So today because I am in the giving mood (must have something to do with the last of the hampers I am making!!) I decided I would like to do a "gift-away".

This is the first ever giveaway on the Gift Assistant, but hopefully in the near future we can do some more... everyone loves free stuff, right?

Ok, calling all coffee lovers. Today as the first ever gift-away I have a 250g packet of Sexie Coffie, which, even as a non-coffee drinker, I reckon smells DIVINE!!

So how to enter:

• First of all you need to be following the Gift Assistant and located within Australia (sorry to everyone outside of Oz)
• Next I would like to hear from you so... post me a comment telling me why you would like to win this beautiful coffee from sunny Qld.

So there are two days before Christmas. Are you ready? Or do you have some last minute gift shopping you are putting off because it is seriously hard work?

Well, let's take a look at some last minute gift ideas that you may not have thought of... all under $40!

Hi there! Yes I am back… and I apologise for my delay in the anniversary posts, but thanks to a malicious little hacker I have been offline trying to sort out my computer. Anyway, several hundred $ later and I am back doing what I love to do – gifts!

Ok, so putting aside anniversary gifts for a moment (these will resume after Christmas now) let’s put a little attention on Christmas. Yep, only 17 days to go, in case you were in denial.

I have just read an article about Christmas and I personally struggle each year trying not to get caught up in the materialistic side of it all. Besides being downright expensive it can be stressful trying to find the right gift for the right person.

Well today is part 1 of 2 parts on gifts under $40 just in time for Christmas. And lots of them can be done online, so you can stay well away from the shops and the madness that normally represents Christmas (unless you really love crowds and lack of parking!!).

This gift quandary comes from Rebecca who asks: "How can I transform an old photo into a creative birthday gift?"

There are quite a few companies that are offering a printing service on to different mediums including Officeworks and Harvey Norman. Regular camera shops and even some chemists are also places to think about when wanting to transform a simple pic into something very special.

Hello once again for the next installment of anniversary gift ideas. These last couple of weeks the traditional and modern themes have been interesting and this week’s themes are just as interesting!

The 8th year anniversary traditional theme is bronze or pottery and at first glance I have found some beautiful bronze fountains from South Australia. One of these beauties would make a fantastic talking point for your garden and I think I might be putting an order in for my anniversary!

Australian Bronze is another company who creates pieces of art in their foundry in NSW. Each piece is custom made for their clients, so if you have something in mind it might be worth checking them out.

Bendigo Pottery has an online store that offers an interesting range of pottery items if you prefer the alternative traditional theme. This would especially suit a household that has a country theme or for something a little more modern, check out Cool Pottery.

Speaking of modern themes, the 8th anniversary modern theme is linen or lace. Josie Baker is an Australian designer who uses hand woven textiles to create some wonderful linen collections for the bedroom.

Linen (and cotton) is a wonderful material to use in bed linen because they are natural and breathe better than their polyester counterparts. These gorgeous fabrics tend to be longer lasting an wearing too!

Lace was a little more of a challenge this week. I could find numerous online stores offering what I would call “erotic” lace clothing, which may be a style you were after, but certainly wasn’t the one I was looking for!

In all honesty some of the sites were offering all but nothing with a hefty pricetag! Anyway, what I had in mind was a little more meek and mild. Conservative maybe, but you can wear this little beauty outside of the bedroom...

Now you might think that no man is ever going to wear lace… and you would probably be pretty right. But why not think a little laterally here and get him a pair of “lace up” shoes?

Now as far as this year’s flower is concerned – good luck! I don’t know of any florist that stocks the Cat’s Tail flower, but you might do better at a nursery to buy the actual plant.

I remember my aunty used to have one of these plants in her garden and we used to steal the flowers to brush against our cheeks, they were that soft.

To know what you are looking for check out this image.

Good luck!

Hi there! My lovely friend Jan from Aroma Beauty is doing another soap giveaway, so I thought I would let you all know.

Check out her blog here to find out how to win some of her divine new soap "Memories".

Even if you don't win her great giveaway, I do recommend trying some of her lovely products. They smell sooo good and do wonders for your skin.

Kirsty

Hi there! I am back online after an unexpected holiday and raring to get back into all things relating to gifts!

So, this week we take a look at the 7th anniversary with the traditional theme being wool or copper. The obvious first thought regarding wool to come into my mind was wool clothing.

Quality Soft Wools Australia have a very different selection of wool clothing for men and women. I love the Toorallie Women’s selection - beautiful modern knits in real wool, no synthetics here!

