Category "Birthday"

Can You Hear Me Now? | Cash Gift

Queen Darlene - December 3, 2015 - Birthday, Christmas, Money

I told my brother, Harvey, I started researching for a new cell phone.

I wanted a larger screen as I’m always looking for my reading glasses. It’s a pain when your body parts start to fail you!

I was in no hurry to spend money purchasing a new phone when my four-year old phone still worked, and my brother knew it.

Harvey is my biggest fan and never fails to read my Sunburst Gifts articles every week. He told me he had to come up with a creative gift for the gift giving Queen! Well… he did an amazing job! Continue Reading

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.

Handwritten WWII Letter Screen Transferred on T-Shirts

Queen Darlene - November 19, 2015 - $20 or Less, Birthday, Christmas, Military/Veterans

My husband found a handwritten letter from his dad dated May 5, 1943 from when he served in the Army during WWII . The letter was written to his parents and sister describing his day and how he missed his wife, Betty.

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An old handwritten letter my husband’s father wrote by having parts of the letter screen printed on t-shirts.

Randy’s father had beautiful handwriting, and I thought the letter should be shared with his brother, Kyle, and sister, Lesa. But how? Copies seemed so blase’. Then the idea of having the handwritten WWII letter transferred onto t-shirts came to mind.

I found a local t-shirt screen printing business and selected different sections from the letter to create three different shirts. Each shirt also featured the postmark showing the date of the letter and their dad’s signature, Sgt. Eugene Drew. Continue Reading

Establishing Healthy Eating Habits – Kids Cooking Gift Set

Princess Diana - November 17, 2015 - Birthday, Christmas, Kids

When it comes to being healthy, it really boils down to your habits. What are your habits when it comes to what you eat, your portion sizes, and your amount of physical activity?

Habits can be formed at a very early age. Kids are like sponges and putty like that.

Establishing Healthy Eating Habits - Kids Cooking Gift Set

Make cooking and healthy eating fun by getting a child his or her own chef’s hat and jacket. Include with it toy fruits and vegetables he or she can practice slicing with a wooden knife.

As parents and caregivers, we have an opportunity to help shape children’s habits when it comes to healthy eating. It begins with getting them in the kitchen to help with the cooking and introducing them to the wide variety of delicious fruits and veggies that exist.

Nothing gets children more interested in joining their parents in the kitchen than having their own chef’s hat and apron or jacket. When you’re dressed the part, you feel like the real deal!

No Bake Cookie Dough Inside Cookie Jar

Queen Darlene - November 12, 2015 - Birthday, Christmas, Food & Drinks, Going Away, Host, Housewarming, Money

Both of my grandmothers used their cookie jars regularly to store homemade cookies. Here’s an idea! Use a cookie jar not only for cookies but to surprise someone with some “dough!”

The “No Bake Cookie Dough” Cookie Jar is a yummy gift!

Just Google “cookie jars” and oh my… the selection is endless that you may have difficulty in choosing which one to give.

There are cookies jars that look like cupcakes, flowers, animals, houses, cartoon characters, superheroes, TV and even movie characters.

Also available are decorative, colorful and abstract design cookie jars. It’s amazing! My favorite are collectible or vintage cookie jars. I still have my grandmother’s jars on display in my kitchen.
Continue Reading

Welcome Home! | Yard Decorations

Princess Diana - November 10, 2015 - Birthday, Catch All, Congratulations, Military/Veterans

When my co-worker’s husband, Mark, returned home from deployment in the Middle East, she breathed such a sigh of relief. Sandra and her son, Kyle, had been praying for his safe return every night. As an Air Force pilot, Mark encountered some intense moments.

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Say “Welcome Home!” in a visual way with yard decorations.

To express their overwhelming joy to see him home, Sandra and Kyle welcomed back Mark in patriotic style!

They surprised him by decorating their front yard with red, white and blue balloons and a custom yard sign that said, “Welcome Home Mark.”

Several of their neighbors also joined in by displaying their American flag in honor of his return.

Sometimes words aren’t enough to express how we feel. Sandra and Kyle used yard decorations to say “Welcome Home!” in a very VISUAL way that made a big impression on Mark and the entire neighborhood.

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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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

Money Talks, Chocolates Sing! Perfect Women’s Gift

Queen Darlene - November 4, 2015 - Birthday, Christmas, Graduation, Kids, Money, Mother's Day, Valentine's Day

Want to give the perfect women’s gift? You can’t go wrong with chocolates and money!

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I love this saying – Money Talks, Chocolate Sings!

Give the special woman in your life what she loves – mouth-watering chocolates and a little extra money.

What you will need for this money gift idea:

Box of chocolates
Ziploc bag
Ribbon or bow
Money

Beer Money Koozie Gift

Princess Diana - October 30, 2015 - Birthday, Christmas, Congratulations, Father's Day, Gifts for Him, Money

Sometimes, the best way to celebrate is to buy someone a drink… or two or three.

If you can’t be there in person to do it, the second best thing is to give them a Beer Money Koozie Gift.

Pick out a koozie (or coozy) for the lucky gift recipient, and place some cash inside. Then write a note with one of the following messages or one of your choosing.

Thought you could use some beer money!
Let me buy you some drinks for your 21st birthday!
A round of drinks on me!
Beer is happiness. This will buy you a lot of happiness!
Use this money to make happy hour last well into the night!