The Rabbit Hole
So Valentine’s Day is this Saturday and every person in any form of romantic entanglement is scrambling to come up with the perfect romantic present for the object of their affection.
Though I don’t have the patience or the interest to sit around and list five wonderful/ romantic/ creative/ affordable gift ideas, I can post about five absolutely horrible gifts that you should not buy if you want your special someone to stick around.
So take a gander at these awful, and even bizarre, gifts.
Candy is one of the classic Valentine’s Day gifts. The seasonal aisle of grocery stores is always filled with heart-shaped boxes of chocolates and other assorted sweets for your sweetheart.
Though your lady may be expecting something edible, I doubt she wants you to give her a Candy G-String. Just like those candy necklaces enjoyed in childhood, imagine your lady’s joy when you present her with candy she can wear between her butt cheeks.
The Candy Bra is also available if you really want to go all out and get your lady the complete set.
I love art, but talk about creepy. Personalized gifts especially made for a couple can be a great gift, but this one is just a little strange. Basically they take a photo of you and your beloved and then photoshop your faces onto a painting of Adam & Eve.
Sure, you may think, aw that’s cute or original. But imagine you walk into someone’s house and you see that hanging on their walls. Talk about uncomfortable. And what lady or guy would open this up and say “Oh, it’s what I’ve always wanted.”
Want to make the man in your life just a little more self-conscious? Give him an Erectile Quality Monitor
.
Though it’s touted to be a great tool for detecting the on-set of Erectile Dysfunction, if you gave this to a guy, the subtle message would instantly shrink his Johnson in shame.
Lingerie is usually a great gift for a girl on V-day, but she’s probably looking for something lacy and slinky, not something that lights up your bedroom like Vegas.
The LED light bra features stylish feather, effective in the seduction of any man or woman of your choosing. Honestly, no girl wants her rack to look like a neon sign.
Flowers, especially roses, are a staple of the Valentine’s Day tradition. For an interesting twist on the classic gift, you could buy her Elephant Poo Paper Roses.
This gift is touted as eco-friendly since these odorless roses are handmade in Thailand from animal poop. You can read all about how they do it here. Though it may be better for the environment, I don’t think anyone would feel comfortable sniffing these roses.
The holiday shopping season officially started last friday, and gift shopping is on everyone’s mind. With the poor economy, most people are looking to cut back on holiday spending this year. There are many affordable gift options available, but in these shaky modern times it’s good to not only give to those you love but also give a little back to others in need. Luckily there’s an abundance of websites available where your purchases benefit non-profit organizations, individuals, and even animals across the world. Here’s five websites where you can find affordable and meaningful gifts for everyone on your list.
Better World Books began with a single book drive started by three college friends and has grown into worldwide bookseller. What makes this site different is their partnership with non-profits like Books for Africa, Room to Read, and National Center for Family Literacy. Through those partnerships, they’ve made a huge impact, raising money for literacy and education through their book sales and also helping the environment.Have some extra books around? You can also help by donating your books.
As a bonus, check out this video about the history and impact of Better World Books.
New Mexico Creates is a store that features unique items by New Mexico artisans. The Museum of New Mexico Foundation Shops in four museums in New Mexico and their online store, and the purchases benefit the Museum of New Mexico and the artists who create the items.
The Animal Rescue Site sells various items and the proceeds help feed and care for the millions of unwanted animals in shelters in the US. Many of the products feature their purple paw print logos on clothing, jewelry, and even gifts for your pets. You can also select Gifts that Give More to give money for a specific purpose like caring for two rescued rabbits or feeding a US Family for five weeks–there’s over 125 ways you can help.
The organization One Laptop Per Child has launched a campaign called Give One, Get One where if you donate one to a child in a developing nation, you can also can purchase a XO laptop for yourself (or as a gift for a love one). The cost is $199 for the donated laptop and $399 for the pair
. That price is unbeatable when it comes to a laptop, and this would make the perfect gift for any child.Here is part one of their mission video. You can view part 2 here, which explains why give a laptop to a child who may not have electricity.
Giftback.com offers a variety of gifts for every occasion, and 10% of every purchase goes to a charity of your choice. You can buy gift baskets, flowers, baby gifts, or something for the special guy or gal in your life, and shop with the warm fuzzy feeling that comes with doing something good.
See Also…
5 Sites Where You Can Donate to Charities For Free With One Click
Nowadays with the threats of Global Warming, destruction of the rain forests, and other environmental issues, there’s an international desire to live "greener" lives. Changing to an eco-friendly lifestyle can seem like a daunting task, as if it’ll take expensive changes like installing solar panels on your home or buying a hybrid car. With the products available on many websites across the internet, there are endless opportunities to do your small part to help the environment. Not only can these items help ease your conscious but they can save you money in the long run as well, which is the kind of green we all want to have more of.
1. Rechargable Batteries - greenbatteries.com
Their tagline is "Responsible renewable energy" which is exactly was they offer. Whether you use batteries in a simple gadget like a remote control or a real energy drainer like a digital camera, there are other options besides buying new batteries all the time. This website not only sells rechargeable batteries, like Nickel Metal Hydride (NiMH) and Lithium Ion (Li-Ion) batteries, but it educates its visitors on the different types and uses, featuring FAQ on each and recommended reading on "Responsible Energy Principles." With the abundance of information you can easily purchase the batteries, chargers, cases, and accessories that fit your lifestyle.
2. Reusable Bags - reusablebags.com
The name says it all: this site specializes in reusable bags. From nylon grocery bags to cotton mesh produce bags, they have everything you’ll need to eliminate plastic and paper bags from your trip to the local grocery store. They also offer various other totes, from market baskets to lunch boxes. They also have a whole section of bags made from recycled materials, like juice boxes, outdoor ad banners, rice bags, or just plain recycled cotton. The site also features ideas on how to get involved and the latest news stories related the plastic bags and their effect on the environment.
3. Washable Swiffer Refills - mamasloveathome.com
Run entirely by a stay at home mom in Iowa, this website offers reusable products that cannot be found in stores. The Swiffer brand has made its own line of cleaning products featuring sweepers, mops, and dusters. The drawback of these wonderful tools is how much the refills cost and the waste it produces when you toss each cloth after one use. This site sells reusable clothes made from fleece and cloth diapers that can simply be thrown in the washing machine and then used again.
Recently her site has also begun offering cloth diapers, massage therapy linens, and other various items.
4. Wrap-N-Mat - wrap-n-mat.com
Offering only one product, this site specializes in the reusable "Wrap-N-Mat." Also created by a parent to fulfill a need and replaced disposable plastic baggies and saran wrap. This octagonal shaped mat folds up and fastens with Velcro to store sandwiches or snacks. When it’s unfolded it doubles as a placemat, creating a clean eating area anywhere.
5. Everything Else - Green home
This site is ready to help you make your whole home green! The amount of environmentally friendly products they offer is amazing. They have clothing (jackets made from eco-fleece, hemp footwear), appliances (green computers, table lamps made from recycled chopsticks), items for bath and bedroom (organic soaps, natural fiber mattresses), furniture (hemp sofas, tables made from recycled bicycle rims), office (tree free paper made from sugar cane, biodegradable pens), and much more. If you want to really start to transform your lifestyle to a greener one, this is a great place to start.