Need a Quick Gift Idea? Ask the Karens.



It's hard to be original year after year. Here are some of the Karens' favorite things to wrap up for friends and family. 




Karen Wojcik Berner says: 

Here are my top five favorite go-to gift ideas. 

1. The Bag O' Fun: Fill a festive bag with fun party supplies such as imported beer (preferably from the UK; I'm an Anglophile), a holiday can opener, a game (charades or a fun board game), paper Christmas plates and napkins, and munchables like cashews, holiday M&Ms, or Swedish fish. Let the party begin!

2. Buon Natale: Find a lovely basket and fill it with gourmet pasta sauces and pasta, breadsticks, garlic-stuffed green olives, a Chianti for the adults (sparking Italian soda for the kids), some Baci candies (chocolate and hazelnut—yum!), a panettone (a sweet bread) or pizzelles. If it won't be out for too long, you could always add Asiago or your favorite artisan cheese and some prosciutto. The beauty of this idea is that it can be as large or small a basket as you would like according to your budget. 

3. The Breakfast Combo: Pick up two varieties of scone mixes, two types of jam, clotted cream (if you can find it), some English Breakfast tea, and a holiday coffee blend. This, too, can be attractively packaged in a festive bag or basket.

4. Thematically Linked Books: I wouldn't be a true Bibliophile if I didn't mention books at some point, right?  How about bundling three works from classic women authors, like Pride and Prejudice, Jane Eyre, and Mrs. Dalloway? Or three epic tales of adventure such as Moby Dick, The Odyssey, and Treasure Island

5. A Starbucks gift card: Last, but certainly not least, is my ultimate favorite gift that can be used for such delightful treats as a peppermint mocha and chai or anytime one requires an afternoon pick-me-up (which is every day in my case).


Karen Cantwell says: 

For a movie lover: a DVD and a pack of Jiffy Pop popcorn

For an overworked mom: a spa gift certificate for a facial or massage

For a book lover: an autographed or first edition copy of their favorite book

For a sports-loving dad: tickets to a game (football, hockey, baseball, etc.)

For a near-sighted teenager: contact lenses




1 comment:

  1. Great ideas. Thank you. Matter of fact, I am giving one of my future daughter-in-laws the spa GC. Happy Holidays!

    ReplyDelete