Posts Tagged ‘gift ideas’
Christmas is now on the way and just for a laugh I thought it would be a cool idea to write down a few of the strangest things I have recieved over the holiday season.
Her mind seems to be drifting further and further away each year as the presents are getting weirder with each passing Christmas. I seem to always receive these from my Aunt who simply loves to buy everyone crazy gifts. These gifts make you feel like a kid again and are welcome over the normal socks and clothes.
Some of these xmas gifts have even been Eco gifts which I cannot say I am a personal fan of but nevertheless some of them have been really quite fun to mess around with, so without further waffling, here is the list of my favourites.
The Fighting Old Gits
The great thing about these is that whenever they are switched on you seem to get a small gathering of people each routing for one granddad over the other. Basically you get two toy granddads and once you set them down on the table or wherever they start hitting each other with canes. It was just like watching Hulk Hogan wrestle it out in twenty years time.
The wack USB chess game
Of course personally I will never play chess, I thought it was still a cool little gift as the set knew exactly when I made a wrong move
Bed Linen
Yes I received fair-trade bed linen from my mad aunt and this is the strangest of all the items received as it isn’t even a crazy gift.
Has she now lost it altogether? I am quite looking forward to seeing what present I recieve from her this holliday season. What will it be?
How about you – let me know in the comments what your weirdest christmas presents have been.
As Christmas is finally on its way I thought I would start to get into the mood by writing about some of the strangest things I have actually been given.
With each passing year the gifts just seem to get madder and madder meaning only one thing, is my aunt losing it. My Aunt is the one who does this as she always hands out crazy gifts. These gifts make you feel like a kid again and are welcome over the normal socks and clothes.
Some of these xmas gifts have even been green gifts which I cannot say I am a personal fan of but nevertheless some of them have been really quite fun to mess around with, so without further baffling, here is the list of my favourites.
Fighting Granddads
These granddads are so simple to use and even better to watch, it is amazing to see a room cheer for a certain old fogey. I looked on in amazement as I had two toy old men who whenever put near eachother started to attempt to kill one another. However I did get a bit of enjoyment out of watching two old men hit eachother with a stick, is that so wrong.
The wack USB chess game
Although personally I cannot stand chess I still thought it was a cool gift simply because the device knew exactly when I was making a mistake which just so happened to be all the time
The poor Bed linen gift
Yes I received eco bed linen from my mad aunt and this is the strangest of all the items received as it isn’t even a crazy gift.
has Aunt lost the last part of her mind? The wait for Christmas is on and I cannot wait to see what I get from her this year. After all, most people have that crazy person who loves to give out wacky gifts every year right?
How about you – let me know in the comments what your weirdest christmas presents have been.
Although it would seem a bit shame for me to talk about Christmas when it is still a few months away yet, many people are out there looking for ethical gifts. The problem is, when is there ever any time at all. Some people may have time off in October to do shopping and some leave it to late November and even a few days before Christmas in an attempt to get some last minute deals.
Is there anyone in your family who takes looking after the environment seriously, if so there are many gifts out there for them.
The comfy Fair Trade Slippers
Alpaca’s are what make up these slippers and no this is not made up at all. Not one of these animals has been slaughtered for this cause, all of them that are used have died of natural causes. The people who make these are paid well as these slippers are fair trade so you get the best of comfort in the slippers and knowing someone is having a decent life.
How about that Organic Bathrobe
In terms of recycled tableware this is going to be of no use to you whatsoever, however this bathrobe is made out of organic cotton and is very comfy indeed.
When it comes to vases to keep the flowers in you wouldn’t expect to find recycled vases but believe it or not you can even be eco friendly when it comes to keeping your flowers looking nice and healthy.
All of these gifts are perfect for anyone with the love of the environment and although your son isn’t going to prefer a fair trade slipper over a brand new Xbox 360, granddad and granny may love to receive these presents. Of course if you are enthusiastic about these kinds of things then why not purchase them for yourself?
So there you have it, you decide when and how you are going to do your Christmas shopping.
Fighting my way through a crowded store with my arms full of packages is not my cup of tea. My mother loves to shop, but I did not inherit that part of her genetic composition. The part that I detest the most, however, is trying to guess what gifts everyone would actually enjoy and appreciate. I used to have this inescapable fear that all of my gift shopping efforts usually resulted in a rushed trip back to the store or, worse, out to the trash receptacle. I could never feel confident about what to get my Grandma or Uncle Arthur. Now, I can enjoy the stores, especially during the holidays, because I walk through empty handed, unrushed, with all of my shopping already long finished. I do all my shopping on the Internet, now. Well almost all of it.
