Has the stress of the holiday season already got you down? Well, don’t despair. In a four-part series on “Today,” Elizabeth Mayhew, style director of Real Simple magazine, offers ideas to help take the hassle out of the holidays. In part two of the series, she shares some hints on great gifts for everyone on your list — and the best part is, they're all under $50. Read her tips and watch for more on this special series.
REAL SIMPLE HOLIDAYS
DAY 2: WHAT TO GIVE
“Silent Night” and “Winter Wonderland” may be the songs you hear on the radio and piped through the mall at this time of year, but the more fitting theme song to your life right now may be the Rolling Stones’ “19th Nervous Breakdown.” There’s the shopping, the shopping and — oh yes! — the shopping. But have no fear: A good portion of that can be taken care of with Real Simple’s annual gift guide — the best ideas for everyone on your list. As always, every gift is $50 or less, and you won’t have to set one foot in the Muzak-filled mall. Just go online or pick up the phone. There’s even a worksheet to help you keep track of all your gifts and recipients at www.realsimple.com. So list, shop, click, then finally sleep in heavenly peace.
FOR FATHERS, BROTHERS, HUSBANDS
Seven-in-One Game Box (Mori Luggage, $40)
Friday may be reserved for poker, but what about all the other days of the week? This game box contains seven components (a chessboard, a backgammon board, checkers, dominoes, poker chips, cards, and dice) — perfect for Saturday through Thursday — and is compact enough to stash on a shelf or in a deep drawer.To order: www.moriluggage.com; delivery in five to 12 days, two-day shipping available.
CDs (NPR, $19 each)
A compilation of National Public Radio’s most entertaining segments from "Fresh Air," "All Things Considered," "Morning Edition" and other shows. The two "Driveway Moments" CDs include classics that will keep him in the car long after he’s pulled into the driveway.To order: www.shop.npr.org, delivery in seven to 10 days, overnight not available.
Ice Cream Chiller (Garnet Hill, $40)
Here’s a gift for a man who wants to eat his way through an entire pint of ice cream before it melts. The aluminum container snugly holds his favorite Rocky Road and keeps it cold for an extra hour.To order: www.garnethill.com, delivery in three to six days.
FOR KIDS
Animal Backpacks (Blabla, $38)
This huggable cotton-knit backpack is useful as well as adorable. Perhaps most important, it doesn’t have 78 different parts that will end up evenly divided among all the rooms of your house. Comes in doggy, bunny, butterfly, frog, cat and monkey.To order: Craftsbury Kids, www.craftsburykids.com, delivery in three to five days.
Typewriter Jewelry (Uncommon Goods, Bracelet: $48)*
She’s probably never heard of a Smith Corona, but any teenage girl will appreciate these authentic vintage typewriter keys. All letters are available; bracelet includes chain. Plus, this gift gives back to charity, offering a choice of causes — supporting environmental, educational and emergency-relief organizations, among others.To order: www.uncommongoods.com, delivery in three to six days.
*Our apologies, the bracelet price was misquoted on the show (as $32). The correct price of the bracelet is $48.
Fingerprint-Kit Lab (Discovery Kids, $30)
Give this and there will be no more guessing who stole the cookies from the cookie jar. (Maybe the mystery of the missing Tupperware tops will be solved, too.) Comes with black light, flashlight, ink pad and duster to collect prints. Ages 8 and up.To order: www.shopping.discovery.com, delivery in three to five days.
FOR MOTHERS, SISTERS, BEST FRIENDS
Slippers (Anthropologie, $32)
Is there a rule that all slippers have to be bigger than bread boxes and too embarrassing to wear beyond the front steps when you pick up the newspaper? These tweed ballet-shoe flats come with your choice of blue or pink bows. Just be sure to tell the recipient that they’re slippers before she wears them out to dinner.To order: 800-309-2500, five to 10 days for standard delivery.
Rice Bowls (Pearl River, $17.50 for a set)
These are the Fab Four. Inexpensive, elegant, and multipurpose, they can be used for breakfast cereal, a soup course, olives on an hors d’oeuvre tray, or candies on a hallway hutch.To order: www.pearlriver.com, delivery in five to 15 days.
FOR EVERYONE
Initial Journals (Pamela Barsky, $15 each)
Teachers and neighbors will love these A to Z journals because they serve as memory books and conversation starters. You’ll love them because you can buy them in bulk and still deliver a personal touch.To order: www.pamelabarsky.com, delivery in five to 10 days.
Scratchy Candle (Dool, $22)
You can see her name — and a heartwarming message — in lights. This candle comes with a pencil for etching a message into the frosted glass. Tell your best friend you love her, or let your daughter draw a holiday design for Grandma.To order: Auto, www.thisisauto.com, delivery in five to seven days.
STOCKING STUFFERS
Mini Watercolor Set (The Container Store, $10)
We challenge you to find another complete painting kit (brush, pencil, water bottle and two palettes) that can fit into a stocking. As appropriate for a doodling 30-year-old as it is for a creative toddler.To order: www.containerstore.com, delivery in five to 10 days.
Initial Mugs (Anthropologie, $6)
Buy a different one for every member of the family.To Order: 800-309-2500.
Each month, Real Simple offers beautiful, practical solutions to make life easier and better, guiding readers through the things they have to do so they can spend more time doing the things they want to do. For more of Real Simple's "50 Gifts Under $50," visit .