For your mom

I usually forgo gift recommendations based on specific relationships or holidays in favor of suggestions based on personalities and recurring social events. But with Mother's Day right around the corner (May 8 - don't forget!), I am making an exception. You can't go wrong giving a gift based on your mom's personality, but there are several gifts to consider that are better suited to moms than other recipients on your list (like a house cleaning or laundry service). 

Although most people associate Mother's Day strictly with mothers and grandmothers (not surprising, given the day's name), don't forget about those other women who have been influential in your life and helped guide you to become the person you are today. Consider surprising an aunt, friend, mentor, or any other woman who has impacted your life with a little token of your affection. I guarantee that, regardless of what you give her, the fact that you thought of her on Mother's Day will mean the world.

Here are some suggestions that are sure to delight your mom or mother figure:

Flowers: It's hard to go wrong with flowers. Whether you send them alone or along with another gift, flowers are a visual reminder that Mom is brings light and beauty to your life. Send her favorite kind if you know it; otherwise, choose something bright and cheery like daisies (regular or gerbera), lilies, or sunflowers. Also consider giving her a plant for her garden or a potted plant in a fun container so she can enjoy the gift even longer.

Time: Ask any mother what her perfect gift would be and she will probably answer "spending time with my family." Make her wish come true with the gift of quality time or a visit home. Schedule a family outing, a lazy day by the pool, or even a nice meal together for a gift she will never want to exchange.

Chore Service: Moms of any age have those "maternal" responsibilities like laundry, cooking, and cleaning (if dad takes care of these duties in your family, just ignore this recommendation until Father's Day). Give her a day or two off by outsourcing these tasks to someone in her area, either by giving her a gift certificate for the service or making arrangements with the vendor directly.

Spa Treatment: Moms seem to have an ingrained work ethic that is second to none, and most of them find it hard to take a break and relax. Pamper her with a spa treatment, such as a massage, manicure/pedicure, or facial. For extra points, schedule a spa day for the two of you, or for her and Dad together.

Portrait: I've never met a mother who doesn't love pictures of her family. If it's been awhile since your last family portrait, this would be a great gift for Mother's Day. You could have a portrait of the kids and grandkids made in advance, or schedule a session for the entire family (plan it for after Mother's Day if you want it to be a surprise). For a less formal gift, consider a photo book from Shutterfly - they look polished and allow you to customize the whole thing. You could memorialize your (or your child's) childhood, a special family trip, or visits to Grandma's house.

Jewelry: Jewelry is a great gift for some moms but a horrible one for others. If you know your mom likes jewelry, feel free to give her a new piece. However, if she wears the same thing every day and you don't have a clue what kind of jewelry she would appreciate, steer clear. If you decide to go with jewelry, remember to choose a classic piece and stay away from anything cheesy.

Coffee/Tea: If there's one thing most moms need, it's caffeine. Get Mom her favorite blend of liquid energy or pick up a gift card to Starbucks or another coffee shop. If she prefers tea, treat her to a gourmet blend from Teavana or Harney & Sons. Another great choice is a coffee or tea of the month club subscription, like the Kona Hawaiian Organic Coffee Club, Caribou Coffee of the Month Club, or Teavana Tea of the Month Club (12 Months). Also consider an accessory like a new tea or coffee pot, mug, or storage canister.

Tickets: Treat mom to a night on the town with tickets to a movie or show you know she'll enjoy. If you live close enough or can schedule it, go with her for a double gift of the outing and quality time together! 

Gift Basket: If you can't decide on a single gift, give mom a gift basket full of her favorite goodies. You could include lotion, muffins, coffee, tea, perfume, popcorn and a movie or rental voucher, her favorite candy, a restaurant gift certificate, body wash, candle, or bottle of wine. Put the items in a nice basket she can reuse and finish it off with a colorful spring bow. If you need a ready-made basket, Gourmet Gift Baskets offers a wide selection that's sure to please even the pickiest mom.

What are you giving your Mom this Mother's Day?

