The Gift Exchange

Due to extenuating circumstances, my husband has been put in a low sodium diet. At first, it was pretty difficult to find things other than vegetables and rice for dinner. But recently, we have become quite creative when coming up with low sodium recipes. He loads his food up with a lot of peppers and onions, which really is not my cup of tea. So we’ve been playing with using different herbs and seeing how they work with each other. I was thrilled when I saw the Green Basics Organic Spices gift. Not only are they organic but they have also made Oprah’s “O” List. And if Oprah likes it, I like it!

Included in this gift are dill weed, basil, rosemary, tarragon, thyme and my personal favorite, oregano. This gift also celebrates the “More Herbs, Less Salt Day” on August 29th. August really is the perfect time to celebrate such a day since most herbs are at their peak for harvest. So if you or someone you know is on a low sodium diet, I suggest taking a look at this gift. It’s a perfect way to add flavor to your food while keeping to a healthy, low sodium diet.

Cyrenaic hedonism - Founded by Aristippus of Cyrene, Cyrenaics supported immediate gratification. “Eat, drink and be merry, for tomorrow we die.” Even fleeting desires should be indulged, for fear the opportunity should be forever lost. There was little to no concern with the future, the present dominating in the pursuit for immediate pleasure. Cyrenaic hedonism encouraged the pursuit of enjoyment and indulgence without hesitation, believing pleasure to be the only good.

If this is your motto then the The Caymus Showcase is definitely the gift you want to give either to your fellow hedonist or yourself. Filled with three wines rated 94 points by both Wine Spectator and the Wine Advocate, it also has goodies such as the Auberge Camembert cheese spread, Aaron Bell Seasoned Crackers, Saraivanov Smoked Salmon, and Signature Caviar. Then on top of all that it also has sweets!

And if that’s not enough for you, you can have the ribbon personalized to say your name or the very lucky person’s name who will be receiving it, and then have it delivered next day. So even if your just someone who enjoys the finer things in life or you’re succumbing to your inner Cyrenaic hedonist, this is indulgence at it’s very best.

Anyone who know me knows that I like, (um, love), my lip balm. I recently entertained the idea that I might have a serious addiction to the stuff. Then, I took a look around –  A couple of tubes at my desk, one on my night stand, one in the car and two more in my purse. Addiction, yes. To any lip balm, no way. Every creamy tube of sunshine in a bottle I own is Burt’s Bees. I have a few of the original, some with honey, one with pomegranate and a lip shimmer in a shade that doesn’t really work for me, but I keep it around as a back up in case I ever have a lip balm shortage. The picture here shows some of my lip balm on hand. The white one in the middle is no special edition tube. I’ve just used it so much the unmistakably Burt’s Bees yellow label is wearing off…And it all started with a tube of honey lip balm from our Bath & Body Invigoration gift basket.

Question:
Peter Matcheck Says
July 20th, 2008 at 7:02 am
What’s a good gift to give my girlfriend if we’ve been dating less than three months?

Brandy - Customer Service Representative
Answer:
Girls like to be thought of. We like to know that you cared enough to send something to us out of the blue. I think flowers are great. If you send a pretty bouquet to her work she will be over the moon excited. It’s fun to get flowers at work so you can show off how much your boyfriend loves you. If flowers aren’t her thing, maybe send a little snack basket or a basket of chocolates. Anything that lets her know that you thought of her is going to make her a happy girl.

Most afternoons I head down the street to our corner Starbucks to get a little afternoon pick-me-up. Ah, a steaming hot Americano – it’s nectar of the gods here in the Pacific Northwest. Lately I’ve noticed a small board hanging where you wait for your coffee that reads “Get to Know Your Baristas.” Each week I read the newest question and I get sucked into reading each and every answer, even if I already have coffee in hand. So I’m totally borrowing, ok blatantly stealing, their idea.

