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Author Archives: Manasi Vaidya

Boss-trology: A Sun Sign Guide to Your Boss!

Boss-trology!

B.O.S.S.-trology!

With all due apologies to singer Shaan of Loveology fame, we just couldn’t help getting a little carried away because it’s World Boss’ Day today!:D Do you have a meanie for a boss or are you one of the lucky ones with a genuinely nice boss?

A zodiac sign guide to help you understand your boss' management style

Use our Sun Sign Guide to get to know your boss better!

Meanie or sweetie, it’s always a good idea to get to know your boss a little better and what better way than by using their sun signs as a guide? Read on to get the full inside scoop on how to match your boss’s sun sign to their management style, and figure out what is a good gift to give your boss!

Aries

Remember the little powerhouses barreling across the playground full steam, back when you were a kid? The grown up version is your Aries boss. Dynamic; inspiring; trailblazing; the Aries boss is a natural leader and a demanding one at that! You can have a tough time keeping pace with an Aries boss, so if you’re the quiet, dreamy sort- pull up your socks or run! On the other hand, your Aries boss will hugely respect your individuality and be open to ideas and experimenting.

You Aries boss can be more than a ‘little’ demanding!

Gift your fiery Aries boss an outdoor barbecue grill, a deluxe Swiss army knife or a dart game for the office- just make sure you stay in their good books or you might have those darts buzzing around your head!

Taurus

Bossy? The adjective derived from boss? That’s the Taurus boss for you 😉 Slow, stable and hard working, your Taurean boss will take their own sweet time to give you direction but when its done expect it to be set in stone. Hugely trustworthy, fair and honest you can be sure your Taurean boss will always have your back.

BOSSY? You’ve got a Taurean for a boss!

Your Venus-ruled Taurean boss will appreciate tickets to a musical event, vintage art or a particularly unique antique find.

Gemini

Be prepared to be charmed; Gemini bosses are quirky, fun and super smart. Flexible and easy to work with, Gemini bosses are not natural born leaders, they prefer working at an equal level and enjoy being part of teams. Gemini bosses will be happy to delegate authority and let things run their course, but make sure you keep them in the loop on important decisions.

Keep your Gemini boss in the loop, always!

The latest best-selling book, a funky travel accessory or a snazzy tech toy are perfect gifts for your Gemini boss!

Cancer

Ever had a boss who would nit-pick your presentation in gory detail, down to the exact shade of font colour used? Cancerian! Extremely particular and demanding, your Cancerian boss will have high (sometimes unrealistic) expectations from you. Also very emotional and empathetic, it is important to be on the same emotional wavelength as your Cancerian boss.

Your Cancerian boss can be a tad emotional!

A classic desk accessory, a vintage cookbook, a new coffee maker; even your Cancerian boss will have little to find fault with these perfect-for-Cancerian-boss gifts!

Leo

All hail the king of the corporate jungle! Natural born leaders, Leos just lurrve being bosses! Fair and impartial, Leos take great pride in their work. Intelligent, resourceful and natural risk takers, Leo bosses are typically the centre of attention at the office coffee machine- and don’t they just love that!

Leo bosses just LOVE being the boss!

Your Leonine boss loves luxury; think a posh silver visiting card case, fine champagne or limited edition tickets to an event which has drama and flourish!

Virgo

Get ready to crunch! Not food silly, numbers! Pragmatic and great realists, Virgo bosses are great ones for facts and figures- so make sure you have yours at your fingertips. Hugely focused on results (sorry, excuses won’t make the cut!) Virgo bosses go for logic and evidence. They may seem unemotional at times, but they will hugely respect your time (as well as their own!) so you can expect to have a good deal of that elusive ‘work life balance’!

Virgo boss? Get, set, number crunch!

Virgo bosses will love an exciting new tech toy, a travel reading light or an intellectual book.

Libra

Um, this one is a tricky cookie! Perceptive, intelligent, charming, the Libra boss can be a pleasure to work with. As long as things are going well. But the minute conflict arises; disaster! Eager to please everyone and be liked, Libra bosses find it very difficult to handle conflict. If they’re able to get past that bit though, and it may just take an eternity, they are one of the most sociable bosses around!

