
Yes, I know how unsexy it is to suggest a flash drive as a holiday gift, but its practicality is ideal for some people (like my mom, who keeps fretting about transporting and toting digital photos, and my student sister, who needs one for papers and other files). Make it a fun gift to get by selecting a memory stick that's as cute as it is necessary — and check out my picks for the perfect geeky present!

If your office building is old (like mine), and you are nowhere near those old-school radiator heaters that line the walls (like me), and the windows are not exactly "double-paned" to keep the heat in (you know it), there's a good chance you will be f-f-f-freezing come Winter. So what can you do, other than huddle by the heat of your desktop? Get
some USB Heated Gloves, that's what.

Remember how I was saying that
I couldn't seem to keep plants alive? I'm ashamed to admit it, but I just found out it may not just be my negligence after all! It might be that I'm picking the wrong plants for the environment they would be growing in.

Put a mouse peripheral to work — only this guy's not for navigating around your screen; it's an adorable USB hub!
The
Mouse USB Hub (each $17) houses four USB 2.0 ports and comes in green, blue, or white, so not only is it not a boring-looking but practical accessory, he adds to the cute factor of your desk.
When his little eyes light up, you won't even reconsider getting that cat.

It's not easy to keep USB cords in order, but the
88 percent of you who like creative organizers will probably agree this
USB multiplug ($16) looks like it could help.
The device was designed by Theo Williams and features three sockets and four LED lights to denote connectivity. I like that it airs on the subtle side of cord management and doesn't involve a
complicated wall mount or
cartoon-like coverage.