Tag Archives: holidays

Sep7

Celebrating Mabon

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Celebrating Mabon

Hello! Today, we are going to hear a little something from my darling friend, Carlie, over at Bombshell on Celebrating Mabon. As you will read in this post, Mabon is a Pagan nature holiday that gives thanks to all things fall and it’s something that Carlie enjoys participating in. Carlie will also be back later on this month with more fall and Halloween fun so definitely keep it posted, because she’s awesome! ❤

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Autumn is my favorite time of year for many reasons. The weather starts to get cooler, I love seeing the leaves changing beautiful colors, Halloween aka Samhain, and celebrating “Mabon”. Like Samhain, Mabon is a Pagan nature based holiday that represents the beginning of the Autumnal Equinox. It also signifies the second harvest of the calendar and promotes equality and balance. It’s a very positive time of the year where a lot of people celebrate the changing of the seasons, create their own little traditions, and enjoy nature of course. I hope you all are looking forward to the beginning of Autumn/Mabon as much as I am. This year the Autumn Equinox begins Friday, September 21st. And, if you want to celebrate Mabon in any way, it goes from September 21st to Saturday, September 29th!

How do you welcome the fall season? What is your favorite fall tradition? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jun7

Happy 24th Birthday To Me!!

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Happy 24th Birthday To Me!!

Hello!!! Today is a wonderful day for planet Earth, because it’s my 24th birthday! Although I’m not too keen on getting older, birthdays are still a time for celebration – and I do love celebrating myself. 😀 These past few years have been a royal shit show for yours truly so, even though going into a new year is scary, I am looking forward to things *hopefully* going up from here!

Thanks again to all of my wonderful readers for all of the love and I hope you guys have an amazing day – I’m sure going to try to!

Happy birthday to meeeeee!!!!!!!!

May16

Mother’s Day Bouquets

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Mother’s Day Bouquets

Hi everyone and happy late Mother’s Day to all of the wonderful moms, pet moms, and soon to be moms out there! You are all amazing and thank you for everything that you do – especially my mom! 😉 As a flower loving family, beautiful bouquets were the only way to go this Mother’s Day. Check out these gorgeous blooms and let’s discuss:

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The lavender bouquet seen first is compliments of my dad. He created his gift fresh from the lavender bush (Or tree?!) that he planted in our backyard. They smell divine and the pale purple color is spectacular. My dad planted his lavender when it was just a tiny sprig and now it is a huge, blossoming tree. It looks awesome and will definitely supply us with more bouquets all summer long.

The day lilies and vase are compliments of yours truly. My mom loves lilies and so I thought that they were the perfect flower for her gift from me. I love the dazzling orange and it looks striking against the Air Force blue vase. The butterfly and dragonfly adorned vessel was the last of its kind at the store and I can see why! I think that it is so pretty and I knew that it was something that my mom would love because the simple country style decor is her favorite. And, of course I was right!

We had a wonderful Mother’s Day celebration at my place and I hope that all of you did, too! How did you celebrate Mother’s Day? What is your favorite thing about your mom? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

May6

Science Backed Ways To Give The Best Gifts

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Science Backed Ways To Give The Best Gifts

Choosing a gift that the recipient will truly love and appreciate can be no easy feat. Even if you know someone very well, it’s so easy to get it wrong and give them a gift that, sure, they’ll pretend to love, but which you just know they’re disappointed in. The good news is, is that it doesn’t have to be that way – science has come to the rescue.

Yes, scientists have looked into the art of gift giving and they have come up with some solid rules for giving gifts that will be really appreciated by anyone on any occasion. Read on to find out more:

Know the Person Well:

Okay, so this probably isn’t going to help you if you’re buying for a mere acquaintance but a psychologist at San Fransisco State University by the name of Ryan Howell says that really knowing the person you’re gifting to is the key to getting it right. This makes sense, because if you know that your friend is a fan of the kind of quirky gifts you find at Davson Sales or you know that your aunt loves the dresses at Macy’s, then you’ll be giving a great gift. Even better, it enables you to go with a meaningful gift that is highly personalized to them and is unique – how could they not love that?

