Gift Ideas for Distant Friends and Family

Sometimes our family and friends just don’t live very close. It makes gift giving even harder. You don’t always talk to them as often or see them as often as friends and family who live nearby. It doesn’t mean you can just forget about them come the holiday season though!

Here’s some gift ideas for those you love, but live far away.

1. Have a fruit basket delivered.

Seriously ~ you wouldn’t believe the kinds of fruit baskets they have now. You can choose one that is premade or you can create one from scratch choosing the fruits they love. Don’t forget to add in some yummy extras like chocolate or cheese ~ both of which are fantastic with fruit!

2. Send a gift card.

If you know what they like you can really make this special. Don’t go for the old walmart or target gift card, but make it special for something they like. Just about any store that is online, you can get a gift card for. If they love to garden, grab a gift card from somewhere like gardner’s supply, or if they like to cook from a great cooking shop. This lets them know you care, and are thinking of them.

3. Send a restaurant gift card.

Just about every restaurant now has gift cards. I love getting gift cards for dinner. We are trying to stay on a budget, so it’s a wonderful splurge without feeling guilty.

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Bron Mandolin Slicer ~ Perfect Gift for the Cook!

bron original stainless steel mandolin slicer

If you’ve got a cook on your list you’re in for a treat! The Bron Original Stainless Steel mandolin slicer is the perfect gift for someone who loves to cook. It’s easy to use, makes quick work of slicing (which can be really time consuming!) It has different blades that can work together giving your cook over 100 different cuts from this one little tool.

Get your Bron Mandolin Slicer Here Now!

Not sure if it’s right for your cook? Don’t take my word for it, here’s what other’s have to say:

I have used many different slicers (V-type, diagonal) and this stainless steel Bron which I also own is my favorite by far. The Borner V slicer I own does not have legs and is thus unstable, it is okay for quick non-uniform shredding and slicing. This model has it’s own legs so your two hands can focus on the cutting. If you simply pay attention to where the blades are (put the cell phone down), you shouldn’t cut yourself. It has a sliding guard for the food to rest in which attaches to the mandoline (which in the picture of the item is shown attached upside-down) and I believe to be safer than the free floating guards of the others. One plus of the steel construction is absolutely true uniform slices which are produced, which has not been experienced with plastic slicers. If you have the money, it is a great investment that should last you your lifetime.

Here’s a great video showing you exactly what this mandolin can do!

Here’s another review:

Great product. Everything it says it is. Even though some say the instructions are hard to understand, I didn’t feel that way. Very sharp blades, so you do need to be very careful and use the guard. But the reason I bought it was I wanted sharp blades.

and one more!

I’m a grumpy grandpa who generally avoids food preparation, but I didn’t want my wife using something sharp without my checking it out first. Now I have her trained to let me “play the mandoline.” It’s kinda fun and slices squash, carrots, potatoes and the like just great. Not for tomatoes or fruit. You know…the soft things.

The slice thickness is adjusted by moving a lever (one for each blade)positioned underneath. Adjustment is quite stiff requiring some finger strength, but once placed they stay put during the most vigorous slicing.

I like the stainless steel construction. Just a quick rinse and drip dry.

You wouldn’t use this to slice up one carrot, but if you’re going to make a pot of soup you can whip up piles of perfectly sliced veggies in just a few minutes.

==> Grab YOUR Bron Mandolin Today! <==

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Back Porch Composter

Looking for a great gift for the gardener in your life? I got a back porch compost tumbler a couple years ago from my mom. It’s one of my favorite gifts and I use it all the time!

There is nothing better for a gardener than to be able to make their own compost. It makes their plants grow, flower and fruit so much better than anything you can get at the store.

Take a look at mine!

Think you might have found the perfect gift? Grab your compost tumbler here!

Don’t take my word for it! Here’s what others are saying.

