Artful Giving !!!

You don’t have to buy cookie-cutter presents nor gift baskets... :)
There’s a world of collectibles waiting to be discovered at online museum shops.

If you are looking for something unusual for those folks who have everything? Instead of jumping in the car and heading for the mall, power up your laptop and let your fingers do the shopping at the online stores of American museums.

Metropolitan Museum of Art
www.metmuseum.org/store

As tastefully appointed and brimming with treasures as the patrician New York museum itself, featuring educational product descriptions that let you learn while you shop. Browse by category (such as Books, Scarves and Shawls, or For the Table) or by museum exhibition or collection (such as Photographs, The Costume Institute, Asian Art). Merchandise ranges from a Unicorn tapestry-inspired pillow cover ($80) to a reproduction bronze of a Degas dancer ($295). Jewelry offerings are extensive, from a Tiffany snowflake pin ($35) to a mother-of-pearl pendant based on ancient Indian jewelry. Feeling flush? Click on Luxury Fine Jewelry for high-end items like the hand-hammered Greek-inspired gold cuff bracelet ($5,750). Don't miss MetKids, with unique items like the Knight Night Light ($12) and a Terracotta Warriors Excavation Kit.


Art Institute of Chicago
www.artinstituteshop.org

Famed artists and Chicago architects take center stage here, with tons of framed reproductions, distinctive apparel (such as a Kandinsky necktie), and decorative housewares (such as a lamp made of criss-crossing chopsticks or a throw blanket with a Frank Lloyd Wright stained glass window design). The extensive home furnishings section breaks down into 20 sub-sections, from Clocks and Decorative Glass to Throws and Wind Chimes, including unique objects like ancient Egyptian-style alabaster vases and colorful Indonesian baskets. Stained-glass lamp fan? You'll find a wide selection here, from Mackintosh to Mission to Tiffany. You can also browse by style or artist, choosing from more than fifty names. A helpful shopping tote icon in the top corner tallies how many items you've placed in your cart and the total cost. Use the gift selector to find objects in your desired price range and category. A search for jewelry between $50 and $100 yielded 82 results, from an amber reversible cross to a necklace and earring set based on Monet's waterlilies.

Field Museum
store.fieldmuseum.org

Whether it's a life-sized plush lion ($472), an ancient Egyptian "I Love You" cartouche necklace ($48) or a toddler's dino-painted footstool ($60), this venerable Chicago museum offers a wide array of products related to natural history and world cultures. Browse by category or exhibit. You'll find particularly deep offerings in "Pompeii: Stories from an Eruption." (Check out the Vesuvianite jewelry, named after a gemstone discovered near the infamous volcano.) And then of course, there's Sue, the museum's renowned T-Rex skeleton, who has spawned her own merchandising explosion, from mugs and mouse pads to umbrellas and playing cards. The Kids section features the widest inventory, including Japanese pagoda building blocks ($49), a plush Buddha doll ($15.95) and a radio-controlled pteranodon ($46). There's even a separate section devoted to baby products.

Museum of Modern Art, New York
momastore.org

Sleek, tasteful design rules at MoMA's online shop, where items range in price from under $10 to over $6,000. Browse by category (such as Kitchen and Tabletop, Furniture and Lighting or Posters and Prints). Or choose from an array of big-name 20th-century designers, from Alvar Aalto to Frank Lloyd Wright. The Home Accessories click alone offers more than 100 items, including a futuristic, capsule-shaped FM radio ($24), a classic George Nelson "Eye" clock ($295) and much more. Looking for distinctive jewelry? Try the beaded "DNA" bracelet, necklace and earrings or browse the wide selection of bold and colorful watches. Still not sure what you want? Let Gift Ideas and What's New links help. Crisp, zoomable product pictures throughout.

Philadelphia Museum of Art
store.philamuseumstore.org/index.html

Click here for wide range of creative gifts--from a Salvador Dali "eye of time" watch pin to a thermal Mona Lisa mug that magically loses its moustache and goatee when filled with a hot drink. In Featured Artist, you'll find work related to three of the museum's most renowned and beloved artists: Dadaist Marcel Duchamp, Philly painter Thomas Eakins and sculptor Auguste Rodin, whose "Thinker" sculpture is represented by everything from a keyring to an ornament to a bronze reproduction. Click on Paper for prints, posters and original limited-edition framed works like Robert Zakanitch's Nina ($1,210). Kids stuff ranges from fine art tattoo packs to a baseball with Vincent van Gogh's signature. The Gift Ideas click helps you browse by price, but not by recipient or occasion.

