Gift baskets are popular for all occasions. They allow you to customize a special occasion gift to truly reflect the recipient’s likes and dislikes. Beauty, bath and spa items are favorites when putting together gift baskets, especially for women. If you’re putting together a custom gift basket for your sister, wife, mother or best friend, here are some suggestions that can help you create a fabulous basket of beauty goodies she’ll remember and enjoy for a long time to come.

Beauty Gift Basket Themes

The first step in creating a gift basket is to decide on a theme to pull it all together. Some popular themes that include beauty and cosmetic items might be a luxury spa basket, a basket of skin care products or a pampered bath gift basket.

Think outside the box here. A college student struggling with bills will probably truly appreciate a basket of funky cosmetics that she can’t afford. Items like the Beauty Addicts Pocket Six cosmetic brush set, Senna Kabuki brush, Sheer Cover Ultimate Face Collection will be a guaranteed hit.  A busy executive or waitress could be bowled over by a basket that includes luxury foot care products to soothe those aching feet. The Elizabeth Grant Foot Care Collection, pedicure set and a foot basin would make a wonderful gift basket.

Set a Gift Basket Budget

Decide how much you can afford to spend, and then work to find items that fit into your budget. One way to do that is to choose one expensive luxury item and fill in around it with lower-priced necessities that coordinate. Another way to stay within your budget is to check the clearance racks and discounted items where you can often find some real bargains. And of course, you can always buy cosmetics or beauty items in gift sets or collections, and repackage them in your own gift baskets.

Designing a Beauty Gift Basket

One of the joys of giving gift baskets is that the recipient can reuse the basket for other purposes. You might package cosmetics in a fancy cosmetic bag, for instance, or stash a collection of bath and spa items in a beautiful reusable basket. Put a collection of nail care products into a lavishly decorated keepsake trinket box, or package up a winter care skin collection with a hat and scarf set. Get creative and you’ll find some surprising gift containers that everyone on your gift list will cherish even after the contents have been used up.

Choosing Beauty Gift Basket Brands

Brands make a great theme for beauty gift baskets, especially luxury or specialty brands in beauty products. Choose a luxury name in skin care, cosmetics or spa and bath collections, then pick out specific items to fill a delicious basket or bowl with them. You’ll find great skin care products made by Intelligent Nutrients, and Skinn Cosmetic and Isomers, spa and bath products made by Mastic Spa and Borghese, hair care products made by Steve Lococco and Neil George and nail care products by Bella Pierce.

Put together a Head to Toe Beauty Gift Baskets

Instead of focusing on one aspect of beauty or skin care, put together a head to toe basket made up of several products that each take care of one part of your body. You might include a special shampoo and conditioner, a facial masque, a nail conditioner and manicure set, a body mist and body wash and a bottle of foot spray to energize those aching muscles and tendons.

How to Save Money on Beauty Gift Baskets

If you shop carefully online, you can find some of the best known names and products for the lowest prices possible. In addition, many websites that sell beauty products offer special discounts if you buy online, or may offer special Web-only discounts for those who shop online. Take the time to shop around before you buy so that you are sure you’re getting the best deal on the best products.

Gift baskets are among the best-loved and most well-received presents for good reason. Every gift basket is a whole collection of gifts, not just one. Choosing the items for a gift basket can be nearly as much fun as receiving one yourself, but if you want the best of both worlds, take advantage of special discounts and buy-one-get-one deals to ensure that you get a share of the goodies too!

Gift baskets are fun to put together and can make friends and family feel truly valued and appreciated. If you take a little time to consider what kind of beauty items the people on your gift list need or want the most, your gift baskets will be a guaranteed hit.

Source by sara Stewart

If you want to give a unique gift that is guarantee to be used an enjoyed by the recipient, consider a fruit basket. Fruit baskets are fabulous ways to provide your friend, family member, neighbor, co-worker, or client with a delicious-and healthy-treat that looks like a million bucks, but is actually budget friendly. When looking a fruit basket, you can either choose to purchase one pre-made or make your own to save you some of your hard-earned cash. Regardless where you get your fruit basket, carefully consider the contents and personalize the gift to the recipient.

The most important thing about a fruit basket is indeed the fruit itself. When looking for what fruits to add to a fruit basket, consider these popular options:

• Apples: This hearty fruit is a fruit basket favorite. Most everyone loves an apple, so you do not have to worry about less adventurous tastes avoiding the goodies. Also, apples tend to travel or ship well and have a long shelf life, so you do not have to worry about the fruit in your basket arriving spoiled or crushed.

