Bratz Cloe Diamondz Doll
These Bratz girls with a passion for fashion always shine, but now they have an extra sparkle! These glam girls come with a real diamond pendant! Each diamond comes with a certificate of authenticity, proving that diamonds are a Bratz best friend! These dolls are very popular with little girls and will be flying off the shelves this Christmas season. You can also get Sharidan, Jade, Yasmin and Sasha Diamondz doll.
Find out where to get Bratz Cloe Diamondz.
The Amazing Allysen Doll
The Amazing Allysen Doll is a large, interactive doll that utilizes voice recognition, sensory technology and articulated animatronics to offer endless hours of lifelike, nurturing play. Now, your girls can chat, share ring tones, tell secrets, dress Allysen in fabulous fashions and style her long beautiful hair. These days toys are getting so sophisticated.
This is sort of the “older” version of the Amazing Amanda doll. Remember that one?
Find out more about the Amazing Allysen Doll
TMX Elmo
T.M.X. Elmo is the most secretly guarded toy of the pre-holiday season. It was shown to the world on September 19 on Good Morning America. What exactly does T.M.X. stand for? It’s been said that the “X” is for 10. So it could be “Tickle Me 10″ since it’s the 10th anniversary of the original Tickle Me Elmo toy which was the craze of Christmas 1996.
Here are a few more TMX Elmo details:
* Three different tickle spots trigger rounds of infectious laughter and movement
* Elmo slaps his belly, falls forward with his butt sticking out, stands back up again, topples backwards, and kicks his legs over his belly
* Requires 6 AA batteries
Will TMX Elmo be the hottest toy of Christmas 2006? We shall see.
Find out where to get TMX Elmo.
Quick Shopping Ideas
Here are today’s quick shopping ideas. Hopefully these will spur the creative side of your brain and you can think of what to buy for your loved ones. Christmas is still a long ways to go but it’s never too early to think about Christmas shopping!
Pamper The Feet With Birkenstock Sandals
When it comes to shoes, I definitely value comfort above everything else. I enjoy being able to walk around all day without noticing what I’m wearing on my feet because that most likely means that my shoes are comfortable and not bothering me. This is something that I especially appreciate in the summer months when I know that I’m going to be more active than at other times of the year. So before summer rolls around, I always make sure that I have a new pair of Birkenstock sandals on hand.
Contrary to popular belief, not all sandals and flip-flops are made equal. You’d think that these types of shoes would automatically be comfortable, but that’s definitely not the case. Over the years, I’ve personally tried out a lot of different footwear, but I keep coming back to Birkenstock sandals for a number of reasons. First of all, Birkenstock sandals are specially designed to fit the contours of the human foot — unlike other brands that simply give you a flat foot bed. Because of this, Birkenstocks are able to support your feet better than other brands, making them more comfortable in the long run.
Another reason that I love Birkenstock sandals is that they are extremely durable. They are made from the finest materials around, and usually last for several seasons. If you’re tired of flimsy summer shoes that fall apart before the Fourth of July, then you have to give Birkenstock sandals a try.
Finally, I never get tired of purchasing Birkenstock sandals because there are so many different styles and colors available to consumers today. If you’re not very familiar with this brand, then you probably think that they only come in the classic “Arizona” style, which is an open design with two straps that fit over the top of your foot. While the Arizona continues to be a top seller, Birkenstock sandals are available in nearly 20 different styles, with numerous color variations for each. Because of this variety, you’re sure to be able to find the perfect pair of Birkenstocks So no matter what kind of sandal style you prefer.
One thing that might discourage your from buying Birkenstock sandals is the price. Yes, they are certainly more expensive than other brands out there, but just remember that you always get what you pay for. With normal wear and tear, Birkenstock sandals will likely outlast other brands, which of course increases their overall value.
So if you’re looking for a great pair of shoes that you can wear all summer long, check out some Birkenstock sandals today. I think you might be surprised at just how stylish, durable, and comfortable these shoes are!
