Sneak Peek: Gift ideas for Christmas 2009

Customers browse Peach Blossom during their Christmas open house. [Click to enlarge]

With Christmas only about a month and a half away, here are some sneak peaks at few gift ideas around town. With the current economy store owners say they anticipate people will be buying more useful items and looking for great bargains. Gift cards continue to be big at local retail and discount stores.

- The Sugar Bowl: One of this season's hottest items for kids are Frog EcoAquariums. Each mini aquarium contains two male African Dwarf Frogs. Molly Wilson says the frogs have already been selling like hotcakes. The frogs only need to be fed twice a week and included in the kit is a year's supply of food. Their water only needs to be changed a couple times a year and replaced with spring water.

Wilson say the frogs won't need a bigger aquarium because they don't grow any bigger. "It's really a science lesson for kids too - learn about the ecosystem," she says. "They're great for kids, classrooms, dorm rooms," she says. "Great for all ages."

Other popular items for kids include recordable story books. Record your voice reading the book - a great keepsake for your children says Kohler. Or send them to grandparents or service men and women overseas.

Leg warmers are back in and popular this year and come in a variety of colors and styles. Fashion scarves, wool bomber hats and mittens are big this year and practical, says Mike Kohler. In the store's fashion department Miche Bags are a popular item - it's a purse with interchangeable shells. Buy the base and then come back and purchase shells in different colors and styles. "Buy shells for it and you have a whole 'nother purse. You don't have to take everything out of your purse, just change your shell," he says.

In the book section is "Girl's Can," it features the stories of women including Sandra Day O'Connor and Sally Ride and inspires girls that they can do anything. "It's very empowering for girls," Wilson says.

Iowa Hawkeyes and Iowa State Cyclones baby and children's clothing are also available at The Sugar Bowl including items like sweat suits, onesies and hats.

The kitchen section features some neat gadgets like onion savers. "People come up with five of these," she says. The savers are good for keeping the odor of onions from spoiling other food in fhe fridge. Baker's Sto-N-Gos are also handy for bakers in your lives, she says. they are made in the U.S. by a small company and have BPA free plastic. They are handy for carrying baked goods in and can also be used for serving with adjustable shelves once you reach your destination.

- Zone Home Entertainment: Blu Ray players are the big item at Zone Home Entertainment. "They've really dropped in price," says Jeff Bowles. He says they provide the best picture and will play DVDs as well. Some of the systems have built in sound systems. 'TVs are always a good present - for the whole family," he says. TVs range in size from 19 inches to 73 inches, however, you can also find 82 inch screens as well, he says. The store also sells a variety of surround sound or custom designed systems to fit your needs. The store also carries cell phones, Bowles says they have a number of great promos available for Christmas including pre-pay and two year contracts. The store offers free delivery and hookup for in town customers.

- Binning Outdoors: For the fisherman or hunter in your life check out Binning Outdoors which features archery equipment, optics, ammunition, fishing gear and some outdoor clothing. Owner Chip Binning says popular items include Under Armor extreme cold weather outdoor clothing gear. Another popular item are Townsend Fish Skinners - make the process of skinnng fish a little easier.

-Peach Blossom: Peach Blossum staffers Faye Peterson and Kristie Tollefson say they have a number of items to decorate your home this holiday season that are budget friendly. They say many locals may want to look at winter arrangements instead of Christmas arrangements - winter arrangements are just as nice and can be left out up longer, they say. Silver bell swags are inexpensive and can add a nice touch to a Christmas tree or wreath. "And they just sound like the season," says Tollefson. Deer decorations are also popular and come a variety of styles. Staff say the look this year is woodsy, natural and simple featuring items like pine cones which are easy to decorate with. The Peach Blossum gals say they sell the pine cones in a variety of sizes for the tree or they can be placed in a bowl or vase. Last weekend was the holiday open houses for retailers. Retailers were thankful for the warm weather. "We had a great turnout, people were buying," Peterson says.

-Hoffmans: Helen Bosley says snowmen are always a popular item because they can be also be kept up longer. The store also features beaufitul crystal nativities and ornaments. Some that that light up. The store also offers a collection of decorative plates and plate racks. Plates are sold year round and with plate racks, customers can change plates around to match the seasons says Bosley. There are nativity scenes in all sizes at Hoffman's. Bosley recommends a nativity scene gift as being a good first gift to give newlyweds.

Battery lit scented candles are also attractive and fun to use says Bosley. "You don't have to worry about blowing them out," she says. They can be placed in a high spot in a location and many are controlled by a remote control. The store also sells hangers for hanging outdoor decorations, they're good because you can change decorations to match the season says Bosley. Hoffmans also carries a wide assortment of decorations for Thanksgiving including pilgrims, horns of plenty and floral arrangements. They offer free gift wrap and there is a delivery service locally and to area towns and belong to FTD. "We'd like to thank them for attending our local house. Stop in anytime," says Bosley.

-Ace Hardware: Manager Dan Booth says he anticipates shoppers will be buying more of the practical items this year but says he's hopeful they'll buy some of the fun 'toys,' like grills too. He says with tighter budgets they've seen some decline in the purchase of these types of items. "I think they're going to be looking for bargains," he says. The combination tool sets are always popular this time of year. He says there are plenty of tools and items necessary for home improvement also.