Silly Christmas Gifts

Office parties, pot luck dinners, relatives that need a gift but are hard to shop for? Sometimes a little humor will save the day.

Considering the kinds of crazy tech items that really are available out there, the "Bathe and Brew" almost seems believable. The drawback is that you still have to come up with a real gift to pack inside the joke box.

I have never had a cat who would tolerate wearing a hat. Some people have more patient pets, or maybe they're just more persistent than I am. Although the "cats love it" slogan seems overly optimistic, if you have a fan of animal cosplay on your list, this unicorn horn might be just the thing.

Still Shopping?

It hardly seems as though another year has passed, but here we are, in the midst of the holiday gifting season, roaming the malls or browsing the Web, looking for ideas.

Over the years, I have radically cut back on the number of gifts I give and receive. Most of the time I don't need more stuff, and the people I know usually don't need more stuff, either. One year I wrote a letter to my extended family, letting them know that Hubby and I would no longer be participating in the annual gift exchange. I'm sure they were relieved. We certainly were.

One More Gift

The holidays are a wonderful time to celebrate our capacity for compassion and generosity. Family gatherings, parties, gifts, time spent together – all these express our love and appreciation for family and friends. Now is also the time to express ourselves at an even higher level, by sharing some of our resources with others.

Don't Give Bad Christmas Gifts

A Google search for "Bad Christmas presents" turns up results that are hilarious, sad, enraging, incredible, and -- for some -- all too familiar.

The gift you choose for your mate sends a message. Make it a message of love!

Before choosing a gift, ask yourself how it is likely to be viewed by the recipient. Will this be welcomed as an expression of good will, or will it look like a thinly-veiled criticism? Will the gift you choose say that you put some loving thought into it, or will it be something so generic it could have come from a stranger? Will it show that you understand your partner's desires, or will it appear that you don't really know anything about them?

Avoid Bad Christmas Gifts

Is your significant other a disaster when it comes to gift giving? In the past, have you received gifts that were disappointing, baffling, thoughtless, or downright insulting?

Maybe your loved one is a secret Grinch, out to ruin the holiday for everyone. If that's the case, there's probably nothing you can do. More likely, though, you are dealing with someone who is just clueless. In that case, you can help your sweetheart do the right thing.

Are You Lonesome Tonight?

It's hard to tell if this was intended seriously. The idea is that, if your sweetheart is out of town -- or if you are single and lonely -- you can comfort yourself by cuddling up to this pillow in place of the missing man.

Apparently there is a market for this, if only as a gag gift, as there are several competing products listed on the page. One drawback they all seem to share is that they all are left-armed. If you are used to snuggling on the right side, you may be out of luck.

Besides, no matter how it is shaped, a pillow lacks so many important qualities -- body heat, chest hair, and the other half of the torso. On the other hand (heh-heh), it won't snore, and it won't kick you if you do.

I'm not going to buy one of these any time soon. But I did enjoy reading the many satirical reviews.
 

Responding to Anger

Some people have such wise minds and tranquil spirits that they remain calm and forgiving no matter what the provocation. I'm not like that. Most of us aren't. When someone insults, inconveniences, disappoints, betrays, or annoys us, we tend to get angry.

Maybe it's just a brief irritation. Maybe it's seething resentment. It could become screaming rage, or stony rejection. Often we feel the desire to punish the person who has angered us, even if only in a small way. Return the insult. Refuse to help. Start an argument. Get revenge.

Valentine Flowers Are Too Expensive!

Just like restaurant dinners, flowers (especially roses) are overpriced for the holiday.

Not only that, but because so many more bouquets than normal are being delivered, there is a good chance that yours will be loaded onto the delivery truck at 4:00 am, ride around all day, and finally be delivered, dehydrated and limp, at 10:00 pm. (Yes, this has happened to me.) The thrill is gone.

Try this alternative.

Check your local nursery or home store for pots of flowering plants. You may be surprised at what's beautiful and available, at a price that is significantly less than a dozen red roses. One big advantage is that a potted plant will outlast cut flowers, and may even end up with a permanent spot in the living room or garden. Your sweetheart will be reminded of your thoughtfulness for a long time.

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You may also enjoy:

Valentine's Dinner Costs Too Much!

3 Steps to Relieve Valentine's Day Pressure

Breakfast in Bed?

Last-Minute Gifts

Of course, we are generous and helpful all year long. Even so, the routines and demands of daily life tend to take up too much of our time and thoughts, so that we may be inclined to forget just how kind and giving we really are. The holidays bring the joys of generosity to the forefront of our consciousness.

After expressing our love and appreciation with gifts for the people we know, we have the opportunity to express ourselves at an even higher level, by sharing a little of what we have with those we may never know.

Seven Romantic Gifts For Your Special Someone

by guest blogger Alicia Lawrence

It's the holiday season, and if you've got a special someone in your life, that means time for romantic sleigh rides, smooching under the mistletoe, and exchanging presents.

For some couples, this can be a pretty stressful ordeal. After all, the gift you give says a lot about what you think of your significant other, and you want to get them something you know they'll love.

Great Reads

Here are some of the many valuable articles I have found on marriage blogs during recent weeks. Please take a moment to browse through the list. There is information and inspiration here for everyone.

Great Gifts For Husband or Wife - If you are still struggling with holiday shopping and looking for the right gift for your mate, this article by Patty Newbold at Assume Love might make you rethink the whole process.

Commitment in Love - Dr. Rich Nicastro at Strengthen Your Relationship explains why we need a secure foundation of commitment to keep love strong.

