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Shopping in New York: Find the Best Stores

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From the massive department stores lining Fifth Avenue, to the small boutiques and independent shops dotting the East Village, New York is a veritable shopping mecca for fashionistas and everyday consumers alike. With all of the hustle and bustle and constant excitement, however, it can be somewhat challenging to narrow down the very best stores in the city. Fortunately, with a bit of luck and research beforehand, any visitor to New York can make certain they don’t miss a beat during their holiday.

Department Stores

For years, New York’s shopping experience has been influenced by the large department stores, such as Macy’s and Bloomingdales. These iconic stores still sell some of the best merchandise in the city. Not only is it fun to browse through the wares on display, but experiencing the atmosphere of these stores themselves is an adventure in its own right.

For those looking to drop a fair bit of money on their shopping adventure, Saks Fifth Avenue and Bergdorf Goodman are both popular destinations. These stores sell apparel and accessories from some of the world’s most sought after designers. From Chanel to Gucci, Prada to Stella McCartney, it is easy to find luxury clothing in these fabulous shops.

Independent Stores

While it may be fun to socialise with the wealthy shoppers of New York, the city is also home to plenty of independent boutiques with their own unique vibes. One of the great things about New York is that there is something for everyone. For those looking the casual hipster feel, head to Hollander & Lexer in Williamsburg. This popular shop mixes jewellery and vintage accessories with modern apparel that is comfortable and easy to wear.

On the Lower East Side, EVA is a popular destination for those looking to sport cutting-edge designs. Looks fresh from the runway populate the shelves and racks in this boutique. EVA often showcases foreign designers and up-and-coming stylists’ picks, making it easy to score on great outfits at an affordable cost.

Ask Around

Regardless of where one heads in New York, it is easy to find fantastic shopping destinations on nearly every corner. One simple tip for finding more fabulous shops is to simply ask salespeople for their advice. If a boutique or shop really stands out in terms of its apparel and overall style, there is a good chance staff members will have an idea of what other business options are located in the immediate area.

New York shopping is a must for all visitors to the city and whether you visit the smaller boutiques or the larger department stores you will be sure to be able to shop until you drop!

Ursula Jones writes on a number of subjects including shopping in New York. You can find the best stores in New York by using the online shopping guide from Shopikon






Holiday Gift Ideas for First Time Homeowners

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Some people are nearly impossible to shop for, especially those who seem to already have everything they need and want. Fortunately, if you’re shopping for someone who just bought a new home, there is no shortage of great gift ideas, as new home owners generally need a lot of help when it comes to filling their new space. Need some inspiration? Here are some great holiday gift ideas for first time home owners:

Toolbox. Even those men and women who aren’t so handy around the house will find that they have a need for a toolbox when it comes to fixing up the new home. A basic toolbox (hammer, screwdriver, level, wrench, etc.) is invaluable for completing a broad range of tasks around the house, from hanging family photos to installing ceiling fans.

Indoor or outdoor plant. Plants are more than just pretty to look at; they are symbolic of new life and growth. That makes them an ideal gift for first time home owners, who can watch their plants grow just as they watch their new house turn into a home. There are no rules when it comes to purchasing plants, and you have an endless array of options. Just get something you think the homeowners will like (and that they’ll be able to take care of). Plants that make great holiday gifts include poinsettias, Christmas cactus, and holly.

Bath towels. This gift may seem like a yawn to you . . . but to the new home owners, it could be a lifesaver. Bath towels are an oft overlooked item on house stocking lists, which means that many first time homeowners find themselves empty handed when it comes time to step out of the shower. What’s more is that good bath towels can be relatively costly and can last for decades, making them both a practical and luxurious gift for new homeowners.

Home improvement magazine subscription. This is the gift that keeps on giving (well, for a year, at least). New homeowners are likely to be very enthusiastic about making their purchase an ongoing project. You can help provide inspiration and ideas by gifting a subscription for any of a number of home improvement and/or architectural magazines.

Food. With all of the moving and unpacking they must do, new homeowners aren’t likely to be able to spend a lot of time in the kitchen cooking meals. Cook some casseroles that they can freeze and reheat, or put together a fruit and cheese basket that they can snack from.

