Gift Giving Central News

Thursday, March 13, 2008

Show Your Appreciation With Thank You Gift Baskets

by Morgan Hamilton

Have you ever expressed your gratitude through thank you gift baskets? Every time someone did anything special for me, I often show my appreciation by giving them these gifts. I create these baskets myself and I often incorporate things that the recipients like on the design. They are also available on the market, but people would appreciate homemade thank you gift baskets more than pre-made ones.

I recently made two thank you gift baskets for people who have done some special things for my family. I have a next door neighbor who has an adorable six-year-old son and she is always bringing over his old toys for my younger son. Some of these toys were expensive, like the children’s keyboard and wooden puzzles, and I wanted to thank her for her kindness.

Since her son has everything his heart desires, it is practically impossible to buy him a toy. He owns a lot of them and buying more would only clutter the house and he doesn’t even play with half of what he already has. I decided that it would be appropriate if I create one of my thank you gift baskets for the woman who has been generous to my son.

My next door neighbor’s favorite activity is drinking. She drinks a lot and would always talk about the new cocktails she mixes in the kitchen. I realized that one of those thank you gift baskets filled with coffee, tea, or sweets wouldn’t suit her. I decided to make her a custom made basket filled with liquor. She was overjoyed with my gift and she responded by making pomegranate martinis that night using the vodka from her basket, and then she invited me and my husband over to drink with her.

Giving thank you gift baskets is a perfect way to let someone know you appreciate them without buying them a silly trinket they may not like. I’ve created different kinds of thank you gift baskets filled with stuffed animals, fruits, coffee products, and booze, depending on the recipient’s taste. The only drawback is that gift baskets can be expensive especially if you overdo them. Try to use your imagination to create a charming yet inexpensive present.

Morgan Hamilton offers expert advice and great tips regarding all aspects concerning Thank You Gift Baskets. Get more information here at http://www.giftsandgreatinfo.com/great-gifts/great-gifts/show-your-appreciation-with-thank-you-gift-baskets.html.

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Thursday, October 18, 2007

Unique Gift Ideas For Family And Friends: Picture Gifts

by Mario Churchill

Giving gifts is one of the most wonderful experiences that you will ever have. Just watching your loved one's expression once they received the gift is priceless. So, if your family or friends is celebrating something on just about any occasion, you want to give them something that is unique something that they can use everyday.

With today's technology, you can do almost anything to your photos. By just having a home computer, you can install your favorite photo editing software and manipulate your photos. You can even scan your previous photos and store it digitally in your computer.

The software can even let you place celebrities on your photo and make it seem like they are posing with you. You can even print your own photos in a photo paper. However, editing and printing your photos isn't the only thing that you can do with it. You can even print your favorite photos on just about anything. You can print it on T-shirt transfer paper and iron the print on your shirt, or just about any cotton fabric you choose.

There are a lot of gift ideas that you can think of by just using your favorite picture. With a gift idea like this, you will surely keep your friends and family guessing just how you did it. The iron-on T-shirt transfer is one of the most common gift ideas available. It only requires you to digitize your favorite photo or your friend's favorite photo, print it completely reversed on a T-shirt transfer paper and iron the print on a fabric.

Another picture gift idea that your family and friends can truly appreciate is by printing a special photo in a coffee mug. For example, if your friend just had a baby, you can take a picture of the new mom holding her first baby for the first time and print it on a coffee mug. This is definitely a perfect gift for your friend who recently became a mom.

Just imagine, the morning she wakes up for a cup of coffee, she will always remember the first time she held her child. This kind of gift is truly unique and will really show your creativity. These kinds of gifts are simple and can be cherished for a long time.

You can even personalize a mouse pad that you can give to your coworkers. A picture can be printed onto a mouse pad. It can be a photo of him or her making faces. With this kind of gift, your coworker can truly appreciate the thought and they will surely remember the fun times you and your coworker had in the office.

There are lots more picture gift ideas that you can give as a gift to your loved ones. You can even personalize a handbag and give it to your friends who collect handbags. It can be a photo of you and your friend having a great time or it can be anything at all that your friend will have good memories of.

