By Amanda Ponzar

Unless you’re traveling by private helicopter with a security team, who needs the stress, crowds, traffic and frantic mall panic of Black Friday shopping? Being a busy working mom, it’s just easier to compare prices and products online and have boxes magically show up at my front door.

Since women make 85% of all consumer purchases, both online and brick & mortar retailers need to pay attention to what we want. As my two-year-old told me last month: “Men go to work. Ladies don’t go to work. Ladies go to Target and Walmart.” You got that right.

So, here’s MY Christmas list this year (note it’s mostly online); you may find something you like!

1.) Zettie’s Confections: Zettie’s double chocolate browneez are my absolute favorite, but the almond butter crunch (toffee), frosted sugar cookies and award-winning ultimate chip cookies (three kinds of chips) are pretty amazing too. Always good to support a woman-owned, start-up business – everything’s handcrafted with gourmet ingredients. 

2.) Avon: I like pomegranate mango Naturals, Total Radiance eye gel, Totally Twig Perfect Wear lipstick, etc. but everything’s on sale and my rep often sends me free shipping codes.

3.) Lana’s handmade jewelry. 

4.) Speaking of jewelry, I love 10,000 Villages fair trade shops, which offer beautiful necklaces, children’s gifts, wonderful-smelling soaps, and other site best-selling gifts.  

5.) Starbucks gift cards are good for peppermint mocha or java chip frappachinos…and maybe a chocolate chip cookie.  

6.) I don’t get out much so prefer to buy movies on Amazon rather than attempt to find a babysitter plus pay $12/ticket –- and that’s not even counting the mega popcorn tub. My son only watches Veggie Tales; however, my favorite movies include Pride and Prejudice (all versions), Lord of the Rings, Star Trek, Indiana Jones, Harry Potter or newer releases like Avatar, Robin Hood, Prince of Persia, etc. Plus, based on the chocolate addiction readily apparent in this blog, I’m getting a treadmill from Amazon.

7.) One of the best chocolates I’ve EVER had in my entire life: the Chocolate Truffle Fudge Bar.  Watch out Godiva! I recently discovered this treat at the Sugar Cube, a woman-owned candy store.

8.) Activities with the family like Medieval Madness (nothing beats eating meat with your hands while a jester dances and wenches serve) or Hershey Candy Lane. Just plain FUN. See what’s going on in your community.

9.) I asked my brother what else he wanted besides “How to Train Your Dragon” on blu-ray (surprise! that’s what you’re getting), and he requested a charitable contribution. Many charities offer alternative gift ideas/cause marketing as well, and it’s a GREAT way to give back:

• Carpenter’s Shelter alternative holiday gift giving
• International Justice Mission’s Freedom catalog to help rescue victims of trafficking and oppression
• Microsoft Photo book to benefit United Way
• Green Gift Monday from the Nature Conservancy
• Samaritan’s Purse, Heifer International, World Vision, Oxfam and others have gift catalogs online (donate a goat!)
• Nonprofits.org charitable gift ideas
• Marie Claire’s holiday gifts that give list
• Redbook’s charitable gift list  

According to Cone’s holiday trend tracker, 89% of Americans expect companies to support causes during the season and 78% expect to get involved personally.

So, what are your gift recommendations this year? Share and I’ll post!  

(Pictured: mall crowds, Zettie's double chocolate browneez, Lana's green freshwater pearl necklace, Medieval Madness wench taking ale orders)