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Sunday, November 27, 2011

Easy Gift Giving Guide To Make Your Holidays A Breeze

I I I

Sunday, November 27, 2011 2 The Albany Herald www.albanyherald.com

(ARA) - Gift-buying season is just startingand will soon be in full swing. You may havea few new names on your list with newbornsjoining your family and friend's families. Morethan any other gift-buying task, findingunique baby gifts can be a challenge.

For adults, teens or even children, you canfind out what the recipient likes and tailoryour gift purchase accordingly. But babiesare a clean slate. So what guidelines can youfollow when choosing a gift for them?

Personalized options are unique baby giftsthat both delight parents, and provide kidswith plenty of playtime enjoyment. Seeingtheir own name or image on abeloved possession helps rein-force children's sense of selfand encourages them tointeract with their envi-ronment.

Here are five ideasfor personalizedbaby gifts that youcan give at anytime of year:

1. Make her the starof her own story.Celebrity moms BrookeShields, Courtney Coxand Jessica Alba have allpurchased personalized booksfrom children's publisherISeeMe.com. The site offers a large selectionof colorful, appealing, age-appropriate booksthat can be personalized with a child's name.Some books include the child's name on thecover, others throughout the story, and stillothers feature rhymes and text about thespelling of the child's name.

"Personalized books increase a child's selfesteem and celebrate their uniqueness,"says Maia Haag, author and co-founder ofISeeMe.com. "The goal is to show each childhow absolutely unique and special he or sheis, to teach the child how to spell his or hername, and to build vocabulary skills."

2. Help him grow into his personality. Kidslove growth charts. Being able to track theirown progress helps anchor children to theirpast while encouraging them to look towardthe future. Personalizing growth charts canbe as simple as adding the child's name to

the top of a wall-mounted chart. You can alsofind plenty of options that elevate the level ofpersonalization. For example,Redenvelope.com offers a growth quilt. Hungon the wall, the quilt's tree design features 12circles that can be personalized with thechild's handprint, allowing parents to chartevery month in one year of a child's life, orstretch the fun over 12 years.

3. Let her make her mark on the world. Craft-making has an almost universal appeal forchildren, and when the crafts involve person-alization, kids enjoy them even more. It'seasy to find stepping stone kits that can bepersonalized with a child's name, handprint

or even footprint. Young children willenjoy making the kit with a par-

ent and putting their hand-print in the finished prod-uct. Parents of infantscan also cherish theproject when theycreate it themselvesand press theirbaby's footprintinto the clay.

4. Protect his"lovey" from all chal-lengers. It's not

unusual for babies andvery young children to

have a favorite stuffed ani-mal or security blanket. A

"lovey" helps them fall asleep, andcan provide comfort and even companion-ship. Personalizing a child's security blanketor stuffed animal with her name can helpreinforce her sense of self and understandingof the concept of possession.

5. Pictures are worth a thousand words. It'seasy to find online software and photo web-sites that allow you to create high-qualityphoto books with your own images. Parentswill love seeing their pride and joy featured ina photo montage. Babies love looking at pic-tures of faces, something that helps stimulatetheir brain development. Younger childrenalso love picture books and it's easy to tellthem the tale of their young lives using pic-tures of themselves and loved ones.

Personalization is a great way to makeunique baby gifts even more precious, forboth children and their parents.

(ARA) - Holiday shoppinglists often contain toys, giftcards and other materialitems that the recipients canenjoy and put to good use.But your shopping list cango much further to notonly benefit the recipi-ents, but also a greatcause.

Make your holidaygifts go further thisholiday season withgifts that give back.One way is to pur-chase gifts throughthe AmericanDiabetesAssociation's Gift ofHope catalog, whereevery penny of profitgoes directly to diabetesresearch. In the last 40years, more than $24 mil-lion has been raised.

