Ten years ago I began a gift journal. At it’s very core the journal includes every item I’ve received over the past decade. I write down the name of the person who provided the gift and the item I received. I started the journal for two reasons. First, it was an excellent way to keep track of the thank you notes I needed to write. I kept a little area in the left hand margin where I could write a check mark when notes were complete. Second, it helped me feel grateful and thankful for everything I received.
In the blur of opening birthday or Christmas presents it’s easy to lose track of what you receive and who gave it to you. We often head to the beach on the day after Christmas so Christmas night becomes a blur of washing, folding and packing away all of the items we received. One night after putting everything away I could barely remember what we’d gotten. That very night I started my gift journal as an extension of my gratitude journal.
I now maintain two journals. One includes a list of all of the things my family receives and one contains a list of all of the gifts I’ve purchased for others. The mere act of writing things down helps me think more creatively about my purchases and ensures that I spend a little extra time and energy purchasing gifts for the people I love. Plus reading through a decade’s worth of gifts make me feel grateful for all that I have received and even more blessed for all that I have given.
Every time a birthday or special occasion looms on the calendar I review my past purchases. This helps ensure that I purchase unique gifts year after year. It also makes me realize that I am in need of a few unique ideas.
That’s where NOVICA comes in. NOVICA works with National Geographic to give talented artisans around the world a place to express their talents and provide access to the world market. They sell a huge range of unique, hand crafted items including belts, women’s hats, women’s accessories from India, knee length dresses and modern and abstract bracelets.
I’ve bought a number of gifts from NOVICA including beautiful flowered necklaces and pearl drop earrings. Here is one I absolutely love:
If you find an artist who’s work you enjoy you can add them to your list of favorites, search for their creations or even sign up for an RSS feed so you can receive alerts when they create something new. I personally love the work of Busarin. Three of the four items I bought from NOVICA were designed by her.
If you’d like to win a $50 gift certificate to NOVICA feel free to enter the giveaway using the Rafflecopter entry system below. One lucky winner will be selected on Monday, August 13th.
The winner of this prize has been selected and notified.
Best gift I ever received was a written card from my husband : )
That or an Easy Bake oven
I’ve bought some pearl earrings and a pearl bracelet from Novica. LOVE the unusual finds.
The best gifts I’ve received are quirky ones that you can’t really find in a store in a mall. Like this owl picture my friend gave me which relates to an inside joke
Thanks for hosting the giveaway. Novice seems to have some great items, would love to win it
The journals are an excellent idea. I wish I had that years ago. With 7 nieces and nephew I sometimes lose track of who got what for birthdays and christmas.
My husband bought me a Kindle Fire for Christmas last year!
I love the Keurig my husband got me for Christmas last year.
The best gift I ever gave was a terarium kit for my brother’s new apartment!
Best gift was probably the guitar I got as a kid…either that, or the blue-and-white bicycle!
The best gift I’ve received was a DSLR camera.
My wife bought me my first computer, the Apple Macintosh II.
Best gift from my boyfriend, my bicycle.I Use it to go to work and for goof exercise
Hard to say but I think my best gifts are my two children. U also really liked a photo calendar my husband made me 1 year so now he makes me one every year
what a greta diea to keep a gift journal… I really need to keep one.
The best gift I ever received was a set of pyrex dishes. I know, it’s not an amazing gift – but I had mentioned off-hand wanting a complete set with lids, and my then-newish-boyfriend got it for me for Christmas. Now that we’re married, we don’t exchange gifts anymore, but I was so touched that he listened AND remembered something that I would never have bought for myself.
I think the best and most surprising gift I ever had the chance to give was a trip to London for my little sister. She really wanted to go on the class trip but wasn’t able to afford it, I paid the fee and let her know on her birthday.
A lovely 99-9% gold Taiwanese neck chain.
The best gift I ever received was a puppy when I was 6. She lived until I was 21 and she will always have a place in my heart.
the best gifts have always been family vacations — experiences and memories that last a lifetime
The best gift I ever received was a handmade card from my children!
My daughter gave me a gold and blue topaz pendant. I wear it all the time. The only time it has been off my neck is when I broke the chain and had to replace it.
when my four year old nephew was living in another state, i sent him a gift. a few days later i got a box in the mail from him, and it was a blown up (and staring to deflate) balloon!!! what a great gift he sent me back!
The best gift I ever got was a poem my dad wrote when I turned 30!
Best gift I’ve ever given? Hmm..well, I had a boyfriend who really liked videos games, even though I didn’t really care for them or know much about them. He had been excited for this one game to come out and had been talking about it all year and after it came out I managed to get ahold of a copy of it for him signed by the entire development team.
My sister carried my darling girl for me so my best gift ever received is my daughter. Thank you will never be enough.
The best gift I ever received was a necklace from my younger siblings.
The best gift I gave was a scrapbook to my husband. 🙂
family74014 at gmail dot com
Who wouldn’t love this? I would 🙂
A hand embroidered set of towels from my mom as a housewarming gift.
Entered the rafflecopter form as “crave to save”
Thanks for the chance to win!
gina.m.maddox (AT) gmail (DOT) com
Best gift I ever received was a new laptop.
I have received a few gifts that I love one was my engagement ring and then another was a necklace that was my grandmothers that I wore at my wedding.
I received an iPad for my birthday!
My engagement ring.
gold necklcace from hubs debbie jackson,
djackson1958 at hotmail dot com
The best gift I received was a handmade musical box.
oh i would love to win
The best gift I ever gave was my boyfriend’s first child on our 1st anniversary.
There are some great gifts on that page.
A ring from my love 🙂