SB Gift Girl

This Little Light of Mine...

2011-05-08T13:03:00.000-07:00

Gifts aren't always a celebration of happy times, but can go a long way to help people feel a little better when things are rough. When my friend was diagnosed with cancer, I wanted to find a personal gift to give her a sense of strength and hope. The solution ended up having two parts that tied together well.

Gift solution part 1: A glassybaby -- a beautiful, strong, hand-blown votive candle holder made in Washington in a small company founded by a woman who had her own battle with cancer. A percentage of the company's profits go to help cancer patients with their living expenses. But charity aside, these really are a lovely, substantial little work of art.

So...it was a good gift, but there were stories behind it. I wasn't going to be there when my friend opened the gift, but I wanted to tell her all about the glassybaby company, and why I chose the purple color, and my memories of traveling in the Northwest with her, and my hopes for her good health.

Which brings us to gift solution part 2: custom gift wrap. This was the fun, personal part of the gift. I typed up a letter explaining the stories behind the glassybaby and used it as gift wrap -- a legal-size page fit the box perfectly.

Here was my friend's response to the gift:

The UPS guy just knocked on my door, and my purple beacon of hope is now sitting between me and my monitor as I do cancer research on the internet. It couldn't have arrived at a more perfect moment. The light and hope are needed and appreciated!

Sometimes You Just Get Lucky

2011-02-02T22:02:00.000-08:00

One of my favorite people has a deal worked out with her friends: if someone repeats a story she's told before, the other person discreetly taps her fingers to let the story-teller know that she has unknowingly launched a repeat performance and is thereby advised to keep things brief. Kind of cute, kind of funny, but not anything gift-worthy...until we found this.

Yes, it's a hand-cranked finger-tapper (or, as the catalog prefers to call it, a "Wooden Hand Automaton"). There is no way anyone could have sought out this particular oddity on a gift-buying quest...but there it was, in the Signals catalog, on sale for $11.96.

Lesson learned: it's worth the tiny bit of effort it takes to peruse random catalogs or stores specializing in miscellanea with a completely open mind.

We put the gift in a box and labeled it as a "Rapping Rosewood Redundancy Reminder." The giftee loved it...and the best part is that she will get to share the fun of it with her fellow finger-tappers the next time they get together.

A Heart Act to Follow

2011-01-18T23:29:00.000-08:00

Whether or not you are celebrating Valentine’s Day with a sweetie, there is some gift-giving gold to be found amongst the pink and red –- especially if you are patient and forward-thinking. If you think outside of the (heart-shaped) box, you'll find lots of fun ways to buy now, give later.

Wrapping paper or gift bags with heart / love designs can be a festive way to package gifts for engagement parties, wedding showers, Sweet Sixteen events and anniversary celebrations any time of year.

Use gift wrap or gift items with Cupid designs for baby showers, Mother’s Day or weddings.

Heart-shaped candy boxes are a lovely way to present romantic gifts – especially if they contain something besides assorted chocolates and are given any time after February. Buy one on sale after February 14 and get rid of the candy (By the way, there are ways to do this that don't involve eating it yourself. Display it on a pretty plate and put it in the staff lounge someplace where people work hard, for example.). Then save the box and wait a while to fill it with something special for someone you love. Bonus points if you personalize the box somehow: a collage of photos? Words spelling out how you really feel? Inside jokes? Hints about the contents of the box?

A simple heart-shaped plate or bowl can be used later on to present small tokens of appreciation for teachers, volunteers, employees, retirees…or save it for a surprise breakfast in bed for someone a little closer.

You never know when you will encounter someone who might appreciate a surprise heart-shaped treat of pancakes or a PB&J sandwich or homemade cookies out of season. In the year to come, you might know someone who is fighting an illness, or a kid who survived a tough test, a friend who is feeling a little sad or one who did something remarkably generous. Stock up now on the tools you'll need to surprise the people you care about with a lovely, loving treat later.

Love is forever -- not just for Valentine’s Day!

Christmas (items) in July? Buy now!

2010-12-24T00:47:00.000-08:00

By the time Christmas is here, tinsel seems kind of tacky and garlands are just a little bit gaudy, right? But here’s a hot tip to tweak your perspective: holiday decorations (for almost any holiday) can be surprisingly cool if you wait a few months and find innovative ways to use them out of season.

If you are hitting the stores right before or right after Christmas, you'll find some fantastic discounts on holiday goodies that you can use for other purposes in the next two to 10 months. Buy now, use (much) later.

Bear in mind there are only two rules if you are going to use Christmas stuff after Christmas:

No green and red color combos. Ever. Except in December. Or if you are designing a kilt.
No Christmas icons may be used in months that don’t end in “cember.” Santa Claus and candy canes are off-limits, naturally, but so are snowflakes, holly, gingerbread men, pine branches, moose (meese?) and almost every P.C. holiday-neutral symbol you can think of. Even penguins, sorry to say. Stripes are safe. So are polkadots. Plaid is iffy, except maybe for Father’s Day, and only if it’s green OR red (not both) and Dad has Celtic roots or smokes a pipe.

