Browsing Category

Gift Baskets

Customer Appreciation, Feedback, Gift Baskets, Gift Baskets Catalog, New Baby Gift Baskets, Party!

New Baby and Baby Shower Games

August 16, 2012
new baby monkey gift

new baby monkey giftWelcome back!

Apparently the number 8 isn’t too lucky for a few of you, so just stick to not walking under any ladders! Of course five of you commenters are in luck and will be receiving a giant fortune cookie! Congratulations to Gary Narberes (August 9, 2012 at 4:16 pm), Karen Koch (August 9, 2012 at 4:21 pm), Melissa (August 9,2012 at 4:51 pm), Elaine C. (August 10, 2012 at 10:49 am), and Suzanne (August 15, 2012 at 10:14 pm)! Send your shipping information to me at amariscal@1800flowers.com  and I’ll send out your fortune cookies!

Is it just me or is the end of summer and beginning of fall “baby season”? I know a few people who are due around this time and nearly half of my family has a fall birthday. I realize there is a statistic about however many thousand people are born every minute, but in my small world, I feel like those minutes all gather around the change of the fall season. Feel free to let me know if it’s the same or different for all of you!

I enjoy seeing the new name trends every year and guessing what influenced them (how many Katnisses do you think we’ll get this year?). I would like to see more interesting trends for boy names. They get the short end of the stick, I think. Someone should start the petition for trendier boy names. Below are the top 10 names for girls and boys for the year 2011.

Top 10 Names for Girls 2011

  1. Isabella (who saw that one coming…besides everyone)
  2. Emma
  3. Olivia (my hope is this was inspired by Olivia Newton John)
  4. Sophia
  5. Ava
  6. Emily
  7. Madison (I will never not think of the movie Splash when I see this name)
  8. Abigail
  9. Chloe
  10. Mia

Top 10 Names for Boys 2011

  1. Jacob (once again, color me shocked)
  2. Ethan
  3. Michael
  4. Alexander (the Great!)
  5. William (could shorten to Liam)
  6. Joshua
  7. Daniel
  8. Jayden (Big Willy style, obviously)
  9. Noah
  10. Anthony

Of course with new babies on the way, comes baby showers and trying to find a gift that’s useful while still being cute (personally all tiny things are cute to me, especially baby gym shoes that will never even touch a single sidewalk and will be grown out of within a month). We have all the most adorable new baby gifts you could imagine here, including my favorite monkey baby gift. However, for those of you currently planning baby showers, let’s talk some fun and unique baby shower games so that no grown woman will ever have to smell a fake diaper with random mashed food in it again.

Baby shower game ideas:

  • Give your guests a list of television families and have guests list the children from the families. Some families to try: Full House, Brady Bunch, Arrested Development, Leave It To Beaver, Little House on the Prairie, Malcolm in the Middle, Partridge Family, Growing Pains, Bewitched, Step by Step, Cosby Show, Family Guy, The Simpsons, Family Ties, Modern Family.
  • Create a baby guide book with ideas from close family and friends. Sometime during the party, ask each guest to write down their name, relationship to new mom and then some helpful hints, baby advice, words of encouragement. This will be very helpful to new parents!
  • Cake Race. Have people race to build a diaper/baby gift cake using provided materials and reward those who finish first and/or have the most appealing diaper cake!

In the comments section (1-2 paragraphs) tell me your own ideas for baby shower games, new baby gift ideas, or some interesting and trendy baby names! FIVE lucky and random winners will receive a prize of their own.

Have a great weekend! 

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!

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!

chocolate covered strawberries, Customer Appreciation, Feedback, Fruit Club, Gift Baskets, Party!, Summer Time Gift

Fourth of July Party Ideas

June 21, 2012
fourth of july chocolate covered strawberries

fourth of july chocolate covered strawberriesWelcome back readers,

I promise I’ll hold off on the picnic blogs for a while now, I think I got it all out of my system (at least until I try all of your suggestions out). But please let me know if any of you try out your own picnic ideas or the delicious recipes featured last week, and send pictures! We have some winners to announce who can be our first to try out the picnic ideas. Congratulations to Jean C (June 14, 2012 at 8:18 pm), bessie burnsed (June 15, 2012 at 11:05 am), Ashley (June 16, 2012 at 5:19 pm), Kristen eby (June 18, 2012 at 1:11 am), and Jessica Beard (June 18, 2012 at 2:56 pm)! Please email your info to me at amariscal@1800flowers.com and I can send out your prize! 

