5 Must Have: Gift-Giving Web sites

Meet Carly. She loves giving gifts. And, really personal, distinctive gifts at that. Even her recent move to London can't keep her from sending creative finds to her loved ones across the pond. And as a side note, do you know what it means that she's one of our "5 must have" gals?? TAGG is international, baby! I'll admit it. I'm kind of having a moment. Sorry, I digress.

Back to Carly: a native Floridian, she's an adorable, super sweet and funny, semi-newlywed who lived in New Jersey before going global. Now that she lives in London, she spends most of her shopping-for-others hours online... so much easier with shipping and whatnot! Gift giving has always been a passion of hers. {I'm sure her recipients appreciate!}. So, without wasting any more time because I know all you readers are eager..

Here, in Carly's words, are her 5 must have web sites (and ideas!) for gift giving!
Little brings me more excitement than finding the perfect gift. I am completely anti-gift card and totally pro-spending days (even weeks) finding a great gift! I even spend a lot of time putting together a grab bag gift – knowing that the recipient is a complete stranger sends me into a whole new dimension. I stress over something that is appropriate for males or females and work on it until I think it is perfect. Since I've spent countless hours searching for the best sites and gifts, I'm excited to share my top 5 FAVORITE gift-giving website with you and also show you my most favorite gifts!

Housewarming

Buying a new house is a really exciting time. And now that we're getting older, our friends are getting married, having children and moving into new homes! While housewarming gifts are not as popular as they once were, I always like to give something special to help commemorate the occasion. One of my favorite web sites, Uncommon Goods, has so many incredible gifts – but my absolute favorite are the city pillows. What an awesome way to celebrate your friends new house – everyone needs pillows! I have bought this pillow for friends, for my parents and for co-workers who get jobs in new cities – it’s a hit every time! This site also has amazing gifts for parents, grandparents, sisters, friends, expecting parents, etc… Spend some time exploring- you will be amazed by the unique gifts offered on this website.
TAGG tip: if the pillow price tag is too steep, check out these dish towels, a bargain at just $20!

New baby/new mom

Before moving to London, my husband and I lived in New Jersey. Since I'm all for supporting local businesses, I often frequented Silly Pickles for Kids. It's amazing and the owner, Erica Rothkoff, is incredible. When you place an order you can feel confident that it will be perfect, and arrive quickly! My favorite gift for new babies are the burp-cloths. At $10 a piece, you can get several to make a great gift! There are gifts for older children as well – this website is sure to please!

TAGG tip: Carly's right! As a new-ish mom, burp cloths were my salvation the first six months or so, and since you're lugging them everywhere, it's nice to have cute ones. And, $10 for a personalized one like this? A steal.  

-- Need one more super-personalized option? There's no web site, but Texas-based LaineyBug Baby offers one-of-a-kind onesies, bibs, hats and burp cloths. My favorite is the "year in onesies" ($250 for 12, plus one with the baby's name on it) – great for monthly pictures that all new moms love to take! The last month can say either “12 months,” “one year” or “birthday girl/boy.” Ask for pics, or place orders via email.

For the bride-to-be

Now this is one we can all agree on – spoiling a bride-to-be is the best feeling in the world! There are so many incredible gifts out there and all help to make the big day feel even bigger! Etsy is a terrific website for gift ideas – many creative designers post their items on this website. It is a great way to find a unique gift that not everyone has seen before! My favorite gift for the bride-to-be has to be personalized wedding hangers This gift has to be planned in advance, as they are all made by hand and the maker can only produce a certain quantity each month. I promise you, these are worth planning for – they are amazing and every bride will love getting one!

For your husband

Man have always been hard to shop for – it’s just who they are! I have not yet found the perfect gift-giving website for men and to be honest, I am not sure one even exists. What I have found is a great gift for my husband that I think all men who travel will enjoy. It is the Burton Sleeper Hoodie.

Check it out: this hoodie comes with a custom luggage tag, a passport pocket, a removable/inflatable neck pillow, a toothbrush, ear plugs, a sleep mask and so much more! For women like me, don’t worry – they make a female version also!


