We want to help you make the most out of Mother’s Day, so we have rounded up some of the best deals on the web. Mom will appreciate that you thought of her, and you can rest easy knowing that she’s sure raised a smart shopper! Check out our list and take advantage of these great deals with the promotional codes below. Happy Mother’s Day!

These gifts under $30 are cuter than Cupid and a perfect present for any gal-pal, Secret Cupid office draw, “just a friend” or even your own little cherub at home. They may not scream “It’s Valentine’s Day!” but hey, let’s leave that task to the lovebirds. Give a nod to the holiday in a thoughtful and whimsical way with these “sweet something” gift ideas:

Handmade Paper Scrolls

Give a grown-up Valentine in festive flair with these elegant paper notes made in India. ($3.99 at World Market)

Mechanical Music Box

Making sweet music has never been easier, or more adorable, than with this little mechanical music box. ($8.00 at Urban Outfitters)

Invisible Ink Pen Kit

This how-to booklet and invisible ink kit are perfect for penning a secret love letter or trying your hand at amateur espionage. ($20.00 at Amazon.com)

Candy Confetti Bracelet

Share the sweetness of candy, minus the calories, with this on-trend friendship bracelet. ($10.33 from Helloberry on Etsy)

Custom Holiday Pop-Tarts Gift Box

Breakfast in bed is great for a beau, but a custom box of holiday Pop-Tarts is also fun tribute to the most important meal of the day. ($14.95 at PopTartsWorld.com)

The Valentine Bird

Hacky Sack meets Beanie Baby in this precious handmade memento, perfect for an old friend or schoolmate. ($26.00 from Sabahnur on Etsy)

Fish Corkscrew

Sure, there are lots of fish in the sea, but this handy corkscrew has to be the most original way to pop open a bottle of wine on Valentine’s Day. ($16.00 at Urban Outfitters)

Wire Scalp Massager

No need to invest in an expensive spa day to give the gift of relaxation. This Wire Scalp Massager is probably the most cost-effective way to pamper a friend. ($2.98 at Amazon.com)

Venus Fly Trap Plant

A spunky alternative to the standard bouquet of roses, this Venus Fly Trap is a humorous way to commemorate the day. ($4.69 at Amazon.com)

Mini Easel Chalkboard

Don’t let the sweet talk stop at Valentine’s Day. Use this Mini Easel Chalkboard to leave thoughtful memos year round. ($6.99 at World Market)

Whoever the recipient, these sweet somethings are a gesture of gratitude to suit any budget. For more ideas, see the rest of our Valentine’s Day Gift Guide on the Elfster Shop page.

Check out the rest of the Gift Guide!

Photo credits: aussiegall

Elfster is going to be a part of an exciting new holiday level of Angry Birds on Google Chrome!

But what good are fun and games without a little touch of teamwork? For this devilishly thrilling endeavor, Elfster is joining forces with 3 other online holiday helpers to bring you one step closer to the Angry Birds yuletide bonanza. Elfster and the participating Apps will each contain a portion of a secret code. When you put that complete secret code together, you will be able to unlock that special holiday level of the game.

To get the Elfster portion of the code, first open the Elfster App for Google Chrome. Then, simply “Make a Wish” (might we suggest this pair of Angry Birds slippers?) and all will be revealed….

In addition to the Elfster App on Google Chrome, these are the other Apps you’ll need:

Astrid

“Astrid is a to-do list that helps you get stuff done. Astrid therefore makes it really easy create lists, add tasks, set priority, and set due dates and times. But it’s more than a personal to-do list. Astrid makes it easy to ask for help, delegate and share lists. All your task details are private by default, but it is free and easy to share things with as many people as you want.”

Download the Astrid App HERE at the Chrome Web Store!

Earbits

“Earbits is personalized streaming radio with cojones. No ads, no commercials, no subscriptions…just bad ass music and a slick website with plenty of things to keep you busy. Explore and connect with killer bands across a huge variety of genres. Check out their Facebook page, follow them on Twitter. Share songs with your friends. Skip as much as you want. Or, just listen like a lazy bum.”

