Archive for the ‘Holidays’ Category

Happy Easter

Sunday, April 5th, 2009

Make your Easter gift baskets more than just marshmallow bunnies and lots of chocolate in a basket! Below you will find suggestions that are easy on the budget.

Children will love

A colorful basket, decorated box or even a toy truck for the base, or a great basket they can use later in their room. First add shiny shred and their favorite chocolate Easter candy. The addition of granola bars, rice crispy squares or a healthy snack of raisins and nuts are great fillers. Don’t forget the fuzzy chickens or bunnies. There are wonderful ceramic bunnies and chickens on the market and this addition will become a keep sake. For girls add new head bands, ribbons and pony tail holders. Small packages of mints, life savers and juice boxes won’t break the bank. The old stand by jacks, tennis or soft balls, wrist and head bands. Tuck in a new water bottle for summer sports. A sport book or magazine in their favorite sport. These items are easier on the pocketbook than designer chocolate bunnies.

A week before Easter, purchase egg coloring kits and let your children show their artistic side.

Grandparents

And senior friends would love a small plant in bloom, with marshmallow bunnies or chocolates tucked in. Wrap everything in colorful Easter paper or several colors of tissue paper. If you feel like baking with your children, consider a delicious square of bread pudding, all wrapped up would please any adult. Baked apple pie or custard pie divided in half and you have two gifts! Again, wrap in plastic wrap or cellophane, then colorful tissue and attach a bow. It’s the thought that counts in the season of rebirth. You can purchase a ready made nest in stores such as Michael’s. Place one of your children’s decorated eggs inside, tie with a spring color ribbon and deliver to grandmother. Have your child place a hand written note under the egg.

Remember you do not need a basket as the base to make a great gift basket!

For the man in the house

Get his favorite magazine, sports, golf, tennis, fishing etc. tuck in a chocolate bunny, roll the magazine and tie with a wide ribbon, insert shinny shred at each end.

Decorate

Your dinning room table, if you have an Easter lily or other Easter plant, place it in the center of your table inside your favorite silver dish or old glass plate. Place shinny shred around the base of the plant. Add jelly beans or chocolate eggs. Arrange with the colored eggs the children made and use glass or ceramic ornate eggs. Finish with fresh twigs of forsythia, apple blossoms or other branches from spring flowering trees in your yard. Enhance your design with fuzzy chickens or bunnies around the design. Bring out your best dishes and use them! Have your children help you polish silver or wash glass items. A fun project becomes a learning experience.

Enjoy your Easter.

Valentine’s Day for Lovers

Friday, February 13th, 2009

Valentine’s Day, with its entire aura of charisma and charm, means love is in the air! February 14th, Valentines Day, is the time everyone wants to be a romantic.

There are endless products to go in a Valentine’s Day gift basket, from a heart-shaped box of delicious chocolates in his/her favorite flavors to “Chocolate body frosting” complete with a paint brush.

For your favorite guy, cook his favorite dinner or take him out to dinner. Prepare a “Kisses Trail,” and surprise him with a path of chocolate kisses (wrapped in silver) leading to his pillow, and place his favorite treat there. Use your imagination! Valentine’s Day is a time to recapture what is important – the love of your Valentine!

For an adult evening, try a jar of “Chocolate body frosting,” or a box of “Edible tattoo set.” Complete the basket with a chocolate shower bar with a note that says, “Meet me in the shower.”

For her, a basket of romantic movies, with champagne and chocolates for a night in. Of course, champagne and roses is the Valentine’s Day gift always says “I love you” with class. A perfect start if you are setting the stage to pop the question to that someone special!

Valentine’s Day for Everyone

Thursday, February 12th, 2009

A healthy tasty gift tray or basket with delicious and favorite fresh fruit, cheese and healthy crackers, is a gift the whole family can enjoy.

Giving jewelry? A heart-shaped necklace, ring or other special jewelry can be placed inside a wine or champagne glass, with sparkling shred inside.

Valentine’s Day cookies that have been decorated and individually wrapped placed in a basket with loose sparkling red shred will be enjoyed all week.
Everyone loves flowers, just be sure to express your feelings with a card, which should have more than just a signature inside.

A spa basket for the two of you, a great bubble bath you both will enjoy with scrubbies.  Try the chocolate body frosting or chocolate soap, candles, your favorite bubbly and a special card expressing how you feel.

Valentine’s Day for Children

Wednesday, February 11th, 2009

You can build a fun Valentine’s gift basket for your favorite little one, starting with a new cereal bowl or travel mug for hot and cold beverages. Then add some heart-shaped candy or chocolates, pencils with hearts on them or a new baseball wrapped in red cello. This is a good time to add a new tooth brush for winter. This gift can be wrapped in red cello or just with red ribbon. Remember the theme is “love,” and include a hand written note from you.

Valentine’s Day from the Male Viewpoint

Wednesday, February 11th, 2009

This year I asked four men from different places to give me their ideas of a Valentines Day gift.

I asked a friend from Canada, he said, “I am taking her out to dinner at a nice restaurant, then I have her favorite wine at home and some flowers and I will tell her I love her.”

A friend from Cape Cod, said, “I send my granddaughter a card with a written message and money. I tell her she’s my Valentine.”

A friend form Worcester, MA, “I feel the gift should be something that will last long after Valentine’s Day is over, so every time she looks at it, she will remember me.”

And from FL, the response was,” I will make her dinner, we will have red wine and head upstairs. That’s all I am telling you.”

Whatever or however you choose to express your love, even a single red rose, tell your Valentine how you feel. COMMUNICATION, it’s for every day!