The Gift Idea for a Teenager

Or a young adult. Or someone with alot of friends.

A digital camera. Why? Teenagers want to take pictures of their friends and shoot video that they can upload to YouTube.

What do they want? A small camera that looks good and is easy to use.

But their phone has a camera? Sure, with a tiny lens that takes mediocre photos. Get them a real camera and they might even say thanks.

What to choose:

1) Canon Powershot SD450 - this 5 megapixel camera has been on the market long enough for the price to fall to under $250 if you shop well. Big LCD display, viewfinder, great auto mode, smaller than a deck of cards, shoots video until the card is full. I own this model and have shot over 5,000 pics of my toddler with success. Not to mention tons of web-ready video.

2) Casio Exilim EX-S600 - 6 megapixel camera wedged into Casio's credit card sized case. HUGE LCD monitor, 3X optical zoom and a variety of color choices. Legendary for compact size.

My money goes with any Canon camera. Their customer satisfaction is very high and they offer a great variety of models. The price drops as you get into larger point and shoot models.

If you are buying a digital camera then don't forget key accessories - details here. Seriously, get them an nice big memory card and some extra batteries. Oh, and a case.

Gifts for mom that don't make her feel like a mom

Let's face it- there are times where not every mom wants to feel like MOM. She wants to shed the on-the-go, supportive, "Here let me wipe your face" persona just for a bit. ( I know that this can apply to dads, too - just work with me).

This means that your gift to her should have nothing to do with the kids. She still loves them but will relish mental (and maybe physical) time apart from the little darlings.

The List:
1) Full on treatment at a day spa. Go with her or send her solo.
2) The gift of time - you will watch her kids while she revisits life before children.
3) Housecleaning: step 1- get her out of the house. Step 2- get someone to clean the house and have dinner waiting when she returns.
4) Cooking class for two - learn together and then YOU cook for her. She sits back and drinks wine.
5) Visit your local spa/beauty supply/CostPlus and create a spa kit for her. Fill a basket with lotions, bath salts, loufa, bathtub pillow, etc. Include a custom made DO NOT DISTURB sign for the bathrooom door. Mom will hang it while enjoying your gift. Kids stay out.

More ideas? Toss them in the comments section.

Fill a flash drive part 2 - mix tape revisited

If you are of a certain age you will no doubt remember the importance of the mix tape. Like sharing a playlist but requiring more effort and care. Don't get the importance of a mix? Watch "High Fidelity".

Take the mix tape idea and bring it into the 21st century with Microsoft Photo Story. This free download allows you to easily create a photo slideshow complete with transitions, the Ken Burns effect and the audio track of your choice. The final version plays in Media Player.

Make a slideshow for grandma, mom or (as most inspired mix tapes were made) for the object of your affection. Add images from when you first met, first dates or images that will make your soon-to-be sig other happy.

The delivery: copy the final draft of the slideshow onto a quality flash drive (Sandisk is good) and give a gift that is unique and lasting.

Get the free download right here.

WalMart has 97 cent shipping

OK, I'm not a huge fan of WalMart. The big box hasn't landed in my neighborhood to suck in more traffic and close down other stores - yet.

If you can't wait for Walmart to arrive you can get some of their stuff shipped to you for 97 cents plus item cost. The 97 cent page is right here.

Fill a flash drive

Flash drives are everywhere and the prices have brought them into the stocking-stuffer price range.

The idea: fill a flash drive with custom content and make it a gift. Copy music, pictures or video over the flash drive and pop it in the mail. Great gift for someone who wants to carry a little bit of your life with them. Grandparents, folks serving overseas or those with slow Internet connection will love this gift. Make sure that their PC has a USB port.

Digital Camera Buying #1

My 3 year old received a digital camera for his birthday. Excessive? Hardly. This just shows how far cameras have come - the technology is cheap enough to sell in a format friendly for toddlers at around $60. This Fisher-Price Kid Camera fits the bill perfectly.

There is another, more useful lesson in buying a digital camera: buy the camera that suits your needs. The best camera for a three year old can be dropped, thrown and has color coded buttons.