Libra bosses are great to work with- until conflict strikes!

Anything to do with music works well for the Venus-ruled Libra boss; a portable music dock with speakers, a unique music collection, or a smart new electronic calendar to help them organize their dates.

Scorpio

Powerful and dominating, your Scorpio boss will set high expectations from everyone including themselves. Your Scorpio boss will push you hard and draw the best out of you, but will also protect you from unreasonable demands and reward you abundantly when deserved.

Your Scorpio boss has high expectations from you!

A classic book (thrillers or crime stories), a tarot deck or a tech security device will be sure to get your Scorpio boss’s attention; in a good way!

Sagittarius

It’s difficult not to like a Saggi boss! Optimistic, open, warm, they can cheer you up even on a blue funk Monday morning. On the flip side, they tend to be dreamers with their head in the clouds and a bit touchy, so make sure your lines of communication with them are clear and open.

Everyone likes a Saggi boss!

A sporty watch, a stylish passport case or a Swiss Army compass make for great gifts for your Saggi boss.

Capricorn

All work and no play makes for the serious Capricornian boss! Serious and hard-working, you don’t want them to catch you goofing off at the water cooler. Gifted and persevering, your Capri boss is awesome at cracking the toughest problems. Delegation doesn’t come to them naturally though, you may have to twiddle your thumbs a bit with your Capri boss!

The Capri boss can be a tough nut to crack!

An intriguing historical book, a chess set with ivory pieces or a useful hiking accessory will have you a very happy Capri boss on your hands!

Aquarius

Creative, versatile and hugely independent, your Aquarian boss secretly hates being a boss! Hugely independent, Aquarian bosses don’t do so well with hierarchy and are happy doing stuff on their own. They are happy for you to do the same, as long as you’re resourceful and work on your own steam, no breathing down the neck here!

Aquarian bosses are fiercely independent and like working on their own

Your Aquarian boss might just wander off to get stuff done on his own!

Funky new speakers, a telescope to view the stars, a boxed set of their fave TV series; the funkier and more unusual, the better!

Pisces

Sensitive, moody, intuitive, Piscean bosses can be a bit of a mystery! Fluid and empathetic, Piscean bosses can make for excellent bosses. They can also be a tad overprotective and touchy, so its important to strike the right emotional chord with them.

Piscean bosses have a shroud of mystery around them

Your Piscean boss might just be surrounded in mystery!

A book on photography, a fitness accessory, a soothing aromatic water fountain will appeal to the artistic soul of your Piscean boss.

Any sun sign for boss tips you’d like to share too? Tell us!

6 Unique Birthday Ideas For Your Husband

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Flowers…expensive cologne…fancy schmancy dinner…B.O.R.I.N.G. Does the thought of your husband’s upcoming birthday evoke a sense of blah instead of excitement because you’ve been there, done that? After all, when you’ve been together for what seems like forever, thinking up creative ways to celebrate each time can get tricky! Which is where WE come in with our specially curated countdown of fabulous, unique birthday ideas for his next big day! Go ahead, tick, tick…PICK!… one-or many!- this year and bring on the celebrations already!

6. Organize a karaoke night!

Organize a fun karaoke night for your husband's birthday

Karaoke your way into his birthday this year!

There’s nothing like letting go of those inhibitions with some good karaoke fun! Throw in some wine and good food, great company and sing in the birthday wishes for your beloved. Oh, and don’t forget to include all of the birthday boy’s favourite numbers; we can bet you’ll have him dancing to your tunes (quite literally!) by the end of the evening!

5. Organize a boy’s night out…

Organize a boys night in for his birthday with loads of munchies, beer on tap, his best buddies and endless TV!

Beer, snacks, TV and his friends; his idea of bday heaven!

…or in; much less stressful for the birthday boy when you don’t have to worry about picking up the tab or getting people back home safely! Put a bunch of his boys together in a room filled with beer, munchies and lots of TV/ video games- birthday boy gets to pick!- and they’ll think its heaven redefined! Let him hang out with his buddies and bond over boy stuff while you take care of all the party planning and organizing. It’ll be a fun-tastic birthday he’ll always remember and thank you for!

