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Nut gift baskets are great, classy gifts for almost anyone on almost any occasion. Most of them are healthy to boot, in moderation of course. If you go to the grocery store, gourmet nuts and dried fruit will cost you an arm and a leg. If you find the right company, however, you can really get a deal on nuts in a gift basket online.

The great thing about gourmet nut gifts is that you can send them along at different levels. Meaning, if you only have $20 to spend, you can get a gift basket that is satisfying and interesting. If you have more money, of course, you can be more extravagant. Here are three nut gift baskets that are well worth the money and will please any of your recipients who enjoy nuts from least to most expensive an extravagant.

1. Fastachi Weekend Whisk Gift Tin (Extra Nut Mix)

This gift tin is the one pictured above. It comes with 1 lb. of carefully roasted nuts–a huge variety of nuts. These include: peanuts, cashews, almonds, pistachios, hazelnuts, sesame peanuts, squash seeds, and toasted corn nuts. They are all lightly salted.

These nuts are all contained in a matte-finish silver gift tin, tied with a ribbon. The presentation is simple, classy, and effective.

The tin will cost you $16.00 + $7.00 shipping. That’s only $23.00 in all for a great gift.

2. Broadway Basketeers Gourmet Fruit and Nut Gift Basket

This fruit and nut gift basket is the next step up as far as nut gift baskets go. It contains two nut sections, one with almonds (one of the healthiest nuts around) and one with cashews. These two sections flank a middle section of dried fruit including apricots, pineapples, cranberries, and peaches.

The nuts come in an attractive gift box, tied with a ribbon. The dimensions of the box are 7 x 6 x 3, which ends up being a medium-sized gift. As an added bonus, it is completely kosher.

You can get this box for $24.95 + $6.00 or $7.00 for shipping. That means, at most, you will pay $31.95 in all for this filling and mouth-watering gift. So worth it.

Buy this Fruit and Nut Basket on Amazon

3. Harry & David Deluxe Fruit and Nut Tray

If you are looking for something a step above the previous two baskets, you may want to look at this fruit tray. It truly falls in the realm of gourmet nut gift basket. Check out all it includes: Dried Pears, Dried Turkish Apricots, Dried California Apricots, Dried Yellow Peaches, Dried White Peaches, Dried Dates, Dried Prunes, Roasted Cashews, Roasted In-shell Pistachios, Honey Roasted Peanuts, and Natural Almonds.

This tray measures 13 x 12 x 1 and feeds 12 people! As you can see, there’s a nut or a dried fruit in this package, which will arrive on time and arranged attractively (in typical Harry & David high class fashion).

All of this will cost you a pretty penny, but still won’t break the bank at $49.95 + $10.95 for shipping. All said and done you will pay $60.90. This is truly a special gift for a special occasion.

See details, reviews, & order your fruit & nut gift basket at Harry & David

You really can’t go wrong with any of these gift ideas. Choose a gift appropriate to your budget to make both you and your recipient happy.

Continue reading »]]> If you’re looking for a gift for the health nut on your list, what could be healthier than a basket of fruit? This healthy and organic fruit gift basket from Harry and David is jam packed with goodies. Some other companies will just throw a couple of apples and pears into a basket and charge you $50 to deliver it.

This basket will cost you a bit more, but it also has more to it. For one, it is certified organic by the USDA, which means, according to them:

Organic food is produced by farmers who emphasize the use of renewable resources and the conservation of soil and water to enhance environmental quality for future generations. Organic food is produced without using most conventional pesticides; fertilizers made with synthetic ingredients or sewage sludge; bioengineering; or ionizing radiation. Before a product can be labeled “organic,” a Government-approved certifier inspects the farm where the food is grown to make sure the farmer is following all the rules necessary to meet USDA organic standards. Companies that handle or process organic food before it gets to your local supermarket or restaurant must be certified, too.

What this means for the basket is that every product is handled with special care that you could not necessarily get by just throwing together a basket at the supermarket.

The Organic Fruit Basket comes with the following items:

• 2 Organic Gala Apples
• 2 Organic Red Delicious Apples
• 2 Organic Granny Smith Apples
• 2 Organic D’Anjou Pears
• 3 Organic Oranges
• 1 Organic Grapefruit
• Organic Banana Chips (2 oz.)
• Organic Blueberry Spread (9.5 oz.)
• Organic Dried Cranberries (2 oz.)
• 3 packages Organic Vanilla Bean/Chocolate Sandwich Cookies (1.7 oz. each)
• Organic Spiced Pear Tea (0.91 oz.)

I will not go through each product as I usually do, as this would be an insult to your intelligence. You know what these fruits are and what kinds health benefits they can bring you. You may not know specifics (eg. a medium-sized orange has 116% of your daily value of Vitamin C), but you know that they’re good for you. If you would like to look up the specific health benefits see My Fitness Pal (make sure you have some extra time, you’ll get sucked in). In this basket the dried fruits are great treats, like healthy little pieces of candy.

