Delight Your Friends with a Decorative Housewarming Gift

Posted on January 22, 2013 by jpalmer

Consider giving a bottle of wine with a personalized label as a housewarming gift.

When a friend or relative moves into a new place, it can be hard to come up with a nice housewarming gift for them. Below are a few ideas for creative, decorative housewarming gifts to help your loved ones feel right at home in their new apartment.

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Go Green
Plants always make a nice, thoughtful gift and can add a bit of life and color to a new place. If the recipient doesn’t have a green thumb, opt for something relatively easy to take care of, or an indoor plant such as a fern, cactus or bonsai tree.

Silver Lining
Silverware and stemware are perfect housewarming gifts, especially if your recipient likes to entertain. Additional items like napkin rings and candleholders can also add another layer of elegance to their table, and they’ll think of you every time they bring them out to use them.

Art is the Key
Decorative key holders are a nice housewarming gift and can add some artistic flair to any home. They’re also something the homeowner isn’t as likely to have already. Choose a key holder made of metal or wood with an artistic design.

Grape Expectations
Wine is a great housewarming gift, as long as you put a personal spin on it. Consider giving a bottle of wine with a personalized label. Many local and mail-order wineries allow you to customize the bottle’s label to reflect your friend’s exciting move or some other memorable event.

Photo Finish
An old photograph of you and the recipient, placed in a nice, decorative frame, makes a great, personalized housewarming gift.

Be Practical
A small kitchen appliance is a great practical housewarming gift. Before you give a particular appliance, make sure your recipient doesn’t already have one.

Photo credit: iStockphoto/YinYang

Holiday Gifts for Fido

Posted on December 17, 2012 by sroman

Keep your pup happy this holiday season with these gifts.

For dog owners, this festive season would not be complete without a cold nose or wagging tail amid the holiday hustle. Whether our dogs are begging for a bite of Christmas cookie or enduring a few embarrassing photos in a sparkly sweater, Fido and Fifi are part of the family and deserve some thoughtful holiday gifts.

Healthy treats for dogs
Although we may try to watch our waistline at the holidays, it’s also important to make sure we’re not handing out too many treats to our four-legged friends. To keep your dog from adding empty calories, try to offer only treats made from 100 percent natural ingredients. Three Dog Bakery makes dog biscuits from peanut butter, apples and oats that are both tasty and nutritious for your pet. Visit www.threedog.com for locations or to shop online.

Canine-friendly cleansers
If you’re planning to host family and friends during the holidays, a bath might be in order for your pup. Why not use a new organic shampoo to keep his coat cuddle-ready? Both Kiehl’s and many pet specialty stores carry organic dog shampoo and conditioner, or you may want to ask for a referral from your vet. Using a gentle cleanser can help prevent your dog’s skin from getting too dry in winter weather.

Join the neighborhood light display
Show off your dog’s holiday spirit on your next evening walk with a new LED leash and collar. Not only will these illuminated accessories keep him safe and visible to cars, they can also be a festive fashion statement in red or white. Make Clark Griswold proud!

Not a creature was stirring…
Winter is also the perfect time to bring home a cozy new pet bed for your dog. Choose a soft fleece or cotton fiber lining that will breathe while your pet snoozes after a hard day of opening presents. When the festivities are over, and the wrapping paper and gift boxes have been sufficiently pounced upon, Fido will be happy to sink his paws into a plush new bed.

The holidays are an exciting time of year for both people and dogs. Remember that animals can be sensitive and may need some quiet time away from new guests, noise and additional stimulation. Allowing for sufficient down time will also give them the chance to dream about their new toys and gifts. Happy Howlidays!

Photo credit: iStockphoto/cmannphoto

Holiday Wishes Come True: The Ultimate Gift Guide for Her

Posted on December 11, 2012 by jgrimes

“Wow” her this Christmas with gifts she’ll love, including a sparkly phone case, dazzling jewelry and pretty bags.

The rumor is that women are hard to shop for, but as long as the gift is sparkly, vintage, stylish, pleasantly fragranced or practical, the lady in your life is bound to love it. Easy, right? Don’t worry; we’ve selected a number of gifts in a variety of price ranges to help you decide what to get the lady in your life, whether she’s a friend, girlfriend, sister, mother or spouse. No matter the budget, the perfect gift is available in your price range.

