconds a child dies from malaria.

For just $10, you can send a net and save a life. 100% of your contribution goes directly to purchasing bed nets, distributing them, and educating communities on how to use them.

Through the UN Foundation’s Nothing But Nets campaign – a global, grassroots effort to prevent malaria – anyone can make a difference, one net at a time. For less than it costs to buy a DVD, you can fill out a great tribute card and purchase a bed net on behalf of a friend or loved one and save the life of a child in Africa.

With their recent promotion with the NBA, you get two free tickets to an NBA game for a donation of $10 or more. Send a Net. Save a Life. See a Game.

Also, Nothing But Nets has teamed up with the United Nations’ refugee agency (UNHCR) to protect more than one million refugees in 15 African countries from malaria.  They need 160,000 nets before December 31 to cover the full need. So give the gift of life to a refugee in Africa this holiday season, either on behalf of yourself or a loved one.

Kiva

Kiva empowers regular people to alleviate poverty by lending to entrepreneurs around the world.

Kiva Gift Certificates are one of the most unique holiday gifts you can give.  They're perfect for family, friends, and coworkers. And a Kiva Gift is a great last minute gift idea for those far way.

Starting at $25, Kiva gift certificates allow the recipient to make their own loans to entrepreneurs around the world and help alleviate poverty. Your recipient chooses the loans, receives repayments, and can choose to lend again and again! It is a one-of-a-kind gift that keeps on giving.

Visit Kiva to email your personalized gift certificate immediately or print them at home today! They take just seconds to create, but the experience lasts a lifetime!

BevShots MicroArt blends art with adult beverages by featuring images of beer, wine, liquors and cocktails shot by a high-powered microscope on canvas and gallery-grade paper. The full BevShots gallery is comprised of 29 images ranging from tequila and whiskey to martini and vodka tonic to domestic and imported beers and red, white and sparkling wines, all available as customizable art pieces.  No two beverages look alike, with images representing an array of colors and patterns that can fit the décor of any home or office.

“BevShots easily mix with today’s trends in abstract art, but feature a topic we all know and love – alcoholic beverages,” said BevShots President Lester Hutt. “Those who have seen BevShots are excited to find out what their drink of choice looks like under a microscope and those who haven’t seen BevShots before are interested in the story behind it. We’ve been thrilled by the outpouring of interest from people who want to display personal favorites in their home or office.”

Any of BevShots images can be ordered online.  Gift cards are also available for those who would rather let recipients select their own favorite image.

In addition to the full gallery of BevShots available online, owners of iPhones can sample and share the company’s unique images thanks to the new BevShots’ BarHop application.  At a cost of $1.99, it provides microscopic images of a dozen drinks in Sports Bar, Pub, Cocktail Lounge and Wine Bar settings.

Baume & Mercier Men's 8749 Hampton Square Titanium Watch

Overall Rating:

Retail Price: $4,490.00

Amazon Price: $2,175.00

Almost one hundred and fifty years ago, a watchmaker wanted to create watches that would blaze trails in the world of timepieces. That watchmaker succeeded and a status symbol line of watches was born. Among them are men’s luxury watches and those watches are part of the TAG Heuer line of excellence in products.

Take the TAG Heuer Men’s Formula 1 Grande Date Chronograph Watch, for example. This watch stands up to the reputation behind it with its flawless design and scratch resistant window. It’s water resistant and has precision time.

If you have the Amazon card, you can take a half a year interest free to pay for the purchase.  Plus, it has a two-year warranty. Meaning that if something unforeseen happens with the watches’ mechanisms, the watch is covered.

Another great watch carrying the TAG Heuer craftsmanship is their Men’s Formula 1 Professional Watch. If you have any sports players in your household, this watch is perfect for them as it will stand up to the rigors of play. But it’s also classy enough to wear to the office, too.

Sometimes when durable watches are built, style takes a back seat but that’s not true with the TAG Heuer Men’s Silver Aquaracer Watch. You get the durability the brand is known for plus you get the high end style you’re accustomed to.

There’s a story behind most of the men’s luxury watches and the Omega Men’s Seamaster 300M “James Bond” Automatic Chronometer Watch is one that appeals to men.

It carries the 007 appeal and combined with its precision and design, this watch has quite the charm. As an added bonus, you get over $1,000 off the list price when you order this watch.

You can wear a work of timepiece art on your wrist. The Baume & Mercier Men’s Hampton Square Titanium Watch #8749 is a name synonymous with New York wealth, prestige and dependability.

