The Gift Corner

A Gift For Those Who Love the Stars

No, we're not talking about Hollywood stars.  We're talking about the REAL stars - the brightest, most beautiful of all!

And today we're thinking about stars since there's a big event coming up this Saturday, March 28th, where everyone's asked to turn off their lights for an hour.

Well, we're all for this, since star gazing is one of our all time favorite things.  And the more we've talked about Saturday's event to friends (and even strangers on the street) the more we've realized that we're not alone in our love of star gazing.

So naturally that got us to thinking about gift giving.  How many people own a telescope?  How many people WISH they owned a telescope?

And so our gift suggestion for today, is literally focused on the heavens: a telescope for the home.

We're not going to pretend we're experts in telescopes.  There's a number of manufacturers, many different models, many different prices.  So our suggestion is to go to a manufacturer's site, like Celestron, and get some technical information.

Then visit a site, like Telescopes.com, that sells a variety of scopes, for a wide range in prices.  (You can pick up a telescope for around $160 on the low end, to models priced in the thousands.  So, a little homework here is a must.)

But we're feeling jazzed about this gift idea: it's unique, thoughtful, and if you've remembered our mantra: know your audience - you'll totally wow your gift recipient!

Yeah, give this gift to the right person - and you'll be the star.

On a Budget? Try a Homemade Gift

Now before you yell, "NO... I don't do anything crafty, I can't sew - or paint - or"... whatever, relax.

If you are a crafter, boy, are you lucky.  You can whip out scrapbooks, photo projects, hand painted glass and pottery etc. - as lovely as anything you can buy in the stores.

And if you do sew, or knit (which is HUGE these days) you can do fun and whimsical accessories that will delight your friends and family.

But today, we're talking to those who don't do any of the above.  So what now?

How about a basket of fresh baked bread, cookies or a cake?  And don't tell us you can't cook.  These days, you can use a mix (just don't tell and throw in a few extra nuts, chocolate chips, etc.) and place the baked goodies in a lovely basket or lined box, wrap with a big bow, and VOILA! a great gift that anyone would appreciate.  (And if you have kids, this is a great gift project for them to help and have fun with.  Everyone can use sous chefs, right?)

More the technology type?  Make your recipient a video.  It can be about whatever they're interested in: family, travel, music, pets.  Repeat our mantra: Know your audience; and go forth and dazzle your friend with a video they'll treasure forever!

And if you don't feel like you're ready to make your directing debut: burn some CDs of music you know they love.  Wrap them up - tie 'em with a bow - you're set!

Are you blessed with a green thumb?  Give a selection of cuttings from your garden (and let them know you'll help with the planting if they're gardening challenged) a bouquet of beautiful, fresh flowers or bunches of fresh herbs.

The bottom line is: you don't have to spend a ton of money to give a gift that will be appreciated, even cherished.  Think about your skills, and think about your recipient. 

Don't make it complicated.  Relax - and just do it!

Another Great "Green" Handbag

We've written before about why handbags are a great gift, and some of our favorite eco-chic green bags.

And now, we've found another, completely different in style, that we're wild about: a hand embroidered organic cotton bag, made in Mexico.

Made by a women's cooperative in San Pueblito, the 100% organic cotton bags feature a "leaping bunny" design and leather handles, and a decorative fringed sash.

But just look at how good looking they are!  And at $239 a bag, they're not inexpensive, but definitely not exorbitant.

For more details, check them out on the Viva Terra site.

Have a Gardener in Your Life? They'll Love this Gift

More and more people are getting into gardening.  And why not?  It's good for the body, good for the soul - and it brings beauty, and in the case of vegetable gardening - sustenance.

But any avid gardener will tell you that you need the right tools - whether they be really good shears and pruners, trowels and sharp spades, or gloves - proper gloves.

From my own experience, gloves are my biggest downfall.  I never seem to have the right ones.  I've used very thin gloves (great for weeding) when I was raking and doing clean-up - not so great.

Or I've had on heavy leather gloves that should be perfect for trimming back roses, but alas, they didn't protect enough of my forearm to prevent the inevitable scratches. 

So, I was thrilled to see these goat skin gloves from Smith & Hawken: they are proper pruning gloves that  enclose enough of the arm for protection, and they have wrist closures to keep any dirt from going inside the gloves.  At $39 they are a great deal - and a great gift for the gardener in your life.

Now, the pruning gloves are in women's sizes; so as not to exclude the men, there are also some great all purpose gloves (made for men and women) that are perfect for all of the heavy duty chores: hauling wood, moving around heavy planters and stepping stones.  And unlike some heavy gloves that are bulky and hard to maneuver in, these have tailored fingers that mold to your hands for a perfect fit.  A very good value at $39 - a very good, and functional, gift!

And don't believe anybody who says practical gifts are a bore.  If your gift recipient is a man or woman who loves nothing better than being outdoors, working in their garden - really good, high quality gloves make a marvelous gift.