Gift of Hope offers an exclu-sive line of items for every-one on your list:

* Holiday cards, many ofwhich were created by ordedicated to a person withdiabetes

* Personalized photo gifts,including holiday greetingcards, travel mugs, phoneskins and more

* House wares and seasonal

gift items, such as plates,ornaments and hand towels

Catalog purchases are a Giftof Hope to the nearly 26 mil-lion children and adults in theU.S. who have diabetes,including Kathy Howard fromSt. Louis. In 2008 Howardwent to the emergency roomthinking she had the flu, onlyto find out she had a strokeand type 2 diabetes.

"I couldn't even put intowords the shock and terror Ifelt those first few days,"

explains Howard. "I began anew life the day I went to thehospital."

Since her stroke and diagno-sis Howard has lost over85 pounds and exercisesregularly. "You have tokeep working towardsgood health," shesays. "Don't wait untilsomething hap-pens."

Another way to giveback this holidayseason is to make adonation in honor ormemory of a lovedone. Gift of Hopeoffers honor or memo-rial gift cards, whichrepresent a tax-

deductible donation todiabetes research.

No matter which way yougive, buy gifts that support acause this season. Feel bet-ter about successfully check-ing off your holiday shoppinglist, while also making a dif-ference in the lives of mil-lions.

Support the Association's dia-betes research efforts andhelp people like Howard.Shop the Gift of Hope onlinecatalog atwww.shopdiabetes.org/giftofhope.

What's on your holiday shopping list?

Personalization the key to givingunique holiday baby gifts

(StatePoint) Looking for that perfectgift for the man in your life? Whetherit’s your husband, boyfriend, dad orbrother, finding a gift that speaks tohis individual taste and style can bedifficult.

Knowing your man’s interests, pas-sions and needs can help you narrowdown your choices. A little observationcan go a long way in making himsmile when he opens your gift.

Here are some ideas for the varioustypes of men in your life:

• The Professional. For the man whowears a jacket and tie and talks busi-ness, go with gifts that speak to hisbusy lifestyle. For example, men’svalets allow him to store his wallet,keys, and cell phone in one place,making sure he gets out the door intime and nothing is forgotten. Someversions also have charging stationsfor phones and portable music play-ers.

• The Guy’s Guy. Help this manclean up his image and shave somemoney from his personal careexpenses with an electric shaver,which lasts longer and are more sani-tary than single-use blades. Todayyou can find innovative models, suchas Panasonic Arc5 shavers, whichprovide fast, close and comfortableshaves through exclusive blade tech-nology and an ergonomic design thatreduces pressure on the skin. Findout more atwww.panasonic.com/shavers. Plus,electric shavers are a great greenoption since there are no disposableblades and they require less wateruse.

• The Entertainer. For the man wholoves to entertain family and friends, aset of grilling tools will always beappreciated -- even this time of year!The more sophisticated types mightappreciate a set of martini glasses ora professional poker set.

• The Gadget Lover. Have a friendwho’s an early adopter of almost anytechnology? You probably don’t wantto get him another gadget, fearing healready has it. But you can get him agift that speaks to his passion, like anonline subscription to his favorite techmagazine or an online service likeLynda.com, which has a host of soft-ware tutorials for computer and gad-get fanatics.

Or go old-school and get him anantique camera or vintage computerthat he can display on a shelf or takeapart -- just for the fun of it!

• The Gamer. We all know at leastone guy who is glued to the videoconsole. For the gamer in your life,get him the latest video game oraccessory for his existing gaming sta-tion.

You could also give a gift that lendsitself to a memorable experience,such as tickets to a professionalsporting event. And for guys you real-ly aren’t sure about, tickets to a con-cert or movie almost always go overwell.

And always remember, it doesn’t mat-ter how much you spend on your gift,just how much thought you put into it.

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(ARA) - Video gaming's popularity is at an all-time high - in fact, arecent study from Memorex shows four of five families have at leastone gaming console in the home. This holiday season, skip apricey console purchase and give your favorite gamer a gift thatkeeps on giving. Here are four gift options under $25 that won'tbreak your budget and will keep video game fans entertained wellinto the new year.