If you are giving a camera as a gift think about the needs of the recipient. Is this their first digital camera? Do they love technology or are they confused by the buttons on a blender? Do they take pictures of wildlife or your wild family? Thinking about HOW this person will use the camera will lead you to make a good choice.

Get started by reading my Digital Camera Buying Guide.

From GiftAdvisor: The Woman's Perspective

Giftadvisor.com does it again with thought provoking details on gifts for women. Before you buy flowers read this post. Good stuff.

http://www.giftadvisory.com/2006/07/more-from-the-women/

Father's Day Photo Gifts

KodakEasyShareGallery (I miss the brevity of Ofoto) offers an original method to display a large selection of photos. Their photo collage is available in sizes ranging from 5x7 to 20x30 inches. You can change the color and size of the border as well as check the "shake it up" box to give the collage a slightly random effect.

While you are on the site consider buying a photo mouse pad-then you get a small collage for free.

Take the classic Father's Day necktie gift and customize it at giftsrus.com. Tread carefully and select images that will look good tile across a long piece of silk.

Photo Puzzle Gift from Photojojo

The fine folks at Photojojo have put together a crafty video tutorial that results in a great photo puzzle/conversation piece/art/kid gift. All you need is a photo, rubber cement, x-acto knife, linoleum blocks and (optional) gel coat. Great results. Find it all at Photojojo (thanks to lifehacker).

Graduation gift? Father's Day gift? Late Mother's Day gift? You decide.

tags: gifts diy photo

Gift in a Bottle

This gift idea has served me well many times over. Fill a Nalgene (or similar) bottle with items that would thrill the recipient. It is important to use the wide-mouth version to make the gifts easy to add and remove. Nalgene bottles are far superior than the colorful imitations that are on the market. They are durable and resist both freezing and boiling. My dad still uses some Nalgenes that are over 30 years old.

This is a great gift the traveler, outdoors enthusiast, or anyone who wants to be a little better prepared.

What could you fill it with?
>energy bars
>good hiking map
>matches
>whistle
>GU
>small flashlight
>bandana
>first-aid supplies

Of course, the contents need not be so practical...fill it with candy, money, jewelry hidden at the bottom...the contents are yours to choose.

tags: gift, graduate, outdoors

Last Minute Mother's Day Gifts

So the window for overnight mail has passed and you are wondering WHAT DO I DO for Mother's Day?

Here are some ideas:

-Plant an Amaryllis bulb in stones or water. Choose an attractive vase that will outlast the flower. Go the extra mile and refill the vase with fresh flowers once it is empty.

-Still live with mom? Or maybe the mom is your house is also your wife? Then make cinnamon rolls for her and let the aroma wake her after she has slept in late. This gift will be even more precious if you involve the kids in the creation. If you are a cook then you know what to do-otherwise, go for the grocery store Pillsbury style rolls. Easy and the icing is in the can.

-Find a neighborhood spa or massage therapist. This is a two part gift. Part one is to buy a gift certificate for time or a particular service. Part two is to make sure that she actually goes. This might mean that you watch the kids/do the chores so that she goes. Better yet- driver her to the appointment and treat yourself.

-Give her your time. That is the best gift. Time at her house. Time at brunch. Time to put the screens in for summer. You know what she needs and you (may) have dodged the chores all weekend.

The folks at Sci-Fi Tech have ten more but the clock may have run out on some of these fine ideas.

Give a business card

Give a kid, or someone else, their very own business cards as a reward. Vistaprint.com is a great place to start.

Imagine an eight year old handing out their very own biz cards at the next reunion. Or use them to motivate someone to finally start that business and strike out on their own.

Mother's Day Photo Gifts-Act NOW

KodakGallery.com has a slew of ideas for Mother's Day.  If you act fast and are willing to pay $$$ for shipping, here are some good bets:

Kodak's Photo Mug takes one photo and creates a collage all over the mug.  Choose either the horizontal or vertical design, upload a photo, and you are ready to go.  There are also travel mug designs and layouts that use one large image instead of the collage effect.

 Kodak's calendars make a great gift.  Once the year has passed you can grab your scissors and you get 12 (or more) photo quality prints.