Helping you un-stump your brain and find the perfect gift
Archive for May, 2008
Cool, Funky Plastic Rings
May 20th
I came a cross this cool funky plastic ring site called The Carrotbox. Here is what they say about themselves:
"The Carrtobox is a site dedicated to all those wonderful rings made of glass, lucite, resin, plastic, jade, wood, bakelite and even stone — anything, as long as it's not metal!"
Here is a collage of images that I put together from the site to give you a flavor of what kind of funky rings are available:
 |
Rings are listed on the site between $5 and $27.
However, note that it appears as if specific ring styles can sell out when they are popular. Not to worry though, there are new rings/styles added frequently (see new rings added every other Monday), and there appears to always be a large selection of funky plastic rings!
Check out The Carrotbox's blog as well for more information about how the rings are made, and a showcase of some of the more funky ring creations!
Related GiftStumped Posts:
Related Ring Ideas:
Obligatory Father’s Day Gift Post
May 19th
Why “obligatory”?
Well, every gift blog out there will be writing about Father’s Day at some point. So, in some sense it feels like this post is more of a “follower” post than a unique, “leader” post (and I’d like to think that most of our gift ideas are unique enough that they fall into the “leader” category).
I also decided not to simply regurgitate the list we have on this page of Father’s Day gift ideas. (I will link to this post from that page though).
So, here are some gift ideas for Dad that should help get your gift brain going:
| Image | Gift Idea | Price | Company |
 |
Shaving Cream Heater |
$29.95 | Hammacher Schlemmer |
 |
5 Device Recharging Station |
$49.95 | Hammacher Schlemmer |
 |
Remote Controlled Beverage Buggy | $49.95 | Hammacher Schlemmer |
 |
Visiball Golf Ball Finder Glasses | $39.95 | Sharper Image |
 |
False Teeth Ice Cube Tray |
$5.95 | Amazon.com |
 |
Outdoor Terrain Shoes |
$70 | Vibram |
 |
Wooden USB Sticks |
$129 | Dynamism |
 |
Who’s Your Daddy Sticker | $2.49 | StickerGiant.com |
 |
Best Dad Express Train |
$79.95 | GiftTree.com |
 |
Wildlife Digital Motion Detection Camera |
$69.95 & 99.95 | National Geographic Online Store |
Or, you could go with one of the old standbys – alcohol gifts!
Here’s to happy Father’s Day gift hunting!
Related:
Gift Baskets for Graduates
May 19th
With the graduation season upon us we thought we would create a list of gift ideas for the high school and college graduate. But as you know we don’t just give you regular old ideas here at GiftStumped – we give you unique gift ideas.
We have put together some ideas for creating gift baskets your graduate will not only like but actually use.
For the High School Graduate
Going into college you think you need a ton of stuff. I had everything under the sun my freshman year but by the time I was a senior, I took about about half of that with me. Here are a few gift basket ideas featuring the things your high school grad REALLY needs:
 |
Laundry Basket – One word…Quarters. Doing laundry while in college can be a huge pain in the rear. I remember searching for quarters in our couch cushions and having to use my roommate’s detergent cause I was too lazy to go to the store. No fun.
To create: Buy a laundry basket and fill it with the things you know your grad will need – detergent, dryer sheets, hangers and of course quarters. You may also want to throw in there towels, flip-flops (for the shower) and some bath goods. |
 |
Keep-in-Touch Basket – While traditional letter writing has gone the way of the 8 track it is still nice to send mail every once in a while and your grad may appreciate it.
To create: Buy a file folder/organizer and it fill it with stationery, envelopes and stamps. You could also add cards for different occasions (birthdays, just for fun, Christmas, etc). A great personal touch would be getting a matching address book and writing in the addresses and email addresses of loved ones and friends. |
|
|
Medicine Basket/Kit – Perhaps some of the most underrated products we as kids take for granted when living at our parents houses are the medicines we use. Need a BandAid? Which size? Cold medicine? Day or night? A medicine kit is a GREAT gift that will definitely be used.
To create: Buy a small plastic container (Artbin’s work great) and fill it with the things your grad will need – Advil, Tylenol, Band Aids, Tums, Pepto Bismol, Cold & Flu, cough syrup, etc. Add a gift card to Target or some cash for an additional treat. |
 |
Gift Certificate Basket – Yes, gift certificates aren’t typically unique…but they can be. Create a small basket featuring gift certificates to places like the college bookstore, fast food restaurants and the local grocery store. Fast food was a 2-3x week staple for me and not having to pay made it even better.
