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christmas advice
Gifts for Wine Lovers
9 Gifting Trends for Her
Stop stressing about what to gift those women who seem to have it all, or who are very particular about what they like. This year is all about gifts that are hip, techie, trendy or personalized. Lindsay Roberts, founder of TheGiftInsider.com, picked out nine gifts that any in-the-know gal will be thrilled to receive.
Techie Gifts
Apple TV: This is the perfect under-$100 gift for the Mac gal in your life. Apple TV streams movies, TV Shows, Pandora, photos, Netflix or Hulu subscriptions right to your flat screen. It’s perfect for the girl who watches more TV than her DVR can handle and already has a iPhone, iPad and MacBook to keep her up-to-date. $99.99
Netflix Gift Card: While buying someone a DVD of a movie or a gift card to a movie theater is a thoughtful idea, a month-long subscription to Netflix is an even better one. With unlimited streaming for movies and TV shows, she can catch up on films she missed in theaters and relive memories of classic sitcoms either at home or on any mobile device. $8.99/month
iPhone Photo Cube Printer: Girls who love planning parties will jump at the chance to set up a photo booth in her living room. This small iPhone dock doubles as a color photo printer. She’ll be able to send friends home after a fun night with the ultimate souvenir—an actual picture from the evening before it gets posted to Facebook! $159.99
Personalized Gifts
Cell Phone Case: The accessory she uses the most should be personalized and totally her style. This monogrammed cell phone case with a bright geometric pattern can be completely customized to suit her taste. No matter how messy a girl’s purse is, she will definitely be able to spot her phone! $58
Datevitation Coupon Book: These are always a cute idea to give your girlfriend or wife, but if you aren’t the creative type, Datevitation can do the hard part for you to create a one-of-a-kind gift. Choose from hundreds of creative ideas, create your cover, and add a message. It will arrive professionally bound and filled with adorable illustrations. $20
Everyday Leather Tote: This soft leather carryall from Mark and Graham is perfect for a working girl. It has plenty of room for a pair of heels, e-reader, wallet and more. With five colors and three free monogram styles, you can design the perfect bag to suite her sensible style. $199
Foodie Gifts
Salts of the World: This gift set of six exotic salts from around the world is perfect for a girl who loves making trendy meals and side dishes. You only need to add a small pinch of these salts to make a big impact. $36
Candy Cane Cake Kit: Beginner bakers will love to try their hands at a DIY fondant cake kit. The kits include everything needed to bake like a pro and make a cake for 15—all she will need to add are eggs, oil and water. $48
Grow Your Own Marinara Kit: This fresh herb-growing kit is perfect for the domestic diva. The kit includes tomato seeds, oregano and basil and grows directly in the bag to make the freshest Marinara sauce this side of Italy. $29
Should You Follow Age Guidelines for Toys and Games?
Buying someone a gift is representation of a joyous occasion, but at times, the process of choosing the “right” gift can feel like anything but a celebration. This is especially true when you are shopping for some of the harshest critics to date: children.
Let’s face it–if kids don’t like something, they won’t hold back. With all the rules and regulations associated with the purchasing of toys or games for kids, it’s hard to keep these guidelines in mind along with a kid’s ever-changing likes and dislikes. Buying a kid in elementary school a gift for ages 6-and-up may teeter into “babyish” territory, but getting the newest rated T or M (teen or mature) action video game may not be what mom wants her 11-year-old playing before bedtime. So how do you know if you are choosing what’s best?
Age ranges are placed on games and toys for a reason. For the toy industry, the main and most essential purpose for those guidelines is safety, says Adrienne O’Hara, a Toys”R”Us spokeswoman. “Parents and gift-givers should absolutely take note to packaging notifications when dealing with young children,” says O’Hara. “When kids are 3-years old and younger, they are at greater risk for swallowing small or hazardous pieces.”
Don’t Hold Back
Since children are constantly going through various stages of development, games geared toward complimenting and enhancing that current phase of the child’s life make the best gifts. For children ages 6 and up, it’s important to take his or her skill level and interests into account, but you should only purchase gifts that fall within their age range. A game or toy for ages 6 and up is still appropriate for a 7-8 year old, but one designed for children 7 and up may not be the best choice for younger child, especially one not even in Kindergarten yet. In general, you should always make sure your recipient is at the younger age of a provided range when choosing a gift.
Moving Too Fast?
Another common conundrum gift givers face is buying for tweens (10-12 years old). This is a tough age to buy for, because while some tweens might be more eager to leave their adolescent years behind, you also have to be careful not to go beyond their maturity levels. While this mainly affects girls, think twice before purchasing cosmetics, perfume, hoop earrings, hair accessories, etc. without getting her parent’s permission.
