I love to give gifts that are unusual, can’t be found in our town, and are totally practical, as well as being ‘bling! bling!’! I came upon this site on Ebay that is owned by Steelyblue-rain, and she has totally fixed me up for my Christmas surprises that will …

Early in the Christmas ‘08 season, a friend surprised me with this item, the Lenox Shimmering Sleigh. First of all, you just can’t go wrong with Lenox. It’s quality, no matter where you purchase it. Secondly, I love reindeer, so this was a winner before I …

This domino set from Chad Valley is, I think, one of the absolute bargains to be currently available from Argos, seeing as it cost me just three pounds in their sale, but I consider that it looks a good deal more expensive than that, and is of remarkably good …

This Christmas I was at a loss as to what I should get for my brother-in-law for Christmas. He is incredibly difficult to shop for and if there is something he wants, he usually just goes out and gets it.
He was the last person I had left on …

I bought this paperweight at a store called People’s Pottery in Willow Grove, PA many years ago. I used to work in that particular branch, although there was a bigger and more beautiful People’s Pottery store in King of Prussia, PA. The Willow Grove store was a mini version …

One day while shopping in the small downtown of Oshawa I stumbled upon a small store named “The Gift House”. In this store it was like a wonderland of unique gift ideas and the Tea Forte: Kati Tea Brewing System caught my eye.
It was a basic idea for loose-tea …

I purchased this glass paperweight in Bloomingdale’s at a time when they carried Caithness art glass. I don’t think they carry it anymore. Caithness is a company from Scotland that produces gorgeous handmade glass paperweights. I have a few of them, and I think they are all fascinating in …

Lately one of the newest Valentine’s Day crazes is not necessarily to get roses, but to name a star after your loved one! That’s right, a star. My fiance did an incredibly sweet thing for me and contacted the International Star Registry to have a star named after me. …

I bought a copy of Don Miguel Ruiz’s The Four Agreements shortly after he appeared as a guest on Oprah years ago. I remember this book as being one of the few new spiritual self help books to come out that didn’t strike me as absolute nonsense.
I first …

I bought this crystal turtle at a jewelry store that was having a huge sale, and they carried some giftware as well as jewels. I always get Baccarat and Lalique confused, because their animal figurines are very similar in size and design. I think one big difference between them …

Let us say that you have many people to buy gifts for, and do not have a lot of money to do it. You have carefully bought at only the best prices and now, it is time to make this gift appear as wonderful as it possibly can! I …

If you plan on traveling to the Sedona area of Arizona, and are looking for some local artwork, and possibly some gifts, Sedona Green Gallary and Gifts is the place you want to go. This extravagant store carries many gift ideas, as well as pieces of artwork from …

It is just too cute for words! A double seater John Deer tractor for kids that is battery powered and has forward and reverse driving capabilities? Come on. Anyone with twins or two small children would love it! I think this is such a cool item …

I consider myself practical in the sense that I don’t really buy things if I won’t be able to use them for a long time. The stuff I have, I use until I either consume them or they break down from wear. Not when it comes to wallets, …

My eight year old son received 15 Childcraft Encyclopedia Books for Christmas. I wasn’t familiar with ChildCraft but I did like the fact that they seemed sturdy and had really good illustrations that made him interested in reading the stories.
The books in the collection are:
Once …

Missy Mo is Swarovski’s cow in their Lovlot collection. The Lovlots are an engaging group of crystal animal figurines that almost look like caricatures and not real animals. The Lovlots include a family of cats, dogs, mice, and so many more kinds of animals! Missy Mo is the original …

The Eleven Piece Thermometer gift set, is a great idea for a baby gift for any mom. You can find one at any Babies R US store, and the price is only about twenty dollars. You get one accu scan ear thermometer, twenty second baby rectal thermometer, …

Looking for X-Mas tree? I just got one on HarryandDavid.com . It’s a real tree , all decorated and ready to go. I simply love it! It’s about 20-30 inches tall, and can be planted into the ground after the holidays if you choose to, so next Christmas …

This piece is fifteen years old, and yet Glass Eye Studio is still creating it. It is featured on their website. I think that is amazing, because I have a few other GES pieces that are no longer being created. I guess they were either limited-edition pieces, or they …

I bought this perfume bottle at Langman Gallery in Willow Grove, PA about seven years ago. I was excited over it the first time I saw it, but I didn’t buy it right away, because it cost over $100. When I went back to the gallery the following weekend …

I recently purchased a Frondini Collection boxed gift set for a male friend of mine. Frondini has a great name in gemstone jewellery, watches and trinkets, and this boxed set is a great gift for most men.
This particular boxed gift set contains a mans watch and a liquor flask. …

Christmas magazines are always fun to obtain. The projects are usually quick, and fun. Not always easy, but useful.
30 Knits to Give and Get, Fast and Easy Projects Knitspiration for the Holidays. Interweave Knits newest Christmas issue.
It was enjoyable reading up on cashmere and silk. I own both, …

My mother is an avid coffee drinker. It does not matter what time of the day it is, day and night, she is always walking around with her Betty Boop coffee mug sipping a freshly made cup of her favorite drink. Although I know drinking too much …

I just bought this Moxie girls jammaz guitar for my 7 year old granddaughter Makayla for Christmas and she loves it! I have to tell you to start with she is very hard on toys, so far the guitar is holding up very well. Matter of fact she likes …

Harry and David recently put out their 2006 Holiday gift pamphlet and it is quite awesome, if I may say so myself. There are georgous gift ideas within the catalog such as their Gourmet Tower of Treats Collection. This beautiful gift idea includes apples, cheeses, pears, cookies, …

