Guide to Gift Giving - Unique Gift Ideas

With the start of a New Year come the inevitable promises of New Years resolutions. A great way to encourage your friends or family members in their newfound goals and to show that you care and support them is to give them a small present, just to say you are thinking of them. An organizer or planner for example is a great gift, that they are sure to get plenty of use out of. Depending on your loved ones needs you can personalize the gift and find the perfect planner for them. Whether it is business oriented or an academic planner, or even one designed for keeping track of social events or housekeeping, there is something for everyone. While not surprising, each year more than half of all resolutions made involve dieting or exercise in some way. If this was your goal too, it is always easier to stay focused when working with friends. With friends, exercising can actually becomes fun and not something that you may otherwise dread. You can exchange small gifts before you begin to give each other some extra encouragement. Something simple like a new yoga mat or a fun colored water bottle are perfect for something like this. You could also all agree to put money aside for every week of your diet and at the end of a set amount of weeks plan to put the money towards a weekend getaway for you and your friends, where you can finally show off all of your hard work. 

While is may initially appear as a somewhat ridiculous or silly gift, a snuggie is in fact the perfect present for the cold winter weather. I too, was originally hesitant about owning or using a snuggie but after enjoying it once, it has become more used more than any other blanket lying around my house. It is perfect for curling up on the couch after a long day at work, to do anything from watching a movie to reading or eating. The arm sleeves and neckline allow you to continue moving about as much as you like while still staying under the warmth and comfort of the blanket. It is also great for people of all ages. After falling in love with it myself I could not resist buying one for my mother and 8-year-old cousin. Needless to say, they too have become hooked. The soft fleece and color options make this the perfect gift to give to all of your friends and family members, as it is both inexpensive and instantly ready to give to anyone. If you wanted to give something extra you could always include a collection of classic movies and books as well.

In each group of friends there always seems to be at least one designated picture taker. The one whose camera seems inseparable from them and the one who views every moment as a photo opportunity. The absolute perfect gifts for this person are any of the new digital photo frames. I got this for my photo-obsessed friend for her birthday this past year and she could not have been happier. Over the years she has collected thousands and thousands of photos, so just any ordinary frame would never do. The digital frames have the ability to hold and store hundreds of photos, emerging as the perfect solution, as she would never have been able to choose just one photo for any frame. A lot of the frames are now touch screen, giving you ultimate control on the ordering and timing of all of your pictures. Some of the newer frames also allow you to add music while your pictures rotate or even a voice over. The frames are easy to operate and add a new twist to simply giving someone yet another picture frame. The designs are also all modern and will go with any persons style, no matter how picky they may be. A great way to personalize the gift or add extra thought is to add some of your favorite pictures together with your friend or loved one and upload them onto the frame ahead of time. 

We all have that friend or those family members who always love to entertain and be the hostess. When selecting a present for them you might as well take advantage of this and give them something that you know they will get plenty of use out of. Table Topics is a great, unique gift for anyone. They are similar to the conversation starters you may find at some restaurants, but are available in a seemingly endless amount of themes. Their topics range anywhere from book club to dinner party and even teen. They come in small clear cubes filled with cards and are then decorated in fun and playful patterns and colors. They are perfect to simply leave out on your coffee table when having friends over or even to entertain you during a long car ride or when sitting in a waiting room. The “Girls Night Out” addition is the perfect present to give to your friends as a small holiday gift. If you are looking for something extra to give to your significant other, the “Couples” addition is a great thoughtful present and includes questions such as, “what possession of your partner’s would you like to throw away.” With the endless selection of items available you are guaranteed to find something for anyone, no matter the occasion, as there are cards specialized for even a bachelorette party and going to college. These creative questions are also available on napkins, coasters and even placemats. This year I couldn’t resist buying these for my friends and family members and even purchased one for myself as well. 

With the stress of the upcoming holiday season we could all use a day off to relax. For women in particular, a day at the spa is the perfect way to accomplish this. If you are on a tighter budget a manicure/pedicure is perfect and is sure to come in handy as everyone wants to look their best just in time for the inevitable upcoming family gatherings. A gift to a salon that specializes in hair and facials or massages leaves something for everyone. While men may not like to admit it as much, they too will fall in love with a message. It is perfect however to give to a couple or to your own significant other to enjoy together. If you want to accomplish the same idea but without spending as much you could always create your own stay at home spa day. All you have to do is purchase a basket that they can use again around the house, and fill it with some of your favorite nail polish colors, nail files, lotions and facial scrubs. You could also include a handheld massager, or if it is for your significant other, a gift certificate guaranteeing a free back rub. 

