Tampabay.com
DECEMBER 03, 2008

Boyfriend Gift Guide: Gadgets make me cry

Granny needs a gift guide, too. AP.

I try to get my guy a Christmas gift he'll enjoy and actually use, but there's a problem. He's a software developer by day, a smooth technophile. I'm a writer by day, known to heave the DVR remote across the room in a fit of raging PMS. So, er, our holiday shopping styles differ. (Boyfriend Gift Guide, anyone?)

Me: I'm near tears, clutching a janky argyle sweater he'll hate, a Sarah Silverman DVD and some Twizzlers. I glare at the clerk on the tech aisle who won't stop playing Guitar Hero long enough to explain WTF "compatible optical pickup unit" means. I shriek, abandon all items and go to the bar.

Him: He's kicked back at home watching the Sarah Silverman DVD that I, trapped in a constant fugue state, forgot he already has. He is carefree, because he selected my gift in September, researched it and compared quality and price at 10 different virtual locations. It's in the closet upstairs. 

Feh.

No more, fair readers! This year, I am going to plan in advance (starting, uh, Dec. 3...) with the help of the St. Pete Times' and tampabay.com Holiday Gadget Guide. Our expert writers chose their favorite gadgets for music, gaming, organizing, computer... uh... ing, and lots of other stuff! Check it out.

Does he want the $24 light saber Wii remote? The $39 infrared fishing thermometer? Endless possibility.

Hmm... Or maybe he could use a Sarah Silverman DVD...

~ Deal Diva Stephanie

Photo: Granny needs a gift guide, too. AP.

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Looking for shopping deals in Tampa Bay? The Deal Divas are on the prowl, sniffing out hot fashion finds that won't leave your wallet in ruins. Now you never have to miss a shopping deal! Sign up for weekly Deal Diva Alerts by e-mail. by e-mail. And check in often for the lowdown on local bargains, as well as fashion advice, fun photos and style news. Because shopping should be all about the Washingtons!

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THE AUTHORS

Stephanie Hayes came out of the womb wearing high heels. While other kids were reciting multiplication tables, she was learning to calculate an extra third off the half-price discount during buy-one-get-one week. She loves animal prints, black mascara and anything that sparkles. She objects to visible panty lines, Crocs and anything that costs more than a car payment. And she doesn't drive a nice car. She can be reached at (727) 893-8857 or shayes@tampabay.com.

Emily Nipps As a sullen teenager, Emily Nipps refused to wear anything but black, olive green or burgundy, preferably ripped. She has since added color to her life but still experiments with her dark streak. A product junkie, she has tried tons of overpriced face creams and hair products but loves drugstore brands that work the same. She's an Aries and a bassist in a punk band. She has a pet pig, seven chickens, three cats and a rabbit. And just as many lip glosses. She can be reached at (727) 893-8452 or nipps@tampabay.com.

Kameel Stanley has never encountered a thrift store she didn’t like. Her mother taught her that the true value of clothes isn’t how much they cost, but how many outfits one can create from them. Having grown up in Michigan, she was delighted to learn upon moving to Florida that she almost never needed to wear socks or boots again. There’s a lot of turnover in her closet, and she’s obsessed with dresses, necklaces and wedge heels. She can be reached at (727) 893-8643 or kstanley@tampabay.com.

A disciple of the little black dress classics school, Letitia Stein stretches her budget by looking for styles with staying power. She lives for 80 percent off shoes at DSW, floral sundresses and bohemian chic tops. She confesses to being a bit of a snob when it comes to handbags and jewelry. She can be reached at (813) 226-3400 or lstein@tampabay.com.

Coming from a long line of fashionable women, Kim Wilmath considers herself lucky to fit into their hand-me-downs. Her wardrobe staples include her grandma's vintage blouses and her mom's funky jewelry. When she's in the market for "new" items, Kim hits her favorite thrift stores -- a habit she also picked up from mom. But when circumstances require a visit to the shiny stores in the mall, you'll find Kim at the sale rack like a good little diva. She can be reached at (813) 661-2442 or kwilmath@tampabay.com.

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