Unique Gifts for Mom

It must be years since the last time I have been in a tanning bed.  I think I went the last time because I wanted to get a base tan before a vacation so I wouldn't burn, but since then, I haven't gone for a couple of reasons.

1. I hear an advertisement played on the radio almost everyday stating, "Tanning once a month can increase your chance of skin cancer by 75%." 
2. It's an expense that I don't need.

But of course....what did I do the other day that almost all brides do?  I went tanning.  I want to have a nice summer glow because right now I'm glowing like Casper.  That radio advertisement was ringing in my head as I was in the tanning bed & I felt guilty while doing it, but I did it anyway because I want to look good.  The vanity of it all I must admit....

Creating a fake magazine cover would have been a much better and healthier way to express my vanity!  It would be the perfect romantic gift idea for my husband-to-be for our wedding day.  That perfect personalized gift that expresses my feelings for just him and I alone. 

What's even better, is that it doesn't increase my chance of skin cancer by 75% and my soon-to-be husband can enjoy it with me too [he doesn't enjoy tanning].  YourCover personalized magazine covers is your instant gift for special occasion to remember forever! 

After working throughout the day, coming home to a dirty house, and then having to make dinner, you remember it's your brother's birthday coming up and you haven't gotten him anything.

Shoot, another "I don't wanna" on your forever growing to-do list. What do you do? Well, if you're like me, struggling to make rent, and have a spoiled brother that has everything (literally) then the best birthday gift ideas are ones that come from the heart.

You really can't go wrong with a personalized birthday gift, one that says, "You're the greatest little bro ever!" or "Thanks for not telling mom I over-watered her flowers" or "Bro and Sis Team up for the best karaoke duet!!"    

I mean let's face it, getting birthday gifts for guys can be a challenge, and no one needs a challenge when they're already EXTREMELY BUSY. If you want to get a gift that really makes a statement, get personal and make a magazine cover with YOUR picture and YOUR headlines. It's so fun and easy and it will mean more than any other gift.

The best thing about a gift like this? You don't need to drive all over town to find the store, wait in line, or worry about exchanges. Everyone loves getting a gift with a personal touch. Even big tough guys like my little brother...

My stepmom is turning the big 4-0 soon!  It would be easy to get her the 'The Year You Were Born -1970,' book and have her chuckle at the following:

President: Richard Nixon
Vice President: Spiro Agnew
Population: 205,052,174
Life Expectancy: 70.8 years
Unemployment: 3.5%
Cost of a new home: $26,600
Median Household Income: $8,734
Cost of a 1st class stamp: $.06
Cost of a gallon of regular gas: $.36

Yeah she'll get a kick out of it when she flips through the pages the first time, but then it will just sit on her bookshelf and collect dust for another 40 years! 

Searching to find the best birthday gift ideas for Lisa was fun, but I wanted to do a personalized birthday gift and that made it more difficult with all of the personalized gifts available out there.  However, fake magazine covers from YourCover personalized magazine covers made my decision easy. 

I was able to turn her into a magazine cover star!  I even created a back cover with all of statistics of the 1970's that would appear in the book!  This personalized birthday gift will showcase much better on a desk or bookshelf than the book would, in its beautiful acrylic frame. 

I think I might just make one for my dad's birthday ;0)

Hello to all of our readers out there! Kristina and I are starting a video blog! This is the first of many videos that we'll be creating to keep you up-to-date and entertained! 

Come get to know us a little bit so you know who you're talking to when you call YourCover for help!  



Remember: YourCover.com is a great place for a unique personalized gift and we're fun too! So don't be shy, if you have any cool video ideas, let us know. We love making our customers and fans happy! Stay tuned for more YCTV!

My grandparents will be closing on a house in Florida within the next month.  This is not only exciting for them, but for me as well.  Why am I excited you ask?  Maybe it's because they are exactly 20 minutes due south of Disney World!!!!!!!!

Yes, at 24 years old, the magic of Magic Kingdom still excites me.  When I see Cinderella's castle or Mickey and Minnie's house, I can't help but grin from ear to ear.  So when I learned that my grandparents were buying a house not too far away from Mickey & Minnie's digs, I knew I had to search throught some custom gift ideas to celebrate their new home.

Trying to find a gift for grandparents was a little difficult...they have everything imagineable!  The obvious was right in front of me when I realized they were purchasing a home, so I had a picture of their house sent to me and turned it into a personalized gift idea as a personalized magazine cover. 

This unique personalized gift is a perfect gift for grandparents to display anywhere and it will look great in their new home!  Hopefully they will LOVE it and take me to Disney ;0)

Finally, the hot weather is here! I don't know about you, but I'm such a beach bum. I love the hot sand between my toes and I can't wait to start working on my tan!

