Resolutions for a Happy New You!

The definition of a resolution is: the firm decision to do or not to do something. If you do nothing - you are guaranteed 1 thing - NOTHING will happen.  This concept is the inspiration for my next blog topic, 30 days of...Resolutions.  The resolutions I offer will NOT include the typical ones most people choose to repeat every year, such as: losing weight, reducing alcohol or nicotine consumption, or cutting back on spending. (read the actual success rates from these resolutions)The ideas I offer will make a difference...

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Gift #30 - Breaking Bread and Sharing Time

This is the last gift giving idea featured in my blog, 30 days of.....  For those last minute shoppers or holiday parties you are rushing off to, stop by Panera Bread and pick up a loaf of their holiday bread.  It is sweet and hearty, filled with apples and cinammon.   Or you can stop by Trader Joes and pick up a box of the Dark Chocolate Covered Peppermint JoJo's, and a container of peppermint hot chocolate from Williams Sonoma....

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Gift #29 - Blankets

Give WarmthIn this chilly weather a blanket is the perfect give to give.  At The Company Store there are plenty to choose from (and you can monogram them as well.)For kids, teens, and adults, a personal blanket will stay with them through the years.For the grandparents, have the grandkids picture made into a blanket.  Sears is one of the many places that can take a picture and turn into a beautiful piece of art to hang and enjoy or...

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Gift #28 - Reservations

Make a reservation at their favorite restaurant and give them the menu as the gift to unveil the surprise. There are two restaurants in Southern California worth an annual visit. The Beachcomber at Crystal Cove serves breakfast, lunch and dinner. The restaurant is set in remote Crystal Cove with quaint historic bungalows which are available on a first come, first serve basis.In Fullerton, California,  The Summit House replicates an English...

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Gift #27 - Massage

So many of us work on the computer, stand up all day, or have mental stress that causes us to be tied up in knots.  Help your friends and family relieve those knots with the gift of massage.  As a designer, my neck and shoulders get all tied up, but the Homedics Neck Massager with heat relieves the pressure.  There are over 30 different types of massage tools to relieve specific areas such as foot spas, back massagers, and high end...

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Gift #26 - Tickets

Tickets!  Anyone got tickets?  A great gift to give to family or friends are tickets.  Tickets to a sports event, concert (see Elton John and Billy Joel perform their Face2Face Tour), or my favorite - plays.   Local playhouses have season passes such as the Laguna Playhouse Theatre. You can choose a package of plays to attend throughout the year. Start a new tradition by seeing a play every year with someone special.Ice...

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Gift #25 - Games

Do you want to play a game?  There are so many to choose from nowadays due to the mediums in which we can play on.  My favorites are the games the entire family can play.  Starting with the traditionals, Password (also available on DVD), Yahtzee, Scrabble and Sorry. (These should be a staple in everyones home.)For the trivia, sports or movie buffs in your family, SceneIt and Trivial Pursuit are great games that have special editions...

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Gift #24 - Nature and Nuture

We need food to survive so why not give the best there is.  Harry and David has the most succulent pears, tasty treats, and decadent chocolates (Have you ever tried their Moose Munch?)Purchase a fruit of the month club for your parents or grandparents - they come in 3, 6, 9 or 12 month packages.Trees and plants need food and love to survive and are a perfect gift to give to a nature lover. Jackson and Perkins sells beautiful azaleas, wreaths,...

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Gift #23 - Pajamas

PJ's, Pajamas, Nighty - whatever name you prefer, sleepers are always a great gift to give to someone of any age.   Sending a Pajamagram is the easiest way and the styles and fabrics are plentiful.  Right now the value couldn't be better with the specials they are offering for the holidays.  So give a pair of PJ's to a child, a friend, a father, a sister, or a niece -because everybody needs to sleep.  Another idea:  How cute...

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Gift #22 - Lessons

All of us are a work in progress and until we are no longer here, we can always learn more and do better.  So why not have fun and give a lesson to somebody.  Golf lessons are especially helpful for dads, husbands, and grandpas.   Music, instrument, or art lessons are great for kids who are figuring out "who they are going to be."  And if any of you husbands and wives want to rekindle your romance, dance lessons are a way to spend time together, closely. Check out your local city, college, and newspaper guides for the best way...

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Gift #21 - Candles

Candles are a great gift to give and Illuminations is the place to shop. (Currently they are offering 50% off on most holiday items.) If you want to give a holiday candle, try the Christmas Tree Scent  or the Cinammon Scent. To be safe, the Vanilla Scent is always pleasant and goes with decor all year long. Check out the new scented candle called Cookie. It makes your home smell like you just finished baking and is completely...

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Gift #20 - Beauty

Mac Cosmetics comes out with the best gift sets around the holidays. Many times they are sold out before Thanksgiving, especially the exclusives at Nordstrom, but the variety of sets they offer feauture the latest trends in colors or classics every women needs.Visit Mac Cosmetics to view the newest collections of brushes, lipsticks, and eye shadows. Also, to find out exactly how to make your face look professionally "made-up", see these various...

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Gift #19 - Tools for Cooking

When you have the right tools, everything is easy!  This rule especially applies to cooking or baking.  Put together a gift for the cook in your life of unique utensils or high end tools. Cutco makes knives that are built to last and the knives make cutting and chopping a breeze.  The entertainment pak shown has the BEST carrot/potatoe peeler on the planet!  It is worth every penny and comes with a lifetime guarantee.For...

