From Teddy Bears to Technology, The Top 50 Christmas Toys For The Past 100 Years

If a child of 1910 could glance at today’s toys, he or she would likely be confused by the endless games consoles, gadgets and TV-inspired toys. Back in the early twentieth century, the teddy bear was the most popular toy, followed by train sets and construction-themed toys. There was not an electronic device in sight!

However, you can see definite themes running through the popular toys of the past 100 years. For example, although the construction-based toys faded from fashion for a while, in the 1980s Lego became a must-have toy. And the board game shot to the top of wish-lists in the 1930s and 1940s, and experienced another surge in the 1970s – and even today, although replaced in many homes by the computer game, board games are still wheeled out when the family gets together for the festive season!

Dolls continue to be popular too, with the Bratz Dolls of 2000 following the success of the first Barbie in the 1950s. Similarly, boys still have action figures on their Christmas lists, perhaps changed in name from GI Joe to Power Rangers but fundamentally the same.

The computer marks the big change, though. From the first video game in the 1970s to nowadays, games consoles have soared in popularity. This Christmas, a console or handheld device is sure to be on most children’s wish-list.

source: cashgenerator

Pets Rock. Takkoda's Cast of Characters and New Calendars for 2013.

The word "Takkoda" is derived from the Sioux word meaning ‘friend to all’. The company with the same name was created because of their love of animals and because they see pets as big personalities.

Takkoda is all about funny images of our favorite friends. They photograph real pets in their homes and capture their natural expressions in their natural state! Later they develop their characters by dressing them up digitally to bring out their iconic personalities. They don't dress them up for real silly!

For 2013, they've got both a PETS ROCK wall calendar and desk calendar available:

The 2013 PETS ROCK Wall Calendar:







The 2013 PETS ROCK Desk Calendar:






Here's their entire cast of characters, available on mugs, coasters, cards, homewares, clothing and more:






Shop for these and many other items here.

Limited Edition Swarovski Embellished Bond No. 9 Fragrances

Perfume and fragrances always make nice gifts. These limited edition versions of some of the best-selling scents from Bond No. 9 make great gifts. With a price range spanning $350 to $7500, the following limited edition Bond No 9 bottled scents are embellished with Swarovski crystals and elements that will make anyone's eyes sparkle.


New York Musk Emerald Swarovski Shooting Star

For all those collectors and connoisseurs who fell in love with last year’s exquisite, richly textured clear-diamond superstar bottle studded with crystals, the good news is: we’ve done it again—only this time with a network of emerald stars. The scent? Our brand new New York Musk. Consider this bottle just the second in our growing Shooting Stars series
Notes of: grapefruit, black currant, osmanthus flower, green lilies, nutmeg, musk, patchouli, sandalwood and vetiver
100ml — $1,000.00

The Fantasy-Stone Fountain of Peace

This year’s official, unabashed extravaganza gift is our now-perennial 42-ounce spigoted amphora vitrine, filled with the Scent of Peace, its gracefully curvaceous exterior glistening everywhere with a new Swarovski crystal design: a profusion of stones in varying sizes and shapes, carefully pieced together onto a surface as intricate and tactile as an incandescent moon-glow tapestry. True, perfume containers have always had an element of fantasy. But this one is ultimo in every way.
42oz — $7,500.00

The Swarovski Crystallized Amphora

Their outsized 42 oz amphora vitrine, breathtakingly covered with 16,500 hand-applied platinum Swarovski stones. Not to forget the bottle top—an elliptical mirror with honeycomb base. And while they were at it, they added the Bond No. 9 signature and a handy golden spigot. Contents? Your choice among our Bond No. 9 eau de parfum (exclusions apply). This bedazzlement comes in a white patent leather gift case, also adorned with crystals
— $3,500.00

The Scent of Peace Incandescent Shooting Super Star

The Scent of Peace is likewise the eau de parfum chosen for the classic Bond No. 9 superstar bottle that’s been decked out all over with those Swarovski fanci-crystals—the moonlit exterior emphasizing the preciousness of the contents. Even the oval cap and the keepsake silver-toned presentation box are studded with stones.
Notes: Grapefruit, black currant, lily of the valley, musk
100ml — $1,000.00

Central Park West Limited Edition with Swarovksi

For gardenia devotees with a sense of fashion elegance, this is the ultimate gift of gifts: A 100 ml. limited-edition bottle of Central Park West whose houndstooth surface has been rendered with 2,500 sparkling Swarovski gems, its edges bordered in vivid lime green, its cap encircled with tiny stones.
580 — $580.00

Nuits de Noho Chandelier

This downtown beauty goes out A LOT. So they’ve given it a wardrobe change. A lacquer-smooth, basic-black-for-the holiday’s bottle, accented with Bond No. 9‘s new chandelier treatment: See through prism necklace and matching jaunty cap
Notes: Jasmin, creamy vanilla, sheer patchouli
100ml — $380.00

Astor Place Swarovski Limited-Edition

Our Mesmerizing New Eau de Parfum, Inspired by New York’s Most Vibrant Arts-and-Style Intersection.
Notes: Violet Leaf, Mandarin Zest, Freesia, Red poppy buds, Orris (iris root), teakwood, Musk and Amber
100ml — $300.00

The Swarovski All-Stars

They’ve gone overboard and embellished three more of their most coveted scents with the tiniest and most reflective of all the Swarovski stones—five thousand of them per 50ml bottle. The pearlized milk glass Eau de New York bottle (citruses-cyclamen-jasmine-vetiver) is studded with diamond-colored aurora borealis stones. Chelsea Flowers (peonies-magnolia-rose) is decked with emerald-colored stones. Chinatown (peach-gardenia-tuberose-sandalwood) features ruby-colored stones.
Eau de New York - 50ml — $650.00
Chelsea Flowers - 50ml — $650.00
Chinatown - 50ml — $650.00

Shop for these and more here.

