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It happens to all of us. You get a last minute invitation to a birthday party or you forget the Christmas party coming up . . .today! What should you bring as a gift?
Well, to start with, it's a good idea to keep a few gifts on hand all the time. A roll of simple one color wrapping paper can be used with any age gift. If you travel, pick up some interesting keepsakes to give away and keep them in your gift box. A couple stuffed toys and maybe a puzzle are also good ideas. Some cute tins and elegant pens are a good investment.
KIDS
1. A quick stop at the toy store for a stuffed animal will suffice for newborns and small children up to about age four or five. After that, you need something a bit more entertaining.
2. For older kids, an art set works well. If you can find one ready made, great, if not, hike to the local stationary store and grab the following: drawing pencils, colored pencils, markers, drawing pad, tracing pad, crayons, a watercolor paint set.
3. Craft sets are good ideas, too. Many are available in the toy section of any department or hardware store, but if you can't find them, a quick trip to the craft store will solve the problem, just grab a bunch of pom-poms in assorted colors, colored feathers, pipe cleaners and some glitter glue. Stick it all into a re-sealable bag and wrap that.
4. A puzzle suitable for the age group can be the perfect gift. Since all the boxes have ages printed on the side, this will be an easy task.
5. A video. If you know the child well enough to know the sort of movies they like to watch, you can make an educated decision. If you don't know him or her well, Disney flicks are a good bet. Keep the receipt in case they already have it and stick with the latest releases as it's more likely they haven't recieved that yet.
TEENS
1. Gift certificates make great gifts for teens. Choose a music or clothing store that has lots of young people hanging out at it and purchase a gift certificate. Or you can get one for Starbucks, or another popular coffeehouse in your area.
2. Soaps are always a safe bet when dealing with teenage girls. Elegant or smelling soaps are perfect for the job. You can add a matching body lotion or shower gel and color-coordinated bath oil bubbles for a gift basket. The Body Shop is a good place to pick up this sort of thing.
3. A Walkman or Discman will be popular with most young people. Just make sure they don't already have the model.
4. A new Nintendo game (if you know they have Nintendo) or a computer game can be a big hit and requires only a short trip to a computer store. Try to have an idea of what you want when you go in or you may never be able to choose from the assortment.
5. Picture frames can be grabbed easily and with a minimum investment from the local craft store or photo shop. Perfect for pictures of their friends. Get 5x7's or ones that will hold school photos.
ADULTS
1. A bottle of semi-expensive wine is often a good gift and doesn't even need wrapping in most cases. If you know the person prefers a certain type of alcohol, you can purchase that.
2. Food is always a hit. Something elegant like smoked salmon or caviar is perfect for the boss, or a gift bag full of assorted favorites like chocolate and mints and Ju-Jubees for a closer friend works well.
3. A subscription to a favorite magazine is a very quick and easy gift. You can usually find out from a spouse what magazine would be best and even get a subscription card from them.
4. For anyone who loves movies, a movie guide is perfect. You can find them at your local bookstore. Pick one that has cross-referenced actors, movies, directors, etc. for a real movie buff gift.
5. Passes to a local attraction can also make a good gift. Ski passes or amusement park passes are the best bet. Just make sure they don't already have year round ones!
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