March Sales and Discounts!

Happy March! In my part of the country, the sun is shining and flip-flips are starting to emerge from the back of closets. I hope you are enjoying equally wonderful weather! Before you head outside and soak up some rays, check out these great deals and stock up on gifts for the coming months (remember that St. Patrick's Day, Mother's Day, and Father's Day are just around the corner!).

Weddings

• Save big at the Wedding Channel Store's 3 day sale, running until Wednesday, March 2. Take up to 75% off site-wide plus 15% off your total with code WC3D15.
• The Knot is offering 25% off a year subscription to Wedding Tracker, which helps you build the ultimate wedding website! Use code AFF25.
• The Knot is also having a sale (up to 65% off!) on wedding favors this week, as well as offering $10 off purchases of $50+ with code TKMAR10.
• Save 15% off $125+ at Exclusively Weddings with code TAFSPRNG through March 31.

Personalized Gifts

• Get free standard shipping when you spend $25+ (through March 31) and save 10% on your entire purchase (through March 15) at Personal Creations. Spend $49+ and save 25% on your whole order (through March 15).
• Save $30 on orders of $135+ at Red Envelope and get free shipping when you spend $70+, both through March 31. Also take 20% off all jewelry orders.
• Take 12% off at Canvas on Demand (code: CODGAN0311) and Great Big Canvas (code GBCGAN0311) through March 31. Both sites transform your pictures into art, which would be a great gift for photographers (among others)!

Television

• Get free shipping when you spend $49+ at The History Channel, A&E, and Bio with code AFFSHIP49, and take 20% off women's history titles.
• Take 15% off The Office from NBC with code NBC15CJ (through March 31) and get free shipping when you spend $100+ with code FREESHIP.
• Save 15% on any purchase from CBS through March 7 with code 15OFFCBS.
• Get $5 off your order of $30+ and free shipping on all orders at Shop the Shows with code 5OFF30.

Miscellaneous

• Spend $99+ and get free shipping from Hammacher Schlemmer with code HSMRCHFS.
• Get free shipping and a gift worth $25 (hand therapy + lip butter) when you spend $75+ at Crabtree & Evelyn, plus buy one lip butter get one 50% off and get 2 select hand care products for $25, all through March 7.
• Take an extra 15% off and get free shipping on all orders at Samsonite with code WINTER15 (through March 7).
• Take 20% off and get free shipping from Linens 'N Things through March 8 with code MARCH20.
• Mac Connection is having their biggest Apple sale of the season - check out their lowest prices of the year!
• Get an extra 20% off and free shipping on orders of $100+ at eBags.
• Get free shipping with code FREESHIP30 when you spend $30+ at Melissa & Doug through March 3, and save 35% anytime.

Don't forget to follow Gift Giving Guru on Twitter (@scgiftguru) for more deals and product recommendations!

For the political junkie

You've probably heard that you should never discuss religion or politics, and that certainly is good advice for new and casual acquaintances. But having been a political science and religion double major in college, I've often found it difficult to completely avoid these topics that occupy so much of my time. For today, I'm ignoring the rules and talking politics 100%. If you know someone like me, who keeps up with politics like its her job or watches C-SPAN for fun, this post is for you. Everyone knows there are plenty of humorous and parody political products on the market, but what about a more serious gift for a serious political junkie? 

When buying for a political buff, be wary of anything too partisan. Even if you know where your recipient stands on the political spectrum, you can't go wrong with a non-partisan gift. Your ultra-liberal recipient might love a parody doll of Dubya, but his wife might find it offensive and his kids might learn that the Presidency is only good for a laugh. However, if you are beyond certain that your recipient will appreciate a partisan gift (and your relationship is close enough to make such a gift appropriate), be sure to use discretion if you choose a politically charged present. When in doubt, it is better to be safe than sorry, and this goes double for politics!