Download the Earbits App HERE at the Chrome Web Store!

Hipmunk

“Hipmunk is a remarkable new travel search site that aims to take the agony out of travel planning. We designed our site to help people who are overwhelmed with pages of irrelevant search results. Flight results are presented in a visual ‘timeline’ that allows people to select the best flight for them at a glance. Hotel results are shown on a map so that people can view where in a destination they will be staying and the landmarks near them."

Download the Hipmunk App HERE at the Chrome Web Store!

With the power of these Apps combined, you can unlock that special seasonal level of Angry Birds, conquering the holiday in a blaze of glory that will have your opponents crying “Fowl!” Let the quest of the Bragging Rights begin!

PS- Don’t have Chrome yet? Get Chrome with Elfster and Angry Birds Pre-Installed!

Well, long story short… He got socks. This low-risk-low-reward style of wishing is no way to get what you really want for the holidays, and does little to inspire the joy of giving in others.

That’s why Elfster is urging you to dream big this holiday season, and wish even bigger. For instance, say you want a pony… Go ahead and wish for the pony! We aren’t ones to neigh-say and tell you the idea isn’t practical. All you need is a little help from an Elf to make your wish official. So, if you’ll settle for nothing less than a pony in your holiday goodie bag, here are the 5 whimsical ways that Elfster can help you add that pretty lil’ Pinto to your virtual Wishlist:

Use the Elfster Browser Button

Install the Wishlist Browser Button and add anything to your Wishlist from any site on the web. First, find the pony of your dreams on any pony dealer website. Click the browser button to add him to your Wishlist. Confirm by clicking the pink Elfster text box that appears on the page. Congratulations! You’ve just wished for a pony.

Search our Database of Gifts

What if you don’t have a particular pony in mind just yet? Once you’ve signed-in, use the search box in the upper right hand corner of the Elfster homepage to peruse potential ponies. Simply type in the word “pony” and hit enter. The page will then be populated with all of the ponies and pony products you could possibly imagine. (The search will display all ponies that have ever been uploaded by the Elfster community.) Once you find one that catches your eye, see how popular that particular pony is by looking at the product description, which tells you how many Elfster “Likes” the little guy has earned.

Add the Link to Your Wishlist Page

You can also add anything to your Wishlist by going to the “Wish” page of your Elfster profile. From here, type in the name of the desired item (in this case “A Pony”) and click the "Add to Wishlist" button. Your wish can also take the form of a URL, from which Elfster will post the image of the item and its description directly to your Wishlist.

Scan the Barcode

Giddy up! With our newly released iPhone and Android apps, you don’t need to be anywhere near a computer to add that pony to your Wishlist. Simply use the app’s bar code scanning feature and your wish will be ready to ride!

Snap a Picture

Both of our Elfster Mobile apps come complete with a "Photo Wish" feature. Use your phone to take a picture of anything you’ve got your eye on, and add it right to your Wishlist, with or without a barcode.

Win a Pony! That’s Right, Win a Pony.

See? Wishing for ponies can be fun! If you’re ready to ride into the sunset on your own faithful steed, wish no more. Elfster is giving away one adorable animal companion just in time for the holidays. We’ll choose one lucky winner at random to receive their very own 3-foot-tall pink plush pony from Amazon. So what are you waiting for, Christmas? Go and get that pony, pronto!

Visit the Elfster Facebook Page HERE to Enter!

Photo credit: Vintage Fairytale , Big Plush

Amid the usual batch of Black Friday horror stories and obligatory tales of “buyer beware”, Elfster has managed to find one textbook case of gift-giving gone good this holiday season. As the inaugural post of our Elfster Spotlight blog series, we’re sharing the story of two longtime users who are now celebrating their 5^th annual Elfster gift exchange… with 12 of their closest college classmates!