Under $15
Let her sparkle and shine this holiday season with all that glitters, particularly with the Glitter Notebook ($12.50), available in three colors, or the Glitter Case for iPhone 4 ($14.99 for pink), both from J. Crew.

Give a gal with a sweet tooth the gift of sugar with Fiona’s Candy ($12.95) from Williams-Sonoma. These 14-ounce vintage-style glass jars hold attractive, delicious candy in eight flavors, such as Champagne Bubbles, Gummy Flowers and Root Beer Drops.

It’s possible to give high-end cosmetics – when they come in cute miniatures. The Stila “Harvest” lip glaze trio at Nordstrom contains three flattering shades – one bestseller and two new, exclusive shades – for the bargain price of $12.

Under $30
The Voluspa “Maison Blanc – Pink Citron” two-wick candle ($16) at Nordstrom both looks and smells delicious. Any girl would love the vintage pink and gold container and the pleasant citrusy smell, and since the candle is 11 ounces, she can use it for a long time.

The sturdy, laminated cotton-canvas Printed Makeup Pouch ($20 and $25, depending on the color) from J. Crew is the perfect gift for the girl who craves style and organization. Sold in a black and white bow print and a red and pink striped print, this makeup pouch is also leak-proof.

For the gift that makes her say, “Wait, what is this?” and then “Cool, thanks!” check out the Charmed Hair Ties ($24) from Anthropologie. Sold in a set of three and in your choice of three coordinating colors per set, these jeweled hair ties are the perfect elegant accessory, and she’s sure to not already have them.

Under $50
The perfect wear-with-anything accessory, the Crystal Starlet Earrings ($35) from J.Crew will remind her of Old Hollywood. Whether she wears gold or silver, these earrings are designed to flatter with their dress-up or dress-down capability.

For the stylish hippie-chic chick in your life, purchase the Envirosax Market Bag ($39.95) from Red Envelope. This set of five attractive polyester, reusable bags solves the paper versus plastic dilemma, and each bag holds as much as two plastic grocery bags and up to 44 pounds. Plus, they’re machine-washable and waterproof.

Soft, feminine and universally appealing, the Philosophy Amazing Grace Layering Gift Set ($49.50) at Sephora is a great gift for any woman, especially one who frequently travels. The soap-and-water-scented set contains a combination shampoo, bath and shower gel, 2 oz. perfume and body butter.

Photo Credit: iStockphoto/sjlocke

Apartment Guide’s Holiday Gift Guide for Him

Posted on December 11, 2012 by tpham

Surprise the man in your life with one of these suggested gifts.

Whether you’re shopping for your friend, boyfriend, brother or dad, you know that he isn’t the easiest person on your list to shop for. He is easygoing and probably already has everything he could ever possibly want. But every guy deserves something special under the tree. Give it a little thought, and consider what he really needs or what he does for hobbies. If you’re still unsure, read on for Apartment Guide’s suggested gifts for him.

For the Sports Enthusiast
The Nike+ Fueldband ($150) tracks daily activity, including running, walking and various activities, as well as each step taken and calories burned. The user sets a goal, and the band’s LED display lights up to show your progress throughout the day. And to stay accountable, the user can share his activity and achievements on Facebook, Twitter and Path.

For the golfing man in your life, check out this palm-sized GPS unit ($180) to calculate distances on various golf courses. The data is simultaneously displayed on its monochrome LCF screen. The device measures the length of drives, and it automatically detects the golf course and hole you are playing from its preloaded database of 35,000 courses.

Staying hydrated is crucial, so motivate him to drink more water with this insulated, wide-mouth stainless steel drinking bottle ($20). It is insulated with a double wall, which keeps drinks cold for more than 24 hours or hot for at least 12 hours. It doesn’t have that plastic taste, and the bottle never sweats.

To keep him in-the-know, consider purchasing a subscription to a sports magazine. View a list of the top-selling magazine subscriptions on Amazon. Subscriptions range from $5-50, depending on the magazine. A few suggestions include ESPN The Magazine, Sports Illustrated, Golf Magazine and Outdoor Life.

For the Cocktail Connoisseur
Keep his spirits high and cold with non-diluting whisky cold stones ($40). These stones keep your drinks chilled without diluting the flavor like melted ice. Each set comes with 12 stones that will never lose their cooling ability.

