Yearly Archives: 2015

“Love You Forever” | The Perfect Book for Mothers

Princess Diana - April 21, 2015 - $20 or Less, Baby Shower, Mother's Day

I read a book in which the author recommended the book called Love You Forever by Robert Munsch.

The book “Love You Forever” makes a wonderful Mother’s Day gift.

When I read it for the first time, it made my cry three times. Each time I started to cry I put down the book to catch my breath only to continue crying once I started reading again. Let me mention, the book ONLY has 14 short pages of text!!

This timeless story of a mother’s constant and enduring love for her child puts into words the emotions that mothers feel.

I say it’s the perfect book for mothers because if I had read “Love You Forever” before I became a mother, I know I would not have reacted to it the same way.

A Clock Design to Match A Hobby or Interest

Queen Darlene - April 16, 2015 - Birthday, Christmas, Father's Day, Gifts for Him

Isn’t it wonderful when someone knows what they want for Christmas or birthdays? My brother said he wanted a clock with a face that had bar bells to put in his workout room. He wanted to create an atmosphere of motivation.

I was thrilled to have a gift in mind and immediately went on-line to search. I googled gym clocks and as you can imagine there were lots of sites.

What helped me narrow it down was his request for bar bells. There are many awesome fun clocks to choose from that have words of motivation and pictures of different gym equipment.

I found a gym clock with bar bells that spelled out the word LIFT. Perfect! Not only because that is what he wanted but it is one of his favorite exercises – to lift weights. Continue Reading

A Written Letter to Your Child on Test Day

Princess Diana - April 14, 2015 - Kids

Fear. Anxiety. Stress. Pressure. Worry. Children feel some or all of these emotions on test day. These “yucky” feelings can also have a negative impact on their performance. Parents, you can do something about this.

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By writing a letter to your child on test day, you can replace these emotions with confidence and positive thoughts. The letter can tell them how much you love them, believe in them and are proud of them.

When your child reads your letter, they will go into the test with a positive mindset that will encourage them to try their hardest and prepare them to succeed. In essence, you’re giving your child the invaluable gift of self-esteem!

Rare $2 Dollar Bills | Birthday Gift

Queen Darlene - April 9, 2015 - Anniversary, Birthday, Kids, Money

Want to give an affordable and rare gift at the same time? A $2 Dollar Bill will certainly fit the bill!

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My friend, Karen, was turning 60 on her birthday and really not looking forward to it. I wanted to give her something totally unique and definitely something fun. I decided to give her 30 two-dollar bills to equal her age.

When I gave the gift, I explained the rarity of the $2 dollar bill equals the rarity of her beauty inside and out and her qualities to overcome insurmountable odds, to always be the rock for family and friends, to express incredible kindness and a giving spirit, and to find the good in everything. Continue Reading

Easy Peasy Money Umbrella Surprise

Princess Diana - April 7, 2015 - Baby Shower, Birthday, Christmas, Going Away, Graduation, Kids, Money, Wedding

At Sunburst Gifts, we love coming up with creative ways to give money. This time, shower someone with cash with a Money Umbrella!

Money umbrellas are a fun and creative way to give cash gifts.

When they open the umbrella, they’ll be completely surprised by all of the cash that falls out from the inside!

If you give the Money Umbrella gift in person, watching them open the gift and seeing their reaction is half the fun so make sure they open it in front of you. And get your camera or video camera ready!

You can attach a note to the umbrella that says “Open Me” but I prefer say something like,”Open it up so you can see that it’s a lot bigger than it looks. It will really protect you from the rain!”

Yes, little white lies are completely appropriate in these situations.

If you’re mailing the gift or you won’t be there when it’s opened, definitely include a note that says “Open Me.” You don’t want the gift recipient to miss out on their big surprise and, even worse, lose the umbrella and the cash because they had no idea what was inside!

Th Money Umbrella gift idea is so much fun to give and receive, and it’s easy peasy to create!

HOW TO CREATE A MONEY UMBRELLA

April Showers Bring May Flowers | Rain Boots

Queen Darlene - April 2, 2015 - Birthday, Get Well, Kids, Mother's Day

If you need a gift for a female friend or loved one whose birthday is in the spring, keep in mind the classic rhyme “April showers bring May flowers.”