4. Turn him into a scavenger

A unique birthday idea: Plan a scavenger hunt for his birthday with the clues leading up to YOU!

When all the clues lead up to YOU!

By which we mean scavenger hunts, but of course! Remember the treasure hunts you played as a child? Set up one for him along similar lines but with lots of twists and some adventure thrown in for good measure. Make him work hard and get around a bit (take him back to your courtship days;)) and then lead the last clue towards YOU, with a special gift for all that effort (need gifting inspiration? check out our guide!).

3. Go on a picnic!

Unique birthday idea to celebrate your husband's birthday; organize a romantic birthday picnic

Organize a bday picnic for your little big boy

When was the last time the two of you let your hair down at a carefree picnic; the kind of stuff childhood fantasies are made of? Well, why not whisk him away for a surprise birthday picnic? Put together a personalized picnic hamper with the birthday boy’s favourite treats (we’re thinking silverware, champagne, smoked cheese and truffles, washed down with some strawberries and a spot of purple love); pick a spot where the two of can get away from the hustle and grind and watch your sweetheart turn into a little big boy again.

2. Take a class…

Get your Salsa moves on for his birthday!

No, we’re not kidding! And hey, we don’t mean to take you back to your boring chem lab days…we’re thinking something fun like a cocktail making workshop, a cooking workshop if the two of you are foodies, or even a dance class (Salsa, anyone?)…anything that interests you. Sign up for one together, its a great way to have some fun and amp up the bonding!

1. Go on a long…elaborate…

Unique birthday idea to celebrate your husband's birthday; gift him a staycation

Gift him a stay-cation this birthday!

Staycation! Remember all the times you’ve hounded him for a vacation or a trip (we’re guilty as charged too!). Well, bust all that guilt by bringing the vacation to you! Organize a stay-cation with home turned into temporary resort and make it all about him. Sleep in till noon, birthday brunch in bed, movie marathons all day long (he gets the remote!)…you can even hire a butler-for-a-day to make the experience come alive! All you’ll have to worry about is getting him back to the normal routine when the birthday ends!

So forget the blah and boring for his next birthday and pick one of our ideas to truly make it a birthday to remember. And who says you have to stick to just one day? You can even make it an EPIC week long celebration with a countdown to his birthday! And don’t forget to write in and tell us how he felt!

5 Handy Cake Decorating Hacks That Will Blow Your Mind!

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What is a world without cake? And what is a cake without some scrummy decoration? Here at Con Affetto, baking is what makes our world go round! It also makes it taste divine and smell amazing;) So when we heard that 10^th October was Cake Decorating Day, it had us so excited, we decided to go all out and celebrate and gift YOU something fun while we were at it! (You’re welcome!)

Learn these ingenious cake decorating hacks and become a pro

Welcome to Cake Decorating School :)

What we’re going to tell you will change the way you Pipe & Ice forever! So…ta-daaaa *drum roll*! Presenting, 5 awesome super simple and absolutely ingenious cake decorating hacks that will BLOW your mind!

1. Lace it up!

Did you know that lace is an AWESOME cake decorating tool?

It looks pretty on dresses and can add a touch of glamour at tea time when its draped on your dining table, but did you know that lace works really well as a cake decoration hack? Yes you heard that right, and it does not get any simpler than this. All you need to do is place a piece of lace on your cake and sprinkle icing sugar through a sieve to get a super cool, fuss free, lacy pattern! You don’t even need any icing!

2. Get swirly…

A simple icing trick that will take your icing skills to the next level

Swirl around with ease with this simple icing hack!

Have you always been impressed with the swirly twirly icing professional bakers manage with such ease but have never been able to replicate it for yourself? We’ve got it sorted! All you need are two icing bags filled with different coloured frosting. Cut the tips and place them both in a larger icing bag and fit it with a tip. Your perfect, two toned swirly twirls of icing are ready to rock and roll that cake!

