With the holidays just around the corner, you're probably starting to rack your brain for the perfect gift for everyone on your shopping list. And, since that list can get long—including everyone from parents to kids to cousins to pets—I understand it's hard not to feel overwhelmed. Consider shopping online, as more and more web sites are offering personalized, unique, and practical (and even cheap!) presents all in one place that will leave everyone asking where you found them. Another way to ease the stress is to search for gifts the whole family can enjoy. Not only will this make your list more manageable, but I've found that it can create great bonding experiences—which is just what the holidays should be about!

At RedEnvelope.com you can buy chocolate gourmet gift towers, digital photo key chains, and beaded snowflake coasters. For something family-friendly, consider the personalized photo growth chart. Your kids will have fun tracking their growth, and everyone can help decorate the chart with photos and numbers. Tabblo.com is also great for those who like to have fun with pictures. The photo-sharing site allows you to make your own template of photos and words and share it with other members of the Tabblo community. You can also print your creation, which is an easy and enjoyable way to create holiday cards for friends and neighbors.

SmartBargains and Etsy.com are great for helping you stay within your budget. SmartBargains offers brand-name clothing, home and kitchen, and bed and bath items at affordable prices you probably won't find elsewhere. Etsy is an online marketplace for all things handmade, including furniture, art, clothing, pet toys, jewelry, and unique gadgets and toys. This is a fun site to browse through— you really never know what you might find!

Here are some of my other favorite online retailers:

L.L.Bean

Lands' End

The Children's Place

Magic Beans

Charitable Gift Giving

Whether it's by supporting conservation through “adopting” an animal (you don’t really get the animal, but you do get a photo and name of your “pet”), or donating money in exchange for holiday cards (check your local children’s museum for wonderful cards), charitable gift giving is a great way to make a difference. No matter how you choose to go about it, giving to an organization of your choice is a decision both you (and the recipient of your gift) should feel good about.

Take the opportunity to get the whole family involved in charitable donations during the holiday season. Sit down together and brainstorm about what issues are important to you, and find out what the charities or organizations are that support them. There are so many worthy causes out there, but here are a few to get you started:

Word Wildlife Fund

World Wildlife Foundation

Susan G. Komen Foundation Holiday Cards

Holiday Cards for Charity

Toys for Tots

Project RED (The Global Fund)

Lastly, as excited you may be to put your plan into action, proceed with care when making your donation—it's important to ensure that the organization is valuable and worth your efforts. Susan G. Komen for the Cure suggests five questions to ask to make sure your money is going where it should. And once you find an organization you feel confident with, think about making this the start of an ongoing relationship. Your charity can become a holiday tradition, or you can even continue to donate throughout the year.

I hope these tips gave you some gift ideas that are both unique and meaningful. If you have your own thoughts on holiday shopping, please share them with the Care.com community by posting a comment!

Cheers,
Sheila

Rest, relaxation, and reading (other than for work) are important parts of any balanced life. If you have a hard time carving out "you time," try joining or creating a book club with other moms to put the pressure on (and to create a kid-friendly outlet for socializing.)

Or if you just need someone to point you in the right direction, check out these recently published bestsellers and popular reading lists for inspiration:

Oprah's Book Club

New York Times Best Sellers List

Literary Mama Blog & e-Zine

Being an interesting person for yourself, your family, your coworkers, and your friends means staying informed and inspired by reading regularly and watching quality programming. Plus, it's a fun and stress-relieving way to unwind!

Have a favorite book or film to recommend for the Care.com Book Cafe? Share it with the community by posting a comment!

Cheers,
Sheila

Show your own father how much he's loved as a Dad (and Grandad) with these ideas for quality family time:

• The Family Tree Maker is a fun way to help Dads chart their lineage and patriarchal legacy. Have your own kids help Grandpa work on a project in this bestselling software program for double the fun and family education.

• Brainiac is a fabulous trivia book to keep family fun sustained for days. Compiled by famous Jeopardy! winner Ken Jennings.

• Scene It Sports Edition is great for the armchair quarterback and the family alike. This popular TV board game goes game day with an accompanying DVD by ESPN.

• Little Big Book for Grandfathers, from the same authors as the Little Big Book for Dads, is a beautiful vintage-y illustrated tome, with excerpts from famous writers like Langston Hughes, Shel Silverstein, William Wordsworth, and more.

• For Dads who are far away, stay connected by sending him a Skype Headset and Microphone care package. Skype is a free VOIP (voice over Internet) phone and chat software program, downloadable at no cost via their website www.skype.com. A perfectly affordable way to stay in touch with family around the world.