Make a Donation:

Although this often seems like a way of wimping out or something that people will pretend to like, but are secretly disappointed about, science says differently. In research conducted by Harvard Business School, it was found that giving to charity makes people happier than buying stuff and giving more makes people happier still, so by making a charity donation in the giftee’s name, you both win.

Handmade:

Buying something brand new from the store can be a good move if you know for sure that the giftee wants whatever it is you’re buying, but if you don’t it can be a minefield. Will they like it? Do they already have it? Should I give them the receipt just in case? Luckily, you can easily avoid all of that, because a study conducted by the Journal of Marketing in 2015 found that people like to gift homemade items because they are more unique, thoughtful, and they are often more appreciated. The same is true of family heirlooms which are more valued and, thus, more appreciated even if they are not actually more expensive.

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A craft that you enjoy making is always a good idea!

Give Them an Experience:

Giving people an experience that they will remember forever as gifts, like the ones at If Only, typically, according to science, makes them happier than giving them objects that they may well be bored of in a month or two. So, if you’re stuck, think about whether they’d like tickets to the big football game, a skydiving experience, a spa break, or something similarly exciting that fits their personality. They’ll undoubtedly like it more than chocolates, beer, or flowers.

Even if you weren’t great at science in school, let the experts help you make the best of your gifting with the ideas above!

Featured Image By: Pixabay

May2

Unique Gifts For The Person Who Has Everything

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Unique Gifts For The Person Who Has Everything

What do you buy for the person who has everything? You’ll probably spend hours searching the deepest corners of the internet trying to find something, but with the giftee’s birthday fast-approaching this can make it even more stressful. That is why we have listed some top ideas below so that you can put an end to those endless internet searches:

Glow In The Dark Pillows:

Do you have a friend who is always stumbling in drunk and unable to find their bed? Then a glow in the dark pillow could be the solution. Glow in the dark pillows come in a huge range of shapes and sizes, and they look awesome, so if you want to give them something really special and unique then this is certainly the way to go. The best thing about these pillows is that you don’t even know that they are glow in the dark until you turn the light off! You can also get cute pillows and gifts too, which work just as well for someone who might not need the glow in the dark aspect as much.

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So cute!

Fun Mugs:

You may have seen funny mugs on the market and you may also think that they look kind of tacky. The best thing about mugs is that there are so many options available and there are some that look awesome. For example, you can get mugs that are shaped like tiki totems and you can also get some that light up, as well. Themed mugs are also great if they have a favorite movie and they are ideal if you can get one that is unlike anything that they have seen before.

Custom T-Shirt:

Does your friend have a favorite slogan, band, or anything else of the sort? Then why not put it on a t-shirt for them! You can easily create your own and this is about as unique as it gets. You can create your own shirt in a couple of minutes and the best thing about this is that you know that they won’t have one already!

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 Pixabay Image

Food Gadgets:

Everyone loves food and one way for you to get something for the person who has everything would be for you to buy them a gadget if they love to cook or bake. Or, if they have been to another country and they love the sweets or food there, then you can easily buy them a box of candy online or try cooking their favorite dish for them. Sure, you may pay a ton for postage, but at the end of the day you know that they will love it and it is a great way for you to show that you really care.

With so many options available when choosing a gift, finding the right one has never been easier – even for the friend that has everything!

Apr23

Gift Giving Advice To Help You “Wow” Your Partner

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Gift Giving Advice To Help You “Wow” Your Partner

If there’s a big occasion coming up for your partner, then you might be worrying about what to get for them. Shopping for gifts can be a stressful experience. However, there are lots of different ways in which you can treat your other half without buying anything in the shops. A gift is simply supposed to show that you care about someone, after all.

