My new favourite find is e.t. - erin tyner

Everyone now knows that I love ETSY. I now go there first when looking for any gift. I love personalized items, so on a whim I typed my name - "erin" and found the most wonderful photographs by a talented artist named erin tyner (yes- we have the same initials too) that I just had to have. erin's etsy site features her Half Awake series, an ongoing series featuring miniature figures that she prints in two sizes 6"x6" or 8"x8".

What the gift geek thinks you need to know:
Photos come unframed.
Safely package and quick delivery
Great communication with seller
6"x6" - $20 each (printed on 8”x10” matte archival paper
8"x8" - $32 (printed on 8.5”x11” matte archival paper)
Shipping t0 Canada - $5USD
Oh- and you won't be disappointed

I purchased these three:


I plan on framing them similar to how Erin displays them on her site:

There are a variety of minatures photos. I have raved about these photos to my colleagues and friends and everyone agrees that they are just fabulous. One colleague is thinking about purchasing a few for her daughter's bedroom. How fabulous would that look?!

Kudos to erin for her talent and for putting a smile on my face every time I look at the photos. I think I am going to hang the photos above my bed.

If you place an order - make sure you tell erin that the "gift geek" sent you. Don't you think erin would do well at the Toronto One of a Kind Show? I know her photos would make me stop and look!

Keep your gifts unique-
The gift geek

My friend made my day ...

Need a thoughtful and quick gift to send to your friends, check out EAT MY WORDS. After a couple of tough weeks at work, my dear friend Amy sent me a hat box of delicious Lola mini cup cakes from Eat my Words. The pretty flowers on the top makes them look far too good to eat - but my colleagues and I shared.


Their delightfully decorative, and divinely delicious edibles help to raise money and awareness for the Stephen Lewis Foundation, whose tireless efforts on behalf of those in such dire situations warrants all the help we can give.

These cupcakes are a great alternative to flowers and the presentation receives an A++. Thanks to Amy for brightening my day! A couple days later I actually sent a box of these cup cakes to my friend Malia and her husband Vic as a house warming gift. They too enjoyed these cup cakes.

Here is a photo of the box of cup cakes I received. Aren't they fabulous?



Check out Eat My Words for some of their other delicious treats.

Note:

Every mouthful is made with only the finest ingredients. NO preservatives, emulsifiers, lard, or margarine.
Although none of our cakes, cookies or brownies are made with nuts - please be aware that we are not a designated nut free bakery.
Eat My Words treat boxes can be delivered anywhere in the GTA. MonkeyBiz items can be shipped anywhere.

Happy gift giving -
The Gift Geek

Stay warm this winter with this cute neck warmer

First - my apologies for the delay in posting. Like many, this is my busy time at work (my day job), so blogging has had to take a back-seat.

Now to my latest find - KNITS by Caitlin.

I ordered my winter neck warmer from Caitlin after seeing the one she made for my sister. I fell in love with it. I mean, I love scarfs, but Caitlin's neck warmers are even better. They pair practicality with a stylish flare. Think a new take on the "dicky" of the 80's.

Caitlin's presentation is unique and importantly environmentally friendly.


I wanted one of these for my walks to work. The size and shape allows me to pull the neck warmer up over my face and ears on those bitterly cold days.


Once the weather gets a bit colder, I'll update this post with a picture of me wearing it, as these photos don't do this product justice.

If you are interested in purchasing a neck warmer, leave me a comment and I will connect you with KNITS by Caitlin.

Yours in gift giving-
The Gift Geek

The perfect hostess gift?

Today I was posed the question, what is the perfect hostess gift? I think it really depends on the host and their likes and dislikes, but here are a few of my favourites:


1) Attending a summer garden party? Consider this unique gift. Buy three different magazines- magazines that will interest your host or hostess. Buy a basket or container to display each of the magazines. Add some tissue paper and a note card offering a subscription to one of magazines you gifted. Voila! A perfect yet practical gift, that will keep on giving all year.

2) Who doesn't love organic soaps? Check out Homesense for the greatest collection of delicious organic soaps that will make your senses dance and your hostess smile.

3) It isn't the delicious scents that make me love the fragrance lamps by Lampe Berger of Paris, it is their classic bottle designs. They look similar to elegant perfume bottle. Lampe Berger makes it possible to improve air quality and to fragrance it. What hostess wouldn't want one?



4) After falling in love with Paris, I found the nicest kitchen towels with the Eiffel Tower embroidered on them. I also bought a set for my good friend and wrapped them nicely with a ribbon. Although they were only towels, they look classic in my friend's kitchen and she loved them.

5) Stationery - I am obsessed! At my last Friday sushi and wine night with Tara & Amy I brought each of them a box of Kate Spade "circus tent" design stationery. I bought it thinking that the stylish Kate Spade box would look beautiful on their desks. This gift got a lot of smiles.

Be creative, be fun ... make your gift the perfect one!
The Gift Geek
http://thankyouiloveit.blogspot.com/

Thank You to all of my blog visitors!

I have been blogging as part of Thank You! I Love It! for the past month or so. I want to thank everyone for reading and for your comments. You are all blowing me away with your unique gifting ideas. I am learning a lot along the way.

Thank you as well to everyone who has told everyone about the Gift Geek, including the Menu Maniac (check out the small gift I sent her - she blogged about it) and Blanket Statements. I have said it several times on my blog. I love Admiral Road blankets and their blog "Blanket Statements" is fantastic!

I hope you are all enjoying the blog. If you find a unique gift, please tell me about it.

Keep the gifts unique -
The Gift Geek

To wrap or to bag?

I am not big on wrapping gifts. Maybe because I am not good at it. I typically resort to bags (usually cute reusable shopping bags) and tissue paper, but recently I bought The Ultimate Gift Wrap Collection for under $12. The kit comes with 10 complete - 7 piece Coordinating gift wrap set comes in a great reusable box and includes.

Each gift wrap set includes:
-gift wrap (2 sheets - 20 x28 inches)
-tissue paper (2 sheets - 20 x 28 inches)
-satin ribbon (6 1/2 feet
-gift tag
-handcrafted greeting card.

The box the wrapping paper came in (magnetic closure)

An example of one of the 10 wrapping sets

The back of the box shows all 10 wrapping paper sets

This product is available through Readon Products, an Ontario based company. Some of the cards aren't as nice as others, but the wrapping paper and colour combinations are great!

I am making an effort to wrap more gifts, especially when I can find a wrapping paper deal like this, but for the most part I prefer reusable paper gift bags or reusable shopping bags - there are so many cute ones out there.


No matter how you wrap it, remember to think about the environment!
The Gift Geek

I want June Cleaver's wardrobe!

Some may think I am strange for this stationery purchase, but it is one of my favourite finds.

Remember when Ward and June Cleaver would get dressed up for a night on the town? I always loved June's outfits. I think this is why I purchased this last set of cards.

Vintage Delight Note card Set
20 Cards in five designs with coloured envelopes
Made by: Post Mark
Distributed by Masterpiece studios
Purchase Price: $7.99



With funny phrases like "I'll admit it ... I'm really tight with my fridge" and "I'm the one who put the kitsch in kitchen" these vintage greeting cards make me smile.

When is the last time you mailed a card for no reason?
The Gift Geek