To create: Get a small basket and fill it with a few gift cards to places you know your grad will go. Buy some candy and snacks to fill the basket. |
For the College Graduate
When you graduate and move into your own apartment you realize a few things…Those three plastic plates you used for four years don’t really seem as great as they once did, the one pot you have isn’t conducive to cooking an actual meal and having a matching set of towels for the bathroom is kind of nice. Here are a few gift basket ideas to help the college grad get started in their new life:
 |
Kitchen Basket – A kitchen basket has endless possibilities. Have you ever walked into Williams-Sonoma? That place is amazing! The kitchen section at Ikea? Plates galore! Get your grad a few things you know they will need – plates, glasses, silverware, dish towels, a couple of pots and pans, tupperware, etc.
To create: Buy a laundry basket or something that you know they can use and fill it with some kitchen goods. A great finisher would be a gift card to the local grocery store. |
 |
Food & Drink Basket – Want to know one of the best gifts I have ever receieved? A cooler. A simple cooler that I can take with me camping, to concerts or anywhere else. They are cheap and one of those gifts you don’t realize how much you will use.
To create: Buy a cooler from Lowe’s or Wal-Mart and fill it with some food and beverages your grad likes. There are also these personalized party tub coolers that might be a nice touch. |
 |
Cleaning Basket- I didn’t know just how much went into cleaning a small apartment. Don’t get me wrong, I had cleaning chores as a kid but like the medicine, everything I needed was just there. Windex, Pledge, Scrubbing Bubbles, Mr. Clean, the list goes on and on.
To create: Get a plastic bin and fill it with cleaning products for your grad. Sponges, dust clothes and paper towels are also a nice addition. If you are feeling crazy consider a Swiffer or vacuum as well. |
Well, those are my gift ideas for high school and college graduates and I hope you find them useful. Of course you could always be unoriginal and just give them money…
Update: I came across a couple of other sites with some nice ideas so I thought I would include them.
Related:
Stuffed Pretzels? Sounds Like a Delicious Gift Idea
May 12th
I was watching ‘Road Tasted‘ on the Food Network yesterday and the guys went and visited Kim and Scott of Kim & Scott’s Gourmet Pretzels.
Soft pretzels are one of my all time favorite stadium foods but Kim & Scott’s are nothing like the ones you get at a game. These gourmet soft pretzels come in a number of varieties and amazing combinations…each stuffed with a unique filling.
About the Pretzels
Each stuffed pretzels is hand-made and then filled with a particular ‘stuffing’ to fit the flavor of the dough. The pretzel is sealed and rolled into it’s common form. Flavors include Pizza, Mixed Berry Cream Cheese, Chocolate Crumb and Cheddar Jalapeño to name a few (the chocolate crumb is drizzled with chocolate and topped with chocolate crumbs…oh man).
Kim & Scott’s is located in Chicago. So if you live up there take a trip to the Twisting Cafe where you can get one of their pretzels or even a pretzel sandwich (or Pretziola as they say). If you aren’t in Chicago you can order them online and have them shipped. They have samplers available or you can customize your own.
Either way these pretzels will make a great gift for adults or kids who love to try new things. The prices aren’t too expensive and once you take a look at these pretzels you will definitely want one. Heck, I want one right now!
15 Bottles of Alcohol That Might Make a Great Gift
May 8th
Alcohol is one of those gifts that can be given at any time. Housewarming party? A bottle of wine will be fantastic! Birthday? I love Ketel One! First communion? Ok, ok maybe that’s pushing it.
The bottom line is alcohol can make a great gift…but why not make it something that people will remember? We have gathered 15 of the coolest and most unique types of spirits we could find on this vast interweb. Have a look!
Whiskey/Scotch
 |
Hankey Bannister Blended Scotch Whiskey – Mainly I think the name is funny but apparently this is actually pretty good. Hankey Bannister whiskey is made in the UK (dates back to 1757) and they offer four types (blend, 12yr, 21yr and 40yr). I am not positive where you can get this in the states but you can order it online and have it shipped. Price: ~ $25 (not including shipping) |
 |
Glenfarclas 50 Year – I am certainly not a whiskey or scotch expert but this one is pretty cool and sounds like it’s good. This 50 yr was made to celebrate the Bicentenary of the birth of the first John Grant. The cask was hand-selected and only 110 bottles were made making this a rare bottle. One of the few places you can buy this online is at WineGlobe.com (Glenfarclas Single Malt, 50 Years). Price: $4,000+ (varies based on seller) |
 |
Loch Dhu Black Whiskey – From what I have read it’s really bad. But it is black whiskey which I have never seen before, making it unique. Some quotes from the internet include, “It tastes like cigar ashes mixed with vodka and moldy blackberry jam” and “my guests were mostly disgusted by Loch Dhu“. But who knows, maybe its not as bad as these people say. Plus I don’t believe the 10yr is being made anymore. Price: ~ $45-$60 |
