Browsing Tag

healthy gifts

Congratulations, Philanthropy

Smile Farms at Community Bridge Builders

June 27, 2016

Smile Farms, a new non-profit organization dedicated to providing meaningful work opportunities for adults with developmental disabilities announces a second location on the west coast!

1-800-Baskets.com® a member of the 1-800-Flowers.com® family since 2001, congratulates Smile Farms on this incredible milestone.

As a corporate sponsor of Smile Farms, 1-800-Flowers.com® provides the charity with support in many ways, including donations, volunteers, business mentorship, cause marketing campaigns and most importantly — spreading the message. 

Meet Smile Farms at Community Bridge Builders in Turlock, California!

Smile Farms at community Bridge Builders

Smile Farms at Community Bridge Builders

“Smile Farms is excited to announce that we have established our second location in Turlock, California! We’ve partnered with Community Bridge Builders, Inc. to further our mission of lowering the unemployment rate for adults with developmental disabilities.

Smile Farms at Community Bridge Builders is utilizing their rich, fertile soil, to grow plants and to grow people. They are tirelessly working for an environment that creates sustainability while forging a centralized voice for this often forgotten population. We are Creating Jobs, Growing Goodness and Helping Neighbors NATIONWIDE!

We can’t wait to see all the good this new Farm will do for the community. Stay up to date with our expansion, milestones and progress by following us on all our social media platforms (@SmileFarmsInc)

To learn more about Smile Farms and Smile Farms at Community Bridge Builders, check out our websites www.smilefarms.org and www.smilecbb.org.” SmileFarms.org

Smile Farms at Community Bridge Builders, Turcott

Working for an Environment that Creates Sustainability

 

Smile Farms at community Bridge Builders

Join us in Congratulating Smile Farms!

Gift Baskets, Uncategorized

Sit Back, Relax and Indulge in the Many Benefits of Aromatherapy!

July 31, 2013
Denarii Lavender Spa Gift Basket

Denarii Lavender Spa Gift BasketA spa gift basket filled with fragrant lotions, soaps and more isn’t just a cute decorative item for your bathroom. It’s also a gift of wellbeing! Research suggests that aromatherapy products boast tons of physical and emotional health benefits. So when you surround yourself with those mesmerizing scents, you’ll feel not only pampered, but healthier too. Here’s everything you should know about aromatherapy, from its history to how different scents affect your mood and health.

What Is Aromatherapy?

Aromatherapy is the use of essential oils—that is, oils extracted from the roots, leaves, seeds or flowers of plants—in a therapeutic way. The healing aroma of these oils can be inhaled directly from the oil, or it can be inhaled indirectly when spa products are applied to the skin. It is said that these fragrances stimulate sensory receptors in the nose, which in turn send pleasing messages through the nervous system and straight to the parts of the brain that control emotions and memory. Because each essential oil has different ingredients from different plants, each has a different affect on the body.

The History of Aromatherapy

The practice of using scented oils to improve quality of life has been around for ages—almost 6,000 years, to be exact. The ancient Greeks, Egyptians, Romans and Chinese used essential oils in everyday items like perfume, medications and cosmetics. But the official science of aromatherapy as we know it today wasn’t founded until 1928, when French chemist René-Maurice Gattefossé discovered the healing power lavender oil has for treating burns. Health care professionals all over the world became more and more interested in aromatherapy by the 1950s, and the craze finally reached theU.S.in the 1980s.

Muir Woods Scented Soaps for HimEmotional Benefits of Aromatherapy

Because the sense of smell is so closely tied to the center in the brain that’s in charge of memories and emotions, using aromas to relax and unwind can make a positive change in how we feel. When it comes to emotional benefits, aromatherapy:

  • Helps you balance your emotions and boost your mood, making you feel more positive and happy
  • Increases your confidence
  • Calms your nerves and reduces tension
  • Triggers positive memories and past emotions
  • Improves focus and concentration
  • Reduces feelings of anxiety and depression

Physical Benefits of Aromatherapy

The effects that aromatherapy has on our wellbeing aren’t just limited to our emotions. The positive signals sent to the brain through the sense of smell make some positive changes to our body too. Physically, aromatherapy:

