Monthly Archives

July 2012

chocolate covered strawberries, cupcakes, Customer Appreciation, Feedback, Party!

Olympics 2012!

July 27, 2012
juniors red velvet cheesecake

Hello Gift Basket Fans! 

Our work picnic yesterday was great! A little hot out (especially after a few rounds of sand volleyball), but it was a fun change to be outside. Plus, it gave all of you some extra time to submit your comments! I think a lot of us agreed that food is the way to go in most cases, but it doesn’t hurt to get a little trinket to remind you of what great gift givers you have around you. Speaking of gift giving, I have a few gift baskets to award now. Congratulations to Gita (July 26, 2012 at 12:06 pm), Julie H (July 19, 2012 at 7:49 pm), Clara Ray (July 26, 2012 at 11:05 am), Teresa (July 19, 2012 at 11:18 pm), and Olivia (July 27, 2012 at 7:45 am)! You will all be receiving the All Smiles Gift Basket that comes with a $10 gift to use on your next purchase so you can choose which gift basket is right for you! Email your information to me at amariscal@1800flowers.com and I’ll get your gift baskets out to you.

Today (and well let’s be honest, the next two weeks) I am ALL over the Olympics! I’m counting down to the Opening Ceremony tonight, what surprises they’ll pull out, what secret thing David Beckham is doing for the ceremony, if there will be some mention of Harry Potter since the director is creating this whole thing (a girl can dream). Either way, 7:30 I will be tuning in. Also tuning in for Swimming, Track & Field, Gymnastics (how do they DO that?), Volleyball, and probably a few more events that catch my attention. All from the comfort of my couch of course. The Olympics (and watching any kind of sport in general) goes one of two ways for me, either I get really motivated to be active or I just watched, amazed, while eating very delicious non-Olympian food. 

And it’s looking like this year will be falling into the latter category, especially after I found these adorable Olympics cupcake decorations from Williams-Sonoma. Yes, I know, making and eating cupcakes while watching the best athletes in the world from my television. If I make it into a viewing party with other people to help me eat these, would that make it better?

Are you going to have your own Olympics viewing party? Let me suggest one of my favorite desserts to include at your party. Our Junior’s Red Velvet Cheesecake! It’s got red and white, so there’s your patriotic colors. And have I ever mentioned how sinfully delicious this cake is? Very creamy without being too sweet, the red velvet crumble on top and sides, plus the cake portion mixes very well, and there is plenty in one cake to share! I had it for my birthday to be served to my whole family (aunts, uncles, grandparents, the whole 9 yards) and we have all sworn by it’s delectable nature since. 1800Baskets has also been running a special for 20% off, so now you really can’t say no! I promise, your party guests will absolutely love it. juniors red velvet cheesecake

We still have our Stars & Stripes Chocolate Covered Strawberries ready to order. And you can read a full review from me (along with some pictures!) here in a previous post!

You can find the Olympics Event schedule here.

Now tell me: In the comments section (1-2 paragraphs), which Olympic event are you looking forward to and why? FIVE lucky commenters will win a special prize next week!

Have a great weekend and happy Olympics! 

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Gift Basket Decision Extension!

July 26, 2012

Hello Gift Basket readers!

We’re having our company picnic today for 1800Baskets! You all know how much I  love picnics, so today is obviously going to be great. However, it’s a bit earlier than I usually post our weekly blog and I know that a lot of you get your comments in the day of. So instead of cutting it early, I’m giving you all another day to decide on your favorite gift basket!

Comment here or the previous blog and I’ll have some winners selected tomorrow around noon.

Have a great day!

Birthday Gift, Christmas Gift Baskets, Customer Appreciation, Feedback, Gift Baskets, Gift Baskets Catalog, Holiday Gift Baskets, New Baby Gift Baskets, Summer Time Gift, Thank You Gifts

Which Gift Basket Would You Choose?

July 19, 2012
new baby gift basket with monkey

stationary gift basket writing and teaWelcome back readers!

As always, I loved all of your Thank You Gift suggestions (and even better, some of you put down really great recipes and dessert ideas!). Clearly, whoever is lucky enough to receive a thank you gift from one of you is in for a special treat. And I have a few of my own gifts to send out! Congratulations to Cathy B*****y (July 13, 2012 at 12:01 am), Judy (July 17, 2012 at 9:08 pm), Amanda S (July 18, 2012 at 10:50 am), Shannon J. (July 19, 2012 at 10:16 am), and Pat (July 19, 2012 at 12:50 pm)! You will all be receiving our special All Smiles Gourmet Sweets & Treats Gift Basket! Please send your shipping info to me at amariscal@1800flowers.com and I’ll have your gift baskets sent out to you.

