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Giftee Awards Winners Announced!
Best Gift for the Hostess Winner
The Winners of the first annual 2011 Giftee Awards have been announced! The initial nominations were narrowed down by a panelist of expert gift-giving judges (including our very own Marie Masters) and then the winners were selected by the public. The categories include “Most Wacky Gift”, “Best Gifts under $25”, and “Most Romantic Gift” among others. Winner of the “Best Gift for the Hostess” category was this unique yet useful Corkcicle.
Presenting: The 2011 Giftee Awards
With the holidays fast approaching, there couldn’t be a better time for Gifts.com to announce The 2011 Giftee Awards. The Giftees consists of everyday people nominating their favorite finds from anywhere on the internet across ten categories. The categories range from: “Best Gift Under $25″ to “Hottest Toy for Holiday”. Nominations will be accepted until October 21st after which the Gift Gurus will determine ten finalists in each category. They will be joined by special judges from around the world including Pronto’s very own Style Editor Marie Masters. If your nomination wins, you’ll be entered to win a $500 holiday shopping spree. For a complete list of categories and to make your nominations visit The Giftees official page.
Best Mother’s Day Gifts and Ideas
Mother’s Day is Sunday May 8, so you have plenty of time left to find the best gift for your mom, whatever she loves.
Gifts for a mother who loves to knit are pretty straightforward. No matter how experienced she is, there is always something new to learn, so why not get her an instructional book with knitting techniques? Or, if she’s looking for a new project, you can’t go wrong with knitting patterns.
If your mom is into French cooking you’ll find there are lots of great gift ideas. Chances are there’s some item of cookware that she doesn’t have, or something that she already has that is ready to be replaced. Have a look at pots and pans to check for scratches in nonstick coatings or scorched surfaces on stainless or aluminum. Take a good look at the handles of all of the knives; if the handle is starting to separate from the blade or the tang, its definitely time for a new knife.
If your mom has a green thumb you have a lot of great gardening gifts. A gardener who like to start from scratch will always be pleased to get seeds as a gift, but don’t hesitate to shop for a stylish wide-brimmed hat or a pair of thick gardening gloves.
Tasteful Holiday Decorating Ideas
We all have those friends and neighbors who tend to go a little overboard with the Christmas decorations. But when it comes to holiday decorating, most experts will agree; less is more. So instead of worrying about decking every inch of your halls with Christmas decor, consider investing in a few timeless items that will give your home a pulled-together holiday look year after year.
One easy strategy is to pick a color scheme and then replicate it throughout your home. But don’t feel limited to the obvious reds & greens – get creative with silver & white, blue & gold, or other deep jewel tones. You’ll find that picking out quality home accents is easier when you restrict your options to just one or two colors. Make sure that your tree ties the whole space together with complimentary ornaments and Christmas lights. Once you have a look in mind, you can even save money by shopping off-season for ornament sets and other accessories.
Another area where less is more is the front yard. If the lawn features Santa, his reindeer AND a family of snowmen, you’ve probably gone too far. Focus instead on finding a quality wreath that makes your entranceway look warm and inviting, and don’t worry if you prefer to go artificial. There are tons of tasteful Christmas wreaths and garlands on sale online, especially if you shop early. Other outdoor Christmas decorations should be minimalistic, not distracting. After all, the worst Christmas gift you can give your neighbors is the headache of flashing lights, noisy animatronics Santas, and electrical fires.
Doing your holiday shopping? Don’t miss the large selection of creative and unique gift ideas hand-picked by the experts at Gifts.com.
Desk Lamps
Desk lamps aren’t necessarily an item thought about too much when decorating a work station or office area, even though it’s a pretty essential item to any desk. Many desk lamps can be kind of boring and look similar to one another. It can even sometimes seem like your only choices are limited to either the robot from Short Circuit, or a an imitation Tiffany lamp with stained glass.
Choosing a desk lamp needn’t be a decision between the lesser of two evils. In fact, it can even be a stylish and pleasant addition to your workspace. They key here is to choose something that can be imagined outside of a desk scenario; something that can be alternately used as a nightstand or end table lamp. Essentially, something you would be more aesthetically conscious about choosing as an accent.
Warming Up Scandinavian Furniture
Scandanavian modern furniture is definitely having a moment. From small vintage furniture shops to the offices in TV’s Mad Men, there definitely seems to be a popular shift. One of the common mistakes or tendencies of going too Scandanavian-crazy is that it can sometimes get a little too cold and sterile, especially if you’re decorating a home or non-office space.
The keys to warming up a space with Scandanavian decor that might be a little too cold is to try and avoid plastic, veer more toward round lines, and add in more fabric and wood. Danish modern furniture specifically tends to do a great job at balancing cold and warm here, as demonstrated perfectly with this side table from Urban Outfitters.
Decorative Clocks
Decorative clocks are a fun and functional solution to spicing up any boring wall. It can seem a bit daunting, however, in choosing something not too boring and bland, yet avoiding the over stylized, über-crafty cutsiness that many wall clock designs tend to veer.
It’s good to keep in mind when going for something a bit over-the-top or bold in style, that it’s best to choose more established or classic designs. For example, this Danish modern Silver Starburst wall clock from Eames is anything but boring. Yet, it’s just as classic as it is playful, with its strong and simple lines, evocative of an age in which everything nuclear was a symbol of progress and “the future”, in that charming Tomorrowland sense.
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Country Backsplash Ideas
What initially started out as a practical kitchen accent to prevent “back splash” from messy cooking, has morphed into its very own design element. Almost every kitchen now has a decorative backsplash to liven up the overall decor, and protect the walls themselves. You can customize your own in hundreds of different ways depending on budget, style, and your DIY prowess.
