Spring is in the Air!

Spring is here! And although they are predicting snow this weekend in our neck of the woods, the sky is blue, the sun is shining brightly, and the birds are singing!  Sounds like Spring to me!




Yes, that's me!

Have a happy day!

Housewarming Gift Basket - St. Joseph's Day theme

Today is St. Joseph's Day, and I was thinking about what I would put into a gift basket for a St. Joseph's Day theme.  Now I'm quite certain no phones are ringing off the hook with customers looking for St. Joseph's Day gift baskets. But I consider myself an expert in creating custom gift baskets, so as I thought more about St. Joseph's Day and its symbols, I thought it could be quite crafty to make a housewarming gift basket with a St. Joseph's Day theme!

For the container, I would use either a rustic looking basket, considering the time St. Joseph lived, or a nice wooden tray to represent his carpentry.

 

I would then fill it with the following:

• A loaf of fresh Italian bread
• A decorative container filled with salt
• A bottle of Chianti

These first three items represent a traditional housewarming blessing that can be found in different variations.  My favorite comes from the movie, It's A Wonderful Life:
 

Bread - that this house may never know hunger.

 Salt - that life may always have flavor.

Wine - that joy and prosperity may reign forever.

I would inscribe this blessing on a nice card added inside the basket.

I would then add a dessert, Italian cookies or cream puffs, to complete the symbol of St. Joseph's table.

Lastly I would add a framed quote or picture with a family theme as St. Joseph is known as the Protector of Family.

The final presentation would be wrapped in cellophane and decorated with red and white ribbon/bow and a white lily.

What do you think of this idea?



5 Cool Gifts for Men

Men are so hard to buy gifts for, so they say.  It's true that there's more variety in products for women, like jewelry, handbags, cosmetics.  And women can always use another...pair of earrings... handbag...scarf, etc.  Not as easily true of men!

With that in mind, I give you 5 of my coolest gift ideas for men:

Good Fortune bath and body products - Many of the products are actually unisex, but I tend to put them in my men's gift baskets because they are so natural and earthy.  They work well for men who are typically into bath and body or even those who aren't!

NV Candles by Gabriel John - With their sophisticated black and white design and masculine themes like health and properity, they go beautifully in any men's gift!

Inspirational quotes from Kindred Hearts - These wood and metallic styled black picture frames are contemporary in design and will work well in any home or office. 

Travel toiletry bags by Jimeale - In stylish black or limited edition chocolate brown, these are essential whether he travels a lot or just once a year!

BBQ collection - The always popular griller's delight is our unique collection of accessories and food items for a summer full of BBQs.

Which will you consider for your next cool gift for men?

Custom Baby Gift Baskets for Mom, Dad, and Baby - Consider This

Baby on the way? Not sure whether to give a baby gift or a special gift for the new mom?  Here are some ideas to consider: 

New Baby Gift or New Parents' Gift - Which Should It Be

 

 

 

Have a happy day!

 

 



Finding Your Quiet Time

February 25, 2013 is Quiet Day.  How do you find your quiet time?

As a designer, business owner, and caregiver, my time is very much always occupied!  When I heard that today is Quiet Day, I thought:  Now there's something to consider!  Regardless of your occupation, family life, special interests, and hobbies, everyone needs to find their own quiet time to relax, unwind, reflect, and renew.

The photo in this post is from a ski trip we took to Minocqua, WI last winter.  Walking or skiing in the snow-filled woods is one of my favorite ways to find quiet time.  It brings such a sense of peace, that I truly do renew my spirit in those times.  This year, we are home bound, while caring for my mother-in-law so quiet time in the woods will be saved for some time in the future. 

As a business owner, much of my work tends to fall on all things non-design.  That is, marketing, bookkeeping, networking, etc.  As a designer, I find my greatest joy in creating.  So during this Quiet Day, I'll spend time in my studio, away from the books, and enjoy artistic freedom.  That will refresh and quiet my spirit.

How will you find your quiet time?

Have a happy day!
 

When it comes to Unique Gift Baskets, we choose Quality

I am often asked how I decide what goes into our custom gift baskets.  Well, I have to say it's not always easy to decide as there are many wonderful gift products on the market.  When considering products, my most important criteria are quality, value, and how well the products fit with the theme.  I only choose products that I would give to my own family and friends.

When looking at a completed gift basket, it can be hard to get a clear view of each individual item in the container.  Since every item in my baskets is of high value, I like to paint a very clear picture.  With that in mind, I thought I'd dedicate a post to highlight some of my favorite products!

Statement soaps from Kalastyle - This Joy soap is included in our Especially for Her gift basket.  These bar soaps are beautiful, inspiring and theme oriented - perfect for a gift basket.  They also smell amazing and do wonders for your skin!

Jennifer Jangles jewelry -  This Happy bracelet comes in our Color Her Happy gift basket and is matched with a beaded necklace and other colorful and whimsical gifts for your favorite gal!










Mary Meyer baby products - For our ever popular baby gift baskets, one of my favorite, and baby's favorite, is this unique pacifier, the Wubanub, by Mary Meyer.  We have several different styles for baby boys and girls.  This is an absolute treasure!

 

 

Good Fortune soaps and body products - an absolute fave!  These products are very much unisex, although we currently market this sandalwood lavender soap in our Good Fortune Gift for Men.  I love Good Fortune for their social mission,

eco-friendly methods, and just the wonders of their products!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Being selective with our custom gift basket products is an art that we just love and will never give up!

 

Have a happy day!

In Support of a Heart Healthy Month

We're excited to support the American Heart Association during the month of February!  This month we are donating $1 to the AHA for every new subscriber to our mailing list. New subscribers will also receive 10% off their next purchase!  If you haven't already joined, please go to our
custom gift basket home page and sign up for our newsletter!

According to the American Heart Association, heart disease is the #1 killer in women.  Yet most women don't recognize the risk.  To learn more about causes and prevention of heart disease go to the AHA website.  There you'll also find some great tips on diet and exercise, and some wonderful recipes for delicious hearty healthy meals!

Have a happy and heart healthy day!