The Gift Ideas Blog

Christmas presents

Christmas will be here before we know it, and it’s time to get all those last-minute gifts before the big gift-giving holiday. Many online retailers are still offering last-minute shipping deals, and it’s quite possible to find a gift online that will still be sent out by companies to your gift recipient by Christmas Day (rapid guaranteed one-day shipping, for a price, of course). But you’ll have to hurry. Many of these retailers are swamped during this time with similar last-minute gift shoppers, so you’ll want to order today to have them ship out the item by Monday to hopefully arrive on time on Christmas Day.

You might actually have better luck going to a store to find the perfect gift during this time. A recent jaunt over to Kmart and Target yielded delightful gift boxes, all wrapped up and ready to be given. They contain various gifts, from jam and preserves sets to shaving kits to hot cocoa mixes in holiday mugs. All packaged nicely in appropriate boxes, you don’t need much effort to get it ready for presentation. With these stores doing all the work, it shouldn’t be hard finding the perfect gift. They’ll also help you out because many stores offer gift-wrapping as well, so it’s all one-stop shopping, without any hassles once you get home.

Also, try a smaller boutique. They offer unique gift items that are personal and not as mass-marketed. Perhaps try an antique store for a vintage twist. My friend recently found at a vintage store a silver heirloom locket that she planned to give to her mother after putting in her own portrait. Such treasures seem to have more meaning when they are vintage and have an old story to them.

If you are unable to go out to shop for Christmas, perhaps consider a home-made gift. One delightful idea a friend used once was to make a huge batch of gingerbread dough. Then, divide the dough into smaller portions, wrap it up in plastic, and give the gingerbread dough away to friends and family members along with a card containing a recipe for making gingerbread and instructions on how to bake it (temperature, how much time, etc.). Perhaps also include a gingerbread man cookie cutter. That little set is cheap and easy to make yourself, yet it will be well-received by your gift recipient because it is unique and a fun gift to receive because you can have a mini-party baking and then later decorating that gingerbread.

Also, you could try creating your own gift basket. Put some coffee or teas, or jams or wines or fresh fruit into a basket, then affix a delightful and colorful bow to the top. It’s an instant gift basket! If it’s a Christmas gift for children, add some toys and candy, and that’s sure to be a hit with the youngsters. Perhaps you could also use Christmas colors of green, red, gold, and silver in coordinating your gift basket items. Or use a green, red, and gold ribbon to tie up the basket. There aren’t any rules; just pick what your gift recipient might like and wrap it up so it looks beautiful. Easy peasy!

Well, it’s just two shopping days ’til Christmas. Good luck, everyone, in finding that perfect Christmas gift!

Wine Gift Ideas

Wine could be a great gift for anyone 21 and older. It’s classy, but fun at the same time. There’s so many different varieties and wineries, it may be difficult to figure out what wine to buy as a gift.

Wine makes for an excellent corporate gift, as well as be part of a nice gift basket.

For example, this gift basket from FTD features wine and a wine country theme.

However, there are a few things to consider if you want to give a wine gift.

First of all, just because it’s more expensive, doesn’t mean your wine gift is better. Sometimes the higher price could simply be for the prestige of coming from a famous wine-producing region (Napa Valley, anyone?), but the taste may not be exactly the gift recipient’s favorite. Make sure to do your research for your wine.

Also, does your wine gift recipient know anything about wine? If he or she does, be sure to be extra careful about your gift. If they don’t know anything about wines, maybe you could give a guide to tasting wines. Perhaps a book from your local book retailer could explain the art and nuances of wine-tasting.

Finally, wine is frequently paired with food, so a nice gift idea could be to invite them to a fancy dinner with paired wines. Any restaurant with a knowledged sommelier can help you pick out the perfect wine to go with your gourmet dinner.

Wine can be a classy and cultured gift to give. Good luck finding that perfect wine gift!

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!