Holiday gifts for your best friends and special lovers
Not quite sure what to get the most important people in your lives? I’m talking best friends, partners in crime and in life, and special lovers. I’ve teamed up my shopping brain with some of our sponsors to bring you some top choices in special gifts for special people…
What to do when people ask, “So what gift do you want from me?”
Getting presents can sometimes be comparatively unrewarding — especially now I’m at an age where family still want to give me birthday and Christmas presents, but aren’t quite sure what to get. Therefore they ask me what I would like. I used to feel this took a lot of the fun out of it, but now I’ve realized that I can get all meta about it. What I’m really doing, I’ve decided, is giving them the gift of giving. So here are my tips for when someone asks you for a list of present ideas.
Keeping it classy with a wine jelly recipe from 1896
This may sound extravagant, but this wine jelly recipe published in 1896 was originally intended for those with very little appetite or who had difficulty keeping more substantial foods down. Wine jelly is tasty on top of toast, biscuits, roast beef, turkey, spooned from shot glasses, squeezed from paper cups, and licked from spoons. It’s not overly sweet, and it keeps in the fridge for months. It’s simple to make, but will take some planning…
10 gift ideas the teachers in your life REALLY want
This year, whether it be a holiday, birthday, or end of the year “thanks for dealing with my kid for nine months,” get Teacher something they will cherish for always instead! I present to you, the top ten gift ideas for the teacher in your life…
How to gift Christmas ornaments that will make humans, pets, and trees happy from Susabella
For some peeps (like me), one of the best parts of the holidays is decorating the tree. Why not gift your loved ones an awesome, loving addition to their favorite holiday tradition? That’s totally easy to do with our longtime sponsor Susabella. Check out this Christmas ornament gift guide complete with special discount…
DIY is magic: Make your own My Little Pony plushie
When I asked my brother if there was anything I could make for my niece for the holidays, I was a little overwhelmed when he suggested a My Little Pony — Friendship is Magic plushie of Pinkie Pie. I’d never sewn a stuffed animal before, and I’d be a pony newbie creating something to give to a pony expert!
12 of my “favorite things” to gift to your favorite people
Here starts the latest round of Offbeat Home & Life gift guides. For this one, we’re going through the “my favorite things” archive AND re-visiting some of the things I’ve featured on Offbeat Home & Life that are STILL my favorite things… and may soon be your [parent/friend/partner/child]’s favorite thing.
How can I support my long distance best friend?
One of my best friends has been going through a tough time for a while now. She also happens to live over 200 miles away. How can I be a good, supportive long-distance friend at a time like this, when popping in to help for an evening isn’t possible?