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The temperature’s dropping, the malls are packed, and the neighbors have filled their entire front yard with big, floppy, inflatable snowmen. That must mean that the holidays are once again upon us!
With the economy flat-lining this year, there’s no better time to shop for entertaining gifts. For just a few bucks, you can buy your loved ones hours of fun—whether it’s in the form of a favorite DVD, a fun CD, a great book, or a family-friendly game. So we here at N&W.com have put together a list of some of our favorite entertainment-related gifts for you to choose from. Check the list—and check it twice! Then get shopping!
For those teen girls in your life who love a bit of gothic, ghostly mystery, Margaret recommends Sisters of Misery by Megan Kelley Hall, The Devouring by Simon Holt, or ghostgirl by Tonya Hurley.
For anyone who (like Margaret) loves to laugh out loud while reading a romance, pick up Addicted to Love by Lori Wilde.
Shopping for a reader who loves action and intrigue? Try Child 44 by Tom Rob Smith or The Fourth Watcher by Timothy Hallinan. Or, for the western fans on your list, Margaret recommends picking up Sunday’s Colt and Other Stories of the Old West by Randy Smith.
For anyone who loves to play games—but who’s just a little bit bored with the same old thing—try the card game Fluxx or the fast-moving Phase 10 Twist.
Or, for the youngest game players in the family (and the grown-ups who play games with them), go for the simply silly Clothespins!
For your favorite pop music fan, try Locksley’s Don’t Make Me Wait. Or, for music fans of all shapes, sizes, and tastes, pick up the self-titled debut from The Airborne Toxic Event.
For anyone who could use a good laugh (and, really, who couldn’t these days?), pick up a copy of the Tropic Thunder Director’s Cut DVD. The movie’s absolutely hilarious (personally, I’ve already watched it three times), and the two-disc set is filled with hours of entertaining extras.
For the classic film buff on your holiday list, be sure to pick up DVDs from Paramount’s new Centennial Collection DVDs—including Sunset Boulevard and Audrey Hepburn’s Roman Holiday.
Kids of all ages will love the eco-friendly three-disc special edition DVD of Pixar’s latest, WALL•E. It’s loaded with games and features that will keep the whole family entertained for hours.
And, of course, any superhero fan would love to receive this summer’s dynamic duo: Iron Man and The Dark Knight.
Or, for hours upon hours of entertainment, pick up a full season of a TV show with a twist. Margaret recommends picking up the second season of the outlandish Dexter, while I suggest season one of the delightfully creative (and, sadly, recently cancelled) Pushing Daisies
Finally, for entertainment junkies on the go, I highly recommend picking up the Sansa Fuze. Sure, this MP3 player (with video capabilities) doesn’t come with the ever-present white ear buds. But considering its wide range of features, its fantastic functionality, and its surprising affordability, the Fuze is the way to go. Add a micro-SD card, and the lucky recipients will have more than enough room to bring their favorite albums and even an audio book or two along wherever 2009 takes them.
Or, if you still don’t know what to get for the entertainment lover who seems to have everything, you can always play it safe and go with the Amazon gift card.
And what are we asking Santa for this year?
Margaret’s been a very good girl this year, so she’s hoping for an MP3 player, so she can download a blend of her favorite rock music from the ‘70s, ‘80s, ‘90s, and today. (Note to Santa: check out my notes on the Sansa Fuze above!) She’d also love to have a scrapbook kit. According to Margaret: “As a child, I grew up looking through my mom’s scrapbook, and I was so fascinated by all the memories, quirky memorabilia, pictures, poems, and whatever else she considered interesting. And now I’d love to start one of my own.”
As for me, my Amazon wish list is crammed with ideas. I’m still wishing for my very own ebook reader. But, really, an Amazon gift card would do just fine.
So there you have it…our list of some of the year’s most entertaining holiday gifts that won’t break the bank. Happy shopping! And from all of us at N&W.com to all of our friends out there in cyberspace, we once again wish you the happiest of holidays—and an entertaining new year.