As I’ve said, I love reading through all of your comments (and sometimes even look there for future blog post ideas!). One comment I saw made me think of a really interesting topic that (of course) I can’t wait to hear your thoughts on. When making or receiving a gift, do you prefer an all food gift or do you prefer a gift with reusable objects? spa gift basket lavender

I know this really depends on the occasion, but usually the rule of thumb is to stick with food gifts because you know they can always be used…or well, eaten. But sometimes when I get a gift basket full of my favorite things like new books, magazines, pens, and all corresponding items, I can’t help but love it more. And in a way, I think it says a lot that someone knew which things you would enjoy!

But as I said, you can never go wrong with food. Sure it’s around every day, but there’s something extra delicious about a gourmet treat that someone specifically picked with you in mind. new baby gift basket with monkey

We have tons of gift baskets overflowing with delicious foods ready and on the go, but I definitely think our specialty gift baskets can hold their own!  As far as new baby gift baskets, this adorable monkey gift basket is super sweet and will put a huge smile on mommy’s face.

If you’re looking for a relaxing gift, our spa gift baskets are divine. Check out this Lavender spa gift basket sure to relax and soothe whoever is lucky enough to use it! Or if you’re interested in a more active way to relax, this trendy and ready to go yoga gift set is perfect (and comes with some great essentials for your workout!). yoga gift set

Feeling a bit pensive? Our Thinking of You stationary gift basket is a real treat! Check out a review I wrote on this gift basket here.

So what do you think? In the comments section (1-2 paragraphs) let me know which gift you prefer and why! FIVE lucky and random winners will receive a sweet prize next week.

Have a great weekend! 

Customer Appreciation, Feedback, Fruit Club, Gift Baskets, Thank You Gifts

Thank You Gifts

July 12, 2012
thank you gift

Welcome back everyone,

I hope everyone had a fantastic Fourth of July holiday with a lot of relaxation and down time, it seems like there were also a few delicious cookouts had (yum)! A huge thank you to everyone who commented well wishes on my road trip! All of your comments were much appreciated. I got to explore some caves in Kentucky, see fireworks in Savannah, and lay around on Myrtle Beach (the best kind of road trip always involves a beach in my opinion). And now I’m back thinking of fun and exciting party and gifting ideas!

thank you giftThe only topic that comes to mind for me right now would be thank you gifts. How great is it to receive an unexpected gift that lets you know someone appreciates something you did for them!

Weddings don’t have the only corner on the market anymore! Thank you gifts can be the one thing that someone remembers from your party, event, or dinner. One of my friends had a housewarming party just to show off their new place and provided cute little “thank you gift bags” filled with candy for everyone who attended. For younger children’s birthday parties, I’ve seen a lot of decorated candy and caramel apples being used as thank you gifts that look so delicious (blame Pinterest for pointing me to all of those pictures)!  You can also use larger thank you gifts for interviews or coworkers that you want to showcase.

Thank you gifts can also be a great memento from you to a friend that lets them know you were thinking of them and all that that do. Send a great gift to a friend who recently helped you move or provided much needed comfort during a stressful time. I recently made a thank you gift for a friend of mine filled with new books, comfort food, tea and things she would like just for always being my go-to person to call when in need and she surprised me by making her own gift for me the next time I saw her. Now we have a little tradition of creating sort-of care packages for each other!

Along with your thank you gifts, don’t forget to include a generous thank you note! It personalizes your gift more and shows them that you took extra time to appreciate them.

Below are some helpful Thank You Note suggestions:

  • Make your note at least three sentences
  • Avoid pre-printed or fill-in-the-blank thank you cards.
  • When thanking someone for money, don’t name the amount. Say “Thank you for the generous gift.”
  • Handwrite your notes if possible! Don’t print out thank you notes on your computer.
  • Don’t be generic, try to include some personality.

What do you guys think? In the comments section (1-2 paragraphs) tell me what would be a great Thank You Gift idea? FIVE lucky winners will receive a thank you gift of their own!