Teens can either be really, really easy to shop for or really, really difficult to shop for. I should know. With six kids ranging in ages, nine to 24, I've experienced it all. There was the year my really cool teen wanted "Tickle Me Elmo" and that was just about all she wanted. This year, I have a teen who flat out refused to make a wish list - that's a first, seriously. The boy doesn't know what he wants and is leaving it up to "Santa" which really doesn't make "Santa" happy. AT. ALL.

If you're still looking for gifts to "flesh out" your teens' holiday, here are a few to consider.

1) Flip Video. I sound like a Flip Video evangelist or something - and no they aren't paying me - but I really love this little video camera. It's inexpensive (the 30 minute model is right around $100) and so darn easy to use that your teen will love it. Trust me on this. It's been tested in my house. By teens. You can get the more expensive 60 minute version or the even more expensive color version. But the 30 minute black Flip is really all your teen needs. (Wal-mart, Target, Best Buy, Office Max etc...)

2) One of my teens asked for a MacBook - it's the only thing she really wanted (except for jeans at PacSun, Steve Madden Shoes and a bag from I can't remember where.) She's getting the MacBook and none of the other stuff on her list. If your kid is looking for a MacBook, MacBook Pro or Mac Mini - don't forget to ask for the education discount price! It's not much but it helps.

3) Speaking of Apple, I can recommend the iPod Touch. My oldest teen owns it and loves it. My youngest "adult" will be getting his own this Christmas. It really is a fantastic player and with third party apps (not that I would recommend you do such a thing, thus violating your warranty) it can do some pretty amazing things.

4) The gift card is always a favorite of teens, they do love to shop and they generally don't have nearly enough money to do all of the shopping they'd like to do. My son has always appreciated a gift card from a local gas station, preferably one with a convenience store so he can buy sodas and chips along with his gas. The youngest teen, who is officially only a pre-teen but acts like a teen, is dying for a Mall Gift Certificate so she can buy a whole new wardrobe. Weird how they go from not caring one iota about their clothing to being all about fashion and style. iTunes gift cards, gift cards to local restaurants and a membership to a local museum might also make great gifts for your teens. Seriously, that museum thing - they'll love it.

5) I spent a bit of time this year going through the DVD sale racks, both online and offline, searching for videos that were favorites when my "big kids" were "little kids". Movies like The Goonies, Short Circuit, Return to Oz... I found a bunch of them for between $3 and $5 and they're going to be hugely popular - I guarantee it.

6) Crazy socks, crazy stockings, crazy beanie caps, crazy scarves. These are always popular with some of my teens and NEVER popular with one teen (care to guess which one would not be amused? "Mr I'm not making a list"...)

7) Laptop stickers, lapel buttons and pins, bumper stickers. Always popular, even with "Mr I'm not making a list".

8) Vinyl, do you remember vinyl? Do you have a music loving teen? Do you have a turntable laying around somewhere? Head out to a used music store or a flea market and see if you can find some interesting vinyl. Your teen will love playing with your old vinyls and any new vinyls you might be able to find (Hot Topic actually sells vinyl records.) And, if your teen is already diggin' your vinyl, you might consider running over to Circuit City to see if they have any of these ION turntables in stock.

9) Food. You know those Hickory Farm gift boxes? Don't get those for your teen - unless you have "Mr I'm not making a list" in your family 'cause he loves Summer Sausage - but you should consider creating a personalized food basket for your teen. All of her favorite treats, including a few you've baked yourself, just for her. You can add healthy stuff to the basket, too. It doesn't need to be an all junk food basket but you know your teen will love it if it is.

10) A good journal and a good pen. There are so many journals to choose from and what makes a good journal depends on the type of kid you're buying for. Does your teen need a lined journal? Is she a "field explorer" type who would like to be able to tuck leaves into pockets of a journal, write a little bit and draw a little bit so she would need a combo journal? Regardless - get a leather bound or sturdy cloth bound if you can't afford the leather (or your kid is anti leather.) Don't get a Hello Kitty journal unless your kid is a Hello Kitty fanatic. It might be time to step away from Star Wars journals for awhile and move toward something more sophisticated - just for awhile. Teens go through that stage, but they out grow it and will be back to Star Wars and Hello Kitty again once they've grown up and no longer care what their peers think. Or once they grow up and realize Hello Kitty and Star Wars are Pop Culture Cool.

Now, please, tell me what you bought for your teen. Or tell me about the best/worst teen gifts you've ever experienced. I like to start early with my teen holiday shopping. Early, as in the day after Christmas.

~~Denise
Flamingo House Happenings