Yearly Archives: 2016

Big Brother & Big Sister Gifts

Princess Diana - April 26, 2016 - Baby Shower, Kids

Jealousy. Bribes. Love. Sounds like the stuff of a soap opera.

Adding another child to your family can create a lot of jealousy and drama if you’re not careful.

No matter how young in age, children will notice when they aren’t the center of attention anymore because of the arrival of a new baby or adopted child.

A thoughtful gift for a big brother or big sister will go a long way towards warming up older siblings to the newest addition to their family.

A gift from the baby will help an older child feel loved and excited to welcome their new baby brother or baby sister with open arms.

It’s kind of like a bribe, but how can you not like someone who gives you gifts? It’s very hard and that’s why older sibling gifts are so important and effective.

Glamour Shots Fairy Tale Portraits

Queen Darlene - April 21, 2016 - Birthday, Christmas, Experiences, Kids

Growing up my brothers and I played dressed up. Don’t tell the world but many times they would allow me to dress them up as the sisters I never had!

We loved playing dress up and make believe.

One of my favorite memories was when I played a princess and my brothers were warriors defending my kingdom, protecting me with their swords and riding through the pretend forest on their stick horses.

Sadly, I do not have a single photo of that memory.

What to my surprise, Glamour Shots offers Fairy Tale Portraits! Kids from ages one to 12 dress up in flowing fairy dresses and woodland warrior costumes. Continue Reading

Add Your Own Message to Hand Stamped Silverware

Princess Diana - April 19, 2016 - $20 or Less, Birthday, Christmas, Congratulations, Father's Day, Going Away, Graduation, Host, Housewarming, Kids, Mother's Day, Retirement, Teacher Gifts, Valentine's Day, Wedding

It’s fun to have our own special silverware to use for eating cereal, ice cream or dessert.

The mundane task of grabbing silverware out of the drawer gets a little bit more exciting as you search for your special spoon or fork.

Last Mother’s Day gift, I gave my mother and mother in-law custom hand stamped silverware with the message: A mother’s love is beyond measure.

Every time they use the spoon to eat with or to stir their cup of tea of coffee, I hope they’ll think of me and know how grateful I am for their love and kindness.

You can make your message sentimental like mine or pick something funny like Cereal Killer for a breakfast spoon.

For a wedding or anniversary present, you can give the gift of His and Her spoons with corresponding messages like: I love you and I love you more or Good morning handsome and Good morning beautiful.

Wet brush-pro Detangle Hair Brush

Queen Darlene - April 14, 2016 - $20 or Less, Birthday, Christmas, Kids, Mother's Day, Teacher Gifts

Sometimes we come across a beauty product that works miracles so we want to share it with everyone! The Wet brush-pro Detangle Hair Brush is such a gift!

I have collected lots of hair brushes over the years. Round ones, big square ones, small ones, brushes with bristles and others with rubber tips.

A brush is a brush is a brush you say. Well… not always.

I only use my Wet brush-pro Detangle Hair Brush to untangle my wet hair. I love how it feels going through my hair so much that I’ve purchased several to give to family and friends.

It works fabulously for my friend who no longer struggles with her daughter’s thick, long curly hair.

Finally, there’s no more fighting and her daughter loves for her hair to be brushed. It’s a miracle brush! Continue Reading

A Gift Used Daily – A REALLY Good Kitchen Knife

Princess Diana - April 12, 2016 - Birthday, Christmas, Gifts for Me, Housewarming, Mother's Day, Wedding

For a task repeated often, the right tool means everything. It can save time. It can give you a better end result. In the kitchen, the most important tool is the knife. Think of the many hours people spend cutting, chopping and slicing.

A Wusthof Classic Nakiri Vegetable Knife is a must have in any kitchen.

A lot of people cook with poor quality knives that are often dull – making them unsafe and hard to use. (Yes, I’m talking to you – my sister Julia – who’s knife I couldn’t cut an onion with!) I told her the next time I visited I would be bringing my own knife, and I was being completely serious.

A high quality sharp kitchen knife provides greater efficiency and precision so that cooking a meal becomes a much easier, quicker and more enjoyable task. I would know.

My chopping experience changed when I bought the knife recommended by Pioneer Woman herself. Ree is my blogging and cooking idol so when she recommended the Wusthof Classic Nakiri Vegetable Knife with Hollow Edge and mentioned she used it almost exclusively, I had to buy it!