3. Join the dots

Get your cake icing just right with this clever icing hack

Bad handwriting? You can still ice it perfect!

Always had an issue with handwriting back in school and could never quite figure out what all that fuss was about cursive writing? Well, here’s a fun way to get your decorating fonts to look just perfect– on your cakes at least! Use a toothpick to dot the letters on your cake, then just connect the dots when you pipe for easy-peasy, perfect looking icing! This is a trick straight from the school days; remember join the dots?

4. Do something pop-tacular!

Place ready made lollipops or candy on cake for a simple and great looking cake decorating trick!

Create something pop-tacular with lollipops on cake!

If you read our last post on cake pops, you know we have a thing for these bite-sized, fun, pretties that take us straight back to our childhood lollipop whimsies. So it’s no surprise that we have a cake decorating trick that’s all about lollipops! Try this when you’re super rushed and have neither the time nor the patience for any elaborate cake decoration. Stick some store bought lollipops in a burst of colours along the edges of your cake and voilà! A fun, colourful pop-on-cake ready in seconds!

A cool cake decorating hack that uses srinkles in a very creative way

Get wild with this ‘sprinkly’ creative hack!

Another super simple, yet favourite hack of ours involves sprinkles and cookie cutters. Place cookie cutters firmly on your cake and fill ’em up with sprinkles. Then gently remove the cookie cutter to get some sprinkly designs in as crazy an assortment of shapes as you like!

5. Get plastered!

Plaster your way to perfection with this hack

Um, no, don’t reach for that bottle- just yet! Check out this cool plastering trick for a super looking cake first. So you’ve covered your cake with fondant and are feeling bummed because all those annoying little cracks are showing up? Worry not! Just bung in a few drops of water with your leftover icing, mix it all together to get a toothpaste-y consistency and plaster those cracks! Smooth into and over and your cake-with-a-fabulous-finish is set!

Have you got any tricks up your cake decorating sleeve? Share it with us this World Cake Decoration Day! Or, if you’re reading this, just say Hi! We’d love to hear from you

Anatomy of a Cake Pop

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Close your eyes and imagine a burst of delicious decadence melting over your taste buds. Dense, sweet, soft, just the right bit of moist, crumbly…could it be… cake?

But wait! It’s also cool…almost crisp, smooth, an explosion of fun…and it’s on a stick!

So…it’s a lollipop, right?

Cake…Lollipop…Confused? Don’t be! Say hello to the newest entrant on the desert scene: the CAKE POP!

Combining the best of two delightful worlds, cake pops marry the traditional sophistication of a tea time cake with the fun quirkiness of lollipops.

Cake pops are the perfect treat for birthdays; stylish and bite sized fun!

Cake pops make for stylish, bite-sized birthday treats

So how did cake pops come to be in the first place? They have a really interesting and totally yummy history! Cake pops evolved from cake balls which originated to make something out of leftover, potentially stale cake. So you would have all this scrummy leftover cake, crumbed and rolled into balls with icing or other binding ingredient and then coated with chocolate or some other sweet exterior (much like donuts). A fabulous way of creating something awesome out of leftover cake!

Cake balls was where it all began, they evolved into the cake pop as we know it

Cake balls led to the evolution of cake pops

Cake balls became so popular that bakers began making them from scratch; without waiting for the leftover cake that needed to be salvaged. This then led to that light bulb moment: why not put a cake ball on a stick? And voilà! The cake pop, as we know and relish it, was born! And then, the well known cake pop Queen herself, Bakerella (also known as Angie Dudley), really put the spotlight on cake pops with her delightful, spectacular creations and before you could say ‘POP!’ cake pops were popping up all over the world from home chefs, to bakeries to Starbucks, which now serves cake pops in a variety of flavours!

So let’s dig right into one of these scrummy-licious creations and see what really goes into the making of a very basic cake pop- layer by delicious layer. For a detailed Con Affetto special recipe, watch this space; we have something pop-tacular coming your way SOON!