If you follow the rules, Christmas stuff (now being sold at 60% off) can put a fun twist on out-of-season décor and gifting. For example:

Garlands can be used to cushion a box’s contents (instead of tissue paper) or instead of ribbon to add sparkle to a gift. Especially fun for Valentine’s Day or wedding gifts.
Tinsel strands can be added to Easter basket grass, or scattered to add sparkle to a birthday party table. Tinsel can also be incorporated in hair braids (a topic for a different blog, to be sure).
Christmas tree ornaments in fun shapes can make wonderful gift-toppers. Consider a car ornament for someone who’s turning 16, or an airplane ornament for a friend’s bon voyage party, an owl ornament for a graduation gift six months from now, or a frog ornament for a bachelorette who has finally found Mr. Right.
A mini disco ball , glittery initial or other mirrored ornament adds sparkle to a wrapped gift any time of year. A simple star ornament can be a perfect gift-topper on a congratulatory gift.
Traditional glass ball ornaments are pretty even when they are not on an evergreen tree. Try silver balls hanging from a backyard tree at a summer party, or pastel balls in a bowl at Easter time, or green and purple balls adorning a door at Mardi Gras.
Christmas lights are now super-cheap and will add festive sparkle to an event any time of year, as long as you avoid the multi-colored lights associated with Christmas. White lights are lovely for weddings, summer parties and patio soirees. Or find lights in your school or team colors to make a spirited post-game event or dance even sparklier.
Christmas wrapping paper and tissue paper can be used year round, and long as it’s solid tone or a very simple non-holiday pattern (stripes or dots, for example).
Red gift wrap can be combined with pink or white ribbon for Valentine’s Day, or blue for 4th of July, or black any time. Anything but green!
Green wrapping paper is perfect for gifts in springtime: birthdays, Easter, St. Paddy’s, Earth Day (OK, maybe not Earth Day -- skip the wrap for that), or to wrap creative gifts involving cash, gardening or the Green Bay Packers. For example.

And of course: if you have storage space, you can always pick up Christmas wrap and decorations on sale now and use them exactly as they were intended to be used…next Christmas! It's definitely on the calendar to happen again. Soon.

Impossible Gifts Made Possible

2010-12-22T17:53:00.000-08:00

We are closing in on the ho-ho-home stretch for Christmas, but as of two days ago 52% of Americans had not finished their holiday shopping. The same survey showed that 29% of men (and 19% of women) had yet to even start their holiday shopping. And that's OK. Some people prefer to wait and enjoy the excitement, beauty and spirit of Christmas shopping at Christmas time (or that's what they're telling themselves right about now).

Here are the top three gripes* of last-minute shoppers:
1. I don't know what he/she wants.
2. He/she doesn't need anything.
3. I'm broke.
* Gripes are completely made up by SB Gift Girl. (But you know I'm right.)

The good news: all three gripes can be taken care of with the same list of gift ideas. Since it is the thought that counts (really), your job is not to shop for something your giftees need -- chances are they are capable of buying that themselves.Your job instead is to come up with something that says, "I like you, and I thought you would enjoy this."

Here are some quick ideas for impossible-to-buy-for giftees and/or can't-afford-to-buy-anything gifters.

DIY gift certificates - If you have a computer (or a pen) you can create a gift certificate for personal services -- a gift of time, which is a precious commodity for anyone on your list. Think about what your giftee would like help with, and think about what your skills are. For example:

Photography
Dog-walking
Errands
Handyman help
Personal training
Tutoring
Closet organizing
A date for a picnic, a hike, or a fun adventure you know the giftee would enjoy

Lottery tickets - Your measly $10 gift might make your friend a millionaire! See if you can come up with a clever presentation...for example, tape each lottery ticket to a wooden skewer and tuck the sticks into a potted poinsettia plant, or use the tickets to frame a picture of your giftee's dream car or fantasy vacation destination.

Re-gifting - Re-gifting is OK in my book...if you get a gift you're not going to use, this can be viewed as a form of recycling and a wise cost-cutting measure. Proceed with caution, though -- the gift should be (a) unused and (b) appropriate. Please. Double-check for hidden notes or gift cards from the original gift-giver, and be certain that your giftee was not involved in the original transaction.

Homemade gifts - Yes, time is tight, but if you're not shopping you might have time to put together something homemade. Again, think about your skill sets, and don't be afraid to stretch a little. Quick (but thoughtful) ideas (find info online) might include hot cocoa mix, painted ornaments, homemade liqueur, a set of refrigerator magnets made from vintage earrings or buttons, a jar of your special marinade...?

Cash - Cash on its own is kind of a tacky gift for a friend or loved one -- currency needs a card or some sort of dressing to avoid seeming like a tip or payoff. If it's given with a sense of humor, then it's even more fun. Tape a bunch of one-dollar bills end-to-end, roll them up, and stuff them in an empty Kleenex box (to be unreeled -- great drama). Or plop it in a funny coffee mug. Or peeking out of a stuffed toy. Then you've got a gift that's memorable AND useful.

Funny gifts - If your giftee has a good sense of humor, you might be able to come up with a humorous gift that will (a) mean a lot and (b) not cost much. Could be a goofy re-gift, could be a funny book of certificates, could be the moose head that hung in your fraternity house. Only you will know what might work...

It's the thought that counts. So keep thinking!
~

Getting a Leg Up on Christmas Stockings

2010-12-12T16:34:00.000-08:00

Our family’s Christmas morning tradition is to empty out our stockings first thing. It’s so fun to start the day with that tumble of small gifts – kind of a warm-up for the real present-opening to come.

But the initial stuffing of that stocking full of goodies doesn't always happen easily. The truth is that some people are overwhelmed by the task of having to find enough presents to fill something so big, so empty, and so foot-shaped.

For those people, here are Gift Girl’s easy tips for successful stocking-stuffing:

The stocking must be full. Bulging, even, with some goodies peeking out of the top.
A stocking is not (usually) the place to give your best gift(s). Those deserve a package and moment of their own.
Watch out: the cost of gathering a bunch of little gifts can add up quickly – which means filling a stocking can get pricey. You can keep costs down by adding bulk with larger inexpensive items (socks, candy, books).
Stocking gifts have to be smallish (to fit), but if they are too tiny they’ll get lost. Put gift cards and very small items in a box or little bag (which is conveniently another way to add bulk).

Even people who don't like to shop can find perfectly good stocking stuffers at drug stores, grocery stores, office supply stores and hardware stores. You might even already have some new items around the house that could work.
In the days before December 25, it's a good idea to keep a separate bag for each stocking you will be filling -- then you can get a quick visual on how much stuff you've accumulated (or not).
Christmas stocking gifts are technically from Santa, remember. He’s probably not going to give you an IOU for a foot massage or a souvenir from last summer’s family vacation.
Planning ahead is nice, but don’t stress out about Christmas stocking gifts. Just make sure the stocking is full and the gifts are thoughtful and/or useful.

