Giving greener gifts

(NC)—This holiday season there are sound environment gift options for every taste.

Choose greener gifts by keeping three guidelines in mind: locally sourced, thoughtfully personal and smart wrapping.

A simple option is to find something grown or crafted in your area. Local wines, cheeses or seasonal arrangements are always a welcome gift. During the holiday season Canadians can take advantage of wreaths or arrangements made from local evergreens.

For a more personal gift, consider the recipient’s interests and hobbies. A great resource is the World Vision Gift Catalogue (online at www.worldvision.ca/gifts). Options include a grove of fruit trees on behalf of an avid gardener, school supplies on behalf of a reader or chickens to provide a family with eggs in the name of a wonderful cook. Gifts are locally sourced and go to help children and families around the world.

Reduce wrapping, or go for recycled or reusable options. Using fabric or a colourful cloth shopping bag is not only an environmentally sound option, but provides a ‘wow factor’.

www.newscanada.com

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Use your photos to make personalized holiday gifts that last a lifetime

(ARA) – Finding that perfect holiday gift for friends and family is always challenging. Clothes are difficult unless you know the perfect size and style. You can miss the mark on books and music if you’re not intimately familiar with the genres that interest the recipient. One type of gift that will never go out of style is the personal, handmade present.
While that may sound cliche, the fact is, something heartfelt – created from memories new and old – will almost always be more valuable to someone than something store-bought and mass-produced. The hard part is narrowing down the list of things you can make. A good start is to recall all your favorite memories by looking through the pictures you’ve taken throughout the year. After all, clothes may go out of style, but photos never will – so you will want pictures that will last for years to come.

How many photos do you and your family take each year? Hundreds? Thousands? Unfortunately, many of those photos end up staying stored indefinitely on your camera or smartphone, your hard drive or in email attachments. Creating great gifts with those photos – right from home – is a snap, and the key is to start with great-looking photos.

Printing a high-quality image in the convenience of your home has never been easier. With Kodak printers you are guaranteed exceptional lab-quality photos that will last a lifetime. Kodak has always been trusted with capturing and preserving life’s memories. And with photos that dry instantly and are smudge and fade resistant, they’re ready for any project right off the printer! Learn more at Kodak.com/go/aio.

* Make frames. One of the easiest ways to get your kids involved in the gift making is frames. Start with Popsicle sticks – either colored sticks or the plain wood ones that they can color or paint on their own, and decide what size frame you want to make. You can also buy a frame with a large solid-colored mat around it so your children can decorate it, and you can simply put their photo in the middle – either are great gift ideas for parents and grandparents.

* Make fun collages. With so many great family memories from the year, picking just one picture to highlight can be a challenge. One great way to put more of those memories in the spotlight is by making a collage. It can serve as a wrap-up of your year and a perfect complement to your family’s annual holiday card. Pick several really fun photos to cut out and lay the parts you want to use on a sheet of paper. Make sure you give the placement of the photos careful consideration before gluing it down to the paper or you’ll have to start over.

* Share the holidays with friends and family from afar. We all have friends and relatives who aren’t close by. Take photos of your holiday dinner, your family opening gifts or decorating your home, and send them to your out of town loved ones so they can still be a part of your holiday festivities. After all, a picture is worth a thousand words.

Holiday gifts don’t need to be costly or store bought to have that real, warm impact. Bright, quality pictures and a little creativity are usually all you need to get the job done – right at home.

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Thrifty Yet Thoughtful Presents!

(ARA) – Worried about gift-giving this year? Don’t stress. With a dash of creativity and a sprinkle of detail, it’s easy to whip up the perfect present with the right personal touch, says Emmy award-winning chef and cookbook author, Giada De Laurentiis.

“I love to add a homemade element, whether it’s a freshly baked dessert or custom wrapping, because it makes the gift that much more unique and personal,” De Laurentiis says. “I also find that pairing a present with a favorite bottle of wine adds a delicious and elegant touch.”

