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Made with Love: Great Homemade Valentine’s Day Gift Ideas

brock — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 19:11:29 +0000

We’re living in tough economic times, and as Valentine’s Day approaches, you may consider lowering your standard gift allowance in exchange for something more important such as food and electricity.

Many people believe that they can save themselves cash by crafting a gift from scratch and counting on their own creativity and effort to make up any monetary loss. For the most part, this is a valid assumption. People — men and women alike — enjoy knowing that you spent a considerable amount of time crafting a gift that is unique to them.

The key to this equation is effort. Unless you’re 6 years old, a macaroni necklace isn’t going to make up for a diamond bracelet — no matter what kind of pasta you use. If you are going to make a gift, then you’re going to have to put some serious effort into it. Your standard arts and crafts aren’t going to cut it for Valentine’s Day.

Here are some options:

Art

If you have a creative streak in you, then invest in some paints and canvas and create an original piece of art for your loved one. It doesn’t have to be a Rembrandt, but you need to have some natural talent, especially if you hope to showcase it on the living room wall. If painting isn’t your thing, then photography is another artistic option. Have a few pictures of the two of you professionally framed and create a specific area for them on the wall.

Scrapbook

You’ve had a lot of years together and done some pretty amazing things. A scrapbook could include vacations, parties, births, pregnancy, etc. Use a scrapbook to create a timeline of yours and your significant other’s life together. A good scrapbook will take several hours to put together and will show your softer side. All too often, couples accuse each other of taking one another for granted and not communicating, so a scrapbook shows that you not only remember, but treasure your time together.

Culinary

If you have the artistic ability of a banana-throwing monkey, then try your hand at cooking. Cooking is another talent, but there are countless recipes out there which show you in detail how to craft delicious treats. This is Valentine’s Day, so meatloaf and mashed potatoes isn’t going to feel special. The meal needs to be amazing. You need to have an appetizer, salad, main course, side dish and dessert. Each piece should be made from scratch. The meal cannot just taste good, it has to look amazing as well, so spend some time working on presentation.

If you put significant effort into a gift, then it will show and will be a hit. If you do it at the last second, then it will look like a hastily put together gift. Remember, your relationship is precious, so treat it as such this Valentine’s Day.

Holiday Gifts for the Ultimate Host

Belinda — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 20:53:51 +0000

A great holiday party can always be attributed to a great party host. Whether you have a few fetes on your agenda this season or have someone on your holiday list who loves to entertain, we have some unique, practical and fun gifts you can give them. Never mind buying your host another bottle of wine or gift basket. This year, surprise them with something really cool. We guarantee you’ll be invited to next year’s festivities.

ProFlowers Promotions: 50% Off 15 Tulips for Mom

ernani — Wed, 04 May 2011 19:13:30 +0000

I know that buying gifts can sometimes be hard, especially if the person for whom you’re buying the gift is really special like your mother. Mother’s Day is right around the corner and if you are still stuck in the mud over what to get her, visit Proflowers.com. Flowers are wonderful gifts that moms always appreciate and, with our help, we can help you choose the best ones at discount prices.

Visit Proflowers.com today to take advantage of their great Mother’s Day promotions that will help you save big! Some of these promotions include getting 50% off 15 tulips and getting 15% off orders of $ 39.99 and above. This promotion is only valid until May 5, 2011.

Proflowers.com offers a variety of blooms including roses, lilies and carnations but you better hurry! Time is running out and, before you know it, Mother’s Day will be here and I know you wouldn’t want your mother to be left empty handed. So be sure to find this and other great promotions on our Proflowers.com coupons page.

Thoughtful Father’s Day Gift Ideas

brendan — Wed, 16 Jun 2010 16:42:38 +0000

Father’s Day is this Sunday!!! If you haven’t been on top of things (like me), then you are probably scrambling to get Dad something that totally rocks for Father’s day. You may think that Dad would not want something for the home or garden for Father’s day.