Harry & David always gets great reviews on their fruit (especially their pears), so you can trust that you will get quality with this gift basket. I’ll cover the packaged products here, as these are the things with which you may not be familiar.

Organic Blueberry Spread

This spread, as described by Dickinson’s (the company who made it is “a thick, flavorful spread liberally laced with plump chunks of organically grown blueberries.” It’s made with only five ingredients: sugar, blueberries, water, fruit pectin, and citric acid. You won’t find a laundry list of ingredients here! This is a truly tasty spread in which you can still taste and see the organically grown fruit.

3 packages Organic Vanilla Bean/Chocolate Sandwich Cookies

These cookies come from a company called Late July, and every time I see them in a basket it makes me swoon! The organic vanilla bean sandwich cookies are made from all organic materials without the use of synthetic pesticides, chemical fertilizers, genetic engineering, antibiotics or added growth hormones. They contain no trans fat, no hydrogenated oils, no corn syrup, no artificial flavors, no artificial colors, no preservatives, and are vegan — and to top it all off these cookies are excellent. You will never eat an Oreo again after downing one of these sweet things. If there was a contest for the yummiest healthiest cookie around, this would get my vote hands down.

Organic Spiced Pear Tea

This tea from Davidson’s makes a light, delicate cup of cinnamon tea with cloves and, of course, pear. It works well hot or cold, and is a good complement to the Late July cookies mentioned above. If you want to make a room in your home smell like pear, brew up a pot of this stuff. It’s fresh, but not overwhelming.

Extra Details

The Organic Fruit Gift Basket will cost you a pretty penny at $89.95, but it’s all-organic nature and beautiful arrangement make it worth it, especially if the recipient is a healthy person for whom it’s difficult to buy. With a great mix of fruit and healthy/organic treats, it packs an extra punch that the “normal” fruit gift basket wouldn’t necessarily do.

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This gift basket is such a blast to give. Not only are you giving the recipient candy, but you are taking them down a trip on memory lane. I have spent hours reminiscing over the content of this basket with friends, talking about how we used to walk down to the penny candy store and buy saucers and candy cigarettes. We pretended to smoke, and that we were bad (in a good way), just like the older high school kids.

This particular basket is a general old-school candy gift basket. It includes 36 different candies and four retro toys. Here are the contents of the basket:

I’m pretty sure this gift basket has the most items in it that I’ve ever seen in a basket. That’s 40 items altogether! The price is right as well at $39.99.

Be sure to explore Old Time Candy’s website before you buy. They have candy gift baskets for each decade starting with the 1920s (and pre-1920s) and extending to the 1990s. You can also buy the candy and retro toys individually, or make your own bag. They have cheap party favors too.

If you couldn’t already tell I’m completely enamored with this site. They took a great idea and executed it well, adding enough flexibility for personalization. This works great as a birthday gift, but also for father’s day, mother’s day, Christmas, and really almost any other occasion.

See’s Candy Gift Baskets

If you would rather get a little more personal and make your own, super high quality gift basket check out See’s Candies (see banner below):

On that site you can search for gifts by occasion and by price, a great option if you’re limited by funds.

What you’ll find consistently with these searches are candies beloved by many (as you can see with 1,000+ happy reviews of some products) and truly unique.

You’ll find lollipops–but not just any lollipops. These are pops made for adults and flavored chocolate, root bear, vanilla, and cafe latte. You’ll also find melt-in-your mouth delicious peanut brittle (my personal favorite) and toffee-ettes (toffee, almonds, milk chocolate) as well as boxes of assorted chocolates.

A great see’s gift basket created by you could have some of the following ingredients:

1. Peanut Brittle
2. A box of assorted chocolates hand picked by you
3. Toffee-ettes
4. See’s sturdy mug (which comes with cafe latte pops–yum!)
5. All contained within a See’s returnable tote bag

There’s much much more that you can discover to make your own See’s candy gift baskets on the website. Your mouth will be watering before 5 minutes goes by, I promise!

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Gift baskets are perfect pick-me-up gifts for someone who is sick or just not feeling all that happy. When it comes to giving them, you have a few choices. You can get baskets with food or without food, and depending on what kind of illness with which this person has been dealing, you want to be careful of what you choose. For example, you probably wouldn’t want to give someone who is going through chemotherapy and radiation a get well gift basket with rich sweets.

Get well gift baskets, done the right way, can show that you are thinking of the other person and that you care about them. You take the chance when buying a gift basket online, however, that the basket will be small and cheap-looking. Avoid this by doing the proper research or by reading the following review (where I’ve done the research for you).

Art of Appreciation Gift Baskets: Get Well Soon Gourmet Food Basket

Art of Appreciation is a small gift basket company, which with very little marketing was featured in Consumer Reports’ 2006 Best Gifts Guide and E! Entertainment Television’s “America’s Best Products.” These baskets are affordable, high quality, and unique.

