Drugstore Goodie Basket

Variety gifts are often well received because there's many things to discover and with drugstore products, although it's inexpensive it's a similar concept to comfort food. It's cheap and still an indulgence. Sometimes what we want is something user friendly, instead of that gorgeous dress we'll hardly have the chance to wear. if it's for a teen, it's even better.

Think Lip Smackers, lip glosses, fun hair accessories, eye shadow palettes, purse size lotions and creams, candy, nail polish, etc.

As an adult, I'd love body oil, bubble bath, bath beads, lip balm, body lotion, candy, etc. Of course, some people are particular about fragrances. So safe choices could be simple body lotion, nail polish, candy, hair accessories, etc.

For Microwave Connosiers

For those of you who loathe cooking and rely solely on the microwave to sustain your livelihood, I strongly consider this Large Micro-Cooker. It's a ridiculously affordable $10.50. The cover has holes, so you can drain liquid. It melts butter, heats soups, and cooks vegetables. It's a perfect size for someone living alone like a college student or a single person. It's a great choice for someone who lives in a studio and there's little to no kitchen space. Some places don't even have a kitchen. If you know someone like that or someone who lives in a dorm, this is a great gift.

It's an easy way to make instant noodles. You can buy frozen or already cut vegetable medley and throw it in with some water and pasta sauce. You can make instant rice with frozen peas, corn, herb mixture, and already cooked chicken until warmed. You can make hardboiled eggs. After peeling the shells off, you can smash the eggs with your hands, toss the salad greens in, and drizzle with dressing. A perfect meal for people who dislike tedious prep work. You can even combine it with a cookbook that centers on microwave cooking. Although it's not the favorable method of cooking, it would be a greatly appreciated gift for someone who lives that kind of lifestyle. Plus you can offer a healthier solution.

You can get it at www.pamperedchef.com. You can also host a Pampered Chef Party where a representative goes to your house and demonstrates a collection of their products that you can test out yourself. They have a bunch of quality products at an affordable price minus the guesswork in quality and gas costs. They offer a lot more gift ideas, too.

Men's Watch

My friend and I pitched in to buy this very stylish watch for a friend for Christmas, which, of course, he loved. What's great about this watch is that you don't have to make any compromises. Unlike a woman's accessory, it's unnecessary to have two different watches, one for casual wear and one for a more fancy occasion. This one doubles as both, but it isn't overwhelmingly fancy to the point that it'll look out of place on a casual guy. It has more features than your average watch but not excessively so that a guy will feel overburdened. While women love variety, that's not how the average male thinks. However, if you know a guy who appreciates diversity, this watch will accommodate, too.

The first thing I noticed and thought when I viewed this watch was PRETTY. It looks just as nice in person, too. It's more than just looks, though. This analog and digital combo watch is nifty. It's been designed to be resistant, surviving scuba diving with water resistance to 200 meters (660 feet) to your more standard jogging and biking sports. It includes a 1/100-second stopwatch with a 60-minute measuring capacity and elapsed time, split time, and 1st/2nd place time modes as well as a 24-hour countdown timer. It has timekeeping functions with an auto-calendar to the year 2099, daylight savings time on/off feature, and 29 time zones with city code display and a bunch of other stuff. It offers four independent daily alarms (with one snooze alarm) and an optional hourly time signal. It includes an AfterGlow LED electroluminescent backlight and battery life for up to 3 years. It also has kick ass reviews on amazon.

I totally encourage you to check it out. For the friend who's hard to shop for, for the friend who's clinged onto his dated, juvenile G-shock watch, this is the perfect gift especially since accessorizing is such a low priority for most guys you can be certain that double gifting won't occur. But double check just to be on the safe side. Here's the link:

http://www.amazon.com/Casio-G-Shock-Ana-Digi-Street-G300-3AV/dp/B000FQ0WC0/ref=sr_1_46?ie=UTF8&s=sporting-goods&qid=1233353311&sr=8-46

Rosemary Sea Salt

1 3-lb box of kosher salt (about 8 cups)
Bunches of fresh rosemary with sprigs attached, plus more for garnish

1. In a large high sided saute pan, combine salt and rosemary. Place over medium heat and warm through, about 10 minutes. Transfer salt rosemary mixture to a container. Let it cool for 5 minutes, uncovered, then cover with an airtight lid. Let stand at least overnight. (The container used for this step is for preparation only).

2. When it's time to fill the mixture into containers that it will be gifted in, discard old rosemary. Fill desired container with salt and garnish the tops and sides of the jars with rosemary sprigs trimmed to size.