When Mariam Shahab and Erika Lam were freshmen at Boston University, the two Communications majors formed a unique and lasting bond with their college dorm neighbors: Caty, Constance, Sarah, Julia, Alice, Caitlin, Emilie, Steph, Shannon, Lori, Michelle, and Becky. Clearly in need of a more concise nickname, the group called themselves “14C” for short.

“We all lived on the same floor of a huge freshmen dormitory,” explains Mariam, who is now a Communications professional living in Dallas. “Our name, 14C, originated from the fact that we lived on the 14th floor of Tower C in the building. Coincidentally, there were also 14 girls in our tight knit ‘family.’”

That December, the group of friends, all freshmen Communications majors at BU, chose to begin a holiday tradition to help ease their end-of-semester stresses. As Erika recalls, “We decided to start a Secret Santa gift exchange – to get our mind on the holidays and off of exams! We did it the old-fashioned way our first year, literally drawing names out of a hat.”

The approach was adequate for the time being, but as the group discovered, the standard Secret Santa name draw had some real drawbacks once the group was dispersed and moved out of the dorm. This inspired the tech-savvy Mariam to give Elfster’s online Secret Santa organizer a shot.

“After freshmen year,” Mariam says, “our living situations started shifting and we moved all over campus. That being said, it was, of course, easier to draw names through Elfster.” She adds, “Using Elfster let me control exchange aspects like not having roommates draw each other. And it remembers year over year draws and prevents people from getting the same person each time.”

The ladies of 14C have since finished school and moved away from Boston, but thanks to Elfster, they are still keeping their college tradition alive almost 4 years later. Mariam says the group remains as close-knit as ever, even though they are now far-stretched geographically.

“Since graduation last year,” Mariam says, “we’ve settled all over the US – from Dallas and New York to Los Angeles and Shanghai. Regardless of distance, our friendship has kept up over the years.”

Although Elfster has helped the group to maintain this bond, Mariam says the exchanges have been known to become competitive, too, with some of the friends trying to ascertain their Secret Santa’s identity well before the final swap.

“As with any good secret gift exchange,” she admits, “we always have a few friends who try to figure out who has who.”

All of this begs the question: Has Mariam ever exploited her position as exchange organizer to drop “helpful hints” to the devious detectives of the group? No way, she says.

According to Mariam, “They would often try to get me to use my admin/exchange host rights to confirm their algorithm of clues matching friends up.” But in the end, she says, “I didn’t succumb.”

The good-natured guessing game will continue this holiday season, it appears, as the women of 14C plan their latest gift exchange on Elfster. “This year marks our fifth year of 14C Secret Santa!” Erika says.

The women of 14C all agree, Elfster is a great way to stay in touch over the holidays, as well as over the years. “We’ve had great experiences with Elfster. Using it to set up our gift exchanges helped bridge our busy schedules in college and now our distances across the country and globe.”

Photos courtesy of: Mariam Shahab and Erika Lam

Elfster Mobile for iPhone

Ready…Set… Wish! Instantly add any item to your Elfster wishlist with all-new photo bar code scanning on Elfster Mobile. Check out your friends’ wishlists, ask them secret questions, see the hottest trending gifts, or check in on your “Secret Santa” exchange while you’re out and about. The app is free at the Apple Store and works with any iPhone and iPad.

*Elfster Mobile is also coming soon to Android. Please check back for updates.

Download Elfster Mobile for iPhone Here

Elfster Facebook App

Everyone’s invited! Keep tabs on your Elfster buddies and your Facebook friends in one place with the Elfster Facebook app. Users can organize a signature Elfster gift exchange while maintaining full use of their Facebook chat and activity feed. Better still, the app maintains all the features of the Elfster site, making it a fully-functional version of our Secret Santa service.

