Since Thanksgiving is Thursday, I am planning to dedicate the next few days to writing about my favorite holiday. This year I am expecting around 50 friends and family for our annual celebration.
For a while there, I thought I would have to cancel the dinner because of a business trip, however I managed to rearrange my trip to Hong Kong for a public installation until right after Thanksgiving.
Years ago, I started the practice of giving all my friends and family their first holiday present on Thanksgiving. I thought this was a wonderfully symbolic way to officially start the Christmas holidays.
This gift has changed during the years. I have given them: iPods, Flip video cameras, vases etc. However, this year I am completely lost. I have no idea what to give them. HELPPPP!
If you have any great suggestions for a present for my family members, in the $50 to $100 range (or even a bit more), please tell me. I only have two days to go shopping and wrap them up so your suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
PREVIOUS
George Bernard Shaw once said: “You see things and say, ‘Why?’ But I dream things that never were and say, ‘Why not?’” That quote embodies how Preston Bailey approaches every event.
Abigail
November 22, 2010
I love gift giving, but I’m sure I will never give an iPod or camera, I prefer more meaningful gifts. A camera will be “old” in one year, the same with any electronics. My suggestion is this: a book that has touched thousand lives: El Principito (The Little Prince) from Antoine De Saint-Exupéry. I would pick a luxury edition, I know there is one boxed. Maybe some of your friends and family read it before or not. Some of them will go home and put it in a shelf, but one day (perhaps one or two years layer) one of them will be doing nothing at home and will see the book and will start reading it. And magic will happen!!! Because, there is always a good time to read El Principito aunque “lo esencial es invisible a los ojos.” If you want to splurge include a CD that means a lot to you or an mp3 player with your favorite music in it. You receive your friends and family to give thanks because you feel blessed having them in your life and they should blessed to have you in their lives. I can assure you that a book like this one of another one that you find meaningful will make them love you forever because of the lessons they will learn from it. That is more important than an electronic device. One of my favorite quotes from this book is: “Si vienes por ejemplo, a las cuatro de la tarde; desde las tres yo empiezo a ser dichoso (a)”. I know this is what you feel when you see your friends and family! You can make that quote the dedication of the books!!! Yes, you have to dedicate each one of them!!
Many blessings from this part of the world!! I really miss Thanksgiving Day!!!
Tamiko H. Hargrove
November 22, 2010
Preston,
I have the perfect gift for your family and friends! Helen Julia’s candle collection http://www.helenjulia.com. These candles are packaged beautifully! No need to think about wrapping them. You can just place them in a gift bag (or not). Helen Julia Candles smel amazing and the price is just right! Our small candle is only $16 and our large candle is $38… How perfect is that?
Wishing you and your loved ones a Happy Thanksgiving!
xoxo
Tamiko H. Hargrove
Owner, Helen Julia New York
http://www.helenjulia.com
tamiko@helenjulia.com
Luz Pencyla
November 22, 2010
Hi Preston,
In my opinion Gif Cards are a great present, because everybody likes to shop!!
Happy Thanksgiving Day!!!
L
November 22, 2010
Homemade Food Gifts
Your kitchen cabinets hold a treasure trunk of items ready to be ‘transformed’ into homemade treats.
Much of the fun of giving gifts comes from wrapping them up in pretty packaging. Choose containers, ribbon, and papers, vintage or new accessories and some creative packaging – pretty ribbons, unusual bottles, boxes, and bags, and stylish papers and tags – and you are ready to go.
Here are several thoughts:
– Fill jars with Hot Chocolate mixes, cover the lids with a swatch of fabric, and include peppermint “stirring” sticks for added flavor and color.
–Add oven-dried fruit along with Black Apple Tea and spicy Chai Tea Mix; use metal tins, with colorful paper liners and airtight lids. It will keep these gifts fresh.
–Put peonies of green tea in cellophane envelopes and give them to your friends and loved ones along with ceramic teacups.
