BuzzSugar

Buzz Gift Guide: Attention All Procrastinators!

BuzzSugar — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 09:30:52 -0800

Welcome back to my Buzz Gift Guide series for all the entertainment lovers in your life. Many of us eventually become last-minute shoppers, so it's good to have some quick gift options ready to go. I already dug up some of my favorite entertainment-related gift cards, and today I've got some more thoughts on what to do when you're in a time bind.

I love making mix CDs: They're simple, personal, and often expose people to new music. If it's too late to burn a CD, you can create and purchase a custom playlist for your friends and virtually hand it to them via iTunes. Or you can leave the tunes up to them and just email them iTunes gift cards.

A magazine subscription is a great, easy idea as well. You can purchase the subscription online (Amazon is good for these) and then find a hardcopy in the store to wrap up. Movie lovers will be thrilled to receive some Fandango bucks, and it's always quick to give the gift of Netflix.

Finally, tickets to local events, concerts or museums make easy and thoughtful gifts. Giving someone a night out on the town or a Sunday at a special exhibit is something everyone can appreciate.

Check out HolidaySugar for all of our holiday coverage and gift guides.

Buzz Gift Guide: The Gift Cards That Keep Giving

BuzzSugar — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 09:30:37 -0800

Welcome back to my Buzz Gift Guide series for all the entertainment lovers in your life. Yesterday I had fun thinking up some quirky gifts for a white elephant party, so today's ideas are a little more practical.

Yes, gift cards can seem impersonal, but they can also be thoughtful symbols of appreciation for people in my life who reside slightly on the periphery, like the nice folks at my gym or the lovely sandwich shop lady who's been feeding my BLT addiction all year.

And gift cards are looking cooler these days. For example, with this Best Buy gift card you're not only giving someone a little cash toward purchasing music, DVDs and gadgets, but the card itself functions as a speaker for MP3 players. How cute is that?

Borders lets you create a more personalized gift card by allowing you to add your own photo and select from different backgrounds to make it unique. I doubt my sandwich lady really wants a gift card with my face on it, but you get the gist.

Over at BookSwim.com (a Netflix-like program for books), when you purchase a gift card to get someone else in on the fun, you also earn credit for yourself. That's like a double whammy gift! Barnes and Noble and Apple also have good gift card options.

Check out HolidaySugar for all of our holiday coverage and gift guides.

Buzz Gift Guide: The White Elephants of the Entertainment World

BuzzSugar — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 07:30:48 -0800

Welcome back to my Buzz Gift Guide series for all the entertainment lovers in your life. Yesterday was all about the box sets, and today I'm covering the wonderfully schmaltzy world of white elephant gifts. Just so we're all on the same page, the estimable UrbanDictionary defines this category of gifts as "presents never actually useful in real life."

Take this Edward Cullen doll inspired by Twilight. It's totally awesome (or, you know, "awesome") and I want it for my desk, which is probably the best you can hope for in a white elephant gift. And while we're on weird dolls, this Rodney Dangerfield doll will surely produce that satisfying look of bewilderment on the recipient's face at your next white elephant exchange. It cracks me up that the product description proudly boasts that it does 11 whole minutes of stand-up.

Also in the world of weird entertainment-related gifts is the Ugly Betty poncho.

Gifts that fall into more a quirky and cute category here include this adorable little Wall-E plush doll that makes sounds, and this design-your-own-speakers kit.

Edward Cullen Doll (Pricing info TBD)	DIY Eco Speakers ($18.00)
Ugly Betty Poncho ($39.95)	8'' Mini WALL-E Plush with Sound ($12.95)	Rodney Dangerfield animated doll ($59.99)

Check out HolidaySugar for all of our holiday coverage and gift guides.

Buzz's Gift Guide: Box Set Bonanza!

BuzzSugar — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 07:30:21 -0800

Welcome back to my Buzz Gift Guide series for all the entertainment lovers in your life. Yesterday I came up with some ideas for your coworkers, and today, I'm focusing on some splurge gifts for someone special: DVD box sets. These sets, whether a whole TV series or a collection of films, are pricier than the average gift, so they're definitely meant for that superfan who you know will cherish these DVDs forever.

I know many a Sopranos fan that would covet this giant box set that includes the complete series of the HBO show plus tons of special features - including creator David Chase and the cast talking about one of the alternate endings.

Fans of Freaks and Geeks will forever love anyone who gifts them this special "Yearbook Edition" box set. Also, the acclaimed series The Wire is available in its entirety now just in time for the holidays.

Finally, I personally would kill for this collection of films directed by Pedro Almodovar with eight movies including Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown, All About My Mother, Talk to Her, The Flower of My Secret, and Bad Education.

