Aromatherapy is a Healthy, Inexpensive Holiday Gift Idea

Aromatherapy is a great holiday gift that has therapeutic benefits – especially if you’re on a budget! Financial constraints is a dilemma I face this holiday season – the year has taken its toll on us financially (no doubt like many others).

So, as an aromatherapist, I put my skills to good use and came up with some great – and yet simple – ideas for making and giving aromatherapy gifts this Holiday season.

If you are new to aromatherapy, you might be interested in my Make-Your-Own Products Kits which are a great Holiday gift idea in themselves.

5 Easy Aromatherapy Gifts to Make and Give for the Holidays

Below, I am sharing some tips on the aromatherapy products that I feature.  Please feel free to share below any of your own simple ideas for aromatherapy gifts. Enjoy!

Scented Aromatherapy Candles

Candles are a traditionalHolidaytreat!  However, did you know that regular scented candles that you buy in the majority of stores are made from paraffin and contain artificial scents?  If you make aromatherapy candles with true essential oil fragrances, you home will not only smell great – it will be therapeutic too, depending on the fragrance that you choose.

Here are a few examples:

• Frankincense, sandalwood, myrrh – traditionalHolidayscents with meditative, calming properties
• Orange – an uplifting aroma, like other citrus aromas (lemon, grapefruit, mandarin)
• Lavender – relaxing aroma

If you’re interested in incense (a different type of aromatherapy), read Best Types of Incense to Burn – Frankincense, Sandalwood, Sage.

You could also make and choose Holiday candles that are made with soy; soy is a natural product that is kinder to the environment – and ultimately you!  Making candles is relatively simple; if you are new to candle making, invest in an aromatherapy candle making kit that includes step-by-step instructions on how to make your candles.  Then simply add in your fragrance of choice.

Aromatherapy Lip Balms

Many people think that making aromatherapy lip balms is difficult, when in fact it is one of the easiest aromatherapy products to make.  It is true that there are many different aromatherapy recipes for making lip balms but the basic ingredients that you need for a simple aromatherapy lip balm are beeswax, one type of vegetable oil, an essential oil fragrance, cocoa butter/shea butter.

You can find many free aromatherapy recipes on line for making aromatherapy lip balms but make sure you choose one from a reputable and trusted source; if you need more guidance sign up for a short product making course, or use a kit.  If you simply want to buy a product with the “right” ingredients, buy from a certified aromatherapist who lists all of the ingredients.

Aromatherapy Body Butters

I think that aromatherapy body butters are a slightly more luxurious product than a regular lotion or cream – so are a great gift!  Yet they are simple to make and use.  Again, the basic ingredients for making an aromatherapy body butter can simply be beeswax, one type of butter (one example is cocoa butter), one type of vegetable oil and an essential oil fragrance.

For more complex aromatherapy body butter recipes combine two or more vegetable oils and butters.  Find an aromatherapy recipe or product from a reputable source; basically, you heat and combine your ingredients on the stove top in your kitchen!  Recipe ideas are endless.

If you’re interested in homemade soap, read Homemade Soap Gifts – Making Hemp, Chocolate, Mango Soaps.

Aromatherapy Bath Salts

Who doesn’t love a bath, ladies?  Bath salts are also simple to make and you can use a variety of different salts with healing properties!  Epsom bath salts are probably the most well known but you can also useDead Seasalts and Himalayan Pink salts (a luxury I recently discovered!).  Simply add your chosen essential oil fragrance to your salts and combine in a jar; sprinkle a small quantity in your bath for both a relaxing and therapeutic bath!

Aromatherapy Sugar Scrubs

Sugar scrubs are great for exfoliating the skin and you can make the simplest of sugar scrubs from the ingredients that you have in your kitchen!  Again, there are a variety of different types of sugars that you can use as the base for your aromatherapy sugar scrub but a basic sugar scrub can be made from turbindo sugar, one type of vegetable oil and an essential oil fragrance.  You can also add in honey and/or shea butter.  Simply combine and exfoliate!

Aromatherapy Gifts for the Holidays

How you present your gifts is the final bow on the gift itself!  Search for unique and unusual jars in thrift and good will stores for your aromatherapy bath salts, sugar scrubs, body butter and candles and you will have a gift like no other!  There are also a variety of cheap lip balm tube and tin options to be found on line for aromatherapy lip balms.  And the advantages of giving such gift?  Cheap, economical, within budget, but most importantly personal.

And that’s what the Christmas Holidays are really about.

Written by Sharon Falsetto, a certified aromatherapist with her own aromatherapy business, Sedona Aromatherapie. She also writes her own aromatherapy blog, and regularly writes and blogs about aromatherapy for a variety of publications.  You can find Sharon on Twitter or facebook.

You don’t need to give an expensive gift to celebrate a special occasion, but it’s fun to dream, isn’t it? Especially since dreams have a funny way of turning into reality – in ways you don’t expect.

This list of the most expensive gifts includes jewelry (diamond necklaces), gourmet food (caviar), cans of food (tomato puree), tools, technology (video conferencing cameras), musical instruments (accordians), and sports memorabilia.

The baseball pictured is a Yankees Babe Ruth Autographed/Hand Signed Authentic Baseball, sold through Amazon for more than $46,000 dollars.

If you’re looking for a fun, affordable sports gift, check out the Amazon Sports Fan Page. You’ll find a wide array of jerseys, caps, and clothing that represents different sports teams – and I can guarantee that they’re not the most expensive gifts on Amazon!

 10 Most Expensive Gifts – and 10 Affordable Alternatives

While updating my most popular Christmas gifts articles, I discovered Malossol caviar. Is it the most expensive gift on Amazon? Nope – a diamond necklace that costs more than $900,000 is.

Enjoy a taste of luxury without spending insane amounts of money…

The Most Expensive Diamond Ring – an Extravagant Engagement Gift

Diamonds aren’t the best gift you could give me. I have a diamond engagement ring and I can’t remember how many carats it is – I think it’s almost a carat. It definitely didn’t cost $145,000 — which is what this Diamond Solitaire Ring costs on Amazon. I don’t know if this is the most expensive diamond ring on Amazon, but it must be close (sometimes prices and items change, just like in a “real” store).

Are you hoping to get engaged over the holidays, or for your sweetie’s birthday? A less expensive gift alternative is a 3/4 carat diamond solitaire engagement ring. Mine is a 3/4 diamond ring, and it looks exactly like the one in the picture.

The Most Expensive Diamond Necklace

This gorgeous Sapphire and Diamond Pendant is 18 carats of diamonds and who knows how much gold. It costs $125,000. There is a set of diamond and emerald earrings that almost match – but not quite because the emerald is a gorgeous blazing green color.

Want to give a loved one a pendant for Christmas or her birthday? An affordable alternative is the Gold and Sterling Silver Diamond Heart Pendant. It’s not as big or splashy as the sapphire and diamond pendant, but it is beautiful – and it’s from your heart, not your wallet!

The beauty of a gift like a diamond pendant is that it’s good for any special occasion, from graduations to anniversaries to birthdays!

The Most Expensive Tool – Gifts Men Love!

I’m adding the “Automotive” category to this list of the most expensive gifts, because men really love getting tools for special occasions.

The Knaack 109 Jobmaster Cabinet with double doors on the front side costs $120,000 on Amazon. And look at it – it looks like an old brown plastic tool chest! In fact, it’s not even as nice as the traditional red one that mechanics have.

Another super expensive gift for men is a Leatherman tool – the k502x Straight Edge. It looks like a switchblade or pocketknife to me, but it costs $100,000. You can’t afford to buy that, but you can afford something simpler!

