Category Archives: Gifts

There’s always so much going on during the holiday season, between planning for parties and get-togethers, travel, work or school deadlines, and more. Heading to the stores to go holiday gift shopping for friends and family can be overwhelming and time-consuming, especially without a plan in mind. Looking for a few new gift ideas for Continue Reading

If you hosted a contest and asked for the most popular Valentine’s Day gifts for women, the top answers would probably include flowers, jewelry, or spa packages. Many women, however, would prefer to receive a different kind of gift on February 14. If your significant other isn’t easily wowed by daisies, diamonds, or deep-tissue massages, try one of the following ideas.

Valentine’s Day is rapidly approaching, but don’t panic if you don’t know yet what you’re doing for your special someone on the big day. Customary celebrations include flowers and chocolate or a fancy dinner out. Here are some ideas for meals you can make throughout the day if you’d like to save a little money, can’t get a reservation at your local romantic bistro, or just want to stay in and snuggle.

As it is with most families, you probably buy one big-ticket item for a family member and then supplement the rest of your gift giving with smaller but still meaningful gifts. Luckily, there are many ideas when it comes to pricier gifts that are guaranteed to elicit gasps of surprise, and yes, on Christmas Day. Here’s a look at five of them.

So it’s already December and you haven’t started your holiday shopping. Don’t worry – you aren’t alone! Finding the perfect gift for everyone on your list is easier than you might think. Here are a few ideas to get you started. Best of all, these are presents you can secure today rather than having to pay shipping costs and anxiously wait on delivery from overburdened retailers.

When it comes to cooking, you might have every kitchen gadget known to man. Better yet, you might actually use them all. As the holidays approach, the time is perfect to treat yourself – or a friend who cooks a lot – to some new kitchenware. You might not be angling for a shopping spree filled with gas ranges, bottom-freezer refrigerators, or new granite countertops for the kitchen, but you might find – or want to add – these items to your holiday wish list before it’s too late.

Valentine’s Day is just around the corner. If you have children, they probably really enjoy making gifts for the people they love. I think that it’s important for children to learn that giving a gift should come from the heart. The old saying, it’s the thought that counts, really is true. That’s why, rather than spending a lot of money on “things”, teach your children about the importance of giving by encouraging them to make Valentine’s gifts this year. Here are some quick and easy Valentine’s Day gift ideas.

It’s crunch time!  Only a few more days until Christmas and that means last minute gift wrapping.  How many Christmas Eves have you spent holed up in a bedroom, frantically working on an overwhelming stack of gifts that need to be wrapped?  Well, not this year!  Let this be the year that you are finally able to relax and enjoy the night before Christmas. 

First, let’s talk about ways that you can avoid the Christmas Eve cram.  The most obvious is to set a goal of wrapping a few gifts each day rather than waiting until the last minute.  Enlisting a helper makes it go much faster.  If you have a child who is 8 or older, you could ask them to help wrap a few of the presents. 

It seems a real shame to toss out beautiful holiday cards, but many families do not have the space to keep everything they’d like to keep. Rather than throw away your cards, share them with St. Jude’s Hospital where the children use the cards to make recycled cards and earn cash at the Ranch which is a facility for children who have been abandoned, abused, or neglected.

The Christmas card recycling program started when the kids used old cards to make thank you notes for those who helped the Ranch. The cards were so well received that people started requesting to buy the cards. The program was born, and it has expanded to include all types of cards.

Invariably we end up with an unexpected guest or two over the holidays. These random party crashers are family members or friends, and we’re glad to have them over. But, it is awkward if the gathering involves gifts, so I keep a stash of last minute gifts that work for various different ages.

Frankly, the women are really easy when it comes to quick gifts. A nice candle, a pack of pretty note cards, or home canned strawberry preserves are usually well received. Let’s face it, women are pretty easy to buy for when it’s the small items at family gatherings.