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

Father’s Day Gifts and Summer Grilling

May 24, 2012

Welcome back gift basket readers!

There were a lot of great graduation gift ideas in the comments this week (and obviously a lot of calls for cash!). I really liked the ideas for the personalized blanket for someone going away to school and the photo album. Of course we have a few gifts to get out for our lucky and random commenters. Congratulations to Donald Hayes (May 17, 2012 at 4:51 pm), Lori (May 17, 2012 at 7:13 pm), Claudia (May 21, 2012 at 10:04 am), Suzanne (May 24, 2012 at 10:02 am), and Ed (May 24, 2012 at 3:38 pm)! Send your shipping information to me at amariscal@1800flowers.com and I’ll send out your wine backpacks!

We have Memorial Day weekend about to begin with June and Father’s Day on its tail, and all I want to do is enjoy the warm weather instead of finishing all this work I have to do! Also, I’m (trying) to get a head start on my Father’s Day gift ideas…thankfully I have your comments to help me out with that last part.

I have a large gift I bought for my dad, but he won’t be getting it until September, and instead of me putting a bow on an email confirmation, I’d like to have something fun or delicious to present him on the day of…I just haven’t decided on what. Food gifts are always a safe bet for me with my dad. And for me, Father’s Day is always synonymous with summer grilling. It’s probably because the only meals my dad knows how to cook are all meat-on-a-grill-or-slow-cooker related. I usually try to pick up interesting spices or seasonings for him whenever I go somewhere. I brought home a Cajun seasoning home for him when I was in New Orleans, and he loved the Budweiser sauces I got him before. I think this year I’ll be going with our Award Winning Stubbs® Authentic Barbecue Gift Set. It’s great for summer, upcoming family barbeques and it will give him something new to try when it’s his turn to cook dinner.

If I wanted to win “Daughter of the Year” award, I’d probably pair it with some of our new Stock Yards® steak gifts (which are AMAZING by the way). We had an impromptu work barbeque the other week to sample these and I could cut my steak with a plastic knife; definitely impressed.

Stock Yards® is one of our new sister brands and we’ve picked up a few of their most delicious gifts for Father’s Day. Stock Yards® has been providing the very best USDA Prime and Choice steaks to America’s finest restaurants including: Chicago Chop House, Gibson’s, Morton’s, Tavern on Rush and Wildfire. Previously they were exclusively sold to restaurants but now are available for home ordering, which is great news for those who like to dabble in cooking restaurant quality meals!

I love that they only sell Prime and Choice; since I know the steaks and cuts I’m ordering will be top quality instead of sketchy meat from other companies who use their own terminology for “ratings” instead of “USDA Prime” or “USDA Choice” like Stock Yards does.

My picks for Father’s Day:

I found a few recipes for cooking a premium NY Strip Steak here, here & here that I am literally drooling over. And I found a great Filet Mignon recipe here. I love anything to do with Filet Mignon and may very well be trying out the recipe soon (plus YUM chive butter!).

As I said earlier, I’m looking for all your great answers and gift ideas for Father’s Day! In the comments section (1-2 paragraphs), tell me what you think a great Father’s Day gift would be! FIVE lucky and random winners will receive our Award Winning Stubbs® Authentic Barbecue Gift Set.

Have a happy and safe Memorial Day weekend!

Feedback, For the Love of Coffee, Gift Baskets, Gift Baskets Catalog, Summer Time Gift

Graduation Gift Ideas

May 17, 2012

chocolate covered oreos graduation gift idea

Welcome back readers,

I hope everyone had a great Mother’s Day weekend! My weekend was spent digging holes, carrying mulch, planting and fulfilling my gift promises with additional cooking and cleaning. According to the comments section, the number one way to relax is definitely spa and bubble-bath related, so I’ll definitely be looking into some relaxation time soon! Anyway, we have some winners to announce. Congratulations to Donna Yost (May 10, 2012 at 4:24 pm), Jenny S (May 12, 2012 at 11:31 am), Cathy B*****y (May 12, 2012 at 3:11 pm), Marcie (May 15, 2012 at 4:31 pm), and Judy (May 15, 2012 at 8:48 am)! Also as a note to our lucky and random winners, it appears the Mira Luna Mother’s Day gift was a bigger hit than I thought it would be and we ended up selling out of it before the end of the weekend. So as a replacement prize (which I’m sure you’ll all love because it’s a lot cooler than the last one) I’ll be sending you the Wine Picnic Backpack Gift Basket! (Yes, it’s that one really cool picnic gift I keep rambling on about every week here & here). Be sure to email your shipping information to me at amariscal@1800flowers.com and I’ll send out your new gift!

