Only a few shopping days left until Christmas. It’s time to make those last few little purchases to put Christmas morning smiles on faces. Here are my suggestions for groovy green stocking fillers.

Something cool with a great story behind it. The Re-O Choker is handmade in Brighton (enough with the made in China gifts already). It comes in clear glass, lime green and bottle green recycled glass that has been hand-fashioned with a sterling silver choker. They’re eco, ethical and fair, and sure to be a hit. Recycled-cool is the new big thing!

This nifty little solar mobile phone charger can be pre-charged by the sun, or by mains power, or a car cigarette lighter. It then stores the charge in its internal lithium-ion battery ready for when you’re out and about and need to charge your phone, mp3 player, digital camera or PDA. The perfect gift choice for a gadget enthusiast, or someone who enjoys camping and adventuring.

The perfect stocking filler for someone who likes to travel. These hard-wearing recycled juice carton luggage tags are fair trade too. They’re made in the Philippines by a women’s cooperative as part of an environmental project to remove litter from Manila’s streets. There are five different “flavours” to choose from. Makes it easy to identify luggage on airport carousels.

Socks have played a part in many people’s Christmas stockings over the years. Here’s an idea, make them organic socks and save the planet while keeping family traditions alive. These beauties are made from wool and organic cotton in the Black Forest, with each seam hand stitched for comfort. Oh! The luxury!

Whether we’ll have a white Christmas or not this year, who knows. Apparently it’s unlikely in the south of England where I live. Sob! But here’s a way to bring some white magic to someone’s Christmas stocking. Green & Blacks chocolate is the best there is, in my opinion. It’s organic, and scrummy, and you can see the little flecks of real vanilla in Green & Blacks bar of white chocolate. Go on, spoil someone.

Chocolate and Christmas stockings just go together, don’t they?  Here’s an idea to spoil a chocolate lover, and it’s not even fattening.  Faith in Nature is one of those utterly wholesome brands that doesn’t have even the hint of a nasty chemical in it.  They’ve made an Organic Chocolate Shower Gel and Bath Foam that will provide chocolate’s famous feel good factor without piling on the pounds.

Have a very merry Christmas!

When I was a kid, Lego was simply little red plastic bricks, little yellow plastic men and little green plastic trees that we piled together then knocked down. Nowadays though, the use of Lego is not restricted to stacking bricks on top of each other and kicking them over, it has developed into something far more advanced and far more educational, so much so that it is used in schools to help kids actually learn instead of giving them it to play with when you want them to pipe down. The form of Lego I am talking about here is Lego Mindstorms NXT.

Lego Mindstorms NXT is a programmable robotics kit made up of components including sound sensors, touch sensors, motors, gears, pneumatics, Lego Technic pieces, programmable software and the all important NXT “intelligent brick”. This may sound very complicated, especially as it is for kids (aged 10) but Lego have managed to make this incredible kit very simple to use and Lego’s claim that your first Robot will be up and running within 30 minutes has been proven to be entirely accurate. The Robots are capable of walking or crawling in some cases (that establishes they have legs), grabbing, pinching, lifting, driving (not cars, you can give it wheels of its own) and they are even capable of paralyzing other robots by stinging them like a scorpion!

The heart of the Mindstorms NXT system is the “intelligent brick”. This is essentially a small computer with inputs for the touch, sound, light and ultrasonic sensors and outputs for the servo motors, basically it makes the robot “do stuff”. The software that runs the brick comes with 18 different building and programming challenges and are all of different difficulties, ranging from whizzing around on wheels to grabbing a ball with its claws.

Although I have said the Mindstorms NXT is for kids, do not be surprised if you find Dad spending just as much time building a bot as the kids, if not more. This may be Lego but this amazing kit has no restriction when it comes to age and is guaranteed to put fun into anyone’s life.

There is simply no better time of year to super-size the old television than now. With the football season in full swing, your favorite football matches promise to take full advantage of every inch of high-definition screen real estate. Let’s face it folks–50 inches is the new 36, and if you consider yourself a true technorati, you really shouldn’t be sending out any viewing party invitations unless you’re displaying your favorite club on a display 50 inches or larger. So here are some quick thoughts on how to suit up and get hip to the game of ginormous tellies.

