Just have time to share some other online resources for gift ideas. These are some sites that stood out while I was looking for some new trends.
One that looked pretty good was http://www.giftideasblog.net/, which has a number of solid articles on gift tips for a variety of occasions and types of people, such as gift ideas for travelers or Christmas gifts for inlaws or a small girl . Check them out.
Another blog worth reading for gifts is http://blog.gifts.com/ where again there are many articles for different gifts for different types of people. It appears connected to http://www.gifts.com which is another site to turn to for more custom gift ideas, since the site lets you narrow down gift suggestions by entering information for the gift recipient, for example by telling them you're looking for gifts for a young man, etc.
Finally, another good source for ideas is http://uniquegiftideasblog.com/ which offers exactly what they say-- more unique gift ideas.
There really are a ton of resources out there, though it can be tough to weed out the poor ones. If you'd like help with your own gift brainstorming, tell us about it and we promise to give you our unique take. And as always, feel free to help others by lending your own gift advice.
Monday, December 12, 2011
Thursday, December 1, 2011
Christmas Time
Today is the first of December, and that can only mean one thing: Christmas is just around the corner.
You're probably wondering a lot about Christmas present ideas and are maybe even asking yourself questions like "What should I get my mom for Christmas?" or "What is a good present to get my dad?" as you should be. Family always comes first, so you need to make sure that out of all the gifts you purchase this holiday season you buy the best gifts for your family. This is a time for you to show your family how much you care (or at least how much you're willing to spend to keep them distracted while you eat all the Christmas cookies and eggnog). If you're worried about the whole process of gift giving, worry no more. Picking the perfect gift is simpler than it seems.
Let's start off with parents. After all, your mom and dad gave you life. The least you can do is buy them a decent gift. Any kind of gift for the home such as picture frames, pillows, or throw blankets will do. For mom you can buy jewelry, clothes (if you know your mother's proper size), or maybe even a certificate for a day to the spa to unwind from all the holiday stress. Dad would surely appreciate a new work tie, a watch, or something to go along with his favorite sport, such as golf clubs. However, if you are looking to be more frugal, flowers and other plants are always a nice gesture.
When it comes to your siblings, it is most important to take into account their personalities and interests. The same applies to children if you have any. Just take the time to listen to those oh so "subtle" hints they've been dropping. For younger brothers and sisters, the toy store is where you want to go. The young ones shouldn't be hard to shop for because they normally make it very clear when they write that list for Santa. However, older siblings may be more challenging to buy for because they probably don't send out a list, but if you listen to them, I'm sure they'll talk about what they want for Christmas.
If you are going to a relative's house, food is always the best and most widely appreciated gift you can bring with you. If you can't cook well, then have no fear. It isn't a problem nowadays with so many easy-to-cook dishes. There are enough options that you're sure to find something that even the most culinary-challenged people can prepare.
Just remember, the best way to find the perfect gift is to just pay attention to the people around you. Take notice of their interests and listen for those hints. If you need help with any specifics, or could use more gift suggestions, then don't be afraid to ask us. And if all else fails, there are always gift cards.
You're probably wondering a lot about Christmas present ideas and are maybe even asking yourself questions like "What should I get my mom for Christmas?" or "What is a good present to get my dad?" as you should be. Family always comes first, so you need to make sure that out of all the gifts you purchase this holiday season you buy the best gifts for your family. This is a time for you to show your family how much you care (or at least how much you're willing to spend to keep them distracted while you eat all the Christmas cookies and eggnog). If you're worried about the whole process of gift giving, worry no more. Picking the perfect gift is simpler than it seems.
Let's start off with parents. After all, your mom and dad gave you life. The least you can do is buy them a decent gift. Any kind of gift for the home such as picture frames, pillows, or throw blankets will do. For mom you can buy jewelry, clothes (if you know your mother's proper size), or maybe even a certificate for a day to the spa to unwind from all the holiday stress. Dad would surely appreciate a new work tie, a watch, or something to go along with his favorite sport, such as golf clubs. However, if you are looking to be more frugal, flowers and other plants are always a nice gesture.
