It's Spring Cleaning Time and Some of Our Favorite Gift Baskets are Now on Sale

Last week marked the first day of spring. And while we've been a little quiet here on the blog, we've been in major spring cleaning and planning mode.  Have you seen our new Gifts on Sale page? We've been busy putting together new gift baskets designs for your upcoming occasions, and new inventory is on its way! And what better way to make room for new inventory than to slash some prices and give you the savings. Take a look at what's on sale for your upcoming occasions.

Good Fortune natural skincare products are the highlight in this unique gift for men!

Get your Mother's Day gift early if your mom loves the garden! This garden gift basket combines fun and practical gifts for the avid or occasional gardener!

For her spring birthday, Easter or Mother's Day, this colorful gift will bring happy thoughts and inspiration with Hope Springs and Jennifer Jangles gift designs.

We just love Homespun Naturals all natural baby bath products, and we're making room for more of their collection along with a new favorite we found at our last trade show. We know you'll love it!

Head on over to our Gifts on Sale page and don't miss the savings. We've got great new gifts coming soon that we know you're going to love!

Have a happy day!

Spa Gift Baskets Feature All Natural Bath and Body Products

This week we're kicking off our Winter into Spring promotion with free shipping on all spa gift baskets!

I usually try not to sound like a gift basket commercial here in the blog, but just for today, I might! But that's only because we are so selective about the bath and body products that we choose.  Each of the products that we currently offer are worth a little bragging ;)

So here goes...

Good Fortune Soap - These natural skincare products are handcrafted in Tennessee, good for your skin, multi-purpose, as in good for adults or kids, men or women! They also come in Eco-friendly packaging and from a socially conscious company! What more is there to brag about! You can learn more about their story here. This is how we've turned their products into an awesome gift for guys!

Good Fortune Soap - Gift Set for Men

Homespun Naturals - All natural, made in America, paraben-free, no animal testing. Homespun Naturals has unique collections for men, women and babies. And we love them all! They're also quite affordable so we can mix them with loads of other awesome gift items! Check these out:

Baby Bath Spa - Baby Gift Basket

Indulge and Inspire Spa Gift Basket

Shower and Shave Gift Set for Men

European Soaps - We've also chosen a collection of soaps and lotions from Pre de Provence. Naturally made in France, these are beautifully designed, beautifully packaged, made from natural ingredients and aromatherapy concepts. These are a bit more expensive but well worth it! We include full size bottles and bar soaps for truly pampering designs.

Pamper Me Spa Gift Basket

All of these spa gift baskets and more make wonderful "Winter into Spring" gifts, so if you have spring birthdays, bridal showers, baby showers, or are planning ahead for Mother's Day, consider a beautiful spa gift basket with free shipping through March 21st!

So there, my commercial is done. Thanks for staying with it. 

Have a happy day!

The Best of Get Well Gift Baskets

They say laughter is the best medicine, and with that in mind, we discovered this hilarious book, The Best of Stuntology, and thought it perfect for a get well gift basket! Filled with over 300 pranks, tricks, and challenges, all illustrated comic style, this book will certainly bring a smile if not gut wrenching laughter to those feeling under the weather!

 

Here is an example from the "Amazements & Betcha Can'ts" chapter:

Door Stunt:

1. Go up to the edge of an open door.

2. Put your chin and your belt buckle against the edge and your feet on either side, touching the door.

3. Then stand on your tiptoes and count to ten.

4. Ha! You can't, can you? No one can, actually, except for people with prehensile chins.

 

The author, Sam Bartlett, is a professional musician who was looking for ways to stay amused on the road.  The result is this book and other published works on the art of stuntology.  Sam has demonstrated the art of Stuntology all over the United States, and has self-published 32 issues of a Stuntology 'zine, as well as two books.

We think it's a great way to spend a recovery - especially with lots of visitors to try out some of their new found prankster knowledge!

If you like this get well idea, you'll love this get well soon gift.

Have a happy day!

5 Great Gift Basket Ideas For Women

Gift baskets are not just about food and wine.  Okay, I love food and wine as much as the next gal, but when it comes to gift-giving, I prefer something more personal and lasting. That's why I put together a unique collection of gift basket ideas for women. 

