Category "Condolence"

Sympathy Cookie Cake

Princess Diana - November 20, 2019 - Condolence, Congratulations, Food & Drinks

There are entire businesses built around giving cookie cakes to celebrate special occasions.

I remembers as a tween when I suddenly became too cool for a birthday cake. Instead, I wanted a giant cookie cake from Great American Cookies (from the mall!) for my birthday party.

The cookie business has evolved since then. Now you can order someone a Sympathy Cookie Cake.

Maybe you know someone who had an accident, who lost a pet, who lost a job, who had a bad breakup, or who is going through a difficult time overall.

A Sympathy Cookie Cake might be the perfect gift to show someone you care while cheering them up.

Personalized Sympathy Cookie Cake

When my friend, Vahid, broke his elbow long-boarding, his employees surprised him at the office with a mini cookie cake from Insomnia Cookies.

BlankieGrams Send Hugs & Healing Wishes

Queen Darlene - September 30, 2016 - Condolence, Get Well

Don’t know what to say or do when friends and family are going through long serious illnesses, injury, or loss of loved ones? Wrap them in hugs, love and healing wishes by sending a BlankieGram.

blankiegrams-hugs-love-caring-thoughtful-gift-idea BlankieGrams are soft cozy blankets printed with loving and supportive words to describe how much you care and that you are thinking of them.

Words like hugs, bear hugs, strength, lots of hugs, healing wishes, good thoughts and positive attitude.

I love the idea of wrapping them up in a warm blanket, like a hug, especially if you cannot be there.

I experienced this first-hand as our sister-in-law made a blanket for my brother during his lengthy stay in the hospital. It featured his favorite basketball team logo – the Oklahoma City Thunder!

He loved her thoughtful gift and wrapped up in the warmth of the blanket every single day. Continue Reading

Night Light Get Well Gift

Queen Darlene - March 3, 2016 - $20 or Less, Condolence, Get Well

When someone is under the weather, the first thought of how to help them feel better is preparing chicken noodle soup and taking a box of Kleenex. But what about someone with a long term serious illness?

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May God’s Light chase the darkness away.

Cards and prayers are always welcomed. Books to read and adult coloring books are great ideas too.

I wanted to give my friend something a little different – a gift that would lift her spirits and light up her day every time she looked at it.

I found the perfect gift in a beautiful night light.

Brighton carries several designs, and I chose a heart night light.

I wrote in the card “May God’s light chase the darkness away.” I wanted her to know she was thought of daily and that prayers were being sent her way. Continue Reading

Rock of Comfort | Condolence Gift

Queen Darlene - February 18, 2016 - Condolence

We feel loved when we are comforted.

I received a coin purse as a condolence gift with a note that said, “To carry your mother’s memories.”

That’s been almost four years ago and I still feel the comfort of my mother’s memories when I open my coin purse.

When my co-worker’s mother passed away, I wanted him to hold something that would give him the same comfort I felt with my coin purse.

There was the challenge of what to give a guy. Then I remembered another gift I received that I carry in my coin purse. Continue Reading

Give Aromatherapy With Essential Oils Diffuser

Princess Diana - January 26, 2016 - Anniversary, Birthday, Christmas, Condolence, Get Well, Host, Housewarming, Mother's Day, Retirement, Teacher Gifts, Valentine's Day, Wedding

Use the power of aromatherapy to create an atmosphere of romance or relaxation in your home.

You can use candles or incense, but essential oils are much more effective and offer health benefits.

An Essential Oils Diffuser disperses essential oils into the air as a fine mist and transforms your living environment into a spa-like experience.

Bonus! They also double as a humidifier.

To add mood lighting, you can purchase an essential oils diffuser that rotates through different colors or that stay on the color of your choice.

Of the nearly 100 different types of essential oils, certain ones are known to set the mood for romance or relaxation or both! Perfect for Valentine’s Day!

Essential Oils for Romance

A Stash of Beautiful Greeting Cards

Queen Darlene - December 31, 2015 - $20 or Less, Birthday, Christmas, Condolence, Get Well, Mother's Day

When my parents-in-law moved into an independent retirement community, it was bittersweet. They had lived in their home for more than 50 years, but now they no longer had to worry about maintaining it.

With neither of them able to drive, their “kids” frequently would take them to run errands but sometimes things came up, and we just couldn’t.

Seniors living in retirement communities don’t often relish needing to depend on others so it’s nice to think of ways to keep some things status quo to give them the sense of still being independent.

One of the things I discovered my mother-in-law wanted were greeting cards for birthdays and anniversaries or get-well cards for her new friends.

Grammy loved giving beautiful cards as she felt they were a gift in itself. I began collecting fancy, unusual, and 3D cards to give her every few months.

She soon had her own personal stash of greeting cards for all occasions!

Wind Chimes | Sympathy & Condolence Gift

Queen Darlene - October 1, 2015 - Condolence

When someone you love passes away, it’s like a piece of your heart has been taken. We’ve all experienced it, and appreciate those who want to ease our pain.

Sympathy cards are usually the number one item sent. Thank goodness for Hallmark and other companies that make cards that eloquently express how we feel.

But for those times when you want to do more than send cards or flowers, what can you do?

My mother’s cousin passed away not too long ago. Bob was our favorite cousin hands down or should I say hands up because he was one of the few who knew sign language and could converse with my mother.

Bob, his wife, Ann and their four children, Larry, Beverly, Denise and Mark were intertwined with our family all our lives. We have many wonderful memories and my brothers and I wanted to do more than get a sympathy card. Continue Reading

“I’ve Walked in Your Shoes” Condolence Gift

Queen Darlene - August 20, 2015 - Condolence

I’m at the age now where my friends’ parents are passing away.

I can’t believe it’s been three years already that my mother passed away. We spoke every day and spent a lot of time together, especially during celebrations like family birthdays and holidays.

There is not a single day that goes by that I don’t think of her. I miss her.

It’s one of the hardest things to do in life, to go about your normal routine after you lose a parent. You want to share a thought or an upcoming event only to realize you cannot pick up the phone to call your mother or father.

I’m thankful to my friends and family who helped me through my grief after my mother died.

When a dear friend’s mother passed away, I wanted her to know it IS true that time is a great healer. I’ve realized that all I have to do is think of a precious memory to know my mother is never far away.

When you have walked in someone’s shoes, it’s sometimes easier to find the right comforting words to share.

Cheer Someone Up With a Box of Sunshine

Princess Diana - February 24, 2015 - $20 or Less, Condolence, Get Well, Gift Baskets

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Do you know those people who are naturally crafty? They can do things like sew, cook, bake, decorate, paint (probably spin straw into gold too) and everything they create looks like it came straight off the page of a Martha Stewart magazine. They drive me crazy jealous!

Well, my co-worker Kelly is one of those people. Mucho talented. And she’s always using her talents to bring joy to others – like when she bakes her famous cinnamon rolls and brings them to the office.

Kelly shared with me that when she has friends or family who are sick, hospitalized, homebound, in physical rehab or dealing with chemotherapy, she makes them a Box of Sunshine. Then she fills it with everything YELLOW!

Carry Your Memories With You | Coin Purse

Queen Darlene - July 15, 2014 - $20 or Less, Condolence

Mother passed away in 2012 at the age of 84. She was a very important part of my life. We spoke daily – using email or telephone relay service since she was deaf.

Mother was instrumental in developing my creativity. Ever since I was a little girl, she would ask me to think of ideas for gifts or games to do for birthdays, anniversaries or family gatherings. (Now I’m blogging about those ideas she encouraged me to come up with. Thanks Mother!)

When she died, I felt lost and missed her terribly.