So, maybe you are like me and live in the Southern Hemisphere where we are currently in Spring and have packed away our winter woolies. Maybe it is worth considering the other traditional theme which is copper.

I came across a lovely site called Elegantly Unique which has both copper jewelry and tableware. The man in your life need not miss out either with their lovely selection of cuff links and rings. Or maybe he is the chef in the family and would love a beautifully crafted carving knife with copper detail. Worth a look!

The modern equivalent is a desk set, which possibly isn’t as popular as it once would have been.

You know the type I mean, the leather blocker, pen and ink well. For this anniversary gift, you could take the idea of stationary and focus on it.

For example, in one of my previous posts I talked about a fantastic pen shop that has a huge range of beautiful pens. Does your husband or wife use a pen in their daily work? The Pen Shoppe has pens to suit all budgets and a pen from them would suit any number of professional people.

Alternatively you could get with technology and upgrade from the humble desk set to something like a Blackberry (similar to a personal organiser) which will be invaluable for the professional.

These little gadgets are fantastic, but you need to think carefully about how your partner might perceive receiving such a gift. Are you telling them that they are disorganised?

So maybe this time you think you should stick to flowers. This year’s flower is the Camellia which is native to Asia. Did you know that the leaves of the Camellia (Camellia sinensis) are used to make tea?

Is your partner a tea lover? There are some gorgeous tea houses online that ship interstate and have a huge selection of tea on offer. Check out Teas.com.au who have stunning Bouquet Teas. Team a selection of teas with a cute tea pot and voila – you have yourself a gift!

Good luck!

Hi everyone! This is a quick note to let you know that I am taking a bit of time off this next week, so the next couple of posts may or may not be on time - it depends on how organised I can get over the next day or two!

Have a fantastic weekend and I will resume posting soon!

Best wishes,
Kirsty

Hi there! Thanks for joining us on the journey through anniversaries. Today’s post is about the 6th year anniversary and some gift ideas for the special occasion.

The traditional theme for this year is candy or iron. The two theme ideas are very different, but certainly give you more options for gifts!

Candy, sweets or lollies are all pretty common, but check out the lolly bouquets from “Candy Bouquet” or Lolly Potz who deliver Australia wide.

If you happen to be in the Mackay or surrounding areas Hamperific also creates chocolate bouquets which start from $40 delivered.

So perhaps you would like to spend a little more on your partner and a chocolate or lolly bouquet just won’t cut it. Why not take advantage of the great Aussie dollar and take a trip to California staying at the one and only Candy Cane Inn, located just outside of Disneyland!

How ‘sweet’ would that be? You certainly would win some ‘brownie points’ there!

Ok, enough with the bad jokes and moving on to iron. I am pretty sure that are not meaning the iron that you plug in and press your clothes either, so let’s not even consider that as an option.

Bliss Garden and Giftware offer some lovely wrought iron decorations and there are some truly special ideas from Overwrought (great name!).

Woodenware features as the modern alternative for this wedding anniversary, so check out my gift ideas from last week’s post.

Add to that range of ideas a woodfired pizza oven! Ok, so it’s technically not woodenware, but the idea of a pizza from your own pizza oven cannot be overlooked.

Delivery is POA, but prices start at approximately $1000 for a DIY kit.

The flower for the 6th anniversary is the gorgeous Tulip. Of course many great florists stock Tulips and their range of colours is very impressive, but if you want to see a stunning display of Tulips outside of Holland then plan your anniversary around the Tulip Festival in Silvan, Victoria (approx 1 hour from Melbourne).

Check out this year’s event which will wrap up on Tuesday next week to see what you will be in for next time. And remember to book your accommodation early to avoid disappointment!

The other day I was conversing with a friend of mine through Facebook when she mentioned that she hadn’t organised her Father’s Day gift for her Dad in Darwin. This happened to be on the Friday before Father’s Day and she was in Sydney, so unless she personally flew the gift to her Dad, there was no way she would have been able to get him something for his special day. Or was there?

It made me realise that there are many people in the same boat and a couple of months back I was in a similar dilemma with my lovely cousin, Alison. It was to be her birthday on the weekend and even if I had sent the gift early in the week, it still would have gotten there late thanks to their show day holiday on the Friday (I had been caught out the year before).

So what do you do? Well, I had a brain wave with my cousin and this is a little trick you can do in situations – especially if the gift recipient is in another state!

