Author Archives: Ruth Wright

Cool Gift Ideas for Recent Grads

Those graduating college are expecting quite the celebration. After all, some universities are downright grueling.

Unfortunately, as young adults, college students are also challenging to buy gifts. They are older than they were in high school, but not yet experienced to feel like an average “grown up”.

Before you wind up including a gift certificate from a local Tampa tree service, below are some practical, and cool, gift ideas that they will surely love.

Know Their Interests

Millennials today are looking for old ways to save money daily. Whether that has prompted them to take up crocheting, fishing, or even making their own organic soaps, today’s college grads are more frugal than previous generations.

If you know ahead of time what sorts of hobbies that they enjoy, you can always cater to those interests. You can buy a set of new sewing patterns, professional baking tools, even books on the subject.

Box Subscriptions

Subscription boxes are all the rage right now, especially those that get geared towards learning rather than collecting stuff. In fact, today’s college grads are turning to learning how to cook over eating meals out.

Even those who have never operated a stove before are putting together meals with the help of subscription boxes. Best of all, most provide a free trial to see if they enjoy it.

A Hand-Me-Down Book

No, I don’t mean your old Harry Potter set. If there was a particularly influential book that you found helpful when you graduated, providing them with the same copy or even your own can add a ton of sentimental value.

That is especially true if you wrote notes in the margins or highlighted specific passages. By handing them the same words that helped you, it can give them an added boost of confidence.

A Plane Ticket

Although gift cards are usually impersonal, is there anything better than handing a recent grad a plane ticket to anywhere? When someone is ready to start discovering who they are, a trip anywhere they want is sure to please.

Even if you only gift them with enough to help cover the ticket costs can create lasting memories. Many airlines offer gift cards that can be used to purchase tickets, all without costing them out of pocket.

What to Put in a College Gift Basket

If off to college for a freshman or going back for a new school year, or just for a semester, students always love being thought of. A college gift Basket full of helpful things that students may forget to bring along is a winner. Here are some ideas of helpful things to put in the gift basket. If you can think of anything else, remember your college days, just include it!

  • Batteries
  • Binder Clips
  • Bubble Gum and/or Mints
  • Chip Clips-large and small bag clip in an assortment of colors
  • Chlorox Wipes
  • Duct Tape-Duck Brand, clear tape, masking tape. FYI- Duck brand comes in over 40 school colors and logos, not to mention Glow-In-The-Dark
  • Clipboard
  • Deck of Cards
  • Dish Towels
  • Drink Coasters-silicone drink coasters
  • Dry Erase Board and dry erase markers for the board
  • Dusting Cloths-Microfiber Cleaning Cloths are easily reusable by just rinsing out them out
  • Ear Plugs
  • Flip Flops
  • Glow Sticks-Because glow in the dark is just really fun
  • Lingerie Bag for Laundry
    Lint Roller
  • Lip Balm
  • First Aid Kit-an all-purpose first aid kit will do the trick for those every day scraps and run ins. Make sure it is a complete one so the person doesn’t have to make a trip while trying to take care of their little boo-boo
  • Paper Clips
  • Poncho
  • Removable Wall Hangers-Command Large Utility Hook are economical and the best. At the end of the year, the hooks can be peeled right off the wall
  • Roll of Quarters-Although plenty of campuses have gone completely to card swipe systems, you will still find vending machines on some. Also, they can be used for campuses that still take quarters.
  • Safety Pins
  • School Colors or Logo Coffee Mug
  • Small Flashlight
  • Stamps
  • Stapler
  • Sticky Notes

Gift Baskets for Medical Students

From a Medical Student:

I’ve been doing plenty of research for gift ideas for my best friend, who’s beginning med school in the fall. I found some info from someone else and the book stand idea brought me inspiration to create a gift basket to get her through the next chapter of her life.

Sadly, I just graduated myself, so my budget is low. My “plan” is to talk with her bf to get ideas for the gift basket.

