Showing posts with label gift basket doldrums. Show all posts
Showing posts with label gift basket doldrums. Show all posts

Friday, September 26, 2008

Thinking outside the basket

I've talked about the gift basket doldrums before...here. It's not that gift baskets are all wrong in theory, it's that they rarely have the finesse or thought involved that is essential for a memorable gift. Why does it have to be a basket that looks like you went out in the garage and grabbed an old one left over from Easter? Get creative with your container. Then make what you put in the container relevant.

Why not a casserole dish filled with seasonal root vegetables fresh from the farmer's market?



Thinking along those same lines...why not a big wooden salad bowl filled with fresh baby greens also from the farmer's market?No matter what lines you think along....just think a little outside of the basket.

Le Creuset Casserole available here, root vegetable photo from here,

wooden salad bowl available here, mixed baby greens photo from here

P.S. I'm guessing that since I've mentioned the words "gift basket", my google ads will be just the type of thing I'm referring to......irony.

Friday, July 18, 2008

No more gift basket doldrums

Just like with good design or great event planning, giving gifts is all in the details. Do you have guests or business associates arriving from out of town? Having a gift waiting for them when they arrive is the added touch you do not want to skip. It will instantly make them feel welcome. Now, there are many great great options for what to give in this situation. However, is a gift basket one of them? No. It is not. Okay, the gift basket if presented well with great items can be very fun to receive, but most of the time.......well, let's just say.......it is not. There's no design or memory created. If alcohol is appropriate, why not have a little mini bar waiting for your guests. Print out the recipe (psst....if they are coming in town for your wedding, here is a chance to use your invitation design again) and put together all the ingredients and tools. For example, let's say your guests are arriving in New York. Why not make it relevant and choose the Manhattan. You would need to get all the ingredients, the glasses, and the glass pitcher to stir it in. When they go home, they'll have the glasses and the pitcher to take with them. Doesn't that create a much better memory than an empty wicker basket?

photo credit here

From time to time, I'll show you more ways to stay out of the gift basket doldrums.

P.S. Since it is Friday, the recipe for that mouthwatering drink, can be found here.