Firstly you need to think. Think about what they would like and where you would buy it from if you were there with them. In my case I wanted to get Alison a candle for her new home when she gets married next year. In all honesty I could have sent the gift and had her receive it late, but I truly detest paying unnecessary postage, so I found another way….

An outdoor candle and holder was on my wishlist for Alison. Next I had to think about where to get it from… One of my all time favourite shops in Darwin is Dusk.

If you love candles then check them out online for a store near you, or if like me you don’t have one locally, you can just drool with envy and prepare a mega shopping list for when you do visit a shop one day (the closest one for me would be Brisbane!).

A Google search will most likely give you ideas as to the types of shops you will be looking for, or if you already have a franchise in mind, look at their store locator page.

Now, I knew that this shop was in Darwin, but you will need to check and see if the shop (where your gift is) is close by to your gift recipient. Then you will need to research that shop’s phone number and give them a call. Most stores will process your order over the phone (providing you have a credit card) and many will even wrap it for your recipient ready for collection if you mention it is a gift.

And that is the one catch… your gift recipient will, in most cases, need to pick up their gift from the store where you have purchased it. Some, I might add, may have delivery options, so ask when you are placing your order.

Finally, give your beloved friend or relative a birthday call and tell them they have a gift waiting for collection. Make sure you give them the right shop location and put it under their name. If you are really organised, then you can prepare a card and send it with instructions on how to get to the shop with cryptic clues – or you can just tell them!

So there you go – when you get stuck and need to get a gift in a hurry, think local to your gift recipient and order over the phone! Never a late gift again….

Sincerest apologies for the delay in this post - I have been enjoying the school holidays!

Well, when I saw that the 4th year anniversary traditional gift theme was fruit or flowers I kind of thought that this was a bit of a drop out gift.

What happened to all the lovely thought and consideration to give your beloved something really, really special? Fruit for goodness sake?

But then I got to thinking about fruit and flowers and well, you could have some fun with that! If you happen to live in Sydney then you are in luck! Delicious Flowers create some great looking fruit bouquets with strawberries, chocolate and even wine if desired.

A similar service is offered to Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney through Edible Blooms.

If you don’t live in the metropolitan areas and really like this idea, you can have a go at creating one yourself. Make sure you have a good selection of fresh fruit, a sharp knife and that you create it as close to the day as possible or your fruit can turn brownish thanks to oxidization!

Another option is to think of a resort/B & B that has a fruit name… For example, I found this gorgeous little cottage in Albany called Lemon Tree Cottage.

There is also Mango Bay Fiji if you like to travel a little farther, or Apple Tree Cottage on the Sunshine Coast. There, now who said that fruit was going to be boring?

The modern themed anniversary present again really did nothing for me as it was an appliance.

Please, please, please do not buy a kettle, toaster or any other common old appliance UNLESS your beloved has specifically requested one. Even then, think twice about whether the gift will truly be appreciated.

I don’t believe that there is any need to gift common, everyday appliances for birthdays or anniversaries. Remember my friend who got an iron? She STILL remembers and begrudges her hubby for it.

So, what are the alternatives? Think luxurious, and special. Does your better half drink coffee? An expresso machine to make their own cappuccino or café latte.

Check out your local appliance retailer such as Harvey Norman, or try Appliances Online for a great deal.

During my travels through cyberspace I stumbled upon this little “appliance” which apparently is great for both parties.

A word of warning though before simply purchasing this little gizmo – make sure this would be something that your beloved would appreciate or your anniversary evening may well be spoiled!

Finally, the flower for the 4th year anniversary is violets. These are interesting little flowers because there are a few different types including the African Violet and then the Viola type which are like Pansies.

Depending on the type you prefer most are available from nurseries in punnets (and can be grown all year round as perennials) as opposed to being a cut flower at the florist.

To make the most of these pretty flowers, get some gorgeous pots and good quality potting mix and fill with different colours. For more information on looking after African Violets check out Tumut Valley Violets.

Good luck!

Sarah is planning a great little affair for her child's first birthday and was looking for some ideas for thank you gifts:

"I am throwing a party for all my friends for my baby's 1st birthday. I want to give them a present to say thank you for coming and I am expecting people of varying ages to attend. Do you have some gift ideas for the guests?" Sarah, Victoria

Two ideas immediately spring to mind. Cookies by Arrangement make some delightful biscuits and can personalise them for your big day. You can order 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and they deliver Australia wide. They can even print photos on their biscuits!