When I think back to past presents that I have received the ones that I have enjoyed the most are always the ones that are more than just materialistic gifts but actually let you create an experience. They allow you to enjoy the gift with your friend or loved one and create memories that will last longer than any item that you could purchase. Broadway or off Broadway tickets are a great thing to buy for anyone, young or old, male or female. I recently saw Avenue Q and would see it again or recommend it to any of my friends in a heartbeat. The show is filled with humor and is sure to put in you an automatic good mood and keep you laughing the entire time. The shows unique premise and ideas are unlike anything else. The play uses puppets to share the story of recent college graduates living in New York using songs and adult humor that will keep you entertained. With all of the shows that are available there is something for everyone regardless of your personal taste and style. While the price tag that is associated with Broadway may immediately scare people off or seem intimidating, most shows will offer special deals or promotions that will lessen the price. Off Broadway plays also often offer the same experience but for a smaller price and often in a location closer to you, opening up more options. 

If you are on a budget while shopping for a present, making something is a great solution. It allows you to stay on budget while being creative too. One of the easiest ways to go about this is cooking or baking, as there are very few people who could resist the idea of free, already prepared food. While cookies or other baked sweets may seem cliché you cannot go wrong with them. If you want to try something a little different though you can always stay away from the typical chocolate chip cookies and look up a new dessert or recipe. One of my favorite recipes to make are peanut butter balls. They only require a few ingredients and are easy to make. Just combine 1 stick of butter, 1 box of powdered sugar, 2 cups of crunchy peanut butter and 3 cups of Rice Krispies and shape them into small balls and chill them. Afterwards you can either roll them in powdered sugar or coat them in chocolate. Just wrap them up and they make the perfect gift to bring to a dinner party or just as a thank you gift. My only advice is to make sure you make two batches, as you will want to keep some for yourself- they are truly addicting! 

Whether you are searching for the perfect gift for a wedding, housewarming or birthday you cannot go wrong with the simple beauty of Simon Pearce’s hand-blown glass and pottery. While their collections are all simple they all contain a classic beauty that is incomparable. They have a large selection of various glasses and dishware sets that are all handmade and will go with any style. The pieces all also make great decorations and are perfect to simply display around you house to add an instant touch of sophistication and elegance. They make everything from clocks to vases and there truly is something for everyone. If you live close to a store, they also allow and welcome you to watch them make the glass and pottery right in front of you and even include a restaurant, so if the drive is an hour away from you the trip is definitely worth it. Don’t be discouraged from giving it to men as well as they also have an extensive collection of original beer mugs and desk accessories. The pieces that they have available also make great business or corporate gifts and is the perfect place to get all of your holiday shopping done in one trip. 

While speaking of jewelry I once again found myself drawn back into Tikanchay’s website and have found yet another pair of irresistible earrings. The handcrafted jewelry all originates in Peru and is crafted by the finest artisans, embodying a style that is uniquely its own. While buying jewelry online can often be challenging when looking at quality, after multiple purchases from Tikanchay the jewelry that I have received has only exceeded my expectations. The owners of the company personally travel to Peru each year and work with the artisans themselves to help ensure the value and design of each of their pieces. A pair of silver earrings that I recently purchased for my friend’s upcoming birthday is the triple drop pink pearl dangle earrings. While my friend has a naturally fun and flirty style, her strict work code often restricts her from wearing anything that will show off her personality and these earrings will be the perfect way around the rules. The earrings exemplify the classic beauty and sophistication of pearls and are masterfully complimented by etched sterling silver that add a playful touch. They make a great birthday gift for a friend or a loved one and remember, it is never too early to start thinking about the holidays. 

Given my love of fashion I have become somewhat of a self-proclaimed expert on any retail store. Despite all of the options that this opens up, and the competition, one of my favorite stores has got to be Anthropologie. The store reaches woman of all ages with a new style that goes beyond what you would typically find at other clothing stores. They have great dresses with a unique style that is the perfect gift to give to anyone. If you are feeling generous or just looking for something else to add to clothing, Handcrafted Artisan Jewelry is a great addition. The distinctive look of Tikanchay jewelry, for example, will perfectly complement any of their dresses or blouses. The rare combinations of materials that are used in all of Tikanchay’s collections and the detail put into each piece by the artisans who create it, make it the perfect fit for Anthropologie’s eclectic style. While any of the handcrafted necklaces make an excellent match, one of my personal favorites is the silver moon pendant. The sterling silver necklace will add to any of their dresses while bringing a new flair and elegance all of its own.