| I have wrapped too many gifts - namely, | | | | 1970's homes updated in the 80's and on |
| gift baskets - to remember. I consider | | | | the market today. DO pair black and |
| myself an expert. Whether you do or not | | | | white. Say, crisp black paper with |
| is beside the point. Listen up. Here | | | | white ribbon. It is clean and classic. |
| are the tips of the sophisticated gift | | | | DON'T use black and white newspaper to |
| trade... DO use clear, clean cello when | | | | wrap your gifts. I tried that during a |
| wrapping gift baskets or a grouping of | | | | particularly thrifty Christmas season, |
| smaller gifts. DON'T use | | | | and my mother wouldn't even put my gifts |
| reindeer-adorned cello or any of its | | | | under the tree. DO use variations of the |
| tasteless cousins. It's the equivalent | | | | same shade. Say, pale green tissue, a |
| of your spinster aunt or grade one | | | | lime green bag, and a darker green |
| teacher's red cable-knit sweater with | | | | accent. Alternatively, pair beautiful |
| snowman appliqué. DO use lavish, | | | | products with packaging elements that |
| beautiful wired ribbon. It can turn a | | | | echo one another (i.e. a tin of loose |
| simple bar of elegant soap or even just | | | | leaf tea with olive green label paired |
| a tin of hard candies into a memorable | | | | with a milled soap in lime green box.) |
| token gift or hostess gift. DON'T use | | | | This balanced pairing is seamless and |
| that tacky thin ribbon that you curl | | | | adds a touch of controlled luxury. DON'T |
| with scissors. You want to elevate, not | | | | compile an assortment of mismatched, |
| cheapen your already cheap gift. DO use | | | | cheap products with similar packaging in |
| gold and silver accents, in moderation, | | | | an attempt to duplicate this idea. |
| for holiday season gifts. DON'T assume | | | | Quality always wins. Better to have two |
| more gold and silver equals better. It | | | | select items, than twenty toss-away |
| equals tacky. If you were trying to | | | | ones. DO put some love into your |
| compete with drug store gift baskets, | | | | creation. Trite yes, but that's truly |
| you would have just bought one there. DO | | | | what makes it special. |
| use bold color. Think hot pink, lime | | | | Laura Jayne McDonald is a young |
| green, turquoise. Paired with chocolate | | | | mompreneur and franchisor. Just shy of |
| brown, it's very of the moment. DON'T | | | | 30 years old, she is the proud mom of |
| think bold color means heather green and | | | | two beautiful girls and the co-founder |
| navy with maroon trim. That's like | | | | of Two Blonds & a Brunette Gift Co., a |
| realtor speak for 'designer upgrades' on | | | | celeb-endorsed gift basket franchise. |