Having tasted everything, we have decided on what we deem “the best of the best” of the food and kitchen must have items we received. Whether buying this for a loved one during the holidays or purchasing for yourself to help you ring in the new year, we are certain you won’t want to miss trying out all of these goodies!

DELICIOUS DESSERTS

Graeters Ice Cream: Why save the best for last? We featured Graeter’s last year on LI Reviews and this fantastic ice cream company out of Ohio has made our list again. Graeter’s sent us a selection of new delights and old classics allowing us to have an ice cream party. With their creamy, uniquely old-fashioned style of churning and high quality ingredients, Graeter’s Ice Cream is second to none! We had the chance to enjoy the following flavors: Peppermint, Pumpkin, Dark Raspberry Chip. Blueberry Pie, Vanilla, Butter Pecan, Double Chocolate Chip, Mocha Chocolate Chip and Mint Chocolate Chip.

While every flavor was delicious, and not a pint was left after the party, our personal favorites were Blueberry Pie, Butter Pecan and Mint Chocolate Chip (Ash), Dark Raspberry Chip, Peppermint, and Double Chocolate Chip (Dom), Vanilla, Blueberry Pie, and Butter Pecan (the kids), and Butter Pecan (Ash’s Mom). Graeter’s can be shipped directly to your house, and though it can get expensive, we fully believe the purchase is worth the money! To find out more about Grater’s or to order your own Grater’s Ice Cream, visit the Graeter’s website. Also, check out the Graeter’s Ice Cream Party we had!

Must Have Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Silver Moon Ice Cream: What’s better than ice cream for Christmas? How about Ice Cream infused with liquor? For the 21 and over crowd nothing beats Silver Moon Ice Cream. We recommend you do not eat this ice cream and drive, but if you are staying home, this makes an amazing party pleaser or dessert/nightcap in one! There are also a selection of flavors to choose from through Silver Moon.

We had the good fortune of trying Orange Creamsicle, Crème de Mint Chip, Strawberry Daiquiri Sorbet (a great palette cleanser), Spiced Pear Sorbet, and Vanilla Bean with Bourbon. We don’t recommend you keep these out where the kids can get to them, but if you have a place to keep them away from the young ones, Silver Moon Infused Ice Cream is one of those adult pleasures that is too good not to try! To find out more or purchase Silver Moon Ice Cream for yourself, visit the Silver Moon Desserts website. Don’t forget to check out our full length review with our experience with Silver Moon Desserts.

Must Have Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

Kauffman Brothers 9 Layer Smithcake: It is a Chesapeake Bay tradition, but seeing as we live in Michigan we had no idea in the power of the Smithcake. Kauffman’s offers a nine layer, chocolate cake with a delicious cream cheese frosting. This unique treat is an authentic Smith Island 9 Layer Cake, a delicacy coming out of Maryland. In fact, the baker of these cakes is a Smith Island native. Kauffman’s promises the best in Maryland cuisine and they make good on their promise.

If you like chocolate, the Kauffman Brothers 9 Layer Smithcake is something you simply must try. Kauffman’s is more that willing to ship these cakes out for any special occasion you celebrate, and wow what a crowd pleaser! This cake melts in your mouth and even the most picky, cake snobs in the house, Dom and the kids, loved this cake. To find out more about Kuaffman’s and to order their authentic 9 Layer Smith Cake visit the Kauffman’s website. Also, don’t forget to check out our full review of the Smithcake.

Must Have Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Bake Me a Wish Peanut Butter Mousse Cake: If you like rich, decadent desserts, the Peanut Butter Mousse Cake by Bake Me a Wish is going to be something you’ll want to order. Bake Me a Wish has a selection of other, delicious sounding desserts. We had a very hard time picking which cake we wanted to review, but in the end we went with the super sweet Peanut Butter Mousse Cake. This cake would be excellent for a holiday, a birthday, or just for a special treat anytime throughout the year.

The cool thing about the Bake Me a Wish cakes is that 5% of every order goes towards paying to send a birthday cake to a soldier overseas. Bake Me a Wish cakes are gourmet using fresh, natural ingredients that allow for rich, delectable desserts for all occasions. You can find out about the Peanut Butter Mousse Cake and all of the other dessert offerings from Bake Me a Wish at the Bake Me a Wish website. Also, make sure to check out our review for more information on the cake we received and our thoughts on the cake and Bake Me a Wish by reading our review.