Obviously, you don’t have to stick to any individual idea; if you’re really pampering your significant other on this big occasion, then you could treat them to a combination of the things mentioned in this article (or other ideas you might already have). The following advice will give you some inspiration as to different gifts that could “wow” your partner:

Get them a personalized gift:

You can’t beat a personalized gift. Whether it’s your partner’s birthday or you’re just planning ahead for Christmas, a custom-made gift is appropriate for any occasion. It tops anything that you could buy in a store because it’s one-of-a-kind. It’s something that you created especially for your significant other. You could give them a memory book, for example. The book could contain photographs, concert tickets, and any other physical reminders of the time that you’ve shared together. A personalized gift is a special present that’ll definitely impress your partner.

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Photo albums are great, too!

Spend a romantic day together:

If you can’t find anything in the stores to buy for your partner, then maybe you could spend a romantic day together. In fact, that’s probably a better present than anything you could find in the stores. If you’re a guy, then you might want to check out this sheer underwear for men to give your significant other a real treat once you get home. Woo wee!

You want to get the right balance of fun and sentimentality on your romantic day together. The important thing is that you enjoy each other’s company and make some new memories. That’s the best gift you can give to your partner, after all. If you treat them to a day that they’ll never forget, then that’s a permanent present.

Bake them a cake:

Whether it’s a birthday, anniversary, or even Christmas, you can’t beat a cake on a special occasion. Everybody loves cake. And if they don’t, then you could bake them some other special treat. Food of some kind is usually a winner in most people’s books when it comes to great gifts. There are tons of options such as DIY cake, cupcakes, or even home made chocolate! The point is, that this is usually a winning “recipe” when it comes to gift-giving.

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Yum!

Whatever gift you end up getting for your significant other, remember that the key to success is thoughtfulness. You don’t have to spend a fortune. You just have to make it clear that you really thought about what you were buying for them. You know them best, at the end of the day, so a simple gift that suits their interests is usually the best way to go.

Apr13

Mastering The Art Of Giving A Thoughtful Gift

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Gift buying can be very stressful, whether it’s for birthdays, Christmas, Easter, or the other hundreds of events that seem to take place each year. It’s not that you don’t want to give gifts to the people you love – it’s that choosing gifts for so many different occasions and so many different people can be exhausting and overwhelming. You don’t want to disappoint anybody, but it can often be hard to think of any good ideas. Obviously, your loved ones will say it’s the thought that counts, but that’s the problem – there are no “thoughts” in your head. Until you read this article, of course!

A day out:

One of the best gifts that you can give to a loved one is a day out together. Spending time together is a gift in itself, as cheesy as that might sound. Obviously, you shouldn’t say “I am the present” because that might seem a little as if you forgot to buy a present for the person in question (Plus, you don’t want to sound bigheaded!). But, a day out is certainly one of the most thoughtful gifts you can give somebody if you do it correctly. Think about that person’s favorite place in the world and take them there. If their favorite place is too far away – like a vacation destination in Europe, for example, fear not! Assemble a care package of gifts europe themed and it will spoil them with mementos and a reminder of their happy place.

A personalized gift:

Adding a customized touch to a present tells the person that you made or bought this thing especially for them. This will definitely make an impact on the person for whom you buy the gift, because it lets them know that you put some thought into the present. You could view here if you wanted to get a custom phone case for a friend. You could get a photo of the pair of you printed on it. You could even create a personalized piece of artwork for someone if you have creative ability. Of course, think about what they might like but think outside of the box too! A proud pet parent would love a Dog Mug with their four-legged friend’s picture on it. An exercise enthusiast could get great use out of a personalized duffle bag. As we’ve discussed throughout this article, a gift doesn’t have to be expensive – it just has to be thoughtful. A customized present definitely shows that you’ve put thought into it.

Food (candy and other treats usually work best):

If you’re really panicking about birthdays that are just around the corner, then food is always a safe bet. Everybody loves food of some kind, so just think about the preferences of the person in question and go wild. Whether it’s a Christmas gift, birthday gift, or even a baby shower gift, food is the type of present that works for any occasion you can imagine. Obviously, you’ll need to make sure it’s presented nicely; get some gift wrap, a bow, and perhaps a nice plate (depending on what it is, of course).