Unique & Awesome Museum Gifts

Queen Darlene - April 7, 2016 - Anniversary, Birthday, Business, Christmas, Father's Day, Mother's Day, Teacher Gifts, Valentine's Day

Ever wonder where you can go to find unique and awesome gifts? Try a museum gift shop.

Don’t have a local museum? No worries! Shop online from many of the world’s most famous museums like The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York or The Louvre in Paris.

Discover hundreds of unique gifts and art reproductions, including jewelry, sculpture, apparel, wall art, stationery, toys and more.

You’ll find plenty of gifts to choose from available in any price range.

One of my favorite gift shops is The National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C. The gifts are unlike anything else I’ve ever seen and more affordable than you might think.

I recently purchased a beautiful $25 velvet bag for my sister-in-law to use as a small purse or make-up bag. The embroidered design motif of a peacock feather is based on a color stencil print by Maurice Pillard Verneuil (French, 1869 to 1942). I was certain she didn’t have anything like it. Continue Reading

Herb Garden Marker Signs

Princess Diana - April 5, 2016 - Birthday, Christmas, Father's Day, Mother's Day

It’s quite rewarding to grow your own fruits, vegetables and herbs and to cook with and eat something that you planted, grew and harvested yourself.

When my boss started an herb garden in her backyard. She talked excitedly about how fast they grew, which ones were multiplying like crazy, and which ones were ready to be eaten.

Sometimes she had way more than she could use so she brought them to the office to share with us.

It was fun to hear about her adventures in gardening and made me interested in growing my own herbs too.

When her birthday came around, I decided to give her something for her new hobby. I gave her a set of Herb Garden Marker Signs so she could clearly label the herbs in her backyard.

“Press Here” Book | New York Times Bestseller for Kids

Queen Darlene - March 31, 2016 - $20 or Less, Birthday, Christmas, Kids

Looking for a children’s book that is interactive as well as entertaining? We all know reading to kids is a good thing and will boost children’s learning potential, especially between the ages of two and five.

“Press Here” by Hervé Tullet is a picture book like no other. Talk about a fun experience!

With a touch of a finger, you press the yellow dot on the cover of the book and the make believe begins!

The reader follows the simple instructions to press various dots and perform varied tasks (blow on the dot, shake the pages, clap 1-2-3 times) on each shiny white page.

The tasks set in motion the “action” of the dot by changing colors, multiplying, scattering across a two-page spread and so much more!

Announce Big News With Yard Greeting Signs

Princess Diana - March 29, 2016 - Anniversary, Baby Shower, Birthday, Congratulations, Father's Day, Gifts for Him, Graduation, Kids, Military/Veterans, Mother's Day, Retirement, Valentine's Day

Why buy a card when you can say it in the yard?

When you have big news, you want to share it with the world! You could post about it on Facebook or Twitter, but that’s so predictable.

If you really want to create buzz, announce your big news with yard greeting signs.

Yard greeting sign and lawn ornament companies like OklahomaYardGreetings.com will spell out a personalized message using large letters and graphics. You can rent the signs for a day or a week, it’s up to you!

Imagine your loved one’s reaction when they pull up in front of their house or walk outside their front door. They’ll be completely surprised!

Yard greeting signs also make a great photo op. Take photos that are perfect for sharing on social media!

Customized Word Art Canvas | Retirement Gift

Queen Darlene - March 24, 2016 - Business, Retirement

Congratulations! Enjoy Retirement! Happy Retiree! Words of celebration but it’s the same old words and cliche. It’s so much more meaningful to say words that personalize the retiree’s working life!

personalized-retirement-on-canvas-thoughtful-gift-idea

Custom Word Art Canvas

My co-worker and friend, John, retired this year. He’s a wonderful leader, well respected, and possesses an incredibly funny deadpan and dry sense of humor that we all love!

For his retirement gift, I searched Pinterest for ideas and put together some words and phrases that describe his years and accomplishments with our agency. I also included a few of his personal sayings that he is known for around the office.

The words were placed on a wrapped canvas and presented to John at an all-agency meeting.

This style of canvas art is sometimes referred to as personalized or customized word art, subway sign, or typography art.