Happy Chanookie!!!

Or, as my father calls it, Chatchka-nookie :)

It never ceases to make me smile when I get to light the Chanukah candles and watch them shine brightly on my windowsill!  Chanukah is such a fantastic time of year for family and friends.  Looking from the outside in, everyone loves to think that Chanukah is about the gifts - especially those with kids!  So, here are our top 5, local Steamboat buys for the perfect Chanukah gifts:

1.  Menorah - all little kids should have one to call their own, but where do you find them in Steamboat?  Off the Beaten Path, of all places!  They have a few different options to choose from, as well as candles, dreidels, and Chanukah gelt!
2.  Ski Gear - although my little boogaloo, Jonah Fleischer, would scream hearing me say that clothing counts as a gift, his parents know what's up when it comes to having the coolest kid's helmets and gear in town!  If I was a little smaller, I would ask for these myself!  Check it out!
3.  Yeehaw!  Bring out their inner cowboy/cowgirl at one of Steamboat's oldest establishments, F.M. Light & Sons.  With everything from pink cowgirl hats and fun boots to fools gold, this is a great way to bring a little Steamboat home for the holiday. (There were Jewish cowboys, right?)
4.  Toys, treats, and chatchkas! Oh my!  Lyon's Drug has all of the fun dolls and toys that your little one can dream of!  Steamboat's Ugly Doll home - it's always a hit!  At the very least, there's a banana split in it for everyone :)
5.  Pullin' out the big guns - what would holiday shopping look like without a trip to WalMart?  Stocked with the newest Barbies and Iron Man shwag, you are sure to find the perfect toy for the "big gift"!!  My personal favorite?  The VTech laptop - only $30, it's a super fun way for kids to learn and play!

As always, the gifts are just the gelt...the real Chanukah miracle is finding the love of your family and friends around you!  A very Happy Chanukah to all of my fellow Steamboat Jewbies! :)