For YOU

It's always important to spoil yourself every once in a while! And besides, online shopping is way addicting! My favorite shop for online shopping is Rue La La. I wish I could pick just one item from this site to show you, but I love so many things it would be impossible! This members-only website gives you access to private sales - you can always find so many things at great prices! The private sales are only open for two days so you have to keep your eyes open and act quickly! The best part? Get your friends to sign up and you will receive $10 credits for each one that makes a purchase! Trust me, you will love this website.

Happy Shopping!

5 Must Haves: Gifts for Holidays 2010

Meet Lindsay. She's one of my besties and I have to say she's absolutely one of the coolest, smartest, wittiest, most beautiful and fabulous friends a gal could have. She's infinitely thoughtful and caring, and one of the most driven women I know. While she's all these things by day, at night she morphs into a no-nonesense television reporter in Seattle. PS: as a gal bloggin' from South Florida, could she move any further away from me?! Just sayin').

I'm honored to have her as my friend and to have her contribute her 5 must have... gifts to give your loved ones this holiday season. I love that this is her 5 must haves topic... she always gives good, thoughtful gifts appropriate for the person. And, this list is no exception... check out her awesome ideas for every type of person in your life.


Without further ado, here's Lindsay's 5 must have... gifts to give this holiday season, in her words.

Preface: if you're anything like me, you have friends and family that are tough to buy gifts for. They either have everything - or don't want anything. The way I try to get around this: anytime I see something great from January - November -- either in person, at a party, or in a magazine -- I make a note on the notepad on my iPhone. Then, when the holidays roll around, voila! Instant gift-giving guide.

Here are a few things I'm loving as gifts this holiday season:

Roll-up Keyboard... or something for less tech-savvy

For the techie in your life: the Spi roll-up keyboard. Great for the businessman, the traveler, your brother who's a consultant who's racked up a million frequent flier miles this year. Plus, it's totally portable and connects easily to a laptop via USB. At $20 - $23, it's completely affordable, too.

A little less tech-savvy? Say, still holding on to those slides from the 1980's (like, my dad)? I love the idea of a slide converter. My dad spent my entire childhood creating those carousels filled with family memories, and this is an easy way for him to upgrade them for the 21st century. Bonus: the VuPoint Solutions slide converter is both Mac and PC compatible, and costs less than $100! (Hope you're not reading this, Dad!)

The "Callet" (... keep reading)

For your best girlfriend: hate carrying a cell phone plus a clunky wallet when you're out for a night on the town? Remember that Letterman segment "If They Mated?"

Well, if these two had a kid, it'd be The Callet. It's a cell phone case with a wallet built into it... and only $15. Cheaper than a cocktail on South Beach! Brilliant.





CREATIVE GIFTS FOR BEER, VINO FAN

For your brother, brother-in-law, or that boss of yours who loves a good microbrew: Beer Wars (the movie) and a six-pack of your favorite microbrew (I love Northwest holiday brew Jubelale: http://www.deschutesbrewery.com/splash/default.aspx). You will never look at your Bud Light the same after seeing this movie. It's "Food Inc." for the beer industry, reminding you why it's important to support the small brewer, on both a business and taste level. Pair it with your favorite microbrew, and, voila! Instant gift.

On the same token, for someone who is more into cocktails, I love pairing a Bartender's Guidebook with a classic cocktail shaker. It's an inexpensive gift, and for a personal touch, put the recipe for your favorite cocktail in the card.

ROCKIN' SHIRT

For that rockstar kid in your life: how about the t-shirt that plays music? Check out this kids rock star guitar shirt that actually plays music. One of my coworkers wore this to the office and played "Smoke on the Water." I was instantly in love! I know my 4 year old nephew - who is learning to play guitar - will love this (and yes, it really works!)

TAGG comment: ummm, awesome! Can they make one in purple because we totally want to rock this! Seriously. Ok, now picture running into me in the mall... do you run the other way or ask to play my shirt?? ;)

FUN-SHAPE SANDWICH CUTTERS
For the mom with young kiddies, I love these puzzle-shaped sandwich cutters. These are dishwasher safe and BPA free, and cost less than $15. Love, love, love. Making lunchtime fun!




Happy holidays, everyone! May your December be merry and bright.