Here’s my list of possible gift basket ideas:

  • Lap desk (making studying more comfortable in bed)
  • Snuggie (these are freaking fantastic)
  • Travel mug
  • Single cup Keurig brewer (can be pricey but is well worth it)
  • Big microbe doll (hopefully of a microbe she’s done research on)
  • Hand written letter with all the nicey stuff
  • Small notes that she can put on her bulletin board for inspiration
  • She’s never seen Scrubs, so it would be a great idea to download all of the episodes onto a flash drive for her

My last gift to her was a very nice electric kettle that she uses all the time for tea. So, I was thinking it might be weird to just spend money on another drink machine, but then the Keurig is really nice. And it does make tea as well as coffee, not to mention hot chocolate.

I’ve also seen that giving gift cards to the school book store would be helpful. If you have or are a college student, you know how expensive books and materials can be. Any amount is helpful. I don’t like to give money, but this is college so the usual rules go out the window.

If I think of anything else that will make her life a little easier as she starts this journey, I will include it in the gift basket.

Gift Baskets for Pets

If you’re struggling to find a nice gift for that dog (or dog-lover) in your life, look no further. Check out these gift baskets ideas.

Thanksgiving Feast Gift Basket

All dogs think that Thanksgiving is the best holiday. A Thanksgiving basket is the ideal gift for a hungry hound.

A dog’s Thanksgiving gift basket includes:

  • Seasonal flavored biscuits
  • Pumpkin Pie Biscuit
  • Turkey Leg Dog Biscuit
  • Candy Corn Biscuit
  • Apple Dog Biscuit
  • Fall Leaf Decorated Treat

Welcome Home – New Pet Basket

There’s no brighter way to welcome home a dog than with a gift basket of chews and treat. Include:   wheat free monster cookie, packages of trainers, assorted and decorated treats for them to munch on, and a natural chew that’s completely digestible.

Party Animal Dog Gift Basket

Let them bark for this party dog gift basket because you can give them cake and let them eat it too. A tail good time will be had by all puppies that enjoy this basket because it’s complete with yummy treats and a plush play toy.

  • Plenty of biscuits
  • Bakery fresh hand decorated biscuits
  • Plush Toy

Dog Get Well Gift

Dog get well gift basket is amazing gift to give to any dog that is not feeling well. Not only can you put in a themed get-well container but fill it with products that will help the owner carry out the Doctor’s orders.

Include a doggy pill container complete with paw prints. Each part is marked with big letters on each day so you he can get his daily doses of medication.

To get the doggie to take his medication, include the very helpful pill pockets. Pill pockets disguised as a treat has an open center and end where you can simple drop in the pills, squeeze shut the opening and give him a treat and the medicatio

Unique Gift Basket Ideas

The Man Can

Everything he needs to keep his skin feeling, looking great can be rounded up and put in a gift basket. It can include things like hand butter, shave gel, scrub soap, and after shaving lotion. You can put all the things in a reusable basket so he can use it again after all the products are gone.

Sweet Nostalgia

Give all the sweet they can handle and take them back to a time past with candies that have been around for years. They’ll surely remember these from being a child: Clark bar, Pop Rocks, a candy necklace, gummy bears, Now and Laters.

Craft Beer & Snacks Basket

If they enjoy craft beer, this is the gift basket to give them. Include plenty of snacks to go along with that beer and you don’t put any light beer in there. Include beers such as Guinness, Heineken, Newcastle, and Red Stripe. These are beers that you can slowly enjoy and not just chug.

Bath & Body Invigoration

Give them this gift basket and they’re sure to thank you when they see you next time. Includes plenty of things to help them renew their body, with things like lip balm, body lotion, and foot cream. You’ll be helping them out from head to toe so they can truly come alive.

The Entertainer

This gift basket is a party in a box and can include playing cards, wine, dominoes, and dice. You can also put an engraving label on the basket to personalize it and make it really special. If they love to entertain you must make them The Entertainer basket.

