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One Week to Valentine’s Day !

Have you been thinking about Valentine’s Day? Did you get distracted with the Superbowl? That’s OK. There is still 1 shopping week until Valentine’s Day, but you better start shopping if you want to get something special for someone special. Special gifts come in all shapes and sizes. Think, really think, about the person you want to be your Valentine, and you will make the right decision.

Here are a few suggestions:

Health & Beauty Gift Ideas – Pamper your Valentine with a massage, manicure, pedicure, or a spa day.

Jewelry – Share a heart shaped Necklace, Earring or Bracelet with your favorite Valentine.

Clothing – Dress-up your favorite Valentine or dress-up for your favorite Valentine.

Food & Dining – Dinner is always a good choice. What restaurant has your Valentine always wanted to try? This might be the perfect occasion to try that restaurant.

Sports – Does your Valentine have a favorite sport they watch or participate in? Are they a big sports fan? Show your Valentine your are ‘game’ and willing to share their interests.

Reading – Does your Valentine have a favorite author? Do you have a favorite book you want to share with your Valentine? Books always make great Gifts.

Hobbies – Do you know what your Valentine’s hobbies are? Find something that supports their hobbies.

Collecting – Is your Valentine a Collector of something? Show your Valentine you have been paying attention and find something special or fun to add to their collection.

Gadgets & Electronics – Is your Valentine is gadget person? Does the latest electronic gadget or kitchen gadget make their day? If so, you know what to give your Valentine.

Music, Theatre & Dance – Does your Valentine enjoy music and the arts? If they do, take them to a concert or performance. Share an experience with your Valentine.

Art, Museums, TV & Movies – There are a lot of Romantic movies coming our for Valentines’s Day. There are also a lot of great exhibitions at your local Museums. Share some passion this Valentine’s Day.

Pets & Animals – Be careful here. If your Valentine is a pet lover, you might find a pet related gift, but remember, a Valentine’s Gift is for your Valentine – not their pet.

Travel & Experiences – If you have the time and the creativity, give your Valentine a trip or experience they will remember forever! Memories are gifts forever.

Home & Garden – Home & Garden gifts are not traditional Valentine’s Gifts, but if you know, really know, your Valentine, you will know if a Valentine Gift related to their home or garden is a good Valentine gift.

Green Gifts & Eco-Friendly Gifts – Give the planet & your Valentine a gift that shows you care about many things.

Charities – If you don’t have a special Valentine this year, surprise someone with an act of kindness or make a donation to a charity and make someone feel special – including yourself.

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Countdown to Valentine’s Day

According to history, February is the month to celebrate love, and we have been celebrating Valentine’s Day since the Middle Ages. That is a lot of Valentine’s Gifts and cards!

Who is your Valentine this year? Is it someone you have been with for a long time? Is it someone you have been admiring from a distance? Is it a good friend? Is it a someone you want to meet or impress? And what are you going to do to let this person know that you want them to be your Valentine?

Right now, every where you turn there are adds telling you how to impress your intended Valentine. If you don’t trust the adds, you can ask your friends or co-workers for their favorite Valentine’s gifts and suggestions. Some of the common themes, symbols, and gifts associated with Valentine’s Day are hearts, roses, cupids, teddy bears, flowers, candy and cards.

Those are all valid suggestions and gifts, but are they the right message for YOUR Valentine? In our own research, we have found that most people just want to know that someone took the time to think about them and put a little thought into choosing a gift for them.

If you want to make an impression on your Valentine this year, think about who they are, what they like, and what makes them happy – and then find something special – just for them!

Happy Valentine’s Day!

Jewelry is always a good Valentine’s Day gift.
Check out some of these jewelry stores:

Sarah Chloe http://greatgiftcircle.com/shops/sarah-chloe/
Jane Basch Designs http://greatgiftcircle.com/shops/jane-basch-designs/

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The Gift of Warm, Clean & Dry

As the song says, “Baby, it’s cold outside” – or at least it should be considering it’s January 5th! Winter officially arrived just over 2 weeks ago and it will be with us for a few, cold months.

