Present Professor

Snag a Zine

carli — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 21:10:14 +0000

I’m a magazine junkie: the short articles appeal to my equally short attention span, and the variety of subject manner covered provides me with ample conversation fodder, which, coupled with a glass and a half of red wine, reduces my social awkwardness by approximately 70%.

When it comes to choosing magazine subscriptions, I try to adhere to two rules: Cheap is good. Free is better.

Over the past few years, I’ve paid $5 or less for subscriptions to great magazines such as Real Simple, Wired, and Smart Money (which I used as a gift for my father). Spoofee, one of my favorite discount-watching sites, often lists great deals on magazines at sites like ValueMags and DiscountMags. Amazon also has a magazine department and offers some great deals–today I snagged Vegetarian Times for $5. No, I’m not a vegetarian. But I like tempeh enough that, for a fiver, I’m willing to pretend.

One caveat: Because it can take some time for you or your recipient to show up on a magazine’s circulation log, you may wait upwards of two months to receive your first issue. Thankfully, Amazon has ready-to-print certificates to show your loved ones that a year of good reading is on its way.

Oompa (No Loompa)

carli — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 19:02:44 +0000

Oompa.com is an online purveyor of fine European toys aimed at children age 6 and under with a policy of “no batteries, no blinking lights, no cartoon-themed toys.”

Oompa has a huge selection of gift items you won’t find at major retailers or even smaller specialty shops. And while these types of toys can cost a pretty penny, there’s an ample selection of great gifts under $25. (I especially like this Soft Puppy Stacking Toy by Rich Frog, $21.99.) The site also offers very reasonable shipping rates: $5 flat-rate shipping, with orders over $65 delivered for free.

A great site for anyone looking to escape the clutches of Hannah Montana and Optimus Prime–who, by the way, I hear are dating.

Woodn’t It Be Nice?

carli — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 03:16:42 +0000

Is there anything as classic as a set of hand-crafted wood building blocks? No bells, whistles, batteries, LEDs, CFLs, or PAM*s required. Just an imagination and a desire to build things. And then to knock them down and build again.

The set of 24 blocks in walnut, maplele, and cherry comes boxed and ready to give. And as with every purchase made from Little Sapling Toys, a tree will be planted for every purchase made. Your day to water it is Tuesday.

Block set from Little Sapling Toys, $20+ shipping.

*Parental assembly meltdown

Magnetic Personality

carli — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 03:20:29 +0000

Remember that boyfriend you had who was impossible to shop for? The one who loved LEGOs, and Star Wars, and magnets, and you? And also robbing banks, which is why he’s not your boyfriend anymore? Well, if he was, you could buy him this limited edition metallic chrome Stormtrooper LEGO minifigure magnet ($9.99 at shop.lego.com). Three-pack sets are $14.99 and include characters from Star Wars, SpongeBob, Indiana Jones, and more.

This might just be the thing that gets you kids back together. That, and a favorable parole board hearing.

Welcome Back to Present Professor!

carli — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 21:14:59 +0000

Admittedly, I took a long sabbatical. But now I’m back, ready to share with you my gift ideas, point you to top deals, and occasionally go off on a tangent about how much I think “Lisa Cuddy” is maybe the best made-up name for a TV character since “Elaine Nardo.”

As in the past, please e-mail me if you have any great gift ideas or NEED great gift ideas.

Nigerian banking scams will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.

I’m still working out my presence on Twitter (but you can follow me at PresentProf) and Facebook (become a fan of “Present Professor).

Welcome back to Present Professor! There’s only a bunch of more days that I’m not bothering to count until Christmas. Let the fun begin!

What About Bob the Builder?

carli — Mon, 02 Feb 2009 19:51:04 +0000

As in, did you know that everyone’s favorite construction cartoon this side of Handy Manny is now the star of his very own stage show? The 90-minute musical extravaganza has an environmental theme and includes Scoop, Dizzy, Lofty and the rest of the gang.

A trip to a live show makes a great gift for a child: The experience will be a memory they won’t soon forget, and you keep yet another toy from clogging your home. To find when Bob the Builder is coming to a city near you, check out this TicketMaster Web site.

And if Bob’s not your thing, there are many other “ticketed” events to that make great gifts, from rock concerts to Broadway shows (Telecharge.com), to ice shows to Monster Truck shows to hockey games to. . . well, you get the idea. Not only does your loved one get treated to live entertainment, but they’ll get to spend some quality time with you. And after all, isn’t that the greatest gift?

And hey, a giveaway! We have two tickets to Bob the Builder Live! Spud’s Big Mess on May 30, 2009 at 2 p.m., at the Beacon Theater in NYC. To enter, leave a comment below and tell us the best live event you’ve ever seen. Good luck!

The sweepstakes has ended. Congratulations to winner Jackie H.!

Heart of Rock ‘N Roll

carli — Tue, 27 Jan 2009 13:57:34 +0000

The difference between a dozen roses and a cookie bouquet? Both are edible, I suppose, but only one is as sweet as your sweetheart.

Prices vary based on number of cookies; $51.99 as pictured. Prices range from $7.25 (one cookie) to $88.99 (12 cookies)

Baby Love, My Baby Love

carli — Tue, 27 Jan 2009 01:20:18 +0000

Your baby may be oblivious to the commercialization of February 14 we call “Valentine’s Day,” but that doesn’t mean she shouldn’t have something soft and smooshy to chew on. Heart rattle from Yellow Label Kids (also available in yellow and blue), $8.99 at Oompa.

It Only Goes To Show What Little People Can Do

carli — Tue, 27 Jan 2009 00:59:09 +0000

Back in the day, Fisher-Price Little People were actually little. Heck, they were originally made out of wood. And they made Little People versions of Sesame Street characters. And I had to walk 3 miles in the snow uphill (both ways!) just to get to the toy store to buy them.

Over the years, the Little People went through several changes–the current larger folks bear almost no resemblance to the originals, long since abandoned due to choking concerns. But now, Fisher Price has released 50th anniversary Little People sets very much like the originals. . . only not as little. . . ’cause, you know, the choking thing. Available are the farm, schoolhouse, and house set (a Target exclusive). All are portable, providing big on-the-go fun for your little person. (Target, $14.99)

‘Cause He’s Always Trying To Get You Into His Pants. . .

carli — Sun, 25 Jan 2009 03:25:19 +0000

Personalized boxer shorts, $19.99 at Snapfish.