Thursday, December 31, 2009

The Process of Gift Selection

There are some important aspects to be kept in mind while selecting a gift for someone. Two of these are the nature of celebration and the value of the gift.

The Nature of Celebration
It is always important to keep the nature of celebration in mind while buying a gift or arranging it on your own. For a religious occasion, the gifts should be keeping in mind the sentiments of the group of people present at the celebration. For personal celebrations, birthdays, or a day inspired by relationships, the gift should be more in tune with the nature and interests of the person receiving the gift.

Value of The Gift
Whether the gift is simple or intricately made, expensive or free, the beauty of the gift lies in the underlying message that is being conveyed through it. The gift in itself should be expressive, thoughtful and has to be able to justify the effort and the planning that has gone into it. Therefore, it is to be understood that the value of a gift need not lie in its material value but rather in the effort that has gone behind it.

If nothing works, neither planning nor understanding the occasion and the gifting idea.Then,try thinking of the message that the gift should be able to convey. You would most certainly accomplish what you set out to do, make both the gift and the occasion memorable for a long time to come.

Wednesday, December 30, 2009

Creative Gift Ideas For New Year 2010

It is often said that 'well planned is half done'. This is one saying that has been tried and tested time and again. In the same vein we will now discuss some gift ideas for this New Year that are simple in the effort required yet creatively done.

The Usual - Flowers and Sweets
It is an intelligent idea to 'go simple' and gift your loved ones a bouquet or multiple bouquet of flowers accompanied by chocolates and sweets. This is one idea that is apt for a the occasion of New Year since it can be worked around as per the nature of relationship you share with the reciever. One might be wanting to give a neutral impression or a strong one.

Gifts That Will Say It All - Personalised Gifts
No matter what the message is that is to be conveyed, words always make it easy when it comes to expressing your feelings to your loved ones. A simple handwritten message on a personalised gift item like a diary, a mug, or a framed set of words on a canvas are examples of this idea. However you do it, the result would be more in tune to your the required result than with any other gift.

A Creative Gifting Solution - Paintings
One of the most beautiful ways of expressing yourself is through art. What better way to express the myriad emotions of nostalgia and happiness than through creative gift ideas like a painting or a hand crafted sculpture. The gift can either be made by you or, an art work procured from some other source.

Tuesday, December 29, 2009

Choosing Gifts Across Occasions For Teenagers

Choosing gifts across occasions is a task in itself. What adds to the difficulty of the situation is when we have to buy gifts for someone again and again. That means there is an additional risk of repeating yourself. It helps if one is prepared in terms of two steps, understanding understanding the person and then the occasion before going ahead and buying a gift.Let us discuss the profile of a teenager and the further differentiation as per occasion.

The Carefree and Innocent Life Stage
Every youngster is an individual in their own right. This is an age which is considered to be very tender in terms of the overall development a child undergoes to be introduced to early adulthood. He/She is confused yet rebellious, determined and carefree, knowledgeable yet innocent. The various proportions of these elements makes all the difference to defining this young adult. Added to it is the fact that the teenagers and especially so of today have a basic 'know it all' attitude as well. Thus, it is important to understand the likes, dislikes and the basic temperament of the teenager for whom you are buying a gift. Another element which plays a key role in understanding the personality differences among teenagers is the gender. A gift for a young 16 year old girl will never work for a teenage boy of the same age.

The Occasion
The choice of gifts differs as per the occasion as well. From birthdays to festivals to days that celebrate relationships, all require an approach which is conducive to that occasion itself. When we try to use gifts that are meant for one celebration in another, it is bound to get noticed. In such a situation the whole purpose of presenting a gift is lost. This holds true irrespective of the life stage of the recipient. So, be it kids, teenagers or adults, the gifting solutions should differ as per as the occasion. One should not make the mistake of underestimating the perception capability of a recipient, even if it is a young child or a teenager.

Once we are armed with the knowledge of the basic temperament of a person and the nature of the occasion, selecting gifts becomes an easy next step.

Monday, December 28, 2009

New Year's Eve 2010 Celebrations

The night preceding New Year's Day, that is the night between 31st of December and 1st of January is termed New Year's Eve. It is the occasion that marks the beginning of the next year and is thus celebrated throughout the world. Though this is an event previously significant to Christianity but today it is considered a national holiday across countries and cultures. There are some customs related to the celebration of New Year's Eve.

Music and Dance
These are the elements that are the flavour of any New Year celebration. People get together in community gatherings and dance the night away to music that is representative of the celebratory atmosphere.

Food
Though, the get together on New Year's Eve might range from a cozy dinner for family and friends to a louder celebration. No New Year's Eve celebration is complete without a good spread of delicacies.

Gifts and Games
What makes this occasion special are the various games and the subsequent ritual of exchanging gifts. Such traditions, though not a certainty in any other celebration but they are a must when the occasion is New Year's Eve.

