Okay, so maybe buying a new gadget for your child isn’t at the top of your post-holiday to-do list, but it would be wrong of us not to tell you about the latest kids camera from Vtech. The same folks that brought you simple computer games for learning via TV have added a camera to their product list, and it’s far better – and a mite cheaper – than what the market had to offer just a year ago.

The Kidizoom Camera is for kids 3 and up. The sturdy body (with 3 interchangeable faceplates) makes for great kid-tough housing, but the camera is no slouch when it comes to its intended purpose – the 16MB internal memory holds around 200 photos or 5 minutes of video (yes, video). Kids will love the editing features that allow them to distort photos or add silly frames, and they’ll really appreciate being able to see their own slideshows (or Laurie Berkner-inspired videos?) on TV or the computer via the cable connectors. Of course, this video game maker couldn’t resist adding 3 preschool games to increase the fun, but we’re guessing this camera would’ve been just fine without them.

Available at Vtechkids.com, $59.99

If you’re still stumped for stocking stuffers – or just need some new items for your travel game stash – the following ideas should provide you and your kids with new ways to stay entertained.

Remember Rubik’s Cube? This Sudoku Cube has a new twist: it combines the old-school challenge with the more recent Sudoku craze. Recommended for kids 6-11. $9.95 at Barnes & Noble

Would You Rather is a fun, fascinating game that we’ve all played at one time or another. The game has a series of cards posing interesting dilemmas, like would you rather have five bottles stuck on five fingers for a year or a bucket stuck on your foot for a year? 12 to adult. $9.99 at Amazon (more…)

Our SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder) is kicking in, so we’ve been looking for things to keep the spirits up:

• Travel + Leisure recently announced their 20 Favorite Green Hotels. We read a complaint that only one was in the US, but we’ll take what we can get and just hope for more closer to home…
• This link to unusually beautiful photos of Geneva reminds us that, relatively speaking, our winter is not so bad.
• Kids love silliness and honestly, so do we. Indulge them on Halloween or on your next vacation: go here and teach them how to say “oh my God, there’s an axe in my head” in several languages (including Klingon) .
• If your vacation photos elicit oohs and aahhs at their beauty, you’ll be interested in Photopreneur’s post on how to make money with your vacation photos.
• Finally, go global tonight with a list of Halloween traditions from around the world.  Happy Halloween!