Print a Present

The ultimate last minute gift is one that’s worth more than a thousand words (so save your excuse on why you didn’t bring anything!). Think of a moment of significance for you and the recipient, and share a photo from that moment! Whether it’s a real picture you took during the event—like a birthday party, wedding, vacation trip, etc.—or a snapshot you can take that captures the moment, the photo memento will mean a lot! You can print the picture at home (save your color ink … black and white is SO in!), and snag a nice frame and gift bag on your way to the party!

Subscribe and Save (the Day!)

There are so many subscription services out there these days, it would be hard to NOT find one your special someone will enjoy! Monthly boxes make great gifting options: try Blue Apron for meal deliveries, Birchbox for a health and beauty bounty, or even KitNip Box for your fellow cat lover! Then there are the subscriptions everybody loves: Netflix, Hulu Plus, and Pandora are all monthly subscriptions that won’t set you back too much! You can also shop great bargains on magazine subscriptions from Amazon or Blue Dolphin!

Ye Basket of Gifting

Ah, the old tried and true gift basket … Rather than going out and ordering or buying a premade gift basket, head to the store and get creative! Think about your host or pal’s favorite colors, and find household items and other fun trinkets that go along with a color theme. Or, pick a theme you know the recipient will love. For a foodie, snag some tea towels, a nice cutting board, wooden utensils, fancy spices, a few tried and true recipes (or a cookbook), etc. For a pampered pal, try chocolates, scented candles, pleasant smelling bath and shower products, and a fluffy robe. For a techie, grab some tools, a fancy USB drive, a wireless speaker, computer cleaning supplies, etc. Remember: a gift package is just as much about the presentation as the present, so be sure to get creative and pick out the perfect packaging to make your gift really shine!

The Gift of Learning

Sign your friend—and yourself!—up for a fun class! Check out Groupon for great deals on local classes from yoga to cooking, or see what some local shops might have to offer! Check out Creative Live for a ton of great classes you can sign up for online and find your friend’s interest to get them started. Check out Brit + Co for classes on coding, calligraphy, crowdfunding, and more! It’s a gift that keeps on giving!

Give Some “Me” Time

Does your host love hosting but hate cleaning? Chip in for a housekeeping service for a day! Maybe you’ve been listening to your friend complain about some much needed car service. Set up the appointment and prepay for the labor … you can even volunteer to take their car in for them so they can just relax and wait for it to be done! If finding a service isn’t something that’s easy for your friend, maybe you can try a day or night out: buy them some movie tickets, concession stand vouchers, and for friends with kids find a babysitter (or offer to do it yourself). You could do the same with a spa day, a dinner out, a sporting event, or whatever tickles your friend’s fancy.

Remember: Just because it’s a last minute gift doesn’t mean you didn’t put a lot of thought (and love!) into it! Find something simple and unique to give this holiday season, and take joy in the simplest gift of all: the gift of giving!

The post Five Easy (But Still Awesome) Last Minute Gift Ideas! appeared first on Highland Village Apartments Blog.

Did you know there are tons of places around Flagstaff that would love your unused end tables and unwanted futon? Whether you’re moving out of your apartment or just trying to reduce the amount of stuff you have laying around, we’re here to help you turn your “trash” into charitable “treasure”! Here are five great places you can donate anything from clothes to furniture and support those in need in your community!

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Flagstaff

Clothes for Kids’ Sake is a donation-based fundraising program sponsored by Big Brothers Big Sisters of Flagstaff. And it’s not just for clothes donations! BBBS collects clothes, furniture, and housewares from all around the local community for this drive. Items are then delivered to Savers, where they’ll help support BBBS’s youth mentoring programs! You can find donation bins all around town, including at some of our sister communities! If you can’t find a local bin, just call Big Brothers Big Sisters at (928) 774-0649 to schedule an at-home pickup for your donation.
 

Goodwill

Goodwill lets donors know upfront: their donations help “[change] lives in our community!” One hundred percent of donations to your local Goodwill stays in the community—that means you’re directly helping to fund employment, job training, and more to fellow Flagstaff residents in need! You can drop off donations in local bins, or just visit their convenient drive-thru donation center right off of Route 66 and Milton!

Full Circle Trade & Thrift

Full Circle works with a ton of local businesses partnering with local nonprofits to help keep Flagstaff’s economy going strong! Their work helps to build the local economy, create new jobs, and ensure local wages. Full Circle accepts donations of gently used but no longer needed belongings at the store or drop off locations. And if giving up some items leaves you longing to fill some space in your apartment, don’t forget to check out the shop!

Habitat for Humanity

Habitat for Humanity accepts donations of furniture, appliances, and more. The ReStore program sells affordable goods to fun Habitat operations. The items you donate helps keep landfills empty and encourages a cycle of recycled use for the items that helped make your apartment a home. Purchases from ReStore are used to fund local building projects … So not only are you clearing out your loved items to be loved by someone else, but you’re also using items that made you feel at home help build homes for others! Recycling has never looked so good!

Sharon’s Attic Thrift Store

Sharon’s Attic helps provide case management, transitional housing, life skills training, children and youth programs, and more to many in Flagstaff who need it most! Your donations to Sharon’s provides much needed aid to homeless victims of domestic violence. They provide a wish list of items the organization currently needs, so check your home for items that might meet those immediate needs. Otherwise, help by donating your gently used furniture, bedding, and more!

The post Helping Hands: Help the Flagstaff Community with Your Donations! appeared first on Highland Village Apartments Blog.