Favorite Gifts

Christmas Gifts for your daughter

What do you get the little princess in your life this Christmas? Here are five suggestions ranging from a Shaun the Sheep Speaker system to an animated horse called Butterscotch from Pocket-lint to get her excited on the 25th December.

For your daughter:

Shaun the Sheep iPod speaker

Based on Shaun the Sheep of Wallace and Gromit fame, the woolly star is part sheep, part soft cuddly toy, part robot, part speaker.

Available from toy makers Golden Bear, the Music Scene Shaun allows you to plug your iPod/MP3 player into Shaun and watch the coloured lights dance on his earphones as your music plays.

SingStar - PS2, PS3

While your daughter will probably want a Wii this Christmas trying to find one is going to be near impossible. If you've got a PS2 or PS3 opt for SingStar. Those not in the know, SingStar is the karaoke game that gets you singing to numerous tunes from rock anthems to Bollywood, SingStar on the PS3 brings all the same magic of the PS2 version but to the new console.

V-Tech Vsmile console

If your daughter is still too young to play with grown-up consoles, or maybe you just want some education in your play you need the Vsmile games console from V-Tech. Plugging into your TV there are a plethora of games including titles featuring Dora the Explorer, Sponge Bob Square Pants and Disney characters. You can also get a handheld console that the games will work in so your little one can play on the go.

Book Stool

If your daughter is a book worm, she'll no doubt love this stool made out of books to sit on.

Available from I Want One Of Those it's made from moulded resin and measures 40 x 32 x 25cm in size. Those looking to complete the look will also be able to get a book shelf made from books at the same time.

Fur Real Friends Butterscotch Pony

What do you get the girl that has everything, her very own electronic pony that's what.

With the promise of realistic animation, movement and sounds, this incredibly lifelike pony stands over three feet tall and responds to touch and talking.

Gift cards are a top choice

Buying me a gift must be a big pain. For one, I'm picky and will return them to the store with no hesitation. That's because I'm practical, sometimes to a fault. I also hate clutter, so getting a present I don't need, even if I like it, is not a gift if there's nowhere to put it. And there's nothing worse than trying to slap on the poker face in the early hours of the morning when I open up a box and see a ceramic snowman smiling back at me. Hello? Do you even know me?

If you did, you'd be buying me a gift card. It's not that I'm anti-gift gifts. But I love gift cards. I like to shop, and shopping is much more fun and guilt-free when the purchases don't end up on my balance sheet.

Gift cards are the most wanted gift among women and ranked third with men, according to a Consumer Reports survey. The National Retail Federation's annual holiday survey found nearly eight in 10 shoppers will spend an average of $156.24 purchasing at least one gift card this holiday season. Most of us will buy three or four.

The retail trade group estimates that $26.25 billion will be spent on these shiny pieces of plastic this season, up from $24.81 billion a year ago, although the group forecasts gift-card sales are slowing -- up 6 percent this holiday season versus 34 percent in the same period last year.

But gift cards still get a bad rap. Consumer groups have rightfully criticized some for having unreasonable fees and annoying policies regarding expiration dates and lost cards. Widespread coverage of those complaints by the media helped to persuade many retailers to reduce or eliminate fees. Several states have even passed gift-card legislation.

Cards issued by financial institutions accepted at many stores are exempt from the law as long as the fees and expiration information are disclosed. Most other gift cards purchased after Aug. 1 of this year may not have any expiration dates or fees attached, even for non-use.

Nothing so sweet as the gift of chocolate

IT is the season for friends, family, parties and chocolate.

I consider myself a chocolate connoisseur in that I give in daily to my chocolate urges.

When it becomes a part of your daily recommended requirements one becomes acutely aware of the differences in quality and the varied choices available. The quantity is not as important as the quality. Milk chocolate, albeit a great starting place in the chocolate line up, will quickly become obsolete in the quest for that intense chocolate experience. The milk chocolate habit can become a dark chocolate addiction overnight.

The sheer physical pleasure of consuming chocolate will continue to make this gift popular on my list.

December brings parties, gift-giving, celebrations and most importantly chocolate, sweet chocolate. Come on admit it, when you think about a bringing a dessert or making a batch of cookies this time of year, most likely the first ingredient you consider is chocolate. Chocolate can be the perfect gift for that hard-to-buy-for person. It's packaged in beautiful tins and boxes and hidden in cookies, cakes, drinks, and confections.