In honor of President's Day, here are some ideas for the political junkies in your life:

The West Wing: The West Wing is TV at its finest and a must-have for any political junkie. Martin Sheen, Allison Janney, Rob Lowe, and Bradley Whitford are just a few of the great actors in the series, which takes place over the course of a two-term presidency. I recommend springing for the complete series (which comes in a super cool dossier), but if you have to pick a single season, you can't beat the first one.

The West Wing: The Complete Series Collection (DVD) (photo courtesy of Amazon)

Presidential Memoirs and Biographies: As I've said before, regardless of political persuasion, presidential memoirs are a rare and unique look into one of the world's most exclusive, demanding, and private jobs. Even hatred for a particular president can't overshadow the opportunity to delve into the mind of the world's most powerful person. Most presidents have memoirs, including Bill Clinton and George W. Bush. Biographies are another great source of inside information about presidents, and although they may include fewer personal anecdotes, they have the benefit of being told by an outside source who can provide some perspective and criticism. Don't just stick to the US - most world leaders have memoirs and biographies that give this same insight, including Nelson Mandela, Winston Churchill, Golda Meir, Charles de Gaulle, and Tony Blair. Whether your political junkie prefers life overviews, war accounts, or leadership guides, you can find plenty of books to satisfy her curiosity.

Miniature Figures: If your political junkie enjoys displaying his love of politics at home or in the office, a replica doll might be just the thing. You can find stationary versions, bobble heads, and parodies, but my favorites come from Jailbreak Toys. They offer Barack and Michelle Obama, Mahatma Gandhi, Che Guevara, and Mao Zedong individually, along with a revolutionaries collection with Che, Mao, Gandhi, and Malcolm X (the old version also included Lenin). They also offer various other historical figures and collections of writers, artists, and scientists.

Little Giants Revolutionaries (L to R: Gandhi, Che, Malcolm X, Mao) (photo courtesy of Amazon)

Political Books: There is certainly no shortage of political literature, and new books are published weekly, meaning that you have a constant flow of gift possibilities for a politico who enjoys reading. For the latest books, just check the NY Times bestseller list or the displays at your local bookstore. However, there is a good chance that your recipient doesn't have every older political text, so here are a few suggestions if you want to avoid the latest (and likely quite partisan) books. My number one recommendation to anyone remotely interested in politics is Thomas Goldstein's The Lexus and the Olive Tree, which provides a comprehensive look at globalization and how the world came to face our current political issues. Every political junkie should own classics like Plato's Republic and Rousseau's The Social Contract. If you want some humor mixed in, look at Stephen Colbert's I Am America (And So Can You!) and Jon Stewart's Earth (The Book): A Visitor's Guide to the Human Race, or pick up a book of political cartoons like The New Yorker Book of Political Cartoons or American Political Cartoons, 1754-2010. For Supreme Court fans, you can't beat The Nine, The Oxford Companion to the Supreme Court of the United States, or any book written by a former justice (I am partial to O'Connor's The Majesty of the Law: Reflections of a Supreme Court Justice). For a more global perspective, consider Why Europe Will Run the 21st Century or The Post-American World. And for a general overview of American politics, choose Politics in America or The Almanac of American Politics.

Vintage Paraphernalia: If your political junkie appreciates historical items, consider giving a vintage political gift like a pin, poster, signature, or flown flag. The place to start is definitely Legacy Americana, which specializes in American historical and political memorabilia, including one of a kind and limited edition items like this Order of the Procession given to mourners at Lincoln's private funeral (one of only a few remaining copies and the only one on the market in recent times) and March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom button from the 1963 rally (just like the one worn by Martin Luther King, Jr. when he gave his "I Have a Dream" speech). Next, visit USA.gov, which links to many different agency gift shops and offers items like flags flown over the US Capitol (which are also available here, with flown state flags offered on various sites). You may also have some luck finding memorabilia on Ebay and Etsy or through a quick Internet search.