For the last week or so, all I have been seeing on my Facebook dashboard are dozens and dozens of statuses of college or grad school graduation announcements, pictures of graduation ceremonies, caps and gowns, diploma pictures, and more. I know there are at least three graduation parties I have to go to and a few more I’ve been invited to. I only just graduated college last year, so of course I’m jealous of their newly free summers and lack of responsibilities, but I’ll say no thank you to being jobless and learning to make a spare $20 last a whole month. However, since I am now (supposedly) an “adult” with an income, that means I have to pick up a real graduation gift for all these parties I’m expected to go to. And something tells me that no one is going to accept my gift from last year, which was essentially a hand drawn card with “IOU” printed largely and some candy inside.

If you’re the proud parent of a new graduate or you’re in need of some quick and fun gift ideas, stick around for some great graduation gift suggestions! Obviously, money is everyone’s go-to gift and it’s a great idea for poor new grads, but money isn’t exactly the most thoughtful “hey we’re proud of you” gift. So these next few ideas can be a nice add-on or your own way of making your gift more meaningful.

Grad Gift #1

Never underestimate the power of a great briefcase or laptop bag. If they’re going to start a job where they are commuting every day or if it’s just a 15 minute travel, they will thank you for a nice sturdy (and stylish) bag to help ease their journey. I definitely say this from personal experience; my back and I encourage this gift! Make it extra special with some gifting extras hidden in the different pockets and openings. Maybe hide a $10 i-Tunes card in one pocket, a tasty treat in the main compartment, and maybe a twenty hidden somewhere wouldn’t hurt. The messenger bag I have my eye on is Fred Perry from Asos.com, and I may be purchasing one like it soon. As for the tasty treat, I suggest these Congratulations Graduate decorated Chocolate Dipped Oreos®! So incredibly delicious and they’re made with real Belgium chocolate.

Grad Gift #2

I know I post this gift basket a lot already, but it’s probably one of my favorites and goes perfect for any and all occasions. Of course I’m talking about the Starbucks Break Time Gift Basket. A new grad is going to be woefully unprepared for waking up and having to actually look presentable before 8 am, so a great gift of coffee, tea, scones, and two extra-large coffee mugs is going to be exactly what they need to start off their new life. I’ve talk about this gift so many times, if you want to read a full review go here, for now I’m going to suggest adjoining gifts to keep your grad happy! To keep with the theme, I would pair this with a nice coffee maker or Keurig if they happen to be moving out. You can add on a travel mug and a gift card to their favorite (or soon to be favorite because it’s open in the morning) breakfast place!

Grad Gift #3

Okay, I guess I am going to push that really sweet Picnic Backpack Gift Basket on you guys one more time because I love picnics and I’m just not done talking about them! You all already know what awesome things are in there, so let’s talk about some add-on gifts for your new graduate. I see this as being a kind of funny gift if they’re moving out or away seeing as this gift basket comes with some plates, utensils and cups. I would attach a grocery store gift card to help with their daily needs, and a nice cookbook like A Cookbook for a Knucklehead: Bachelor, New Graduate, Beginner, and Other Spoiled Brats. I think this book would be great for anyone going off on their own for the first time and doesn’t know how to get dinner without it being delivered by Mom or Grubhub.

As always with any gift, add some of your own personal touches to them like a nice card with a hand written message, maybe a keepsake, or something passed down. Your new graduates are going to need your guidance, support, and maybe $40 for gas.

In the comments section (1-2 paragraphs) tell me what you think is the best gift for a new high school or college graduate! FIVE lucky and random winners will also be receiving the Picnic Backpack Gift Basket!

Congratulations to all those Grads out there!

Customer Appreciation, Feedback, Gift Baskets, Gift Baskets Catalog, Summer Time Gift

Happy Mother’s Day Deluxe Sweets Gift Tote

May 9, 2012

To me, spring means a lot of bright happy colors, fresh flavors and sweet treats. All of this and more can be found in the Happy Mother’s Day Deluxe Sweets Gift Tote.