This rosemary sea salt isn't limited to the kitchen. It can also be used as a body salt scrub. It would be a great addition in a spa or relaxing theme as part of a bath treatment. You can leave it as such or add a little grapeseed oil for a more lubricated finish. Rosemary has a relaxing and soothing scent that increases circulation and is great for normal to oily skin types. You can even use this as a scalp treatment if you aren't sensitive. But I recommend that grapeseed oil be incorporated if it's used for that treatment. As a salt scrub, it can be used once a week. But as a scalp treatment, I would only recommend using it once a month. And only if you have an oily non-sensitive scalp.

Food Lover's and Chef's

Food lovers have a tendency to get oddly excited over an exotic salt collection. I am one of them. We can appreciate the subtleties in flavor, and our imagination goes wild with how the salts can be used. Here is a list of my favorites:

Maldon Sea Salt: They're delicious on sliced Heirloom tomatoes.

Celtic Gray Salt: It's like you can taste the fresh ocean. They're moist and flavor soups beautifully.

Haleakala Red Sea Salt: An unusual and nutty flavor

Himalania Pink Salt: Couples beautifully with fish.

Alternatively, you can make your own salt rub to personalize it. Rosemary Sea Salt is a delicious choice especially for lamb lovers. (I'll post the recipe under Rosemary Sea Salt).

Cookbooks can also be great choices. You have to carefully evaluate your gift recipients, though. I personally prefer specialty cookbooks. That's the beauty and appeal of buying a cookbook because authentic recipes can be found, unlike online sources that don't share a passion to preserve the culture and tell a story through its food. However, busy minimalists may feel otherwise. Having a tangible book increases a person's likeliness to make those recipes, rather searching online. It's all about what works for the recipient.

-Specialty Cookbooks-

A Taste of Guam
Ball Complete Book of Home Preserving
Classic Indian Cooking
Mastering the Art of French Cooking, Volume 1
Please to the Table: The Russian Cookbook
The Complete Book of Greek Cooking
The Irish Heritage Cookbook
The Silver Spoon
The Wisdom of the Chinese Kitchen

-General Cookbooks-

Everyday Food: Great Food Fast
O, The Oprah Magazine Cookbook
Rachael Ray Cookbook of choice
The Martha Stewart Living Cookbook: The New Classics

Even a cooking class may spark their interest especially if it's a class on pickling or something obscure like that.

Gift Cards

Some people downright refuse to give away gift cards, viewing them as impersonal and inconsiderate gestures. I think that's a selfish projection. I know some people want to give gifts that they'd like to receive, but we're all unique and have different interests. Don't let your reservations interfere with your judgment. Some people would love gift cards.

Bookworms strongly prefer gift cards to Borders than they would pre-selected books. Many book lovers already own their favorites, and their preferences are so specific that they may be disappointed if they don't get exactly what they want. Half the thrill for them is to skim through the pages and find something that touches their soul. Their excitement and anticipation washes over, and they immediately head to the cash register. By buying specific books for them, you just took away half their fun.

Gift cards to grocery stores are great as housewarming gifts for friends who've just moved out or are going away to college. Food, as fundamental and focally prioritized as it is in our society, it's the first sacrifice made when funds start to dry up. A starving student can tell you how much food is appreciated.

For a fashionista, gift cards are, once again, quite possibly a greater thrill than receiving pre-selected items. I'm generally good at picking out clothes that fit well, but I've learned how different each and every body can be. I have a friend whose boobs feel have the consistency of pudding wrapped in saran wrap, but they're so perky. She had no idea that her boobs are exceptionally soft. She assumed everyone's body is like that. Even stretchy material doesn't stretch out around her boobs the way they should. I have another friend whose a 34B, and her boobs must be rock hard because all the tops she wears lift up around her boobs. So all her tops have to have some sort of stretch material.

For foodies or parents, gift cards to a nice restaurant are appropriate. My friends and I love to eat at new places. Not having to worry about the bill can be a refreshing treat. For parents, getting away has always been the challenge. A gift card for a restaurant that has to be used will give them the right motivation.

The Gift of Time

If you've racked your mind and still have come up with no gift solution. But if you're handy around the house or are willing to take on some chores, offering the gift of time can be a well-appreciated gesture especially for single mothers and other busy individuals. This can be someone's opportunity to get their pipes cleaned, fixing a loose lock, getting new tiles on the bathroom floor, having new cabinets built, etc. Or it can involve babysitting, taking on the responsibility of making food for a family, playing the role of cleaning maid, etc. It's more of a practical gift more than anything. But for some people, this can be the best gift of all.