The way of celebrating might differ among people of cultures and religion and regions, even the date might differ. But, the overall atmosphere at any New Year' Eve celebration is an eclectic mixture of nostalgia for an year gone by and happiness for promise that the next year holds.

Friday, December 25, 2009

'Days' That Celebrate Relationships

As is often said, everyday can be made special. In the same vein of thought, people have come to celebrate days relative to the relationships that make a family or society or celebrates an Individual. These days are a remembrance that every relationship is special and should be celebrated for the bond of love that binds two people together. So, be it Valentines day, Fathers Day, Mothers Day, Friendships Day, Teachers Day and the such, these are all occasions that we have come to celebrate in the recent times for their emotional significance.

The upcoming occasion of Valentine's day is an example of a celebration of the same nature. Sending wishes on an occasion such as this becomes an extension of the myriad feelings of love, friendship, trust, affection, admiration, respect and gratitude that colour our lives.

It is difficult to put on a thinking hat and draw conclusions in terms of the essentials of celebrating occasions having an emotional flavour. Since, as regards the essentials of organising celebrations of a personal nature, we tend to follow our own scheme of things.Thus, it will become a lot easier for us if we first try and understand the underlying emotions that define the occasion such as Valentine's day and plan our celebrations accordingly.

Essentials of A Celebration

A celebration is a joyful occasion with special festivities to mark the joyousness and happiness of an event. It is made special not as much by the occasion as its quality of being memorable for years to come. There are many things that can make an occasion memorable. Some of the things that are essential to any celebration are,

Invitees – The invitees to a celebration may vary in number and composition depending on the nature of the event itself. A more formal event would have a different list of people included than an informal one. The point of differentiation also lies in the underlying emotional atmosphere of a celebration. Invitees can be our loved ones or acquaintances or people whom we meet socially.

Venue – A venue is a place where any event can be planned and consequently executed. Events of a more sophisticated nature require a venue which are in tune with the underplayed atmosphere at such celebrations. Consequently, occasions that have an underlying boisterousness and energy to them need venues that reinforce the emotions of a loud celebration.

Decorations – Another very important ingredient of any celebration are the decorations that make the surroundings pleasurable and beautiful. Decorations are even important in defining the mood of any celebratory occasion.

Food – An aspect of any function or event that holds an equal if not more importance in respect to other s is food. Be it a formal or informal affair, a private party or an open invitation, it is incomplete without food. It is an obvious conclusion then that the food required for a celebration has to suit the theme of the occasion. It also needs to be in tune with the composition of people invited.

Music – Celebrations will always be incomplete without music. Music at a celebration should be tasteful yet conducive to the atmosphere one wants to create. It should also be relevant to the reason because of which the celebration is happening.

Gifts – These are tokens of appreciation, gratitude or thankfulness that are exchanged either at the beginning of the celebration or at the end of it.

These are only some of the important physical aspects without which any celebration or any celebratory atmosphere remains incomplete. A celebration's value lies in the memories of a time spent with loved ones and in the feelings of elation and nostalgia which will linger for a long time to come.

Thursday, December 24, 2009

New Year Resolutions - Promises to Keep

New Year is the time for making new year resolutions. A resolution is a promise or a commitment that you make to yourself. When we ' resolve', it means one has made a determined decision, a decision to follow a promise to its end. The relevance of the name 'new year resolutions' is that such a promise is made on New Year's Day, the first day or the day marking the beginning of the year.
Though the ironic part of new year resolutions is that most of us fail to live up to the promises we have made to ourselves. It is very easy to lie to someone else, but being false to our own person is something which is very difficult. And especially so when the promise is towards a cause not directly linked to our own. Therefore as per the number of people involved resolutions can be either,
Self Related Resolutions-Such resolutions are first person in nature. The promises which are going to affect the decision maker himself/herself come under this category.
Or,
Socio Centric Resolutions-These are the commitments which are for the betterment of a person/persons or for the society as a whole.

Wednesday, December 23, 2009

New Year – An Inspiration To Celebrate Life

Before we could experience it fully, another year has rushed past us and only a week is left before 'New Year 2010'. This January 1st we would be celebrating for two reasons, one is the beginning of the next year. Another is the fact that this new year marks the beginning of the end of the first decade of the 21st century.

With the advent of technology we are now able to witness the New Year celebrations happening in different time zones throughout the world. The common aspect of any New Year celebration are the music and dance parties that precede the countdown to New Year's Eve. Wishing family, friends and acquaintances ' Happy New Year' is another tradition that marks any New Year celebration.

The eve of new year falls on the night of 31st December, though for people around the world the day of 1st January is also significant since it is the first day of the next year. New Year is also a time to be spent with family and friends. Everyone is in the holiday mood and even more so since a new year is another high point in the ongoing festive season. In fact, in most of the countries of the world 1st January is a public holiday.

Even though the day on which a New Year is welcomed does differ as per cultures, traditions, religions and regions. But, the most popular among all New Year celebrations is the one we celebrate on the 1st of January every year.

