The Fitness Enthusiast

1. For walking/running or cardio enthusiasts, how about a pedometer or a basic Timex sports watch with a stopwatch? Little extras to throw in would be a good sunscreen, a good protective lip product, and a product called “Body Glide” which is an anti-chafing product or it can be used to guard against blisters. A heart rate monitor is a great gift.

2. How about an exercise mat, dumbbells in 5, 8 and 10 pounds for a great workout at different levels? A jump rope or a weighted fitness ball are also good picks.

3. How about some great athletic gear for both women and men? Target carries up-to-date fitness clothes that are quite reasonable.

4. For a walking enthusiast, how about walking sticks for a better workout? Nordic Walking Sticks for instance and they are under $100.

5. A magazine subscription to “SHAPE”, “FITNESS”, “RUNNERS“, “YOGA“ to keep them inspired along with some great exercise DVD’s such as Tae-Bo, Zumba, or Pilates.

6. How about a massage for their tired muscles at a great spa?

7. An iPod shuffle along with a gift card for tunes.

8. For biking enthusiasts, how about bike pants or shorts with the padding? Good gloves that have gel in them will protect their hands. For their helmets, a mirror to attach to see traffic behind them.

9. Cold can be a problem for runners and walkers. How about buying them some cold weather gear? I am talking about polypropylene, gore-tex, or capilene materials used in clothes/gloves/hats. A wool hat and gloves is also a plus.


10. Here are some old/new exercise products: push-up bars, resistance bands, body tubes, power twister, sit-up bar, medicine ball, balance board, calf isolator, chinning bar.

***GIFT CARD IDEA***

A gift card to Dick’s Sporting Goods or any sporting goods store where they can pick out their own gear and put the card in with a pair of great anti-wicking socks.

Valentine's Day Gifts for Him and Her

FOR HIM…
1. C’mon gals…we all know guys love their sports so let’s give them sports….. How about an NFL neon light or an NFL watch (both of these can be obtained at JC Penney for under $100.). A duffel bag with your man’s favorite NFL sport team is a good one. JC Penney has a Reebok one for $30. Just check out their website.

2. A turbo charger for your man’s cell phone or iPod. They can charge their phone or iPod anywhere. Guys get so agitated when their cell phone dies on them. A great gift especially for the guy on the road.

3. How about a leather laptop portfolio (carrying case with lots of pockets along with carrying their laptop computer) with removable shoulder strap? You can get this for under $100 at many stores.

4. A car kit with everything included. This is a carrying case with car wash products for both the interior and exterior. My husband goes ga-ga over this. Target and Wal-Mart have good ones.

5. How about a sausage and cheese basket (from wisconsincheeseman.com) or a wine themed basket (from winecountrygiftbaskets.com)? These two websites have such great items that would please any man.

FOR HER…
1. We all know diamonds are a gal’s best friend. But, let’s say we do a re-mix. How about another type of gemstone in her favorite color - say in a stud earring? I am talking a red garnet or a purple amethyst or a green peridot - for under $100. at JC Penney.

2. The spa is the ultimate destination for your lady to unwind. A gift card for a massage, manicure and/or pedicure is always a good one and can be obtained for under $100 at most places.

3. How about a sweets basket without the calories? How about “Frosting Forever” 3-in -1 bubble bath, shampoo, body wash at Bath and Body Works? Bath and Body Works also carries chocolate scented products-yummy! How about adding a bag of chocolate coffee? You can get this at your local grocery chain. They have gourmet coffee brands in chocolate (Millstone is one). Throw in a personalized mug (Maybe one that says, “You are my box of chocolates“). Add a chocolate scented candle.

4. How about a real sweets basket with the calories? Try chocolate covered strawberries from your local candy shop or off the Internet (http://www.berries.com/). How about a chocolate covered apple (on the internet at MrsPrindales.com)? Add a great bottle of wine or sparkling champagne and roses or just 1 rose from your local grocery store and you are all set for a great evening.

5. How about a soft, warm wrap (called a pashmina) to keep her warm? A pashmina wrap comes in many colors and one size fits all and can be found at any dept. store (JC Penney, Macy’s, etc). Maybe in the card write, “To keep you warm when I am not around?

**GIFT CARD SUGGESTION**
An iTunes gift card packaged with a CD of your partner’s choice. They can download any songs they like to listen to and think of you. Go to iTunes.com.

The Senior Man or Woman 65+

1. Put together a package with stamps and note cards plus a box of greeting cards that are all-occasion along with a ergonomically shaped pen that is easy on arthritic fingers. Sometimes that senior person doesn’t drive anymore which makes it difficult to have that special card or stamp ready. Throw in some personalized address labels and a little sponge that they moisten for the stamps and backs of envelopes. For added fun, cute stickers to add to their cards.

2. How about a couple of chunky soup mugs with handles that can be carried to the table along with some great soup mixes? Throw in some gourmet crackers and cheese or tuna packets or flavored peanut butter. This is a great gift for both men and women. Seniors cannot get to the store as often as us younger folks. You can find the flavored peanut butters at Target along with gourmet soup mixes at any specialty gift shop or deli or even at the supermarket.

