Give a Gift Blog

I absolutely LOVE candles – of all kinds. In fact, I have recently found a company whom I feel has excellent products! The Lamp Stand has all types of candles and fragrance lamps.

I have even made list of my favorites on What A Bright idea! – so definitely check that out!

Comfort Candles are a great gift idea because you can find a Comfort Candle with a perfect saying for just about any occasion!

Or little boys!  Hey, now a days kids play with whatever they fancy, it certainly doesn’t have to be gender specific!

Madame Alexander dolls are the perfect ‘first doll’ gift.  I remember as a little girl, I adored my ‘dolly’ tremendously!  IIn fact, I still have her!  My daughter plays with her even though she is so tattered and worn.

Here is an excellent idea! Why not give a gift with a purpose. A socially responsible gift is ideal for the person who has everything.

Many organizations will send your gift recipient a gift card or symbolic gift to inform them of the donation made in their name. Alternatively, some organizations offer a general “gift certificate” donation that allows the recipient to choose the charity they would like the funds to go to.

This is a great idea when you feel the person you are buying for is just too tough to figure out or who, like I said, seems to have everything!

Gift baskets can actually be a great idea, IF you match the gift basket to the person correctly.
For instance, you wouldn’t want to give someone you know is dieting, a gift basket filled with wine, crackers and cheese!
Here are some great ideas for different types of people:

The Book Worm: In a heavy-duty book bag, include a mini book light, bookplates (with the recipient’s name already filled in), bookmarks, and of course, books – try literary award winners, new non-fiction releases, or a recommended read.

The Brainiac: Include crossword puzzles, Mensa puzzles, Sudoku, a few nice pens/pencils, 3D brain teasers, a book on IQ testing, packaged tea or coffee (or other caffeine fix), and a copy of The World As I See It by Albert Einstein.

The Green Earth Lover: Include eco-friendly products in a reusable cloth bag, such as hemp lip balm, energy-saving lightbulbs, organic dark chocolate.

The High-Tech Geek: For those with the budget, treat the techie in your life to a shiny metal basket with a new Motorola MOTOKRZR cell phone, an iPod nano, 4 Gig USB flash drive, handheld GPS and a gift card to Best Buy for whatever’s missing.

The Starving Student: Include some high-energy drinks, homemade cookies, fully-loaded photocopy card or Kinko’s gift card, gourmet noodle/meal kits, a bottle of aspirin and (if you’re feeling really generous) a check for next month’s rent.

The Movie Buff: Include one or more DVDs, a movie review guide, gourmet or classic butter popcorn, Junior mints or licorice, movie gift certificates, and the most recent copy of Premiere or Variety magazine.

So, what if this Thanksgiving you are with friends and/or family who don’t like the idea of having a traditional turkey dinner?  Here’s a novel idea…instead of eating a turkey this year, how about adopting one? Since 1986, Farm Sanctuary’s annual Adopt-A-Turkey Project has rescued over one thousand turkeys and given people a humane holiday alternative.

It’s a really nice idea, I think. For $20, you can symbolically adopt a turkey at their shelter which provides funds for feed, bedding and veterinary care for rescued turkeys. Of course, adopters receive a color photograph of their turkey, an adoption certificate and a year subscription to Farm Sanctuary’s quarterly newsletter.