*The gift of style

If your resident gamer is a trendsetter - or if your family is justbored with black and white - add style to your next game night withconsole customization. For less than $20, you can purchase skins

for your favorite gaming console and accessories through

custom gaming skins services offered online. From colors and tex-tures to your own photographs, these services will use your chosenvisuals and transform your drab console into a gaming master-piece. A simple online search for "custom gaming skins" will pointyou to a service with the style that best suits your family.

*The gift for gamers on-the-go

Keeping kids entertained while on the go has never been easierthanks to the range of portable consoles now available, includingthe Nintendo DS. The new challenge: keeping track of the tiny,expensive game cartridges. At just $19.99, Memorex's UniversalGame Selector Case is the ideal solution. Compatible with allNintendo DS consoles, it holds up to three games that can beplayed without being removed from the case - so games are lesslikely to be lost while kids are out and about. Powered by the DSconsole, so no batteries are required, other gamer-friendly featuresinclude LED-backlit speakers and a stylish D-pad. The UniversalGame Selector Case is available at Target, Wal-Mart, Sears andKmart.

*The gift of games, games and more games

Keeping up with the latest video games is expensive, with top newtitles debuting at nearly $50 each. And nothing is worse thanspending big bucks on a game that rarely gets played. This sea-son, avoid the debate over which title to buy and give the gift of avideo game subscription service. Gamers can "try before they buy"and exchange games for new titles as often as they like - a greatalternative to spending hundreds of dollars on games that may col-lect dust. The most popular services are just $22.99 a month, withmore than 7,000 titles to choose from.

*The gift for gamers in-the-know

Many gamers gobble up news about their favorite consoles andgames like food on Thanksgiving - their appetites are seeminglyendless. No matter which console your gamer prefers, you're sureto find a magazine that caters to their interests. If digital news ismore their style, some gaming magazines offer digital editions at adiscounted rate from the print edition. Gaming magazines subscrip-tions are available for less than $20 per year, and most some comewith bonuses like reward points or exclusive access to gamedemos.

For other gamer gift ideas, visit Memorex.com or the Memorex FanPage on Facebook.

(ARA) - Have someone on yourholiday shopping list who can'tget enough of the latest gad-gets? While you might be think-ing that it's tough to buy forsomeone who always seems tohave the newest version ofevery type of hand-held device,shopping for these folks is easi-er - and less expensive - thanyou might think.

Countless other items on themarket complement these typesof devices and enhance theuser experience. And as if that'snot enough, plenty of otheraffordable tech toys are sure toappeal to both adults and chil-dren. If you're at a loss forideas, here some thoughts toget you started.

Power up

One of the side effects of accu-mulating different types of elec-tronic devices is ending up withseparate chargers for eachdevice. Keeping track of allthese chargers can be difficultboth at home and on the road. Ahelpful gift for any gadget loveris a mobile power pack that's

compatible with many differenttypes of devices. For example,the Rayovac rechargeablepower pack has micro USB,mini USB and Apple deviceplug-ins that cover mostrecharging needs. Or if youknow the recipient has a bunchof battery-operated devices,consider giving him a batterycharger and rechargeable bat-teries.

Get in tune

Mobile devices have changedthe way we listen to music andyou're sure to have someone onyour list who can't go anywherewithout their iPod. Consider agift card to iTunes or Amazon'sdigital music store or a portabledevice with speakers that willconnect to their digital musicplayer. For the young musiclover on your list, Paper Jamztoy instruments allow kids tosing or play along with theirfavorite songs.

Active devices

Now more than ever, digitaldevices are small and durable

enough takewith you justabout any-where, evenon a run or abike ride. Ifthe personyou're buyingfor leads anactivelifestyle, con-sider themany differ-ent types ofbands, clips and mounts avail-able that will allow your recipientto easily bring her phone ormusic player with her on herworkout. For active children, theLight Strike laser tag gameoffers digital action for an afford-able price and is an especiallyattractive option if you're buyingfor siblings who like to play.

