Question: My husband always asks me what I want for Christmas, I tell him to surprise me but he insists that I give him ideas (he says he's not good at surprises). Then he gets me something that I asked for...no surprises. How can I get him to surprise me, with something I would like? Answer: Well, as a husband myself, I can tell you, nothing is more nerve-racking than trying to find the perfect gift for your spouse. Yep, I said perfect gift. Why? Because when it comes to a spouse gift, there are no exceptions. No "so-so" gift. ... Read More ...

If you're tired of your gifts looking like everyone else's, put some creative thought to it. Gifts don't have to just be paper and ribbon that you bought at the store. Let some of these ideas inspire you. Name Tags - Instead of using name tags, use the front cover from leftover Christmas or other holidays. Just cut along the crease and glue or tape the card to the top of your wrapped package. Most designs have some unprinted space to allow you to write the name of the recipient and a short note. Decoration - Instead of using ribbons ... Read More ...

Have you been thinking about the gifts men would love to have? Just ask your friends. They'll tell you that it is really difficult to come up with gift ideas for men, but it won't hurt to give something stylish like one of those pocket watches or pocket watch accessories. Men Have Their Favorites, Too When it comes to gifts, men have their favorites, too. But if it were your task to choose one gift for the boss, you'd be stumped for ideas. You'd want something he would be eternally grateful for, something that would earn remarks like: "Oh great! ... Read More ...

Christmas shopping for your significant other doesn't have to be stressful, it can actually be quite fun if you know WHO you're looking for. The best gifts are those that show you were thinking about the person when you bought it. So how can you tailor your gift to the person you're giving it to? Listen When they "Oooh and Ahhhh" Anytime you are shopping or window shopping with this person pay attention to the things they take notice of..."wow, I've love to have one of those", "mmmmm, these candles smell delicious", or "That is a beautiful picture". When your ... Read More ...

You pick out an amazing, expensive little keychain that comes with 32 features including its own panic button and tell yourself it's the perfect gift. Of course, it's not. The man who has everything has probably seen the super keychain before and decided not to buy it since he would never use it in a million years. It's never easy finding gifts for the man who has everything, since the man who has everything has, well, everything. You know the type, professional job, nice car, good family, a few hobbies; probably an all-around good fellow, but not very easy to ... Read More ...

It is amazing how much thought someone will give into picking out the perfect present yet uses very little imagination on how to give it. In many ways, the presentation of a gift is just as important as the item itself. Imagine buying someone a gold ring and leaving it on the kitchen counter with a note that says "thought you might like this." Or contrast that with the gift of a ring hidden inside a rosebud that will "magically" appear as the rose blossoms in the sunlight. The next time you are giving a gift, consider presenting it in ... Read More ...

This is a guest post by Randall Wagner. Randall is the Founder and President of GemEx Systems, Inc., a diamond grading system available at select diamond retailers nationwide. We've all heard the slogans: "Every Kiss Begins with Kay" and "He Got It at Jared" and many more. With so many stores and advertisements, buying a diamond can be confusing. We're entering the busiest diamond buying season of the year, so it's more important now than ever to know what to look for when hitting the stores this season. Here's a list of five quick tips that can help you get ... Read More ...

This is a guest post from Spence Diamonds - Canada's largest retailer of diamond jewelry. Now that you're ready to start looking at engagement rings for that special someone, it's time to do a bit of research to make sure you pick just the right one. If you've never been shopping for engagement rings before, it's understandable that you feel a little lost at first. Our diamond consultants at Spence Diamonds would love to teach you everything you need to know about diamonds and rings, but here's a bit of an introduction and a "what to watch for." Engagement rings ... Read More ...

My father is very hard to shop for, or so I've always thought. Whether it's Christmas, Father's Day or his Birthday, he always has the same answer when we ask what he wants: "Socks or money". His request gets a similar response: "That's what you always want! There must be something else I could get you besides socks and money." Then we pester him for more ideas, and suggest some of our own: "How about a new shirt, do you need a new shirt?". He never does give more ideas when we question him, so we take it upon ourselves ... Read More ...