Posts Tagged: "memories"

Grandparents & Grandchildren Photo Session

Princess Diana - April 3, 2019 - Birthday, Christmas, Father's Day, Mother's Day

There’s nothing like going to visit Mimi and Papi!

When I tell my kids I’m taking them to their grandparents house, they whoop and jump around as if I’ve just told them I’m taking them to Disney World.

Grandchildren have a special bond with grandparents that is unique from the parent/child relationship.

My two young boys are lucky to be growing up with their Mimi and Papi living only two miles away. Since the day each of my sons were born, their grandparents have been a huge part of their lives.

They are there for the big moments–holidays, birthday parties, and soccer games. As well as the small moments–learning a new game, trying a new food, or kissing a boo boo to make it feel better.

I know one day my sons will look back on their childhood and realize how much their grandparents influenced the men they became.

Capturing Precious Memories of Grandparents With Grandchildren

As uncomfortable as it is to say… grandparents won’t be around forever. Before time slips away from us, I wanted to capture this moment in their lives so my husband and I gave his parents the gift of a Grandparents & Grandchildren Photo Session.

Mimi, Papi, and my two sons had a photo shoot just for them!

Look at these precious moments so artfully captured! We will treasure these keepsakes forever.

Conversations With My Mother | Keepsake Journal

Queen Darlene - May 4, 2018 - Birthday, Mother's Day

Conversations with My Mother is a keepsake journal for collecting a lifetime of your mother’s stories.

Interview your mother with engaging questions that will encourage her to provide facts about specific aspects of her life and relate rich details about her experiences.

This beautiful journal has places to record dates, write about your mother’s unique life, and attach photos and keepsakes.

You’ll learn so many things you never even knew about your mother.

Not Your Average Journal

Conversations with My Mother prompts all kinds of questions, some I would never have thought to ask.

Couple’s Photo Shoot | One-Size-Fits-All Gift

Queen Darlene - December 21, 2017 - Anniversary, Birthday, Christmas, Valentine's Day

Most of my friends and I have adult children. The question each year is “What do we give them for Christmas?”

It was so much easier to pick out Christmas gifts when they were small, but as adults it’s difficult to surprise them.

My friend shared her “stroke of genius” idea and came up with a Couple’s Photo Shoot for her grown adult children’s Christmas gift.

We have lots of pictures of our children but not professional grown-up photos of our kids and their spouses other than the wedding photos taken years before.

Even her adult granddaughter and boyfriend will receive a photo session. They will be so surprised!

Moto Photo packages for couples are reasonably priced starting at $55 for a one pose package.

The package consists of an 8×10, two 5×7 and 8 wallets. Gift certificates are also available to give any dollar amount you would like.

JCPenney Portraits and Portrait Innovations are also offering holiday specials.

Framed Sentimental Keepsakes

Queen Darlene - December 8, 2016 - Birthday, Christmas, Father's Day, Mother's Day

Ever wonder what to do with keepsakes?

My mother was extremely creative. She was also very sentimental and rarely threw anything away. One of my favorite keepsakes she framed were my grandfather’s personal items like his old straight blade razor, shaving brush, hair clippers and coin purse.

Yes, coin purse. He didn’t like having loose change in the pockets of his overalls.

I have fond memories hearing the “ding ding” of the ice cream truck coming down the street. When I asked him for money, he would pull out his coin purse while my brothers chased the ice cream man to stop. We were a great team to pull that feat off no matter where we were in the neighborhood.

My grandfather always had the biggest smile after seeing the three of us walk up to his front porch with our favorite ice cream in hand.

When loved ones pass away, it’s nice to have something of theirs to help keep the memories alive.

Rock of Comfort | Condolence Gift

Queen Darlene - February 18, 2016 - Condolence

We feel loved when we are comforted.

I received a coin purse as a condolence gift with a note that said, “To carry your mother’s memories.”

That’s been almost four years ago and I still feel the comfort of my mother’s memories when I open my coin purse.

When my co-worker’s mother passed away, I wanted him to hold something that would give him the same comfort I felt with my coin purse.

There was the challenge of what to give a guy. Then I remembered another gift I received that I carry in my coin purse. Continue Reading

Wind Chimes | Sympathy & Condolence Gift

Queen Darlene - October 1, 2015 - Condolence

When someone you love passes away, it’s like a piece of your heart has been taken. We’ve all experienced it, and appreciate those who want to ease our pain.

