Tuesday, October 18, 2011

Creative Holiday Gift Ideas for the Person Who Has Everything!

!±8± Creative Holiday Gift Ideas for the Person Who Has Everything!

Tired of giving the same old-same old? Embarrassed to give out those impersonal department store gift certificates because you're stumped and don't know what to buy for the person who has everything? Well, here are some wonderful ideas for unique gifts; some unusual, some personal; something for everyone on your list!

Group two, three or more items (mix and match) and place in an interesting basket or unusual container to present your gifts, covering the container with colorful cellophane and topping it all off with a fancy ribbon and bow.

Purely Personal

- Scented candles, handmade soaps, bubble bath and a big fluffy bath towel.

- Fancy hair ties, hair clips, shower gel, shampoo and conditioner for the teenage girl

- A movie night basket with a video of DVD of a movie you know they don't have, a box of microwave popcorn, candy and a movie guide book

- An interesting book or magazine (and a gift subscription), a tiny booklight, a cute mug and packets of hot chocolate with mini marshmallows, or a small bag of flavored gourmet coffee

- A cozy robe - one pocket containing envelopes of hot chocolate and the other, a small bag of mini-marshmallows.

- A spa day with a pair of comfy slippers and a big fluffy towel or robe

- A set of fancy beeswax candles and a brass candle snuffer

- A towel wrap, terry-cloth slippers, shower soap, shaving lotion and a fancy hair comb (or a special moustache comb for the moustached man!)

- A hot/cold pack (see how to make - www.whimsies-online.com/hotcoldpack.htm) with a box of soothing herbal teas and a whimsical mug

- Buy a variety of medium to large seashells and fill some of the shells with melted red wax and a few drops of cinnamon candle scent; and the rest of the shells with melted green wax and a few drops of pine candle scent; adding a short wick before the wax sets and you have an assortment of bath candles all ready for the holidays.

Holiday Bath Salts

2-1/3 cups of epsom salts

1/2 cup of sea salt

5 drops of peppermint scent

3 drops of red food coloring

Pour half of the first three ingredients into a bowl. Pour the other half of the ingredients into another bowl, adding the red food coloring only to the second bowl. Using a tall, clear bottle, layer contents of each bowl until all ingredients are used up (think red and white stripes). Close the bottle and tie with a festive ribbon and a couple of small candy canes.

- The Gift of Time: coupons for one night of baby-sitting, car washing, gardening, cleaning out the garage, walking the dog, re- arranging a closet, etc.

Hobbies and Sports Gifts

- Tickets to their favorite game and a sweatshirt or t-shirt imprinted with their favorite team logo

- Art supplies that they use often - sketch pads, paint in often- used colors, charcoal pencils, etc.

- Scrapbooking supplies, storage boxes to keep supplies in, rubber stamp set, embossing powder and heat gun

- Computer supplies: CDRW's, blank CD cases, a furry Pet Virus novelty or a Virus Survival Kit just for fun (www.petvirus.com)

- For the aspiring writer (or student): folders, pencil case, binders and lined paper, fancy colorful pens, notebooks, personalized notes, a good thesaurus and dictionary, an agenda or diary, colorful post-it notes and a personalized CD coaster to hold their favorite mug of coffee (see how to make one - http://www.whimsies-online.com/cdcoasters.htm)

- For the young artist of craftsperson: a craft box with handle; colorful paper squares, set of scissors with different fancy blades, glue, felt in an assortment of colors, wiggly eyes, lengths of colorful wool, colored pipe cleaners

- For the person who love to bake: a set of cookie cutters in letter and number shapes, a pair of colorful oven mitts, a cute timer, a set of fancy cake tins, mixing bowls, cookbook on baking

- For the BBQ chef: BBQ apron, mitts, a set of large salt and pepper shakers, a BBQ brush, a BBQ recipe book

- A large interesting piece of pottery, kitchen utensils, a cookbook, a set of cute salt and pepper shakers, apron and potholder set

- A fancy flower pot with gardening tools, plant ties, garden gloves, a plant care guide and a kneeling pad.

Fancy Food Gifts

- Chocolate-dipped Spoons: buy heavy clear plastic spoons and dip them in melted chocolate, either all dark or all milk chocolate or let cool and re-dip in melted white chocolate but only halfway up the spoon bowl. Sprinkle with abit of cinnamon before the white chocolate dries for a variation. Let dry on wax paper. Wrap individually in colorful cellophane and tie with a curly ribbon. Add a couple of chocolate-coated spoons in a fancy mug along with packets of gourmet coffee.