Of course you could also make your own biscuits and decorate them yourself and hand them to your guests in a box or bag as they leave.

If you are feeling creative, try my second idea - purchase some white cardboard noodle boxes, decorate them and fill them with little treats. There are some stunning scrapbooking papers and embellishments that are available and they are lots of fun to make too!

The treats could be age related, so biscuits, lollies, mini muffins for the younger guests, and sachets of tea/coffee and biscuits for your older guests. If you like the idea of muffins in noodle boxes and are looking for inspiration, check out Cupcake Caboodle where Clare is an absolute wizz at making gorgeous iced cupcakes!

If you don't want to go down the food road, what about card games like Uno or memory or even mini jigsaw puzzles?

Welcome to our journey through the anniversary years! Today we are taking a look at gifts for the 3rd anniversary. If you have some suggestions for anniversary gifts or have had some shockers, please let me know in the comments section below.

To celebrate the 3rd year of your married lives together, leather is the traditional 3rd anniversary gift. When thinking of all things leather the first thought that came to mind is leather pants! Now, not everyone’s shape will suit a pair of leather pants, but a leather jacket might be an appropriate alternative.

If you live somewhere where a leather jacket (or pants) might not be needed – like in my home town of Darwin, then a leather purse, wallet or handbag might be worth considering.

And if you are considering a purse, handbag or even shoes think about alternatives to beef leather and take a look at crocodile or stingray, deer or snake.

Of course there are a sight more things that clothing and handbags that are leather, including furniture items such as leather lounges and even photo frames.

There are some leather items that I really like, such as crocodile skin shoes and that might have something to do with growing up in croc country and not really growing a fantastic relationship with these prehistoric reptiles! But, there may be a lot of people who just aren’t into leather and so the 3rd anniversary equivalent is glass or crystal.

Bohemia Crystal is a name that is huge in the crystal business and can be found in just about all jewelry stores and department stores around Australia, New Zealand and most parts of Asia. They offer a large selection of crystal ornaments right through to photo frames and some glorious stemware (think wine glasses).

For something a little non-traditional in the glass department, check out Glass by Gina, a fantastic Australian artist who uses colour – and lots of it!

I have had a look through Gina’s site many a time picking out what I would like to buy and every piece is unique and original.

This year the flower is the carnation which is typically associated with Mother’s Day.

There is a fantastic variety of colours available in the carnation family, but I would suggest mixing up the carnations with a few other flower varieties to not look cheap and remind her of Mother’s Day!

Through in some stunning roses to compliment the colours of the carnations and represent your passion and love for your better half.

Best wishes and good luck!

Weddings... lots of gifts usually get presented at weddings but Reece wants a special gift to give to his bride-to-be:

"I need to get some ideas for a gift for my Fiance that I will give to her on the day of our wedding. I've been trying to find something completely different, but haven't been able to come up with anything." Reece, USA

Here are three ideas for Reece that I am sure will be well received:

1) If money is no issue then I suggest Pandora if she is into jewelry. Start off with the bracelet chain and 1 charm, then for each anniversary/birthday/momentous occasion you can add another charm. Other people can also purchase charms for her special occasions.

These can be found in quite a lot of jewelry and gift stores all over the world.

2) There is a fantastic company in Australia called Ever After Gallery. They take your beautiful wedding photo (or other important occasions) supplied by you and created a digital picture/painting. They are very unique.

This may not be able to be given to your fiance on the day of your wedding (if you wanted to do a wedding photo), but you could give her a voucher, or supply another beautiful photo of you both.

There is an artist in the USA who also does some stunning work.

3) Finally something out of this world - literally! Name a star after your bride-to-be.... There are a number of companies who register your details for a fee and provide a certificate. Now you can give her more than the world...

Welcome to the second week of the Gift Assistant’s journey looking at anniversary gifts!

This week we are taking a look at the 2nd anniversary where traditionally cotton is given as a gift. Ironically most material things today are commonly made of cotton and polyester or other synthetic threads where once upon a time they were almost certainly made of 100% cotton.

So what to get if considering a gift of cotton?

If you are considering purchasing a set of Egyptian cotton bed sheets then I say consider this idea a little further. While Egyptian cotton sheets are certainly a luxury, what sort of a message are you sending your beloved for your anniversary – think washing and domestic chores!

A stunning cotton bathrobe might be a more appropriate choice and don’t forget to throw in some relaxing all natural soaps from Aroma Beauty, a satin eye mask and some scented candles for good measure.