For the movie buff

Shopping for someone wholoves TV and film? Consideringgiving a year-long subscriptionto a digital streaming servicesuch as Netflix or Hulu Plus,which will provide access tomore films and shows than you

could ever imagine. This can bea great gift for families too, asthey'll all be able to enjoy whatthis type of service has to offer.If you purchase something likethis, you may also want to throwin an HDMI cable that will allowyour recipient to connect thefamily computer to their TV, ifthey don't already have one.

If you're buying for people wholove gadgets, try to think aboutthe small things that will helpenhance the experience of usingthe devices they already have.With so many digital devices inuse today, you have plenty ofoptions to choose from.

The Albany Herald 3Sunday, November 27, 2011 www.albanyherald.com

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Great gifts for gadget lovers of all ages

Low-cost gamer gifts that keep on giving

THE MEMOREX UNIVERSAL GAME SELECTOR CASE FOR NINTENDO DS ALLOWS PLAY-ERS TO STORE AND PLAY UP TO THREE GAMES WITHOUT CHANGING OUT CARTRIDGES.

www.albanyherald.com4 The Albany Herald Sunday, November 27, 2011

(ARA) - The holiday season is upon us. With your goal to wrap up allyour holiday shopping by June long since passed, the pressure to findthat impossibly perfect gift for everyone on your list now has an over-bearing timestamp as well.

But fear not, holiday shoppers. The following list of gift ideas and stock-ing stuffers is sure to make this year's holiday gift giving much lessdaunting and a lot more fun for both you and your loved ones.

For the snacker: Go for gourmet and guilt-free.

Snacking is synonymous with the holiday season, but with the abun-dance of tempting, fattening treats available, choosing snacks that fillyou up, and not out, is not always easy. Satisfy your snack lover withthe gift of guilt-free snacking this holiday season. Slide a bag of JackLink's Jerky in your snacker's stocking. Made with premium cuts of beef,pork, turkey or chicken, Jack Link's snacks taste great, and are naturallyhigh in protein and low in fat, calories and carbs. With more than adozen flavors available, there is something for everyone. Here are a fewof this year's trendiest and tastiest stocking stuffers:

* The "Classic": Jack Link's Original Beef Jerky* The "Flavorful": Jack Link's Cholula Hot Sauce Beef Jerky* The "Savory": Jack Link's Teriyaki Beef Jerky

Jack Link's Jerky is available in grocery stores, mass retailers, conve-nience and drug stores nationwide.

(Suggested retail price per 3.25-ounce bag: $5.99)

For the angler: Hook up the fishing enthusiast this holiday seasonwith the latest gear.

Make sure the angler on your wish list has the latest go-to lure fromRapala - the authority on fishing - with the Rippin' Rap. This highly ver-satile bait features a tall, thin bodied, lipless design that cranks, swimsand rips its way into the thick, along rock cover, over structure and any-where in between. The rounded body touts a textured scale, gill anddetailed fin that are paired with extra large, deep-set 3D holographiceyes that call fish in for the bite. And, if your holiday recipient has beenhinting at a new fillet knife, the new Rapala Lithium Ion Cordless FilletKnife will provide uncompromised, reliable fish filleting and carving per-formance. Featuring a relaxed grip with advanced airflow body design,this cordless electric fillet knife will provide uninterrupted power for a full80 minutes.

(Suggest retail price for Rippin' Rap: $6.99)

(Suggested retail price for Lithium Ion Cordless Fillet: $89.99)

For the bookworm: Make reading more accessible with an e-reader.

This year, pair your loved one's favorite hobby with a little functionality inthe form of an e-reader. From your beach chair or while in flight, an e-reader makes reading easier and convenient from any location. Today,there are more choices than ever before - from touch-compatible, e-inkinterfaces to Wi-Fi and audio playback capabilities - e-readers can bepersonalized to meet every bookworm's needs. You can even personal-ize the gift by choosing a case cover in a pattern or color your recipientwill love. Add it to a stocking or wrap it as a gift, the smiles and excite-ment that will come with unwrapping this gift are sure to last all yearlong.

For the amateur chef: Cooking made easier with a meat thermome-ter.