December is all about giving and getting, family and friends, fun and fellowship, and creating memories. What is January about? January should be about replenishing our local food banks, shelters and emergency help organizations. All of those organizations did their best to give everyone some Christmas. They provided food, shelter, toys, clothing and caring to those in need. They did a great job and now their shelves are empty.

As you are sitting in your home or local coffee shop reading this, you are most likely warm, clean and dry. But, there are thousands of people who are not as lucky as you or me. These people don’t have a warm coat or place to stay. There are kids who don’t have shoes or boots or warm coats to wear to school. There are shelters that can’t help anyone right now ‘get back on their feet’ or provide the food, guidance and hope that can change a life.

The Christmas presents have probably all been put away by now. Are your closets full and tight? Give yourself a little space by giving some of your excess belongings to a local organization who needs it. Start your year off right and make January your first ‘feel good’ month of the year.

FYI – Burlington Coat Factory is collecting warm coats and giving discounts in exchange for your donation until January 16th!
http://www1.burlingtoncoatfactory.com/coat_drive.aspx

P.S. – Let’s not forget our 4 legged friends. Animal shelters everywhere need warm blankets and towels. Many pet stores have a place for you to drop these off.

The quickest and best way to contribute to someone in need right now is to ‘keep it local’. Check out your community for ways you can make a difference.

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It’s Going to be an Interesting Year

How is 2012 going for you so far? I know it’s only been 3 days, but a lot can happen in a short amount of time.

2012 has a few calendar surprises for us that will keep this year interesting. Here are a few of the highlights:

2012 is a Leap Year. We all have an extra day to spend however we want. I just heard Disneyland is going to stay open for the 24 hours of Leap Year Day. You have to admit Disney has figured out a way to make it a day to remember. What will you do with your extra day?

2012 is a Presidential Election year. No matter what your politics, our upcoming Presidential Election will provide us with a conversation and controversy for most of this year.

2012 has 53 Sundays in it – starting with January 1,2012. If your lucky number is 53, then you are in luck!

2012 has 3 ‘Friday the 13ths’. Most years have have 1 or 2 Friday the 13ths, but this year we get an extra opportunity to face our superstitions.

July 27 – August 12, 2012 the Summer Olympics are being held in London.

April 14, 2012 is the 100th Anniversary of the sinking of the Titanic.

2012 contains 2 ‘1st Sundays after Christmas’ -one is in January and one is in December.

June 5 & 6, 2012 Venus will cross the face of the Sun.

And if you worked through, slept through, or just didn’t pay attention to the arrival of the new calendar year, you have another chance to celebrate a New Year - the Chinese New Year – coming January 23, 2012. Happy New Year (Again)!

This list could go on and on, but the point is, it is going to be an interesting year, so keep your eyes and ears and hearts open for all of the good that may come your way this year. Remember, every day is a gift!

How did you celebrate the New Year? Do you have any resolutions you want to share? Share your ideas here:
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Eat for a Lucky, Healthy, Happy New Year!

Do you remember what you ate on New Years Day last year? Did you have a good year? According to various traditions, if you ate some of these foods last year on New Years Day they might have contributed to your good year. If you didn’t have a good year, maybe you need to eat more of some of these foods on New Years Day! Happy Eating!

