2012’s Coolest Holiday Gifts for Teens

It is definitely not easy thinking of gifts to buy for kids who at an age where everything they like is changing, however, there are some ways to make it easier. This list of the year’s most awesome gifts for girls and guys is guaranteed to keep any teenager happy, no matter what they might like.

Available at Sephora.com

Gifts for Her

Makeup Palette

Girls are always looking for great ways to look good, and most girl’s answer to that is makeup. For example, the Naked Palette by Urban Decay, which can be purchased at Sephora, is one of the best eye shadow palettes around. It comes packed with 12 pretty neutral colors that can dress up any face without looking too unnatural.

Watches

Having a nice watch is one of the main components of being trendy in 2012. From gold & silver watches, to colored ones, even black – girls are obsessed with having cute watches to complement their arm candy.

Perfume

 Smelling good is important to teenage girls - if they smell good, their crush will notice them, right? Although this may be a myth, perfume is a great gift for a teen girl because they will get use out of it every day.

Gifts for Him

Music

Music is a great gift for a teenage guy – almost all of them love listening to a good band or artist that they admire. Pick up an Amazon or iTunes gift card and they will take care of the rest.

Video games

As most people know, video games can be a crazy obsession for some guys. Whether it’s a sports game, like Madden or Fifa, an action game like Borderlands, or a classic like the new Super Mario Bros, you can be sure to make any video-game lover happy.

Clothes

Clothes shopping for guys can be a little tricky, however there are some items that can be purchased one can generally not go wrong with. Baseball caps, scarfs (if he’s “trendy”), sunglasses, and sports hoodies or t-shirts are very popular among teenage guys.

For Guys & Girls

iPad Mini

Apple’s newest tablet, the iPad Mini, is something both sexes with go crazy for this 2012 holiday season. It features a 7.9-inch screen with a Retina display and super long battery life, which is great for hours of reading, chatting with friends, or watching favorite TV shows.

iPhone 5 

This lighter and bigger version of Apple’s famous smartphone has recently been released and is a hot item for the holidays this year. Give the gift of the iPhone 5 to a teenager and they for sure won’t be complaining that they have an out of date cell phone.

Kindle Fire

Amazon’s Kindle Fire has revolutionized the way people read books, and what better way to get a teenager into reading than buying them a Kindle? It makes reading seem more modern and less boring - something teens these days are always looking to do.

Secret Santa Holiday Gift Guide 2012

Now that you have found the perfect gift for your teacher, it’s time to find a Secret Santa gift!  Whether a bunch of your friends are getting together to do a Secret Santa exchange, or it’s a co-worker tradition- here are some ideas for finding a gift that will make everyone wish you were their Secret Santa!

Be Tech-Savvy:

Pop Phone, $35, Urban Outfitters

Go back in time with this cool phone handset.  It's the one gift guaranteed to make even 2000s kids feel nostalgic about the 80s. Available in virtually every color of the rainbow, hipster and non-hipster friends a like will appreciated this smart phone add-on when they're on-the-go.

Coffee Cup Power Inverter $29.99, ThinkGeek

Keep your secret Santa and all their road-trip buddies plugged into Twitter with this amazingly functional gift. It's probably the only gift that is actually meant to stay in your car, unlike that bad sweater your Grandma got you that's been sitting in your trunk for months.

Be Unique:

Name a Star Gift Box $24.99, Gifts.com

How cool would it be to be known for eternity? Get your Secret Santa the only gift that will literally last forever--their own star! You don't even have to be a sci-fi fan-boy to appreciate probably the only gift you'll ever receive that is guaranteed to out live you.

Insight Peace Sign Candle $24.00, Urban Outfitters

Candles haven't been this cool since... well, since a really long time ago. For the laid back guy or gay in your group a hippy-inspired, peace and love candle might just be the way to go. It goes well with Justin Bieber shrine on your best friend's computer desk. 

Be Delicious:

Twelve Teas of Christmas $19.99, Gifts.com]

Hot Chocolate on a Stick $15.00, Fredflare.com

Who wouldn't want a tasty treat for the holidays? These affordable, gourmet treats are a small lap of luxury on a budget that any Secret Santa can afford. While small in size, they're the only ones on this list that we recommend putting in your mouth.

Good luck and just hope you end up with a cool gift like these! Happy Holidays!!

Don't see anything here you like? Leave us a comment or tell us on Facebook what your Best Secret Santa Gifts for 2012 are!

Best Gift Ideas for Your Teacher in 2012

It’s that time of the year!  It’s time to search for the perfect holiday gift.  But, what do you get for your teacher?  You realize it is not as easy as it seems.  Here are some great, original ideas that teachers will be sure to love and use!

1. Gift Cards

Available almost anywhere

Before you say "that's lame" consider this: most teachers dip into their own paychecks to buy classroom supplies and other materials meant to help you learn! Gift cards are a great way to treat your teacher to things they might otherwise forgo on their not-so-high teacher salaries, like Starbucks, a night out at the movies, or a dinner out at their favorite restaurant.

2. A Bubble Wrap Calendar

Available from UrbanOutfitters.com

Teaching is often times hard, stressful work. Give your teacher the gift of simple joy by giving them an interactive calendar made up of the one material that literally no one on earth can resist: bubble wrap. Sure, it's a visual representation that the school year is nowhere close to being over, but that's just like your opinion or whatever, man.

3. An Endless Edges Brownie Pan

Available from Amazon.com

You can say it's for them, but it's really for you. Deliver this pan, wrapped up with your favorite Ghirardelli Triple Chocolate brownies and your class room will likely be getting a delicious treat in about 1-3 days. The best part of this pan isn't that it semi-resembles that Pipeline game you used to play in 2nd grade but that every piece is literally the best part about a pan of brownies.

4. A Nerdy Tie

Available from Think Geek

Believe it or not, your teacher probably used to be "with it".  Indulge them in the nostalgia of their youths by getting them this nerd-tastic 8 bit tie that reminds them of glory days when video games were about saving princesses, when you could walk around as a donkey throwing barrels and no one made a joke about the banana stand and your idea of strategy was stacking blocks for hours.

5. Vintage Books

These guys are available on Etsy, but you can find them at any thrift store!

 No one expects you to know this, but there's a huge movement in the design world to finish off modern spaces with delicate, vintage decor. Feminine space? Works for it. Man Cave? Works for it. Desk decoration? Totally works for it. Vintage books are super versatile and look great under every day items like pen holders and vases or stacked together on bookcases. The best part is most of these old books are cheap and it's often pretty easy to find a subject on English, Math or Reading. The added bonus is you can pretty much guarantee that  it'll be a unique gift they'll love.

6. A Survival Kit

The Bear Grylls Ultimate Survival Kit is available on Amazon.com

Because you never know when a zombie apocalypse might break out (I'm looking at you, Atlanta) or when your teacher might need to survive their way through the most hostile environment ever. Failing that, at least it's handy to have around. 

Gone are the days when teachers love getting apples. An Apple iPod Shuffle? Probably, but not a red or green edible object. The interests of teachers today has evolved and if you're struggling to come up with a better-than-average gift, and something that they'll actually use this list is for you.