Posts Tagged: "memories"

Painting of Childhood Home Brings to Life Cherished Memories

Princess Diana - August 7, 2014 - Birthday, Christmas, Father's Day, Mother's Day

I bet you can remember in great detail your childhood home.

For me, I still remember the wallpaper design in each room. The texture of our brown couch where I spent hours reading my Nancy Drew novels. The large crack that ran across the width of my bedroom door for which I have my younger brother and a very sturdy chair to thank for creating.

Every time one of my siblings visits our hometown of Enid, Oklahoma, we always drive by our childhood home. It’s a magnet that draws us.

With one look at that two-story beige house with its wide front porch, the flood gates open to our childhood memories. We see the windows but what we’re really seeing are the many family events that took place behind those windows.

Make a Trip Unforgettable With Gift of Cologne or Perfume

Princess Diana - July 22, 2014 - Anniversary, Birthday, Christmas, Gifts for Him, Valentine's Day

httpvh://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SrOmvGp9I_Q&list=UUGXvhv6pRoNtSWyxncLioFg

When my husband and I visited Las Vegas for one of his work conferences, I spent the day entertaining myself by shopping. One of my purchases that day happened to be a bottle of cologne. My husband wore it that night and everyday for the rest of our trip.

We enjoyed many wonderful memories on that vacation because it seemed like we did it all – gambling, fine dining, all-you-can-eat-crab, clubbing, shows and a pool party.

What happened when we got back was really cool. Every time I smelled the cologne on my husband, I immediately thought of that trip to Vegas and all of the things we did.

It made me feel happy all over!

It’s no secret that research has proven that scents and smells can trigger powerful and vivid memories.

Carry Your Memories With You | Coin Purse

Queen Darlene - July 15, 2014 - $20 or Less, Condolence

Mother passed away in 2012 at the age of 84. She was a very important part of my life. We spoke daily – using email or telephone relay service since she was deaf.

Mother was instrumental in developing my creativity. Ever since I was a little girl, she would ask me to think of ideas for gifts or games to do for birthdays, anniversaries or family gatherings. (Now I’m blogging about those ideas she encouraged me to come up with. Thanks Mother!)

When she died, I felt lost and missed her terribly.

Jump Out of A Box – Surprise Mother’s Day Gift

Queen Darlene - May 6, 2014 - Birthday, Christmas, Experiences, Mother's Day

I lived in Albuquerque, New Mexico in the late 1980s for almost five years. That was the only time I lived more than a few miles from my mom, and I missed her so much. One year I wanted to surprise her for Mother’s Day by coming home to visit. I wanted to do it by jumping out of a box for Mother’s Day because being me – Queen Darlene – simply walking through the front door is just not how I do things.

My brothers, Harvey and Rodney, got a washing machine cardboard box, wrapped it and left the bottom open so I could crouch inside. My brothers told our mother and grandmother that they were bringing in the gift and that they needed to stay in the bedroom until they were called. That’s when I slipped into the box.

My brothers and I talked about how they would signal me to jump out. All the while my mom and grandmother were in hear shot but being deaf they couldn’t hear us!

Harvey brought them to the den as Rodney filmed the whole thing with his video camera. Harvey thought it would be a great idea to wrap a box of Tide detergent to give Mother the impression she was getting a washing machine. But before she began to open the small gift, my brothers started talking out loud and signing with our mother and grandmother telling them that before Mother opened her gift it would be a good idea to go out to eat first so they could miss the church crowds.

I heard my brothers and started yelling, “You better not leave me in this box while you all go out to eat!”

One Line A Day Journal | A Twitter-like Diary

Princess Diana - April 29, 2014 - Birthday, Christmas, Graduation

httpvh://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JiWcvVdHdYc&feature=youtu.be

I’ve loved scribbling about my thoughts, feelings and the highlights of my life into a personal journal every since I was a young girl. I’d write until my hands ached because it was important to me to capture every detail of whatever I was writing about so down the road I could recall the memory completely.

Many times I have laughed and cried from reading what I’ve written down. It really is a lot of fun to go back and read through your journal and be able to relive your thoughts and experiences from years ago.

Some people have never kept a personal journal. They might not like to write or they don’t feel like they have the time to write regularly. But think of the memories and important events they’ll forget because they didn’t write it down! Don’t let that happen.

I found a perfect solution to getting people to journal who haven’t done so before or who want to but can’t find the time – the One Line A Day Journal.

Throwback Thursday | Framed Vintage Girl Scout Badge

Princess Diana - March 6, 2014 - Anniversary, Birthday, Christmas, Congratulations, Host, Thank You

I am long time volunteer of Girl Scouts because I love its mission of building girls of courage, confidence and character. I am also a member of Girl Scouts – Western Oklahoma’s young professionals group, GS Cornerstone.

It has become tradition that each year a board member of the organization hosts GS Cornerstone in their home. I helped plan our most recent event, and I was put in charge of the thank you gift.

I definitely wanted it to be Girl Scout related. But what to give our hostess – a very accomplished woman who seemed to have it all?

I brainstormed with Queen Darlene and we came up with the idea of giving her a vintage Girl Scout Hostess Badge. After all, she will have met the requirements after graciously opening her home to all of us!

Will You Be My Valentine?

Queen Darlene - February 11, 2014 - Valentine's Day

Remember when we were kids making Valentine boxes with the slit in the top for the upcoming class party and placing your Valentines in everyone’s boxes? I couldn’t wait to get home to look at every single one and see who had given me a Valentine. Very sweet memories.

It was Valentine’s Day when I visited my friend, Orean, who lived in an assisted living center. I brought her a heart shaped box of chocolates. I also brought her other Valentines I had made to share with her friends.

Orean said, “It has been a very long time since I handed out Valentines.”

After Orean read the Valentine attached to the heart shaped lollipops, she couldn’t wait to hand them out. She was on a mission as I watched her walk the halls into the dining room handing them out along the way and asking, “Will you be my Valentine?” Continue Reading

The Most Romantic Present A Guy Can Give to a Girl

Princess Diana - January 14, 2014 - $20 or Less, Anniversary, Birthday, Valentine's Day, Wedding

Men – read closely. This Valentine’s Day gift I am about to reveal is THE most romantic present a guy can give to a girl. I’m not joking.

When my husband Kevin and I met in college, he gave me a Valentine’s Day present that completely melted my heart and made me fall in love with him all over again. Here’s what he wrote in his Valentine’s Day card to me:

… The box is the most special present. Inside it, there are 67 cards, one for each week we have been together. The blue ones are special memories, the red ones are things I love about you, and the blank ink ones are quotes, some of which are from yours truly. Also, there are give coupon cards which are special surprises. I hope you like them all, and may the future hold many more amazing memories together.

Your lover,
Kevin

Let It Be Known That This is My First Blog Post Ever

Queen Darlene - November 28, 2013 - Catch All

Unlike Diana, I do not have a favorite holiday. New Year’s, Valentine’s, the holidays you are off work, Easter, Birthdays, Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas and everything in between are all equally wonderful to me.

My family celebrated on every occasion because it was deemed important that family and friends get together to share stories, have fun, laugh, give gifts, take pictures, give hugs and kisses and genuinely show love for each other.

You see, for most of my life the only way my family could communicate was face to face. My grandparents on both sides were deaf, as well as my parents. There were no computers, video phones or cell phones to text. You could not call to wish someone a Happy Birthday or Thanksgiving. You physically had to be there in order to communicate through sign language.