Have you ever wanted to give the perfect gift but struggled to come up with something meaningful? Personally, gift-giving is one of my favorite ways to show I care, and over time I’ve picked up a few strategies to make it easier. One of the best things you can do is just listen closely! People casually mention things they like, want, or need all the time! Taking mental notes of these things, and then showing the receiver that you remember will make your gift feel more personal and sincere. It signals to them that you genuinely pay attention to their interests, making the gift far more meaningful than something picked up at the last minute.

I’ve also found that smaller, thoughtful gifts given together in a bundle can sometimes be more memorable and fun than one large item. You can also think practically, too! Something they’ll use daily, like a favorite coffee blend, cozy socks, or a journal can be surprisingly appreciated. It’s also great to think of experiences instead of just physical items, like tickets to a concert or a cooking class. Think about movies you've watched together, places you've visited together, or even inside jokes you share when getting (or making!) their present, so the gift reflects the unique bond you share.

When we talk about gifts, we usually think of something wrapped or ordered—maybe from a site like Amazon or Etsy, or something handmade like a card, a candle, or cookies. But some of the most powerful gifts don’t come in packaging at all. They show up in gestures. In time. In presence. In being seen and remembered.

Spending real, undistracted time with someone—especially when you’re busy—is one of the rarest and most generous gifts we can offer. Listening to someone without interrupting or offering solutions, just holding space for their thoughts, is a kind of care that often goes unnoticed but never unfelt.

Sometimes it’s even smaller things. A random “this made me think of you” text. Someone remembering your favorite snack. A quick check-in on a tough day. These gestures don’t take much time, but they leave a mark.

We don’t always think of these as gifts, but maybe we should. They’re the kind that stick around.

The semester's flown by like crazy hasn't it? It's already time for our final assignment - website-as-gifts for our partners! Thanks to Stephanie’s great website, we got to know each other a little better this week answering questions NJ-transit style! As you put together your site, consider including references to the things you learned about them! Their favorite colors, memories, or movies (or anything you remember) can be used for design elements like color schemes or photos. Have fun with it! Use your now polished CSS and HTML skills and give them something thoughtful — not just in how it looks, but in how it reflects what makes them them.

Whether it ends up being a playlist, a quiz, a collage, or something else entirely, your site doesn’t have to be perfect — it just has to feel like it was made for them. Think about the little things they shared: a favorite color, a go-to snack, a weirdly specific fear, a song they always play. Maybe you turn their favorite movie into a fake review page. Maybe you make a fake restaurant menu featuring meals they’d love (or hate, for fun). You could create a fake travel itinerary, a mood board, a list of oddly specific awards ("Most likely to survive a zombie apocalypse"). Or keep it super simple: one page, one message, one playlist. Whatever shape it takes, a site that’s personal and made with care can end up being the most memorable kind of gift 🍎!