Fun Gifts for the Hard-To-Please, for All Budgets

When I ask: “Do readers love the newly revised, advicesisters.net and advicesisters.net?” the Mystic Pyramid intones: “The outcome will surpass your expectations.” 

The Mystic Pyramid, new from U.S. Games Systems, Inc. is a large, silver pyramid that lights up and tells your “fortune” when you ask it a question. It’s the modern version of the magic 8 ball that many of us enjoyed as a kid. IHowever, when my twin sister Jessica (“Advice Sister Jessia”) asked if she’d marry Davey Jones of the Monkees, the 8 ball said: “without a doubt” so sometimes, it wasn’t so on the ball!!!

Whether the outcome really is valid or not, the new, Mystic Pyramid is a fun toy for all ages. Simply ask a question (better in front of a gaggle of girls or at a party, but you can sheepishly consult it alone, too) and it will light up with blue lights along the sides of the triangles, and intone in a lofty voice, a number of “opinions” on your fate.  Unlike the magic 8 balll that could only conjure up 20 responses, this one supposedly speaks more than 100 different responses, juggled at random.  Most are positive, some vague, and yes, there are a few negatives just to keep things “real.” For $24.95 it’s going to be a great holiday gift for anyone who is hard to buy for, and certainly, for every teenage girl who wants to know if her pop star idol is going to be smitten with her!   ….well….we already know that answer to that question, but it’s still fun to consult the mystic pyramid and hear what it has to say!

When you are wondering what to get that hard-to-please person, a beautiful, scented candle is always a good (and sure) option.  But not just any candle will do when it comes to gifting someone special. A gift candle has to look good, smell great, and give off that luxurious air (literally and figuratively) that makes it stand out as covet-able. It’s not just a way to cover up the scent of a cat box or smelly shoes!  Kat Burki’s enticing scents, all available as scented soy candles, organic soaps and rich natural body crèmes, are super-special. The Kat Burki line evolved  from designing furniture and fabric pieces to complete the perfect design project to Kat’s little thank you gifts of all natural Soy Wax candle and Organic Soap in her own signature fragrance of Tuberose.  Kat Burki products are featured regularly in fashion, beauty, design and organic magazines.For starters, they arrive in pretty gift boxes with gold accents and a silky bow.  Inside, a large, round, clear glass votive also features gold accents and elegant, script writing.  My pick for one that works for both women and men, is the Eau de Poire et Santal Candle – 11oz. ($38.00).  The scent features woods, sandalwood and pear, but while that combination could be overly spicy, this one is soft and sensual.  It’s a warm, cozy scent that will make any room feel like you’ll want to settle into it with a puppy or kitten on your lap, a good book, a soft throw, and a cup of tea or good quality bourbon! Visit http://www.katburki.com/ to get yours, and to see all the other scents and products offered on this site.

 

For someone special, including a couple or a bride-to-be, Bed of Roses Pure Romance byPure Romance, a purveyor of  relationship- and intimacy-enhancing products, might be just the thing to add a twinkle to their eyes.  While Pure Romance focuses on a lot of adult products, including intimacy aids (massage tools, bath/shower products, vibrators, etc), they also have a full line of beauty products, and less “adult oriented” products such as Bed of Roses,  tastefully boxed for just $17.00.  Bed of Roses includes 150 red, scented, silk rose petals, and four tea light candles to help you set a romantic mood no matter where you are. Also included is a romantic invitation (you decide who get invited, of course)!   The tea lights are nothing really special, just plain, white tea lights  (you can always add your own, more substantial votive holders or scented candles), and the cardboard invitation is a bit plain (make your own and it will be more personal), but as a kit, the presentation makes it unique, and those fabric rose petals will make any budding romance, blossom.  Slip the bag of rose petals and the four, packaged tea lights into your suitcase, and you will make more than snapshot memories!  Even better, the items are re-useable if you gather up the petals when the evening is through.  Also, when the scent fades on the petals, you can even refresh them again with the  ‘Kiss” fragrance (available on the Pure Romance Website) or another fragrance of your choice.  TIP:  you can extend the life of your petals by hand washing them in a lingerie bag.  *even though many of the items on Pure Romance are really good for anyone, there are sexual aids for sale, so be over 18 to check out, and purchase products from Pure Romance.

 

Games are fun for the entire family. A new and novel one using “cards on dice” is Square Shooters.  A nicely boxed basic game set ($12.99) includes nine dice printed with a full deck of 52 cards plus 2 jokers, a bunch of poker chips,42 Shootout cards, 100 Scorekeeping chips, Storage pouch and Instructions.  There is a deluxe game set ($19.99) with more chips and a dice cup.  Flip a card, try to match the hand with 3 rolls or less.   Roll hands for rummy poker, 21 and more (or make up your own game with your own rules).  Square Shooters is a great take-along for a road trip, camping, etc. Good for ages 8+, it’s also a fun way to teach anyone of any age, a few new (card) games.  When you’re stumped about what to give, and especially if you’re on a budget, a game anyone from a road warrior to the entire family can play, is a safe bet.  This one is educational and fun.

You can’t go wrong giving a beautifully packaged, flavorful tea as a holiday gift. On the luxury end of the spectrum is Kusmi Tea. Kusmi Tea of Paris is actually a celebrated, Russian tea company that has produced both traditional and innovative blends for the last 140 years.  If you love traditional tea, there’s plenty of choice such as green tea, black tea and decaf tea, but there are also unique and popular blends as Detox, Sweet Love, Be Cool, BOOST, Imperial Label, Prince Vladimir, Anastasia , and the brand new Kusmi Iced Teas. According to  Sylvain Orebi, the “nose” behind Kusmi, celebrities like Lady GaGa swear by Kusmi’s Detox Tea (when on tour, she bought enough to last the entire schedule). The Kusmi Tea  packaging is so colorful and fun, and even the tea bag boxed sets have the same, colorful labels seen on the loose tea cannisters. There are gift sets to satisfy everyone’s budget.  Nicely boxed gift-sets of loose tea and/or tea bags start at $21.95 24 (for enveloped tea bags of 12 different teas). But there are so many different kinds of gift sets, and tea, that you really need to see them all for yourself.  If you visit the store in Manhattan ( the first store in the United States, and it’s right near Bloomingdales) you can personally sniff dozens of deliciously-scented blends. If not, just visit the Kusmi Tea Web Site and order there.