Let’s Start at the Very Beginning

As a top Professor of Giftology, I take my gift-giving pretty seriously (or as seriously as I can take anything). When I was little, I was mesmerized by the Sears WishBook, devouring all of that catalog’s 832 pages. I consider it a personal failure when I give a gift that is not well-received. While running a toy drive at work, I got angry at a friend of mine for buying a ballet Barbie and a Barbie Beach Buggy—I mean, why would Barbie wear her ballet uniform to the beach?

What can you expect to find here? Quite simply, when I see something that would make a great gift, I’ll write a short post about it. You won’t find any negative reviews here; this is not a review site so much as it is a recommendation site. However, I won’t neglect to inform you if, say, a bum bottle of perfume turns into a Level 4 Bio-hazard situation. You’ll also be able to search through posts by category (toys, accessories, perfume bottles that emit Level 4 Bio-hazard situations). I’ll also offer hints on getting the most bang for your online buck, lessons in gift-giving etiquette, and occasionally I’ll go off on a tangent about the Brady Bunch or my favorite college mascots or why bleu cheese is my preferred burger cheese.

And I want to hear from you! I want to help you! I want to buy the world a Coke! If you’re looking for gift-giving advice, whether it be for a last-minute birthday party your 10-year-old never told you about or a wedding where all the cheap registry stuff was already purchased, send an e-mail. I’ll try to answer everyone.

I hope that there will be contests, because who doesn’t like winning things?

So, in the spirit of beginnings, my first review will be of a gift given to a person just starting out in life: a baby. My favorite baby gift? A nice set of bibs, with a card that reads, “Life’s Messy. Wear a bib.”

I really love this “One Fish, Two Fish” bib and washcloth set from Bumpkins ($14.95, Amazon.com) (free shipping elibigle). Add a copy of the Dr. Seuss book that inspired the bib, and you’ve got a fun, coordinated gift package.

And there it is, my first recommendation.

Welcome to Present Professor. Class is now in session.