Giving these kinds of picture gift ideas will not only show how thoughtful you are and how creative you are, it will also show how much you cherish those memories you spent with the special people around you. So, whether you are giving gifts to your friends, your parents or to your brothers and sisters, you can really give a gift that they can truly appreciate by giving something that has a memorable picture printed on it.

Mario Churchill is a freelance author and has written over 200 articles on various subjects. For more information checkout http://www.snaptotes.com/ and http://styleends.com/.

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Friday, September 28, 2007

Are Baby Gifts and Guys Mutually Exclusive?

by Brian F Connors

Ever had a situation in which a gift was needed to be sent by you to someone for an occasion but you were absolutely stymied about what to give? I'm confident that this circumstance has occurred during the celebration for a new baby. This is especially true for the menfolk out there that generally have no inkling regarding the correct etiquette to guide their baby gifts choices.

Guys, is there a type of gift that would hide your helpless ineptitude and actually show a sense of grace or, dare I say, savoir-faire? Absolutely, my male comrades! The answer is Baby Gift Baskets. They are simple to find on the internet and to dispatch to anyone, anywhere across the continental USA. It would be a bada bing - bada boom exercise that's a cinch to do.

These gift baskets contain all of the cute and cuddly stuff that you won't have to shop for. Teething toys. bibs, booties, ducky and teddy bear items plus more can be magically brought together and purchased in one fell swoop. The baby gifts can also be customized for boy or girl. The basket itself is another gift that can add to the décor of the baby's room. Starting to see the light here, boys?

Here's the plan, Stan. Go to Google or Yahoo or whatever and type in keywords or phrases that relate to the type of item to be purchased. How about 'newborn baby gifts delivery' or 'baby gifts' or ...Wait...I just had another startling cosmic revelation! Try 'baby gift baskets' and press the Search button. Shaaazam! That should get you on your way to shopping for and choosing the right gift basket at the right price.

You would then give instructions to the Baby Gift Basket online store of whom to send it to and where to ship the merchandise and by when. Then make a secure credit card payment that's within your financial wherewithal and the process is complete. No mall shopping anxiety. No carefully wrapping and packaging the gift. No impatiently standing in line at the Post Office to mail. Need I say more?

You may have to sincerely ask yourself the question 'What part of this don't I understand?' Read this article again if that's what it takes for you to realize how this advice has made you more sophisticated and worldly within the realm of Guydom. Take heed not to get all giggly once you grasp the concept because remember...You're a guy! Just pass me some pretzels and the remote and we'll call it even, OK?

Brian F Connors is the owner of Gift Basket Paradise and wishes to share his insight regarding the challenges that confront all members of the male gender regarding babies and the shopping for thereof. He invites all of his befuddled brethren to thoughtfully examine http://www.agiftbasketparadise.com/baby_gift_or_gifts.html for wonderful baby gift basket ideas to consider.

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Wednesday, August 29, 2007

Need To Buy A Baby Gift Find Out How

by Melissa Fishman

You do not have to go through the trouble of walking from one baby gift shop to another just to find that perfect baby gift. A wide variety of baby gifts is within your reach from the comfort of your own home. A great way to get a baby gift is to have a child to choose the gift. Baby Gifts are a lot of fun to not only give but to receive when you are expecting. Personalized baby gifts are unique keepsakes to commemorate your baby's birth. All he or she really needs at that point are food, love, warmth, and shelter. Remember, cool baby gifts are not just for the baby.

Friends, family and colleagues usually throw baby showers; this is to honor the couple that is expecting a new born baby into the world. The purpose of the shower is to bestow gifts upon the parents-to-be so that is generally items that are necessary for babies. It doesn't matter if your baby shower is in an elegant restaurant, or a banquet hall or a warm cozy home.

When having a new baby come into the world the parents will need the obvious supplies, diapers, soap, lotions, powder and many other products will be a necessity for the baby. There are so many different gifts to purchase that most gifts will fit any type of budget. You can purchase inexpensive items and have them personalized and this will make an exceptionally great gift. Of course the greatest gift you could give is the baby furniture, this will help the parents out with a tight budget. Personalizing these items can be arranged. Clothing and related items are always welcome gifts, and if these are personalized, are valued that much more.

