By Brian M. Rafferty
Let’s face it, sometimes picking the right gift for everybody is darn near impossible. Who really knows what your nieces and nephews are into these days? Do you want to give your mother another “thing” that is just going to clutter up her house? Are your gifts often tied to the holiday, and kind of useless or unused after the first of the year?
The simple truth is that gifts don’t have to be the perfect match for each person. Often, people don’t realize that they are going to love something that they don’t outright want. Gift lists are usually filled with items a person craves, and less with what someone might love.
No, the gifts in this list are not perfect for everybody, but they share a certain level of whimsy that is what really makes the holiday special. Let this be a starting point for your holiday shopping.
Ice Cream Ball
With the unique Play and Freeze Ice Cream Maker, you can make ice cream while on camping trips, at picnics, barbecues, and many other places. You don’t need electricity to make great tasting ice cream, but rather just add ice and rock salt in one end and ice cream mix in the other end. Then, have a ball as you shake it, pass it, or roll it around for 10 to 15 minutes. The ice cream mix can be as simple as cream, sugar, and vanilla or you can try a more adventurous flavor from the included recipe list or make up your own concoction. Made of durable polycarbonate, the Ice Cream Ball is lightweight, portable, and easy to clean. ($22-$45)

Chocolate Voodoo Doll
Voodoo is an ancient mystical practice that can bring spectacular gifts and rewards to those who believe. Chocoholics Chocolate Voodoo Doll is even better because, whether you believe or not, you will be rewarded with a darkly delicious chocolate treat. ($7-$10)

Beedle The Bard
In December 2007, J.K. Rowling unveiled The Tales of Beedle the Bard, a very special book of five fairy tales illustrated by the bard herself, embellished with silver ornaments and mounted moonstones. Amazon was fortunate to come into possession of one of the original copies, and it was our privilege to share images and reviews of this incredible artifact. Now J.K. Rowling is giving millions of Harry Potter fans worldwide cause for celebration with a new edition of The Tales of Beedle the Bard, available December 4, 2008.
Offering the trademark wit and imagination familiar to Rowling’s legions of readers—as well as Aesop’s wisdom and the occasional darkness of the Brothers Grimm—each of these five tales reveals a lesson befitting children and parents alike: the strength gained with a trusted friendship, the redemptive power of love, and the true magic that exists in the hearts of all of us. Rowling’s new introduction also comments on the personal lessons she has taken from the Tales, noting that the characters in Beedle’s collection “take their fates into their own hands, rather than taking a prolonged nap or waiting for someone to return a lost shoe,” and “that magic causes as much trouble as it cures.”
But the true jewel of this new edition is the enlightening and comprehensive commentary (including extensive footnotes!) by Professor Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore, who brings his unique wizard’s-eye perspective to the collection. Discovered “among the many papers which Dumbledore left in his will to the Hogwarts Archives,” the venerable wizard’s ruminations on the Tales allow today’s readers to place them in the context of 16th century Muggle society, even allowing that “Beedle was somewhat out of step with his times in preaching a message of brotherly love for Muggles” during the era of witch hunts that would eventually drive the wizarding community into self-imposed exile. In fact, versions of the same stories told in wizarding households would shock many for their uncharitable treatment of their Muggle characters.
Professor Dumbledore also includes fascinating historical backstory, including tidbits such as the history and pursuit of magic wands, a brief comment on the Dark Arts and its practitioners, and the struggles with censorship that eventually led “a certain Beatrix Bloxam” to cleanse the Tales of “much of the darker themes that she found distasteful,” forever altering the meaning of the stories for their Muggle audience. Dumbledore also allows us a glimpse of his personal relationship to the Tales, remarking that it was through “Babbity Rabbity and Her Cackling Stump” that “many of us [wizards] first discovered that magic could not bring back the dead.”
Both a wise and delightful addition to the Harry Potter canon, this new translation of The Tales of Beedle the Bard is all that fans could hope for and more—and an essential volume for the libraries of Muggles, wizards, and witches, both young and old. ($12.99)

Smart Shopper
Nuance’s SmartShopper is an automated grocery list assistant. Using Nuance’s state-of-the-art voice recognition technology, you simply press a button on the unit and speak the name of a grocery item you will need on your next shopping trip. A large LCD Screen shows the items that have been input into the unit, in alphabetical order. Then, when you are ready to shop, print out a list with the built-in thermal printer. The SmartShopper comes with a strong magnet which allows you to keep it on the refrigerator door. It can also easily be wall mounted, or just store it in a drawer. The SmartShopper is made out of a durable, hard plastic with a brushed aluminum front that will make a great impression in any kitchen. ($84.99)

Home Canning
Capture summer fruits and vegetables at their prime for enjoyment throughout the year by canning at home. This five-piece canning kit provides all the essential tools needed for getting started—a jar lifter, a magnetic lid lifter, a canning funnel, a jar-lid wrench, and kitchen tongs. To safely remove the hot jars and lids after they’ve been sterilized in boiling water, use the jar lifter to pick up the jars and the magnetic lid lifter to easily remove the lids—with no risk of burned fingers. The canning funnel directs ingredients into the jar quickly and cleanly and offers a wide design that accommodates both regular and wide-mouth jars. Heat-resistant handles and durable steel construction makes the kitchen tongs a convenient addition to the tool set. And when it’s time to enjoy those tomatoes or fruit preserves, the jar-lid wrench effortlessly removes the sticky lid. When not in use, the tools can be stored in their original box, which measures 8 by 6 by 12 inches. The home-canning kit carries a one-year limited warranty. ($17.99)

Massaging Lumbar Cushion
Car rides can be tough on your lower back. Do your back a favor and invest in this massaging lumbar cushion. The anatomically sculpted shape offers comfortable support and reduces stress points caused by prolonged sitting. Switch on the soothing massage for deep relaxation. A unique spinal channel allows for back support without putting pressure on your tender spinal column. The bottom is tapered to fit hips and upper buttocks, while the top is shaped for free movement of shoulders and arms. Special “wrap around” sides hug your body for extra lateral stability, especially when your vehicle turns a corner. The adjustable strap easily attaches to any car seat or office chair. Powered by 4 AA batteries (not incl.) for total portability. Plush fabric cover looks and feels wonderful. ($24.99)

Hollywood Mugs
Bring back some nostalgia with any of these one-of-a-kind mugs designed with some of our classic movie favorites in mind. “Breakfast at Tiffany’s,” “Casablanca,” “Rebel Without a Cause,” and many more will capture the hearts and minds of parents and grandparents, or those movie buffs on your list. ($8.97-$9.99)

Pet Toys
Don’t forget the dog this season with these brand new chew /play toys. These are guaranteed to spark an interesting conversation because of their unique appearance and sleek design. Also, a donation is made to animal welfare groups with each dog bone sold – so make sure to let them know! Check out Crazy For Animals at the Shops at Atlas Park for more pet gift ideas. ($9)

Cleaner Teeth
The Zapi Toothbrush Sanitizer comes in fun citrus shades of lime green and tangerine orange, as well as sleek white and bright blue. Zapi is designed so it rocks when touched, providing endless hours of amusement for children and adults alike! It makes brushing your teeth fun, entertaining and also adds a quirky little device to any bathroom. This is one of the most unique things I have seen—and it provides the useful (and helpful) function of killing 99.9% of germs. ($29.99)