Christmas Magazine List Reviews!

Just because I'm tired of seeing that sad, worried post on the top of my page.

Here's the second gift list to come to my attention - no, NOT Ontario Cattlemen's possible list, sadly, but a sensible list from that sensible publication, Family Circle (the November 29th issue, in fact).

I don't know if you've ever read Family Circle, but it's generally sold at supermarket check-outs and is a pleasant, low-priced magazine aimed at women in their mid-30s to 50s, I would say. It's seen as being a bit low-brow, possibly, but I think that's a bit unfair - it has good recipes and informative articles, and is nice to read when you're waiting in your doctor's office with your four year old this afternoon, possibly.

And here is there gift suggestion list, probably the first of many from them - this article was called "Double Gifting" and featured gifts sold in support of charities. This can be a dubious landmine of icky presents, shoddily made things that one must pretend to like in the name of social justice - but I think they actually did a nice job of finding beautiful little things.

1) Turkish Ceramic Keepsake Bowl
I can't find it on the site, but it's a lovely little thing and costs $6.95. Proceeds support the Hunger Site's work.

Grade: A+. It's pretty and affordable and it's a good cause.

2) A hand-woven olive-and-eucalyptus-Branch wreath with proceeds going towards Meals on Wheels.

Grade: B. Wreaths are one of those things that I feel like I should like more than I do. Still - they sound nice enough and who doesn't like Meals on Wheels?

3) Mo Smells The Holidays - a scratch and sniff book about a dog, with proceeds going towards the Best Friends Animal Society. $17.95.

Grade: B+. It sounds like a nice book and it's a pleasant cause and there are lots and lots of dog lovers in this world who are not me.

4) Starbucks (Red) Travel Mug. It costs $15.95 and they give a dollar to the Global Fund, which helps fight HIV/AIDS, TB and malaria.

Grade: High enough, I guess. It's one of those things that's good for a large number of people on your list - co-workers, mainly - where you want to give them a reasonably impersonal but pleasant gift that also doesn't cost a zillion bucks. There you go. Give them a red travel mug.

5) A wallet made from recycled mountain bike inner tubes, with 20-40% of the $26 price going towards the charity of your choice.

Grade: C. Because it's a bike tube wallet. But there are actually TONS of charities on the page and MANY better gift options, so it's worth poking around.

6) One of those challenging chunky beaded necklaces that I never see people wearing in real life. It's made by the San Jorge Cooperative, which is a fair trade women's group and now I feel guilty for implying that the necklace is kind of ugly.

Grade: It's only $35, so if someone you know likes "challenging" necklaces, it's the perfect match!

7) Lush Cosmetics' Charity Pot Hand and Body Lotion. 100% of the proceeds go towards a variety of Lush-esque charities. It costs $20.95.

Grade: I do not like Lush's products, although this is a personal thing - I find them too highly scented, for one, and for another, I find them overpriced. Maybe you love them. And maybe you love all of the charities they support - and most of them (protecting a threatened local forest! service animals! camps for kids with cancer!) are things that most people would agree with. Others, however, are more contentious, so be careful before you purchase.

8) Marshmallow Fudge Snowman Tube Hot Chocolate - 100% of the proceeds goes towards St. Jude Children's Research Hospital's research in pediatric cancer.

Grade: A+! It's ADORABLE! It's $6 or 2 for $10 and I can think of TONS of people on my list where this would be exactly the right size and sort of gift. It's also sadly out of stock. Dang.

9) iPopperz earbuds. Headphones with 14% of the proceeds benefiting Save The Music. $14.95.

Grade: Mm, B+? They're cute and it's a nice cause. I couldn't find the ones listed, but I did find a set supporting young breast cancer survivors.

10) Acai Bead Bracelet. 100% of the $10 price goes towards preserving the rainforest.

Grade: B+. A good cause and it's a pretty little thing. I can't find it on the website, though. Maybe you can.


There. Wasn't that a nice list? Everything was affordable and nothing was STUPID, which is always good and there were a few things on it that I could actually imagine giving to people. So far, Family Circle magazine is winning.