Viva Pedro - The Almodovar Collection ($105.99)	The Sopranos - The Complete Series ($199.49)
The Wire: The Complete Series ($134.99)	Freaks & Geeks: Yearbook Edition ($129.99)	Amazon.com: Deadwood ($104.99)

Check out HolidaySugar for all of our holiday coverage and gift guides.

Buzz Gift Guide: The Coolest Coworker

BuzzSugar — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 06:30:34 -0800

Welcome back to my Buzz Gift Guide series for all the entertainment lovers in your life. Yesterday I thought up some stocking stuffer ideas and today I'm covering some of my favorite folks: Coworkers!

When I first spotted this "cassette tape" tape dispenser, I was immediately smitten, and I think a music-loving office mate might be, too.

Most things related to The Colbert Report crack me up and this dry erase board that lets people know whether or not they're "on notice" is hilarious (the list is started for you with things like "black hole at center of galaxy"). It's a good one for that coworker who sends you video clips of the show all the time.

Have a fan of The Office in your office? This kit is fun and will allow them to "Dunderize" their cube. And for the work buddies who love to quote Office Space, they can avoid a case of the Mondays with Milton's red stapler.

Finally, I read a great book titled Then We Came to the End back in June for my Buzz Book Club and although the subject matter (layoffs at an advertising agency) probably hits close to home for folks this year, it's not exactly depressing. In fact, I think it provides some comedic relief to a tense and difficult topic. It's a worthwhile recommendation for the bookworms in the office.

A few more ideas below, so scroll on through!

Then We Came to the End by Joshua Ferris ($11.19)	The Tape Dispenser ($25.00)
Swingline Collectors Edition 747 Rio Red Business Stapler ($17.99 )	The Colbert Report: You're On Notice Dry Erase Board ($11.99)
The Office Dunderize Your Cube ($28.00)	Whatever It Takes Mug - David Bowie ($19.99)

Check out HolidaySugar for all of our holiday coverage and gift guides.

Buzz Gift Guide: Stocking Stuffers!

BuzzSugar — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 06:30:06 -0800

Welcome back to my Buzz Gift Guide series for all the entertainment lovers in your life. I've covered a lot of different categories over the past couple of weeks to help you cross off the TV, movie, and music buffs on your list. Today I've got some ideas for smaller-sized gifts to slip into stockings.

iPod shuffles continue to impress me with their affordable price and cute, tiny size. They're a great gift for an active music-loving friend but they're also good for your less-is-more friends who don't need all the bells and whistles (or storage space, for that matter) of a larger, more expensive MP3 player. Plus, they come in really fun colors. And to go with the shuffle, consider these comfy-looking clip-on headphones.

It's possible that some of your geekier friends will get a kick out of these Star Wars-inspired USB flash drives (hands down, my favorite is the C-3PO one). For the know-it-alls in your life (or the wannabes), these trivia cards are fun, especially if you've got another week or so with the fam and need to pass the time. Finally, some cute TV-related ideas: Little Lost Kubrick figures, and the star mugs that Kelly made for the Dunder-Mifflin coworkers who showed up to her America's Got Talent finale party.

Star Wars Series 3 Mimobot 2GB Designer Flashdrive C3PO ($40-50)	Lost Kubrick, Blindboxed Miniature Characters ($10 each)
The Office Andy Star Mug, $12	iPod shuffle ($49)
Philips Ear Clip Headphones ($19.99)	Trivia on the Go Cards Tv Edition ($0.94)

Check out HolidaySugar for all of our holiday coverage and gift guides.

Buzz Gift Guide: Best of 2008 For Gals

BuzzSugar — Fri, 05 Dec 2008 08:30:45 -0800

Welcome back to my Buzz Gift Guide series for all the entertainment lovers in your life. Yesterday I sifted through the stacks (er, Web pages) of music, DVDs, and books to find some of the best 2008 has to offer dudes. Today I will share with you some 2008 entertainment gift ideas for the ladies.

It's no secret how much I love Jenny Lewis and I will be spreading the gospel this year by handing out her newest album Acid Tongue to my girlfriends (or at least including her songs on the mix CDs I'll make this holiday season). I'll also be giving out Aimee Mann's newest album, as I think it's pretty awesome.

It was a good year for books: I read both The Opposite of Love by Julie Buxbaum and Certain Girls by Jennifer Weiner and would definitely recommend them. In the movies department, might I suggest the hilarious Baby Mama or Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day on DVD?

Since I watch more TV than most people I know, I use the holidays to not-so-subtly suggest to friends what I know they would love, like 30 Rock or Greek. And many of my friends have grown to love Lipstick Jungle, so it would be a treat for them to receive the show's first season on DVD.

A couple more ideas below, so have fun scrolling on through.

Check out HolidaySugar for all of our holiday coverage and gift guides.