15 Great Holiday Gifts For Grinches. Or The Hippest Stuff For Haters.

Perhaps you know someone who's feeling a little more "Bah, Humbug" than "What A Wonderful World" this holiday season. Wondering what to buy the bitter one in your life? Fret no more, I've got a fabulous list of gifts for Grinches that are affordable and may even put a smile on the face of the most ornery curmudgeon this holiday season.

The "Best Wishes" Middle Finger Key:

All brass and designed to fit all Kwikset K1 locks, this housekey by Goodworth & Co. is flipping the bird with double sided imagery.
Buy it here

Go Away Doormat:

Enough said.
buy the Go Away Black Coir Doormat

The Fuck Off Wax Sealing Stamp:

Instead of sealing envelopes with a kiss, how about with an expletive?
buy it here

Hey Asshole note pad/check list (in two versions):


Gotta leave a note for your roommate or co-worker? I love this notepad by Knock Knock with tons of bitter options. One version has everything in handwriting, the other in sans serif print.
Buy the handwritten version here
Buy the brown sans serif version here

Fuck The Rain Umbrella:

The digitally printed polyester umbrella from Art Lebedev is so bitter, it's even flipping off nature. Buy it here.

People I Want To Punch In The Face Journal:

From 27th Street press, this little notebook's title says it all. Gold foil stamped with a sentiment that most of us share at sometime or another. Blank pages.
Buy it here.

Anti-Social T-Shirts, Totebags, Mugs and More:

From the hilarious folks at Someecards, the "I Wish There Was A Social Networking Site Where Everyone Would Leave me The Fuck Alone" sentiment can be purchased on a variety of items. Shop for them here.

I Hate Everything and I Hate People Cross Stitch Patterns:

Buy the I Hate Everything pattern here
Buy the I Hate People pattern here

"You Are Dumb" coffee mug:

This porcelain coffee mug does double duty. Holds your java while telling everyone around you off. From The Onion, it has their logo on the back side.
Buy it here.

Indelicate Doilies:

Reusable packages of printed doilies by Knock Knock say things to your guests you wish you could.
Buy the Indelicate Doilies here

Fuck Off Calling Cards (pack of 20):

Let your cards say it for you.
Buy them here

Same Shit Different Day Desk Calendar:

This perpetual calendar will stand on a desk or add charm to any wall. The poignant theme is repeated relentlessly, throughout the year. The dates are blank so you can use this any year that you want to! Calendar page measures 7.5 inches tall x 6 inches wide.
Buy it here

Bitter Pens:

You'll need something to fill out the Hey Asshole and Same Shit Different Day Calendar with..so why not these appropriate pens by Knock Knock?
Buy them here

The Misanthrope's Guide to Life (Go Away!) by Meghan Rowland and Chris Turner-Neal:


Misanthrope, n.: 1.) One who hates mankind; a curmudgeon; a loner; 2.) The guy in your office who responded to your e-mail of baby photos with "D-. Passing, but not college material"; 3.) A Realist

Quiz yourself:


In this guide, you'll learn how to get away from the pain-in-the-asses who make you seriously consider investing in a fallout shelter and making it your new home. You'll take isolated comfort in these survival strategies, including how to:

• Conduct managed incoherence to get the delivery boy from the lobby to your door
• Take a "French leave" in order to eat alone at work
• Get ousted from your kickball league by dressing as Magnum, P.I. for every game
• Get back at the jerk yapping on his cell phone by reciting the lyrics to Harry Chapin's version of "Cat's in the Cradle"
• End a conversation by "Gwynething" (also known as playing the "I'm delightfully foreign" act) someone to death

This is the survival guide you will be annoyed not to have. Available in paperback or Kindle edition.
Buy The Misanthrope's Guide to Life (Go Away!)

I Hate Everyone by Matthew DiBenedetti:

This 400 page paperback redefines the term hater. Inspired by too many years in a life sucking corporate job, and supported by a deep groundwork of family, friends, relationships and real "life" in a dark corner of New Jersey; even cheerful optimists will commiserate with and come love to hate with author Matt DiBenedetti.

Sample pages:


It's true: Misery does love company. But what kind of company can you keep if you can't stand anyone? This kind. No matter who they are or what they do that sets you off and gets you going, you'll find 'em inside. From rich people who are dicks to guys named Rich who go by Dick to those who are always cold to people who are just hot, no one is safe. But one thing is certain—everyone will find someone they equally despise. And you're gonna love it, period.
Buy I Hate Everyone

And there you have it. 15 gift options to make a Grinch grin this holiday season.