But the sun and sand isn't for everyone. I'm sure most of you enjoy relaxing indoors with the cool breeze from the air conditioner, sipping on iced teas and lemonades.

If you find yourself sitting at home one of these days, here's a great way to do something productive, while maintaining a seemingly unproductive day... 

Is there an event coming up? Someone's birthday that you're going to celebrate, an anniversary, or just a party for no reason? Let YourCover help you make it super memorable! You can make a custom magazine cover for your event as a gift, invitation, or party keepsake. This unique personalized gift is easy to make, inexpensive, and guaranteed to please. Did I mention it's an instant gift too...for all you last minute shoppers out there...

Now is the perfect time to sit back, relax, and do something fun and creative. Who knows what you'll think of! Remember, life is a beach so let the good times roll...onto the cover of a magazine cover...

Have you've heard about P. Diddy getting his sixteen year old son a brand new silver Maybach (valued at $360,000)? Some people are criticizing this extravagant gift for a sixteen year old, but I think P. Diddy is right when he defends himself saying he doesn't have to answer to anyone about how to raise his kids, after all, we don't know how he raises his kids anyway.  

My mom always said that one of the joys in her life was that she works so hard so that she can provide for my brother and me. Okay so a car is out of the question, but I'm sure if she had the income like P. Diddy, that Maybach would be in my driveway too... or maybe a baby pink Corvette...

Let's stop worrying about all of the things we don't have in life and start cherishing all the great things we do have. For all those who don't have Diddy's cash flow (and that's most of us) don't worry, we can still party like rock stars! A photo magazine cover is the perfect sweet 16 gift for a guy and a girl.

Let them know how much you love them and how much they mean to you. Trust me, their friends will get a kick out of it and they'll be jealous that they're not starring on the front of their own custom magazine cover. 

Summer has officially arrived!  School is out and the hot weather is in!  Hopefully you are able to get away this summer to enjoy a vacation.  With the normal day-to-day activities that life can bring, you sure wonder how you ever lasted the whole school year! 

A couple of years ago friends of ours took a trip to Australia!  I was very jealous because this is my DREAM vacation and I wanted to jump in their luggage, but I ended up just drooling over their pictures when they got back.

Anyway...their pictures were amazing!  I especially loved this one of their daughter snorkeling.  I told them of YourCover personalized magazine covers and what an easy and fun job it is to create your own fake magazine cover.  You can turn your vacation photo into a unique photo gift idea or a great unique gift for mom to display at home or at work.
However you end up using it, it's a great way to remember that moment and in this case, an extrememly memorable vacation.

OHHHHHH BABY!  It's a special day when that little one arrives in your arms.  They are the shining star of your life and you want to show them off as much as you can...as soon as you get out of the hospital anyway!

I know just like Emma here, my parents took me to a photographer for my first photo session.  I was the first born, so not only did they want as many pictures as possible, but the grandparents were anxious for there own copies too.

Don't just give a wallet of your newborn to everyone, spice it up!  A personalized magazine cover of your newborn will be something that everyone can remember.  Your little peanut will sure to be a shining star front and center on their own fake magazine cover.  It will make a unique gift for mom and personalized photo gift ideas for the whole family!  Stop by YourCover and create your baby magazine cover now! 

The birthday milestone celebrations have become more important as the years go by.  Parties and trips are planned for 30th, 40th and 50th birthdays.  Sometimes it is a weekend getaway with the girls or a golf trip for the guys or perhaps it's a surprise party at someone's home or a restaurant. Whatever the celebration, you are likely looking for a few unique ideas for 50th birthday gift.

Going personal is always a good way to go when you are seeking something unique for a milestone celebration.  There are hand-painted martini glasses that say "Happy Birthday" or gag gifts like a giant Viagra pill.  Although fun in the short term, will these be gifts that last and bring long enjoyment from the recipient?

The personalized magazine covers available at YourCover are a great solution for those looking for some ideas for 50th birthday gifts.  The cover is completely customized with the photo of the 50-year-old along with headlines that you can personalize to be all about their life, friends, family (and old age!).  Personalized magazine covers make great birthday gifts for guys or unique gifts for mom.  The recipient will feel like a celebrity when they see the magazine cover and they will recognize the effort you put into making it for them.

When searching for ideas for 50th birthday gifts, come to YourCover for a simple, inexpensive and unique solution.

Only Miley Cyrus can pull a Sweet 16 bash like that of the one held for her at Disneyland.  It was a starstudded event!  Everyone from Mickey Mouse to Vanessa Williams was there to help her celebrate.  Look at her cake!!  It's almost as tall as she is...and she has heels on! 

Unfortunately, the average 16 year old wouldn't be able to have such a party [this is where the teens sigh in disappointment and the parents jump up & down in excitement].
Finding unique sweet 16 ideas for your daughter or son's party can be daunting.  Search for invitations, favors, cake designs, music, etc...it's like a wedding!  Make your sweet 16 gift easy and fun by creating a personalized magazine cover from YourCover.  