Buzz Gift Guide: Gaming Girls

BuzzSugar — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 12:01:19 -0800

Welcome back to my Buzz Gift Guide series for all the entertainment lovers in your life. This week is all about gifting your peers who are, like you, totally obsessed with pop culture. I already found gifts for the Sex and the City fanatic and t-shirt-loving chicas.

Today I've rounded up some ideas for the game-loving ladies in your life. I personally enjoy a good game of Texas Hold 'Em to pass the time with my family over the holidays, and I was excited to find this hilarious Desperate Housewives themed poker set. So many of us grew up watching A Christmas Story that it would probably be easy to gather a group around this board game based on the movie, and I already have several friends in mind for the board game based on The Office.

Finally, for your more technologically savvy friends and family, I might suggest this Scene It? Seinfeld game which includes a DVD component, as well as Dancing with the Stars and American Idol games for Nintendo's Wii.

Desperate Housewives Poker Set ($59.99)	A Christmas Story Board Game ($30.00)
The Office Trivia Board Game ($24.99)	Scene It? Seinfeld Big Box Edition ($29.99)
Dancing with the Stars Wii ($39.99)	Karaoke Revolution: Presents American Idol Encore 2 w/Microphone ($45.26)

Check out HolidaySugar for all of our holiday coverage and gift guides.

Buzz Gift Guide: Pop Culture T-Shirts For the Ladies

BuzzSugar — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 05:30:03 -0800

Welcome back to my Buzz Gift Guide series for all the entertainment lovers in your life. This week is all about gifting your peers. Yesterday I suggested some gifts for the Sex and the City fan, and today I've rounded up a few of those gifts that keep on giving: TV- and movie-themed t-shirts.

I like wearing shirts with funny TV and movie lines on them because people are either like, "Ha! Yeah!" or "What is that from?" If it's the former, you've identified a fellow fan and if it's the latter, you've started a conversation about one of your favorite shows/movies. It's win-win, really.

Got an '80s movie fan in your circle of friends? Check out these t-shirts inspired by Dirty Dancing and Sixteen Candles. Here's a Twilight-inspired t-shirt for anyone you know who's into the movie or the book series (it cracked me up, anyway). I love this straightforward "Seriously" t-shirt from Grey's Anatomy, and this Lost inspired Dharma Orchid tee will work for a superfan. Finally, for the younger at heart I found this funny Juno t-shirt (I love the word "shenanigans") and Gossip Girl fans will rejoice when they find out someone stuck Blair's "mother-chucker" line on a shirt.

Jake Ryan Sixteen Candles t-shirt ($20.00)	Watermelon Dirty Dancing t-shirt ($22.00)
Grey's Anatomy ''Seriously'' Women's Tee ($19.95)	Lost Dharma Orchid Women's Tee ($24.95)
Juno What Other Shenanigans Junior's Tee ($19.95)	Bella's Doodle Women's Light T-Shirt ($17.99)	Gossip Girl/Chuck Bass Women's Dark T-Shirt ($24.99)

Check out HolidaySugar for all of our holiday coverage and gift guides.

Buzz Gift Guide: All SATC, All the Time

BuzzSugar — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 05:45:32 -0800

Welcome back to my Buzz Gift Guide series for all the entertainment lovers in your life. Last week I thought up some gifts for all the young'ns in your life so this week it's all about your peers.

For a while there it felt like there was nothing else to talk about in entertainmentland other than Sex and the City thanks to the HBO series' leap to the big screen. I have plenty of girlfriends (and guy friends come to think of it) who would love the movie on DVD this holiday season. And for those friends who desperately miss the TV series itself, this complete DVD set would make them pretty happy.

Then there are the superfans that are completely fluent in the show's history. For them I'd recommend this Sex and the City trivia game (I've played it before and some of us were so knowledgeable about the show, we made the game more challenging by reading the answer first and then coming up with the question, Jeopardy-style). Finally, some SATC fanatics might get a kick out of t-shirts inspired by the show including this one celebrating singlehood and this one about searching for your own Mr. Big.

Sex and the City - The Movie ($19.99)	Sex and the City - The Complete Series ($99.99)
Single and Fab Sex And The City t-shirt ($24.00)	Mr. Big Sex And The City t-shirt ($24.00 )	Sex and The City Trivia Game ($16.99)

Check out HolidaySugar for all of our holiday coverage and gift guides.

The Opposite of Love: Julie Buxbaum ($16.50)	Break Up the Concrete: The Pretenders ($11.99)
Acid Tongue: Jenny Lewis ($12.49)	Certain Girls: A Novel: Jennifer Weiner ($17.79)
@#%&*! Smilers: Aimee Mann ($13.99)	Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day ($12.99)
Baby Mama ($17.99)	Greek - Chapter One ($19.99)
30 Rock: Season 2 ($25.99)	Lipstick Jungle - Season One ($24.99)