Category "Birthday"

Retro Pop-Up Hot Dog Toaster

Queen Darlene - December 19, 2018 - Birthday, Christmas, Food & Drinks, Kids

The Retro Pop-Up Hot Dog Toaster is a unique and unexpected gift for anyone who loves hot dogs!

My all time favorite place to eat hot dogs is at a baseball game, but my friend, Linda, loves hot dogs anywhere, anytime.

While on a girl’s trip to NYC, we stopped at a street hot dog vendor and from that memorable moment on she converted me to eating hot dogs anywhere at anytime!

A Thoughtful Gift for Hot Dog Lovers

So when I came across the Retro Pop-Up Hot Dog Toaster, I knew it would be the perfect Christmas gift for her.

For that thoughtful twist that’s totally over the top, you can pair it with an Exotic Hot Dog of the Month Club membership!

“You Are a Gem” Air Plant Gift

Princess Diana - December 12, 2018 - Anniversary, Birthday, Business, Christmas, Congratulations, Host, Mother's Day, Teacher Gifts, Thank You, Valentine's Day

We all know people who are gems because they brighten our lives like a sparkling diamond.

Have you let them know lately how much they mean to you?

This Air Plant Gift tells them “You Are a Gem” with words and a gift.

Air plants get the majority of their nutrients from the air. That means they are extremely low-maintenance and easy to keep alive! They will last for years.

Air plants are also attractive and come in interesting shapes and textures.

A Gift That Makes a Statement

For my mother’s birthday, I gave her a beautiful Amethyst Crystal Air Plant Gift. It came with a gift box and a card that reads “You Are a Gem.”

Edge Brownie Pan

Queen Darlene - December 5, 2018 - Birthday, Christmas, Food & Drinks, Housewarming

For as long as I have known my husband, he loves eating the chewy edges of a brownie. One problem, there are only four edges to a regular pan.

Guess what? Problem solved! I found a unique pan called the Edge Brownie Pan.

Made in the USA, this patented pan adds more chewy edges to every brownie it bakes. Now my husband is in brownie heaven!

The Brownie Pan for Edge Lovers

The Edge Brownie Pan is super heavy-duty and non-stick so it will never warp (like my other brownie pan). It’s also a lot easier to clean (a must for me).

I was not expecting a surprise bonus inside the box. A spatula and recipes–a thoughtful twist for their customers!

The recipes looked delicious for Marbled Cheesecake Brownies, Raspberry Pecan Blondies, Signature Cookie Bars (chocolate chips) and… the Ultimate Brownies.

Reinvent the Box of Chocolates

Queen Darlene - November 21, 2018 - Anniversary, Birthday, Business, Christmas, Congratulations, Father's Day, Food & Drinks, Get Well, Gifts for Him, Host, Mother's Day, Retirement, Teacher Gifts, Thank You, Valentine's Day

Maggie Louise Confections has reinvented the box of chocolates with color, personality and unique customization.

Each box has fun bite-size chocolates to celebrate everyday indulgence.

The gourmet chocolate gift boxes and luxury confections are chocolate look-a-like creations of lipsticks, lips, jewels, precious stones, coffee cups, snowmen, mittens and the list goes on and on.

Before attending a conference, I researched “things to do” in Austin and discovered Maggie Louise Confections, an Austin-based company. Continue Reading

Lightweight & Portable Nylon Hammock

Princess Diana - November 6, 2018 - Birthday, Christmas, Father's Day, Gifts for Him, Graduation, Mother's Day, Retirement, Valentine's Day

When I think of a hammock, three things come to mind–rest, relaxation and sleep. With a portable hammock, you can enjoy those three things wherever you go!

Did you know the best hammocks are no longer made of rope?

They’re made of parachute nylon which makes them extremely soft and comfortable. It’s like sleeping in a cloud because the hammock stretches and conforms to your body.

The nylon material is also what makes them lightweight and portable, allowing them to pack down to a very compact size. A person doesn’t even have to roll or fold–simply shove the hammock back into the attached, small stuff sack.

In the stuff sack, a two-person hammock packs down to 6 inches X 9 inches. So small!

