Agony Aunt at Giftchooser recently got a query from a Julia who is stuck for gift ideas for a school friend.

She asks Agony Aunt:

We are doing a secret santa at school, and I don’t know what to get my 13 year old friend. She’s not exactly picky, but I want to get her something unusual. she likes ice-cream, chocolate, cows and pink, she’s a girly girl. She is also quite funny and likes jokes and humour. Please help as I am really stuck.

Julia doesn’t specify a budget but I have trawled the gift sites and found this lovely Ribbon Watch set which I think would make a fabulous girly Christmas gift for a teenage friend.

The Ribbon Watch is 11 watches in 1 as it comes with 11 different ribbons that can be changed easily to match your mood or outfit. The ribbons are comfy to wear and just need to be tied in a bow. The colours vary from a striking red and white polka dot to a pretty pastel stripe.

Unusual, fun and a bit of a bargain at under £13. It comes in a lovely pink gift box but you can even get it giftwrapped for her too!

Buy the Ribbon Watch from Present Finder for £12.99

Hope this helps and have a fabulous Christmas.

You know it’s going to be a good week when you find an online gift shop worth shouting about. For gifts that are handcrafted, fairly traded and distinctly different visit Jacaranda Blue for the shopping experience of the century.

This gem of a site will make sure you are never stuck for gift ideas. Find presents for the men and women in your life – whatever their age. Yes, babies and kids are also included.

Most items are made in South Africa or Asia by local crafts people and communities so all the items are handmade and not mass produced – it also means most of them are unique so each one will differ slightly from another.

And you can be assured in the fact that everything you buy will help these communities by providing a fair wage in an area where employment and money is scarce. Now that’s what I call retail therapy!

After hunting through the treasures on display I have selected my 2 favourite items:

For him

This quirky wire ’working’ car has been deftly made and makes a fabulous decorative piece for a boys room or bookcase. It comes in 2 sizes but I prefer the medium size car as the wheels are made from recycled black bags which really makes it stand out.

Buy for just £10.20 from Jacaranda Blue

For her

I have such a passion for bags. A girl can never have too many and this beautiful blue silk taffeta bag looks fabulous, can hold everything we need and fits comfortably on your shoulder.

Buy this bag for someone’s birthday from Jacaranda Blue for £26

Whether its a treat for someone special or a beautiful house warming gift to brighten up someone’s home, you will find more than you bargained for at Jacaranda Blue.

We ladies have always got tons of jewellery to hand. If you know of somebody who could use a helping hand to organise their collection of crown jewels, I have found this gorgeous jewellery box.

We always have to make sure we have the perfect accessory to hand for any occasion. Little trinkets, earrings, necklaces, rings and bracelets. If you are anything like me they’ll be strewn about all over the place as I never have anywhere to keep it all.

This beautiful rectangular jewellery box is made with frosted glass and decorated with delicate butterflies all over it.

The butterflies and trailing plant design is studded with sparkling gems to make it extra gorgeous. They gems come in different colours to suit the lucky recipient, either pink, blue or purple

It looks stunning, is very practical at keeping all your jewels together and it costs less than a tenner!

Buy it for just £8.99 from Purple Puffin.

If you don’t want to spend a fortune, or have a limited budget this month but need to get a quick last minute pressie for your mum or a friends birthday, this Lotus Flower is a great bath plug.

It’s a cute accessory that any girl would love to see when she takes a soak in the bath.

It’ll transport them into the spa’s of Thailand, or the tropical lakes in some exotic faraway place. They may even feel they are on holiday!

The Lotus Flower will sit prettily on its leaf and float away on top of your bath water.

It’s one of those novelty gifts that aren’t really useful at all, but are just really nice to have.

Buy this unusual floating plug for £5.95 from Feeling Chilled.

If you add the code SPRING into the code box at the checkout you will get a 10% discount . This voucher is valid until 31/03/08.

Discount Codes for Feeling Chilled

At Web Savings World you can find Feeling Chilled promotional voucher codes

After raving about My Silver Balloon Volume 1, I have since discovered that the 2nd edition is now available. This personalised CD has a new collection of 8 happy childrens songs to keep the little monsters dancing and singing to their hearts content.

A brilliant gift idea for a son, daughter, niece or nephew. Or if you are doting grandparents it would be a beautiful idea to give this CD as a birthday present which can be personalised so the songs tracks will actually feature your grandchild’s name. Imagine the surprise on their faces!

Follow the second adventure of the Silver Balloon, this time narrated by the news presenter, Jon Snow. A perfect bedtime story after a busy day of play.

