Category "Anniversary"

Let Them Drive a Clean & Shiny Car | Car Wash Gift Card

Princess Diana - February 2, 2016 - Anniversary, Birthday, Business, Christmas, Father's Day, Gifts for Him, Mother's Day, Teacher Gifts, Thank You, Valentine's Day

No one wants to own that filthy car in the parking lot that just begs people to draw “Wash Me” on it. Whether someone’s a car enthusiast or not, we all like to drive a clean and shiny car.

For me, I’m good about keeping the outside of my car clean during the summer when I don’t mind washing it in my driveway or at the self-service car wash.

But in the winter, fuhgeddaboudit. It’s too cold for me to care!

Then there’s my husband, who practically washes his car once every week. If he goes longer than two weeks, it really starts to bug him.

Even though we don’t have the exact same cleanliness standards when it comes to our cars, my husband and I would both enjoy receiving the same gift – a gift card to use for things like car washes, auto detailing and car waxes. (Psst… don’t tell my husband but he’s getting one for Valentine’s Day!)

It’s the perfect gift for him and the perfect gift for her!

Give Aromatherapy With Essential Oils Diffuser

Princess Diana - January 26, 2016 - Anniversary, Birthday, Christmas, Condolence, Get Well, Host, Housewarming, Mother's Day, Retirement, Teacher Gifts, Valentine's Day, Wedding

Use the power of aromatherapy to create an atmosphere of romance or relaxation in your home.

You can use candles or incense, but essential oils are much more effective and offer health benefits.

An Essential Oils Diffuser disperses essential oils into the air as a fine mist and transforms your living environment into a spa-like experience.

Bonus! They also double as a humidifier.

To add mood lighting, you can purchase an essential oils diffuser that rotates through different colors or that stay on the color of your choice.

Of the nearly 100 different types of essential oils, certain ones are known to set the mood for romance or relaxation or both! Perfect for Valentine’s Day!

Essential Oils for Romance

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.”

A Check for One Million Kisses

Princess Diana - January 19, 2016 - $20 or Less, Anniversary, Birthday, Valentine's Day

When you’re young and don’t have much money, you come up with really creative ways to express your love. My-then-boyfriend-now-husband came up with this gift idea for my 23rd birthday.

When I opened my birthday card from him, I was surprised to find a check. That’s weird, I thought.

For a split second I was totally confused until I read the check. It was made out to me for the amount of One Million Kisses or $XOXO.

Now, that’s a surefire way to melt a girl’s heart! I loved him so much for telling me “I Love You” in such a romantic way.

Just What the Dr. Ordered – Money!

Queen Darlene - November 5, 2015 - Anniversary, Birthday, Christmas, Graduation, Kids, Money

I love to give money in unexpected gift containers and a prescription bottle certainly makes for a surprise dose. This is one of the easiest gifts to make.

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click to enlarge

HOW TO CREATE A MONEY PRESCRIPTION BOTTLE:

Prescription bottle
Large mailing label or paper and clear packing tape
Cash – bills or quarters

Just for the asking, my pharmacy provided me with a new prescription bottle free of charge.

To give you a couple of ideas, I created two different labels. One on a sticky mailing label and one on plain typing paper.

I found a large mailing label fits nicely on the large prescription bottle. For the smaller prescription bottle, I cut plain paper to fit and used clear packing tape to adhere it to the bottle. Continue Reading

Open When… Envelopes

Princess Diana - October 6, 2015 - Anniversary, Birthday, Christmas, Father's Day, Gifts for Him, Money, Mother's Day, Valentine's Day, Wedding

There’s a reason “___ of the Month” clubs are so popular. People love opening surprise gifts on a regular basis!

Most gifts you can open only once. But not Open When… Envelopes.

Gift recipients will receive multiple envelopes containing gifts they’ll be able to open over a period of months!

For this gift idea, you simply need envelopes, cash and/or gift cards, and a printer. On each envelope, print a different “Open When…” scenario on the front. Here are some examples.