Must Have Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

The Fresh Market Brownies: This holiday season, give the gift of brownies. Fresh Market Brownies come in a variety of yummy flavors. We were given the chance to review The Fresh Market’s 10 piece brownie sampler. The Brownie sampler consists of 4 Fudge, 3 Chocolate Chunk and 3 Chocolate Chip Blondies. Rich, scrumptious brownies that crumble and melt in your mouth are what you’ll get in this pack and you will get your monies worth, as these large brownies are just $22.99.

The Fresh Market offers a selection of other bakery goods including additional brownie variety packs in a range of boxes and sizes. The company also does gift baskets, seasonal specialties, chocolate and candy, organic and gluten free options, and other fresh food offerings. To find out more about The Fresh Market visit The Fresh Market website. For more on the 10 piece Brownie Sampler, you can find our review of the sampler right here on LI Reviews.

Must Have Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

Godiva Limited Edition Chocolate Collection: We love Godiva. This was the only set of chocolate we’ve enjoyed that had different flavored centers in them. Usually, there will be one or two flavored centers that none of us (in our family) will want to eat. With this Godiva Limited Edition, 9 piece chocolate collection, we fought over every single piece. This is another offering from The Fresh Market and while this box set is $15 for 9 pieces, that is about as good as it gets for authentic Godiva chocolate.

Splurge on your loved ones or yourself with any of the Godiva box sets from The Fresh Market. The limited edition set we received came in a variety of holiday flavors, but you can get everything from multi-flavored chocolate pieces to truffles through The Fresh Market. These chocolates are heavenly with bursts of flavor in every bite and these box sets are sure to please anyone who receives them this Christmas. Visit The Fresh Market website for more information on this Godiva set or to purchase your own. Also, check out our review of these limited edition chocolates.

Must Have Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

YUMMY FOOD

Regional Best/Imladris Farm Jams: Fresh food offerings are some of the best, most innovative presents this holiday season. We highly recommend you consider purchasing any of the jams and the Apple Butter from Imladris Farm. We received a 3-Pack of Jam in the flavors of Raspberry, Blackberry and Blueberry. We also received some homemade Apple Butter. These freshly made bread accompaniments were a delight to eat. Ash really liked the Apple Butter and the Raspberry, while Dom preferred the Apple Butter and the Blackberry. Our only complaint was that the Blueberry was just a little runny though it was still amazingly good.

The homemade jams and apple butter are made with berries and apples grown in North Carolina. The jams are made by a fifth generation owned farm and are handcrafted in adorably decorated jars. The true gem is in how splendid the jams are when smoothed on some toast or eaten on an English muffin. You can purchase jams in a set or individually on the Regional Best website. You can also find out more about what we think concerning these jams and apple butter in our review on Regional Best Imladris Farm Jams and Apple Butter.

Must Have Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Kauffman’s Original Crab Cakes: A newly started business was spawned early in 2009 and that is Kauffman’s Original Crab Cakes. The company, started by brothers, J.D. and Ron Kauffman, Jr. is an authentic, Maryland business. This was a family endeavor started by their parents, which eventually turned into the sons starting a Crab Cakes business, but not only that. Kauffman’s offers a selection of Maryland delicacies including the previously listed 9 Layer Smithcake. At the core though, is the crab cake.

Delicate and divine are how we describe Kauffman’s crab cakes. They are unlike anything we can get here in the Midwest. What is even better is that you can purchase these crab cakes and have them sent across the United States. This holiday season, giving the gift of authentic Maryland crab cakes is possible. Kauffman’s uses genuine domestic blue crab (Callinectes Sapidus), which, we agree, is the best crab to use for crab cakes. To find out more about Kauffman’s Original Crab Cakes visit the Kauffman’s website. Also, check out our full length review on the crab cakes here on LI Reviews.

Must Have Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

GIFT BASKETS

Good Cheer Gift Basket: The Fresh Market has made our list a third time with the Good Cheer Gift Basket. TFM offers many different baskets, but the holiday offerings are what made us choose The Good Cheer Basket. This basket had crackers, summer sausage and mustard, pistachios, popcorn, roasted peanuts, a large box of Jelly Bellies, sesame sticks, and shortbread cookies. Everything in this basket was tasty and the assortment is bound to be popular with any member of your family who enjoys receiving gift baskets as presents.

