Finding the hottest gifts and gadgets this holiday season can be challenging. Here to help, just in time for the shopping season, is top tech journalist Anna De Souza, uncovering the latest trends who regularly contributes to nation and regional platforms like Today.com, Elle.com and more. Learn where to discover the perfect presents to make this a special holiday.
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00:00 All right, find the hottest gifts and gadgets this holiday season can be challenging.
00:04 Just in time for the shopping season, I talk with tech journalist, lifestyle expert, and
00:08 sewer mom, Ann D'Souza, to find the best gifts for everyone.
00:13 Good morning, Anna.
00:16 How you doing?
00:19 Happy holidays.
00:20 Excited to be here with you today.
00:21 Yeah, you know, it's the season.
00:22 Time to kick off the holiday shopping, do some great, of course, gift giving.
00:28 So let's talk about some of the hottest gifts this holiday season.
00:32 Of course, for the parents out there, check this out.
00:35 Cookies Makery is history in the baking.
00:38 It's a first of its kind play set where kids are able to mix and make their own interactive,
00:44 sweetly scented plush that comes out warm to the touch.
00:47 This oven themed play set is going to let your kids mix up this pretend dough to create
00:52 a bread or cinnamon scented best friend in the shape of a puppy, bunny, or kitten.
00:57 Adorable.
00:58 The sweetest part of it all is that it does come out of the oven nice and toasty warm
01:02 and makes adorable sounds when you cuddle or squeeze it.
01:05 And as a mom, I really love that they can repeat the process over and over again for
01:10 under $35, Brad.
01:12 So you definitely want to get it while it's hot.
01:15 Oh my gosh.
01:16 That just took baking and of course pets to a whole new level.
01:20 That is so cool.
01:21 Certainly.
01:22 That's awesome.
01:23 Okay.
01:24 So that was a little hands on, but of course there's other hands on gifts that you have
01:28 for us.
01:29 What are they?
01:30 Of course.
01:31 Well, Sonic the Hedgehog brings family together.
01:32 They're all new Sonic superstars.
01:34 Reimagines the 2D high speed side scrolling action we all know and love with fully 3D
01:42 graphics, new Emerald powers, new local four player co-op, and anyone can experience Sonic
01:47 superstars available both digitally and physically starting at $59.99.
01:52 Available on multiple consoles, PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo switch, and PC.
01:57 You can speed through all new terrain as Sonic, Tails, Knuckles, and Amy to stop the evil
02:03 Dr. Eggman from converting the island's animals into batniks before it's too late.
02:10 It's a bit of nostalgia.
02:12 And if you know, you know.
02:14 That's cool.
02:15 I'll tell you, Hedgehog, you can't go wrong there.
02:17 So, okay.
02:18 Family fun.
02:19 What about family fun?
02:21 Of course.
02:22 But I have a really great unique gift for you that's actually been bringing together
02:25 my family since 2017.
02:28 This holiday season, why not give the gift of ancestry?
02:31 It's a place to discover new insights on your family.
02:34 And now they actually feature new, they have a new feature that's going to help you preserve
02:38 your family memories, your photos, and your stories right within the app.
02:42 So smart.
02:43 Your family can learn more about themselves and create more meaningful connections.
02:47 It makes for a really awesome yearly holiday tradition as you're sitting across the holiday
02:52 table from each other.
02:54 Ancestry DNA is a best-selling DNA kit that makes it possible to discover your unique
02:58 history from receiving your ethnicity estimate to connecting with living relatives as well.
03:04 On sale now for $59.
03:07 Gift memberships are up to 30% off.
03:09 You can head on over to ancestry.com for more.
03:12 Got it.
03:13 Okay.
03:14 What about the hard-to-find friends and family members?
03:17 What do you have for them?
03:19 My father-in-law is a perfect example of someone who's hard to shop for, but I know that he
03:23 loves to cook and smoke his food.
03:25 So why not surprise that hard-to-shop-for foodie in your life with the Westin Smoker
03:30 Slow Cooker.
03:31 Now, get this, you're going to have the ability to hot smoke, cold smoke, or a combination
03:36 of both.
03:37 Really fun for making smoked nuts and smoked cheeses for your charcuterie board.
03:43 Plus on those hectic weeknights that we all have, you can enjoy the convenience of that
03:46 hands-off cooking with the traditional slow cook function.
03:50 There is nothing on the market like this, Brad.
03:52 It's so cool, a great conversation piece, and holy smokes, it comes at an incredible
03:58 value.
03:59 You can head on over to westinbrands.com to grab it for $110 with free shipping.
04:04 I like it.
04:05 This is kind of funny.
04:06 I never knew what the hole was in the lid until now.
04:11 I did not realize I had that.
04:14 Yes.
04:15 Oh my God.
04:16 Anna, I don't know if I asked you, but what is the key, of course, for choosing the hottest
04:21 holiday gifts this season?
04:23 Well, you know what?
04:24 Despite inflation, it's tightening our budgets.
04:27 We're projected to actually be spending $833 on holiday gifts this year.
04:33 So my tip, shop early, shop smart.
04:37 My kids are filling out their Santa list this week because I want to start tracking the
04:43 pricing immediately.
04:45 So shop early, shop smart, avoid shipping costs if you can, just to be able to budget
04:51 in everything and still have time for all that smiles, fun, hugs, and all the delicious
04:56 food that the holiday has to offer.
04:57 There you go.
04:58 Where can we find out more information about what we talked about?
05:02 Of course, you can head on over to tipsontv.com for more.
05:06 Thank you, Anna.
05:07 I'm sorry, we got thrown off.
05:08 Happy holidays.
05:09 We got thrown off with the lid.
05:10 Thank you.
05:10 We got thrown off with the lid.
05:11 Thank you.
05:11 We got thrown off with the lid.
05:13 Thank you.
05:13 Thank you.
05:15 Thank you.
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