Butterfly Fairy Hair Clips

Queen Darlene - October 24, 2018 - Birthday, Christmas, Gifts for Me, Mother's Day, Wedding

I love handmade gifts. I remember watching my mother create beautiful gifts from vintage jewelry.

My mother and I would also help each other handcraft unique gift ideas waaay before Etsy ever came along. Mom would have loved Etsy.com where you can shop for anything made by creative people everywhere and where she could have shared her gifts too!

When an Etsy email pops up, I’m always curious to see who created what. Oh my… what a find this time. Butterflies! They are exquisite!

Wild and Free Jewelry created by Corina Alulquoy Brown are inspired by the ocean, wildlife, and Native American culture. You have to look at her website!

Handmade Butterfly Hair Clips

My favorites are the beautifully handcrafted butterfly hair clips by Corina.

“You Raise the Bar” Meaningful Gift

Princess Diana - October 10, 2018 - Birthday, Business, Congratulations, Gifts for Him, Graduation

There are gifts that make you happy, and there are gifts that feed your soul because they are deeply meaningful.

Queen Darlene gave me the most thoughtful birthday present this year.

She gave me a necklace with a silver bar with my initial “d” cut out of it. It was cute by itself, but let me tell you about the meaningful, heartful part…

In the card, she wrote to me:

You’ve Always Raised the Bar

“Diana, You’ve always raised the bar! And, no one can come close when you set your mind on whatever you choose to do! You are your own kind of incredible and that’s something to celebrate my precious friend!”

Extreme Rock-Paper-Scissors

Queen Darlene - September 19, 2018 - $20 or Less, Birthday, Business, Family

Remember playing rock, paper scissors? How about playing the game in a group setting to the extreme?

My office of 90+ employees meet quarterly for awards, updates and training and just for fun, we incorporate “not your usual” team building activities.

In this game, employees battle it out to see who is the Rock-Paper-Scissors champion of the group, as losers of each mini-round cheer the remaining winners on!

How to Play Extreme Rock-Paper-Scissors

Have each member of the group pair up for the first round of rock, paper, scissors. If there is an odd number, add the odd person out to another pair for a quick knock-out match.
Play 3 games and the best 2 out of 3 will be the winner.
The losers of the first match start cheering the name of the winner for their next game.
All winners pair up and face off against each other while the ones they beat are cheering for them. When one winner beats the other, all the people behind the losing player start cheering for the winning player.
Repeat this process in elimination until there are only two players left. Each should have a large group of people cheering them on from their previous wins. The game is over after one player wins the final match.

Win or lose, everyone participates to the very end. Continue Reading

Alternative to Fresh Cut Flowers | Flowering Plant Basket

Princess Diana - September 12, 2018 - Anniversary, Birthday, Business, Congratulations, Mother's Day, Retirement, Teacher Gifts, Valentine's Day

I have a confession. I tell my husband NOT to buy me flowers.

Flowering plants are arranged beautifully in this moss covered basket.

You’re probably thinking, “What’s wrong with her? Does she hate chocolate and unicorns too?”

There’s nothing wrong with me. I love flowers – just not the expensive type that comes in a vase and dies a few days later.

I’ve experienced the thrill of receiving a dozen roses or a spectacular flower arrangement, and I’m good. I treasure those memories, but I don’t need to experience them again.

I tell my husband I’d rather take the money he would have spent on flowers and go shopping with it. Yes, I’ve become practical like that.

In other words, flowers? No thank you. Instead, show me the money, honey!

Let me add, I’m not alone in this. Several of the ladies in my office agree with me and have told their husband the same thing.

Changeable Felt Letter Board

Princess Diana - August 31, 2018 - Birthday, Business, Christmas, Get Well, Going Away, Graduation, Housewarming, Retirement, Teacher Gifts, Valentine's Day

Everyone has favorite quotes or sayings they absolutely love.

They could be inspiring, funny or motivational, and almost always elicit positive and powerful emotions from within us.

This one I probably say the most…

WHAT DOESN’T KILL YOU
MAKES YOU STRONGER

It reminds me to see the positive side to something I’ve experienced that was hard, negative, or hurtful.

This one has changed my behavior…

WHAT WOULD YOU DO
IF YOU WEREN’T AFRAID?

Want to know my new favorite?