Nikon D80 Digital SLR Camera
The Nikon D80Digital SLR is a 10.2 MP camera, an improvement over their hugely popular D50 series which was a 6.1 MP camera. This is what I want for Christmas! The reviews of this camera have been really good and if you like detail and clarity of color in your pictures, this is a superb choice for a digital SLR. One thing to think about is getting extra lenses. For example, look for kits that come with the 70-300 mm lens. This is cheaper than going out to buy the lens separately later on.
Read more about the Nikon D80.
Find The Best Gaming Laptops
What do you love to do with your computer? There are so many things that can be accomplished with contemporary PCs and Macs now days. It’s almost difficult to take it all in. When I ponder the possibilities with my notebook computer, I’m simply left in awe. The truth is I will never use all the capabilities it offers, but that’s okay. The cool thing is they’re there if you need them. While I may use certain programs on a regular basis, you will be taking advantages of others. That’s what’s so cool about personal computers; they cater to us all. I know a few guys who thrive off of the video game options. This is why they searched for the best gaming laptops before purchasing. Are you a gamer too?
There are a number of places to search for the best gaming laptops. I would have to say the first two places I would hit up are Best Buy and Circuit City. These electronic superstores are ideal for the best gaming laptops. It’s a synch to go inside, browse around, and compare prices. See if the two stores offer the same current specials or if one is cheaper. Often stores will guarantee the lowest price around. This is something to seriously consider and take full advantage of. Another factor to think about when in the market for the best gaming laptops is the Internet. Although it’s wise to check out any and all laptops you can in-person, it doesn’t mean you have to purchase from the store you’re browsing in. Get on the web and check out great deals on the best gaming laptops to date. This is the way you ensure yourself of getting the lowest price possible. Furthermore you may want to take a gander at recent reviews on a variety of laptop computers. This is always a prudent choice before committing to a purchase.
When it comes to the best gaming laptops, there is one major aspect to consider. Do you want a PC or a Mac? Well, if you didn’t already know, Macs are known for their digital editing and artistic capabilities. On the other hand, PCs are the way to go if you’re interested in the best gaming laptops. Also, most computer games are designed for PCs. This should narrow down your search a great deal.
Great Deals on Computers at BestBuy.com!
Barbie and Ken Dolls
I have always loved my Barbie and Ken dolls, since I was six years old. I remember my Barbie and Ken as if they were childhood companions. I remember it as if I was riding around with Barbie and Ken in the Barbie Ferrari, or joining them by the pool in the Barbie Dream House that I got for my 8th birthday. I know that there are a lot of people who say that Barbie and Ken are not good role models for kids.
They say that Barbie especially enforces bad self image for girls. She is supposed to make them think that they are not good enough unless they are tall, thin, and blond, and always feel bad about who they are. But I say that that is all hogwash. Barbie and Ken are not meant to be role models. They are meant to be toys, plain and simple. To expect children to try to emulate their toys is absurd, and besides, every child enjoys playing make believe with his or her dolls. Barbie and Ken just allow them another way to play these fun and healthy childhood games. I can not see anything wrong with that. Can you?
Of course, now that I have kids of my own, I can see that not everyone plays with Barbie and Ken dolls in the same way. For example, my son actually has war with them. He gets ahold of my daughters Barbies and makes them fight each other. At first she did not like this, and would come to me, crying, when he was playing soldiers with Barbie and Ken, but over the years she has grown to be resigned to it, and even to like it.
Now they all play war together, pitting the Barbie and Ken dolls against each other. Sometimes I even see them using the dolls to act out world political events. They will actually have Barbie doll terrorist attacks, and pretend that one of the Kens is president Bush. This shows me that the Barbie and Ken dolls are not only fun toys for the imagination, but educational as well. So I dispute what the naysayers have been spreading about some of my favorite toys. They obviously quite simply have no sense of fun at all, if you ask me. Otherwise, they would stop talking trash about these great Barbie and Ken dolls, and join in the fun themselves.
