Christmas Gifts for Women

When you’re shopping for a gift for a woman, your top priority is to make her happy. Sentimental gifts are wonderful, but maybe you can’t find the right one. If you’re not comfortable with giving sentimental or endearing gifts that’s O.K. She might enjoy something useful; something she might love to have, but just can’t bring herself to buy it. This is where you step in. The idea is to remember her and let her know you care. With any gift, make sure you know her taste; her likes and her dislikes. Knowing her dislikes can sometimes be more important than knowing her likes. Think of something she doesn’t already have. It might be something to make her life easier or more enjoyable. Consider something you may already have experience with. If you like it, maybe she will too. Below is a list of useful gifts she just might love.

Electronics Gift Ideas

One of the best gift ideas is The Palm Sized DVD Player. It measures only 6” across and is totally portable. It can be carried in a purse or briefcase. It comes with its own ear buds for discreet listening. You can watch it for 2 hours on a 3 hour charge. One thing she will especially like is the ability to view pictures or video from a PC or digital camera. It has anti-skip technology for uninterrupted viewing during bumpy flights or rides. It also includes a remote control and AV cable for connecting to a television.

Usually, the first thing to greet us in the morning is an alarm clock — not always a pleasant experience. But there is an alarm clock that makes waking up a pleasant experience. The Peaceful Progression Aromatherapy and Nature Sounds Wake-Up Alarm Clock is my kind of alarm clock. Thirty minutes before time to get up the process begins: a soft light glows, a faint aroma is released. Fifteen minutes later, nature sounds begin playing; there are 6 to choose from. Thirty minutes later a beeper sounds to assure you are awake. It can also be set for sound or beeper only. Now that’s a great way to start the day.

Another great gadget that’s great for women and anyone else who uses a cell phone is The Slimmest Bluetooth Speakerphone. You can clip it to your visor, set it on your dashboard or place it in a cup holder. They claim you can have clear conversations with no crackling. It also has a mute button so you can have a side conversation. Another idea which might be even more attractive is The Steering Wheel Bluetooth Speakerphone. It attaches to your steering wheel so your microphone and speakers are right in front of you for easy conversations. There is a display for inbound calls, volume, mute, and phonebook buttons. It can be used with up to eight different cell phones and holds up to 600 phone numbers.

If the noise and hustle bustle are a little much and closing it out by shutting a door isn’t possible, she might enjoy The Authentic Sound Oasis Machine. This isn’t computer generated sound; it is sound generated at the source. Six included sounds are white noise, rain, wind, surf, summer night and stream. If these relaxing sounds aren’t enough, additional sound cards are available. Also included are a timer, digital alarm, and headphone jack. It runs on an AC adapter or 4 AA batteries. This sounds like something we all could use from time to time.

No more groping and banging around trying to find the shut-off button on the alarm. She needs The Motion Sensing Alarm Clock. All she has to do is wave her hand over the clock and the motion sensor detects her movement and switches the LED display from time to temperature to radio with each successive wave. The display can be set to remain dark until activated. It has other interesting features, but one she might especially appreciate is the in-line jack for an iPod or MP3 player.

Another especially useful gift idea is The Radio Signal Wireless Weather Station. It wirelessly displays time, the regions weather information, indoor and outdoor temps, wind speed, heat and UV index and this is only the beginning. It’s like having access to the weather station. Especially important is the National Weather Service severe weather warnings and provides four-day weather forecasts. It also includes an alarm clock with an eight minute snooze. Another interesting weather gadget is The Seven Day Accuweather Forecaster. This one not only provides local weather information, but also provides data for 150 U.S cities every 15 minutes. It also issues weather alerts.

Women and anyone else who listens to music with headphones will especially like The Bose In-Ear Adjustable Earbud Headphones. I speak from first-hand experience. The music sounds great — fuller, more natural and clear. The earbuds come with three removeable silicone tips in different sizes so she can choose the size that fits best. You also might check out The Best Noise Reduction On Ear Headphones. The Hammacher Schlemmer Institute tested this on-ear model and proved they had the best sound quality, noise cancellation, comfort and ease of use.