I know GiftTree employees read this blog so I’m throwing a question out for you all to answer, but anyone can join in. I’ll ask a new question each week. The first question…What’s the most embarrassing song on your iPod, your mp3 player, or in your CD player right now? For me, it’s Brittany Spear’s version of My Prerogative. Hey, it’s got a good beat! Oh man, why do I have a feeling this sudden burst of honesty is going to come back and bite me at my next conference room meeting?

Question:
Elizabeth M. Says:
July 21st, 2008 at 2:02 am
I have mixed feelings about enclosing a gift receipt with gifts. I feel like it’s an invitation to the recipient to return the item and the thought of them doing that sort of hurts my feelings when I specifically shopped off of their list. Do you have any advice about this?

Sandy - Customer Service Representative
Answer:
This is a tough one. My suggestion is to always include the gift receipt whenever giving a gift for a wedding. I have experienced getting multiples of one gift because something wasn’t taken of the registry properly.

Netta - Business Development Assistant
Answer:
I think that giving a gift to someone is about making that other person feel appreciated. If the person you are giving the gift to doesn’t get enjoyment from gift you’ve given them, then the point of giving the gift would be lost. So if a person needs to take a gift back, whether it was on their list or not, to get something that they really want I would try not to be hurt but to be happy that you help them get something that they did want.

Question:
Carol Drury Says:
July 20th, 2008 at 8:00 pm
Do you have to buy a gift off the gift registry, or can you get something unique and special, and one of a kind.

Sandy - Customer Service Representative
Answer:
Though I loved all of my gifts, I would have to say that my favorite ones are actually ones that reminded people of my husband and me. Couples will have a lifetime of buying practical things throughout their lives (which is usually what is registered for) so switch it up, and give them something truly memorable!

Question:
Beth Shepherd Says:
July 17th, 2008 at 6:15 am
Is it appropriate to give a gift for the birthday child and their siblings so they don’t get left out?

Sandy - Customer Service Representative
Answer:
This is always appropriate to do for a sibling (especially a younger sibling). Though, you’ll want to make sure that the gift for the Birthday boy of girl is more flashy and exciting in some way. One suggestion to achieve this would be to add a balloon to the present of the birthday child.

Netta - Business Development Assistant
Answer:
My mom always did this for my sister and I when we had birthdays. The Birthday girl would always have more gifts of course, but she would always make sure we got a little something. Some might say it’s a little excessive, and not necessary, but I have some great memories of birthdays, mine or not!

Question:
Jennifer Says:
July 16th, 2008 at 3:26 pm
How do you address the gift card when you’re sending a gift to someone who has had a baby and you don’t know how to spell the baby’s name?

Brandy - Customer Service Representative
Answer:
People want their baby to have a unique name, and a lot of times it is a unique spelling for a traditional name. It can be embarrassing if you misspell a name so what I suggest addressing the gift to the whole family. For Example, address it “To John and Sue Smith and Family”. When you get to the card message, I don’t think it’s absolutely necessary to say the baby’s name. Maybe just put “To John and Sue, Congratulations on your new baby girl! I can’t wait to meet her! Love, Bob”. But don’t be too upset if you find out you did spell it incorrectly. I’ve seen my name spelled a hundred different ways and it doesn’t bother me when someone spells my name incorrectly.

Katherine - Gift Services
Answer:
“Congratulations on your new addition to the family.”

Question:
Carrie Says:
July 16th, 2008 at 3:22 pm

What would be an appropriate gift for a co-worker who’s had a death in their family and you think they will be overwhelmed with fruit and flowers?

Shawna - Director of Customer Service
Answer:
When I send bereavement gifts I try to send items that are shelf stable or non-perishable. That way I am still giving them good stuff to eat without much preparation. Also engraved items are very thoughtful for these types of situations. I know a lot of people order the Amazing Grace Engravable Wind Chimes and have the deceased name etched into the chimes with their birth date or years. I think during situation as delicate as these even a card is always appreciated by the recipient.

Katherine - Gift Services
Answer:
Seeds of Life Oak Tree Kit