If your sweetie likes getting tools for Christmas (like mine does – especially tools that open wine bottles or keep bottles of wine fresh), check out the Tools and Home Improvement page on Amazon. It starts with a programmable thermostat – which we have and love.

Most Expensive Technology Gifts

The LifeSize Focus Video Conferencing camera costs $100,000, and I’m sure it does things your own camera, phone, or iPhone can’t (or refuses to do). It’d be a great gift if your spouse is starting her own business, or wants to take it to the next level.

Or, you could get several affordable gifts, instead of one insanely expensive one.

The Kindle eReader was Amazon’s top bestselling item, until their new Kindle Fire with Multi-touch Display and Wi-Fi came along. At less than $200, it’s definitely not the most expensive gift on Amazon!

The Apple iPod Touch is another very affordable gift that is great for any type of special occasion.

The Most Expensive Gourmet Food – Caviar

Osetra Classic Caviar – “Malossol” costs almost $4,500 on Amazon. It doesn’t look yummy, so I didn’t include the picture.

According to CaviarOasis.com, the term “Malossol” comes from the Russian language and literally means ‘little salt’ or ‘lightly salted’.  Alternate spellings for this term are: Malosol and Malossal. Malossol does not refer to a variety of caviar (e.g. Beluga or Sevruga), rather it refers to the actual treatment of the caviar. The caviar has had minimal salt added to it and, therefore, has a more delicate and truer flavour. Malossol caviars are the only ones labelled as ‘fresh’ and must be kept under constant refrigeration.

This caviar typically has smallish medium-size grains with a low salt balance and a that subtle crisp flavor and textures. Varies in color, with a greenish tint to light and dark browns.

A less expensive version of this gift is Black Lumpfish Caviar, which is $10. But remember, you get what you pay for.

If you want to enjoy good caviar, try The Savory Sophisticated Gourmet Food Gift Basket with Caviar – you’ll also get cheese, crackers, truffles, and other yummies to help you get the most of your caviar.

Tomato Puree – The Most Expensive Food on Amazon

I have to add that Cento’s Tomato Puree costs almost $45,000! It’s from Italy. I’ve been to Italy, and everything is very very expensive…but I had no idea that tomato puree cost this much.

If you really want to give tomato puree as a gift, I’m sure you could pick up an affordable alternative (Hunt’s!) at your local grocery store.

But I think you should be more creative if if you give a gift to someone who loves to cook. Check out the Misto Gourmet Olive Oil Sprayer - it’s perfect for adding flavor to salads and stir frys without adding extra fat and calories.

Most Expensive Musical Instrument

If you don’t play an instrument – or have kids who play music – then you may not realize how expensive musical instruments are. But did you know they can cost hundreds of thousands of dollars?

The Hohner Morino IV Accordion costs either $112,000 or $12,000 — depending on where you look on Amazon.

The 1950 Fender Broadcaster costs $40,000. A friend of mine who plays guitars AND makes them says that there is a huge difference in playing a regularly priced guitar (a few hundred dollars), versus playing a guitar that costs $5,000 and up. So, a guitar isn’t just one of the most expensive gifts – it’s actually a quality gift that isn’t just about how much you spend.

The Most Expensive Gift Perfume for Men

Want to spend a few bucks and make your man smell like a king? Check out the Clive Christian Imperial Majesty Perfume. It costs $435,000 – can you believe it? I’ve never smelled a fragrance that cost more than $200, much less four hundred THOUSAND dollars. That’s how much I owe on my house.

Here’s a review on Amazon on this perfume for men:

“This bottle of liquid superiority immerses my senses with pure delight! Originally I purchased this little treasure for myself and immediately bought twenty more for my closest of friends….On a recent flight to my Eastern compound I spilled a bottle in my jet. We had to make an emergency landing due to the overwhelming aroma in Frankfurt, Germany. ” (Methinks this is a joke).

A more affordable, very popular fragrance gift for men is Bvlgari Blv Notte By Bvlgari. It smells delish, and lasts all day long.

The Most Expensive Gift Perfume for Women

Clive Christian makes the same Imperial Majesty perfume for women, which also costs $435,000. It must be the same perfume, though it’s listed under different categories.

Then the price for women’s perfume drops to $10,000, which is what the Penningtons Bath Lavender Eau De Toilette from England costs. There are no perfumes that cost between $10,000 and $435,000. Isnt’ that weird?

The most popular perfume on Amazon is extremely affordable: Love by Sex In The City. However, if you’re thinking about giving perfume as a gift, check out my article about floral perfumes. Fragrance can be a difficult gift to give someone, regardless of how expensive it is (or isn’t!). For instance, I don’t like flower fragrances at all, but many women do.  I think you have to know someone really well before you give him or her perfume.

What’s the most expensive gift you’ve ever given – or received? I think the most expensive thing I’ve given my husband was the Sony iPod Docking Station. Of course, it’s an affordable gift now – but it was uber expensive when I bought it!

Now that you’ve tasted the most luxurious gifts, check out Gifts From the Heart That Don’t Cost Much Money.

What Gifts Can You Pamper Yourself With After a Breakup?

What’s the best gift you can give yourself after the heartbreak of a bad breakup?

It depends on your personality and lifestyle – but it definitely involves pampering yourself with beauty, music, massages, and messages of faith, love, hope, trust, and peace.

“From the first moment that you have the wind knocked out of you by hearing in one way or another that the relationship is over, you must ruthlessly prioritize doing as little as possible,” writes Delphine Hirsh in The Girls’ Guide to Surviving a Break-Up. “By that I mean you must accept that you are in shock and that you should expect nothing from yourself other than to keep breathing.”

If you’re still in shock over the breakup, take Hirsh’s advice and give yourself time to heal. Practice “self-care”, which simply means taking care of yourself.

Pamper yourself with a healing spa gift basket – it may be one of the best gifts you can give yourself when you’re dealing with heartbreak!

10 Gifts to Give Yourself After a Breakup

Enjoy the gift of beautiful scents

“Natural scents have a direct pathway to the brain and research shows that some chemical constituents of aromatherapy oils, particularly…sesquiterpenes that cross the blood-brain barrier and increase oxygen flow to the brain,” says Michelle Schoffro Cook, author of The Brain Wash.

Pleasant scents improve oxygen flow in your brain, which increases energy, immune function, learning, attitude and positive emotions…all of which you need if you’re coping with a breakup. A lovely gift to give yourself is pampering with scents that make you feel good.

The Essential Oil Sampler Gift Set includes several beautiful scents such as eucalyptus, lavender, lemongrass, orange, peppermint, and tea tree to help you feel good.

Pamper yourself with the gift of music

Soak in classical, easy listening songs or rock ‘n roll music – it’s one of the best ways to cope with a breakup. Music can soothe your soul, and is a lovely gift to give yourself. Faster, major keys cool your brain, which lifts your mood and helps you cope with negative emotions. Slow, healing music can relieve stress and ease emotional pain.

If you don’t know what music to pamper yourself with, read The Best Songs for Broken Hearts.

Give yourself with the gift of art and creativity

I’m not talking about buying paintings, I’m talking about painting, arranging photographs, sculpting, or drawing. Making art strengthens your sense of self and contributes to feelings of normalcy. Plus, it’s relaxing to focus on being creative — and it’ll help you cope with a breakup by distracting you from your emotions. Creativity increases serotonin levels and reduces stress; it also improves blood pressure and heart rate. Anything artistic can help create you create a new identity and even let go of someone you love.

I’m no artist, but I loved reading The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron. You don’t have to be good at art to pamper yourself with the gift of creativity after a bad breakup!