When it comes to your siblings, it is most important to take into account their personalities and interests. The same applies to children if you have any. Just take the time to listen to those oh so "subtle" hints they've been dropping. For younger brothers and sisters, the toy store is where you want to go. The young ones shouldn't be hard to shop for because they normally make it very clear when they write that list for Santa. However, older siblings may be more challenging to buy for because they probably don't send out a list, but if you listen to them, I'm sure they'll talk about what they want for Christmas.
If you are going to a relative's house, food is always the best and most widely appreciated gift you can bring with you. If you can't cook well, then have no fear. It isn't a problem nowadays with so many easy-to-cook dishes. There are enough options that you're sure to find something that even the most culinary-challenged people can prepare.
Just remember, the best way to find the perfect gift is to just pay attention to the people around you. Take notice of their interests and listen for those hints. If you need help with any specifics, or could use more gift suggestions, then don't be afraid to ask us. And if all else fails, there are always gift cards.
Thursday, November 17, 2011
What to Bring to Dinner
Thanksgiving is coming up.
As the most heavily-traveled holiday of the year, most of us will be partaking in the annual tradition of visiting extended family for dinner where we genuinely enjoy the company of some and pretend to genuinely enjoy the company of others, all while making a mental list of the 8,000 other things we'd rather be doing. Like having an apicoectomy.
Honestly, I really do enjoy Thanksgiving. The Wednesday before Thanksgiving is reputed to be the biggest drinking night of the year, followed by a gluttonous feast of turkey and that cranberry sauce that stays shaped like a can. What a great holiday.
I've also no doubt that the drinking phenomenon is directly related to the extended relations attempting to mesh. As with most situations in life, beer helps.
What also helps is not showing up at a someone's door empty-handed, especially if this is the first time meeting them.
Homemade baked items are best, but if there's no time or one's simply not a baker, grab an item from the grocery store. You can even grab it 5 minutes before showing up at the person's house and they'll never know. Though, to be on the safe side, it's always a good idea to trash the receipt and threaten the kids to secrecy.
Some other ideas include flowers or a bottle of wine. If you have any unique situations you might like some help with, try asking us and we'll offer our insight for what to bring to stymie any chance of your extended relatives speaking ill of you once you leave.
As the most heavily-traveled holiday of the year, most of us will be partaking in the annual tradition of visiting extended family for dinner where we genuinely enjoy the company of some and pretend to genuinely enjoy the company of others, all while making a mental list of the 8,000 other things we'd rather be doing. Like having an apicoectomy.
Honestly, I really do enjoy Thanksgiving. The Wednesday before Thanksgiving is reputed to be the biggest drinking night of the year, followed by a gluttonous feast of turkey and that cranberry sauce that stays shaped like a can. What a great holiday.
I've also no doubt that the drinking phenomenon is directly related to the extended relations attempting to mesh. As with most situations in life, beer helps.
What also helps is not showing up at a someone's door empty-handed, especially if this is the first time meeting them.
Homemade baked items are best, but if there's no time or one's simply not a baker, grab an item from the grocery store. You can even grab it 5 minutes before showing up at the person's house and they'll never know. Though, to be on the safe side, it's always a good idea to trash the receipt and threaten the kids to secrecy.
Some other ideas include flowers or a bottle of wine. If you have any unique situations you might like some help with, try asking us and we'll offer our insight for what to bring to stymie any chance of your extended relatives speaking ill of you once you leave.
Monday, November 14, 2011
Getting It Right
In determining what presents to pick out for our friends or family members, we often find ourselves trying to predict what items they might choose if they were to select presents for themselves.
Maybe they'll make it easy by dropping hints. They may even make it a non-issue by explicitly saying what to get them. Or maybe we've simply been paying attention for the past few weeks, trying to see if there's anything that has attracted their attention.
Even when we're told what to get, it's worth focusing on specifics. What particularly attracts the recipient to this gift and not an alternative? Does it have to be exact color? Brand?
For example, a child may want a video game system for Christmas, but what type of system can make a huge difference, say between a PS3 or a Wii. Maybe one loves John Grisham and his latest novel would make a great gift... but only if the recipient doesn't already own a copy of "The Litigators".
It's helpful to have an 'inside man' in situations like these, whenever possible. For instance, if I'll pick out a present for my dad, I'll first ask my mother whether he already has an item, or what he might prefer instead.