While you of course know your Pop much better than I could, I think that there are a whole bunch of things that you could get him for the home that he would love. Added benefit: these gifts are not as cliche as the “gift card to the hardware store!”

No offense to hardware stores, but give a give a bit more inspired than a gift card. It means that you know the person you’re giving the gift to.

The gift of seating. My dad has a very deep appreciation for excellent chairs. He has a chair that is his favorite one to sit in as he watches the television. The problem is, I really disagree with his assessment of the chair. It’s kind of old and gross. If your dad has a similar problem (a deep love for a mediocre chair), help him upgrade his seating situation. If you are feeling very generous, give him a brand new recliner. If you aren’t loaded, or if you think your dad doesn’t really want to part with his special seat (my dad would be super upset if I got rid of the thing – even if I replaced it with a brand new recliner), get a massaging chair topper. They feel incredible.

The gift of a sparkling car. If your dad is always going on about how he loves his car, why don’t you show an appreciation for it too? You could get it washed, detailed, and waxed so it looks great when you go with dad to brunch this Sunday. Better yet, you could get the materials, and work on it together. While there are a whole bunch of ways to say “I’m willing to spend money on you, Dad”, it is almost always better to say “I want to spend some time with you, Dad.” If you can find a way to do something that he likes, but maybe you’ve never found that appealing, he will appreciate it even more.

The gift of boring movies. Sometimes dads like inexplicably boring things. Like books about how to tie knots or silent films. Chances are that your dad has some sort of boring hobby that you could help him further. So go ahead and get him that instructional fishing DVD or book about Six Sigma. He’ll be glad you did.

(Random thing that also might make a good gift: a universal remote. My Dad HATES using a billion different remotes.)

I hope you find your Dad the perfect gift. Let me know what you get him, and how he receives it! Until next time, folks.

Image Source: flickr.com/photos/williamhook/525221970

Last Chance Mother’s Day Gift Ideas

brendan — Wed, 05 May 2010 18:20:13 +0000

For those of you who have been totally out of it, Mother’s Day is Sunday, May 9. If you haven’t gotten her a gift, do it as soon as possible. Today. Seriously. Even if you live on the opposite side of the world, if you don’t give Mom something on Mother’s Day, she will find a way to get back at you. At least that’s my experience. Here are some great unusual gifts for Mom (I already gave some pretty rad ideas in a previous post, so you should check those out too). Save time and have them shipped directly to her, unless you are going to see her on Mother’s day.

A favorite movie for both of you to watch together. Depending on Mom’s preferences, this could be Casablanca or Caddyshack. You get extra bonus points if its a movie that she thought you could not find anymore. Make popcorn and some dessert–chocolate in various forms is usually a pretty safe bet.
A membership to a movie club or movie rental service. If Mom is not too computer literate, how about you teach her how to use the service? Netflix or Blockbuster are the most popular.
Dinner in. Eating out is always great, but so is getting cooked for. (You can also spring for some catering.) Many of the best gifts involve spending time with Mom, and cooking for Mom is great. If you have a big breakfast or lunch, you can always make one of my salad recipes for a light dinner. Then you can make up for the calories you are saving with a decadent dessert.

Whatever you decide to get Mom, make sure to spend some time with her–and not just on Mother’s day. If your gift is one that you can use together, then it is probably a very good gift. I hope you have inspired gift choices–if you have any ideas, post them so we all can benefit from your wisdom. Happy Mothers day to all!

Graduation Gifts: Furnishing that New Grad’s Pad

brendan — Thu, 29 Apr 2010 17:36:05 +0000

So all over the United States and all over the world, graduation ceremonies will be taking place in the next few weeks. If you know a soon-to-be college grad or a soon to be grad school grad, then how about you get him or her something to furnish their apartment with? Trust me, they won’t have any money at all. This is a guide for getting them - or really any young person striking out on their own for the first time – furnishings and other useful things.

