With the Augusta Masters just around the corner, there’s going to be a lot of amateur golfers polishing off their golf clubs and sitting wide-eyed in front of the television to catch all the action. This is the ideal time to give an impromptu gift to celebrate the beginning of spring, which brings warmer weather – perfect for getting back into the swing of things. Gifts for the amateur golfer in your life may include:

Samsonite Golf Trunk Organizer

When making the trip to a golf course, there are a lot of pieces of equipment, tools, gadgets, and clothing often included in a day at the greens. Things can get a little messy while on the road. However, with the golf trunk organizer, there are two levels of space and a top mesh section for easy storage. Comprised of durable ripstop polyester with waterproof backing, movable dividers also hold shirts, jackets, and pants. In the bottom level, you can insert up to three pairs of shoes. Other features include pockets and sections to store small accessories, money, eyeglasses, cell phone, tees, gloves, and snacks.

Personalized Golf Club Markers

It happens to the best of golfers – placing a club in a bag other than their own. However, with monogrammed golf club markers, you won’t have to worry about your golf club not finding its way back to you. Personalized ClubLinks™ easily insert into most golf clubs and are removable for when you change clubs.

Purchase a 15-piece set for a relative or friend, which includes 14 engraved ClubLinks™ and one free matching Ballmarker. Packaged in a white gift box, choose between black with silver engraving, and silver or gold with black engraving – which includes full names, 2 or 3 initial monograms, and phone numbers.

Nike Tour 2 Mixed Recycled B-Grade Professional Golf Balls

For the amateur golfer who supports eco-friendly initiatives, a 60-ball pack of recycled B-grade Nike golf balls are ideal for a mid to high handicapper. Since each ball is in fair to good condition, they don’t have to worry about wasting money on expensive golf balls. Perfect for long hours of practice – many of the balls are slightly off color or show signs of scuffing. A mixed bag comes in a reusable mesh drawstring carrier holding 30 each.

Golf Books

From improving your stance to highlighting the best places to play, there is no end to the kinds of golfing books you can purchase as a gift. If you’re looking for a title that helps lower scores and increases the power of a swing, choose something like “The Best Instruction Book Ever!“: Golf Magazine’s Top 100 Teachers Show You the Fastest Ways to Shoot Lower Scores! Packed with simple tips on improving a golf game, the book offers suggestions for better driving, chipping, putting, and iron play. After your amateur golfer gains confidence in their game, select Fifty Places to Play Golf Before You Die Book as another gift – perfect for planning a golf trip to explore some of the most popular courses around the world.

Find Small Gifts for Your Easter Egg Hunt (Image courtesy of Tiffany Anne)

Easter is hopping up which means it’s time to get prepared for one of the holiday’s best traditions– the Easter egg hunt! Typically Easter eggs are filled with chocolate and jelly beans. Finding alternatives that are small enough to fit into those little plastic eggs can be a challenge. But if you’re hoping to make your Easter egg hunt different this year– and maybe even more adult friendly, here are some ideas for how to fill Easter eggs with small gifts.

Springy Earrings

Earrings are certainly small enough to stuff inside an Easter egg. And these Spring Blooms Iris earrings on Etsy are perfect for the season. They’re only $6, plus the seller offers free shipping in the US and Canada.

Origami Money

Dollars bills can certainly be folded up small enough to fit inside Easter eggs. But why not make it more special with origami? Watch this video about how to fold your money into fun shapes like a heart.

Single-Serve Coffee

Appeal to older egg hunters by stuffing eggs with single-serve instant coffee packets. Starbucks Via sticks will make an ideal gift and they’re small enough to fit inside your eggs.

Seed Packets

Get everyone in the mood for spring by filling your Easter eggs with seed packets. Head to your local garden store for a wide variety of veggie and flower seeds.

Tiny Toys

There are lots of great deals on small toys that are the perfect size for stuffing inside plastic eggs. Check out these Easter stamps or assorted Easter stickers.

DIY Necklace

Head to your local craft store and pick up small supplies for making a necklace. Rather than make it yourself, stuff the egg with necessary items like string, beads and clasp so the egg hunter can make it themselves.

Key Caps

Turn a boring key into something fun with a key cap from Urban Outfitters. You can put one inside each egg. Choose between the peanut butter and jelly set or kitty key caps.

How to Find Earth-Friendly Gifts. photo courtesy of the Pug Father

We all want to do our part to help the environment. A big part of that is buying products that are eco-friendly. Using our money to support earth-conscious companies is a great way to go green. While many products claim to be created with the earth in mind, how can you be sure? Here are some clues for telling if a gift is eco-friendly.