Absolutely swoon-some aren’t they? What’s more, you can use your creativity and personalize your cake pops as you wish. Go ahead and experiment with cake flavours, or, if the fancy strikes you, play around with a variety of ice cream sundae like toppings. Don’t be afraid to throw a bit of your personality into them as well; from Harry Potter pops to Disney princess pops, cake pops are popping up pretty much everywhere! They make a stylish alternative at theme based events; think bride and groom themed cake pops at weddings or pink and blue baby pops, just perfect for a baby shower! Take a look at these 27 insanely clever cake pops you won’t believe exist! Kim Kardashian cake pops anyone?

From weddings to baby showers, cake pops make the perfect go-to dessert

Bride and groom themed cake pops for a pop-tacular wedding!

The great thing about cake pops is that they are a versatile, go-to dessert. They make the perfect bite sized offering for adults at an afternoon tea, are a fun, insanely popular option with kids at birthday parties and make a stylish alternative at formal events or for corporate gifting.

Cake pops are a stylish, bite sized, go-to dessert of choice suitable for any occassion

Bite sized, versatile, stylish; cake pops are THE go-to dessert!

This bite-sized, handy dessert is also great for the weight conscious; it lets you have the best ever combination of cake and a melt-in-your-mouth topping without making you feel like you’ve eaten too much. What’s more cake pops look absolutely fantabulous! All you need to do is make sure there are enough to go around; they’re so delicious that they do tend to have a tendency to POP into thin air and vanish!

Have you eaten one of these incredibly yummy delights? Or, is there anything more you’re craving to know about these yummies-on-a-stick? We are waiting to hear from YOU!

10 Things Your Boyfriend is Thinking, But Will Never Tell You

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Did you know that 3^rd October is ‘World Boyfriends Day’? Yeah, there really is a day dedicated to those special guys in our lives; the ones that make us go weak in the knees and sometimes want to bop them on the head a little! Surprised? We bet you’d be even more so if you could get into your guy’s head and take a sneak peek at all the things he’s secretly thinking but will NEVER tell you!

Your boyfriend has secrets you know nothing about

Is there something he isn’t telling you?

1. He does notice that extra weight…

Yes he does. No matter how good he is at reassuring you that he loves you exactly the way you are, when you pile on the pounds, you can bet he’s noticed every extra gram. He’d just rather watch a skyscraper being whitewashed than ever admit it to you.

2. He does NOT want to hang out with your family that often

Sometime he just wants to hang out with YOU!

Yes, he thinks your dad is really funny too and he loves your mom’s home-made cinnamon loaf. But sometimes couple time with just the two of you is what he prefers. (And he does have a slight complex when it comes to your dad, even if he’s turning blue denying it!)

3. He’s as clueless as you are…

So the air conditioner’s been acting up and you’ve turned to him for help? Sure, he’s got his whole super dude act going as he nonchalantly goes about fixing it (he’s secretly Googling ‘how do you fix a bloody AC?’ on his phone), but the truth is he has NO idea. Zilch. Unless you really are dating super dude (well done, you!).

4. Your cooking? Um…

That lasagna you slaved over last time he came over? Blech. But it disappeared without a trace, you say? Now you know why your dog mysteriously took ill. Oh, and don’t even bother trying to compete with his mom’s laddoos. They will always be the world’s best. So there.

His mom's cooking will always be better than yours

Mom’s laddoos are the BEST

5. He does not want to talk

Is she ever going to shut up?

He’s never going to tell you to zip it, but honestly? He does not want to discuss, analyze and stress over everything from the bitchy new girl in your office team (he secretly thinks she’s cute) to your love hate relationship with his best friend.

6. He hates some of your clothes

He hates what you’re wearing!

That old favourite grey tee you wear whenever you’re feeling low? The one you’ve had since high school? He secretly wants it in the garbage dump. Yes, he did say you look SO cute in it. He was lying. He’ll take the black sheath dress any day.

7. Your BFF? Well…

She’s your rock, your support system, your 3am pal…you can’t imagine life without her! He knows that too, which is why he’s never going to tell you that he can’t stand the sight of her. That irritating, interfering, know-it-all…

8. He likes to vegetate on the couch more than you know it

That happening new club that’s opening? The weekend movie plan with friends? The marathon coming up in three months you want to train for? All he wants to do is drape himself on the couch and go into a coma. With you beside him to cuddle, of course.

