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!

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 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!

Christmas presents aren’t just about “getting something”.  To a child they represent the magic, joy and spirit of the season.  Santa Claus, a sleigh that flies through the night, defying the constraints of time and gravity where “nice” children receive toys that they wished for.  Each and every child should feel “nice” and have something to look forward to under their tree! You can help a less fortunate boy or girl experience the wonder and joy of finding a present marked just for them  by making a donation of a toy or money to Toys for Tots.  Just follow the links I’ve provided to get started and you can make someone smile this Christmas – a very nice gift indeed!

Happy gifting!

Whether it is a birthday, graduation, wedding, thank you gift, etc. – make sure that it is seasonally appropriate.

Summer is the season for playing outdoors, swimming and taking relaxing vacations so if you need a gift consider the person first (do they love to swim, sun, hike, bike, cook? what are their particular interests, hobbies, things that make them unique from the other people in your life?), your relationship to them (lover, parent, friend, child?), the reason for the gift (just because, birthday, milestone, thank you?) and the season in which you are giving the gift (you ...read more]]> Summer isn’t over yet, although the stores would have us believing that we need to break out the sweaters, the plaid, the knee high boots, the back-to-school gear. Go ahead – plan for these but stay in the present!

Whether it is a birthday, graduation, wedding, thank you gift, etc. – make sure that it is seasonally appropriate.

Summer is the season for playing outdoors, swimming and taking relaxing vacations so if you need a gift consider the person first (do they love to swim, sun, hike, bike, cook? what are their particular interests, hobbies, things that make them unique from the other people in your life?), your relationship to them (lover, parent, friend, child?), the reason for the gift (just because, birthday, milestone, thank you?) and the season in which you are giving the gift (you want the gift to be enjoyed in the present!).

Enough theory!!! Let me give you some quick examples…

Stayed at a friend’s beach house? What is their focus? Sailing? Sunning? Water sports? Fine food?

If they love to sail you can make a thank you card with a nautical theme or give them their favorite alcoholic beverage (you were paying attention, right?) and re-label it (a photo from your stay, saying “thank you” in code with nautical flags, print a nice pic off the internet of a sailboat, etc.) and tie a sailing knot around the top of the bottle. See how something as simple as a bottle of wine can be turned into a more personalized gift? Without a lot of fuss or money either! Combine their passions with a gift and you have something personalized that they will enjoy!

A child’s birthday? What do they love? Bugs, dinosaurs, Barbie, Harry Potter, video games?

Well, let’s pick the bug lover…do they love to examine, find, learn? Consider their age and what they have access to. You don’t want to give an butterfly net to a child who lives in a city apartment complex but an insect habitat like a butterfly garden or ladybug habitat. A child who has access to outdoor spaces might like a Creature Peeper. A younger child might love a stuffed animal and an older child might like books on the subject.

Happy gifting!