Do you remember the days when something as simple as a toy was that important to you? Sometimes we forget that we don’t have to buy kids an expensive electronic or video game.  Maybe it is because we are a little out of touch with what is “cool” to a child or maybe all those advertisements for the next big thing sway our decisions more than we realize.  But, as this e-mail exchange between my boyfriend, Alex, and his nephew, “O”, will show – a toy isn’t necessarily just a toy…

Not long ago, I was inspired to write a Toy Tuesday post about Transformers because Alex’s nephew (I’ll refer to him as “O” throughout the remainder of the post) loves Transformers.

The search for the ...read more]]> The answer? When the recipient is seven and it is an all consuming passion!!!

Do you remember the days when something as simple as a toy was that important to you? Sometimes we forget that we don’t have to buy kids an expensive electronic or video game.  Maybe it is because we are a little out of touch with what is “cool” to a child or maybe all those advertisements for the next big thing sway our decisions more than we realize.  But, as this e-mail exchange between my boyfriend, Alex, and his nephew, “O”, will show – a toy isn’t necessarily just a toy…

Not long ago, I was inspired to write a Toy Tuesday post about Transformers because Alex’s nephew (I’ll refer to him as “O” throughout the remainder of the post) loves Transformers.

The search for the perfect Transformer for “O” began with an e-mail from him to his Uncle one day in April…

Dear Alex:

I was hoping you could come here sometime in the summer. And I hope you can bring some of your Transformers along. I don’t care which Transformers you bring along, I just care if you bring some. I am considering that you are my buddy.

Love, “O”

Alex, of course, sent a reply to his buddy!

Hi “O”,

It’s nice to hear from you.  I’m sorry to take a long time in answering.  I have been hoping to be able to tell you that I would be able to come and visit with you this summer, but right now it is not looking like I will be able to.  I hope you are having a nice time in California, and that you are going to have a very fun summer.

I’m going to send you a Transformer for you to play with, so you can know I’m thinking of you.  I hope you like it!

Love,

Alex

This next letter from “O” to Alex is my favorite because it just goes to show how much a simple toy means to a kid! (note that we live in Boston, MA and “O” lives in CA!)

Dear Alex:

If you don’t send us the Transformer we will go to your place so you can give me the Transformer.

When are you sending the Transformer? I want to know when you are sending it so I know when I get it.

How are you doing today?

What kind of Transformer are you going to give me, an Autobot or a Decepticon?

I can’t wait until I get it.

Your friend,

“O”

Case closed.

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What inspired this post? My boyfriend promised his eight year old nephew a present. Every time his nephew visits from California, my boyfriend’s mom goes into grandma mode and gets out all the old toys from the attic. Her grandson’s favorites? The old Transformers! He always wants “Uncle Alex” to play with him or help him transform them or play with him some more. At the end of the trip, he is always trying to get Uncle Alex to give him a Transformer (or five!) and he sometimes gets to take ...read more]]> Transformers. I read that word and the old commercial with the robotic voice singing “Transformers! More than meets the eye…” automatically plays in my head. They’ve been around a while but kids still love them!

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What inspired this post? My boyfriend promised his eight year old nephew a present. Every time his nephew visits from California, my boyfriend’s mom goes into grandma mode and gets out all the old toys from the attic. Her grandson’s favorites? The old Transformers! He always wants “Uncle Alex” to play with him or help him transform them or play with him some more. At the end of the trip, he is always trying to get Uncle Alex to give him a Transformer (or five!) and he sometimes gets to take one home on the plane with him but most of them stay here as the reserves for him to play with on his visits to New England.

Alex did a great job picking out this gift and making sure that he picked out one his nephew is sure to love, Bludgeon ($21.60). He not only picked out something that his nephew would love, but he also made sure that it was an okay choice with his brother and his sister-in-law. Yes, my man is a savvy gift gift giver. He sent an e-mail out making sure that it wasn’t considered too violent a toy, too much work for them (since they will have to help transform it at first) and even sent them a link to a video of how to transform it in case they, or his nephew, had trouble with the instructions.

Maybe a Transformer doesn’t seem like a very personalized gift when you are in the toy aisle at the store or shopping online, but if a gift like that is going to please your young recipient, then it certainly is a personalized gift because you are choosing with care!

Alex personalized this gift further by having it sent directly to his nephew, because he knows kids love getting mail addressed to them! It is a small touch, but on that definitely won’t go unnoticed by the young recipient. It is these little things that make all the difference in gift giving, no matter what the gift.

Happy gifting!

Click to Purchase - $14.99

————————————————————————— Attention!!! Madison is offering Gift Detective readers special discounts! * 20% discount on custom Mother’s Day candles * Free consultation (usually $25/hour) * Unlimited photo proofs and changes (a savings of up to $75.00)

To obtain these deals – just mention The Gift Detective sent you when you contact Madison Hill Candles! —————————————————————————

But what if you could personalize a candle by not only selecting the right color or fragrance, but with a photo?  Or adding a sentiment, quote, poem, biblical verse or something else to it?  What if you had the opportunity to ...read more]]> Candles are a source of light and warmth. They can be colored or fragranced.  They can come in a variety of different vessels that might compliment a home or be a person’s favorite color.  And these are just candles that you can purchase from the store!

Click to Purchase - $14.99

—————————————————————————
Attention!!! Madison is offering Gift Detective readers special discounts!
* 20% discount on custom Mother’s Day candles
* Free consultation (usually $25/hour)
* Unlimited photo proofs and changes (a savings of up to $75.00)

To obtain these deals – just mention The Gift Detective sent you when you contact Madison Hill Candles!

—————————————————————————

But what if you could personalize a candle by not only selecting the right color or fragrance, but with a photo?  Or adding a sentiment, quote, poem, biblical verse or something else to it?  What if you had the opportunity to create a candle so perfect for your recipient that they might just be speechless?  You would do it!  Why wouldn’t you?  Oh, because you think it would be too expensive?  Not. At. All.  You would easily pay this much or more for a candle purchased at a store that, although a fine option, would not be nearly as heartfelt as a custom candle.

And don’t you want your gift to be special? Something that stands out from the rest of the crowd?  Something that with its very existence, shows what thought and love went into the selection and making of this present?  Of course you do!

Madison Hill Candles can help you make the perfect candle gift for a variety of occasions.  Birthdays, Mother’s Day, Valentine’s Day, Anniversary…I could list nearly every holiday or occasion here!  Madison knows the art of thoughtful gift giving (she even did a guest post, here!) and will be able to help you create a gift that will be an outstanding example of how much you care for your recipient.

This candle is an example of a photo (Madison's son when he was a baby!) coupled with a poem he wrote for her when he was 11 years old.

Mother’s Day will be here before you know it (May 9th!), and she has a simple form that will help you get started making a beautiful, custom candle for mom.  Get creative!  Madison Hill is a master chandler and can help you make this gift become a work of art, not just a candle.  Does your mom love a specific flower or do you want to embed a special photo in the candle?  Madison can make this happen!  After filling out the form, Madison will contact you to continue the design process to help make sure you are creating a one of a kind gift, sure to bring tears to her eyes and a smile to your mother’s heart!

Madison also has an Etsy shop where you can purchase some candles that are really gorgeous and ready to go! (prices range from $14.99-$24.99) My favorite one from her shop is pictured at the top of this post!  Isn’t that beautiful?  Below, you can see a gallery of just a few of her creations.  (all photos courtesy of Madison Hill Candles)

What do you think your own mother would love to be incorporated into a candle?  Don’t you think she would be wowed by a gift like this?

Happy gifting!

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!