• Pears: Like apples, pears are another fruit basket favorite. However, due to the more delicate nature of the pear, they may need a bit more protection-especially if the basket is to be shipped. Most pears are purchased in some protective covering, usually either a plastic container or foam wrapping, so consider leaving this protection in place when assembling your fruit basket.

• Citrus: Oranges, grapefruits, nectarines, tangerines, and clementines are perennial favorites in a fruit basket. In addition to adding a fantastic color, these sweet treats are favored by most individuals. However, keep in mind that some citrus, mainly oranges and grapefruits, are large in size and heavy in weight. If you plan on adding many of these juicy delights, ensure your basket is of the appropriate size to handle the fruit.

• Pineapples: Usually, the thought of fruit baskets and pineapples go hand in hand, as these elaborate fruits add a tremendous punch to the baskets appearance. Before you throw in a pineapple “just because,” consider also purchasing a pineapple cutting, a small, inexpensive device that will allow your guest to enjoy the delicious meat of the fruit.

• Grapes and Berries: More delicate fruit, including grapes and berries, should be added judiciously. Since these fruits generally do not ship well, you should reconsider adding these fruits to baskets going great distances. In addition to their fragility, these fruits do not have a long shelf life, meaning they can potentially be spoiled upon arrival of the gift.

• Unique Fruits: Depending on the type of basket you are assembling, you may decide to include unique fruits. Usually tropical in nature, consider adding kiwi, star fruit, plantains, and even coconuts if the recipient will enjoy this more unusual fare.

Source by Garret Wong

THIS YEAR VALENTINE’S DAY FALLS ON A SATURDAY, AS A RESULT WE ARE UNABLE TO DELIVER ON THAT DAY AUSTRALIA WIDE. SATURDAY DELIVERIES WILL ONLY BE MADE IN OUR LOCAL GOLD COAST AREA. ALL OTHER DELIVERIES WILL BE MADE PRIOR TO VALENTINE’S DAY IN A BOX MARKED ” THIS IS A VALENTINE’S DAY GIFT, DO NOT OPEN UNTIL FEBRUARY 14th”. IMAGE THE ANTICIPATION OF OPENING THE BOX.

Our Valentine’s Day Gift Baskets and hampers are a real treat! The perfect gift for your love one or soon to be loved one. Valentine’s Day fall on February 14th every year.
We specialise in creating gifts with a difference. See our range of Valentine’s gift ideas below, you will be impressed with the range. From chocolates roses, naughty gifts to classy Champagne gifts we have a great selection to you to choose from.

We select the finest gourmet foods, Champagnes, chocolates and wines to add to our gift baskets. You want your gift to be enjoyed and appreciated, Basket Basket gives you the peace of mind that your gift basket has been carefully put together.

Buying and sending the right baby gift basket will reveal a lot about you and your company. While any gift will be received with much appreciation, not all newborn gifts will be received equally.

Will your gift be the one shown to all friends and family? Will your gift make its way to the baby or baby’s room? or will it make it to the back of the cupboard. Will your baby gift be used in a month’s time, will it be used in a year’s time. Or will it be forgotten as quickly as flowers wilt.
How do you choose the right baby gift basket to buy? Well the aim is to find a gift which is different, unique, thoughtful and practical.

Our Valentine’s day range includes a great selection teddy bears, chocolate gifts, personalised gifts, bath robes, wines, gourmet hampers, pamper gifts as well as flowers and traditional gift basketss. All our Valentine gift baskets are beautifully presented.
All orders can be delivered throughout Australia, Sydney, Melbourne, Perth, Brisbane, Gold Coast, Adelaide, Newcastle, Woolongong, Darwin, and any other town in Australia.

Source by Lionel Smitka

An expectant mom is soon to give birth, having a new baby is a life changing event for her. Family member and friends are expecting too, and perhaps they want to give memorable gifts for the coming of the newborn child. However, it isn’t always as easy to find ideal gifts – especially for an infant – that are not common, or shall we say “unique” that can make a favorable impact. With so many varieties to choose from, it is a real challenge as to how and what to pick. Consider the following helpful gift ideas:

Personalized Gifts

Personalized infant products and supplies are always best. Most parents as well as parents’ friends and other family members think of giving personalized items to welcome a child, because of the fact that these gifts are not just practical, but can also give a sense of thoughtfulness and adoration. You may think that finding personalized gifts can be very tough, but if you find fun and enjoyment while shopping for cute and clever newborn pieces, chances are you will find what you are looking for. Most of personalized babies’ stuff are found at specialty stores, but you could also shop at online stores for a wider selection.

