| Tired of giving the same old-same old? Embarrassed | | | | chocolate onto your white chocolate-dipped spoons |
| to give out those impersonal department store gift | | | | for a different look.- Here's a different twist to your |
| certificates because you're stumped and don't know | | | | favorite chocolate chip cookie recipe. Make up a batch, |
| what to buy for the person who has everything? Well, | | | | let cool and then dip them halfway into melted |
| here are some wonderful ideas for unique gifts; some | | | | chocolate. For a variation, add a sprinkle of coconut or |
| unusual, some personal; something for everyone on | | | | candy sprinkles before the chocolate coating dries.- |
| your list!Group two, three or more items (mix and | | | | Here's a way to use up those little plastic coffee |
| match) and place in an interesting basket or unusual | | | | creamer containers you've been saving. Check out this |
| container to present your gifts, covering the container | | | | yummy recipe: Coffee Creamer Cherry Chocolates - |
| with colorful cellophane and topping it all off with a | | | | Breakfast Treat Basket: pour a box of pancake mix |
| fancy ribbon and bow.Purely Personal- Scented | | | | into a clean glass jar. Add the lid, cover the top of the |
| candles, handmade soaps, bubble bath and a big fluffy | | | | jar with a square of pretty scrap fabric and tie on a |
| bath towel.- Fancy hair ties, hair clips, shower gel, | | | | colorful ribbon or raffia. Type the recipe from the |
| shampoo and conditioner for the teenage girl- A movie | | | | pancake box and print it out onto cardstock to |
| night basket with a video of DVD of a movie you | | | | hole-punch and add to ribbon before tying the finishing |
| know they don't have, a box of microwave popcorn, | | | | bow.Add small zip-lock bags of the following: chocolate |
| candy and a movie guide book- An interesting book or | | | | chips, dried fruit including raisins, walnuts, almonds, |
| magazine (and a gift subscription), a tiny booklight, a | | | | pecans, coconut. One or more of these added to the |
| cute mug and packets of hot chocolate with mini | | | | pancake mix makes a unique treat! Include a bottle of |
| marshmallows, or a small bag of flavored gourmet | | | | pancake syrup and the gift is complete.- Muffin Magic: |
| coffee- A cozy robe - one pocket containing | | | | add your favorite muffin recipe to a 1 or 2-quart |
| envelopes of hot chocolate and the other, a small bag | | | | mason jar or clear, fancy container. Decorate the jar |
| of mini-marshmallows.- A spa day with a pair of | | | | with a square scrap of fabric and tie with a ribbon or |
| comfy slippers and a big fluffy towel or robe- A set of | | | | raffia. Add your recipe to a printed card (make sure |
| fancy beeswax candles and a brass candle snuffer- | | | | you adjust your recipe if you've cut the ingredients by |
| A towel wrap, terry-cloth slippers, shower soap, | | | | half to fit the jar!). Include a muffin tin, a wooden spoon |
| shaving lotion and a fancy hair comb (or a special | | | | tied with a pretty bow, a bag of fancy paper muffin |
| moustache comb for the moustached man!)- A hot | | | | cups and a colorful oven mitt or two.- Pasta Perfect: |
| cold pack (see how to make - with a box of soothing | | | | an assortment of clear glass jars filled with fancy |
| herbal teas and a whimsical mug- Buy a variety of | | | | pastas, a wooden spoon tied with a festive ribbon, a |
| medium to large seashells and fill some of the shells | | | | shaker of mixed Italian spices and another of grated |
| with melted red wax and a few drops of cinnamon | | | | parmesan or romano cheese- Your Fortune: mix up a |
| candle scent; and the rest of the shells with melted | | | | batch of Chinese fortune cookies (see recipe at that |
| green wax and a few drops of pine candle scent; | | | | you add your own printed fortunes or silly sayings to |
| adding a short wick before the wax sets and you | | | | (think Confucious Say!). Place them in a colorful tin |
| have an assortment of bath candles all ready for the | | | | from the dollar store.- Caffeine-fix: a set of small tins |
| holidays.Holiday Bath Salts2-1/3 cups of epsom salts | | | | filled with an assortment of special hot cocoa mixes |
| 1/2 cup of sea salt | | | | and/or flavored coffee using the following recipes. |
| 5 drops of peppermint scent | | | | Create tags for each to describe each mix and the |
| 3 drops of red food coloringPour half of the first three | | | | directions. (All cocoa recipes: add 1/3 cup of mix to 6 |
| ingredients into a bowl. Pour the other half of the | | | | oz. hot water. All coffee recipes: add 1 heaping |
| ingredients into another bowl, adding the red food | | | | teaspoon, or more, to 6 oz. of hot water)Basic Hot |
| coloring only to the second bowl. Using a tall, clear | | | | Cocoa Mix1-1/4 cup dry milk |
| bottle, layer contents of each bowl until all ingredients | | | | 3/4 cup powdered coffee creamer |
| are used up (think red and white stripes). Close the | | | | 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder |
| bottle and tie with a festive ribbon and a couple of | | | | 3/4 cup |
| small candy canes.- The Gift of Time: coupons for one | | | | -------------Mexican CocoaAdd 1 tablespoon of |
| night of baby-sitting, car washing, gardening, cleaning | | | | cinnamon to above mixture and a cinnamon stick to |
| out the garage, walking the dog, re- arranging a closet, | | | | the tin when you tie on the recipe |
| etc.Hobbies and Sports Gifts- Tickets to their favorite | | | | -----------Cocoa-Malt1/2 cup malted milk mix |
| game and a sweatshirt or t-shirt imprinted with their | | | | 1 cup instant cocoa mix |
| favorite team logo- Art supplies that they use often - | | | | 1/3 cup powdered coffee |
| sketch pads, paint in often- used colors, charcoal | | | | -----------------Very Berry CocoaMix one package of |
| pencils, etc.- Scrapbooking supplies, storage boxes to | | | | unsweetened Koolaide in a berry flavor to 3 cups of |
| keep supplies in, rubber stamp set, embossing powder | | | | instant cocoa |
| and heat gun- Computer supplies: CDRW's, blank CD | | | | ----------Coffee 'n Spice1 cup instant coffee |
| cases, a furry Pet Virus novelty or a Virus Survival Kit | | | | 3/4 teaspoon cinnamon |
| just for fun ( For the aspiring writer (or student): folders, | | | | 1/2 teaspoon allspice or apple pie spice mix |
| pencil case, binders and lined paper, fancy colorful | | | | 1 cup |
| pens, notebooks, personalized notes, a good thesaurus | | | | -------------Mocha Magic1 cup instant coffee |
| and dictionary, an agenda or diary, colorful post-it notes | | | | 1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder |
| and a personalized CD coaster to hold their favorite | | | | 1 cup sugar |
| mug of coffee (see how to make one - For the young | | | | 1 cup powdered coffee creamer |
| artist of craftsperson: a craft box with handle; colorful | | | | 1/4 cup dry |
| paper squares, set of scissors with different fancy | | | | ----------Toffee CoffeeMix equal amounts of brown |
| blades, glue, felt in an assortment of colors, wiggly | | | | sugar, instant coffee and powdered coffee |
| eyes, lengths of colorful wool, colored pipe cleaners- | | | | -----------------Personalized Gifts- An arrangement of |
| For the person who love to bake: a set of cookie | | | | family photos in a large frame - use nice gift wrap or |
| cutters in letter and number shapes, a pair of colorful | | | | other fancy paper as a background, or a collage of |
| oven mitts, a cute timer, a set of fancy cake tins, | | | | handmade papers from your art store.- Any item |
| mixing bowls, cookbook on baking- For the BBQ chef: | | | | personalized with the person's name: a t-shirt with an |
| BBQ apron, mitts, a set of large salt and pepper | | | | interesting graphic along with their name; a |
| shakers, a BBQ brush, a BBQ recipe book- A large | | | | personalized coffee mug; a picture of their favorite |
| interesting piece of pottery, kitchen utensils, a | | | | hobby or occupation in cartoon form with their name; a |
| cookbook, a set of cute salt and pepper shakers, | | | | silly caricature made from their photo; a personalized |
| apron and potholder set- A fancy flower pot with | | | | BBQ |
| gardening tools, plant ties, garden gloves, a plant care | | | | -------------You'll find a unique assortment of |
| guide and a kneeling pad.Fancy Food Gifts- | | | | personalized cartoon pictures for any hobby, |
| Chocolate-dipped Spoons: buy heavy clear plastic | | | | occupation or occasion and fun computer novelties |
| spoons and dip them in melted chocolate, either all dark | | | | including the Pet Computer Virus at: Be sure to pick up |
| or all milk chocolate or let cool and re-dip in melted | | | | your free gift just for stopping by!Heather creates |
| white chocolate but only halfway up the spoon bowl. | | | | unique personalized cartoons for weddings, birthdays, |
| Sprinkle with abit of cinnamon before the white | | | | anniversaries, graduations. Fun & personalized with any |
| chocolate dries for a variation. Let dry on wax paper. | | | | name or message. Cartoons to fit any occasion, |
| Wrap individually in colorful cellophane and tie with a | | | | hobby, occupation or personality! Choose one of her |
| curly ribbon. Add a couple of chocolate-coated spoons | | | | designs and request personal changes such as hair |
| in a fancy mug along with packets of gourmet | | | | color, glasses or even a moustache, or order a total |
| coffee.You can also add abit of extract or liqueur or | | | | custom personalized cartoon! Everyone loves a gift |
| even cherry juice to flavor the chocolate before | | | | that's truly unique. Give them something they'll always |
| dipping.For another variation on the chocolate-covered | | | | remember! Free - Personalized gift with any purchase, |
| spoons, sprinkle the spoons with finely-crushed candy | | | | and be sure to sign up for our free ezine, On A Whim, |
| canes and let dry.Drizzle melted white chocolate onto | | | | for your free time management gift. |
| your dark chocolate-dipped spoons or drizzle dark | | | | |