Our son kidnapped the jelly bellies though we got a few. Ash really dug the pistachios and fought over them with her mom, nephew and Dom. She also really liked the Nueske’s Summer Sausage. Mom dug the crackers and sausage and the roasted nuts and Dom was enamored with the pistachios and the crackers. All in all, this was a basket the entire family was able to enjoy together. To find out more about the Good Cheer and other gift baskets from The Fresh Market visit The Fresh Market Website. You can also find out more about the Good Cheer Basket in our full review.

Must Have Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

Deluxe Copper Drum – EdibleGiftsPlus: Chocolate is special during the holidays. The EdibleGiftsPlus Deluxe Copper Drum is a feast of unique chocolate offerings. The drum is large, copper and black and has a shimmering finish, providing an attractive look to this drum. This just adds to the gift appeal of this set. The drum is filled with Belgian chocolate covered pretzels, Lindt Dark Chocolate truffles, a Musical note cookie, Downey’s liqueur cake, Belgian chocolate covered Graham wafers, and Belgian Chocolate covered Oreos.

We loved everything in this drum, and so did those at the university where we brought this goody basket. The truffles were, by far, the crowd favorite, but the Oreos and Pretzels also went quickly. Of course, with a drum full of chocolate covered goodies, it is hard to dislike anything in this drum. The only downside to this drum is the price, but if you can afford it, the Deluxe Copper Drum is worth the purchase. For more information on the Deluxe Copper Drum from EdibleGiftsPlus, visit the EdibleGiftsPlus website. You can find out more about the Deluxe Copper Drum Gift Set in our review right here on LI Reviews.

Must Have Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Sugar Plum Double Decadence Basket: This is the closest thing to the basket we received from Sugar Plum. It was full of all kinds of nummies of the chocolate covered variety. We also took this basket to the university with us, and everything was gone within a few minutes. Dom was digging on the chocolate covered potato chips and chocolate covered Oreos. The kids were obsessed with the chocolate covered Oreos and marshmallows. Ash also was hip on the chocolate covered marshmallows and Oreos. The only thing we weren’t in love with was the chocolate drizzled popcorn (which tasted a little soggy from all that chocolate). BUT…overall, this basket was a huge hit.

In all, we received this basket with chocolate covered popcorn, Oreos, potato chips, marshmallows, dark chocolate covered pretzel rounds, and chocolate chip biscotti. It came in an adorable wicker tray, and as you can see, we did not get the entire contents of the Double Decadence Basket for review. The only problem we have with this basket is the $92 price tag. If you can afford this and have a choc-o-holic in your family, this is a worthy present. To find out more about this basket or to order it visit the Sugar Plum gift site. You can also find out more about most of the contents of this basket in our review.

Must Have Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

KITCHEN MUST HAVES

Beer Serving Platter: Innovative and Green are the best ways to describe this Beer Serving Platter, which is called “Hmm…What to Serve” by Out of the Blue Delivered, the company that makes these adorable platters. The concept is awesome, but we just wish these platters were a little bigger. Preferred for those small, intimate gatherings, these platters are great for appetizers. The most awesome part of this platter is that it is shaped like a beer bottle and is made from beer bottles.

This beer platter is constructed from previously used beer bottles and the glass has been melted down by a kiln. This unique concept is very artistic and is, no doubt, why this platter seems a little pricey. BUT…if you like the artsy look and want to show off at your next gathering, this platter is worth serious consideration. To find out about all the unique gifts this company offers, visit the Out of the Blue Delivered website. Also, don’t forget to check out our review of the Hmm…What to Serve Platter.

Must Have Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Freshman in the Kitchen: From Clueless Cook to Creative Chef E-Book: Whether you are a budding chef or a kid just heading into college, you are going to want to check out this great cooking E-Book by the Sussman brothers. Max and Eli have had a variety of experiences cooking and now they pass on what they’ve learned to those who might be afraid about getting started in the kitchen. They were nice enough to provide us with this cookbook/cooking guide. We let the teenager in our house with very limited cooking experience try out some of their recommendations with quite a bit of success.

If you are a parent who is getting ready to send their child off to school or already have one there or know someone who just never learned to cook, this holiday season, give the gift of confidence in the kitchen by purchasing a copy of Freshman in the Kitchen: From Clueless Cook to Creative Chef. To find out more about the Freshman in the Kitchen E-Book and to purchase it for yourself, visit the Freshman in the Kitchen website. Also, make sure to check out the review we did on this great E-Book.