Different choices for personalized items await you, from very simple to very exquisite. You may find personalized newborn clothing like shirts, beddings and blankets, bibs, socks, hats and other layettes. Consider a Personalized Organic Thermal Baby Blanket that can make a beautiful, healthy and personalized blanket, and a sweet gift to warm your precious one. Other clothing options are personalized infant caps, monogram sweaters, burp cloth sets, pillow and blanket sets and more.

Another personalized gifts for newborn babies are personalized furniture like theme flip stools, personalized stuffed and teething toys, picture frames, feeding wares and the like.

Baby Gift Basket

A baby gift basket is another great option to welcome a child with a more fun and festive atmosphere. Gift baskets are abundant surprises not just for the baby alone but also for the parents. A usual baby gift basket is filled with different products and supplies for infants. It can have a compilation of clothing, baby food, toys and the like. Although gift baskets are known to be made from a real basket, you could also use other container options to hold numerous gift items, such as laundry baskets, medium size plastic jars, pail or a baby bath tub, or even a bucket.

Gift baskets can also include special treats for mom and dad. Apart from their infant’s supplies, you can also add spa products to pamper the strained body of the new mom. Also, books and magazines for good parenting are ideal, where new parents are guided with reliable articles and advices for their new role in raising their child – an ideal new mom gift. You may opt for a Maie Baby Girl Gift Basket to greet a baby girl! A festive present with a delicate floral design that gives classy and upscale appeal for your pretty little girl. It features different unique essentials from popular Baby Dry Goods line.

Source by

Whether it’s the Christmas holiday season or the middle of summer, the necessity of having to shop for a birthday or anniversary present is inevitable. While it’s always a thrill to find just the right gift for a friend or associate, sometimes issues such as lack of time or the difficulty of trying to find a unique gift: how many ties can you buy your brother in law, make the buying experience stressful and a hassle. Unique gourmet gifts: salmon, lobster, crab and steak There’s really no need to buy yet another tie because what your brother in law really wants is a unique food gift such as an assorted steak box featuring specialty cuts of premium beef. This is a gift that he can take outdoors and grill on a nice summer evening or enjoy dining indoors. If you have a seafood lover to please, you can send them anything from smoked salmon gift baskets to a crab bake, lobster bake, or lobster gram. The last two are really fun because your lobster gifts come with live lobster, a pot, lobster bib and other items for a delightful lobster dinner. Crab bakes are generally the same idea only with live crab. Gifts for the dessert lover With so many choices in gourmet chocolates: in boxes, themed gifts baskets and more, you can send anything from romantic, fine chocolates to elegant, hand made chocolates to a colleague. Another popular idea for the confection lover is tower gifts: chocolate tower gifts and cookie tower gifts. These gifts are delivered in the mail and can make quite a presentation. Cookie bouquets are also fun gifts and great if you weren’t planning to spend a lot. Gifts for the food lover If you have a gourmand, and they’re hungry to sample different kinds of wine, cheeses, chocolates, coffees, teas and such look for a good food of the month club online. These clubs tend to include interesting choices and include information for your recipient to learn more about different kinds of cheeses, for example if it’s a cheese of the month club (see http://www.a1-food-gifts.com/unique-gifts.htm ). Also, with a monthly food gift plan your recipient is not likely to forget you as there is a reminder each month.

Whether it’s the Christmas holiday season or the middle of summer, the necessity of having to shop for a birthday or anniversary present is inevitable. While it’s always a thrill to find just the right gift for a friend or associate, sometimes issues such as lack of time or the difficulty of trying to find a unique gift: how many ties can you buy your brother in law, make the buying experience stressful and a hassle.

Unique gourmet gifts: salmon, lobster, crab and steak

There’s really no need to buy yet another tie because what your brother in law really wants is a unique food gift such as an assorted steak box featuring specialty cuts of premium beef. This is a gift that he can take outdoors and grill on a nice summer evening or enjoy dining indoors. If you have a seafood lover to please, you can send them anything from smoked salmon gift baskets to a crab bake, lobster bake, or lobster gram. The last two are really fun because your lobster gifts come with live lobster, a pot, lobster bib and other items for a delightful lobster dinner. Crab bakes are generally the same idea only with live crab.

Gifts for the dessert lover

With so many choices in gourmet chocolates: in boxes, themed gifts baskets and more, you can send anything from romantic, fine chocolates to elegant, hand made chocolates to a colleague. Another popular idea for the confection lover is tower gifts: chocolate tower gifts and cookie tower gifts. These gifts are delivered in the mail and can make quite a presentation. Cookie bouquets are also fun gifts and great if you weren’t planning to spend a lot.