If that's not possible, consider discretely prying for ideas extra-early. If it's far enough away from the gift-giving date, there's a good chance any questions may be interpreted as mere conversation. Better yet, if done far enough in advance, the recipient will likely even forget if we fail to be discrete and they pick up on our all-of-a-sudden unusual interest in, say, their preferences in engagement rings. ;)
Maybe they'll make it easy by dropping hints. They may even make it a non-issue by explicitly saying what to get them. Or maybe we've simply been paying attention for the past few weeks, trying to see if there's anything that has attracted their attention.
Even when we're told what to get, it's worth focusing on specifics. What particularly attracts the recipient to this gift and not an alternative? Does it have to be exact color? Brand?
For example, a child may want a video game system for Christmas, but what type of system can make a huge difference, say between a PS3 or a Wii. Maybe one loves John Grisham and his latest novel would make a great gift... but only if the recipient doesn't already own a copy of "The Litigators".
It's helpful to have an 'inside man' in situations like these, whenever possible. For instance, if I'll pick out a present for my dad, I'll first ask my mother whether he already has an item, or what he might prefer instead.
If that's not possible, consider discretely prying for ideas extra-early. If it's far enough away from the gift-giving date, there's a good chance any questions may be interpreted as mere conversation. Better yet, if done far enough in advance, the recipient will likely even forget if we fail to be discrete and they pick up on our all-of-a-sudden unusual interest in, say, their preferences in engagement rings. ;)
Wednesday, November 9, 2011
Almost That Time of Year
Hard to believe it's time to start Christmas shopping. Stores around here seem to inch the season earlier every time around. This year, our grocery store had Christmas decorations up even before Halloween had passed.
Then again, maybe there's some method to their madness. Not only am I done gift-shopping for my fiancée, but so is she, apparently.
I choose to hang on to my wishful hopes that she finished early to get me on a waiting list for the Ferrari 458 Spider. In the (guaranteed) event this is not the case, I'm sure I'll be happy with whatever she's chosen, even if it can't go from 0-60 mph in under 3.4 seconds.
Retailers expect shoppers to have tight budgets this holiday season, so they're jockeying for as much attention they can get early-on. Macy's, for instance, is opening the midnight after Thanksgiving. Here's a list of when other major retailers are starting their Black Friday sales.
So while it's never too early to start Christmas shopping, there is at least one challenge it presents: Finding a good enough hiding spot to last so long undiscovered.
And if you're my fiancée and you're reading this, don't try to discover your gifts as you'll never find them. But if you want a hint, you're welcome to explore the laundry room and, while there, do my laundry.
Then again, maybe there's some method to their madness. Not only am I done gift-shopping for my fiancée, but so is she, apparently.
I choose to hang on to my wishful hopes that she finished early to get me on a waiting list for the Ferrari 458 Spider. In the (guaranteed) event this is not the case, I'm sure I'll be happy with whatever she's chosen, even if it can't go from 0-60 mph in under 3.4 seconds.
Retailers expect shoppers to have tight budgets this holiday season, so they're jockeying for as much attention they can get early-on. Macy's, for instance, is opening the midnight after Thanksgiving. Here's a list of when other major retailers are starting their Black Friday sales.
So while it's never too early to start Christmas shopping, there is at least one challenge it presents: Finding a good enough hiding spot to last so long undiscovered.
And if you're my fiancée and you're reading this, don't try to discover your gifts as you'll never find them. But if you want a hint, you're welcome to explore the laundry room and, while there, do my laundry.
Wednesday, October 19, 2011
Finally finished!
At long last, the coding freeze on Picky Presents has been reached, and the site is finally ready to go live. Time to ramp up the marketing engine!
Tuesday, September 20, 2011
Getting ready for more user testing
Justin did a great job reworking the login workflow to make it all uniform and smooth. Hopefully by the end of this week we'll be done this sprint and start more user testing.
We (re-)discovered Amazon Turk and its potential use for this scenario. Hopefully all will go well and we'll get some good insight from some Turk users.
We (re-)discovered Amazon Turk and its potential use for this scenario. Hopefully all will go well and we'll get some good insight from some Turk users.
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