Category "Graduation"

Easy Meals With Programmable Slow Cooker

Princess Diana - March 1, 2016 - Birthday, Christmas, Gifts for Him, Going Away, Graduation, Housewarming, Wedding

When my nephew moved into an apartment after high school, he felt the pinch of not always having enough money to make ends meet. He complained about sometimes having to eat Ramen noodles just to make rent.

He’s not alone in his experience. Many young adults with limited income face a similar situation after moving out of their parents’ house, and they realize how quickly their bills eat up their paycheck.

My nephew also shared his goal to a eat better and live a healthier lifestyle.

Listening to him tell me all of this information helped me come up with the perfect gift for him!

I decided to purchase him a Programmable Slow Cooker. After double-checking that he didn’t already have one, I told him why I wanted to get him one, and I explained all of the wonderful benefits. Let me summarize them.

Crepe Paper Money Ball Surprise

Queen Darlene - January 28, 2016 - Birthday, Christmas, Graduation, Kids, Money

httpvh://youtu.be/Xy0X827to5U

Who doesn’t like to unwrap gifts? How about finding a gift with each unwrapping – say 12 times within one gift? What?! The Crepe Paper Money Ball Surprise will do just that!

The balls of crepe paper strips are wrapped around individual bills and when the recipient unwinds the ball, the cash is revealed one by one.

They will be totally surprised by the loot inside!

HOW TO MAKE A CREPE PAPER MONEY BALL SURPRISE

Crepe Paper – several colors to make it festive or choose their favorite colors
Scissors – cut 12 crepe paper strips in various sizes – 3 ft. to 6 ft.
Tape or glue dots to attach the last crepe paper strip
Ribbon
Cash in bills – the amount is up to you

Tell Someone’s Story With a Floating Charm Locket Necklace

Queen Darlene - January 21, 2016 - Anniversary, Baby Shower, Birthday, Christmas, Congratulations, Going Away, Graduation, Mother's Day, Retirement, Valentine's Day, Wedding

The newest trend of charm bracelets are Floating Charm Locket Necklaces. It’s a unique way to tell stories with jewelry by giving a locket containing charms depicting someone’s hobbies or experiences, or commemorating celebrations such as birthdays, Christmas, Valentine’s Day or weddings.

I gave my girlfriend, Janet, a floating charm necklace for her birthday. The charms I chose were a cake with candles to celebrate her birthday, the letter “J” for her name and because she loves to take lots and lots of photos, I added a camera charm. She loved it!

Floating Charm Locket Necklaces come in different shapes such as round, heart or animal. You can choose from hundreds of cute, beautiful and colorful charms so it’s easy peasy to find charms that fit their personality and tell their personal “story.”

Cold Hard Cash

Queen Darlene - January 14, 2016 - Birthday, Christmas, Gifts for Him, Graduation, Kids, Money

httpvh://youtu.be/WG4_QKYPCCc”Cold Hard Cash” is a one-of-a-kind money gift idea that will certainly be fun and amusing!

So how do you turn money into cold hard cash?

You will need:

A plastic container with a lid
Ziplock bag
Water
Money in the form of bills or coins or both

Say Aloha to World’s Easiest Money Lei

Princess Diana - January 12, 2016 - Going Away, Graduation, Money, Retirement

httpvh://youtu.be/jztXwKt13uk

Did you know that leis are commonly presented when someone is arriving or leaving? The garland of flowers is a common symbol of love, friendship, celebration, honor or greeting.

That’s why money leis are perfect for graduation, going away parties and retirement parties. They’re pretty like flowers, but they have spending power!

They make for a unique and memorable gift that the gift recipient can wear on their special day.

There are many money lei tutorials out there, but this one is the world’s easiest money lei. It requires very little folding and assembling and still looks great!

The one I made using a standard Mardi Gras necklace only requires 14 money leis. Most other money lei tutorials require you to fold and attach 40-60 money flowers.

HOW TO MAKE THE WORLD’S EASIEST MONEY LEI

Items you will need:

cash (use crisp bills; iron if necessary)
beaded necklace
small rubber bands
ribbon (cut into 8 inch strips) (regular or curling ribbon)
glue dots or double-sided tape

Money & Gloves Go Hand in Hand

Queen Darlene - December 16, 2015 - Birthday, Christmas, Father's Day, Gifts for Him, Graduation, Kids, Money, Mother's Day

httpvh://youtu.be/DKKmh8QoyAE

Looking for a clever way to surprise the gift recipient with money and a pair of gloves?