Gifts for the food lover

If you have a gourmand, and they’re hungry to sample different kinds of wine, cheeses, chocolates, coffees, teas and such look for a good food of the month club online. These clubs tend to include interesting choices and include information for your recipient to learn more about different kinds of cheeses, for example if it’s a cheese of the month club (see http://www.a1-food-gifts.com/unique-gifts.htm ). Also, with a monthly food gift plan your recipient is not likely to forget you as there is a reminder each month.

Source by Jitesh

What I am going to tell you about gift basket making thoughts & gift basket ideas is a treasure. Making a gift basket is an art and if you are good enough to prepare the right basket then you would be able to see the smiles on everyone’s faces. Looking for a place where you can get all the best ideas to make an appealing gift basket then boy you have come to the right place, we will tell you how.

Here we would like to you a complete list of things and ideas to make or create exclusive items that would put to shame some of the professionally gift baskets available in the market, all you need is imagination and implementing the whole idea properly.

· Delicious food packing are one of the most sort after gifts packing done today. A basket package having gourmet pasta one or two, paprika, tongs, garlic olive oil or virgin olive oil, Tabasco sauce, spices such as oregano, chili powder, dried red peppers, basil, black pepper, cayenne pepper, white pepper, thyme, or a mixture of spices, sauces of the likes of chili sauce, HP sauce, plum sauce, soy sauce, teriyaki sauce or Szechwan sauce, hot pickles plus an additional recipe book shall be nice to round it off. If you like to have more in the basket then flavored teas, herbal teas, cleavers, olives or chopsticks would be fine as well.

· For those who are wine collectors or like wines then what better gift than a gift basket containing wine. Such baskets are ideal for Christmas, for New Year, Thanksgiving and at any occasion. Take a small pretty looking tub or the conventional basket and place good wines either red or white or of them, place some wine glasses, corkscrew, pack some snacks as well like fine cheese, dry fruits, roasted nuts, and the odd Swiss chocolates would make the basket complete.

· Quite a lot of people love craft. In every family there exists an admirer of craftwork. If you are making one that has craft material in it them it should have a painting kit, glue gun having glue sticks, wood sticks, acrylic colors, fabric or glass painting kit, gel candles, water oil, craft knife, set of brushes, beads, candle making kits, pine cones, candle wax, dried flowers, wreath hangers, grape vine wreath, ribbons, oasis foams, arts & crafts material, DIY books, DIY project kits or pattern books.

* For the newborn you can have some baby bath kits, baby blankets, baby photo album, diapers and all sorts of goodies that are there in the market.

With the above listed ideas there should be no dirt of thoughts to make a great gift basket. I sincerely hope that we have listed all that can be done to prepare a proper and elegant gift basket. The list can be endless but that we have told you encompass a wide range of possibilities to choose from. Put a small handwritten note so that the person will remember you for a long time and I think this note shall be the perfect finishing material.

Source by Angela B. Smith

Creating your own gift baskets to give as gifts is really easy and fun. You can save money by making them yourself instead of buying them from a trendy gift store. You can make them for personal use to give as gifts or start a home based gift basket business.

The following gift basket ideas are great for the food lovers, chefs, bakers and cooks on your gift list.

You only need a few simple supplies to get started.

Supplies:

Basket
Basket Filler (shreds)
Basket Clear Cellophane Bag or Basket Wrap
Ribbon (to tie off the bag)
Ribbon (to make a bow)
Gift Tag
Product Fillers
Scissors

Note: You don’t have to fill your gift basket with all of the following product suggestions, these suggestions are just to help you with your creative process.

Now let’s get you started with some theme ideas for your gift baskets.

1. Gourmet Spice: Fill your basket with a variety of spices and herbs such as: basil, oregano, paprika, red hot peppers, rosemary, dill, parsley, garlic salt, garlic powder, seasoned salt, etc.

2. Baking Tools For The Baker: rolling pin, measuring cups, measuring spoons, pastry sheet, pastry blender, muffin cup liners, loaf pan, apron, recipe cards, baking theme cookbook, cookie cutters, cake tester, oven mitts and hot pads.

3. Breakfast For Two: jam, jelly, apple butter, pancake mix, maple syrup, breakfast muffin mix, coffee, tea, hot cocoa, creamer, breakfast theme cookbook and fresh fruits.

4. Fresh and Fruity: grapefruits, oranges, tangerines, tangelos, pears, peaches, grapes, lemons and limes. I don’t recommend including berries unless you are going to make and give your basket to the recipient the same day.

5. Kitchen Gadgets: wire whisk, egg beater, silicone spatula, wooden spoon, cookie spatula, jar gripper, can opener, bottle opener, egg separator, nut cracker, corn cob holders, chip clips, cookie cutters, pizza wheel, ice cream scoop, vegetable peeler, grater and kitchen shears.