Buy this personalised childrens gift online from The Poetry Studio for £12.45

If you missed out on Volume 1, you can read more about it here – My Silver Balloon Personalised CD Vol 1.

I would have loved to have had a toy like this whilst growing up! It would have provided hours of entertainment for my creative yet slightly clumsy hands. It certainly would have kept me out of the kitchen and getting in mums way.

The latest creative toy is the Teddy Bear factory, which keeps hands busy creating a teddy and not a mess in your kitchen!

This crafty set is just what little girls will want to create their very own personalised teddies at home. The kit comes with enough fur, fabric and stuffing to complete 3 teddies, and you can even write your own birth certificates when each bear is complete. The makers have thought of everything to appeal to the girls as they also come with good luck and little friendship charms.

Remember the Cabbage Patch Dolls? Even though you didn’t make them yourselves, they still felt personal to you because each one came with an adoption certificate. Girls seem to love this ’ownership’ idea, which is why i reckon the Teddy Bear Factory will be a hit with the girls over the next few months.

Supposedly easy to use, especially as it is aimed for girls ages 4 and upwards. The main thing is that no sewing is needed.

However, this is just the beginning, apparently there is a whole range of outfits and furry skins available to continue the teddy bear production line. At least you will be able to get more than one use out of it.

Buy it for just £19.47 from Amazon

The Aquadraw is probably the best invention for parents since sliced bread.

Finally a creative game that’ll keep pre-schoolers occupied for hours but without creating a messy blob on your dining room floor.

Last year we had the Aquadraw for the boys with Thomas the Tank Engine and friends, this year it’s all about the girls, with the Cinderella Aquadraw.

The Aquadraw is quite an amazing mat. It allows kids to draw pink pictures with a magical water pen but doesn’t create a watery mess in the house.

Because it is waterproof, it can be used outside in summertime whilst lazing in the garden or the park.

Be creative with the Cinderella Aquadraw mat – draw a path around the mat with lots of pictures of flowers and animals and castles bordering the path. Then comes the really magical bit, place your Cinderella and Prince Charming on the mat and watch as they follow the path you have just drawn!

The figures included do need 2 x AA batteries to get them going, but they will follow the hand-drawn path, whilst dancing to their song. This toy was nominated for a Toy Award at Hamleys because Cinderella is such a well-loved character amongst girls, but parents love the fact it is ’clean’ fun which involves no ink or paint.

Buy it for your princess for £24.99 from Hamleys

Don’t forget to check out the Thomas & Friends Aquadraw Mat for little boys

Disney came up with another wonderful animation film this year, Ratatouille which is sure to become another classic. The story is set in Paris and follows the lives of Remy the rat and the human Linguini.

Note: Out comes lots of merchandise tied in with the film just in time for Christmas time so kids can pester their parents. However, this board game could prove to be fun for all the family to enjoy.

Remy is a real foodie and dreams of being a top chef but being a rat could be a problem. Linguini on the other hand works as a kitchen hand in a top Parisian restaurant but knows nothing of food and creating delicious dishes. The pair collide and form an unlikely relationship and friendship.

The Board Game was named as one of the Top 12 Games in the Toy Retailers association prediction for Dream Toys this year. It sounds very much like the classic game ’Mouse trap’, as it features a precariously built tower consisting of kitchen equipment, which when disturbed could set of a domino like effect that will trap the rat.

The winner is the person that manages to get all their soup ingredients into the pan without being seen by that nasty piece of work, Chef Skinner. It sounds like a family game to be enjoyed on Christmas Day after your festive feast.

Buy online for £22.45 from BlahDVD – this price includes Free Delivery in the UK.

I had never heard of Fifi until I saw the children’s programme Fifi and the Flowertots. Fifi is a Forget-Me-Not flower who lives in a beautifully decorated watering can called Forget-Me-Not Cottage.

As always with popular kids programmes lots of merchandise comes out in the shops, but this bedtime Lullaby Fifi doll is one of the Dream Christmas Toys of 2007 for pre-schoolers.

Fifi is full of energy and always looking for adventure that is when she’s not busy working in her garden. She has lots of friends and interaction with other characters in the show including Bumble, Violet, Primrose, Pip, Poppy, Tulip, Grubby, Stingo, Slugsy, Webby and Mo.

Now she can have a new best friend – You!

This adorable soft plush doll is perfect for as a bedtime companion as she sings a lullaby when you press her tummy, to help send your little ones off to sleep.