We’re so close to July, which is crazy to me because I feel like May was just yesterday! July is the month for camping, barbeques, and tons of outdoor summer parties. And we have our biggest summer party coming up: Fourth of July! What could be better than some fun in the sun, celebrating with red, white, and blue? Also a Fourth of July party means one of my favorite things about summer: Fireworks. There is something very right about enjoying something off the grill, a patriotic dessert and colorful fireworks against the night sky. So let’s get planning with some awesome Fourth of July party ideas! fourth of july party caramel apple

Our sister brand Celebrations has a great piece on decoration for a 4th of July brunch here. I think there are so many fun ways to incorporate the festive patriotic colors into your designs, like checkered table cloths with solid colored plates. Or utilize this fun and festive stars and lantern lights at your Fourth of July bash! (Both found at Target). Even better is this party gear kit with fun patriotic hats and décor!

This is going to be a very short post, because sometimes certain bloggers get very busy and also want to get more ideas from their very gracious readers!

In the comments section below (1-2 paragraphs) tell me how you would incorporate the following products (and the previous decor if you want!) in your own Fourth of July party! Five winners will receive the chocolate covered strawberries!

Have a great weekend of planning! 

cupcakes, Father's Day, Feedback, Fruit Club, Gift Baskets, Gift Baskets Catalog, Party!, Summer Time Gift

Celebrating Summer Fun Picnic Ideas

June 14, 2012
meat and cheese gift basket picnic

Welcome back readers,

Father’s Day weekend is here, and I spent the last few weeks drumming up gifts for Father’s Day, so I hope you have yours picked out by now! If not, you can always check back on our posts for some great ideas here, here, and here. Don’t forget the comments section for some really great ideas for Dad! For now I’ll announce our weekly winners and we’ll move on to one of my favorite topics: picnics! Congratulations to Pamela Hansen (June 8, 2012 at 8:23 am), Stacey Ellis (June 8, 2012 at 10:23 am), Jean C (June 8, 2012 at 10:28 am), Melissa (June 14, 2012 at 10:39 am), and Tiffany (June 14, 2012 at 3:24 pm)! Please send your shipping information to me at amariscal@1800flowers.com and I’ll send out your Crabtree & Evelyn® Nomad Traveler for Men.

meat and cheese gift basket picnicMy love of picnics is no secret, especially on here when we always have so many amazing gourmet gift baskets and food gifts to use for fun summer outings. Summer is in full force right now and I can’t imagine not wanting to enjoy the great outdoors, even if it’s just your local park or backyard and a basket of food. These days of nice weather will only be here for so long, and I’m dedicated to making the most of them. We’ve already talked about essentials to bring on your next picnic and a few fun dishes, but our sister brand Celebrations.com has so many delicious recipes for quick and easy finger foods as well as downright decadent desserts that I need to share with all of you!

Picnics should be about easy fun on the go. There’s no need to get super complicated with the meals you prepare or how much stuff you need to bring. Of course, that doesn’t mean that you can’t make them fun or seasonal. Which is why I’m currently obsessed with Celebration.com’s finger sandwiches collection. 

You better believe that the Mini Grilled Cheese sandwiches will be a key player at all my summertime functions. Asiago, Parmesan, Fontina, Provolone, arugula, and truffle oil! I am in culinary heaven right now. I just bought a new bottle of truffle oil that I’ve been cooking everything in lately, so this is definitely my favorite sandwich of the set. Their Avocado and Tomato Finger Sandwiches are a close runner-up, because I have a lifetime commitment to all things avocado. It’s so simple, fresh, and you’ll never feel any guilt with eating your fair share of these delicate treats!

