My mother-in-law got one of those blooming teas last year, very cool.

For mother's day this year I was given a gypsy pepper plant. At first I thought, WTH who gives a produce plant as a gift? But thinking about it food producing plants do make an unusual and practical gift. (Gypsy peppers are deliiicious btw)

I may consider giving some people dwarfed fruit trees this year. Beautiful, unusual, and practical.
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Any specific holiday? I'll assume you mean any, so I'll take Christmas.

Usually my gifts are not too creative, however - One of MY favorite gifts I've given was a SNES emulator and Roms.. I got a copy from a friend, the SNES player and something like 800 or 1000 Roms fit on a 2GB memory stick, which can often be purchased for under 10 dollars - just make a copy and write down the instructions. I think any current computer can play them, and it's simple enough for a 10 year old to play with a little instruction. A younger child might need a little more help, but it could be practical for them as well. Include a USB controller for 20 dollars, and you've got yourself a FULL library of games for under 30 bucks. The trouble is finding the files if your not a technical person - I got mine from a friend in my computer programming class. Older people might appreciate them too as it's not so easy to find SNES games now adays. It's quick, it's cheap, and it's easy. Many kids ask for games for Christmas - just think what they'll say when they get 900 games they can carry in their pocket!

A friend of mine was also ecstatic when I gave her the Cheeseburger phone from the Juno movie - I bought it from fredflare.com and it came in a box that look like it was made in the 70's... yes, it was a HUGE pain to use, and hardly practical, but everyone used it just because it was the cheeseburger phone. Unfortunately, the cat chewed through the cord and the whole phone needs to be replaced - it can't be saved. Cost about 25 dollars.

I've also started a bit of a tradition of getting decorate collector weapons for my brother. He's nearly 13 and he's always been obsessed with warrior type stuff.. not so much guns and missile and actual war memoribilia, but swords, nun chucks or anything with a blade. So far I got him a 15 inch, wide blade dagger with a very intricate dragon handle and sheath, and A much longer (30") thin sword, again, with a very cool handle and the entire blade carved with dragons n- i'd call it "ninja style". They cost me around 50 dollars but you can often find them at trade shows or flea markets and you can can barter with them. Not sure what I'll get this year. Maybe an actual sword, like a Zelda sword, or maybe some sort of axe... anyways, he loves to show them off to his friends and he's very careful with them and they are displayed on his bedroom walls. He takes them down and polishes carefully them and just looks at them at least once a week - I never thought a 12 year old would treat a decorative sword like that! He was 11 when he got the first and I thought it'd either be taken away for being used improperly within a week or it'd sit in his closet forgotten. I figure he'll have a pretty solid collection by the time he's 18.

http://www.giftsrfree.com/images/32401.jpg

http://s2.thisnext.com/media/130x130/1B735425.jpg

http://randomracket.com/images/smw-snes-1.gif
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I like to give experiences rather than things when I can. Tickets to a show, or train tickets, for example. A zoo membership, or to a local museum. Cooking classes or dance classes. Something like that.
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This years holiday gift giving will be themed: "Green Living", and everyone on my list will be receiving the following.

I will be purchasing REUSABLE grocery bags, eco-water bottles, energy saving light bulbs, eco-travel mug, Bottle of White Vinegar, Lemon, Tea Tree oil, liquid castile soap and baking soda with a recipe to make a non-toxic all purpose household cleanser, a list of 'Living Green' Tips, and recycling information.

The Reusable bag will be the gift wrap for the contents I just listed.
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Hmmm there are loads of cool gifts out there that you can buy that also supports our local artisans and designers. Here are a couple of my favs:

1) Invisible book shelf makes your books look like they're floating on the wall £11
http://www.ticatoca.com/view.php?product=66

2) Post it Notes in the shape of apples & pears created by a Japanese team £22.14
http://www.ticatoca.com/view.php?product=83

3) If you want to spook out your gift reciever, try the Yakuza Finger USB drive, it's looks so real that it'll make you fall off your seat vomiting or laughing £46.39
http://www.ticatoca.com/view.php?product=86

There are loads more inspiring gift ideas here: www.ticatoca.com

Happy Halloween everyone!
Source(s):
www.ticatoca.com

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I find the idea of blooming tea fantastic!

Generally I opt for a more "classic" gift but tend to prefer customized or personalized gifts like a personalized bottle of wine or a number of bottles of beer equal to the age of the recipient.

But what I'd like to get is a street panel with my first and last name on it so that I coult hang it on the wall next to the entry door - people will definitly know they're at my home, lol.

Another gift I'd like to get or give would be a walk of fame tile that I could place in my living room or the hall, the kitchen, well somewhere there are tiles on the ground.

Last but not least, but I already did it, I ordered a complete collection of linen bathroom personalized with the name of the recipient along with a word that would qualify them. For instance one collection was under the name of DragonBall + the name of the boy as his favorite cartoon was DragonBall ; another one was Noddy and Friends related mention, etc.
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