Yearly Archives: 2017

The 5 Love Languages for A Happy Marriage

Princess Diana - February 7, 2017 - Anniversary, Gifts for Me, Valentine's Day, Wedding

Have you ever wondered what the secret is to a long, happy marriage? I am completely serious when I tell you I’ve found it.

I learned it in the book, The 5 Love Languages: The Secret to Love That Lasts, the #1 New York Times bestselling book by Dr. Gary D. Chapman.

Communication doesn’t break down because men are from Mars and women are from Venus. It’s because we often speak different love languages than our spouse.

In the book, Dr. Chapman explains the 5 Love Languages using wonderful stories and examples from real couples he has helped through marriage counseling. He says it’s the secret to keeping love alive.

The 5 Love Languages

Words of Affirmation
Acts of Service
Receiving Gifts
Quality Time
Physical Touch

Reading this book helped understand what makes me feel loved and what makes my husband feel loved.

Celebrate Valentine’s Day Family Style

Queen Darlene - February 2, 2017 - Kids, Valentine's Day

Valentine’s Day is usually reserved for couples, but I have another idea. Start a tradition of celebrating Valentine’s Day family style.

Living Room Floor Family Picnic

Have a picnic for all the Valentines in your family on your living room floor. Kids love this!

Keep it simple and move the furniture, lay out a blanket, and use Valentine’s Day paper plates with red plastic utensils. Depending upon the age of the children, I would use cups with lids and straws to prevent any spills.

If you want to be more elaborate, add a red and white picnic table cloth, eating trays, red pillows to sit on, sprinkle rose petals around the room, beautiful flowers, decorative lights, etc.

Make it a family affair and have the kids help with the set-up and decorating. Continue Reading

Splurge on a Fancy Dinner | Culinary Experience

Princess Diana - January 31, 2017 - Anniversary, Birthday, Christmas, Congratulations, Experiences, Father's Day, Food & Drinks, Mother's Day, Valentine's Day, Wedding

Have you every wanted to try an expensive restaurant but always talked yourself out of going there?

I’m guilty.

There is an expensive steak restaurant near where I live that I’ve always wanted to try. It’s so close to my house I drive by it almost every day.

The restaurant has a great reputation, and I’ve heard about the delicious food from lots of people I know. So why haven’t I gone there yet?

It’s not that I can’t afford it. I just always come up with different reasons not to. Let’s see…

I’d rather spend that money on something else I want. I feel guilty spending that much money on steak when I’m perfectly happy with the steak served at other less expensive restaurants. I end up deciding to try another new restaurant in town that isn’t so expensive.

But guess what this lucky lady got for Christmas?! My thoughtful husband gave a gift card to the expensive steak restaurant in my Christmas stocking!

Since I would never splurge on going to that restaurant, he decided he would do it for me!

Send Valentine’s Day Cards Postmarked From Valentine, TX

Queen Darlene - January 26, 2017 - $20 or Less, Valentine's Day

Looking for a thoughtful twist to sending a Valentine’s Day card? Have it postmarked from a town with a name associated with Valentine’s Day.

Like Valentine, Texas, Romance, Arkansas or Loveland, Colorado.

I called the postmaster in Valentine, Texas, and he explained the process.

All you have to do is send your card addressed and stamped inside a larger envelope addressed to the Postmaster Remailing Program of the town from which you want it mailed.

He also said the elementary school in Valentine has a contest every year for the students to come up with a cancellation stamp for the post office to use on all Valentine’s Day cards.

Interesting Fact: Valentine, Texas’s population is 134, and the post office’s one employee hand stamps 7,000 to 10,000 cards. WOW!

I’m sending a box of chocolates as a thank you for stamping my cards. Continue Reading

A Candy Bouquet for Any Occasion

Princess Diana - January 24, 2017 - $20 or Less, Anniversary, Birthday, Business, Christmas, Congratulations, Food & Drinks, Get Well, Gifts for Him, Graduation, Host, Housewarming, Kids, Mother's Day, Party Favors, Retirement, Teacher Gifts, Thank You, Valentine's Day

Flowers bouquets are considered a perfect gift for any occasion. Although, realistically, women tend to appreciate the gift of flowers more than men. Not so with candy bouquets. Men, women and children love them equally!

A candy bouquet is like a flower arrangement except it uses candy instead of flowers.

Think about it. Not everyone has a favorite flower, but everyone has their favorite candy (or candies).

If you’re like me, you have more than one favorite candy. My perfect candy bouquet would contain Twix, Sour Patch Kids, Sweet Tart Gummies, Hershey’s Hugs, and Hershey’s Candy Cane Kisses.

