The Gift Ideas Blog

Mother’s Day bouquet of flowers, credit

Mother’s Day is in less than a week, but you still have time to find the perfect Mother’s Day gift.

You could go the traditional route of a big bouquet of flowers. Most flower shops and supermarkets have delightful arrangements of blooms that tell Mom that you love her. Pick big bright springtime colors. Red, whites, and pinks are very symbolic of love. Perhaps consider a dozen roses, or even better, a potted plant in a cute, decorative container that will continue to grow for years to come.

Also, consider delectable comestibles. Treat your mother out to a nice dinner at a fancy restaurant. Take her to her favorite restaurant, or, because restaurants are usually very busy and loud during the big holiday, give her a gift certificate for a dinner on another day that might be more convenient. Many popular restaurants offer gift certificates for their dining rooms.

Perhaps you could give your mother a nice box of chocolates or candies. Many chocolatiers and confectioners are offering special Mother’s Day-themed gift sets filled with deliciously sweet collections of their products. Great chocolatiers include Vosges Chocolates, Burdick’s chocolates, and Recchiutti Confections.

If it comes down to the wire and you still don’t have something, perhaps consider a gift card to your mother’s favorite retailer. Although slightly less personal, at least your mother can choose her favorite item, so you know you can’t go wrong.

Sometimes, the best gifts are free. The best gift could be spending time with your mother. Or, create a heartfelt homemade card that shows how much you love her and recounting your favorite moments with her. Perhaps write a poem or story about your mother and frame it. Poets.org has a database of poems, and you can find an already-written poem that fits perfectly as a tribute to your mother. Print it out on nice paper and a unique font, or use your arts and crafts and calligraphy skills for a unique gift that Mom’s sure to put on your wall.

Flowers, chocolates, poetry, time spent with Mom… no matter what you select for your Mother’s Day gift, she’s bound to love you and your present. Don’t forget Mother’s Day this Sunday, and help make it a special day for that special woman in your life.

What are you giving for Mother’s Day?

Alphabet Photography by Jennifer Blakeley

Here’s a unique gift idea for a member in your household or a friend to help them decorate their bedroom or living room. Alphabet Photography allows you to select various photos of everyday objects that look like a letter in the alphabet. The letters are placed together to spell out a word or name!

For example, in the above image, a photo of a part of a ladder suggests the letter “H,” while in the following photograph the wheel suggests the letter “O.” So while each individual photograph is a close-up of an outdoor element, the aggregate effect suggests the word “HOPE.” Alphabet Photography sells these individual photographs that can later be displayed in a scrapbook or framed for display.

Photographer Jennifer Blakeley has expertly photographed and captured on film dozens of these naturally-occurring letters, and using the convenient online ordering form, you can select the letters and word to spell out for your Alphabet Photography gift. If you don’t like a particular version of a certain letter, you can actually select another depiction of the same letter. This helps make each Alphabet Photography order unique. (View the alphabet letters here.) The 4x6 sepia-toned photographs sell for
for $4.00 each, framing not included. Custom frames and the associated shipping can be expensive, so Alphabet Photography leaves the display options up to you so you’re not forced to buy a frame or even display the photographs in a frame. This method allows people of all budgets and incomes to enjoy a timeless piece of art they can truly call their own without breaking the bank. You can also combine the alphabet letters with other personal photographs, perfect for a scrapbook project!

A nice Alphabet Photography word or name makes a perfect decoration in a home, bedroom, or office. With an inspirational word such as “hope,” “joy,” “love,” or “dream,” it makes a wonderful reminder in our daily lives to do great things and to feel happy and well. You can also pick a name (first name or a family’s last name) to display in the format… a great tribute to the individual, family, or organization that receives the gift. It would also make a perfect Mother’s Day gift, as you could create the word “Mom,” or use your mother’s name, in the artistry. Your mother will be proud to display this beautiful and symbolic work of art.