OPEN WHEN
… you need retail therapy.
… you don’t feel like cooking.
… you want to see a movie.
… you need pampering.
… you need gas.
… you’re craving ___. (Ex. Thai food, ice cream, fried chicken, etc.)
… you need a haircut.
… you run out of booze.
… you’re hungry.
… you’re thirsty.

Scented Candles Containing Hidden Jewelry

Queen Darlene - August 27, 2015 - Anniversary, Birthday, Business, Christmas, Housewarming, Mother's Day, Retirement, Teacher Gifts, Valentine's Day

For my sister-in-law Nancy’s 55th birthday, I wanted to surprise her with a gift that would give her a thrill. Jewelry is always fun to receive, but how about one hidden in a candle that you have to burn to find?

I remember as a kid the excitement of finding the prize inside a Cracker Jack box!

During the 1950s & 60s “real” prizes were hidden inside Cracker Jacks instead of paper stickers. I discovered a jeweled ring as one of my hidden treasures and pretended it was my wedding ring!

I remember my kids dumping entire cereal boxes on the kitchen table in order to find the prizes inside. There’s just something exhilarating about finding hidden treasures. Continue Reading

Frame the Perfect Quote for the Occasion

Princess Diana - August 25, 2015 - $20 or Less, Anniversary, Baby Shower, Birthday, Business, Congratulations, Father's Day, Get Well, Going Away, Graduation, Host, Housewarming, Kids, Mother's Day, Retirement, Teacher Gifts, Thank You, Valentine's Day, Wedding

When someone else’s words say it all or say it better than you ever could, you’ve found the perfect quote to use for this gift idea.

frame-perfect-quote-occasion-thoughtful-gift

This powerful quote says so much about my mentor and her accomplishment.

When my mentor, Valerie, achieved a major milestone in her business by officially franchising it, I wanted to give her a thoughtful gift to say, “Congratulations!”

I was so impressed by her vision and her tenacity to see her vision through until it became reality. And she did it despite the naysayers. She inspires me with her actions.

I didn’t know quite what to give her as a gift until I came across this quote, “She believed she could, so she did.”

It summarized her accomplishment so well – the perfect quote!

Money Chain | Same as Cash

Queen Darlene - August 19, 2015 - Anniversary, Birthday, Christmas, Graduation, Kids, Money

Almost everyone likes to receive money as a gift. It comes in the right color and size every time. How to give money in a unique way is the challenge.

I’ve used the Money Chain idea several times and it never fails to be entertaining. One, the visual is cool – it’s a chain. Two, it’s fun to count each link. Three, it’s an interactive gift.

Everyone who receives it can’t wait to take the chain apart and stack all the money in one hand.

I like to use dollar bills to make a very long chain. Within the chain, you can insert $5, $10 or any denomination. The amount you give is up to you.

I’ve used 50 one dollar bills chained together for a 50th wedding anniversary gift and wrote in the card “still chained together!” Continue Reading

Lovebirds, A Pair of Lovers | Wedding Gift Idea

Queen Darlene - July 30, 2015 - Anniversary, Valentine's Day, Wedding

My high school friend Becky found true love and will soon get married. Only this time, her grandchildren are going to be there. So what do you get a couple who has lived a life time already and has every thing?

I spotted a picture of lovebirds when shopping in a craft store. Immediately, Becky and her soon-to-be husband came to mind. Her stories of him and how much they love each other sounded just like a couple of lovebirds.

Bill works as a truck driver and every time he returns home, he always brings one, two, three or more flower bouquets for her. He has brought her flowers every week for three years!

Now, he knows what romance is all about. Sounds like a keeper to me! No wonder she is head-over-heels crazy in love.

I purchased the picture of love birds and for that “thoughtful twist” explained the special meaning behind why I chose it. After researching the definition of lovebird and finding some interesting facts, I typed the following information, and taped it to the back of the picture. Continue Reading