Nothing shows how thoughtful you are like a good gag gift

Whether it is for a birthday, a graduation party, April fool’s day, any holiday or just another regular day – gag gifts can bring in a little extra cheer. Do they not say that ‘laughter is the best medicine’? Comedy is always appreciated and can make dull parties and dull days brighter! April fools is the official day for the practical jokes, hoaxes and pranks , the one holiday of the year we should be expecting shenanigans.

A gag gift can be something personalized; something you make with a little private joke. Or if you are blank on ideas, you will be shocked to see the variety of gag gifts available in the market. From money to food, the kitchen to bathroom, the backyard to your front door – the variety of gag gifts that can be accommodated in day-to-day life is amazing. In the most unpredictable fashion, you can surprise someone with a gag gift.

Nothing shows how thoughtful you are like a good gag gift. This year, show your friends how well you know them by getting them the perfect present.

Food Stamps: For your friend whose parents couldn't’t afford to get him a laptop. You can say something like, “You’re really poor, that’s why I got you food stamps as a gag gift…”

Have a friend in the hospital? Huge fuzzy bunny slippers will not only make them laugh but they'll think of you every time they shuffle down the hall or into the bathroom — plus they sure beat the paper hospital slippers and they last longer than flowers!

All Dogs Go To Heaven: For your friend whose cat just died.
For the friend who's always bragging about his or her golf game, gag golf balls will do just about anything but what's expected. Pull a switcharoo for laughs!

Websites
Cuisine Cuisine.com, LLC
Food is Culture . . . Culture is Food !
Elegantly Expressed Gift Baskets
Memorable Gifts . . . Lasting Impressions !

Blogs
Musings About People, Places & Things Intriguing
CuisineCuisine.com's BlogoRama
Life In Digital Pixels
Career Tips N Tricks
The Gift Gazette

Shops
Bazaar! Bazaar! Indian Gift Shop
Indian Gift Baskets, Indian Cookbooks & Indian Spices

CORPORATE GIFT BASKETS

"Gifts are Relationship Builders" Corporate gift snack baskets can include collections of cheese, wine, chocolates, candies, poultry, lamb, pork, veal, smoked meats and appetizers, traditional and exotic seasonal fruits, or seafood. These gifts not only celebrate special occasions but also express a company's care and concern for all its employees, stockholders and clients.

Buyers like you are looking for appropriate ways to say thank-you to employees, associates, and suppliers. Corporate snack baskets promote goodwill and gratitude among the recipients. Traditionally, the goodies in the basket are shared amongst the colleagues and staff of the office, irrespective of who the recipient is.

According to www.ppa.org, the Promotional Products Association International, a survey they conducted revealed businesses that had a corporate gift program were twice as likely to increase their chances of being contacted by customers than those who did not gift.

You can use our gourmet gift baskets for :

Welcome New Employee
Customer Appreciation
New Contract
New Office Space
Service Appreciation - 10yr, 25 yr
Top Producers
Farewell Party
Celebration Dinners
Off-Site Meetings
Team Building Events
Sorry / Apology To A Client
Special Occasions for your Employee/Client like Weddings or Birthdays
Thank Your Admins
Thank Your Boss

They do not have to cost a lot - a decent gift basket that can be shared by around 5 employees will start around $50. Many a times we can personalize gift baskets to include the items from your company like company key chains, stress balls etc.

Cafe Cup Basket & The Ettiquette Of Thank You Notes

Cafe Cup Basket
Originally uploaded by Medini Pradhan.

Everyone knows it's proper to say thank you after receiving a gift or good deed. However, many don't realize there's a proper way to thank people.

The Do's of Thank You Notes

Send your thank you notes as quickly as possible. Notes may be sent on informal stationery, except for wedding thank you notes which are generally sent on formal stationery. Always make specific reference to the gift that is the subject of the note, such as "Thank you so much for the blue sweater. Make it personal. The recipient will appreciate your taking the time to express yourself.


