Tag: presents

Gifts for Theater Geeks

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I have been a theater lover for as long as I can remember. I had posters of Bernadette Peters, Terrance Mann and Patti LuPone in my room along with The Bangles, River Phoenix, Ricky Schroeder (before he was Rick), Rick Springfield and Toni Basil.

I grew up in the heart of New York City so for birthdays, I could ask for tickets to Broadway shows– Les Miserables (with aforementioned Terrance Mann), CATS (with Betty Buckley), Dreamgirls (with Jennifer Holiday), The Tap Dance Kid (with Alfonso Riberio) and Into The Woods (with Peters and Joanna Gleason)–we’re talking early / mid 1980’s and my parents were theater lovers too so they were happy to oblige. I also saw my share of productions that were probably too “adult” for a child–La Cage Aux Folles with George Hearn in 1983, which would have made me eight–but when I heard him sing “I Am What I Am,” and I could listen to it again and again and my eyes would well up every single time, I just knew that…well…there was something a bit different about me. I was a theater geek.

Below are gifts that I can say, with some authority, are great options for the Broadway Baby in your life (cue Bernadette Peters’ version now…).

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First Time Gifts: Buying for a New Boyfriend or Girlfriend

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We’ve all agonized over this one at one point in our lives. The first gift. You don’t want it to be too casual or utilitarian (socks is a no-no), but it also can’t be too serious either (a watch or expensive jewelry may be too much right now too). You also may not know enough about the person to be able to really nail this gift, like if their birthday, Valentines Day or the holidays are two weeks after you’ve started dating, well, that’s a tough one, but not all is lost. Here are some ideas–from, me, the Gifting Whisperer, AND my hubby–so you’re not totally hanging out there with your downtown area exposed. This also marks my mans’ debut on giftingwhisperer.com, and I hope it’s the first of many…or at least the first of a few. Hope you enjoy his romanticism, wit and humor as much as I do.

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Tooth Fairy Gift Ideas

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When the tooth fairy comes whether it’s for the first or the tenth time, you always want it to feel special…these moments are fleeting and before you know it they will be in braces and then a retainer which you’ll then be reminding them to pack for college and…oh, gosh I’m getting misty thinking about it.

Money is always an option and there’s lots of opinions on how to handle it: a larger amount for the first tooth (say $5), then a smaller, but consistent amount for the rest (like $1-$2); or always giving a special silver or gold coin.  The ideas I’m sharing below are if you decide not to go the cash route (I’ve always preferred not to give money as a gift).

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Gifts That Say Congratulations

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Last weekend I went shopping for my friend. Not just any friend, one of my very best friends (I mentioned her in my post about skulls, she’s the one who rescued me from a street vendor). She just participated in a triathlon, yep, a real triathlon. How cool is that?!? So what do you bring to a friend who is also one of your heroes? It’s a challenge. Here are some ideas for gifts that say congrats and I’m so proud to call you my friend.

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Wedding Shower Ideas

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I must confess, most of my friends are past the wedding stage–although a handful are in the second marriage stage–but planning a wedding shower is one the most amazing things you can do for a friend and today there are so many more options for revelry than when I first got married. The list below includes some I have personally tried, but first a few questions to ask yourself:
– How adventurous is your friend?
– How many other showers will there be?
– What special interests or hobbies does the couple (or just your friend) partake in?
– Are you inviting family? How open-minded are they?
– Are you trying to make this a surprise?

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Studded and Spiked Themed Gifts For All Ages

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I have a daughter, nieces and god-daughters ages 8-24 (oh, and a very cool aunt but I can’t tell you her age) and although what’s considered appropriate (or “in”) varies, I’m usually impressed and often surprised that despite decades of separation the same types of trends and looks appeal to them. Studs and spikes in some form, have been en vogue for my favorite ladies for the last few birthday and holiday seasons so I’ve earned my stripes…er…spikes.

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Gifts for Camp Care Packages

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If you’ve sent off your little guy or girl for the summer chances are someone is expecting a care package pretty soon. It’s been a while since I was on the receiving end of one of these, but I remember when mail was called and feeling super lucky when I had not only a letter but a package too! Now as a parent, there are so many things to consider when filling that corrugated box. Most camps will confiscate food products of any kind–so why waste money on them. Plus, you up your chances of attracting bugs and you-know-who is going to have to clean those clothes and scrub that sticky trunk when the summer is over.

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Skull Themed Gifts: Beyond the Rocker-T

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I’m mad for skulls. Have been for many, many years as anyone who knows me can attest. I’ve got skulls all over my house, skull jewelry, even a skull tattooed on my body (shhh…don’t tell the neighbors). I’m particularly entranced with anything that visually tells a story so Folk Art and Day of the Dead skulls have always been my favorites. Side note: on a trip to Mexico, a friend had to pull me away from a cleaning out a street vendor who had sensed my voracious appetite and likely bottomless pocketbook (I thanked her later when we sailed through customs).

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Monogrammed Gifts: Jewelry

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Jewelry_GiftI’m obsessed with monograms. Maybe it’s the timelessness or that they feel so precious because they are made just for you. Regardless, I think a monogrammed gift can feel oh-so-special because it can mark a new initial (wedding), a new arrival (baby), a new milestone (graduation), or a new year (birthday) with someone special (anniversary). No matter what occasion you’re celebrating, there’s lots of options to consider.

Happy Birthday To Me Gifts

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So it’s almost MY birthday and it got me thinking… gifts we get for ourselves are incredibly underrated. Now, my husband does have to remind me not to buy myself anything too close to my big day (can I even call it that if I’m over 12?) and I respect that because I know he wants to keep his options open. So, these are the gifts on my “Happy Birthday To Me” list, and maybe I will purchase one (or two) of them…or maybe I won’t have to. Either way, I’m always a very lucky girl, as my man does a fabulous job list or not.

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