Her cheeks glow when you gently push her tummy too along with the flowers on her pyjamas which gently glow in the dark to create a soothing night-light.

Get 2 for the price of 1 as Fifi comes clutching her best toy Cottonsocks the bunny.

Buy online in time for Christmas from Amazon for £12.74

In The Night Garden is CBeebies latest tele adventure for pre-school girls and boys (although it is quite fun for adults to watch too).

The Ninky Nonk Train is one of those weird objects that takes on a personality of its own.

Following in a similar vein from Teletubbies, this odd but entertaining creation shows a selection of weird and wonderful characters in a nursery rhyme land.

This picture book programme where the inhabitants have fun and take care of one another has shown to be funny and appealing to small children. The colours, repetitive songs and sounds and the bizarre occupants of the Night Garden seem to correspond with children’s own imagination.

Iglle Piggle, Makka Pakka, Upsy Daisy, the Haahoos, Pontipines, Wottingers, Tittifers and the Tombliboos all reside In The Night Garden to provide a fun yet educational programme. Now you can get the Ninky Nonk Train which will provide hours of fun for your kids.

Ninky Nonk the train is made up of several different carriages that can all be connected together in any order and takes the residents of the Night Garden on journeys and adventures throughout the land.

Let your childs imagination go wild with this toy train.

Buy it now at the bargain price of £9.99 from Woolworths

Discount Codes for Woolworths

At Web Savings World you can find Woolworths discount voucher codes

Become Willy Wonka with your very own chocolate machine. Brilliant toy for christmas or for birthdays close to christmas, as you can make choccie coins for the christmas tree or make your very own xmas pressies for family and friends.

This creative toy is aimed at kids over 6 but will need some adult supervision.

What does it do?

This mini choc-factory lets you discover all about the chocolate making process. Melt chocolate, mould it, wrap it and stamp it with your message such as Merry Christmas or Happy Birthday. Or choose one of the pictures like the football, the sun or skull and crossbones to instantly become pirates treasure! You can even use the tool to make your own design, name or greeting.

What comes with it?

• Oodles of milk chocolate to melt and mould into coins.

• Golden Foil to wrap up your sweet treasure.

• Golden net bags to horde your sweeties in. Great if they are going to be gifts for someone or hung on your xmas tree.

Despite some reports that the machine is a bit fiddly and slow to use, there have been many positive reviews that kids love it and seem to have lots of fun having a go at making personalising their own chocolate buttons.

The one downside that most people agreed on was that the supply of golden foil was a bit stingy and many have now resorted to using silver kitchen foil although you can buy refill packs of the foil and bags once you have run out.

Have your very own chocolate factory for just £14.99 from Hawkin’s Bazaar

Buy a Golden Coin Maker refill pack from Otherland Toys from £4.95

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Definitely a present for the girls. This funky bag appeared in the paper last week and I thought it was a great idea for you creative types.

What you get is a plain see through bag, then comes the magic when you can transform that plain old shopper into a beautiful customised holdall.

The Clippy Kit PVC accessories idea has recently been nominated as a finalist for Gift of the Year 2007. This see-through PVC bag has a set of pockets covering the whole of the exterior which allows you to decorate your bag as much or as little as you want.

Add your own photos, postcards or the works of art your child has produced at school that week. Decorate with pom-poms, ribbons, bows and bangles in fact anything that takes your fancy.

You can also buy pictures and other crafty bits to jazz it up, even decorate the inside with inner bag linings that come in a kitsch spotty design, or glam it up with sparkly silver or glorious gold.

Clippy Kit puts the funk into functional. Get a variety of gifts like pencil cases, book covers and folders, table mats (known as table mates), make-up bags, wash bags and even lampshades – all of which can be made into your very own work of art.

This craft idea reminds me of the Walbum – a similar notion whereby you have a hanging plastic photo album with clear pockets to display your pics on your wall.

You can buy this medium sized bag online from the Clippy Kit shop for £28

With only 56 days until Christmas, isn’t it time you started getting your xmas present list sorted?

This gift website offers a superb range of personalised gifts that would suit a birthday or christmas present for little girls and boys everywhere. They sell a selection of reading books, wall and desk calendars and because they are personalised, every gift book, story or calendar is unique.

Penwizard has a range of story books and adventures featuring your girl or boy in the story. Each story has references to things from your childs everyday life, their brother or sisters name, where they live, the name of their best friend and more, which you give them when you order your items.