Native American Kachina Doll
Want a unique Christmas gift idea? Kachina dolls, also known as katsinas, originated in what is now the southwestern United States. Authentic Kachina dolls are made only from the cottonwood root and are hand-carved representations of spirits in traditional Native American cultures. The Kachina spirits are said to have walked in the lands with the people long ago. When the people disregarded them, the spirits were offended, and were no longer visible to the people. Tradition holds that the Kachina spirits taught the people the joy of dance before leaving the natural world.
The Hopi tribe regards theirs as the only authentic work, claiming to have been the first native culture to use them. However, the Navajo, Zuni, Pueblo and Apache tribes also make Kachina dolls, also carved strictly from the cottonwood root and representative of spirit entities, similarly used in ceremonial rituals and as symbolic icons. The artists who carve these dolls are devoted to their craft, spending many years, indeed a lifetime, to perfect the art.
All of these tribes display Kachina dolls in their homes as reminders of spiritual blessings and as a means to teach their children the stories and symbolism behind each doll, passed down through the generations. Among the tribes who make Kachina dolls there are two to three hundred different dolls, depending on the tribe, each with a story representative of the spirit entity.
Kachina dolls are rich in symbolism. Tribal men, usually shamans, today continue the tradition of ritual ceremonies and festivals and dancing with drums and rattles. Typical themes include requests for rain to ensure a good crop, celebration of the harvest, and rites of passage.
The Shamans dress in costumes depicting the likeness of a Kachina spirit, including face paint, feathers, fur, turquoise jewelry, leather and masks. This man then “becomes” that entity for the period of the ceremony, thus conferring on his tribe the blessings of the spiritual entity.
Tribal cultural beliefs generally separate facets of the spiritual world into the various physical aspects of nature, encompassing animals, plant medicines, clouds, birds, the all-important rain and natural phenomena such as lightning and rainbows. Many of the ritual ceremonies involve requests to the spirits for sufficient rain for an adequate harvest, not surprising in the arid southwest.
In the last century, Kachina dolls have gained a following among art collectors, who value the dolls for both their beauty and symbolic link to the spiritual world through nature. Anthropologists, historians and tourists alike find these carved dolls fascinating.
Should you find yourself traveling through the American southwest, make it a point to search out the Kachina dolls. You can also find Native American websites which sell these stunning works of art.
When buying a Kachina doll, ask for a certificate of authenticity. The seller should be pleased to provide this, which includes the name of the artist and his tribe.
(image source: Wikipedia)
Zen Alarm Clocks For Yoga Buffs
As a meditator, I have always faced a problem. It is important to make sure that my meditations can get as deep as possible, but I also do have plenty of other obligations on a day to day basis. If I slip too deeply in to bliss while chasing nirvana, I might not get out in time to go to work or to pick up the kids from school, or whatever else there is on my schedule that day. That is why I wanted to get a zen alarm clock to really help me out with my mediation. And I have to say that my digital zen alarm clock has done just that.
I know that the name zen alarm clock sounds kind of stupid, and just like another crass marketing gimic, and in a sense that is just what it is. But still, digital zen alarm clocks really provide an important function to anyone who has a day to day mediation practice that they like to keep up, such as me. If you just use a normal alarm clock radio to wake you out of meditation, it will not wake you gently. While a zen alarm clock uses a soothing gong sound to gently bring you back up to the day to day reality of your life, an alarm clock radio will either wake you with a harsh beep or buzz, or else with the blare of music from whatever station that you have it set to. This will undo a good bit of the benefit of meditation, because you will instantly tense up when you suddenly hear that harsh sound coming out through the speakers at the end of your meditation.
Best of all, a zen alarm clock can be used in place of a regular alarm clock am fm radio to get you up in the morning. It has a digitized gong sound, and can be set in many different ways, either to awaken you with a series of loud chimes. Or to gradually increase in volume until it has reached its full capacity. No matter how you set your zen alarm clock, it will help you wake up gently and feel all nice and refreshed in the morning, which is sure a whole lot better than being suddenly jarred out of bed with no warning at all! Despite the cheesy factor, a Zen alarm clock is really useful.
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