  • Relaxes muscles and eases pain
  • Balances skin moisture levels and helps minimize conditions such as acne
  • Stimulates blood circulation, enhancing your immune system, energy levels and more
  • Soothes an upset stomach
  • Helps fight conditions such as hair loss, constipation, insomnia, psoriasis and more
  • Battles bacteria and helps remove toxins from the body
  • Promotes rest and encourages deep sleep

Aromatherapy Benefits of Different Scents

Because every scent affects you differently, the soothing spa aroma you choose for your day of relaxation really depends on what problem area you want to target. Here’s a list of a few popular fragrances and how they help you:

Lavender: Treats insomnia and headaches; relieves stress; promotes feelings of positivity and happiness; helps improve cognitive performance

Rosemary: Relieves muscle pain; increases blood circulation, boosts feelings of happiness; reduces stress

Cherry Blossom: Calms and rejuvenates

Spearmint: Aids digestion; eases nausea and vomiting

Citrus: Decreases feelings of depression; reduces stress; enhances mood

Peppermint: Improves memory; increases alertness

Jasmine: Balances hormone levels; nourishes skin; relieves anxiety, depression and muscle tension; brings out feelings of love

Ylang-Ylang: Promotes calmness; reduces stress; enhances memory and information processing; eases upset stomach

Sandalwood: Relieves congestion and nausea; reduces inflammation; alleviates depression; quenches dry skin

Which aromatherapy scent do you and your friends love to unwind with at the end of a stressful day?

Customer Appreciation, Father's Day, Gift Baskets, Gift Baskets Catalog, Summer Time Gift

Healthy Gifts and Fruit Baskets

August 2, 2012
fresh fruit gifts

fresh fruit giftsWelcome back gift basket readers!

How much have you all loved the Olympics? This and Lost on Netflix have been the only programs on my television for the last week. And there is so much more we can talk about! But first, let’s get to the “award ceremony” of our post first and send out some gift baskets! Congratulations to Marie Leclerc (July 27, 2012 at 3:13 pm), Jessica (July 27, 2012 at 6:48 pm), Melanie T (July 27, 2012 at 7:24 pm), Jill H (July 31, 2012 at 7:45 pm), and Joy (August 1, 2012 at 1:04 pm)! Send your information to me at amariscal@1800flowers.com and I’ll send out an award winning treat!

Now back to Olympics! Like I said before, I’m normally a very avid watcher who sometimes gets a case of the “why-didn’t-my-parents-train-me-in-some-random-event-since-I-was-2-itis”. I thought I would be more passive in my viewing this year, but watching people balance themselves on a bar using only one hand or swimming faster than I can drive my car has left me feeling a little more motivated to get out there and exercise, eat healthier and at least attempt to organize my life. So far I’ve added a bit more fruit and vegetables to my daily nutrition and the occasional workout.

fresh fruit and nut giftWe always think that our healthy routines will be easy to maintain, and for a while they are! It’s only when you get to a time of celebration that you take that tiny step and end up falling down into excuses and extremely delicious cookies.

Which is why I want to applaud who ever made it okay to send out healthy gifts that promote clean living! Fruit gift baskets for all I say! Put together some ripe apples, juicy oranges, maybe some almonds, cashews, and fresh cheese, and you have a gourmet gift basket ready to be enjoyed and without any guilt. Believe me; I love sweets and chocolates as much as the next person, but sometimes you need a fresh break (and maybe some inspiration from an exceptional fruit basket). fruit basket

If you have a friend you know is trying to keep healthy or maybe you’re tired of receiving tempting sweets for all of your celebrations, look to our amazing fruit baskets and healthier gift basket options! We offer the freshest fruits, nuts and assortments all delivered right to your door. Our fruit baskets are great for picnics, healthy snacks, or a great way to brighten someone’s day. We’re also entering marathon season! I know our healthy fruit and gift baskets would be enjoyed by any running or biker training for their races. fruit gift basket

I want to hear from all of you, in the comments section (1-2 paragraphs) tell me what you would put in your own fruit gift basket or how you like to keep healthy! Five lucky commenters will win a fruit gift of their own.

Look forward to your responses, have a great week!