The Portable Pocket Television is another fun idea. It can be used while waiting for an appointment, while relaxing on the beach or by the pool, or even taking a lunch break while her favorite show is on; or she may want to catch up on the news. It has a headphone jack for private listening, but it also has a generous 60° viewing angle allowing others to watch as well. It has a built-in antenna that collapses back into the case, as well as an optional external antenna for optimum reception.

Another electronic device for viewing pleasure is The Portable DVD Player. It’s only 8” in diameter and perfect for tucking it into a purse or carry-on. It’s great for watching movies, and can also be used with The Only 56 Inch Widescreen Personal Movie Theater, a device that allows a private viewing experience equivalent to watching a 56” widescreen TV from 10’ away. It connects to a personal video game system, a video iPod, or a DVD player such as the one just mentioned. This Personal Movie Theater allows an individual to focus from +2 to -5 diopters and tilt up to 15° for a custom fit. It comes with a removeable headphone and an optional head strap. Also available is The Only 52” Widescreen Personal Movie Theater. This one is equivalent to watching a widescreen television from 9 feet away.

Here are more electronic gift ideas for that special woman.

The Self Illuminating Web Camera
The Motion Tracking Web Camera
The Instant Cell Phone Backup

Cameras for the Woman Who Likes to Make and Keep Memories

Small, lightweight, easy to use, 10-megapixel image sensor and a 2 ¾” wide-format LCD—that’s The Credit Card Sized Digital Camera. She can compose, crop and delete shots while still in the field. It has automatic and manual settings and an anti-shake option to reduce blurry images. She can also record high-quality videos and audio at up to 30fps and shoot nearly 280 shots on a single charge.

The Mom who wants every move of her little boy at bat, or her little girl at her dance recital may enjoy The World’s Fastest Digital Camera.This winner of the prestigious Popular Mechanics Editor’s Choice Award, takes 60 full-resolution photographs in one second. The fps can be adjusted from 1 to 60 with the touch of a button. This camera captures highly detailed crisp images, as well as shoot high-speed video capable of capturing the movement of a hummingbird’s wings. Video can be recorded at 1080i high definition for display on an HDTV.

Another camera that is lighter weight, takes 30 pictures per second and is much less expensive and still takes sharp, crisp images is The Pocket Paparazzi Camera. It can also take videos up to 1000 frames-per-second capturing every nuance of any action. Its zoom lens provides 5X magnification. She can easily search through the shots on the 2.7 LCD to find the precise image she’s searching for. The rechargeable lithium battery provides up to 300 shots after a full charge.

The Shirt Pocket HD Camcorder is another pocket-size winner. It has a slim profile, but has a large 3” TFT LCD color screen that opens out and pivots 290°. This 12-megapixel camcorder records up to 3 ½ hours of high definition resolution video footage, has 8X digital zoom capability and a USB port for downloads of video and pictures to a computer. It also includes an AV cable for a standard TV and an HDMI cable for playback on an HD TV. For capturing the children underwater, she might enjoy The Shirtpocket Underwater Camcorder. This video camera can submerge as much as 10’ to capture underwater sea life or a precious little one learning to swim underwater. It has a 4X digital zoom. It also plays back MP3s and can serve as a voice recorder. Video and pictures can be downloaded to a computer with the included cable and includes AV cable for playback on TV.

Another underwater camera is The Only Digital Camera Swim Mask available only at Hammacher Schlemmer. With this camera there is no need to carry a camera. You only have to press the shutter button to take still pictures or video. Press Play Video to see what it can do. It’s worth checking out.

The Video Recording Sunglasses are the best way to record what you see. Watch the kids participating in a sporting event and record the action, or enjoy the sights while on vacation, or record the action at a pool party. Videos can be copied to a computer running Windows XP/Vista. Enjoy your MP3s by downloading to the glasses and listen with the included earbuds. Life just gets better all the time.

