Most Treasured Gift

 Me again folks, this post is a thinker but I've found that this time of year everyone is hustling and bustling trying to get the last of their shopping done and all we need to do is slow down for a minute and make a phone call. What a lot of people forget to do is make a simple phone call and believe it or not they don't take much time and usually makes both people feel very good inside. Now I'm not talking about someone you call everyday pick someone, grandma, grandpa, mom, dad, brother, sister your best friend from years ago. You will be able to tell how they light up at the sound of your voice. Some people only call family during the holidays, or they only keep in touch with old friends once or twice a year make a pact to call more often. Memories are the most treasured gift you can give someone especially older folks. I used to call my grandpa all the time, he always wanted to know the fishing and hunting reports at the time he was in his eighties and he loved to get my calls, he would call my folks and tell them that he heard from me, he would stop his mailman and tell him my stories so I know my phone calls made his day and it made me feel great also. I call my folks quite often to talk and find out how things are going. See my family lives in Minnesota and I live in Virginia so trips home are few and far between. Grandpa's gone now he made it to 100 and I hope some of my stories helped him to make it that far, I still have all the good memories from those calls. Remember no one knows when there life clock will run out so make those memories now while you can, call mom or dad or your grandparents even if it's just to say I love you and miss you and I was thinking about you today. MEMORIES LAST A LIFE TIME and that's what makes them the most Treasured gift of all. Start making yours today.

Happy holidays everyone

Treasured Gift and Great Project Idea

 Got another one for ya'll. Thought this was a great idea and super convenient. I was scooting around Food Lion the other day and stop to pick up some sweets in the bakery department and what did I see there but Gingerbread House kits. They came with everything needed to build your own Gingerbread house. Now this would be a great project for the kids and a Treasured gift for their grandparents. This is an easy project since you don't have to bake up the Gingerbread first so there's less mess in the kitchen to clean up. This would make an awesome centerpiece for the holiday table and a great bragging piece for the children. I don't recall the price but I know it was very reasonable and having children myself anything that keeps them busy and out of mischief is priceless :) Just a thought I figured I'd pass on to everyone.

Just a couple of Idea's to inspire you

Perfect Time to make That Treasured Gift

 Howdy folks, well snowed last night and colder then blazes so what better time to whip up a Treasured gift for friends and family. This is the perfect time to throw on the Holiday tunes and hit the kitchen for a little holiday baking. I know all my friends just love it when I hit the kitchen to make up our favorite breads and cookies because they know they will either be in the mail to them or on a nice platter and delivered straight to their door personally. I like to start with my seasonal quick bread recipes pumpkin bread, cranberry nut bread, banana nut bread you get the idea. I've got the perfect little individual tins for this and once I get done I wrap them up with little bows and their you have. Then it's time for the sugar cookies, I like the little cutters to make up little snowmen, Santa's and the like. Making cookies is the perfect thing to help keep your little elves at bay while their stuck in the house also, it will keep them occupied and will teach them a nice life skill for when they grow up. Now when you start making up the rum balls keep the kids away you don't need them getting into the rum and getting sick. Once your done you can make up nice little baskets or platters remember make them fun put them on a little sleigh or Santa platter things like that remember Treasured the little personal touches are what makes them treasured.
 Now that we've got all the baking done don't forget to drop off a couple platters at your local Nursing home, homeless shelter, or soup kitchen the folks there will appreciate it and remember tis the season for giving.

Black Friday is Over

Well now that Black Friday is over, Did you get everything you needed? If not here are some tips to help you next year to avoid having to go out and deal with the crowds.

1. Start EARLY, I have 2 friends that usually have their Christmas shopping done by April. Now if your like me I'm still out running around on the 24th looking for that perfect gift because I believe that their is something I have just missed.

2. Plan your shopping, you know the recipients so you should know what they like and you can attack the after Christmas sales for those perfect gifts that they will treasure. Hiding them is another problem.

3. With prior planning the after Christmas sales are also the perfect time to pick up those birthday, graduation, anniversary, wedding and other gifts you know you'll need throughout the year. This way you won't be rushing around in a big hurry and your gift selection will be better thought out and more treasured.