The get well soon gift basket includes the following items:

• Chicken Noodle Soup Mix;
• Angelina’s Sweet Butter Cookies;
• Get Well Soon Sugar Cookies;
• Lemon Drop Candy;
• Enli-Tea-Ments Apricot Medley Tea;
• Longevity and Peace Chai Tea Mix;
• Tea Biscuits
• The inspirational book “Get Well Soon – We Need You!” filled with uplifting quotes on healing.

For more information on the above products see below:

Chicken Noodle Soup Mix

Chicken noodle soup mix (from Campbells) offers a fast and less-salty alternative to canned chicken soup. You won’t find the chicken or vegetables in the package, but if you are ill and don’t have much energy or much appetite this is simple to make either on the stove or in the microwave. The package comes with noodles and a dry mix for the chicken broth.

Angelina’s Sweet Butter Cookies and Get Well Soon Sugar Cookies

Angelina’s Sweet Butter Cookies are high class, tasty, melt-in-your-mouth cookies. The Get Well Soon Cookies have a smiley face on each one that are sure to bring a smile to the face of the eater. There’s not much else to say about these cookies–they’re just yummy!

Lemon Drop Candy

Lemon drops are tart but sweet hard candies often recommended to prevent dry mouth during medical procedures. They’re great for soothing the throat as well for those with a cold.

Enli-Tea-Ments Apricot Medley Tea

Enli-Tea-Ments is a product from the Chicago Coffee Roastery. This bag comes with pre-packaged apricot-flavored tea bags. All you have to do is pour boiling water over the bag and presto, you have a soothing, luscious cup of tea.

Oregon Chai Tea Mix

This chai mix comes from a company called Oregon Chai, which produces authentic nearly completely organic chai mixes. Just add 8 oz. of hot water to a mix packet and you’re set to go. You can add milk or soy to make it creamier.

“Get Well Soon – We Need You!”

This book, written by Dr. Chriswell Freeman, offers 8 common-sense principles to speed up the healing process as well as inspirational quotes to guide the reader along his or her way.

Extra Details on this Basket

This gift basket is one of those truly special get well gift baskets. The food is good, the arrangements are just right and the company ships your order out fast. Adorned with flowers and ribbons this basket will brighten up anyone’s day.

See the Art of Appreciation Gift Baskets Get Well Soon Gourmet Food Basket at Amazon for more information or to buy the basket.

Continue reading »]]> Welcome to the massive post of gift basket ideas. Sometimes, when we’re searching for a gift for someone, especially a someone that is difficult to buy for, we get overwhelmed and shut down.

I know, I’ve done it so many times.

But most times, a quick Google search leading to a post like this one kicked my brain into gear. I hope this does the same for you. The categories I have below are just loose so feel free to take the baskets out of context, to substitute, and even to do something completely different. These are just ideas to help you form your own ideas.

This list will keep growing.

Gift Baskets for Men

Many people have trouble buying gifts for the men in their lives. As far as gift baskets go, they are some of the easiest people to buy for as long as you know even a little bit about them.

Grilling

Grilling fork, spatula, tongs, his favorite grilling spices & rubs, sauces, rolls, grilling recipe book. Use a tray lined with napkins as the “basket.”

Handyman

Make little packages of nails, nuts, bolts, screws. He always needs more of those. Make your own trail mix and use nuts, raisins, etc with a little label called “nuts and bolts.” Include any small tools he’s missing, for example pocket knife or certain sized screwdriver. Maybe include protective ear muffs, wipes for his hands. Sandpaper would also be a good option as it wears out easily. Place in basket or an actual toolbox.

Superbowl

Include chips, salsa, M&Ms, cheeses, crackers, hat and/or shirt of his favorite team, beer, coozy. You can place all these things in a large football-themed party bowl. You can also apply this theme to other sports, such as the Stanley Cup or the World Series.

Travel Grooming Set

Comb, razors, shaving cream, aftershave, travel-sized deodorant, shampoo, soap. Place all of this in a basket or in a shaving toiletry bag.

Fishing

Lures, floats, extra line, gummy worms, travel mug, coffee, hooks, pliers, pocket knife. All in a tackle box or a bucket.

Golf

Golf balls, tees, coffee, travel mug, pencils, a book of golf facts, golf course calendar, membership to a local golf club all in a metal golf ball basket.

Women

Organic Make-up

Women put make-up on their faces every. Why not go natural? Try natural/organic lipstick, eyeliner, eyeshadow, blush, foundation, make-up removers. A face cloth would be a good addition too. Look for products at Sephora and Saffron Rouge. Place in a make-up bag.

Spa Gift Basket

Bath beads or bubbles, pumice stone, lotion, body oil, facial mask, loofah or mesh sponge, hand towels & face cloth (matching). Try to include a matching set of scents or scents that compliment one another. Place ina shower caddy or basket.

