The Finance Foodie Holiday Gift Guide, Part 2: Unforgettable Gifts For Him, Her and the Kids!

By: Anne M. Raso and Finance Foodie

We’ve got all your holiday shopping needs covered—even if you have to pick out a gift for a hard to please guy, impossible lady or spoiled kid!

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FOR HIM

Hawke & Co’s Packable Collection is on sale on their website (hawkandco.com) and these jackets are a killer gift for the man who travels. These puffy coats come in a small pouch, weigh only a few ounces and are perfect to slip into a suitcase or briefcase when you don’t know what the weather is going to bring. Usually $195, they are $100 to $125 on the website now!

It’s no secret that men love Under Armour casual wear for their comfort and durability but did you know that they are on the cutting edge of eyewear with polarized lenses, bendable and extra wide arms (to keep out glare) and straight-up cool styles. They have glasses to match every sport from golf to baseball and back again. Priced at $109 to $200 at Dick’s Sporting Goods and The Sports Authority.

I call Vasi not only the Queen Of The Silk Scarf but the Queen Of The Pocket Square, which is making a huge comeback. She creates floral and geometric (some Pucci inspired) designs and all her items have hand sewn rolled hems. Vasi actually calls her pocket squares “B Squares” and I agree with her that a pocket square makes even the plainest blue suit look spiffy. $105 at vasimoda.com. Use the code HOLIDAY2014 when checking out through 12/31 and get 30 per cent off any item!

After a long day at work, I know the Mister likes to kick off his loafters, loosen his tie and make himself an elit by Stolichnaya (Stoli’s line of ultra-luxury vodka) cocktail. Clean, crisp and unbelievably smooth, elit can even be sipped on its own - with none of that after burn left by lower quality vodkas.Shaken or stirred, it all tastes divine with elit by Stoli.

The HTC RE 16.0 MP Digital Camera comes in an array of colors and resembles the periscope on a submarine. This is more than just a cool looking camera—it does things other cameras can’t and has a terrifically long battery life. It’s an easy action camera and gives you all sorts of great options including filming video even while moving at a very high speed (making it ideal for taking it out on a run in the park) and has magical features that take no work—there is an app that makes you look like you are wearing makeup even if you’re not and you can put yourself on magical backgrounds that include the Eiffel Tower and Leaning Tower Of Pisa. The fun is endless. It tucks neatly into a picket and kids love to use it, too! $199.99 retail but presently on sale at bestbuy.com for $149.99 with free two-day shipping.

FOR HER

Elizabeth Arden’s Untold and Untold Absolu are floral and fruity fragrance masterpieces that are runaway successes and are priced at about $69 for 1.7 ounce bottles. Many fans of these fragrances mix them; the Absolu has a little more spice but is still sweet while original Untold has a subtle red plum and blackberry accents. Check out elizabetharden.com for more details and to find these wonderful EDPs in special holiday sets!

L’Occitane has gotten into the sampling box game with l’OcciBox (one will be available for each season)—it’s a great way for both gals and guys to sample their classic and new products. For Christmas, I’m loving the13 Desserts of Provence gift set ($68); this adorable advent calendar is sure to please any crowd by delivering a darling treat on each of the 13 days leading up to the holidays! You can also take the set apart and use the individual items as stocking stuffers. For more info, go to loccitane.com. For the sampling box, there is a hidden link: http://usa.loccitane.com/locciboxset. Enter the word DISCOVER at checkout to get the special $15 price. You can also get them at the L’Occitane stores although they can barely keep them in stock.

Teleflora’s Holly Days Centerpiece caught my eye at a recent Teleflora event and I love that it features stunning red and white winter blooms has a keepsake collectible container in the center! This is from a special collection done as a collabo with Cake Boss Buddy Valastro and it includes his family’s famous meatball recipe. $64.95 and up at Teleflora.com.

And, if you want to pop the big question this holiday season, Modern Bride Signature Collection engagement rings for JC Penney have insanely cutting edge style, including white gold bands completely emblazoned with stones. Center stones run from 1/3 to 2.5 carats, and the prices are for “real people”—meaning they range from $1800 to $13,000. Go to jcpenney.com right now and you will see a whopping 40 per cent off all these rings!

This 18” lightweight hand-dyed taqua seed necklace by Mujus makes quite a statement and works for day or night looks. This whole line is handmade by Ecuadorian and Peruvian craftspeople and all materials are found in nature. It comes in 15 colors on mujus.com but we love the turquoise to brighten up any winter ensemble! $69.00 at mujus.com. Free shipping on orders over $95.

The Petaluma MJ shoes from Chaco (www.chaco.com) are the hiker's answer to sweet Mary Janes. These water resistant suede shoes are perfect for walking around the city on a cool Fall/Winter day. As an added bonus, there is no need to break these shoes in - the Petaluma MJs come ready to wear and are super comfortable. The best thing about this shoe? It's made with Chaco's famous specific mesh-lined footbed, which provides great arch support (for people like me with delicate city worn feet!)

FOR KIDS

The 2014 50th Anniversary Holiday Hess Toy Truck is a space cruiser with retractable landing gear, flashing lights and motion-activated sound effects riding on top of a flatbed truck. There are three realistic sound effects and 41 lights in all. It is available online at www.hesstoytruck.com or in participating Hess Express stores for $29.99 plus tax. Most Hess trucks from over the years have gone up in value, many selling for $200 and $300 each on EBAY these days, so you might want to take good care of your 50th anniversary edition!

Animal Planet’s Radio Control Giant Inflatable T-Rex is not only educational but it’s a laugh-a-minute as the over-three-foot-tall smiling dino follows your friends and family around the room. He’s a fast little guy (or should I say BIG guy) and you’re at the controls. It’s safe for ages 3 and up and supplies mad holiday fun that will last for a long time afterwards. Available on amazon.com and at Toys R Us for $39.99.

The sleek Sunset Speeder sports car from Lego Creator features an orange body with super-distinctive black and white stripe, racing wheels and cool headlights. For added variety, kids can rebuild it into a truck cab or an even faster racing car. It has working doors, racing wheels and headlights. Only $12.99 at toysrus.com, this is an 119-piece Lego set recommended for ages 6-12 that offers endless hours of play!

Land’s End’s Glow In The Dark T-Shirts for kids are one of their best-kept secrets—but not really with kids! They come in so many colors and patterns for kids sized 7 through 16! There are dozens of styles featuring moons, stars, planets and more! At $19.50, these colorful, fun and well-made cotton shirts are a top clothing pick for under $20! (Long sleeves also available.) 

*******Giveaway******** 
Congrats Al!

Financefoodie.com, in collaborating with Teleflora.com, wants to spread the holiday cheer to our readers with a giveaway! One (1) lucky reader will win a 75 dollar gift card to spend at Teleflora.com.

There are THREE ways to enter
1. REQUIRED: In my comments section, tell me what is your favorite holiday tradition (mine is Christmas Lunch in Texas!). Also please include your email address so I can contact you if you win!
2. Follow Finance Foodie on Twitter (leave separate comment telling me this)
3. Reblog / Retweet this giveaway (leave separate comment telling me this)

Hurry Hurry!! Contest ends Wednesday, December 17, 2014 at 5pm EST. Winners will be chosen via random integer generator on random.org announced on the financefoodie.com site shortly afterwards that night!

Full Disclosure: Promotional considerations provided by Teleflora.com. I was not monetarily compensated for this post.