I love wearing perfume but dislike the fact that after a while, I get completely used to the smell and don’t smell much of it at all. Once I bought a perfume sampler at the Duty Free shop in Paris (yes, that does sound as fabulous of a trip as it was, if you must ask) and found that I loved being able to change between different scents often. Call it perfume un-commitment.

$75 at Sephora.com

Save you will, young Jedi.

Have a Star Wars crazy member of your household? It’s hard to go wrong with all three Star Wars Prequel films on DVD for just $21.49 from Amazon. Shipping is free with Amazon Prime or on orders of $25+, and it’s over half off.

The icing on the cake? You can also choose a select magazine subscription for just $1 with purchase.

I’d say the Force is with this one.

My daughter is five and a half and lately it’s been really fun to cook together. Here’s a great cookbook if you want to get your kids involved.

$21.45 at Amazon.com

My newest wow-this-really-works gadget is the BottleTop — it snaps on to the top of a standard-size soda or juice can, effectively turning it into a resealable bottle. And it really does work; I had plenty of opportunities to test it out recently, during a weekend-long family party, and not only did it contain spills, it kept half-consumed cans of soda fizzy for ages. The washable and reusable tops come in different colors, making it easy to keep track of whose drink was whose; to remove, just crush the can a little bit and the top pops right off.

$10 for a set of 12 at Walgreens stores and online at BuyBottleTop.com.

Still looking for a great last-minute gift? Run out to your nearest bookstore and pick up a copy of Mary Ostyn’s “Family Feasts for $75 a Week.” Slip it into a pretty bag along with the ingredients for one of her many delicious recipes, and you have a gift that any busy working mom would be glad to receive! An author, blogger, and mother of 10, Ostyn really knows how to manage her food budget without sacrificing her palate. Her newest book offers wise advice and tempting recipes that amply feed a family of four for less.

$17.95 at Amazon.com.

Whenever my daughter finds a toy that she absolutely loves and keeps her interest and attention for more than a few hours, I have to share it here. Today we got 10 inches of snow and were stuck inside all day. All she wanted to do was play with this awesome sticky mosaic kit she recently got as a Hanukkah gift. There are many kinds and I am fairly certain we’ll be going through them all. If you have a 5+ year old, check them out.

$16.95 at Amazon.com

It only happens twice a year, and it’s happening right now: The twice-yearly Big Sale at Hanna Andersson with price reductions of up to 60% off!

If you’ve never owned Hannas before, run to this sale. I don’t know what they put into Swedish cotton (maybe Plutonium?), but these clothes wear like iron, lasting through wash after wash and even sibling after sibling. The fact that everything they make is so stinkin’ cute is just a bonus.

(And their grown-up clothing is pretty nice, too. Just in case you deserve a little somethin’ while you’re in there shopping for the kids….)

Happy holidays!

I really hate winter. But one bright spot is being able to wear sweaters, one of my favorite pieces of clothing. This is a great basic with just enough extra detail to keep it un-boring.

$59.50 at BananaRepublic.com

This gadget is geared for kids, but it’s become essential for the adults at my house, too. If you hate waking your toddler to take his temperature — or if you’re not quite sure what to do with that traditional thermometer — the Thermofocus is for you. Infrared technology measures the temperature of your child’s forehead nearly instantly (readings take about a second). And it’s a multitasker: You can also use it to take the temperature of your baby’s bottle, your toddler’s food, the bath water, or even the ambient temperature of the room.

$69.99 at Kidzmed.com.

Signed, limited edition prints make a great gift for your fashion-forward friends. Boston-area clothing designer Albert Morissette’s artwork showcases brilliant designs and elegant details. His signed prints are limited editions, and the offerings change frequently; for more information, or to request a specific print, email him at AlbertMorissette@gmail.com.  

Prices start at $15 at Albert Morissette.

For more ideas on what to get your best friend this holiday season, check out our slideshow: The Best Holiday Gifts for Your Best Girlfriend!