It features titanium, is both water and scratch resistant and is known for its accurate time. The watch can be worn with formal or informal attire. The reputation behind the watch makes it sought after so supplies are limited. If you’d like to have this for yourself or to give one as a Christmas gift, you can save almost half price (48%) by ordering it online.

When it comes to choosing men’s luxury watches, you want to make sure you focus on three things. The first is the reputation. Does the company have a good reputation? Are they known for their precision workmanship?

Next, you want to weigh durability against cost. Buying a watch for $300 that you have to replace every year costs you far more than say a $1,000 watch that you have to replace eight years down the road. Finally, consider the appearance. Do you like the way it looks against your wrist?

The DXG-580V looks like a traditional camcorder, only smaller, and it fits snugly into the palm of one's hand. It's a slim, sleek and light-weight design with the ability to record HD video up to 1440 x 1080. And unlike a lot of electronic equipment these days, once you charge the included lithium-ion battery (or four AAA batteries) and install an SD card, you're ready for prime time on YouTube and the like.

The beauty of the DXG-580v is its built-in flash memory and expandable storage up to 8GB, providing up to eight hours of video. No more switching out tapes in the middle of your favorite uncle's signature dance moves (from you're not quite sure what era) at the next family reunion. With an 8-GB SD card, you'll be ready to capture those unique life moments that only video could fully describe and not worry about whether there's enough tape left. The included software package then allows you to seamlessly pop the SD card into your computer and easily view, edit and share these video experiences.

In addition to video, the DXG-580v shoots up to 8MP still images and has built-in digital voice recording. This high-definition camcorder is a perfect gift for dads and grads. It's ease of use, functionality and affordable price make it a no-brainer.

I recently took this camera out for a test drive during a wonderful day at Venice Beach in sunny California. Usually bogged down with a heavy, miniDV tape driven camcorder, the DXG-580v was a welcome upgrade. I got some good footage of the local scenery and was able to view it instantly on my computer by just popping in the SD card. Although my filming and editing abilities are far from that of the "experts" with their expensive equipment and editting tools, I was quite pleased with the still pictures and video quality. (I might even get enough courage to show off and upload my videos to YouTube.) But for now, I'd recommend this high definition camera for novice and amateur video enthusiasts alike.

Learn more about the DXG-580v camcorder »

Although there was once a time when holiday baskets meant fruit and fruit alone, those days are long gone. Holiday baskets have evolved to reflect the different people and personalities they can be purchased for. From wines and imported food products to perfumes and toys, there is a holiday basket out there for every age, gender and interest.

Even knowing just a little about the person you are buying for is enough to get them a holiday basket they will love. By way of example, spa and gardening baskets can be purchased for the women in your life and sports themed baskets for the men. You can find cookie bouquets themed baskets for friends, children and co-workers. No one is left out when it comes to holiday basket gift giving.

Most holiday baskets can be purchased pre-made. However, custom made holiday baskets are great alternatives. A prime example would be a book themed basket, a DVD/movie basket or a wine gift basket. If you can't find a theme that you want, you can always make your own holiday basket. Discount and dollar stores carry inexpensive baskets, cellophane and bows all year round.

Holiday baskets allow you to give a gift that is tailored specifically for each of your gift recipients. They are unique gifts because they represent anything you want to create. For these reasons, you are certain to find something special for everyone on your list and give just the right gift.

Finding Just The Right Gift

If you know the kinds of things your friends and family like, then eBay's categories are ideal places to get ideas. And then a few clicks later, you're shopping -- at bargain basement prices.

Ebay also offers a cool way to come up with gift ideas if you're not quite sure what to get the people on your list. Think of a recent item that your gift recipient bought for themselves. Type it into eBay's search box and see which category it's in. Then click the link to look at everything in that category. You'll immediately have a huge list of things that they would probably love to have. If you know the recipient well, you should have no trouble sorting through the suggestions to find a special and unique gift.

Let History Be Your Guide

You have an extra tool available when the people you're buying for are eBay users. If you know their eBay usernames, you can look at what they've been buying to see the kinds of things they may want.

Click "Advanced Search" on the main page, then "Find A Member" on the left-hand menu to see an eBay user's history. Type in the username and you'll get their user page, which lists the item numbers of everything they have bought. Choose an item number and paste it into the eBay search box to find out what the item was. Voila! You have a nearly foolproof list of ideal gifts for that person on your shopping list.

Avoid Last-Minute Shopping

Don't be tempted to use eBay for your last-minute holiday shopping, though. The prices will be high, and items might not reach you in time.

