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 want to splurge on the person and have them remember you every morning they sip from their cup, check out the new Krups/Nescafe (pictured left) coffee maker at Sur la Table.  You can make single servings with a different flavor for the whole family.  They are so delicious and easy to use, especially the hot cocoa for the kids.  

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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 tool that is strenuous and "painful" to use at first, but over time, the foam roller will become a necessary part of your daily routine (even if you don't work out.) See the workout at YouTube.com - the IT band stretch is the best!

TracyAnderson is the trainer whom Gwenyth and Madonna hired to get their bodies in top shape.  Her method is both fun and intense. This is a great gift for the person who has the motivation to work out from home. She also has a post pregnancy video that is supposed to be phenomenal for getting abs rock hard.

Lastly, iTunes/Nike has some great workout imix's that are inspiring. Simply download it to your ipod or burn it on a CD. So far, my favorite is Serena Williams Spontaneous Speed. It is a 27 minute run that I have worked up to finish in 3 miles. 

(this is partly due to the foam roller as well.)

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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 notecards makes this gift even more personal. 

Speaking of communicating, our kids now "NEED" their own cell phone and calling cards are a great gift to give to this latest group of gabbers.  You can design your own by buying AVERY label calling cards or utilize a stationary website.

The card to the left was designed at Designhergals.com for a 12 year old girl who just received her new cell phone and email address. Order now to take advantage of the sale (25% off everything) they are offering for the holidays.

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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 bracelet with the initials of 5 kids and their birthstones placed throughout.  This is a gift any mom will treasure.

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