Gifts to new home owners should be useful, thoughtful, and well suited to the experience of purchasing a first home. Draw from this list for great gift ideas.

About the Author: Hal Rissman loves showing houses for sale in Louisville KY and the surrounding areas. He is careful to choose a thoughtful housewarming gift for every couple he helps find their first new home!

Shopping for Christmas Gifts-Think Outside the Box

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Choosing the right Christmas gifts for your friends and family members can be very challenging. Usually, if you can’t find the perfect gift that jumps out at you, or if you have that one friend or family member that has everything, you will end up choosing something basic, such as a picture, calendar or mug.

But sometimes, picking a great gift means taking some time and truly thinking about the person and their likes and dislikes, and then think outside the box.

Think of what they like.

Think really hard about the person you’re shopping for, and think about everything that interests them. Do they like animals? Do they like to cook? Do they like amusement parks, or do they love their job? It’s very important to think about these things and try and choose a gift from what you come up with. For example, if they love animals, you could always buy them an animal-themed gift. If they like to cook, get them cooking lessons. There are plenty of great ideas that can stem from thinking about what someone likes.

 

Think about who they are.

It’s a very good idea to also think about the person you’re shopping for and their traits and personality. For example, is the person always complaining about being cold? If so, make the gift humorous and get them a personal space heater or a heated blanket. Is the person always cracking jokes? Then sign them up for improv or an amateur comedy night at a local club. Both of these gifts show that you care and that you pay attention.

Peruse the Internet.

There are tons of retailers online, and by typing in a few basic keywords that resemble the interests or personality of your friend or family member, you may just find the perfect gift. Make sure to also peruse the Shopping section of Google, and always look on more than the first page of the search engine. If you find a great idea, you can also then use the Internet to try and find the best deals for the present.

Think of what they’ve always wanted.

Listen to the dreams, goals and desires that your friends and family members share when you’re with them. If there is something that they’ve always wanted to do or somewhere that they’ve always wanted to visit, center your gift around this. For example, if your friend or family member has always wanted to visit Italy, you may not be able to afford sending them there, but you can create an Italy-themed gift. Take them out to a nice Italian restaurant, have them serenaded by an Italian musician, and take a quaint boat ride. Though it may not be Italy, it’s the thought that counts.

You can also try to give them a gift by helping them do something they’ve always wanted to do. For example, if your friend or family member has always wanted to go skydiving, then get a group together and give skydiving as the gift. This is a great way to fulfill a dream of your friend or family member and give them a gift they’ll always truly remember.

Julie Myers works as a freelance writer.  As a devoted mother of four, she is always looking for new and exciting gift giving ideas for Christmas.

What to Buy a 7-11 year old Boy for Christmas

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Getting that perfect gift for your friend or loved one becomes more difficult each year. The present you bought last year was perfect – so how can you improve on perfection? Well fear not, there’s so much available this year for kids. T-shirts, toys, books, whatever floats their boat is on the shelf for you to collect so what are you waiting for?

If he fancies himself as a bit of an action man, this novelty Power Popper is perfect. It’s a bit of harmless fun to let off some steam after a long day. Available for under £15, this gift is ideal for a friend who might let you borrow it if you’re lucky! In the past these poppers have been proven to entertain both children and adults alike and can be used both inside and outside making them perfect for an occasion such as Christmas!

Of course he might not be the hands on type. If he’s more a bookworm, perhaps take a look at author Lemony Snicket’s new offering “Who Could That Be At This Hour?” part of his new ‘All the Wrong Questions’ series. Previously, Snicket has delighted young audiences with his ‘Series of Unfortunate Events’ novels which proved so popular that the first three were turned into a film, starring Jim Carrey. Snicket enchants readers by speaking to them in a highly understandable manner and not condescending their youth by providing interesting and intriguing stories for those who have grown out of “babyish” stories and comes highly recommended by a generation of readers.

Staying on this tangent, another good idea would be to get the gift that keeps on giving. Boys of this age are often inclined to be huge fans of superheroes and a great way of fuelling this interest is to invest in a comic book subscription. The popularity of monthly comic books is increasing year in year out and it’s never been pimple to set up a simple subscription service for Batman, Superman, Spiderman or whatever tickles their fancy. Companies such as Forbidden Planet offer easy online subscriptions with the option to add or take away comic titles from your subscription plan. Imagine their face every month when they get a fresh, new comic through the post and it’s only cost you around £2 a month to get it sent, hassle free, on your behalf.

