Gift giving is a wonderful ritual. You find something that's an expression
of your fond feelings for the recipient, something that screams out
their personality. They cherish it; it becomes a constant reminder of
your thoughtfulness and good taste. Everyone is happy.
That's the fantasy, at least. What gift giving has become -- for
most of us -- is a race to match up an arm-long list of friends, family
members and colleagues with a much shorter list of gifts that, we hope,
they'll find acceptable.
One reason for ho-hum presents is that most of us look in the same
stores and catalogs. It's no wonder we tend to give each other the same
after-shave, perfume, desk sets, and cheese logs. Memorable gifts come
from memorable places. Here are some of Digital Living Today's favorite
sources for gifts with a twist.
American Science and Surplus
This bizarre and delightful surplus catalog has hysterical descriptions,
and the products are one-of-a-kind. One year, I gave a new age-y friend
a Butterfly Garden that allowed her to raise butterflies from the larva
stage and release them when they hatched. She loved it.
Archie McPhee
Probably best known for their Boxing Nun puppets, Archie McPhee is the
premier "outfitter of popular culture." They offer all sorts of fun
cultural ephemera that appeal to kids and grown-ups (with Peter Pan
complexes). From rubber chickens to tiki mugs to Soviet military hats,
Archie has a whimsical gift for anyone with a sense of humor.
The Heifer Foundation
and Seva
If you're tired of giving something to people who already have everything,
why not donate money to a charity? The Heifer Foundation lets you buy
a farm animal in someone's name and sends it to a family in need. Your
gift recipient gets a card and a warm, fuzzy feeling. A small donation
to Seva can give someone the gift of sight in India or help fight the
growing tide of diabetes among the Native American population.
Penguin Peppermints
Finally, a caffeine delivery system that won't make your breath smell
like inhabited French cheese. An ideal stocking stuffer for all the
"jitterati" on your list. A display box of 12 handsome black and white
tins is $25.
 Resource
Revival
This craft store makes beautiful furniture, picture frames, jewelry,
and more, out of junk (mainly bicycle parts). These reasonably priced
and surprisingly functional works of art make very unique conversation
pieces. Those who are handicapped craft much of the work.
 The
Robot Store
To please every deep geek on your holiday list. This store has ready-to-roll
robots, robot kits and toys for all ages, robot media (books, videos,
movie memorabilia), and other cool stuff for the die-hard gizmologist.
 Spawn
Todd
MacFarlene's astoundingly detailed action figures have revolutionized
the toy industry. His figures of pop culture icons (rock stars, movie
characters, and sports heroes) are as popular among adults as they are
with children. How about a mopey Edward Scissorshands monitor pet for
the Goth girl in the Art Department or The Beatles' Yellow Submarine
characters for your boomin' boss?
UGive
If you don't have a clear idea what your recipient wants, let them decide.
Halfway between a gift certificate and a gift, UGive "Folios" are personalized
catalogs of gifts chosen for a recipient. The recipient goes to the
UGive site, browses the custom catalog you've created, and chooses the
item they want. A unique way to take the pressure off your shoulders
and make the recipient feel special and satisfied (from items you guessed
they might enjoy).
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