Check out more of their Tea Time and Finger Sandwich recipes here, and don’t miss out on their Top 10 Picnic Food Ideas here! 

For a cute and creative dessert that I am definitely trying out this weekend, are Celebration’s Blueberry Cupcakes in a Jar. It looks decadent but also incredibly easy to make. I have a feeling I’ll be trying out all of their Cupcake Ideas here.

meat and cheese gift basket picnicGoing back to the simplicity of picnics, you can always find something you love with our collection of gourmet gift baskets. Every gift basket is packed with gourmet foods, sides, and fun treats inside for you to try out. And all items complement each other perfectly. Everything is there waiting for you to pick it up and go! Since it’s summertime, I’m leaning towards some fresh orchard fruit and cheese gift baskets, or flavorful and hearty meat and cheese gift baskets, and of course some very tasty wine gift baskets. Take any of these out for a gourmet getaway one afternoon:

In the comments section (1-2 paragraphs) tell me which of these gifts you would pick for your picnic and things you would pair with them! FIVE  lucky and random winners will receive the Lucca & Sons™ Deluxe Meat & Cheese Box!

Have a safe and happy Father’s Day weekend!

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

Pampering Gift Ideas for Father’s Day

June 7, 2012

Welcome back baskets readers,

I hope you all enjoyed taking my silly father’s day quiz last week and maybe even felt inspired in what to do for your own dad! I have some more fun gifts for Dad to talk about today, but before we get to that, let’s announce winners! Congratulations to Carmen Guajardo (May 31, 2012 at 6:18 pm), Kirby D. (June 1, 2012 at 8:49 pm), Lucy (June 2, 2012 at 12:51 pm), Will (June 6, 2012 at 4:42 am), and Ben G (June 7, 2012 at 12:47 pm)! Send your shipping information to me at amariscal@1800flowers.com and I can send out your delicious Father’s Day tool kit prize! Now on with the show…

So, who would have thought I would have so much to talk about all these weeks for Father’s Day? (Certainly not me) Father’s Day gifts are usually the hardest for me to decide on because I think Dads are pretty hard to read. We have this one holiday and maybe a few sporting events that are really marketed towards gifts for Dad and the rest of the year we’re left floundering on our own! Do Dad’s really enjoy whacky ties and comical coffee mugs? Or is that what we all established because no one could think of anything better to get for Father’s Day?

This week’s collection of Father’s Day gift ideas will center on pampering Pop! Maybe Dad doesn’t like to admit it, but we bet a day of relaxation and pampering is exactly what he’s looking for. Sports, candy and electronics are nice gifts for Dad, but we think that he’s certain to love some of our more indulgent gifting suggestions.

A certain blogger recently went for a professional massage as a pre-birthday thing and is now obsessed. I will recommend these to anyone and everyone I can. However, you can make the gift more special when you put your own personal touch to it. Write a great card for Dad that he can hang on to and read over and over again. Up the comfort level and include a cozy robe or house shoes. Or, get a massage gift card and attach it to another relaxing gift like our Crabtree & Evelyn® Nomad Traveler for Men or Muir Woods Triple French-milled Soaps for Him, so that he can continue his spa treatment at home!

If his favorite Father’s Day gifts have always been the edible kind, get him a gift with real excellent taste. Pamper his taste buds with a little bit of wine tasting and fresh gourmet treats. We have complementing wine sets and fruit gift baskets galore! You’ll find farm-fresh fruits like oranges, apples, pears and more in our organic and fresh fruit gift baskets. Accompanying these delightful fruits are fresh gourmet cheeses, nuts, and more nutritiously delicious treats! It’s a refreshing delight for summer and one that won’t require an intense workout after consumption.

Our picks:

We’ve already talked about gift suggestions and gifts you’d like for Father’s Day, so let’s try something new! In the comments section (1-2 paragraphs), tell me about the most unusual or unique Father’s Day gift you’ve seen or heard of! FIVE lucky winners will receive the Crabtree & Evelyn® Nomad Traveler for Men!

Happy Father’s Day!

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

Father’s Day Gifts Guide

May 31, 2012
classic bbq gift set for dad

Welcome back readers!