Download the Elfster Mobile Facebook App Here

Elfster for Google Chrome

Throw a party in your Chrome browser! With Elfster Chrome, you can organize your gift exchange with friends and family, share wishes using Elfster’s social wishlist feature, and catch up on all the latest and coolest trending gifts. The app is free and elves are standing by to make sure you and your buddies have a great time.

Download Elfster for Google Chrome Here

Photo credits: Robert S. Donovan

The leaves are falling, and your Elfster buddies are already dropping holiday hints like there’s no tomorrow.

But just because the month of October has come and gone like a magic pumpkin, doesn’t mean it’s time to dive head-first into the December gifting madness just yet. There are a lot of great gift ideas for the autumn season, and with an entire month to go before winter begins, we don’t want to jump on the gingerbread and mistletoe bandwagon just yet.

Here’s a look back over the past few weeks at our most popular gift ideas for the month of October, each with its own flawless fall flair:

Little Baker Necklace

97 Likes

The charming “Little Baker” charm necklace is the perfect fall fashion accessory for your favorite chef.

$29.00 at Etsy.com

Wicked Witch Bookmark on Etsy

95 Likes

Good witch and bad can finally agree on perfect present in this adorable handmade bookmark.

$25.00 at Etsy.com

Vampire Protection Kit Necklace

25 Likes

Stylishly slay vampires with this Vampire Protection Kit Charm necklace.

$68.00 at Moxsie.com

DJ Cat Scratch Turntable

85 Likes

This adorable gift puts a new “spin” on the phrase “cat scratch fever” while making your pet the life of the party.

$34.99 at PerpetualKid.com

Bird on a Wire Photo Holder

225 Likes

Give your favorite photos some Alfred Hitchcock panache with this clever and affordable “Birds on a Wire” display.

$12.95 at ZGallerie.com

One Line a Day Journal

170 Likes

Journaling has never been easier, or more stylish, than with this beautiful blue memory book.

$19.00 at PotteryBarn.com

Owl Mugs and Tea Set

154 Likes

A little birdie told us these adorable owl mugs make a great autumn house-warming gift.

$29.00 at Vivaterra.com

Spider Cupcake Holders

50 Likes

These affordable cupcake holders are a simple and festive fix for your Halloween dessert display.

$0.95 at CrateAndBarrel.com

The iPhone Photo Printer

99 Likes

Your very own Halloween photo booth is less than phone call away with this handy iPhone photo printer.

$159.95 at Hammacher.com

Roald Dahl’s Book of Ghost Stories

43 Likes

Tall tales abound in this spooky collection of Dahl’s favorite scary stories.

$11.20 at Amazom.com

Message-in-a-Cookie Cutters

121 Likes

This holiday season, say it with cookies. These handy cookie molds make personalization possible for a sweet treat.

$19.95 at Williams-Sonoma.com

Skeleton Hands Servers

82 Likes

Spice up the salad with these sinister Skeleton Hand Servers at your next Haunted House.

$19.99 at WorldMarket.com

Photo Credit: D Sharon Pruitt

Among you are families and groups with long standing traditions being developed.  You have groups that are international, spread all over the globe, that are coming together to share an experience.   Some of you have experienced difficult losses and are finding some comfort and support by using Elfster together with friends.

We think these great stories of generous gift-givers deserve to be told. That’s why we’re pleased to announce:

“Elfster Spotlight”, a new regular blog feature highlighting real Elfster users!

We need your nominations.  Here’s what we’re looking for in an Elfster Spotlight:

• Elfster Heroes who’ve made a great tradition of exchanging gifts at Elfster.
• Ambitious Elves who are planning a huge gift exchange (Guinness Record, anyone?!)
• Extreme Elves  who are loving Elfster to the extreme .
• Elf Innovators who are finding interesting new ways to use Elfster.
• Storyteller Elves who’ve got an interesting Elfster story to tell .

The honorees’ stories will reach thousands of users and visitors to the site, and they’ll also receive personal props and shout-outs on our Facebook and Twitter pages. Here, fans of Elfster will see how these groups are using the site to better connect with friends and loved ones, and the groups will earn some web exposure in return.

