June 2008, Issue 8

Present Perfect

'Tis the season... of weddings, barbeques, and graduation parties. Review your summer schedule, and I'm sure multiple festivities fill your calendar months ahead. But don't fret about what to get! Welcome to gift-giving 101, and learn some quick and easy ways to ensure that your presents will be personal, practical, and punctual.

This month, gift organized.

1. Buy now, send later. At the beginning of every month, I glance through my calendar for upcoming birthdays, anniversaries and other celebrations. Then, I trek to my favorite card shop, and buy all of the cards in one fell swoop, avoiding any last minute trips, and in turn, belated good wishes. Check out "love it" for a great tool to help you organize them.
2. Set alarms. Whether in your planner, or on your computer, set alarms for buying gifts and sending cards to guarantee that they will arrive on time. I usually send cards five days in advance, and start brainstorming for gifts two weeks before (I like to leave 5-9 business days for delivery time).
3. Material-ize. Take the guesswork out of the prep work. Gather tape, scissors, and related accessories to create a zone for gift wrapping. If you would rather not cut and tape, see if the store will wrap the item for you instead.
4. Take it online. Check out some websites jam packed with great gift ideas for all occasions. Some of my favorites: perpetualkid.com, wrapables.com, redenvelope.com, and the all inclusive gift.com.
5. Shop selectively. When investing your money, invest wisely. Leave soaps and lotions on the shelves (unless your friend is a genuine soap lover), and choose something a bit more personal for the birthday girl or boy. Sports fan? Consider tickets to a major league game. Spa queen? Think about a ten minute massage with a manicure or pedicure. Still out of ideas? Wine, flowers or a gift certificate to their favorite store is always a safe bet.
   
   Wishing you a month of dancing in the moonlight - gifts in hand,
   
   
   
   Jordana
   Founder, live ORGANIZED
   
   love it:
   Greeting Card Organizer Book (organize.com, $24.99)
   
   

Collect and keep up to 240 cards in this ultimate correspondence organizer, where you can divide your Hallmarks by category, whether holiday, recipient or month. This storage solution also includes a calendar of major holidays, space to track important dates, and six double pocket folders for card collection.