| Tired of giving the same old-same old? | | | | up those little plastic coffee creamer |
| Embarrassed to give out those impersonal | | | | containers you've been saving. Check out this |
| department store gift certificates because | | | | yummy recipe: Coffee Creamer Cherry |
| you're stumped and don't know what to buy for | | | | Chocolates - Breakfast Treat Basket: pour a |
| the person who has everything? Well, here are | | | | box of pancake mix into a clean glass jar. |
| some wonderful ideas for unique gifts; some | | | | Add the lid, cover the top of the jar with a |
| unusual, some personal; something for | | | | square of pretty scrap fabric and tie on a |
| everyone on your list!Group two, three or | | | | colorful ribbon or raffia. Type the recipe |
| more items (mix and match) and place in an | | | | from the pancake box and print it out onto |
| interesting basket or unusual container to | | | | cardstock to hole-punch and add to ribbon |
| present your gifts, covering the container | | | | before tying the finishing bow.Add small |
| with colorful cellophane and topping it all | | | | zip-lock bags of the following: chocolate |
| off with a fancy ribbon and bow.Purely | | | | chips, dried fruit including raisins, |
| Personal- Scented candles, handmade soaps, | | | | walnuts, almonds, pecans, coconut. One or |
| bubble bath and a big fluffy bath towel.- | | | | more of these added to the pancake mix makes |
| Fancy hair ties, hair clips, shower gel, | | | | a unique treat! Include a bottle of pancake |
| shampoo and conditioner for the teenage girl- | | | | syrup and the gift is complete.- Muffin |
| A movie night basket with a video of DVD of a | | | | Magic: add your favorite muffin recipe to a 1 |
| movie you know they don't have, a box of | | | | or 2-quart mason jar or clear, fancy |
| microwave popcorn, candy and a movie guide | | | | container. Decorate the jar with a square |
| book- An interesting book or magazine (and a | | | | scrap of fabric and tie with a ribbon or |
| gift subscription), a tiny booklight, a cute | | | | raffia. Add your recipe to a printed card |
| mug and packets of hot chocolate with mini | | | | (make sure you adjust your recipe if you've |
| marshmallows, or a small bag of flavored | | | | cut the ingredients by half to fit the jar!). |
| gourmet coffee- A cozy robe - one pocket | | | | Include a muffin tin, a wooden spoon tied |
| containing envelopes of hot chocolate and the | | | | with a pretty bow, a bag of fancy paper |
| other, a small bag of mini-marshmallows.- A | | | | muffin cups and a colorful oven mitt or two.- |
| spa day with a pair of comfy slippers and a | | | | Pasta Perfect: an assortment of clear glass |
| big fluffy towel or robe- A set of fancy | | | | jars filled with fancy pastas, a wooden spoon |
| beeswax candles and a brass candle snuffer- A | | | | tied with a festive ribbon, a shaker of mixed |
| towel wrap, terry-cloth slippers, shower | | | | Italian spices and another of grated parmesan |
| soap, shaving lotion and a fancy hair comb | | | | or romano cheese- Your Fortune: mix up a |
| (or a special moustache comb for the | | | | batch of Chinese fortune cookies (see recipe |
| moustached man!)- A hot/cold pack (see how to | | | | at that you add your own printed fortunes or |
| make - with a box of soothing herbal teas | | | | silly sayings to (think Confucious Say!). |
| and a whimsical mug- Buy a variety of medium | | | | Place them in a colorful tin from the dollar |
| to large seashells and fill some of the | | | | store.- Caffeine-fix: a set of small tins |
| shells with melted red wax and a few drops of | | | | filled with an assortment of special hot |
| cinnamon candle scent; and the rest of the | | | | cocoa mixes and/or flavored coffee using the |
| shells with melted green wax and a few drops | | | | following recipes. Create tags for each to |
| of pine candle scent; adding a short wick | | | | describe each mix and the directions. (All |
| before the wax sets and you have an | | | | cocoa recipes: add 1/3 cup of mix to 6 oz. |
| assortment of bath candles all ready for the | | | | hot water. All coffee recipes: add 1 heaping |
| holidays.Holiday Bath Salts2-1/3 cups of | | | | teaspoon, or more, to 6 oz. of hot |
| epsom salts | | | | water)Basic Hot Cocoa Mix1-1/4 cup dry milk |
| | | | |
| 1/2 cup of sea salt | | | | 3/4 cup powdered coffee creamer |
| | | | |
| 5 drops of peppermint scent | | | | 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder |
| | | | |
| 3 drops of red food coloringPour half of the | | | | 3/4 cup |
| first three ingredients into a bowl. Pour the | | | | sugar---------------------------------------- |
| other half of the ingredients into another | | | | ----------------------------------------Mexic |
| bowl, adding the red food coloring only to | | | | an CocoaAdd 1 tablespoon of cinnamon to above |
| the second bowl. Using a tall, clear bottle, | | | | mixture and a cinnamon stick to the tin when |
| layer contents of each bowl until all | | | | you tie on the recipe |
| ingredients are used up (think red and white | | | | card.---------------------------------------- |
| stripes). Close the bottle and tie with a | | | | ----------------------------------------Cocoa |
| festive ribbon and a couple of small candy | | | | -Malt1/2 cup malted milk mix |
| canes.- The Gift of Time: coupons for one | | | | |
| night of baby-sitting, car washing, | | | | 1 cup instant cocoa mix |
| gardening, cleaning out the garage, walking | | | | |
| the dog, re- arranging a closet, etc.Hobbies | | | | 1/3 cup powdered coffee |
