Posts Tagged: "thank you"

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

Fill in the Blank Thank You Notes

Princess Diana - November 1, 2018 - Thank You

If children can write, they should write handwritten thank you notes.

Gift givers like to know their gift was received and appreciated. By receiving a handwritten thank you card, they can be happy knowing it was!

A parent could write a thank you note on a child’s behalf, but it doesn’t have the same impact. Plus, parents miss out on teaching their child important life lessons in proper etiquette and in expressing gratitude and thankfulness.

My son, Aiden, recently celebrated his 6th birthday–Power Rangers style! He received all kinds of wonderful presents from family and friends.

Thank You Notes for Kids

I’ve had my son help with his thank you cards since the age of 3. Now that he is in kindergarten and can write words pretty well, I had him use Fill in the Blank Thank You Notes.

He isn’t use to writing entire sentences yet, so fill in the blanks thank you cards are perfect for his grade level and ability.

Samoas and S’mores Girl Scout Cookies | Teacher Gift

Princess Diana - March 8, 2018 - $20 or Less, Food & Drinks, Teacher Gifts, Thank You

I love Girl Scouts cookie season! It’s a chance to buy delicious cookies while helping girls raise money for their troop.

My favorite thing to hear is when a Girl Scout tells me her troop is raising money so they can go to camp.

That always warms my heart because of the incredible summer camp memories I have from my childhood.

Tasty Teacher Appreciation Gift

During cookie season, I like to buy Samoas and S’mores Girl Scout cookies to give as teacher appreciation gifts.

Thanks A Million

Princess Diana - September 5, 2017 - Thank You

What can you give someone who goes above and beyond to show your deep appreciation?

My oldest son started Pre-K this year, so I’ve started paying a lot more attention to what is going on in our educational system.

I recently watched a video of the Oklahoma City Public Schools superintendent, Aurora Lora, giving her State of the Schools speech to the Greater Oklahoma City Chamber of Commerce.

I was amazed. Despite a bare bones budget, a teacher shortage, and numerous other barriers she faces on a day to day basis, she discussed the many improvements she and her staff have made to provide a better educational experience to students.

She faces an uphill battle, yet she gives it her all because she knows our children deserve better. And I’m so grateful to her.

Novelty Million Dollar Bill

I wrote Aurora a thank you card expressing my gratitude for her leadership and telling her how lucky we are to have her. I ended with “Thanks a million!”

Inside the thank you card, I inserted a million dollar bill. Of course it’s fake, but it looks very real!

Gratitude Journal | Record Life’s Blessings

Princess Diana - August 25, 2017 - $20 or Less, Birthday, Christmas, Gifts for Me, Graduation, Thank You

They say an attitude of gratitude can change your life. Now research backs that up.

Positive psychology research has found a link between gratitude and greater happiness.

According to Harvard Health Publications, “Gratitude helps people feel more positive emotions, relish good experiences, improve their health, deal with adversity, and build strong relationships.”

Couldn’t we all benefit from more of those things?

Although our lives may not be perfect, we all have blessings we can count. Now, take it one step further because writing down our blessings can increase our level of happiness!

Gratitude Journal

Gratitude Journals make it easy for people to reflect upon and record what they are thankful for every day.

They help people focus on what they have instead of what they don’t have, which leads to a daily attitude of gratitude.
Continue Reading

Business Etiquette Book for Graduates

Princess Diana - April 25, 2017 - $20 or Less, Graduation

Helping someone to feel confident and knowledgeable so they can succeed. That is a priceless gift.

Many young adults graduate high school and college clueless about how to conduct themselves in the workplace or how to present themselves in business situations.

Not knowing business etiquette and the proper ways to behave can have real negative effects. It could result in offending someone or missing out on an internship or job opportunity.

Since knowledge is power, the right book can provide graduates with the information they need to succeed in the adult world and the professional world.

Setting a Graduate Up for Success

For these reasons, books on business etiquette or business manners make thoughtful graduation gifts.

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

Graduation Gift for Your Parents

Queen Darlene - May 5, 2016 - $20 or Less, Graduation, Teacher Gifts, Thank You

Graduation is all about the graduate. The celebrations, gifts and parties. Yet, we all know the graduate didn’t arrive at graduation without lots of support.

graduate-appreciation-letter-for-parents-thoughtful-gifit-idea

Click to enlarge

Graduates, this post is for you.

You will receive accolades, compliments, praise, and many gifts. But have you thought about gifts for the people who helped you along the way?

This is the time to “pay back” those who have seen you through to your graduation such as your parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, siblings and teachers.

Want to know what is the best graduation gift that is so simple and will forever be a keepsake? A heartfelt letter of appreciation.

To present your handwritten letter of appreciation as a gift, place it in a picture frame where it can easily be seen. Continue Reading

Kids Color-In Thank You Cards

Princess Diana - December 29, 2015 - Thank You

Even though toddlers can’t write thank you cards for their gifts, they do have the ability to color.

Color-in thank you cards allow young children to use their artistic abilities to show their appreciation using markers, crayons, colored pencils or paint.

Gift givers will enjoy opening their thank you card and seeing your child’s artwork on the cover. If it’s pretty, it will bring a smile to their face. It if it’s messy, well they’ll get a good chuckle from it!

My three-year old son used markers to color his thank you cards. Although he won’t be earning any awards for coloring in between the lines any time soon, each card is his own original work of art which made them special. And I think much better than store-bought cards!

A Heartfelt Thank You Letter to My 5th Grade Mentor

Princess Diana - June 23, 2015 - $20 or Less, Catch All, Teacher Gifts

Completely by chance, I found out a friend from high school worked with my 5th grade mentor, Mr. Brownlee.

I haven’t seen or talked to Mr. Brownlee in more than 20 years, but I’ve thought about him many times since then. Through him, I learned an important life lesson that always stuck with me.

Let me first explain how I got to know Mr. Brownlee. A few students from each of the 5th grade classes at my elementary were selected to be a part of a leadership group that everyone simply called “Mr. Brownlee’s Group.”

Each month, we met Mr. Brownlee in our school library to talk about a wide variety of different topics. He always brought a special guest so we could learn from people from all walks of life.