While online shopping keeps me from being pushed around in a busy department store or standing in line at a little boutique, it doesn’t keep me from the most dreaded part of any gift giving event; choosing the right gift for a birthday, a holiday, a sick friend or whomever. Then about five years ago, I discovered food.
Of course, I actually discovered food when I was still an infant, but it didn’t occur to me as a great gift until I had suffered through many rounds of birthdays, baby showers, and countless other events that seem to always pop up. I received a gift basket of little sausages, spreadable cheeses and plain crackers. It was terrible! At the same time, though, I thought what a great gift this could have been. All they had to change in the gift was the quality of the contents!
Since that moment of momentous insight on my part, I have been a dedicated sampler of a variety of food gifts that I buy for myself on the Internet. I have found that the online gift food stores handle everything from shipping to the accompanying gift cards. Yes, I actually send myself a gift card to test the store’s dedication to detail. The Internet boutiques are now the sources for all of my gifts, except those gifts of my loved ones who happen to live very nearby.
These Internet shops offer everything from gourmet fruit baskets to live lobster dinners (well, they won’t be alive when they are actually eaten), from wine gift baskets to cookie bouquets. The array of gift foods is really quite amazing.
I do keep gift foods around the house, beautifully or cleverly arranged, for my guests who come to my house or for those whom I visit in person during those gift giving times. The Internet provides assistance to me even in these cases, because it is packed full of great ideas for arranging and wrapping gift food.
So join me in thanking the web for teaching me how to walk through an aisle of a store, empty handed, with a huge smile. I can do that, now, just to soak up the spirit of the season, whatever season it happens to be. I’m a tourist when I’m there instead of a frantic shopper.
Have you hit a cold spell in your sales? Are you feeling blue from all those cold calls? Then why not “warm” your clients up and improve your relationships with them? Sales professionals earn respect by being competent and experts in their field, but respect plus being liked by your clients will result in an endless stream of referrals and a potential for exponential sales growth.
“Well, I’m an expert with my product, but I’m not very outgoing. What can I do to improve the relationships with my clients?” You may ask.
One good approach is to give them something valuable that you could afford to give away for FREE and in the process ask questions to learn more about your clients. Be ready with at least one piece of valuable information to improve your clients’ lives.Send out a monthly or quarterly e-zine or newsletter with FREE and beneficial information whether you are a loan officer, life insurance agent, auto salesperson or sell vending machine equipment. Do things that your competitors would not be willing to do!
The second part is to send out inexpensive but quality gifts they will like. They can be something personal to your clients’ hobbies, family or job or just something they would enjoy and be grateful to you for going out of your way to do. Other gratifying business gifts that are inexpensive and that can be produced in mass are certain desserts and candy. There are many different kinds of cookies that are easy to pack for delivery or drop off, as well as chocolate covered pretzel rods, chocolate covered crisped rice treats to mention a few. For your truly special clients you could choose from many easy recipes for cake or pie. Learn which sweets your customers like best and they will appreciate your efforts. Try to stay away from recipes that ask for nuts since some people are allergic to them, unless you know for certain they don’t have any nut allergies. Drop in a list of the ingredients to be safe. Of course you do NOT need to make the gifts yourself, you could order them online and have them delivered~Of course if you are “kitchen-challenged” then you could order the gifts online and have them delivered}~{Of course you do NOT need to make the gifts yourself, you could order them online and have them delivered}~Of course if you are “kitchen-challenged” then you could order the gifts online and have them delivered}.
“When should I give my clients gifts?” You wonder.
Excellent question! You should know your client and train yourself to master the art of conversation. Learn about your clients’ lives and their families. Through the course of your conversation keep track of special occasions or anything they are proud of. Then create an organized system to keep track as well as reminders.
Here is a list of 10 ½ Great Occasions in which to give your clients gifts:
- Congratulations on their birthdays or
- Their children’s birthdays or graduations
- Milestone wedding anniversaries
- Milestone anniversaries at an organization they belong to
- Wish them “Bon Voyage” for their First Cruise
- Recognize them for a promotion they’ve earned
- Their children have earned
- Birth of a new child
- Retirement
- For becoming the coach of their child’s soccer team
And finally…
10 ½ Reward them for milestone referrals they give you
As you come up with your own occasions just simply think about moments, events or achievements for which they would be proud of themselves.
