Tag Archives: gifts

7 Ways To Say Thank You

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7 Ways To Say Thank You

The most difficult thing to do these days is to tell someone “thank you”, and do it with feeling. There will be people in your life who you are grateful for every day, and sometimes, the words are just not enough to convey how thankful you are. The best thing to do is to go the extra mile and make your thank you the best one ever. This means getting a little more creative sometimes; more than just firing off an email and hoping for the best.

With our help below, you’re going to have seven new ways to say thank you to those whom you love the most. Let’s take a look:

A New Gift:

We don’t mean running to the nearest store and buying bath salts. Sometimes, only the most unique Hawaiian gifts will do! You can pair this with a beautiful home made gift bag like the ones that you find here. It’s a great way to show your appreciation to someone who deserves it!

A Toast To Them:

Not many people enjoy public speaking – we get that. However, giving a toast at an event you’re both at can make them feel so good! A sincere toast is one that is well-received, so practice in front of the mirror so that you can see that your toast is done with eloquence!

Write A Heartfelt Poem:

Words really are all you need. Go online and do some searching for the best poetry rhythms around and you’ll likely find something that is perfect for you and the person you want to gush to! Write a poem according to that rhythm and make them feel fantastic about themselves.

Take Them Out:

There are times where a thank you cannot be put into words or gifts and you need to do a little more. Does your friend or relative love musicals? Why not take them to a show and treat them to dinner while you’re there? It can make a huge difference: your time is all they need.

Think About A Gift Card:

Choosing a present isn’t always easy, but a gift card for a store that you know that they love is always a good way to go. They’re not impersonal if you know the best stores that they shop in, and if you make the amount on the gift card generous enough, you’re going to find that you have the perfect present.

Write A Letter:

You can say why you are thanking someone on the phone but it never seems to have the same impact as the written word. Never panic about how long the letter is – it can be as long as you feel is necessary to get your feelings across.

Declare Thanks On Social Media:

Everyone knows that social media has an impact on people these days; a positive one for the most part. So, put out a blast on social media and let them know how much they mean to you there, too. Social media blasts can then be shared, and everyone will know how grateful you are to that person.

The holiday season is the perfect time for giving thanks to your loved ones. Do so with the tips above!

Featured Image By: Pexels

Holiday Haul: Boyfriend’s Family Edition

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Holiday Haul: Boyfriend’s Family Edition

Hello everyone! I was so thankful this past year to spend another beautiful holiday with my boyfriend, Johnny’s, family on Christmas Eve. We spent the whole day together opening gifts, playing games, enjoying a delicious meal, and watching their yearly viewing of National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation. It was such a blast taking part in their family traditions and my time between their house on Christmas Eve and my family’s on Christmas day made it the best holiday yet.

I was just happy to be a part of the day with my boyfriend’s family but I was completely blown away by their generosity. Check it out:

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As you can see, Johnny’s family knows me pretty well already considering I was treated to gift cards to all of my favorite places: TJMaxx, Elysian Nails, Marshalls, and Dunkin’ Donuts. It was so sweet, because Johnny’s aunt gifted both myself and his mom to a gift card to Elysian so we could get mani pedis together. I’m really looking forward to making a date of it with lunch or coffee thrown into the mix for a perfect girls day.

And, of course, you can never go wrong with giving me chocolate and bath and body care as a present, because I can always put all of that to good use! I am also very excited to break out my adult coloring book set. I used to use those all of the time and just fell out of it so it will be nice to get back into it with such lovely pictures and supplies.

Honestly, my boyfriend’s family didn’t have to get me one damn thing but I am so grateful and touched that they did. I can’t wait for more holidays and hang outs with each of them and my life is so much better for having them in it! ❤

Where did you spend your holidays at? What is one of your favorite Christmas movies to watch? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Holiday Haul: Sweet Friends Edition

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Holiday Haul: Sweet Friends Edition

Hello hello! This Christmas, I was so touched to receive some lovely gifts from two of my dear friends. One of which is my neighbor, Alice, at my family home who has been one of my besties for years now. What started out as me dog sitting her pups has turned into weekly coffee dates and hang outs and I treasure our time together so much.