Especially for Her - This one is my absolute favorite.  It's fun, colorful, and girly (just like me!).  Instead of a traditional basket, I found this great woven tote bag that really is a tote bag!  I stuffed it with a few of things to satisfy her most basic girly needs - French body lotion, handmade jewelry, an elegant sticky note pad, a reusable shopping bag, and a handmade soy candle. And it's wrapped with lots of colorful frilly ribbon and tissue!

 

Indulge and Inspire - This is another favorite for its relaxation theme.  It's not just a spa gift.  It's personal and luxurious all mixed together! Inside this slightly more traditional (but very well-made) basket is a collection of handmade organic bath products, a relaxing spa style CD, a journal, an inspiring quote in all wood frame, and a handmade soy candle.  To add to the soothing nature of this gift, it's wrapped in serene ivy and green ribbon and decorated with little crafty birds.

Color Her Happy - This one is named for its color and sentiment!  You'll want to give this gift to your favorite woman who is colorful, spirited, inspirational, and spiritual.  Packed inside a colorful planter/container are a few inspiring gift items from Hope Springs, whose whimsical and modern take on spirituality is included on each gift.  The ceramic beaded jewelry is from Jennifer Jangles, who always designs in color and spirit!

Simple Pleasures - For the woman who loves elegance in the everyday, Simple Pleasures is a unique gift for home or office.  I love Mudlark for their beautiful and elegant designs, so I've chosen their Aubrey collection of soap, candle, note cards, and notepad for this gift.  Packaged in a painted container with raised metal daisies, it also comes wrapped with an elegant bow and silk daisies to match!

Garden of Joy - If you have a nature lover or avid gardener on your gift list, you must check this out!  It's a unique collection of nature inspired practical and fun gifts.  The basket is a planter and includes a doodle bird ceramic mug, a colorful floral picture frame, a couple of crazy painted wooden bugs to hang on planters,  Trowel and Error, a must-have book for the gardener, and to satisfy that need for food in your gift basket, a couple of fruit and veggie dip mixes from the ever popular Country Home Creations!  Enjoy!

So think outside the basket for your next birthday gift for mom, best friend, sister, or wife!  They'll be delightfully surprised at your originality :)

Have a happy day!

Color Me Happy - A Unique Gift for Women

I'm so excited that spring is here so I can highlight my newest favorite gift basket for women!  I discovered two up and coming gift designers at last year's trade shows and immediately fell in love with their products.  They are both colorful, whimsical, and inspirational, and I thought they fit together perfectly for a spring women's collection. 

Hope Springs gift items for women feature spiritual quotes turned modern and whimsical!  Lots of great color and spirit! The quote on this mug is: Inspire others to inspire others.  Love it!

Jennifer Jangles jewelry designs featuring original designed ceramic beads are also filled with color and whimsy, with some inspirational words as well!  My favorite Happy bracelet!

I love Hope Springs and Jennifer Jangles collections together in a brightly colored container which can later be used to stash her favorite accessories! 

How would you like to receive this unique gift for your next spring occasion?  Shop Now!

 

Have a happy day!

 

Gifts for the Caregiver

Last month I wrote a post about caregivers as November was National Caregivers Month. I used a quote by Rosalynn Carter, who believed pretty much everyone at some point in their lives is touched by a caregiver:

"There are four kinds of people in this world: those who have been caregivers, those who currently are caregivers, those who will be caregivers, and those who will need caregivers."

 

Although that was just a few weeks ago, at the time I had no idea I would soon be faced with becoming a caregiver.  Just days later, my mother-in-law took a bad fall, requiring hip surgery, and at 83 years old, it has taken quite a toll.  She will be coming to live with us at the end of this week. 

We had wonderful caregivers for my parents in past years, so it should also be said that caregivers can touch our lives at various times throughout.

With caregivers heavily on my mind, I wanted to encourage everyone to remember any caregivers currently in your life.  Christmas is a wonderful time to honor them, and give them the most treasured gift of time and care for themselves.

If you are thinking of a gift for a caregiver, consider something that encourages them to refresh, renew and take care of themselves, even if just for an hour of a day.

These are some of my special gifts available for caregivers:



Our Christmas Spa Gift Basket features Do Not Disturb bath and body products, packaged in elegant holiday silver and purple.