Enjoy the gift of good news

Skip the evening news – it doesn’t do anything to pamper your mind, body, or soul. Ongoing exposure to depressing, negative information can make you paranoid, anxious and physically unhealthy – and the evening news will not help you cope with a broken relationship. This tip will decrease the stress-related hormones that contribute to high blood pressure, depression, digestive disorders, and a weaker immune system. The healthier you are, the faster you’ll heal.

One of the best gifts you can give yourself after a breakup is to surround yourself with happy, positive things.

Pamper yourself with the gift of spirituality

Pursuing spirituality within a group (a church or synagogue, for instance) increases your social support system, coping skills, and self-image. Recently, researchers found that even people who pray online have fewer negative emotions and higher levels of well-being. If you’re coping with a breakup, try connecting to God or the universe. You’ll feel less fearful and anxious, which will improve your health and immune system.

A New Earth: Awakening to Your Life’s Purpose is one of the most popular books on spirituality, and it could be the best gift you give yourself after a breakup.

Give yourself with the gift of nutritious foods

This is probably the most boring gift to give yourself after a bad breakup, but it’s the healthiest! Eating nutritiously and taking care of your body is difficult when you’re sad and lonely — but that’s when your body needs nutrition the most. Avoid refined sugar, heavy meats, processed foods, and caffeine because they make you feel sluggish and tired, which will not help you cope with a breakup. It’s a gift to take care of your body: eat fish, whole grains, raw nuts, seeds, beans, legumes, wild rice and of course plenty of fruits and vegetables.

If you struggle with weight, overeating, or food issues, read A Course In Weight Loss: 21 Spiritual Lessons for Surrendering Your Weight Forever. I love this book – it’s a gift I’ve given myself, even though I’m not going through a breakup.

Practice the gift of a balanced life

Balance is the key to emotional and physical health. If you’re frantically juggling personal, professional, volunteer and social activities, there’s no doubt that your emotional health will suffer and you’ll have a hard time coping with your broken love relationship. Overdoing it can also include spending too much time alone watching tv, lying in bed, or snoozing.

Balance means leaving work or volunteer duties to spend time with family and friends — or pulling away from family and friends to read, walk, or pursue a new hobby.

Pamper yourself with the gift of a massage or spa day

Get a massage – it does more than alleviate sore muscles! Emotional struggles, such as depression and anxiety, can be healed by massage because it reduces the amount of cortisol in your system and promotes an overall sense of well-being. According to the Massage Therapy Association of Manitoba, “massage promotes elimination of waste products, improves flow of nutrients to body tissues, and increases circulation to all parts of the body.”

A Tranquil Delights Lavender Spa Bath and Body Tote can be one of the best gifts you give yourself.

Learn the gift of visualization

Picture your future love relationships: be hopeful, optimistic, and confident. Guided imagery or visualization can help you heal from a broken relationship. It involves three steps: 1) relaxing; 2) focusing on pain; 3) replacing painful feelings with healthy images. Visualizing what you want your future love relationships to look like can help you cope with a breakup. Visualization floods your body with good hormones and positive feelings.

Picturing a happy future can be help you let go of someone you love.

Give the gift of expanding your horizons and exploring your brain’s nether regions

Go to museums, visit art galleries, do crossword puzzles! Using your brain to get into the flow of an activity – whether it’s exploring an art gallery or solving a Sudoku puzzle – will help you escape the pain of the breakup. When you’re focused on a puzzle or intellectual pursuit you’re not thinking about your pain or ex-partner. When you’re ready, this gift tip may even help you meet new people.

Need more gift ideas? Read Gifts to Give Someone Going Through a Divorce.

Say Thank You for Thanksgiving Dinner With a Wine Charm

These gift ideas for hostesses who are planning a Thanksgiving dinner range from luxurious (spa gift baskets) to practical (gourmet cocoa samplers).

Or, how about a bottle of dessert wine that complements the pumpkin pie and whipped cream?

“For pumpkin pie I suggest a dessert wine,” says wine connoisseur Derrick Cousins. “A good Sherry or even an Aussie Muscat would go well with pumpkin pie because of their rich, sweet, and nutty flavors.”

Another gift idea for your hostess are wine charms, such as Vino’s Wine Cellar Magnetic Glass Charms (pictured). My mother-in-law gave me wine charms for Christmas last year – it’s a perfect gift idea for potlucks because it helps guests remember whose wine glass is whose.

And here are a few more gift tips for hostesses on Thanksgiving…

Hostess Gift Ideas for Thanksgiving Dinners

We’ll start with a few lavish gifts, and work our way to the less expensive, more practical ones. I wasn’t serious when I mentioned the cappuccino machine – but it would make quite the extravagant hostess gift, wouldn’t it?

The best Thanksgiving hostess gifts do NOT involve food, my friends. Your hostess has her fill of turkey, potatoes, yam, stuffing, and pumpkin pie — so don’t give her a food gift basket, box of chocolates, or box of salty nuts!

Luxurious spa gift basket or gift certificates

What better gift idea for a hostess than an hour or a day of pampering? Give her a gift certificate to a day spa, or a spa gift basket. The Ultimate Spa and Bathing Luxury Gift Basket is full of luxurious goodness, and will help your hostess relax after a busy Thanksgiving weekend.

Speaking of gift certificates, why don’t you treat your hostess to a restaurant dinner? You don’t have to spend a lot of money; even a $25 gift certificate to a local Italian eatery can be a lovely gift idea.

Exotic tea, coffee, or hot chocolate sampler

Our last weekend guest brought us an exotic tea sampler — it wasn’t the Bentley’s Finest Teas Wood Grain Tea Chest, but it was close! It’s a perfect Thanksgiving gift idea because your hostess can break it open to serve her guests after dinner, or save it for when she’s alone.

A similar gift idea is Ghirardelli Chocolate Premium Hot Cocoa Mix. I’d prefer the hot chocolate sampler because I’ve received tons of tea gifts lately, but I’d cherish either.

Bouquet of bright fall flowers

FTD’s Autumn Splendor Bouquet by Vera Wang is a beautiful, luxurious way to say “Happy Thanksgiving” to a hostess who doesn’t want you to bring anything to Thanksgiving dinner. A bouquet of flowers can be the centerpiece of the table, or it can sit on the sidelines. Either way, it’ll brighten up your hostess’ home.

If you’re not sure about flowers, read Are Flower Bouquets Boring or Brilliant?

Christmas ornament – a sentimental gift idea for the upcoming holidays

If your hostess likes throwing Thanksgiving dinners, she’ll love the Christmas holidays! Thanksgiving is the perfect time to show your gratitude and appreciation for dinner, by giving a gorgeous Christmas tree ornament

The Silver Annual Snowflake Ornament pictured is from Waterford, and it fits any type of Christmas tree decoration: classic, modern, or retro – including Christmas in different countries and cultures!

Another Thanksgiving gift idea that will put your hostess in the Christmas spirit is a wreath. One of my closest friends gave me a Christmas Wreath a few years ago, and I hang it on our front door every year – and I think fondly of her every time! It was one of the best gifts she ever gave me.

Before you give this type of gift, make sure your hostess celebrates Christmas!

Does your hostess have a dog? Read Best Gifts for Dog Lovers for some creative gift ideas for people who love their pets.

And if you still haven’t found the right hostess gift idea, read Thanksgiving Gift Ideas for Turkey Day.

These gift tips range from Canadian gag gifts to practical gifts for Vancouver tourists. They’ll help you say “bon voyage” in style.