Think outside the box quite literally. Pretty baskets are great to hold an assortment of gifts and many craft stores put them on clearance quite often. The gift that you give is for the mother and the baby, but the baby does not know what it wants or needs so you must make the gift suitable for both. Upscale baby gift baskets are a great choice for the uncertain shower attendee. No matter what theme you choose baby gift baskets will make a lasting impression. Everyone loves chocolate so including chocolates in the basket is a great gift. Baskets are usually divided into girl themes, and boy themes. Gift baskets can be used for many different occasions, births, baptisms, baby showers and first birthdays and even many different holidays.

New parents can never have enough. Choose one of these baby shower gifts and you will have given a gift that will become a favorite. These baby shower gifts are choices that parents will love. When getting gifts for parents make sure you get something they can use now and not have to store away, they will have enough to stock up on. You can include many different items in a gift basket; you could include chocolate, cookies, baby food and candies to name a few. As everyone knows new parents love to take pictures so adding picture frames and photo albums is a great idea and is something that can be used.

Melissa Fishman and David Marc Fishman are the owner of http://Mailordermommy.com. Mailordermommy sells personalized party favors. Get kid party favors for your birthday party

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Friday, August 03, 2007

A Gift Basket For Faraway Family Members

by Tracy Crowe

I know very well what it's like to have family who live far away. When I was growing up, my grandparents and aunts/uncles and cousins lived across the ocean. When I had my own kids, their grandparents and aunts/ uncles lived on the other side of the country. Now that my sister has 2 small children, the youngest of whom I've never met, this being far away has hit me again. How can we show far away family, especially when children are involved, that we want to be close and stay connected?

We could design a gift basket for family members who live far away, just to say we care. We would put into it several mementos that make the distance between us seem smaller.

If we have young children, we could send grandparents a digital picture frame. In case you're wondering what a digital picture frame is; it is a device about the size and shape of a picture frame that has a LCD screen. The screen displays multiple photos in a slide show format, and it connects to the Internet via the phone line to download new pictures and information to display. You use your computer to upload photos to a website and every day the frame uses the phone line to connect to the website and download any new photos. This is an ideal way to send digital photos of the family to grandparents who lack a computer and/or the skills to use one.

We could also include a DVD, or a video depending on the equipment we and they have, of some recent activity; perhaps our child scoring a goal at soccer or performing in a recital, or even just a family picnic or something like that. Photos are great, certainly better than nothing, but they just don't show you what the child is really like as well as video does. They don't give you as much of a feeling of being there as a movie does. We could also include a tape (either audiotape or videotape) of our child giving the recipient a special message.

Of course we could always send regular photos too. One idea to make a photo special is to cut out the shape of the children (the important part) and have it glued onto a plastic block so that it stands upright by itself. Another idea is to frame the photo in a magnetic frame that is suitable for the holiday so that it is easy to put on the fridge. I have one on my fridge right now that is a heart frame for Valentines Day. You can often get these at places like Target. We could include a picture the child has drawn or painted, or even a small thing the child has made himself if the child likes to do crafts.

Of course, most of these ideas are not just for children and grandparents, although I know that the time when you feel the farthest away from your family is when either you are a child away from grandparents, or you are away from a small child, especially a grandchild. These ideas can be applied to any faraway family members. When family members move away is when they most need to know that we're thinking of them. A gift basket would be a great way to reassure them of this.

Tracy Crowe loves to feel connected and closer to her family.

For information about gift baskets, visit http://theirowngiftbasket.com

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Wednesday, July 25, 2007

Thank You Gifts Strategy To Make Them Go Ga-Ga

by Brian F Connors

Most of us are indebted to people who have lent us their time, wisdom or financial assets for the betterment of our situation in this thing called life. Parents or other relatives as well as friends have come to our aid when called upon. Some have even responded solely from the prompting of their own gracious hearts. Total strangers may also have stepped in during emergency situations at the risk of their own safety for the preservation of our well-being.