Lovers

For Valentine’s Day

Make “coupons” for various acts like a back scratch, foot rub, certain sexual acts, etc. that your lover can play at any time. A useful one includes a “you’re right” to use in a fight (I’ve found this one useful anyway). Include pink marshmallows, graham crackers, and chocolate for Valentine’s Day s’mores (surprisingly romantic). A piece of jewelry would be nice for a woman, a watch for a man. Write a long, heartfelt card/note and include it as well. Put in a paper bag to disguise what’s within for a surprise. (Simple, inexpensive, heartfelt gift.)

Babies

Remember, when you’re giving a gift to a baby, you’re really giving the gift to the parents. Including something for them will get you major appreciation points.

Boy or Girl

Rattle, stuffed animal, bottles, a little cardboard book (never too young to start with books), little onesies rolled and tied with ribbon, booties, little hat for winter, packages of formula. Place this and more nestled in a blanket in a basket or a diaper bag.

Gift Baskets for Kids

Outdoor Games

Bubbles, chalk, 4-square ball, racquets, balls, wiffle ball bat, frisbee, horse shoe set, towel. You can put all of this in a wagon or something similar.

Indoor Games

Pack of cards, cribbage board, Uno, jacks, basketball hoop and ball for door, fabric dart board set, boggle, yahtzee, bananagrams.

Educational

Depending on age this varies a lot. Books, coloring books, puzzles, math flash cards, pocket dictionary, planner.

College students

College students love to get mail, especially around finals time. Include things to help them burn off steam such as a dart board and their favorite candies/baked goods. Inspirational quotes, a planner, extra pens/pencils, sticky notes, and highlighters may help with the studying.

Gift Baskets for Graduates

Journal, gift baskets, humorous books, cookbooks, graduate teddy bear for girls, gift cards, money.

Grandparents

Candy from their eras, framed pictures of grandchildren, popular movies from when they were kids. If you are a college student include items from your school–grandparents love to brag.

General Gift Baskets

Chocolate & Wine

Make a high-class gift basket with gourmet chocolates and his or her favorite wines. Include wine glasses, cheese, crackers, and fruit.

Outdoor gear

Flashlight, water bottle, head lamp, bug spray/wipes, trail mix as a snack, compass, hat, GPS, pocket knife, binoculars. Place in a small hiking backpack.

Car wash

Sponges, soap, wax, polish, rubber gloves–all in a bucket.

Picnic Gift Basket for Two

Loaf of bread, cheese, fruits, wine, napkins, plates, forks, knives, blanket, glasses all in a picnic basket or attractive cooler.

Putting together a gift basket can be a lot of work, and if you feel overwhelmed, check out the rest of the site for reviews of existing baskets.

Continue reading »]]> Gift baskets for men can be difficult to find. Most times they are cheesy and cheap, other times they are just too cutesy. And although some men would go for cutesy, if you’re not looking for that then your choices are severely limited.

If you’re looking for a gift for your father or grandfather for father’s day, or for their birthdays, or just because (and he likes golf) then you may want to consider this Golf Gift Basket. This basket is great for golfers who are difficult to buy for or even those who are not that difficult.

Let’s look at what this basket consists of:

Golf Bag Cooler

The cool thing about this “gift basket” is that it doesn’t come in a basket. It comes in a functional cooler that fits six cans of whatever beverage you would like to bring to the course. This bag can fit more than just cans, too. In the outer pockets, one which zippers and the other which Velcros you can keep your wallet, keys, score pad, pencils, tees, or any other small items you carry around with you while golfing.

Golf Balls & Golf Tees

This basket comes with a sleeve of 3 “Top Flite XL” distance golf balls. These balls, although not the most expensive you’ll find, work just fine. As long as the person you are giving this gift to is not a pro, he probably loses golf balls left and right (even the pros do sometimes). Golfers always need new balls, and although these are not the highest class balls you can find most people cannot tell the difference between these and the best, most expensive balls on the market.

This bag also comes with a few tees, and again, what golfer couldn’t use more of those?

Key Lime Decadence Tea Cookies

These cookies, from The Famous Pacific Dessert Company, come in a 5 oz package filled with small marble-sized lime-flavored tea cookies. These small cookies are light a crispy with a little powdered sugar added for sweetness. They’re melt-in-your-mouth good, a great little treat on or off the course.

Desert Trail Mix

This brightly-colored trail mix comes in an 8 oz package, and offers a southwestern flair to the other items in this basket. If the person receiving this gift likes something different, something perhaps a little bit spicy, this will be a pleasant snack for him while watching or playing golf.

Parmesan Cheese Biscuits

The parmesan cheese biscuits are a truly unique touch to the gift basket. These biscuits are baked with cheese, artichoke, and garlic, with the cheese flavor being the strongest of the three. These are more snack-like than breakfast-like, however, bringing a salty taste to the mix. The box comes with two sealed plastic packages of the biscuits, so they will stay fresh even in humid weather.