Look for Official Certification

If a lamp claims on its package to be energy efficient or certified look for proof. If it is in fact officially certified it will carry the energy efficient logo. Without that the claim could be false. Or if paper products claim to be made from recycled materials, somewhere on the package there should be an official statement or certification.

Beware of Vague Claims

A lot of products throw up green sounding phrases with hopes of luring you into a sale. If a product says it’s chemical-free, beware. Even water is a chemical, so being chemical free is virtually impossible. Other phrases commonly used to mislead consumers are non-toxic, all natural and green. Even certain poisons like arsenic and formaldehyde are all-natural.

Do Some Checking

Finding out if a product really is what it claims to be can be tough. But in the case of Energy Star rated products, it’s as easy as an online search. Head to the Energy Star website and look through their database of products that are officially Energy Star rated.

Support Green Companies

Each year Newsweek lists the top 500 green companies. Take a look at the list and do your best to support companies that are already doing a great job with this initiative. By using your money to buy green gifts for those you love, you’re showing the world that you care about the environment.

Green-colored gifts usually put a smile on the faces of people who are Irish, fans of the Fighting Irish, or born in the month of May, where their birthstone is the green emerald. It’s not too hard to find a green gift, as there are plenty of T-shirts, ball caps, dresses, and other pieces of clothing to consider, but when you want to get a little creative, consider the following items:

Green Jewelry

From the deeper shades of emeralds to the softer side of jade, green jewelry is a popular gift for birthdays, anniversaries, and Christmas. For example, choose a May Birthstone Ring for a birthday girl that sparkles in a setting of white or yellow gold. Sometimes, green gems are flanked by diamonds, while other times, they are a beautiful stand-alone. Experiment with different cuts and precious stone combinations. Rings aren’t the only pieces of green jewelry to enjoy – you can browse endless necklaces, earrings, bracelets, and pendants at your local jeweler or online.

Green Appliances & Household Items

Nowadays, it’s easy to purchase common household items in a variety of green shades. To give a highly functional green gift, consider the Bissell Little Green Multi-Purpose Compact Earth-Friendly Deep Cleaner comprised of parts made from post-consumer recycled plastic. This eco-friendly item offers compact deep cleaning for both small and large cleaning jobs. Other features include PVC-free tanks and hose, tough-stain brush attachment, and a 1-year limited warranty. Arriving in eco-friendly packaging, this Bissell cleaner comes in a lovely shade of olive green.

Healthy Green Gifts

Give the gift that not only accommodates a green lifestyle, but also promotes healthy living. The Tribest Wheatgrass Grower offers three adjustable growing trays with germination lids and greenhouse covers to supply wheatgrass juice Each tray is responsible for producing up to 15 servings of wheatgrass juice – which supplies the body with beneficial enzymes and works as a detoxifier. This gift comes with organic wheatgrass seeds and a spray bottle for watering. For beginners, instructions on how to grow and harvest wheatgrass are also included.

Chia Pet Handmade Decorative Planter

To create an entertaining, fun addition to an office or to add character to a living room, Chia Pets are easy gifts to maintain. Simply soak the clay base in water overnight, spread on water-soaked Chia seeds, and fill with water. Keep the base full of water and the moistened seeds should sprout in 3 to 5 days. Stand by while the Chia grows a full coat of greenery. Today, there are a lot of inventive Chia characters to consider, including Hillary Clinton, Garfield, Obama, Shrek and his donkey, puppy, and elephant.

Countdown This Exciting Time! (Photo Courtesy of PinkMoose)

With so many expecting friends and family members, I’ve been looking for creative ways to help them countdown to this exciting day. With close friends you don’t necessarily want to wait until their baby shower to give them a gift celebrating the arrival of their new little one. So here are some unique ideas for counting down their due date with a gift.

Countdown Clock

The excited new parents can countdown the days, minutes and seconds until their son or daughter’s arrival with the countdown clock. After the baby’s arrival the clock can be used to display the current day and time. It can be used to countdown any date from now until the year 2049.

Magnetic Calendar

This magnetic calendar is made with a dry erase surface so it can be reused for future bundles of joy as well! It’s a 40-week pregnancy calendar that highlights some of the major milestones along the way.

Advent Calendar

This advent calendar features 40 doors and each week the expectant mom opens one of the doors to see what’s happening with her developing baby. This makes a great gift for moms who already have children so that they can get excited and learn about the new sibling’s arrival.

Pregnancy Countdown Book

New moms want to know what’s going on with their baby. The Pregnancy Countdown Book lets the stay informed every step of the way. They’ll know exactly what stage of development their baby is reaching each week.