Many amateur chefs are so afraid of undercooking meat that they oftenend up overcooking it. Help your home chef take the guesswork andstress out of cooking by slipping a meat thermometer into his or herstocking this year. Meat thermometers range in price and come with anumber of functionalities such as a digital interface, wireless probe oralarms to notify you when the desired temperature has been reached.Preparing the perfect roast in the oven or hamburger on the grill hasnever been easier with this gift idea.

For the hard-to-please teenager: Capture memories with this greatstocking stuffer.

Teens can be difficult to buy for. Skip the stress of browsing clothingracks, or navigating the video game aisle, and give them a gift they aresure to love - a pocket camcorder. Capturing live memories is easierthan ever with a pocket-sized, portable video camera. Available at avariety of price points, pocket camcorders come with a number of capa-bilities to choose from, including a waterproof frame, optical zoom,instant video playback - and it's all in HD. Drop this gift in your teen'sstocking and they'll be shooting, uploading and looking back at all oflife's most embarrassing, amusing or engaging moments for years tocome.

For more information and gift ideas, visit www.JackLinks.com andwww.facebook.com/JackLinksBeefJerky, or www.Rapala.com andwww.facebook.com/RapalaUSA.

Great gifts for Great gifts for the holiday seasonthe holiday season

The Albany Herald 5Sunday, November 27, 2011 www.albanyherald.com

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(ARA) - Finding the perfect gift for teenagers can be a notoriouslydifficult task. Their likes and dislikes can often change within sec-onds based on the latest trends and fads.

So how can you please even the most challenging-to-shop-forteen? Gift cards and cash work, but are also very impersonal. Hereare a few gift ideas to satisfy even the pickiest teen.

Clothing

Face it, as much as you'd like to be on top of the hot styles thatteens are wearing, you're probably several steps behind what'sactually in. Give him or her a spending limit and take your teenshopping for some clothes. They will get a gift they really want andyou'll learn about what they like to wear. Plus, it gives you the ulti-mate veto power over questionable purchases if you're paying forit.

Music

As with clothes, most parents probably have differing musicaltastes than their kids. Instead of a gift card to a music store, get alist of the music they like and gift it to them via iTunes. Plus, it alsogives you the opportunity to learn what they like - even if it isn'twhat you'd listen to on your iPod.

Technology

What teen doesn't want the latest tech toy? Whether it's a newMP3 player, headphones, mobile device or video game system,you probably can't go wrong. If your teen has a gaming systemalready, a new game is one place to turn.

Teens overwhelmingly favor action or adventure video games,according to a Kaiser Family Foundation survey, and role-playinggames have always been among the best-selling, most populargames available. Two new Marvel games from Activision fit boththe action/adventure and role-playing criteria.

"Spider-Man: Edge of Time" and "X-Men Destiny" will immerse yourteenage gamer into new storylines from legendary comic book writ-ers - Peter David and Mike Carey, respectively - giving them anauthentic, interactive comic book experience. You can learn moreat facebook.com/herohq.

"Spider-Man: Edge of Time" lets gamers play the roles of the clas-

sic Amazing Spider-Man and futuristic Spider-Man 2099 through ahigh-octane, adrenaline-fueled adventure in which the heroic web-slingers must urgently work together across time to save eachother and prevent a disaster that ultimately leads to the death ofPeter Parker.

"X-Men Destiny" introduces gamers to three all-new mutant charac-ters forced to choose between siding with the X-Men orBrotherhood of Mutants. Players customize the path, powers anddevelopment of their character and decide their role in the mutantcause alongside, or against Marvel characters such as Magneto,Cyclops, Wolverine and Gambit.

Makeover

For your teenage daughter, a trip to a makeup counter to get amakeover can be a great bonding experience - as well as a lot offun. Depending on how old your daughter is, the trip can also serveas a great lesson for how much makeup to wear and how youshould apply it.

Don't believe the myth that teens are hard to shop for. With theright approach, you can find the perfect gift for the most discerningteenager.

