Okay, we know what most teens really want is probably a new iPhone or one of those nifty hoverboard thingys which everybody seems to be riding these days…but you probably don’t have that kind of cheddar in your bank account to afford to buy them for your besties, right?
With that in mind, check out our Holiday Gift Guide for some cool gadgets, books, DVDs, and other cool products you can get for your friends (or request for yourself) which won’t break the bank…and if you enter our giveaway, you might just get an early Christmas box sent to your door with a whole bunch of these items in it!
Altec Lansing Mini H2O Waterproof Bluetooth Speaker
We have been playing with a review sample of the Altec Lansing Mini H2O for a couple of months now, and we have to say it is one of our favorite little gadgets. In fact, there is a bit of competition as to who gets to use it around here, because it is in demand.
The Mini H2O is a tiny Bluetooth “everything-proof” speaker with big sound for such a small device. It is water-proof (it even floats!) and shock proof (yes we have dropped it and it is fine) and has a pretty long battery life of up to 6 hours.
It features a carabineer clip so you can hang it from your bag or a belt loop, and is covered in a soft rubber shell which provides shock and water protection. As far as sound quality, it is very good for a tiny device. Don’t expect too much bass from the tiny speakers, but it is definitely loud enough to use in your backyard or at casual get-togethers with your friends. We have had zero issues connecting the speaker to our phones via Bluetooth.
Other features: a microphone for speakerphone capabilities, aux-in jack, USB charging cable included. The one thing we don’t like is this crazy loud voice which practically SHOUTS TO THE WORLD when you charge the device, pair it with a phone via Bluetooth, or turn the power on or off. If we could shut up the robo-voice, we would love this device even more.
But apart from that…highly recommended for the price (under $50)!
Redbubble
Redbubble and their collection of personalized accessories and apparel make for cool holiday gifts because they are one of a kind. Above we show the hoodie and tote bag, each with one of 14 million unique designs available to choose from on products such as mugs, phone cases, throw pillows, pouches, t-shirts, and leggings.
Another great thing for teens is that you can upload your own designs to Redbubble to create you own fashion look…and if others buy products using your work you earn a commission!
eos Lip Balm
eos is the evolution of smooth. Lip balm that is 100% natural, 95% organic and made with shea butter and jojoba oil for happy, moist, super-smooth lips. eos Lip Balm in pomegranate raspberry is paraben, petrolatum, and gluten free. The best part: they make for extremely affordable little stocking stuffers!
New this year: eos Body Lotion Sets – The new eoscollections are equipped with the eosBody Lotion, eos Visibly Soft Lip Balm Smooth Sphere (rich with Hyaluronic Acid), and the eos Everyday Hand Lotion. $7.99 at Target, CVS, Walgreens, Ulta, Drugstore.com,evolutionofsmooth.com
Dakota Watch Ladies Leather Cord
Minimalism is a trend that is growing in popularity. Clean simplistic designs and accents add a crisp finish to finish to any outfit. Dakota Watches offers trendy time piece accessories which are high style at an affordable price. The Ladies Leather Cord ($49.95) by Dakota Watches has dual genuine leather cords encircling the side of the case for an interesting minimalistic fashion look.
Dakota Watch Company resembles high-end pieces at an affordable price point, offering exceptional guarantee, first battery free, and expert service. The services are hands on and personalized, offering customers a live person instead of an automated system.
P.R.E.P. Cosmetics
P.R.E.P. Cosmetics is the first dermatologist founded, tested and recommended skincare line created for girls.
According to the company, “When it comes to great skin, we have learned that it is best to start young and have an effective skincare routine to help treat, protect and prevent common issues with our skin.”
P.R.E.P. Cosmetics encourages young girls to take ownership of their skin and begin their journey to wellness with a Purifying Daily Cleanser, SPF 30 Face + Body Lotion and SPF 15 Lip Gloss.
THE CAROL BURNETT SHOW: THE LOST EPISODES Collector’s Edition 6 Disc DVD Set
Most teens have likely never seen the iconic The Carol Burnett Show, a comedy variety show which helped define the golden age of television. Well, Time Life is making it easy for you to get an introduction with their recently released collector’s edition featuring 16 UNCUT and long-lost episodes from the show’s first five years (1967-1972), hand-picked by Carol herself!