Some stocking stuffer ideas?

Gift cards for small amounts (coffee, smoothies, lunch spots)
Lottery tickets
Exotic or hard-to-find food items
Favorite candy
Puzzles
Pens
Art supplies
Gloves
Small books
Socks
Tools
Baseball cards
Refrigerator magnets
Toothbrush
Playing cards
Reading glasses
Flashlight
Yo-yo
Cosmetics
Cooking tools
Garden seeds
Notecards
Ear buds
Desk toys
Lotion
Shower gel
Post-it notes in fun shapes and colors
Rubber band ball
Chico Bags
Cash

The (White) Elephant in the Room

2010-12-07T18:48:00.000-08:00

A friend of mine has been invited to a White Elephant Party, to which party-goers are asked to bring gifts that are "random, strange and under $10." To complicate matters further, it's a work party. And, of course, she doesn't know exactly who will receive her gift (so anything monogrammed is out). A tough task, to be sure, so it's time for SB Gift Girl to dust off the old blog and get back to work.

Think about it: gift exchanges (particularly the kind where people can swipe each other's gifts) are more about event entertainment than any mutual sharing of yearned-for loot. This is a time to give gifts that are a little wild...things that will stand out and get people talking (or better yet, laughing).

Here are some good ideas for low-budget holiday gift exchange parties:

Something that is very silly, holidayesque and can be immediately used or worn is great -- the goofier the better. There are some very offbeat Santa hats out there -- with lights, zebra stripes, unusual designs (a jester's hat done in Santa colors!) and/or sound effects. Light-up jewelry works here too.

True White Elephants can be hilarious at parties like this -- especially if they are tacky and/or bizarre. By definition, a "white elephant" is something of dubious or limited value. For a White Elephant gift exchange, it could be something you already own, or something horrid you received at another W.E. party, or an item picked up at a thrift store or garage sale. Think: garden gnomes, framed kitten art, a Bavarian tuba band's record album...it's amazing to see what people will fight over. Word of advice: if you're going to go over the top, go way over the top -- or people might not get the joke. If you're not sure, attach a real gift card to make your item even more exchange-worthy.

Candy can be dandy if it's BIG or weird: Cost Plus sells yard-long licorice and huge tubes of gumballs -- cheap, fun, and hard to miss. Or you can get an assortment of unusual candies (include some bacon chocolate or Tabasco-flavored sweets!).

Alcohol is a little risky (because not everyone partakes), and is only worth giving (in this situation) if it is something people can't buy for themselves. If you make your own limoncello or kahlua or bottle your own beer, that's a good gift -- especially if it's cleverly packaged and clearly labeled as your own. Yes, homemade jam is delicious, but it probably won't generate the excitement we're hoping for here. Unless you are a locally renowned blue-ribbon winner, preserve your preserves for a different party.

A hand-made gift can be OK, particularly if you made it (or know who did)...and if it's well done. A knit scarf is always a good bet (one size fits all). Objets d'art are a little riskier, but if it's something you love, go for it (and realize it might end up being re-gifted, so don't be offended if it doesn't appear in your co-worker's cubicle).

Consider what the party-goers/gift-exchangers all share in common. If a lot of folks at the party participate in the office football pool, maybe you could get a trinket from a beloved (or bedeviled) team. If this is a book club event, slip a book store gift card between the covers of a book you love -- or a bodice-ripper you all wouldn't be caught dead reading. Have fun with it!

Perfectly Charming: the Charm Bracelet

2010-02-04T20:02:00.000-08:00

The charm bracelet has been called “a feminine autobiography on a chain.” I would agree – and go further to call it a living keepsake … totemic bling …a conversation starter … and a really good group gift.

Just a few years ago (or so it seems), the families from my son’s kindergarten class coordinated to give the teacher a silver charm bracelet at the end of the school year. Each student contributed a charm that symbolized:

(a) something distinctive about the gifter's personality or interests (an obsession with sharks, perhaps) or

(b) something the gifter identified with the giftee (hey! She wears shoes!) and/or

(c) a moment or experience they shared together (a field trip to the pumpkin patch, a study unit on Johnny Appleseed, whatever).

The gift was popular, personal, inclusive, and didn’t cost a lot. A home run.

A charm bracelet makes a good group gift for many milestone events -- think birthdays, retirements, engagement parties or graduations. When I turned 40, my friends put together a bracelet that is a perfect little chain-full of memories – it reminds me of my friends, of that specific birthday, and of the fun times we’ve shared. I don’t wear it often, but it is a totem of my history that I absolutely treasure.

You can find sterling silver charms at fine jewelry stores, cheesy tourist traps, and lots of places in between. There are potentially good sources online at TomsCharms.com, CharmFactory.com and SilverFantasy.com. EBay is always a possibility too.

In a 2004 NPR interview with "Charmed Bracelets" author Tracey Zabar, we are reminded that "'To charm' also means to attract, and these bracelets do exactly that. They draw the eye to one's wrist, where a compelling tale unfolds. And if modern-day charms don't cast spells in the ancient sense, they do contain a powerful force: memory, in the form of personal history."

A Kiss for Every Year

2010-01-12T22:58:00.000-08:00

Here's a simple and sentimental gift to help someone enjoy sweet memories when they celebrate a special birthday or anniversary: a Kiss for every year.

This gift is easy and inexpensive, but a very nice gesture. Here's how it works:

1. Count out one Hershey's Kiss for every year being celebrated -- plus one to grow on. For someone turning 80 years old, for example, count out 81 Kisses.

2. Using a Sharpie pen, label the bottom of each Kiss with a year in the celebrant's life. If the couple was married in 1960, label the first Kiss "1960," the second "1961," etc...on up through the current year.

