When the holidays are around the corner and you need a gift, what's the best choice of action? Most people just rush online and order something cheap without giving it much thought; and that's not a bad idea, since making a quick purchase can save the holiday.
Simple Gifts
Pillow Pets – Pillow Pets are exactly what they sound like; a stuffed animal that can be unfolded and made into a pillow. While this isn't a bad gift for a child, it's an excellent gift for a girlfriend. They can typically be found at any mall, though it's worth noting that knock-offs exist as a result of their relative scarcity; after all, they're on this list because they're a good choice, and good choices are popular! Just look for the Pillow Pets tag. Even better, they're machine-washable, though restrictions on safely washing them are rather heavy. If you know your gift target's favorite animal, it's a slam dunk.
LEGO sets – Another gift that gets great smiles from children, LEGO sets come in dozens of themes with an incredible price range. Smaller sets are easily under $10, while the largest are over $400. A great starter set, for example, is the “Knight's Showdown,” where one good and one evil knight square off. More advanced sets include space ships and city buildings. The twist on LEGO sets is that they also make great gifts for adult hobbyists! Plenty of Star Wars (mostly men) buffs will dig the myriad of licensed LEGO dioramas, while (mostly female) Harry Potter fans will go crazy over their very own Hogwarts castle.
Clever Gifts
Scents with a Twist – Most of the time, buying someone holiday-themed body lotions, candles, or perfumes is a polite way of saying “I had no idea what to get you, so enjoy this stuff.” However, with one small improvement you can transform this dud into a gift that makes the recipient go “dude!” Include your olfactory-pleasing offering with a similar snack! It's easiest to describe; if you purchase a “candy cane” scented candle, you include a dozen candy canes with it. Another example is to give someone a butter cookie flavored body lotion with freshly baked butter cookies! Not only will your friend be able to literally eat the scent they receive, but the added garnish gives great presentation options, to boot!
A Working Work of Art – When people think about “art,” they imagine museums and canvasses, poems and novels, or possibly even music on a vintage record. Most people fail to realize that even simple things can have artistic, and possibly even functional value. Now-a-days people see it as “cheap” to make someone else a gift, and if all you're doing is drawing a two-dimensional tree on a sheet of computer that might not be an inaccurate statement! However, if you're a talented knitter, you can make a great gift with your own two hands – well, and a ball of yarn and some needles. If you're a skilled chef, simply jazz up an ordinary dish and present it as a gift – cookies with intricate chocolate chip arrangements are one possible option.
Cop-Out Gifts
Just Ask 'Em – Sometimes you can't come up with a good idea. Maybe you gave a particular gift a previous year; no matter how it went over with that person, it might not go over so well a second time. Sometimes you can't think of anything that a particular person doesn't have. Sometimes, of course, someone is just so picky that whatever you buy him will end up as a return, guaranteed. In these cases, it's not unreasonable to flat-out ask someone what he wants. It lacks that personal flair and class of getting random things for someone, but then again it ensures that the recipient is happy with what he gets – and, if he gets more than one thing, all the better!
Jesse Pohlman - Jesse Pohlman is an avid writer and a researcher of pretty much anything. His latest novel, Physics Incarnate, is available for Kindle.
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