Tag Archives: Gifts

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Click here to read everyone else’s replies to this week’s question and here to see the full list of topics for the year.

I am not very talented at making generic present suggestions because so much of what goes into gift buying for me are the specific personality traits and interests of the recipients.

Some people would love tickets to a baseball game or a lightweight kettle they can bring with them on backcountry hiking trips, for example, while others might find it exciting to get a gift card to a beloved local coffee shop or a new book from their favourite author.

The last time we had this prompt, I talked about what to buy for minimalists who don’t want a lot of stuff they then have to dust or look after.

This year I’m going to give some gift ideas for nature lovers as I happen to be one of those folks who loves spending time outdoors surrounded by plants and (docile) wildlife.

1) Their favourite sunscreen, bug spray, anti-itch cream, or lotion.

Obviously, check ahead of time to see which products they prefer and if they’re comfortable with this, but I love getting practical gifts like this.

2) A subscription to a weather app

You do not want to be wandering out into the forest and possibly out of communication range if tornadoes, thunderstorms, or blizzards are in the forecast!

3) Shelf-stable snacks

Dried fruit or vegetables, crackers, trail mix, dried meat,  ingredients for s’mores, and similar items  are much appreciated after working up an appetite outdoors.

4) A new water bottle 

Make it something sturdy that won’t shatter into a thousand pieces if it is accidentally dropped.

5) A gift card to their favourite grocery store or outdoorsy store

This is such a flexible idea that can work for people of any age or fitness level. I like outdoor picnics, for example, and would be thrilled to splurge on a few fancy food options if I had a gift card to a grocery store. Someone who hikes out in the wilderness for days on end might prefer to use their gift card towards new hiking boots,  a tent, or a million other options you can find that you didn’t know existed at stores that specialize in hiking, camping, rock climbing, and other outdoor activities.

6) Companionship

If you’re able to, offer to go with them on one of their adventures. Some types of outdoor activities are simply not safe to do alone at all, and most of them are much more fun with a friend or a group of people.

7) A sun hat

My dad bought me a great new sun hat  last spring. I was able to get so much use out of it this year, and it’s a good idea to use multiple layers of protection against the sun on a bright or hot day.

8) Camera accessories 

My phone takes pretty great photos, but there are so many accessories that serious photographers could use to take even better ones.

9) Stories

Is it really a campfire or a bonfire if nobody has any stories to tell? I’d argue no. The more stories everyone shows up with, the better. They can be from fiction or nonfiction books as well as from real life.

10) A small first aid kit

Obviously, I hope that no one ever needs to use it, but I always carry some basic supplies with me if I’m going anywhere other than downtown Toronto. It has come in handy once or twice, too!

Hosted by Long and Short Reviews.

Click here to read everyone else’s replies to this week’s question and here to see the full list of topics for the year.

It’s been a fun year with all of you as always! Thank you for being such an interesting group of people to talk to each week.

Here are my ideas for gifts for people who are hard to shop for:

1) Experiences

For example, you could give a gift certificate for their favourite restaurant, a massage from a professional massage therapist, or tickets to a play, concert, sporting event, museum, or some other event that suits their tastes.

2) Donation to a Charity They Like

I have relatives who sometimes buy a goat or chicken for each other through certain charities in lieu of giving physical gifts for the holidays because they honestly already have everything they need.

(That is to say, you give the charity X number of dollars, and they use that money to buy a goat or chicken for a family living in a developing country who can use that animal as a recurring source of food and/or income. If your budget is huge, you could even buy someone an entire cow.)

If I were going to do this one, I’d be tempted to buy a little plastic or cloth chicken or goat to include with the certificate that says what sort of animal you’ve donated in that person’s name.

3) Time 

You decide how you give the time. Think a night of free babysitting so parents of little ones can have a break;  doing home or car repairs for them; deep cleaning the homes of those who can’t physically do all of that lifting, bending, and scrubbing anymore for whatever reason; organizing photos (and noting who is in each photo, roughly what year the photo was taken, and how everyone knows each other!); researching genealogical records for their family tree; sitting down to record stories from their life for future generations; or whatever else it is they’d appreciate that you have the time and energy to do.

4) Gourmet Food and Beverages

You could bake them some fancy homemade cupcakes, share your top secret family recipe for a dish they love, pick up a nice bottle of locally-produced maple syrup or wine (or whatever delicious food or drink your region is known for), or surprise them with favourite candies from other countries that are hard to find where you live.

I’ve done this one a lot. It’s a very economical way to give a physical gift that, allergies and medical issues aside, just about everyone loves.

5) Teaching Skills 

Not everyone knows how to crochet, troubleshoot a malfunctioning computer, run a professional social media account, create a thriving garden, speak multiple languages, fix a car, or do any other number of useful things. If they’re interested in learning and you know how to do X, this could be a great gift that also gives you a fabulous excuse to spend some quality time together.

6) Hobby Supplies

This is one of those cases where asking exactly what they want is an excellent idea, but you could give all sorts of things that people use up while doing various hobbies: yarn, paint, coloured pencils, canvases, ballet slippers/tap shoes, sports or hiking gear, tools, empty notebooks, heirloom seeds, a cutting or seedling from a plant you’ve grown that they’ve admired, fancy pens, shelf-stable baking supplies,  rolls of film (for traditional photographers), a higher quality or limited edition version of X that you know they would never splurge on themselves, etc.

See you all in January!

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Click here to read everyone else’s replies to this week’s question and here to see the full list of topics for the year.

This final topic of the year was a little tricky for me because of how many different types of books and readers are out there. Some people love romance, while others think of themselves as the world’s biggest fans of the horror, mystery, or science fiction genres (among many others). There are also readers who joyfully jump around from one genre to the next!

My answers to this prompt are an attempt to recommend books that will appeal to as many sorts of people as possible.

Sudoku, Crossword, Word Search and Other Puzzle Books

Puzzle books are such a broad category that the right selection of them can be found for nearly age group or ability level.

Blank Books

They can be used as diaries, bullet journals, sketchbooks, places to collect favourite poems, quotes, or cheerful messages from friends, and so much more.

Some are so small they can fit into the palm of your hand, while others are large enough to use as a sketchbook.

Adult Colouring Books

Colouring isn’t only for kids!

This is a wonderful, calming activity for winter or at other times when staying at home is your best bet.

The subject matter of them varies from floral garden patterns to Lord of the Rings pictures and everything inbetween.

The Princess Bride by William Goldman

If you enjoyed the film version of this story, definitely do check out the book.

It’s written to appeal to everyone: kids, teens, adults, and senior citizens. Not many stories can say that!

A Thousand Mornings by Mary Oliver

Mary Oliver was one of those poets who know how to speak both to poetry fanatics as well as to those of us who generally aren’t interested in that genre.

Her work spoke about things that all humans experience, from grief to enjoying a quiet moment in nature to the relief of seeing the sun after a long, dark night.

The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster

No one is ever too old or too young for a story filled with puns, other types of wordplay, and literary jokes in general.

On one final note, it’s been a lot of fun participating in the Wednesday Weekly Blogging Challenge in 2020. Thank you all for reading my responses to it and writing your own!