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HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE
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(MS) - Fewer things are harder come the holiday season than shopping for the per
fect gift. Whether you’re shopping for your spouse, child, or distant cousin, chances
are you want to get a thoughtful gift that expresses your love and appreciation.
While shopping for relatives is challenging, things may seem a bit tougher when
shopping for coworkers or colleagues. If you happen to be friends with a coworker
or colleague, finding a gift may be easier. But if you want to do something thoughtful
for those you simply work with, the following guidelines should help you keep things
pleasant and professional.
• Consider religion: There’s a good chance your office includes people from di
verse backgrounds. Certain gifts are taboo in some cultures, but perfectly acceptable
as gifts in others. If there’s any doubt as to a coworker’s religion or other preferenc
es, steer clear of gifts that might raise an eyebrow or possibly be seen as offensive. In
addition, if you’re unsure whether a client or colleague drinks alcohol, avoid giving
a bottle of wine or champagne as a gift.
• Give a gift that’s office ready: If you’re really stuck, give a gift that can help
brighten a coworker’s office or cubicle. For example, give a plant, a small radio, or
something to make them more comfortable, such as a seat cushion or padded mouse
pad. Avoid wall hangings, as there’s no accounting for another person’s taste, and
you don’t want to put a coworker in the position of having to hang something on
their wall that they don’t like simply because they feel obligated.
• Go the gift certificate route: To some, gift certificates might seem to indicate
little effort on your part. To others, they’re the perfect gift and one they’re sure to
use. Don’t worry about which group a coworker falls into. If you really can’t find a
Bfectly acceptable. If you’re unaware of
i’s interests, give a mall gift card that’s
e stores in the mall. Chances are, they’ll
re that matches an interest,
ms emblazoned with the company
: Nothing will make you look cheaper
ore indifferent than giving a company
tshirt or memo pad to a colleague for
olidays. Such items are probably avail
>r free throughout the year anyway, so
m during the holidays is inappropriate,
items are meant for marketing cam
paigns, not as holiday gifts for employ
• Let common sense be your
guide: If you’re unsure about a cer
tain gift, follow the rule of common
sense. A general rule of thumb is to not
MUk <§)
With Holiday Ciivim
(MS) - The holidays are certainly
about togetherness and sharing special
P gifts with the people you love. But
they can also be a time to make a
difference that truly benefits those
in need.
During this time of year many people
wonder what they can do to assist those
who are less fortunate or just need a
helping hand. From supporting chari
ties to volunteer work to just bringing
a smile to someone else’s face with a
touching gift, there are a number of
ways to share the true meaning of the
holidays.
GIVE BACK BY
giving w;
One of the easiest •ay
ways to give back during iffjM
the holidays is to support i .
companies that donate a 1 t i j
percentage of sales to wor- * *
thy causes. In essence,
you walk away with a
thoughtful gift for your * |
friend or family member, . . *'•
and others benefit from
your generosity as well.
Multipet International, a pet toy §j
company whose ever-popular Loofa
dog appears in the Pet Smart TV com
mercials, has a pink Loofa dog with the
recognized pink ribbon embroidered
on its chest that would make a heart
felt gift for an animal lover or anyone
touched by breast cancer. According to
Leslie Yellin, Multipet Director of Stra
iSere Did Santa ComeFrom^
Saint Nicholas Day (December 6) was the traditional day for giving gifts
to children. It is still the day on which children receive gifts from St. I
IK Nicholas in the Netherlands. Epiphany (January 6) is, in the western I
gh Church, the commemoration of day on which the three kings pre- I
sented the baby Jesus with gifts.
Saint Nicholas was the bishop of Myra in Lycia, which is in I
modern Turkey, sometime before AD 350. Nothing is known I
11; of his life except for the legends that have built up around
■ him, but he was associated with kindness to children. He was ■
a widely admired saint throughout the eastern and western H
\ J churches. The Dutch custom of giving presents to children H
on St. Nicholas Day was brought to America by early Dutch
/ \ settlers in New Amsterdam, which was renamed New York ■
when the British took over the colony. Santa Claus is the H
// % American pronunciation of Sinter Klaas, which was collo- H
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Sales and Wr
a breast
cancer sur- Jff *
vivor who AWa
spearheaded
the “pink” program at
the company, “A new dog
command has entered the market
place. ‘sit,’ ‘stay,’ and ‘fight’ breast can
cer. The Breast Cancer Research Foun
dation has been selected as Multipet’s
charity-of-choice to receive ongoing
contributions from the sale of the pink
Loofa Dog.
The pink ribbon Loofa Dog
and other ador
able pet prod
feg* x ucts are sold
Wfr in over 20,000
stores *na
| 4 '■> tion- wide, including
Pet Smart, PETCO, Pet
Supplies Plus, Mei
jer’s, Walgseens,
and CVS.
Proceeds from
the sale of the
, pink Loofa dog
l nenefit breast
I cancer awareness
I and research.
1L That makes gi\ -
II ing one of these
It fuzzy friends
yi that much more
special.
'NOVEMBER 2007