Guide to Gift Giving - Unique Gift Ideas

With the start of the New Year,ca lendars are great gifts. They make the perfect small present to simply show that you care or are thinking about someone without spending a large amount of money. Every year since I can remember my mother has given me, and all of my siblings, a calendar from our favorite vacation spot, Hilton Head Island, SC. This has become somewhat of a tradition and it is one that I hope to later take over. It is easy to select a calendar that you know a person will love even if you do not know them well. Just look at ones of their favorite sports team, city, flower or even artist. The calendars of old black and white photographs are some of my favorite. It is something that anyone is sure to love and that no household should be without. If you know that they already have a calendar a small day planner or desktop calendar is just as fitting. If you are looking to personalize the gift or do something additional you could always pencil in a night on the calendar where the two of you could have a night out as an extra surprise.  

This season in particular, it is nearly impossible to go anywhere and ignore the new trend of high boots. Boots are not only practical as the weather chills but look great on people of nearly all ages, making it an ideal gift to give to anyone. Another plus to buying boots for someone is that sizes are often a lot easier to judge than with other shoes. With this being said, if you are still hesitant about guessing on a size, ordering off of Zappos can leave you worry free. If the fit or style isn’t right, you can easily return the boot without even having to pay the shipping and will have a different size delivered to your house within days. Boots are great to wear with jeans or a dress and can be worn on a night out downtown, to work or just out running errands. With hundreds of designers and styles to choose from you are sure to find something for your loved one, whether it be at Zappos or at a nearby store. Available in black suede and leather, among many other options, the boots can also often be worn for the majority of the year and are not limited to winter months alone. This gift is easy to personalize for your loved one and puts a new twist on otherwise typical Ugg or snow boot.

As you may have noticed, I have quite the obsession with sterling silver jewelry and have always been drawn to it. Ever since I was younger silver has appealed to me more so than anything else, including gold. Silver to me represents something youthful and elegant. It is something that can be paired with any outfit or accessory, and doesn’t have the same limitations that gold jewelry does. I have also always loved the modern sleek feel of silver, and can now not walk out the door without it. Because of all of this, silver jewelry is perfect to pick when choosing a present. Sterling silver bracelets are great to give if you do not know the person as well or if you can just never guess their style. One of my favorite pieces is a silver coil bracelet. Not only is it an entirely handcrafted bracelet but the simplicity and clean lines of it give it a sense of sophistication that is not easily achieved. The contemporary feel of the bracelet is sure to fit in perfectly with anyone’s jewelry collection and be a guaranteed hit.      

Regardless of the age, profession or style of the person you are buying a gift for, a wallet is something that no person can be without. A brown or black leather wallet is a great present to give to any man and it is hard to go wrong when it comes time to selecting one. If you want to personalize the wallet you can also easily have their initials etched into the side. Another simple way to add something to the present is to select a wallet with picture inserts in it and fill it with a picture of both of you. Silver money clips are another thing that no man should be without. Wallets or checking books make a great gift for women as well. While your options may seem endless and rather intimidating, figure out what their favorite brand or store is and you are sure to pick something out that they will love. A tradition that my family, and I’m sure others, always follow is to put a dollar into any purse or wallet before giving it as a present for good luck. 

There are a few things that you can never seem to have too much of, and for me jewelry is definitely at the top of my list, if you haven’t been able to tell already from my recent posts. A new favorite piece of mine that I cannot keep to myself is an earth tone spondylus shell necklace. The spodylus shell is unique and sure to stand out from any other piece of jewelry that you may own for find. The shell not only embodies a natural beauty but has meaning and a history behind it as well. The shell is native to the deep bodies of water surrounding Peru and was recently used to symbolize peace between Peru and Ecuador and has been considered for centuries to bring unity and understanding. This handcrafted necklace makes the perfect gift for any occasion or simply as a thinking of you present. Give the gift to a loved one and fill a card with the meaning behind the piece of handcrafted jewelry. The distinctive amber coloring of the spodylus shell is sure to attract attention from all generations. The sterling silver lining adds a modern touch and allows the jewelry to be matched with any other accessory or outfit. 

