How are you planning to celebrate? (or, if you are reading this post after the fact, how did you celebrate?) Leave a comment on this post if you would like to share!

Personally, I’m not big on making resolutions at the New Year. I tend to think of self-improvement as a daily endeavor and make resolutions at my birthday instead, but this year I may actually make a few as life is calling for some changes.

I’m looking forward to some awesome new additions to my site, and hope that you’ll come back often throughout the New Year for all sorts of great gift ideas. 2009 was just the beginning for The Gift Detective – so many more wonderful things are yet to ...read more]]> The last day of 2009! There will be resolutions, parties, kissing the one you love, noisemakers, hats, staying in, going out, reminiscing, planning and so much more.

How are you planning to celebrate? (or, if you are reading this post after the fact, how did you celebrate?) Leave a comment on this post if you would like to share!

Personally, I’m not big on making resolutions at the New Year. I tend to think of self-improvement as a daily endeavor and make resolutions at my birthday instead, but this year I may actually make a few as life is calling for some changes.

I’m looking forward to some awesome new additions to my site, and hope that you’ll come back often throughout the New Year for all sorts of great gift ideas. 2009 was just the beginning for The Gift Detective – so many more wonderful things are yet to come!!!

I hope that 2009 was a wonderful year for you but I would like 2010 to be an even better one. Appreciate all the gifts (people, love, kindness, etc.) that the year brought you and look forward to the ones yet to come…

Whatever you do and however you decide to celebrate, please do it safely!

Put on your party hat and get ready to start the New Year!

Artwork by Matthew Gauvin

Happy gifting!

Click to Purchase! $13.49

A calendar like the one pictured above is great for those who don’t even use calendars generally, because it is part calendar, part zany fact book, as each page is filled with interesting trivia, in top ten list form, for your recipient to enjoy. In fact, this is a very versatile gift because calendars are both useful and “one size fits most” gifts.  This particular calendar, by Marnie Winston-Macauley, will “fit” a wide variety of people because, even if you don’t quite ...read more]]> It’s getting closer and closer to the New Year! If you didn’t manage to get your gift shopping done in time for the holidays, you can easily let someone know you are thinking of them by getting them a calendar!

Click to Purchase! $13.49

A calendar like the one pictured above is great for those who don’t even use calendars generally, because it is part calendar, part zany fact book, as each page is filled with interesting trivia, in top ten list form, for your recipient to enjoy. In fact, this is a very versatile gift because calendars are both useful and “one size fits most” gifts.  This particular calendar, by Marnie Winston-Macauley, will “fit” a wide variety of people because, even if you don’t quite know what your recipient’s tastes are, many people love interesting facts!  (Please note: “One size fits most gifts” are NOT the most appropriate sole gift for a big occasion for someone you are really close to – but they make a nice additional gift to a more personal gift or as a New Year’s gift all wrapped up and sitting in their spot at the breakfast table! Just an example – feel free to get creative!)

Want to add a personal touch to this gift? Read through the calendar until you find a page (or several) that really reminds you about the recipient and leave a sticky note for them to find on that page.  Use the sticky note to tell them why you’ve chosen that page.  In your card, you could mention that you have marked one (or more) of the pages specially for them.  It will give them something to look forward to as they enjoy your gift!

Send this gift out with a “Happy New Year!” card and you won’t seem like someone who failed to get gifts out on time but someone who is not only thoughtful but is on the ball too!

Happy gifting!

Make Your Own Party Hats!

Maybe I’m corny, but I think that the little things like hats and noisemakers are even better (and safer!) than alcohol. Here are a few of my ideas for how to make these hats into great gifts:

Well, my client did something very nice for me – he sent me a copy of an e-mail he received after she had opened her present. Not only did she LOVE her present (she said it much more enthusiastically and with a lot more “love”s in her note) but she also appreciated the card he sent along with her gift that tied the present and the thoughtfulness behind it all together. This is really an important part of what I do for clients. I don’t just give a list of the “hottest ...read more]]> If you read last Sunday’s post, you know that I helped a client find a gift for a long time friend and employee for her birthday. He felt this was an especially important gift because, having been born two days before Christmas, her birthday is often overshadowed by all of the holiday hustle.

Well, my client did something very nice for me – he sent me a copy of an e-mail he received after she had opened her present. Not only did she LOVE her present (she said it much more enthusiastically and with a lot more “love”s in her note) but she also appreciated the card he sent along with her gift that tied the present and the thoughtfulness behind it all together. This is really an important part of what I do for clients. I don’t just give a list of the “hottest gifts for 2009″ or whatever year it happens to be. I really give clients ideas based on what they are telling me about the recipient. This not only helps me find the right gift for the recipient, but also the right gift for their relationship. If I hadn’t picked a gift that suited them both, he would have never been able to write such a thoughtful card to go along with the present – because, when it comes right down to it, I helped him choose the perfect present, I didn’t choose it for him.

It was really very special for me to get such positive feedback and I had a smile from ear to ear as I read her thank you. It gives me great pleasure to give that sort of happiness – to both client and recipient – because he was just as thankful and happy that he had gotten her a perfect and personal present!

So, the next time you need a gift, you can submit your request via my Sleuthing Sunday form and have a chance to win my help for free or you can ensure The Gift Detective is on your case by hiring me to do a little present P.I. work!

As always, Happy gifting!

Artwork by Matthew Gauvin