Sandra Day O'Connor Autograph (dated 12/18/1994) (photo courtesy of Amazon)

Subscription to a Political Publication: The one thing a political junkie needs to feed her addiction is political news. Don't be afraid to be an enabler - a subscription to a political journal or magazine like the Harvard Political Review or Newsweek makes a great gift. If your recipient prefers to get her fix in electronic form, go for an online source such as The New York Times or The Cook Political Report.

Games: Although political junkies are often thought to be stuffy and uptight, I can assure you that they will enjoy these games featuring a political element. For casual games to play among a gathering of friends, Loaded Questions: Political Party and Politico are great choices. For more prolonged and individual games, let your recipient run her own political campaign with computer games like President Forever and The Political Machine. President Forever lets the user run presidential and congressional campaigns, with add-ons available for state races and foreign elections too (available in UK, German, Canadian, and Australian 

versions, with a 2012 US election version expected soon). The Political Machine is similar, but with fewer candidate options and more political speech opportunities.

Intellectual Devotional: The Intellectual Devotional series provides a bite-sized dose of education on a different subject each day of the week. For the political fan, pick up the American History (book or audio) or Biographies (book only) edition. Also available in original (various topics), modern culture, and health editions.

The Intellectual Devotional: American History (photo courtesy of Amazon)

Great Speeches: Political milestones often come in the form of great speeches from political leaders, but unfortunately, most political gurus didn't get to witness these orators for themselves. Give him the next best thing with a collection of history's great speeches. You can find lots of speech collections, but the most comprehensive for recent years is the Great Speeches of the 20th Century series (CD), available in Vol. 1 (Presidential Addresses), Vol. 2 (The New Frontier), and Vol. 3 (Dreams and Realities). Also check out Great Speeches of 20th Century, Lend Me Your Ears: Great Speeches in History, The World's Great Speeches (4th Ed.), The Greatest Speeches of All-Time Box Set (DVD), and Great Speeches of our Time (book). If you want to stick with a single orator, you can find collections of speeches by Churchill, Ronald Reagan (Vol. I and Vol. II), and Lincoln, among others.

Picture or Print: Pictures and prints of political institutions or events make a great memento for political buffs. You can find plenty of great photos of Washington landmarks (both in their current and historical forms) like the White House, the US Capitol, the Supreme Court, and the monuments (online gift shops are a great place to find these kinds of prints). Pictures of historical spots like Independence Hall and the Liberty Bell also make inspirational gifts. I also love Aaron Foster's Fifty States One Union print, which features state license plates in the shape of that state (you can get an authentic version here if you have $4500 to spare) There are lots of great prints like copies of historical documents (link: US Constitution) and enlarged political cartoons, but my favorites come from the Visual History series. These prints from Timeplots give a visual history of various American political institutions, including the American Presidency, the Senate, the Supreme Court, the Democratic Party, and the Republican Party. They would look great on a wall and provide your politico with a new source of knowledge about her favorite US government branch.

A Visual History of the United States Supreme Court (photo courtesy of Amazon)

What are your favorite political gifts?

For the film buff

Tonight was the beginning of the prime time Hollywood awards season. The Golden Globes kicked things off and will be followed closely by the Screen Actors Guild Awards (January 30), BAFTAs (February 13), the Academy Awards (February 27), and several other events that allow Hollywood to get fancied up and heap praise upon itself. Awards season also means that some of the best movies of the year are playing at the theaters or newly available to purchase, so otherwise recreational movie-goers transform into hard-core see-all-the-nominees film fiends. 