The very first thing you noticed about this original gift design is that it comes inside a bright and sturdy green tote bag and a bright yellow bow on top. The perfect spring tote is enough to make you fall for this delightful gift. Obviously this is going to be a very reusable gift to give. Looking at the gift basket gives me warm visions of beach trips, picnics and a cute new accessory for the upcoming warm months. I already have so many plans for ways to reuse this gift!

Of course, the gourmet sweets inside just add the pleasure of this unique gift basket. Inside this delicious gift are Cheryl’s® Chocolate Chip Cookies (probably some of the best cookies anywhere!), DeBeukelaer® Pirouline® Wafer Rolls (I dare you to only eat two without devouring the rest), Jules Destrooper® Belgian Butter Crisps, a Daisy-shaped Iced Vanilla Sugar Cookie, a large bag of Spring Pastel Taffy, Eurostyle Biscuits (or a fancy word for more cookies), Robert Rothschild® Pomegranate & Tart Cherry Preserves, and Twinings® English Iced Tea.

I really enjoyed the Robert Rothschild® preserves, mostly because the only place I can seem to find this brand is usually at Fresh Market or Whole Foods. I thought it went best on the biscuits; a great mix of the buttery cookie and fresh fruit spread. I enjoyed this little combination with some of the iced tea. It made for a very relaxing Sunday afternoon and immediately felt like spring.

The daisy shaped frosted cookie is in a few other gift baskets that I’ve found here and I’m very happy about that. It’s not an ordinary, throw-away sugar cookie, but it actually had ingredients that you know! Wheat, eggs, milk, sugar, and flour all top the list of ingredients, and you’ll find other ingredients you can recognize as the list goes on. A very impressive cookie! I used this excuse to not feel bad when I demolished the cookie in less than a minute. The rest of the cookies have been added to my ever growing cookie jar where they are kept safe away from me. Thanks to the many gift baskets I’ve been receiving, I’ll never go cookie-less again.

I would highly recommend this gift basket for any kind of occasion, whether it’s a birthday gift, housewarming present, Mother’s Day, or a “Just Because” or “Thinking of You” gift. Whoever receives this beautiful spring gift basket will love the goodies inside and be very happy to use the tote bag afterwards!

Back to School, Gift Baskets, Summer Time Gift, Teacher Appreciation, Uncategorized

Back to School!

August 11, 2011

Congratulations to Jen (posted at August 11, 2011 at 11:47 am), Amanda (posted at August 4, 2011 at 7:52 pm), & Esther P. (posted at August 8, 2011 at 1:43 pm)! Please send your full names and address to me at amariscal@1800flowers.com and I can send over your Colossal Fortune Cookies! As always, thank you to everyone for participating and don’t forget to tell your friends to join us on Facebook.

Back to School! This is actually really strange for me since this is the first fall since I can remember that I haven’t gone back to school (graduation is weird). Maybe I am just one of the odd ones, but I was always extremely excited to go back to school no matter how great of a summer I had been having. I could barely sleep the night before my first day or my first class (you would think it was Christmas or something). I love going to new classes and meeting new people, I love meeting new teachers or professors, I love picking my seat and getting to buy new notebooks, and binders, and picking out my favorite pens (0.5 mm fine point if you’re curious). And that first day of class where you write down everything perfectly because you imagine that this year you’ll be more organized and neat with your notes and you’ll be on top of your game every single week (first week dreams obviously). Everything is all fun and games, and then you get your first student loan bill.

Back to School Snackin’ Backpack $29.99, product code: 94719

Gift Baskets, Party!, Summer Time Gift, Uncategorized

Not the average bear-eakfast picnic basket

July 28, 2011

Whoops! Looks like I was still a little loopy yesterday and forgot to pick a second winner for our fruit gift baskets. Some of you must be picking up a lot of lucky pennies to get all these chances to win. Congratulations to Swisspotluck (posted at July 19, 2011 at 11:57 pm)! Please send your real name and address to amariscal@1800flowers.com and I can send you a fruit gift basket. Now on with the show!

Picnics! Everyone loves picnics; Adults, kids, bears, everyone! July and August fall into the wonderful time known as picnic season, when it’s guaranteed to be nice, sunny, and cheerful out (unless of course you live in the Midwest where it’s apparently ‘anything goes’). Picnics are a great way to find another use for your gift baskets, and spend some quality time in the great outdoors.

