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.

Click to Purchase!

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!

Photo Courtesy of Paper Source

Check out this sweet how-to from Paper Source – Recycled Origami Hearts show your love for the planet for Earth Day, make some for your mom for Mother’s Day (Dads, help your kids make some for Mom!!!) or make some for your Sweetheart! Brighten someone’s day with this spectacularly easy recycled gift. Below is a picture of one I made using a paper bag – it took less than a minute to make!

I made this heart!

Personalize these little hearts any way you want! Make a love note into an origami ...read more]]> Okay, it could be any color you want it to be – I mean “green” as in “eco-friendly” not the actual color!

Photo Courtesy of Paper Source

Check out this sweet how-to from Paper Source – Recycled Origami Hearts show your love for the planet for Earth Day, make some for your mom for Mother’s Day (Dads, help your kids make some for Mom!!!) or make some for your Sweetheart! Brighten someone’s day with this spectacularly easy recycled gift. Below is a picture of one I made using a paper bag – it took less than a minute to make!

I made this heart!

Personalize these little hearts any way you want! Make a love note into an origami heart and mail it to your love or tape one to the bathroom mirror for them to find. Pack one into your child’s lunch, make the mobile pictured above for mom on Mother’s Day, send one to a family member, make one for a friend and tuck it into the book you are gifting them so they can use it as a bookmark…what ideas do you have? Leave me a comment and let me know!

I {heart} Paper Source and this fab how-to!

Happy gifting!

Click to Purchase on Amazon - $11.69

The second edition of the book has my very own “Gift Detective APPROVED!” logo on it.  (the shiny, silver medallion on the bottom right) Get it while it’s hot!  Eventually, this book will win other awards and my award will have to make way for a more serious, literary and artistic recognition but, for now, Isabelle and I are proud and honored to grace the cover of the book.

Below is a sample video and reading of the book by the author, Jeremy Foster-Fell.

Visit the book’s website to learn more about the author, ...read more]]> Yes – I blogged about the book, The Caterpillar and the Express Train, before but, guess what?

Click to Purchase on Amazon - $11.69

The second edition of the book has my very own “Gift Detective APPROVED!” logo on it.  (the shiny, silver medallion on the bottom right) Get it while it’s hot!  Eventually, this book will win other awards and my award will have to make way for a more serious, literary and artistic recognition but, for now, Isabelle and I are proud and honored to grace the cover of the book.

Visit the book’s website to learn more about the author, the illustrator or to purchase a signed copy.

Please click here to read my previous post about this book, with ideas on how to make the gift more personal!

What do you think about this book?  What do you think of the “Gift Detective APPROVED!” seal appearing on it’s cover?  Please leave a comment and let me know!

Happy gifting!

Sleek & Discreet

The SPIbelt (Small, Personal Items belt) is not big or bulky like a fanny pack.  In fact, unless you are wearing tight fitting clothes or really low-rise pants, people probably won’t even notice that you are wearing it – it’s profile is that slim.

I don’t want to mislead you though!  Just because you’ll be able to carry your gear and still look hot, doesn’t mean you are going to have to sacrifice space.  For me, the beauty of the SPIbelt isn’t just it’s discreet size; it stretches while compressing the items ...read more]]> Your first thought might be, “That’s a fanny pack!” WAIT! Please read on because this certainly isn’t a fanny pack and I’m going to explain why the SPIbelt ($19.95) is a great gift…

Sleek & Discreet

The SPIbelt (Small, Personal Items belt) is not big or bulky like a fanny pack.  In fact, unless you are wearing tight fitting clothes or really low-rise pants, people probably won’t even notice that you are wearing it – it’s profile is that slim.

I don’t want to mislead you though!  Just because you’ll be able to carry your gear and still look hot, doesn’t mean you are going to have to sacrifice space.  For me, the beauty of the SPIbelt isn’t just it’s discreet size; it stretches while compressing the items so no matter what you stuff in there, you aren’t going to be stuck with a bulky pack!  It’s a bit magical and I’m probably going to have to create a YouTube video to do this little gem justice.

What can you fit into a SPIbelt?

• My boyfriend was easily able to fit an iPod Touch, cell phone, keys and money into his new SPIbelt (a present for our upcoming trip to Santa Fe) and when strapped it on and you couldn’t see it under his shirt at all! (he was wearing jeans and a polo shirt that fit well but wasn’t tight)
• I wear closer fitting clothing – low-rise jeans, yoga pants, etc. – and I packed my cell phone, keys, money and T pass into mine and it so discreet and small that you could barely notice it!  (I love the colors that they offer but, if you really want it to be discreet, the black SPIbelt fits the bill!)

Of course, I knew this would be great for two things in particular – travel and exercise – so I strapped on my SPIbelt (with the items listed above in it) and took my dog for a run.  Guess what?  Not only does it fit all that stuff inside and not make me look like a dork, it also doesn’t bounce.  Truly.  This will be a much used item in my life when the weather is warmer and I’m wearing exercise clothing that doesn’t have pockets!

Bonus for dog owners:  I could slip Isabelle’s leash loop through the belt before buckling it to create a hands free leash!

Alright, so now that I’ve proven how in love I am with this neat little product, I still need to let you know who on your gift list this is a good idea for:

• *  Men or women who want to travel and sightsee unencumbered - throw in your hotel key, money and ID and off you go!
• *  Fitness enthusiasts – a lot of exercise clothing is simple, form fitting and WITHOUT POCKETS, so this is a great gift for the runner, walker, biker, etc. that needs to keep some things close without affecting their workout
• * Your favorite dog walker – again, warmer weather is coming, which means less pockets and this would be a great way to show your dog walker that you appreciate them by giving them something useful.
• *  A guy who has overloaded pockets – some guys have an iPod, cell phone, earphones, keys, etc. and no purse to stow all their gear!  This is a great gift for that guy doesn’t want to carry a backpack or messenger bag but doesn’t want bulging pockets either.
  
• * Anyone who has to have any medication handy at all times – someone who has diabetes or asthma, for instance, may need to keep insulin or an inhaler close at hand – great way to keep help them keep medication close while still being able to be discreet.
  

Get it in their favorite color or accent color (black with colored zipper).

For a dog walker – enclose a mini-card that has a cash bonus in it or filled with small, useful items like great chapstick or refreshing towelettes.

For a child that needs to have medication with them at all times – give them a stylish way to keep it close at hand, pick a color or pattern that they will love or pick black to help them keep it more discreet – really think about what they would like most.    After you pick the perfect belt, put some really fun, age appropriate item in it, a young child may like a small toy while an older child might like their first cell phone!

For the exercise enthusiast, make sure to choose the water and sweat resistant SPIbelt and then proceed to give them great headphones if they like to exercise with tunes, a pedometer, Nike + or something similar that they will love.

Want to give a little luxury? Wrap up an iPod Touch and slip it inside or for your man or woman who works out hard, include a gift certificate to an upscale spa for a massage.

There are so many more possible ways to personalize this!  What are some things you would like to find in a SPIbelt if you were to receive this as a gift or things that you might put in it if you were to give it?  Leave a comment and let me know!

Happy gifting!