9. He needs his ME time

With his friends. In their man cave. Watching mindless cricket, eating greasy food straight out of the boxes they came in (plates? Ha!) and drinking enough beer to flood a village. And no, you’re not exactly wanted there.

10. He feels insecure too

About your relationship. About the future. About that hot new Zumba instructor you been WhatsApping a little too often, in his opinion.

Celebrate World Boyfriends Day with your guy

Make him feel special this World Boyfriends Day

But for all the silly, stupid, DUMB things he does, he does make your world go round doesn’t he? And for all his bravado and macho exterior, he can be a little lost boy too sometimes. So show him a little extra TLC this Boyfriends Day-just don’t cook that lasagna again!

Corporate Gifting: The Ultimate Guide

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What? Whom?? When??? How much????

No, those aren’t the ramblings of a confused mind, that’s US doing our corporate gift planning! Diwali is round the corner and if, like us, you’ve got corporate gifting on your mind, you know that selecting the right gift for those you work with is not always straightforward. With all the stakeholders involved: employees, clients, vendors, investors, other business associates; the last thing you want to do is make an embarrassing gifting gaffe! If in doubt about whether to give or not to give, take a look at our corporate gifting guide.

Get the full low-down on gifting etiquette at your workplace

Gifting can work very differently at different offices. Gift giving is a strict no-no at some companies; some have an elaborate gifting tradition during the festive season; whereas others may have a more middle of the road approach. Most offices do have specific rules when it comes to corporate gifting, so find out what works and what doesn’t at yours.

A gift for the boss? And super boss?

Is it appropriate to get your boss a Diwali gift?

Diwali gifts for the BOSS! To gift or not to gift?

Even if gift giving during the festive season is customary at your office, find out the policy about whom you may/ may not gift to. Gifts for everyone including the boss? Or just your peers and subordinates? Check with your colleagues or HR about specific gifting etiquette. You don’t want to be the one gifting the boss a smart tech toy, only to find out it’s against the rules to get him even a box of candy (there goes the promotion!). Similarly, with your clients or business partners, make sure to check the company policy and stick to that.

How much should you spend?

Again, when it comes to the budget, every office is bound to have its own corporate gifting etiquette. In some places the budget over which you cannot exceed is clearly specified; at others you have to stick to gifts of the same amount for everybody and at yet other places you can select gifts based on the individual’s level and your interaction with them. Play it safe and ask around so you’re clear on the guidelines. A good idea is to ask your colleagues what they gifted/ received as gifts the previous year.

When in gifting doubt, PEP!

So you have the office gifting protocol sorted. But what on earth are you going to get your boss/ colleagues? Remember the golden rule: PEP. Keep it professional, be equitable, and where appropriate, personalize. Stay away from overtly personal gifts or even remotely inappropriate ones. Professional items like desk or travel accessories work well and food items like gourmet arrangements are a fabulous idea too. Need inspiration? Check out our earlier post on uber cool corporate gifting ideas!

Gourmet arrangements are a wonderful corporate gifting option

Gourmet arrangements make for great corporate gifts!

If you know someone at work really well, you can tailor the gift to their preferences as long as you stay within the professional realm. A set of tea infusions for a colleague who is a renowned tea aficionado, for example. And lastly, make sure to keep things equitable. Whatever you gift a person at a certain level, should be gifted to everyone at that level. You can choose a larger gift for your personal assistant or your core team members. When it comes to the boss, keep the relationship you two share in mind while selecting a gift. Personalized but professional gifts work best, but if you’re unsure about what to get, play it safe and opt for a simple yet classy card or handwritten note.

Gifting is meant to be an enjoyable process. Don't let the stress of corporate gifting make you forget that!

Don’t forget to ENJOY the process of gifting!

Finally, don’t forget to enjoy the gifting process. Heartfelt gifts are the ones that convey your wishes in the best possible manner!