Food is a simple gift, but it’s one that is guaranteed to succeed if you know the person well. Of course, it should be an exciting piece of food – a few apples might not be very exciting unless they’re a fruit fanatic. If they’re a fan of sweet treats, however, then those always make the perfect gift. You could even bake your own treats for the person in question. The homemade touch adds some personal flavor to the gift. As mentioned in the previous point, personalized gifts are always very well received.

Drink related gifts also tend to be very well received. Perhaps you could do a smoothie kit with a blender and recipe book? Or maybe your giftee appreciates a drink or two over the weekend. If so, you could check out the Bourbon Boujee Buddy Bottle Bundle or a similar package gift with their favorite alcoholic beverage. The beauty of food and drink presents is that they are sure to be used and your giftee will think of you when they do so.

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Yummm!

A nostalgic gift:

If you really want to tug at somebody’s heartstrings, then you should opt for the nostalgic angle when you buy them a present. Show them that you not only remember the recent good times you’ve shared together but the good times you’ve shared over the years. Perhaps one of your parents has a birthday coming up. You could buy them a copy of a board game that you used to play together when you were little. Maybe it was lost somewhere along the line, so it’ll be a sweet gesture to give your parents a new version. Or maybe you could find some old photographs of you and your childhood friend – reminding them that you’ve always been close friends and you always will be.

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Board games provide hours of fun, too!

Concert tickets:

As you’ve probably gathered by now, the most thoughtful gifts are ones that show you know or care about the person in question. That’s why a concert ticket to see their favorite artist is such a great idea. It combines a few of the things we’ve discussed already. It could be a fun evening out for you and your buddy, but it’s also a thoughtful gift because it shows that you know them well. Plus, the joy of seeing their favorite musician will be a great gift in itself.

Gift buying can be stressful with all of the occasions to present presents for throughout the year. But if you put some thought into it, you’ll be just fine!

Featured Image By: Pexels

Apr13

Appropriate Gifts For All Occasions

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Appropriate Gifts For All Occasions

There are many gifts to give for holidays, birthdays, and the like that are simple for you to buy and appreciated by the recipient. Unfortunately, some of these items leave you feeling like you didn’t buy an actual gift or you are left wondering how to present it to the person. Use the following tips to ensure that you are going to please everyone on your gift list this year:

Gift Cards:

Nothing makes a better gift than gift cards. You don’t have to worry about getting the right size or color, and the recipient can shop for exactly what they want. However, it doesn’t look like much of a gift. Be creative and tuck gift cards into coffee mugs along with candy or chocolates. Purchase a decorative box and slip it inside, or give it inside of a wallet to add some panache to the presentation.

Sweet Treats:

If you love to bake, cookies and cakes are always a welcomed gift. Presentation is everything in these situations. Purchase decorative plates to put them on and wrap the treat in cellophane tied with a ribbon bow. You can also place them in a basket along with a Christmas ornament or one of the Jim Shore figurines from Coppin’s gifts during the holidays.

Food:

Food makes an ideal get well gift, new home gift, or holiday present. If you are giving an entire meal, put it in a picnic basket or carrier that they can keep. You could also present it on a dish or platter that you purchase just for them. Take advantage of aluminum covered, disposable bakeware too. Put all of the containers in an insulated bag tied shut with a big bow.

By taking a simple gift and going one step further with it, you elevate items like gift cards, baked goods, and food to a new level. Anyone would be pleased to receive these gifts, and no one will accuse you of taking the easy way out when it comes to gift giving.