The six-disc set also features over 5 hours of bonus footage, including:
- A backstage tour of CBS Studio 33 where the show was originally taped
- 13 exclusive new interviews with stars of yesteryear and today, with Alan Alda, Julie Andrews, Vikki Carr, Carol Channing, Bill Hader, Jack Jones, Jim Nabors, Queen Latifah, Gloria Loring, Don Rickles, Lesley Ann Warren and more!
- Never-Before-Seen Bloopers & Outtakes
- Newly produced featurettes
- Bonus sketches including “Morton at the Movies” and the all-time classic “The Dentist”
- The opening number from the historic Julie and Carol at Lincoln CenterTV special with a new introduction by Carol
“Across 16 magical episodes – true treasures from the vault, not seen since their original airing more than forty years ago – consumers will see the very first steps of a TV icon, the magic of Carol’s cast coming together, and an incredible array of guest stars including Carol’s hero, Lucille Ball, along with Carol Channing, Bing Crosby, Phyllis Diller, Steve Lawrence, Bob Newhart, Don Rickles, Chita Rivera, Burt Reynolds, Flip Wilson and many, many more.”
“For Carol’s biggest fans, Time Life has released two exclusive configurations, currently available online at LostCarolEpisodes.com or by calling 1-800-950-7887. THE LOST EPISODES ULTIMATE COLLECTION, priced at $200, includes 22 DVDs, over 20 hours of specially-created bonus programming, a collectible guest book and more. THE VIP EDITION (priced at $400), will feature everything in the ULTIMATE COLLECTION, plus Carol will hand-sign a personalized greeting on the cover of the guest book. Each VIP EDITION will be numbered and arrive with a Certificate of Authenticity. The bonus features include everything from the 6-disc set, as well as the addition of five featurettes, including: “The Making of a Mackie,” “The Golden Age of the Variety Show,” “Messages to Carol” “Expecting the Unexpected” and “The Song and Dance”; more interviews with stars of yesteryear and today including Tony Bennett, Pat Boone, Steve Carell, Kristin Chenoweth, Tina Fey, Shirley Jones, Burt Reynolds and more; and rare TV specials: Once Upon a Mattress starring Carol, Ken Berry and Bernadette Peters and Carol+2 featuring Lucille Ball and Zero Mostel. Both ultimate sets are housed in a deluxe collector’s box, and feature a glossy 40-page collectible Guest Book that contains autographs from guests, fans and friends, archival production photos and notes from Carol.”
“THE CAROL BURNETT SHOW debuted on CBS in 1967 and ran for 11 years, receiving 25 Emmy Awards and eight Golden Globes, making it one of the most honored shows in television history. TIME Magazine named THE CAROL BURNETT SHOW one of the “100 Best Television Shows of all Time” and Carol Burnett has been honored with more People’s Choice Awards than any other actress.”
Shelby DVD
Okay this movie is definitely for your little brother and sister…unless you like lots of poop/flatulence jokes yourself. There are a few lines that older teens and even adults might enjoy thanks to what we can only imagine as Chevy Chase sneaking in some zingers (including a reference to the infamous Aristocrats joke in a family film…wow he got away with it).
Anyway here is the official synopsis:
“In this heart-warming family tale, rescue dog Shelby manages to escape the dog pound on Christmas Eve and runs straight into the arms of little Jake (John Paul Ruttan, Robocop) and the two are immediately inseparable. The only thing standing between them and a perfect Christmas is the notorious local dogcatcher – he has Shelby in his sights and he’s not going to stop until he finds him. SHELBY stars the legendary comedian Chevy Chase (Vacation franchise, “Community”), Tom Arnold (Underdog Kids, Chilly Christmas), Addison Holley (“Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood,“ “Little Charmers”) and Rob Schneider (Deuce Bigalow franchise, Grown Ups) as the voice of Shelby. Directed by Brian K. Roberts (En Vogue Christmas), written by Jeremy Wadzinski, developed and financed by The Fyzz Facility Limited, SHELBY is a Dove®-family-approved movie for all ages.”
If you prefer to stream movies, it is also available On-Demand.
Keep Calm and Color On Personalized Coloring Book
A recent trend catching on with teens is adult coloring books. Intended as a relaxation and creativity tool, adult coloring involves more intricate designs than the kindergarten stuff which help get you “in the zone.”