So your boyfriend is far away on a long trip? Whatever the purpose of his trip may be you want to send him a gift to express how much you love him. You might ask yourself, “Then what would make a good gift? “What’s a great gift that’s not too expensive and will make feel loved.?”?”
Why not bake him a personalized, delicious sweet?
They’re inexpensive, delicious, last a long time and you can make him a variety of different shapes. So which ones are easy to make and won’t break in the box during delivery? Cookies of all different kinds, small cakes and cupcakes or pies all would be great choices and would be a big hit for him, but I will focus on just cookies this time
Cookies make great “gifts for him” because are easy to pack, create multiple treats that will last for several snack times and are easy to make into different varieties. Learn a favorite recipe and the next time you’ll make the cookies faster from start to finish. No-bake cookies are the easiest to make since all you’re doing is the prep work. You could mix them with all different types of toppings too from mini milk chocolate chips to white-chocolate, M&Ms, sprinkles to colored sugar and more. The most common and easiest cookies to make are traditional chocolate chip cookies, peanut butter and chewy oatmeal raisin. However, the most fun to make, easiest to personalize and ones I believe make the best gifts are cut-out sugar cookies.
What are some things your boyfriend loves to do? What are his favorite sports to play? What sports team does he watch? What is he passionate about? Does he play an instrument? What’s his favorite animal? Does he speak a second language? You could make him cookies in the shapes of things geared around his hobbies or even in the shape of your name. Make him a cookie in the shape of his favorite baseball team’s cap, fish-shaped cookies (if he likes to fish) or in the shape of his favorite car. If you’d like to send him romantic cookies then make him some in the shape of hearts and kisses. You first need to get a recipe for cut-out sugar cookies and for the icing (or frosting). Then just buy the supplies that you don’t already have in your kitchen. You only need to start with the basic supplies, but make sure you organize them so that they’re all in one spot and easy to find for the next time.
The basic supplies you’ll need to make the recipe will be some mixing bowls and wooden spoons (they’re the strongest), measuring cups and spoons, wax paper, rolling pin, metal spatula, cookie sheets, white paper and big index cards. If you already have an electric mixer it’ll make mixing the dough much easier, but it isn’t necessary. You could get many of these supplies at Wal-Mart, dollar stores or craft stores at inexpensive prices. An easy way to customize the shape of your cookies is to find images of the desired image on Google then make simple drawings on the index cards and cut out the shapes. Later you’ll place the shapes on the dough and cut around them. Use shapes that don’t have too many narrow appendages or points since they can break easier during delivery. So let’s say his favorite animal is a dolphin. Rather than look up images of dolphins it’s easier to look up “dolphin cookie cutters” images. Next draw the image or just make an outline of dots and then connect them.
Once the dough is complete roll it out at least ¼ inch thick so they’ll end up being stronger for delivery. After you complete the handmade cookie shapes just follow the baking instructions from the recipe.
Now here comes the part that will add life to your cookie gifts. Now you’ll decorate them into the great designs he’s going to love. The basic supplies you’ll need for post-baking besides the recipe for the icing will be many small bowls for the different colors of icing, food coloring package, small paint brushes (just for baking!), pastry brush (preferably a couple or you’ll have to clean them each time you switch colors), toothpicks, an airtight container for storage in fridge before delivery, more wax paper and a decorative cookie tin to put the finished product in. Confectioner’s vanilla frosting is pre-made and packaged and will work fine, but icing sticks to the cookies more securely. Determine what colors you will be using for the icing and place the colors in the various bowls. You could use basic techniques for the first few batches then get more advanced. You could buy some cookie decorating books at Amazon.com or save some money and go to your local library. Take pictures of each batch and watch your improvement. The simple stuff is more than effective and the recipes will guide you through them. The box from the food coloring will tell you how to achieve the exact colors.
Place the cookies in a small decorative metal box and cover them in wax paper. Place some packing bubbles or extra crumbled wax paper at the bottom and top. Take them to the post office and delivery them with the USPS’s priority flat rate service. It’s more affordable than next day air and still arrives fast in 2-3 days. If you’re from another country research the most economic and fastest way form of delivery.