What could be an appropriate response to counter those acts of generosity? How about thank you gifts? These would be offerings that would express gratitude in the most heart-felt way. They would be physical testimonials of your sincere desire to somehow pay back at least a tad portion of the unselfishness that was shown to you. That's a good start to begin a strategy of recompense but where does one go from there?

The beneficiary of the act of kindness must first look deep within the provider of such and determine what makes the latter get excited in life. What is the passion, hobby or way of living that the altruistic one holds dear? Is there a theme that burns within their very bosom that they fervently embrace that you know of? One must look and aim squarely at the heart of the selfless one and take action. How about some suggestions to consider?

The gift of books having the right topic or preferred author could be a perfect hit. The same could apply with music selections on CD or favorite movies on DVD as well. Tickets to the opera, concerts or plays that your helper would enjoy could also satisfy your goal to bless the helping hand that eased your burden in the past.

How about food? Gourmet chocolate, Italian food, coffee, etc may be the ideal thank you gifts to bestow. Relaxing luxury bath spa products or related gift certificates may also be the ticket to show your admiration towards the one who showed you a saintly concern. Hobbies enjoyed such as golf, gardening, movies, auto racing, casino gambling or whatever could be taken into consideration to get a gift that will strike a bulls-eye. Take the time to study the inner self of the target of your intent. Come to a conclusion as to which thank you gifts would best befit the message that you wish to convey and choose the most powerful one.

Cost should not be a big consideration. Why? It's important to know that an inexpensive gem specific to the goodly one's personality is better than a pricey package that will only end up wasting storage space. Maybe you can relate to that situation?

Just take the necessary steps of both pondering over the essential personality of the one you wish to honor and choosing the right gift that suits your conclusion. You will be much more likely to end up doing just the right thing in just the right way.

Brian F Connors is the owner of A Gift Basket Paradise and wishes to share his insight regarding the giving of gifts expressing the theme of gratitude and thanks. He invites everyone to view his ideas for such at http://www.agiftbasketparadise.com/thankyou.html

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Thursday, May 24, 2007

Wedding Season Is Here - What Should I Spend On The Perfect Wedding Gift?

by Christine Steendahl

Thousands of people each year are guests at weddings and with the wedding services and receptions becoming more grandiose, many wonder what to spend on a gift for the couple. There are several things to be considered when determining what to spend on a gift. Here are some simple guidelines to follow.

The first rule when it comes to wedding gifts is ultimately what you feel comfortable giving. Having said that, there are lots of people that want to make sure they give an amount that is neither too small nor too much. One consideration when deciding what kind of wedding gift to give is the the couple getting married. With younger couples getting married for the first time, they are just starting out and would generally appreciate a monetary gift more than anything else to help pay for their wedding costs, buying their first home, help with furnishing an apartment, etc.

For other, married couples that are already established, gifts of money are less important and they would be pleased either with money or with a thoughtful gift.

Obviously a consideration when choosing the amount of a wedding gift is how close you are to the couple being wed. If you are an immediate family member or a very close friend, a monetary gift of several hundred dollars to thousands of dollars is not uncommon. It really depends on how much you can afford to give. Ultimately the couple is just happy to have those who are close to them in attendance for their special day. Of course some type of gift is common etiquette.

For others invited to the wedding, such as friends, co-workers and extended family members, you should aim to give an amount that you think is equal to the cost of inviting you to the wedding. For instance, if you think the cost to invite both you and your guest is $100 than this amount is appropriate. If you are able to give this amount plus 25% to 50% extra, your gift will be kindly received.

You may think about asking the bride and groom if they are registered somewhere, so you can pick out something they actually want, saving them the hassle of making a return after the wedding. Traditionally the couple would register for basics such china and place settings. Today couples register for a variety of items including anything from fondue sets to board games. A gift should be given from the heart. They may also be delivered to the reception. In this case family members will be responsible for seeing that the gifts are delivered to the bride and groom.

Gifts of money can be mailed to the happy couple as soon as you receive an invitation to their special day. For those giving actual gifts and not monetary gifts, the rules are typically the same.

In any event a nice card should accompany every gift, whether it be monetary or otherwise. A card can express your thoughts for the happy couple. Never underestimate the power of an exceptional card.