Aroma Beauty also offers a sexy, masculine Cedar Wood and Spice soap, so it would be a great addition to a cotton robe for your man. Perhaps skip the eye mask and candles and add a shaving brush and hand towel set currently available from Hamperific.

The modern theme for the 2nd anniversary is China. Many couples may have received dinner sets as part of their bridal registry or as wedding gifts, but if not then check out the 5 pages of styles at Victoria’s Basement. Their delivery prices were very reasonable and with the variety of styles there is likely to be one that catches your eye!

Maxwell and Williams also offer a comprehensive range of dinner sets as well and might be worth checking out.

My personal favourite is the Royal Doulton Gold set available from Peter of Kensington – nothing says classy like white and gold!

There are many women out there (like myself) who love to cook and entertain and so a dinner set may go down well. If on the other hand your bride is not so keen in the kitchen then steer away from things (like dinner sets) that remind her of more work.

Daisy is the flower of choice for this anniversary and may not be so common as they once were. But did you know that the Gerbera is also known as the Barberton Daisy? A bunch of these colourful flowers will surely set the mood. Most florists stock Gerberas as they are apparently the 5th most used cut flower!

And just to complete the botanical lesson on Gerberas, they aren’t actually of the Daisy family, but are closely related to the Sunflower.

Ok, so at the end of this you may have decided that none of these options suit your darling husband or wife. If you are still struggling for a gift then think a bit more laterally. Anything made in China or of Chinese origin is worth considering, or take your partner to a Chinese restaurant for dinner is another possibility.

Another option I have heard of is buying things in twos, representing the 2nd. You could put together a whole gift box of things that come in twos like socks, underwear set (sexy or casual), salt and pepper shakers (fancy ones of course!), two packets of their favourite chocolates, gift vouchers for their two favourite golf courses for a round, two fabulous wines – you get the idea….

Did you have a favourite 2nd anniversary gift? Tell us about it!

Today's quandary is from Michelle who writes:

"I'm going to be visiting my host family in America, staying with them for a month. I have known them for about 5 years and this will be my fourth visit with them. I don't want to give them books or pictures but something a bit more unique." Michelle, Germany

When students set off on their exchanges they are encouraged to take something traditional from their home country as a gift. Something traditional from Germany would be nice, but as this is Michelle's fourth visit she obviously wants to be a bit more original.

When I was hosted I took a beautiful pencil drawing of a waterfall by a local blind artist in a wooden frame and they loved it. The timber was beautiful Australian wood and the scene was local to my home state.

Perhaps Michelle knows of an artist that might have prints available of well known places in Germany. Or even a platter or serving dish made from local materials of her area.

Hand made soaps are another great idea, especially if they use ingredients specific to a region.

Markets are great places to check out for appealing items made in your local area. Just make sure that if the gift consists of any plant or animal material that you declare them when entering another country.

Thanks for joining us on the journey through anniversaries! I would love to hear your feedback, so please leave a comment if you have any queries, suggestions or enjoy the blog...

Today we are looking at the 1st wedding anniversary which is exciting for couples celebrating this milestone. First of all, congratulations! You have survived your first year of marriage and are hopefully looking to celebrate it with great meaning and love.

Traditionally the 1st wedding anniversary is celebrated with paper and to be honest that probably doesn’t sound that interesting or exciting, so you need to make it more so!

One young lass I know of received a fluffy, fluro coloured notebook for her first wedding anniversary and to say that she was not pleased would be an understatement. Now, while I can see that perhaps the groom discovered that the anniversary gift was paper and that this might fit the “criteria”, it isn’t perhaps the most thoughtful and loving gift he could have come up with.

So, what is a more appropriate and exciting gift that involves paper?
Gift vouchers are a perfect example of a gift that is paper-based. A voucher to the local day spa for some pampering or even to her favourite clothing/lingerie/jewellery shop is worth consideration.

Tickets to the theatre or movies are also popular and something that you can enjoy together.

If you are of the creative mind, custom make your own voucher for a dinner date to your partner’s favourite restaurant and present it in a card.

Thinking a little bit more laterally indulge in a photo shoot for the both of you to mark your special occasion. Present the voucher for the pre-booked photo session in a card (handmade or store bought) and go one step further by getting one of the prints enlarged and framed for your memory wall.

If paper really doesn’t tickle your fancy you might be happy to know that the modern equivalent for the 1st anniversary is a clock. Does your beloved need a new clock for their shed/office/bedroom?