There are many more cameras and many gadgets to help her save and share her pictures. Here’s a list of a few more ideas.

The Instant Transfer HD Camcorder
The One Step DVD/CD Duplicator (Does not record copyrighted or encrypted material)
The Digital Photo To DVD Converter
The Plug And Play Digital Multimedia Viewer
The VHS To DVD Converter
The Photograph to Digital Picture Converter
The Only 3D Web Camera

Gifts for Taking Care of the Home

When considering useful and efficient gift ideas for helping her take care of the home, many worthy products come to mind: The Best Carpet And Upholstery Steam Cleaner, The Pet Owners Robotic Vacuum, The Mold and Germ Destroying Air Purifier. But I wanted to suggest something you might not have thought of. Something I have personal experience with and appreciate.

I selected The Best Germ Eliminating UV Wand for obvious reasons—germs! The Hammacher Schlemmer Institute rated this UV wand the best because it quickly killed 99.99% of germs and had the highest coverage area. It uses the same UV-C light used in hospitals to destroy germs, bacteria, mold and viruses in only 20 seconds. It’s lightweight, slim and easy to use on any surface, even large surfaces like counter tops, sofas, and beds. The timer can be set for 5, 30, and 60 minutes. It’s a great germ killer for the home, but I like the idea of taking it with me to hotels. The Pocket Sized Germ Eliminating Light is a smaller version and is great for killing germs on doorknobs, toothbrushes, cutting boards, and key boards at home and at the office. This little device is especially helpful during virus and flu season.

With the busy and often hectic schedules that women maintain, I’m always on the lookout for products to make life a little easier. I like the looks of The Professional Roomba. It’s made by the developers of tactical reconnaissance robots for the U.S. military. It cleans large areas, determines the best possible cleaning path and navigates around furniture. Watch it in action: Play Video. Other robotic vacuums are The Seven Day Scheduling Robotic Vacuum and The Pet Owners Robotic Vacuum. These vacuums are a little more expensive than some vacuums you push yourself, but they can be real “lifesavers” for the busy, overworked woman or anyone who might be incapacitated.

One of the biggest problems for asthma and allergy sufferers is the accumulation of bacteria and dust mites on bedding and mattresses. The Dust Mite Eliminating Vacuum to the rescue. According to reports, the UV light, vibrating pad and high-powered suction eradicates the little microscopic pests. It eliminates 99.9% of bacteria. It’s so effective, it was awarded the British Allergy Foundation Seal of Approval.

A nice safety feature she might appreciate is The Electronic Guard Dog. The unit’s radar can detect movement up to 30’ away even through walls and doors. When it detects movement the “dog” starts barking. As the subject gets closer, the frequency of barking increases. When the subject is outside the door, it emits the sound of an agitated dog barking. It can also be set to bark and then sound a siren. It also has volume and sensitivity controls. It’s only 7 ½” high. The small size is a real plus, because it won’t intrude on her décor.

Another home protection device which may help to give her peace of mind is The Cordless Motion Activated Light. It’s weatherproof, uses reliable LED’s, mounts easily with the included plates and screws and requires no wiring. The motion detector will turn the light on when it senses movement and shuts the light off when no motion is detected for 30 seconds. It uses 4 C batteries for up to 150 hours of operation.

Keeping an eye on the children when they’re in another room is easy with The Wireless Remote Controlled Pan And Tilt Surveillance Camera. This camera can pan 270° and tilt 120°. Crystal clear images and audio are received up to 330’ away on the handheld LCD remote. Infrared LEDs in the camera allow nighttime observation up to 16’ away. The system also includes an AV cable for connecting to a television. It also includes earphones and AC adapters for the camera and receiver.

A real plus for taking care of the home when away is The Motion Tracking Web Camera. It automatically tracts motion and can be controlled from a remote location. You can observe the home in real-time from anyplace in the world. It can also send notification to your personal e-mail when it detects motion. With the included software you can view real-time video and control the camera manually. It’s a great way to monitor the home when at work or on vacation.