The best bit about the books that sets them apart from any other personalised storybook is that even the illustrations can be personalised. By selecting the same hairstyle, hair, skin and eye colour of your little one, they can actually see themselves with their favourite characters. Choose from football stories, wizard adventures or princess fairytales.

They also have special Noddy books including a seasonal version which would make a great stocking filler for your little tinkers.

They make fab bedtime stories that really get the kids involved and can encourage reading. Great for christmas presents for nieces, nephews and cousins and only cost from £13.99 per book.

Visit Penwizard at www.penwizard.co.uk and see what they have to offer.

The ultimate girly gadget for this christmas is now available. The popular Pixel Chix are back, and are more fun (and funkier) than ever.

The Pixel Chix house comes complete with 2 of these cool chicklets, the popular Pixel

and her pal Sporty. Despite sounding a bit like they belong in an-all girl pop band – this interactive toy is actually rather good fun.

The house is a collection of LCD screens that represent rooms in the house. Simply plug your 3D pixel pal into the base and watch her appear in 2D in one of the rooms. The two room mates interact with each other, eat, watch Tv and walk from room to room and you can add extra roomies to the club as well.

The idea is to play the games and win the challenges to gain access to your very own penthouse suite at the top of the house.

Additions include extra roomies to add to the house, a pet puppy or jammin’ hamster, a ’Love to Shop’ shopping mall, a trippin’ car to travel in and a 2 story house done up as a cottage or the exclusive miami loft option.

This electronic game is very similar to the Tamagotchi range of toys and as with most interactive toys, the more you play with them, the more they can do, giving you more and more options the higher up you go. Leave them neglected for too long and they’ll pack up and move out!

The price tag isn’t too hefty but there are plenty of little extra’s that many girls may want to keep adding to their collection which could add up.

Buy the Pixel Chix Roomies House with 2 of your very own pixel chix to live there for £39.99 from Amazon

Want some Pixel Chix Extras?

Buy Add-on Roommate Beauty Queen for £6.99

Buy Add-on Roommate Punk Rocker £6.99

Buy Add-on Roommate Hip-Hopper £6.99

Buy Add-on Roommate Bookworm for £6.99

So what do they do? Basically they contain a set of magnets inside them and when you use the magnetic bone that accompanies each puppy, it causes the body part to move. Watch your pups head move, his tail wag and shake his paw.

Because it’s magnetic, no batteries are needed, but this does limit its actions somewhat too.

There have been some mixed reviews of these trick puppies, some say they aren’t worth the money because they don’t do very much but bear in mind they are aimed at kids as young as 3 but for £9.99 they are still good value even as a soft toy that kiddies will love to cuddle.

Watch a quickie clip of them in action here

They come in 6 different breeds including Boxer, Miniature Pinscher, German Shepherd, Golden Retriever and Chihuahua and but I think this poodle is by far the most adorable with its curly hair.

If you want proper interaction get a real dog, if you just want a cute teddy that moves a little bit, then this gadget is for you.

Buy this cutie-pie poodle for just £9.99 from Woolworths.

Discount Codes for Woolworths

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Fisher-Price have come up with a winner for your little toddler. If he or she is on their way to taking their first steps then this cute feline can help them along.

I really like the look of this brightly coloured big cat – looks like some kiddie fun is to be had!
The stride to ride lion looks like its all about having fun as you learn to take your very first wobbly steps into the big wide world. This lion character starts off as a fun ride on toy with wheels so that your kid can scoot along on. and the idea is that he can grow along with your child.

As they grow, the lion can evolve and continue to keep up with them and encourage their mobility.

When they start trying to stand and take their first few steps, Lion will convert to become a walker. The bright, chunky handle can be used for support as they push their way to freedom!

Unfortunately it’s not a silent lion, he will roar when you press his nose and does have several musical sounds, lion noises and lights – this is all designed to encourage kiddies to walk and reward them. It is not meant to annoy you. Honest.

Tots and toddlers will love this new found friend who helps them get around. Mums and dads will have to watch out as they start to scoot around quicker than ever!

Buy this fun and friendly big cat from Woolworths for just £26.24

Discount Codes for Woolworths

At Web Savings World you can find Woolworths money off codes

Barbie returns. this time as the beautiful Island Princess, Rosella. The doll coincides with the release of the latest Barbie DVD and is sure to capture the imaginations of girls all over the world.

This barbie doll isn’t just here to look pretty though, no she sings too – has anyone told her Big Brother auditions are coming up next month? Little girls can sing along with their favourite Princess as she serenades you with songs from the film.

Accessories include a brush and her cute animal buddy, Sagi the red panda who can sing a duet with her when he feels like it.

