DCT Stocking Stuffer Wish List 2016

Knowing what gifts to buy for those important people in our lives can sometimes seem a daunting proposition, like mission impossible. Our very own DCT writer, Sherri, thought a wish list for Christmas 2016 would make for not only an interesting post but could possibly give some of you ideas for your own “impossible” family and friends. ~ Richard

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Sherri’s Stocking

As Christmas gets closer, it is time to think of what to get for those that are important to you in your life. I make a lot of my gifts for friends and family, as there are so many people I want to give something to. I feel guilty buying things for myself but if I should stumble upon a gift card or some extra cash, these are things I would love to have if the opportunity presents itself.

If I found one of these things in my stocking, I would be a “Happy DCT Elf.” Some of these items may be great for that person in your life that you just aren’t sure what to get for them. I really look at practical gifts and things I would use rather than just want because it is a new gadget to brag about having.

Fitbit

I have been a Fitbit user since 2013 and love to challenge my friends to have a healthier lifestyle. My Fitbit is one of the first models that came out and is pretty scratched up. It is a FitBit One and has served me well thus far. I cannot tell you how many times it has been lost or fell out into the snow and still works. It is giving me signs, though, that its days are numbered.

There are plenty of companies offering fitness trackers, but my research and experience with FitBit customer service has been nothing but positive. I really like what the Fitbit Charge 2 Heart Rate + Fitness Wristband and hope that I am lucky enough to get one this year. The watchband is more secure than what I have now, and it tracks your sleep automatically. These are just a few of the features that drew me to it.

Cambridge SoundWorks

When I saw this: Cambridge SoundWorks OontZ Angle 3 Next Generation Ultra Portable Wireless Bluetooth Speaker, I knew it would make my Amazon wish list for sure. I am outdoors a lot training my four dogs, enjoying water sports, hiking, and just loving nature and knew  this would get a lot of use.

OontZ Angle Speaker

I would also probably grab OontZ Angle 3 Bluetooth Portable Speaker Carry Case, Neoprene Travel Bag with Aluminum Carabiner, OontZ Logo on side & reinforced zipper to protect my investment when not in use. This gift is perfect for anyone who is looking for a compact speaker with a long battery life that is water resistant as well as Bluetooth.

Amazon Dot

I have been watching the Amazon Echo and stumbled across the Amazon Dot. Based on my comparisons, the Echo is great, but I cannot justify spending the extra money for it. The All-New Echo Dot (2nd Generation) – Black is more affordable and in my price range, should I choose to acquire it myself. This is one of those things I have been watching since they first came out. One of DCT’s other writers, Judy Novotny, had purchased the Echo and I was intrigued when I saw that.

LED Dimmable Desk Lamp

Since my children have moved, my husband and I have each claimed bedrooms as a “man cave” and a “girl cave”. I can really use this TT-DL01 Dimmable LED Desk Lamp.

My girl cave has only one ceiling fan light in the room and it is not very bright. This desk lamp has a built-in USB port for charging eReaders, Tablets, and phones. It has four lighting modes and five levels of brightness.

Sherri

Richard’s Stocking

Logitech Mouse

“‘Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house
Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse…” ~ A Visit from St. Nicholas by Clement Clarke Moore

A few years ago, in spite of the silence, I found the perfect Computer Mouse. It’s the Logitech M500, which is not pictured to the left– close, but no cigar.

I need a mouse that I can pick up all the time without cramping my hand. The obvious contour on the left provides for that. I like having a couple thumb buttons to move forwards and backwards among Internet sites. I like a nice, well-made wheel that doubles as a middle button and offers horizontal scrolling with a tilt action. This one is made of metal and spins like a flywheel. With a click of a button, it can be set to notch, as well. I love it and want one badly.

My favorite part of this mouse is the design. I love the way it fits in my hand. Everyone has their individual tastes, but this one was made for me in Mouse Heaven.

I go through one of these every couple of years and would love to find one in my Christmas Stocking this year. Secretly, I’d like to find a whole box of them under the tree, just in case Logitech chooses to stop making them someday. Horror of horrors!

Since I am sure you all want to make my Christmas special, here is a link to the site where you can find that particular Logitech M500 Mouse silently nestling in my Wish List where the cat can’t find it.

Richard

Jim’s Stocking

I’ve been asked to nominate what I would like most for Xmas. Would one of these fit in a Christmas stocking?

Hmm, I guess not. Mind you, I could always get a bigger stocking. Okay, enough of this wishful thinking and on to a more realistic goal.

Did you ever see a gadget in action and think to yourself… “Gee, I’d love to have a go with one of those“? That’s how I am with quadcopters. I’ve never flown one but I just have this itch to grab the controls and fly that sucker. Now, one can pay BIG money for a top of the range quadcopter but a little research will soon uncover a quite good selection of far less expensive models – you know, the type that are just for fun.

The quadcopter pictured above has a flying time of only 5-8 minutes and a maximum control distance of 50 meters, but hey, I don’t want to fly the thing to the moon, just a quick spin around the back yard will do fine. It’s actually a pretty decent little quadcopter for the money (around $52.00us) – you can check out more details here: Syma X5c Explorers 2.4g 4ch Rc Quadcopter with Hd Camera 360 Eversion Gyro

C’mon Santa, how about a bit of Xmas fun for the old geezer!

Jim

Well, that’s our little Stocking Stuffer Wish List for 2016.

The Sane, The Bad, and The Alpha

You can see by the above entries that our tastes vary wildly.

I, the self-proclaimed, most-sane of the lot, only wish for a simple mouse to keep me company. The woman, very bad, wants a bunch of stuff. And, of course, there is the greedy Alpha Male who only wants one, very expensive gift that couldn’t possibly fit in a stocking– not even an Australian-sized stocking (they are quite large). He seems somehow to have missed the gist, but has since recovered quite nicely.

All joking aside, we hope this list inspired you and sparked some helpful gift ideas for that favorite person in your life. ~ Richard

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