Gift Ideas

Gift options based on how they’re sent:
- Digital gifts: the fastest option.
  - E-cards: Hallmark, Blue Mountain…
  - Music/movies/apps: iTunes, Google Play gift cards…
  - E-gift cards: although not all stores offer digital gift cards, many do. They can be easily sent to your giftee by email or even text.
  - Event tickets: check out what’s happening in your giftee’s area and order tickets online.
- Delivery:
  - Flowers: these can often be delivered the same day they were ordered.
  - Grocery/meal delivery: there are some excellent companies that will deliver high-quality ingredients, right to your giftee’s door.
- Mail:
  - Almost anything can be mailed. A quick online search (eg: “gifts for geeks”) can lead you to great ideas that can be mailed directly to your giftee.
  - Retail gift cards. Some can be sent electronically, others must be ordered online then mailed to your giftee.
  - There are several websites out there that will help you quickly create a personalized scrapbook, calendar or photo book. Once completed, you can simply have them mail your creation directly to your giftee.
  - Subscription based products: there are many companies out there that will regularly mail out items for just about any interest or hobby (eg: bath & body products, books, coffee, cosmetics, craft beer, pet toys/treats, spices, socks, tea, toys, underwear, wine).
Gift options based on types of activities:
- General: there are a wide range of options here. Ideally, you’ll be able to send a gift card digitally for the activity you’re looking for. Other sites may continue to mail out gift cards the old fashioned way. Keep in mind, many activities will require your giftee’s input before they can be fully arranged (eg: flights, events at a specific time/date).
- Events: sports, concerts, performing arts (eg: theatre, opera, ballet)…
- Dining: restaurants, coffee shops…
- Adventurous gifts: city Segway tours, paintball, white water rafting…
- Spa: massage, pedicure, manicure…
- Education: online courses (eg: photography, cooking, languages)…
- Travel: many airlines now offer gift cards.
Here are a few ways to individualize your gifts:
- Rest & Relaxation theme:
  - For that person in your life who’s been working hard and could use a little downtime. Consider arranging the following:
    - An iTunes or Google Play gift card to download some relaxing music, spend some quality time with their couch while watching a movie or even indulge in that app they’ve been meaning to download.
    - A massage, manicure or pedicure at their local spa
    - A home cooked meal delivered to their house or a gift card for their favourite restaurant.
- Types of Therapy theme
  - Let your giftee know their gift was inspired by types of therapy. You may need to explain how each gift relates. Here are some suggestions:
    - Art therapy (eg: theatre or museum tickets)
    - Aromatherapy (eg: flowers)
    - Chocolate therapy
    - Music therapy (eg: online iTunes or Google Play gift cards)
    - Retail therapy (eg: gift cards for your giftee’s favorite store)
    - Touch therapy (eg: massage at a local spa)
Have a suggestion for an idea we haven’t covered here? Let us know and we’ll try to add it onto the list.

Wrapping

When it comes to last minute and/or long-distance gifts, the beauty is that you don’t have to wrap anything. You can send things digitally and, with material items, you can often have the company wrap the gift before mailing it directly to your giftee.

Presentation

Use quotes or phrases that relate to your theme when you present the gifts or in your card. This depends on what theme you’re going for. For example:
- If you’re going with a Rest & Relaxation theme:
  - Hope you get a chance to ‘give it a rest’ this birthday.
  - ‘Rest’ assured, all the extra work you’ve been putting in hasn’t gone unnoticed.
  - Stressed spelled backwards is “desserts”…take time to enjoy something sweet.
  - Hope this little stress reduction kit helps.
  - It’s your birthday. ‘Chill out’.
- If you’re going with a Types of Therapy theme:
  - Hope these gifts make life a little saner for you.
  - “My therapist told me the way to achieve true inner peace is to finish what I start. So far today, I have finished two bags of M&M’s and a chocolate cake. I feel better already.” ~Dave Barry
  - If these gifts don’t help you feel better, try screaming obscenities, that always helps me.
- If you just want to work with the last minute, long distance theme:
  - You may live far away, but I’ll always ‘go the distance’ when it comes to you.
  - You may live ___ miles away, but you’re never ‘far’ from my mind.
  - Friends like you are few and ‘far’ between. Happy birthday.