3. Mix up the labeled Kisses and put them in a pretty (reusable) jar, box or vase. If the Kisses don't fill the container, use mylar, tinsel or Easter grass to fill things up and add to the sparkle.

After I put together a collection of Kisses for my grandfather's 85th birthday, he made a point of reading the year on each piece of candy before he ate it -- and remembered something special from that year in his life.

Sweet!

~

Be Prepared Part II: Monthly Files

2010-01-08T19:52:00.000-08:00

Being organized is all relative -- I am generally under the comfortable illusion that I'm pretty on top of things, but to be honest a lot of my organization consists of knowing which thing is in what pile of papers...or in what room. I get by.

I did, however, set up a very easy, very effective organization system for gifting a few years ago -- it took me just a few minutes and cost about two bucks. My kind of project!

This is all you have to do:

If you have a file drawer with space to spare (and promise that you can access it regularly without hurting yourself), add 12 file folders, labeled January-December. If file space is nonexistent, buy one of those accordion folders with a slot for each month.
Check the file at the beginning of each month to remind yourself of how organized you are, with the bonus possibility of taking care of some birthday cards or gift ideas while you're at it.

So simple!

This new system works in three ways:

Say you are shopping for a birthday card for your friend with a February birthday and in the process happen to find a perfect card for your aunt with a birthday in May. Just buy the dang May card and file it away in -- you guessed it -- the May folder. This will save you aggravation in the spring (when that perfect card is completely sold out). When you check your May file at the beginning of the month, you'll be delighted to discover that you stashed away something great (and forgot about it, which is likely for most of us).
The files can be used as gift idea reminders. If your sister-in-law mentions that she collects heart-shaped jewelry or you learn that your nephew adores the University of Texas, just jot down a note and slip it into her/his birthday month file...then luxuriate in the knowledge that you are free to let these little factoids go for now. Ahh.
If you buy a gift in advance for someone whose birthday (or wedding or bat mitzvah or whatever) is not in the immediate future, store the gift on your gift shelf (see below) and pop a reminder note in the appropriate month file.

It's not about being super-organized...it's more about accepting the fact that you're likely to forget things unless you have a place (besides your brain, which is busy enough at the moment) to remember them.

~

Be Prepared: the Gift Shelf

2010-01-06T20:59:00.000-08:00

Here's a handy tip for anyone who will be giving a gift in the next 12 months: the gift shelf.

It can technically be a drawer or a cupboard, but the point of the gift shelf is to (a) keep a stash of ready-to-give presents for use as needed and (b) have a designated place for presents you have pre-purchased for someone specific.

This is a place to store:

Potential gifts you bought on sale - Go for that buy-one-get-two-free deal if the item is potentially giftable!
Presents you bought while on vacation - Please: no straight souvenirs (gold-plated buffalo chip, anyone?) or "My friend went to blah blah and all I got was this lousy tee shirt" shirts! But if you find some great indigenous arts and crafts, it's cool to stock up. Go for usable items (scarves, bowls, serving utensils, jewelry, etc.) as opposed to objets d'art (unless you are sure your giftee will love the statuette or other chotchke, it will inevitably fall into the dust catcher category). On the other hand, if your friend collects pencil sharpeners or snow globes or sugar spoons from around the world, go for it -- and keep your goods on your gift shelf.
Presents you purchased in advance for someone specific - I hid my husband's birthday present so well from him (and myself) last year that he didn't get the gift until three weeks after his birthday...really should have used the gift shelf...
Regiftable items - Gifts you received but don't want or need...bear in mind that it's a good idea to put a Post-It note on the item to remind you who gave it to you in the first place.

What's on my gift shelf? Bottles of wine, cute kitchen towels, knit scarves, Chico bags, books, makeup bags, traveler coffee mugs, Bananagrams, vases, CDs, candles, garden chimes and some crystal bells. There is no guarantee that any of these will be appropriate gifts for my next gift-giving opportunity, but my shelf is a good place to start if I am looking for a birthday present or hostess gift.

The truth is, there is no denying that Christmas or Hanukkah will come around again...and chances are very good that you will still be on speaking terms with your friends and family members when their birthdays roll around (which they will). The gift shelf will help you get a head start on great gifts!

~

Re-Gift Tags -- Giving Holiday Cards a New Purpose

2010-01-01T19:13:00.000-08:00

Happy new year to you! I don't do resolutions, but have pledged to continue to post SB Gift Girl ideas and tips regularly throughout the new year, so please check in often (and tell your friends!).

A fresh new year means out with the old and in with the new. At the moment, our recycling bins runneth over...but before you pitch the lovely holiday cards your friends and associates spent 44 cents a pop to mail to you, think ahead to Hanukkah or Christmas 2010 -- those colorful cards can easily be repurposed for use as gift tags for next year's holiday gifts.

Making gift tags is easy -- use scissors (cut out a shape traced using a small glass as a template) or pony up for a special die cut punch at a crafts shop (about $15 at Michael's Arts & Crafts). Cut a small hole and add ribbon or twine as a tie. Ta dah!

Re-gift tags make a nice giftlet for friends in the first few weeks of December, or can be used yourself to label holiday gifts for friends and family. Christmas or Hanukkah might seem a like long way away now, but they are on the calendar for 2010 (I checked), so it can't hurt to do a little pre-planning. If you do it now, you'll be thanking yourself (and me) come next December.

If you're not motivated to create gift tags but want to repurpose your 2009 holiday cards, SB Gift Girl will gladly and gratefully recycle them on your behalf. Please send your old cards to SB Gift Girl (e-mail SBGiftGirl@gmail.com and I will send you my address).

Here's to a perfect 2010!

Thank-You Notes With a Personal Touch

2009-12-29T23:13:00.000-08:00

According to the Emily Post Institute, all gifts should be acknowledged with a thank-you note, unless the presents were opened in the presence (get it?) of the gift-giver. If you are able to thank the giver in person as you open the gift, you’re off the hook – unless, says Emily, the giver is one of the “older generation” who expects (and appreciates) a hand-written note of thanks as a gesture of respect and consideration.