To nominate a group, simply leave a comment including 1.) The name of your exchange, and 2.) A brief explanation of what makes the group special. Of course, we’ll be taking suggestions on our Facebook and Twitter pages, as well.

With the holidays well on their way, now is the time to really share your unique experiences with the Elfster community.  We can’t wait to hear and share your stories.

Photo credits: Mikko Luntiala , Jerine

“You don’t have to buy me anything this year!” Or, “I’ve got all the gifts I need, seriously.” And let’s not forget the old favorite, “Please don’t buy me a present.”

These are some of the more nauseating bluffs that seem to spike in popularity during the holiday gifting season. In our opinion, talk like that has no place in the home, and it’ll cost you a pretty penny in the Swear Jar if uttered in front of Nana.

So how can a well-meaning member of the family bring up the touchy subject of holiday gift-giving to their busy, budget-conscious kin? By suggesting a Secret Santa gift exchange, of course!

Now, the task of bringing up such a notion can be tricky, as pre-established holiday traditions are generally the toughest to alter. You’re going to need a game plan, and possibly a few months to wait for your family to come around. That’s why we’re bringing you a few tips to help get them onboard with a Secret Santa-style gift exchange as early as October. Here’s our advice:

Start Early

Plan a trial Halloween or Thanksgiving gift exchange. This smaller-scale swap will warm your family to the idea of a Secret Santa, and allow them to work out the logistics of the exchange under slightly less pressure than during the Christmas time-crunch.

Get Backup

Find an ally in the family who will attest to the genius of your idea. Two elves are better than one, and that extra support will help the other family members get excited about the exchange.

Embellish the Truth

Pretend that Grandpa secretly longs to do a Secret Santa exchange, but is too embarrassed to ask.

Highlight the Benefits

Win over the apathetic adolescent by explaining that buying for just one person will give them ample to loiter with their BFF’s at the local shopping mall. Create a supporting info-graphic chart to hang on the ceiling when they roll their eyes at the idea.

Use the Power of Suggestion

Ask how many people are in your giant extended family again. (You rest your case.)

Ask an Elf

Remember, Elfster makes Secret Santa easier and more fun than ever. The free online exchange organizer will help you invite participants, draw names, drop hints, ask secret questions, and follow your buddy’s wishlist without the holiday hassle.

Try Elfster’s Online Secret Santa Generator

Photo credits: Pink Sherbet Photography , CarbonNYC

Hard to believe, but there are still some sticklers out there who maintain that wearing white after Labor Day is the ultimate crime of fashion. Sure, we have our theories on where those crazy notions came from (Prima Donna polar bears, we’re looking at you…) But here at Elfster, we’ve got our own almanac of arbitrary style no-no’s.

We know what you’re thinking. With garishly stripped stockings and a jingle bell on each foot, an Elf’s interpretation of “fashion” is about as loose as a pair of control-top pantyhose. But that’s doesn’t mean we’re completely without standards. Just take a look at our top secrets to smashing seasonal style and judge for yourself:

• No rhinestone-studded beer goggles after New Year’s.
• No “I’m With Stupid” T-shirts before Valentine’s.
• Only artificial mohair after Groundhog Day. (Preferably pink.)
• No green body suits until St. Patrick’s Day.
• Mandatory Dunce Caps on April Fools’.
• Earth tones on Earth Day, if you please.
• No terry cloth mankinis after Spring Break ‘07.
• Mullets strictly prohibited after Father’s Day.
• No stars OR stripes before the Fourth of July.
• False Hillbilly teeth are frowned upon after Halloween.
• Feather boas must wait until Thanksgiving leftovers are finished.
• Pointy hats acceptable year round.

Do you have any seasonal style rules or other arbitrary fashion mandates? We’d like to hear them!

Now, will you please consider doing something about those socks…

Photo credit: Shandi-lee , AnnaKika