Got a long list? Bulk gift ideas for skinny budgets
Kathleen Daelemans shares her comprehensive guide to getting great gifts
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Buy your gifts in bulk this season Dec. 4: Whether you’re shopping for a chocolate lover or a movie addict, Kathleen Daelemans shows TODAY’s Al Roker holiday presents you can get in packs. Today Show Home |
It’s the season to show your loved ones just how much they mean to you. Chef Kathleen Daelemans, author of “Cooking Thin and Loving Food: 200 Easy Recipes for Healthy Weight Loss,” shares her comprehensive guide to getting great gifts without damaging your credit card:
For the men in your life
Six-pack from Bell's Brewery
Cross off the men on your list with this over-the-top (but inexpensive) six-pack to go from Bell’s Brewery, the oldest craft-brewer east of Boulder, Colorado. The brewery makes nearly 20 different beers, ales, porters and stouts. Known for their unique style and flavor, Bell’s has built a nationwide reputation as a creative and talented brewery.
Go for the Two-Hearted Ale: An India Pale Ale-style well-suited for Hemingway-esque trips to the Upper Peninsula, American malts and enormous hop additions give this beer a crisp finish and incredible floral hop aroma. Or opt for the Winter White Ale: This is a wheat ale brewed with American wheat and a proprietary blend of hefe and classic Belgian-style yeasts — a refreshing winter alternative created from the subtle fusion of two classic flavors. $8 for 6 beers, www.BellsBeer.com
Built NY six-pack tote
Help save water creatures (no more plastic rings in our lakes and oceans!) by carrying cans in these reusable neoprene six-pack totes and BYOB guilt-free. This six-pack tote is machine washable and keeps beverages hot or cold up to four hours. It lays perfectly flat when not in use. Ideal for storing recycled beer bottles in style. Available in black, blue, cranberry and realtree/camouflage pattern. $20 to $23, www.BuiltNY.com
For the ladies
Spain is the new black! Give your girlfriends a Spain spa getaway with wine from Rioja (the Napa of Spain), along with a blanket and basket from Ikea, a HoMedics quad massager, a CD and a candle.
Vibrant Rioja wines
Rioja is Spain’s greatest wine region and is also an ideal wine to pair with food of all types. A value by the bottle or case, you can find vibrant Rioja (the official wine of Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week) in the Spain section of any wine store. Less than $10, www.VibrantRioja.com
Hand massagers
Ah, self-massage! The Quad is available in blue, pink and green and offers four massaging “knuckles” that glow while providing therapeutic massage. Less than $10, www.HoMedics.com
“Tango Around the World” CD
This new music release from Putumayo World Music makes a wonderful gift. Putumayo CDs are packaged in colorful digipaks with 24 pages of liner notes in three languages — English, French and Spanish. $14.98, www.Putumayo.com
Creative Candles
Martha Stewart’s favorite candles! Hand-finished, 2” ball candles, made in Kansas City by Premium Candle Makers for over 45 years. Creative Candles are smokeless and dripless, with cotton wicks. $39.95 for a boxed and tissue-wrapped set of 12, www.Skaagenhus.com
Rivta blanket and Bram basket
Ikea’s plush Rivta mohair blanket is perfect for cozy nights nights in front of the fire. The blanket comes in lots of rich colors. Plus, Ikea has baskets for every budget. Their Bram baskets are practically a steal! $9.99 for the blanket; $6.99 for 3 nested baskets, www.IKEA-USA.com
For the “Millennium generation”
You don’t necessarily need a computer, a Wii or a PlayStation 2 to bring a smile to the hard-to-please Millennium generation. Give them the gift of music, instead!
Do The Red Thing iTunes gift cards
These holiday-themed gift cards can be used for the vast catalog of music, TV, movies, games and audiobooks on the iTunes online store. Available in denominations of $15, $25 and $50, www.Apple.com
Divas and dons
Scholastic Treasury of 100 Storybook Classics
DVD box set of the Scholastic Treasury of 100 Storybook Classics. This high-value DVD set is a great and educational way to keep the kids busy during the holiday season. $99.95 for the set or $6.25 each, www.Storybooksondvd.com
Angel chimes
Light the candles and watch the angels spin around, gently ringing the bells. You’ll delight your family with this century-old vintage Scandinavian Christmas icon. $16.95, www.Skagenhus.com
Santa plates and mugs
This dishware from Harry and David features four different designs to help make the season bright. $59.95 for a set of four, or $7.50 each, harryanddavid.com
We’d add in a Santa cocoa pot (plus a tin of the company’s milk chocolate cocoa mix, and a bag of Christmas tree marshmallows). $39.95 for the Santa pot, www.HarryandDavid.com
Champagne drinkers
Champagne bucket and flutes
Toast the champagne drinker on your list with an inexpensive yet elegant set from Ikea. $14.99 for the Champagne Bladet vase, $4.99 per 6 pack for the Champagne Svalka flutes, www.IKEA-USA.com
Baby Piper
Piper-Heidsieck as a fashion accessory! It’s a great champagne in a pretty, red-lacquered quarter bottle to be drunk with the tip of the lips to a straw. $40 per 4-pack, www.piperheidsieck.com
For the people who make your life easier
Christmas black leaf tea
Ikea’s signature loose black teas and tea infuser will warm the hearts of your loved ones this holiday season. Tea, $4.99 each; Idealiak Infuser, $2.99 www.IKEA-USA.com
Olive oil soaps
This long-lasting soap contains no bleaching agents, foaming agents, artificial colors, chemical fragrances or animal products. From $6.00, www.ta-ze.com
Great body lotion
The limited-edition lotions and cleansers from Kiehl’s come in scents like Pear Tree Corner, Forest Rain and Cranberry. Liquid body cleanser, $15.50; hand and body lotion, $19.50; www.Kiehls.com
Men’s facial fuel
For the first time, Kiehl’s is offering the Ultimate Man Dopp Kit — a travel case for men’s grooming needs. $78, www.Kiehls.com
Dale & Thomas popcorn sampler
A case of cool Old-Fashioned Canisters filled with Chocolate Chunk N'Caramel, Hall of Fame Kettle Corn, Peanut Butter & White Chocolate DrizzleCorn or Twice-As-Nice Chocolate DrizzleCorn will take care of everybody on your list. Dale & Thomas Popcorn Sampler, $4 a package — or their popcorn-of-the-month club is a nifty idea, too. www.daleandthomaspopcorn.com
Chocolate-covered cherries
Discover handmade jams, nut mixes, dried cherries and baked goods from this Glen Arbor, Michigan-based company. Various prices; also available: “Buy 10, get two free.” www.CherryRepublic.com
Chocolate Covered Pretzels
Fretzels™ by Jill are gourmet chocolate-covered pretzels, individually hand-dipped in the finest milk, white, dark, and butterscotch chocolate and covered with your favorite toppings or drizzled with even more luscious chocolate. You don't need a special occasion to enjoy these mouth-watering treats. Prices: $14.00 for 6
www.fretzels.com
Jewel-toned bud vases
These six tiny vases can showcase single blooms, or create a fine centerpiece when grouped together or lined up. $39.95, www.RedEnvelope.com
A year of seeds
Give the gift of a windowsill garden year-round with these unique starter kits of easy-to-grow seeds. $70, www.RedEnvelope.com
For more information on “Cooking Thin with Chef Kathleen, 200 Easy Recipes for Healthy Weight Loss,” visit Amazon.com or www.kathleendaelemans.com
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