Every year there's a toy every child wants and all the stores sell out. Suddenly the toy appears on eBay -- at a premium. Holiday shoppers have to pay many times the gift's value, and still don't receive it in time for the big day. Don't get caught in this snare.

Also be aware that millions of people are doing their online holiday shopping on eBay. A good percentage of them are inexperienced eBay shoppers, who drive up prices far above normal. Try not to end up paying too much for an item just because it's the last one you could receive in time, or because everyone else is bidding high. Know when to cut your losses, stop bidding, and just buy from another site.

With eBay, there's no longer a need to settle for gifts that are really not your first choice for your shopping list because of price. Ebay offers some of the best deals around to satisfy just about all of your gift giving needs. Just make sure to start early and avoid bidding wars.

The best thing you can do when selecting a gift is to think like the intended recipient. For example, if your best friend enjoys hiking, imagine a gift that would enhance their outdoor experience. Although a new blu-ray DVD player is a nice gift, an ipod touch may be more complimentary to their hiking adventures. And you certainly could not go wrong with a new pair of hiking boots. The key is to examine what the gift
recipient enjoys, what keeps their interest and ignore what you yourself want.

After brainstorming some great ideas, the other secret to great gift giving is knowing where to shop. With the help of the internet, you can within minutes track down the perfect gift. You also have the ability to comparison shop and take advantage of special online offers. Best of all, you don’t have to leave the comfort of your own home. And don't be surprised that as you get better at giving gifts people actually want, you start receiving more gifts that you actually want.

So in a nutshell, figure out what gift your intended recipient will want and find it. Just think like the lucky person getting your gift. Once you decide on the perfect gift, spend some time online to find the best prices. And before you buy, review the online holiday shopping tips.

Choose Something Just For Her

The first tip is this: never buy her a gift that you would like to receive. You probably would not make the mistake of thinking she wants a new John Deere tractor. But you may think that home electronics items like TVs and stereos are fabulous gifts. A new plasma TV is probably not on her gift list. But if a TV, or even a tractor, does happen to be on her list, be sure to buy the one she wants, not the one you think she should have.

Avoid Housekeeping Aids

Another pearl of wisdom: never buy your sweetheart a household appliance, or something to make housework easier. She almost certainly will not be pleased. She may decide to clean house -- by getting rid of your items. This prohibition includes cleaning products, like that extra large container of laundry soap that finally went on sale. A new, high-tech vacuum cleaner might be something she wants, but not as a Christmas gift from her sweetie.

Make It Personal

Here's another clue to remember when searching for the perfect holiday gift for your special someone. A coffee mug or a house plant is not a romantic gift. Your sister might like to receive a house plant from you, but it is probably safe to say that your sweetheart will be expecting something a little more personal.

Lingerie and nightwear can be a great holiday gift idea for that someone special. But avoid the flannels and the granny panties. That type of gift sends the message that you do not find her desirable. Buy her the sexy stuff if you're leaning towards a gift of lingerie.

Don't Be Cheap

Jewelry can be the perfect gift for the woman you love for Christmas, but there are a couple of pitfalls to avoid. Always remember that an imitation diamond does not cut it, either figuratively or literally. Imagine the embarrassment she will feel when she tests her new ring in front of her friends by trying to cut glass with it. Such a scene could have dire consequences for your relationship. Buy the real thing.

Don't Trust Your Fashion Sense

For many men, clothing often seems the ideal gift, especially when the women in their lives love clothes. If you are thinking about clothing for your special someone, please reconsider. While many men think they have a good sense of women's fashions, in reality few do. If you give her clothes, she may act appreciative, but don't ever expect to see her wear them.

Take A Hint

Although it may seem obvious, one of the most important gift-giving clues is: LISTEN. Many women drop detailed hints about what they want. If you pay attention, she will probably tell you exactly what to buy for her. You can never disappoint her by giving her something she wants.

Presentation Is Part Of The Gift

Never underestimate the power of presentation. Beautiful paper, nice boxes, and bows that sparkle can set the stage, and increase your sweetheart's anticipation of your gift. Duct tape is never acceptable, and plastic grocery bags do not make good gift bags. If you hire someone skilled to wrap that perfect gift, you give your sweetheart the gift of beauty in presentation, in addition to the gift within.

That "perfect" holiday gift may be something elusive, and always just out of reach. The gift you give her, whether perfect or not, if chosen thoughtfully will send the message that you cared enough to make the effort. Figuring out the perfect holiday gift for your special someone can be difficult. But following the above guidelines will help you put a smile on her face this holiday season.