Please consider buying a bed net. A donation and certificate would make an excellent stocking stuffer and allow you to open the door to a conversation about charity and the plight of others in the world.
Jeff
The Symbiot is a new kind of backpack. It is so new in fact, that folks could just start buying them online this past week. You could literally be one of the first hundred or so people to be sporting one of these amazing backpacks ideal for hiking, jogging and general outdoor activity. 
Fruit and/or Cookie, Candy Baskets. Perfect for giving a thoughtful gift to the masses - ideal for schools, daycares, etc. 
This product does not come cheap, at $30, but would make an excellent keepsake for your little Sesame Street fan. 
When we arrived home tonight, one piece of our Back to Basics Toy order was waiting for us. It was this archery set.
Don't buy toy musical instruments, I beg you! They are not that much cheaper than real junior/child sized musical instruments and they will break quicker and sound poor. Plus, if your child really takes an interest in the instrument, you will only wind up buying a real one anyway. Visit a music store, a big chain like Sam Ash or a local shop and talk to the people working there. Most likely, they are passionate music folks that can point you in the right direction. You and your child will be much happier for the effort. Trust me!Some examples of real, pint-size drum kits (the coolest musical instrument you can buy for a little one):
Children's Drum kit - by Ludwig (a real drum company)
A full 5 piece kit with stool and drum sticks. Everything your child will need to start playing drums. Available in traditional black or the awesome wine red color.
On sale for $219.99 (down from $355) from Sam Ash
The $220 price for this Ludwig Drum Kit is on par with or cheaper than many of the First Act Drum Kits (First Act is a widely available toy instrument maker - available at all the big chains toy stores).
Smaller 3 Piece Kids Drum kit - by Groove Percusion
On sale for $119.99 from Sam Ash
Last year, we purchased an acoustic guitar for our then 7 year old niece. We started in the toy stores but ended up in a music store, which was a very good move. Her guitar still sounds nice and looks terrific and cost us only a fraction more than a comparable guitar from a toy store.
This past weekend, we popped into the locally owned music shop in West Chester, PA and picked up a real, full sized tambourine for our girl. This is 1 of the only 2 things she asked Santa for this year. The other, a brown boy baby doll (which she will also be getting, but not from the music store). While in the store, we spotted a flyer for a holiday kid's music "class" held there each Tuesday morning in December, exclusively for the 0-3 age set. Only $10 and the youngsters get to play with a variety of musical equipment. We will certainly be taking some vacation time and checking this out! I would be willing to bet your local music store has similar offerings...I can guarantee you that a toy store won't!
Jeff
This one will work for those already versed in Geocaching as well as for those families looking to dive head first into this emerging hobby and lifestyle.
The idea is simple, really. Lets assume your family does not own a GPS device yet. You purchase a one (they range in price from around $80 on up to the thousands) and plan to give that as gift #1. Next "wrap" some of the other gifts as caches and place/hide them around your house, lawn, neighborhood (nothing too valuable inside, of course) and make note of the exact coordinates. Then type up, handwrite, or arrange cut-out letters from various magazines (ransom note style) each set of coordinates. You could list them all on one page or if you plan to give one large gift, you could make the caches nothing more than a progressive treasure hunt with advancing clues - filling each cache only with the next set of coordinates and a fun little hint (no real gift). Maybe you will have them come full circle, ending up back where they started, with the surprise waiting for them in the next room or garage.
Years back, I purchased all the original Strawberry Shortcake VHS videos and a near-mint Strawberry Shortcake doll (still with berry scented breath - even after 20+ years!) for my redheaded wife. She was ecstatic. I found all of these "antique" items on eBay. I paid a premium for them, but the look on her face that Christmas morning was well worth the expense. She still considers the doll, which I had encased in a protective wood and glass case, the best gift she has ever received.
This holiday season, why not think back to the one thing you cherised most as a child and try to hunt it down in a parent's attic or online. Chances are, someone is selling IT in good condition. These types of gifts may not be flashy, fancy, or high-tech but they mean the most and are the ones that, come February, still may carry some weight and a heightened level of importance to a child.
Jeff
Project Puffin's Adopt a Puffin ProgramJeff Bogle
OWTK