When your boyfriend sees the personalized cookies he will have the biggest smile on his face. He’ll appreciate your homemade masterpiece and he’ll think about you with each chomp! And make sure to write him a romantic “Gift Message for Him” to stir up those butterflies in his stomach. I would love my girlfriend to send me a batch of cookies in the shape of my favorite football team: the Ohio State Buckeyes. It would one of the cutest gifts she could make since I know she went out of her way to make something she knew I liked. It’ll work trust me.
Do you know anyone who has been feeling under the weather or sick for a while? Why not brighten their day with a beautiful and tasty fruit basket?
Fruit gift baskets are typically made with various fruits organized with ribbons and bows to decorate them. Customizing a fruit basket can be easy! Make the gift of a fruit basket mean more by decorating it with things they like and the fruit they love!
If you know the person that you are giving the fruit basket to well enough, you may know that they are very fond of a certain type of fruit. You can arrange for the basket to be filled with their favorites! Do you know their favorite color? You can have the ribbons and bows placed on it and make sure that they are in their favorite colors.
The gift of flowers is a very common gift. Flowers usually set on a desk or counter and look beautiful until the petals begin to wither. While they are beautiful to look at, they will not get the reaction that a fruit basket will. A fruit basket will really be a surprise.
If you are sending the gift basket to a person that has been ill, keep this in mind. The fruit basket is filled with fresh fruit that contain vitamins that will help the person to feel much better much quicker. It will also make them smile and help them improve their spirits.
If you are looking for a gift for one of your coworkers, the fruit basket will be a wonderful idea. They can do so many things with the fruit basket that wouldn’t be possible with flowers. They could share the fruit with the office workers, take it home to their families, or even keep it at their desk and have a healthy snack whenever they want one.
Have you ever wanted to get a gift for your boss but are just not sure what to get him? He would not appreciate a flower bouquet as much as a female boss would. You are not sure if he is fond of a certain sport or team. Why not give him the gift of a healthy fruit basket.
Why not give that special someone a unique gift such as a fruit basket. Personalize it or just get a random bunch of fruit. Either way, they are sure to enjoy the fruit basket that you chose for them. It is sure to be a hit!
What can be more disheartening than opening a gift and finding it to be something you will NEVER use? That has taken place to us all at a few times or another. You have quite a lot of options. You can smile and pretend to like it, knowing that later you will either discard it, throw it in a closet never to be seen again, or give it to someone else and hope it never gets back to the person who gave it to you in the first place. You can inform the person that you do not like it and desire to exchange it for something else but then you danger hurting the feelings of somebody you dearly love. This is where the idea of giving gift cards comes in. Imagine being able to give your loved ones whatever they want. With a gift cards, that becomes possible.
With the incredibly high cost of gas, gasoline gift cards make an excellent gift idea. Everybody can use them (assuming of course, that they can drive!) and they’re very suitable to directly at the force. This is particularly huge idea for teenagers because frequently if you just give them a MasterCard or Visa gift card, they might be extravagantly spend it on avoidable items. A gas gift card will make sure that it will be used for needed transportation. These gift cards can also be reloaded and used over and over again. There is a phone number on the back of the card. When you first obtain the gift card, note down that number. If the card is ever lost or stolen, you can call that number and get a replacement. Don’t you desire that you can replace lost or stolen money that easily?
Weddings and marriage are the ideal time to give a gift card to anyone. How many of you received three toasters and four dozen glasses for your wedding? Giving a gift card will ensure that the couple will obtain something they actually require and want. If you need a creative idea for giving a wedding gift card, try buying a wedding gift card holder. You certainly will not be the only one bringing gift cards as a present. With a gift cardholder, they can keep all the cards together in one place. A few look a lot like birdcages or decorative boxes with a split in the top. You can get them everywhere that wedding materials are sold. Try to go with a style and color that matches the bride’s theme. If you aren’t sure, go with white, it is always a classic. This even works as a gift for an engagement party as well.
If you own your own business, gift cards are a great way to bring more exposure to your business. They are effortless to purchase and can be preloaded at set amounts, or you can have the customer decide the amount they desire to set. If the card never gets used, it is pure profit for your company.
Do not think that gift cards are just the simple way out. They demonstrate the receiver that you got the time and consideration to select a particular store or lodge that you know they love. But they also allow the gift recipient to choose something that would truly enjoy. Who wouldn’t prefer that over something they will never use?
