Let’s talk about the different gifts you can give to the gardener in your life. There’s gardening hardware such as a good pair of pruners for removing roses and other cut flowers to create a beautiful arrangement.  The most highly rated and easily accessible is the Fiskars brand. Another reasonably priced gift is a nicely wrapped bunch of bulbs to be planted when the cool fall weather arrives. White Flower Farm is a good online source for quality bulbs and plants. Why not present your gift along with an offer to come and help with the planting? For the vegetable gardener a variety of herbs is always welcome; this year my sage, thyme, verbena and mint plants all came back bigger and better than last year -  a perennial plant is a gift that keeps on giving! And for the extravagant among you, a gardening plan from a landscape architect is a generous and long-lasting gift that is sure to be appreciated.

I just heard about a very interesting site that is up for some awards for its unique design, and it’s also filled with perfect gift ideas for anyone who owns an iPhone, iPod, or Blackberry. The site is cleverly named I Make My Case, and actually allows you to custom design an artsy case for any of these devices. A truly unique case is the perfect gift for any of your friends or family who are fans of their smart phone or iPod, because even if they own one or more cases, being able to change them is always fun. This particular site allows you to choose the device, the artist you want to mimic (there are lots to choose from,) and then you’re able to take any of that artists’ designs and doodles and apply them wherever you want on the phone cover. You can even decide how big or small each design will be, making it a truly unique piece of art. You can either design a case you think your friend or family member would like, or tell them to design their own case and you’ll take care of the payment section on the site. Either way, you’ll have lots of fun looking at all of the unique art and thinking of ways to use it on a phone case.

I have always loved artisan jewelry, for myself and for gift giving. The women in my life have always been impressed with unique silver artisan jewelry because it is not something you see in stores. I used to buy costume jewelry, but once I realized how beautiful sterling silver can be, I decided to stop wasting money on necklaces and bracelets that would just break or tarnish, and invest in quality jewelry that I find online. Sterling silver jewelry that features stones like Sodalite, Obsidian and Peruvian Turquoise is my favorite, because the silver frames the stones so beautifully. Follow the link in this post to find beautiful sterling silver artisan jewelry styles.

The iPad has arrived, after much anticipation from Apple fans. It looks like a larger version of the iPhone, and gives you a clear view of web pages, photo, video, and e-mail. With high-tech graphics and cutting edge technology, the iPad is a gift lots of people will be dreaming about. The price is steep at $499, but it may be worth it as a gift for yourself or someone special. Put it on your wish list!

Do you have a friend who only eats Smart Carb bread and substitutes pasta with Shirataki noodles? It can be hard to think of a food gift for friends on diets, without sabotaging their way of eating. However, if you keep their preferences in mind, you can actually find a present they are sure to appreciate. Check out the Low Carb Gift baskets at Carbsmart. They have all types of baskets including Low Carb Kosher and dinner for two. Finally, indulgence without the excess of carbs! Your friend will be amazed at how thoughtful you are, and you’ll know you helped him or her stick to a healthy diet.

I tend to get lost in a great book from time to time, but what if your laptop could get lost in one? The BookBook hard cover Macbook case is the perfect way to hide your laptop in public situations where you’d rather keep your prized possession under wraps. It looks exactly like an old, worn book, and is available in both black and red. It is also a novel way to protect your laptop from scratches and dust. It is a great gift idea not only for those who need their laptop with them at all times, but also for anyone who is a fan of classic books.

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. 

If you are shopping for someone who loves to ski or snowboard and don’t feel like giving them another day pass for the slopes, why not give them a set of skis or snowboard. Whether they have never owned their own equipment before or are simply way overdue for a new set, it is a gift that they are sure to use and that will last them years. With all of the designs and colors that are now available, you can have fun selecting the right plan that will fit your friend or family member’s personality to a tee. If skis or a snowboard are out of you price range, a personalized helmet or one to match their current boards, is something that no person should be without. A boot and cargo bag is also perfect if you want to stay on a budget or if they don’t need any other accessories It then makes it easy for them to travel with all of their gear and is the perfect place to hold all of their belongings. You could also always include a subscription to a snowboarder magazine as an added touch that will show extra thought. 

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.

There are very few people, both men and women included, who can resist shoes. While commonly thought to be exclusively a women’s obsession, I can speak from personal experience and say that I have met many men who have a larger shoe collection than even I do. While shoes were previously a questionable gift idea because of inaccuracies in size and style, the emergence of Zappos has changed all of this. Zappos company model revolves around not only customer satisfaction but strives to exceed all expectations. My experience with this provider has done just that. The company will not only have your initial order delivered to you in record time, making it perfect for last minute shopping but also make exchanges just as simple. Zappos will gratefully take any returns and will even pay for the shipping required to do so. I purchased a pair of boots from Zappos that I absolutely adored but had misjudged on my size. I was able to return the boots back twice all within the matter of around a week with no additional fees until I found my perfect fit. This is great for when giving a present if you are unsure about the person’s size. The selection that they offer is also endless and is sure to keep you coming back for more.