Candy bouquets are a beautiful sight! They look expensive, but they can be created simply and inexpensively.

You can purchase pre-made candy bouquets, but by creating your own you can customize it to contain the gift recipient’s favorite flavors.

Keep It Simple | Office Birthday Gift Ideas

Queen Darlene - January 19, 2017 - $20 or Less, Birthday, Business

I work in an office of nearly 100 employees and someone is having a birthday just about every other day.

Birthdays are listed on a monthly employee calendar which make it easy to send a birthday wish by email. But there are times when you want to recognize a co-worker’s birthday with a birthday gift.

Even though there are five different departments at my place of employment, we all work together from time to time and get to know one another’s likes and dislikes.

Favorite Cereals

This year, Jody came up with a great idea for Tiffany’s birthday. Tiff LOVES cereal and eats four bowls a day!

On the way to work the morning of Tiffany’s birthday, Jody picked up two boxes of Tiff’s favorite cereals, Froot Loops and Frosted Krispies, with a half-gallon of milk.

Jody tied it all together with a ribbon and when Tiff saw the gift sitting on her desk, she was thrilled! Continue Reading

Share A Coke With Someone’s Name On It

Princess Diana - January 17, 2017 - Birthday, Business, Christmas, Family, Food & Drinks, Party Favors, Teacher Gifts

My co-worker Linda likes to surprise us at the office with gifts. She’s sweet like that!

Recently, she gave our ENTIRE Administration Team Coke bottles with our names on them. What a thoughtful gift because like most folks we love to see our names on things. It makes us feel special. Plus, everyone loves Coca-cola!

I have my Coke bottle still sitting on my shelf at work because I just can’t bring myself to open it just yet. It looks so cool!

To order a customized Coke bottle, visit www.shareacoke.com, and you can add anyone’s name to an 8 oz. bottle of Coke, Coke Zero or Diet Coke.

They make fun gifts for pretty much any occasion.

Ceramic Woven Bread Basket | Keeps Bread Warm

Queen Darlene - January 12, 2017 - Birthday, Christmas, Gift Baskets, Host, Housewarming, Mother's Day, Teacher Gifts, Wedding

Have you ever heard of a ceramic woven bread basket that keeps bread warm? My sister-in-law received one for Christmas and now, I want one!

What I’ve always done to keep my bread warm is to wrap them up in a tea towel (just like my grandmother, mother and mother-in-law used to do) and place them in a wicker basket. Of course, they never stayed warm very long.

Keeps Homebaked Goods Warmer Longer

A heated Williams Sonoma ceramic woven bread basket will keep bread warm during your entire meal. Bread lovers can eat their second and third dinner rolls still warm!

It works by placing the ceramic bread basket in a 350°F oven for approximately 15 minutes. Afterwards, remove from the oven and line the basket with a cloth napkin before adding your bread, muffins or biscuits. Continue Reading

Pie Face Showdown Game | Whipped Cream Fun For All Ages

Princess Diana - January 10, 2017 - $20 or Less, Birthday, Christmas, Experiences, Kids

If it involves whipped cream, you know it’s going to be a fun time! I have a game that will entertain people age 2 to 102.

Are you ready to create some hysterical memories with your family and friends?

The Pie Face Showdown Game gives everyone the chance to throw whipped cream in someone’s face!

How you play Pie Face Showdown:

Two people compete by pushing the red button on their side as fast as they can to move the throwing arm loaded with whipped cream towards their opponent. When the loaded arm reaches either end, it pops up throwing the whipped cream SPLAT into the loser’s face.

My son and I played Pie Face Showdown with my sister’s family, and did we laugh and laugh! The players and everyone watching are giddy and excited to see who gets creamed. As you can see, we also ended up with hilarious photos of whipped cream splattered faces.

Superhero Bathrobe Gift

Queen Darlene - January 6, 2017 - Anniversary, Birthday, Christmas, Father's Day, Kids, Mother's Day, Teacher Gifts

Need a gift for the superhero in your family, circle of friends, or co-workers?

I present the superhero bathrobe for your Superman, Batman, Spiderman or Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle in your life!

Let’s not forget there are girl superheroes too, like Supergirl and Wonder Woman!

Personalized Superhero Bathrobes

My office staff purchased a Superman bathrobe for our boss for Christmas. We personalized it by having his name embroidered above the pocket. He loved it!

These superhero bathrobes are made of incredibly soft fleece material that feels great against the skin.

Since it looks good AND feels good… there’s no doubt it will become their favorite bathrobe!
Continue Reading