Stroke of Midnight Foods:
Eat 12 grapes for the past 12 months
Herring
Having food on the table will represent having food throughout the coming year

New Years Day Good Luck Foods:
Pork – many different ways
Pork & sauerkraut
Pickled Herring
Fish – as long as it is a fish that swims forward
Long Noodles for a long life – don’t break them while eating them
Pomegranate – abundance and fertility
Peppermint Pig – for dessert, cracking it with a hammer and sharing the pieces after your meal

New Years Day Foods for Money, Wealth and Prosperity:
Leafy Greens that represent paper money – cabbage, collard greens, mustard greens, kale, spinach
Black-eyed peas
Golden colored foods – Cornbread, pancakes
Round foods that look like coins – beans, lentils, 365 peas
Round fruit
Round or ring-like cakes and baked goods – some have a coin or trinket baked inside

What not to eat on New Years Day?
Lobster – they can move backwards
Chicken – it scratches backwards
Winged Fowl – your good luck could fly away

What is on your plate today?

Happy New Year from Great Gift Circle.

Remember, Every day is a Gift day for someone! Give Great….Get Great !

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Merry Christmas !

It’s Christmas Day. Enjoy the best gifts of all – the Love of family & friends, sharing past memories and creating new ones.

(We can talk about what was inside the gift boxes later!)

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Welcome Capricorn !

Capricorn – The Astrological sign with the most holidays and reasons to celebrate (I think).

Dates: usually December 22nd to January 20th

Sign: The Goat (not to be confused with the year of the goat in the Chinese Horoscopes)

The Good Side: Practical, Patient, Organized, Ambitious, Humorous, Stable, Confident, Faithful, Professional

The Not-So-Good Side: Pessimistic, Stubborn, Mood Swings,

Typical Occupations: Banking & Finance, Managers, Real Estate Agents, Contractors, Politicians, Educators and Entertainers

Famous Capricorns:
Entertainers                   Politicians                Business People
Susan Lucci                      Anwar Sadat              Howard Hughes
Sissy Spacek                    Mao Tse Tung            Conrad Hilton
Annie Lennox                  Joseph Stalin               Aristotle Onassis
Denzel Washington         Walter Mondale
Jon Voight                  Richard Nixon
Val Kilmer                  Rush Limbaugh
Mel Gibson                      Martin Luther King
Diane Keaton
David Bowie
Elvis Presley
Rod Stewart
Kirstie Alley
Dolly Parton

Happy Birthday to all of you Capricorns!

The 12 Days of Christmas

You hear this song every year at Christmas time. Have you every stopped to think about what it means or how much all of the gifts mentioned in the song would cost today? And exactly when are the 12 days of Christmas? I didn’t have the answers to these important questions, so I will share what I learned today.

First of all, here is a list of the days and the gifts
1st day of Christmas – a Partridge in a Pear Tree
2nd day – 2 Turtle Doves
3rd day – 3 French Hens
4th day – 4 Calling Birds
5th day – 5 Gold Rings
6th day – 6 Geese A-laying
7th day – 7 Swans A-swimming
8th day – 8 Maids A-milking
9th day – 9 Ladies Dancing
10th day – 10 Lords A-leaping
11th day – 11 Pipers Piping
12th day – 12 Drummers Drumming

There are a lot of theories about the hidden meanings of the lyrics, but all of the theories are religion based, as is Christmas. The 12 days (or dates) of Christmas generally start on Christmas Day and end at the beginning of Epiphany. (There is a lot of research available on the internet if you want to learn more about the song lyrics and Epiphany.)

This year, the estimated cost of all the gifts listed in the song has reached over $100,000! If you followed the suggestions in the song, that would be 364 gifts over 12 days! You would have to start your shopping extremely early to fill this gift list. Check out this article to get some hard financial information for the cost of the 12 Days of Christmas – http://newsfeed.time.com/2011/11/29/the-items-in-the-twelve-days-of-christmas-will-cost-you-more-than-100000/