Another was from my skating coach, Sarah, who I’ve known since I was at least eight years old. I love our weekly skating seshes and am so happy to have her in my life again since I rekindled my passion for figure skating. Check it out:

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Alice provided the prezzies on the left and she truly does know me so well because she got me all of my favorite things: Anything dog related, candles, and gift cards to Starbucks and TJMaxx! Alice and I always spoil each other during gift giving occasions and I definitely view her as a second mom while she sees me as the daughter she never had as a mom of three boys! We had such a lovely morning of coffee and chit chat during our gift exchange and I feel so incredibly lucky to have her as one of my best friends.

My skating coach, Sarah, gifted me with an adorable pencil pouch filled with goodies to utilize in my skating binder, which she writes notes in during our practices. It included chapstick and tons of great office supplies that will come in handy on and off the rink! I was so tickled by this thoughtful gift because it’s something that I will be putting to good use and I have already made quite a dent in the delicious sugar plum scented lip chap!

I am so thankful for having such sweet friends to share holiday cheer with and am blessed to have two wonderful women looking out for me. ❤

Do you have a second mom in your life? Have you rekindled an old passion recently? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Holiday Haul: Light Of My Life Edition

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Holiday Haul: Light Of My Life Edition

Hi! One of my clients that I work with is an older man with Down Syndrome and I always call him the “light of my life” because it’s the honest to god truth. This fellow has me wrapped around his little finger and everyone knows it! We have so much fun together and it really is nothing short of a delight to be his provider.

My friend has been looking forward to Christmas for months and months now. In fact, I think he started looking forward to this year’s Christmas the day after last year’s Christmas. In preparation for the big day, we decorated the tree and have played nonstop Christmas movies and music. It absolutely tickles me to see his love for this time of the year and he is the epitome of what the holiday season is all about.

During my last day of work before a holiday break, we had our gift exchange and I was surprised with all of the following:

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^^^ Note that the bottle of wine was from his brother!

I had to have a silent laugh when I opened my presents because I’m pretty sure that my client just gives people stuff that’s in his room for Christmas. And, that’s what made it so unbelievably perfect. My friend knows that I have no holiday decorations at my home and I’m sure that’s why he gave me my little Precious Moments penguin that is seriously the cutest thing I’ve ever seen.

But, can we please talk about my caricature?! I am so excited to hang it up on my wall because I am all about having quirky things at chez moi and it just might be one of my favorite gifts that I’ve ever received. It was obvious how much thought he put into picking out his presents for me and they are going to be treasured for forever. ❤

What do you gift your work friends with? What was your favorite gift that you got this holiday season? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Bath Bomb Blitz: Lush’s Golden Wonder Edition

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Bath Bomb Blitz: Lush’s Golden Wonder Edition

Hello! I was so excited for my weekly bath time extravaganza this past week because I got to use part of my Christmas gift from the darling Kate of Live In The Nautical. Kate knows my affinity for Lush products and always treats me with bath and body care goodies during gift giving occasions. For Christmas, I was presented with the Golden Wonder holiday themed bath bomb and it was a sparkling, shimmering delight! Check it out:

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The first thing I noticed about the Golden Wonder bath bomb was the glitter! Just touching it left bright gold fairy dust on my hands and this made me so happy because the sparkly bath bombs put me in a mermaid state of mind, despite being in freezing cold Ohio! I was imagining a tub full of liquid gold during my first glance at Golden Wonder but it was so much better than that.

As soon as the bath bomb hit the water, it exploded with bursts of gold and green. Shortly after, the gift box shape broke in two and out came shooting stars of yellow, orange, pink, and blue. But the best part? The tiny jelly stars that were peppered throughout the water that gave ultimate hydration once rubbed on your skin.

I love when bath bombs put on a show and Golden Wonder definitely didn’t disappoint. I was mesmerized by the assortment of colors, the movement of the bath bomb, the swirling glitter, and the rich blue hue that my bath water ultimately ended up as. After watching the bath bomb fizz away, it was so nice to sink into the warm water and I ended my bath time feeling like a million bucks. Thanks, Kate!

