Gift Observer

Found this via a new gift/wishlist site, CribCandy. The site lets you bookmark images of interesting products from around the web.

Nice idea, fun stuff.

This is another gift that will only appeal to a certain select group of people, gamers and readers of old-style horror books. For those not in the know, “Cthulu” is an evil demigod which likes to slaughter pretty much everyone, including his worshippers. Yet, he is so cute, don’t you think? I particularly like the $17.96 hand-puppet pictured at the left.

The Cthulu Plushes page at Paizo has every Cthulu plushie you could ever desire, such as the 4 inch “tiny cthulu” ($8.99), the 32 inch “giant cthulu ($71.96), or even the tentaclicious slippers ($26.96).

Technorati Tags: Cthulu, toys, plush, plushies

What a great find! I’ve been looking for a way to use some of my zillions of pictures to create something more permanent. I’ve tried printing my pictures many times, and they look good, but they look like … pictures. Plus, they don’t last that long before they start to fade.

This is much different than just running pictures through a printer, even a commercial one. Canvas on Demand is a service which will print your pictures on real stretched canvas, on a range of sizes from 8×10″ to 38×48″. They use archival quality inks to resist fading. They’ll also add a range of effects, such as light brush strokes on the background, sepia-toning, or else just print the photo as you took it. The prices are reasonable as well, starting at $59. I personally think the “sweet spot” for prices/sizes is 24×36″ at $139. I think this one might be just the thing for my parents’ 45th anniversary.

Link: Canvas on Demand

Technorati Tags: photos, canvas, photo rinting services

Over on my personal finance blog, Fearless Money, I wrote at length about how we do our gift budgets in our family.

In a nutshell, we put cash in envelopes every month, and we deliberately do not track where that money goes.

As I said, it is a simple scheme. But it works out so pleasingly. We get to have secrets, even in an environment where “every dollar has a purpose” so every dollar is planned. For us, the secret-super-cool-gift is the only fun kind of gift. We don’t give cash or certificates. I’ve always thought they were tacky, to be honest.

Beyond the secrecy enabling, there is also the guilt-freeing. If I want to buy an expensive gift and I have the money in the envelope, I buy it and don’t think twice. If I don’t have the money, and I’m unwilling to kick in money from my monthly “mad money”, then I just don’t get it. Simple, no agonizing involved at all.

I’m all for making gifts more fun to give, and for leveraging my limited money to buy only the best “killer great” things. This way, which we’ve been using for a year now, is working out wonderfully for us.

Technorati Tags: Budgeting, gift giving

Technorati Tags: Budgeting, gift giving

I just love this shirt. It would take a special baby and a special momma to want to wear roller derby gear, but if you know one of those special mommas, then this is probably your ideal baby shower gift.

If you haven’t heard, Roller Derby is experiencing a revival. So get in on it before it gets too big to be cool!

This shirt is $10 from Rat City Roller Girls.

If you are procrastinating ordering your sweetie her Valentine’s Day gift, this might be the solution. It is a fitted black t-shirt with a red heart. What makes it unique is you and your sweetie’s initials written on the heart.

It is a simple idea, well executed. Another good feature at this late date is that Personalization Mall will ship the shirt in just a couple of business days. There is still time to get something creative and memorable!

Order at: Personalization Mall (save $5 on this order with coupon code PM6680)

Technorati Tags: Valentines Day, t-shirt, custom shirts, gift ideas, gifts