This is my first compost tumbler purchase and so far it is working very well. I used to have a “bin” of sorts in the far corner of our yard but having to turn it with a pitchfork regularly and putting up with the critter raids in the night got to be too much of a hassle. Not only does this model not take up much space in the yard but you get a good upper body workout turning it everyday. I have only had mine for a couple of weeks and I am already starting to see results. Unlike the reviewer who put shrimp and fish heads in it, I read ALL the instructions including the section titled, “What NOT to put in your composter”. I also did some reading on the subject, a great book called, “Let it Rot!” It is very simple to understand and learn how the ‘chemistry’ of composting really works. This saved me alot of time and disappointing mistakes before getting it right. My first load consists mostly of garden waste, ie: dead annual flowers and green foliage including chunks of soil caked around the roots of the plants. The rest is kitchen scraps consisting of crushed egg shells, carrots (cut up in small chunks), potato peels, etc. Also, don’t put any corncobs or corn husks into it, it takes forever for these to break down. I also purchased a small bag of compost starter just in case I needed it but I have yet to use it. On the bag instructions it tells you to add small amounts of top soil between the layers of waste. With all of the plants I’ve added with the soil still attached, I had a pretty good amount in there right off the bat. My first load was pretty full, I could barely turn it the first couple of days but now two weeks later I can see things breaking down already. The level has settled down several inches and it smells like freshly tilled soil. I can’t wait to spread it around all of my new young trees in the yard! This is a great product, you just have to do a little research ahead of time to save yourself from disappointment and wasted time and energy, which is true of any style of composter. Too many people buy products expecting instant results with little to no effort on their part. Do some homework. I also love the fact that it is made entirely of recycled plastic! I have mine sitting in a sunny spot in the yard so it heated up pretty quick. I would reccommend this product to anyone serious about reducing their output of waste into landfills and helping to save our planet. The benefits are great!

how about another?

I received this composter as a Father’s Day gift in 08. Put it together and filled it up with leaves, grass clippings, branch clippings, and kitchen scraps. I let it cook for about 4 months, rotating every couple of days. The compost looked great. I tilled it in the soil of my wife’s new flower beds. I had it located under my deck during the first batch. I moved it out to were it receives full sun now and it cooks the batches much faster.

and one more for good measure!

We bought this several weeks ago. My husband set it up very easily. It is already starting to make compost. No bad smells and pretty easy to turn. Waiting to see what its like to remove compost from composter. The slot is not big enough to get a shovel into, but a spade will work fine. I would say this product is good for the average-size family garden, using your everyday kitchen scraps.

It really is a great gift for the gardener in your life, believe me they’ll be thanking you for years to come.

Grab your tumbling composter here!

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John Deere Ride On Toys

For Hanna’s birthday this year she got a John Deere ride on Gator. She absolutely loves it. I was a little nervous about her having a ride on toy, but she really loves it and has gotten a lot of enjoyment out of it.

Overall I’m really pleased with the ride on gator, but there are a couple issues I have with it, although relatively minor.

You can read my complete John Deere ride on Gator review here.

You can see more pictures and the whole story of her getting the gator as well. If you’re thinking about a ride on toy I would definitely say go for it now that we actually have one.

There are so many choices when it comes to ride on toys ~ I particularly like this little ride on gator because it’s John Deere (of course). We live in a farming community so it just made sense.

I also like that it has a working dump bed so she can help me haul weeds and help out with yard work.

You can get a great deal on this Gator at Amazon.com

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Glamour Dollhouse with Lights

If you are looking for a super gift for the young lady in your life the Glamour dollhouse with Lights is a great idea. This dollhouse is huge! It has 4 stories of rooms for your little one to play in. It comes with 21 pieces of furniture and some of them have lights and make lifelike sounds.

This big dollhouse will be a hit for any little girl who loves to play make believe, whether its’ with her dolls or her horses. Take a look at this video and you will see just how much fun this dollhouse is going to be!

It looks like little girls are falling in love with the Glamour dollhouse with lights and sounds. Just look at some of the reviews from Amazon.

This is a wonderful dollhouse – it is very big, has lots of space and is incredibly vibrant. It is scaled for barbie dolls, but my daughter has mostly used it for her Fisher Price Loving Family dolls and furniture because it has so much room to spread everything out! Groovy Girls also fit. Make sure you measure the intended space before you order because the size might startle you. It was a breeze to put together and I can see it lasting for quite a while.

This dollhouse was a hit for Christmas. My daughter, who’s 8, loved seeing a huge package under the tree and wondered all the way up until Christmas what it was. She had a ball putting it together with my husband which seemed quite simple. She loves the playing piano and light fixtures that really light up. It’s huge! It’s taller than her. The colors are vibrant and funky. She absolutely loves it to play with her Bratz, Webkinz, and My Little Pet Shop animals. All in all it’s created another opportunity for her to use her imagination without being on the computer or playing video games. As a parent I love that!

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Logitech Harmony One Advanced Universal Remote

Black Friday Deal Days at Amazon.com ~ Get the best price ANYWHERE. Amazon.com will beat any price at any store. Don’t wait in line to get your Logitech Harmony One Advanced Universal Remote. Finally ~ get rid of the 10 remotes you have laying around for all your electronics ~ put it all in one with this fantastic universal remote.