Whether you’re trying to find the perfect gift for an outdoorsy friend or the host of a holiday gathering, De Laurentiis shares her customized gift ideas that make it easier than ever to give a perfectly personal (and price conscious) present:

For the movie fan
As the granddaughter of famed film producer Dino De Laurentiis, Giada knows just what a movie aficionado wants. She suggests choosing a colorful popcorn bowl and adding a bag of gourmet popcorn kernels, an herb-infused olive oil, a favorite light-bodied white wine like Pinot Grigio, and a classic movie on DVD. “Giving the gift of a movie night is the perfect touch for cinema enthusiasts,” De Laurentiis says. “Plus, the infused olive oil gives the popcorn a special gourmet flair without breaking the bank.”

For the travel enthusiast
A travel-themed gift basket is a great match for any jetsetter, and De Laurentiis enjoys spicing this one up with a little Italian flare. In a canvas tote bag, pop in a popular travel book, a portable clock, a pocket translator and a batch of your favorite biscotti. “I sprinkle green and red sugar crystals on top of my holiday biscotti for a festive garnish,” De Laurentiis says. “Also, this kind of Italian cookie pairs nicely with a crisp, fruity Italian wine like Bella Sera (R) Moscato.”

For the epicurean
A cookbook is a classic choice to give your favorite foodie, so why not spruce it up Giada-style? “I like to include a finished product of one of the recipes so the recipient can get a flavor of what’s inside,” she says. Pair those with a favorite bottle of wine – “You can’t go wrong with a smooth Bella Sera Pinot Noir,” De Laurentiis says – and place everything in a decorative wicker basket with a colorful ribbon, and your epicurean gift is cooked to perfection.

For the outdoor adventurist
A portable butane camping stove is a must-have for every outdoor enthusiast. Accompany it with cooking utensils, a sturdy skillet, a batch of homemade Italian flat bread and a versatile red wine like Merlot, and you’ve created the ultimate camping cookout gift. “A cooking kit is perfect for your ourdoorsy friends or relatives because it contains practical items they can use for many of their excursions,” De Laurentiis says. When it comes to baking flat bread, De Laurentiis suggests brushing the dough with extra-virgin olive oil to get a crispy, shiny crust.

For the romantic
Whether you’re gifting a hopelessly romantic friend or a newlywed couple, De Laurentiis suggests giving the gift of love with a stylish container full of freshly baked chocolate desserts. Along with it, she adds a pair of wine glasses and a bottle of dry, light-bodied red wine, such as Chianti. “With a delicious dessert and the zesty touch of Chianti, this gift idea is the perfect combination of sweet and spicy romance,” De Laurentiis says.

For the holiday gathering host/hostess
A bottle of wine is always a thoughtful hostess gift and appreciated at holiday get-togethers. “Bella Sera wines pair wonderfully with a variety of foods, so bring bottles of both red and white to a holiday party,” De Laurentiis suggests. “That way everyone can choose their favorite and truly get in the holiday spirit.”

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Here are some easy and affordable eco-chic gift ideas:

1) Gifts that help
The holidays are all about the feeling of giving back, and what better way to show you care than to give a gift that was made under fair practices? Naturally inspired bath and body products that don’t test on animals and contain ingredients that were obtained through fair Community Trade practices are great gift ideas that the recipient is sure to enjoy and feel good about.

The Body Shop is a company that practices all of these ideals. Ingredients are not tested on animals and they just celebrated 21 years of Community Trade relationships, where small community farmers and businesses in some of the poorest areas across the world have access to a fair wage earned in fair work conditions. Their pioneering program has benefitted over 25,000 people in more than 20 countries. Here are some feel-good gifts from The Body Shop that will delight the senses during this magical time of year:

* The brand new Warm Amber scent range features natural Community Trade ingredients including cocoa and shea butter from Ghana, honey from Zambia, and sesame oil from Nicaragua. Also, the Cranberry body range offers a festive and fruity scent that is classic to the holiday season, and Vanilla Spice is a delicious range with notes of orange, cinnamon and ginger. All of these fabulous scent ranges are infused into a variety of products such as bath crystals, body shimmers and lip balms. Who wouldn’t want to find them in their stocking?

