By Keisha Shakespeare, Freelance Writer
A Cross pen and pencil set makes a lovely gift for a colleague or a friend.
Sure, it's the thought that counts, but it's just as important to choose appropriate gifts
THE WORST present I ever
got is when I was 12, writes
a woman on the website www.funnychristmas.com. "I was so excited, but when I opened them, they were bed sheets."
While it's true that the thought does count, choosing the appropriate gift is equally important. People like to feel special so keep in mind the stage of life, style, lifestyle, hobbies, passions and other personal details of the people on your gift list.
PARENTS
You've spent countless hours with your folks so you should know their likes and dislikes as well as their interests. So, instead of the generic wine glass set (do they
really need more?), present them with a weekend at an all-inclusive resort or a gift certificate to be
pampered all day at a spa.
Other ideas: Give your mom a watch that's stylish and practical. Every time she wears it she'll think of you. Your dad may have a thousand tie pins and cuff links so if you choose to go that route have his initials engraved on them.
SPOUSE/SIGNIFICANT OTHER
Hope you've been picking up on the subtle (and not so subtle) hints your significant other has been dropping. If not, a nice piece of jewellery that befits her style is always a welcome gift. If she has enough trinkets to open her own jewellery story, consider the Cartier bag she has been eyeing.
Other ideas: A European trip
for two is a romantic gift.
If your husband is into bikes, a mini bike with a built in clock would be right up his alley, as would other biking accessories.
Heaccessories. He maybe into sports therefore tickets to sporting events make a great gift.
AUNTS AND UNCLES
Is your uncle a collector of, say, mini motorcars? Give him a present to add to his collection. Is your aunt a fashion nut? Get her that nice Versace dress, for example, and add a little spunk and spice to her closet. But caution, make sure it is appropriate for her and her lifestyle.
BROTHERS AND SISTERS
Gifts for siblings can be tricky. Still, with some thought, and a little prodding you can get the right gift. For your sister, a nice pair of diamond earring would make a gift she would cherish for life. If your brother is a techno freak, a digital camera that takes still pictures and does video and audio recording is a gift that shows that you were thinking of him when you bought it.
COLLEAGUES
In the office at some point or the other we are all victims of those 'pen stealers'. Therefore, your colleague might appreciate a snazzy pen set such as an elegant Cross-pen set.
Plus, for those colleagues who can never seem to find the numbers or addresses for their clients, a stylish mini briefcase phone book makes an ideal gift.
OVER-THE-TOP GIFT IDEAS
1. In its Christmas catalogue, Neiman Marcus (the upscale U.S. retailer) offers a custom-made suit of armour, in a 15th-century style, for US$20,000. The suit comes with two lessons in swordplay.
2. Cosmetic surgery gift vouchers for bigger breasts, pouty lips and fewer wrinkles. The number of Britons going under the knife for finer features has rocketed this year and some private clinics have started offering the vouchers to cope with demand.
They range from 50 to 1,000 pounds (US$90-1,800) and are mostly used for non-surgical procedures such as botox and skin peels.
3. A ring -- cellphone ring tone, that is. A Japanese guru claims to have invented a mobile phone ring tone that can help women's breasts to grow bigger.
Hideto Tomabechi's Rockmelon tone registered more than 10,000 downloads in the first week alone.
Tomabechi says he's now planning other ring tones to help people quit smoking, combat baldness and attract a mate. Log on to www.gizmodo.com/archives/ the-amazing-breast-enhancing-ring-tone-021987.
4. To protect trees from climbing cats, Contech Electronics of Saanichton, British Columbia, Canada, has made the StayAway canister. A battery-operated motion-detector senses a pet prowling nearby and activates a burst of compressed air and a one-second warning screech. Animals run for their lives. Contech, whose motto is "promoting harmony between animals and humans," also makes bird feeders that whirl to fling squirrels through the air, and mats that teach "good house manners" by zapping pets with a mild electrical pulse.
- Gift courtesy of Mall
Jewellers, Mall Plaza, St. Andrew