There’s one more home sentry device I found very interesting. Some people might even find it fun. It’s The Control From Anywhere Home Sentry. Use your computer or even your cell phone to control “Rovio”. Click to (Play Video.) I think you’ll get a kick out of this one.

Taking care of the plants is also important. The Automatic Plant Watering System comes to the rescue. With the help of a 6 ½ gallon reservoir, and a 9 volt battery it will water up to 20 plants for 10, 20, 30, or 40 days. Another exciting idea for those who like to raise their own herbs, veggies and flowers indoors is The Superior Self Sustaining Indoor Garden. Add your seeds to the 6 pods, add water, and the nutrient mix to the base and turn it on. The garden provides all of natures essentials for growing healthy, thriving plants that grow 50% faster than traditional gardening methods. With this method, she can always have fresh herbs at her finger tips.

Personal Care

Women, especially moms, are always looking for nice things for the family or friends and find it easy to push themselves aside; sometimes without realizing it. I have selected a few gift ideas that she might not buy for herself, but she will surely enjoy.

Not every woman can afford to go the Dermatologist to get a revitalizing skin treatment. She won’t have to with The Dermatologist’s Ultrasonic Facial. This system uses ultrasonic vibrations to diminish fine lines and wrinkles and they claim, even blemishes. The gently vibrating brush removes dry, flaking skin and leaves it soft and more youthful and improves skin tone. It comes with four different sized attachments to treat different areas of the face more efficiently. It can even be used in the shower.

The Diamond Tipped Microdermabrasion System is a little more expensive and takes another step toward youthful, healthy-looking skin. It gently abrades and exfoliates the skin to minimize the appearance of age spots and enlarged pores. “A study performed by The Mount Sinai Medical Center proved that the diamond tipped microdermabrasion system diminished fine lines, wrinkles, and blemishes in nearly all patients who used the device twice a week.” It has a comfort control knob and comes with four diamond tips: two for normal skin and two for sensitive skin. Personally, I think I would start out with the diamond tip for sensitive skin. That’s a good place to start.

Here is one more choice and one more method for a professional facial at home. The Dermatologist’s Sonic Misting Facial uses a soothing mist and sonic vibrations to diminish fine lines and wrinkles. The vibrations of the gentle brush against the skin removes the dry, flaking skin and the oxygenated mist cleanses pores. The result is softer, more youthful skin and improved skin tone. You can select a warm or cool mist and gentle or deep exfoliation.

I would be remiss if I did not mention a product for helping to reduce skin blemishes without prescriptions. It’s called The Dermatologist’s Phototherapy System. Leaving our teenage years behind does not mean we automatically leave blemishes behind. This is a problem that can occur with any adult at any time. “A study in the British Journal of Dermatology showed blue and red phototherapy eliminates p-acne bacteria (the most common cause of acne) and reduces skin blemishes by 76%.” It’s easy to use. Just hold the device next to the skin and it automatically delivers the phototherapy for three minutes. Everything needed is included in the kit. No one wants blemishes and this system was proven nearly twice as effective as benzoyl peroxide, the main ingredient in blemish creams.

In fine hotels everywhere, one of the amenities they provide their guests is the luxury of using The Genuine Turkish Bathrobe. You can do the same for your special lady. She’ll feel like she’s living in the lap of luxury at a 5 star hotel. The more it’s washed, the softer it gets. Another choice is The Turkish Shower Wrap. It’s also a lovely gift idea, made of the same high quality as the Turkish robes. It doesn’t come loose and fall off easily as many bath wraps do. It fastens in place and even has two pouch pockets. But don’t forget The Turkish Slippers. They’re made of the same world-renowned terry fabric used to make Turkish towels. The slippers paired with either the robe or the wrap will make the gift complete.