How to find theright gift for thehard-to-please teen

www.albanyherald.com Sunday, November 27, 2011 6 The Albany Herald

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A relatively recent component of holiday shopping -- or any shopping forthat matter -- is the gift receipt. Keeping gift receipts organized can take alittle effort on the part of the shopper to ensure each gift recipient is inpossession of their respective receipts.Gift receipts are advantageous to people who are receiving presents.Should the item not fit or be a duplicate of something they already have,a gift receipt enables them to return the item effortlessly. It also clearlyindicates where the gift was purchased so one is not driving around tryingto find the store for a return. Plus, should the item have been recentlyreduced in price, a gift receipt will allow the full value of the gift to bereceived. Returning an item without a receipt could result in lost value and the saleprice being rescinded. Although having a gift receipt will not entitle one toa cash refund, it will equate to a store credit in the amount of the originalprice purchased.Keeping gift receipts organized may take a little trial and error. One ideais to keep two envelopes and a pen handy when shopping. Write thenames of the gift recipients on the master receipt or put their initialsbeside their purchased items. Place those receipts in one envelopewhere you'll keep your copies of the receipts. On the gift receipts, writethe names for whom the gifts are intended. Place those receipts in the

other envelopethat will hold allgift receipts.

When it comestime to wrap gifts,refer to your giftreceipt envelope andmatch up the receiptsto the correct gift.Remember, the giftreceipt will not displaythe price or sometimeseven a product descrip-tion. It will usually onlyhave a bar code that will

refer to a UPC, orproduct number. Youmay be able tomatch the receiptto the numberon the producttag. But again,this is whywriting thename of the per-son on thereceipt at the timeof purchase canmake the processeasier. Attach thereceipt to the gift insome way and wrap.

Keep gift receipts organizedKeep gift receipts organized

(StatePoint) When buying gifts for children, don’t just buy whateveris on their wish list. Do some research first. That way, the gifts canbe age-appropriate and safe.

Toy-related injuries are an all too common occurrence. In 2009, anestimated 250,100 children under age 15 were sent to the hospitalfor toy-related injuries, according to the U.S. Consumer ProductSafety Commission. And these injuries are on the rise.

“Select toys to suit the age, abilities, skills and interest level of theintended child,” says Dr. H. Garry Gardner, chair of the Council onInjury, Violence & Poison Prevention at the American Academy ofPediatrics (AAP). “Toys too advanced may pose safety hazards foryounger children.”

The AAP is offering these tips to help parents make safe consumerchoices for their children:

• Make sure the toy is specified for the age of your child.Government regulations on toy diameter and length will prevent yourbaby or toddler from choking. Never leave a baby unattended withtoys and games containing small parts.

• Toys that plug into an electrical outlet are a no-no for the under 10set. Prevent burns and electrical shocks by buying battery-operatedtoys for younger kids. Make sure that the battery is in a securedcompartment that cannot be accessed by the child.

• Buttons, batteries, and magnets pose a serious health risk whenswallowed, causing stomach and intestinal problems and possibledeath. Call your pediatrician or other health care provider immedi-ately if your child swallows one of these items.

• Store toys in a designated location, such as on a shelf or in a toychest, and keep older kids’ toys away from young children.

• Read instructions carefully on a toy before allowing your child toplay with it.

• Don’t leave children unattended with balloons. Un-inflated or bro-ken balloons are a choking hazard for children under 8.

• Watch out for pull toys with strings more than 12 inches in length.They could be a strangulation hazard for babies.

Of course, choosing safe toys is only half the battle. You also haveto pick one they will like.

“When it comes to toys, and ultimately, learning, active play alwayswins out over passive entertainment like TV,” says Dr. Gardner.

For a baby, anything that is eye-catching or makes noise is perfect.For an older child, whether it’s a board game, a magazine subscrip-tion, or the latest Justin Bieber record, something that will sustainhis or her interest will make a meaningful gift.

For more gift-giving ideas and safety tips, visit the AAP’s website forparents, www.healthychildren.org.

A little research can go a long way in making sure your holidays arehappy and healthy.