6. Tea For Two: regular tea bags, decaf tea bags, flavored tea bags, two tea cups, two tea cup saucers, tea for two teapot, creamer, sugar and tea bag squeezers.

7. Coffee For Two: regular coffee, decaf coffee, two bags of flavored coffees, regular creamer, flavored creamer, pack of stir sticks, two coffee mugs, sugar and coffee filters. You can also buy some of those popular coffee pods.

8. Pasta Lovers: spaghetti noodles, elbow macaronis, bow tie pasta, lasagna noodles, angel hair pasta, corkscrew pasta and pot pie squares. You can also include a pasta theme cookbook, pasta utensils and two jars of spaghetti sauce.

9. Snack Attack: purchase single-serving sized potato chips, barbecue chips, sour cream and onion chips, thin pretzels, hard pretzels, tortilla chips, popcorn, microwave popcorn bags, cookies, crackers and candy.

10. Grilling Basket: spatula, tongs, meat fork, barbecue sauce brush, wire cleaning brush, barbecue skewers, marinating container, marinade mixes, oven mitts, meat thermometer, apron and a grilling theme cookbook.

11. Wine Lovers Basket: two wine glasses, two bottles of wine, one package of wine glass charms, corkscrew, drip collars, wine pourer spout, bottle chiller wrap and a book about wine. If you have a local winery near you, purchase a gift card and include that in your basket.

12. Ice Cream Lovers: hot fudge sauce, strawberry sauce, caramel sauce, chocolate sprinkles, jar of cherries, whipped cream, miniature chocolate candies, ice cream bowls or sundae cups and an ice cream scoop.

I have provided you with 12 easy to make gift basket ideas to get your creative juices flowing.

Source by Shelly Hill

This session will give you all the basics you need to know about oil markets: producers, consumers, the refining process. The next module will provide you with an overview of the main types of oil traded in the OTC markets and the associated derivative products.

Crude oil is a naturally occurring, flammable liquid consisting of a complex mixture of hydrocarbons. Petroleum is used mostly for fuel oil and gasoline through the refining process. Generally crude oil is classified as a function of 3 factors:

1. Its origin, the most 2 known sources being West Texas Intermediate (WTI) or Brent. Its location is important because it dictates the transportation costs to the nearest refinery
2. Its API, a measure of gravity. This is important because a light crude produces a higher yield of more valuable gasoline then a heavy crude; and
3. Its sulphur content. A sweet crude (low sulphur content) is more desirable than a sour crude (high sulphur content) as it commands a higher price due to the lower refining costs incurred to meet environmental standards in consuming countries.

I outline the main pricing references for crude as well as an idea of their “liquidity” in the derivatives markets:

• West Texas Intermediate (WTI) is a light, sweet crude oil delivered in Cushing, Oklahoma. Main benchmark for North American oil and the most liquid index worldwide
• Brent is a blend of different oils in the North Sea. The oil is delivered at Sullom Voe in the Shetlands, UK. Oil production from Europe, Africa and Middle East is priced off this benchmark, which is the second most liquid worldwide after WTI
• Others such as Dubai-Oman, Tapis, Minas and the OPEC Reference Basket. The latter is a weighted average of oil blends from various OPEC countries (Organization of Petroleum Exporting Counties). Liquidity in the derivatives markets is generally limited to none (some trades are sometimes done on an ad-hoc basis).

Oil is distilled into fuels – the most common types (and their associated European derivatives indices) are:

• Diesel, mostly traded as Platts ULSD Diesel 10ppm CIF North West Europe (NWE) or CIF Mediterranean
• Fuel oil, mostly traded as Platts 1% or 3.5% sulphur content fuel oil. This can be either CIF North West Europe of MED, either on cargo ships or barges
• Gasoline, generally Argus CIF NWE Unleaded Gasoline
• Jet fuel, generally Platts Jet fuel CIF NWE. In Asia this is referred to as Jet Kerosene and trades as Platts Jet Kerosene

Demand

The top 5 oil consuming countries are:

1. USA, 19.5m bbl/day
2. China, 7.8m bbl/day
3. Japan, 4.8m bbl/day
4. India, 2.9m bbl/day
5. Russia, 2.9m bbl/day

As a whole, the world as a whole consumes approx. 63m bbl/day of oil.

Supply

The top 5 oil producing countries are:

1. Saudi Arabia, 10.6m bbl/day
2. Russia, 6.7m bbl/day
3. United States, 8.3m bbl/day
4. Iran, 4.2m bbl/day
5. China, 3.9m bbl/day

Source by Agustin Valecillos