Real Simple | Life Made Easier, Every Day
Make RealSimple.com My Homepage|Simply Stated|Newsletters|Real Simple Rewards|Photo Galleries|SUBSCRIBE
  • Food & Recipes
      • Browse All Recipes
      • Recipe Collections & Favorites
      • Cooking Tips & Techniques
      • Shopping & Storing
      • Tools & Products
      • New Uses For Old Things
      • All Food & Recipes
      • Guide: Thanksgiving Recipes and Leftovers
      • Checklist: Gourmet Spice Checklist
      • Video: How To: Shape a Double Piecrust
  • Home & Organizing
      • Organizing
      • Cleaning
      • Decorating
      • Home Improvement
      • Gardening
      • Green Living
      • New Uses For Old things
      • All Home & Organizing
      • Guide: Holiday Organizing Tricks
      • Checklist: Houseguest Prep Checklist
      • Video: How To: Hang a Picture
  • Beauty & Fashion
      • Clothing
      • Shoes & Accessories
      • Skincare
      • Makeup
      • Hair
      • Makeovers & Tips
      • Clothing Care
      • All Beauty & Fashion
      • Guide: Winter Beauty Tips and Tricks
      • Checklist: Cold-Weather Fashion Travel Essentials Checklist
      • Video: How To: Apply Makeup in Five Minutes
  • Holidays & Entertaining
      • All Holidays & Entertaining
      • Holidays
      • Weddings
      • Birthdays
      • Entertaining
      • Gifts
      • Guide: Holiday Decorating Ideas
      • Checklist: Christmas Countdown Checklist
      • Video: Doable Decorating From the Craft Store
  • Health
      • All Health
      • Nutrition & Diet
      • Fitness & Exercise
      • Mind & Mood
      • First Aid & Health Basics
      • Preventative Health
      • Guide: Stay Healthy for Cold and Flu Season 
      • Checklist: Hospital Stay Checklist
      • Video: How To: Tone Your Upper Arms
  • Work & Life
      • All Work & Life
      • Money
      • Family
      • Life Strategies
      • Technology
      • Travel
      • Etiquette
      • Entertainment
      • Guide: Smart Shopping 101
      • Checklist: Identity Theft Prevention Checklist
      • Video: How To: Pack a Suitcase
  • Magazine & More
    • Magazine & More
      • All Magazine & More
      • Inside the Magazine
      • Inside the Website
      • Newsletters
      • Real Simple Products
      • Real Simple Rewards
      • Books & Back Issues
      • Simply Stated Blogs
      • Subscribe
      • Subscribe: Subscribe to Real Simple Magazine
      • Try Real Simple!: Get a Free Preview Issue of Real Simple
      • Give a Gift: Give the Gift of Real Simple Magazine

The Guide to Happiness

  • Main

Small, Helpful Gestures With Big Impact By Lori Bergamotto

Show you care: Even a simple act of kindness can make a big impression. 

  • PRINT
  • E-MAIL
  • COMMENT
  • SAVE
  • SHARE:
  •    more
Page 1 of 4

Rita Maas

Personalized Gift Ideas for Weddings, New Babies, and Graduations

For Weddings

"Right after my neighbor’s wedding, I made a mini-album of the photos I took. The next morning, I gave the newlyweds the first pictures of their nuptials. One caught them hand in hand on the beach. They loved it."
―Marcia Blackwell, 44, Long Branch, New Jersey
 

  • Frame the wedding invitation and give it to the bride and groom after their honeymoon.
  • Pack up a small cooler of Champagne and leftover wedding cake so the couple can enjoy what they probably missed the night before. 

For Births

"The journal I received at my baby shower meant the world to me. Each guest wrote two pieces of advice: one to me on being my son's mother and another to my son on having me as a mother. It was a hilarious and touching gift to me (and my son!)."
―Rebecca Sample Gerstung, 33, Chicago

  • Gather newspapers with the baby's birth date, and some current magazines, and make a time capsule for when he gets older.
  • A new mom hardly has time to shower. Drop by before you start your day and watch the baby while mom cleans up―15 minutes is all she needs.

For Graduations

"When I give a gift to a graduate, I include a 'To Whom It May Concern' letter―a recommendation the grad can use when needing a reference."
―Robyn Spizman, 54, Atlanta

  • Dig up one of your graduate's grammar-school report cards and include it inside a card. It will be fun to see how far she has come. (Plus, she can see if critiques like "Talks out of turn" still apply.)
  • Call a pizzeria or burger joint in the high school graduate's new college town and prepay a tab or buy a gift card. 

Next: Tough Times
Skip to Daily Finds slides.

Related Content

10 Money Conversations Everyone Should Have

Yes, discussing finances can be awkward, but it’s equally essential. Experts offer talking points for 10 crucial conversations.

  • Good Old-Fashioned Playtime
  • A Life Lessons Anthology

What do you think about this article? Share your own solutions and ideas

View Earlier Comments
  • Mouse Icon Blogs
  • Camera Icon Videos
  • Checkbox Icon Checklists

Hot Topics

Browse All Blogs
New
  • Do You Always Serve Turkey for Thanksgiving?
  • Leopard Print: Love It or Leave It?
  • Are CD Players Obsolete?
  • Who Is Your Favorite Author?

How-To Videos

Browse All Videos
Videos
  • Doable Decorating from the Office Supply Store
  • Display Holiday Cards
  • Apply Eyeliner
  • Clean Hardwood Floors

Checklists

Browse All Checklists
Checklists
  • Dinner Party Checklist
  • Holiday Cookie Exchange Checklist
  • Mail-Organizing Checklist
  • Organizing the Kids' Room Checklist
Advertisement

Top Galleries

See All Galleries
  • "Star Trek" film still with Chris Pine

      What to Do This Weekend

  • Maple Pumpkin Pie

      30 Deliciously Easy Thanksgiving Desserts

  • Holiday cards display on a mantel

      5-Minute Holiday Decorating Ideas

  • Extra Long Cable Knit Gloves by Fred Flare

      7 Cozy Winter Gloves and Mittens

  • Mashed Sour Cream and Scallion Potatoes

      24 Make-Ahead Thanksgiving Recipes

Real Simple | Life Made Easier, Every Day
In The Magazine
  • This Month's Issue
  • Subscribe
  • Give a Gift Subscription
  • Customer Service
  • Books and Back Issues
RSS
  • Sign up to get ideas instantly!
Inside Real Simple
  • Food & Recipes
  • Home & Organizing
  • Beauty & Fashion
  • Health
  • Holidays & Entertaining
  • Work & Life
  • Magazine & More
  • Weddings
  • Travel
  • Technology
 
  • Decorating
  • Gardening
  • Cleaning
  • Money
  • Family
  • How To Guides
  • Ask Real Simple
  • Simply Stated Blogs
  • Daily Finds
  • Real Simple Products
More Information
  • About Us
  • Contact
  • Customer Service
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Service
  • Print Media Kit
  • Digital Media Kit
  • Real Simple Rewards
  • Site Map
Real Simple Newsletters To receive any of these free e-mails, select the ones you're interested in and enter the required information.
  • Weekly Tips Newsletter (see sample)
  • Daily Finds (see sample)
  • Daily Thought (see sample)
  • Wedding Newsletter (see sample)
  • Daily Recipe Newsletter (see sample)
  • Ask Real Simple (see sample)
  • Keep-It-Together Checklist (see sample)
Copyright © 2009 Time Inc. Lifestyle Group. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is prohibited.