So, it’s a couple days before Christmas and perhaps you have a few more people on your list that you haven’t had a chance to shop for.  The economy is tight but it’s important to keep a bright outlook.  Times have been tough before and you made it through it.  So, here are just a few ideas compiled by the staff and some of our patients. 

For the dog walker: Baby it’s cold outside.  Since this is my first winter as a dog walker warm mittens and a fun, funky… yet warm hat are at the top of my list.  Warm socks would also be a nice surpise.

For the fitness buff:  Music Play list of your favorite workout tunes… tunes included or not.  It’s sometimes tough to think of a motivating play list so sharing your ideas would be a thoughtful gift.  Loading it onto their mp3 player would be an added bonus.  Fitness types always appreciate new socks, a new workout t-shirt, or join them as a workout partner!

For the cook or hobbyist:  There are 1000s of cookbooks out there on everything from appetizers to soups to the go-to cookbook. Go to Amazon.com to read reviews and then go to your local book store or Half Price Books to find them.   Do you know someone that likes to knit, bead, scrapbook?  Lots and lots of books on hobbies to provide inspiration or instruction.

Seasonal liquid soap dispenser:  Snowmen and snowflakes can be used all winter.  It’s fun and functional!  A favorite scented liquid hand soap from Bath and Body works is also something that everybody can use and might not purchase for themselves.

Kitchen Gadgets:  There are all kinds of gadgets for all levels of cooks.  Two heavily used items at the Thompson house are a 4-cup glass measuring cup and the lemon/lime squeezer.

Foodie:  A nice first cold press Virgin Olive Oil or a 24 month aged piece of parmesan cheese is always appreciated and can be found in various price ranges.  Check out Whole Foods or Curds and Whey in the North Market or Zeta’s European Emporium at 715 N High Street. 

Wine:  There are some very good and drinkable wines in the $10 to $15 price point.  (there are also some not so good ones so get a recommendation)  Go to a wine shop and ask for a suggestion.  There are many wine shops here in Grandview and the all offer great recommendations if you just tell them what you are looking for.  And no need to fear, they aren’t wine snobs….. at all.  Check out:

• Spagio Cellars, 1295 Grandview Ave, (614) 486-1114
• Gentile’s Wine Sellers, 1565 King Ave, (614) 486-3406
• The Twisted Vine, 1816 W 5th Ave, (614) 488-6113
• World Market
• Anderson’s Market

 Families:  Board games.  Lots of great games that are fun for the whole family and friends.  And still plenty in stock at your local store.

Girlfriend, Wife, BFF, Mom: A pair of earrings that she would wear any day of the week not just for special occasions.  2 great local Columbus stores with tons unique of choices in all price ranges:

• What on Earth, Lane Avenue Shopping Center, 487-0336
• Helen Winnemore’s, 150 E Kossuth in German Village, 444-5850

Coffee Lover/or Liker:  A pound of coffee from Stauf’s and a travel coffee mug.  Of course here at the office we love Highlander Grog coffee but there are choices for every taste and a very helpful staff that will even grind it for you, if you like.  They sell coffee mugs there too!

Boyfriend/Husband: A CD or MP3 playlist of the year’s favorite songs.  Perhaps, like Dr. T, you know someone that is addicted to Guitar Hero..don’t tell him but the playlist for Guitar Hero World Tour has already been loaded on his iPod!  A “year in review” personalized letter with photos makes a nice keepsake too.

Everyone: Fleece gloves.  Everyone can use a new set because gloves get lost, worn-out, or suddenly disappear only to re-appear on the hands of someone else.  Hmmm!

Thank you for your participation in our Operation Gratitude effort to send a little holiday cheer to support our troops. 

We collected and shipped 33 pounds of stuff thanks to our generous patients and friends.

In the month of November we collected items recommend by the group Operation Gratitude and we are shipping them out today so that they can be distributed to the troops for the holiday.

We will be collecting items again next year beginning in September and October so stayed tuned to the blog for more information.  You can always search on “operation gratitude” on the blog to find all the associated posts.

We will be posting any letters or emails we receive from the troops on future blog posts.

Thanks again for making this a success!

See other Operation Gratitude Posts.

My wife and I got a Wii last year for Christmas.  Well, actually it was an impulse buy on eBay sometime in November 2007 but she justified it as a Christmas gift for the family.  We played Wii bowling, tennis, a lot last winter along with Rayman Raving Rabbids. 

The Wii is just plain fun.  Many of the games aren’t controlled by a complicated sequence of buttons but instead you move your body and the Wiimote to make things happen on the screen.  And often times the results are hilarious to those playing and watching.

With the holidays approaching if a Wii is in the family budget, now is the time to track one down before things get crazy and we hear reports of parents chasing down the UPS delivery person on their way to Gamestop.  (By the way, I have no affiliation with Gamestopbut they are a great place to buy used and new games and as of Saturday they had Wii’s in stock in their store at Kingsdale)

Anyway…. here is the listing of our current favorite Wii games and a couple we plan on acquiring to enjoy ourselves and to have on hand when friends and family come to visit.  Read the rest of this entry »

I just recently came across this organization and I thought what a great way to make a soldier’s day!  Also, a great way to get rid of some excess Halloween Candy.

Grandview Dental Care will be donating toothbrushes and toothpaste through Operation Gratitude an organization that sends care packages to U.S. troops. 

In addition we will pay the shipping on any other items our patients or community wants to donate to Operation Gratitude.  Just drop off any of the items on the Operation Gratitude wishlist to our office by Monday November 24th and we will ship them to Operation Gratitude which will in turn distribute them to our troops.  We will have a plastic container on our front porch in case you stop by with items after hours.

Letters and drawings from children can be included.  These personal messages let our soldiers know how much we appreciate what they are doing!

If you have any questions, contact Becky at our office 614-486-7378 or send Becky an email. 

Check back to our blog and search on Operation Gratitude.  I will post pictures and letters as I received them.

Want to find a good home for some of the stuff you no longer want or use?  Check out www.freecycle.org where you can post your stuff and people will email you if they want it.  You might even find some stuff that you want.  Everything posted must be a free offer. 

What about the computer monitor that no longer works, or electronics, or that stash of bridesmaid dresses that you were sure you would wear again!  Check out a recent article from Women’s Health Magazine that has all kinds of links on getting rid of your stuff. 

Email us with any ideas that you have for good ways to get rid of stuff you no longer have use for.