Vanilla Bean Sandwich Cookies

These cookies, from the company Late July, are organic versions of Oreos. Although no cookie is truly healthy, with no trans fat, no hydrogenated oils, no corn syrup, no artificial flavors, no artificial colors, and no preservatives, these are the better choice over the more well-known brand. They even have green tea in them, which you cannot really taste, but which brings along the antioxidants and other good stuff associated with it. The outside of the cookie is crispy, and the inside is creamy without being greasy. This package comes with four cookies, the perfect amount for just a little taste of sweetness. Check out the raving review of these cookies to see for yourself.

Peanut Butter Pretzel Nuggets

These peanut butter stuffed pretzels are so addictive, it’s a good thing they only come in a 4 oz package. The salty sweet flavor will keep him coming back for more long after they are gone. These are great for a filling snack and will keep him going until lunch (or dinner if he plays an afternoon game).

Bag of “Perfect Potful” Coffee

This packet, from the company Coffee Masters, is a freshly ground bag of pre-measured coffee that will make 8 to 10 cups, depending on how strong he likes his coffee. It is 100% Arabica with a strong aroma and rich, well-balanced flavor. If he has to get up early for his game, this can be the kicker to get him there on time and ready to go.

Golf Mug

The mug that comes with this set is sturdy and stylish. It’s a green mug with pictures of clubs, golf balls, and tees all over it. This makes a solid addition to the mug cabinet.

Poland Spring Sport Top Bottle

This is….exactly what it sounds like. It’s definitely the least gourmet item in the gift basket, but your golfer will still need it for those hot days. It certainly doesn’t hurt and goes along with the theme quite well.

All in All…A Great Gift Basket for Men

All in all, this gift basket packs a lot of punch for its price. I’ve had experiences with gift baskets where what I ordered isn’t at all what I got. You’ll find that, with this gift, you get exactly what you bargained for and more. It looks great and the food tastes great. Your gift recipient will truly enjoy this basket.

Continue reading »]]> When a friend or family, coworker or acquaintance loses someone they love it’s hard not to feel helpless. You may or may not know the pain they are going through, but it doesn’t really matter because you cannot do much to make them feel significantly better. Something you can do, however, is to free them of some burdens by offering to do errands for them, cooking meals, or by even just lending an open ear. I also like to send along a gift basket as a special touch. This is also a great option if you cannot personally see the bereaved and/or live a great distance away.

Giving Something Sweet/Useful to the Bereaved

If you would rather send them or give them a gift, sympathy gift baskets are perfect for the occasion. The key with sympathy gifts is to find something classy, useful and tactful. You can depend on most gift baskets designed for this occasion to do all of the above.

You must be careful while choosing one, however, that you choose a high quality product. You do not want to give something cheap. Wolferman’s Deluxe Sympathy Gift Basket will offer the perfect gift to help someone through this hard time.

1. Wolferman’s Sympathy Gift Basket

Wolferman’s Deluxe Sympathy Breakfast Basket, pictured above, is the perfect gift for someone who has just lost someone they loved. It’s classy, unique, and it takes care of breakfast for a few days if not weeks. The basket includes the following items:

• 1910 Original Recipe Signature English Muffins, 1 pkg. (4 muffins, 14.5 oz.);
• Cinnamon and Raisin Signature English Muffins, 1 pkg. (4 muffins, 14.5 oz.);
• 1910 Original Recipe English Muffin Bread (17 oz.);
• Classic Crumpets, 1 pkg. (4 crumpets, 5.5 oz.);
• 2 Classic Currant Scones (3 oz. each);
• Strawberry Preserves (5 oz.);
• Spiced Honey Creme [Cinnamon, Nutmeg, Cloves] (11.8 oz.);
• 3 bags Tiffin Blend Coffee (2 oz. each);
• Muffin Master Splitting Tool.

If you would like more information on each of these products, see below:

Wolferman’s Signature English Muffins

One reviewer on Wolferman’s website calls the Original Signature English Muffins, “the best English muffins he’s had in his life.” They certainly bring a little extra over the tiny English muffins you can buy at the super market.

Both packages in this gift basket, the original and cinnamon raisin, come with four thick (about 2 inches) and tasty muffins that melt in your mouth. With minimal fat and cholesterol, these English muffins can make your breakfast truly special.

The English Muffin Bread comes in a pre-sliced loaf with thick and filling slices. One slice is enough to satisfy you, trust me. This bread does not taste like any other bread either. Even the original non-flavored variety is bursting with flavor in every bite. Although it lacks the nooks and crannies of a regular English muffin and is slightly less dense, this is a great bread to accompany your morning eggs.