We received a copy of Keep Calm and Color On, the first-ever personalized adult coloring book by illustrator Katie Martin, and we love it. We got to put our name on the cover as well as an inside page, as well as customize the dedication. In addition to more than 60 intricate patterns, the pages feature inspirational quotes to uplift you as you color.
It is available from Put Me In The Story, “the #1 personalized books site in the U.S.”
When you are done, you can share your colorful creations on social media with #KeepCalmAndColorOn
BloodSTOP
You might think this is a weird holiday gift suggestion, but this stuff is amazing for anyone who does sports or otherwise is at risk for getting cut.
BloodSTOP is an innovative, life-saving product that every family should have in their first-aid kit. It stops bleeding, prevents blood loss, and seals even serious wounds better than any other in existence, according to the manufacturer.
“Having BloodSTOP on hand not only keeps teens moving, but it also gives parents peace of mind.Initially developed for use by surgeons in the operating room, BloodSTOP is proven tostop bleeding faster and promote healing far better than traditional bandages and other blood coagulating products. BloodSTOP’s effectiveness, efficiency, and simplicity has made it the go-to product for many emergency workers, medics, firefighters, police forces, and parents alike. It is a groundbreaking product with a multitude of applications and the ability to actually save lives. BloodSTOP is a new must-have addition to every family’s first-aid kit and is available at major drug stores nationwide (e.g., CVS, Walgreens, Rite Aid, Walmart, Amazon, and more).”
Ascenders Novel
ASCENDERS is about a group of teens who find themselves in a sort of in-between life world after they meet unfortunate ends, which is not very different from the normal world they just departed from — besides the fact that they can do whatever they want since they cannot die again!
Here is the official synopsis:
Is this Hell or is this High School?
Walker Callaghan doesn’t know what happened to her. One minute she was living her teenage life in suburban Chicago…and the next minute, she was in a strange place and in a brand new school with absolutely no homework, no rules, and no consequences.
Walker Callaghan, 17, is dead.
She doesn’t go to heaven or hell. She lands at The Academy, a middle realm where teenagers have one thing in common: They were the morning announcement at their high schools because they died young.
These high school kids are now caught in a strange “in-between” zone where life hasn’t changed very much. In fact, this special teen limbo looks a lot like life in a quaint Michigan town complete with jocks, popular girls and cliques. “There are even cheerleaders in death,” Walker observes. It’s not a coincidence that the music teacher is a guy named Kurt who “used to have this band.” The drama teacher, Heath, is crush worthy because back in his life, he starred in some superhero movie.
Principal King explains the rules — there are none. Why? You can’t die twice.
There is no homework.
No tests.
No SATS.
You’re just there to learn because the human brain isn’t fully formed until you’re 24.
By the way, you can’t get hurt physically, so race your Harley off that hillside. But falling in love is the most dangerous thing you can do …because no one knows how long you’ll stay in this realm or what’s next.
“Losing someone you love would be like dying twice,” Walker says
Carmex
Generations have relied on the Carmex original lip balm formula.
- Soothes dry, chapped lips
- Creates a long-lasting water barrier with petrolatum, which acts like a bandage so healing can take place
- Contains lanolin, which mimics the way your skin naturally retains moisture
- Provides cooling pain relief with camphor and menthol
In addition to the iconic little yellow jar, Carmex also comes in tubes and sticks, in such flavors as strawberry, pomegranate, cherry and more.
For those of you who prefer minty stuff on your lips rather than fruity stuff, the company has recently launched NEW Limited-Edition Carmex® Winter Mint Lip Balm Click Sticks. Rolling out now and available until supplies last, the new seasonal flavor combines the invigorating freshness of winter with a kiss of mint and comes in convenient click sticks that glide on lips easily.
Intelligent Disobedience: Doing Right When What You’re Told To Do Is Wrong
Children are back in school. Of course, parents want them to do well, learn a lot and not get in trouble. But, do they teach them how to question orders that violate safety, legality or common decency? Author and ‘followership’ expert, Ira Chaleff, has extensively studied the topic of Intelligent Disobedience – knowing when and how to not obey a rule or order if obeying would produce a harmful result. During his research, Chaleff realized that guide dogs for the blind must recognize and resist a command that would put their human partners and themselves at risk and identify safer options for achieving the goal. If we can train dogs to distinguish between appropriate obedience and disobedience, we absolutely can and need to do so with humans. And the lessons need to start at home and in school with our children.