Visit Alphabet Photography today to make your own artistic display that is certain to visually impress anyone who sees this magnificent, custom-made gift.

People start to look pale in the long winter season because of the reduced sunlight and fewer opportunities to go outside, but you can give the gift of tan, bronzed skin with gift certificates to your local tanning salon! In fact, Hollywood Tans is offering a special holiday deal for those looking for last-minute gifts.

The indoor tanning salon chain is offering a seasonal promotion through which you can get a free $10 gift card to their salons with a $50 purchase. So you can give the gift of tanned skin while giving yourself a little treat as well. Help a friend or relative look as if he or she has just returned from a tropical vacation, even though it’s the middle of winter!

Hollywood Tans has several programs, and memberships begin at $19.99. Some options can get you looking tan in as few as one or two sessions. Visit Hollywood Tans to find which of their 320 locations is closest to you and to look at their various tanning plans.

Considering perfume as a gift can be a difficult process, but it is can definitely be worth the effort. The folks at BB Perfume have provided some perfume gift giving tips for that special someone who can really appreciate a new and exciting fragrance to sprinkle herself with. According to BB Perfume, a great way to buy gift perfume, especially if you don’t know a woman’s preference, is to pick something that matches her personality. Here are their suggestions to help you choose the perfect gift fragrance for the following personalities:

Adventurous — Try Reaction by Kenneth Cole, Cool Water by Davidoff, Mambo Women by Liz Claiborne

Sexy — Try Attraction by Lancome, Burberry Touch, Contradiction by Calvin Klein.

Carefree — Try Acqua Di Gio by Girogio Armani, Boss Woman by Hugo Boss, D&G Light Blue

Confident — Try Amarige by Givenchy, Lacoste pour Femme, Dalissime by Salvador Dali.

Chic — Try Burberry Brit, Chance by Chanel, Desire by Dunhill.

Outgoing — Try Sensi by Giorgio Armani, Bazar By Christian Lacroix, Red Door by Elizabeth Arden.

Youthful — Try Daliflor by Salvador Dali, Paris Hilton, Diorissimo by Christian Dior.

For more recommended fragrances by personality, visit this article: Perfume by Personality.

Fragrances and perfumes make great gifts for your friends and family members. And you benefit as well because you can smell the results of these gifts for months to come!

Here’s a great personalized card or stationery idea to go with your gifts: PosePrints!

PosePrints invites you to design your own personalized stationery. You can pick from a variety of designs, and best of all, you can create your own fun caricature.

After you pick your favorite background, you design your image! Pick from the templates your hairstyle, eye color, mouth, and other features such as facial hair, glasses, or even a baby bump! There are options for men and women. Then, add personal details and messages, and you’re all set to check out!

PosePrints is a great alternative to generic, run-of-the-mill greeting cards. Say hi or I Love You with these fun and unique cards that have been personalized and can only be from you! If you’re looking for unique stationery to pair with your gifts, try out PosePrints.

And, Gift Ideas Blog visitors can get a special discount: Enter the code “GIFT20″ in the checkout area of the PosePrints site and receive 5 free cards for every order of 25 cards — a $10 value! Check out this great stationery idea at PosePrints!

It’s one week until Mother’s Day, and there’s still plenty of time to get that perfect gift for Mom. Whether you’re shopping locally or going to an online store that will ship directly, there’s hope to find the gift that will say “I Love You” to your mother for Mother’s Day (May 13, 2007).

- How about a writing and stationery set? Mothers frequently correspond with their friends and extended family members, so you can help her out by giving her a personalized card set, with her monogram (or Mom-ogram!) or a long-lasting pen with her name on it. Blank greeting cards are nice and can be used for any occasion. Find some at your local paper/office store, or order them online.

- How about a wine gift? Perhaps a fancy chardonnay or pinot noir? Maybe a gift basket with wine and appropriate paired snacks (chocolates, cookies, crackers, smoked meats), or even a trip to a winery to try some wine tasting. Since the film “Sideways,” trips to experience wine country and try out different wines have taken off. Join in on the wine-tasting fun by introducing her to the joys of wine.