Choosing a wedding gift should not be difficult. The bride and groom are embarking on a new phase of their lives together. They will be pleased with whatever gift you give them.

To find the perfect wedding gift visit Family Kitchen Boutique - A Unique Kitchen Store. http://www.familykitchenboutique.com/ If you are currently engaged a kitchen store bridal registry is also available.

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Tuesday, April 10, 2007

'Thank You' Gifts For Coaches

by Pat Anderson

It goes without saying that a coach should be thanked at the end of the season. Thanking someone is important; it’s a base of our social upbringing and it shows reverence to the person we honor. The phrase is muttered everyday, from saying “thanks” to the toll booth worker to mothers around the nation saying to their child, “Now what do you say?” upon any receipt of kindness from anyone.

Yet, when it comes to the unique relationship between coach and athlete, many adults have no idea the way to go about thanking the coach properly.

First, know that the coach probably doesn’t expect much. They probably just envision that the last day that the team comes together that they will be the one thanking the team and telling the team how proud they are of them. The coach, up until the last moment, if they are a good coach, will be focused on bringing a sense of personal and group esteem and fulfillment to each participant. The coach may even be thanking the parents.

There are many personalized gifts that are very appropriate, one of such is the plaque. One can, at almost any mall or online, find a suitable, economical plaque that can be personalized with the team name, the year, the coaches name and an “in honor of” or “recognized for” exceptional coaching and so forth.

Do not discount that a card, signed by all participants would also be a great gesture. If the coach is local, and folks are aware of a hobby or interest, or preference, it is possible that a gift certificate to a local eatery, store or entertainment outlet would be welcomed.

One or two people should in the beginning of the season appoint themselves to take responsibility and meet with parents via personal meeting or telephone. At this point, an agreement of how much per person, participating families are willing to spend is gathered. From this, it is also a good idea to collect ideas on gifts for the end of season, or at least begin to think of generic ideas.

Another meeting, telephone call or email can be followed up in a couple of weeks and then again, at the end of season.

It should also be discussed on how to present the gift or gifts. One parent could open their home as an evening to celebrate the end of season, or perhaps more informally, at the end of the last team meeting, the gifts are presented at that time by players to the coach.

To summarize, thanking the coach is important and teaches the players respect and acknowledgement.

Way to support this learning would be to:

1. Gather a group to institute the end of season “thank you”

2. Decide upon a proposed amount per person for giving

3. Allow everyone to submit ideas for gift giving and narrow down the most popular or logical responses

4. Perhaps a group gift inclusive or as a stand alone, such as a plaque where the coach can display and remember the year as one of productivity and accomplishment

5. Personally signed card from all team players and/or parents for a remembrance and to give intimacy to the gift giving.

6. If money is an issue and a gift is not possible, a poster or card that is well thought out and personal is also acceptable.

In closing, the thank you need not be costly or impressive; however it should be heart felt and show respect, admiration and understanding for the time and effort, teaching and support that the coach has given during the season.

Pat Anderson has been a basketball player and coach for over a decade. His popular blog is full of great coaching tips and basketball drills: http://www.online-basketball-drills.com/

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Monday, March 12, 2007

Give A Gift That Saves Lives

by Joe Ebner

An Inexpensive NOAA Weather Radio Can Give You The Time To Seek Safety.

Shortly before sunrise on November 16 an F3 tornado ripped through the tiny community of Riegelwood, NC. Within seconds 8 people were dead and 20 more were seriously injured. Among the dead were 4 children under the age of 12.

The tornado struck at a bad time. Most of the residents were still asleep or just beginning their day. There was little warning. The National Weather Service office in Wilmington, NC issued a tornado warning at 6:29 am. Eight minutes later the tornado touched down.

Severe Weather Can Strike At Any Time

Severe weather like tornadoes and thunderstorms can strike with little warning. They develop very quickly and their lifespan is relatively short. But during their brief time tornadoes bring terrible destruction, injury and loss of life. Other weather-related events like flash flooding and lightning can put many lives in jeopardy.