All said and done, the festivity surrounding this occasion shows that we as humanity want a reason to celebrate.This celebratory atmosphere reinforces our belief in the aspect of 'celebrating' in life.

Tuesday, December 22, 2009

Give Someone A Reason to Celebrate Christmas

Make this Christmas special for those who really need that extra bit of sunshine in their lives. These may include those living in orphanages, special schools, old age homes and so on.

1) Go ahead and organise a fun Christmas party, if possible tie up with an organisation which is doing something to help the society.
2) Become Santa Claus for children in orphanages and special schools by giving gifts this Christmas season.
3) Celebrate Christmas with children by planning fun Christmas games, some of these could be traditional, some spontaneously decided upon and yet others could be designed by you.
4) Tie up with more than one organisation to hold a Christmas fair a week or ten days before Christmas Day. Such fairs are a fun yet interactive way of celebrating Christmas. To add to the occasion, entertainment can be provided from among the participants themselves.
5) You could sponsor a meal, or better still help in making the Christmas dinner special for someone.
6) Donate money, cash certificates or clothes to those who could really use it for making a better life for themselves.

If you are someone who likes to celebrate differently every time, or believes in adding value to someone else's life this festive season, remember that a great idea is a substantial first step to an excellent outcome.

Monday, December 21, 2009

Gifting Across Occasions - This Festive Season

It is the time for a dual celebration, a time to wish everyone ' Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year'. When the reasons to celebrate are so closely placed on the calender, we tend to look for gifts and cards that can be used for both these occasions. It would make life a lot easier for us as we can then do our shopping once and be done with our homework as far as this festive season goes.

Flowers - Flowers are the perfect gift, be it any occasion, and more so since they work best when it comes to expressing feelings and emotions. Flowers are a very good idea when it comes to gifting across celebrations. Irrespective of the occasion, one can always go ahead with a bouquet or a simple flower arrangement as a gift. But, one should be careful in using them as an easy or a generalist gifting idea. It also helps when flowers are a thoughtful add on to a gift.

Clothes – They are an excellent gifting idea since clothes need not represent an occasion. They can be chosen so as to be given a common flavor of both the celebrations, Christmas and New Year. But, the clothes should be bought keeping in mind the person's individuality as well.

Accessories – Accessories are things that complement a dress or a person's way of carrying themselves. There is a wide range of accessories which can be considered a gifting idea. From watches, handbags to scarves, eye wear, belts to ties, all of them can be a great gifting idea.

Travel or Sports Gear or Electronic Gadgets – Such gifts find favor with people who are fond of sports, travel. Such people have an adventurous streak in them. For those who love being in tune with the latest in technology, one could also go in for mobile handsets, laptops, digicams etc. as a gifting idea.

Gifting across occasions works best when the gift is given keeping in mind the nature and choices of the receiver. Though it helps if the person is known well to you. But, one can still feel safer when giving gifts that are commonly popular in a festive season.

Wednesday, December 16, 2009

Pointers That Will Make Gifting Easy

We always worry ourselves silly over the idea of having to attend yet another wedding, yet another birthday or festival celebration. The reason for our anxiety is having to think of that perfect gift for every such occasion. Now, with Christmas and New Year round the corner and it being the wedding season,this is a dilemma which most of us can identify with.
It would make our life a lot easier if we could be well prepared every festive season. Now this is easier said than done. But, remember these simple and easy to implement tips and you will be able to stop worrying and start planning for that perfect gift for every occasion.

1) Always plan ahead when selecting a gift
2) Understand the personality of the receiver
3) Select a gift as per occasion
4) Give more personalised gifts
5) Simple gifts are always a better bet
6) A self made gift is more special
7) The beauty of a gift lies in its underlying message
8) A gift should be expressive and thoughtful

Incorporate these simple yet useful ideas when deciding on a gift and you will succeed in making every occasion more memorable than the last.And you will be able to watch the other person's face light up with delight and surprise. Delight and surprise over getting a gift that is so unlike any other they have received on any occasion.

Tuesday, December 15, 2009

E-Gifting Is Here to Stay

It is that time of the year again, when we all rush through our preparations for the holiday and festive season. Anticipating the Christmas season with growing excitement and expectations we tend to be casual about organisation. And before we know it the time left for planning and preparing is almost over. This is a very natural tendency and a part of human nature.

Though planning ahead is responsible for holding anyone in good stead, this aspect becomes more important with the holiday rush beginning two weeks before Christmas and continuing upto New Year.
Everyone wants to avail the exciting offers and discounts, but the advantage of an early beginning lies with few.

A more intelligent and well planned customer tends to look beyond the conventional means of buying.
The e-marketplace owes its success and growing popularity to such segment of customers. It saves time, energy and keeps the festive spirit intact. Gifting also has now taken the e-route. And, it can be safely said that the concept of Internet gifting is here to stay for years to come.