BY SARA MAGNOLA

The race is on! The holidays are almost upon us, which means gift buying time is running out. To avoid the last minute mall rush, we’ve come up with some fantastic ideas that can be purchased online or at nearby retailers, to ensure come the holidays, you’ll have the perfect present for everyone on your list.

	ADOPT A MARINE CREATURE Price: From $25 This holiday season “adopt” a member of the world’s marine life, who are at risk from over fishing, pollution and habitat destruction, for you or a loved ones. Your donation will help Oceana’s advocacy efforts to protect these creatures and their habitats. As a special token of thanks, gift recipients can receive their choice of cookie cutters, an official adoption certificate, facts on ocean creatures and a sugar cookie recipe. And, for a donation of $100 or more, they’ll also receive an exclusive Oceana oven mitt. It’s a unique and meaningful gift for the whole family to enjoy! To learn more, head to www.Oceana.org/adopt.
	PLAYAWAY Price: $30 For someone who has everything but time, Playaway is the first and only pre-loaded audiobook player – allowing listeners to just press play and go. With no cumbersome CDs or time-consuming downloads, it’s perfect for the busy book lover. To learn more, visit www.playawaydigital.com.
	DREAMGEAR’S PLUG-AND-PLAY SHREDMASTER JR Price: $50 Kids will be rockin’ with dreamGEAR’s plug-and-play ShredMaster JR. The guitar-shaped controller plugs directly into any TV without an expensive gaming console. Players can jam along to 10 licensed songs, including chart-topping tunes made famous by artists like Bon Jovi. For more information, visit www.dreamgear.net.
	DUXIANA LUXURY TRAVEL PILLOW Price: $86 The DUXIANA travel pillow is made with Hungarian white goose down and comes complete with the Classic Case with a handle and a tassled-zipper closure. The pillow’s dimensions are 16” x 20” and it folds up into its small stuff sac. It is perfect for use in the car, on top of a hotel pillow or on a plane. Get this luxury item at DUXIANA, the specialty boutique shop that retails the Swedish DUX Beds, luxury linens, comforters and pillows, and has locations in Ridgewood, Summit and Red Bank. They offer complimentary wrapping as well. To learn more, visit www.duxbed.com.
	AIR CANNONS Price: From $895 Harness the excitement at an arena or any special event, when T-shirts or other promotional items are shot up high into the air for excited fans to catch a treasure of the game or special event they are attending. Air Cannons, Inc. provides the added convenience of shrink-wrapping the T-shirts so the shooter can blast out more shirts in a shorter amount of time. These personalized cannons have been featured in such shows as “American Chopper” and “Pimp My Ride.” Besides shooting T-shirts, the air cannons can also shoot other items that include coupons or other branding materials. Air Cannons also provide custom promotional products, including foam formed bottles, cans, stuffed animals, and soft toy cars. To learn more, visit www.aircannonsinc.com or call (720) 207-9077.
	I.SOUND ROADTALK Price: $94 Your loved ones will drive safely with i.Sound RoadTalk, a hands-free Bluetooth wireless car kit – the first to be iPhone compatible. It plugs directly into the car’s cigarette lighter and immediately transmits your conversations through the car stereo. You can also listen to iPods or MP3-players on the go. To learn more, visit www.isound.net.
	SUPER.FI 3 STUDIO EARPHONES Price: $99 Brighten the sounds of the holidays with noise-isolating Super.fi 3 Studio earphones. Born out of hands-on experience with music legends like Van Halen and Madonna, Ultimate Ears’ portfolio of rockstar-grade earphones is ideal for new bands and fans alike. To learn more visit www.ultimateears.com.
	SHARK STEAM MOP Price: $79 Guests are gone, but messes aren’t? Eco-friendly Shark Steam Mop gets the party host off to a clean and healthy new year. These mops clean without leaving any residue and dry instantly. They turn ordinary tap water into a powerful cleaner, leaving floors free from toxins that can be harmful to children and pets. They contain no chemicals or disposable pads, making them environmentally friendly, as well. To learn more visit, www.sharksteammop.com.
	LOC8TOR Price: From $99 Lost in wrapping paper? Help loved ones find their toys, keys and even pets with Loc8tor, the most sophisticated tracking device of its kind. Loc8tor’s directional capabilities with on-screen visuals guide you to lost valuables and provide peace of mind. Loc8tor Plus’ Alert and Panic feature even warns if children or pets go beyond pre-determined boundaries of up to 600 feet. To learn more, visit www.loc8tor.com.