There are some phenomenal "funky clocks" available to suit almost every personality type and décor. It might be a challenge deciding on just one.

So your nearest and dearest doesn’t need a wall clock… a watch perhaps? Casual or dress, funky or classic check out the jewelers for a massive range or if you can’t find something you like there, try online at Just Watches. Here they are offering free delivery Australia wide.

Finally flowers. Each anniversary year has a dedicated flower and for the 1st it is orange blossom.

Orange blossom may not be readily available in your area, but you might like to consider products that use orange blossom such as those from Evodia. Mists, soap bars, hand treatments and candles – divine!

What is the best/worst 1st anniversary gift you have ever given/received?

Do you prefer traditional ideas, modern or a mix of both?

"Ok, any suggestions for my Dad!!! Age 65, has everything!!! Doesn't fish, sport, drink, has travelled overseas, is active in his church, still works, is fit, learns poetry and funny rhymes and a book is not an options as he is an tutor and reads up to 150 books in a year!! So, is this a challenge?" Clare, Mackay

I recently read on someone’s blog that 65 is the new 45 and by the sounds of your Dad, this could be right!! So, taking into consideration what you have told me here are a few ideas:

Firstly, how about a picture of your Dad with your family enlarged and printed onto a canvas for a personalized work of art. Officeworks and Harvey Norman offer this service starting from just $45 for a 12” x 12” canvas.

Understandably as a tutor he loves reading and so a book may not be an option. Keeping along the theme of reading though you might consider a magazine subscription to a publication like Good Reading Magazine. This is a great, easy reading magazine for when you want to read something but not commit to reading an entire book – or are sick of reading them!

For something to tickle his poetry side why not try a birthday experience and shout him a weekend in Yeppoon which includes accommodation and a Poetry Workshop with Australian Poetry Slam 09. You could present this gift as a “redeemable voucher” in a beautiful handmade card.

Another option is a gorgeous writing pen. The Pen Shoppe in Brisbane has some divine pens available to purchase. They do have some luxury pens that are out of most people's price range, but there are some well priced options as well. You can take this gift one step further and have it engraved, depending on the style of the pen.

Did any of these options tickle your fancy? Can you guess which one Clare opted for? Have a guess and I will post the answer later this week!

Today's quandary is from Matthew:

“My friend (of about 1 year) is giving a performance this weekend. We are not romantically involved but I am looking to show my appreciation after the show with flowers. She has an amazing voice and I'm sure will be awesome, but I am unsure of what flowers to give.” Matthew

Two things jumped out at me after reading Matthew’s message. Firstly that he wants to show his admiration for the performance and secondly that him and his friend are not romantically involved.

Different flowers have very different meanings which is fascinating. The most famous of all would probably have to be red roses, which is renowned to demonstrate passion and a deep felt love, but did you know that they can represent courage and respect?

Yellow roses typically suggests friendship, while pink roses say grace and perfect happiness.

Sunflowers indicate adoration, pride and sunshine while Marigolds apparently suggest cruelty and grief. And to think those pretty, bold colours would represent such pain!

So what does Matthew do? If he would like to follow the traditional meanings of flowers then I would suggest a bunch of white lilies (Lily of the Valley) which says sweetness, humility and return of happiness.

Another possibility is one of my all time favourites which is the Iris that suggests valor, faith, wisdom and “My Compliments”.

On the other hand, some people like particular flowers for their scent, colour and shape and there are no rules about following tradition, so a mixed bunch of flowers within Matthew’s price range would also be appreciated.

You can check out Ready Flowers Australia’s guide for the meaning of flowers and see what your favourite means. Let me know in the comment section below!

I saw this great shirt on Eco Manifesto yesterday and decided that it would make a great gift for a guy. Which brings me to the question of do you buy clothes for gifts? I have two answers for this question – no and yes.

My great Aunt Clytie (who is sadly not with us any more) was renowned for buying clothes for me for my birthday. Amazingly she got my size right and more often than not she picked things that weren’t run of the mill, fad clothes. I still have quite a few of the items she bought me and today still get compliments on them – the gorgeous black lace shirt that I wear as a light overshirt, the white satin blouse with beautiful blue metallic flowers (have to see to understand). There was only a rare occasion when Clytie would get something that didn’t quite suit or was a bit “old” for me.

Buying clothes for gifts can be tricky. Style and taste is such a personal thing and it can all go pear shaped when trying to get it right:

Size - Buying the wrong size for starters can be insulting if you get the item too small or too big. Unfortunately even with so called “standard sizes” there can be a huge variance between brands and styles.