- A beautiful floral arrangement could enliven your mom’s Mother’s Day and will last for some time on her windowsill. Or, for an even longer-lasting gift, give Mom a living plant or planting kit, so she can grow her own foliage at home. Plants bring color, refreshment, and good air to a room. Every time she sees the plant, your mom will think of you.

- Take her on a shopping trip! Or take her out to dinner! Time spent with Mom is always precious, and your continued love is the greatest gift you can give to her.

For more gift ideas for the occasion, see our earlier post: Mother’s Day Gift Ideas

Good luck!

Digital photo frame

A charming, technology-friendly gift idea is to give a digital photo frame. This is a great way to show off those amazing photos you’ve taken with your digital camera. The digital photo frame will constantly display one image, or rotate through a series of digital photos.

It’s a perfect Mother’s Day gift idea because Mom will love seeing pictures of good times you’ve shared with her on this frame. It will bring back memories that will bring her great joy. Give a digital photo frame pre-loaded with your digital pictures, and it will be that much more meaningful.

Find a digital photo frame via Froogle.

A cute candy gift idea. This item from Personalization Mall allows you to put your own message on a candy jar.

Put something like, “I love you, [name of recipient]” or “I love you, Mom; from [name of giver]” on the jar, and the gift will be specific and always associated with you.

This would make a good Valentine’s Day gift, as well as a Mother’s Day gift.

Fill the jar with your gift recipient’s favorite candies, and you’re on your way for a sweet gift. Your sweetheart, who might place this personalized candy jar on his or her desk at work, will think of you every time he or she reaches for a piece of candy.

Now what would make a better gift idea?

Mother’s Day

Mother’s Day is coming up in May, and there’s still plenty of time to find that perfect Mother’s Day gift idea.

This year, Mother’s Day falls on Sunday, May 13, so there’s still about two weeks left to find that perfect present.

So what’s good to give to mom?

- Flowers are a nice gesture of your appreciation for her love and devotion. Support your local florist by giving him or her a call and ordering a nice bouquet for your mother. She’ll love a delightful floral arrangement. Picking warm colors such as red and pink in your flowers will show how much you love her.

- How about jewelry? Sure, it’s expensive, but it will look so lovely on mother. What kind of jewelry does she like? Gold, silver, platinum? Bracelets, necklaces, earrings? Consider these when making your purchase.

- A new wardrobe could be a great gift for Mother’s Day. She might like a beautiful blouse or a new dress. What kind of dressing style does she like?

- What are Mom’s hobbies? If she likes quilting, buy her quilting materials. If she likes reading, buy her a book. If she likes gardening, buy her live plants and gardening tools. The possibilities for gifts are endless.

- Beauty products are both functional and appreciated. If your mom wears makeup, she might like a nice accessory gift basket or a beauty kit as a gift. Related items, such as a carrying case or toiletries case could be useful as well. Perfumes and fragrances could be nice gifts as well.

- Finally, if you really can’t think of anything, give Mom a gift certificate to a nice restaurant, or better yet, take her for a nice night out to eat. Pick a nice restaurant with a charming ambience and enjoy the meal and the time with your loved one.

Use your imagination and creativity. You really can’t go wrong, anyway… she’s your mom, and she’s going to love you anyway, regardless of your gift. That’s not to say to become lazy and complacent about picking a gift; it means you don’t have to stress out too much about finding that present.

Remember, the perfect Mother’s Day gift is just a thought away!

Gap handbags

Would mom like a cute handbag?

Gap.com offers a wide selection of carry-all accessories of all shapes, sizes and materials. These are also make functional gifts because they can be used to transport things. And, your mother or other gift recipient will always think of you whenever she carries it.

These Gap handbags are both fun and cute!