Toy Safety TipsFor The Holiday

Season

The Albany Herald 7Sunday, November 27, 2011 www.albanyherald.com

(StatePoint) Adapting to these uncertain economic times, many oftoday’s shoppers want to give gifts that will be used, but still wantto find creative ways to convey their emotions.

“Shoppers feeling constrained by budgets like the idea of givingpractical gifts, but many are worried that they will feel too imperson-al,” said Amy Myers, vice president of creative services for nationalgift retailer, Things Remembered. “Even the most useful gifts canhave meaning when personalized to honor your special relationshipwith a loved one.”

Here are some practical gift ideas that offer room for personaliza-tion:

For the Family

Although toys and games typically top children’s wish lists, practicalgifts can be fun when personalized just for them. Embroidered ani-mal backpacks personalized with his or her name are a fun way tocarry school books and can double as an overnight bag when visit-ing Grandma.

Tools aren’t traditionally viewed as meaningful gifts, but whenengraved with a personalized sentiment, can become a cherisheditem. Even home decor can have special meaning, like a familyheritage tree that puts family photos on display for an instant heir-loom piece.

Function and Fashion

In today’s busy world, gifts that make lives easier and express per-sonal style are twice as nice. For example, Things Rememberedoffers an engravable USB photo key chain, which allows parentsand teens to conveniently keep memories close and personal filessafe. The gift is even better when pre-loaded with family photos ora thoughtful note. And unique items, like a combined watch andmoney clip, offer men on-the-go a fashionable and creative way tokeep track of time and money.

Creative Options

Great gifts arecatered to that indi-vidual. What is yourloved one passionateabout? Gardenerswill appreciate a holi-day card embeddedwith the seeds for aspruce tree. Andnature lovers mightlike a butterfly-deco-rated journal thatdoubles as a photoscrapbook.

Gifts that Give Back

Just as a gift reflectsa special connectionbetween two people,a charitable gift cre-ates a special bondwith someone in need. This holiday season, many retailers areoffering gift items that do double duty by earmarking a portion ofthe profits to organizations that do good. For example, ThingsRemembered offers an entire collection that benefits the Make-A-Wish Foundation.

Or you can donate to a philanthropic organization on behalf of aloved one, commemorating the donation with a card or a framedpicture of the benefactor. No matter the cause, you’ll spread holi-day cheer with a gift that brings joy to more than one recipient.

For more thoughtful gift ideas, visit www.ThingsRemembered.com.

And don't wait until the last minute. A little foresight can go a longway in making your gift more meaningful.

(StatePoint) The holidays aren’tjust for indulging children; familypets could use some pampering,too.

In fact, a poll conducted byPetside.com reported that 53 per-cent of U.S. pet parents intendedto get their animal companions apresent during the holidays.

To help you get in the spirit of theseason, here are some gift ideasfor the furry friend in your life:

• A Holiday Feast. If you’re lookingto discourage Fido from beggingfor holiday dinner scraps, why notget him a feast of his own? Forexample, Stella & Chewy's frozen and freeze-dried Dinners for Dogs are made of raw, natural meat, without added hormones or antibi-otics. They also have freeze-dried Dinners for Cats with added vitamins, minerals, probiotics and just the right amount of taurine to keepyour kitty healthy.

Or give into Fido’s sweet tooth with an after-dinner treat, such as Benni & Penni’s fruit-fortified jerky treats. Featuring a meaty piece ofjerky wrapped around a fruit morsel, they come in a range of flavors, including chicken and kiwi, chicken and banana and chicken andapple.

• Mistletoe Kisses. Christmas comes but once a year, but periodontal disease can threaten dogs and cats at any time. Fortunately, innov-ative solutions -- like TropiClean’s “fresh breath made easy!” -- offer safe, natural ways to keep your pet’s teeth clean and healthy whilefreshening their breath and without brushing.