Must Have Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

Slow Cookermate: The Slow Cookermate is the best kitchen product you will own if you like slow cooked/crockpot style dishes. You can make pretty much anything in this Slow Cooker, and best of all, you can make your side dishes at the same time thanks to the top divider that allows you to make two different side dishes as the main course slowly cooks. The Slow Cookermate is heavy, sturdy and worth your money. This is not your average discount Slow Cooker.

The Slow Cookermate has three different temperatures: high, low and keep warm. After setting the timer on a high or low setting for a certain amount of time, once your food has cooked it automatically flips over to the keep warm setting. This ensures if something comes up or you slow cook during the day while at work, you do not have to rush home to turn off your slow cooker. The Slow Cookermate keeps your food warm without ruining it. For more information on The Slow Cookermate and for a selection of recipe ideas, visit The Slow Cookermate website. Also, don’t forget to check out our review of this must have kitchen product.

Must Have Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

Technorati Tags: LI Reviews, Holiday Guide, Food, Kitchen, Must Haves, Dessert, Ice Cream, Holiday List, Kitchen Items, Chocolate, Cake, Brownies, Crab Cakes, Godiva, Jams, Homemade

The Blu-Ray version of Say Anything looks brilliant. It’s presented in a gorgeous 1.85:1, widescreen update featuring a selection of old and new bonus features and DTS-HD 5.1 sound. Everything about the Blu-Ray is far better than any previous release of this movie. If you plan to pick up a copy of this Cameron Crowe classic, we highly recommend you choose this 20th Anniversary Edition.

Gone With the Wind 70th Anniversary Ultimate Collector’s Edition: The most epic film ever created celebrates 70 years and we, as consumers, are given the chance to own the ultimate collection of this great movie. We received the Blu-Ray version, but it is also available in standard DVD. Both feature amazing transfers and more than one disc of special features including the documentary “1939: Hollywood’s Greatest Year” and only in the Blu-Ray release, the six hour documentary, “MGM: When The Lion Roars.” Brimmed full of features, this large box is a must have for any classic movie fan.

The Gone With the Wind 70th Anniversary Ultimate Collector’s Edition box set is filled with goodies inside the box. These include a 20-page reproduction of the original and complete 1939 Souvenir Program, a 40-page Production History Book with photos and production notes, Eight Frameable 5×7 Art Prints, and a sampler of the Gone With the Wind CD soundtrack. It features eight music tracks. Whether you choose Blu-Ray or standard DVD does not matter. This is the Box Set to ask for as a gift this season!

Inglourious Basterds: We got this one in Blu-Ray, but the standard DVD should suffice if you do not have Blu-Ray capabilities. Two things. We love movies set during WWII (honestly, who doesn’t?) and films directed by Quentin Tarantino. Put the two things together and you get Inglourious Basterds. The entire concept behind this movie is downright genius, but very Tarantino-esque, so if you do not like his film style, this is probably going to be one of those films you’ll want to pass up.

For those in on Inglourious Basterds, we recommend the Blu-Ray. It looks stunning and fits the scope of the movie better than the DVD. Only Tarantino can get away with a cast that includes the likes of Brad Pitt, Mike Myers, Diane Kruger, Eli Roth and B.J. Novak. The cast is fantastic, the story is enthralling and we sat there mesmerized the entire time we watched this film. It is hard to argue with a movie that the majority of critics agree is worth the watch!

Public Enemies: Crime movies tend to be hits in and of themselves. A well made crime movie is even better. This film is based on actual history and involves a plethora of well known ‘characters’ including John Dillinger, J. Edgar Hoover, Baby Face Nelson, and Melvin Purvis. With an all star cast that includes Johnny Depp, Christian Bale, James Russo, Billy Crudup, Giovanni Ribisi, David Wenham, Lili Taylor, Stephen Dorff, Channing Tatum, Emilie de Ravin, and Leelee Sobieski, it’d be a tragedy for this film to be a failure. Luckily, Public Enemies succeeds in both storytelling and entertaining.

Public Enemies is available in both Blu-Ray and standard DVD. The film looks great. It has a great audio track to go along with a great movie. We recommend Blu-Ray for this, merely because a crime thriller like this deserves the ultimate audio/visual experience that Blu-Ray can offer. No matter what format you purchase Public Enemies in, its one of the best DVDs you can purchase this holiday season!

