Holiday Shopping Ideas #2

Gift certificates support local businesses!

Some people tend to think of gift cards as an easy way out, but who doesn't love receiving them? A gift card is a good way to get that person into whatever business you want to share with them because you think they would love it - or you know they already shop there!

• Guys... girls love pedicures. Go to a local salon and get a gift certificate for a pedicure.
  
• Have anyone on your list who loves to try new things? Get them a gift certificate for a horse back riding lesson!
• Do you have a coffee lover on your list? Get a gift certificate for a local coffee shop, and maybe also give them some gourmet coffee.
• For the serious music lover, try a local music store. As a music lover myself, I could always use more cds or vinyl. (Yes, vinyl!)
• If you have an athletic person on your 'to buy for' list, get them a gift certificate to go rock climbing or to take a yoga class.

Please feel free to share other good gift card ideas!

Holiday Shopping Ideas #1

It's that time again... where everyone starts stressing out about the approaching holidays. I thought I'd start a part of the blog that will appear once a week until the Christmas holiday is over.

Some of you are already finished all of your shopping, and maybe a few of you have gotten a few things marked off your list. Then... there are the rest of us. We are too busy to even think about the approaching holiday and annually wish that whoever planned out the holidays didn't smush a bunch of them in at the end of the year.

So if you fall into the second or third categories, these weekly blog posts will be for you!

One thing to think about as you're writing out your ideas for what to get people (or even for what to write on your own wish list) is where your gift is coming from. Are you buying something that has to be shipped across the country or even world? Is there an alternative that could be purchased closer to home?

Why not get something that starts off recycled? If you live near the Towsond, MD area, this is a fantastic store to visit. Everything at the Bluehouse has to meet one or more of several criteria. These criteria range from: the item has to be made by hand, the item has to be made locally, the item must be made of recycled products. Each product you click on shows you what criteria it meets.



If there are any stores like this near you, I would love to hear about them! Please email me with the store's name and website for future Holiday Shopping Idea posts!