You can also add abit of extract or liqueur or even cherry juice to flavor the chocolate before dipping.

For another variation on the chocolate-covered spoons, sprinkle the spoons with finely-crushed candy canes and let dry.

Drizzle melted white chocolate onto your dark chocolate-dipped spoons or drizzle dark chocolate onto your white chocolate-dipped spoons for a different look.

- Here's a different twist to your favorite chocolate chip cookie recipe. Make up a batch, let cool and then dip them halfway into melted chocolate. For a variation, add a sprinkle of coconut or candy sprinkles before the chocolate coating dries.

- Here's a way to use up those little plastic coffee creamer containers you've been saving. Check out this yummy recipe: Coffee Creamer Cherry Chocolates - http://www.whimsies-online.com/cherries.htm

- Breakfast Treat Basket: pour a box of pancake mix into a clean glass jar. Add the lid, cover the top of the jar with a square of pretty scrap fabric and tie on a colorful ribbon or raffia. Type the recipe from the pancake box and print it out onto cardstock to hole-punch and add to ribbon before tying the finishing bow.

Add small zip-lock bags of the following: chocolate chips, dried fruit including raisins, walnuts, almonds, pecans, coconut. One or more of these added to the pancake mix makes a unique treat! Include a bottle of pancake syrup and the gift is complete.

- Muffin Magic: add your favorite muffin recipe to a 1 or 2-quart mason jar or clear, fancy container. Decorate the jar with a square scrap of fabric and tie with a ribbon or raffia. Add your recipe to a printed card (make sure you adjust your recipe if you've cut the ingredients by half to fit the jar!). Include a muffin tin, a wooden spoon tied with a pretty bow, a bag of fancy paper muffin cups and a colorful oven mitt or two.

- Pasta Perfect: an assortment of clear glass jars filled with fancy pastas, a wooden spoon tied with a festive ribbon, a shaker of mixed Italian spices and another of grated parmesan or romano cheese

- Your Fortune: mix up a batch of Chinese fortune cookies (see recipe at www.whimsies-online.com/weddinggallery.htm) that you add your own printed fortunes or silly sayings to (think Confucious Say!). Place them in a colorful tin from the dollar store.

- Caffeine-fix: a set of small tins filled with an assortment of special hot cocoa mixes and/or flavored coffee using the following recipes. Create tags for each to describe each mix and the directions. (All cocoa recipes: add 1/3 cup of mix to 6 oz. hot water. All coffee recipes: add 1 heaping teaspoon, or more, to 6 oz. of hot water)

Basic Hot Cocoa Mix

1-1/4 cup dry milk

3/4 cup powdered coffee creamer

1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder

3/4 cup sugar

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Mexican Cocoa

Add 1 tablespoon of cinnamon to above mixture and a cinnamon stick to the tin when you tie on the recipe card.

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Cocoa-Malt

1/2 cup malted milk mix

1 cup instant cocoa mix

1/3 cup powdered coffee creamer

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Very Berry Cocoa

Mix one package of unsweetened Koolaide in a berry flavor to 3 cups of instant cocoa mix

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Coffee 'n Spice

1 cup instant coffee

3/4 teaspoon cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon allspice or apple pie spice mix

1 cup sugar

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Mocha Magic

1 cup instant coffee

1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder

1 cup sugar

1 cup powdered coffee creamer

1/4 cup dry milk

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Toffee Coffee

Mix equal amounts of brown sugar, instant coffee and powdered coffee creamer

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Personalized Gifts

- An arrangement of family photos in a large frame - use nice gift wrap or other fancy paper as a background, or a collage of handmade papers from your art store.

- Any item personalized with the person's name: a t-shirt with an interesting graphic along with their name; a personalized coffee mug; a picture of their favorite hobby or occupation in cartoon form with their name; a silly caricature made from their photo; a personalized BBQ apron.

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You'll find a unique assortment of personalized cartoon pictures for any hobby, occupation or occasion and fun computer novelties including the Pet Computer Virus at:

http://www.whimsies-online.com. Be sure to pick up your free gift just for stopping by!


Creative Holiday Gift Ideas for the Person Who Has Everything!

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Friday, October 7, 2011

Camping Checklist for Forgetful Campers

!±8± Camping Checklist for Forgetful Campers

REALLY IMPORTANT STUFF!

