Easy Gift Giving For the Ones You Love
Staff Writer Amanda Svec

Everyone dreads the holidays for one reason – shopping! You don’t want to wait on the long lines and you never seem to know what to get for anyone.  Here is a list of this season’s hottest items (and some of my favorites, too) to make your shopping experience as easy as possible.

Dad
This season, get your father something he will use forever. The Slingbox is a new product that allows you to watch your TV from anywhere in the world as long as you have an Internet connection. On the computer or on your PDA, the Slingbox hooks up to your cable or satellite box at home. You download the software onto the computer or cellular phone and you will have full access to your home TV. Available at Circuit City, the Slingbox ranges in price from $129.00-$229.00, but there are no monthly fees. Buy the box and your dad is ready to go! He will never miss a game again!

Check out their website as well at www.slingmedia.com. Circuit City is located at 1120 James Swart Circle in Fairfax.

Mom
Moms are always rushing around, or at least mine is. Get her a gift this holiday that will always keep her on schedule. The Brighton Collectibles Linx Watch is perfect. A sterling silver watch with a silver end clasp will take her from daytime to night. She can wear it to work, while running errands, or for a nice dinner out. Available at Brighton Collectibles for $95.00, your mom will be fashionably ‘early’ all the time.

Brighton Collectibles is located in Fair Oaks Mall between the JCPenney and Macy’s on the upper level.

Brother
Any brother will be happy to receive Rock Band as a present this holiday. Rock Band is a collaborative, cutthroat, or single-player game that allows you to make your Rock ‘n’ Roll dreams a reality. It comes with a guitar as well as a microphone and a drum set. You can play interactively or with others. If a friend has a guitar, he can hook it up as well and you can have your very own “Rock Band,” Rock Band is compatible with Xbox 360, Playstation 2 and Playstation 3. Available at Target for $49.99-$59.99 (without the instrument controllers) this game will definitely put a smile on his face!

Target is located at 10301 New Guinea Road in Fairfax or order it online at www.target.com.

Sister
These days, Vera Bradley is a common household name. Get your sister the Small Duffle for the holidays. It is the perfect size bag and can accommodate any one of her needs. Take it to the gym or pack it for a sleepover. It comes in 10 different patterns (my personal favorite is the Mod Floral Pink) to please the taste of any sister out there, of any age. Available at Collectible Treasures for $69.00, this present will keep her stylish anywhere she takes it.

Collectible Treasures is located at 11945 Grand Commons Avenue in Fairfax or order online at www.verabradley.com.

Boyfriend
Every woman who has a boyfriend knows how difficult it is to shop for him during the holidays.  No worries this season. Apple‘s new iPod Nano now comes equipped with a video function will be sure to make his eyes light up when he opens it. Men love electronics and they always need to be up to speed with the latest gadgets out there. Keep him up with the times. The Nano comes in five different colors and your choice of 6GB or 8GB. Available at Best Buy for $149.99-$199.99, his friends won’t hear enough how awesome of a girlfriend you are.

Best Buy is located at 13058 Fair Lakes Shopping Center in Fairfax, or order online at www.apple.com.

Girlfriend
Just as it is difficult for women, men have it pretty difficult during the holidays as well. Don’t give her boring jewelry this year; put some thought into your gift and show her just how much she means to you by giving her the gift of relaxation. Dante Salon & Spa in Fairfax offers a Swedish Full Body Massage that will win you the “Boyfriend of the Year” award. One 50 minute, $75.00 session, she will enjoy a comforting massage from head to toe that will leave her relaxed and feeling like a princess.

Dante Salon & Spa is located at 3943 Old Lee Highway in Fairfax or check out their services at (703) 352-2800.

Best Friend
Best friends know each other better than anyone else, but during the holidays, it is not uncommon to draw a blank when it comes to picking out a gift for them.

For that female best friend, Coach’s Bleeker Signature Wristlet is the perfect gift to make her feel special. It’s ideal for a night at the bar or even dinner. The wristlet is small enough to hold all of her essentials without carrying around a large purse. Available in five colors at Coach for $48.00, she will never know you didn’t know what to get her.

Coach is located in the Fair Oaks Mall between the Macy’s and Lord & Taylor on the upper level or order online at www.coach.com.

Male best friends are the most difficult to buy for. You never know what they want and I know my best male friend is very picky. Don’t sweat it. Almost every guy wears baseball caps, so get him one that fits his style. Lids offers a plethora of hats from his favorite sports teams to funny novelty sayings. Don’t know what he likes? Get him a gift card instead. Lids is located in the Fair Oaks Mall between Sears and Macy’s on the upper level or shop at www.lids.com.