Sympathy cards are usually the number one item sent. Thank goodness for Hallmark and other companies that make cards that eloquently express how we feel.

But for those times when you want to do more than send cards or flowers, what can you do?

My mother’s cousin passed away not too long ago. Bob was our favorite cousin hands down or should I say hands up because he was one of the few who knew sign language and could converse with my mother.

Bob, his wife, Ann and their four children, Larry, Beverly, Denise and Mark were intertwined with our family all our lives. We have many wonderful memories and my brothers and I wanted to do more than get a sympathy card. Continue Reading

Picture Frames | The Keeper of Memories

Queen Darlene - May 28, 2015 - $20 or Less, Birthday, Christmas, Family, Housewarming

Picture frames are wonderful gifts for all occasions. They keep memories close to our hearts by celebrating weddings, birthdays, friendships, vacations, children, couples, and families.

There are five of us girls who have been BFFs for close to 40 years. We still enjoy celebrating each other’s birthdays when we are together.

This year we decided to give three yellow (her favorite color) picture frames to Linda. We brainstormed what pictures to place in the frames.

1) Charlie, her faithful companion.

2) A picture of a swimming dolphin from one of her vacations.

3) Of course, a picture of us five girls together. Continue Reading

Give the Life-Changing Gift of a Summer Camp Experience

Princess Diana - March 31, 2015 - Birthday, Christmas, Experiences, Kids

Every kid who goes to summer camp always comes back with stories to tell.

At summer camp you do things you never get to do at home or at school, and it feels like one big slumber party at night! Everyone makes new friends and bonds from doing all sorts of fun activities together.

I treasure my summer camp memories of sitting around the campfire making s’mores, dressing head to toe in black to play Capture the Flag in complete darkness, and exploring the woods to see what I might discover whether it was a cave or a secret wigwam!

Going to summer camp is a life-changing experience that creates life-long memories.

I went to the traditional summer camp that provides first-hand encounters with nature but there are all sorts of summer camps that tailor to specific interests. There are sports camps, drama camps, leadership camps, band camps, church camps, academic camps, arts camps, and the list goes on!

What they all have in common is how they shape the characters and boost the self-esteem of children by exposing them to experiential education that allows them to learn by doing.

Grandparents Day for a Child Without One

Queen Darlene - March 12, 2015 - $20 or Less, Catch All, Experiences, Kids

My friend, Jody, told me her son, Austin, was crying because he no longer had any living grandparents to take to Grandparents Day at school. He lost his grandfather earlier in the year.

grandparent's-day-gift-idea-sunburst-gifts

“Grandmother” & “Grandson”

I have known Austin since the day he was born and could not stand it that he was heartbroken. I told Jody to have him call me. I would go as his grandparent. When Austin called, I asked him, “Do you want a young grandmother or an old one?”

In my mid-forties at the time, I prepared to be a young grandmother but as luck would have it, he asked for “old!”

I told him, “Old is what you want, old is what you will get!” Continue Reading

List of Things I Love About You | Anniversary Gift

Queen Darlene - February 27, 2015 - $20 or Less, Anniversary, Valentine's Day

My dearest friend, Janiece, celebrated her 43rd wedding anniversary by coming up with a list of 43 things she loved about her husband, Bryan. He’s a sentimental guy so this was a perfect anniversary gift.

He even wrote about it on Facebook and said, “Cards sometimes don’t convey what you want to say but Janiece sent this to me this morning. Means much more than any card she could have gotten.”

Here is what Janiece wrote to Bryan.

43 things about our life together that make me happy that I’ve been married to you for 43 years:

Bryan & Janiece

1. How you asked me on our first date to double date with your mom
2. When you asked me to prom
3. How awesome you were when you found out you were going to be a daddy
4. How hard you worked to make a living for the three of us
5. That you loved my parents
6. The homes you’ve built for us….strong and steady just like you
7. The home you built for my parents….they loved that house so much
8. That you never complain about my cookin’
9. The commitment to family vacations to hold us together
10. Supporting my business career. If not for you I would not have even tried.
11. I love your hair… don’t ever go bald again
12. Your strong shoulders and gentle hands and your good kisses
13. I even love that you do your own laundry
14. And you let me have my own bathroom Continue Reading