District 9: What would the human race do if a group of extraterrestrials showed up, stranded, on this planet? Further, what if a few of these weird, anthropoid-like beings engaged in nefarious activities? Putting them in District 9, a segregated camp just for them, in South Africa seems realistic. That’s exactly what happens in this movie. We’ve seen many a movie where one race oppresses another, but this is an entirely new concept with a twist.

The cast seems to be made up of relative unknowns, well at least to us, but the deep plot, intense storytelling and overall message makes this movie worth the watch and the purchase. Though we know this is available in Blu-Ray, we’ve only had the chance to see this in standard DVD. Irregardless, this movie still looks excellent and we fully believe this should be included in every holiday gift basket, stocking, under the tree tree or on your holiday gift wishlist. Rarely does a movie this unique come along, so when it does, it needs to be purchased.

Rocky: The Undisputed Collection Blu-Ray: We love Rocky. Though the first is our favorite, the rest of the films are also very good. Rocky: The Undisputed Collection contains Rocky, Rocky II, Rocky III, Rocky IV, Rocky V, and Rocky Balboa. Fans of Sylvester Stallone and the Rocky series are going to love this set! While the Blu-Rays for these DVDs aren’t as amazing as most Blu-Rays, it is nice to have a decent looking series in one package. This set also contains an entire disc full of bonuses.

This is the ultimate gift for any Rocky fan in your family. If you are looking for a gift that is going to get a great reaction, this jam packed “Ultimate Collection” has so many extra goodies, just getting the bonus disc is worth it. Of course, having the chance to watch all of the Rocky movies whenever we want, is good enough for us!

Fight Club Blu-Ray: If any movie deserves to be on Blu-Ray it’s the Brad Pitt/Edward Norton must-see, Fight Club. We have never heard a bad word about this movie. In most cases, it makes all of our friends and family’s list for ‘favorite films.’ Everybody we know seems to know that “you are not your khakis” and that “you don’t talk about Fight Club.” Well we’re going to break that rule to tell you just how awesome Fight Club is. This one is a no-brainer. You need to buy this for your family, your friends, yourself and everyone else you know this holiday.

We own Fight Club in all its various DVD and Blu-Ray incarnations. This is one of our favorite films, so we simply could not neglect to include this on our list of the top ten must-have movies of the season. For those of you who have never seen this, now is the time to learn about the power of Fight Club. Pick this up in Blu-Ray for yourself, your family, and anyone else you know. It’s bound to be a real holiday pleaser!

Sons of Anarchy: Season One: This has to be our favorite television viewing experience of 2008 (and 2009 with season two). Who knew FX would have another hit on its hands with the Hamlet-inspired, Charlie Hunnam, Katey Sagal and Ron Perlman vehicle. We highly suggest if you haven’t watched Sons that you check it out right quick, because you are definitely missing out on something phenomenal. Every episode is an ‘on the edge of your seat’ endeavor and like a fine wine, the show just seems to keep getting better with age.

The story begins with the episodes included in this Sons of Anarchy: Season One set. This is the place where those new to the show need to get started and should already be considered a must have for those who are already fans of the show. We just happened to get the Blu-Ray, which looks phenomenal, but the DVD is bound to be great, too! To check out our review of Sons of Anarchy: Season One follow this link!

The Bourne Trilogy (The Bourne Identity | The Bourne Supremacy | The Bourne Ultimatum) Blu-Ray: Get triple the Matt Damon inspired action. In the Blu-Ray trilogy of the Bourne movies, these action-packed thrillers look amazing. Honestly, these types of movies were made for Blu-Ray and its capabilities. If you have no idea who Jason Bourne is then you’ve probably been living under a rock for the past several years. With many Blu-Ray players being sold this holiday season, it is a safe bet to assume you’ll probably have at least one person on your holiday shopping list that will benefit from receiving this collection.

By now, you should already know whether Jason Bourne is a welcome addition in your or another family member’s home. The movies have been out for a while, and now they have been enhanced and improved for high definition, movie theater quality television. With this kind of movie, it was bound to get the release it deserves and here it is. Now it’s just up to you to purchase a copy!

True Blood: The Complete First Season: The introduction of True Blood on HBO was thrilling for new and old vampire fans. We indulged in this show with relish and when the series was put out, we had the chance to get our hands on a copy of the Blu-Ray. If you have the ability to play Blu-Rays, you will want to buy this in Blu-Ray. Blood sucking never looked so good! Of course, if you don’t have such capabilities the DVD version portrays every episode of this Sookie Stackhouse mystery novel adaptation with perfect clarity.