Easy to Follow Cookbooks. They will have absolutely no idea how to cook. None. Zip. Zilch. Nada. Get them an easy-to-use cookbook like the Spatula Cookbook. Yes, it’s a kid’s cookbook, but if you’re lost in the kitchen, its a great place to start.
Things for the Kitchen. Getting your grad a cutting board, an inexpensive knife set, a good non-stick pan or a skillet, a nice four person place setting, or whatever will go a long way to having them be OK in the kitchen. Also, the new grad diet is pretty terrible and bland. Your grad will be eats lots of ramen and fried eggs. Do him or her a solid and get some spices. It will make life so much more bearable.
A good futon / mattress / mattress pad. Depending on what your grad has and the space he or she will be occupying, you’ll want to choose one of the three. (unless you’re super generous) The point is, your grad needs a place to sleep. If your grad has no place to sleep and no apartment furniture, a futon is a good way to have both bases covered. Nice futons are more comfortable to sleep on than a lot of beds. If your grad already has a mattress, but it’s pretty terrible, try getting him or her a memory foam mattress pad. They’re awesome and fairly inexpensive.
A few nice lights. Your grad’s new place will probably be pretty sparesly furnished. The room will be so much nicer if you get some good lighting. It doesn’t have to be expensive; it’s better to get a few different types of lamps than to get one expensive one. Vary the types of lighting (Ceiling, wall sconce, table lamp, floor lamp) to create layered lighting–it will give a room a lot of atmosphere, even if there isn’t much furniture.

Let me know what you think of my tips. As always, post some of your own if you have any thoughts. And congrats to all grads everywhere!

Image Source: flickr.com/photos/46124960@N00/2677380041

Leftover Easter Candy? Try a New Recipe

brendan — Mon, 05 Apr 2010 16:45:44 +0000

If you’re at all like me you ate WAY too much chocolate yesterday. Yay Easter! So you know how after Thanksgiving you make leftovers from all the Turkey? Well today we’re goanna talk about what to do with all that chocolate.

Yay, chocolate!

Our first recipe is for making chocolate covered strawberries, which are super easy and delicious. To do it right, you’ll need to borrowing or buy a double boiler. You can always try to melt the chocolate in the microwave, taking it out every 15 seconds or so, though this does not work as well.

Recipe 1: Chocolate Covered Strawberries—kill the wabbit.

Supplies: double boiler, wax paper, 16 ounces milk chocolate chips (use leftover chocolate bits instead), two tablespoons shortening, one pound fresh strawberries with leaves

Directions: Insert toothpicks into the tops of the strawberries.In a double boiler, melt the chocolate and shortening, and stir this mixture until it becomes smooth. Pick up the strawberries by the toothpicks, and dip into the chocolate mixture. Once you are ready, lie the strawberries on the wax paper. For an excellent gift, put the strawberries in a decorative box. This recipe creates enough chocolate for two dozen normally-sized strawberries.

Adapted from kitten’s review on allrecipies.com

Recipe 2: Delicious Cookies!

The basic idea is that you take your favorite cookie recipe, and you throw in leftover candy or chocolate. Make cookies with Reese’s Pieces, Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups, M&Ms, or even jellybeans.

Supplies: one cup butter, 3/4 cup white sugar, 3/4 cup brown sugar, two eggs, two teaspoons vanilla extract, 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour, 1 teaspoon baking soda, 1 teaspoon salt, 2 cups milk chocolate chips—basically substitute any candy you want to here.

Directions: Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease cookie sheets. Melt the butter in the microwave. (Try 10-15 sec). Use a large mixing bowl to mix the butter, brown sugar, and white sugar until the mixture is light and fluffy. Include eggs one at a time, and continue to beat well. Stir in the vanilla. Mix the flour, baking soda, and salt, and then stir this mixture into the creamed mixture. Add the candy, and then scoop the batter onto prepared cookie sheets.

Bake for 8 to 10 minutes in the preheated oven, until light brown. Allow cookies to cool on baking sheet for five minutes before removing to a wire rack to cool completely. This mixture prepares two dozen cookies.

