Guide to Gift Giving - Unique Gift Ideas

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. 

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. 

While jewelry is always great for women, men are often a lot more complicated and don’t have the same go to gift. However, after growing up with a seemingly endless amount of male cousins, I have found watches are the answer. Watches, as silver jewelry is to women, are irresistible to men. They are offered in such a variety that there truly is a style for everyone, whether you are shopping for the professional businessman or the adventurous outdoor type. Fossil, known for their watches, produces a huge variety of styles ranging from classic to modern and antique. Watches also are offered with a large price range making it perfect for anyone on a budget or someone who is willing to go all out. Even if the man you are shopping for already has a watch, there is never such a thing as too many. After all, just as with jewelry, everyman needs a daily watch, dress watch and a sporty one. 

In previous posts I wrote about giving my sister a piece of sterling silver filigree jewelry from Tikanchay. After her ecstatic response to this jewelry I knew exactly what to get her for the holidays. The unique look and style of the filigree fits her personality to a tee. The airy feel of the filigree collection masterfully compliments any outfit without overpowering it. Tikanchay’s growing filigree jewelry collection has provided me with a plethora of options of what to get her next. In the end I purchased the silver filigree heart necklace for her recently and believe that it would make the perfect gift and accessory for anyone. The handcrafted necklace manages to be both bold and delicate, a combination that is not easily achieved. The necklace represents the ancient Peruvian traditions through a modern interpretation that I am sure my sister will love. It is the perfect gift to give you a significant other or family member. 

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! 

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. 

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. 

As the temperature begins to steadily fall, I love the thought of coming home or waking up to a nice warm cup of coffee. This makes a coffee maker a great gift and is the perfect way to warm you up from a frigid day. This is also not only great to give to an individual but to a family as well. When giving this though try to stay away from some of the ordinary appliances and splurge for either a cappuccino machine or a new innovative device that goes far beyond making just a simple pot of joe. The new single serve coffee machines are quick and easy and allow you to create a cup of coffee in seconds with little to no clean up. The single cup idea is also great if the person you are buying for lives alone or has a family that runs on completely different schedules. Even if your friend or family member isn’t a caffeine addict the modern gadget also allows you to create hot chocolate and tea that is sure to satisfy any taste bud.