Here’s a Vancouver quotation (a quip!) to write in the going-away card:

“It’s one of the places that has that perfect, magical combination of mountains and ocean – and tons of trees,” says Jennifer Garner in American Way magazine. “It’s a vibrant place to be. The people are really nice. They love to be outside. They don’t take a beautiful day for granted. They celebrate how beautiful it is. I’m always happy to go to Canada in general, but especially Vancouver.”

Not only are the mountains and oceans magical – so are our sports teams! Granted, the Vancouver Canucks didn’t exactly win the Stanley Cup…but boy did they give the Boston Bruins a run for their money.

A fun travel gift for anyone going to Vancouver – to help them fit in – is a Vancouver Canucks NHL Jersey. You don’t have to be a hockey fan to support Vancouver’s most-loved team!

The Best Travel Gift Ideas for People Visiting Vancouver, BC

First, another beautiful quotation about Vancouver:

“I like Vancouver – the relationship to the water, the calmness of the people. I like that there’s less fear there.” ~ Wesley Snipes

Vancouver travel guide – a practical gift for tourists

Frommer’s Vancouver and Victoria is the bestselling Vancouver travel book on Amazon. If your tourist/gift recipient is in Vancouver, why not encourage him or her to visit Victoria, too? The ferry ride is gorgeous, relaxing, and fun. If I was visiting Vancouver — I live here, by the way; I was born in Vancouver, and lived in a gazillion different places before moving back — I’d fly into Victoria and fly out of Vancouver (or vice versa). I’d also make time for a road trip through the Rockies.

If you give your traveler a Vancouver guidebook, write messages in the margins of pages. You can write encouragements, Canadian travel quotations, Vancouver travel ideas, love notes, or jokes. You’ll brighten your traveler’s trip – especially if he or she is prone to homesickness or is traveling alone to Vancouver.

Does your tourist like exploring the unknown? Give him Secret Vancouver: The Unique Guidebook to Vancouver’s Hidden Sites, Sounds, and Tastes. He’ll find destinations that we Vancouverites know nothing of! One of the best travel gifts is encouragement to dig deeper into the city or country the person is visiting.

A map of the city of Vancouver

Can’t travel anywhere without a map! It’s not the most exciting travel gift, but it’s a practical one. The Streetwise Vancouver Map is laminated, which is perfect for our rainy days. But, if you gift your traveler with a paper map, you can star the best places and best routes.

Rain gear – perhaps the best travel gift for people going to Vancouver?

I got caught in the rain in both Niagara Falls and Costa Rica, and had to spend far too much money on a cheap plastic rain poncho. Since Vancouver is known for her plentiful rains (and this spring and summer has been particularly sodden), gift your tourist with an easy-to-pack travel umbrella or raincoat.

Travel rain gear gifts include a Rick Steves Hide-Away Poncho that looks like a tote bag, or a Micro Umbrella that’s super easy to pack in a suitcase.

Don’t forget about your tourist’s cameras, iPhones, and iPads! Another good travel gift idea for Vancouver is a waterproof digital camera case.

Tickets to a Canadian band – or anything cultural

How about concert tickets to Diana Krall or Justin Bieber if they’re in town? Search Google for Canadian singers, musicians, artists stand up comics, etc and get your travel bug tickets for an upcoming performance in Vancouver.

Or, give a Canadian music album as a gift. Anything cultural that shows tourists what Canada is all about is a good travel gift: RCMP memorabilia or information, Quebecois or Maritime facts (though Quebec is a bit far from Vancouver), or Canadian Indian history. Again, it depends on your tourist’s interests, age, and personality.

Canadian gag gifts

The best travel gifts for people going to Vancouver are fun ones! Canadian Bacon with John Candy (may he rest in peace) is a classic Canadian movie. It’s a funny, madcap spoof of Canadian living and American politics.

Other Canadian gag gifts:

• Look And Feel Canadian Breath Spray
• Inflatable Moose Head
• RCMP (Royal Canadian Mounted Police) “Hot Wheel” Car

You might even consider getting a movie about Canada’s Queen Elizabeth, or a DVD of Prince William’s wedding to Kate. The Royal Family isn’t a huge part of everyday Canadian life, but they are woven into our culture.

The gift of Canadian food

Another Vancouver quotation – this time about Vancouver’s restaurants:

“Vancouver cuisine is diverse and evolving. Restaurants serving Chinese, Japanese and Vietnamese food thrive, of course, but so do those featuring regional fish cookery, Indian food by way of the Pacific Northwest, and French-inspired New Canadian dishes.” ~ Bon Appetit magazine.

How about a gift certificate to a trendy gourmet restaurant? This is a thoughtful gift idea for Vancouver tourists, because it’ll encourage them to eat in places they might not find on their own.

One last quotation about Vancouver:

“It’s an amazing city. It’s just got a great vibe to it. There’s an energy there that I’m enjoying a great deal.” Michael Stipe, REM.

What do you think – what are the best gift ideas or tips for people traveling to Vancouver?

Quips courtesy of TourismVancouver.com. Go there for Vancouver travel tips!

First, a romantic quip for your card or love letter:

“If I had a single flower for every time I think about you, I could walk forever in my garden.” ~ Claudia Ghandi.

Remember that one person’s romance is another’s “cheesy love quotation.” So, before you write love quips in your love letters, stop and think about your partner. Is she more practical than romantic? Show your love by telling her what she wants to hear, not what you think she should want to hear.

One of the most romantic gifts for no reason at all is a flower delivery. Don’t bring her flowers; have them delivered to her when she least expects it. The Peruvian Lilies bouquet pictured aren’t too expensive, and can be delivered within a day or two (depending on where you live).

Romantic Gifts That Show Love and Appreciation

One of the best ways to create a happy relationship is to build positive emotions in whenever you can – not just on anniversaries, birthdays, or special occasions! Positive emotion includes gratitude, happiness, inspiration, and curiosity.

The more positive emotions you experience with your sweetheart, the happier you’ll be together. And, positivity in your relationship helps you bounce back from arguments, misunderstandings, and hurt feelings faster.

Bringing more positive emotions into your relationship doesn’t have to involve material possessions! These romantic gift ideas that show love are about experiences, not stuff.

Plant love notes, photos, and cards in surprising places – my favorite romantic gift!

Before my best friend had chemotherapy treatments, she planned a trip to Maui with her family and close friends. My husband couldn’t go because of work commitments – but I couldn’t miss the trip! Before I left, I planted surprise notes all over our house: in the cereal box, his wallet, the medicine cabinet, his dresser drawers, the cat food bag. Each note said “I love you”, and expressed a different reason why I love him (for example, I love him because he’s so much fun to be goofy with! Sometimes it feels like we’re 12 years old).

Plan an un-birthday party, celebration, or dinner

For my 40th birthday, my husband got me no gift at all – not even a card! He didn’t forget; he just believed me when I said not to get me anything. He’d taken a week off work to take care of my friend’s kids while I took her to chemotherapy treatments, and I told him that would be my birthday gift. I thought it wouldn’t matter to me, but I was unexpectedly disappointed not to have a gift, card, or cake. We had a nice dinner that night (but it wasn’t the same as waking up to a present!).

How about planning an “unbirthday” present or surprise for your sweetie – even if your last birthday present was a hit? That’s a romantic gift for no reason at all, and it’ll show love without you having to say the words.

Take part in her favorite occasion

Is your sweetheart a Halloween junkie? Start looking for Halloween costume or party ideas right now, and surprise her with a mask, funky candle, or ceramic “trick or treat” pumpkin. Does she love love love the Christmas season or New Year’s Eve? Dig up a creative recipe, theme party idea, or table decoration. You don’t need to plan an entire event – just contribute to it somehow. Second-hand, vintage, and antique stores often have gorgeous items, books, and clothes. If you prefer new items, remember that the best time to buy seasonal trinkets or decorations is right after the holiday. So if she’s into Halloween, then buy a unique skeleton or cauldron in early November, when it’s on sale. You can do this any time of the year, and save your surprise for the right time.