While we currently don't have technology to control the weather, we do have technology in place that can warn us to approaching severe weather and give us enough time to seek safety.

Weather Warnings by Radio

NOAA Weather Radio is perhaps one of the best kept secrets in the United States. Many of us are unaware that the National Weather Service operates nearly 1,000 radio transmitters throughout the country. The transmitters are in operation 24 hours a day, 7 days a week continuously streamming current weather conditions, forecasts, warnings, and other crucial weather information.

NOAA Weather Radio advises people of severe weather watches and warnings, buying extra time for people to react before dangerous storms hit their area. When you're in the path of something like a tornado, seconds can mean the difference between life and death.

However, a special kind of radio receiver is needed that is capable of receiving the alerts. Special NOAA Weather Radios are available in electronics stores, sporting goods stores, marine supply stores, and on the Web. They are inexpensive (starting at about $30.00) and programmable for a specific area. NOAA Weather Radio receivers are built to utilize the features of NOAA Weather Radio.

Each advisory, watch, or warning transmitted by NWS is preceded by a special alert tone. When the radio detects the tones transmitted by the NWS, it activates itself. Weather Radios respond to the alert tones by activating a built-in audio or visual alarm. The alarm feature is especially useful for warnings that are issued during the night when most people are asleep.

SAME Technology

The best Weather Radios use SAME (Specific Area Message Encoding)technology. SAME uses a series of digital tones that identifies the type of warning being sent and the denotes the specific geographic location the event affects. SAME allows you to filter out distant warning broadcasts and monitor only those messages intended for your local area. For example if you live in a coastal county but not right on the beach, you may not be interested in a Coastal Flood Warning.

SAME technology is also the primary trigger for activating the Emergency Alert System used by commercial radio, television and cable TV outlets.

Each county in the U.S. is assigned a 6-digit code by the NWS. This code can be easily programmed into the radio (Detailed instructions for your area are included with the radio.). Once the code is set the radio responds only to alerts issued for the area programmed. If you move, the radio can be reprogrammed for your new location.

Depending on the model you choose, further programming can be done to minimize false alarms or to include neighboring counties in your alert area. This is important for those who live near county borders.

SAME radios are available in desktop and portable models. Portable radios allow you to take the radio with you wherever you go and they can be reprogrammed to work when you're on vacation or on the road. If you work outside or participate in outdoor activities a protable unit can alert you to unknown weather dangers wherever you happen to be.

For desktop models, a battery backup feature is important. Having the option to operate independent of commercial power will keep the receiver armed and working even if the power fails.

Weather Radio has evolved over the years to broadcast non-weather emergency information making the system an 'All Hazards' network. Information of events such as chemical spills, earthquakes, and even terrorist attack are broadcast if the need arises.

While we cannot recommend any specific brand of receiver, we do recommend that the radio you consider buying comes with the Public Alert logo. The Public Alert Standard was adopted by the Consumer Electronics Association in conjunction with the National Weather Service. Radios that carry the Public Alert logo meet specific technical standards and include the features we mention here.

We have smoke detectors in our homes that alert us to fire. We have carbon monoxide detectors that alert us to potential deadly gasses from our furnaces/fireplaces/gas heaters. An NOAA Weather Radio should be included in your arsenal of weapons to safeguard against severe and deadly weather events. Early warnings of severe weather can give you just enough time to take cover.

Consider purchasing NOAA Weather Radios as gifts this holiday season. It could save the lives of those you love.

Joe Ebner operates http://TopsailWeather.com, a locally operated weather station and weather information website for residents and visitors to Topsail Island, NC. For Topsail Island Weather updated every 15 minutes, visit http://www.topsailweather.com

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Sunday, March 04, 2007

10 Great Gift Ideas for Father's Day

by Cynthia Marcano

Ok, so Father’s Day is approaching and you’d rather go to the dentist than buy another tie. Save the appointment for wisdom teeth trouble and make shopping a little easier. Here are 10 gift ideas for Father’s day that are sure to bring a SINCERE smile to his face.

10. Father of the Year Plaque – Show your appreciation for that special Father with a trophy or plaque that honors him as a Father.

