Odd Gifts That Are Sure To Spark A Little Conversation

Anything short of the best gift in the world ends up forgotten at some point. Rather than add to that list, here are some odd gifts that will definitely leave a lasting impression:

• It’s Jesus’ Birthday and Santa is Bringing the Beer
Please do me a favor and do not give this to the highly religious practical joker in your life, it might not go as well as you’d like.

Even though this is just a card, it definitely offers a laugh or two when read. This is a great option if you’re working on a small budget but still want to pack a punch when it comes to mailing out your greetings.

• Treat A Golfer To Some Odd Additions For Their Home
Yes, it is golf furniture. Do I need to say more?
• How About A Zombie Doll You Can Dismember?
Click the link and you will see I am not lying. Take this undead friend and love him to pieces, literally.
• Kick It Off Old School By Gifting Some Pac-Man Magnets
They are affordable, they offer a bit of the good ol’ days, and they will stand out. Of course there have been odder gifts, but anyone who remembers when Pac-Man was the game to play can appreciate these magnets.
• When all else fails, check out the About.com list of DIY Gag Gifts.
This list is truly amazing. I was reading through it and there is no way I could leave it out! I mean, C’mon…. Maxi-Pad Slippers. That says it all. Of course there is edible Reindeer Poop too.

This post is just one from a series based on: Ask Angel’s Gift Giving Guide For 2008, a list offering 6 different gift ideas you should consider when you go out looking for the perfect holiday present.

Photo Credit: wetwebwork

Ask Angel’s Gift Giving Guide For 2008

We have never done a gift giving guide before but with all the positive moves we have made recently, why not another one? I want to jump right into that holiday spirit with 6 things to consider giving out as holiday gifts.

Why 6? I am trying to plan this just right so it will only run until the last Friday before Christmas.

Each week we will post 2 more gifting ideas for you to consider. As a new idea has been posted, the listed item will become clickable. If you’d like to continue checking back, this post will remain at the top of the front page until we have successfully covered each individual idea!

• It’s The Thought That Counts (A potluck of fun gifts you’d otherwise never consider.)
• The Hottest Toys
• Handmade
• Do It Yourself
• Electronics
• Traditional Ideas

Were you looking for a different topic? Feel free to search through the categories on the right hand side of this page to see if we have already posted an article on what you are looking for.

Photo Credit: krisdecurtis

Our Biggest Hits: The Business Category

There is nothing like the idea of business to attract new visitors. One of posts that brings in the most traffic is in this category. It appears everyone wants to know the difference between Sole Proprietorship and a Limited Liability Company (LLC). The popularity of that post has motivated what became a 4 page archive in that category.

The one post that I think deserves a second look is:

Inc.aroo Right Into Business: Incorporate Or LLC Your Business For Free

Any legit website which helps you set up your business for free… they deserve my consideration.

Thanksgiving Is Tomorrrow, Are You Ready?

Unfortunately it has been a year since I’ve covered Thanksgiving as a topic. Since it is tomorrow, here are the 2 posts that I did manage to cover on the topic and might be of some benefit to you:

Create Your Own Thanksgiving Game

Preparing For The Family Turkey Day Rush

As an added bonus, what do you do that is special to you? Do you have your own unique tradition?

Do You Remember Fortune Cookie Week?

I mostly needed something easy so I could keep up with my workload, but I also wanted to make sure it was fun. That’s how Fortune Cookie Week was born.

Although you should click the link above and check out all 5 micro-tips, here is one that I enjoyed the most:

Curb Bedwetting With Kids

It’s not uncommon for a youngster to have a bedwetting problem, it’s how you handle it that really matters.

Happy Thanksgiving, Now It’s Time For My Staycation

As I’ve already mentioned, I am taking a week off from doing work (well, most work). Something has come my way and I’ll have that to do next week. Also, I will need to update Today’s Mompreneur. Any major tasks, though… they are out the window.

Anyway, I don’t want to leave Ask Angel empty handed, so I will be setting up updates here as well. They’re not new content, but they are posts on a specific topic sharing links to my favorite articles in that category. If anything, it will give you a chance to look back into our past and see if there is something you might have overlooked.

I hope you all have a wonderful holiday, hug your loved ones, eat lots of delicious food, and I’ll see you again next month!

Jingle Bells, The Holidays Smell

Normally I would be writing up the next “Tip List” to feature but since I am taking Thanksgiving week off, I figured it would be a good moment for some personalized advice.

Please don’t attack me, I know we haven’t even made it to Thanksgiving yet and here I am with some Christmas chatter. I promise, it is worth reading.

It is never too early to start Christmas shopping.

My mom bought up all the 75% off after Christmas toys last year and she intends to give them out this year. I don’t think you can get much earlier than that, unless you go in only one day after Christmas to do the same.