An e-mailed thank-you is OK only if you have a casual relationship with the gift giver and already correspond regularly via e-mail. But when in doubt, write it out – a handwritten note is infinitely more personal and thoughtful. Think of it as the hug your gift-giver would have gotten had you been together when the gift was opened. An e-mailed thank-you, on the other hand, is more like a fist-bump. Or maybe a high five.

If you have a little time to spend on your thank-you note (sure you do), it’s easy to use your computer and printer (or scissors and glue) to create a custom note card. By adding creative photos, printouts or elements that tie in with the gift or your relationship with the giver, you can make the card itself a meaningful and fun part of your expression of heartfelt gratitude.

Some thank-you note theme ideas:

Take a digital photo of the recipient with the gift (opening it, enjoying it, or just posing as shown above)
Scan an old photo of the gifter and the giftee together
Decorate a card using packaging or giftwrap from the gift, or a printout from a related website
Use something that ties in with the gift -- if your gifter gave you a gift card for a bookstore, decorate the card with the art from a best-selling book. If he/she gave you a ski jacket, cut out a snowflake or find a graphic of a skier.
Think about the past: If you went to France together once upon a time, use some French graphics on the card (or better yet, write it in French!). If you were college chums, decorate the card with a graphic of your school’s mascot.
Think about the future: If you will be seeing her in 2010, decorate the card with a tiny calendar with your reunion date circled. If he is planning a trip somewhere exciting, use a photo of his destination.

Give it a little thought…see if you can come up with something fun to make that special someone extra happy to get your note.

Either way, just be sure to write the dang note. Ms. Post says a late thank-you note is always better than no note at all (but why wait?).

Last-Second Gift Ideas

2009-12-24T21:29:00.000-08:00

One year our family gift exchange somehow went haywire, and two of us bought gifts for the same kid...which meant one nephew was left giftless. This error was discovered when we were celebrating Christmas in the remote north woods of Wisconsin, where there are few shopping opportunities on a good day, much less December 25. My quick-thinking sister-in-law spotted the crisis while we were just about to open gifts, and sent her son to the nearest gas station/mini mart, where he loaded up on squirt guns, jumbo packs of gum, water balloon kits and lots of candy. A Christmas crisis averted!

Goes to show you, Santa's not the only one who should check his list twice on Christmas...

Here are some on-the-spot solutions to keep in mind if you have an unexpected gift-giving opportunity on Christmas day:

Check your closets and cupboards for new, potentially giftable items.
Do a quick shuffle and re-tag gifts -- rob Peter to gift Paul. Peter will understand.
Re-gift (but follow the rules of re-gifting -- see 12/22 post)
Add a ribbon to a nice bottle of wine or liqueur.
Wrap up a vase, home decor item or piece of jewelry you can live without.
Go sentimental: pass on a minor family heirloom or a great book.
Turn cash into something less gauche than cash -- attach $20 to a packet of microwave popcorn with a note that reads, "Enjoy a movie on us!"
If all else fails, head to 7-11 or the grocery store that's open on December 25...then get creative (think gift cards, candy, wine...).

If you celebrate Christmas, I hope yours is very merry -- and your gifts are big hits!

~

Kids are Gift-Givers Too

2009-12-21T22:01:00.000-08:00

Children need to learn about the art of graciously giving and receiving gifts while they are still young enough to pay attention to their parents. This phase does not last long, so it's important for us to act quickly.

Young children and teenagers alike can take part in creating meaningful, affordable gifts to give to family and close friends this holiday season. Children generally do not have a lot of cash, so homemade gifts are most appropriate (and, of course, most appreciated). It's so fun to see kids get excited about giving a gift they have created...

Here are some easy (and fun) ideas for gifts kids can create and give:

Christmas tree ornaments
- Craft stores sell inexpensive clear glass ornaments, which can be painted with glass paint or filled with beads, tinsel, feathers, glitter or other holiday goodies
- Regular matte glass ornaments can be decorated with metallic Sharpie pens or glue and glitter
- The old flour-and-salt dough recipe is an easy (and inexpensive) classic for creating cute ornaments
Bookmarks
- Cut a 2 x 8-inch slice of kid's art, a cute photo, computer art or a plain piece of paper inscribed (by your young one) with the recipient's name and stamped or doodled decorations... laminate at Kinko's (FedEx Office, whatever), punch a hole and add a tassel or ribbon. Ta-dah!
Refrigerator magnets
- Fimo clay (sold at craft stores and art stores) is like perma-Play-Doh... comes in brilliant colors, and can be baked to permanent hardness. Kids can create little sculptures, bake them, and glue them to magnets for lovely refrigerator decor to be coveted by grandmas everywhere.
School art
- Art projects from school that are destined for the back of your closet might just merit a place of honor in someone else's home.
Gift certificates - the gift of time: Older kids (and adults, for that matter) can create certificates for time and services -- always appreciated!
- Wash the dog, the car or the dishes
- Babysitting or dog-walking
- Yard work, house work, laundry or help with errands
- Breakfast in bed
- What else? Drop hints!

A Non-Shoppers Guide to Gift Shopping

2009-12-19T11:15:00.000-08:00

We all know someone who is uncomfortable with the shopping aspect of the holiday season. This person (who, statistically speaking, is probably a male and very likely your husband or boyfriend) probably does not shop January-November, so this pressure at the end of the year can be quite daunting. Compare it to an athletic endeavor: if one hasn't trained all year and then wants to win a gold medal in December, he/she is under a lot of pressure -- without a lot of chances for success.

But there is hope. Feel free to print out these 12 tips to help the non-shopper come up with a great gift or two...

