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Queen Darlene

Foreign Currency for Travel Gifts

Queen Darlene - May 16, 2018 - Birthday, Business, Money, Retirement, Wedding

My friend, Linda, loves to travel. Her goal is to travel to all seven continents before she retires.

Linda was leaving on her birthday this year to Australia. I was racking my brain on what special gift I could give when it hit me–Australian money!

I contacted our close girlfriends, who are more like sisters, and they wanted to participate in this gift giving idea too.

Foreign Currency for International Travel

Foreign money for a person’s vacation is the ideal gift for someone leaving on an international trip.

A person can never have too much money for vacation!

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.

Birthday Cake Not Birthday Candles

Queen Darlene - April 18, 2018 - Anniversary, Birthday, Father's Day, Going Away, Housewarming, Mother's Day, Retirement

My girlfriends and I love to celebrate just about everything, and we especially make an effort to be together for our birthdays.

Elise brought a box of four individually packaged cakes made from the Original YaHoo Baking Co. Of course, you can make your own or purchase from a local bakery.

Janiece had fun trying to choose either the Bourbon Pecan, Chocolate Espresso, Rum Crunch or Chocolate Chip Amaretto Liquor Cakes.

They were delicious and the perfect size. Besides, who needs the calories of a regular size cake?

Prior to Elise lighting the four candles, she said:

“This is a birthday cake but not birthday candles.”

Then she said:

Talking Hamster Repeats What You Say

Queen Darlene - April 5, 2018 - $20 or Less, Birthday, Christmas, Kids

A talking hamster that repeats everything you say? Yes! I couldn’t believe how amazing this little soft plush toy worked!

I was searching for a birthday gift for Princess Diana’s two-year old son Axl. He has a five-year old brother, Aiden, who shares his toys so my mission was to find something totally new and different.

Talking Hamster Mimics Any Language

I found it! This hamster’s talk back function allows it to mimic everything you say in ANY language no matter if you talk, sing, laugh, grunt, babble, or scream.

When I say everything, I mean everything!

The electronic hamster will even repeat a cat’s meow, a dog’s bark or a squeak of a chair. Continue Reading

I’ve Loved You Since Forever

Queen Darlene - March 14, 2018 - $20 or Less, Baby Shower, Birthday, Kids

I enjoy giving children’s books for gifts. So I’m always on the look out for special books that touch my heart and I’ve found a favorite!

I’ve Loved You Since Forever is a beautiful picture book inspired by New York Times bestselling author and NBC TODAY show co-anchor Hoda Kotb’s heartwarming adoption of her baby girl, Haley Joy.

Hoda and her celebrity friends bring the book to life in this adorable video she produced.

“I’ve Loved You Since Forever”

Before birds flew over rainbows
And monkeys swung on trees
There was you, and there was me

Before the sun set in the sky
And honey came from bees
There was you, and there was me

Before the moon lit up the night
Elephants wandered free
There was you, and there was me

Before otters swam together
And rivers reached the sea
There was you, and there was me

Waiting for the day our paths would cross
And you and I turned into we
Oh, I’ve loved you since forever
And forever’s how long you’ll be loved by me Continue Reading

The Pioneer Woman Cookbooks

Queen Darlene - February 27, 2018 - Birthday, Christmas, Gifts for Me, Mother's Day

The Pioneer Woman Cooks – Come and Get It! is Ree Drummond’s newest cookbook. This cookbook touts simple, scrumptious recipes for crazy busy lives.

It’s the perfect gift for anyone who loves to cook and is a fan of The Pioneer Woman.

Food blogger and cookbook author Ree Drummond, aka as “The Pioneer Woman,” is a sassy former city slicker who has moved to a ranch in Oklahoma to live with her rancher husband, their children and a menagerie of animals.

Drummond also has a TV series on the Food Network and invites viewers into her life (and kitchen), sharing her brand of home cooking, from suppers that are thrown together in a hurry to preparing elaborate celebrations.

It’s amazing to me how you can Google recipes for any cuisine from your phone while walking down the aisle of a grocery store. So convenient!

But… if you know someone who still enjoys the feel of a cookbook, The Pioneer Woman Cooks – Come and Get It! is a treasure of delicious recipes! And her down-to-earth way of writing will make anyone laugh.

I just so happened to know that someone. My son’s girlfriend, Danielle, beamed from head to toe when she opened the cookbook gift signed by her idol.

Pioneer Woman’s Simple, Scrumptious, Doable Recipes

Danielle, her mother, and sister are huge fans of Ree Drummond and traveled to Pawhuska, Oklahoma to visit the Pioneer Woman’s Mercantile Store. They were mesmerized by the general store, exceptional deli, and amazing desserts in the bakery! Continue Reading

Dogs Selfie Throw Blanket

Queen Darlene - February 12, 2018 - $20 or Less, Birthday, Christmas, Get Well, Kids, Mother's Day, Teacher Gifts, Valentine's Day

Is your Valentine a dog lover? Do they love to snuggle under a blanket? Do I have a “yes” to both questions?

Great! I have a gift that’s all smiles–a Dogs Selfie Fleece Throw Blanket.

You can even get a Cats Selfie throw blanket for the cat lovers you know.

They have Horses Selfie and Ocean Animals Dolphin Shark Turtle Whale Selfie throw blankets too.

That should just about cover (no pun intended) everybody’s favorite animal.

Everyone is into selfies–why not animals?!

Every time I look at these dogs smiling at me, I just can’t help but smile back!

Valentine’s Day Musical Stuffed Animals

Queen Darlene - January 30, 2018 - Baby Shower, Birthday, Christmas, Kids, Valentine's Day

When we think of Valentine’s Day, we immediately think of romantic relationships. A close second are Valentine gifts for kids!

Cute plush stuffed animals are loved by everyone especially if they are interactive and musical.

I needed some birthday cards and stopped at a Hallmark store. As I walked in, I instantly was greeted by the Little Lionheart and Sweet Swingin’ Elephant musical stuffed animals.

My heart melted. What a wonderful way to celebrate Valentine’s Day with a loveable plush toy animal that sings and dances.

I had to have them even though I do not have grandchildren…yet. In my defense, I do know a lot of little ones. Continue Reading

Rubber Band Powered Magic Flying Butterflies

Queen Darlene - January 17, 2018 - $20 or Less, Anniversary, Birthday, Christmas, Congratulations, Mother's Day, Teacher Gifts, Thank You

Looking for a gift idea that will delight and surprise? The rubber band powered magic flying butterflies will do just that!

It’s easy peasy to wind up the rubber band on the butterfly and gently place it in a greeting card or book. When it is opened, out flies a butterfly!

A Smile Will Magically Appear

It’s magical because a guaranteed smile will appear.

Funky, Wacky Inspirational Calendar for Women

Queen Darlene - January 5, 2018 - $20 or Less, Birthday, Christmas, Teacher Gifts

Every year for Christmas, my friend, Carol, gives me a Suzy Toronto’s inspirational wall calendar 12’x 12′. It has become my favorite annual gift!

Suzy Toronto’s clever-creative-genius words of inspiration for women opens your thoughts to courage, strength, faith, conviction, pride, imagination, ideas, potential, vision, determination, focus… and I could go on and on.

One of my favorite quotes from the 2018 calendar is “Put on some lipstick before almost anything else – as if this would magically give me the strength and will power to tackle any obstacle in my path!”

Oh…this is sooo me!

Each month you read Suzy’s fun, delightful, healthy dose of inspiring words in story form to give the feeling of an “I can attitude” and a smile in your heart! Continue Reading