How to Be Romantic Without Cards, Flowers or Chocolate - Sean at Simple Marriage has some advice on how to break away from the cliches and make romance personal again.

Avoid Fights About Money - Loren Berlin at the Huffington Post outlines the best strategies to avoid financial conflicts in your relationships.

Five Proven Steps to Protect Your Marriage - Rick Reynolds at Affair Recovery offers some simple steps to invest in your marriage and protect yourself against infidelity.

How to Stay in Love - At The Power of Two, the longest-married couple shares the secrets that have enabled them to maintain a happy, healthy connection for 87 years.

Holiday Lingerie

Winter holiday season is the time when department stores and boutiques offer a larger than usual selection of beautiful, luxurious loungewear and lingerie items. Many retailers make red lingerie available only for Christmas and Valentine's Day, so if red is your color, this is the time to get it. You will also find more elegant fabrics, such as velvet and cashmere, and glamorous color combinations, like black and silver. With the careful addition of a camisole, shrug, or lacy blouse, many of the gowns sold at this time of year can be worn as party dresses. The price is significantly lower than a "real" evening gown or cocktail dress and the fit is usually much more comfortable.

Special Hint: When you exchange gifts with your husband on Christmas Eve, consider adding a mischievous surprise by showing up in a cute Santa's Helper Costume.

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Image courtesy of imagerymajestic / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Cute Little Things

There are so many little ways to be affectionate and romantic on a daily basis. And if you can be cute at the same time -- go for it!

The heart shape is a classic symbol of love. Even a grocery list will seem friendly when it's written on something like this. These are sticky on the back, so you can leave friendly comments just about anywhere.

If all hearts all the time is just too much, mixing it up with flowers and speech balloons adds an extra element of surprise.

Making heart-shaped pancakes and eggs doesn't take any extra time, and is a great way to start the morning. The kids will love these. I tried a pan with heart-shaped depressions, but it was impossible to flip the pancakes. This is easier because you can just lift the forms up.

I haven't yet bought any duct tape roses for my husband. But I think this is a hilarious idea, and perfect for the manly do-it-yourselfer in your life.

About

Bobbleheads

I love personalized gifts!

My husband was surprised and delighted to receive these cute bobblehead versions of us. He plays the guitar, and although I'm no singer, in this case it seemed only appropriate that I get behind the microphone to accompany him.

I ordered these online from Face It Figures, and I was quite pleased with the service. You can find several other companies who make these by doing a Google search on "personalized bobbleheads". There are many different body types available to suit whatever profession, hobby or fantasy you may have. Be aware that you will need to get started 6 to 8 weeks before the gift-giving occasion. You will need good, clear pictures of each person's face in full front and profile poses.

Bobbleheads always make people smile, and they are great conversation starters. An individual doll is a fun gift for any occasion, and a pair would be perfect for an engagement, wedding or anniversary. My hubby liked these so much that he posted photos on Facebook and used his as his profile picture.

The Balloon Bites the Dust

The end was inevitable. There it is, lying quietly on the carpet, the deflated Valentine's Day balloon. I paid less than $10 for this at the grocery store on February 13. It floated proudly for weeks, cheerfully displaying its shiny message every day. It took nearly three months for it to gradually sink to the floor. Despite its fall from grace, it is a reminder that you don't always have to spend a lot of money to make a big impression. But today is trash day, time to let the balloon go.

Sweet Surprise

I just had to snap some pictures and share the fun before these were all gone. Did you know that you can have personalized M&M candies made for any occasion? You can choose your colors, add short messages, and even have your sweetheart's picture printed right on the candy.

For Valentine's Day this year, my hubby gave me a cute glass bowl full of these. What a sweet surprise!

A personalized gift like this tells the recipient that you care enough to put some real effort and planning into the occasion. You can't just stop at the supermarket on the way home and pick up a bag of these!

Special Presents

In theory, it should be easy to choose gifts for the people we love the most. After all, we know them so well. Their hobbies, favorite foods, taste in clothes, what makes them smile. But sometimes it is that very familiarity that makes it so hard to decide on a gift.

I know that my husband doesn't wear ties any more and that he doesn't need another cashmere sweater or a bathrobe. I know how little time he has available to read books, and how much unused credit he already has on iTunes. He loves Godiva chocolates, but giving him yet another box of dark truffles seems to say that I've become too lazy to put any thought into the matter. He definitely doesn't want power tools, jewelry, or anything beer-related. If one of his favorite musical acts were coming to town, I could try to get tickets, but that's not always an option, and I'm not rich enough to fly him to Paris (either France or Texas) for the weekend.

My goal is to give him something he will truly enjoy and that will let him know that I put some loving thought and effort into it. The neon sign pictured here was all of that. During the summer, we sometimes hold big backyard barbecue parties. When the umbrellas are set up, the burgers are on the grill, and friends are splashing in the pool, we feel as though we are living in a luxury resort. My husband is a charming host, and we began to refer to our summer get-togethers as "Club Steve". Of course, a real club needs a sign. So for his birthday one year, I had this neon sign made. When Steve saw it, he was completely surprised and quite delighted. Now, whenever we have a party, the sign is always glowing in a prominent position, where our friends get a big kick out of it. Having this made was a bit expensive, but it was well worth it. Not only did it put a big smile on my husband's face when I gave it to him, but it has continued to be a source of pleasure for him (and for me) over the years.

This was a big, expensive gift. But a gift doesn't have to be big or expensive to be effective. What matters most is that it communicates a personal message: "You are special to me."