We all know people who when you pass by the vitamin store in the mall, we’re not surprised to see them browsing the shelves. They are the health conscious one in the neighborhood, the one we all unsuccessfully aspire to be. Or, perhaps they’re new to the whole health scene. Or maybe they represent those among us who are trying to lose those extra pounds…for the third year in a row. So, when their birthday comes around, it can be challenging to get them a gift that meets their healthy living. But, at least you have a good starting point. Get your friend something that they’ll actually use and appreciate, or support your newly dieting friend by helping them along their way to a healthier and leaner lifestyle.
A good gift idea, especially for new comers to the fitness world, is to get them a membership to a local health club or gym. They’ll be among others with the same goals, and plenty of equipment to help them take on their challenges. They’ll also find a supportive and well trained staff. Many health clubs will also offer trainers to guide customers in a work out regime that best suits them. If your friend is already a health nut, chances are they already have a membership, but that doesn’t mean you can’t give them a free month or two at their club of choice.
If a gift of a club membership is a bit more than you planned to spend, there are other gifts in the same spirit. A stop at your local sports shop is always a great place to find loads of gift ideas for your health conscious friend. Health stores can give you plenty of gift ideas, too. You might get them a health guide on the latest exercise trend.
Just because they want to lose weight doesn’t mean they can’t eat. There are a lot of books that can be found in sports shops or even health clubs with recipe guides and nutritional information. These books are a great idea for those who are fine when it comes to working out, but have trouble controlling their diet. In the same locations, you can also find useful gadgets such as pedometers that can be worn throughout the day to encourage walking instead of riding or the stairs instead of the elevator.
If you want your gift to express more of a personal touch, try sending a gourmet fruit basket. A fruit gift basket is a great gift idea for anyone who is health conscious and watching their weight. Think of the food pyramid that you may have first glimpsed when you were in grade school. Fruit is healthy. Fruit is one of the healthiest foods around; it is totally cholesterol-free and provides many of the essential vitamins that we all require. There’s no question that a fruit basket would be loved by your health conscious friend. There are all sorts of fruit baskets from which to choose, one of which will fit your budget as well as delighting your health-conscious friend. One exception to keep in mind, however, often people who are just beginning a low carb diet are not permitted fruit.
So regardless of whether your friend is a newcomer to the health and fitness world or has been active for many years, showing your support for their efforts to drop some weight by getting them a healthy gift is a great way to wish them a happy birthday.
Remember, when the going gets tough, the tough have fun. I guess that sort of turns a cliche on its head, doesn’t it? Face it, we’re in a recession, and everyone is feeling at least a little pinched. But…people are still going to have that annual birthday, the year is still filled with those never-ending greeting card holidays, so how can you just ignore the best rituals in life?
When it comes to gift giving, I propose that the time has come to alter a few of our attitudes about what makes a gift valuable. At the heart of gift giving is the thought, but now we have an additional incentive to remember that it truly isn’t about how much a gift costs. Presenting a beloved relative or a cherished friend sends the message that you care about them and remember them during important occasions.. That is all that the message of giving means, and that it all that needs to be said in the act of giving.
So here is a tip for giving the frugal way: Think jewelry! I realize that the word “jewelry” doesn’t really bring to mind the notion of frugality, however what I am suggesting is Italian charm jewelry, and that truly is inexpensive giving at its most fun. Let me explain.
If you have a friend who has a stainless steel Italian charm bracelet, you can add a whimsical Italian charm to her alternatives for around four dollars. You might even have enough left from your five dollar bill to treat yourself to a small soda.
If she doesn’t have any such jewelry, you can get her started in a fun fashion hobby by buying an Italian charm starter bracelet for well under ten dollars. That’s about the same as two cups of the house blend Java at your local coffee shop. That starter bracelet has the additional benefit of providing you with gift ideas for many years into the future, as you help her build her new collection.
What if that dear relative or friend is a male? Try an Italian charm keychain. The starter keychain is around five to seven dollars, and you can add a humorous charm for a little extra cash, and your shopping is finished. When the economic recovery comes in a few months or a few years, you can spend a little more to get an official sports related Italian charm endorsing his favorite professional basketball, football or hockey team, or even his beloved NASCAR driver..
So you don’t have to give up fun when things get tough. In fact, you can turn tough times into fun times with a little thought, frugality and Italian charms.