1) Ask her what she wants. This step will give you a place to start if you don't have any ideas of your own.
2) Give her something you can enjoy together, such as tickets to a play or a special museum exhibit.
3) Choose a gift basket full of her favourite foods, teas, coffees or soaps and body lotions.
4) Give a gift certificate for a pampering day at a spa, or arrange for a makeover, manicure or pedicure.
5) Buy a collection of scented aromatherapy candles or a fragrance gift pack, if you know what perfume she wears.
6) Give golf or tennis lessons.
7) Organise all the photos you've taken together over the years and put them in a frame or album.
8) Give elegant but simple jewellery; a silver bracelet, a stylish pin or a pair of gold studs.
9) Buy a really good bottle of wine and some wine glasses or splurge on the best chocolate.
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How to Perfectly Slice a Cheesecake
by Steve
800cheesecake.com
1. Take a chefs knife and hold over burner on stove, just long enough to heat up the blade (can also be done by holding under running hot water)
2. Slice cheesecake completely in half first (this will make pulling the slices out much easier)
3. Wipe the blade of the knife off after each slice. (Starting each cut with a clean blade will result in a much nicer looking slice of cheesecake)
4. Heat the blade again and repeat.
5. Only slice as many pieces as you will use at one time. The rest of the cake will keep much better if not sliced.
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Organizing a Shower at the Office
From Donna Pilato
Keep it Simple and Tasteful
Offices have become friendlier places over the years and with the growing camaraderie, it's become more common to host baby and bridal showers for co-workers. In fact, with our greater push to gender equality, showers have been extended to the groom or father-to-be, not just to the women in the office. When I was 8 months pregnant with our first child, my husband's office threw him a baby shower. I was contacted by one of the organizers and extended a secret invitation to attend the event. I've never seen my husband look more surprised than that day when he walked into the conference room where it was held, and realized it was his shower. We were both very touched by the thoughtfulness of his co-workers.
Of course, given the more professional nature of the environment, the do's and the don'ts for office showers are a bit different from family and home showers.
So here's some tips for organizing a baby or bridal shower in the office.
Preliminary Steps
Enlist the assistance of one or two other co-workers to divide the tasks. One person can be in charge of organizing refreshments and the other in charge of collecting contributions.
Get management approval if you plan to host the shower in the office, instead of in a restaurant.
Check with honoree's supervisor to make sure employee will be available at the planned time.
Important Considerations
Try to schedule the shower during lunchtime when it is easiest for employees to take a break.
Keep the event to under an hour.
If it will be held in the office, you can have everyone contribute an appetizer or salad to the refreshments, or you can collect money for purchased refreshments such as a deli tray.
Attendees can purchase their own gifts, or contribute to a combined gift. Under NO circumstances should it be mandatory that people participate. Therefore, the person responsible for collecting contributions needs to be very low key when approaching co-workers.
If you work in a large corporation, your guest list should be limited to honoree's department and close friends in other areas of the company.
If financial contributions are on the low side, then limit the food to a cake served and festive party goods. Of course, if interest and contributions are low, you might want to re-think whether to hold the event at all! Not everyone is beloved by his or her co-workers.
It may be difficult to choose an appropriate gift. It's often hard to know what a co-worker needs or has already purchased for the expected baby or new home. In that case a gift certificate to a baby store or favorite department store or catalog is a good choice.
Final Details
If the shower will be held in a restaurant, make reservations at least two weeks prior to the date. At one-week prior, one of the organizers should speak with the manager to confirm the details.
It will be unlikely that you can fit shower games into your schedule. But if you'd like to try a game, keep it simple, short, and more dignified than the type you'd play at home.
Keep decorations simple, you may not have much time for setup. A cluster of festive, helium balloons and a banner honoring the guest of honor will help to set the party mood. Add the appropriate party goods, and you've probably done as much as you can in an office setting.
Alcohol is inappropriate in an office setting. Serve a non-alcoholic punch instead.