Colour – Choosing the right colour for someone else can be a bit of a dilemma even if you get white, because there are some people who honestly can’t wear it well. The same goes for other neutrals including grey, navy blue and brown.

Style – Unless you have impeccable taste and have watched every episode of Trinny and Susannah or been to fashion school you may be stepping on your gift recipient’s toes by buying them that funky short skirt or glittered gold top. People’s perceptions of their body image can vary with reality considerably, so they may not feel like they can show their “chunky thighs” in the skirt you thought would set off their best assets…

As a general rule I prefer not to recommend clothes for gifts. But! They say rules are meant to be broken and I have indeed bought clothes as gifts. So when is it ok to buy clothes for gifts?

My younger cousin Alison is worse than me at trying to control her wardrobe! She is very much up to date with current trends and styles and she wears what she knows suits her style and age and skin tones. By analysing what she wears and what colours she prefers I have been able to purchase clothes that I think she would like. But, I do one thing that I believe should be a rule when giving clothes as gifts - always include the receipt!

So, back to the question of do you buy clothes for gifts? My advice would be to think carefully about it and ask yourself if you are willing to include the receipt which ultimately shows how much you paid for the item? If not, I would recommend giving a gift voucher instead. If you are sending it interstate, ensure they actually have the shop in their city or town! This allows them to buy what they like, when they like in whatever colour and style they like. Hopefully a win-win situation!

Sometimes finding a gift for someone you know well can be tough. Today's gift issue came from Bronwyn of Mackay:

"Tomorrow is my Mother-in-law's birthday and I haven't got a clue as to what to get her. She lives in a rented unit, so she doesn't have a great deal of space. She will be turning 61, so she is pretty well set up. My Mother-in-law is a diabetic, so food (and chocolate) is out of the question. She loves gardening, but doesn't have a garden." Bronwyn, Mackay.

There are a couple of options that come to mind and I bounced these off Bronwyn. Firstly, is the option of flowers. Most women love to receive flowers and birthdays, births, anniversaries, graduation and Christmas are great occasions to give them. Unfortunately, unless they are artificial, their shelf life is limited - but they are a lovely luxury that should be appreciated!

Another option is to give a mini DIY garden. I offer a small version through Hamperific called "Green thumb" that includes a hanging basket with some herbs, gardening gloves and a spade. The gift recipient can pot their plants up and have lovely fresh herbs close to hand. I suggested to Bronwyn she might like to go one step further and purchase two troughs and a selection of herbs for one of them and some pretty flowering plants for the other. Then her Mother-in-law can create her own mini garden to suit her location. And if she ever has to move she can take them with her.

Finally I enquired about the recipient's hobbies, one of which happens to be reading. It would be wonderful to purchase a great read for the recipient, but as once learnt with my uncle, you never always know if they have read the book! So, I suggested a gift voucher from a good quality bookshop. You could also purchase a gift voucher for one of the department stores where they often have the latest releases at discounted prices, but the selection doesn't seem to be as large as a bookshop.

Some people don't like to give gift vouchers as they say they aren't personal enough. In some cases I would agree, but not always. Personally I love gift vouchers because I can find something I like and this gift option suited Bronwyn as she knew she couldn't go wrong with a gift voucher from a bookshop. Team the voucher up with a great card and present with a huge smile!

Kirsty

Different cultures around the world celebrate different birthday milestones. In South America a girl's 15th birthday is usually a grand affair with plenty of tradition thrown in for good measure. Huge cakes that rival weddings, plenty of beautiful gifts and proud parents ready to see their daughter start their journey into "almost" adulthood.

In Australia we tend to make a fuss of the 18th, 21st and then each decade birthday with some traditional gifts such as keys, glasses and the right to vote being given.

Todays gift question came from Tanya* who asks:

"I have a 16 year old daughter, and want to give her a gift experience package for her birthday. What would be a really good gift experience present for her?"

It seems to me that Tanya has already thought long and hard about what to get her daughter for her birthday and has suggested an experience, which is a fantastic idea for a milestone birthday.

Red Balloon Days is an Australian company that specialises in gift experiences. Some potential ideas for a soon to be 16 year old might include:
*a horse riding trip
*hot air balloon ride with breakfast
*laser skirmish session with some friends

They offer plenty of choice and there is something for just about everyone's taste and budget.