Classic Crumpets

Wolferman’s crumpets are thin, with a hard bottom and an English muffin-like top. They are GREAT toasted with a little jam or butter on top and also make a good bread base for French toast. The classic crumpets have a sweet, vanilla-like flavor, so they are also good without a topping.

Of course, they are also good along with tea or coffee, as is the custom. At only 70 calories each, these substantial scones are a filling snack to tide you over until the next meal.

Classic Currant Scones

This gift basket comes with two individually wrapped scones, making them easy to take on the road. This item is the only item in the basket that some people do not like. Although personally, I think that is a matter of whether or not you like scones in general.

Strawberry Preserves & Spiced Honey Creme

Wolferman’s Strawberry Preserves are a great addition to all of the bread items above. The preserves taste fresh, but not too sickly sweet. Just note that at 5 oz the jar is just a little larger than a votive candle, offering just 7 servings of the stuff. Paired with the Spiced Honey Creme, this should be plenty for the muffin and scones.

The decadent Honey Creme is one of the most exotic and unique toppings you’ll ever taste. Great on any of the breads above, it also makes a good addition to tea. This jar is about twice the size of the preserves, still not huge, but enough to enjoy. It has a whipped consistency and this flavor is spiced with nutmeg, cloves, and cinnamon.

Tiffin Blend Coffee

The coffee completes the breakfast, and brings it together. Without it, you would not have a complete breakfast basket. At only 2 oz, you’ll have just a taste of Wolferman’s coffee, enough to keep you going.

Master Muffin Splitter

This little invention from Wolferman’s takes the struggle and stress out of splitting an English muffin (which, if you’ve tried to split one while half-asleep, is quite the battle). It does not slice the muffin, but splits it, preserving the nooks and crannies that make an English muffin an English muffin. Once you’ve been exposed to this kitchen gadget, you’ll never want to give it up.

Extra Details on this Gift Basket

The basket measures 13 inches long, 10 inches wide and 7 inches high and weighs in at 4 lbs 12 oz.

Wolferman’s offers a deal for this basket in that you get expedited shipping for the price of standard shipping. This is key for a gift for someone who is grieving. Just take one look at the emphatic reviews for this basket and you’ll see you really can’t go wrong sending it to anybody you care about. The combination of its usefulness and presentability will show thoughtfulness on your part. For the bereaved, it will be something nice that he or she can focus on without too much extra effort.

2. Harry and David’s Deluxe Sympathy Basket

Harry & David is a well-known high-quality gourmet food company. When you send one of their gift baskets you can be sure that you are sending quality. The company began in 1910 when Samuel Rosenberg purchased 260 acres of pear trees. In 1914 his sons, Harry and David, took over the company. It became the first company to really use direct order marketing, and still has an excellent track record today.

The company’s Deluxe Sympathy Basket comes with:

• 11 Royal Riviera Pears
• Havarti Cheese (7 oz.)
• Rogue Creamery TouVelle Smokey Cheese (4 oz.)
• Deluxe Mixed Nuts (4 oz.)
• Black Pepper-encrusted Dry Salami (8 oz.)
• Caramel Moose Munch Snack (6 oz.)
• Three Seed Crackers (4 oz.)
• Mesa Verde Trail Mix (11 oz.)
• Petite Orchard Fruit Candies (6 oz.)

11 Royal Riviera Pears

These pairs are a signature Harry & David item, and the best pairs I have ever tasted. They are large and juicy, and literally melt in your mouth as you eat them. The sweet flavor is better than anything you’ll taste from the grocery store. The pears in this basket are a healthy option for your recipient and a quick and easy snack when they need an extra boost. ($30)

Havarti Cheese (7 oz.)

Havarti cheese, named after the farm on which it was first made in Denmark, is a mild, buttery cheese made from cow’s milk. It is a semi-soft creamy cheese. You will be hard-pressed to find someone who doesn’t enjoy its flavor.

Rogue Creamery TouVelle Smokey Cheese (4 oz.)

This is a semi–hard cheese, made in Oregon. Its flavor is more herbal than the Harvarti cheese but it is just as creamy. The Touvelle Smokey Cheese has a mild smokey flavor that is great for snacking and sandwiches. It is also made from cow’s milk.

Deluxe Mixed Nuts

Harry & David’s Deluxe Mixed Nuts package include cashews, almonds, peanuts, and walnuts that are lightly roasted and salted for flavor. This protein-filled snack will help fill your recipient up and keep them going during long days.

Black Pepper-encrusted Dry Salami (8 oz.)

This salami is slowly air dried and seasoned with pepper to perfection. With the mild cheeses above, it can make a high quality meal. Its packaging also makes it easy to take with you on the go and just have a few slices when you need it.

Caramel Moose Munch Snack (6 oz.)

Harry & David’s Moose Munch is made with fluffy popcorn coated with buttery caramel and tossed with fresh nuts. This is the sugary treat in the basket that your gift basket recipient won’t be able to put down after having a bite.