Ergonomic Design Makes it Easy to Use:

The color touch screen and sculpted buttons, organized into logical zones with backlighting, give you easy, one-touch access to your home entertainment – even in the dark. Just one press and you’re watching a DVD or your favorite TV channel. The ergonomic design fits comfortably in your hand, and because it’s rechargeable, you won’t need to worry about buying new batteries. With support for more than 5,000 brands, you can control home-entertainment devices that you own today or will buy tomorrow. Our online software guides you through setup, and our live customer support team is available if you need help.

One Touch Access Makes Finding What you Want Easy:

One-touch, activity-based control provides any member of the family with easy access to home entertainment. The color touch screen has buttons that “think” like you do. All you need to do is choose the activity that you want. Want to watch TV? Play a DVD? Listen to the radio? Just press a single button, and the Harmony remote will do the work for you.

Finally You can Find the Right Buttons in the Dark:

The sculpted buttons on the Harmony One remote have been organized into logical zones, making it easy to find the function that you’re looking for. And because the buttons (and the color touch screen) also have backlighting, the remote is easy to use even in the dark.

If you’re ready to make entertainment easy then you’re ready to grab a Logitech Harmony One Advanced Universal Remote! Get one at Amazon.com today and SAVE $100 and KNOW you’re getting the best price possible.

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Zevro VS2-S-1703 Vac ‘n Save Ruby Rectangular-Shaped Vacuum-Sealing Food-Storage Containers, Set of 8

If you’re looking for a way to help someone get organized in their kitchen ~ or just hoping to take home some Christmas day leftovers the Zevro VS2-S-1703 Vac ‘n Save Ruby Rectangular-Shaped Vacuum-Sealing Food-Storage Containers, Set of 8 is a great Christmas gift ideas.

Storage is always lacking at our house, and while the new cheap ziploc plastic dishes are great they are so cheap that they are disposable in our minds. This means if something gets left in the fridge too long we just throw the whole thing out instead of trying to deal with it. This ends up costing a lot more money in the long run.

A good set of storage containers would make all the difference in that mind set.

This set is not only storage, but vacuum packed storage. It comes with its own vacuum sealer. You just pop to sealer on and suck out the excess air. The gaskets create an air proof seal, making it easy to store leftovers and keep them as fresh as they were when you cooked them.

Storing your storage containers can be a big problem, however, these easily nest together making them very easy to store, and they take up very little space.

If you’re looking for a great gift for a cook, or someone who’s hard to buy for but likes to be organized this is the perfect gift option.

This item has FREE SHIPPING when you buy from Amazon.com

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Grey’s Anatomy: The Complete Fifth Season DVD

If you have a Grey’s Anatomy fan on your Christmas list this year, what could be better than Grey’s Anatomy: The complete fifth season dvd. Ellen Pompeo stars as Merideth Grey in this series about steamy doctors and their patients.

Season 5 is a pivotal one for the riveting Grey’s Anatomy. The doctors on staff at Seattle Grace Hospital bloom and show new layers, the drama meets and exceeds that of previous seasons, and the show marks an important milestone–its 100th episode–with developments that, as with all the great Grey’s episodes, brim with belly laughs and moving tears.

The season gets off to a slow start, with perhaps a bit more relationship angst than even diehard fans would prefer. Meredith (Ellen Pompeo) and Derek “McDreamy” (Patrick Dempsey) start out with the familiar push-pull of their love affair–but a resolution, at last, is in their future. Callie (the excellent, and newly glamorous, Sara Ramirez) wrestles with her sexual orientation. Cristina (Sandra Oh, never better) is still picking up the pieces from her ruined engagement to the departed Burke (Isaiah Washington). To help her, or maybe to throw her for another loop, the series introduces the gruff, macho military doc, Owen (one of TV’s sexiest hunks, Kevin McKidd).

Yet series creator and still active writer Shonda Rhimes unveils story arcs about midway through the season which have the surgeons’ operating room dramas intersecting with the characters’ private lives–with waves of heartbreaking results. Fans may take issue with “Dead Denny” (Jeffrey Dean Morgan) and his endless visitations–complete with sex–with Izzie (Katherine Heigl)–but as the season builds, Izzie’s mystery illness, and her deep love for Alex (Justin Chambers) are treated with delicacy and respect, and Denny’s character both reacts and ultimately supports. There’s a wedding–a fairy-tale one–celebrating the show’s 100th episode, and the love of the characters, and the pain they’ve overcome to get there–are equal parts of the very human, very lovely, result. The season finale is among the show’s best ever, with the fate of two beloved characters, George (T.R. Knight) and Izzie, left unknown and laden with sorrow.