What does the song mean to shoppers today? Here are a few suggestions:
1st day of Christmas – a Partridge in a Pear Tree = birds & gardening
2nd day – 2 Turtle Doves = birds (pets), love, peace & charity
3rd day – 3 French Hens = chickens, food, cooking & dining out
4th day – 4 Calling (colly) Birds (Blackbirds) = wildlife, camping, hiking, outdoor sports
5th day – 5 Gold Rings = jewelry! or gold, or jewelry!
6th day – 6 Geese A-laying = your suggestion is as good as mine
7th day – 7 Swans A-swimming = see swans at a Theme park of Amusement Park
8th day – 8 Maids A-milking = a maid! That’s a good gift idea.
9th day – 9 Ladies Dancing = tickets to the ballet, theatre, dance concert, Rockettes, etc
10th day – 10 Lords A-leaping = (court jesters?) go to a comedy club
11th day – 11 Pipers Piping = music, see a parade with a band or get music lessons
12th day – 12 Drummers Drumming = go to a concert, join a drumming circle

That was fun (and far less expensive than the original gifts), but now it’s your turn to be creative. What gifts are you giving for The 12 Days of Christmas?

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Do you need a Gift for a Grandparent?

Gift shopping should be fun. Shopping in general should be enjoyable, so why has gift shopping for Grandparents become stressful? The answer might be that we are looking for a gift for a ‘group’ when we should be looking for a gift for an individual. Yes, Grandparents are people too. They grew up with friends and family. They listened to music, played sports, had hobbies and interests. And you know what? They are still the same people. They are a little older and wiser, but chances are they are still interested in a lot of the same things they were interested in when they were younger.

Take a minute and think about your Grandparent. You know this person. I’m sure they shared a lot of their own stories while you were growing up. There really are a lot of gift choices for Grandparents today. Happy Shopping!

Here are a gift few ideas – Nostalgia gifts, Hobby related gifts, Experience gifts, Green and eco-friendly gifts, Collectible gifts, Health related gifts, Veterans gifts, etc…. and Jewelry is always a great gift for Grandmothers!
Betty’s Attic – http://greatgiftcircle.com/shops/bettys-attic/
Full of Life – http://greatgiftcircle.com/shops/full-of-life/
Fox Lane – http://greatgiftcircle.com/shops/fox-lane/
Bits & Pieces – http://greatgiftcircle.com/shops/bits-and-pieces/
Nature Conservancy – http://greatgiftcircle.com/shops/the-nature-conservancy/
Uniformed Scrapbooks of America – http://greatgiftcircle.com/shops/uniformed-scrapbooks-of-america/
Gardener’s Supply – http://greatgiftcircle.com/shops/gardeners-supply-company/
Gaiam Living – http://greatgiftcircle.com/shops/gaiam-living/
Chefs – http://greatgiftcircle.com/shops/chefs/
Mitchell and Ness Nostalgia Co. – http://greatgiftcircle.com/shops/mitchell-and-ness-nostalgia-co/

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It’s Been a Tough Year …

… for everyone. Almost everyone was affected by some kind of natural disaster this year, including tornados, hurricanes, earthquakes and fires, just to name a few. This was also a year of unemployment, foreclosures, and a lot of businesses going out of business. As a result of these events, there are a lot of people who need help this year.

This Holiday season take a look around your community and see who needs help. If there are people collecting food for a local food bank outside your grocery store, buy something to give to them. Most police and fire organizations are collecting toys this time of year to distribute to kids who may not get any other gift for Christmas. Is there a shelter in your area for women, families or homeless people? Shelters always need soaps, shampoos, toothpaste, toothbrushes and clothing. Do your local schools need school supplies, art supplies or sporting goods supplies? Do you live in a cold climate? Is there a coat drive in your area to give used warm coats to people who need them?

It doesn’t take a big monetary contribution to make a difference. You may already have something in your home that you don’t use, or have a stash of gifts you received that are waiting to be ‘re-gifted’. Look around your home for that toy or book or football that never got used in your home and give it away. Your contribution could turn out to be the thing that gave someone hope or changed a life. What better gift could you give than hope?

We need to help and heal our communities before we can help and heal our nation.

Give Great … Get Great - Life is circular. What goes around, comes around.

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