Personalized gifts that I have received in the past are always the ones that stand out to me the most. If you are having trouble finding a unique gift, engraving your friend or family’s initials, or adding a personal message to any item is a great way to make an impact with your present. Silver picture frames are one of the best ways to achieve this. The sleek elegance of a silver or gold picture frame will not only match anyone’s personal style but allows you to add a picture with meaning behind it with words that go along with the moment. If you cannot pick just one picture to give, a photo album is a great alternative. An album is the perfect wedding gift or present for someone you are close with. A glass beer mug is another easy way to engrave a present for someone, especially if you are shopping for a man and is something that they are sure to get a lot of use out of. The lists of things you could have engraved are endless. From paperweights to clocks and towels there is something to meet everyone’s needs. 

A gift does not always just have to be something that benefits the person receiving or giving it but can benefit a community or even society as a whole. After all, October is national breast cancer awareness month so try to incorporate this into your shopping. The signature Pink Ribbon symbol can be found on almost any item imaginable, so you can be sure to find something that your friend or family member will not only love but will appreciate the cause and thought behind it. Ralph Lauren even offers pink polo tees in which 10% of the profits go towards breast cancer care and prevention. You can find anything from a ThinkPink tool set that includes everything you could need for small repairs around the house to a twist wine opener. Another great idea is the Pink Ribbon canvas tote bag that not only makes a great accessory but is practical as well. All of these gifts are not only great to have but go towards a great cause as well. 

My cousin has always been inspired by the history and culture of other countries and loves anything that is different or that has a story behind it. Because of this I could not resist sharing the beauty of Tikanchay’s Peruvian jewelry with her. Each of the pieces that they offer has a different story to tell and a different past and origin whether it be from the jungles or ocean floors of Peru. All of the handcrafted bracelets that they offer are exquisite and represent a different aspect of the Peruvian culture and story. I gave her their stone and shell silver bracelet for her birthday years ago and she still speaks of how much she loves it to this day. The bracelet is masterfully crafted from mother of pearl, chrysocolla and spondylus shell to create a unique look that will be noticed from across any room. The relaxing colors of the stones and shells are sure to calm you. It makes the perfect gift for any friend or family member. After giving it to my cousin I could not resist purchasing one for myself and I have a feeling that you will feel the same once viewing it and will soon too become enchanted by its natural beauty. 

A great way to give a gift for any occasion to someone is to select a theme and pick various smaller presents relating to it and put it into a basket. This gift is not only fun for the person to open but also to make. For instance we all know at least one person with that caffeine addiction, so find a giant mug and fill it with specialty coffee beans, a gift card to their favorite coffee shop and biscotti. For anyone who enjoys a bottle of wine with dinner, a basket filled with specialty wine, wine glasses and cheese is hard to resist. My Mom has always loved to take a bath as her way to escape from work and a long day and would always love a gift compiled of bubble bath, bath salts, and various lotions and candles. You can also throw in their favorite magazine or a new book. If you are scrunched on time stores such as Bath & Body Works sell prepackaged baskets that will do the trick. This is also a great idea for anyone who is about to travel. Just fill a backpack with a camera, suntan lotion, and a journal and they will be ready to go. Kids will love this idea too and will be ecstatic with the idea of getting more than one present. With gift baskets you can find something for anyone and it is easy to personalize and to include their favorite things or even inside jokes. 

When you are looking for a gift for the person who has everything try to think outside of the typical chain stores and instead look at smaller companies or even ones that specialize in products from outside of the United States. This is one of my favorite things about the online jewelry store, Tikanchay. All of their jewelry is expertly handcrafted in Peru and this unique distinction is made evident in each of their pieces. All of their collections masterfully blend the traditions and materials of ancient Peru with the modern style of today to create a look that is all its own. They have handcrafted earrings of all styles and each one has a story behind it that is easy to incorporate into your gift to show the person that you truly care. The earrings that stand out to me the most are their dove gourd earrings. These earrings serve as a perfect example of this blend of cultures as they combine the sleek elegance of sterling silver with carved gourd, an ancient Peruvian craft. Peruvian jewelry makes a great gift for any woman and is sure to be a gift that they will remember forever and that will stand out in their mind.