Her dress magically transforms to resemble her peacock friend Azul, with a fan of ’peacock feathers’ emerging from the back of her dress.

Girls will love this all-singing dolly in a pretty peacock dress and will probably spend many hours playing and making up their own island Princess stories.

You can watch the TV advert here

Buy her online from everyone’s fave shop, Amazon for £14.99

You can also buy her best friend, Princess Luciana for £12.74 and re-enact scenes from the DVD. She comes with her faithful feline and a musical harp, and even sings one of the songs from the film.

Or get Barbie/Island Princes Rosella’s love interest, the dashingly handsome Prince Antonio for just £7.49. He doesn’t sing.

Anyone who grew up in the 80’s will know the name Optimus Prime and all about the Transformers, ’Robots in Disguise’. Some of you may even have an original toy from the first time round.

Well, to celebrate 20 years of this popular character a new figure has been released. A fantastic Optimus Prime in all his glory that transforms into a big rig truck.

Transformers went from a low budget 80’s cartoon classic to the big screen this summer, reeling in a whole new generation of fans. The Transformers are 20 years old and a new toy has been designed to coincide with their anniversary. The most well-known Transformer is of course the Autobots leader, Optimus Prime.

Optimus is of course the goodie, fighting his way for survival and all things good against his mortal enemy, Megatron – leader of the Decepticons. Nobody roots for the baddie though – it’s the good guys all the way.

This spanking new version is a truck that is fully transformable to become the hero, Optimus. As a truck it looks just that, but the minute it is transformed it shows an impressive range of head, arm and hand movements and lights & sounds are produced when his chest button gets pressed.

Here’s a clip of it on display at the Toyko Toy Festival 2007

A great bit of kit worthy of any Transformers fan and a must for all Transformers collectors. Our old friends at Amazon seem to be doing this 20th anniversary figure the cheapest online.

Buy the Optimus Prime figure from Amazon for £39.99 of your earth pounds

On a budget?

How about this non convertible but still brilliant figure of Transformer Autobot leader Optimus Prime instead?

Buy for just £12.99 from Play.com

Discount Codes for Play.com

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This fantastic toy came high up on the Dream Toys of 2007 list and it’s easy to see why. Not only are these pups very cute, they will grow before your very eyes, learn your name and just want to make you happy. It is THE gadget for girls.

Kids are so techno-savvy these days that most new toys have to be electronic to become firm favourites, and this pup is no exception. A doggy robot with a plush covering that’ll have kiddies oohhing and aahhing over him (or her).

Each puppy comes with their own certificate, toy bone, brush and tape measure so you can watch how quickly they grow – yep, apparently puppy sized at first but over the course of a week he will grow, his body, legs, ears and tail grow in size before your very eyes. Now how did they do that? When he reaches full size he can be reset to go back to puppy size so you can go through the whole growing thing over again.

The puppy will come with software that lets you choose his name, your name and birthday, favourite places and more to make it a personalised doggie who will then learn to speak to you. Nothing can take the place of the real thing – but this toy certainly is a good runner up.

Girls will just love these interactive puppies. Parents will love them too as they don’t make a mess, don’t need feeding and no visits to the vet!

Buy the Retriever puppy for £37.94 from Amazon

They also do the Puppy Grows and Knows Your Name Poodle

This latest cute toy is just adorable in the shape of a pretty poodle. It is no wonder it made the top 12 of christmas gifts kids will want this year. It not only looks good and feels soft but will even grow up and learn who you are.

Techno-toys are part of everyday life for kids now and this electronic pup is set to become a favourite. A doggie robot with a plush covering that’ll have kiddies oohhhing and aahhing over her. This plush pup is the ultimate girly gadget and promotes plenty of interaction and is set on becoming a girl’s best friend.

This cute puppy, when given lots of attention, will grow over time to a big doggy, really – the body, legs, ears and tail actually grow in size. She will also learn how to speak your name, her name and play games via a CD-Rom and your computer. Once fully grown you can reset her to become a small pup and start all over again. Your new puppy will come home with its own toy bone, measuring tape wo you can see how quickly he grows, a grooming brush and a certificate.

Kids of all ages will get to have so much fun looking after their own pet. Mums and dads will think they are great too as they won’t need to be walked in the rain, won’t make the house smelly and no expensive vets bills.

I can’t see it being as much fun as the real thing but it’s certainly the next best thing.

Buy the poodle puppy from Amazon for £44.99

You can also get a Puppy Grows and Knows Your Name Golden Retriever puppy