Women like for their nails to look good, but not everyone can afford the luxury of a professional manicure or pedicure. With The Precision Pedicure System she will look great and not agonize over spending money at the nail salon or not being able to take care of her nails; and she can still feel pampered because the German-engineered tools make manicuring easy. Another gift idea that is a little pricier, but can give her the look of a salon manicure is The Home Salon Nail Extensions. This system uses the same UV technology used by professional manicurists to create strong, beautiful nail extensions. She can also use it without extensions to strengthen and protect her own nails. Everything she needs is included: the UV lamp, 100 clear nail tips, gel file, buffers, sander, clippers, hoof stick, primer and everything else she will need—the list goes on. It also includes an instruction guide and DVD. It sounds like they have thought of everything.

Something that I consider indispensible when applying makeup is The Foldaway Lighted Vanity Mirror. The mirror 13 ½” high and 6 ½” in diameter is encircled by eight LED lights and it folds to about the size of a CD player. It’s perfect for tucking away in a drawer when not in use or tucking into a suitcase when traveling.

I have mentioned a few personal gift ideas for women, but there are many more. Here are a few more suggestions:

The Best Ultrasonic Jewelry Cleaner
The Cordless Electrolysis Pen
The Best Hair Rollers
The Phototherapy Hairbrush
The Volume Enhancing Hair Straightener
The Desktop Light Therapy Box
The Wall Mounted Mirrored Jewelry Armoire
The Best Women’s Shaver

Travel

I just mentioned The Foldaway Lighted Vanity Mirror section. It’s so helpful in applying makeup that I thought it was worth mentioning again, since it’s perfect for traveling.

When traveling and sight-seeing, protection from the sun is important, but easily over-looked. The Best UV Protecting Sun Shirt comes to the rescue. It’s really cute and blocks 98% of harmful UVA and UVB rays in lab tests commissioned by the Hammacher Schlemmer Institute. It comes in white, has two front pockets, and can be worn over a swim suit. When out and about, she can jazz things up with a little jewelry and feel stylish and sun-protected at the same time. This next idea may sound a little crazy, but it also sounds like a lot of fun. Metal detecting is becoming a popular hobby; and Hammacher Schlemmer is offering The Metal Detecting Sandals. She can stroll up and down the beach looking for lost treasure that may be as much as 2 feet deep. It’s a lot of fun—especially when a gold ring or necklace shows up.

When sightseeing and doing a lot of walking or shopping at the mall, comfortable shoes can make the difference between having a good time and having aching feet, not to mention an aching back. She might want to try The Women’s Stretchable Comfort Shoe. It contours to the foot; and the sole is injected with air bubbles that massage the feet when walking. This improves circulation and reduces impact to bones and arches.

Another item she’ll want to pack in her bag is The Million Germ Eliminating Travel Toothbrush Sanitizer. It uses the same UV technology used to sanitize hospital instruments. Millions of germs can accumulate on the toothbrush, including streptococcus. This little device can sanitize a toothbrush in less than 7 minutes.

Hotels always furnish alarm clocks, but The Voice Interactive Travel Alarm Clock makes it so easy to set up a wake-up call, set the time, and many other commands for a total of 10 voice commands. You can choose to wake with a chime, buzzer, or bell by using a verbal command. It’s as small as a deck of cards and the display can be seen night or day. It also has a snooze option. It’s easy to use and puts you in control. It would also make a great little clock in the guest room for house guests who want a wake-up call.

Exercise Equipment

(Warning! If she’s not into exercising, don’t get her any of these gifts or she might think you think she’s fat.)

If she’s into exercising and wants to keep up with her heart rate with minimal distraction and reliable accuracy, she may appreciate The One Touch Or Continuous Heart Rate Watch. For a quick check, just touch anyplace on the bezel with thumb and forefinger. For a continuous reading, a strap is included to fit around the torso that transmits a constant heart rate reading to the watch. She can select a target heart rate zone and the device tracks the amount of time it takes exercising at, above or below the target heart rate with an audible alert signaling changes. It displays current time and temperature and stores useful exercise data.