See how a romantic gift that shows love doesn’t have to be dripping with romance? It just needs to be thoughtful.

Pick a natural battle to fight together

Joining forces to affect your environment gives you a common goal and unites you as a couple and/or family. And naturally, it’s good for the planet! This is a romantic gift for a reason: to make our earth happier and better for your kids. And, uniting to fight against something will make your love stronger.

Choose an eco-battle together, such as adopting a nearby park and doing a weekly “garbage march.” Or, designate a six block stretch on a busy street as “yours”, and pick up every piece of trash you see on a regular walk. You could plant a garden at home or in the community, focusing on organic fruits and veggies. Learn how to compost, and lighten the load in the landfills. Making lifestyle changes that affect your environment can change how you think about your world – and about each other.

Tickets to see a favorite author, guru, or celebrity

Hay House hosts week-long Caribbean Cruises with their top authors, such as Wayne Dyer and Cheryl Richardson. If your partner loves a certain author or celebrity, search the internet for that person’s schedule. This takes some long-term planning – for instance, if Rachel Naomi Remen (author of Kitchen Table Wisdom) ever spoke in Vancouver, I’d love to see her! This romantic gift will show love – but you need to plan in advance.

For more romantic gift ideas, read Best Birthday Gifts to Say I Love You – Not Flowers or Diamonds.

What’s the most romantic gift you ever got, for no reason at all? How do you show love? Comments welcome below…

Wine Gift Basket for Corporate Clients or Colleagues

Take two minutes to go beyond the traditional corporate gift ideas (eg, sleek pens and gourmet food gift baskets). These gifts for business clients and colleagues will help you figure out what message you want to send.

These gift ideas range from practical to personal, and will help you find the right gift for someone you work with – and whom want to keep working for.

If your client or colleague loves his job, here’s a great quotation for the gift card:

”You’ve achieved success in your field when you don’t know whether what you’re doing is work or play.” ~ Warren Beatty.

A wine and gourmet chocolate gift basket is a nice corporate gift, but it’s not original or exciting. It’s good for clients you don’t know well, on whom you want to make an impression without overstepping your boundaries.

If you’re looking for an inspirational gift for a client or boss and you’re familiar with his or her office space, consider a black vinyl wall decal with a quotation. If your client or colleague has empty wall space, get him an inspirational quotations such as “Wisdom is Knowing the Right Path to Take…Integrity is Taking It.”  This can be the perfect corporate gift idea – it’s classy, creative, and thoughtful.

And here are a few more ideas for coworkers and clients…

Corporate Gift Ideas for Business Clients and Colleagues

Hobby-related gift ideas

This is perhaps the best, most fun gift for clients or colleagues! A hobby-related gift shows you know and support his or her hobbies. And don’t forget that being known and understood is one the best gifts you can give someone…

Here are a few hobbies that are easy to buy gifts for:

• Gifts for Dog Lovers
• Gifts for People Who Love to Read
• Gifts for Guitar Players
• Gifts for Pipe Smokers and Tobacconists

One of the best gifts I ever got from a coworker was a simple gold wire bookmark. She knew I love to read, and bought me a gift that reflected that. When you guy gifts for business clients or bosses, you don’t have to spend a lot of money…you just have to put a little thought into it!

A subscription to an industry or hobby magazine

What hobbies or activities does your client or colleague pursue? A magazine or e-zine subscription doesn’t cost much money, and it’s a great business gift. Or, you could give a gift subscription to a business or industry magazine — or even a general interest magazine, such as National Geographic (one of the most popular magazine subscriptions on Amazon).

For a list of the most popular magazines, go to bestselling magazine subscriptions on Amazon.

Services or products for business success – such as radio airtime

Can you help your client or boss improve on the business? There may be practical things you can do to help. For instance, one of my colleagues in my business owners’ club hasn’t bought radio advertising, but keeps saying he wants to try it out.

A fantastic corporate gift idea is a 15 second radio spot on a local station, or even some television time. Gifts that encourage success and achievement – like the office wall art gift idea – are wonderful things to give people you work for and with. And, a radio spot may be less expensive than you think.

Tickets to see an author, speaker, celebrity, or popular business person

If you own a publishing company and need corporate gift ideas for your authors and book sellers, you might give them tickets to hear Elizabeth Gilbert discuss her latest book (she’s the author of Eat, Pray, Love: One Woman’s Search for Everything Across Italy, India and Indonesia). If you work for a corporation that makes widgets, you might give your clients and colleagues tickets to a celebrity in your field.

Looking for upscale corporate gift ideas? Read 10 Most Expensive Gifts – and 10 Affordable Alternatives.

Gift cards to Chapters, Indigo, Amazon, etc

Even a $50 Amazon Gift Card can buy several items at these stores – and your gift recipients aren’t limited to books! Gift cards are versatile and easy…but admittedly not the most thoughtful gift for a business client or boss.

A business or industry conference

Is your business client or boss worth a significant financial investment — and does he or she enjoy conferences? A corporate gift package to a conference or retreat for three or four nights might be expensive, but worth it. This business gift idea will make a long-lasting impression!

Business tools and software

If your colleagues or clients are into smartphones or Kindle e-Readers, find a gift that supplements their love of technology. Gift ideas like this require you to be more familiar with your client or boss than average. But, the more familiar you are with your clients, the more thoughtful your gift should be.

The gift of time

No matter how wealthy or important your colleague or client is, he or she has probably responsibilities that take time and energy, such as housecleaning, child minding, cleaning the car, gardening, etc. Can you hire someone to ease the load? A thoughtful gift for business clients or anyone you work for could be six months of housecleaning or office cleaning services.

Gourmet gift baskets – wine, cheese, crackers, chocolates, nuts, etc

One of my favorite holiday gifts is a desk caddy of coffee and treats. Gourmet gift baskets aren’t all that creative, but they’re nonperishable, easy to share with colleagues and family, and highly appreciated. They’re also easy to “regift”, which increases their value!

If you think gourmet food gift baskets are too rich for the holiday season (unnecessary calories), then try a spa bath and body set with a “time to wind down” theme. Or, give gift certificates to a local day spa or for a weekend retreat.

Back to where we started: if your business client or colleague enjoys wine or port, you’ll find Gifts for Wine Lovers a good way to find corporate gift ideas.

Bamboo Cremation Urn

It doesn’t matter how long he lived: it’s hard to say good-bye when Grandpa dies. Most of these sympathy gifts cost nothing but time.

Here’s a beautiful sympathy gift, which I found on a website about cremation urns:

“Last Father’s Day, as always, my mother and I went to Grandpa’s grave and put flowers on his headstone,” writes a fellow in Remembering Grandpa. “When we got up to the gravesite, my mom surprised me with a gift. She had a beautiful cremation urn made for me from bamboo that had a photo in the center of it of Grandpa and me. It was the best gift I ever received. Inside, there were Grandpa’s war metals, photos of his restaurant with him in the kitchen, a Pavarotti CD and Grandpa’s medical ID bracelet. Now, I don’t have to worry about forgetting Grandpa or not saying goodbye because I will always have him with me.”

Isn’t that beautiful? To learn more about bamboo or other cremation urns, go to this Natural Bamboo Cremation Urn. It’s a beautiful reminder of Grandpa before he died.

