Vosges chocolate was at the forefront of the ongoing (and wonderful) bacon renaissance, and they continue to innovate. This year, there’s   bacon chocolate chip mix ($12), bacon caramel toffee (also $12), a flying chocolate pig ($8), and a $62 gift set. Original Mo’s Bacon Bars, in milk and dark chocolate, are $7.50. Mini bars are available for $2.50. Mix and match 6 bars for $12.50. Stack ‘em, wrap ‘em in a ribbon, and give them to your                                                                         foodie friend. Sweet.

2. Desert Inspirations Ponytail Palm Bonsai Tree ($49.99, FTD.com)
A tiny little tree. Unfortunately, no tiny little coconuts. This is either a really good idea or a terrible, terrible idea. I’m going to go with “entertaining conversation piece.” It’s just this feeling I have.

3. Zingerman’s Superior Scone Sample ($35, Zingerman’s)
Six scones (two each of three different flavors), plus little jars of preserves and honey. ‘Cause, you know, there’s no place like scone.

4. The Deep: The Extraordinary Creatures of the Abyss ($29.70, Amazon)
Coffee-table book filled with stunning photos of creatures living six miles below the ocean’s surface. Or, you could buy them a really fancy submarine.

5. A personalized photo book from Snapfish
You pick the prints and the layout, add captions, and Snapfish will deliver a professional-looking book starring your parents’ loved ones. (Hopefully, one of them is you.) Starting at $4.99 with abounding options: a leather-covered 12×12 book, for example, starts at $49.99

Be sure to check out the rest of our Gift Lists.

Dear Present Professor,
We have a tradition in our family that we give to charity as a “main” gift, then we exchange small gifts for fun on Christmas Day. In the past we’ve done ornaments, socks, magazines… we’re looking for a new idea this year. Any suggestions?

Thanks!
Casey

First, Casey, Kudos to you and your family for your generosity!

This year, why not let out your inner children for some play time? Classic toys are inexpensive and take you back to a simpler time. Besides, is there an adult equivalence to the sheer awesome, stress-relieving smooshiness of a handful of Play-Doh? To the sense of accomplishment in creating the perfect Etch-A-Sketch work of art? Remember how much fun it was to stick arms and legs and lips and eyes in a Mr. Potato Head and watch a brown glob of plastic come to life? How about a coloring book and a fresh new box of Crayola crayons? Or building your very own mini-LEGO castle? Or taking some Hot Wheels for a spin?

Well, you get the idea. Toys are fun no matter what your age, and there’s great joy to be had in playing with the classics. Just remember, it’s best to share.

1. Xbox 360 Cooling Station ($29.99)
For avid gamers who never give their system a break, this cooling station will keep your console properly ventilated. And it glows a really cool green color.

2. Rock Throne Drum Stool ($29.99)
For the Rock Band or Guitar Hero superstar in your life, this drum stool will keep them jamming in comfort. Also consider the Rock Band Drum Silencers ($19.99) because that tap-tap-tapping can get kinda annoying.

3. Boompod Audio Chair (on sale now at Target for $35.00)
This gaming chair has a “rounded bottom for multi-directional tilt” and ports to plug in your gaming system and/or iPod / mp3 player / CD player. It’s kinda like sitting on an exercise ball – work on your balance and your abs while you game!

4. If you have a female gamer on your gift list, head over to Jinx for a large selection of gaming-themed T-shirts. There’s also a great selection of T’s for men, as well as keychains, stickers, hats, and even, um, panties.

5. Etsy also has a number of gamer-themed gifts. Check out some of these stocking-stuffers:

• For the old-timer, Space Invaders Fridge Magnets ($9.99)
• Playstation 3 Controller Tree Ornament ($25.00)
• Xbox 360 Necklace ($15.00)

Of course, you can always just get a game for your gamer. And we’ve got two to give away! Two lucky commenters will win Spectrobes: Beyond the Portals for Nintendo DS. Just leave a comment below. If you want 2 extra entries, subscribe to our RSS feed – and be sure to let us know in your comment that you subscribed!

This contest is now closed.

Be sure to check out the rest of our Gift Lists.

No, you don’t remember? Well, maybe you know someone who does. And that someone would probably enjoy the Holiday Treats DVD ($9.99), featuring classic Christmas episodes of I Love Lucy, The Honeymooners, Brady Bunch, Family Ties, Taxi, and more.

Sadly, “A Very Alf Christmas” is not included. In fact, I’m not sure that Alf ever had a Christmas episode. Dang, I miss Alf.

The coffee brews directly into a travel mug, perfect for those 8:30 classes. Add a pound of coffee to sweeten the deal.

By the way, hearing the term “Brew and Go” totally makes me think of The Sound of Music. You know, in Edelweiss, when Captain Von Trapp sings, “Blossom of snow, may you brew and go? Brew and go forever.” Oh, wait. That was “bloom and grow.” Live and learn. And do click on that Sound of Music link to watch a YouTube video of John Denver and Julie Andrews in a rare duet.

2. iPod Shuffle, $50

Yes, they may already have a bigger, prettier iPod. But these lil’ guys are great for working out and traveling.

3. Darts! Calendar 2009, $10.19

With magnetic darts and 12 different boards (one for each month, see?).

4. The Best American Nonrequired Reading 2008 , $11.20

Collection of news stories, fiction, police blotters, and more hidden gems of writing.

5. Pail of 6 Christmas chocolate-covered fortune cookies, $12.50

Non-Christmas options also available.

Choose from shave kit (shave creme, face wash, and lotion + mini body kit and travel bag, in Signature Mint scent) or body kit (body wash, cleansing body bar, and lotion + mini shave kit and travel bag, in Cedarwood scent), $10 at Every Man Jack. Available for a limited time in Target stores.

2. Star Trek Interactive Tribble, $19.99

3. Santa Dreidel, $4.95

4. Chumps Mini Series Art Toys, $7.95

5. Zombie Haiku book by Ryan Mecum, $9.99 (No, really. It’s an entire zombie story told in Haiku form.)

Then, many of us sort of gave up the paper thing and started doing all of our reading on what 15 years ago was called the information superhighway, until everyone decided that sounded too lame for the new millennium.

But then, we became so addicted to our favorite Web sites, that books were written based on those Web sites, lest we ever face a computer uprising against humanity and can no longer access our precious LOLcats. And we were sort of right back where we started, only now we, like Hannah Montana, have the best of both worlds.

Speaking of LOLcats, those of you who are unfamiliar with these captioned cat photos should scuttle on over to ICanHasCheezburger.com for a dose of of fun. Seriously, who would have thought that obnoxious cats with bad spelling and an insatiable appetite for cheeseburgers could be so adorable? And yet, these LOLcats have morphed into a cultural phenomenon on the level with Pacman Fever and that McDonald’s commercial where the kid has to get through her piano recital or her oppressive parents won’t take her for a cheeseburger. . . why does it always come back to cheeseburgers?

Now in book form: I Can Has Cheezburger?: A LOLcat Colleckshun (Lolcat Colleckshun). Available at Amazon.com ($8, free shipping eligible) and book stores everywhere.