Countdown Magnets

With the baby countdown magnets you’ll get a full set of 21 magnets so you can arrange the days or weeks until your baby’s arrival. The set comes in different color combinations so you can find one that fits your style. They’ll be able to display their countdown right on the fridge for everyone to see.

Perpetual Wooden Calendar

For a versatile gift, give them this perpetual wooden calendar. It can countdown baby’s arrival and then be used as a regular day-by-day calendar once the little one is born. It’s eco-friendly and well designed.

For all the creative messes that take place in the kitchen, every good cook needs an apron. Today, the number of fashionable, fun, and colorful aprons are limitless. From presents that help family and friends express their comedic side in the kitchen to gift ideas that encourage a budding food connoisseur to grow, aprons offer the perfect gift for chefs.

Apron for the Fashionable Chef

The patterns and designs of aprons have surely come a long way. Enter the collection of Jessie Steele Ava Bib Aprons – comprised of fine cotton. The apron features two pockets with adjustable ties, neck, and waist. Classy bows are often an aspect of Jessie Steele aprons, which come in a variety of colors and designs, including Retro Cherries, Café Toile, and Blue Poppy Fields (all shown). To fully coordinate, thrown in the matching pot-mitt and tea towel, which is sold separately.

Apron for the Comedic Chef

There are plenty of ways to bring a laugh to the kitchen with an apron that displays quirky messages and phrases. For example, the “Be Nice to Me or I’ll Poison Your Food” Embroidered Apron is a real gem, offering an adjustable neck strap and high-quality cotton/poly blend. With easy care features, you can easily wash this item without worrying about shrinking, fading or ironing.

Apron for the Eco-Friendly Chef

The planet-conscious cook will certainly enjoy an eco-friendly apron comprised of recycled cotton. The Eco-friendly Recycled Cotton Apron Kit by California Innovations comes with a detachable bottle opener, padded oven mitt, towel, and of course, an apron. Multiple pockets decorate the front for easy storage of utensils. Chefs may adjust the neck and side tie strings for a comfortable fit.

Apron for the Sexy Chef

Made for cooking and grilling, the Attitude line of aprons found on Amazon.com fits most builds, measuring 18×12 inches. Out of this sassy collection of aprons, consider the following styles: polka dot bikini, French maid, and black lingerie. This gift makes a great gag or spicy gesture for your significant other. For men, this style of apron comes in a tuxedo design.

Apron for the Sporty Chef

Even in the kitchen, you can still show your team spirit when cooking up appetizers for the big game. Slip into a chef’s apron that features your favorite team name and logo with matching straps. This one-size-fits-most gift is made out of cotton and is available in a variety of teams, including the Cleveland Browns, New York Yankees, and Dallas Cowboys.

Apron for the Young Chef

The Kuhn Rikon Kinderkitchen White Rabbit Apron is a fun way to get kids interested in the inner workings of the kitchen. Mold perfect mommy- and daddy’s little helpers with an apron made with an adjustable loop neck strap and ties. Other features include a 100% cotton body with front pocket that holds the included stainless tasting spoon. For an extra treat, pair a Kuhn Rikon children’s apron with some of their kid-designed cooking utensils, such as the whisk in the shape of a cockatiel.

Give Homemade Spa Treatments (Photo courtesy of Fing'rs)

Lots of your friends and family members probably love the idea of indulging at a spa– but few have the time or money. Now you can give them the gift of relaxation with these DIY spa gifts. With a few simple ingredients packaged creatively in jars or plastic containers from a craft store, you’ll have a great gift ready to go.

Coffee Body Scrub

Don’t toss out those coffee grounds– put them to good use. Combine two cups of coffee grounds with a half cup of raw sugar or sea salt and a few tablespoons of massage oil for a lovely coffee body scrub that will wash away the dry skin winter leaves behind.

Bath Cookies

Check out SpaIndex.com’s most requested recipe– bath cookies! You’ll bake up something great for your friends and family members to use in their next bath. The recipe is pretty easy and includes many ingredients you probably already have in your fridge or pantry including sea salt, baking soda, cornstarch, oil, and eggs. Combine the ingredients, bake for ten minutes and you’ll have a gift that looks like you picked it up in a fancy spa!

Sugar Coconut Hand Renewal

Winter does a number on our hands often leaving them dry and cracked. Whip up this recipe from Health Magazine and give it away to those who may need a little pampering. The recipe is made up of ingredients like coconut oil, sugar, and lemon juice. Make sure your gift also includes a pair of cotton gloves like these from PrettyLikeMe.com so they can let your mixture work overnight.