–Add dried apricots and a bit of brandy into pretty bottles topped with stoppers made from vintage glass Christmas-tree ornaments.
–
–Use a fabric-wrapped bottle of dry white wine, dried lemon slices, and a jar filled with mustard seed, pink and black peppercorns, coarse salt.
–Create a mélange of cooking spices from pretty containers.
–Present a pie in a vintage tin, line it with waxed or tissue paper.
–Stack cutout cookies in a baking cup encircled with a matching ribbon. Place the filled cup into a “cello” bag. Using pinking shears, make a zigzag cut to the top of the bag. String a copy of the recipe and a glittery initial of the recipient on a ribbon and secure bag with a bow.
–Create cookie dough logs by using patterned wrapping paper, stationery, and paper scraps add graphic appeal to logs bundled in waxed paper and secured with ribbon.
–Send cookies as greeting cards. Pack each cookie card in an attractively designed, durable box that can remain a keepsake long after the sweet treat has been savored. Present these cards in person.
Anonymous
November 22, 2010
WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO SAY?
Janet
November 22, 2010
A nicely decorated box with an exotic flower, with a note inside that says: “In the spirit of giving and to mark the beginning of the holiday season, I am donating a check to xyz charity in your name.”
Alison
November 22, 2010
hmm what about a kindle?
Lucy
November 22, 2010
Preston,
It seems like you like to give something that is meaningful, trendy, and a little over the top. Tiffany’s has a beautiful selection of smaller gifts. Many are holiday themed. Why not pick out a few varying pieces maybe one for the ladies and another for the men. Who wouldn’t be wide eyed when they see that little blue box staring back at them?
Hope this helps. Let us know what you decide!
Kathy Guereux
November 22, 2010
http://www.savethemanatee.org/adoptpag.htm
Adopt a Manatee in someone’s name.
Kathy Guereux
November 22, 2010
P.S. the reason I like Manatees is they are VERY family oriented…and you can easily get a beautiful token in the form of jewelry or bookmark or a Manatee children’s book, etc. as the present.
Jennifer
November 22, 2010
The Mark Twain autobiography will be high on my gift-giving list this year.
Tacroy
November 22, 2010
What about a beautiful, raw hunk of some sort of lovely stone (depending on the color scheme for your party and/or the traditional symbolisms and/or energetic properties you would like to share with your guests, particularly as they relate to the meaning of the season), like amethyst or rose quartz or smoky quartz, etc. etc.?
Jen
November 22, 2010
Recently I have been loving the items from Uncommon Goods and Red Envelope for gift giving and inspiration. Here are a few I have found:
From Red Envelope:
A set of silver “mini wish” ornaments http://gifts.redenvelope.com/gifts/mini-wish-ornament-set-28329455?viewpos=8&trackingpgroup=YouMayAlsoLike&tile=hmpg_tile_a
I like the idea of an exquisite leather journal and pen or a lifetime book like this from Red Envelope http://gifts.redenvelope.com/gifts/story-of-a-lifetime-27262095?viewpos=19&trackingpgroup=RFMFT&tile=hmpg_tile_a
From Uncommon Goods, this wishbone paperweight fits the holiday http://www.uncommongoods.com/product/health-wealth-love-wishbone
Stacy McKoy
November 22, 2010
Hi Preston,
Personally I love giving personalized presents. Whether it be towels or blankets or jewelry boxes. I know that you are pressed for time so maybe a fancy letter opener or a spa day or something that compliments a previous gift. Like music for an ipod or a nice case for a camera? Emergency kits are always useful and so many of us neglect to own one…Hope this helps…Love Ya!!! Happy Holidays to you and yours.
YOUR NAME
November 23, 2010
You should get them an iPad
Sharon
November 23, 2010
It might be a little bit more..but you could give them a 2012 VW Bug? Okay, maybe not that but Oprah had some great gift ideas! I love the Ralph Lauren Cashmere throw…who wouldn’t want to take the chill off with a chic throw!
Laura
November 23, 2010
I think that fur edged mittens would be amazing!!!!!!