We hope we’ve helped demystify the Complex Corporate Gifting Conundrum (known to give some peeps sleepless nights!). If YOU have any tips you’d like to share, do tell us in the comments section!

Corporate Gifting Ideas to ROCK this Diwali!

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Close your eyes and picture the first thing that comes to mind when someone says ‘Diwali gifts!’ Chances are, nine in ten people see a shiny gift box full of mithai. The ubiquitous mithai gift box and Diwali have been together since forever. And if you work in an office, come Diwali, you probably feel like a halwai with all those mithai boxes masquerading as Diwali gifts crowding up your desk. Why not take your corporate gifting from the banal to the brilliant this year with some of our unique corporate gifting ideas? Read on!

People, who work in offices need stationery, right? But hang on- we’re not talking dull as mud paperweights or stress busting balls (ugh!) here. What if you could chase that Monday morning funk away with some stylish stationery? We love this Very Brief Case (Rs 600) for stashing away those stacks of visiting cards that keep floating around like UFO’s in the office space and this uber cool Loudspeaker Pen Stand (Rs 500); perfect for dumping those evil critters that constantly roll off desks when you most need them.

Fun funky stationery corporate gift ideas

Image courtesy www.happilyunmarried.com

And there’s this too; super Diwali gift for that snide little office know-it-all *evil laughter*

quirky fun stylish corporate gifting ideas for Diwali

Image courtesy www,happilyunmarried.com; Rs 150 wonly!

Tech is an inevitable part of work life. It’s also a pretty cool thing to gift! And tech gifting never goes out of style! Check out this baby; a Portable Charger (Rs 7,750) that makes sure your Apple phone is never out of juice and with an awesome speaker to boot. And for those forever freezing in the office AC, these USB Heating Warmer Hand Gloves (apprx. Rs 600) which keep those fingers warm while they type away with ease are the perfect way to say ‘Happy Diwali’!

Unique corporate gifting ideas for Diwali, for tech lovers

Image courtesy amazon.com

Remember those cheesy birthday cards you made when you were a kid? Turns out they’re a great corporate gifting option! Um, no we didn’t mean the scrawny stick figured ones you churned out as a seven year old. What we had in mind was more like this beautiful gift pack of 3D pop-up Diwali cards(Rs 300), to convey your Diwali message with a touch of sparkling class. A truly unique corporate gift idea, especially in situations where you may be unsure about the gifting etiquette. Remember, when in corporate gifting doubt, you can always card it!

creative unique corporate gifting cards for Diwali

Image courtesy Konkan Mart

Remember how your granny kept telling you that almonds are good for you? She was right. But an overdose of even the good stuff can totally kill the Diwali spirit. We’re thinking a sea of dry fruits, threatening to drown you. Yup, dry fruit boxes are a close runner up to mithai boxes in the boring Diwali gifts round up. How about you do something non dry fruit-y this year? An edible bouquet, perhaps? How about this luxurious and sinful bubbly delight (Rs 1,500) to show your employees or clients some Diwali love? Combining a melt-in-your mouth cake pop bouquet, hand-crafted like gorgeous flowers, with a keepsake golden bucket and a beverage of choice (no vino though!), you can’t go wrong with this one.

Oh and did we mention that everything at Con Affetto is baked-to-order and made in an egg free environment? Just adds the icing on the cake pop.

creative and unique corporate gifting idea. Try these edible bouquets today!

Pop and sparkle this Diwali with this unique gifting idea!

‘Tis the time of light and sparkles and Diwali décor is what everyone needs this time of the year. Style up your corporate gift baskets with these bee-yoo-tiful Ganesha diya plates (Rs 800) or this absolutely stunning pooja thali(Rs 2,000). Everyone loves a little extra Diwali bling! What’s more, your clients/ employees will send some special Diwali cheer your way each time they light a diya!

Unique and creative corporate gifting ideas. Stunning Diwali pooja thali

Image courtesy www.fabfurnish.com

We hope you’re feeling inspired to ring in the festivities with our creative corporate gifting ideas. Liked what you just read? Spread some love in the comments below! And don’t forget to watch this space for our next feature on corporate gifting; coming your way very soon!

