Or should I call it “Daph’s Favorite Things”? More like I got worn down by press releases. I get so many emails everyday from companies asking me to put their products in my “holiday gift guide”… but I don’t have a holiday gift guide. There’s a barrel of other sites that do a great job of listing products and I do it very infrequently. Then I thought, ah heck, I will throw them a bone. I will have a Holiday gift guide!  You see how suggestive I am?  Glad they didn’t ask me to hide nukes in my suitcase.

My first pick is one I found ON MY OWN and LOVE. It’s a diffuser. Yes, those sticks that jut out of a glass bottle and are supposed to cover the smell of crap. Most of them do nothing. Then, a few months ago, I stumbled across a gal at the Renegade Craft Fair in Downtown LA selling her good smelling wares and I become a devotee. Pure Palette scents. It’s a one gal band. Well priced. She also has candles, which I bet are also great, but with little kids I prefer no open flames in the house. She will be at the Renegade Holiday Craft Fair this weekend and I will be stocking up.

How about cute, old-fashioned style gift tags that also help feed hungry kids? These gift tags from Share Our Strength are inexpensive and put a little “spirit of the season” on all the material things we covet.

WHY WHY WHY? As mentioned before on this site, your kids can help you to realize what a dumb ass you are. That’s why I like the sound of these Worx toys. They are trucks, helicopters, and fire engines that also tell you HOW they work. Because when my kids ask me, their liberal arts, alternative education mom has NO idea. I have not gotten one yet. I hope too soon, and if it’s as cool as it sounds I’ll let you know.  But it’s worth a look! Price is $30 to $65 and at least in my area it’s in smaller retailers which I also like.

One I was sent too late for the vid, but love is Prank Pack.  Very Mad magazine, wacky packs, silly stuff.  You wrap a good gift in one and people thing they are getting some lame “see on TV” product like a “beer beard”.

I am in the blogger category of “no, big company, I will not publicize your giveaway/FB contest unless you are a sponsor of some sort or provide a solid giveaway for my readers which help make this sight a place to return to.”  But, sometimes a smaller company, a particularly charming pitch and here I am.  That pretty much what happened with the ones in this vid.  (One product in my vid Vitacare toothpaste I do miss now that it is gone. I liked the toothpaste more than the mouthwash though.) Thanks to Vivien for not only adding her talent, but as you will see, her production skills to this.