The Foldaway Recumbent Exercise Bike is great for indoor exercising. The rider sits up straight and can hold onto bars at seat level. I own this one myself and can attest to its comfort and user-friendly adjustments.

The Foldaway 39 Exercise Gym is another home exercise device that folds down to fit under a bed or in a closet. It uses 3 color coded elastic bands instead of weights. The resistance levels are the equivalent to 5, 12, 17, 20, 25, 32, and 37 lbs. Instructions are included for performing 39 exercises and 10 targeted workouts.

One more device that I have heard a lot about, but have no personal experience with is The Gentle Return Inversion Machine. What I know about this machine is that it helps to relieve strain on the spine and vertebrae. It gently stretches the back in less than two minutes. They claim that with daily use it relieves disk and nerve root pressure, decreases spinal compression, and eases cervical tension that can lead to pinched nerves and headaches. I know one more thing—if we had space for it, my husband would have already bought one.

There are many more exercise devices available at Hammacher Schlemmer that could make great gifts. Here is a list of a few of them.

The Adjustable Incline Foldaway Rower
The Hideaway Elliptical Trainer
The Foldaway Lateral Stepper
The Easy Access Recumbent Exercise Bicycle
The Safer Exercise Trampoline
The Balance Board Trainer
The Three Wheel Recumbent Cruiser

Kitchen Helpers

One of the best kitchen helpers for any woman is The Under Cabinet TV With DVD Player. No, it doesn’t make her a better cook, but it certainly helps her while she’s cooking. She doesn’t have to miss her favorite program; she can watch DVD movies, play music CDs and listen to AM/FM radio. This little kitchen helper can make the time she spends cooking, a lot more pleasant.

If there’s one thing every cook needs, it’s a sharp knife. No matter how sharp it starts out, it will eventually get dull with repeated use. The Best Electric Knife Sharpener earned the best rating from the Hammacher Schlemmer Institute for its superior sharpening ability and it was the only sharpener that could also sharpen scissors. I won’t go into the particulars of what makes this sharpener so great, but I have already decided that this one is going on my Christmas list—right next to The Germ Eliminating Knife Block. Once again, the UV-C light (the same that hospitals use to kill surface bacteria on instruments) kills 99.99% of food bacteria and viruses on cutlery. Just rinse the knives off and slip them into the block. The sanitizing block accommodates chef’s serrated boning, and pairing knives and a wide opening for kitchen shears or a honing steel. It can be set to turn on as soon as knives are inserted or to turn on automatically every 3 hours.

After preparing delicious appetizers and placing them on a serving tray, we often have the dilemma of hot food staying hot and cold food staying cold. That problem has been solved with The Cordless Heating Or Cooling Serving Tray. When heated in the oven at 200° F for 6 minutes, or placed in the refrigerator for 2 hours it will maintain the temperature for up to 2 hours. An internal gel core transfers the heat or cold directly to the food on the tray. This is a real plus for serving food at its optimal temperature.

After cooking a great meal, if your lady leaves the kitchen with an aching back or aching feet and legs, she needs to be wearing The Chef’s Clogs. The clogs molded footbed is designed to provide optimal support and help to eliminate lower back strain and foot discomfort. These simple clogs could help to increase her cooking pleasure.

More gift ideas that could prove to be helpful to her is The One Minute Drink Chiller. That could come in very handy when friends drop in. It will also cool 12 ounce canned drinks, one at a time. Another handy helper in The Touchless Paper Towel Dispenser. It dispenses a sheet with the wave of the hand. While Mom packs the lunches, The Breakfast Sandwich Maker prepares breakfast. The Nutritional Fact Scale is for the conscientious woman who wants to know the calories, calories from fat, carbohydrates, protein, cholesterol, sodium and more. The scale stores 999foods and can be programmed for an additional 99 more.

These are only a few gift ideas that are useful and practical. There are many more nice gifts on the Hammacher Schlemmer website if you didn’t see anything that would work for her.

Website Affiliations