Gluten-Free Gift Basket

If they’re gluten free you don’t have to worry about what gift to make them. You can just make them a gluten-free gift basket and they’ll be happy. Includes lots of goodies that are all gluten-free so they can indulge without messing up their diet.

Gift Baskets Ideas for Mom You Can Do Yourself

Gift baskets are always so fun to receive and give. Gift baskets are a good way to create a personalized gift for a loved one. Here are some DIY gift basket ideas to aid you in being inspired to create something special for your mom.

 

Mother’s Day Chocolate Gift Basket

Win her over with lots of tasty chocolate in this gift basket. It has a vast array of different types of sweets so she won’t get tired of the same thing. Many different items can make this a gift basket to be reckoned with.

Mother’s Day Luxury Spa Gift

Pamper her by making her a gift basket that changes her bathroom into a luxury. This is one gift she’s will love because of the way it makes her feel. It’s always nice to present mom with gifts that make her feel appreciated and this one does the trick.

Mother’s Day Orchard Fruit Basket

A fruit basket does a great job of offering both fruit and sweet snacks so she has a combination of various foods. Include deliciously ripe pieces of fruit and you don’t have to worry about giving her too much candy or unhealthy foods.

Mother’s Day Champagne Collection

If you really want to get her attention make her a champagne gift basket with Perrier-Jouet champagne and some chocolates and crunchy snacks to enjoy as well. You can present it in a quilted box so that it is handled with care.

Berry Brunch Basket Tote

Want her to enjoy a delicious brunch even though you can’t be there to make it for her? Give her a brunch basket and she’ll have everything she needs to have one heck of a brunch. If you put it in a tote, she can use the tote and think of you every time she does.

Gift Baskets for Sports Lovers

Know a person who puts the “fan” in fanatic? Do they put paint on their faces for home games and wear the jerseys of their favorite players? Or maybe the sports lover who enjoys the thrill of competition and is consistently playing games to win. From basketball to golf, here are some ideas for making the best sports gift baskets for athletes and fans of all ages, some which include licensed merchandise and brand name equipment.

A Hunter with a Hunting Gift Basket

Crafted for the serious and even the not that serious hunter. A hunting themed gift will send him packing with a great selection of goodies from nuts and pretzels to a much-needed flashlight and pine scent spray.

Nothing but Net – Sports Gift Basket

Football Frenzy Football Gift Basket

This is one where you can put in a lot of tasty treats that won’t get benched with a perfect collection of sweet and salty snacks.

Take Me Out to The Ballgame Baseball Gift Basket

Knock it out of the park with a great selection of sports snacks. Round first base with an incredible variety of snack mix, pecans, cheese, and pretzels.

Golf is My Thing Golf Gift Basket

A gift basket for all golfers! Get a stylish golf cooler and stuff it with the must haves on the golf course. This cooler will contain all the necessary golf gear that your golfer needs to hit the greens.

Tennis Anyone Tennis Gift Basket

They don’t have to be a pro tennis player to get happy over a cooler filled with a collection of necessities they’ll need on the court.

Texas Tailgate Texas Football Basket

When it’s football season, put some goods together in a basket and have a Texas Tailgate party (or another one of your fav football teams). Filled with treats and things representing your team will no doubt be a touchdown.

Gift Baskets for Dads

Create a well-stocked gift basket for a father who says he doesn’t want anything.

Use these gift baskets ideas as a beginning point to make a customized present he will love.

For the Cocktail Drinker

Get all the things he’ll need to make his favorite drink. It can be a Moscow Mule kit, but you can pick different liquors and ingredients according to what he likes.

For the Baseball Fan

Pack a bucket with all he’ll need for Game Day at the stadium: a cap for his favorite team, sunscreen, peanuts, sunflower seeds, and popcorn.

For the Coffee Addict

If coffee is a vital part of his mornings, stock a basket with his preferred coffee and include some dark/milk chocolates, biscotti, and a new coffee mug.

For the Golfer

Grass, golf balls, and a flag is a clever way to give dad a golf course certificate so he can have fun with his favorite hobby.