The current line-up of 50-inchers is still made up of the same usual suspects: plasmas, LCDs, rear-projection displays (such as, DLPs and LCoS), and screen/projector combinations.

First up, you’ll get the most screen for your money from a rear projection television. This is basically because the cost to manufacture DLP, LCoS and other rear-projection technologies is pretty cheap compared to that of more expensive plasma and liquid crystal display (or LCD) screens. And while cute and sexy from afar… up-close, the 16 to 20 inch hunk of plastic protruding from the rear of your display screen and out from your wall is not so sexy–especially if you’re in a small room. Rear projections are also cheaper because you get to skip out on paying for the costs associated with minuaturzing all those complex electronics. Some popular rear-projection TV sets include Sony’s KDS-70R2000 (from £1,899 shipped) and JVC’s HD-56ZR7J (starts at £919 to your door) with 70 and 50 inches of bad-ass screen diagonal. One thing to remember regarding rear-projection sets: you’ll need to service your television every three years or so to recalibrate images and replace lamps/bulbs (£150 a pop).

Screen/projector combinations have also reemerged as a popular option for those seeking big screens for less money. The Optoma Technology HD70 (£629) and Epson EMP-TW1000 (£1,675) are two examples of popular DLP-based projectors that will blast a huge image on a white wall or fixed screen (such as this one: Da-Lite Cinema Contour for £517). These bad boys will get you screen sizes of 80 to 120 inches (and larger), depending on how large your room is and how powerful your projector is. The heads up here is that you’ll need keep your curtains drawn too keep the room dark (like a movie theater) to see proper color contrast and brightness and you’ll likely need to mount your projector and draw your power and AV cables to a high spot along your rear wall or ceiling.

Now let’s discuss the ever popular plasma TV. Plasma TV’s are based upon a technology that traps teeny weeny plasma gases in a micro-sized grid. Think of a tic-tac-toe board with millions of tiny red, green and blue gas pockets. Three colors combine to form one pixel, which in turn, work together like an Italian mosaic to display screen images. Aside from the technology, plasma TV also provide the best combination of screen size to overall television size ratio. But be warned, plasma technology does not come cheap! Basic, smaller sets (42 inches and below) start around £1,000 now, but the 50, 58, and 65 inch big boys will suck out £1,250 to £3,000 out of your bank account faster than you can say “HD”. True high rollers with £40,000 to spend will have to check out Panasonic’s massive 103″ TH-103PF9UK display. For us commoners, check out Samsung 50″ PS-50C96HD going for around £799 or Panasonic TH-58PZ700PED–a 58″ high-definition screen that was rated #1 by Consumer Reports (a US consumer quality publication) in both display quality and reliability (£2,999). The classic warnings about plasma technology persist, albeit manufacturer’s have gone far to develop technologies to counteract screen burn-in (when you display a static image on your screen too long, resulting in plasma gas burn stains on your television glass) and power consumption (current plasma sets draw about the same amount of electricity as an equivalent-sized LCD). Advantages over LCD include viewing angles, black levels (or contrast), and price.

Still unsatisfied? Do you need the absolute cutting-edge in display technologies? Then go to buy yourself an LCD. While the images displayed on an LCD are not any better than that of the average plasma or rear-projection system, technophiles are paying up for technological advances, such zero-burn-in, higher native resolutions capable of displaying 1080p (the highest stratification of high definition television), and low screen reflectivity (reduces glare from screen glass). If so, check out the Sharp 52” Aquos LC52XD1E set for around £1,539.

Since getting into photography last year I’ve realised that a lot of what really makes the difference is the lens you have attached to your camera. Now don’t worry, I know a lens for a Digital SLR can be expensive, which is why instead of recommending a whole range I’m choosing 3 which should cover you in most circumstances. First up is the Canon EF 24-105mm lens with Image Stabilisation (IS). I currently own this lens and would say that over 90% of the stuff I take is with this. A combination of the range, f/4 and the IS has meant that in most circumstances this lens gets me the picture I want.

Next up is the Sigma 10-20mm lens which has given me enormous fun since picking it up a few months ago. I was actually on a photowalking trip to the North Coast of Ireland when I first came across this lens and was amazed at some of the effects you could achieve with this lens, especially for landscape photos. The wide angle, when used in certain circumstances, can give a very dramatic effect, especially in environments where perhaps before you just couldn’t see a good picture. Since picking up this lens I have rediscovered a number of photographic opportunities in locations that I had initially thought had been done.