At-Home French Manicure

Put together your own French manicure kit that includes cuticle cream, white and pink nail polish and a fancy nail file. Give it to someone who may not have the time or money for regular manicures, but deserves to look their best.

From lightly sweetened kettle corn to kennels covered in the stickiness of caramel, popcorn is a favorite of theatergoers, kids, and couples snuggling up for movie night at home. Some people go crazy for the light and airy snack that easily doubles as a confection when paired with the right ingredients. When looking to put a smile on the face of the popcorn lover in your life, consider the following gift ideas:

Popcorn for Sports Fans

Sports fanatics can now cheer on their favorite teams with themed popcorn canisters that pay homage to the likes of the New York Giants and other popular franchises. For instance, the Popcorn Factory has recently added NFL Team Licensed Popcorn Tins to their arsenal of popcorn-related products. Each tin offers a 3-way selection comprised of traditional cheddar, butter, and caramel corn.

Old Fashioned Kettle Popcorn Maker

If loved ones crave movie theater popcorn, but don’t want to spend the movie theater bucks, this easy-to-use carnival-style popcorn cart is just the thing to gift. The unit comes with a large 2-ounce stainless-steel kettle with built-in stirring mechanism that provides even distribution and near flawless hot-oil popping. In one sitting, the maker can generate up to a gallon of popcorn – perfect for large families. The maker also accommodates loved ones that spend a lot of time with fundraisers and other social gatherings.

Deluxe 6oz Black Popcorn Maker Machine

With a variety of sizes and colors (like red), this popcorn machine not only offers movie theater-like kernels, but also adds class to personal entertainment spaces. Some of the features to consider include built-in electric stirring system, warming light, removable crumb tray, detachable door, and multifunction control switches. Depending on your preference, this model comes with or without a cart.

Personalized Ceramic Popcorn Bowl – Movie Night

This is the perfect gift for families who make it a habit to gather for ‘movie night’; they will enjoy their very own personalized popcorn bowl – complete with themed images joining their family name. The bowl offers a large serving size of 5 3/4″H x 10 1/2″in diameter, which accommodates up to four cups of popcorn.

Pop-O-Matic Juke Box Popcorn Maker

Use the Pop-O-Matic Juke Box Popcorn Maker as a gift to match themed décor or accommodate the interests of the music enthusiast that loves popcorn. The popcorn maker is an exact replica of a 1950’s style jukebox with a chrome finish that offers the look of stainless steel. The maker produces a healthier kernel because it doesn’t require the use of oil.

Wabash Valley Farms Popcorn Seasoning
If you’re thinking about creating a gift basket for popcorn lovers or movie night fanatics, think about adding a variety of popcorn seasonings. Wabash Valley Farms offers an assortment of flavors to please many different tastes. The sampler jar contains four flavors in one convenient container: movie theater style, creamy ranch, zesty cheddar cheese, and buttery herb and jalapeño.

Fight Spring Fever With Gifts (Photo Courtesy of Robert S. Donovan)

Longing for warm weather, blooming flowers and plentiful sunshine? Just about everyone starts coming down with a case of spring fever right about now. The weather may not be cooperating outside, but you can certainly make it feel more like spring inside with some special gifts for family and friends.

House Plants

Nothing says spring like greenery. Bring more green to your friends and family by giving them some lovely houseplants. Check out SimplyPlanters.com for a wide range of indoor pots in just about every material you could want. A cheery bouquet of flowers works well too.

Coconut Bath Products

Few scents embody warm weather like coconut. Check out this coconut collection from Sephora. These body scrubs, body butters and bottles of bubble bath make a great gift for conquering spring fever.

Warm-Weather Reading

Books have a great ability to transport us to other places, times and worlds. Pick up some great books with warm-weather settings that will have your friends feeling like they’re leaving winter behind.

Fresh Accessories

Florals are hot for spring fashion. Give your loved one a little style that will kick start their spring wardrobe. Check out the Windswept Floral Skinny Scarf and the Turquoise Chip Headband available at Ann Taylor Loft.

Picnic Essentials

Let your friends and family think about warm weather activities like picnics outside. Gifts like the collapsible picnic basket from Crate and Barrel will let them do just that.

Garden Needs

They may not be able to plant their gardens quite yet, but at least your loved ones can prepare. Give them seeds, garden tools, and a fresh pair of gardening gloves so that when the weather does finally cooperate they can be ready to go.

Spring Pillows

Bring spring into their home and banish spring fever with a fresh throw pillow. Check out some new arrivals at West Elm including the Spring Lark Silk Pillow Cover. It comes in two lovely, light colors that will automatically offer a spark of spring into any room.