Vodka
 |
- This Russian-style handcrafted vodka is made in Oregon by Indio Spirits owner John Ufford. They say it is sweet, clean and crisp and great in Bloody Mary’s or Martinis. I like the feeling of too much wasabi on a bite of sushi but I’m not too sure I would want to drink it. Price: ~ $26-$30. |
 |
Kauffman Luxury Vintage Vodka – This ‘ultra-premium’ vodka is so limited in production that you have to be put on a waiting list to buy it. They use only natural ingredients and the vodka is distilled 14 times! I personally like the glass bottle it comes in. It’s made by the Saint Gobaine facility in France and designed to be the same quality as perfume glass. Price: If you are lucky to get a bottle it will cost you $199.99. |
 |
Blavod: The Black Vodka – It’s vodka and it’s black. Perfect for…well I’m not sure what it’s perfect for (Halloween martinis or 30th birthday parties maybe) but I’ve never seen black vodka before. Blavod is made in the UK by Hayman’s Ltd and actually received pretty decent reviews. Price: ~ $29 |
 |
Matrioshka Cranberry Vodka – Anyone with a fondness for, or connection with, Russia would love this gift! Matrioshka-Cranberry contains natural extract made of fresh cranberries. Light berry aromas. A soft , delicate entry leads to a silky dryish light-to medium-bodied palate with mild fruity berry and mineral notes and a touch of cranberry tartness. Price: ~ $30 |
Rum
 |
Khurki Rum – Khurki is made in Nepal and comes in this awesome bottle (apparently a Khurki is a small knife). It is a medium-dark rum and according to the reviews is delicious mixed with Diet Coke. What makes it unique to me is a) I’ve never heard of it b) it’s made in Nepal (do they make liquor) and c) it comes in this great bottle. If you are a serious rum drinker check out the review on Scottes’ Rum. Price: ~ $19-$25 |
 |
Old New Orleans Rum – Old New Orleans Rum is an ‘artisan rum’ produced at Celebration Distillation, the oldest premium rum distillery in the United States. They have several different kinds of rum (Crystal, Amber, Cajun spice) and each is made from only Louisiana sugar cane.The coolest part is that each bottle has an image inside its back label featuring a building or scene from New Orleans. Price: ~ $25 |
 |
Pritchard’s Cranberry Rum – Cranberry rum doesn’t necessarily sound delicious to me but it does sound interesting. Pritchard’s is made with Ocean Spray Cranberry Juice and is suprisingly still 70 proof. Made in Tennessee and bottled beautifully, it would definitely catch my eye on the shelf. They say its great over ice and that ‘cranberries love limes’. Price: ~ $28 |
Tequila
 |
Clase Azul Reposado Tequila – The bottle itself (Talavera carafe) is pretty cool but this tequila is supposedly one of the top rated tequilas around. It is made in the Jesus Maria region of Arandas, Jalisco, MX and aged for a minimum of eight months. It has some great reviews but isn’t cheap. This is something you should give only to a true tequila lover. Price: ~ $80 |
 |
VooDoo Tiki Blue Dragon Tequila – Blue Kiwi infused tequila is said to make a great Blue Martini, shot or mixed with sprite and a lime. Personally I don’t see how kiwi and tequila go together but maybe it’s like peanut butter and jelly. It is made by the Agroindustria Guadalajara distillery in Mexico but has headquarters in Boca Raton. Price: ~ $35 |
 |
Ley .925 Ultra Premium Anejo Tequila – Their claim to fame is the “World’s Most Expensive Bottle”. With prices ranging from $25k-$225k for one bottle of tequila, this is definitely a high-end gift. The tequila itself is considered ultra-premium, made from 100% blue agave and aged six years. Price: Very expensive |
Gin
 |
Desert Juniper Gin – Desert Juniper Gin is produced in Oregon by the Bendistillery, better known for its Cascade Mountin Gin. The Desert Juniper is mirco-distilled from grains and juniper berries and filtered through lava rocks. It is said to be good as a martini or even a gin and tonic. Read the review on Spirits Review. Price: ~ $29 |
 |
BullDog Gin – This is a London Dry gin made with poppy, lotus leaves and dragon eye. I don’t know what dragon eye is but I’m guessing its a plant, not an actual dragon eye. The Bachelor Guy gives a great review including several recipes to use with it. I like that the bottle has a little spiked collar. This would be a great gift for that tough guy in your life. Price: ~ $30 |
 |
Old Raj Gin – What makes this gin unique is that it contains saffron, a very expensive and rare spice not traditionally used in gin production. Old Raj is distilled in Scotland by William Cadenhead Ltd. and due to the saffron has a pale yellow color. It is considered premium gin and is not found in a ton of places. Price: ~ $65 |
Hope you found these ideas for alcohol gifts helpful in your quest to help those you live imbibe the good life!
Well those are some of the most unique brands of alcohol I have found and hopefully they will make a great gift for someone. If you have any others that you know of feel free to comment and let me know. Like I said, MsGift likes alcohol…but for the record she does not condone underage drinking!
|
Check out GiftStumped’s: |
Please visit the rest of GiftStumped.com for more unique gift ideas!
Related:
