When find yourself with someone on your holiday gift list who is difficult to buy for, sometimes your best bet is to go for something out of the ordinary. Gifts that work to bring about harmony and peace in the environment are sure to please. From simple gifts of candles, crystals, and CD's that play the soothing sounds of wind, rain and babbling brooks, to salt lamps, singing bowls and Zen sand gardens, the choices are plentiful.
You can choose jewelry made of amber, an organic gemstone that is professed to draw negative energy and turn it to positive energy leading to health and well being. Most people, when they think of amber think of the honey colored or the milky white but amber can also be found in brown, red, blue, black and green. You can also buy gifts of jewelry made out of the crystals for your astrological sign. Chlorite quartz is another healing mineral said to cleanse ones aura and makes a gift that is beautiful to look at.
On the more unusual side would be a gift of a negative ion producing lamp made of salt crystal rock. This rock naturally ionizes the air by releasing negative ions (electronically charged molecules of oxygen) thereby removing things like pollen, dust and animal dander from the air. The core of the piece of salt crystal is hollowed out then a light bulb is placed inside. The resulting heat from the light bulb starts the ions flowing into the air. Even if you aren't interested in the healing qualities of the lamp, you end up with very pretty pieces to display on your dresser or end table.
We all know our moods and our health can be greatly affected by sound. Dissonant , loud sounds cause tension and if too prolonged can cause ill health. Other sounds energize the body and relax the mind. Singing bowls fall into this category. They are made from a mix of metals from the Himalayas, Tibet and India. When you strike and/or rub the bowl with a wooden mallet the multi-octave tones that are produced will relax and heal your mind as well as your body. Hand made bells called Rustic Noah Bells are believed to scare off bad spirits. Hang them near your home for good energy. The beautiful deep tone of the larger bells provides a superb sound to accompany your meditation.
In the Feng Shui shops you will also find a large selection of clothing to wear when meditating, books, videos, prayer flags and lots of different oils to energize the body mind and spirit. You might also be interested in the Chakra Bears. Legend says that when the sun shines through the mist in the Smokey Mountains it forms a beautiful rainbow. Every twenty years this rainbow touches the earth and rainbow Chakra bears are born. Each color has a different purpose. For instance the blue bear will listen with endless patience while the yellow bear's purpose is to make you successful.
Visit a store that specializes in Feng Shui products and you will find gifts of aromatherapy, incense, table top fountains, mirrors and plenty of books to explain the theories behind everything.
Monday, May 30, 2011
Gift Idea No. 29 - Tickets, Gift Certificates and IOU's
One way to handle the "what to buy" dilemma at the holidays is by purchasing a pair of tickets to an event that you know the recipient will enjoy. Especially nice when you are getting something that they wouldn't necessarily buy for themselves. I say a "pair" of tickets because most events are better if you can take someone with you.
A pair of tickets or a season subscription for any playhouse for those who like watching plays. They don't have to be Broadway, or even off-Broadway, productions. There are a great number of amateur playhouses (some that also serve dinner) and many communities, colleges and even some high schools put on performances that are highly enjoyable. The same goes for concerts, check your local chamber of commerce to see what your community offers. There's nothing like an outdoor concert under the stars to help shed the day's tension quickly.
Another possibility is a pair of tickets to any sporting event from football to racing to hockey. They don't have to be tickets to watch a professional team to be appreciated. You can find local AAA teams, college teams and high school teams that are just as much fun to watch, if not more so, than any National League team. The tickets are a fraction of the cost of the big leagues and the variety of food, beverages and souvenirs will rival any pro stadium.
Getting NASCAR or Indy tickets can be nearly impossible and very expensive. Local tracks offer stock car, sprint car, and demolition races that will get your adrenaline going just as well for about $10-$15 dollars and most tracks will allow you back in the pit area after the races so you can talk to the driver's and get pictures of your favorite cars. This one is great for entire families. Even young kids love to watch the cars run and you haven't seen anything until you've watched buses run a figure eight race!
Gift certificates are a great way to go when you really don't know what to get. You can get gift certificates for just about any store or restaurant. If you aren't even sure what stores and restaurants they frequent you can get a gift certificate from most chambers of commerce that are good in any place of business in the city that accepts checks.
A gift certificate for a service is also nice. A day at a spa is a welcome gift for anyone, (even men like the pampering of a good massage). Facials, manicures, pedicures, massages, steam baths, and mud packs in just about any combination you could want.
Have a set of new parents on your list? Sit down at your computer and design an I. O. U. from you entitling them to one evening or one day's babysitting. Do you have young children who need a gift for grandma? Let them design an I. O. U. for a hug and a kiss, or they can make one for their parents gifting one hour helping with housework or one car wash or anything else that strikes their imagination.
A pair of tickets or a season subscription for any playhouse for those who like watching plays. They don't have to be Broadway, or even off-Broadway, productions. There are a great number of amateur playhouses (some that also serve dinner) and many communities, colleges and even some high schools put on performances that are highly enjoyable. The same goes for concerts, check your local chamber of commerce to see what your community offers. There's nothing like an outdoor concert under the stars to help shed the day's tension quickly.
Another possibility is a pair of tickets to any sporting event from football to racing to hockey. They don't have to be tickets to watch a professional team to be appreciated. You can find local AAA teams, college teams and high school teams that are just as much fun to watch, if not more so, than any National League team. The tickets are a fraction of the cost of the big leagues and the variety of food, beverages and souvenirs will rival any pro stadium.
Getting NASCAR or Indy tickets can be nearly impossible and very expensive. Local tracks offer stock car, sprint car, and demolition races that will get your adrenaline going just as well for about $10-$15 dollars and most tracks will allow you back in the pit area after the races so you can talk to the driver's and get pictures of your favorite cars. This one is great for entire families. Even young kids love to watch the cars run and you haven't seen anything until you've watched buses run a figure eight race!
Gift certificates are a great way to go when you really don't know what to get. You can get gift certificates for just about any store or restaurant. If you aren't even sure what stores and restaurants they frequent you can get a gift certificate from most chambers of commerce that are good in any place of business in the city that accepts checks.
A gift certificate for a service is also nice. A day at a spa is a welcome gift for anyone, (even men like the pampering of a good massage). Facials, manicures, pedicures, massages, steam baths, and mud packs in just about any combination you could want.
Have a set of new parents on your list? Sit down at your computer and design an I. O. U. from you entitling them to one evening or one day's babysitting. Do you have young children who need a gift for grandma? Let them design an I. O. U. for a hug and a kiss, or they can make one for their parents gifting one hour helping with housework or one car wash or anything else that strikes their imagination.
Gift Idea No. 28 - Gifts That Give All Year Long
Sometimes a one-time gift just isn't what you are looking for. You want something that will keep on giving throughout the year. Enter the "Of the Month" clubs. There is an incredible assortment of "Of the Month" clubs.
One of the more widely known is the "Fruit of the Month" club. For a set fee your gift of fruit is delivered on a timetable of your choosing, once a month, every other month or 3 - 4 times a year. Each delivery is a case consisting of one or more different fruits. The fruits are sometimes exotic, sometimes seasonal, and always delicious. They average around $30.00 - $40.00 per month.
For the hops and barley lovers that you are shopping for, there are numerous "Beer of the Month" clubs. Also on a timetable of your choosing, your gift of two six-packs made up of 2-4 different beers from one of many domestic or international microbreweries is delivered. Often the gift includes information on the breweries that the beers came from along with suggestions for foods that the beers will complement. These beer clubs also average about $30-$40 per month.
For those people on your gift list who prefer the grape to hops and barley, there are "Wine of the Month" clubs where for about the same price as the fruit and beer you can send 2 bottles of wine from award winning wineries around the world. You can specify all white, all red or a mix.
Cheese, sausage, pepperoni, ham and pineapple, you name it! There are several sites that offer "Pizza of the Month" clubs for the pizza lover's on your holiday list. Most of these clubs send 3 -12" pizzas, which are delivered frozen. You will receive one deep dish and two thin crust pizzas each month. Prices range around $40 - $50 per month.
Is the love of your life hooked on chocolate? Then the "Chocolate of the Month" club is just what you've been looking for. For less than $25 a month a one-pound box of some of the finest chocolate in the world will be delivered right to their door.
For those times you don't want to send food or liquor there are the "Cigar of the Month" and "Flower of the Month" clubs also. These would run you anywhere from $25 - $40 per month. The "Flower of the Month" club will deliver a themed bouquet of fresh cut flowers and the "Cigar of the Month" club sends a selection of hand rolled cigars from around the world.
No matter what your gift giving needs you will probably be able to find a "club" that will suit you. There is the "Pasta of the Month" club or the "Lobster of the Month" club. You can choose from the Cheesecake or the Cookie of the month club. You can opt for ice cream or salsa, coffee or tea, bbq or hot sauce and for those who prefer non-edibles the "Necktie of the Month" club and "Movie of the Month" club.
One of the more widely known is the "Fruit of the Month" club. For a set fee your gift of fruit is delivered on a timetable of your choosing, once a month, every other month or 3 - 4 times a year. Each delivery is a case consisting of one or more different fruits. The fruits are sometimes exotic, sometimes seasonal, and always delicious. They average around $30.00 - $40.00 per month.
For the hops and barley lovers that you are shopping for, there are numerous "Beer of the Month" clubs. Also on a timetable of your choosing, your gift of two six-packs made up of 2-4 different beers from one of many domestic or international microbreweries is delivered. Often the gift includes information on the breweries that the beers came from along with suggestions for foods that the beers will complement. These beer clubs also average about $30-$40 per month.
For those people on your gift list who prefer the grape to hops and barley, there are "Wine of the Month" clubs where for about the same price as the fruit and beer you can send 2 bottles of wine from award winning wineries around the world. You can specify all white, all red or a mix.
Cheese, sausage, pepperoni, ham and pineapple, you name it! There are several sites that offer "Pizza of the Month" clubs for the pizza lover's on your holiday list. Most of these clubs send 3 -12" pizzas, which are delivered frozen. You will receive one deep dish and two thin crust pizzas each month. Prices range around $40 - $50 per month.
