tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-71246411140450267222011-07-14T17:48:39.770-05:00Sometimes the Best Gift in the World Arrives in a Grocery BagSusaniahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04977938723351021767noreply@blogger.comBlogger321100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7124641114045026722.post-16152785203971798262009-06-26T13:27:00.001-05:002009-06-26T13:28:40.470-05:00

In keeping with our appreciation for the simple and homemade Gift...Simple Gifts

Susaniahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04977938723351021767noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7124641114045026722.post-30476003170244656822009-01-16T12:12:00.003-06:002009-01-16T12:21:50.863-06:00

As always this past Christmas, members of my immediate family exchanged wishlists prior to Christmas. Because we are a particularly bookish family, most of us had Amazon.com wishlists that were dominated by books. My own included a number of volumes on my various interests: Narrative therapy, sustainable agriculture, vegetarian cooking, etc.My boyfriend decided to give me a book but picked

Kathrynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05111825731995800448noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7124641114045026722.post-75296028427040295772009-01-06T19:52:00.001-06:002009-01-06T19:54:19.930-06:00

Now that the holidays have come and gone, we'd love to hear how your gift exchanges went. What were your favorite gifts to give this year? To receive? What brilliant ideas did you have, and what bombed?

Kathrynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05111825731995800448noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7124641114045026722.post-47558868014486393692008-12-17T10:19:00.005-06:002008-12-17T11:32:07.079-06:00

Food writer Monica Bhide wrote a post on the Renegade Writer Blog this week about the art of being gracious.I love this post because it highlights the process of gift-giving and receiving, not the gift itself. It echoes what we've said in previous posts here about being a courteous recipient, note writing, and the way in which goods gifts demonstrate to recipients that they are truly known.If I

Kathrynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05111825731995800448noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7124641114045026722.post-67693118318600399822008-12-12T23:50:00.002-06:002008-12-13T00:07:28.072-06:00

In a previous post, we suggested the Target gift card as a good gift for a third tier person (i.e., someone you don't know particularly well but are obligated to give a gift to). But this is not the only gift exchange situation for which a gift card is a good option.Given the state of our economy at present, people are cutting back on all kinds of discretionary spending. Consider the fact that

Kathrynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05111825731995800448noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7124641114045026722.post-55790739737579479582008-12-08T12:17:00.003-06:002008-12-08T12:47:05.764-06:00

I am stating the obvious when I say that we are in difficult economic times... and how we manage Christmas giving this year will inevitably be affected.This does not need to be a bad thing; in fact, we should greet this as an excuse to throw old patterns of pointless excess and boredom in our gift-giving out, and start new traditions. When you have less money to work with, it forces you to

Susaniahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04977938723351021767noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7124641114045026722.post-81353823388015801532008-12-07T21:42:00.006-06:002008-12-07T22:27:00.598-06:00

There is one incredibly simple, inexpensive way to make any gift much more meaningful: include a note. A well-written, heartfelt note is the difference between a so-so gift and a touching, memorable one. There are a number of approaches you can take. 1. Tell the recipient why you chose the gift.There's a scene in the holiday classic It's a Wonderful Life where Mary stands on the steps of a new

Kathrynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05111825731995800448noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7124641114045026722.post-64567710920593922672008-12-03T16:09:00.003-06:002008-12-03T16:51:11.991-06:00

Aerin's Cranberry Blog has a great post on the subject of obligation.Aerin raises good questions: Are you obligated to give a gift to someone who gives a gift to you? Are you obligated to give them a gift that is as expensive as the one you received?I really like Aerin's take on this subject (and not just because she gives this blog a shout out).I'd like to hear readers' thoughts on this. How do

Kathrynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05111825731995800448noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7124641114045026722.post-71102427128200882362008-12-01T15:19:00.003-06:002008-12-01T15:25:27.469-06:00

I have begun to crochet what are known as amigurumi, which is Japanese for "knitted stuffed toy." Most amigurumi nowadays are crocheted instead of knitted. I wanted to develop a skill that would allow me to make little home-made presents that would be unusual and fun. One of my first amigurumi gifts was a little pair of fishes to my friend Jen for her cats. She was delighted with them, and sent

Susaniahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04977938723351021767noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7124641114045026722.post-83714516987397574042008-11-29T19:22:00.003-06:002008-11-29T19:27:24.476-06:00

Wal-Mart Employee Trampled to DeathPlease read the article, and consider if this is the way you want to remember Christmas; as a race for bargains.  When shopping for gifts becomes a greedy mob activity, then it's time to stop.

Susaniahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04977938723351021767noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7124641114045026722.post-62228070748757571602008-11-29T16:34:00.005-06:002008-11-29T16:52:08.099-06:00

I have a bone to pick with holiday retail advertising, and the retailer that's been especially bugging me the last couple of years is Sears, with the slogan, "Don't just give a gift. Grant a wish." Last year's TV commercials, for instance, had a Dad receiving not just a tool or a tool set, but a whole garage full of tools. The idea, of course, is that the prices are so low, you can afford more.

Kathrynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05111825731995800448noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7124641114045026722.post-66985198930463721342008-11-23T19:09:00.004-06:002008-11-23T19:33:33.736-06:00

I am turning 40 next month. This is a time of potential trauma for anyone, but a close circle of friends have already set me off on the best foot possible by making a Pre-emptive Birthday Strike.I have been celebrating birthdays with these "Sisters" of mine for about a decade now, and these celebrations have followed a predictable pattern; dinner, cards, and little presents. But this year they

Susaniahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04977938723351021767noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7124641114045026722.post-33377048277836011472008-11-17T15:33:00.002-06:002008-11-17T15:42:31.784-06:00

In part three of our series on gift-giving and the hierarchy of needs, we'll talk about giving gifts as a way of fulfilling the need to both give and receive love, affection and a sense of belonging. All occasions are appropriate times to let the people in your life know they are loved. Even a poor choice lets the recipient know that someone cared enough to try. Gifts of belonging communicate to

Kathrynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05111825731995800448noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7124641114045026722.post-77627502550765625742008-11-07T19:46:00.002-06:002008-11-07T19:59:38.096-06:00

We've discussed the fact that gift giving is an essential social skill, and that it is unacceptable to opt out of the practice altogether. But there are some circumstances in which opting out of the gift exchange process is the best thing you can do. Since we started writing this blog, for instance, Susan and I have mutually agreed never to give each other gifts. Why, you ask? We considered the

Kathrynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05111825731995800448noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7124641114045026722.post-59154701356680022332008-11-01T12:20:00.005-05:002008-11-01T12:53:43.045-05:00

Having been born in early December, I have become accustomed to a certain lack of attention regarding my birthday. The holiday season, from Thanksgiving onward, has become such a morass of Christmas parties, special year-end events and office lunches/dinners, that to try and celebrate a birthday as well seems excessive. The holiday flood washes over the Birthday-ees as well as those friends and

Susaniahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04977938723351021767noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7124641114045026722.post-47686364048601529152008-10-21T09:05:00.005-05:002008-10-21T09:17:38.515-05:00

Earlier this month, we raised the question, how do you give a gift that is truly needed, and we presented the hierarchy of needs.In this post, we'll address the first two layers: physiological and safety needs.Gifts that address physiological needs At the bottom of the pyramid lie the most basic needs, the necessities without which we cannot survive for long: food, water, shelter, clothing.

Kathrynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05111825731995800448noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7124641114045026722.post-32640426672851283102008-10-06T09:57:00.005-05:002008-10-06T10:54:54.327-05:00

In last month's post on the Essential Rules of Modern Gift Giving, asserted that gift giving is not a materialistic enterprise. Of course, anyone who watches TV within 2 months of the holidays might find it hard to remember this rule. Retail stores have done a wonderful job of convincing us to spend more and more with subtle tactics. Notice, for instance, if you shop online, that many sites have

Kathrynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05111825731995800448noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7124641114045026722.post-31753404772113744762008-10-02T16:00:00.004-05:002008-10-02T16:06:43.196-05:00

We all want to give a gift that is useful, something that is needed. But what is it that we really need? In general, Western civilization enjoys affluence and privilege that was unheard of a generation ago. While we may have fleeting thoughts that perhaps we need a bigger house, a better car, or a new cell phone, we instinctively know these are not “real” needs. So what are real needs? In 1943,

Kathrynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05111825731995800448noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7124641114045026722.post-90787697448878605202008-09-25T19:34:00.002-05:002008-09-25T19:52:09.365-05:00

Do not give a gift when you're feeling bitter against the recipient. Nothing good ever comes of that. Wait til later, if necessary.Don't write blog entries when you're feeling bitter either. ;)

Susaniahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04977938723351021767noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7124641114045026722.post-29600413095640083582008-09-22T16:22:00.001-05:002008-09-22T16:22:01.066-05:00

Not long ago, we advocated the giving of selfless gifts. We suggested you consider spending time with the recipient doing something she likes and you hate, something you might never do otherwise.Well, I decided to take my own advice: I went with my boyfriend to a dirt track race.He was on cloud nine. Dirt track racing is one of his favorite things in the world, whereas my only experience with

Susaniahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04977938723351021767noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7124641114045026722.post-63349000966844290102008-09-18T12:54:00.003-05:002008-09-18T13:13:02.102-05:00

The rudeness of gift recipients can be astonishing, sometimes. We both know someone who gets angry at the flowers her boyfriend brings her... because she doesn't like the ones he picks. He brings her flowers every other week, Just Because, and she raises her voice and complains that he doesn't listen to what she keeps telling him; that she can't stand daisies! Now, there are two issues at play

Susaniahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04977938723351021767noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7124641114045026722.post-74806292173411434962008-09-15T12:35:00.006-05:002008-09-15T12:52:08.703-05:00

Several sources have it that the word "regifting" entered popular culture in a 1995 Seinfeld episode involving a label maker. For whatever reason, regifting seems to have emerged as an actual CONCEPT in the last decade or so. So how has it become such a recognizable and increasingly accepted idea in our society? Perhaps the accumulation of stuff in our society has reached a tipping point; perhaps

Susaniahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04977938723351021767noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7124641114045026722.post-47230096024907962972008-09-10T15:54:00.005-05:002008-09-10T16:00:11.104-05:00

Service gifts are gifts of your time and energy.They often cost little to nothing, and there is no shopping required. There is, however, a time investment required. So the trick with service gifts is to make sure that the service you're offering is something you won't mind spending some time doing; volunteering to do something you hate makes for a resentful gift, and the recipient won't thank you

Kathrynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05111825731995800448noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7124641114045026722.post-18264844492440610472008-09-08T21:37:00.004-05:002008-09-08T22:44:41.698-05:00

Since the purpose of this blog is promote good gift-giving practices, this post outlines some core principles for modern gifting. Some are obvious. Some are things we seem to have lost sight of as a culture. In the spirit of cultivating gift-giving genius, we'd like your help in building this list. Got something to add? Drop us a comment.1. Gift-giving is not a materialistic enterprise.You

Kathrynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05111825731995800448noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7124641114045026722.post-62815215930388250272008-09-03T10:48:00.004-05:002008-09-03T10:57:12.469-05:00

A good principle to follow when selecting a gift for anyone, any occasion: Make it about the recipient. With that in mind, I will suggest a nearly foolproof strategy for ensuring gift satisfaction, especially when it comes to giving a gift to your significant other.Think of something he or she loves to and you can't stand. Then set aside your distaste and do whatever it is anyway. Go to that

Kathrynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05111825731995800448noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7124641114045026722.post-53583906086413487162008-09-01T15:38:00.004-05:002008-09-01T15:47:27.230-05:00

written September 30, 2003There is a party this week for a girlfriend of mine who just got married. I cannot attend due to a previous engagement, so I brought her gift to the office for someone to take in my place. And I realized, as I waited for the elevator to arrive, that I really hoped that I wouldn't see this friend before I could unload the gift. Because I knew what she would say: "Oh, you

Susaniahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04977938723351021767noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7124641114045026722.post-10476977172447107932008-08-28T21:20:00.004-05:002008-08-28T21:42:26.633-05:00

I (Susan) have not done the preparation I should for this day's post; but today I have actually been hunter-gathering, and I offer it up as an example of how it works, and how painless it can be.I had 45 minutes to kill before an appointment, and so I went to one of my favorite stores, TJ Maxx. I hate the name (sounds like an 80s hair band) but I love poking around there. As a place to go to find

Susaniahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04977938723351021767noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7124641114045026722.post-13320351523705574472008-08-26T10:05:00.007-05:002008-08-26T10:14:48.463-05:00

Sadly, many consider the task of selecting, buying and wrapping gifts to belong exclusively to women. After all, women are naturally caring and sentimental, enjoy things like gift-wrap and ribbon, and they like to shop... right? Uh...no.Neither of us like shopping, unless we know precisely what we want, where it can be found, and where we don't have to spend hours meandering about. Just as it's

Kathrynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05111825731995800448noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7124641114045026722.post-49700389535896569952008-08-20T23:48:00.002-05:002008-08-21T00:00:45.850-05:00

When we think about giving the perfect gift, we usually consider surprise a key component. We imagine the surprise on our friend's face when he opens it, how he might marvel at our ingenuity, how we thought of something absolutely perfect he would never have expected. But the truth is, not everyone enjoys being surprised. My friend Joe explained his discomfort to me prior to an office gift

Kathrynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05111825731995800448noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7124641114045026722.post-30198994093833854832008-08-18T11:08:00.002-05:002008-08-18T12:52:38.568-05:00

We all know at least one or two people who have done all of their Christmas shopping before Halloween. We really hate them sometimes. But it's not their fault that they have managed to achieve that enviable state of composure during the holiday season; their smug attitude, however, IS their fault. You can despise them for that all you want, but it's worth considering how they have achieved that

Susaniahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04977938723351021767noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7124641114045026722.post-68710368769751025712008-08-14T21:49:00.001-05:002008-08-14T21:50:27.603-05:00

Third-Tier Person/Third Tier Gift: Someone whom you don't know very well, or are even particularly fond of, but are required to give a gift to. (First-Tier gifts are for best friends, spouses, significant others and close family members. Second-Tier are more of the same, except you don't like them QUITE as much.) It's inevitable. Periodically, we are required to give presents to people we

Susaniahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04977938723351021767noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7124641114045026722.post-15528280311978415162008-08-11T22:28:00.011-05:002008-08-30T10:08:14.347-05:00

The Inspiration: Sisters Birthday DinnerThe inspiration for this blog was a birthday celebration Susan attended some years ago for a member of her women's group (hereafter referred to as Sisters; names changed to protect the innocent!). They have been celebrating birthdays with cards and presents for years now, and it has, for many of them, become the one guarantee of proper birthday recognition

Kathrynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05111825731995800448noreply@blogger.com0