Category "Teacher Gifts"

Pumpkin Spice Gift Basket

Princess Diana - October 16, 2019 - Birthday, Business, Family, Food & Drinks, Gift Baskets, Housewarming, Teacher Gifts

For some people, this is their favorite season of the year. They go crazy for it!

I’m not talking about fall y’all. Or about winter, spring or summer.

I’m talking about Pumpkin Spice season! When pumpkin spice everything is available for a limited-time-only.

I myself go crazy over Pumpkin Spice cereal.

I once made a Pumpkin Spice Gift Basket for a client. This particular client had a tradition of hand-delivering appreciation gifts to their most important clients around Thanksgiving.

The Pumpkin Spice Gift Basket came with a decorative tag that read…

“We’re as crazy about you as we are pumpkin spice!”

Macarons Gift Boxes & Bouquets

Princess Diana - March 20, 2019 - Birthday, Business, Food & Drinks, Host, Mother's Day, Teacher Gifts, Thank You, Valentine's Day

Is it macarons or macaroons?

I found out recently there IS a difference between the two besides the spelling. A macaroon is coconut based.

For this gift idea, I’m referring to macarons, which are meringue based and come in a wide range of colors and flavors.

There are SO many colors and flavors to choose from which makes it fun to give someone a variety!

If you’ve never had a macaron, it’s a delicate cookie with two thin crusts and a filling made of either ganache, buttercream or fruit jam.

It’s also full of contrasts. A macaron packs huge flavor into a tiny baked goodie, and it’s somehow both rich and light at the same time.

They come in delicious flavors such as mint chocolate, cookies and cream, mojito, honey lavender, lemon tart, and piña colada. Is your mouth watering yet? Because I’m just scratching the surface on the different types of macaron flavors out there.

3-D Mirascope Hologram Maker

Queen Darlene - February 28, 2019 - $20 or Less, Birthday, Kids, Teacher Gifts

I’m always looking for a unique, fun gifts for kids and adults to enjoy. It’s like one-stop shopping and if it includes magic or illusion… BAM! I get excited!

The 3-D Mirascope Illusion Maker is a 2019 Toy of The Year Award Winner. It creates a holographic image from small objects placed inside, such as the plastic frog that is included.

3-D-mirascope-hologram-thoughtful-gift-idea

How Does the 3-D Mirascope Hologram Work?

The 3-D illusion maker uses special parabola mirrors to capture the light of an object and then projects it as a three-dimensional image.

The frog seems to be sitting on the top of the dome and looks like you can touch it but you can’t. It’s an illusion!

Ever heard of parabola? Me neither! They are mirrors that have a special shape and reflect light in a very unique way.

“You Are a Gem” Air Plant Gift

Princess Diana - December 12, 2018 - Anniversary, Birthday, Business, Christmas, Congratulations, Host, Mother's Day, Teacher Gifts, Thank You, Valentine's Day

We all know people who are gems because they brighten our lives like a sparkling diamond.

Have you let them know lately how much they mean to you?

This Air Plant Gift tells them “You Are a Gem” with words and a gift.

Air plants get the majority of their nutrients from the air. That means they are extremely low-maintenance and easy to keep alive! They will last for years.

Air plants are also attractive and come in interesting shapes and textures.

A Gift That Makes a Statement

For my mother’s birthday, I gave her a beautiful Amethyst Crystal Air Plant Gift. It came with a gift box and a card that reads “You Are a Gem.”

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

Alternative to Fresh Cut Flowers | Flowering Plant Basket

Princess Diana - September 12, 2018 - Anniversary, Birthday, Business, Congratulations, Mother's Day, Retirement, Teacher Gifts, Valentine's Day

I have a confession. I tell my husband NOT to buy me flowers.

Flowering plants are arranged beautifully in this moss covered basket.

You’re probably thinking, “What’s wrong with her? Does she hate chocolate and unicorns too?”

There’s nothing wrong with me. I love flowers – just not the expensive type that comes in a vase and dies a few days later.

I’ve experienced the thrill of receiving a dozen roses or a spectacular flower arrangement, and I’m good. I treasure those memories, but I don’t need to experience them again.

I tell my husband I’d rather take the money he would have spent on flowers and go shopping with it. Yes, I’ve become practical like that.