You all had a lot of great Father’s Day gift suggestions and I will definitely be stealing a few! We’ve got some fun stuff ahead so let’s get to it.Congratulations to Patricia Sauber (May 24, 2012 at 4:47 pm), Mike (May 25, 2012 at 11:11 pm), Roxanne (May 26, 2012 at 3:37 pm), Josh (May 31, 2012 at 8:57 am), and Terry (May 31, 2012 at 8:57 am)! Please send your information to me at amariscal@1800flowers.com and I’ll send out your Stubbs BBQ gift set!

Have you picked out the perfect gift for dad yet? June is only a skip away. Dads tend to be a lot harder to shop for sometimes. I can never tell if I’m getting a gift that will be well used or one that will end up collecting dust. I’m positive though, that you can never go wrong with a tasty food gift. We just got some new and delicious Father’s Day gifts in and I thought it would be a great idea to showcase them with a little gift guide quiz I’m sure most of you are familiar with. It’s time to play Guess That Dad!

When you’re done taking our little Father’s Day Gift Quiz, tell me in the comments section (1-2 paragraphs) which answer you got and come up with your own gift idea that would fit! FIVE lucky and random commenters will win the Father’s Day Handyman’s Snack Gift Toolbox!

Enjoy! 

 

Q: What is the one object your Dad can’t live without?

A) The grill, definitely.
B) His golf set
C) Toolbox
D) A deck of cards

Q: What is Dad’s favorite show to watch?

A) Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives
B) Sports Center
C) Holmes on Homes
D) Any game show, he’s tuned in.

Q: What’s the one thing you learned from Dad?

A) To try new things
B) To have a great deal of patience
C) To be self-reliant
D) To look at situations from all angles

Q: What is Dad’s favorite shirt to wear?

A) “Kiss the Cook” shirt
B) A polo shirt
C) It’s more of an oil rag now…
D) Short sleeve button-up

Q: Dad’s favorite color?

A) Red
B) Green
C) Brown
D) Black

Q: It’s Sunday afternoon, where is your Dad?

A) Cooking dinner!
B) Out on the green hitting a few tees while the sun is out
C) With his head under the hood of his car
D) Shhh…he just missed that hand!

 

Did you get…

classic bbq gift set for dadMostly A’s: He’s a natural born chef! You can always find him trying out a new recipe, rub or seasoning and ready to entertain the whole family! We’re sure he’d love this Dad’s Classic BBQ Grill Gift Set.

 

 

 

 

golf tote gift for fathers dayMostly B’s: Dad’s a very relaxed guy and easy-going. He enjoys a nice snack, and a gift with meaning. Get him a great gift that he’ll love like this Golf Tote Bag with Snacks.

 

 

 

 

 

tool box gift for dadMostly C’s: No matter what the problem, no one can fix it quite like Dad. He’s been your personal handy man for as long as you can remember. Fix his hunger with this Father’s Day Handyman’s Snack Gift Toolbox.

 

 

 

 

game gift for fathers dayMostly D’s: Always calculating the odds, Dad is there for an answer when you need him most. The best way to Dad’s heart this Father’s Day is with this lucky treat! Get him the Happy Father’s Day Gaming & Poker Bin.

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…

Customer Appreciation, Feedback, Gift Baskets, Gift Baskets Catalog, Summer Time Gift, Teacher Appreciation, Thank You Gifts

Thoughts of You Stationery & Tea Gift Basket

May 29, 2012
Thoughts of You Stationery & Tea Gift Basket

Thoughts of You Stationery & Tea Gift BasketA beautiful gift for your most thoughtful friend or family member! The Thoughts of You Stationery & Tea Gift Basket is definitely one of my favorite gifts from 1800baskets.

In a soft woven Lavender basket that is completely perfect for spring, is an assortment of stationary including a large notepad, small notepad, and 10 notecards with envelopes. All are decorated with beautiful purple and green spring prints and the cards are printed with a “Thinking of You” message, handy for thoughtful recipient who loves to let those close to them know that they are thought of.  Continue Reading…