| Tired of giving the same old-same old? | | | | melted white chocolate onto your dark |
| Embarrassed to give out those impersonal | | | | chocolate-dipped spoons or drizzle dark chocolate |
| department store gift certificates because you're | | | | onto your white chocolate-dipped spoons for a |
| stumped and don't know what to buy for the | | | | different look.- Here's a different twist to your |
| person who has everything? Well, here are some | | | | favorite chocolate chip cookie recipe. Make up a |
| wonderful ideas for unique gifts; some unusual, | | | | batch, let cool and then dip them halfway into |
| some personal; something for everyone on your | | | | melted chocolate. For a variation, add a sprinkle of |
| list!Group two, three or more items (mix and | | | | coconut or candy sprinkles before the chocolate |
| match) and place in an interesting basket or | | | | coating dries.- Here's a way to use up those little |
| unusual container to present your gifts, covering | | | | plastic coffee creamer containers you've been |
| the container with colorful cellophane and topping | | | | saving. Check out this yummy recipe: Coffee |
| it all off with a fancy ribbon and bow.Purely | | | | Creamer Cherry Chocolates - Breakfast Treat |
| Personal- Scented candles, handmade soaps, | | | | Basket: pour a box of pancake mix into a clean |
| bubble bath and a big fluffy bath towel.- Fancy | | | | glass jar. Add the lid, cover the top of the jar |
| hair ties, hair clips, shower gel, shampoo and | | | | with a square of pretty scrap fabric and tie on a |
| conditioner for the teenage girl- A movie night | | | | colorful ribbon or raffia. Type the recipe from the |
| basket with a video of DVD of a movie you | | | | pancake box and print it out onto cardstock to |
| know they don't have, a box of microwave | | | | hole-punch and add to ribbon before tying the |
| popcorn, candy and a movie guide book- An | | | | finishing bow.Add small zip-lock bags of the |
| interesting book or magazine (and a gift | | | | following: chocolate chips, dried fruit including |
| subscription), a tiny booklight, a cute mug and | | | | raisins, walnuts, almonds, pecans, coconut. One or |
| packets of hot chocolate with mini marshmallows, | | | | more of these added to the pancake mix makes |
| or a small bag of flavored gourmet coffee- A | | | | a unique treat! Include a bottle of pancake syrup |
| cozy robe - one pocket containing envelopes of | | | | and the gift is complete.- Muffin Magic: add your |
| hot chocolate and the other, a small bag of | | | | favorite muffin recipe to a 1 or 2-quart mason jar |
| mini-marshmallows.- A spa day with a pair of | | | | or clear, fancy container. Decorate the jar with a |
| comfy slippers and a big fluffy towel or robe- A | | | | square scrap of fabric and tie with a ribbon or |
| set of fancy beeswax candles and a brass candle | | | | raffia. Add your recipe to a printed card (make |
| snuffer- A towel wrap, terry-cloth slippers, | | | | sure you adjust your recipe if you've cut the |
| shower soap, shaving lotion and a fancy hair | | | | ingredients by half to fit the jar!). Include a muffin |
| comb (or a special moustache comb for the | | | | tin, a wooden spoon tied with a pretty bow, a |
| moustached man!)- A hot/cold pack (see how to | | | | bag of fancy paper muffin cups and a colorful |
| make - with a box of soothing herbal teas and a | | | | oven mitt or two.- Pasta Perfect: an assortment |
| whimsical mug- Buy a variety of medium to large | | | | of clear glass jars filled with fancy pastas, a |
| seashells and fill some of the shells with melted | | | | wooden spoon tied with a festive ribbon, a shaker |
| red wax and a few drops of cinnamon candle | | | | of mixed Italian spices and another of grated |
| scent; and the rest of the shells with melted | | | | parmesan or romano cheese- Your Fortune: mix |
| green wax and a few drops of pine candle scent; | | | | up a batch of Chinese fortune cookies (see recipe |
| adding a short wick before the wax sets and you | | | | at that you add your own printed fortunes or silly |
| have an assortment of bath candles all ready for | | | | sayings to (think Confucious Say!). Place them in a |
| the holidays.Holiday Bath Salts2-1/3 cups of | | | | colorful tin from the dollar store.- Caffeine-fix: a |
| epsom salts | | | | set of small tins filled with an assortment of |
| 1/2 cup of sea salt | | | | special hot cocoa mixes and/or flavored coffee |
| 5 drops of peppermint scent | | | | using the following recipes. Create tags for each |
| 3 drops of red food coloringPour half of the first | | | | to describe each mix and the directions. (All cocoa |
| three ingredients into a bowl. Pour the other half | | | | recipes: add 1/3 cup of mix to 6 oz. hot water. All |
| of the ingredients into another bowl, adding the | | | | coffee recipes: add 1 heaping teaspoon, or more, |
| red food coloring only to the second bowl. Using a | | | | to 6 oz. of hot water)Basic Hot Cocoa Mix1-1/4 |
| tall, clear bottle, layer contents of each bowl until | | | | cup dry milk |
| all ingredients are used up (think red and white | | | | 3/4 cup powdered coffee creamer |
