1. Thermos Nissan 18-Ounce Stainless Steel Hydration Bottle - $17.75 – You might think this is expensive for a water bottle, but this thing is silly.  It keeps my water cold for an entire day.  It’s virtually unbreakable, and the opening for the water is big enough so that I can get big gulps of water instead drinking through a tube or squirting the water.  No unscrewing the cap either, like the Nalgene bottles.  Push a button and you get cold ass water.
2. ASUS O!Play – TV HD Media Player – $99.95 – I have a Western Digital Media Player as well.  This thing is similar, but it has an added RJ-45 jack for media streaming directly from my laptop.  It’s pretty awesome.  It plays pretty much everything.  And I got it hooked up to my money Samsung 46″ LCD.  Who needs Netflix or DVRs anymore?
3. iPhone 3GS – $499 – I paid $500 for this stupid thing, but I can’t imagine my life without this thing now.  I can do everything on it.  Stock quotes, golf gps, compass, google maps, texting, MMS, Shazam, store my passwords via eWallet, internet tethering, ipod, check my fantasy football scores, IM’ing via Beejive….you name it and this thing has got it.  When I don’t have my laptop, the iPhone is the next best replacement.  I can do everything on it.
4. Rubbermaid 3H89 Configurations 4-to-8-Foot Deluxe Custom Closet Kit, Titanium – $136.38 – Took me a few hours to install the thing, but this thing adds so much more space to my closet.  I have a 783 sq feet condo, and it came with one metal rack in my closet.  The thing broke because I had so much stuff on it.  With the rubbermaid closet kit above, I have three times as many things on it and a lot less junk lying around now.
5. Eureka Enviro Steamer - $69.99 – I have a film of grime on my hardwood floors.  I tried a regular mop, but it didn’t work very well.  This Eureka Enviro Steamer took the layer of crap away and my hardfloors are clean and sanitized now.  220 degrees of steam vaporized everything in its way.  Get one, you won’t regret it.
6. Simmons Beautyrest Cotton Cover Latex Pillow - $39.99 – Yes, I paid forty dollars for a pillow, but I gotta say, this pillow is ridiculous.  Not too hard, not too soft and it conforms to my head and neck.  Spend the money, you will thank me later.
7. Swiss Gear Ibex 17″ Notebook Backpack – $73.27 – I was looking for a backpack to fit my big laptop and some clothes for use on short trips.  Well, this backpack was perfect.  It holds a ton of things.  It probably has 15 different pockets.  It’s a little pricey, but well worth it.
8. DOPP Regatta Magnetic Money Clip and Card Holder – $19.99 – I used to carry a Coach tri-fold wallet, but boy was that thing clunky.  I felt like George Costanza and his wallet.  With this new money-clip/card holder, my wallet is now a quarter of the size and it fits in my front pocket, so no more sitting on my wallet.  At twenty bucks, you can’t go wrong.

Ever receive a gift that leaves you wondering…what in the hell? Let’s be honest for a sec, while the candle is a nice gesture, chances are it will sit and collect dust (unless you’re a candle collector & love candles)…anyway, my point is…when you don’t know what to get someone, but still want to get something for them, think PRACTICALITY!

Here are some items that I think are practical for any person…items that maybe they will ask, what the hell? at first, but eventually will be grateful for when they need it, but didn’t know they had it and then remembered someone (YOU) bought it for them!