And here are a few more sympathy gift ideas for grandpa’s death…

When Grandpa Dies – Sympathy Gifts That Cost Nothing

First, here’s a wonderful list of things to do when someone dies from wendysioux on Sympathy Gift Ideas. You may not be involved in the funeral planning, but each of these things on the list need to be done…and when Grandpa dies someone has to do them.

The best sympathy gift you could give someone who lost Grandpa is to take on some of these chores yourself. They don’t cost much money, and they can make all the difference in the world.

“A friend of mine compiled a list of things to do when a friend or loved one has a death in the family. She had just lost her mom and wrote this up a week after the funeral. She was in her 40s and had children of all ages at home. I printed it out and keep it on hand now so I have more of an idea of what I can do.

The First Day of Grandpa’s Death

• Make phone calls
• Stay and visit
• Run kitchen at meal times
• See if the supply on paper products is low – kleenex, TP, paper plates, etc.
• Take clothes to cleaners

The Second Day

• Stay and visit
• Run kitchen at meal times
• Pick up clothes from cleaners
• Breakfast food
• Offer to help pick out flowers
• Change bedding for out of town overnight guests
• Wash cars
• Bring pictures and anecdotes to share
• Food for noon and supper meals
• Take children out on errands such as shopping for funeral clothing or haircuts

Day of Viewing

• Stay and visit
• Meals
• Stay overnight
• Take food to funeral home lounge

Day of Grandpa’s Funeral

• Organize dinner
• Donate dinner items (food or table decorations) and volunteer to serve if needed
• Stay overnight

First Two Days After Funeral

• Buy stamps for thank you notes
• Phone or visit
• Make a lunch or supper date
• Take them out to coffee

A thoughtful, meaningful sympathy gift for after Grandpa dies could involve addressing thank you cards and buying stamps.

Food is another huge chore during the funeral preparation and planning; preparing meals is a practical way to show support and love after someone passes on.

Sympathy Gifts – From Free to Inexpensive

Send an invitation for an “in memory of Grandpa” coffee date

When my friend’s dad died, a mutual friend invited her out for coffee. The sole purpose was to talk about her dad, to share all the best and worst memories. People need to talk about the grandparents they lost – it makes them feel better, not worse.

“[Grandpa’s] name is like music to the ears of those left behind,” says ArtLady. “They need to talk about them to be able to move on. Just think of the hurting families and not yourself or your discomfort in dealing with death. It can make all the difference in the world to someone who is grieving their grandfather’s death.”

Comfort Candles- Sympathy Gift for Grandmas

Send birthday cards – yes, even for Grandpas who died

“When someone you know loses a loved one, the grief process goes on for quite some time,” says ArtLady on Sympathy Gift Ideas. “Remember their loved one’s birthday by sending them a card. Send small gifts on special occasions, like Father’s Day, Christmas, Easter, etc. Just simply giving them a candle in a container to burn for Grandpa at Christmas means a great deal.”

Different comfort candles have different sayings, such as “In Memory of a Life Well Lived.”

ArtLady says many people have a lot of support from loved ones immediately after Grandpa’s death, but they suffer alone in the following months. This is another sympathy gift that costs nothing but your time.

Create a keepsake to remember Grandpa after he dies

Garden Chime for Grandpa's Garden

“Find the obituary in the local newspaper and have it laminated. You can cut it into a bookmark for a book her dad like to read, or perhaps the family Bible. You might also gather a few of her dad’s things from family members, such as small items for a ‘shadow box.’ I did this for my brother when our grandparents died. I had quilt pieces that my grandma made, my grandfather’s pipe and a can of Prince Albert along with his matches that he loved so dearly. We both cried but it made a great reminder that the little things mean so much!”~ Connie A on Sympathy Gift Ideas.

Another sympathy gift for when Grandpa dies is a Remembrance Garden Chime (pictured) – especially if he was a gardener.

Don’t forget that Grandma has lost the man she’s loved and been married to for years. You may find gift ideas for her in Thoughtful Gifts for Someone Going Through a Breakup.

Gifts from the heart are sincere, thoughtful, and a fantastic way to show you care.

“It’s the thoughtful little details that create the biggest surprises,” says Frankie Picasso, author of Midlife Mojo: How to Get Through the Midlife Crisis and Emerge as Your True Self. “For instance, finding a cherished childhood toy that was lost or never received in an antique store, or asking an artist to paint a portrait of a beloved pet. I asked a woodcarver to make me a totem pole that I designed for my husband. The pole contained a grizzly bear and his beloved guitar – his favorite things.”

Picasso stresses that gifts aren’t about us, they’re about our loved ones.

One of the most beautiful gift ideas on Amazon only costs $20, and combines hearts with flowers that last forever! Check out the Sterling Silver Pressed Flower Heart Pendant – it’s not the greatest gift for guys, but all women will love it.

Remember that the best gifts come from the heart – and the most meaningful ones are those that showed you were listening when people were talking.

Gifts such as …

A “Story of Us” journal, photo album, or scrapbook

Get a beautiful Tree of Life embossed leather journal, and start a record of your life together. Take taking turns contributing to an ongoing, interactive conversation in words, pictures, or poems. You don’t need to be a writer to do this – and the entries don’t need to be long love letters! You can write your hopes for the future, a one-sentence apology, poems, quips, or a thank you note. You could start making plans for your next vacation, house, or baby. You could have silly or serious discussions.

This isn’t just a heartfelt gift for people in love – it’s a great gift for parents/children, best friends, or even business partners in “touchy-feely” jobs. It’s a gift that symbolizes your relationship.

A tip to get your journal rolling: agree that each person can only have the journal for a specific amount of time (say, two or three weeks). This gives you time to add to the conversation without letting too much time pass. Soon, jotting an entry in the “Story of Us” will be an easy, fun habit. And can you imagine how cool it’ll be to read your journal after one, five, or ten years?

An evening out…with someone else!

If your partner is an introvert who doesn’t like to be in the spotlight at birthday parties, plan a surprise get-together with a loved one or someone she likes but doesn’t know well.

Monica Day, founder of The Sensual Life, says, “Encourage a get together with a friend she rarely gets to spend time with, or someone she admires and would like to know better. Plan a dinner, movie, or concert – and make sure it’s on your dime!”

Does a dinner or concert seem like a gift that costs too much money, or is too ho-hum? Find a free event – many cities have free concerts and library readings. Or, look for new places for a hike or walk, and gift your loved one with directions and descriptions. The idea of this “gift from the heart” is to give your loved one an adventure — an experience!

If you need a heartfelt gift for someone who is sick, read Gifts for People With Cancer – Beyond “Get Well Soon.”

Shout your love to the world wide web

Creating a new website takes less than five minutes – and it can be a romantic, interactive way to show your love.

“Build a webpage with special content and pictures, and share it with his friends and family members, so they can comment on it and add their own stories and memories,” says Kathleen McFall, who wrote The Cowboy and the Vampire: A Darkly Romantic Mystery with her husband, Clark Hays. They’ve been married for 11 years, and decided early on that “normal” gifts were unsatisfying and expensive. They’re both writers, and often weave writing into their expressions of love

The gift of time

What does your loved one least like to do? Take over his household chore or responsibilities for a month or more. One of my friends irons all her family’s clothes, bedding, and miscellaneous – and she does not love that chore! Her husband would score big brownie points if he took over the ironing for a month; it really is a heartfelt gift that doesn’t cost money. Or, he could hire someone to do the housework or take care of other chores, such as detailing the car, weeding the garden, painting the fence, or chauffeuring the kids to hockey practice.

If you’re looking for a gift for someone going through a divorce or broken relationship, read Thoughtful Gifts to Give Someone Going Through a Breakup.