A remote control cooler ($80) is the perfect gift for any guy. If he can’t miss any minute of the big game, this cooler will keep him in his seat while delivering a cold brew. The cooler holds and keeps cool up to 12 drinks in ice, and the four wheels makes it easy for the cooler to glide over indoor floors and carpets, as well as outdoor surfaces.

For the Techie
For the techie in your life that is connected in every way possible, get him a mobile power station ($41). IOGEAR’s power station will give up to two devices a reliable charge while you’re on the go. When you’re back home, plug the power station to a wall power outlet to charge the station before heading out again.

A new pair of headphones makes a good gift for any music lover. These Id America Spark In-Ear Headphones ($35) are compatible with iPhones, various Apple products, as well as most devices with a 3.5 mm jack. They include an advanced in-line microphone module, feature a unique design and provide good comfort.

The washable keyboard ($36) by Logitech features an easy-to-clean design. The keyboard has drainage holes that makes it easy to hand wash and dry. Twelve shortcut keys give you instant access to email, Web browsers and the music player. This is the perfect gift for a germaphobe or someone who eats and drinks regularly while at his/her computer.

Photo credit: iStockphoto/justme_yo

Cheap and Green Ways to Wrap Gifts

Posted on November 28, 2012 by mprice

Wrap a Christmas present in brown craft paper and simple twine for a cheap and green alternative to expensive wrapping paper.

Wrapping presents during the holiday season makes gift-giving more special and personalized, but if you have a number of people to purchase gifts for, it may not be within your budget to splurge on fancy, seasonal gift wrap, ribbons, bows or other decorative wrapping accessories. Luckily, there are many budget- and eco-friendly ways to wrap gifts using everyday items you might have laying around your apartment. You’ll save money, and your friends and family will appreciate your thoughtfulness and creativity.

Newspaper

Wrapping gifts with newspaper is probably the easiest and cheapest way to wrap presents. Choose the Sunday comics or a similarly brightly-colored page, pair it with some inexpensive twine and you have an eco-friendly wrapping solution.

Craft Scraps

If you’re a crafty person or someone who enjoys home decoration projects, chances are you might have scraps of fabric or wallpaper just laying around your apartment. Turn those scraps into something fabulous by repurposing them. Fabric or cloth swatches are great for wrapping up oddly shaped gifts, while you can coordinate old wallpaper leftovers to match up with the theme of your present.

Maps

Generally printed on sturdy paper meant to last a long time, maps are a colorful, unique, budget-friendly alternative to more expensive gift wrap. Head to the nearest tourist center and pick up several for free, or rummage through your glove compartment or basement for old maps that you haven’t used in a while.

Brown Paper Goods

Turn up the shabby chic factor this holiday by wrapping gifts in plain brown kraft paper and tying the gifts with simple twine. Or, use paper bags as DIY gift bags. Add a pretty, colorful ribbon as a finishing touch.

Printable Gift Wrap

Many websites like gift-wrapit.com and familyshoppingbag.com offer free wrapping paper that you can print from your computer onto regular paper or cardstock using any printer. Simply type “printable wrapping paper” into your Internet browser, select the pattern you like best and print away.

DIY Bows

Instead of spending money on a bag of gift bows that will just end up getting thrown out, it’s surprisingly easy to make your own gift bows out of old magazines that you have laying around the apartment. To get started, you’ll need a page per bow and some double-sided tape. Cut the page lengthwise into nine ¾-inch-thick strips at the following heights: three at 11 inches, three at 10 inches, two at nine inches and one at 3 ½ inches. Twist each strip to form loops at both ends, making a circle out of the smallest. Secure the ends with a piece of double-sided tape. Layer and stick the strips together, starting with the longest. End with the circle in the center.

Photo credit: iStockphoto/KristianSeptimiusKrogh

Eight Ways to Treat Your Employees

Posted on March 23, 2012 by ag-admin

Treat your employees to breakfast or lunch as a way to thank them for their hard work.

Since 1995, the first Friday in March has been Employee Appreciation Day, the day to celebrate the good work your employees do year-round. Even if you missed the official holiday, you can still show your employees you care by doing one of a few simple gestures, which are outlined below. No matter when you do them, they’ll appreciate it.