For the male caregiver, this all natural spa collection also gives back, and comes packaged in a stylish toiletry bag.

This Pamper Me gift collection is also made with all natural bath and body products from France.  Both of the candles in the men's and women's spa gift are handmade soy from Green Daffodil in Michigan.  This women's version also comes packaged in a stylish cosmetic bag.

 

This deluxe spa gift basket, which we call Indulge and Inspire, is a lovely collection of spa and home products, including bath and body from Homespun Naturals, a relaxing instrumental CD, and an inspiring framed quote from Kindred Hearts.  There are other spa delights in this basket as well.  Read the complete description.

Have a happy day!

 

6 Top Gift Ideas for Men

I've been having a virtual disagreement with some folks about what men appreciate receiving as a gift.  They say a basket full of beer, pretzels and mini chocolate footballs are all the rage.  Really?

I asked my husband, Ken, to weigh in on the discussion, and although beer, pretzels, and chocolates are considered a staple in our kitchen; as gifts go, he felt these items are much too ordinary to be given as a gift.  The idea of receiving something innovative, or something he wouldn't think to buy for himself is much more appealing.

I've actually known this about him for quite awhile, with all of our planning around what to include in our gift collections for men.  So with 21 days remaining until Christmas, if you're stumped for what to get the man in your life, here are our top picks.  Some versions you can find in our store; others are just great ideas to help you finalize your shopping list!

1.    Man Bag – I bought a great Tumi bag for Ken last Christmas and he loves it. Men hate bulky pockets, and with today’s use of mobile devices, sunglasses, flash drives, in addition to money, IDs and credit cards, pockets are no longer sufficient for holding all of his stuff! There are many great stylish bags for men out there, and although he may never ask for one, if he gets one, he will love it, brag to his friends about it, and never leave home without it.

2.     Bath and body products for men – It’s the new age of soap on a rope! He may not seek out specialty shave cream, or pay a premium for skin lotion, but once he tries it, he’ll be hooked (and so will you).

3.     Candles – Candles come in so many fragrances, and masculine style fragrances are becoming more and more prominent.  Fresh cut grass, the scent of a campfire, and worn leather are just some examples of new fragrances for men. 

 

4.      Something inspirational – Whether for home or office, a framed inspirational quote or picture will keep him reminded of what's important in life.  Find something that moves him – inspiring words, values or a wonder of nature will lift his spirit. 

5.     Hobby gifts – Whether he loves travel, music, or the great outdoors, look for gifts related to his passion.  A coffee table book, a DVD series, an unusual styled map or globe would be unique and something he is not likely to buy for himself. 

6.     Food – Rather than those staple foods mentioned above, if you like the idea of a food gift, choose a few of his favorite foods and make a special meal.  If you’re not a cook, get take-out and set it up like a home cooked meal! Prepare the table for a special occasion with a table cloth or elegant place mats.  Use cloth napkins with napkin rings to dress it up. Your attention to detail will not go unnoticed.

For unique gift ideas for men, you might consider one of our collections, such as those pictured here.

Whatever you choose for the man in your life, whether husband, boyfriend, brother, or buddy, don't be ordinary.  Make it something that will pleasantly surprise him.

Have a happy day!

Holiday Hostess Gift Ideas

What's your idea of the perfect hostess gift?

Do you do a simple bottle of wine on the way to the party? Do you go the extra mile and buy something geared specifically to your host's interests?  Do you bring a homemade gift? Do you plan in advance or run out last minute?

Unfortunately, it's often easy to overlook the well thought-out hostess gift. Though well intentioned, the holiday season is a busy one, and we often end up at the last minute wildly searching for something unique, but winding up settling for something less. 

I am writing this as your reminder to think ahead and plan for a few hostess gifts to have on hand for those holiday parties.  Hostess gifts can come in many shapes and sizes, but rather than simply stopping by the market for a bottle of wine on your way to the party, purchase a few nice gifts in advance and be ready with something special.

These are some of our ideas for hostess gifts that work well for all types of parties.

 

More hostess gift ideas

 

 

Have a happy day and let us know what is your perfect hostess gift?

Pet Gift Baskets Are Here!