This HBO smash hit would be welcome in nearly any stocking, (18+) of course. From the great storylines to the interesting characters, vampires haven’t looked so good in a long while. Besides, we guarantee this is much more mature than the campy, tweenfest that is the Twilight series..and these vamps definitely DO NOT sparkle! For more information on the Blu-Ray version of True Blood: The Complete First Season check out our review.

Technorati Tags: DVD Review, Blu-Ray, Movies, Public Enemies, Fight Club, True Blood, Bourne Trilogy, Say Anything 20th Anniversary, Gone with the Wind 70th Anniversary, Rocky: The Undisputed Collection

Without further ado, here is our list of Electronics and Accessories Holiday Must Haves:

PHOTOS MADE FUN

Fotobox Plus: Nothing says I love you more than a gift that comes from the heart. Dazzle family and friends with a uniquely created slideshow. Fotobox Plus makes customizing and creating slideshows, and turning them into videos that can be shared on video sites like YouTube, a piece of cake. We had the chance to create multiple slideshow videos using both the Easy Mode for newbies to photo editing and slide creation and Advanced Mode, which allows for more customization.

Using Fotobox Plus is a breeze. You take pictures with your digital camera, place your SD card into the Fotobox and plug the Fotobox into your USB port. With easy mode, you can choose from a series of themes and then save the pictures into a slideshow. With Advanced Mode, you can add music, text, and make the slideshow more personal. Then save to iPod, DVD or upload to YouTube and you have a great gift the entire family is going to enjoy. For more information on the Fotobox, check out our full length review.

Holiday Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Xshot: We have all had this problem before. We want to take a picture, but there is no one else around we trust to use our camera. We’ve seen how strangers can steal expensive cameras under the guise of being helpful. Now, you do not have to trust anyone with your camera, but you, thanks to the XShot. Folding up to 9 inches and extending over 4 times as long, you just mount your camera in the Xshot, extend it out away from you and take excellent pictures as though you were in two places.

Ash let her brother use this, because he is often taking pictures of himself with his son. Without the XShot, the pictures often cut out part of one of their heads, were blurry from being too close up, or scrunched their faces together. With the XShot, it is as if someone else is taking the pictures for them. This was one present we enjoyed giving knowing the two can better preserve all of those memories that last a lifetime. For more information on the XShot and why we think this is one holiday gift you’ll want to purchase, check out our XShot review.

Holiday Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

HEADPHONES/EARPHONES

Shure SE115 Sound Isolating Earphones: The standard earphones that come with MP3 players and other audio devices usually aren’t that great. The Shure SE115 Sound Isolating Earphones are expensive, which is part of why these earphones get less than a 5 rating. If you can bring yourself to pay over $100 for a pair of earphones, these are excellent. If you are listening to hip hop, you’ll get the type of sound you expect to hear when you pop a CD into your stereo sound system. With the bass cranking and the sound isolating technology, these headphones are bound to last through at least a few different players. However, non-hip hop songs, don’t sound quite as spectacular.

With barely any volume, the music carries through the Shure SE115 Sound Isolating Earphones. The rest of the world seems completely shut out as these earbuds completely immerse the listener in a cacophony of sound. While it would take a lot for us to spend over $100 for a pair of earphones, based one quality, the Shure SE115 Sound Isolating Earphones would be one of the few types of earphones we’d be willing to consider purchasing. Are they $100 worthy? More like $60-$80. For more on the Shure SE115 Sound Isolating Earphones, check out our earphones comparison review.

Holiday Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

V-Moda Chrome and Rouge Earbuds w/ Microphone: Sleek and sexy should only be complimented by incredibly clear, high definition, stereo-system quality sound. The V-Moda earbuds we received are sexy. Yes, they are expensive, but we have never heard sound clearer than with the V-Moda earbuds. You’ll look more than stylish in these highly attractive, chrome ear buds. We liked these as much for their stylish good looks as we did for their functionality.

Speaking of function, the sounds that emit through these V-Moda earbuds are nothing short of perfection. Everything sounds brilliantly vibrant. The bass throbs through the buds into your ears as though you are at a live concert for whomever or whatever musical group/person is blasting from your MP3. Sound like this can’t be found through other earbuds. For more on these V-Moda Chrome and Rouge Earbuds, visit our review of them.