What’s the best gift from the heart you ever received? I welcome your comments below…

“The last thing a guy needs is another tie; Father’s Day is all about showing appreciation for Dad, and that means giving him something he really wants,” says Samuel Adams Founder and Brewer Jim Koch. “Since so many men love grilling, we put together a delivery that they can use and appreciate. Couple the basket with a six-pack of Samuel Adams Boston Lager, and you have everything Dad needs for the perfect Father’s Day experience.”

The delivery he’s talking about is the Samuel Adams® Hoppy Father’s Day gift basket. It contains a beer stein, wood grilling planks, and a beef rub spice blend.

A Father’s Day “Master of the Grill” Gift Basket – it’s perfect for guys who love to BBQ, and can be delivered super duper fast (for you late shoppers!).

My favorite gift idea for Father’s Day is the Superhero Cufflinks Box Set pictured. The cuff links are practical, gorgeous, and meaningful – especially for dads who are businessmen by day and superheros by night!

And, here are many more, and more creative, gift ideas for Father’s Day…

26 Gifts to Give Your Dad on Father’s Day – From A to Z

Most of these gift ideas are plucked from various blogs, websites, and news sites around the web. For more gift tips for dads this June, follow the links to the full articles.

Alcohol…the good stuff

“Sometimes nothing can take the edge off of a day of stress and work like a nice stiff drink. Buy your dad top-shelf booze like a bottle of Johnny Walker Blue Label, or more affordable Bombay Sapphire, and you’ll give him a gift he can enjoy and appreciate with you on Father’s Day. Why? It may be less permanent, but nice liquor is a luxury he’s unlikely to give himself. Good quality liquor is also good to have around for when he’s having a few buddies over, and he’ll think of you even when you can’t make it.” ~ Top 10 Gifts for Father’s Day.

Beer making kit

“While a six pack would be appreciated and used right away (it is on a Sunday) even better would be a beer making kit. Most guys dream of making their own beer, sharing it with their buddies and if it’s really good, or even not so good, they have dreams of starting their own micro brewery in the garage. If the beer kit comes from the wife that’s a green light to turning the garage into a brewery. Which is pretty much like turning the garage into Heaven.” ~ Top 5 Best Father Day Gifts…Ever.

Mr. Beer Premium Gold Edition Home Brew Kit is Amazon’s bestselling beer making kit.

Card night just for dad and his pals

“Guys’ night in: Most men like to have a night set aside for their buddies, so why not give that as a gift? Pick up poker chips, new cards, a card shuffler and a dozen handmade coupons offering a free night per month just for the guys. Tell him you’ll order the pizza while you head out the door. He’ll love it and you’ll have an evening to yourself to enjoy as you’d like: alone in a movie theater with a huge bucket of popcorn, strolling the bookstore with a large latte or meeting up with your girlfriends at the cool new restaurant downtown. You win, he wins! ~ Father’s Day Gifts to Make You Both Happy This Year.

Digitized family photos

“Digitize family pictures and put them on Dad’s computer. Help him set up email and social networking with family members. If Dad is a collector of family treasures, sort through and label items with an archival-quality pen. And, give him a subscription to Ancestry.com, so he can research his predecessors and determine if Uncle Fred was indeed a fife player for the Yanks. And have your son, the engineering major, program the phone for Grandpa to make it super easy. Time with Dad is precious, and someday you’ll be very glad you did these things, and so will your children.” ~ Aging Dad Father’s Day Gifts

A related gift to give your dad is a Coby Digital Picture Frame.

Electric Smoker

“For many years, I’ve used my Smokin Tex electric smoker to prepare everything from venison jerky to pork chops for the evening meal. Smoking meats with these smokers is a fool proof way of cooking. The principle is simple: Small amounts of wood is placed in the smoke box which slides over the heating element, meat is placed on the racks, the door closed, thermostat set to the desired temperature and the smoker does all the work! I cook large cuts of meat such as briskets or pork shoulders all night and wake up to the most tender, flavorful BBQ one can imagine.” ~ Outdoor Gifts for Good ‘Ol Dad.

The Weber Smokey Mountain Cooker is the top selling electric smoker on Amazon. If your dad loves smoked meat, it may be worth the splurge!

Financial investments

“Believe it or not, stock is an excellent gift for dads. Whether your dad is a novice or experienced trader, he will appreciate your forethought and the opportunity to engage in this challenging and strategic activity. Take some time to learn about the market, and on Father’s Day, share what you’ve learned with your dad. Make the stock market a fun activity you can pursue together. He’ll love this out-of-the-ordinary gift – especially if you make a winning pick!” ~ 6 Father’s Day Gifts With Great ROI.

Guided fishing trip

“Regardless of ol’ dad’s fishing skills, chances are good he would enjoy a fishing trip with a good guide for his favorite species. During my past quarter-century as an outdoors writer, I’ve had the opportunity to fish with a great many guides for just about every species of fish in the Lone Star State. I’ll offer my services in assisting you choose a guide ‘tailor made’ for your dad. Email me at lukeclayton@prodigy.net and I’ll be happy to point you in the right direction. If you dad’s an avid hunter, I can help on that front as well.” ~ Outdoor Gifts for Good ‘Ol Dad.

Golfing experience of a lifetime

Quintessentially can arrange for a father to spend an epic day with his golfing hero, including a morning with a certain world-class PGA champion, coaching him on his technique at the world renowned Wentworth Golf Club, before launching off together on what will be the most memorable 18 holes of any golfing fanatic’s life! Having worked up an appetite and they will then be treated to a gourmet private lunch on the terrace, where they can dissect each hole in true golfing style- and maybe discuss some of the insider secrets from the golfing circuit.

Hip Flask

Whisky-loving dads out there the Personalised Whisky with Engraved Hipflask is a wonderful gift. The single malt Scotch is something your father can enjoy instantly, while the hipflask is a lasting reminder that can be engraved with a message of your choice.

Jack Daniel’s 6-Ounce Flask gift set comes with funnels to make the pourin’ and sippin’ easier!

Invitation to freedom – a great gift from wives to husbands on Father’s Day

“My wife said something that I’ll never forget.  She said, she didn’t care what ‘standard of living’ we might have… she just wanted me home more.  What? I thought it was my job to maintain that high standard of living!  All of the sudden, the weight of the world was lifted from my shoulders.  You see, my wife released me from an unattainable lifestyle.  She freed me from the rat race.  She opened the door to a whole new world and a whole new way of living.” ~ Best Father’s Day Gift Ever.

Jamie Purviance’s Grilling Cookbook

“It’s the time of the year for Dad to go out and immolate his paycheck, turning succulent pieces of meat and crunchy fresh veggies into hockey pucks and piles of ash. With Father’s Day coming up on June 21, it’s also time for you to up his game. Buy him a good book on grilling and barbecue.” ~ Give Dad the Gift That Gives Back to You: A Grilling Cookbook.

Weber’s Way to Grill: The Step-by-Step Guide to Expert Grilling is one of Purviance’s most popular grilling cookbooks this summer.

Kayak, canoe, or inflatable boat

My father-in-law gave us his old zodiac (inflatable boat), and what a blast we have! It’s changed how we spend our weekends now; we go boating all the time. We’re thinking about buying an actual speedboat – being out on the water is that much fun. Of course, it helps to live in a coastal city like Vancouver, BC. But even if you live inland, there are probably lots of lakes to explore.
If your 40 year old enjoys fishing, boating, exploring different lakes, or just floating on the water with a nice cold one, think about a Zodiac Zoom 350S with a Wood Floor and Inflatable Keel. They just deflate and fit into a small container that a man can carry by himself.