Rather, I like to go in at the end of November. Not on Black Friday, but early. I, however, just realized I get paid on Black Friday and might end up doing my present shopping on that day. Very ironic, but true. All the same, my holiday advice is this: shop ahead! Take advantage of those discounts and deals. If Hannah Montana is the ‘hot stuff’ right now, there is a good chance your kids will still want her next year. Go ahead and pick up a toy or two.

If you want to avoid an outdated wish list buy a toy or two closer to the holiday so you know it is a must-have gift now.

When I was a kid I always got what I wanted a year later. It used to drive me nuts. A year later I didn’t want it anymore. The reason why I received gifts that way was because my mom would buy them after Christmas at a steep discount, then save them. As I mentioned above, she still does.

When do you do your holiday gift shopping?

Photo Credit: krisdecurtis

Nothing Like A Vacation To Regain Some Ground In The Work-Life Balance

Like the little mouse pictured above, we all need a little R&R. That is important to remember. It doesn’t matter what business you are in, where you work, or how long you work each day (or week, or year, etc). If you feel overwhelmed, it is time to back off for a little bit.

I am the perfect example of feeling overwhelmed in work. I was tired of working, I started to hate writing, I actually wanted to quit Ask Angel! Last week I decided that I will be taking a week off. I’m going to take a break Thanksgiving week, and I have no clue what I will do. I just know I will not be doing anything ‘work’. I hope you know that also means I am taking a break here. I’ll probably figure something out for filler, but nothing new will pass by on these pages.

If you look back to those days before you started working so hard, can you remember what your last hobby was? When was the last time you had the chance to do something enjoyable? If you honestly can not think of something, you should probably follow in my foot steps.

When was your last vacation? Are you overdue?

Photo Credit: e³°°°

Feeling A Bit Depressed? Go Do Something!

If you’re feeling down in the dumps, emotionally, don’t just sit there and think about it! That has to be the worst thing you could do. If you mope, you will only feel worse about what happened. Instead, you need to feel better! If you want to feel better, it’s time to do something. With that thought in mind, here are some fun ways for you to do just that:

• Take on a new hobby.
Don’t just pick up a hobby you already practice. I mean it. You need to, literally, take on a new hobby. When you have to immerse yourself into learning how to create/do that particular craft, you’ll find yourself quickly moving away from thoughts about what has gotten you down and worrying more about how to do that “something” you chose to try. Also, by taking the time to learn a new craft you will find it taking time. Choose the right craft and it can take days to figure out. That is time spend on using your brain to figure out something new, rather than on your problems.
• Exercise.
Exercising creates positive energy while it also helps you work out some of the negative. If you want to kill 2 birds with one stone, join a gym. You can socialize and release some of your frustrations.
• Play a computer/video game.
I suppose not many people would recommend for you to play a computer or video game, but I am right now. Why? Games take brain power. While you’re putting concentration into your game, you’re not thinking about your problems nearly as much. They are addictive, they are fun, and they can relieve your mind for a period of time.
• Visit distant friends/relatives.
Nothing feels better than a trip out of your town. If you have friends that live in other areas if the country, take a drive or plane ride to see them. There is nothing like a change of scenery to help take your mind off of things.

I would like to point out that none of these solutions will solve your problems, but they will let your mind ponder something else for a bit. After a while you’ll find yourself worrying less about what is wrong and concentrating more on what is right. You don’t need to suffer. You need to find a reason to be happy, then turn that temporary happiness into something that is permanent.

This advice article is just one from a series of articles based on: 6 Tips To Help You Let Go After A Failed Relationship, an advice article tip list offering ideas for getting over your ex.

Photo Credit: Sailor Coruscant

Don’t Mope Over The Loss, Get Together With Friends!

Once you’ve been dumped, or even if you are the one who did the breaking up, it’s not unusual to feel alone. The fact of the matter is, many people do feel alone after something like this. It is important to remember that you are not alone and talk to your friends about it.

True friends will stick around through this mess. Better friends will hang in and have a friends night with you. Best friends will drag you from location to location, whether you like to bar hop, go to dinner or the movies, until all you can think about is how great your night is going. Most importantly, don’t forget to do this for them when things get rough in their own lives!

If you sit at home alone, all you’re going to think about is what you’ve lost. Male or female, you need to get those feelings out before you explode. Whether you release them through a chat with your best friend, or by going to a party, make sure you are smart about your choices and let yourself relax.

For those that don’t really find much interest in partying or getting out, grab a pen and a journal from the store. Writing your feelings out can be very therapeutic.

This advice article is just one from a series of articles based on: 6 Tips To Help You Let Go After A Failed Relationship, an advice article tip list offering ideas for getting over your ex.

Photo Credit: Dawn Ashley