Last year I hosted a focus group to get feedback on a variety of gift basket designs.  I didn't have a pet gift basket included in the designs I presented, although it was on my list for a future design.  Of course, there were pet lovers in the group and they inquired as to if I would plan to have pet gifts.  Naturally!

From the feedback I received in the focus group, I went on a quest at gift trade shows to find just the right gifts for my new designs, including pet gifts.  They would need to equal the quality of all of the gifts I choose for my designs.  And as with all our gift products, I would only choose gifts that my own puppies would love! 

It's taken a bit of time, but I've finally put together my pet gift baskets with products I am proud to offer.  Our Puppy Love dog gift basket and Kitty Love cat gift basket feature top quality Ore gift products that every dog or cat owner needs!  And here they are along with some photos of my favorite friends who have given their own stamp of approval!  You can find more detail on each pet gift basket at our website.



Phoebe and Linus especially love the
Ore Pet sturdy mouse toy!
 

Cody and Bosco prefer tugging with the
 old canvas shoe!

 

 

 

Have a happy day!

Thank You Gift Baskets for Those Who Mean So Much

November is National Family Caregivers Month.   I was searching the web for just the right poem in honor of caregivers and came up empty.  Not that I didn't find beautiful poems, but I found so many poems and equally remarkable stories of people touched by caregivers, that I could not choose one that was better or more inspiring than the next.  Each story is unique and inspiring in its own right. 
I did find this quote by former First Lady, Rosalynn Carter, that very well sums up the value of caregivers:

"There are four kinds of people in this world: those who have been caregivers, those who currently are caregivers, those who will be caregivers, and those who will need caregivers."

Caregivers are universal.  If there is a caregiver in your life, take time to honor and thank them for their invaluable service and loyalty.  This list from the National Parkinson Foundation has some nice ideas for thanking a caregiver: http://www.parkinson.org/Caregivers/Caring-for-the-Caregiver/Ideas-to-Celebrate-Caregivers.

If you would like to give a special gift to a caregiver, we have a selection of appropriate thank you gift baskets for all ages and budgets.  We can customize to meet your individual needs whether by product or design.  Just give us a call and we'll make your caregiver's gift as unique and special as they are.

 

 

 

Have a happy and peaceful day!



Happy Halloween from Thoughtful Presence!

Here it is, October 31, another day of tricks and treats!  I'm well-prepared, with my very large bowl of treats waiting by the door, and our slightly scary decorated house ready to welcome our
trick-or-treaters!

As a child, Halloween is all about candy and costumes and going door-to-door.  As an adult (at least for me) it's still about candy and costumes, but add in a few other fall favorites that this time of year brings.  Pumpkins, gourds, and squash, whether for cooking or decorating, signify the season and help to kick start the upcoming holidays.

It's a busy time for Thoughtful Presence, with upcoming holiday craft fairs and boutiques, new baby and pet gifts soon to be added to our collection, not to mention our winter holiday gift baskets.  But we'll take a break today to enjoy our ghosts and goblins, pass out our treats, and catch a scary movie at the end of the day.  We hope, wherever you are, you will do the same.

 

Have a happy day, and if you've taken time to read this, share with us your favorite Halloween trick or treat!

Fall and Holiday Gift Baskets, Candles Included

I'm a huge admirer of candle crafters.  It is such a beautiful craft, with its designs, colors, and fragrances.  I love candles for just about any occasion and although I don't put candles in all gift baskets, I certainly could!

My husband, manly man that he is, has one weakness - candles!  When I met him, I was amazed at his affinity for candles.  Although admittedly, I turned him into a candle snob, as I am super particular about candle quality.  He was more into the concept of candles when I met him, but not being the shopper type, he didn't realize the vast variety of candles that exist in the market.

Since starting our gift basket business, we are both enthralled by the many candles we view and sample for our gifts.  And, yes, we test them all!  A good candle not only must look and smell beautiful; it also must burn right.  It must burn evenly, down to an empty glass.  It must be long lasting.  It must not put out too much smoke, especially black smoke!

It's a fine balance when choosing candles for a gift basket.  Its fragrance cannot interfere with other items in the basket.  Size is important as it must fit the overall design.  Price is a factor as it is a contributor to the overall cost of the complete basket.  And of course it must fit the theme of the basket, either by design or fragrance or both. 