• Toys in Petland. Whether your pet’s a smarty paws or just needs an outlet for his extra energy, there are a number of toys that let youinteract with him in creative ways. For example, the Nina Ottosson Dog Maze lets dogs discover hidden treats in toys that wobble, rockand spin. And for the ultimate illuminated safety collar, check out The Company of Animals’ VIVID Collar – perfect for those dark winterwalks!

For cats, consider getting a holiday-themed, biodegradable corrugated scratcher. For example, Imperial Cat’sScratch ‘n Shapes scratchers are creatively designed to complement practically any décor. Their simulatedtree bark texture provides cats with an ideal surface for scratching, relaxing, pouncing or playing. Eachscratcher also comes with a bag of certified organic catnip to entice your kitty.

• Holiday Treats. If your dog makes Santa’s “nice” list, treat him or her to a liquid treat like Lickety Stik. Theroll-on dispenser lets dogs experience all the excitement and flavor of a moist, meaty treat without thesticky mess for owners. Plus, it’s a fraction of the calories with none of the bulk of conventional treats.

And don't forget, when pampering your pets with gifts, keep their packages separate and unwrapped.Normal holiday trimmings like wrapping paper, ribbon and tinsel can be unsafe for curious animals.

By safely indulging your pets you can get every member of your family into the holiday spirit.

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www.albanyherald.com

(StatePoint) Finding a gift thatthe gardener in your life willappreciate can be an intimidat-ing prospect. Those with greenthumbs already tend to havewell-stocked sheds and afavorite pair of pruning shears.

But even the greenest thumbcan benefit from a thoughtfulgift. And with a little research,you may just innovate the waytheir garden grows.

The Veggie Lover:

Grow your favorite vegetablegardener’s library with a cook-book. There are plenty of titlesout there written with the homegardener in mind. Such recipecollections highlight dishes thatcall for fresh herbs and season-al vegetables. A new book,“Wild Flavors” by Didi Emmons

profiles dozens of uncommongarden plants, teaching youhow to grow, forage, prep,store, and preserve each. Youwill surely have some innovativemeals coming your way.

The Landscaper

Gardening is no easy physicaltask, but don’t let your lovedones break their backs unnec-essarily. Simple tools can go along way toward easing heavyduty tasks in the lawn and gar-den. For example, PowerSharp,a chainsaw sharpening attach-ment from Oregon-brand out-door products, makes the nec-essary task of maintaining yourchainsaw’s sharpness quick andeasy by sharpening on the job.This helps get yard work donefaster and with relative ease,especially when pruning and

trimming. To learn more, visitwww.powersharp.com.

The Plant Doctor

Gardening is both a scienceand an art, but the scienceneed not pose a terrific intellec-tual challenge. New productsuse sensors to measure impor-tant factors in soil, like moisture,pH, and nutrient availability.This simplifies diagnosing anailing plant, so you can nurse itback to health before it is toolate.

Soil can be tested both elec-tronically and chemically. LusterLeaf Gardening test kits allowgardeners to use either method,depending on what they’re try-ing to grow. To learn moreabout different types of sensors,visit: www.lusterleaf.com.

The Plotter

For the gardener who likes toplan in advance of the season,bulbs and seeds make a greatgift. Because these can bestored before being planted,(some for years) don’t be shyabout gifting bulbs and seedsany time of the year. Just besure the expiration date is far inthe future.

Seeds and bulbs make for anespecially thoughtful gift,because it shows you are takinga personal stake in the contentsof the garden. There’s a gift outthere for every gardener. Justremember to consider the sizeand type of the growing space,the climate, and your recipient’spersonal interest and tastewhen shopping.

Gifts For Garden And Outdoor Enthusiasts

Courtesy of METRO CONNECTION

Sending out Christmas greetings is a tradition that is still common today. Have you everwondered just how many cards are sent across the country? According to HallmarkCorporate, 1.5 billion Christmas cards, including boxed and individual cards, are purchasedand then sent every year in the U.S. This makes Christmas the No. 1 holiday for sendinggreetings, followed by Valentine's Day (144 million) and Mother's Day (133 million).

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Sunday, November 27, 2011 8 The Albany Herald