| stripes). Close the bottle and tie with a festive | | | | 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder |
| ribbon and a couple of small candy canes.- The | | | | 3/4 cup |
| Gift of Time: coupons for one night of | | | | -------------------Mexican CocoaAdd 1 tablespoon of |
| baby-sitting, car washing, gardening, cleaning out | | | | cinnamon to above mixture and a cinnamon stick |
| the garage, walking the dog, re- arranging a | | | | to the tin when you tie on the recipe |
| closet, etc.Hobbies and Sports Gifts- Tickets to | | | | ------------------Cocoa-Malt1/2 cup malted milk mix |
| their favorite game and a sweatshirt or t-shirt | | | | 1 cup instant cocoa mix |
| imprinted with their favorite team logo- Art | | | | 1/3 cup powdered coffee |
| supplies that they use often - sketch pads, paint | | | | -----------------------Very Berry CocoaMix one |
| in often- used colors, charcoal pencils, etc.- | | | | package of unsweetened Koolaide in a berry |
| Scrapbooking supplies, storage boxes to keep | | | | flavor to 3 cups of instant cocoa |
| supplies in, rubber stamp set, embossing powder | | | | -----------------Coffee 'n Spice1 cup instant coffee |
| and heat gun- Computer supplies: CDRW's, blank | | | | 3/4 teaspoon cinnamon |
| CD cases, a furry Pet Virus novelty or a Virus | | | | 1/2 teaspoon allspice or apple pie spice mix |
| Survival Kit just for fun ( For the aspiring writer | | | | 1 cup |
| (or student): folders, pencil case, binders and lined | | | | -------------------Mocha Magic1 cup instant coffee |
| paper, fancy colorful pens, notebooks, | | | | 1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder |
| personalized notes, a good thesaurus and | | | | 1 cup sugar |
| dictionary, an agenda or diary, colorful post-it | | | | 1 cup powdered coffee creamer |
| notes and a personalized CD coaster to hold their | | | | 1/4 cup dry |
| favorite mug of coffee (see how to make one - | | | | -----------------Toffee CoffeeMix equal amounts of |
| For the young artist of craftsperson: a craft box | | | | brown sugar, instant coffee and powdered coffee |
| with handle; colorful paper squares, set of scissors | | | | -----------------------Personalized Gifts- An |
| with different fancy blades, glue, felt in an | | | | arrangement of family photos in a large frame - |
| assortment of colors, wiggly eyes, lengths of | | | | use nice gift wrap or other fancy paper as a |
| colorful wool, colored pipe cleaners- For the | | | | background, or a collage of handmade papers |
| person who love to bake: a set of cookie cutters | | | | from your art store.- Any item personalized with |
| in letter and number shapes, a pair of colorful | | | | the person's name: a t-shirt with an interesting |
| oven mitts, a cute timer, a set of fancy cake | | | | graphic along with their name; a personalized |
| tins, mixing bowls, cookbook on baking- For the | | | | coffee mug; a picture of their favorite hobby or |
| BBQ chef: BBQ apron, mitts, a set of large salt | | | | occupation in cartoon form with their name; a silly |
| and pepper shakers, a BBQ brush, a BBQ recipe | | | | caricature made from their photo; a personalized |
| book- A large interesting piece of pottery, kitchen | | | | BBQ |
| utensils, a cookbook, a set of cute salt and | | | | --------------------You'll find a unique assortment of |
| pepper shakers, apron and potholder set- A fancy | | | | personalized cartoon pictures for any hobby, |
| flower pot with gardening tools, plant ties, garden | | | | occupation or occasion and fun computer |
| gloves, a plant care guide and a kneeling pad.Fancy | | | | novelties including the Pet Computer Virus at: Be |
| Food Gifts- Chocolate-dipped Spoons: buy heavy | | | | sure to pick up your free gift just for stopping |
| clear plastic spoons and dip them in melted | | | | by!Heather creates unique personalized cartoons |
| chocolate, either all dark or all milk chocolate or let | | | | for weddings, birthdays, anniversaries, graduations. |
| cool and re-dip in melted white chocolate but only | | | | Fun & personalized with any name or message. |
| halfway up the spoon bowl. Sprinkle with abit of | | | | Cartoons to fit any occasion, hobby, occupation |
| cinnamon before the white chocolate dries for a | | | | or personality! Choose one of her designs and |
| variation. Let dry on wax paper. Wrap individually | | | | request personal changes such as hair color, |
| in colorful cellophane and tie with a curly ribbon. | | | | glasses or even a moustache, or order a total |
| Add a couple of chocolate-coated spoons in a | | | | custom personalized cartoon! Everyone loves a |
| fancy mug along with packets of gourmet | | | | gift that's truly unique. Give them something they'll |
| coffee.You can also add abit of extract or liqueur | | | | always remember! Free - Personalized gift with |
| or even cherry juice to flavor the chocolate | | | | any purchase, and be sure to sign up for our free |
| before dipping.For another variation on the | | | | ezine, On A Whim, for your free time |
| chocolate-covered spoons, sprinkle the spoons | | | | management gift. |
| with finely-crushed candy canes and let dry.Drizzle | | | | |