Three Seed Crackers (4 oz.)

The three seed cracker are a perfect base for the cheeses listed above as well as the salami. THere’s not much else to say about these crunchy crackers.

Mesa Verde Trail Mix (11 oz.)

The Mesa Verde Trail Mix is made of giant roasted corn, peanuts, pepitas (pumpkin seeds) and southwestern seasonings. It goes well sprinkled over cottage cheese or on green salads, but also functions well as a snack.

Petite Orchard Fruit Candies (6 oz.)

These are just little candies that are shaped and taste like the fruits they’re supposed to represent. Pears, apples, and oranges are all featured in this package.

More Details

The Deluxe Sympathy Basket serves 8-10 people, is 15 in L x 11 in W x 10 in H, with a net weight of 8 lbs. Harry & David’s offers free overnight delivery. Be sure to select “Standard Delivery” to get the upgrade during checkout. Orders placed after Thursday 1pm ET will arrive the following week.

The items in the basket are all individually wrapped for freshness and each basket has a sympathy bow attached.

This basket is priced at $104.95. If that’s got you gawking, there are less expensive options too. The
6-Star Sympathy Gift Basket comes in at $74.95 while the 4-Star Sympathy Basket comes in at $54.95. These options may also be a better choice if you are sending this basket to only one person or a small family. Whatever you choose, Harry and David is a good option for almost any occasion, but works especially well as a sympathy gift for those about whom you truly care.

Continue reading »]]> Father’s Day is just about a month away (June 19). This seems like a lot of time now, but in 3 weeks and five days you’ll be freaking out because you have nothing for your father. You could go out and buy him a package of socks or a nice watch. But, really, think about it–that’s been done before. Why not instead consider buying him a unique gift basket?

Unique Gift Baskets Make Perfect Gifts

If you have a Dad that’s hard to buy for, or you’re just sick of getting him the same old thing, then a gift basket is a perfect choice. You should not just settle for any old gift basket, however, with tiny snacks and plush teddy bears tied up with little blue bows, and a mug that says “Best Dad Ever.” Save that for the children under the age of 12.

When I say unique, I do not mean unique in the sense that the basket is the only one in existence. That would be impossible unless you made the gift basket yourself. This is always an option, but less of an option for people with little time or creative skill (like me ). Instead, I mean unique for your father–as in, something he hasn’t seen from you. In order to make the perfect choice, you must do some brainstorming first.

Brainstorming for your Father’s Day Gift Idea

Go get a piece of paper and a pencil. We’re going to do a little brainstorming.

First, write down the range of prices you are willing to spend on your Dad. Gift baskets range from $10 to $150 (with some exceptions), so they are affordable gift options for Father’s Day if you find yourself short of cash. Still, you want to be sure to stay inside your budget. If you go broke buying a gift, you’re not helping anyone, including your father (who may have to bail you out!).

Stay within this range while looking at your options. To help keep you in budget and to narrow your search, places like Amazon give you options while searching. To get there, type in something like “father’s day gift baskets” and then choose a department on the left side. If you scroll down you’ll see these options:

As you can see, each price range has a number in parentheses next to it. For this I just did a simple “Father’s day gift basket” search and clicked on Gourmet for the department. So, if your price range is between $10 and $30 and you’re searching in the same categories, there are over 100 gift baskets to choose from. That’s not bad at all!

Now, grab your paper and pencil again and give yourself one minute to write down everything you can think of about your Dad. Ready–Go! If you’re having trouble, try answering these questions as a start:

• What does he do for a living
• What are his favorite foods?
• What are his hobbies?
• What are his likes? dislikes?
• What does he wish he could do?
• How does he relax?
• What does he complain about?

You will begin to see themes emerging from your answers. These themes will help you make your final decision on which unique gift basket to choose.

Choosing A Father’s Day Gift Basket – A Note about Dads

If there’s one thing about Fathers that I’ve noticed, it’s that they like useful gifts. That’s why socks and watches and packages of undershirts were stand-bys for years. These are things your Dad wanted and needed.

The great thing about gift baskets is that you’re getting a whole bunch of gifts in one. The drawback is that sometimes, some of these gifts will not be useful to your father. So, in looking for a gift basket, try to find the one where you will get the most bang for your buck.

For example: Recently, your Dad started to express some interest in fishing. Instead of getting him a red-riding-hood-like basket with a stuffed fish and goldfish snacks, why not try for a tackle box with lures and floats (and cute snacks in it as well)? This way he can use every bit of the “basket.”

I wrote a post on that exact basket, and some other unique gift baskets for Dads, just the other day if you are looking for ideas. Or, if your Dad is on a health kick, you can check out these healthy gift baskets for Dads.

So what are you waiting for? Get out there and start looking for an affordable, unique father’s day gift basket before it’s too late!