This idea is so easy peasy. I call it my “Money and Gloves Go Hand in Hand” gift idea.

I like to find a pair of gloves that are out-of-the-ordinary. They could be colorful, unusual, maybe with feathers on the cuff instead of fake fur, or with rhinestones.

You don’t have to limit the gift to just gloves or mittens designed to keep hands warm. Purchase gloves to match their hobbies or profession.

Think garden gloves, bike gloves, baseball gloves, golf gloves, weight lifting gloves, and work gloves.

All you need to create this money gift are:

A pair of gloves
Bills of money

50 Shades of Green Money Gift

Queen Darlene - December 10, 2015 - Birthday, Christmas, Father's Day, Graduation, Housewarming, Kids, Money

A paint can is a great way to gift wrap because kids and adults can never ever guess what’s inside it.

They’ll never guess what’s inside the paint can!

The “50 Shades of Green” money gift idea is perfect for the person who is difficult to buy for. Perfect because the color green (money) goes with everything!

Fill the paint can with crumpled 50 one dollar bills or one fifty dollar bill or any combination adding up to 50 dollars.

Create a label for birthdays, graduations, Father’s Day or add holiday decorations for Christmas.

Stocking Stuffer Money Gift

Queen Darlene - December 9, 2015 - Birthday, Christmas, Congratulations, Family, Gifts for Him, Going Away, Graduation, Kids, Money

httpvh://youtu.be/BzbPH6qEsF4

Grandma Cleaver used to stuff her money inside a sock and hide it. She lived during the Depression where banks failed and people lost their money. I was always fascinated with her stocking stuffer saving method.

Guess I’m being nostalgic about this Stocking Stuffer Money Gift.

Items you will need:

Socks
Cash
Ribbon
Scissors

HOW TO CREATE A STOCKING STUFFER MONEY GIFT:

First, turn one sock inside out. Lay the right side sock on top. Place the cash at the toe end of the sock. Start rolling the sock from the toe end with the inside out sock being on the outside.

Bubble Calendar Gift Idea

Queen Darlene - December 1, 2015 - Birthday, Christmas, Graduation, Kids, Retirement

Do you know someone who loves to pop bubble wrap? I have a unique gift that the bubble pop lover will enjoy every day because it doubles as a calendar.

The Bubble Calendar is a 365 day poster-sized wall calendar with a bubble to pop every day of the year! It includes colored dots to mark birthdays, holidays and special occasions.

When we received items in the mail wrapped in bubble wrap, my kids would immediately place it on the floor and start jumping on it to hear all of the popping noise. Sometimes they would just sit and race each other to see how many they could quickly pop!

Well… I have grown up friends who do the exact same thing.

Young or as I like to say… “slightly seasoned folks”…will love the Bubble Calendar. As the year pops by, you can still feel like a kid every day!

The Bubble Calendar is a fun gift to start off the New Year. It can also be given as a countdown to a special event like graduation or retirement.

We’re all mature until somebody brings out the bubble wrap. – Unknown

Gift of Education: 529 College Savings Plan

Princess Diana - November 24, 2015 - Baby Shower, Birthday, Christmas, Graduation, Kids, Money

As parents, we want to provide for our children. We give them food, clothing, shelter and affection. These are things they need now and today , but what about their needs down the road?

Parents also want to be able to provide for their children’s future, which is what my husband and I did when we opened up an Oklahoma 529 College Savings Plan for our son.

By saving and investing money to help pay for college or trade school, we’re giving our son the gift of education – a gift with lifetime benefits.

I must say, I felt an immense sense of pride after opening our son’s college savings plan because I knew it was one of the most important decisions I could make on his behalf.

The tax advantages that come with a 529 plan makes it a much smarter move than just opening up a regular savings account. For starters, contributions to our son’s Oklahoma 529 College Savings Plan can be deducted from our Oklahoma taxable income up to a maximum of $20,000 per year ($10,000 for individual tax payers).

In addition, the earnings portion of any distributions used to pay for qualified higher education expenses will be free from federal and Oklahoma income tax. That’s huge! It’s also important to know that what is considered “qualified” expenses goes beyond books, tuition and fees. For example, certain costs associated with room and board can be paid for with money from a 529 plan.