Campground reservation info.

Directions to the actual campground.

Packing - Put food on the bottom (you'll need other items first)

Backpack, daypack, and/or fanny pack

Bags - Tent bag, grocery bags, etc.

Cardboard boxes if needed

Ice Chests

ICE!

5 gallon bucket or similar container

Large (18-30 gal) Rubbermaid(tm) container for food storage

Lighting - Check batteries!

Maglight - The larger, the better

Gas lantern (and/or electric)

BIC lighter

Matches (preferably water proof)

Spare batteries and bulbs

Spare lantern fuel and mantles

Solar Panel

Glow Sticks

Batteryless Bulbless Flashlight

Shelter/Bedding

Sleeping bag

Space Blanket

Ground Cloth - Tarp for big tents

Floor Mats (use at tent entrance)

Mattress or pad - Inflator for air mattress

Pillow

Tent

Seam Sealer

Camp axe or hammer to pound tent stakes

Shade Canopy & Rope & Stakes

Emergency blaket (found at walmart)

Tikki Torches (fill with citronella oil), also listed in medical.

Overhead rain tarps (not just shade).

Hay bale (to spread in dirt or mud areas).

10-12 inch nails from hardware store for emergency tent stakes

Tea candles to mark where tent stakes are

Sign that says No Candles in Tents!

Medical

Epipen if you have allergies

Sunscreen

Bug Repellent - Spray, Citronella Candle, etc.

Tylenol, Advil, Aspirin, Naproxin

Tums

Antibiotics creams

Tweezers for splinters & ticks

Antiseptic, bandaids and bandages

First Aid Kit (may include all the above items)

Benadryl Sinus Tablets

Allergy Eye drops

Pocket Tissues

Campho-phenique (good for minor burns, cuts, scrapes and many use it on

poison ivy)

Moist Towelettes (for cleaning wounds and early uses on poison ivy)

Extra weeks supply of any Prescriptions

Box of latex gloves (100 pack)

Cleaning & Personal Items

Bar soap

Hand Sanitizer (waterless)

Washcloth

Shampoo

Toothpaste & toothbrush

Comb/hair brush/clips/bands/hair ties

Make-up bag

Razor & shaving cream

Towel

Toilet Paper

To save space, unroll toilet paper and reroll it and put inside the tube

Whisk broom to clean table and tent site

Deodorant

Contact lens supplies

Feminine supplies

Dishwashing soap and rubber gloves

Dish rack

Laundry Detergent (biodegradeable preferred)

Miscellaneous

List of important phone numbers

Spare car/truck/boat/rv keys

Small shovel

Swiss Army knife

Compass and Map

Fishing pole and gear (+ license & bait!)

Duct tape and/or electrical tape

Safety pins

Sewing kit

Cellular phone w/extra battery and car adapter

Two way radio(s) (ham, CB, Family)

Camera w/good battery and extra film

Camcorder w/good battery and extra tapes

Radio and/or TV

Weather Radio

Crankup Radio

Books (ID books, Little House), cards, games, toys, Bible, etc.

Card table

MONEY, credit card, ID

Pocket Tool

Guitar/Harmonicas/Other musical instrument(s)

Bike/Seats/Helmets

Binoculars

Whistles

Signal Mirror

Chairs

Travel Clock

Clothesline and Clothespins

Basic tools (screwdrivers, pliers, etc.)

Copper pipe pieces for the campfire See note

Rope or String

Leather strips

Heavy rubber bands

Canoe or boat

Life jackets

Piece of carpeting (fake grass) for tent or RV entranceway

Pet Food

Eyeglass strap (to hold them on your head)

Fire starters (found in BBQ sections of stores) made from wax and sawdust

Steel Wool (can be used to start a fire by touching ends of battery to it - BE CAREFUL!)

Sand Paper

Extension cords

Pads of paper and pencils/pens

Milk crates (good for storage, step ladder and more)

Fly Swatters

Toothpicks

Dustbuster

Ear Plugs (to block out the noisy neighbors)

Clothing

Hat

Bandanna

Jacket - As weather dictates; Eskimo style, mackintosh, windbreaker, etc.