Divine Deal: Gifts for Her

Time to shop! And, shopping for a gal can be so much fun. It can be challenging though because us gals are more likely to buy whatever we need instead of waiting for it for a gift. So, if you're searching for a gift for your sister, aunt, relative, friend, partner, co-worker, whoever, here's some suggestions to get you going.

When shopping, really keep in mind the person. Think about them, who they are and what they'd want. Just because you found "the coolest thing ever," it doesn't mean it's for them (though maybe it's for you!). And, maybe they're not into any of these items? Consider taking them to a cooking class, to a sporting event or concert, or another memorable experience you two can enjoy together.


CRAZY-COMFY SLIPPERS

You want comfy slippers? These are them. While I'm normally not a super UGG fan -- I mean they're OK but those boots have been worth to death and you can get so many affordable versions now -- these look like a slice of heaven. A total splurge for a gal in your life, she's likely to love you forever. There's a ton of styles I love, ranging from about $70-$140, and best of all, most come with a solid sole (of varying levels of thickness) so you can kind of get away with wearing them to run to the post office or another quick errand. And, if you live where it snows, you can pick up the mail without worry of losing a toe from frostbite! There's versions that do and do not cover the whole heel; your call! Here's the "UGG scuffette II" from Zappos for $70 (and love how Zappos has free shipping both ways!).
Lower price alternative: if the UGG brand doesn't matter to you, try this look-alike ($36) from Zappos for half the price!


HEAVENLY CHOCOLATE

I should tell you I'm a chocolate expert. A few years back I did a chocolate tasting for a friend's magazine article. We tested chocolates from $2 to $100 a box and this chocolate was the clear winner. It's called Vosges Haute Chocolat. What makes it so special is that not only is the chocolate such high quality, but they infuse it with the most interesting ingredients. While the basic milk and dark chocolate bars are perfect, infusions for the truffles and bars include curry, ancho & chipotle chiles, Michigan cherries, applewood bacon & sea salt, ginger and wasabi, almonds, everything! It's really something special. Check out the site; there's a number of options under $30. My recommendations: the dark exotic candy bar collection with nine mini bars ($25); the holiday mini candy bar library with nine mini bars ($25) or one of the truffle collections ($26). Promise this is worth spending money on. Your gift receiver will savor every bite.

COZY WINE SLEEVES

Want to bring a bottle of wine to a fab hostess for a holiday party this season? Wrap it special! How festive is this 'sweater' sleeve made from vintage sweaters and hand sewn? It's thoughtful, special and one-of-a-kind. Instead of a lame little note somehow affixed to the side of the bottle, here's a way to really show you took the time to care... and it makes sure that your vino stays cozy! Who doesn't want that? Best of all, this thoughtful gift only runs you about $9.99. We say, yes please!
TAGG tip: if you're a tad bit creative, try making these yourself! Find the fabric, or buy a sweater at goodwill, pull together around the bottle and wrap with ribbon. Voila! For a tacky sweater party, would be hysterical if you did this with a hideous sweater as a hostess gift!


GLEE... anything

Do you have a GLEE-K in your life or a wanna-be? Well, then you must purchase at least one of these two items: Glee, the music, the Christmas album ($9.99). Umm, hello... joyful holiday music sung by our country's most popular, nerdy high school students?! Yes, please. Sign me up. Another option? Glee, the complete first season on DVD ($38.99). Whether it's someone who's a full-fledged gleek who gets up and dances and faux sings to the songs (don't judge) or if you know someone who's been meaning to watch, this is absolutely perfect. Feel free to package it along side some popcorn or your giftee's favorite treat.




SWEET READS

I wish I read more. That being said, sometimes I just feel like I need personalized book recommendations by someone who knows me... or, I just need the books in my house. One year for my birthday a girlfriend who's a totally book nerd in the most glorious way asked me what I wanted. I said your favorite books that you think I'd love. Needless to say, I devoured the pages! While this gift isn't for everyone, which is? Maybe you loved the Harry Potter series and every time you mention it you have a friend who keeps saying, "man, I'd love to read that." Well, get that gal started! Or, did you just read a NYTimes Bestseller that you know is a must for your sister? Treat her to it! And, explain in your card when you selected it... I'm telling you, it's the gifts from the heart that are the most well received! Play on Amazon to find your favorites (at the best price!) or the hottest new selections.

