You’re standing in the check-out line and suddenly remember you need to buy a gift. Below are quick ways to grab a gift card, turn it into a thoughtful gift, and be on your way.

Sprouts Farmers Market

Everybody eats. But the key to making a grocery store gift card personal (and not look like you just picked it up while running your own errands) is to pair the gift card with some favorites. Get a gift card to Sprouts and deliver it with:

1. Staple. Always a winner. Grab a Sprouts shopping tote she can fill when she returns to the store.
2. Favorite. Pick a favorite item from the Sprouts shelves. It might be one of your favorites, something the kids love (and don’t complain about), or the recipient’s favorite. If your friend loves spicey foods, try a spicey marinade. If she’s into granolas, grab something fun and flavorful from the bulk bins.
3. Inspiration. Pair a Sprouts gift card with one of their many fresh options. Try something you know she’ll like or can cook with (bell pepper) or go for an inspiration item she isn’t likely to grab on her own (fresh chestnuts).

Another idea is to throw it all in the shopping bag and attach the gift card to the outside–this gift would be perfectly thoughtful–and put together in a jiffy!

Gift Card Girlfriend is getting a makeover!

In addition to sharing our creative gift card ideas, we’re converting each gift card vignette to a “Get it Done” shopping option as well. We’ll scour the net to find everything you need to make a gift card more personal. All you have to do is click the pieces and buy. (The convenient gift card–just got easier to give!)

Mother’s Day First

The site redesign will launch officially in a few weeks, but for now – check out the Mother’s Day section. You’ll find great ideas to kickstart your own creativity plus “Get it Done” deals to buy today. Below is one of my favorites!

Feet Retreat

Get Inspired: Stamp the kids’ feet or take a picture of their piggy toes and put it in a keepsake frame. Add a pedicure gift card and a note that reads, “From our feet to yours!” Or pair the gift card with a pedicure accessory or lotion like the ones shown in our “Get it Done” deal below:

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• SpaFinder GC
  Amazon.com
• Flip Flop Pedi Set
  Amazon.com
• “I Love You” lotion
  Amazon.com

Simple last-minute gift idea for Valentine's Day

Get Valentine a gift card and tie it to a potted plant. The plant will last longer than roses and won’t cost near as much. Add a simple note revealing your true feelings, which is all anybody really needs on Valentine’s Day anyway.

Go Crazy

If you want to go crazy–buy a collection of gift cards and tie each one to a different stem. Use a theme so Valentine knows you picked cards purposefully (and didn’t just stand at the kiosk grabbing things.)

Some Ideas

- Pedicure and shoe store
- Dinner and a movie
- Clothing store and salon
- Spa and bookstore
- Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
- Tennis lessons and tennis store

Or keep it simple and just write that heartfelt note.

A Gift Card for the Ages--All Ages!

My girlfriend Shannon just turned 40 and she’s amazing. She’s one of those gals who has style–you know who they are. Her house is arranged just so, she’s always dressed nicely without being overdone, and everything she does looks artistic and polished. I love being around her.

So Shannon’s mom threw a surprise birthday brunch complete with fresh squeezed juice and a frittata fresh out of the oven. Everything just as delightful as the guest of honor. As much as I loved the atmosphere, though, a gift from Shannon’s sister captured my full attention! So simple, so personal, so gift-cardable!

This sweet sibling filled a jar called “40 Things I love About You” with sentiments about their relationship as friends, as sisters, as daughters of God, and mothers of little angels. We all oohed and ahhed as Shannon read a few of the notes through weepy eyes.

I love the idea and wanted to add a gift card spin–drop a $40 dollar gift card into the jar of 40 sentiments. And don’t be caught up on age. This idea can be tailored to any birthday – 23 things I love about you and a $23 gift card to the yogurt shop. 38 things I like about you and a 38 dollar gift card to the sandwich shop. Or change it from a birthday gift to Mother’s Day, a thank you gift, or a group gift where everybody adds a note to the recipient.

So clever. So stylish. So Shannon. I love it.

This is What Summer is All About

Summer vacation is winding down and I can honestly say that we’ve lived it to the fullest. Rarely more than an hour away from home, we stay-cationed all over the Bay Area. We went to the beach, played summer league baseball, watched professional baseball, swam every water park in the area, ate ice cream, made ice cream, rode our bikes, connected with old friends, and made several new friends. It’s been a good summer.

I’ve Let Myself Go

But in the 10 weeks we’ve enjoyed as a family, I have completely let myself go. I haven’t done my hair in weeks. Ran out of a few essentials in the make-up bag and didn’t bother to replace them. My toenails are bare and my eyebrows a bit bushy. My lack of self care comes down to two things: time and money. (Doesn’t it always?)

Time and Money

I spent the early part of the summer training my boys to quietly go downstairs in the morning, bypassing the usual tap on my forehead to see if I’m awake. Their quiet departure allowed me an extra half hour or so of sleep. The indulgence, however, meant the kids were either starving or clawing at each other by the time I got up. So I had to shave time off the beauty routine to make up for it. I also let them stay up later which meant less time to myself at night. Heck, what am I saying? Less time to myself all DAY too. Love those kids, but forget about scheduling hair, salon, doctor, or dentist appointments while they’re home. And besides, money I might have spent on myself is going to admissions for various activities anyway.

Back to School

But it’s back to school time and that means every mom I know with school age kids is about to get a makeover. And I will be setting the pace. I need a new do, a splash of color on the toes, gonna look into that Yoga class I’ve talked about for months, and probably need to get my teeth cleaned as well.

So while I see retailers advertising “back to school” specials that revolve around kids, I think they’d do well to remember us moms are in need of a little pampering ourselves. And we could use some gift cards to offset the expense because we just spent all our money on summer activities and school registration. I suggest the following:

• Hair salon gift card for a cut and color
• Nail salon gift card for a manicure and pedicure
• Massage or Spa gift card to work out the summer kinks
• Gym or Yoga gift card to find her center again
• Organization store gift card to help her figure out the new fall schedule
• Lunch gift card to reconnect with girlfriends

It doesn’t have to be her birthday. If you know a mom with school age kids who is about to send the kiddies back to the teachers, get her a “Summer Survival” gift card to celebrate her return to freedom!

A new twist on an old gift idea

I like the Work & Life blog on Real Simple. A recent post by Julie Rottenberg on the ups and downs of giving a magazine subscription as a gift got me thinking.

As Julie points out, a subscription is fun to give initially, but can leave you wondering what to do when renewal time comes along. (Should you renew? Does the recipient want the magazine renewed? Will the renewal look lackluster as a gift or tie you into a long-term gifting arrangement?)

Instead, I suggest giving a gift card for a magazine subscription. The recipient can pick out which magazine to order and the renewal notice won’t come to you. It’s a one-time gift.

With that problem solved, I started thinking of fun ways to deliver a magazine subscription gift card–all starting with a store bought magazine. The recipient can order a different magazine, of course, but your gift ensemble acts as recommended reading plus something for the recipient to enjoy while he or she waits for the first issue to arrive.

Then I’d pick up accessories to go with the magazine like a bag of chips, sunscreen, and a reusable water bottle for poolside reading. Or do something in line with the magazine you’re giving. For example, Sports Illustrated and an energy bar for the athlete, Family Fun magazine and craft supplies for the toddler-age mom, or Real Simple with decorative push-pins for the organizer.

This is a gift that works for Him, Her, the Family, and for Kids. I love it and appreciate Julie’s post that kicked me into re-thinking this old gift idea.