Alternatively Tanya could also suggest taking her daughter and a couple of her closest friends out to a fancy restaurant to celebrate. Get them all to dress up in their formal dresses, hire a limo and meet them there. The experience suggests maturity and elegance that most 16 year old girls would love.

*Name changed for privacy

Today's gift quandary comes from Jan who each year finds it hard to find something unique for a birthday gift for her boss who happens to be a doctor:

"In the past the girls and I from work always have to really think hard about what to buy our boss for his birthday, I mean he's a Doctor, so he has just everything he wants. For his last birthday he got wine, chocolates and theatre tickets, and he seemed to be happy with them." Jan, Mackay

But if you are like Jan, then each year you usually want to get something a little different, even if the last gift went down well! And I have to agree, who wouldn't be happy with wine, chocolate and theatre tickets?

So what to do? Bearing in mind that Jan shares the cost of the gift with the other people at her work, so this is a great opportunity to pull together and get something that you might not be able to afford on your own.

The first thing that comes to mind is a beautiful pen. If there is one thing that stands out to me about office professionals, it is usually what they write with. While in Brisbane I visited one of the most beautiful shops I have ever seen, The Pen Shoppe. Here is one gorgeous collection of writing implements that are for all budgets - ranging from the regular ol' Bic to the "Stars of Egypt", a sterling silver handcrafted fountain pen with matching inkwell and timber case (for a mere $4,595).

Ok, so Jan and her colleagues may not want to be in debt for the rest of their working careers to purchase such a pen, but their range is impressive. Fountain and ball point pens are available and they even have the refills.

The next option for a present for Jan's boss is to order some custom made cupcakes from Clare at Cupcake Caboodle who would create some delicious themed cupcakes and deliver to your workplace. Clare can create just about anything on top of cupcakes and she even has different flavours to choose from.

Finally a third option is a glass/crystal name plate for the office. Choose between a desk plate or one that can be mounted on the door or wall, this is another great gift for an office professional which can be ordered through most trophy houses.

Well Jan, I hope this has given you some unique ideas for your boss' birthday!

Kirsty

"Have you got a great gift idea for my first anniversary? The traditional first anniversary gift is paper and the concert tickets that I wanted to get him have sold out. Do you have any unique gift ideas?" Rhianna*

It is such a shame about the concert tickets, but what about movie tickets? Together you can still enjoy a nice evening and maybe dinner afterwards.

I also noticed that you said that the "traditional first anniversary gift is paper". Did you know that the modern equivalent is a clock? Thinking along this line maybe he needs a new watch or a clock for his office/workshop/bedroom?

*Name changed for privacy

Just thought I would share with you Clare's feedback I received not long ago:

"Hi there Kirsty!Anne loved her gift!!! It arrived in Melbourne on Friday, and told me how elegant it looked! When I told her you were a local lady she was very impressed! So thanks very much!" Clare, Rural View

Lots of exclamation marks are always a good sign, I say! :)

Kirsty

Clare contacted me not so long ago about a gift for her friend located in Melbourne:

"Help! A very good friend of mine is having a birthday soon and I need a gift... As she is watching what she eats I don't want to get chocolates and she has sensitive skin, so would like to avoid beauty products. As a Mother of three she really deserves something nice, so any help you could provide would be great!" Clare, Rural View

Ok, so a couple of things came to mind straight away for gift ideas.

Firstly Wheelie Designs are a funky new company that are designing wheelie bin stickers for those hard to buy for people. They come in so many different designs and you can even custom make them! They package the stickers in cool tubes ready for postage Australia-wide and are easy to apply to your clean wheelie bin... Price range is about $45 postage included and can be ordered through Hamperific.

Secondly I suggested that as Clare's friend lives in Melbourne maybe she could purchase a gift card from Gold Class Cinemas at the Crown Casino. Here you can watch the movie of your choice while having a meal, a couple of drinks and all while chilling out in the nice cinema chairs. Prices for gift cards start at $30 and go up to $150.

The third option was a set of salad servers - and not just any old salad servers either! Available from Hamperific these servers have exquisitely beaded handles and can be custom ordered in a variety of colours. Each set is packaged in a box and wrapped with ribbons and comes complete with a card for the special occasion. Including postage to Melbourne the set is valued at $50.

After receiving the three options Clare decided that she would like to treat her friend to the salad servers. Wrapped in cellophane for protection on the journey they were sent off and received in approximately 4 days. So what was the verdict? Find out in the next post where we hear Clare's feedback....