For the New Dad

New dads celebrating their 1st Father’s Day will get a kick out of a pop-themed gift basket.

For Date Night

Give him a gift basket the two of you can take pleasure in with your next date night at home.

For His Bathroom

Pamper him with his desired skincare or body products, like a special razor, after shave, body spray, or cologne.

For the Angler

If Dad spends his free time wading streams and winters tying flies, get his attention with fishing gear, top-quality spirits, and a spicy homemade fish breading.

For the Pit Master

Enrich the spatula-wielding man’s supply with oak smoking chips, grilling tools, spice rubs, and an affordable Cabernet Sauvignon.

For His Man Cave

Whether it’s Sunday football or poker night, Dad values his quality free time. Provide him with a Netflix subscription, a roster of tasty snacks, and a beer club membership.

Gift Baskets for Grooms

Most groomsman and groom gifts are tedious. Most gift basket companies want to provide only the best gifts for men so they are handpicking and creating some of the best personalized groom and groomsman gift baskets out there.

What do men do at bachelor party’s?  They drink!  A lot! And what are most bachelor gifts missing? Alcohol! Groomsman and groom gift baskets are perfect gifts for bachelor parties.  They are filled with all the beer, booze, cigars, and snacks that will make your bachelor party one to remember, or at least one they can barely remember. The best thing about our groom gift baskets is they can be delivered right to the bachelor party, hotel, or hall so they can show up to a bachelor party in a box.

A beer gift basket is the supreme groom and groomsman gift. It usually includes a custom beer bucket, a wall-mount bottle opener, and a personalized beer mug or pint glass.   Put in a bottle or two of craft brew and you have groomsmen/groom gift ideas you won’t find nowhere else.

Other items to include (or not) in gift baskets:

  • Passport holder
  • Wallet/money clip
  • Tire pressure gauge/jack/lug wrench
  • CDs/ music gift cards
  • Leather luggage tag
  • Tie clip
  • A lighter/matches for cigars
  • Cigars
  • Shot glasses
  • Travel plug adapter
  • Handkerchiefs to wipe tears during the ceremony or just to look dapper at the wedding
  • Travel- Map/Atlas where the couple will be going on the honeymoon
  • Jack Daniels/Captain Morgan/ small bottles of various liquors
  • Hangover medicine/antacids
  • Key chains

Quite frankly, any manly items will do. Just let your imagination go and you will soon have a list of things that only gentlemen can enjoy. But it is important to remember that these gift baskets are also for a wedding, so use so tact and be creative!

Gift Baskets for Children

These gift baskets for children are sure to be something they won’t forget for a long time. Each one has a distinctive twist to it that has it being extra special and not just some dull gift basket we adults get.

Glow in The Dark Care Package

Here’s a interesting gift basket any child will have fun with. It’s full of glow in the dark things that they can play with that should have them entertained for quite some time. A nice alternative to a junk food or sugary candy filled basket.

Get Well Plush Play Set

When the little ones are in the hospital or sick at home, you can’t go wrong with a get-well kids’ gift basket. It has a cookie to make them feel better, a plush bear that is on the mend, and a doctor’s bag.

Little Chef Embroidered Gift Set

This gift set is a great choice if you’ve got a would-be chef in the house. It has a chef’s hat, oven mitts, and an apron all with a cute design on them. There’s even a cookie included so they can snack on it while they’re cooking.

Kids Sports Care Package

If they’re into sports, you’ll want to get them this sports kids’ gift basket which has a variety of assorted fun-to-play games that they will enjoy. These are games that will keep them occupied outdoors or indoors.

Gourmet Pizza Making Set

They’ll truly love to make a pizza when you give them a gourmet pizza making gift basket. Mom and dad will have to assist, but that just brings more fun. All the premium ingredients guarantee you’re going to create a great dinner.

Birthday Care Package

When you can’t make it for their birthday, you can send your love along in the form of a kids’ birthday gift basket. It’s filled with things like treats and candy, as well as party favorites to get the celebration started.