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Money Laundering College Gift Idea

Queen Darlene - August 4, 2016 - Graduation, Money

It’s here! You can’t believe it! It was only yesterday when your child started kindergarten. Now your son or daughter is going to college and moving on campus.

A college student will need new items for his or her dorm room, including a laundry basket and laundry soap.

Ever heard of Money Laundering? Of course you have, but this gift item is not of criminal intent. It’s a creative way to give cash as a college gift!

Believe me this “Money Laundering” gift will bring a smile to college bound students even though they know they’ll finally have to do their own laundry. Oh, the hidden pitfalls of growing up!

You will need:

A bottle or box box of laundry detergent
Quarters and $1, $5, $10, $20 bills
Glue dots

The Gift of Song | Singing Lessons

Queen Darlene - July 28, 2016 - Birthday, Christmas, Experiences, Gifts for Me, Mother's Day

Is there something you have always wanted to learn to do? I love to sing. I just couldn’t carry a tune so I decided to take singing lessons.

I found a voice teacher at a local university who gave private lessons. She was surprised when I told her my request.

“I want to learn how to sing one song – Fever.”

I’ve heard it all my life on the radio and in live musicals.

Peggy Lee made the song famous, and my favorite rendition is by Michael Buble.

It is one sexy song!

Never know how much I love you
Never know how much I care
When you put your arms around me
I get a fever that’s so hard to bear

You give me fever
When you kiss me
Fever when you hold me tight
Fever in the morning
Fever all through the night

Chocolate Band-Aids for Life’s Boo Boos

Queen Darlene - July 21, 2016 - $20 or Less, Get Well

Chocolate Band-Aids! Who thinks these things up? Whoever they are… I’m glad they do. I love the idea!

As a child, Band-Aids on a boo boo always made me feel better even if they were the plain kind. No originality waaay back then.

My children chose their own Band-Aids like Spider-Man or The Hulk. The instant a super hero Band-Aid was applied to a scrape, cut or scratch, my kids were up and running.

Now, you can get rid of someone’s crocodile tears and create a smile by giving a treat of chocolate Band-Aids! Continue Reading

Adorable Pillow Case Sets

Queen Darlene - July 14, 2016 - Anniversary, Birthday, Wedding

We met Dan and Barb when they became our Realtors during my husband’s home building days.

We became close friends and through the years we have shared our life stories. One of my favorites is how Barb and Dan got married.

pillow-case-wedding-anniversary-thoughtful-gift-idea

Tie the Knot Matching Pillow Case Set

They had been together for a couple of years, and one morning Barb proposed to Dan by saying she was going to be a Mrs. by the end of the day. She was waaaaay past waiting for him to propose first.

He, of course, was nervous but Barb is the love of his life and that day they went to the courthouse and became Mr. & Mrs. He has said lovingly more than once she “roped him” into marriage!

When Barb and Dan were celebrating their 40th wedding anniversary, I saw these adorable pillow cases of a bride roping her groom with heart string in order to tie the knot on Etsy.com. Well… it just seemed to fit their marriage proposal perfectly so I gave it to them as an anniversary gift. Continue Reading

High School Reunions Create New-Old Friendships

Queen Darlene - July 7, 2016 - Gifts for Me

Recently, I attended my 45th high school reunion and I’m still relishing in my new-old friendships.

I have several cherished high school friends who we’ve kept in touch all these years but with each 5-10-15-20 years and more, I’ve also created new friendships with old classmates.

I was a band nerd.

My whole high school experience was in the marching band, concert band and jazz band. We played victorious music at every football and home basketball games!

So my world mostly revolved around my band mates. Continue Reading

BULBING Lamps Create Optical Illusion

Queen Darlene - June 30, 2016 - Birthday, Business, Christmas, Father's Day, Gifts for Him, Kids, Mother's Day

Looking for an unusual, unique, definitely different, you’ve-never-seen-before lamp? Curious? Yes, I thought so.

BULBING Lamps are flat, 2-D LED lamps that trick your eye and your mind to thinking they’re 3-D lamps. They create an amazing optical illusion!

Aren’t they a great gift for lighting up someone’s life? They also make a great gift for him.

I consider them functional art so it makes sense my friend, Linda, discovered these fascinating lamps on the Museum of Modern Art’s online gift shop.
Continue Reading

Rustic Cuff | Unique Oklahoma Jewelry

Queen Darlene - June 23, 2016 - Anniversary, Birthday, Business, Christmas, Father's Day, Gifts for Him, Gifts for Me, Graduation, Mother's Day, Teacher Gifts, Valentine's Day

Have you ever heard of Rustic Cuff? Neither had I until I received one of the brand’s pieces of jewelry as a gift. Carol told me it was all the rage. Where have I been? It’s even made in Oklahoma!

Carol surprised me with a red Rustic Cuff bracelet to celebrate our day together of watching the University of Oklahoma’s Red & White football game with our husbands.

Every time I wear it, I recall fun memories of having a wonderful time with dear friends.

When we got home that evening, I Googled Rustic Cuff to read up on our very own Oklahoma gal. It is a jewelry brand that has become well-known nationwide and is a certifiable phenomenon around Tulsa, Oklahoma. Continue Reading

High Caliber Entertainment at Gun Range

Queen Darlene - June 16, 2016 - Anniversary, Birthday, Business, Experiences, Father's Day, Gifts for Him, Mother's Day, Retirement

Ever celebrated a birthday or retirement at a gun range? My girlfriends and I did both! One had a birthday, and the other two were retiring!

Our friendship has spanned for 40+ years and we have celebrated many life events with various experiences, but I must say going to the gun range was a first! What an exciting thrill!

I hired an instructor for a private lesson to train us about safety, how to hold a gun,and how to aim and shoot. There’s a proper technique as you can imagine, and knowing it made us feel more comfortable handling a gun.

A gun range date night or group package is a unique gift idea for a beginner, intermediate or advanced shooter.

I highly recommend it for a different kind of experience for a date night, a celebration, or just bonding time with friends and family.

Zero Gravity Patio Lounge Chair for Dad

Queen Darlene - June 7, 2016 - Birthday, Father's Day

We have patio furniture but when my husband said he’d like to include a lounge chair that reclines, I immediately filed it away for a Father’s Day gift.

The older we get the more we enjoy sitting and relaxing on our patio. It’s so wonderfully peaceful.

During my search, I found several lounge chairs to choose from and finally decided on a reasonably priced Caravan Sports Infinity Zero Gravity Chair.

This lightweight reclining lounge chair features a sturdy frame and requires no assembly. I was impressed it folds down to 6.3 inches wide for storage. That’s slim!

It reclines smoothly and has both an adjustable headrest and lumbar support. The fabric (described as long-lasting outdoor grade fabric) looks and feels like the more expensive patio furniture I’ve seen.

Say Thank You With Merci European Chocolates

Queen Darlene - June 3, 2016 - $20 or Less, Thank You

I needed to say thank you to someone who did me a great favor but I had no idea who they were.

Let me start at the beginning. My long time friends, Curtis and Susan, and my husband and I made a pact to at least once a month spend a Saturday together by visiting TravelOK.com recommended restaurants across the state of Oklahoma.

The drive would give us time to visit and our destination would be a delicious meal.

Our first adventure was to check out Click’s Steakhouse in Pawnee, Oklahoma – population 2,179. The restaurant is known for its delicious steaks and amazing homemade pies. We arrived a few minutes prior to opening at 11 a.m. and already a line was forming at the door. Continue Reading