When a PG-13 or T-rating is applied to a movie or video game, is it okay to buy it for a tween or teen? The moral answer is to leave that decision up to the parent’s discretion. Although some parents may be willing to ignore the guidelines, it is not your call to make for someone else’s child, and you don’t want your gift to provoke an argument or be withheld from its’ recipient. Even if a child is old enough by movie or video game standards, it might not be a subject matter that all parents would agree is appropriate for their teen.
Solo Play
Purchasing toys and games for only children should also be handled delicately. Most games and toys are designed to complement the multi-player audience, but does that mean the you should search of something strictly designed to accommodate party of one? It’s healthy for kids to be interactive and social, so if you are gifting a toy or game that is for more than one player, it could be the perfect companion for the next sleepover or play date, especially for kids in grade school (yet the age that kids start having sleepovers varies as well). On the other hand, there are plenty of fun and stimulating games and toys suited for individuals, especially games that are more educationally-oriented.
The most important rules to remember when buying any child, big or small, a gift, is to use your own discretion, knowledge of the child’s skills and abilities, and to follow the age ranges because that will lead you toward something that will be indicative of the child’s capability and enjoyment. After all, it’s really about putting a smile on the child’s face–and the parents!
Hostess Gifts for the Holiday Season
During the holiday season, many people find themselves invited to stay over with friend at their childhood home for for an extended stay with a boyfriend or girlfriend’s family. We've all been there, and if the occasion hasn't come up already...it will! There’s nothing more important than making a fabulous first impression. Here are some great picks that will have any hostess itching for you to visit again!
A Hip Candle
A Food Gift
Present your host with a gift unique to your hometown or state. If you live in New York City, a box of macarons from Ladurée (the French patisserie’s only U.S. store) is a chic treat for any host ($2.70 per piece). If you hail from the South, bringing stone-ground grits from regional favorite Falls Mill will set the tone for a delicious breakfast ($8 for 5 lbs.). Pralines from New Orleans, pistachios from California, and Maytag Blue Cheese from Iowa are all fantastic options…get creative with your idea!
A Gift for The Home
Without knowing someone’s décor or taste, think neural if you decide to go with a decorative item. A beautiful coffee table book, Turkish cotton dishtowels for the kitchen, monogrammed cocktail napkins or a soft cashmere throw for a sofa or screened porch are quick and easy go-to’s to snag before traveling!
A Touch of Mixology Whether you're looking for the perfect gift to give your hostess or a chic thank you for a weekend stay, this list will do the trick! But don't forget a handwritten thank you note on exquisite cotton paper...a little bit goes a long way!
Get creative with your alcohol gifts and raise a glass to these terrific picks.
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gift etiquette
Get Schooled: How to Give a Teacher the Best Holiday Gift
If you’ve found the perfect gift for your child’s teacher, now it’s time to give it to them. Here are some tips and tricks to make sure your delivery of holiday cheers don’t turn into awkwardness and tears:
Keep things private
If you believe in giving a teacher a gift in addition to contributing toward the class gift, make sure it is done in a private matter. Remember that by doing so, you’re singling your child out to the teacher and to their classmates if they find out—and with that comes other parents, who may feel intimated or resentful.
Know the right time to give the gift
Don’t make your child or their teacher feel uncomfortable by giving a gift during an inappropriate time. If there’s a class party, ask the teacher to step aside and give them their gift privately. If as a parent you want to give a teacher a present personally, rather than having your son or daughter present it, do it on the earlier side of drop-off time in the morning or at pick-up time at the end of the day. However, the best way is simply to leave it on their desk with a note signed by your child.
Multiple teachers do mean multiple gifts
If your child is in an inclusion class, it’s the proper thing to get a small gift for every teacher. Give your child’s primary instructor a nicer gift, and the others a smaller gift. For instance, give a large jar Yankee Candle to the main teacher, and a few small votives to the other teachers or assistants.
When in doubt, give a gift card
Gift cards can seem impersonal, but they are most definitely appreciated. Teachers often use money from their personal accounts to buy those extra boxes of crayons, so a Visa or American Express gift card or one to a craft supply store like Michael's will show you notice and appreciate that your teacher goes above and beyond her monetary means. Another benefit of gift cards is that you can choose how much to give as well, giving you the option to spend as much or as little as you’d like.
Remember that the best gifts can be free
If you can’t afford a gift this year, have your child say “thanks” in their own way – whether it is a handmade card, a picture they drew, or even just a quick note. A small, but heartfelt token of appreciation can go a long way.
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Cool Gift Ideas Under $25
Boo Plush $ 15.00
Trendy Eye Chart Hip Party Flask $ 24.88
The Fast Food Wallet $ 15.00
American Rag Hat, Black Fang $ 9.99
Knit Tech Glove $ 17.99
Guitar Pick Punch $ 24.95