The Don'ts of Thank You Notes

Don't delay in sending most notes. Generally notes should be sent within a week of receipt of the gift or gesture. The only exception to this timing is as follows: 1. Thank you notes for hospital gifts should be sent as soon as the patient is well enough to send them, whenever that is. 2. The current guidelines for wedding gift thank you notes are that the notes should be sent within three months of receipt of gifts.

There is really no excuse for not writing a thank-you note. Make it a habit to write a note as soon as possible after the event or receiving the gift. And, please, teach your children to do the same.

The History Of Valentine's Day !

Every February, across the country, candy, flowers, and gifts are exchanged between loved ones, all in the name of St. Valentine. But who is this mysterious saint and why do we celebrate this holiday? The history of Valentine's Day -- and its patron saint -- is shrouded in mystery. But we do know that February has long been a month of romance. St. Valentine's Day, as we know it today, contains vestiges of both Christian and ancient Roman tradition. So, who was Saint Valentine and how did he become associated with this ancient rite? Today, the Catholic Church recognizes at least three different saints named Valentine or Valentinus, all of whom were martyred.

One legend contends that Valentine was a priest who served during the third century in Rome. When Emperor Claudius II decided that single men made better soldiers than those with wives and families, he outlawed marriage for young men -- his crop of potential soldiers. Valentine, realizing the injustice of the decree, defied Claudius and continued to perform marriages for young lovers in secret. When Valentine's actions were discovered, Claudius ordered that he be put to death.

Other stories suggest that Valentine may have been killed for attempting to help Christians escape harsh Roman prisons where they were often beaten and tortured.

According to one legend, Valentine actually sent the first 'valentine' greeting himself. While in prison, it is believed that Valentine fell in love with a young girl -- who may have been his jailer's daughter -- who visited him during his confinement. Before his death, it is alleged that he wrote her a letter, which he signed 'From your Valentine,' an expression that is still in use today.

Although the truth behind the Valentine legends is murky, the stories certainly emphasize his appeal as a sympathetic, heroic, and, most importantly, romantic figure. It's no surprise that by the Middle Ages, Valentine was one of the most popular saints in England and France.

While some believe that Valentine's Day is celebrated in the middle of February to commemorate the anniversary of Valentine's death or burial -- which probably occurred around 270 A.D -- others claim that the Christian church may have decided to celebrate Valentine's feast day in the middle of February in an effort to 'christianize' celebrations of the pagan Lupercalia festival. In ancient Rome, February was the official beginning of spring and was considered a time for purification. Houses were ritually cleansed by sweeping them out and then sprinkling salt and a type of wheat called spelt throughout their interiors. Lupercalia, which began at the ides of February, February 15, was a fertility festival dedicated to Faunus, the Roman god of agriculture, as well as to the Roman founders Romulus and Remus.

To begin the festival, members of the Luperci, an order of Roman priests, would gather at the sacred cave where the infants Romulus and Remus, the founders of Rome, were believed to have been cared for by a she-wolf or lupa. The priests would then sacrifice a goat, for fertility, and a dog, for purification.

The boys then sliced the goat's hide into strips, dipped them in the sacrificial blood and took to the streets, gently slapping both women and fields of crops with the goat hide strips. Far from being fearful, Roman women welcomed being touched with the hides because it was believed the strips would make them more fertile in the coming year. Later in the day, according to legend, all the young women in the city would place their names in a big urn.

The city's bachelors would then each choose a name out of the urn and become paired for the year with his chosen woman. These matches often ended in marriage. Pope Gelasius declared February 14 St. Valentine's Day around 498 A.D. The Roman 'lottery' system for romantic pairing was deemed un-Christian and outlawed. Later, during the Middle Ages, it was commonly believed in France and England that February 14 was the beginning of birds' mating season, which added to the idea that the middle of February -- Valentine's Day. In Great Britain, Valentine's Day began to be popularly celebrated around the seventeenth century.

By the middle of the eighteenth century, it was common for friends and lovers in all social classes to exchange small tokens of affection or handwritten notes. By the end of the century, printed cards began to replace written letters due to improvements in printing technology. Ready-made cards were an easy way for people to express their emotions in a time when direct expression of one's feelings was discouraged. Cheaper postage rates also contributed to an increase in the popularity of sending Valentine's Day greetings. Americans probably began exchanging hand-made valentines in the early 1700s.

Valentine greetings were popular as far back as the Middle Ages (written Valentine's didn't begin to appear until after 1400), and the oldest known Valentine card is on display at the British Museum.