In other words, flowers? No thank you. Instead, show me the money, honey!

Let me add, I’m not alone in this. Several of the ladies in my office agree with me and have told their husband the same thing.

Changeable Felt Letter Board

Princess Diana - August 31, 2018 - Birthday, Business, Christmas, Get Well, Going Away, Graduation, Housewarming, Retirement, Teacher Gifts, Valentine's Day

Everyone has favorite quotes or sayings they absolutely love.

They could be inspiring, funny or motivational, and almost always elicit positive and powerful emotions from within us.

This one I probably say the most…

WHAT DOESN’T KILL YOU
MAKES YOU STRONGER

It reminds me to see the positive side to something I’ve experienced that was hard, negative, or hurtful.

This one has changed my behavior…

WHAT WOULD YOU DO
IF YOU WEREN’T AFRAID?

Want to know my new favorite?

Thumbprint Family Tree Retirement Gift

Queen Darlene - August 9, 2018 - Baby Shower, Business, Retirement, Teacher Gifts, Wedding

For many of us, a large portion of our days is spent at work. Research shows the average person will spend 90,000 hours at work over a lifetime.

So the people you work with do become family.

When Eldon, our organization’s CFO, decided to retire after 28 years, his work family wanted to find a special gift for him to remember us by.

Work Family Tree | Unique & Memorable Retirement Gift

I found a birch tree on Etsy that was perfect for for the addition of thumb or finger prints of each employee. This is an office gift that allows everyone to participate.

Unique Knitted Metal Jewelry

Queen Darlene - June 27, 2018 - Anniversary, Birthday, Christmas, Father's Day, Mother's Day, Teacher Gifts, Valentine's Day

My grandmother knitted throughout her lifetime. She tried to teach me, but I never really showed much interest.

Oh, how I wished I had learned because you never know when old skills can turn into new talent.

This past Mother’s Day weekend, my husband, Randy, and I attended an arts festival in our community. Over the years, we have purchased art, prints, pottery, jewelry and leather goods at this event.

Since we no longer need stuff to hang on the walls or decorate shelves, I’ve become interested in jewelry made by artists. Randy likes to look for unusual artistic designs on leather belts.

Arts festivals are wonderful places to have the opportunity to speak with artists face-to-face. To me, this makes the art more personal.

I’m always on the lookout for jewelry that is different when I spotted a booth by artist Susan Baile of Spiritus Designs.

I ooohed and awed over her necklaces, earrings, and bracelets. I asked her, “What are these made of?” Susan replied, “Metals and I knit them.”

Well… that really piqued my interest!

She went on to say she started knitting at the age of 11. When Susan retired, she wanted to do something to keep her busy. Since she loved to knit, she found a way to knit metals into jewelry.

Bombas Socks | 1 Purchased = 1 Donated

Queen Darlene - May 30, 2018 - Birthday, Business, Christmas, Father's Day, Get Well, Kids, Military/Veterans, Mother's Day, Retirement, Teacher Gifts, Thank You

For Christmas, my grandparents would give my brothers and me socks. They lived through the Great Depression and their gifts were very practical.

My friend, Linda, introduced me to her favorite socks–Bombas!

These aren’t your grandparents’ socks!

Ever heard of socks that support the midfoot? Me neither until now. Now my whole family wears it!

They feel wonderful on my flat feet because of their comfort, support, and softness.

My son loves Bombas because he always turned his socks inside out so he wouldn’t feel that annoying seam across his toes. Bombas found a way to get rid of it!

They also have anti-microbial and moisture-wicking properties to keep feet dry all day which makes them perfect for my husband’s feet.

The name Bombas is derived from the Latin word for bumblebee. Bees live in a hive and work together to make their world a better place. They’re small but their combined actions have a big impact on the world.

Socks are the #1 most requested clothing item at homeless shelters. This fact is the driving force behind Bombas–to support the homeless community and to bring awareness to this problem in the United States.

I work for an organization that provides housing to the homeless and every Christmas we collect socks for homeless shelters. So you can see why I would be intrigued not only in the comfort of the socks but also in a charitable company like Bombas with a mission of giving back to communities.

8,641,077 Pairs of Socks Donated

One pair purchased = One pair donated.