Holidays

Secret Santa – 6 Savvy Gift Ideas to Get Your Secret Santa Swag Sorted Early

November 18, 2019 by Painter Mommy Leave a Comment

Image by Harry Strauss from Pixabay

If you’re like most people, you may not be so sure what to get your co-worker for the office secret Santa gift exchange. Even though you spend every weekday with your coworkers, it’s a challenge to find that one perfect gift that’s sure to please.

To help you get this task out of the way early this year, we’ve compiled a list of several great items any of your coworkers would be thrilled to receive. Don’t stress about secret Santa this year – ROCK IT!

1. Branded Corporate Gifts

What says “I appreciate you” more than a gift that’s actually usable? From USB Memory Pens to durable duffle bags, branded corporate gifts tend to go over well with most people.

The nice thing about these types of gifts is that the receiver can’t forget where the gift came from since it has the name of the company on it, and if you choose wisely, they’ll be able to use the gift regularly.

2. Fun Printed Socks

Everyone wears them, so why not take advantage of this and buy a pair of fun printed socks for your secret Santa? With a wealth of options online to choose from, there’s something for every personality.

Is the person you’re buying for a pizza lover? These pizza printed socks may make the perfect gift!

3. Hi-Tech Cleaning Cloth

Dust, oil, and smudges leave the screens on our devices downright filthy and it’s common to see people cleaning them with tissues, shirttails, and paper towels. All these things can damage the delicate glass, so giving your secret Santa a hi-tech cleaning cloth will help extend the life of their devices.

Designed in a wide array of colors and styles, these smart clothes are dual-sided to clean and polish any device screen surface.

4. Handy Cord Keepers

While technology constantly pushes us toward a more wireless existence, the reality is, everyone owns a pair of corded headphones or two no matter how crazy their tangled cords make us.

Help your coworker stay a tad saner with handy cord keepers. Handmade and designed to be simple to use, a pack of three gives your coworker plenty of ways to keep all the cords in his or her life tangle-free.

5. Adult Coloring Book

Let’s face it – the job can be stressful. Even if your colleague loves her job, the daily grind can get a bit overwhelming at times.

You can give her a stress-reducing gift that’s sure to help her relax with an adult coloring book. While not necessarily work-friendly, this gift is one that your coworker will surely enjoy at home after a tough day at work.

If you decide an adult coloring book is a perfect gift, don’t forget to include a pack of colored pencils or markers to go with it.

6. Have Wheels, Will Gift

If your coworker is into cars, then few things will make them happier than the opportunity to tinker in their garage with new car parts. With everything from garish automotive bling through to blow off valves and other turbo accessories available online, you’re only a couple of easy clicks away from added a few thousand additional revs to your colleague’s festive season.

As the holiday season draws near this year, it’s normal to start worrying about the office secret Santa gift exchange. This year, however, put that worry aside and get a head start on the gift-buying task with the great suggestions listed above. With a gift idea for every budget and personality, this year’s secret Santa will be easier than ever.

Boys and Their Toys – 6 Manly Gifts for Your Manly Man

March 19, 2018 by Painter Mommy Leave a Comment

With Christmas behind us, many people will be rejoicing at being able to close their wallets and step away from the gift stores. However, it might be a little premature to stow away the Benjamins, for Valentine’s Day is just around the corner. Then there are birthdays, anniversaries and plenty other opportunities to put further dents in the bank balance. If you want to get ahead of the game and treat the man in your life to a gift he’ll just love, we’ve included six options below. You may find you’ll hit the jackpot with any of these options.

LED Light Bars

If your man has a love for the outdoors and off-roading, you can do no better than LED light bars for his beloved truck. LED light bars are the perfect accompaniment to any outdoor enthusiast’s 4WD, and can light up the darkest back road for optimum safety. You’ll never be able to wipe the grin off his face if you purchased him some of these bad boys!

Sports Tickets

The football season may be drawing to a close, but with the NBA in full swing and MLB just around the corner, your significant other will love the chance to sport that big foam finger while watching his favorite team. Tickets to a big game will be the perfect memorable experience for the passionate sports fan.