Life’s Essential Primer
Unwittingly making certain choices from an early age, Robert C. Trautman forged a path from meager means to accomplished gymnast, competitive figure skater, licensed helicopter pilot, professional photographer, electronics engineer, and parent.
Trautman’s new memoir-infused self-help book “Life’s Essential Primer” outlines the principles and life philosophies he has derived from his own amusing, real-life adventures. In doing so, he provides teens with the framework to efficiently prepare their educational paths to become successful adults, while avoiding the common pitfalls along the way.
Buzz Kill
For many seniors, the time leading up to college graduation and the start of a first job is often chaotic and stressful.
Having worked for more than 20 years in corporate America, author William Goodspeed understands how important it is for recent grads to become skilled at distinguishing the difference between a complimentary chuckle and a sincere cackle. His new book, “BuzzKill,” takes an alternative look at the comical situations found in workplace culture and offers insight on how to effectively use humor in leadership roles.
THE BRAIN: An Illustrated History of Neuroscience
The study of the brain has spawned many disciplines: neuroscientists have unpicked the chemical processes that power nerve signals and build memories; psychologists explore the link between our thoughts and physical activity of the brain; even philosophers have got involved as they question whether human consciousness is actually capable of being tested by science.
THE BRAIN: An Illustrated History of Neuroscience (Shelter Harbor Press, Nov 2015) is the sixth book in the successful Ponderables™ series [Over 250,000 copies sold of the first five titles.] THE BRAIN is written in 100 chronological milestones telling the story of neuroscience from the dawn of history to the present.
Such milestones include:
- Avicenna proposes that the brain works in three sections, where information from the senses were first merged into a “common sense” at the front of the brain. This went on to be evaluated in the central area, and then the rear brain was used to control the required responses.
- Paul Broca studies the brain of a patient who can say little more than the sound “tan,” and in so doing reveals the speech center in the frontal lobe. He thus provides the first evidence that the brain’s functions are linked to different regions.
- Robert Louis Stevenson writes Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, which highlights a growing unease at the brain’s true power over the body and mind.
- Eric Kandel pinpoints the chemical reactions that are involved in forming memories, and for the first time is able to link the ideas and knowledge of the mental health world to the cells and anatomy of the physical brain.
THE BRAIN is an authoritative reference book and timeline that examines the three pounds of matter inside our heads. With 100 billion nerve cells joined by thousands more to every corner of the body, the brain is wired together with 100 trillion connections. That makes each and every human brain a contender for the most complex system in the universe, endowing us with an intellect that far outstrips any other creature. However one difficult question remains: Are we intelligent enough to understand our own brains?
THE BRAIN includes a 24-page removable fold-out concertina neatly housed at the back of the book: a 12-page Timeline History of The Brain on one-side and 12 pages of Optical Illusions that demonstrate how our view of the world come entirely from the brain—which can sometimes be fooled—on the other side.
GIVEAWAY!!!
We are giving away everything you see in the above pic, which includes:
- Redbubble Hooded Sweatshirt
- Dakota Ladies Watch
- P.R.E.P Cosmetics Collection
- The Carol Burnett Show Coolector’s Edition 6 DVD Set
- eos Lip Balm
- Carmex Lip Care Collection
- Shelby DVD
- Ascenders Novel
- Ascenders T-Shirt (L)
- Intelligent Disobedience Book
- Buzz Kill Book
- Life’s Essential Primer
- THE BRAIN: An Illustrated History of Neuroscience
The retail price for this giveaway is estimated at well over $300!
HOW TO ENTER:
1. Follow @teenswannaknow on Instagram
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3. Like our Facebook page at http://facebook.com/teenswannaknow
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5. Join our VIP Mailing List at http://teenswannaknow.com (upper right has the sign up box)
Send us a message via any of our social media channels or info@teenswannaknow.com once you are done with steps 1-5, and we will verify. We will pick ONE random winner who will get all of the above! Winner will be picked at random on November 20th at 11:59 p.m. and announced the following day. Winner must reside in the lower 48 United States. Winner has 72 hours to respond to our message/email and provide mailing address or we will pick alternate winner.