Master the Art of Gifting in 7 Simple Steps

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Have you ever trawled the malls the day before a friend’s birthday in desperate search of the perfect gift? Does the thought of finding suitable presents for everyone and their aunt send you into a tizzy each time the festive season rolls around? Or maybe, you’ve been at the receiving end and gotten a gift you absolutely detested? If you answered ‘YES!’ to even one of the above, fret not. We’ve put together a snazzy little guide that will help you master the art of gifting in no time!

1. A little gift planning goes a long way…

Seems silly to start thinking about Diwali gifts when you’re just packing away the winter woollies? A little advance planning doesn’t hurt! You don’t have to actually start shopping for gifts months in advance, but you can start thinking about what you might want to gift your in-laws for their anniversary, or your soon-to-be-married friend, a couple of months before the actual event. When it comes to corporate gifting, planning well in advance is the norm and it totally makes sense! Think about it; you never know when you might get lucky and hit upon some awesome deals or find that one in a million gift idea. Sure beats that headache inducing last minute trip to hunt for gifts, doesn’t it?

2. It’s the thought that counts

Anyone who’s ever been gifted a gym membership (ouch!), or worse, a hair removal cream (true story!) knows what I’m talking about. Chances are, the message you send out when you gift something like that is all wrong, no matter how noble the intention!

Putting some thought into gifting is way more important than spending truckloads of money.

Consider the recipient’s personality, likes and even dislikes. Do you have an overweight, terribly sensitive friend who you know could do with some feel good? A relaxing massage or a bottle of her favourite perfume might be what she likes best, instead of the gym membership you think she really needs.

3. Personalize your gifts

Personalized gifts are truly heartfelt and show it. One of the latest trends when it comes to corporate gifting as well, personalized gifts are a great way to gift something that has utility, yet make it special at the same time. A set of towels are elevated to another level when they come embellished with the recipient’s name. A box of cookies with the flavours, shapes and designs customized are so not going to get lost in a sea of cookies! Superman cookies for a super duper employee, for example. Customized gifts are a unique, sure shot way of saying ‘I care’.

4. Try DIY gifting

Ever been gifted a batch of home made cookies? Or a painting lovingly created by a friend? Nothing tugs at the heart strings more than a gift into which you’ve invested time and effort. And its not like you have to be the next MasterChef or Picasso to put a DIY gift together. A collage of photos capturing memories; a compilation of some favourite tracks or even a handwritten letter all count! After all, it’s the thought you’ve put into it that’s most important, remember?

5. Be a little adventurous!

Try something different and gift an experience to remember. Your globe trotting husband might like an exotic cruise or a safari; for your sleep deprived new mommy friend, a massage at a nearby spa might be what hits the sweet spot and for your own mom, something as simple as a coffee date with you might just be the perfect gift. Let your imagination run riot and create memories that will last a lifetime!

6. Take your gifting online

With e-commerce taking over pretty much every aspect of our lives, there’s really no reason you shouldn’t use the plethora of ever expanding online options for gifting. From funky accessories; home décor; gourmet baked products to unique corporate gifting solutions, you’ll get it all online. What’s more, several companies give you the option to customize your gift, making it that much more special.

7. Un-box your gifting

No, that doesn’t mean getting rid of the gift wrapping; it means thinking out of the box when it comes to the way you gift. Some of the best gifts have a true spark of creativity behind them. Hand written gift vouchers for your beloved to redeem his/ her favourite treats (your special walnut brownies baked to order!); personalized mobile USB chargers for your employees; or an author signed copy of your brother’s favourite book….do away with the boring and think up something unique! Edible blooms like these instead of regular ol’ flowers. Customized gourmet baskets for corporate gifting instead of done to death dry fruits. When you begin to un-box, the possibilities are endless!

At the end of the day, gifting is so much more than the mere exchange of material objects. When you give someone a gift, you send out a message that can strengthen a bond and cement a relationship. Do YOU have any tips for finding that perfect gift? Tell us in the comments; we’d love to hear from you!