Look at how beauitful Laila looks on her fake magazine cover!  A friend of the family is a photographer and he took an awesome photo session of her, and mom used this to create a sweet 16 gift so Laila can remember her amazing day!  She also used them as favors for her sweet 16 party to hand out to the kids - THEY WERE A HIT!  Parents - you don't have to invite Mickey or Vanessa for your 16 yr. old to have a blast at their party, just make them feel like a star with their own personalized magazine cover from YourCover. 

 Every year for my mom's birthday my dad and I take an entire day and go to the mall in search of the perfect present.  Normally moms are pretty low-key and easy to shop for, but the older my mom gets, the more stuff she accumulates. Needless to say my dad and I are not the best or most efficient shoppers in the world (we usually end up in the food court eating ice cream) and we end up each buying her a piece of jewelry.

This year however I have made it my goal to step out of the box and find a unique birthday gift.  Now, I have looked far and wide for the best unique birthday gift for Mom and I think a personalized birthday gift is the way to go.  I decided to make her a custom magazine cover from YourCover so she will finally be able to display something other than a pair of earrings!  YourCover has so many custom templates to chose from that creating a unique gift for Mom (or Dad since his birthday is coming up too) will be simple and easy.  I highly recommend a photo magazine cover because it truly is a unique gift for Mom, Dad, or anyone!

So you want to create fake magazine covers?  They can be a great gift for a special occasion or they are fun to make for no reason at all.  When you are looking for a tool or website to help you create fake magazine covers there are basically three types available. 

The first option (which is offered by YourCover) is one that allows you to upload a photo and to personalize existing headlines to create a fake magazine cover that is completely customized - it's not just their photo but all the info is specifically about the person starring on the front cover.  There are default headlines that can stay as is or can be personalized with a name; there is also a headline library full of suggestions of other headlines to perfectly fit your situation.  This option also lets you design the fake magzine cover yourself for immediate creation - see how the cover looks as you make it and revise it.  You can also download a photo file for immediate printing at home or a local photo shop - instant gratification!

A second option offered by several sites is one that gives you the ability to upload a photo to a fake magazine cover and download the image for free.  The downside to this type of site is that the only thing that is personalized is the photo on the front.  It makes for a good joke or gag but it's lifetime value is pretty brief because it is just the person's face without any info about them or their life.

A third option is to have someone create a fake magazine cover for you. Email your photo to them and then give detailed instructions as to what the headlines will say.  The upside is that you have someone else do the creation but the downside is that you have to come up with all the headlines yourself without any suggestions or ideas and that can be kind of hard. You also have to wait around for them to get back to you as opposed to an immediate response.

When using the online design tool at YourCover you are getting much more than a fake magazine cover, you are creating a personalized gift that will mean a great deal to the recipient.  Get started today! 

According to Askmen.com here are the TOP TEN gifts for Father's Day:

10. Grill Tools
9. Alcohol
8. Fishing Gear
7. A set of Golf Clubs
6. Leather Wallet
5. Wine
4. Driving Gloves
3. Meat
2. Sports Tickets
1. Landscaping Services

Just looking at most of those gifts make my wallet hurt and they all seem over-done. If you're looking for an inexpensive gift that will make your dad happier than any of these gifts could, you should consider creating a custom magazine cover starring your dad on the front cover!

Father's Day is already this Sunday and with a downloadable version, this unique personalized gift is not only a perfect gift, but an instant gift. 

When women hit a certain age, they become overly concerned with how they look. Do you see these wrinkles? Is that a grey hair? What happened to my butt? And with all of these products that promote stopping or slowing down the aging process, women (and even men) are spending so much time and money on trying to look younger.

I don't know if I'll ever hear my mom stop complaining about how much she's aged in the past few years and I'll probably be doing the same thing when I get to be her age (which isn't very old), but I think she's absolutely gorgeous and looks great for her age! And I'm not just saying that because she's my mom...

My mom takes great care of herself and I want her to feel as young and glamorous as I think she is. Here are some tips I've learned from my mother on how to look your youngest without spending a fortune on plastic surgery and cosmetics.

1) Exercise is so important! Keep that body in shape by going for a nice walk! My mom loves to walk our dog everyday. It keeps both of them in shape.

2) Be sure to be extra gentle when you cleanse and moisturize your face. Being rough with the skin your face causes unseen damage that can surface as you age. 

3) Stay out of the sun! I know this is hard because who doesn't like a nice tan?! My mom says sun damage is the worst and causes wrinkles. She always uses sunscreen and wears a hat to protect her face from sun damage.

4) Stay active and participate in fun activities. Laughing, having fun, and surrounding yourself with positivity really does wonders for your mind, body, and spirit.

