Painting of Childhood Home Brings to Life Cherished Memories

I bet you can remember in great detail your childhood home.

canvas painting of a two story houseFor me, I still remember the wallpaper design in each room. The texture of our brown couch where I spent hours reading my Nancy Drew novels. The large crack that ran across the width of my bedroom door for which I have my younger brother and a very sturdy chair to thank for creating.

Every time one of my siblings visits our hometown of Enid, Oklahoma, we always drive by our childhood home. It’s a magnet that draws us.

With one look at that two-story beige house with its wide front porch, the flood gates open to our childhood memories. We see the windows but what we’re really seeing are the many family events that took place behind those windows.

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Thank You Card AKA Birthday Card

I received a call from my son’s friend, telling me Dustin’s friends were throwing him a last minute surprise birthday party. I had 45 minutes to get ready, call my husband home, and drive across town. There was absolutely no time to purchase a birthday card if we wanted to arrive on time.

thank-you-card-aka-birthday-card-gift-idea-sunburst-giftsI rifled through my drawer full of cards. (You have a drawer like that at home, right?) No birthday card. Panic sets in. I’m his mother. I can’t show up without a birthday card for my own son!

I noticed a thank you card. I thought, “Aha! This will do!”

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The Big 1-0 | Happy 10th Birthday Gift

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Growing up, I could not wait to turn 10 years old and thought it would never get here soon enough. I was so excited to have a two digit number, the big 1-0 for my Happy 10th Birthday! It was a big deal to turn 10. Even the word “ten” sounded so much older!

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My nephew, Carson, was also excited about turning the big 1-0 this year so my sister-in-law, Lesa, and I brainstormed about giving him 10 different experiences for his Happy 10th Birthday gift.

We purchased gift cards or certificates to local arcades for mini-golf, laser tag, bowling, kayaking, zip line, and a gift card to McDonald’s. We placed all of the gift cards and gift certificates in a new wallet and placed a $10 bill inside.

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Gather the Family to Celebrate in a Limousine!

Besides being fancy and having seats that face each other, do you know what else is awesome about a limousine? It holds a LOT of people!

large family riding inside limousine

The adults will have just as much fun as the kids riding around town in a limo!

My co-worker Sandra took advantage of all that space and coordinated an eight-hour limousine excursion for her parents, her brother, her other brother and his wife and their two sons, and her own husband, son, and herself. That’s a total of 10 people!

They had a lot of reasons to celebrate – Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, her father turning 75 years old, and her parents’ 50th wedding anniversary!

One by one the limousine picked them up at their houses and drove them to Bricktown in Oklahoma City. Sandra’s parents hadn’t been there in years, not since it’s revitalization into a popular dining and entertainment district.

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Surprise Someone By Hiding Gifts Inside a Balloon

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Presentation! Presentation! Presentation! We are always trying to find new ways to be creative in gift giving, right? Here is one that is easy, inexpensive, colorful and makes a noise that goes POP! Gifts inside a balloon!

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Hiding an engagement ring inside a balloon is a creative way to “pop the question!”

In a previous post, I talked about a unique wedding proposal idea. Get a decorative box that has an attached lid that will perfectly fit a blown up balloon. Write or type a note that says “POP ME” and attach it by using a stick pin to the inside of the lid.

She can use the pin to pop the balloon. Place the engagement ring inside a blown up balloon, put it inside the box and close the lid. When she opens the box, pops the balloon and sees her beautiful engagement ring, that’s when you get on bended knee to “pop the question.”

Gift cards have become a common way to give a gift. Usually it is placed in a card, an envelope or a gift bag. BOOOORING!

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Pop Me Gift Balloons Blooper Video

- - Catch All

When you’re working with balloons, anything can happen as Princess Diana and Queen Darlene find out in this blooper video! The real video comes out tomorrow, and it’s filled with awesome balloon related gift ideas.

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Make a Trip Unforgettable With Gift of Cologne or Perfume

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When my husband and I visited Las Vegas for one of his work conferences, I spent the day entertaining myself by shopping. One of my purchases that day happened to be a bottle of cologne. My husband wore it that night and everyday for the rest of our trip.

bottle of cologne in luggage on top of clothesWe enjoyed many wonderful memories on that vacation because it seemed like we did it all – gambling, fine dining, all-you-can-eat-crab, clubbing, shows and a pool party.

What happened when we got back was really cool. Every time I smelled the cologne on my husband, I immediately thought of that trip to Vegas and all of the things we did.

It made me feel happy all over!

It’s no secret that research has proven that scents and smells can trigger powerful and vivid memories.

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Lottery Ticket Bouquet | 40th Birthday Gift

I hate it when people say that turning 40 (or any other age) sucks or blows. My thinking is that if we don’t get older, WE’RE DEAD!

bouquet made of 40 lottery tickets

A bouquet made of 40 scratch-off lottery tickets makes a great 40th birthday gift.

So I never regret turning a year older. Like fine wine, women just get better with age.

My boss Holley turned 40 this year so I wanted to put a positive spin to her new age. For her birthday gift, I made her a lottery ticket bouquet made of 40 $1 lottery tickets.

I added a gift tag that reads, “Some people say that turning 40 sucks. Here’s 40 chances that this year brings you good luck!”

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Carry Your Memories With You | Coin Purse

pink coin purseMother 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.

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Worth Every Penny | Pennies From Birth Year

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On my 50th birthday, my dear friend, Susan, gave me 50 pennies all made in 1952 – my birth year!

Heart-box-with-pennies-gift-idea-sunburst-giftsThe pennies came in a small heart box. I cherish that gift because it was so unique and thoughtful.

I have used the penny idea many times for birthdays and anniversaries. I use the pennies on significant birthday years such as 30 – 40 – 50 – 60 year old and up.

By the time a couple has been married for 50 years or more, what can you give that they do not already have or that is unique? Fifty pennies from the year of their wedding placed in a heart box is a for-sure-keepsake gift! Especially seeing and remembering those wheat pennies! They bring back the memories of simpler times. Continue Reading