In the 1840s, Esther A. Howland began to sell the first mass-produced valentines in America. Howland, known as the Mother of the Valentine, made elaborate creations with real lace, ribbons and colorful pictures known as "scrap". The heavy sentimentality of yester year has been replaced with a much lighter touch. More often, a valentine card accompanies a gift as well. Today, valentine cards are manufactured on an enormous scale that covers all types of feelings about love: sentimental, sophisticated, humorous, ridiculous and sublime, just to mention a few. Even dogs and cats can receive valentines, (although to date, they are still unable to stamp them and put them in the mail). In terms of the number of cards sent annually, Valentine’s day ranks second only to Christmas.

So, don’t hesitate, my friends, to demonstrate your love and affection with the nicest card you can find on this holiday designed for lovers everywhere.

The ABCs of Management Gift-Giving - staff gifts can help retain employees

This a real unique way to look at Gift Giving !

Read, Enjoy & Follow !

-----------------------

The holidays are here and you'd like to show your appreciation to your staff. But you can't spend a lot of money. What can you do? Choosing a gift can be a headache--and an opportunity. We believe there's a wide array of gift ideas that any manager in any department of any organization can use to send a special, and important, message.

First, ask what you want your gift to do. Encourage? Open up some opportunities? Just say thanks? Your gift can double as a personalized retention strategy aimed at those employees you truly want to keep on your team.

Here are two gift-giving rules to keep in mind:

Rule 1. If your employees expect it, it might not be viewed as a gift. You may think that the annual bonus (often given at this time of year) is ample reward and recognition for work well done. Your employees may see it differently. In many organizations, bonuses--and even such perks as cell phones and health-club memberships--are no longer seen as special by employees, particularly those who have come to expect them. If that's the case, you'll have to get creative to find rewards that work.

Rule 2. Gifts need to match employees' needs and wants. Yes, different strokes for different folks. Don't guess at what your employees want. Ask them. Usually their requests aren't too difficult to grant and almost always are less than what you might have imagined. Think about yourself. What could your boss do that would really show how much he or she values you? It may be a small thing after all.

The ABC gift catalogue

To spark your creative thinking, we've created a list of gifts based on our research on the reasons talented people stay in organizations. You can use these ideas or let them be catalysts for your own. But do remember to customize them to fit your employees. You can also use the list to create a gift menu or catalogue from which people can select the gifts they want.

Gift A: Private time with you. "A" for ask. An employee can select a lunch date and even the restaurant. It can be a time for you to get to know your staff better and tell them how important they are to you and the team. You might ask questions such as
* What can I do to keep you on my team?
* What part of your work do you find most enjoyable?
* What might make your work life easier?
* What can I do to be more supportive or help you be even more effective?

Gift B: Long-awaited request, done! Think hard about an employee who has asked you for something that you've put on your to-do list and there it sat. Stop passing the buck. Surprise that employee and just do it!

Gift C: Frank talk about the future. Offer to have a career conversation with an employee. Hold it in a quiet, private place--off-site if possible. Try any or all of the following questions to get the conversation started:
* What part of your current job do you enjoy doing the most? Least?
* Which one of your talents haven't I used yet?
* What different jobs do you see yourself doing in the future?

Gift D: Representing the company. "D" for dignity. Give employees the chance to attend an outside conference or seminar designed especially for their affinity group.

Gift E: Professional growth. Let employees choose from a list of potential projects, assignments, or tasks that could enrich their work.

Gift F: Recognizing family. Give employees a prepaid phone card (international for those with distant loved ones), or offer to have someone design a family Website and include a one-year subscription for email. Or give a free pass for X number of days or hours off to attend children's school programs or sports activities.

Or ask employees how they would like to honor family. An employee might want to bring a family member or pet to work one day, have a group work event that includes family, or invite you or have you invite his or her family to dinner.

Gift G: The next move. Offer to brainstorm alternative career possibilities, offsite if possible. Try to help the employee leverage options to reach his or her goals. Use the LEVERR framework: lateral, enrichment, vertical, exploratory, realignment (moving down to move into something else), or relocation (yes, ouch, but do talk about it).

Gift H: Interview participation. Let an employee participate in the hiring process for a new manager one level or more above.

Gift I: Professional interests. Give a free one-year subscription to an employee's favorite business magazine and have it sent to his or her home. Satisfy employees' need for information.