* The limited edition Sparkle Seduction collection is inspired from this winter’s key look: natural glamour with an edgy twist. Products feature Community Trade marula oil from a women’s co-op in Namibia, an ingredient that moisturizes and conditions skin. You can look and feel your best whether at the office during the day or out on the town celebrating the season.

* Men’s Bath and Body: Your favorite guy is sure to appreciate a gift featuring products made specifically for him. The Maca Root range for men energizes skin and conditions while protecting against irritation caused by daily shaving.

2) Reuse, rejoice, recycle.
Whether you are looking for the perfect package to give your perfect gift, or want to reuse what you’ve been given, don’t put bags and bows in the trash, reuse it! Here are some smart holiday ideas:

* Recycle packaging containers — bath containers are often high quality and can be used again after you have enjoyed them. The Body Shop creates packaging with the intention for creative reuse. For example, your body butter containers are perfect to house your favorite jewelry in.

* Gift wrap — use old posters, colorful bags, holiday sections of the paper, old holiday cards or even colorful clothing that you don’t wear any longer. Remember to save gifted ribbons and bows for future use.

* Promote reuse — shop antique stores for unique gifts you’ll not likely find anywhere else. Retro items can be a great hit, and bring back memories of the past.

3) Homemade gift items.
Creating your own gift is somewhat of a lost art. Not only is a homemade gift one-of-a-kind, it also can be highly personalized and is likely to be remembered much longer after the tree comes down. Here are some ideas:

* Foods: From sweets to sauces, creating a favorite food for a loved one is an easy way to send holiday love.

* Holiday Decor: There’s a reason the homemade holiday ornament you gave your mother is still hung up 20 years later, it’s a gift that means something.

* Crafts: Consider creating something cleaver, personal and useful. For example, clean out your used The Body Shop bath containers and decorate with collage, beads and other items to make a personalized storage container.

Not very crafty? Just create a homemade card to go along with your purchased gift. Write out a nice note to the recipient telling them your appreciation for them in your life, especially during the holidays.

This year, get into the true spirit of the season and give a gift that gives back with an eco-friendly flare. Visit www.TheBodyShop-USA.com.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

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It's a tradition Kim says cuts through the commercialism surrounding the holidays, to the core of what the season is all about.

Instead of battling crowded shopping malls and rising prices, Kim Jacobson is spending time in her garage, building holiday gifts in her home woodshop.

For several years, the Minnesota-based occupational therapist has been handcrafting holiday presents as part of her husband Gary’s family’s unusual — and refreshing — annual gift exchange.

“There’s only one rule,” Gary explains. “Everything has to be homemade. You draw a name at Christmas and have the next year to make that person a present.”

It’s a tradition Kim says cuts through the commercialism surrounding the holidays, to the core of what the season is all about.

“A lot of love goes into what you make,” she says.

It’s also part of an emerging trend, according to Ann Rockler Jackson, chief executive officer of Rockler Woodworking and Hardware, one of the nation’s largest suppliers of woodworking tools and equipment.

Jackson has seen her company’s gift-related supply sales increase steadily over the past five years and believes more consumers are seeking a back-to-the-basics approach to gifts.

“People are getting tired of the shopping-mall mentality surrounding holiday gifts,” she says. “Building your own can be so much more personal. There are a lot of creative people out there making incredible, meaningful gifts they couldn’t buy at a store. And that do-it-yourself population is growing.

“Plus, it’s a nice way to save money,” she says. “When you have the skills and ability to eliminate labor costs by doing something yourself, it pays dividends — particularly in a tough economy.”

As the number of people building gifts increases, so does the flow of ideas. Rockler has organized an extensive handmade gift list on its Web site, www.rockler.com/handmade.

Some of the more popular projects on the list are relatively simple to build — things like small jewelry or keepsake boxes. Dominoes, cribbage boards and wooden Sudoku sets are among the many options for beginners. And for those with wood lathes, hardware kits for hand-turned pens, Christmas ornaments and even ice-cream scoops bring the quality of homemade gifts up to — or beyond — the store-bought level.