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Gift #18 - Nativity Calendar

Give a Nativity Calendar to your nieces or nephews for the holidays. You can make one yourself or purchase one of many styles. My favorite ones to purchase are from Pottery Barn.They have a personalized house as shown to the right, or a large felt tree that is a great decoration for a wall.To make it really personal, make one yourself from felt and personalize all the ornaments for the family. My mom made one for us (left) when our daughter was...

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Gift #17 - Piggies and Paws

Capture the size of little hands and feet (piggies and paws) and turn it into art you can hang in your home for the holidays, if not all year long.  This company, Piggies and Paws, will paint your childs feet or hands onto a canvas.  Then, you choose from over 100 designs ranging from animals to football helmets and the artist will embellish it to look like the image you chose.  You receive the artwork back with a complimentary mat,...

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Gift #16 - Something to Hold

Give a custom designed purse to a woman in your life who loves rich, luscious-feeling fabrics, great designs and unique gifts.  A new business, B's Purses, allows you to design your own purse, diaper bag, daughters purse, tote bags, etc.,  online.  The best way to see and feel the fabrics is to host a party and invite your friends. But take it from a person who adores texture, great quality and design made easy, (me) the purses are...

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Gift #15 - Coffee

The experience of sharing coffee, hot tea, or a warm cup of cocoa with a friend or loved one on a cold day is one of the perks we Americans have.  Mostly becuase there is a Starbucks on every corner.  Starbucks sells the tumbler you can personalize with pictures or free art-available here.  Put a gift card in the center of a cup and serve with a bag of coffee beans and you have a great gift for someone who loves coffee.But if you really...

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Gift #14 - Exercise

Everybody needs this gift, but it is up to the person to use it.  If you have a person in your life who is an avid runner, tennis player or yoga doer, a cute new outfit is always welcome. Otherwise, you can give the latest trend in exercise for the year which is a foam roller, a Tracy Anderson workout video, or a jumprope.  Foam rollers are a great way to stretch your leg muscles before a run or after a workout.  It is a pilates...

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Gift #13 - Personalized Stationary

The internet and email has changed the way we communicate, however most people still utilize the USPS and the old-fashioned hand written notecards to communicate.  For those in your life who don't "trust" bill pay, or who have the grace and time to write a personalized note, make them return address labels and a set of cute note cards.   Check out the many designs of note cards at Barnes N Noble by Crane & Co.  Monogramming the...

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Gift #12 - A Mothers Bracelet

Every woman loves receiving jewelry and she especially loves her kids. What better gift to give than a personalized bracelet with her child's name or initials placed in the bracelet.  Local jewelry artists in your area can put together a design for you, or you can try making one yourself if you are crafty. However, at SavannahsTreasures.com, you can simply choose from the many designs and place your order. Pictured above is a grandmothers...

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Thanksgiving Craft

I just adore this idea and wanted to share it with you. As your guests arrive, they write down what they are thankful for on a feather. This becomes a centerpiece for your table. Hopefully it is not to late to put together for your family to enjoy. Until then, you can find the directions for this at parents.com.What you'll need9 in and 4 in Polystyrene BallDark Brown YarnLight Brown YarnFelt squares in colors - Orange and RedReal FeathersGoogle...

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Gift #11 - Cocktails Anyone?

A great gift to give for the holidays is the fail safe bottle of wine or bottle of booze.  However, why not make it personal with a custom designed Lolita glass and recipe card to go along with it.  These martini glasses come in a beautifully designed box and on the bottom of every glass is a recipe for a martini.  There are over a hundred designs to choose from for every occasion or personal interest.  Put a recipe card in the...

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Gift #10 - The Movies

Put together a movie basket complete with tickets, popcorn, candy and drinks.  Or purchase a Netflix account for a family member.  The cost is as little as $4.99 a month and the person just needs internet service.  I set up the account for my parents and put their favorite movies in their "queue."  Netflix has no late fees and you can't beat the convenience of the return and delivery. Netflix also introduced digital downloads...

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Gift #9 - Hats

Buy a HAT for someone.  Hats are an item that people don't necessarily go out and buy until they need it.  But there are so many hats that accessorize outfits, shade us from the sun, or show off our favorite team, one can never have to many.  For kids under 5, these reversible hats work great for days to the beach, the baseball game or the park.  The traditional baseball cap is always a great option, especially if you know the...

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Gift #8- The gift of Survival

What about giving a gift you hope the person NEVER actually has to use?  An emergency kit filled with supplies for that "major disaster" moment we all fear.  Many families have one, but many of these items become ineffective or spoiled with time.  In addition, every car should have an emergency kit and your home should have at least one kit per family "member." The Red Cross has many resources for you to review on the necessities...

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Gift #7 - Recipes

It is time to take those recipes that have been passed down from generation to generation and share them with your loved ones. Order a recipe box as shown (right) available at cooking.com. Then label, stencil, or paint on "Cohn Family Recipes." (of course use your own last name)Mother and Grandmother didn't write things down.  Now is the perfect time to spend time with them and write down the "egg roll" recipe they only measure by hand.  Cook...

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Gift #6 - Music

Music is something everyone enjoys. Now you customize your music with iTunes - (download free now) and begin making CD's for yourself with your favorite songs or transfer them to an iPod Shuffle and give it as a gift.  Shuffles are between $49 and $69. Shuffles are engravable, available in many colors, and if you buy a red one, a portion of the money goes to help others.  Shuffles are the smallest music player Apple sells.  If...

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