Whether or not you'd like to believe it, the hustle and bustle of the holiday season is right around the corner. Sure, we have to get through Halloween first, but December will be here before you know it.

So Why not begin your holiday shopping now? If you have any DIYers on your holiday shopping list, HomeDepot.com is the place to shop. Besides having the best selection of power tools, garden supplies, and building supplies, HomeDepot.com also serves up tons of great money-saving offers like 10% off appliances $297 and more, 20% off select patio heaters, FREE shipping on most orders over $49, and many others. Plus, you can save even more when you open a new account!

With savings like these, there's no excuse to put off your holiday shopping. And just think, when you buy online, you get to skip the crowded malls and long lines!

Have you peeped Product Appeal yet? Product Appeal is a simple and fun concept. We troll the internet searching for the coolest appliances, gadgets, clothes, electronics, games, movies, shoes and accessories and bring them to you. We help you discover great bargains, cutting edge technology, esoteric items and off beat goods such as the Deluxe Red Rider Leg Lamp as featured in the movie, A Christmas Story. C'mon, this stuff is important. So, without further delay, we proudly present, the Product Appeal Best of 2006:

Best Accessory:

OPI's Mrs. O'Leary's BBQ Nail Polish

Best Apparel:

Skinny Jeans

Best Appliance:

Cooper Cooler Tailgater

Best Baby Gear:

Kaloo Soft Baby Sleeping Bag

Best Cell Phone:

Blackberry Pearl 1800

Best 10 Digital Cameras:

Digital Cameras

Best Electronics:

Apple Nike iPod Sport Kit

Best Game Console:

Nintendo Wii

Best Video Game:

Guitar Hero 2

Best MP3 Player:

Apple iPod

Best Shoes:

Steve Madden Brandey Boots

In the new year, be sure to check Product Appeal for the latest and greatest in items available on the world wide web. Have a happy and healthy new year.

-Store and Product Appeal

Oprah's favorite things are cool, but Store Appeal's favorite things...save you money. As 2006 comes to a close, Store Appeal reflects on some of the wonderful stores we have profiled for you over the past year. We have featured a wide variety of merchants selling everything from cigars and sunglasses to flip flops, wetsuits and Disney Halloween costumes. We hope that you have enjoyed Store Appeal, and will continue to remain loyal readers of our newsletter. Your responses to our blog entries have been both gratifying and informative. We encourage you to continue writing to us with your comments, ideas and criticisms. The new year will bring more blogs dedicated to your specific interests, and our usual casting of the widest possible net, to discover the web's freshest, hottest and most unique stores. We now present, Store Appeal's favorite online stores of 2006:

Favorite Electronics Store:

Tigerdirect.com

Favorite Clothing & Accessories Store:

eLuxury.com

Favorite Baby Store:

Strollers.com

Favorite Outdoors Store:

REI.com

Favorite Toys & Games Store:

eStarland.com

Favorite Home & Garden Store:

Factorycard.com

Favorite Pet Supplies Store:

Chimpfeet.com

Favorite Food Store:

Trufflemarket.com

See you next year!

Home, home on the range, where the deer, ahhh, you know the rest. You belong to the city, but your heart is all nature; on a trail, or at a campsite. Frequent hiker passes are only given to those who spend the sort of time you do in the outdoors. Fallen branches could be your next BFF. For you, hiking is as much of a physical journey, as it is contemplative. Spiritual rituals? You are the guru. You know that the best way to enjoy the outdoors is with the proper equipment, and REI.com sells everything you need.

REI.com is the premier source for quality outdoor gear. They stand behind their products with a 100% satisfaction guarantee. Whether you're new to outdoor adventure or a seasoned pro, they’ll gladly share their enthusiasm for their products—and the trails, slopes and waterways where they play.

If you’re about to hit the trail and need a great new pair of hiking boots, a first aid kit or the best way to carry water, REI.com will have it for you. Maybe camping is your style. If you need an all-purpose tool for around the campsite, a way to keep the bugs away or the perfect way to cook a great dinner, you can find that at REI.com, too.

REI.com donates millions of dollars to support conservation efforts nationwide. They send scores of volunteers to build trails, clean up beaches, and teach outdoor ethics to kids. Through responsible business practices, they strive to reduce their environmental footprint. So, go ahead and buy a new fleece for the lodge. When you are ready to do it in nature, make sure you trailblaze your way to REI.com first—they’ll make sure you have what you need. Pack your gear and park your car. It’s time to walk in the woods!

-Joey Z.

Hot town, summer in the city, back of my neck getting dirty and gritty. APB…place your vacation request now, or spend the rest of your summer dripping and sticking to your sweat-stained, 10 thread count bed sheets, while slipping melted ice cubes down your Harajuku Lover’s Baby Snap Beater Tank.

Sure, an elevated riverfront villa at the Sayan Four Seasons in Bali rivals heaven’s allure, or even sneaking budweisers and a belly flop into a HoJo’s chlorine cove sounds breezy, but do you want to know what the most fun and memorable summer vacation can be? Camping. We say can be, because until you hike over to Campinggrunt.com you don’t know squat about how much fun the outdoors can be. With over 20 years of camping experience, and a Boy and Girl Scouts of America seal of approval, Campinggrunt.com carries items from 150 manufacturers including 18,000 different products such as, ADA camping, cookware, coolers, first aid, GPS, showers, and more. Take advantage of their Combo Pack, a 15% discount when purchasing any combo of tent, lantern or stove and sleeping bag. Not just a retail outlet, Campinggrunt.com’s mission is to help make your camping experience safe, affordable and enjoyable with detailed destination suggestions and tips for Scouters, backpacking, campouts, special needs and National and State Parks. Can’t lose the city for the summer? Well, glance at their “Your Camping Night Sky” feature, which gives tips for star gazing in your own backyard. Now, on vacation, you could sleep in an air-conditioned room risking a sore throat, used bed sheets and loud banging from your neighbors next door. Instead, why not spend a starry night with your sweetie, breathing fresh mountain air, while only the wildlife can hear that you’re gettin’ no sleep. Fan a lil’ squeaky? Air conditioner still blowing hot air? Get dirty and gritty the proper way, under the stars, in nature.