Adapted from NICOLEFAUSTHUNT’s recipe on allrecipes.com.

Try the recipes, tell me what you think. And if you have any other ideas for your giant candy, share them with us! Happy baking!

Image Source:flickr.com/photos/20179579@N00/3290560323

Best and Worst: Valentine’s Gifts for Women

colleen — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 17:49:37 +0000

The worst gifts you can give a woman are gifts that seem judgmental. Remember, this is different for many women. The general things to stray away from are weight, body image, and anything that seems to draw attention to a woman’s faults. Giving a woman a scale is probably the worst gift imaginable, and if you have given the special lady in your life a scale, you have to go back to step one of general care and compassion for others, and beg forgiveness immediately, if the woman is still talking to you. In this same line, giving a woman the gift of a gym membership or extra large yoga pants are less than desirable, but remember, some women would find these extremely caring and thoughtful gifts. Keep your special lady’s feelings in mind before you damage them this holiday season.

Good ideas for Valentine’s Day gifts involve heartfelt messages and thoughtful, convenient solutions. I suggest going for the triad gift giving experience: give one sweet/ edible gift, one small heartfelt gift, and one practical, useful gift. There isn’t a lack of sweets to choose from, and the heartfelt gift I can’t really help you with, but the practical or useful gift I can. Think about kitchen supplies and storage, like cookware, cutlery, kitchen linens, and food storage. These gifts don’t exactly scream “I love you”, but they do say “I care about you and want to make your life easier, so we can spend more time together”. And that’s a wonderful message too.

Image Source: flickr.com/photos/back_garage/3250024891

Best and Worst: Valentine’s Day Gifts

colleen — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 17:54:55 +0000

There’s a lot of pressure on Valentine’s Day, brought about by Hallmark and celebrities and the grand gestures we see in movies that break our hearts. We also put a lot of pressure on ourselves and our loved ones: you want to show how much you love someone, but you always ask yourself why does a grand gesture have to equate to grand expenditures from your checkbook?

There are a few standard Valentine’s Day gifts that can’t go wrong as a starting point: chocolates, homemade dinners, favorite bottles of wine or scotch, etc. You can get special deals on candy or affordable flowers for your favorite gal if you know where to look. If you don’t know her favorite flowers, red roses always work.

I find it’s never the girls that are the issue: it’s always the problem of what to get that special guy in your life. What does he like? Pick something fun that both of you can do together. Maybe tickets to his favorite sporting event, a weekend skiing, or a concert…or how about you REALLY surprise him with his favorite video game? In case you need a reference, our gadgets blogger has a pretty cool video game guide. Then you can both do something together on the holiday weekend that doesn’t just include a stuffy dinner at an overpriced restaurant.

If you want to go to a restaurant, you should check out morerebates.com for 15% cash back at restaurant.com. Keep finding creative ways to save while doing what you want!

Image Source: flickr.com/photos/calliope/4810189

Decorate Your Home with…a Giant Teddy Bear?

Ritika Puri — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 15:00:59 +0000

Did you have a giant teddy bear as a kid? I had three, and I thought that they were the coolest ever. It was a sad day when I outgrew my teddy bears, and I couldn’t keep them in my room or closet. My mom insisted on getting rid of them since she wanted the garage for more useful things.

Last December, when I was still in college, I stumbled upon a giant teddy bear in the middle of our student apartment complex. A friend and I definitely stole it and kept it hostage for a good three days. It had a hole in it, so we repaired it for its owners. I wonder where that teddy bear went. I wonder if its owners are keeping it in their new, real world apartment.

Valentine’s day is coming up, and I’m sure that a giant teddy bear would be a pretty funny gift. A smaller teddy bear could be pretty cool too. Check out this site for some of the craziest giant stuffed animals that I’ve ever seen. When you’re ready to buy, check out giant teddy bears on Smarter.

Image Source: flickr.com/photos/scazon/4207552952