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Twelve last-minute gift ideas
in twelve minutes.
REBECCA MOED Special to The Jewish News
and
CARLA SCHWARTZ Special Sections Editor
.,)
,_.
T
he table is set, the latkes are
frying, and you forgot to
buy a grab bag Chanukah
gift for Aunt Fanny. Relax.
The party will still be a success with
this list of a dozen last-minute choices
that are hassle free. Many of these
items can be purchased at drug stores,
card shops and even supermarkets.
I
Picture Frames. They're always a
favorite among family members,
especially when a photo of a loved
one is included. The shapes and mate-
, rials are varied. For the rugged indi-
vidual, purchase a wood or brass
frame. For the formal gift, silver is
perfect, and for a feminine look, try a
ceramic or hand-painted frame.
•-„,-,
Scented candles and potpourri.
Scented candles fill the house
with a warm and pleasant aroma.
Varying in size and presentation, can-
dles can be purchased separately or in
decorative glass containers. The scents
range from country to floral to vanilla.
What a perfect gift to bring to the
ostesses of the Chanukah party. (Our
house smells like latkes for days.)
2
h
P) Books. From Goodnight Moon to
The Dark Side of Camelot, books
-4,--- make the perfect present. Not
only can you purchase books on every
topic imaginable, but also you can buy
them for all ages. And you can even
purchase them via the Internet.
4
Mail-Order Catalogs. Purchas-
ing items through the mail are
often hassle-free — no shopping
lines, no waiting for parking spaces
and no stressed-out salespeople. _
According to the December 1997
issue of Smart Money magazine,
179,112 people ordered from L.L.
Bean on one day in December last
year. The article challenged several
mail-order catalogs to a last-minute
test, and most of the companies
passed. J.Crew took orders on Dec. 24
until 11:59 p.m., and the delivery was
made on Christmas Day.
5
Stationery sets. No doubt your
recipient will have to write a
thank you note. So, why not fur-
nish them with the tools?
Complete with address book, pen,
and stationery, this is a useful gift. Or
make your own set by purchasing sta-
tionery with a matching pen.
6
Calendars. With the New Year
approaching, everyone needs a
new calendar. Beautiful wall-
hanging calendars featuring pho-
tographs
of museum
paintings, classic
cars or your favorite sport
are available. Day by Day books with
daily fun-facts from The Guinness
Book of World Records or cartoons from
The New Yorker will check off the days
in style.
7
10
8
I
Candy. Chocolate pecan tortes,
cherry cordials or creme-de-
menthe mints are just a few of
the delectable delights that are
included in gift-wrapped boxes of
candy, available at local drug stores
and
Mugs. With the cold season
upon us, who doesn't love to
curl up with a hot drink? A mug
decorated with flowers, witty remarks
or a favorite hobby is easy to find.
Don't forget about those mugs that
are equipped with a snap-on top for
drivers, sold at the coffee shops.
9
A Bottle of Wine. Kosher wine
has never tasted better. It's the
perfect gift to take to your
Chanukah party. Most places have a
wide variety of kosher wine, includ-
ing Merchant of Vino and the Vine-
yards.
Food basket. You don't have
to be Martha Stewart to bake
some cookies, put them in a
wicker basket and attach a bow. Voila!
It's easy and quick. And if baking is
not your thing, just toss some
gourmet food from the supermarket in
a colorful gift bag or basket.
011-.1ether
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e s an
Ralph Lauren-inspired, throws
and pillows will warm up any room.
They will be used again and again.
Gift Certificates Many
restaurants, book stores or
electronic stores offer gift cer-
tificates. Even Blockbuster video and
McDonalds have them. Since it's the
next best thing to cash, they're always
appreciated.
❑
12/19
1997
87