5) And most importantly, tell that special woman in your life, whether it be your mom, grandma, aunt, or wife that she is beautiful everyday that you can. It's hard dealing with getting older so make them feel good! They deserve it.

If telling them isn't enough, do what I did and try making her a unique personalized gift.  A YourCover magazine cover is perfect for expressing how beautiful she is by using your favorite pictures of her and personalizing your own headlines! 

It was so easy to make and I had a lot of fun choosing family pictures and remembering all the fun we've had together. I know my photo magazine cover will make her really happy and that's the most important thing. 

This makes for a great gift for any and every occasion, even for a "just thinking of you" gift. For more unique photo gift ideas, check out www.yourcover.com

At a quick glance these may look like photos of Panda cubs and a Tiger to you, but look closer...they are actually man's best friend...DOGS!!  It's the latest craze among some dog owners in China to dye their pets to look like other animals.  This trend hasn't been quick to pick up here in the US, but it has come close with dog owners dying their dogs fur different colors for fun!
Humans often dye their hair looking for a new change...maybe we are looking for a new change in our pets as well?  A 2005 P&G survey found that 65 percent of women aged 15-75 had colored their hair in the past 12 months.  Americans spent about $1.6 billion on at-home hair color in 2005, according to Euromonitor International.  Average cost of hair color at a salon is $75-100, or up to hundreds of dollars for one treatment at a fancy salon. The process can take up to several hours.

I am unaware of the costs of turning your dog into a jungle animal, but depending on how much hair and how big your dog might be, I would assume it could get pretty costly.  It would make an hysterical Halloween costume, although it is semi-permanent.  
If you were looking for a Halloween costume or a unique gift for pet, you might just want to consider fake magazine covers. 
Take Snowball here for instance.  She was looking so adorable in her Hello Kitty outfit, that we decided to create a personalized photo gift for the owner.  They LOVED it!  It topped the outfit and they now have it sitting on their desk at work.

Forget the dye job.  Fake magazine covers will make any animal or human happy!

These days it is not hard to find a pink jacket and matching bottoms for your pooch, like Lily here.  Dog and cat owners can purchase anything from Halloween costumes to your favorite sports teams jersey for your little four legged friend!

The options are endless and YourCover gives you a great opportunity to make your pet or a friend's pet a star!

If it's your friend's birthday and they are obsessed with their pet - fake magazine covers would be the ideal gift!  Upload a picture of the owner and the pet together [or just the pet], to get your Pet magazine cover started.  A YourCover magazine cover is more than just a fake magazine cover because it's not just the photo that is personalized but it's all the headlines too.  Including references to cute stories and funny memories is what makes YourCover such a terrific personalized gift idea.

What fun ideas do you have?  I wanted to dress my cat up like a monkey - now that would make a GREAT personalized magazine cover!

Someone you love is about to turn 15! It's such a wonderful age, especially for a girl who's about to celebrate her very special Quinceanera. So... what do you get the girl who has everything? A YourCover custom magazine cover is a great Quinceanera gift to give and receive because it's really that personal touch that can make an event unforgettable.

There's no better way to make your special girl the center of attention than making her a Quinceanera magazine cover for everyone to enjoy.

It's such a unique gift idea because it allows you to get creative! Not only with your own design, but also with the different uses.

For example, we had one customer tell us that she was making a poster print for her daughter's party so that she could have everyone sign it. Another customer made several copies and included one in each gift bag for her guests. Other ideas include using it as an invite, thank you card, or table center pieces.

This amazing personalized birthday gift is inexpensive and is sure to be a crowd pleaser at any party or occasion. Celebrating a Quinceanera only happens once in a girl's life so make it extra special by showing her that she's a star in your eyes.  Start your unique Quinceanera gift today and she'll cherish it forever!

Somehow we got into a whole discussion this morning about names for grandparents.  It seems many languages have similar names for mothers and fathers: mama, mommy, maman, daddy, dad or papa, poppy as these are among the first sounds that babies can make.  But getting to Grandma and Grandpa is a step away. 

In our office the names for grandparents varied from the standard Grandma to Nanny, Nonni, YaYa, and Gran.  No matter what you call your grandparents, having them as a part of your family is what makes them so special.

If you are looking for a unique gift for grandparents, creating a personalized magazine cover featuring their photo (alone or with the grandchildren) is sure to be one of their treasured keepsakes.  YourCover is so much more than a fake magazine cover because it is more than just a photo on a generic mag cover, by customizing the headlines to be all about your Nanny and Poppy, you make a gift as unique as your family!  

To make your own unique grandparents' gift, choose the Personal Celebrity template, the Special Event template or GRAND Magazine cover template.  If your gift is occasion related, choices expand to birthdays, anniversaries, retirements and reunions.