Antoine Girard

Writer

Writes the gift guides for partners, parents and coworkers.

Articles by Antoine

A group of coworkers signing a card around a desk

Should you give your boss a gift? Usually not alone

Should you give your boss a gift? Usually a group card or a shared gift is better than a personal one. Here is a simple rule and what to pick.

Antoine GirardNov 7, 20263 min read

Two men sharing a meal at a casual table

For him

What to give a brother who is hard to shop for

What to give a brother who is hard to shop for: a short rule that works for adult brothers who never want much, and a few gifts to skip.

Antoine GirardNov 7, 20262 min read

A grandmother holding a framed family photo at home

For parents

Gifts for grandparents who live far away

Gifts for grandparents who live far away: simple ideas that ship well, bring you closer and are easy to use, with a plain rule for each kind of grandparent.

Antoine GirardNov 5, 20265 min read

A tidy office desk with a few small wrapped gifts

For coworkers

Secret Santa gift ideas for the office on a set limit

Secret Santa gift ideas for the office that fit a set limit: safe picks, funny but kind picks, and what to avoid when you barely know your match.

Antoine GirardNov 2, 20265 min read

A framed black and white photo of a couple on a shelf

For parents

Gift for parents' wedding anniversary: what works

A gift for your parents' wedding anniversary works best when it marks the years together, not the number: a photo, a meal or a small shared plan.

Antoine GirardOct 30, 20262 min read

A small gift box tied with ribbon on a wooden table

For him

Small or big gift for a new boyfriend: what to choose

Small or big gift for a new boyfriend? Small and specific usually wins in the first months, and a bigger gift suits a longer, steady relationship.

Antoine GirardOct 29, 20264 min read

Two parents and an adult child chatting at a kitchen table with a small wrapped gift

For parents

Gifts for parents who say they want nothing

Parents who say they want nothing still notice what you give. Here is how to choose gifts that are useful, easy to receive and hard to regret.

Antoine GirardOct 29, 20264 min read

A bunch of flowers and a pot of tea on a kitchen table

For her

What to buy a mother-in-law you do not know well yet

What to buy a mother-in-law you do not know well: keep it warm, small and easy to use, and avoid anything that looks like a comment on her home.

Antoine GirardOct 26, 20262 min read

A card signed by the whole team next to a small wrapped gift

For coworkers

What to give a coworker who is leaving

A leaving gift should be small, easy to carry home and shared. Here is a simple rule for what to buy, what to skip and how to organize it.

Antoine GirardOct 26, 20262 min read

Several small wrapped gifts lined up on an office desk

For coworkers

Holiday gifts for your team that people actually use

Holiday gifts for your team should be fair, simple and easy to receive. Here is a rule for choosing, ideas by team size and what to skip.

Antoine GirardOct 22, 20264 min read

A brown leather wallet and a wrist watch on a wooden table

For him

Wallet or watch as a gift for him: which is the better pick

Wallet or watch as a gift for him? A wallet is lower risk and used daily, a watch is a bigger statement. Here is how to choose and when to skip both.

Antoine GirardOct 14, 20263 min read

Cardboard boxes stacked in a living room during a move

For parents

Gift for a parent moving to a smaller home

A gift for a parent moving to a smaller home should take up little space and ease the change. Here is a simple rule, three safe ideas and what to skip.

Antoine GirardOct 3, 20262 min read

A couple having a quiet dinner together at a table at home

For him

Gift for a husband who says do not get me anything

A gift for a husband who says do not get me anything should be small, useful or shared. Here is how to read what he means and what to give.

Antoine GirardSep 23, 20263 min read

A manager handing a small card and gift to an employee at a desk

For coworkers

Gift or bonus for an employee: which one works better

Gift or bonus for an employee? A bonus is usually valued more, a gift can add warmth. Here is how to decide and how to keep it fair for the team.

Antoine GirardSep 9, 20263 min read

A small bouquet of flowers next to a box of chocolates on a table

For her

Flowers or chocolate for her: which should you give?

Flowers or chocolate for her? Chocolate is safer and gets used, flowers feel bigger on the day. Here is how to choose and when to give both.

Antoine GirardSep 2, 20263 min read

A mother and her adult daughter drinking tea at a kitchen table

For parents

Mother's Day gift ideas that are not flowers

Mother's Day gift ideas that are not flowers: a short guide to gifts that save her time, mark a memory or give her a quiet day, plus what to skip.

Antoine GirardAug 19, 20263 min read

A man chopping vegetables on a wooden board in a home kitchen

For him

Gifts for a man who cooks: what he will actually use

Gifts for a man who cooks should replace worn tools or add one useful upgrade. Here are safe picks, bold picks and gadgets that end up in a drawer.

Antoine GirardAug 12, 20264 min read

A folded blanket and a cup of tea on a sofa

For her

Gifts for a friend going through a hard time

Gifts for a friend going through a hard time should be small, easy to receive and ask nothing back. Here is what helps, what to skip and what to say.

Antoine GirardAug 5, 20264 min read

A folded baby blanket and a greeting card on an office desk

For coworkers

Gift for a coworker having a baby: what is safe to give

A gift for a coworker having a baby should be small, useful and easy to share as a team. Here is a simple rule, safe ideas and what to skip.

Antoine GirardJul 28, 20262 min read

An older man working at a workbench in a tidy garage

For parents

Gifts for a dad who likes to fix things

Gifts for a dad who likes to fix things should be tools he will use, not a boxed kit he already owns. Here is how to choose and what to avoid.

Antoine GirardJul 14, 20263 min read

An older man reading a newspaper in an armchair with a cup of tea

For him

What to give a father-in-law you do not know well

A gift for a father-in-law should be safe, useful and low pressure. Here is a simple rule, three safe picks and what to skip if you barely know him.

Antoine GirardJun 30, 20262 min read

A group of office colleagues signing a large greeting card at a desk

For coworkers

How to run an office gift collection without the awkwardness

How to run an office gift collection fairly: set an amount, make giving optional, pick a gift fast and close the list. Includes a script to copy.

Antoine GirardJun 15, 20264 min read