| and Sports Gifts- Tickets to their favorite | | | | creamer-------------------------------------- |
| game and a sweatshirt or t-shirt imprinted | | | | ------------------------------------------Ver |
| with their favorite team logo- Art supplies | | | | y Berry CocoaMix one package of unsweetened |
| that they use often - sketch pads, paint in | | | | Koolaide in a berry flavor to 3 cups of |
| often- used colors, charcoal pencils, etc.- | | | | instant cocoa |
| Scrapbooking supplies, storage boxes to keep | | | | mix------------------------------------------ |
| supplies in, rubber stamp set, embossing | | | | --------------------------------------Coffee |
| powder and heat gun- Computer supplies: | | | | 'n Spice1 cup instant coffee |
| CDRW's, blank CD cases, a furry Pet Virus | | | | |
| novelty or a Virus Survival Kit just for fun | | | | 3/4 teaspoon cinnamon |
| ( For the aspiring writer (or student): | | | | |
| folders, pencil case, binders and lined | | | | 1/2 teaspoon allspice or apple pie spice mix |
| paper, fancy colorful pens, notebooks, | | | | |
| personalized notes, a good thesaurus and | | | | 1 cup |
| dictionary, an agenda or diary, colorful | | | | sugar---------------------------------------- |
| post-it notes and a personalized CD coaster | | | | ----------------------------------------Mocha |
| to hold their favorite mug of coffee (see how | | | | Magic1 cup instant coffee |
| to make one - For the young artist of | | | | |
| craftsperson: a craft box with handle; | | | | 1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder |
| colorful paper squares, set of scissors with | | | | |
| different fancy blades, glue, felt in an | | | | 1 cup sugar |
| assortment of colors, wiggly eyes, lengths of | | | | |
| colorful wool, colored pipe cleaners- For the | | | | 1 cup powdered coffee creamer |
| person who love to bake: a set of cookie | | | | |
| cutters in letter and number shapes, a pair | | | | 1/4 cup dry |
| of colorful oven mitts, a cute timer, a set | | | | milk----------------------------------------- |
| of fancy cake tins, mixing bowls, cookbook on | | | | ---------------------------------------Toffee |
| baking- For the BBQ chef: BBQ apron, mitts, a | | | | CoffeeMix equal amounts of brown sugar, |
| set of large salt and pepper shakers, a BBQ | | | | instant coffee and powdered coffee |
| brush, a BBQ recipe book- A large interesting | | | | creamer-------------------------------------- |
| piece of pottery, kitchen utensils, a | | | | ------------------------------------------Per |
| cookbook, a set of cute salt and pepper | | | | sonalized Gifts- An arrangement of family |
| shakers, apron and potholder set- A fancy | | | | photos in a large frame - use nice gift wrap |
| flower pot with gardening tools, plant ties, | | | | or other fancy paper as a background, or a |
| garden gloves, a plant care guide and a | | | | collage of handmade papers from your art |
| kneeling pad.Fancy Food Gifts- | | | | store.- Any item personalized with the |
| Chocolate-dipped Spoons: buy heavy clear | | | | person's name: a t-shirt with an interesting |
| plastic spoons and dip them in melted | | | | graphic along with their name; a personalized |
| chocolate, either all dark or all milk | | | | coffee mug; a picture of their favorite hobby |
| chocolate or let cool and re-dip in melted | | | | or occupation in cartoon form with their |
| white chocolate but only halfway up the spoon | | | | name; a silly caricature made from their |
| bowl. Sprinkle with abit of cinnamon before | | | | photo; a personalized BBQ |
| the white chocolate dries for a variation. | | | | apron.--------------------------------------- |
| Let dry on wax paper. Wrap individually in | | | | -----------------------------------------You' |
| colorful cellophane and tie with a curly | | | | ll find a unique assortment of personalized |
| ribbon. Add a couple of chocolate-coated | | | | cartoon pictures for any hobby, occupation or |
| spoons in a fancy mug along with packets of | | | | occasion and fun computer novelties including |
| gourmet coffee.You can also add abit of | | | | the Pet Computer Virus at: Be sure to pick |
| extract or liqueur or even cherry juice to | | | | up your free gift just for stopping |
| flavor the chocolate before dipping.For | | | | by!Heather creates unique personalized |
| another variation on the chocolate-covered | | | | cartoons for weddings, birthdays, |
| spoons, sprinkle the spoons with | | | | anniversaries, graduations. Fun & |
| finely-crushed candy canes and let | | | | personalized with any name or message. |
| dry.Drizzle melted white chocolate onto your | | | | Cartoons to fit any occasion, hobby, |
| dark chocolate-dipped spoons or drizzle dark | | | | occupation or personality! Choose one of her |
| chocolate onto your white chocolate-dipped | | | | designs and request personal changes such as |
| spoons for a different look.- Here's a | | | | hair color, glasses or even a moustache, or |
| different twist to your favorite chocolate | | | | order a total custom personalized cartoon! |
| chip cookie recipe. Make up a batch, let cool | | | | Everyone loves a gift that's truly unique. |
| and then dip them halfway into melted | | | | Give them something they'll always remember! |
| chocolate. For a variation, add a sprinkle of | | | | Free - Personalized gift with any purchase, |
| coconut or candy sprinkles before the | | | | and be sure to sign up for our free ezine, On |
| chocolate coating dries.- Here's a way to use | | | | A Whim, for your free time management gift. |