|
Hi everyone!
It's so hard to believe that we are in December already! Of course
if you go by the holiday decorations in the stores one would
think it has been December for the past three months. Call me
old fashioned, but I seem to recall people celebrating and decorating
for Thanksgiving before breaking out the holiday stuff.
Ah well, the holiday season is upon us and many of you have probably
braved the malls searching the right gift for those on your shopping
list. In fact, you have shopped so much you are starting to think
that Bourbon Chicken is authentic Asian cuisine!
Then again you may be one of the many who do all of their shopping
online-which can be exhausting enough with all of the choices
out there.
Well readers, aren't you glad that the lady Kuzibah has asked
me to join this team so I can continue my yearly gift guide tradition!
Food items usually make great gifts for the party hostess, co-worker
or seldom seen relative who's name you pulled from the "Secret
Santa" box. For most people chocolate is a treat that will
always be appreciated whether its regular or sugar free. The
best example of great chocolates I can think of is Blue
Frog chocolates of New Orleans. Imagine the look on your
relative's face when they discover an (chocolate) alligator under
their tree. Or maybe you might decide to bewitch them with the
chocolate voodoo doll which can be obtained from this company.
Oh yes, what better thing to go with a dessert item but coffee.
While I have recommended "Little Coffee Shop of Horrors"
in the past I want to take a moment to focus on a new coffee
company call H.T.Brown.
The owner of this business got into the habit of roasting his
own coffee years ago and now has his own business on the web.
I have had his coffee many times and I can personally recommend
this to my readers.
Another interesting gift idea I wish to show you are these hand
painted saints medals from Saints
for Sinners. There are a variety of saints to choose from
(and probably some sinners) which would make for a gift guaranteed
to be a conversation piece. Or you may decide on giving someone
this lovely gris
gris doll pin which would be the cause of many conversations
in your family for years to come. Then again you may decide to
give someone a symbol of the city of New Orleans, which is the
Fleur
De Lis.
A piece of jewelry that would make a lovely gift as well as going
for a good cause is the "Fleur De Lis" pin being sold
as a fundraiser for the New Orleans public library. As many of
you recall quite a
few of the branches were damaged as a result of Katrina.
Each pin is hand made by the New Orleans artist Thomas
Mann.
Music is always a great gift choice and there are several to
choose from. For starters the mad scientists of rock, The
Consortium of Genius is celebrating their 10th year of musical
mayhem so they are offering a compilation CD of their finest
works. If there are any "Doctor Demento" fans on your
gift list COG's song "Placebo" was played on his show
a few years ago. Then again if one's tastes are a tad gothic
there are always the good people of Midnight
Syndicate who have released a compilation CD entitled "Out
of the Darkness" which has some of the best tunes from their
earlier works such as "Born of the Night" and "Realm
of Shadows". Another group with that similar sound is Nox Arcana and
they have a CD with gothic renditions of holiday tunes entitled
"Winter's Knight". This will be ideal for any unique
holiday gathering or just the thing to get rid of guests who
just won't leave.
If your holiday tastes are more traditional, please check out
New
Orleans Christmas and sales of this CD go for the New Orleans
area Habitat of Humanity.
Now I should dedicate a portion of my gift guide for suggestions
on what to get the "ghouls" on your own list. After
all, she attends many a monster show with you so shouldn't she
get something really special? Imagine her delight when gets a
bottle (or any beauty product) of Voodoo
Love from you. This is a recreation of the special formula
the voodoo queen would give to her special customers. If that
is not her style there are many other things on the website worth
checking out. Another place for gifts would be Dark
Candles which has candles with lovely fragrances as well
as beauty products. Needless to say she has plenty of products
to choose from on this site.
Independent film company ten18films is selling two of their noted
documentaries on their website. The documentary Hexing
a Hurricane which has been marked down to $5 and would be
an interesting gift to any film lover. There is also Mark Redfield's
speculative film on the final hours in the life of the man who
invented modern horror, The
Death of Poe.
If all else fails, one could always give gift cards or certificates
from places like Amazon
or Creepy
Classics if one is stumped for ideas.
Thus ends my 2006 gift guide article. However if anyone who is
reading this is stumped what to give me most of the suggestions
would work well with me. In fact I can print up and underline
my favorite ideas if you so wish! (Just kidding)
Happy Holidays!
Crystal
|