For the Jacobsons, high-quality homemade gifts are nothing new. With several accomplished woodworkers in the family, they have seen some amazing creations over the years.

“Probably the most impressive was a dining room table my cousin made for his sister-in-law,” Gary says. “That will be an heirloom, for sure.”

Still, the beauty of the Jacobson’s tradition — and one of the driving forces behind home gift-building’s burgeoning popularity — has as much to do with fellowship as it does with craftsmanship.

“It’s definitely brought us all closer together,” Kim says.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

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Nothing brings out the brilliance of the season more than the shimmer of holiday decor.

The holiday season is a memorable time associated with fun, family and lots of presents. As you consider what to give the people on your gift list, why not try something different this year?

Jo-Ann Fabric and Craft Stores suggests, “Let’s make Christmas!” Handmade gifts are a trend across the country due to their highly personal nature and the fact that they often cost less than store bought items.

“This holiday, forget about that boring or expensive store-bought present. Handmade gifts are more popular than ever, and for good reason,” says Susan Atchison, manager of trend development for Jo-Ann Fabric and Craft Stores. “In the current economic climate, people are turning to crafting presents to save money and are discovering that these gifts are so unique that they’re often the gifts that are remembered most.”

Atchison explains that many great gifts can be made for less than $25. She advises aspiring crafters to choose a favorite project and make things in quantities. You’ll save even more money because you buy the supplies and then split the cost. Consider gathering a few friends or family members and creating a gift-making get together! You’ll get crafts done efficiently and spend quality time with the ones you love.

Here are some ideas to inspire you in creating homemade gifts this year:

For the top chef of the family, consider buying a basic apron and decorating it to appeal to their personality. Add that famous family recipe in fabric marker to the front, a clever cooking saying, or even handprints of the grandkids. They are sure to love how unique and useful it is.

* Personalized note cards are fun, festive and useful.
There are always times you need a card to send out to a loved one. Wouldn’t it be nice to have a supply readily at hand? This is a useful gift you can create for anyone from mother to teacher to mail carrier. Buy blank cards and envelopes and decorate with a variety of coordinating papers, ribbons and stamps. You can keep them general or create cards for different occasions such as birthdays and holidays for use throughout the year.

* For the host or hostess who always gives their all.
Traditionally, you might consider sewing a wine bag and bring a bottle of wine to your next holiday gathering. But why not step it up and make a bag for that baguette you’re bringing or a nice container for the appetizer you were assigned for the pot luck?

* Clever pet toys keep furry friends happy.
Creating a gift for the family pet or for your friend who loves animals is the perfect way to show you care. Cat toys can easily be made out of leather and feather pieces. Add a bell and some catnip for some extra pizzazz. Dogs also love homemade toys, just make sure they can stand up to tougher play — rope and thick material work best.

* Deck the halls and deck your friends with stylish clothing and accessories.
Winter-themed clothing is great during the cold months and homemade items are the most cherished. A fleece scarf in a bright color will not only keep the wearer warm, but brighten the wardrobe. Knit hats and mittens are trendy in fashion circles and useful too. Even a hand-sewn fleece poncho can keep your favorite outdoor walker warm during brisk morning jaunts.

* Religious-themed gifts get kids involved.
A homemade gift incorporating the recipient’s religion is something that will definitely stand out. For example, making your own menorah out of fun colored paper and flameless tea lights is an easy and safe gift for a child. When giving, you can explain how the item ties into the time of year and help them to learn about the real reason for the celebration.

* Add a little sparkle to make the season merry and bright.
Nothing brings out the brilliance of the season more than the shimmer of holiday decor. From shiny, handcrafted ornaments and beaded tabletop trees, to sparkling votive holders or a joyful holiday planter, anyone on your list can celebrate in style with these decorations made just for them.

For more ideas and project instructions for homemade gifts, visit your local Jo-Ann Fabric and Craft Store.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

For the top chef of the family, consider buying a basic apron and decorating it to appeal to their personality.

*An apron is easy to personalize for the baker, chef or grill master.

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