Is the love of your life hooked on chocolate? Then the "Chocolate of the Month" club is just what you've been looking for. For less than $25 a month a one-pound box of some of the finest chocolate in the world will be delivered right to their door.
For those times you don't want to send food or liquor there are the "Cigar of the Month" and "Flower of the Month" clubs also. These would run you anywhere from $25 - $40 per month. The "Flower of the Month" club will deliver a themed bouquet of fresh cut flowers and the "Cigar of the Month" club sends a selection of hand rolled cigars from around the world.
No matter what your gift giving needs you will probably be able to find a "club" that will suit you. There is the "Pasta of the Month" club or the "Lobster of the Month" club. You can choose from the Cheesecake or the Cookie of the month club. You can opt for ice cream or salsa, coffee or tea, bbq or hot sauce and for those who prefer non-edibles the "Necktie of the Month" club and "Movie of the Month" club.
Gift Idea No. 27 - Storm Chasing
Is your significant other a "thrill seeker"? Is it hard to get them to come away from the window during a storm? Are they the last ones down to the basement when there is a possibility of a tornado? Do they watch the weather channel's storm stories over and over again? Have you watched the movie Twister until you know the entire script by heart?
Then you have a prime candidate for the gift of a storm chasing adventure. Storm chasing although definitely not inexpensive, is without a doubt a once in a lifetime thrill. The trip can run well over $2,000.00 - which usually includes lodging but not food or transportation to and from the base motel. Some companies will offer you discounts for things like booking more than one trip, room sharing or filling the last couple spots on a trip.
Tempest Tours and Silver Lining Tours are just two of dozens of companies that offer storm-chasing trips. These companies use storm chasers with years of experience. They offer trips of one to two weeks. Before the actual chasing starts there is classroom type instruction so you will know what to expect and what is expected of you.
There are usually at least half a dozen guests in each trip. Besides being instructed on the art of storm chasing you will find you also learn a great deal about meteorology and the discipline necessary to be a successful storm chaser. Although the staff does try to figure the times you will need to head out the night before you do have to be able to be ready to go on a moments notice. You will normally leave in the morning and your leaders will recalculate your target throughout the day as new weather information becomes available. Most companies operate within Tornado Alley (Texas, Oklahoma, Nebraska, Iowa, Kansas, Montana, Wyoming Colorado, New Mexico and the Dakotas).
During the time between storms the instructors will take you sight seeing through miles of gorgeous scenery. Some days the chase will continue after dark when you will be awed at the sight of fantastic lightning displays. Even though some companies provide you with a video of your trip you really want to make sure you have your own camera equipment with you.
You will spend 10 exciting days living the life of a storm chaser. Although no one can guarantee that you will see a tornado, due to the fact that trips are scheduled during the peak storm season you can be pretty sure you will at least see some incredible storms.
If by chance the person on your list is an avid storm fan but not quite daredevil enough to want to actually get in a car and chase them, there are numerous videos, books and virtual storm chasing CD's out there to keep them happy for many holidays to come.
Storm chasing is a holiday gift that will be re-lived and remembered for many years to come.
Then you have a prime candidate for the gift of a storm chasing adventure. Storm chasing although definitely not inexpensive, is without a doubt a once in a lifetime thrill. The trip can run well over $2,000.00 - which usually includes lodging but not food or transportation to and from the base motel. Some companies will offer you discounts for things like booking more than one trip, room sharing or filling the last couple spots on a trip.
Tempest Tours and Silver Lining Tours are just two of dozens of companies that offer storm-chasing trips. These companies use storm chasers with years of experience. They offer trips of one to two weeks. Before the actual chasing starts there is classroom type instruction so you will know what to expect and what is expected of you.
There are usually at least half a dozen guests in each trip. Besides being instructed on the art of storm chasing you will find you also learn a great deal about meteorology and the discipline necessary to be a successful storm chaser. Although the staff does try to figure the times you will need to head out the night before you do have to be able to be ready to go on a moments notice. You will normally leave in the morning and your leaders will recalculate your target throughout the day as new weather information becomes available. Most companies operate within Tornado Alley (Texas, Oklahoma, Nebraska, Iowa, Kansas, Montana, Wyoming Colorado, New Mexico and the Dakotas).
During the time between storms the instructors will take you sight seeing through miles of gorgeous scenery. Some days the chase will continue after dark when you will be awed at the sight of fantastic lightning displays. Even though some companies provide you with a video of your trip you really want to make sure you have your own camera equipment with you.
You will spend 10 exciting days living the life of a storm chaser. Although no one can guarantee that you will see a tornado, due to the fact that trips are scheduled during the peak storm season you can be pretty sure you will at least see some incredible storms.
If by chance the person on your list is an avid storm fan but not quite daredevil enough to want to actually get in a car and chase them, there are numerous videos, books and virtual storm chasing CD's out there to keep them happy for many holidays to come.
Storm chasing is a holiday gift that will be re-lived and remembered for many years to come.
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