The Giftionary: An A-Z Reference Guide for Solving Your Gift-Giving Dilemmas . . . Forever! [Paperback]

Robyn Freedman Spizman (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 20, 2003

Having Trouble Finding That Perfect Gift? No Need to Worry. The Giftionary is Here!

Almost everyone at some point in their lives has been stumped at the prospect of buying a gift. Whether for a birthday, holiday, special event, or just to express our feelings, many of us continually struggle to find the unique gift no one has, one that won’t be returned, and one that will be remembered forever. Now with The Giftionary, your friends, families, and loved ones will be in awe of you and your gifts. From birthday presents to edible treats, party favors to housewarming presents people will actually use, this creative, indispensable guide can help you find the perfect gift for any occasion.

Is someone you know turning 50? You could:
- Find vintage candies from their youth and pack them in a nostalgic tin.
- Give them a trip to Hawaii--the US's 50th state.

Have a wedding anniversary coming up? You could:
- Visit a stamp store and find a beautiful stamp issued in the couple’s wedding year.
- Recreate the flowers in your wife’s bridal bouquet and send them to her on your anniversary.

Want to make a sick or injured friend feel better? You could:
- Fill a teapot, bag, or basket with assorted teas and honey. Add a note that says: “Here’s a little tea-l-c!”
- Send a card a day during a hospital stay.

Dying to dazzle that special woman or man in your life? You could:
- Give her a shoebox filled with treasures for her tootsies—and a gift certificate for a pedicure.
- Take ballroom dance lessons together.

Want to give a gift that will truly make them say, “Wow!”? You could:
- Rent the car of his dreams for a day and hand the keys to that lucky person.
- Hire a personal chef to come in and cook a gourmet dinner for a night or two.

A complete and timeless guide, full of fabulous ideas, The Giftionary is a must-have for anyone who’s agonized over gift-giving or just wants to leave an impression that will last a lifetime.

Editorial Reviews

Review

“Get and use Robyn Spizman’s Giftionary! It is filled with gifts of your heart’s desire. Robyn Spizman is undoubtedly the world’s `Queen of Gift Giving’ and I love listening to and putting her advice to work!”—Mark Victor Hansen, New York Times bestselling co-author of Chicken Soup for the Soul Series

About the Author

Robyn Spizman is the most recognizable gift-giving expert today. She has been on over 10,000 live TV segments, is a regular on radio talk shows, and frequently appears on many national shows including CNN and Headline News during the holidays as a gifting expert. She has a popular weekly segment on the morning show of NBC’s Atlanta affiliate WXIA TV, called “Been There, Bought That”.

Product Details

• Paperback: 176 pages
• Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin; First Edition edition (May 20, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0312311907
• ISBN-13: 978-0312311902
• Product Dimensions: 8 x 5.4 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #898,520 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

20 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars A few good ideas buried among a lot of schlock, December 8, 2004

By 

Dianne Cowan (Boston, MA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Giftionary: An A-Z Reference Guide for Solving Your Gift-Giving Dilemmas . . . Forever! (Paperback)

I have to disagree with the reviewer who said the gift ideas were "tacky." "Corny" is the word I would've used. Virtually every idea in this book involves including a note with a bad pun with your gift. That would be OK, if the note were optional. The problem is, most of the gifts don't make sense without the note. If you leave out the silly note that says, "Sorry I've been driving you nuts," just imagine the confused look on the face of the person to whom you just gave a bag of mixed nuts.

There are a few genuinely good ideas here, but not enough to make the book worth the price, or to justify having it take up valuable bookshelf space. I'd advise checking it out of the library, sneaking a peek at the local bookstore, or as a last resort, buying it used.

19 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Tacky and disappointing, November 26, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: The Giftionary: An A-Z Reference Guide for Solving Your Gift-Giving Dilemmas . . . Forever! (Paperback)

A great many of the gift ideas in this book are tacky and tiresome to wade through in order to find the really thoughtful ideas. I'd prefer a much smaller book without the corniness, in which case I'd give it a five-star rating. If you look at the "look inside" pages on Amazon you will see what I mean about tacky ideas, and yes, the whole book is that way. Please judge for yourself if that style suits you.

For me, tacky gifts may be appropriate in some situations, but if I really want to warm someone's heart with my gift then tacky is not it. Giving your special lover some mints with a note that says "we were mint to be together" shows the person how clever you are with puns, but so what?

Reading the book was a little like watching a sitcom with a laugh-track. Kind of entertaining and clever, but a little tiresome. The reason I shelled out money for this book in the first place is that I wanted to learn how to embarrass myself with kindness when I give gifts, not merely to give people a few chuckles and some junk for them to throw out after the joke wears off.

9 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Giftionary Goes Above and Beyond -- A True Treasure, March 15, 2004

By A Customer

This review is from: The Giftionary: An A-Z Reference Guide for Solving Your Gift-Giving Dilemmas . . . Forever! (Paperback)

This book was everything I'd hoped for - and more. When I first heard about it I was interested to see just how creative gift giving can be. My husband is so difficult to shop for and I felt like I've exhausted all of my options over the years. And following the holiday rush, I felt burnt out on buying gifts and fresh out of ideas for upcoming birthdays, anniversaries and other assorted gift-bearing occasions. The Giftionary really came to my rescue and opened my eyes to a whole new way of expressing myself through gift giving. Gone are the days of trudging through the mall for hours on end only to escape with another unoriginal, dreadful sweater or impersonal gift certificate. Robyn Spizman gives thousands of unique tips on how to really personalize your presents and show the giftee that you put a lot of thought and heart into the gift. What I love most about her unique tips is that they focus on the cute, memorable little details, like heartfelt poems and touching words that accompany each gift so you make a statement not by impressing people with the cost of an item, but by being thoughtful enough to make each gift meaningful with a message. I highly recommend this book for anyone in search of fun new ways to shower people with great gifts for every occasion imaginable. Overall, it's a very clever, super helpful guide that I'm sure I'll refer to over and again for years to come.