Start with a list: Who are you shopping for? Think a little bit about their likes and dislikes, their daily lives right now, the past you have shared with them, and any impending future plans of note. If you might be shopping for clothing, shoes or jewelry, know their sizes and style preferences. Also know the cell phone numbers of their good friends, just in case you get stuck.
Do a little detective work to figure out where she already likes to shop...this will make your life easier and greatly improve your chances of picking an appropriate gift. If you discover she is a devoted Talbot's shopper, for example, you probably won't want to waste your time in Forever 21. Or visa-versa.
Resist the hype. Just because something has been advertised on TV or has a beautiful display does not mean it will be a great gift. Just because something is on sale or you have a 50% off coupon does not mean it will be a great gift. A great gift is something you think your giftee will be happy to receive and enjoy using. Retailers don't necessarily share your same values, so don't let them push you around.
Feel free to ask sales clerks for help, and be prepared to give them clues about your giftee's size, age, habits and/or preferences, and be aware that these clerks are probably super-busy. This time of year you may encounter employees who are temps without a lot of experience (or, in some cases, brains), so it is perfectly acceptable to turn to kindly fellow shoppers for advice.
If you find a perfect gift that is in a shrink-wrapped basket, it is not a perfect gift, no matter what the nice saleslady says. Move on.
Think about what your giftee already owns, but don't buy something she already has. If she has a red wallet and a red coat, she probably likes red. Work from there. You can buy something else that's red (like a cosmetics bag or a sweater), or something that complements red (like a plaid scarf or red and gold earrings -- if she wears earrings and likes gold).
Avoid the obvious. If she has been collecting turtle figurines for 20 years, another turtle statue isn't going to rock her world (unless it's one she has been coveting). Or if she is an avid tennis player and already has all the tennis gear she could ever want or need, don't go there. Find another place to focus.
Gift cards can be nice, as long as (a) they are not the only gift you are giving (a card alone isn't very exciting) and (b) they are from places she would want to visit (a store where she likes to shop or a spa she would enjoy). But please don't just stick a card in an envelope! Put a gift card in a pretty box, or disguise it as another gift, or make it part of a treasure hunt, or include a related add-on (a scarf, a book, a laptop case, flowers, a bottle of wine...whatever fits).
Sentimental gifts can be big hits, especially when they come from a non-shopper (who automatically tends to get extra bonus points for a great gift). Is there a song or movie she loved when you first met? Buy a CD or DVD. Did you have a great date somewhere special? Make a gift certificate to go there again. Can you repair or replace something she once treasured? Go for it.
No matter how much time she spends complaining about her appearance, do not buy any kind of self-improvement gift for Christmas. Trust me. A spa day or a massage is OK, but a diet book is not. And don't even go near that jar of fancy European anti-cellulite cream or the Rogaine for Women gift set.
Always ask for a gift receipt, and keep your receipts...just in case.
As you are walking down the mall or through a busy store, please do not stop in the middle of the aisle to look around, no matter how disoriented you are. This is the equivalent of slamming on the brakes while driving your car in the fast lane. Pull over, get your bearings, and no one will get hurt.

You can do this! Good luck --

~

Step Outside of the (big) Box (store)

2009-12-18T16:46:00.000-08:00

Big box stores and department stores are convenient, but think about it: those are the stores where people go to buy things for themselves. Your job, as a gifter, is to find something else...something your friends and loved ones don't necessarily know they need or want or deserve, but will enjoy nonetheless. No pressure.

Now is a good time to avoid the throngs at the mega-chain stores and spread some holiday cheer (and holiday dollars) at local, independent businesses in your community. You can find some great gifts and make your experience more enjoyable this season by shopping at local spots where your business is appreciated and your money spent will be good for the 'hood.

Here are some hot spots for quality local shopping this season:

Museum or zoo gift shops
Beauty salons and health food stores (many sell charming gifts, jewelry and luxe beauty supplies too)
Local book sellers (gift cards or books by local authors)
Church or temple gift shops
Antique stores, used book stores, consignment stores and thrift shops (think vintage!)
Furniture or lighting stores (small decor items to accent bigger pieces are usually for sale too)
Music shops (interesting instruments or CDs by local musicians)
Art galleries or craft shows
Local cafes and restaurants (gift cards, house specialties (their bottled salad dressing?) or local art...
Play houses, performing arts centers and sports venues (tickets! souvenirs!)

For more ideas and inspiration, surf the web to find your community's chamber of commerce, downtown business association or convention & visitors bureau -- chances are they will offer a long list of local merchants who will be happy to do business with you.

In Praise of Theme Gifts

2009-12-16T19:26:00.000-08:00

A friend of mine put together a wonderful theme gift for her adult daughter this Christmas: a soup-making kit with a nice soup pot, a soup recipe book and some soup ingredients, all bundled in a sturdy, reusable shopping bag with -- best of all -- a gift certificate for one-on-one soup-making lessons with Mom.

Without spending a lot of money, she has created a gift that is practical, personal, clever, experiential, memorable and fun...the kind of gift her daughter will talk about when people ask her, "so what did you get...?"

Building a fun theme gift isn't that hard, really -- you just have to find a good theme and build on it. For example:

For the new motorcycle owner: nice leather gloves... along with a do-rag, fake pierced earring and rub-on tattoos.
For someone about to take an adventurous vacation: a travel book, a little flag from their destination and a CD of indigenous music. Use a map of their trip route as gift wrap. If they are going to a place where they don't speak the language, make a few funny flashcards ("I don't speak ______," "Where is the bathroom?" "Beer, please." etc.).
For the poker player: a shirt from a casino, cards, poker chips and ridiculous dark glasses, packaged together in an emptied Lucky Charms cereal box.
For your relative's new baby: a custom tee for the next family reunion, plus baby sunscreen, toddler-size sunglasses and a tiny swimsuit -- all tucked in a colorful beach pail.
For the gardening enthusiast: a green thumb (cut the thumb off a glove, color it with a green marker, and label it somehow), a gardening tool, a gardening book or packets of seeds, and maybe a bottle of Advil. Plop the goodies in a terra cotta pot or watering can and wrap it in plain paper stamped with green thumbprints.
For the (adult) birthday girl, try a princess theme: a tiara, a feather boa, chocolates and a bottle of bubble bath or Champagne.