Holiday Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Ear Pollution iFrogz Earbuds: If you want earbuds that work better than the standard you get with your iPod or MP3, Ear Pollution’s iFrogz might be a suitable option. Significantly more affordable than the V-Moda and Shure buds we reviewed, these make excellent stocking stuffers. Of course, the quality of the Shure and V-Moda are much better. That does not mean the iFrogz aren’t worth the purchase. The sound for these earbuds is very good. It’s just not mind-blowing like our other, vastly more expensive options.

If you need new earbuds, but do not want to pay up the wazoo for them, the iFrogz are perfect. You will pay a fraction of what you’ll pay for the classy, high-end buds, but you won’t be displeased with the sound. iFrogz are perfect for those on a budget and they also are attractive and stylish, coming in a variety of color options. The buds fit snugly and the sound has some depth and volume to it, which makes them worth the purchase. For more on the iFrogz, check out our holiday earbuds review.

Holiday Rating: 3 out of 5 stars

COMPUTER BUYS

Mimobot Darth Vader Flash Drive: While it may cost more than the price of your average flash drive, if you are a geek like we are (or you have a geek in your family – c’mon every family has one!) you will be willing to pay the extra for these designer Flash drives. Mimobot offers more than just the Darth Vader Unmasked flash drive. We just happened to ask for that one (at Dom’s request). From Hello Kitty to Halo, there is bound to be more than one of these nifty Flash drives you’ll want to own.

Though expensive for a stocking stuffer, the Mimobot Flash Drives are a perfect fit. They have a variety of storage sizes from 2 GB to 16 GB, but expect to pay more for bigger drives. The good news is that these little drives work exceptionally well. We tested them out with school projects this semester and we never had a problem. Nifty and functional – what more would you want in a flash drive? For more on the Darth Vader Mimobot flash drive, read our full length review.

Holiday Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Computrace’s Lojack for Laptops: Though we’ve been unable to actually try this out to its full capability, we like the idea of the Computrace Lojack program for Laptops. The company was kind enough to send over a copy of Lojack. Developed by Absolute Software, this seems to be Theft Protection at its best. Since we haven’t had our Laptop stolen, it is hard to give the Lojack any type of rating, but know that we feel this software is worth checking out.

What other software is there that can help to physically track down your stolen laptop, monitor activity on it by the thief/thieves, and allow you to remotely access your computer. This allows you to delete any sensitive files you do not want anyone else to use/see. With two options, Standard and Premium and affordable prices, it pays to be secure with Lojack. For more information on Computrace’s Lojack for Laptops visit the Lojack Website.

Lifeworks iHome Laptop Mouse: The tiny iHome Laptop mouse is perfect for laptop users. Small, convenient and highly portable make this perfect for the on the go laptop user. Nearly half the size of a regular mouse, it may take a minute to get used to using the iHome Laptop mouse, but once you do, it’s all smooth sailing. The iHome Laptop Mouse works great. The batteries in them last quite a long time, depending on brand, and the USB connector is so small you do not have to worry about any cords or receptors that have to be close enough to make the mouse work.

For a mouse, the iHome Laptop Mouse might be a little overpriced, and you don’t necessarily need a mouse for your laptop, you might want to skip this purchase. However, if you use your laptop a lot or know someone else who does, this is worth checking out. For more information on the Lifeworks iHome Laptop Mouse check out our full length review.

Holiday Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Rebit: As long as we’ve been owning computers, we know the danger of losing everything on them. It can be anything from a virus that causes you to have to wipe everything clean and start anew, to damage done to the computer that costs more to fix then buying a new one. In fact, our last snafu came when our tower fell over and something internal was broken. We were told it’d cost a lot of money to fix. Had we saved everything on the Rebit, we wouldn’t have lost the files on our computer that are still missing.

The Rebit is a couple hundred dollars, depending on which version you buy. You can buy a rebit package for multiple computers and up to one 1 TB of storage space. No matter your computer situation, at home or on your work system, Rebit has you covered. Backing up everything was really easy and it even works if you plan to back things up before upgrading your OS. For more information on Rebit, read our article on this great software.