So whether it's a new Dad or a Grandad, make this Father's Day one to remember with a thoughtful gift. Have kids pitch in with a finishing touch: wrap the gift in plain paper and then let them add their own acrylic paint handprints or original art and special words.

Do you have a favorite Father's Day gift from years past? Share your comments with the Care.com community!

Cheers,

Sheila

Man's best friend is a member of the family, too. Show Dad how much he's appreciated as a "pet parent" with these cool ideas from Fido:

• This "The Dogfather" T-shirt does double duty: spoofing one of the great guy flicks of all time, and contributing a donation to the Humane Society.



• This coffee table photography tome, Dogs and Dads, is a sentimental portrait of fathers with their best friends sure to warm any man's heart (and hearth).

Cheers,

Sheila

The teenage years can be tough. Help Dad connect with "too cool" teens through these simple bonding boosts:

• Whether it's an excuse for a weekend family getaway, a day trip within your own metro area, or an avenue through which to check out potential colleges, surprise Dad with Go City Cards from SmartDestinations.com. These prepaid cards are package deals for local attractions in dozens of cities in the U.S.and abroad, and come in 1, 3, 5, or 7-day options. Their informative website even offers sample itineraries for easy planning!



• For outdoorsy Dads, these Leki Walking Poles from Germany are perfect for hiking, trekking, or just a good old-fashioned a walk in the woods.



• Or, for bonding nights at home on the couch, check out the DVD version of the most popular series of the year: the Planet Earth boxed set produced by the BBC.

Cheers,

Sheila

They grow up so fast! Help Dad keep up with changing times with these versatile gifts:

• The TAO Digital Keychain has 8 MB of memory, is both Mac- and PC-compatible, and allows traveling dads to tote a virtual scrapbook of family memories with them wherever they may roam.



• Help keep Dads and kids away from the takeout menu with this great cookbook, See Dad Cook. It has easy recipes they can make together, plus shopping tips to turn ordinary errands to the grocery store into a nutrition-education adventure.

Cheers,

Sheila

The toddler years are prime time for reading. Check out some favorites:

• Try this book for great ideas on games and activities Dads and toddlers can both enjoy: The Little Big Book for Dads. It also has beautiful vintage-y illustrations, and inspiring excerpts on fatherhood from Bill Cosby, Lewis Carroll, Dr. Seuss, Shel Silverstein, and more.



• A great bedtime board book for Father’s Day is the Dad Mine! Board Book. Great for all children, but especially favored for reading with big brothers and big sisters before welcoming a new baby into the family.

Or, just tell Dad how awesome he is by dressing your tyke in a My Dad Rocks T-Shirt.

Lastly, an ice cream outing or other special trip can start a tradition so your kids will remember every Father’s Day!

Cheers,
Sheila

Two of my friends have new additions to their families, and they swear by some of this new, cool stuff for dads:

• A great starter book: Be Prepared: A Practical Handbook for new Dads

• A great alternative to toting pink: the wearable diaper vest or Diaper Dude messenger bag, both from UncommonGoods.com.
  


• These Evenflo Snugli carriers keep baby close, while still letting Dad be "manly."

Cheers,

Sheila

When I asked a good friend of mine what he wanted for Father's Day, he wrote:

"Father's Day is a good time to swap out old pictures that may not include any new additions! For traveling dads, like me, a quick look at a travel picture frame keeps you going when you're away from home."

I couldn't agree more. Here are some ideas:

Tabblo. This great website that allows you to update pictures by easily making collages--and it doesn't require buying any software! Go to Tabblo.com to get started.

Unique alternatives to frames. The Red Envelope catalog has some great options. Try the Red Envelope key chain to lock in pictures (you can even get it engraved!). Red Envelope nickel frames are another great way to celebrate milestones, and are perfect for either home or the office. To celebrate a special year, like the birth of a new child, Red Envelope locket cuff links are both elegant and sentimental.

Discounted frames. And to find great frames at a discount, I always check out discount retail stores before I buy them at full price! Check out SmartBargains.com or Overstock.com  online. For offline stores, Marshalls, TJ Maxx, and other discount stores always have great frame options.

Gourmet Grilling. Make new memories by inspiring Dad to grill out or host a backyard BBQ with Omaha Steaks.Mix and match with choices from filet mignons, burgers, sirloin, seafood dishes, to all the fixings—even cheesecake for dessert.

A Massage. Gift certificates for R&R are great for Dads, too. :)

Have your own tips and ideas for Father's Day gift giving? Share them with the Care.com community by posting a comment!