9. Magazine Subscription- This is the gift that keeps on giving year round. Popular subscriptions are Sports Illustrated, Men’s Journal and Muscle & Fitness. There are others that I would rather not mention, but I am sure would get a positive reaction, if you know what I mean.

8. Sports Tickets- Because Father’s Day is during the summer, baseball would the sporting event to get tickets for. Other options are wrestling events or golf tournaments.

7. Golf Getaway- Speaking of golf, a golf getaway is a really nice gift and a great way for busy dad to unwind.

6. Gift Basket- You are probably thinking Gift Basket?! Yup I said gift basket. You can find any themed gift basket nowadays including golf, fishing, football, baseball and movie lovers.

5. Clothing- I gave my father-in-law a T-shirt with his only granddaughter’s picture on it and it he has it folded in a drawer so that he can’t ruin it. Saying he worships it -is an understatement. If he isn’t the sentimental type, golf shirts and shorts work too.

4. Watch – They seem to be a necessity that men don’t splurge on. If he is wearing a watch with a plastic wristband, you need to read no further. Go shopping right away.

3. Barbeque Supplies- The weather is warm and there is a good chance you are having a BBQ to celebrate Father’s Day. Start the BBQ off right with new cooking tools for the BBQ cook.

2. Tools- This is a pretty obvious choice but a great gift nonetheless. Especially if you married someone like Tim Taylor – The Tool Man

1. A day to watch sports, pig out and do whatever it is, he likes to do. Consider this his special day. Things like breakfast in bed, renting his favorite movie (you know the one with all the guns, violence and macho stuff) and cooking his favorite dinner could be just what the father asked for.

Cynthia Marcano is owner of Simply Sinful Baskets. Visit www.simplysinfulbaskets.com and find gifts for all occasions.

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Saturday, February 10, 2007

Food Gifts with Flair - Gourmet Food Gift Ideas From the Holiday Gift Lady

by Melanie Farkas

Are you bored with spiced drink mix or layered soup in a jar? Let me inspire you with some new food gift ideas! I like making treats in the kitchen because they are cheap and don't take much time shopping for. My family likes them because they taste good and are consumable - no clutter! Here are some of the themes I use for inspiration in choosing the right recipe for each person:

Family History or Country of Origin - Introduce a person to a food that originated in the place your family is from. My husband's family is from Hungary so every year they make small crescent shaped nut filled cookies called Kieflies to give as gifts. It becomes a family event as we grind the nuts, roll out dough, and sprinkle the finished cookies with sugar. Then we pack them up in boxes to send off to relatives in California and deliver them personally to nearby family and friends.

Ethnic Dinner in a Basket - Gather a variety of ethnic food items into your own gourmet food gift basket. To our family who lives in upstate New York (but is originally from the Southwest), we send enchilada sauce and our family's favorite canned salsa. Add a bag of flour tortilla mix, Spanish rice mix, and some dried beans and you have the beginnings of a fiesta.

Hobbies - Does this person you know sit around playing Japanese video games all night? Give them Japanese treats. If they go participate in Civil War Reenactments, find a historical recipe book and cook them up some hard tack for the next camp out. If they like to scrapbook, put together a basket of healthy snack foods such as spiced almonds or pecans, dried fruit, pretzel mix and homemade or gourmet mustard for them to share with friends at the next photo cropping marathon.

Favorite Food - Think of a person's favorite food and then make several varieties of it. My friend Julie likes muffins so I could make her blueberry muffin mix, apple spice muffin mix, struesel muffin mix, and cranberry orange muffin mix. My neighbor Tony likes hot stuff so he might enjoy pickled peppers, hot salsa, and my mother-in-law's famous spicy asparagus spears.

Using these ideas for inspiration, you will have fun mixing up some food gifts for this holiday season and have your family and friends asking for more of your gourmet treats. Happy Holidays!

Melanie Farkas is the Holiday Gift Lady. She has gift ideas from all over the world at her website http://www.uniqueholidaygiftideas.com/

You can find many more food gift ideas on her Gourmet Holiday Gift Basket Ideas page at http://www.uniqueholidaygiftideas.com/gourmet-holiday-gift-basket.html/.

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