(ARA) - The perfect gift is almost as elusive as the perfect date. But it is possible to find a gift that will be treasured and appreciated. And believe it or not, coming up with interesting and unique gift ideas really isn’t much more difficult than opting for gift cards -- and it can be a lot more fun. Here are some helpful tips for coming up with ideas that will have everyone wishing they were on your list.

Who’s on your list?

Think about who you exchanged gifts with last year. Did one of your neighbors or co-workers surprise you with a gift at the last minute, leaving you embarrassed that you didn’t have one waiting for them? Will you need a gift for everyone in your family, or will you be drawing names this year? Making a list of all the gifts you need to give makes it easy to keep track of where you stand. And don’t forget to include a few miscellaneous gifts for unexpected situations, just in case.

What’s your budget?

While we’d all like to have an unlimited holiday gift bank account, the reality is that there is a finite amount of money that needs to stretch to pay for a lot presents. So the first step should be deciding how much you can spend on gifts and then deciding how you’ll split it up -- you’ll probably want to spend more on your family’s gifts than on the gift you give the mail carrier, for example.

What do they love?

That’s the question that will lead you to the perfect gift. And a little creativity will help add that extra touch that makes the gift memorable. “My mother-in-law always gives jars of her homemade preserves,” says Glenda Lehman Ervin, of Lehman’s Hardware, a company specializing in old-fashioned, high-quality merchandise. “We all look forward to it every year, much more than we would look forward to a gift of some fancy gourmet food.”

That’s what we’re talking about here. People appreciate knowing you went to the trouble of making something, or even that you took the time to come up with a gift that has special meaning for them. Ervin offers another example: “How about a gift certificate for an ice cream social?” But not just any ice cream social -- an ice cream social where you provide the homemade ice cream and all the fixings. “We do this at work every year, and it is really popular,” she says.

It’s really not hard to come up with great ideas once you get going, and products from Lehman’s catalog and Web site are the perfect jumping off point. Here are some other ideas that you can feel free to borrow or build on.

For the cook: If someone on your list loves to cook, you’re in luck -- the list of gifts is almost endless. Bakers will appreciate copper cookie cutters from Lehman’s in winter motifs such as a gingerbread boy, snowflake, mitten or holly. But don’t stop there. Grab an empty basket from your cabinet, fill it with cookie decorating supplies from fun food coloring to sprinkles, wrap it in a holiday-themed dish towel and tie the cookie cutters on the outside. Remember, presentation counts.

For new parents: Every parent wants the best for their baby. Help them provide the best food with the gift of an easy-to-operate baby food maker. To use, simply fill, press and turn. It quickly purees any cooked food. Add an adorable bib, maybe a baby food cookbook and you have the cutest gift on the block.

For the gardener: A shiny galvanized watering can is even more special when “filled” with a pair of nice gardening gloves and a pack of seeds or two (how about Forget-Me-Nots) for a wonderful gift.

For the host or hostess: You probably go to more parties than usual during the holiday season. Remember your host or hostess with a gift they can use now and later. Bring a loaf of your homemade bread to the party in Lehman’s dough and biscuit bowl (it will help the bread stay fresh and warm on the way over). Leave the bowl behind as a gift -- it’s also perfect for setting dough out to rise. And if you’re a houseguest over the holidays, pack a few bars of Lehman’s own handmade soap in fabulous scents like lemon drop, fresh spearmint, tangerine, tea tree and more. Wrap a bar or two in a pretty ribbon, and leave on the pillow with a hand written, heartfelt thank you note. The whole room will smell wonderful.

For the unexpected gift-giver: Everybody loves candles, and they make a great inexpensive, last-minute gift. Lehman’s has holiday candle canes, tapers that are gaily striped like candy canes in fabulous scents like lemon, wintergreen, peppermint, vanilla and cinnamon. Or opt for a traditional, hand-dipped bayberry taper -- they smell like the essence of the holidays. Add an old-fashioned tin candle holder as an extra treat and wrap up a few of these for those folks who surprise you with a gift when you least expect it. Just add a gift tag with their name on it and you’ll never be caught empty handed again.

Armed with Lehman’s catalog and a little creativity, your gift giving will never be the same. You can use these tactics throughout the year, not just at the holidays. Consider the same approach to birthdays, anniversaries, new babies, weddings -- the options are limited only by your imagination.

To see all the wonderful products offered by Lehman’s, visit the company’s Web site, www.lehmans.com or call (888) 438-5346 to request a catalog.

Courtesy of ARA Content

back to Gift Ideas

back to Christmas