With the change of season vastly approaching, the leaves turning burnt reds and orange, and the Thanksgiving holiday just around the corner, a Pumpkin Pie from Yankee Candle’s would be an ideal gift. Any home would instantly become welcomed and uplifting as the scent of this candles carries through …

I bought a few glass pieces from Marilyn Kimble Holt at an expo several years ago. This piece was one of them, but she told me that her son Zeke made this particular piece. He even signed it underneath. I had never seen any of Marilyn’s work before that, …

Ever been in one of those situations where you can get free shipping, but you’re a few dollars off? I was recently, so I decided to buy Ghiradelli Ornament Balls to make up the difference. That way, I got something instead of just paying out shipping.
Ghiradelli Ornament …

My birthday last year just came and went. Basically I spent my birthday at work like most of us. But what made it extra special was my then girlfriend’s (now my wife ;)) gift to me… Transformers Masterpiece Skywarp!
Out of the box:
I love how there’s no twist ties at …

Put simply, this coin is magnificent. I love this coin because of the meaning it holds and how lovely the coin design is. Before I describe the coin, I must say this isn’t just for coin collectors but also for anyone who desires a unique piece of jewelry.
This was a …

I was browsing ebay as early as 5 in the morning when I stumbled upon auction listings about to end soon. One particular ad caught my attention; it was too impulsive a deal to miss so I placed my bid to the very last minute. Consequently, I …

You don’t need to spend a lot on a Valentine’s Gift to make it special. And this is a cute idea. And one that can be used as a second gift - I do this all the time. Lets say you have as nice expensive gift, or are …

Animal toys are a huge favourite with most children of my acquaintance, and this cute hamster toy certainly lives up to that. She is designed to fit in with the fairly extensive Zhu Zhu Pet World, but I see no reason why she should not be bought as a …

When my aunt sent me this hair removal gift set, it was more than enough to make my day. I would least expect someone to mind how I manage hair growth and shower me with a handful of products, as hair removal isn’t everyone’s business other than my …

I have a soft spot for all things mid-century, so when I spotted Kitschy Canapés: Finger Foods for the Swinger Set, I just had to have it! When you purchase the Kitschy Canapé’s gift set, you receive a 64 page recipe book, 6 retro inspired plastic fruit …

I think I bought this crystal figurine in a Hallmark shop in Cape May, NJ, several years ago. Unfortunately, I don’t know the name of the company. I know that it is not a Swarovski piece, because I have many of their pieces, and this doesn’t look like their …

Hi friends, I used to sell stationery: for school and the office.
In addition, at my retail outlets, salesmen wrapped gifts. They wrapped them in the paper, wrapped a beautiful ribbon, and attached a pretty bow.
At first, we used automatically assembled bows or pre-made bows. But then I did the …

Valentine’s day is a day reserved not just for lovers, but for people who do love or receive love from family and friends. However, if you happen to be in love during the month of February, and Valentine’s day approaches without you knowing what it is you’re going to …

I am a cat lover, and I’ve owned a couple of cats over the years. So naturally I love to collect cat figurines, whether they are made of crystal or clay or what have you. I have some interesting cat knick-knicks in my bedroom, and they come in varying …

Prestige Art Glass Studio creates handmade glass pieces (paperweights, figurines, etc.). I actually have two of these glass teapot ring holders — one in blue and one in pink. Yes, that’s right. You can use this little teapot to hold some of your rings. But it will only hold …

I know that all generations have certain toys and games that cause a huge craze. In my experience, these fad toys are usually ridiculously expensive and over-priced for the quality. Such is the case with the Zhu Zhu Pets. This toy gained popularity in 2009 and was a huge …

My son who is about 4 years old. He loves cars and spots costumes a lot. He love motor bikes. Me and my husband bought him a Top Gear The Stig Easter Egg for Ester from Marks and Spencer. The nice thing about this Easter egg is that the …

I have no idea why in the world Swarovski named this little figurine Y2B. It sounds like it could have been a name of a character in “Star Wars.” This is a figurine of a sheep, so I don’t know how Swarovski associated a sheep with the letter and …

I remember when we used to have irises growing near the front porch of my house when I was a kid. But those were yellow irises, and this one is a purplish blue color. Crystal World does a nice job of making their flower figurines look realistic. I have …

I have a really wonderful friend who loves to send out surprises to brighten up the days of her friends. Oftentimes, she sends treats from Cheryl & Co.
This company specializes in a variety of cakes, brownies, and cookies. They’ve come up with some inventive ones, that’s for …

I have been a crystal lover and collector for about twenty years now, and I must own at least sixty pieces. This awesome crystal sun is one of my top five favorite pieces and maybe even my very favorite. I only wish I knew who the maker of it …

I love flowers and plants , but I have a brown thumb when it comes to taking care of them. I always forget to water them everyday and they never last long with me. A friend of mine bought me the Aqua Globe set for my birthday along with …

This is a very unique piece, because it’s not every day that I see a crystal figurine of a treasure chest. And what’s more, it is petite! It’s only about an inch and a quarter in length and an inch and a half in height. So of course it …

The way I ended up getting this piece is an interesting story. I was in the Norman Rockwell Museum in Philadelphia, PA, because I had done a charcoal drawing for the president of the museum. It was a drawing of Norman Rockwell himself, and I went there to see …

Silver heart rings come in a variety of styles and are offered at many different kinds of retailers. The Gucci sterling silver heart rings is a new item and is an ideal gift for your special lady for the upcoming Valentine’s Day occasion.
The Gucci sterling silver heart ring …