4. Now that said there are still great deals out there, checkout your favorite retailer online. Many of the large retailers have outstanding deals for online only. The trick here is to shop early because you have to figure shipping time to get the gift in on time. Now if your shopping for grand kids or other family you can save on shipping cost by having them shipped directly to them through another family member and getting them to wrap and put the gift under the tree.

5. Don't forget your small local retailers they often have the more unique gifts at great prices. You will get much more personalized services, support your local community, help keep money flowing through your local businesses and possibly make a good friend in your local area.

6. Hopefully these suggestions will help you with your holiday shopping and future gift giving. Happy Holidays and Happy Treasured Gift Giving.

Great Gift Baskets Making Your Own

Howdy folks just a short note today. Do you want to make your own personalized gift basket. Watch the videos on the right for great tips and advice on putting together your own gift basket. These people do it better then I can, follow their advice for beautiful gift baskets. There are a ton more on youtube to help you from start to finish.

Happy Holidays and Treasured Gift giving

Hard to Shop For Individuals

 Howdy everyone, thought I'd throw out a few Ideas here on hard to shop for people, you know that person that has everything and doesn't like anything. Well with friends like this I always go for the unique and out of the ordinary items. Now this can be as simple as a funny or goofy statue that fits their personality or hobbies to a funny card. I've got a friend that is virtually impossible to shop for I swear he does have everything. He likes to hunt and fish so with him I've had to go to making presents mostly silly off the wall items. One year I made him a folding stool for hunting, it was all pretty camouflage, with a magazine holder, a flip up toilet seat and toilet paper holder it was really pretty funny I know he's never used it but it still sits in his hunting trailer and gets good laughs and old memories a definite treasured gift. Imagination is the key here and if you can't find something for that hard to shop for person make them something. Handmade gifts make them more personal and treasured. If all else fails a gift card will do, I seriously dislike gift cards most never get used so it's money wasted and it takes no imagination. Now we carry some very unique items in our store you won't find most of these in any walmart or Kmart go check it out you don't need to buy just a nice idea starter, www.lifestyletreasures.net

Treasured Gifts for Kids

Well today's information will be fairly short because giving a child a treasured gift is relatively simple, kids love everything. My biggest concern here ( OK chuck jumps on his soap box ) is giving age appropriate gifts and not just video games or computer games. Giving kids gifts that will prop them in front of the TV and video games are not good for the children. Now that being said you can give them a game or two because you know that it will be a treasured gift to them ( at least till they master it ). What I like to lean towards are gifts they will treasure for a lifetime and what will benefit them throughout their lives. Kids need to have gifts and things that will challenge their imagination and thought process ( age specific of coarse). These can be anything from Lego's to Lincoln logs, play do, you get the drift. Has their ages increase you might want to try drafting sets, chemistry sets, a telescope with the planetary charts. Some of my favorites ( here he goes again ) Reading, Writing, and Arithmetic! I see so many young kids and young adults that can't spell worth a hoot, can't do math without a calculator ( and I'm talking basic math ) and read seriously slowly sounding out every word. These are all skills that need to be taught early and at home if you rely on the school system the kids will lose out!!! Gifts for the kids need to be able to get them active, stimulate their brains and motivate them. Some of the best gifts children can get involve active participation of the parents. Kids love their parents by nature and they love to hang out and be around them all the time so play a game with them while their young teaching them the basic skills in life - one of the three R's. Has they get older take the in the kitchen and make Christmas cookies, dinner, a pancake breakfast. Get them outside into nature get them a book on bugs ( my daughter loved this ) and let them collect bugs and butterflies. Take them to a nature trail and go for walks with them, they can learn about trees, flowers, leaves, bugs and MOST IMPORTANTLY spend quality time with mom and dad probably the MOST Treasured gift you will every give your children. Something that creates mega brain stimulation and imagination is scrap booking. You can let them do their own books about their lives, friends, and family kids have the greatest little imaginations they just have to be guided a little bit. Doing things like this will also help to stimulate our imaginations and motivate us. We as adults have a serious tendency to get into ruts and our lives become stagnant and seriously routine, so break the old routine and habits spend quality time with your kids ( turn the TV and video games Off) get out of the house, go to a park, museum, nature trail or playground. Then for the gift giving times in their lives give them a few fun gifts and also include some fun learning activities.