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Gifts That Don't Suck
Gifts are great. Ones that don't suck are even better, since they're genuinely appreciated. Giving gifts that people actually want makes giving feel just that much better.
I can remember plenty of gifts that I wasn't exactly pleased with: gift certificates to stores that were over 100 miles away, bathrobes made out of fabric featuring surfing cats (no matter how cool it may seem now, it's just not that cool to an image-conscious 13 year old girl), plastic desk fountains featuring neon butterflies and frogs... the list goes on and on. These gifts were given by people that were close to me, but just didn't think about what I genuinely needed, wanted, or liked. I know I've made similar mistakes with my own gift-giving, so I'll give them a pass. Besides, who wants to be that ungrateful?
The goal of this lens is to show some genuinely cool and fairly thoughtful gifts that you may want to give, get, or share. Not all of them are consumer-driven, some are DIY, and some are just drool-inducing, money-spending teasers.
What's going on here?
Updates on everything outside of Squidoo
I've been writing a few articles on last-minute Hanukkah gift giving, a point/counterpoint on gift cards (who knew that arguing with yourself could be so much fun?), and other subjects, so if you want to see more gifts that don't suck, stop on by!
Feeds to Read: Gift Giving Guide
Fetching RSS feed... please stand byAmazing Gifts
Gifts someone may actually use
DLO 009-3030 Transpod In-Car Cradle/FM Transmitter, White ( 009-3030 )
For the music, podcast, or audiobook lover in your life. If you have an iPod, a car, and a commute, a way to listen to what you actually want may definitely be on your wishlist.
Amazon Price: (as of 07/06/2009) 
Embellished Manuscript Freud Mini Lined (Paperblanks: Embellished Wraps)
Writing is just more fun when you can do it in something special. Why Freud? Well, aside from it looking attractive, what other dead psychoanalyst would you choose? (Jung, maybe, but they don't carry any Jung branded stuff)
Amazon Price: (as of 07/06/2009)
TomTom ONE 3rd Edition 3.5-Inch Portable GPS Vehicle Navigator
I don't know about you, but I like to wander. This isn't a problem, except for the small fact that I have no directional sense at all. If I were a goose, I'd be frozen by now. TomTom keeps me toasty, warm, and not as lost as I would be without it.
Amazon Price: $115.25 (as of 07/06/2009)
Worst. Gift. Ever.
I know gifts are from the heart and all but, honestly, did you ever get something that you absolutely hated? Did you get rid of it? How?
Destined for the trash can
Maybe it was the compendium of Jack Chick tracts, the illustrated guide to haggis-making, or your very own copy of the B-Movie hit "Night of the Lepus", this gift was so horrid you couldn't imagine keeping it.0 points
Re-Gift
Don't like the restaurant you just received a gift card for? Know someone that does? It can't be that tacky to re-gift... unless you've already used part of the gift to find out you don't like it!0 points
Keep it and use it only in the presence of the giver
The aforementioned surfing-cat-bathrobe belonged in this category, since it was made with love by my grandmother. Is there anything that you couldn't part with, simply due to the sentiment behind the horrible gift?0 points
Give it to charity
Sort of in the same vein as re-gifting, but for a decent cause. Just because you hate that hand-embroidered teddy bear santa sweater doesn't mean that someone can't use it. Give it to a local charity, or to a place like Salvation Army or Goodwill where it at least has a chance of doing some good and finding an owner who will truly appreciate its holiday charm.0 points
White Elephant
One (wo)man's trash is another's treasure. If your office, religious organization, or circle of friends has a white elephant auction, think about offering up that less-than ideal gift there. Perhaps the proceeds could go to charity. Of course, make sure the person that gave it to you isn't part of the affair....0 points
Gift cards
Sometimes it is really hard to decide what to get someone as a gift. Whether you are hunting for a birthday, Christmas, wedding, anniversary, holiday gift idea or other gift occasion, it still can be quite a challenge. Now there is an alternative option, especially for those really hard to buy for people %u2013 charity gift cards0 points
Links to love
- Gift Giving Guide
- I have to put a link to Gift Giving Guide here: I'm one of the writers. Still, there are some good ideas here... and I'm not the only writer, so you may find some cool stuff from someone cooler than me.
- Mighty Goods
- Margaret Mason is a goddess. She also happens to have a whole lot of cool stuff on this site, having been at this a lot longer than I have. I could only hope to be as good as her.
- Mighty Junior: Shopping Blog
- "Mighty Junior is a kid-centric shopping weblog, and a sister site to Mighty Goods. We look for perfect things for your favorite kid, and then we put them here, right where you can find them."
Just as cool as Mighty Goods, but for kids. - Etsy
- Gift the gift of something handmade and insufferably cool. Shop at Etsy and make an independent artist/craftsperson's day.
- Sorcha Designs
- Sorcha Designs is the jewelry design business of a dear childhood (and adulthood) friend. She makes awesome jewelry and a lot of it would look good on you or someone you love.
- Gifts by Delivery
- Gifts by Delivery will ship a lot of different things, from fruit and gourmet food, to wine, to beer, to jewelry and other things you may not have thought of. Give them a try.
- Squidoo Directory
- At a loss for a lens? Searching the Squidoo Directory might help.
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by TinaV
wife, and human being. Politically, I'd be classified as a flaming
liberal.... (more)