"We love picnics!"- Those guys.

Feedback, For the Love of Coffee, Gift Baskets, Gift Baskets Catalog, Product Designers, Summer Time Gift, Uncategorized

10 Ways to Spruce Up Your Space

July 7, 2011

Hello again, Baskets Readers!

WOW! We had a HUGE influx of commenters to the blog today. Thank you to everyone who has read and participated, I hope you all stick around. Before we get into this weeks post, we have 2 winners to announce from last weeks’ contest. Congratulations to our two random winners, JD Burnsed (posted July 7, 2011 at 11:04 am) and Patricia Sauber (posted July 2, 2011 at 11:55 pm)! You will both receive the Regal Oak Grandeur Gift Basket. Please send your full name and address to amariscal@1800flowers.com and we can help you claim your prize. To our other readers, stick around at the end for another possible contest!

Friendly Baskets blogger at home w/part of the Starbucks® Break Time gift basket!

Mondays! Ack! Okay, so it’s not actually Monday, but it feels like it right? The week after any holiday weekend always feels like a series of never-ending Mondays. Extended holiday weekends are all fun, beach trips, excessive eating and games, until you wake up to find an army of ants making claims of Manifest Destiny over your kitchen. Which, coincidentally is also the time you curse your apartment for its lack of a dishwasher appliance (yeah, that one is probably just me). Maybe you had a fun party weekend in or out of the house, or maybe you’re Joey Chestnut and on your fifth consecutive hot dog eating championship win (woof!). Either way, I think we can all agree that we need a break from our vacations (also we need to clean and rightfully take back our kitchens).

Gift Baskets, Holiday Gift Baskets, Party!, Summer Time Gift, Uncategorized

Be the “Hostess with the Mostest” at your own Fourth of July celebration!

June 30, 2011

Hello readers!

Thank you to everyone who participated in last week’s contest, we always love bringing you the best information and hearing what you have to say. As far as this last contest goes, there can only be one winner. Congratulations to our random winner, Bob (posted June 23, 2011 at 4:25 pm)! Please send your full name, address and gift basket selection (from the “gift baskets” gift type page) to amariscal@1800flowers.com and we can help you claim your prize. To our other readers, stick around at the end for another contest!

my grandma

The excitement is far from over though, so don’t navigate away from me! (See? I can do internet humor). Are you all still with me? (Phew). This week we’ll be changing things up and featuring some hot summer food trends and ways to solidify your reign as “hostess with the mostest” (Martha won’t even know what’s coming). Fourth of July and summer in general, usually mean a lot of outdoor parties, grilling, and trying to come up with foods that won’t melt or make you melt in the sun. Usually I like to gather with friends or stop by my grandparents for a family party especially for my grandma’s Spanish rice and steak (we got half the holiday right). My grandma (pictured) is the one who typically does all the cooking, even the grilling (if she delivered, I would be set). At one particularly infamous family BBQs she was making her usual home-made salsa and chips and additional sauces for the meat, in which she cooks and adds a hot pepper or two, some cilantro, and usually chills the salsa (it normally helps cool you off). I guess she had too many dishes going at one time and didn’t realize how many peppers she added because what was normally a tasty and refreshing meal had nearly everyone red and drowning in their own sweat (even with the air conditioning). Eventually it became a challenge to see who would “sweat” it out the longest to please her. Needless to say, there is more taste testing during the cooking process now.

Party!, Summer Time Gift

OMG Sweet Bing Cherry Party!

June 21, 2010

Sweet Bing Cherry, Pistachio & Mixed Nut Gift Box

Capture the flavor and taste of a sunny farmer’s market in this sweet Bing cherries and nuts gift box. From bright red to deep maroon, these Bing cherries are exceptionally sweet and are a tasteful complement to the fresh pistachios and shelled mixed nuts. This big boxful of natural snack bliss is certain to be a hit with sweet fans and health nuts, alike.

In about a paragraph (or more if you have time), let us know what you think about this Summer Time inspired gift that we created inside our Melrose Park, IL Design Room. We welcome positive or negative comments. We’ll randomly pick 1 person who posts feedback regarding this latest summer time gift creation and we’ll send them their very own Sweet Bing Cherry, Pistachio & Mixed Nut Gift Box!

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