Finally on my recommendation list would be the Sigma Macro 105mm lens. Now I have to be very careful writing this review as this is the only lens out of the 3 that I don’t own, just yet. The reason I see the need to be careful as it wouldn’t take much persuasion to tip me over the edge in terms of buying it, so I may avoid reading my own review. For me a macro lens, quite like the Sigma wide angle, allows you to open up a whole new range of photographic opportunities. In the spring and summer you get the chance to get that perfect close up shot of all things creepy crawly, and when these little critters are nowhere to be found, you can always turn your attention to every day objects around your house. You will be amazed how a 1:1 image of a boring household object can look when taken with a macro lens.

Note if you want to see the photos I’ve been taking then you can find a link within the about us section, just click on my blog.

Avoiding battery operated toys and gadgets has become a regular sport in our eco-aspiring household. Batteries are bad for the environment because they contain metals, acids and other compounds that are released into the environment if the batteries are not disposed of properly. If you do have gadgets and toys that require batteries, and you’re using disposable batteries, do not send them to landfill. Rather switch to rechargeable batteries, and be sure to dispose of your old batteries properly.  It is possible to recycle them, and Curry’s collect batteries to be recycled in the UK. If you’re giving a gadget this Christmas, consider the the wind-up option.

The Wind-up Radio

The wind-up radio was originally invented by Trevor Baylis as a means to spread the word across Africa about how to halt the spread of HIV/AIDS. Now the technology is more widely available, and anyone can have a wind-up radio for a very good price.

If you’re looking for something a little more sophisticated, have a look at the Freeplay Devo DAB/FM radio. A 60 second wind gives you an hour of listening pleasure. Freeplay is the company that Trevor Baylis formed to market his original wind-up radio.

The Wind-up Torch

Freeplay makes a good variety of torches, with one to suit most pockets. While they’re a little more expensive than a battery run torch, a wind-up torch will save you buying lots of batteries over the years, making a saving in money and toxic waste. What a good idea!

The Wind-up LED Lantern

I love this LED lantern with the space-age look. It’s rechargeable with a wind-up option, a great idea for camping, festivals or for evening al fresco meals that are hard to imagine at this time of year (brrr!). It’s weatherproof and can be hung up upside down in tents or in a tree.

This lantern is from Trevor Baylis’ new company formed to provide inventors with professional partnership and to help them protect their ideas and get their products to market.

These fantastic wind-up products are not just better for the environment than their battery operated counterparts, but they’re also very handy when you’re out in the wild, camping or hiking, because you don’t have to carry spare batteries.

Kids always love a good photo and when it comes to photos theres only one thing they like more than pulling silly faces for one… and that is taking one themselves. If you have kids and you own a digital camera, you may have found yourself in the situation where you have to choose between making your kids happy and letting them take a photo or the possibility that your £200 Digital camera will be going down the drain in pieces.

With the VTech Kidizoom Camera you will no longer have to put yourself in that situation. The VTech Kidizoom is a digital camera specifically designed for kids, it is very durable and won’t be broken in under 5 minutes. The Kidizoom has a 0.3-megapixel sensor, a 1.8-inch LCD screen, double viewfinder and 16MB of on board memory. It may not have the high specs that you’re own digital camera has but this is perfect for kids in every way. It has 2 large grips so it is easy to hold onto and hidden under the grips is the batteries and the SD card slot so the kids can’t mess about with them. The SD card slot means you can add more memory so your kids will never run out of photo opportunities. The camera also comes with built in effects to add to photos such as Pirate hats, Viking helmets, pig noses, rabbit ears and silly glasses… one feature that your kids will never get bored of!

The image quality of the Kidizoom might not be the greatest but it does give you so much more. With the Christmas season in full flow there is no better or more valuable time to take photos, especially with your children. This is one present that kids definitely wont be trying to send back to Santa.