Continue reading »]]> If your Dad’s difficult to buy for, and you struggle each year to find a proper Father’s Day gift for him, then you may want to consider looking into getting him a unique gift basket. Most gift baskets contain gourmet food in a basket — and that’s it. Some of them have unique food, but nonetheless if you are looking for something different they are not really good choices. Most of them, although they are targeted to men, they have cute little plush teddy bears, and tiny snack-sized portions that don’t really scream MAN. Most also come in a basket, which usually, again, is useless to your father. This is not true for all fathers, but for most i would bet that they could care less for a wicker basket.

So where does that leave you? There are some really cool gift baskets out there that actually cater to men. The key, once again, is knowing where to find them. Here are two that may interest you in your search for a Father’s Day gift.

Bullseye Treats Dart Board Beer Cheese Gift Set

This is an awesome gift for Dads who fondly remember their college days. It is also awesome for a chill activity that you and your Dad can do together. The “basket,” which isn’t actually a basket, comes with a dart board, six darts, and 6 assorted gourmet beer cheeses (beer not included, unfortunately). So not only do you receive pleasure out of the cheese, but you can gain lasting pleasure from the dart board.

A reviewer on Amazon says her friend, to whom she gave the basket, raved about the cheeses. The dart board has a regular dart game on one side and baseball darts on the other. You can even include a personalized message if you are shipping the item directly to your father — which is useful, especially if he does not live near-by. Oh, and this unique gift basket is super affordable.

Click the button below to buy the item or to see more details:

Fun for Men – Man Skills Sports Gift Box

This unique gift basket is a little more expensive, but if you can spring for it it may be worth it. Sports-lovers will especially love this gift. The non-foodie items include a book named “Man Skills Book: Everything Men Need to Know That Their Fathers Never Taught Them” with over 200 survival articles and tips like how to start a fire with two sticks and how to get water from a cactus, a Nerf football, baseball slugger ball, and a football foul flag and a whistle. Food items include cheese & beef sticks, shelled peanuts, mesquite barbeque chips, pretzels, jelly beans and beef jerky.

This basket not only offers food, but fun! To find more information about it and to order it click the button below:

Tackle Box Fishing Gift Basket

If your Dad is less of a sports person and more of a quiet, contemplative sort, then this gift basket might be good for him. The selling point of this item is that it all comes in a tackle box. What comes inside is pretty cool too, though! This basket includes two fishing lures, six round 1-inch floats and then goodies for the fisherman including instant coffee (which you’ll need for fishing at 4 a.m.), hard candy, beef jerky, gummy worms, and more.

Each item is themed with the “fisher-man” theme. This gift basket is perfect for a father who has talked about getting into fishing. Give him the opportunity with this father’s day gift!

Continue reading »]]> So, you want to get something special for your Dad for Father’s Day, but you don’t know what to get him. You decide on a gift basket. There’s got to be something in there that he’ll like. As you search through the gift baskets for men, and gift baskets in general, you find a ton of sugar, salt, and general unhealthiness. You do not want to contribute to your Dad’s poor health–especially if he’s on a diet. That would not be a good Father’s Day gift. If this sounds anything like you, there are healthy gift basket options out there to choose from…you just have to know where to find them.

Healthy Gift Baskets

Healthy gift baskets for men are tough to come by. Okay, gift baskets for men in general are tough to come by. They do exist, however, it just takes a little searching to find a good one.

These healthy gift baskets are perfect for Dad. The one on the left is has unique, healthier version of lovable snacks like popcorn, pistachios, pumpkin seeds, and more. And, it has a great name: Happy Pappy Healthy Father’s Day Gift Basket. The basket on the right is a larger version of Happy Pappy, with a larger price tag. Click here to see the added ingredients.

Organic Gift Baskets

Although organic does not always mean healthy, these baskets offer a pesticide-free, antibiotic-free option for Dads who are conscious about that:

The basket on the left, Certified Organic Father’s Day Basket for Dads is a truly healthy, vegetarian basket with almonds, organic corn chips, organic nectar, dried mango, organic cookies and GoRaw snack mix. The basket, or cooler, on the right, The “Father’s Day Picnic For Two Hamper” Gift Basket is great for a Dad who likes to hike or go on picnics. This “basket” comes in a cooler with a full meal for two including Wisconsin cheese, salsa, chips, fruit slices, pretzel sticks, and more.

Sugar-free Gift Baskets

Diabetic Dads, or fathers who just don’t like a whole lot of sugar, can even be included in the gift basket fun. There are some pretty good-looking sugar-free or low-sugar options from which to choose including the following:

This “Happy Father’s Day” Gourmet Sugar Free Father’s Day Gift Basket is a basket full of cookies, candies, and other goodies, with an attractive ribbon, saying “Happy Father’s Day.”

If you would like a larger basket, try the Ultimate Sugar Free Gourmet Food Gift Basket. This unique basket has a wider variety of food including tea, pretzels, cheese, and jelly beans.