If you’re set on buying a present that can be open on the day however, you might want to consider a few other options. Source any gifts sold by their favourite football team, or team from any sport, to get them something you know they’ll really like. A replica shirt, logo emblazoned ball or room decorations make ideal gifts for the sports fanatic! Many clubs now offer ground tours that take you all around the stadium and make special trips into the dressing room and also go pitch side. These tours are reasonably inexpensive considering, and will provide them with a great day out, whilst extending the Christmas period for the lucky person who receives it.

From kids T-shirts to books, there are so many ideas for Christmas gifts this year it’s almost impossible to choose! With so much available, you’re bound to find the right gift for your friend or loved one, it’s just a matter of whittling it down to that perfect one.

Greg O’Hara is a freelance writer and professional blogger based in Bath, UK. He enjoys writing on a variety of topics from lifestyle to family, and has had work published on a number of websites.

Christmas Gift Ideas That You Can Use For Buying Gifts Suiting Different Age Groups

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As Christmas approaches, you may find it necessary to try to buy some gifts for your loved ones. After all, the best thing about Christmas is receiving gifts! In many of such cases, you often need to get something that the recipient will appreciate in order to make a good impression. If you are not very good at getting presents, however, this often turns out to be a disaster since you may end up getting something that they do not like. However, based on a few variables such as their ages, you can come up with a few gift ideas that the individual you are going to gift to will definitely like.

Gifts for a baby

Well first off, when a child is very young (such as a neonate), you should consider a gift that is going to be practical to them. In many cases, the fact that they do not need much means that your options of what to get are very few, and this makes it much easier for you to buy the gift. Typically, the kinds of gifts you get for such an individual include bedding and clothes. When doing this, it is very important that you try to get items that are of high quality. For instance, the bedding needs to be made of a material that is going to be comfortable to the baby, and also non-irritating to the skin. You can also try to buy items such as toys for the baby, which include rattles. All in all, it is often very easy to get gifts for a baby, since they don’t really judge your gift that much!

What you can get for a preadolescent child

Though you may need to think a bit harder when trying to find a Christmas gift for a child who is not yet an adolescent, it is still not as hard as getting gifts for other kinds of people. Most of the time, you only need to consider the gender and the general mannerisms of the child in order to figure out what to get them. For instance, if they are male and love playing, you can get them some kind of action figure or video game console. However, if you are thinking of getting items such as video game consoles, you would need to find out if they do not have them in the first place. If they do, you can then buy other items such as a video game that is popular but which they do not have. For girls, items such as dresses may be all you need to get.

Gifts for teens

Most people find it difficult to get gifts for teens, mainly due to the fact that it is sometimes very difficult to gauge the personality of one. This can be attributed to the fact that they are in a stage of life that is very complex for them, and this means that they may be still struggling with their identity. However, you can leverage on facts such as the idea that most teens look to impress others when you are getting a gift for them. Most of them value material things, so a gift that is going to impress them most include things such as cell phones and other electronics. However, this is not a hard and fast rule; some teens (especially girls) may be happy to get items that are more sentimental, such as a cup with their names on it. To figure out what kind of gift to get them, it is often a good idea to try to find out what kind of personality they have.

Young adults

When you are thinking about getting a gift for someone who is just starting out in life, you will often find it very easy to impress them using items that are going to make their lives easier. For instance, if you are aware that such an individual has just moved out, you can get them a gift certificate that allows them to buy household items that they may need in their new houses.

Adults

Getting gifts for adults is not such a difficult thing to do. If you do not have any idea of what kind of personality they have, you can easily get them items such as ties (for guys) and perfumes (for ladies) and most of them will be happy with them. Personally, I think that the current trends are leaning towards gift vouchers so you can consider that too.

Remember, what you give does matter, but when it is gifted from your heart, that’s what matters the most!

Susie Chris the author of this article is a very creatives person. She is a part time worker at The House of Christmas, a place from where you can purchase the most beautiful and unique Christmas decorations things in town.

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