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Gifts to Keep the Home Fires Burning
Article from Present Perfect
Enlarge and frame photograph of the recipient's house or commission an artist to paint a house portrait. The Romantic Home can arrange this via email to customerservice@theromantichome.com. Photograph required.
Pay for the services of a professional landscaper to design a special family space outdoors. Or, hire a decorator for a few hours to help rearrange home furnishings and accessories for a fresh new look.
Give fireplace accessories. Ideas include fireplace gloves, cast iron fireplace tools, andirons, a log cart, a fireplace screen, a hearth mat, long matches, or a fireplace popcorn popper.
To adorn the house's exterior, give a weather vane, new house numbers, a brass door knocker or kick plate, a doormat, a front-door wreath, decorative door knobs or handles, a custom mailbox, or solar night lights.
To the family that enjoys being outdoors, give a gas grill; a colorful wind sock; a patio lantern; wind chimes; a hammock with a pillow and canopy; a porch swing; lawn and patio furniture; a bird feeder or bath; a sundial; or outdoor planters. For a bit of friendly outdoor competition, give lawn games: croquet, badminton, tetherball, lawn billiards, horseshoes, or volleyball.
For indoor family fun, give a mini table tennis or billiards table, electronic dart game, or game table and chairs. Board games also make great gifts for families.
Give an ice cream maker with all of the ingredients for homemade ice cream, or a popcorn popper and a gourmet popcorn recipe book.
Give audio/video equipment the whole family can enjoy: A split-screen television, a DVD player, wireless videophones for the television, a stereo system, a compact-disc changer.
Fill a basket with popcorn, candy, soda, a movie catalog, and gift certificates from a movie rental store to create a movie-night gift basket.
Offer your services to help with a project around the house: build or paint a fence; install or refinish a hardwood floor; seed a lawn or lay sod; finish a basement or another space; build a deck or patio; paint or paper a room. To a do-it-yourselfer, give a book or two on home repairs along with a gift certificate to the local hardware store. Or, outfit a small tool box (a combination tool box/step stool would be fabulous) with picture and mirror hangers, hollow door and wall anchors, nails, screws, hooks, a flashlight, light bulbs, and small hand tools such as hammers, screwdrivers, and wrenches.
Home furnishings and accessories make nice gifts for the home (if you are familiar with the recipient's tastes). Gift choices include dried flower arrangements, bar stools, coat racks, umbrella stands, occasional tables, lamps, planters, clocks, mirrors, art objects, bookends, kitchen/bed/bath linens, nesting tables, state-of-the-art kitchen appliances, canister sets, spice racks, coffee table books, and area rugs. A security system or burglar alarm might be appropriate.
Giving Great Gifts is a wonderful thing to be "good" at. Take some time to think about your recipient, wander through some aisles and the inspiration will come.
Prioritize special dates on your calendar. Stay on top of your gifting needs by checking your calendar at the beginning of every month.
Take the time to find something that is perfectly suited to your recipient's interests, personality and style.
These tips can get your thinking on the right track:
Does he or she have a special hobby or interest? Would he or she prefer a quiet and romantic celebration? Does he or she deserve some special pampering? Remember Special Days All Year Round.
There are many occasions throughout the year when gifts are traditionally given and received, but don't forget those special days that celebrate personal milestones.
Anniversaries, birthdays and holidays are special occasions, but they're not the only times when giving a gift brightens the day. Celebrating a long friendship or shared accomplishment can renew and strengthen relationships with friends and family.
Don't let personal milestones go by uncelebrated. Be sure to note upcoming events like graduation, new baby, new home, new job, promotion or well-deserved retirement on your calendar. Be sure to add new occasions as they occur. Personal milestones such as a first recital, finishing an important work project, quitting smoking, losing weight or passing the bar exam deserve a gift of recognition. A personalized gift adds to the sense of accomplishment and increases the enjoyment of a job well done.
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