Feedback, Fruit Club, Summer Time Gift, Thank You Gifts

Mendocino Fruit & Nut Crate

June 12, 2012

A rich and flavorful gift for every health-nut in need! Another one of our healthier gift selections, the Mendocino Fruit & Nut Crate makes the perfect summertime or anytime gift to give.

It arrives in perfect presentation, a clean sleek wooden box tray with four sections filled to the brim with delicious goods. My tray came with dried fruits such as apricots and plums, freshly roasted pistachios, and a dried fruit and nut mix. The burst of bright yellow, orange and red hues from the fruit livens up this nutritious gift and makes it very appealing to the eye. I almost did not want to disturb it, but who am I to turn away amazingly delicious snacks?

The dried fruits are packed with flavor and easy to devour. The pistachios are roasted to perfection and pair perfectly with variety of fruits they came with. 1800Baskets.com partners with Torn Ranch to bring this absolutely stunning and delicious gift. Healthy, tasty and kosher, it really will please anyone lucky enough to receive it!

I sampled some of the treats upon arrival, but have since saved these to bring with me to work, for lunch or snacking, and as a great post-workout snack to build back some energy. The fruit and nut combination is a great way to snack healthy while getting in some much needed vitamins and minerals, from lowering cholesterol to providing much needed protein.

Did you know that you can even recycle pistachio shells? Empty pistachio shells can be used as fire starter for kindling, or you can place them on the bottom of pots for your houseplants to be used as drainage and soil retention for up to two years. You can use the shells as mulch for shrubs and plants that require acid soils, particularly plants that grow blue or purple hued flowers, to retain that pigment.

Get this gift for any health-conscious friend or someone you want to say hello to! It’s perfect for summer, to enjoy with friends out in the sun. Or even during the colder months as a sweet and nutritious treat in between large holiday celebrations!

Father's Day, Feedback, Fruit Club, Summer Time Gift, Thank You Gifts

Sweet & Succulent Summer Bing Cherry Gift Box

June 12, 2012
cherries gift summer

cherries gift summerA 1800Baskets.com exclusive gift, our bright and succulent Bing cherries are the perfect gift for Summer! Keep a healthy gift in mind without compromising on great taste.

The Sweet & Succulent Summer Bing Cherry Gift Box was definitely a delicious surprise to receive. The box was still cold when it was delivered and inside was the largest, most flavorful farmer’s market cherries I’d seen this summer. Varying in hues of bright red to deep maroon, all cherries were packed with decadent juicy flavor. Obviously I needed to sample a handful of the cherries as soon as I opened the box. They were too good to pass up. And you’re all lucky I stopped myself in time to grab at least one picture.

This makes such a great gift for any health-minded friend and leaves them with endless possibilities to use their gift. They can be enjoyed as is, benefitting from the high antioxidants, vitamins and minerals. You can bake them in a pie, cobbler, or in any of your everyday cooking. Add them to any dessert for an additional treat; dipped in chocolate or with whipped cream, they’re bound to please!

I’ve never been one for cherry pies, but this cherry cobbler recipe looked too good to not share!

Ingredients

  • 1/2 cup butter
  • 1 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1 cup white sugar
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1 cup milk
  • 2 cups pitted sour cherries
  • 3/4 cup white sugar
  • 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour

Directions

  • Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Place the butter in a 9×13 inch baking dish, and place in the oven to melt while the oven is preheating. Remove as soon as butter has melted, about 5 minutes.
  • In a medium bowl, stir together 1 cup of flour, 1 cup of sugar, and baking powder. Mix in the milk until well blended, then pour the batter into the pan over the butter. Do not stir.
  • Rinse out the bowl from the batter, and dry. Place cherries into the bowl, and toss with the remaining 3/4 cup of sugar and 1 tablespoon of flour. Distribute the cherry mixture evenly over the batter. Do not stir.
  • Bake for 50 to 60 minutes in the preheated oven, until golden brown. A toothpick inserted into the cobber should come out clean.
Customer Appreciation, Feedback, Gift Baskets, Gift Baskets Catalog, Summer Time Gift, Thank You Gifts

Gourmet Organic Gift Basket

May 29, 2012
gourmet organic gift basket

gourmet organic gift basketA gourmet gift basket that looks good, tastes good and IS good for you! The Gourmet Organic Gift Basket is USDA Organic and unbelievably delicious.  Continue Reading…