Tag: ideas

Gifts That Encourage Courage

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Arsen Kurbanov
“David and Goliath”
152×152 cm, oil on canvas

We all know those four-letter-words that shouldn’t be said, at least not within earshot of our kids, parents, grandparents, in-laws, clergy, teachers… you get my drift. In my experience, the most destructive word of them all isn’t one the aforementioned list at all. Simply said, it’s fear. Fear is crippling, it’s blinding, it makes you believe things that aren’t real and question things that are true. But cheer up, it’s not all doom and gloom.

What is brilliant and not-so-bad about fear is that the opposite doesn’t have to the the absence of it–courage by it’s nature usually means still being afraid, but acting IN SPITE OF IT. So anyone can have courage. It’s an equal opportunity state-of-being that’s completely opt-in. Such great news, right?!? That said, it wouldn’t be Gifting Whisperer without a list so here are gifts that encourage courage and acknowledge when someone you love is finding the fight in spite of fill-in-the-blank. We’ve all been/are/will be there sometime.

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Gifts To Celebrate A New Job

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20120928-004753.jpgWe often say things like “it’s only a job” but try saying that to someone who just scored a new one or is the recent recipient of a well-deserved promotion. So before that pink cloud dissipates, here are some ideas to show your upwardly-mobile recipient just how proud you are.

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What To Give & Get: iPhone 5 Cases

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20120926-205343.jpgI bit the bullet… I bought the iPhone 5 the day it was available for pre-order on Apple.com and last night I came home to that delightful little package. How could I forget about one essential: THE CASE! Historically I usually buy my devices through my carrier at a retailer so I pick out a case and a scratch guard so by the time I leave I am geared up and good to go. This time not-so-much. I realized quickly after I was synced up that my phone was vulnerable to all the elements–finger taps, volatile purse contents and (gasp) any accidental drops or spills that could occur, and try finding one at the store around the corner. Not happening.

How could I not pre-order a case and proper protection? I guess there’s just something about retail that serves as a great reminder for those impulse-y extras. But here’s my advice… If you know someone who pre-ordered (I hear they are fulfilling those orders through November) get them a case. It’s quite likely they forgot about it.

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Cheering Up A Sick Kid

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20120925-010343.jpgA mysterious fall virus has struck our home. Scratch that, it’s really the annual fall virus that comes for my little guy every September keeping him out of school and sports and gives everyone in our house a case of cabin fever before it’s done. Having had some experience with this unwelcome visitor, I’ve got some tricks in my Mommy nurse-bag if your want to mix-it-up–no disrespect to the honorable chicken noodle soup. Try these on for size to cheer your flush-cheeked, sweaty, clammy, feverish, achy, sore-throaty, mush-face…and I’m always looking for more ideas so, please do share!

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Celebration Ideas For Entering Womanhood

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So it’s been a while since my last post, I know. But this one is a doosey I can assure you and may explain my absence in part… “Entering Womanhood” means different things to different people and in different cultures and I will spare you the gory details of what it means in mine but suffice it to say it’s one to be celebrated. I meant to write this earlier in the weekend but I kept crying every time I started.

However this moment is “checked off”–as a social occasion, a rite of passage, or a biological one–it’s bound to be emotional and one you don’t want to forget. So remember the day, month and year and do something special together. The idea is to do something experiential, open the lines of communication and begin a new dialogue that hopefully will continue as she–and you–embark on this new period (pardon the pun) of her life together. Most importantly she will come away knowing she can come to you and that you’re there for her no matter what. As my husband and I say to each other: All in, as is. In my experience, that’s what love is, any way you slice it.

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Fan Girl Love: Pop Star Gifts

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The Voice and X-Factors debuted their season this week and presumably Idol will soon follow. Other than the singing, what do they all have in common? Former pop star queens making up part of the the judging panels (did anyone notice Britney get announced AFTER Simon last night as the “headliner” and X-F clearly became the Britney Show)–and as a fan I’m hoping they deliver and rule the roost. I’m speaking of course of all of them: Christina Aguilera, Demi Lovato, Britney Spears and Mariah Carey (and perhaps one more TBD). Now full disclosure, a couple years back my husband got this thirtysomething tickets to see Ms. Spears in concert during her Circus Tour so I never lost and all of my teeny-booper mojo– I also feel her Blackout album may be her most brilliant one. Ever. And Ms. Mariah…don’t even get me started. Love her. So I am not a pop hater. Not at all. This list is in reverence and hopefully useful for you and your pop loving recipients.

This is really more of a sidebar, but if you can get your hands on David Cook’s cover of Mariah Carey’s “Always Be My Baby” you’ll be glad you did. Trust.

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I Love New York: Gifts For My City

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20120911-141600.jpg9/11 in New York is always a little different. Even the hustle and bustle of midtown seems a bit slower, people come to work a little later as they shuffle in from memorials and by work the pace picks up a bit more but the tone is still somber. We are acutely reminded of our promise to never forget in a way that is more palpable than during the rest of the year. As a New Yorker, you only have to look at the skyline or walk past a firehouse to remember…for many of us this is a common, even daily occurrence. I recall the sky being so clear, the day having so much promise and holding my 10-month-old daughter getting ready to take her to playground and begin our day as usual. And then the world changed and I loved my city all the more.

Please consider checking out the 9/11 Memorial items, and the rest are iconic NYC items that I think you will also enjoy.

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Football Themed Gifts

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20120909-225044.jpgIt’s been a while since I did a sports themed gift list and with football season getting off and running it seems the time has come (I know it’s this time of year because of the content showing on our living room TV on Sundays and Monday nights). So here is a list for your pig-skin loving giftee, and also a nod to mine (love you honey bunny xxoo).

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Colorful Engagement and Right Hand Rings

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20120907-110718.jpgThe beginning of fall always makes me want to break out big beautiful gemstones like topaz, citrines, emeralds and sapphires. I love mixing, layering and finding gemstones that are meaningful either because of a birthstone or anniversary month…or just because a color speaks to me. I was browsing on one of my favorite sites to go to when looking at jewelry–my grandmother, aunt and mother are all Ross-Simons alum and turned me on at an early age–and came across these rocks (the lead image is a ruby ring I am currently lusting after) and had to share these pretty colorful finds since they are all so diverse and can be used for an engagement, right hand ring, anniversary, or just because you are fabulous. Oh and you know what else…most of them are under $1,000.

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Mustache Themed Gifts

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My daughter is obsessed with mustaches. Yep, those handlebar, thick mustaches that we used to use to play disguise. Who knew they would become a fashion statement, but here it is 2012 and it is. Yesterday, she went to a birthday party and as I was picking up gifts for that event, I stopped dead in my tracks when I saw so many cute mustache items all over the Upper West Side–I had pulled together a little mustache giftie to surprise my girlie just because (and socked a few away for another day for good measure)!

When she returned from her party last night she said: Mom, you should do a post on mustache themed gifts… And right she was, so here it is.

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