Activewear

Believe it or not, attire makes an excellent option, and in today’s health and fitness-conscious world, activewear is the wearable gift of choice. Men make up a growing proportion of the estimated $178B global sports apparel market, so forget about the socks, underwear and ties and go for something that he will love, as well as being practical. However, not just any old Walmart tracksuit will do. Go for known brands such as Reebok, Nike, and Adidas that are sure to impress.

Workshop Sets

If your man is forever engaged in the next big project with his vehicles, or he just likes to spend time in the garage tinkering away, consider purchasing a workshop set for him. “I don’t need any new tools,” said no man, ever, so you really can’t go wrong with this one. That’s not to say you shouldn’t be selective. From now until Valentine’s Day or his birthday, pay attention to what he has, uses, and what he says he needs so you can be sure to hit the mark.

Accessories

How many times have you said to your boyfriend that he needs to get rid of his cracked and peeling wallet, or his tatty belt? Accessories, while important, often don’t feature highly on any man’s list of things to buy for themselves. Even though digital wallets are beginning to gain traction, guys are not showing signs of giving up their bulging monstrosities anytime soon. If left to his own devices, he will keep using it until it is five loosely bound wallet molecules, so it’s up to you to rip that bandaid off and get him a new one!

Brew Kit

The dog might be man’s best friend, but a brew kit is sure to be a close second. Not only can he enjoy a cold brew after a hard day’s work, but he can also enjoy the fruits of his labor. A brew kit can offer a sense of satisfaction, and may even open the door to a whole new hobby that you and his friends can also enjoy with him.

Choosing a gift for your man for Valentine’s Day, his birthday or other special occasion can be challenging, but it’s not impossible. Opt for one or more of these six presents, and watch as his face lights up!

The Belated Buying Guide: 6 Time Sensitive Tips For Deadline-Driven Gift Shopping

September 27, 2017 by Painter Mommy Leave a Comment

Well, it’s almost that time of year again folks!

You know what I mean. That “most wonderful time of the year,” and yet in reality, the lead up to it can feel more like absolute chaos.

No matter how organized we say we’ll be, the idea and impending task of Christmas shopping seems to send the majority of us into a sense of madness. That fear that creeps up on us, before the hurried dash to buy all those last minute gifts.

So, to take some of the stress out of seasonal present preparations, here are six tips to help those of you beat the rush, subdue the panic, and meet that looming deadline for fantastic gifts.

Shop online

So many of us hate going into the shops at this busy time of year, especially men. Let’s admit it. How many of us have done the last minute race to buy a gift? However, you don’t have to worry, online shopping can reduce the hassle, and you don’t have to go anywhere. No crowds, no car park rage, it’s a Christmas miracle!

Yes, shopping online may be considered more of a millennial idea, but so long as you plan, sites such as Yellow Octopus can have your man’s perfect gift to him ready in time for the main day.

Get in first

If you are brave (or crazy) enough to front up to the retail stores in the last few days, plan your shopping time. Get to the shopping centre/mall early enough so that you can map out the stores.

If you have to drive a fair distance, plan your quickest route to get there. This can help reduce the stress of parking and the mass of crowds as you try to get to the corresponding store for each related gift.

Make a list

We all know how Santa’s song goes “…He’s making a list and checking it twice.”

However, when working to a deadline, taking a tip from the jolly man and making a list probably isn’t such a bad idea. Write out all the gifts and corresponding people for whom you want to buy a gift and mark them off as you purchase each one.

Then check that you have bought for all on your list. This way you will have “checked it twice.”

Office secret Santa

Now we all know about deadlines when it comes to our workplace. However, that doesn’t mean it can’t have a little festive cheer.

Forbes has some great gifts that work well for the office, aren’t expensive and will suit everyone, from the organised colleague to your supervising manager.

Gift vouchers

Yes, now we come to what would be inclined to be the lazy person’s way out.

However, if you know your person’s favourites, this can save you a large amount of time and hassle.

If your receiver loves movies, a gift voucher to their local cinema can be a great choice. Those such as the Village Cinemas gift shop offer cards for Gold Class or All Inclusive Experience.

Appeal to their likes

If you’re really stuck for a gift, think of what they like. Are they someone with a sweet tooth?