See where I am going with this? With a theme that fits your giftee (plus a little creativity), you can build upon a mild-mannered gift to create something quite memorable.

Three words of advice on theme gifts:

Let at least one piece of the gift be something of value (e.g., nice leather gloves in the first example above).
Avoid themed "add-ons" that are too expensive (bad for you) or too big or junky (bad for the recipient). Our goal is to avoid giving gifts that end up in the landfill, right?
Don't automatically package your theme gift in a basket (unless your giftee really loves baskets). Let the gift container serve a purpose or fit the theme too!

Have you given or received a great theme gift lately? Add your stories to the SB Gift Girl gift list for future posts! Please share your info via comment below or send an e-mail to sbgiftgirl@gmail.com.

Happy gifting!
~

Special Delivery

2009-12-15T19:19:00.000-08:00

A little colorful duct tape makes it even more exciting to receive that box full of gifts delivered by UPS. (Probably makes it more fun to deliver too!)

Wrapping Things Up

2009-12-13T14:24:00.000-08:00

In Japan, “tsusumi” is a philosophy wherein the wrapping is considered a part of the gift itself; both are chosen and implemented with thought, care and consideration.

This is not to dis the convenience of a colorful gift bag with tissue paper, but there's still time to put a little thought and ingenuity into your own tsutsumi for this year's holiday gifting.

Here are some ideas for creative gift-wrapping:

Enlarge a meaningful old photo and use it as gift wrap -- extra great if the photo ties in with the gift inside somehow. I used a picture of my dad and brother in classic 70s tennis togs to wrap a funny book on fatherhood... the book was soon forgotten, but the wrapping paper was definitely memorable.
Enlarge the gift recipient's signature or favorite doodle...trace it with glue and add glitter. Dazzling!
If you have photo-editing software and photos of your giftee on your computer, you can have fun using creative filters and wild effects on digital photos, and use the printed output to wrap a gift.
Old maps are big pieces of paper that make perfect gift wrap -- especially if the map somehow ties in with the gift recipient or the contents of the package.
Go green: expired calendars, blueprints, posters, shopping bags, newspaper pages (Sports section for the sports guy!) and the Sunday comics can also find a second life as wrapping paper.
Magazine pages with beautiful (or funny) ads can make lovely gift wrap for small packages.
If you have little kids, you can turn a fun rainy-afternoon activity into wrapping paper production session. Tape a long roll of kraft brown or white paper on the kitchen floor and put 'em to work with finger paints, holiday-colored markers, or sponge-stamps and tempra paint. Once it's dried you'll have a nice roll of custom gift wrap (which the kids will be proud to see under the tree).
Think outside of the box -- really! There are lots of clever ways to package your gift besides boxes: new paint cans (available at hardware stores), reusable shopping bags (colorful Chico bags are perfect), takeout containers, mailing tubes, jars...

Paint a Plate (You can do this!)

2009-12-12T15:34:00.000-08:00

Here's a fun idea that works for gift-givers of any age: paint a plate or bowl at your local pottery painting studio. Kids can paint some beautiful stuff, and adults can find the creative process to be surprisingly enjoyable (and a lot more fun than hitting the mall). Even if you are not necessarily artistic, it's the thought that counts -- a gift that is made with love will be received with love!

Some ideas:

A holiday cookie plate. This is an easy gift for kids to create (triangle + square = tree), and is a fun way for them to add a piece to the family's holiday traditions. (Bonus points if you give the gift loaded with homemade goodies)
A "favorite dish" plate or bowl for the gift recipient's own culinary specialty or favorite food: Grandma's waffles, Dad's burgers, whomever's ice cream, popcorn, brownies or... you get the idea.
A family plate, decorated with your family tree, a made-up family crest (silly is good!) or simply the individual names of everyone in the family
A pet bowl for the giftee's dog or cat (Hey, they're members of the family too! Add a pet toy when you give the gift.)
A decorative vase or bowl to complement the colors in the giftee's home
A themed piggy bank for someone who is saving up for something special (a trip? a car? retirement?)
If you have a baby or toddler, your spouse or close relatives will undoubtedly love anything created with the baby's handprint or footprint (a tile trivet or plate, perhaps?)

Even if you are not artistic, it's easy to decorate a piece with stripes, polka dots, stars, hearts or flowers...you can do this! The staff at the studio is usually well-trained to help those of us who may need it.

To find the ceramic painting studio near you, search online -- there are lots of them out there, including Color Me Mine, 2000 Degrees, Petroglyph Ceramic Lounge, and Paint Your Own Pottery.

Eight Days of Hanukkah

2009-12-10T23:59:00.000-08:00

Hanukkah this year officially begins at sundown on Friday, December 11. Eight days of gifting? Sounds like fun to me!

Here are three creative ways to approach this opportunity for serial gifting (good stuff even if you do not celebrate this holiday):

1. A charm bracelet (Pandora and Trollbeads are popular...or old-fashioned charms are cute on a necklace...). Give the bare chain first, followed by one charm a day. See if you can attach a story or some meaning to each charm.

2. The old gift box-within-a-gift box, times eight. Big box on the outside, with seven progressively smaller giftwrapped boxes nested within. Have a small gift attached to the outside of each box, with a special goody inside the final one.

3. Figure-out-the-gift build-a-sentence word-a-day clue builder (with gratitude to my dad for this wonderful idea): Each day, the giftees (most likely, your kids) get a card with a jumbled up word -- their job is to decipher the word. At the end of the week, they will have seven words, which they will then need to arrange to create a sentence. For example, the sentence might be: "Let's take a special trip this summer." On the eighth day, the gift giver presents a final jumbled word or finds a clever way to present the final clue (in this hypothetical case, your destination). When my dad did this, he feigned ambivalence at the end and said "let's just go in the dining room for dessert and we'll talk about it." The room was decorated with pineapples, toy airplanes, plastic leis and Hawaii posters. Cowabunga!