As a matter of fact, it’s two gifts in one!

Give her rain boots for those spring rains and, for that “thoughtful twist,” the rain boots double as flower vases. Place her favorite flowers in a hidden vase inside each boot! Voilà!

Paired together, the rain boots and flowers make an eye-catching combination!

It’s also easy peasy to put together, and there are many choices of rain boots with various colors and designs in stores or on-line.

Your friend or loved one will be glad to have cute rain boots to wear during downpours, and the beautiful spring flowers will bring a smile to her face!

I remember as a kid wearing rubber rain boots and splashing through puddles after a big rain. It was just pure fun!

Give the Life-Changing Gift of a Summer Camp Experience

Princess Diana - March 31, 2015 - Birthday, Christmas, Experiences, Kids

Every kid who goes to summer camp always comes back with stories to tell.

At summer camp you do things you never get to do at home or at school, and it feels like one big slumber party at night! Everyone makes new friends and bonds from doing all sorts of fun activities together.

I treasure my summer camp memories of sitting around the campfire making s’mores, dressing head to toe in black to play Capture the Flag in complete darkness, and exploring the woods to see what I might discover whether it was a cave or a secret wigwam!

Going to summer camp is a life-changing experience that creates life-long memories.

I went to the traditional summer camp that provides first-hand encounters with nature but there are all sorts of summer camps that tailor to specific interests. There are sports camps, drama camps, leadership camps, band camps, church camps, academic camps, arts camps, and the list goes on!

What they all have in common is how they shape the characters and boost the self-esteem of children by exposing them to experiential education that allows them to learn by doing.

Large Print | At a Glance Calendar

Queen Darlene - March 26, 2015 - Birthday, Christmas, Father's Day, Mother's Day

Are you always looking for your reading glasses? I know I am! Large print has become my friend.

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The print on my iPhone is so large that only one or two words appear at a time per line. My younger friends have difficulty reading it that way but oh… how it make it so much easier to read my texts!

What if you have macular degeneration? Think of how difficult it would be to do everyday tasks and the frustration of not seeing clearly. This is the world in which my 91 year old step-father lives.

So for the past several Christmases, I have given him a large print At a Glance Calendar. He hangs it in his kitchen where he can easily see it. What a difference it has made! Continue Reading

“No Ugly Crying” Personalized Handkerchief | Wedding Day Gift

Princess Diana - March 24, 2015 - $20 or Less, Wedding

Leading up to my wedding day, I prayed I could contain the waterworks so I wouldn’t become a crying, sobbing mess. I didn’t want to ruin my make-up or my pictures.

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Thankfully, I mostly teared up with only a few tears escaping.

I’m pretty sure I’ve never met a woman who didn’t spill at least one tear on her wedding day. Tears of happiness are just impossible to contain on such a special day.

When tears spill, a person needs a handkerchief. A personalized handkerchief makes a wonderful gift that a bride can put to great use on her wedding day to dry any tears that may fall.

Handkerchiefs can be customized and embroidered with a wedding date, initials, monograms, Bible verses, quotes or personal messages.

On the day of my best friend’s wedding, I gave her a handkerchief with the words, “No Ugly Crying.”

Cookie Monster in a Cookie Jar

Queen Darlene - March 19, 2015 - Baby Shower, Birthday, Food & Drinks, Kids

My niece loves stuffed animals that sing, talk or play music and I wanted to give her fancy chocolate chip cookies for her birthday. Hmmm? How to combine the two as a gift?

Who likes chocolate chip cookies more than anyone else? Cookie Monster, of course! “Me want cookie!”, “Me eat cookie!”, and “Om nom nom nom” said the Cookie Monster through a mouth full of cookies.

I found the perfect Cookie Monster stuffed animal singing a song by counting from one to 20 cookies. For a thoughtful twist, I purchased a large cookie jar so he would fit inside. Cookie Monster in a Cookie Jar!

We do not want Cookie Monster eating the fancy cookies so I placed the cookies outside the jar. Cute! Huh?

This was the centerpiece for Whitney’s birthday party. It was a hit and everyone loved choosing their own cookie.