Poncho - Doubles as emergency tent/lean-to

Pants/Overalls, with belt

Underwear - 2

Shirt - 2 or 3 (one light, one flannel)

Shoes, shower shoes, HIKING BOOTS

Socks - 2 pair

Work gloves & warm mittens/gloves

Swim suit

PJ's

Sunglasses

Sulfer - keeps chiggers out of your clothes

Cooking

Stove with fuel & lighter

Newspapers for lighting a campfire

Firestarter sticks (wax/sawdust things from the grocery store)

Firewood

Charcoal or wood & Grill for BBQ

Frying Pan - Nonstick w/plastic spatula is nice

Cooking skewers (for hot dogs, s'mores, etc.)

Pot or sauce pan - Big enough to cook noodles for all; With lid

Dutch Oven

Can opener - If you have canned goods

P-38 Can Opener (military type, small, flat and fits in wallet)

Thermos

Tongs

Coffee maker & filters

Pot lifter and/or pot holders

Tablecloth

Stew Pot

Soup Ladel

Sandwich maker (type you put in fire)

Measuring cup

Cutting Board

Strainer

Veggie Peeler

Dishes

Reusable

Plate - Partition tray/plate is nice

Collapsable camping/hiking cup

Alladin travel mug

Kitchen knife - Nice to have; in general, carry a pocket knife

Small mixing bowl

Knife, Fork, Spoon, Spatula

Small flat and phillips screwdrivers

Scrub Pad

Dish Pan

Tupperware (for leftovers)

Consumables

Paper towels & napkins

Trash bags

Garbage disposal bags (stronger than regular trash bags)

Paper plates, cups, bowls, etc.

Plastic knives, forks, spoons

Ziplock Bags

Aluminum Foil

Dish soap

Water

At least 1/2 gallon per person/day -- Water filter if relying on natural water sources

Water bottle, to carry while hiking

Garden hose

Food & Drink

Pancake Mix - Krusteaze, 1/2 cup per person per day (need large skillet)

Cooking Oil - About 1 oz per person per day or Pam Spray

Syrup - About 2 oz per person per day

Butter - 1/2 stick per person per day

Malt-o-meal, or Cream of...wheat, rice, ...

Oatmeal - Instant single serving packs

Potatoes - 1-2 per person per day -- freeze dried if packing

Bacon - 2 slices per person per day

Eggs - 1-2 per person per day, fresh or powdered

Noodles - Spaghetti, Angel Hair, Ramen, or shells

Spaghetti Sauce - In jars or dehydrated

Parmesan cheese

Bouillon cubes - Chicken & Vegetable

Rice packages

Soup/Chili - mix or cans

Tuna - Don't forget Mayo, pickles, and onions

Onions, lemons, mushrooms, Tomatoes

Bread - One or two loaves per day if camping with a small group

Dry condiments - Salt, Pepper, Spices, Sugar

Catsup

Mustard

Mayo - Small jar or squeeze bottle

Cheese - Cheddar, swiss, American

Fruit - Small fruit cups or fresh fruit

Veggies - carrot/celery sticks daily

Taco Stuff - (Meat, seasoning package, olives, lettuce, tortillas, buns)

Hamburger meat (pre seasoned and ready to cook)

Frozen hashbrowns in the bag

Cocoa, Coffee, & Teas (don't forget SUGAR!)

Marshmallows, Graham Crackers & Hershey Bars (S'mores)

Peanut Butter & Jelly

Deli meat slices: Turkey, Ham, Salami

Hot dogs & buns

Milk, juice, soft drinks, Ice Tea, Lemon Ade, Kool-Aid

Vienna Sausages

Lil Smokies

Snacks

Hamburgers & Buns

Steak

Ham

Corn on Cob

Cereal

Nutri Grain Bars/Granola Bars

Fixin's for stew (some of the items are above)

Beer

Jiffy Pop or Regular popcorn

Popcorn oil

Spray oil (like Pam)

Squeeze butter or margarine

Beans

Camping with Children

Current photos of the children in case they get lost

Diapers

Swim Diapers

Wipes

Bottles/sippycups

Playyards

Jogging strollers

Backpack carriers

MANY sets of clothing

Extra pair(s) of shoes

Formula

Jar foods

Gerber toddler foods

Hats

Toys,

Favorite blanket or stuffed toy(very important!)

Powdered milk(for children that have outgrown formula)

Snacks

Storybooks

Baby Hammock

Baby Swing

kidsafe bugspray

sunblock

Portapotty with grocery bag liner (easy cleanup)


Camping Checklist for Forgetful Campers

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