Category "Birthday"

Ultra Bright Flashlight for Gal Pal

Queen Darlene - March 2, 2017 - $20 or Less, Birthday, Christmas

Tactile Ultra Bright Flashlights are not just for guys while camping or hunting! Gals need them too.

I needed a birthday gift for my girlfriend, Karen. We met at my office when she represented a client through Legal Aid. We became instant friends, played on a tennis team together, and have been exchanging gifts for almost 20 years!

I’m always on the hunt for something we haven’t exchanged before and came up with the idea of a sturdy, small but powerful flashlight. A flashlight that had some umph!!!

I purchased the Ultra Bright Flashlight because it is compact, easy to carry in a purse, shines a very bright light up to 600 feet, uses a single AA battery, has zoom and high-low-strobe modes.

A flashlight is a little unusual gift for a woman but listen up.

They come in quite handy when the electricity goes out, searching for items in dark places like the back of closets, cabinets or underneath a car seat for a lost earring. Continue Reading

Paint Your Own Pottery Experience

Princess Diana - February 21, 2017 - $20 or Less, Birthday, Christmas, Experiences, Kids, Mother's Day

When I visit my sister’s family, I always like to give my three nieces the gift of a new experience.

Now that my oldest niece is 16 and I have a four-year old son, I needed to come up with an experience that teenagers AND young children would enjoy. That’s a little tough, but I came up with the perfect idea! Adults will enjoy it too!

I took everyone to a paint your own pottery studio where each of us picked out an unfinished ceramic pottery to paint.

The studio had a TON of choices and to inspire customers it displayed examples of what the final painted products could look like.

Ceramic Pottery

I picked out a Christmas sweater platter, and my son picked out a dinosaur. My sister picked out a Christmas mug, while her 16-year old niece picked out a jar. My 13-year old niece picked out a turtle shaped container, and my nine-year old niece picked out a Hello Kitty figurine. See! Something for everyone!

The pottery studio provided all of the painting supplies, glazing and firing. All we needed to do was unleash our creativity!

One Night Stay Destination | Experience Gift

Queen Darlene - February 17, 2017 - Anniversary, Birthday, Christmas, Experiences

My sister-in-law and her husband enjoy going out-of-town. With that in mind, I gave them a destination experience as a gift!

My husband and I gave David and Lesa a gift certificate for a one-night-stay at a historical hotel. Inside the envelope, I included a picture of the hotel’s breathtaking lobby.

When they opened their gift, they were completely surprised! They had never heard of The Mayo Hotel and were excited about their upcoming adventure.

The Mayo Hotel in Tulsa

The Mayo Hotel located in Tulsa, Oklahoma is a beautiful hotel that has been renovated to its previous historic grandeur.

Opened in 1925, The Mayo instantly became synonymous with high society. Famous guests included President John F. Kennedy, Bob Hope, Charles Lindbergh, Babe Ruth, Lucille Ball, Charlie Chaplin and Elvis Presley. Continue Reading

Give Your Partner A Sensual Oil Massage

Princess Diana - February 14, 2017 - Anniversary, Birthday, Experiences, Valentine's Day

I have a Valentine’s Day gift that can transform your relationship by creating deeper intimacy. You can give it over and over, and it’s amazing every time!

Give your partner a sensual massage with your own two hands using massage oil.

If you think about it, who better than to pamper your lover with a romantic massage than you?

My husband is no professional masseur, but he gives THE BEST massages. I only wish he could massage me longer than 20 minutes before his fingers get tired. Really though, I’m not complaining because those 20 minutes are pure heaven!

My body becomes putty in his hands as he sensually rubs my aches and tensions away… leaving me feeling completely relaxed and loved. There’s something very intimate in knowing that your partner is focusing all of his or her efforts on making you feel so good.

By the way, massage oil is essential. It makes a massage feel 100 times better!

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!

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.