But there are some people who love movies year-round, regardless of awards, popularity, genre, or critical reception. These people appreciate the art of filmmaking, bask in the thrill of the story, and know the theater employees by name. Some may aspire to be filmmakers and devote significant time to studying the history and production of films, while others may simply love watching movies. No matter the level of your recipient's love for the silver screen, here are some suggestions to help you choose the perfect gift for them:

• Their favorite movie: although your movie fan probably already owns a version of his favorite film, he may not own it in a new format (like DVD or Blu-Ray) or have the special edition/director's cut/anniversary edition/etc. A true movie lover can't get enough of the extras or the latest version of his favorite film.
• Movie player, TV, or accessories: if your recipient hasn't upgraded to the latest movie technology, she will jump at the chance to experience her favorites in a new way. Consider a Blu-Ray (or DVD, for late adopters) player, HD or 3D TV, projector, or computer-to-TV device like Apple TV.
• Netflix subscription: Netflix is an absolute must for anyone who loves movies or TV. Your recipient can watch online, through Wii or XBox, or at home (depending on the plan). You can choose to give 1, 2, 3, 6, or 12 months of 4 different plans (3 with at-home DVDs and 1 streaming only).
• Book with a movie tie-in: Many movies have books associated with them, either as their precursor or written after the fact. If a movie is at all popular, there is probably a book about it. If no book is directly on point, you could give one with a similar history or on the same topic (e.g. a WWII history or a personal account of D-Day for a Saving Private Ryan lover).
• Movie poster: there is something about movie posters that brings home the theater experience. Choose an original if you can find it; otherwise go with a reprint or even a foreign language print. Bonus points if you find a limited edition or one autographed by someone associated with the movie.
• Gift certificate/card: a voucher for a local theater or an online ticket site like Fandango will allow your movie buff to continue her love affair with the newest additions to the silver screen. You could also give a movie rental (like Blockbuster) or an iTunes gift card (to buy or rent movies or TV shows).
• Movie food: although this isn't an actual food category, anyone who has been to the movies knows what I mean. Buttery popcorn, sugary candy, and huge soft drinks are just a few of the things that make the movie viewing process complete. Throw in some special seasonings and a theater-like movie tub for the popcorn, and you will add the finishing touch to your recipient's next viewing experience.
• Movie-themed games: see how much he really knows with a trivia game about his favorite movie (or movies in general). You could also choose a movie edition of another game, such as Lord of the Rings Trivial Pursuit DVD Game: Trilogy Edition or Scene It? Deluxe Movie 2nd Edition.
• IMDb Pro subscription: IMDb (Internet Movie Database) is the go-to website for movies. For $15.95 per month, an IMDb Pro membership allows access to in-depth actor information, film production details, and show business contacts. This is the closest your film buff will get to being a Hollywood insider without actually breaking into the business.
• Movie cataloguing software: most movie lovers have lots of titles in their collection, and this software makes cataloguing them a breeze. Packages start at $29.95 from Collectorz.
• Gift basket: combine some of the items above into a gift basket, like a movie or a rental gift card with popcorn and a box of candy, for a perfect night of silver screen fun.

If you are looking to spend a little more time and/or money, here are some unforgettable presents that will make you a gift-giving legend:

• Movie premiere or screening: if you are well-connected and can pull this off, arrange for your recipient to attend a movie premiere or early screening. Regardless of the movie he sees, it will be an experience of a lifetime.
• Acting role or visit to a movie set: again, you'll need to have some strings to pull (or just have very powerful friends, who I would like to meet), but arranging for an acting role, even as an extra, or a visit to the set of a movie currently in production is a truly unique experience. If you are able to make this happen, be sure to follow up by giving a copy of the film as soon as it is released.
• Movie prop or replica: look for a memorable item featured in your recipient's favorite movie - the more iconic, the better. If you can't find an authentic item, consider a replica or a similar item, like this villain chair from Suck UK that looks like a prop from a vintage Bond film or a Hamburger Telephone from Juno.
• Film experience: recreate a special scene from her favorite movie, or take her on a trip that follows the movie's plot. My favorite example of this is an anniversary gift for a wife who's favorite movie was The Notebook. Her husband took her to Charleston, SC, where the movie was filmed, and they retraced the characters' steps and recreated their experiences. Or, instead of visiting the film's location, journey to the actual setting of a historical story (like the Scottish Highlands for a fan of Braveheart). If you can't afford to take a trip just for this purpose, you could try to work it into a future vacation or recreate a portion of it closer to home.

What are your favorite movies and movie items?