Since they’re a bit pricey – from $800 to $1,800 – a zodiac would be great group 40th birthday gift, from his family and friends.

Leather wallet

One of the best gifts I ever gave my husband was a leather wallet. I gave it to him four years ago, and he still loves it! I splurged and bought him an soft, durable, high-quality leather wallet that smells just as good now as it did the day I bought it. If you don’t know what to give your dad for Father’s Day, think about a simple, plain, classy wallet.

Meat

“Most men associate the chance to dine on high-quality meat as a luxury only provided by restaurants. There are some excellent mail-order meat establishments such as Omaha Steaks or Prime Chops that can deliver the same level of quality for your dad to use in his own special recipes to make grilling at home that much more of an experience. Why? Every dad thinks he holds the secret to the best grilling tricks on earth. Working with top quality ingredients will just add to his sense of confidence that his cooking is the best the next time he’s called into action for guests or the family — for men, confidence is everything.” ~ Top 10 Gifts for Father’s Day.

New power tools

“This Father’s Day, I do not want soap, deodorant, cologne, or after-shave,” says O’Dell, Father of 2. “I do not want shampoo or hair spray. What I want, this year, is a power tool. It doesn’t have to be anything big, and in all fairness, I got a new drill this past Christmas, and I love it. I’m thinking, maybe, a power screwdriver.” ~ What Dads Really Want for Father’s Day.

“One Use Only” – A Free Pass

“The Free Pass is kinda like a Get Out Of Jail Card, this gift gives the man a pass when he does something incredibly stupid like forgets your birthday or wedding anniversary, mentions those pants look a little snug or insults your mother. The Free Pass is only good for one stupid action so it should be used wisely.” ~ Top 5 Best Father Day Gifts…Ever.

Point-of-view camera

“An especially great gift for grads, point-of-view cameras have had a strong showing this year in electronic sales. Adrenaline junkies strap the small cams (which shoot in high-def) to their helmets, bikes or skateboards when zipping down hills or practicing sophisticated tricks. ìYou can film your crazy flips or epic wipeouts, play them back later and post them to YouTube or Facebook.” ~ Great Gifts for Dads and Grads.

For more info, check out the GoPro HD Helmet HERO Camera on Amazon.

Quirky hats and caps

“Looking for a stylish way to keep cool in the scorching heat? Get a Refreshing Summer Solar Cooling Hat With Fan Attached that helps you keep cool and breezy while everyone else is breaking out into a sweat! It’s got a unique blade that keeps you breezy in the sun and automatically shuts off when you get into the shade. It’s adjustable and has an extra fan blade for more convenience. The unique size fits all! If your dad resides in an area that’s prone to heat discomfort, get him one of these- and help him keep up his ‘daddy cool’ image!” ~ Top 10 Unique Father’s Day Gifts.

“Receiving Gifts” – from the 5 Love Languages

According to Gary Chapman, author of The Five Love Languages, dads who enjoy receiving gifts thrive on the love, thoughtfulness, and effort behind the gift. The perfect gift to give your dad on Father’s Day shows him he’s known, is cared for, and is prized above whatever was sacrificed to bring the gift to him.

“Create a collage photo of your favorite moments to give to him. Make your Dad a duct-tape wallet! My stepson recently made these for a school project and I know a lot of guys who would LOVE one. This is a great gift that kids can help make for Father’s Day. Make a list of your fathers favorite activities. What does he love to do?  Now brainstorm what items he could use to make that activity more fun or easier to do. If he loves working with wood maybe there is a tool he needs or maybe a brand of his initials that he could add to his projects.  Does he love having a beautiful lawn?  You could get him a special tool to make his lawn even more beautiful.  Maybe your father loves sporting events and you could get him tickets to an event that he would like to go to.” ~ Find A Fathers Day Gift That Dad Really Wants.

Smartphone

Is your dad still using his outdated flip phone? That phone may have been top of the line back in the day, but the time for an upgrade has definitely arrived. A BlackBerry SmartPhone will help your dad streamline his busy life, whether he’s out shopping, scheduling appointments, or staying in touch with family. Surprise him, or go with him to the store to upgrade his plan. Help him learn the ins and outs of his new gadget, so that he’s up and running before the day ends. ~ 6 Father’s Day Gifts With Great ROI

Tool belt for grilling or BBQing

“The grill, like a man’s office, is a personal sanctuary where mastery means everything. Your dad may not realize just how many useful tools exist now to help make the grilling experience that much better, so providing him with the original Grillslinger BBQ Tool Belt or Outset Rosewood and Stainless Steel Turner Tongs will both educate and impress him. Why? Taking the time to upgrade dad’s grill equipment will give him even more joy out of the primal experience of cooking meat over an open flame. It’ll also translate to better meals for you when you drop in on his next barbecue.” ~ Top 10 Gifts for Father’s Day.

Check out the Grillslinger Sport Barbecue Tool Belt – it’s a doozy!

Unique coffee mug

Is your dad always on the go – and does he need his caffeine at all times? The Stainless Steel Smart Mug With Temperature Control will take his drink from ice cold to VERY hot in a flash, in his boat or car.

Vacation to his home town

“Older adults have time to travel. Send your Dad on a trip to his hometown. Better yet, go with him, or send the grandchildren. You might be able to use your own hotel points for lodging and airline points for travel.” ~ Aging Dad Father’s Day Gifts.

Wheels for dear old dad

“While we don’t expect you to shell out THIS kind of money on Father’s Day, you can still put your dad behind the wheel of his dream car using a premium rental service. While we aren’t certain what is available in your town, dream car rentals are typically available in every major city. For example, Las Vegas is home to DreamCarRentals.com, a premium rental service with everything from a Lamborghini Gallardo to a Ferrari Spider to a Shelby Cobra. The rates are steep, as you’d expect, but you can pull of a dream car for your dad for around $250 for a 5 hour drive.” ~ Father’s Day Buyer’s Guide: the Top 10 Gifts for Dad.

Xoom

“I got my Xoom last Thursday as an ahead-of-time father’s day present from my wife and kids. I was actually saving for it but they surprised me. I love it and I know the market will expand xoon!!!” ~ Xoom forum.

The xoom is Motorola’s first Android touch tablet – it provides a whole new media experience for mobile uses! With a dual core chipset, everything moves faster: web browsing, video playback, gaming. Native support for both front and rear cameras provides easy access to either one.

To learn more, check out the Motorola Xoom Android Tablet.

You and dad – tackling a new adventure together

What hobbies did your dad love to do, that he’s had to give up? Yoga? Running? Sailing? Reading? Writing? Baking? Money-making? Kids? What about you – what hobbies have you loved and left? Sign up for something adventurous, get the supplies to start it up, or take classes that will help you and your dad relearn and remember your old skills.

For instance, when was the last time you or your dad went horseback riding? Read Are Horseback Riding Lessons a Good Gift? How to Decide.

Zip-Vac

“For freezing fish or game or, just about anything else. I’ve been using my Zip-Vac for the past few months and have found a new way to freeze fish. Rather than freezing fillets in water, which takes up a tremendous amount of freezer space, I now use my Zip-Vac vacuum pump to remove the air from the triple wall freezer bags. Battery powered pumps (which recharge via a wall power outlet) and hand operated pumps are available. I’ve found both to work very well. ” ~ Outdoor Gifts for Good ‘Ol Dad.

Phew!

If you still need more ideas, read Best Gifts for Grandparents – From History to Home Deliveries.

And if you have any gift giving tips for dads on Father’s Day, I welcome your comments below!