The set’s extras are a treat, including a rich 20-minute feature on the filming of the 100th episode. Oh exclaims of the gorgeous wedding cinematography, “I hope I’m lit like this for the rest of my life!” Fans will love hearing how scenes are edited, how characters are developed, and other juicy tidbits from Rhimes and her very talented crew. –A.T. Hurley

Here’s some Grey’s Anatomy the complete fifth season dvd reviews:

All the couple relationships that evolve in this season are so well developed…The season finale…no words to describe it! I ended with my heart in my mouth…I actually can’t wait to watch the first episode of Season 6 to see what happens..I constantly find myself thinking about the Season 5 finale…and I say: “oh I have to connect next Friday to the internet to see what happens”..and then I’m dissapointed when I remember that I have to wait ’til September!

After Friends…Grey’s Anatomy is the only TV show that has me hooked!
And Season 5 ended as the best Season EVER!

***** ***** *****

An amazing price!! The extras are so good. I will admit I have seen every episode, and I really only bought the DVD set for the extras. The bloopers are pretty hilarious, I watch them at least once a week.
A must buy for any true Grey’s fan!

***** ***** *****

I’ve been a major fan of Grey’s from the beginning. I appreciate that they do what they do without showing so much blood and gore. It’s about the people, the characters and how they are living their lives as well as making their living through surgery. This fifth season has been the most dramatic of them all so far, with engrossing story lines and believable bahavior on the part of the characters. My only comlaint is that I now have to wait a whole year before I can have season six in DVD!

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Vinturi Essential Wine Aerator

If you are looking for a great Christmas gift for the wine lover in your life the Vinturi Essential Wine Aerator is a great idea. The idea around the Vinturi Essential wine aerator is that while wine breathes it releases aromas and flavors. This process of letting wine breathe can take quite a bit of time. With the wine aerator you can make this process simple and quick.

You simply hold the aerator over a glass and pour the wine through it. It automatically distributes just the right amount of air throughout the wine. When the wine is aerated it will have a better bouquet, a richer flavor and a smoother finish. All of this simply means a much more enjoyable glass of wine.

If you have someone who loves wine, and loves good wine, this is a great gift idea. It is something original as well as something practical and useful. A wine lover will use this gift often. It definitely won’t be one of those gifts that gets shoved to the back of the cabinet.

If you buy from Amazon you can get the Vinturi Essential wine aerator free shipping.

Here’s some Vinturi Essential Wine Aerator Reviews:

I bought one of these on a whim when the product launched just before Christmas, 2006. It seemed like a perfect – if unnecessary – stocking stuffer for my wife, since we’re both wine enthusiasts. I never really felt these “gimmick” aerators did much that a solid 1/2 hour decanting couldn’t do. Boy was I wrong.

The device itself is attractive, compact and solidly built. It appears to be a simple oblong plexiglass “funnel” with a rubber grip. There are two small channels in the center of the funnel, which look like “cracks” in the plastic (I’ve read product info that assures worried buyers these cracks are proper and unavoidable). Wine is poured through the top of the funnel, and immediately a suction sound is heard as the pouring draws air into the wine before it escapes out the bottom of the funnel. The aerator is easily held, and I’ve never had a problem with spills.

Now on to the “effect” of the Vinturi. I’ve been using the Vinturi for 5 months now, on a variety of wines … from a bottle of “Two Buck Chuck”, to a nice ‘98 Vietti Barolo, to a bottle of 97′ Phelps Insignia. In every circumstance, with every wine, I’ve noticed a significant improvement in the quality of the wine when poured through the Vinturi, as opposed to tasted directly from bottle. The flavours are more blended, the finish is less acidic, and frankly, it has made most of the wines I drink a more pleasurable experience, from sniff to swallow. I’ve conducted several “blind” tastings with friends, and we all agree – this thing works.

If you’re a serious wine drinker – or shopping for a wine drinker in your life – give this product a try. At $40, it’s about the price of a decent California Cabernet, and will yield results for decades to come. I plan on picking up a few dozen this Christmas and giving them out as gifts to business clients.

I am always skeptical of “hobby toys”. These sorts of things generally sound nice as a gift. However, in reality, they either don’t do anything in reality or are useless to the person with the hobby.

This product really does what it says. It puts a lot of air into a glass of wine as you pour it. It does seem to instantly decant the glass of wine for you. It is easy to use, and almost as important, easy to clean. The rubber “holder” is invaluable, as the Vinturi will have some wine drips that you don’t want spilled on your floor somewhere.