Based in Queensland, Moo – Lolly Bar sells a great range of confectionery that you can buy in bulk, which you can send to anyone from colleagues, to your family and friends. They ship nationwide; including rural areas and you can buy online, a perfect idea for any chocoholic.

There are my six time sensitive tips to help you meet your gift-buying deadline. I hope the festive season is kind to you, and also to your wallet.

Thankful Around the Dining Room Table

November 17, 2016 by Painter Mommy Leave a Comment

Thanksgiving is a special holiday and always has been in our family. Growing up, I can remember going to my aunts house to eat a big meal. There was a lot of talking, laughing, and family fun. And it was always around a big table with metal folding chairs stuck in between the beautiful dining room chairs.

There were over 20 of us with all the aunts, uncles, and cousins. The food was set out on the table in serving trays of all different shapes and sizes. We passed it around… yummy turkey, mashed potatoes and gravy, stuffing, yams, and sweet rolls. The memories and smells are engraved in my mind.

And now, I have my own family. We have since moved states away so I had to start my own holiday traditions. One tradition that we do when we get together on holidays is focusing on what we are grateful for. We not only do this on Thanksgiving, but other holidays as well.

My favorite thing to do is after all the food has been consumed and the table has been cleared, we pop open the sparkling cider and go around the table and each person will say what they are grateful for and we toast after each declaration. More often than not, someone winds up crying… more often with joy than with sadness.

I just recently thought about doing this on birthdays as well. What a great time to talk about what we love about that person on their special day.

Do you have any fun family holiday traditions? We would love to hear about it!

3 Things You Didn’t Know You Could Do With Christmas Lights

October 10, 2016 by Painter Mommy 2 Comments

Did you think Christmas lights were only for winding through the branches of firs and spruces during that festive season? Think again. Christmas lights are a versatile way to decorate for your parties at any time of year. Discover three things you didn’t know you could do with Christmas lights.

Add Glamour to a Roaring ’20s Party

Glamorous 1920s-themed parties have become all the rage since the release of Baz Luhrmann’s film “The Great Gatsby.” The era was all about decadence, and Christmas lights can set the scene beautifully.

You’ll need a lot of Christmas lights to pull off this look, so the approach is perfect for people who decorate their home like the Griswolds in “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation.” If you don’t have enough lights already, you can often find great discounts at sales throughout the year.

String the lights across every surface you can. White lights work best here, because they look a little like crystals glimmering in the night. All those lights can draw a lot of power, so consider choosing energy-efficient LED strings of lights from suppliers such as Christmas Lights Etc instead of traditional Christmas lights.

Light Up a ’60s-Themed Party

Christmas lights can be used in many ways to make your ’60s-themed party groovier. From tie-dyed fabrics to lava lamps, this decade was all about color, so you’re best served with brightly colored lights, not plain white ones. Simply stringing colored Christmas lights around your party will give it a groovy glow. However, if you have more time on your hands, you can get a little more creative.

Knot strips of tulle around a ribbon and tape it to the edge of the table where you’ve got your chips and dips or a retro cheese ball. Wrap some Christmas lights around the legs of the table, underneath the tulle, and turn them on. The lights will shine through the tulle, making your spread look even cooler.

If you have time, you could also make a twinkling peace sign wall hanging. Cut the peace sign out of a large piece of wood and drill holes through the design, following its lines. Poke colored Christmas lights through the holes, turn on the lights, and wait for the compliments to roll in.

Transport Your Guests to the Islands at a Hawaiian Party

We can’t always get away to tropical Hawaii, but with the right Christmas lights, you can re-create time on the islands at home. Any Hawaiian-themed party needs a tiki bar serving exotic cocktails such as mai tais and piña coladas. To add the right island atmosphere to your tiki bar, string up some Christmas lights. The idea sounds strange, but many colored Christmas lights actually look a lot like the lights that decorate island bars. Lights that have large bulbs, such as raspberry LED mini lights, are ideal for your Hawaiian celebration.

If you pack your Christmas lights away in January, you’re not using them to their full potential. With these ideas, you can enjoy these lights when the holiday season is long gone.

Image via Flickr by MsSaraKelly