For centuries people have always been fascinated by the night sky and that is still very much the case today. Now I can quite imagine that there is a number of you out there, who on a cold clear dark night just before Christmas, gaze up into the sky and have an “Aha” moment. As in “Aha, I know just what to get for Johnny (or whoever it is), a telescope!”. I have done it myself and of course it is a fantastic idea for a gift, but, and there is a but, a telescope is probably not actually the right choice.

So now I expect you’re thinking this guy is obviously a bit full of early Christmas cheer, first he says a telescope is a great gift and then he says it isn’t. Well most people would think, as did I, that a telescope would make a great gift for a budding astronomer, but actually a good pair of binoculars is far more likely to be effective and therefore will be better appreciated in the end!

Let me explain. Budding Patrick Moore’s can often be disappointed by what they see in their new telescope, especially if it is one of the cheaper, ‘bargain’ telescopes that you often see in high street stores or on the Internet. Expectations can be very high initially and people expect to see the planets, particularly the biggies like Jupiter and Saturn in full colour just like on the TV. This unfortunately is an unrealistic, and so the smart money goes for a pair of binoculars.

Sky hunting with binoculars is a low cost and excellent way of getting started in astronomy and with their wide field of view they can make it much easier to search around the sky when looking for the planets, and other space objects such as the Andromeda Galaxy or the Horsehead Nebula in the sword of Orion. Binoculars are also great for looking at our very own moon. 10 x 50’s such as the Pentax 10×50 XCF are ideal. The other bonus is that they will be very useful for general purpose use as well.

If you do want to go straight for a telescope then bypass the bargains and choose something like the Celestron Firstscope 114E pictured above. Happy stargazing!

Every year there are a few people in our lives that are just so hard to shop for. Uncle Joseph already has the 40 inch TV, the hot game system, and the even more popular video game. Then you have Cousin Mary who has everything a girl could ask for. She already has a top of the line laptop, digital camera, and Apple iPod Nano. For those who have friends and family like an Uncle Joseph and a Cousin Mary, here are a couple suggestions that I know they would like.

1.) Wine: Everyone likes alcohol, but what’s better than alcohol? FREE alcohol!!. A good way to get in the good graces of your family and friends is with a bottle of Jamberoo Shiraz / Cabernet Sauvignon or a very economical merlot. There is a large selection of wines on PriceGrabber.com with different price ranges and varieties. This is a good gift for just about anyone to appreciate and enjoy.

2.) Watch: How do we tell time? In modern times the cell phone has replaced the watch based on convenience. However, if someone were to give you a watch wouldn’t you wear it? Watch technology has seen improvements lately such as solar energy being used instead of batteries. Although the watches with newer technology cost more, there are also more economical watches such as this for the ladies or this for the men. Stop letting your loved ones dig through their pants’ pockets or purse to get a cell phone to tell time and just give them a watch this year.

The hat is one of this season’s hottest accessories and makes the perfect luxurious treat for a fashionable friend. Ever practical, particularly at this time of year, a hat is the stylish way to keep out the cold this Winter. It’s also an excellent way to dress an outfit up or down and can create a completely new and different look.

If you have a friend who has everything, with an eye on fashion, they are sure to appreciate such a considered present. It will ensure them a guilt free Christmas as they wont have to treat themselves!

I particularly love this knitted ladies beret made from organic merino wool. It’s hand knitted in a textured garter stitch and is sumptuously soft and luxurious whilst also giving a warm feeling for being a little bit eco friendly.

The organic merino wool is sourced from a single farm in New Zealand’s South Island and  is naturally coloured (the colours of the sheep!) and produced under organic conditions.

If you’re feeling really generous there’s also a matching scarf and mittens which will complete the perfect winter set for your friend or loved one.

Hampers have had some bad press, and you’ll know it’s no surprise really if you’ve been at the receiving end of a hamper full of tinned hams and cheap plonk. But the hamper has had a makeover, and can be a great eco-friendly gift to give this Christmas.

Good fair trade food and wine, lots of lovely organic chocolate and even music puts in an appearance in these new-fashioned Christmas hampers that make perfect gifts for parents, parents-in-law, grandparents and great aunts. In fact, these hampers have been updated enough to consider giving one to a chic sister or sister-in-law too. Hampers filled with fair trade and organic goodies mean that by giving a hamper this Christmas, not only the recipient of your generosity will benefit, but so will the producers of the goods in the hamper, and the environment.