Although I am not a candle expert, I am a candle snob, and am grateful for the many options in the market and especially for those vendors we've partnered with so far who've made beautiful candles to enhance our gift baskets!

Have a happy day!

Sweets For Your Sweetest

October 20th is Sweetest Day, often thought of as the secondary Valentine's Day.  Although I like to think of Sweetest Day more as a day to share some good quality time with someone you love, be it a spouse, companion, friend or family member.  And if that quality time can include a sweet treat, then there you have it - Sweetest Day!

Here are my recommendations for your something sweet to be shared:

1. Go to a movie and have your favorite movie theater candy.  My fave is red licorice.
2. Go to your favorite coffee shop and have a pumpkin spice latte and a chocolate cupcake.  At least, that would be my pick!
3. Spend your quality time at home and bake cookies - pumpkin or chocolate chip anyone?
4. If it is not too cold where you are, go out for ice cream.  Get three scoops of your favorite flavor.  (Okay, I've never really ordered 3 scoops!)
5. Enjoy a nice relaxing dinner and save room for dessert - of course!

What's your pick for your sweet treat?

Palatine High School Fall Craft Fair

We are happy to be participating in the Palatine High School Booster Club Fall Craft Fair on Saturday, November 3.  We will have Fall, Thanksgiving, and Christmas themed gift baskets for sale, along with some of our best year-round selections.  If you are in the area of Palatine, IL, please stop by and see us.  The fair runs from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.    Hope to see you there!

Moms, Dads and Babies - They All Love Our Unique Baby Gifts!

Today I received a comment from a mom who was the recipient of our Baby Bath Spa baby girl gift basket last year.  She commented on how much she loved it, and specifically the "very plush" hooded bath towel.  She also said her baby girl loves to play with the basket itself and keeps her toys in it. 



 

Those comments reminded me of a couple of others I have heard along the way.  One baby boy loves the monkey rattle the best; another baby girl has found her favorite with the caterpillar wubanub pacifier. 


Mango Monkey rattle by Mary Meyer

Caterpillar wubanub by Mary Meyer

I am so delighted to hear those comments because choosing high quality, high value gifts for all of our gift baskets is so important to me.  And with the baby gift baskets, I love to know that the different selections make both parents and baby happy!




We are actually in the process of creating two more baby gift baskets, that will focus on small baby toys and some very adorable baby food sets.  We have an owl collection coming for girls and a puppy and trucks collection coming for the boys.  These should be completed in the next two weeks, and I'll be sure to highlight them here in my blog.

Have a happy day!

Custom Gift Baskets Celebrate the Colors of Autumn

Octoberfest - Apple Picking - Halloween - 2012 Election Parties

Harvest Festivals - Thanksgiving

All of the above are reasons I love Autumn!  We've just introduced some new fall themed gifts that make great hostess gifts or thank you gifts.  All of these gift baskets are actually ceramic or metal planters that can be re-used as planters or as everyday storage containers.  They are all neutral and intended to enhance any decor.  We like these better than traditional baskets because they really provide much more value to the recipient.  They are also more distinctive and better looking, and who wouldn't love that!



My favorite is the white ceramic container with "Laugh" scripted across the front in the Gift Basket of Gratitude shown here.  I love this container for its sentiment and many uses.  I also love the owl designed crystal paperweight.  I don't know about you but I always use paperweights on my desk and in my kitchen, and this one is particularly elegant.





Another of my favorite items is the ceramic owl tealight holder in this Autumn Gift of Thanks.  The owl comes from Grasslands Road and is trendy in style, yet classic in color. Owls are all the rage, and as a symbol of wisdom, adding the owl to this container of treats, just might prove most flattering to your recipient!

 

 

This is our Abundant Thanksgiving Gift Basket, which is a collection of home and kitchen gifts.  The candle sentiment is "At Home find comfort and rest" which seems most appropriate for the holidays.  My other two favorites in this gift are pumpkin chocolate malted milk balls from South Bend Chocolate Company, and a delicious creamy potato soup mix from Country Home Creations.  I've tasted them both and will attest to their true tastiness!

I hope this gives you an idea of how we choose each item individually to go into each of our gift baskets.  Being selective on products is our top priority!

 

Have a happy day!