Apr9

Last Minute Gifts When You’re In A Bind

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Last Minute Gifts When You’re In A Bind

When life gets ahead of us thanks to a whirlwind schedule, gift purchasing can seem like the last thing on your mind. But, alas, birthdays and holidays still come and go, and gift buying is a necessary part of it. Whether you’re picking something up from a store or online shopping, last minute gift shopping isn’t always a bad thing – as long as you don’t make it glaringly obvious that you did, that is. Check out these tips for when you need to do the last minute gift hustle for your next get together:

Something Fast:

The first option to consider is one which is in place entirely for its speed. Amazon Prime Same Day delivery has started to cover a very wide range of products recently, opening the doors for those with phobias of the outside world to buy things without venturing out. And the best part of these services, is that you will often get your hands on the goods within hours of ordering them. This is perfect for when you have a bit of time at home before you need to present your gift. Of course, when it comes to Amazon, you can often choose to have items gift wrapped, too.

Something Personal:

There are plenty of personal gifts out there which you can give to someone and they will cherish it for a long time. That piece of jewelry or furniture they keep glancing at, for example, could be a great gift, and you don’t have to go and buy it. The odds are that you will own a good range of different items which could inherit heirloom status. Being passed down or across generations, items like these could stay with people you love for hundreds of years, and could even find themselves in the hands of great people down the line.

Avoiding The Physical:

When you’re in a rush, giving something physical may be a mistake. If they live too far away for you to visit, you will have to use the postal service to get their gift to them, and this could be a problem if you’re not careful. Avoiding this is simple, leaving you with loads of great options. For example, subscription services like Spotify, are becoming extremely popular. Giving you access to hundreds of gifts, looking down the digital route can be a great way to avoid missing the big day.

Professional Services:

Companies that are willing to bend over backwards to make you happy can be found everywhere. Professional services, like chocolate making and flower arrangement, are great when you’re looking for gifts for people you love. Companies like Camelback Flowershop have the skills and resources to be able to take and prepare custom orders to be delivered on the same day. Of course, this is based on location, and you will have to find a business close to you. Once you do, though, you will be able to start turning birthdays you miss or forget about into something very special. This sort of gift can be touching when you have it arrive for you.

Something Homemade:

Basing a gift on your hobbies is often a simple matter of putting yourself to work, and will only take a bit of effort once you get into it. Drawing, cooking, singing, and crafts are but a few examples of the choices you have here, giving you a huge range of different gift ideas to choose from. This is something that you will have to dedicate a lot of time to in the short window you have between remembering a birthday and seeing the person who is having it if you want to get it done in time. This will be hard to manage if you have a busy schedule to contend with, but the reaction of your loved one will be so worth it!

Printable Gifts:

If you own a printer, you have the makings for tons of easy gifts which most people will never try. Buying tickets to a musical performance, for example, will often give you the ability to print off the documents from home, rather than having to wait for them to come in the post. Using this sort of gift will give you the chance to choose something personal and well thought out, without having to have the time to spend on making it happen.

Last minute gift shopping can be totally stressful, so use this guide and breeze through your next occasion with ease!

Featured Image By: Unsplash

Apr6

Happy Birthday, Dad!

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Happy Birthday, Dad!

Hi everyone and TGIF! Today is a special day, because it’s my dad’s birthday!! My dad. The vacation planner extraordinaire, the man with the green thumb, and my favorite guy on the planet. One of my favorite daily activities is annoying my father, and knowing that deep down, despite my constant burping, singing, and dancing around is that he loves me like crazy. And I him, of course.

CHARLES is a really special guy and he has taught me all about enjoying the simple things in life. My dad is an amazing gardener and can seemingly make beautiful plants, flowers, and vegetables appear out of nothing. He also invests in his passion for wildlife watching every day by feeding the neighborhood birds and squirrels in our backyard. Watching my father tend to his craft daily is a constant reminder for me to take a step back and appreciate the beauty that surrounds my home that he created. Like I said, he’s a really special guy.

Although my dad doesn’t read my blog (As far as I know.), it wouldn’t be right to not wish him a happy birthday on lifewithlilred. So happy birthday, dad. I sure do love you! ❤

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