3. A Netflix type membership for movies is good. If the senior cannot get to their local Blockbuster then they just need to walk to their mailbox. They will need a computer in order to pick their movies but so many seniors are online these days.

4. How about a large numbered phone in order to make a telephone call? You can buy these at a phone store or online. This is such a huge help to that senior with poor eyesight or the beginnings of macular degeneration. Another addition to this would be a large magnifying glass for doing cross-stitch or reading the newspaper.

5. An enhancement for their telephone to hear better. This is available on-line or through your local hearing disability organization.

6. A magazine prescription. A nice magazine for seniors is “REMINISCE“ or “SATURDAY EVENING POST“ or the old stand-by, “READER‘S DIGEST“.

7. Anything homemade. A nice teacake or bread along with special gourmet coffees or varieties of tea or cocoa. A nice pot of homemade soup or steaming pot of stew or chili is always special. If you aren’t a cook, get takeout and go share a meal. Companionship and a nice conversation over a bowl of soup is sublime!!

8. A toilet seat that is elevated/padded or a shower seat. It is hard for many seniors to bend or sit without a lot of pain. These elevated seats and shower chairs are such a comfortable alternative to the norm. These items are available at your local medical supply store or available on-line.

9. A few large print books or audio books. Due to poor eyesight, many seniors miss their hobby of reading.

10. A Boom-box. Find a smaller one that can be placed on a table that plays the radio, cassette tapes or CD’s. So many seniors have old tapes. Or, you can download favorite tunes from the senior’s favorite era and make CD’s. Go to ITunes.com and download swing music, 50’s rock n roll or even Lawrence Welk.

**GIFT CARD SUGGESTION**
How about a gift card to get their hair cut or styled at their local salon? Or, a manicure? Seniors love pampering too!

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The Single Guy - Age 20+

1. A new coffee maker with the single pods to make one cup at a time. There are various brands. The two most popular are the Tassimo and the Senseo. These can be purchased for under $100. You then purchase various pods that you buy separately for a wide variety of hot drinks such as coffee, cappuccino, hot cocoa and tea . The convenience is great, the beverage is divine, and the time it takes to make a hot beverage takes a minute.

2. A framed photo of their alma mater as in high school, college, medical school, etc. Guys love having a photo of their college on the wall of their apt., office, etc. You can obtain these photos in various ways. If you live in the town where the school is located, take a photo. You can also purchase any photo of a school on line through Google, EBay, the school website, Ask.com, etc.

3. Bar Glasses as in Beer Mugs, Martini Glasses, Margarita Glasses, Shot Glasses, etc. An ice bucket is a great addition along with beverage napkins or coasters. You can get inexpensive glasses of all sorts at Wal-Mart, Target, JC Penney, TJ Maxx, Stein Mart, etc. Ditto for the coasters and napkins.

4. Neon lamps. Guys get a kick out of displaying a neon light that shows their favorite beer logo, a palm tree or flamingo, martini glass silhouette, a sports logo, etc. Again, these can be picked up on-line the most readily or you can sometimes find them in various stores. I have found them at Big Lots.

5. A Slow Cooker/Crock Pot. It is great to come home to a hot meal with little effort. There are many slow cooker mixes with seasonings in your local grocery store to throw in with some meat and veggies or noodles. You can make a tasty chili, beef stew, pot roast, pulled pork, or soup in one of these cookers. The possibilities are endless. Dining out is great but can be quite expensive when done on a regular basis. This is a great solution.

6. A magazine subscription to whatever interests your guy. You cannot go wrong with easy reading to relax. Any of these can be obtained on-line or by purchasing the magazine at your nearest book store or grocery store and taking out the order insert always included in a magazine.

7. Game Items such as an automatic card shuffler. Most guys love to have a poker night. Any kind of game accompaniment is a prize for a guy. Again the possibilities are endless. What about a pool cue stick, a themed set of playing cards, a great poker tablecloth, a dart board?

8. Oversized Bath Towels with a great luxury soap to accompany it. Guys love big, oversized bath towels. A special soap is always appreciated in his favorite scent. I like the oversized towels at Kohls or any dept store.. Special soaps can be found at TJ Maxx, Caswell-Massey, Target, Bath and Body, etc.

9. DVD Set of his favorite Television shows such as, “24”, “The Office“, “Seinfeld”. Or, a DVD Set of his favorite movies such as, “Lord of the Rings“, “Harry Potter”, “James Bond”, “Indiana Jones”. etc. He’ll watch these for many years. A great relaxation tool.

10. Toaster Oven/Panini Maker. There is nothing like a grilled cheese or a great hamburger. A quick way to a quick meal.

GIFT CARD SUGGESTION
I am going to say a grocery store gift card is my ideal choice for the single guy. You can never go wrong with this idea. Always appreciated and always needed. How about packaged in an empty milk container or with a great loaf of bread or with a can of gourmet coffee?