NOW: Shop smart

All you can think about is shopping for the holidays, right? Well, you're not the only one: the average person expects to spend $688.87 on holiday-related items this season! Wowza, that's definitely more than my budget this year.

Personally, I don't think Black Friday is the best time to go shopping -- those crowds, the insanity, eek -- because unless you're out at 3 am to get one of three big-screen TVs available, you most likely can get the similar deals by just being a smart shopper all-year-round. If you must however, check out http://www.theblackfriday.com/. Deals for "Cyber Monday," the new shopping "holiday" the Monday after Thanksgiving, can be found at http://www.cybermonday.com/.

Want to shop smart? Take this advice:
- Register for ShopItToMe: it's a free, online personal shopper! I've been a fan for 2+ years and it has more than three million subscribers. Just tell the site your favorite stores and brands, and voila, you get a daily email telling you what's on sale. Do this instead of visiting a million web sites each day scouring for the best price. Saves tons of time and money.

- Shop online through Ebates: hope you're already doing this! I've made $30 this Fall just shopping like I normally do; only exception is that I click first through Ebates, a portal site that gives you a percentage back (anywhere from 2-15 percent!) on more than 1,200 retailers. Best of all, you get $5 after you make your first purchase and Ebates often has coupon codes to add to your savings. This holiday, buying online (especially since many sites offer free shipping at lower price points than usual) can add up to savings and less hassle.

- Register for online sites to save: You can score designer clothes, discounts to restaurants, sporting events, yoga classes and way more just by accessing a few key sites. Head to Gilt, Swirl, Rue La La, Zulily (perfect for kids, moms and babes), Beyond the Rack, Ideeli and Jasmere (new; awesome for mostly food and other great gift items) for the best sample sales. And, do not forget about Groupon, the best way to get up to 90 percent off local finds in your area.

- Make a list and stick to it. Decide who you need to buy for and how much you plan to spend; try to have some ideas in advance so you don't buy needless items. Keep receipts so you can return if you find something else or the same item at a better price.

- Shop before the big sales: Many stores will give you the price difference if an item goes on sale within a few days of purchase, both apparel and electronics. Double check before you buy, though; it sometimes does not apply to Black Friday specials.

- Gift exchanges with friends and fam: Stick to a small amount, $10 or $20, and do a "Secret Santa" type exchange where everyone secretly picks someones name out of a hat and buys that person a gift. This way each person gets one nicer gift instead of six kind of crappy ones.

- Get rid of gift certificates you don't like: check out Card Pool, a site that buys your gift cards back from you for a pretty good percentage. If you don't like what you have, don't force yourself to buy something or hold on to it for so long it's worth nothing. If it's a store that you can't even buy a gift for someone in, take advantage of Card Pool and get cash for that piece of plastic wasting space.

- In 2011, start thinking about next year: want to do way better next year and find the perfect gift? Don't wait until now! If you're like me, what you're looking for is never there for us last-minute shoppers. You're way better off if you're keeping your eyes open all-year long.

- And, of course, stay connected to The Average Girl's Guide: What better way to learn about the latest fashion and products, discounts and deals, and more, right? Keep it right here, yo!

Happy savvy shopping!

Best Gift Ever: The Gift of Reading

Sometimes I find it virtually impossible to find the perfect gift for someone. I want it to be meaningful, personal and not crazy expensive. With that in mind, my go-to gift for years now is... the gift of reading! I love giving magazine subscriptions as gifts. You can pick a title that best suits your friend or loved one, plus it's reasonably priced and best of all... someone's getting that gift from you every month for year! If you're extra thoughtful, maybe it's a subscription that comes in the mail every week. That's 52 gifts from YOU! Nice, huh? Men love GQ, Men's Health and dare we say, Playboy (it's the articles, right?), and great mags for women include Real Simple, W, People and Glamour. Get a traveler or foodie Food & Wine, Cooking Light, Travel & Leisure, or the new Food Network Magzine (just not the Rachael Ray one!).

Check out sites like overstock.com, magazinenook and barnesandnoble. If you know what you're looking for, I often find it best to google the title and the word 'subscription' to see what pops up with the best price.

Who do you have in mind for a subscription gift? What title?