Ana Vlas
November 23, 2010
Key-rings with PB monogram !
Jozette
November 23, 2010
I always wanted to do some corp gifts with brookstone of their plushy NAP collection! Travel blankets or the plushy NAP bear is fab! But our corp color is either black or white so they didn’t ve that in stock to customize for our brand. Or I did customized cookies with Yokumoku available at saks! Yummilicious!
Denise Scott
November 23, 2010
I think that your presence alone would be my gift, I feel that material things last for a while but memories with loved ones last a lifetime. From one Panamanian to another HAPPY HOLIDAYS!
CADE
November 23, 2010
Hola Preston, yo creo que un libro siempre es un buen regalo… y aunque ya lo hayas dado antes siempre puedes cambiar por un título nuevo.
CB
November 23, 2010
This is a really nice gesture! Giving THANKS on THANKSgiving! A few suggestions may be some apple products such as an ipod touch (4th generation), IPADS would be spectacular, and visa gift cards for any amount are always helpful! A navigation system is always a plus to have becasue a lot of people are always getting lost! Im sure any gifts you give will be greatly appreciated and very well thought of
Roselle Hope
November 23, 2010
Hi. I suggest a kindle with a twist. Start your own PB book club. Each month send wirelessly a book to your friends and family. Each book should be inspirational and meaningful. Great way to stay in touch over the coming year (I know your schedule is busy). Inexpensive. Kindle books start at .99 cents and many are free. Also a great christmas gift for your staff. Also a great addition to your blog where you can share your PB book club picks. Blog members can purchase for their own kindles or buy paper book. In sum, you would be in essence giving the gift of daily inspiration.
YOUR NAME
November 24, 2010
ipad
Savannah (Pearls and Pages)
November 24, 2010
Oh gift giving— so much fun! Though the holiday season isn’t the only time of the year to be charitable or in the giving mood for your friends and family, I can’t help but feel the extra push come Thanksgiving time to start giving a bit more! So many wonderful ideas here. I was going to suggest a Kindle, if you want to go the electronics route, and love, love, LOVE Roselle’s idea about your own PB book club.
You have mentioned a few times your fave recent reads and recommendations here on your blog, and I think it would be so unique and fun, with the gift that keeps on giving approach, to gift Kindles with a book a month for a year or something that you can purchase and have uploaded directly to each of the guests’ machines. How wonderful!
I recently got a Kindle and love it. I love all things Apple and would love an iPad, but the price of the Kindle beat the iPad by far, and, simply, I wanted a book that could be a book wherever I wanted to read. I took my Kindle to the East Sea in Europe recently and enjoyed reading in full sun on the beach. The iPad couldn’t do that. For all the gung-ho readers, the Kindle is super lightweight, easy to drag with you everywhere, and easy and enjoyable to read. If I were a guest, Preston, a Kindle 3G with a book of yours a month would be amazing.
Good luck and please share what you ended up deciding on. Have a LOVELY Thanksgiving!
All the Best,
Savannah
The French Bouquet– Fabulous European-Inspired Floral Design from the Brilliant French Florist, Anne Marie Foy:
http://www.thefrenchbouquettulsa.com/blog
Navjot Kaur
November 25, 2010
It is easy to buy things as per taste. Gift for each family member reflects the emotions and bond between you and them. I have noticed that no matter how much one try but one cannot fit in everyone else shoes. For me a thoughtfulness counts. A niece making a card for me. My brother calling from India and saying that he miss me as wish I was there to celebrate. My son thanking me for being there in his life. My best friend reminding me of our childhood days.
Try to personalize by getting your growing years family pictures and make a motion picture or just frame the picture and a word of praise. Giving movies tickets to the latest movie with the family, if time permits accompany them.
Things will not last but personal touch will last and remind others as well as you of good days spent together.
THERESE G
December 21, 2010
COACH NEW METALLIC BUSINESS CARD HOLDERS – That is what I gave some of my associates and personal friends this year and they loved it Simple and Useful