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10 Valentine's Day Experience Gifts You'll Both Enjoy

TresSugar — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 15:01:17 PST

Rather than buying your guy a new watch or wallet for Valentine's Day, try something different and give him an experience that you can enjoy together. Skip the standard candlelit dinner routine and spice things up with a fun adventure. He'll love the thoughtful surprise, and you'll have a shared memory that can last forever. Here are 10 great experiences for you to gift your guy on February 14!

This Blockbuster Gift With Purchase Lets You Be Your Own Valentine

Miriam Lacey — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 10:13:11 PST

If you'll be doing some department-store beauty buying today or tomorrow, we highly recommend that you check out Barneys, because the "Love Yourself" gift with purchase it's currently offering is one of the best we've ever seen. It has everything a beauty fanatic could want, including a full-sized Deborah Lippmann nail polish, Lipstick Queen lip color, and Sunday Riley lip gloss. There are also a ton of substantial sample-sized goodies from the likes of Kiehl's, Nars, and Frederic Malle. To get it, you need to spend $200 on beauty online or in a store through Saturday, Feb. 11 (and shipping is free, too). So if you were thinking about stocking up, now's the perfect time to treat yourself.

All You Need is Love: 10 Adorable Valentine's Day Finds from Etsy

Natasha Dantzig — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 04:21:51 PST

Love is in the air! Some parents object to Valentine's Day on the grounds that it's a "Hallmark Holiday," an artificially manufactured creation in pursuit of the almighty dollar. Yet, no one wants their lil one to miss out on all the fun or feel left out at school. Stick to your anticommercial ethos while holding on to the joy of the holiday by shopping at Etsy and supporting individual artists. Keep reading for 10 sweet finds that will delight lil ones without giving parents an ethics crisis.

8 Football-Themed Gifts For Your Guy

TresSugar — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 04:00:38 PST

As NFL playoffs continue and the Super Bowl approaches, show your guy some love - and score some serious points - by surprising him with a football-themed gift. Not only will he appreciate the unexpected gesture, but he'll also be grateful that you respect his sports obsession. Here are eight gift ideas for the football lover in your life.

4 Things to Do With Gifts You Don't Want

Emily Co — Wed, 28 Dec 2011 05:00:35 PST

Now that the Christmas rush is over, you might be less than giddy over some of the gifts you received. Every year, millions of dollars are wasted on unwanted gifts, but that doesn't mean you should let your own unwanted present go to waste. If you're eyeing a certain gift with distaste, here are a couple of options you can take:

Exchange or return it to the store: If the kind recipient was thoughtful enough to include a gift receipt, use the opportunity to trade the present in for an item that you actually want or to get a refund. Remember not to take too long when returning the gift, because there usually is a time frame for when the store will accept a return. Also, check the return policy to see if you're allowed to get a full refund or if you're only allowed to trade the item in for another.
Sell it online: Sell the unwanted gifts on sites like Craigslist, eBay, or Amazon. If you don't have much experience with online commerce, ask a savvy friend who's well versed in selling items on the web to help you out. If you're creating an account, try not to pick a username that's too obvious or your recipients may spot you reselling their unwanted gifts. If the item has been personalized for you, be honest and mention that in the description. You might also want to offer up a discount if the gift has your name engraved on it.
Regift it: You can also give the present to someone else if you follow regifting rules such as making sure you aren't giving the gift back to the same recipient and that you're thinking about the recipient and not giving another unwanted gift. If the gift isn't Christmas-themed, you can perhaps give it as a thank-you gift at a New Year party if it's appropriate.
Donate it: When all else fails, you can always donate it so the gift will hopefully be used by someone else. Call local charities to see if they're willing to accept the type of item you're thinking about donating. Use Charity Navigator's advanced search feature to look for suitable charities near you. Remember, you can deduct this donation on your income tax return, so try to do this before the end of the year!

While you're trying to decide what to do with your unwanted gifts, keep this rule in mind: try to get rid of them as soon as you can. The longer you leave your gift sitting there, the longer it'll be part of your clutter, and you might start procrastinating and delay dealing with it.

5 Cool Gift Ideas For the Guy in Your Life!

Allison McNamara — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 03:11:05 PST

We've already given you some great gift ideas for mom and shown you some awesome presents under $100 - now it's time to find the perfect gift for the guy in your life. Shopping for guys can be a huge challenge, so we took it upon ourselves to find five cool presents that any guy will like. Watch to see our picks, and don't forget to check out our other gift guides. On Allison: StyleMint top, Lia Sophia necklace, Zara jacket.

7 Tips For Being the Best Gift Giver

Colleen Barrett — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 09:46:41 PST

Like most things, all you need to know to be an amazing gift giver can be found in the words of 30 Rock's Jack Donaghy. "Gift giving is the purest expression of friendship," he tells Liz Lemon. "I'm going to think about what I know and like about you and that will lead me to the perfect gift. And you do the same."

The problem is we don't always know the people we're buying gifts for as much as we'd like, so I've rounded up some advice that will make you the best gift giver under the tree. After all, competition is what the holidays are all about.
Get the tips below.

It's Not Too Late to DIY These Charming Homemade Gifts!

Guest Writer — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 06:00:47 PST

Stephania and Colleen from Thursdays are back with a great holiday post to help you DIY your way to gift-giving success. Take it away, ladies!

If you still have some people left to get gifts for, but can't bear the thought of going shopping in the insanity right now, we are here to help! These handmade gift ideas pack tons of charm without taking up tons of time or money. Besides, who doesn't love getting a gift that someone has put a little love into?

Our Top Picks for Last-Minute Gifts at Neiman Marcus

FabSugar — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 05:00:00 PST

Looking for a little last-minute gift inspiration? We headed to Neiman Marcus in Beverly Hills to pick out a few of our favorite things for our nearest and dearest. Finding everything from a Clarisonic Home and Away kit for that girl who needs an at-home spa day to sweaters for dad to DVF scarves for mom, we've picked out great gifts for everyone on your list. And the best part is, you can shop them all here!

Guide to 11th-Hour Christmas Gifts

Emily Co — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 12:15:39 PST

The clock is ticking, and we have five more days before Christmas is upon us. If you're not totally done with buying gifts, or if you haven't even started,don't fret! Read some of my tips and suggestions to getting your holiday gift list done!

Start Now: Don't give yourself more stress and pressure to buying gifts than you have to. Nip that in the bud by starting today. Don't know where to start? Make a list and go from there.
Gift Cards: Gift cards are always a popular and easy gift, and it takes little effort to run out to the nearest Starbucks to get one! Afraid gift cards are too impersonal? Here are instructions for dressing it up in a DIY snow globe. Egift cards might be a very quick way to wrap up your Christmas shopping.
Affordable Fast Shipping: Take advantage of the next-day shipping options that won't break the bank, which some online stores are providing. Retailers like Zappos and Amazon provide the next day service for free, while Overstock will deliver it to you for free before Christmas day. Remember, these deliveries have restrictions, so remember to read the fine print!
Regifting: Consider regifting (with care!) something you’ve already received. Be sure to not make these major regifting mistakes and don’t give anything that's used or too old.

More 11th-hour tips after the jump.