Bring in coffee

Office coffee is notoriously terrible, so grab your employees’ favorite specialty lattes on your way to work, or bring in a carton of hot coffee from a good local place. Don’t forget the cream, sugar and sugar substitute.

Be sweet

Unless your employees are on a diet, they’ll love your bringing in a sweet treat from the area, such as doughnuts, cupcakes or macarons. You could also make something indulgent yourself, such as brownies, cookies or pie.

Treat them to breakfast

Mornings can be so harried and hurried that all some employees have time to grab on their way out the door are their keys, wallet and maybe coffee. Start their day off right by bringing in biscuits or muffins to the office in an assortment of choices, or take them to breakfast at a nearby café. You can discuss work-related stuff over pastries at a restaurant if you feel guilty about being out of the office.

Take them to lunch

Either one-on-one or in a group, take them to a spot in the area you’ve heard them rave about. One-on-one lunches can be more intimidating than fun, so try to keep it light by taking them all together.

Gift a certificate

Let them shop where they want by purchasing Visa or American Express gift cards in all the same denomination, or buy a gift certificate to a coffee shop, grocery store or gas station.

Give relaxation

Treat them to a 30-minute foot massage at a nearby spa, or bring in a professional masseuse to provide 10-minute shoulder massages for all of your employees. You never know – your company’s human resources department may pick up on the idea and bring in the massage therapists once a week or once a month to keep employees happy and relaxed.

Get happy

Offer to take your employees to happy hour, but put a two-drink limit on the evening – or at least on your part. Or, order a couple of bottles of wine or pitchers of beer for the table and some appetizers to help everyone unwind after a long week. Check with your company’s human resources department to make sure this is okay.

Let them leave early

Enough said.

Photo Credit: iStockphoto/skynesher

10 Best Housewarming Gifts

Posted on October 10, 2011 by ag-admin

Be the belle or beau of the ball when you bring the perfect gift to the next housewarming party you attend.

Photo Credit: iStockphoto/princigalli

If you’ve received an invitation to celebrate a friend’s or family member’s hot new space, you simply must bring something to the host to show how much you appreciate the new digs. Ten ideas for the perfect housewarming gift are listed below – and the right one may secure you a spot on the next party invite list, when they try out what you gave them.

Wine and accessories – Take the new homeowner a bottle or two of their favorite wine (find out if they like red, white or rose’), and pair it with either a great cheese and water crackers, a wine-shaped cheese tray ($15), a set of gender-neutral bottle stoppers ($11.95) or a rabbit-ear corkscrew.

Cooking basket – Give the gift of making a meal yourself with a basket filled with dried pasta, a pot, colander, recipe for the pasta you included and a pasta-complementary cheese.

Monogrammed gift – Purchase a door mat with the recipient’s last name in a pretty font, or buy a brass or pewter doorknocker with the recipient’s last name initial in script. Or, monogram a metal key holder.

Something green – Give the housewarming host something they can plant and reap the benefits of in their new yard, such as a peach tree, lemon tree or two blueberry bushes (as they grow better in pairs). Or, bring a hydrangea plant or two that they can plant near their mailbox.

High-end toiletries – Everyone needs liquid soap for the kitchen and bathroom. Go beyond grocery store brands and purchase a set of luxury kitchen counter spray, dish soap, hand lotion and hand soap, such as this herb-scented group from Crate and Barrel ($8.95-$9.95 each) or this clean, Meyer Lemon essential oils hand soap and lotion with caddy ($39.95) from Williams-Sonoma.

Luxury candles – If your new homeowner friend is earth-conscious, purchase a few Pure Integrity soy candles in one of the light/moderate scents, such as Apple Spice, Baby Powder, Blueberry, Cinnamon, Crème Brulee or Herb Garden ($3.99-$23.99 each). Or, pick up a few aesthetically pleasing and wonderfully scented Slatkin & Co. candles from Bath and Body Works ($19.50 for 14.5 ounces) in their most popular scents: Sweet Cinnamon Pumpkin, Leaves, Eucalyptus Spearmint, Salted Caramel and Homemade Cookies.

Patio décor – Whether the new homeowner has a townhouse, condo or a single-family house, they’ll need planters and décor for their porch or patio. Consider this light-catching recycled glass hummingbird feeder in clear, aqua or red ($39.95-$44.95), practical, attractive Herbes de Provence growing kit ($49.99) or cute animal wind chimes ($39.95).

Entertaining supplies – You probably don’t want to bring wine glasses, as the new homeowner may already have a matching set, but other dishes may be just what they want. This white, affordable chip and dip set from Crate and Barrel ($15.95) goes with any décor, and the curvy Reeve carafe ($29.95) can serve as a wine decanter and piece of interest on a dining room shelf. Also, everyone can use an eco-friendly salad bowl ($49.95) and matching servers ($14.95).

Get playful – Encourage your friend to invite you back over for game night when you give him or her the gift of games in some combination of Monopoly, Twister, Clue, Pictionary, Scrabble, Scene It! or Yahtzee. Or, opt for a poker chips set ($25) and playing cards.

Tools bucket – Pick out a theme – cleaning supplies, kitchen gadgets, gardening, grilling or home improvement – and create a housewarming bucket a la Martha Stewart. Pack the cleaning supplies one with sponges, scrub brushes, organic cleaners and waffle-weave cotton towels and washcloths; the kitchen one with a cookbook, serving spoons, spatula, tongs, a can opener and garlic press; the gardening one with gardening gloves, handheld gardening tools, seeds and plant food; the grilling one with grilling tools, a monogrammed steak branding tool, a spice rub and apron; and the home improvement one with a hammer, surge protector, screwdrivers, ruler, measuring tape, wood glue, nails and screws in various sizes.

8 Ways to Show Your Boss You Care

Posted on October 4, 2011 by ag-admin

Show your boss you care on National Boss' Day with the kind gestures listed below.

Photo Credit: iStockphoto/Yuri_Arcurs

Bosses give us reviews, make us better employees and hopefully, hand out raises once a year by going to bat for us. Show your boss you care by doing something nice on National Boss Day (or Boss’ Day) on Oct. 16, a day employees thank their bosses for being good to them all year. Can’t figure out what to do? Check out the suggestions below for traditional and unusual ways to reach out to your supervisor.

Think nostalgically. Find out where your boss is from and purchase something that reminds him or her of home. If he’s from New York, Yankees or Mets memorabilia (don’t confuse the two!) may do the trick, and if she’s from the Maryland/Boston/Virginia area, send her a box of crab chips. Check out this article on regional cuisine from all over the U.S. to determine what would send your boss down memory lane.

Think of office-friendly gifts. You can’t go wrong with buying your boss a nice pen, personalized business card holder, paperweight, mouse pad or desk clock. Go a step further and purchase a desk toy, such as this Decision Maker Desk Toy ($40), Solar Motion Bicycle Rider ($39.99), Desktop Bowling Toy ($27.99) or the classic Newton’s Cradle toy ($3.99-$39.99).

Take your boss to lunch – or happy hour. Your boss may always treat you, so why not return the favor? Find out what your boss’ favorite restaurant is in the area and offer to treat him or her. Make sure you give bosses plenty of notice so they can arrange meetings around your outing. Alternately, buy him or her a few drinks at a happy hour with just your team and his or her office friends.

Send your boss a surprise. If your boss is a woman, send a bouquet of flowers from your group or tickets to her favorite band. If your boss is a man, send a pair of tickets to a favorite sporting event, or leave them in an envelope on his chair.

Purchase a gag gift. Say you care with humor by bringing your boss a set of stress balls with angry faces on them, trashcan with an “In Files” label, custom bobble head doll or a heat-sensitive mug that changes as the mug is filled with hot liquid. Don’t go overboard and make a caricature of your boss, as the artist’s rendition of your boss’ features may offend him or her.

Be sweet. If your boss is a candyaholic, a fun motion-activated candy dispenser ($39.95) filled with his or her favorite candy may make your boss be “sweet” to you. Or, you could make your boss her favorite cookies – or purchase a dozen cupcakes from the best bakery in town.

Say it with a gift certificate. Have each person on your team pitch in $10 to $20 for your boss and buy them a gift certificate to their favorite restaurant, department store or shopping mall. Or, purchase a Visa, MasterCard or American Express gift card that they can use anywhere.

Go the extra mile. Offer to help your boss carry in his or her laptop bag, or finish a project early for them. You could also bring in really good coffee and doughnuts to your group to boost morale, which a boss always appreciates.

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