Two cool gift-related Hanukkah notes:

Gelt is a traditional gift at Hanukkah -- perhaps you can find creative ways to tuck coins (chocolate or maybe a $1 golden coin?) in with other non-traditional gifts.
Because oil is an important symbol at Hanukkah, doughnut stands pop up all over Israel during Hanukkah. Get creative and wrap a gift in a doughnut box or, heck, give a box of Krispy Kremes or Dunkin' Donuts. Yum!

~

On the Wall...

2009-12-09T23:53:00.000-08:00

Inexpensive wall art can be a terrific gift for kids, teens, young adults, guys with a "man cave," or anyone who has a work space to decorate.

As always, consider the person you are shopping for: does he/she have a favorite movie, travel destination, beloved hometown, celebrity, musical group, catch phrase, athlete, car, TV show, sport...? Or would he get a kick out of again owning an old poster he had as a kid? Your job is to search and surf -- chances are there's a poster to fit what he/she is all about (or something that the two of you share in common).

Important side note: it is a good idea to take the attitude that your gift will probably not be a focal point in your giftee's home (in fact, you may never see it again). If your gift ends up on the back of a laundry room door, c'est la vie. It's the thought that counts.

Here are three good online options for wall art:

AllPosters.com has an amazing selection of posters, frame-worthy art, and metal signs (plus some cool retro rock band tee shirts).
eBay is a good place to look for vintage or collectible posters.
Despair.com is the place to go for tongue-in-cheek "demotivational" posters with a sardonic twist. There is also an option here to create your own motivational (or demotivational) poster with your own photo and whatever wording works.

~

Holiday Gifts for Teachers

2009-12-08T21:55:00.000-08:00

The holidays are a lovely opportunity for parents to spread a little joy and give thanks to the teachers who make such a huge impact upon the lives of our children. But there are some challenges here: we parents don’t necessarily know our childrens' teachers very well outside of the classroom, and our children's gift-giving judgment may not be fully on target…what to do?

I surveyed a cross-section of teachers on this topic, and came up with some interesting input that may be helpful this holiday season:

What are teachers’ favorite holiday gifts?

The most appreciated gifts are the personal ones:

A note of gratitude written by the student and/or the parents
A creative gift handmade by the child with the teacher in mind
Something coordinated by the entire class
Support for the teacher’s passion: a donation to an animal shelter for an animal lover, or a gift to a homeless shelter where the teacher regularly volunteers, or a pledge to the school’s annual fund in his/her name
A special gift related to the teacher's curriculum
Yummy homemade edibles (especially those that don't need to be eaten right away)
For a teacher/homeowner: an apple tree to plant in honor of his/her students

Gift cards! Classier than cash, but potentially oh-so-useful…favorites are:

Local malls or American Express/Visa cards that they can spend virtually anywhere.
Locally-owned stores (book stores, smoothie spots, restaurants, hardware stores, etc.)
Nearby chain stores (Macy’s, Borders, Target, OSH, Home Depot)
Movie theater passes
Teacher supply stores
Gift certificates for manicures, pedicure or massages

Think about the recipient...coffee shop gift cards are nice only if the teacher is a coffee-drinker (I know of one teacher who has more than $200 in Starbucks gift cards – and he doesn’t drink coffee). A hardware store gift certificate is perfect for the teacher who just bought a new home. Do your detective work (chances are your child can be a very good spy for you)!

Thanks -- but no thanks...

Holiday decorations (aka “dust catchers”)
“Best teacher” mugs…or any mugs at all, really. Teachers typically don’t have a lot of time to drink coffee on the job, and they only need one cup to hold their pencils...
Teacher trinkets, period. Any teacher who has been on the job for more than a year really doesn’t need any more tchotchkes featuring cheerful apples or frolicking chalkboards.
Candles, soap, lotion. Bear in mind that a teacher can be receiving 20+ gifts at a time...how many of these gift shop items does one person really need? If you find something you know the teacher will love, then lovely. Otherwise, keep looking.
Useless gift cards: Please avoid something for an out-of-town store or a tiny amount at a high-end store (“$10 at Saks Fifth Avenue? Kind of humiliating…”)
Inappropriate gifts part 1: Think about whom the gift-giver is…how is a middle school teacher supposed to thank a 7th grade boy for bubble bath or a bottle of champagne?
Inappropriate gifts part 2: It is sweet to give your young ‘un the independence to pick out a gift for teacher, but it is also your responsibility to draw the line when he/she chooses a tacky reindeer statue from Costco or a half-empty bottle of perfume off your dresser.

Bottom line: hard-working teachers greatly appreciate your sincere and thoughtful gestures of thanks and goodwill for the holiday season!

Dinner Out of Town

2009-12-06T13:58:00.000-08:00

If there is someone on your list who lives far away...or someone who is planning a trip to a distant locale... the internet makes it easy to buy them a nice dinner at a great local restaurant, wherever they are.

1. Check out restaurants in their city or destination by visiting TripAdvisor.com. Just click on "restaurants," enter the city name and go. Most restaurant listings include diner reviews and links to the restaurants' websites.

2. Follow the link to the website of the restaurant that you think the recipient will enjoy -- bonus points if you pick a popular local restaurant that is not part of a chain. If they sell gift cards (chances are they do), make your purchase and have the gift card or certificate shipped to you at home so it can be properly packaged for gift-giving.

3. How you wrap up this gift can make it extra-memorable. Include a printout of the restaurant's menu, and put the card in a clean Big Mac box (between two buns, perhaps?)...or a Chinese food to-go container weighted down with uncooked rice...or an empty box that once contained Lean Cuisine or pasta or taco shells...or attach it to a cookbook, or a book about the city...be creative and have fun with it (and let us know if you come up with something great)!

~