Many wines improve with decanting. After 1 month, we have continued to use the Vinturi and prefer using it to both our decanter or going with no decanting. I recommend this product to others.

First of all I don’t usually write reviews, but a great friend (who doesn’t even drink wine) gave us one of these last night. Every person who drinks wine should own one of these (or at least share one with somebody). It is the best gadget ever.

I’m skeptical about a lot of things, but having studied fluid dynamics the principles that drive this make so much sense. We compared glass after glass, and even those in our group who don’t drink as much wine could tell instantly that this thing was gold. Instantly open flavors, bouquet, and even color.

It comes with a cool little stand, a carrying bag, it looks nice, is easy to clean, and you really need to stop reading this and just get one (or a few, everyone’s getting these for Christmas).

Click here for even more Vinturi Essential Wine Aerator reviews

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Wii Fit Plus with Balance Board

Last year, after Christmas we decided to get a Wii. We didn’t have much trouble getting the Wii, but when I decided I wanted the Wii Fit it took us WEEKS to find one in stock. While the Wii Fit is great, Wii Fit Plus is even better, and even with the balance board it’s cheaper than what I paid for my Wii Fit last year.

The few complaints people had about the Wii Fit ~ including having to choose each yoga and strength activity as you went, cutting down the flow of your workout have been fixed in the Wii Fit Plus.

While strength training and yoga are a big part of Wii Fit, FUN is the name of the game when it comes to getting fit with wii. They have added 15 fun balance games to the Wii Fit Plus. The reviews are raves, and as much as I love my Wii Fit, I’m really wanting the new Wii Fit plus!

If you’re thinking Wii and the Wii fit plus would be a great Christmas gift I think you’re right! If you grab the Wii Fit Plus at Amazon.com you can save $10 on the price and get free shipping!

Here’s what some people are saying about the Wii Fit Plus:

With the approach of winter and cold/damp weather I was looking for something to keep me active (I’m a runner) and the Wii Fit Plus didn’t disappoint.

It’s got a great variety of games and yoga/strength training exercises. And the fact that it tracks your weight and how many Calories you’ve burned helps you realize how much you need to work to burn off that ice cream sundae you couldn’t avoid. (Which is precisely why I work out–to eat the foods I love and not feel guilty about it–the good feeling and increased health/immunity to disease are just side benefits.)

I should note that you’ve got to work at it to break a sweat–it’s not designed to be a strenuous workout. However, I think the developers at Nintendo did a good job considering the demographic they’d have to cover (5-95 year olds). And its a neat way to check out Yoga without having to leave the house. I’m sure doing it in a class would be more interesting, but this way you can practice a bit before going.
The key to this product, like all exercises, is that you’ve got to use it for it to be of any benefit. I highly recommend this product to everyone–you will only benefit from it.

I did not have the Wii Fit before the “Plus” version came out, but I waited to purchase it because I heard it was going to be better than the first one (i.e. have more games). It is a lot of fun. I love the game that came with the board as well as some others I have purchased to use with it. I love that the board weighs you if you want it to and the “Plus” version of the board goes up to at least 330 lbs or more, that lets me know that I am not going to break it by stepping on it because I am around 280. I would definitely recommend this to anyone who needs low impact exercises and are getting started with exercise OR for anyone who wants a little variety thrown in to the typical workouts.. I think it’s good for everyone. A lot of my friends (young and older) love the Wii Fit Plus and Balance Board too. I think the biggest appeal of having it is that some of the games are so fun that you don’t even realize that you are burning off calories. I easily play it for an hour or more and do not even realize I have done so!

This Wii Fit Plus is absolutly the best. I have had no problem with the Wii Fit. I haven’t tried the original Wii Fit but this I have. Doing the Wii Fit feel’s like your in a Gym. And your doing all sort’s of activites. I enjoy all of these game’s and I use the Wii Fit everyday.

Yoga – Yoga poses that tone muscles and improve posture.
Strength Training – Workouts to build and tone your muscles.
Arobics – Exercises that help burn body fat.
Balance Games – Games that help develop your sense of balance.

The game’s that are included are extreamly fun. You will not get board with the Wii Fit. It’s fun and very helpful. When you hook up your Wii board make sure you put the 4 plates under the Wii board and try not to jump or do crazy stuff on the Wii board, cause that’s not what it’s for. I highly recommened this Wii Fit Plus to anyone.

Click here for even more Wii Fit Plus Reviews