I would absolutely recommend the Golden Wonder bath bomb and will rate it with an eight out of ten. It was festive for the season and being surprised when the box broke open and the colors came rushing out made for an exciting bath bomb show. 😀

What is your favorite Lush bath bomb? What is your favorite bath bomb color? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Happy Haulidays: Blogging BFF Edition

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Happy Haulidays: Blogging BFF Edition

Helloooo! Lil Red had a terrific day on Monday compliments of the United States Postal Service. I received the rest of my shoes from Dolls Kill AND a surprise Christmas present from the beautiful Kate of Live In The Nautical. I was so excited to see something from my Gemini twin and blogging soul sister, especially after a fantastic hour and a half FaceTime session the week before. :*)

Kate is an amazing gift giver and I was so blown away by the gorgeous bracelet by Emerson Victoria that it literally made me gasp when I saw it. And, a Golden Wonder bath bomb from Lush doesn’t hurt, either! Check it out:

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When it comes to gift giving, Kate always seems to know what you need before you do. I had no idea that a wrap around bracelet with silver skulls peppered in was my latest obsession until I’ve worn it every day since Monday! Whether it be a cute piece of home decor or a Harry Potter themed bracelet, Kate will manage to find something that is so personal to you because, like the wonderful friend that she is, she listens and pays attention to things like your favorite pattern or if you prefer gold or silver jewelry (Or black, in my case!).

I am incredibly thankful to have had Kate in my life for the past several years now and I’m so happy to have shared another holiday with her. Despite being in different states, we still can send each other holiday cheer and text nonstop, as per usual, and that is so special to me. I feel proud to have Kate as one of my dearest friends and am looking forward to another Blogger’s Conference hopefully in 2020! ❤

Who is your Blogging BFF? Have you ever met any of your blogging friends in real life? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Gorgeous Gifts For The Girls In Your Life

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Gorgeous Gifts For The Girls In Your Life

Gift giving is an excellent way to show love and appreciation to those that are important in your life, especially at Christmas time. Of course, for the genuinely special loved ones such as the female friends in your life, pre-bought gift sets just aren’t going to cut it! Instead, you will want something more thoughtful and personal. Fortunately, we’ve given this matter some thought and came up with some suggestions. The best of which you can read below:

Flowers:

Flowers aren’t just for romantic couples. In fact, they have traditionally been given as a token of affection of friendship for hundreds of years. Something that makes them an excellent choice for a gift that shows the girls in your life how much you care. There are several options to consider when gifting flowers too, like having an elaborate display delivered to a friend’s work or bringing a single bloom when you visit their home.

You may even wish to get deeper into the language of flowers if you’d like to convey even more meaning. For example, as you can see from the post at thelanguageofflowers.com a bouquet of yellow roses is a way to express friendship, while sunflowers demonstrate loyalty and longevity.

Jewelry:

Another popular gift for the ladies is jewelry. Of course, you do not have to spend a fortune to find a piece that your friends will love. In fact, you will find that there are numerous sites online that provide personalized pieces of jewelry at a reasonable price. You can then use a guide like the one at rogersandhollands.com to select a birthstone or engraving that can be customized to your choice. Thus giving you the perfect opportunity not just to get something beautiful, but to get a gift that is meaningful and lasting, as well.

Something personalized to their interests:

One of the best ways you can show your friends how much you care for them is to choose them a gift that is based on their own interests and passions. The good news here, is that if you know what their hobbies or interests are, you can use the gift guides at sites like allthestuff.com to find a present that suits them down to a T.

Something customized:

Finally, if you are looking for a gift that is a lot more personal than something you can buy off the shelf, why not go for a custom item? There is a vast range of products to choose from that can be monogrammed or customized, including clothes, ornaments, purses, and even photo books and calendars.

That is not the only way to customize items, either. Actually, there are now some makers that specialize in creating art that includes images and words representing the recipient’s most favorite things. This being an option that means the person you gift it to will get a great decoration for their home. While at the same time will be shown how well you know them and how much their friendship means to you.

Show all of your favorite ladies how much you value their presence with the gifts above!

Featured Image By: Pexels

BFF Holiday Haul

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BFF Holiday Haul

Hellooo! This past weekend, my best friend, Lea, came over for a holiday hang out. Gifts were exchanged, champagne was poured, and a fun time was had by all! I absolutely love gift giving occasions with Lea because we always seem to buy each other the same style of gifts. We both live for wine, candles, and bath and body care and that’s usually what makes up both of our holiday hauls. But we are definitely okay with that! Check out what my BFF gifted me with:

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Lea always picks me out the cutest little knick knacks that are awesome for my apartment. You can see a lot of the decor that I’ve received from her throughout the years scattered around my place and it never ceases to make me smile. I adore my new wine themed magnets that are already displayed on my fridge and the “classy bitch” glass is my new favorite!