Holiday Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

REALLY COOL STUFF

Haier MP3 with Video Player: With LCD video display and crystal clear audio, this is the best MP3 player we’ve found for under $50. We received the 4GB model, and the 8GB is going to run you a little more, but for as much as this little player does, paying less than you would for the cheap, old school iPods is well worth it. This would make a delightful present for a music lover or a teenager. It holds a lot of songs and the transport of music from computer to MP3, is seamless.

We use our Haier MP3 player all the time. It works especially well with those V-Moda earbuds we reviewed. Portable, light, and full of functionality make Haier a trusted brand when it comes to MP3s for our family. While we do not have an iPod and aren’t exactly looking to buy one, this was the most affordable, high quality option we found. It is the best player we could have asked for. To read more about Haier’s MP3 with video player, look at the review we’ve written up.
Holiday Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

OtterBox BlackBerry Curve 8300 Defender Case: If you are accident prone or destructive with your cell phone, you need the OtterBox. This makes our cell phone nearly indestructible. Like a protective shell encasing the outside of the phone, the OtterBox is stylish and it fits with a selection of cell phones from iPhones to Blackberry models. We received a black and yellow OtterBox for our Blackberry Curve. Bumping around our cell or even dropping it has not been an issue because the OtterBox is so strong.

The OtterBox comes in a selection of colors, with many of them available in a black, which goes with pretty much everything. These outer covers seem to be made of very hard plastic, and depending on which model you get, you may be paying only a small amount. The OtterBox defense series protective cell phone cases seem to run from just under $20 to around $40. For peace of mind when it comes to your cell, it is worth the price. For more on the OtterBox, read our review.

Holiday Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

Roku: We love Netflix. For the past five or six months we’ve had to use our XBox 360 to watch the instant movies on Netflix. It is actually really convenient, but even more convenient is the Roku. Hook the Roku up to any television and you can watch the instant films/TV shows in your Netflix queue directly on your TV. The Roku partnered with a subscription to Netflix would be an amazing present this holiday. With so many movies and TV shows accessible via Netflix, and more constantly being added, this is one gift that keeps on giving.

The XBox 360 is in our bedroom and now we can have the Roku out in the family room so everyone can enjoy the Roku. This is great for those who do not have an XBox 360 or cannot afford one (the Roku is cheaper) and it comes in three different versions (SD, HD, HD Extended). This is one present I would want under my tree if I didn’t already own it! To find out more about the Roku and all of the cool benefits to owning one, check out my review.

Holiday Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

iHome iPod Travel Alarm Clock: If you own an iPod and you would like to find a more inventive, exciting and reliable way to wake up, the iHome iPod Travel Alarm Clock is your best bet. Pretty much everyone has an iPod these days and you can wake up via Clock sound or music on the iPod. With a wide variety of functions, such as ability to adjust the light on the alarm clock while sleeping, daylight savings auto changes, and military time display, the iHome iPod Travel Alarm Clock is bound to be a welcome addition in any home.

The cool thing about the iHome iPod Travel Alarm Clock is that you can take it with you. It is a travel alarm clock, so it is smaller than your average alarm clock, but it packs enough alarm clock functionality to make sure you wake up exactly when you want/need to. Add in the fact that this alarm clock is attractive as well as functional and you are looking at the perfect present from tweens (or younger) to older adults. For more information on the iHome iPod Alarm Clock, check out our full length review.

Holiday Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Technorati Tags: LI Holiday Guide, Electronics, Electronics Accessories, Computers, Headphones, Awesome buys, MP3, Photo Accessories, Flash Drive, Software

Let’s start with the Top Five DVD Movie Comedies:

#1 – Mamma Mia!

#2 – George Carlin: It’s Bad For Ya

#3 – Forgetting Sarah Marshall

#4 – Baby Mama

#5 – Holiday Inn (3 Disc Collector’s Set)

Go to Page Two for Gift Guide Picks #6-#10

These DVDs are not listed in any particular order. We wish you Happy Holidays and a safe and enjoyable shopping season!

Top 15 Must Have TV Box Sets

Top Five Comedy DVDs

The Top Five Drama DVDs

This is the first half of our Top 50 DVD Must Buy DVDs of the holidays. Stay Tuned for the second half as we list the Top 5 Horror Movies, the Top 5 Christmas Movies, and the Top 10 Box Sets of the 2007 season!

Technorati Tags: DVDs, box sets, drama, comedy, top 25, TV shows, Pirates of the Caribbean, the Nanny Diaries, Star Trek, Seinfeld, The Bourne Ultimatum, Titanic