Andy's Online Gift Guide

It's Cyber Monday, which means the hordes of Black Friday shoppers have flocked to the Interweb looking for fun, cheap and unique gifts for their friends and loved ones. And everyone wants to be the one who gives that one-of-a-kind gift for Christmas. So I'm here to offer a few suggestions. Welcome to Andy's first ever Online Gift Guide.

Quirky

Not only does this website sell really cool stuff like these scissors that fold into themselves, it also helps inventors get their ideas off the ground. Anyone can visit the website and submit an idea for a new product -- like a flexible power strip, a piggy bank that sends its balance to your mobile phone, and an egg tray that not only tells you how many eggs you have, but if they're going bad. The public decides which products get invented, and then has a chance to buy the best ideas.

Blurb

This is a website you've heard me talk about before. This is what I use to turn this blog into book form. It's really a neat way to take anything -- a wedding, a hard drive full of photos, a box full of recipes -- and turn them into something the family can cherish for a long time. For hard-core designers, the website is Adobe InDesign and Lightroom compatible, but for those of us who can't afford expensive software, the website also has free software you can download to design your book. It's much less user-friendly, but free is a good price. And if your friends and family are over the whole "book" thing, you can turn your creation into an eBook for a fraction of the price of having your book printed.

Leather Head Sports

Some sportsaholics have it all, but this website offers some seriously cool, truly one-of-a-kind gifts. This New-Jersey based company makes every football, basketball, medicine ball, rugby ball and baseballs (known as lemon balls) by hand out of supple leather that just makes you want to grab a friend and head outside for a throw. And for the sports collector who's just a little too old to throw the rock around, the balls look so cool, they would be an attention grabber on any mantle.

Shit You Can Afford

Known as the "Skymall for people on a budget," this website has the kind of gifts that won't break the bank -- including, you guessed it, a soap bar that looks like a piece of shit. While some of its offerings are practical -- who doesn't need a paracord survival bracelet or ninja knives? -- a lot of its products are on the humorous side. Some of my favorites are the Russian roulette water balloon, the toilet bowl coffee mug, the bullshit button and the yodeling pickle. And if someone has made the naughty list this year, just stuff their stocking with 1,500 live lady bugs (only $9.99).

Diamond Candles

Looking to kill two birds with one stone? Check out this website that combines sweet smelling candles with jewelry. And not just any jewelry, mystery jewelry. When the candle burns down about half way, a foil packet with a ring inside becomes accessible. I bought one of these for Gretchen last year, it was pretty cool. The scents of the candles vary throughout the year, but current "winter" candles that look like winners include Christmas tree, gingerbread latte and banana nut bread. Little lady not like the smell of the holiday? Buy her a gift card and check back during the spring for the fresh-cut grass candle.

Photojojo

As a photography enthusiast, this website has a bunch of cool stuff that I've always wanted to buy: Coffee mugs shaped like camera lenses, ring flashes, cam caddie stabilizers. One of the cool new products it's offering is this Charge Card. It's small enough to fit in your wallet, and powerful enough to charge your Apple or Android device. The site has a host of other add-ons for smartphones, including the iPhone Scuba Suit (for underwater photography), the Bikepod (to turn your bicycle into a tripod for your phone) and a smartphone spy lens (for spying on hipsters at Starbucks).

Tag You're It Jewelry

If you are looking for one-of-a-kind jewelry, checkout this site. It has handmade necklaces, bracelets and even gifts for men (see: guitar picks, tie bars, money clips, collar stays and key chains). Drape a cutout of your favorite state around your neck, ring your wrist with a charm bracelet featuring your children's names or buy a marker for the vegetable garden made from old spoons or forks.

No More Rack

If you are the kind of person who hates paying retail -- and you probably are since you are out shopping Black Friday at midnight and woke up early to shop Cyber Monday before work -- then this website is for you. It is kind of the Wal-Mart of online deals, offering a little bit of everything for 50 to 80 percent off retail. With gifts for men, women, kids, the home, electronics and jewelry, the website claims to be committed to "great style, great value and making sure everything you love comes with a price you love, too." But if you see something you like -- like this tea diffuser -- act fast. Deals are only good for one day.

Thornhill Jewellery

I wasn't going to do a second jewelry website, but this one was too cool not to mention. The neatest things it makes, are these necklaces out of old coins. Check out the ones listed on its website, or contact them for a specific year and coin. Note, however, that the currency is of older stock, and European. It's based in the UK, what do you expect? But I'm sure they would work on a custom order, if you have that kind of time. The work is intricate, and then there's that whole overseas shipping thing, so be sure to order soon if you want it here by Christmas. The company also makes coin rings, cuff links, and bracelets and rings from spoons and forks. Pretty cool stuff.

Think Geek

And last, but not least, there is this website. It's as cool as the name sounds. A Tetris desk lamp, Star Wars family car decals and shirts from everyone's favorite CBS sitcom are just a few things it offers. Look no further for the best Star Wars, Star Trek, Big Bang Theory and Doctor Who memorabilia.