I’m looking forward to having a pampering night complete with my new candle, a glass (or bottle) of the moscato, and the aromatherapy bubble bath to give me the perfect night’s sleep. Lea and I had the best time girl talking the night away, popping bubbly, and just enjoying each other’s company. I am so thankful to have her as my BFF and can’t wait to begin wedding festivities as one of her bridesmaids. :)))

What do you like to gift your best friends with? How do you have the ultimate girl’s night in? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Wow Them With Your Wedding Favors

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Wow Them With Your Wedding Favors

Planning your wedding gives you the perfect opportunity to create an exciting and personal event. When you’re choosing the venue, flowers, entertainment, and favors, for example, you’ll want each element to represent you and your new spouse.

With so many things to consider in the lead up to the big day, it’s easy to forget about some details. However, it can be the smaller things that really make an impression on your guests. Wedding favors are a great way to show your appreciation to your guests and to give them something that will remind them of the day in the future.

While some people stick to tried and tested favors, there are plenty of other options available. If you want to do something different on your special day, take a look at these top ideas for creative and original wedding favors:

Donuts:

Everyone loves a sweet treat, so donuts are always a crowd-pleaser. With frosting to match your decor or personalized icing, you can commemorate your day with a fun, edible snack. As many people travel a long distance to attend weddings, they’ll be thrilled with something they can tuck into the next morning, especially if they’ve got a sore head from partying a little too hard!

Seeds:

Giving guests a packet of seeds to take home is a stunningly simple idea yet one that’s memorable and personal. Choose something that’s easy to grow, so that even your guests who aren’t experienced gardeners can watch their plants thrive. Similarly, choosing something which can flourish in a pot will ensure guests who live in apartments or who don’t have gardens can take part in the fun too. You can even request that guests send you a quick snap of their shrubs or flowers on your anniversary and enjoy the fact that your guests have a forever reminder of your happy day.

Candy:

Choosing candy as your wedding favor can be a great way to impress your guests. With personalized candy wrappers, you can create a gift that will keep you in their minds. As candies stay fresh for far longer than most other sweet treats, you know that guests will be enjoying them for a long time to come. What’s more, candy is easy to transport and won’t take up too much space, which is great for those who traveled to your wedding.

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So cute!

Flowers:

If you’re using flowers to decorate your wedding venue, why not use them as wedding favors too? Giving guests a small vase or a miniature pail and inviting them to help themselves to the centerpieces is the perfect way to combine a gift they can cherish forever and a special memento from your big day.

With the right favors, you can commemorate your special day and show your guests just how much you appreciate their support. While the options are endless, you’ll find a variety of personalized and meaningful favors to suit any budget and any style of wedding.

Featured Image By: Pixabay

TJMaxx Haul

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TJMaxx Haul

Hello! My last holiday shopping to accomplish was for my boyfriend’s parents so I hit up TJMaxx during my free time to find something for them. I ended up with a lovely Starbucks gift set for them as well as a little something something for my cousin and some skin care for myself. Check it out:

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There is nothing better than a nice, warm cup of hot chocolate during the winter and when I saw the gift set above I thought it was the perfect present to surprise the rents with. Along with a delicious combo of peppermint and double chocolate hot chocolate, the gift set included two Starbucks logo mugs which will be ideal for their morning coffee as well as the hot cocoa. I don’t know my boyfriend’s parents too well yet but you can’t go wrong with a holiday themed box set so hopefully they like it!

I also gifted my Boston Terrier crazy cousin with a dog shaped cookie jar filled with holiday cookies. He looks oh so dapper in his shades and tie! My cousin, Laura, in Pittsburgh is my go to for microblading and she always does so much for me when I come to visit so it was the least I can do for the next time I pop up. I know her and her boyfriend and their two precious Boston Terriers will love it and TJMaxx always has the cutest themed decor for that specific breed for those interested.

And, finally, I needed a new moisturizer and serum in my life so I went with the SkinLab lift and firm serum and moisturizer combo to keep my mug looking young, fresh, and hydrated all winter long!

My holiday shopping is officially complete and now it’s time to wrap up my presents, get them to their respective owners, and enjoy the rest of my holiday season!

Are you all done holiday shopping? Do you finish your shopping early or last minute? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah