In the spirit of creating and supporting community, many Boulderites ignored the Black Friday buzz and made the decision to allocate their gifting dollars to local businesses and artists this holiday season. In an effort to foster commitments like these and to promote community and simplify local holiday shopping, Firefly Handmade is again offering the Boulder community a one-stop, local shopping experience.

Getting gifts for children can be a magical adventure in toyland, with thousands of games, puzzles, dolls and toys to choose from. But it can also be a huge headache if you dont know what to get, or if you want to give something a little more special than the latest plastic action hero.

When the Nintendo Wii hit store shelves back in 2006, it revolutionized the way we play video games. Its motion-sensing controllers allowed for a player to physically involve himself in a game, with the player's movements captured by the game.

Whether your little ones enjoy playing out in the cold or staying warm inside with a good story, theres bound to be something theyll love. So when youre done wrapping presents and baking Christmas cookies, check out these kid-friendly holiday happenings.

They are selling holiday-themed lotions to raise money for Boulder-based Shelter Me Photography, an operation that provides free professional photo services to shelters around the country. Shelter Me accelerates adoption rates through the circulation of high-quality, promotional images of pets on websites and in newspapers, for example.

The 2010 Kids and Family Reading Report, conducted by Scholastic and the Harrison Group, found that parents are increasingly concerned that kids seem to be reading fewer books as they spend more time online and on cell phones..

If that silent someone is your favorite four-legged friend, however, help is waiting. Stop in to your local pet shop, and youll find more than a huge selection of toys and treats. Youll also get personalized help from someone who cares about your pet as much as you do.

It's been said before that Boulder has something for everyone, and during the holidays, its easy to see just how true that is. Just take a peek at the wide array of holiday-themed theatre productions, or all of the delicious seasonal selections at your favorite local restaurants (and breweries!).