Last year’s holiday fad of Snuggies and singing Elmos has passed, and it is already time to start prepping for this year’s holiday season. Many of the hot 2010 gifts are still sizzling hot at the end of 2011. There are plenty of As Seen On TV gifts that will leave your family with a lackluster empty feeling. Getting a gift that the whole family loves is tough. Dad isn’t in high school football shape anymore and can’t twist for Twister. Mom is too busy worrying about the in-laws coming over to sit down and play Monopoly. The kids don’t know how to play Gin Rummy or Canasta. Here’s a list of sure-fire gifts that will please at least one member of the family!
Xbox Kinect or Wii: The XBox 360 has always been a hot item since its release in 2005 and the same with the Nintendo Wii, the first motion detecting video game. I have good news about both, the Wii is at an all time low price of $149 and you don’t need to go out and re-buy a brand new XBox, you just to buy the Kinect, which will also set you back $149. The great thing about these motion sensor games is that they are easy to play and you can decide how much effort you want to put into the game. The parental generations don’t need to know how to ‘pwn noobs’ with the traditional XBox controllers since with the Kinect, you use your own hands and feet to kick, punch and throw.
HD Projector: Is it tough to round up all the kids for a movie night out? Then bring the movie theater experience home. Gone are the days that theater style projectors are only for the 1%, these are priced just about as much as an iPad and can hook up to every accessory you have. So stay in the pjs, make some popcorn and fire up that projector and enjoy the movie!
iPad 2: Another rollover hot item from 2010, but this year it is the iPad 2. This is a great family tool because Dad can play Tiger Woods golf, Mom can attack the pigs with Angry Birds and the kids can slice away on Fruit Ninja. On vacation leave the laptop at home and just bring the iPad, filled with Yelp!, Google Maps and hundreds of thousands of apps for whatever need you might have. The 10 hour battery will keep your long road trips powered and you don’t have to worry about plugging it in every night. The iPad is equipped with parental controls, so don’t worry about Jr. exploring any sites he shouldn’t be. Are you looking to save a few bucks? You can still buy the original iPad from Apple for a discounted price.
Sporting Event/ Concert Tickets: We aren’t talking about Disney on Ice or the circus. Take your kids to the local professional football, baseball or whatever sport they will enjoy. Nothing is better than having your kids jacked up on cotton candy and soda, while you enjoy an over priced beer and root on your favorite team. Sports are not your thing? Then check out a classic rock artist on tour and your kids will thank you when they get older. Rock greats like Bruce Springsteen can still put on a heck of a show that your kids will even enjoy.
Keurig Coffee Makers: One sentence can sell this coffee maker. Coffee in less than a minute. What makes this a great family gift is the fact that it doesn’t just brew only coffee. It also makes hot chocolate (a kids’ favorite!), both hot and iced tea and even the seemly unnecessary decaf coffee are all within the capabilities of the Keurig. Every coffee flavor you can imagine from Pumpkin Spice to Peppermint and even the traditional offerings from Starbucks are available in K-Cups that pop right into the Keurig for a fresh cup tailored to each person.
This isn’t the end all of lists, but is a great jumping off point. Maybe you need some gifts for mom? Then check out these beauty gift ideas. Do you have a great family gift that went over well last season? Please share all your ideas below in the comments.
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