Gift J: Submit to pruning. This can be a tough gift to give. Nevertheless, ask the employee whom you never agree with, is least like you, to engage in some straight talk about how you might work together better. Yes, offer this to the employee who probably thinks you're a jerk. Listen carefully, and don't defend yourself. Then take a step towards changing at least one behavior.

Gift K: A unique perk for fun. Give an employee a "Kicks Coupon" that entitles him or her to spend up to X amount of money on a way to take a break or have some fun at work. It could involve the entire team. Or offer a menu of low cost possibilities and let employees choose.

For example,
* an afternoon off to see a movie
* ordered-in pizza and a rented video during lunch
* a golf coach to give a lesson.
Or is one of your staff a sports nut? An opera fan? A theater buff? Give tickets to see a favorite team, diva, or playwright. That's bound to rate higher than the holiday turkey and shows you care about employees as individuals.

Gift L: A priceless introduction. Ask the employee for the name of someone in the organization that he or she would like to meet, chat with, and learn more about. Provide an introduction, and encourage the employee to decide on, how he or she would like to spend the time. You not only show your appreciation, but you also create a link within the organization.

Gift M: A personal trainer session. Consider a gift certificate for an employee to have lunch with you or another mentor of his or her choice for the purpose of being coached.

Gift N: Three wishes. Think about a key employee that you don't want to lose. Run the numbers on the cost of replacing that employee. Now compute the cost of offering that employee some "stay here" incentives, other than money, and base the incentives on what you know about that person. Pick three incentives you'd be willing to offer and set a date to chat.

Gift O: A new door. Brainstorm an opportunity hit list with an employee about growing, learning, and stretching in some new way. Another opportunity could be seeing and learning about another part of the business. Prioritize the list and then open a door!
Gift P: Blending work and passion.

Have a "Passion Breakfast" for all employees, a team, or one-on-one. Ask, What do you love to do? At work? Outside of work? Brainstorm and commit to helping them build more of what they love into their workday.

Gift Q: An exception to the rules. Give a "Bend the Rules" pass that involves and encourages going against the status quo. Bend as much as you can when employees make their requests. Show you're willing to question rules.

Gift R: Genie in a bottle. Ask an employee to write down six ways he or she would like to be rewarded. Anything goes. The only rule is that half of the ideas have to be low cost or no cost.
Gift S: Feeling at home at work. Offer a shopping spree to a local office supply store for items to personalize one's space; no staplers or paper clips.

Gift T: Listening to the truth. Talk about gift giving. This one--the truth--is powerful. We know of one division head who gave each employee $50, said to choose a restaurant and take their managers out to lunch for some straight talk and honest feedback about performance and development needs.

Gift U: A chance to download. Give 12 coupons for listening time--one for each month, in which an employee can talk about anything for 20 minutes. Your job isn't to understand, just listen.

Gift V: Honoring values. Over a cappuccino, glass of wine, or cup of tea, try asking one of your employees any of these questions:
* What do you think makes a perfect day at work?

* Looking back, what has satisfied you the most?
* What does the word success mean to you?
Take notes, and read them back to the employee. What did you both learn about his or her values? How can you put that information to use?

Gift W: A day of health. Have a limousine pick up an employee for a full day at a spa. Give gift coupons for Tai Chi, yoga, or golf lessons. You get the idea. Encourage wellness.

Gift X: Playtime. Give a fun-loving Gen Xer or anyone a series of "Get out and Play" cards they can redeem at their discretion--to leave work early to go to a movie, shop, or play Frisbee.

Gift Y: The starring role, for once.
Give an employee the chance to lead a project you've been hoarding for yourself. (You know which one!) Offer the spotlight, yield, coach when necessary. What did you and the employee learn?

Gift Z: A promise to repeat the gift. If this kind of gift giving works, offer to do it again--before next December. Now you've reached the gift-giving zenith.

Doesn't it feel great when you give a gift that is right on target? You get a double reward: the return on your investment of time, energy, and (little) money is the promise of building a more productive and fulfilling workplace. And you do it while increasing your own team's commitment and loyalty (yes, employee loyalty does still exist).

Happy Holidays.

Written By Beverly L. Kaye

Beverly Kaye & Associates,

Sherman Oaks, California

beverly.kaye@csibka.com.