Easter has a fun side to it ! Special Easter Giving !

Easter has deeper religious meaning. But it also has a fun side to it. It is a holiday that embraces spring...colorful pastel marshmallow peeps, plastic eggs, cute dresses and more.

Easter is a time for giving. Whether it is a gift gasket or love...it is good to give....

Although I do not celebrate Easter I know of many friends who do. To me Easter symbolizes the "Egg" in it's many fun forms from Chocolate Easter Eggs to to swirly marbleized eggs I would make with my kids after school. I remember participating in the neighborhood Easter Egg Hunt on Easter Sunday every year. It was so magical to see my kids faces light up when they found a plastic egg. The neighborhood mom's would revel at our hiding skills when the kids had given up and were not able to find any more of the eggs we had hidden....It was fun seeing their hunting skills come alive...

Here is a neat idea for a Easter gift...Retro Candy !

Some articles of interest for Easter Gift Giving:

1. Easter Gift Ideas for the special needs child
2. Great Ideas for your teenager's gift basket
3. Make your own Easter Gift Baskets - Video

Happy Easter !

Valentine Seduction

Make this for your valentine this February 14th 2009

VALENTINE SEDUCTION

Flirtatious notes of mango and mint with floating bits of pomegrante makes this festive valentines cocktail curousluy delightful for a perfectly luxorous evening with your sweetheart. The colotrs are enticing as is the polished taste. Its an errotically simple recipe, one that tantilizes the senses. 

2 oz Champagne chilled

2 oz mango juice chilled

1 tspns pomegranate seeds

2 mint leaves slightly pinched between your fingers to bruise

In a tall champage flute add 2 mint leaves and 1 tsp of pomegrarnate seeds.

Add the mango juice and give a quick stir. Add the champagne just before serving.

Chef Notes : Substitute orange juice or V8 Splash for a simple variation in taste. The bruised mint leaves add a nice touch and may be removed before you drink. 

Happy Valentines Day ! 

Last Minute Popular Holiday Gift

It's not too late to shop for Christmas....Shoppers are scrambling by visiting online stores for their last minute purchases. Are you one of them? 

This year unlike all the other years, gift cards are not that popular given the fact that many of the places where the gift cards can be redeemed are going out of business! 

But at the same time, they make great gifts when all else fails !!!. Although, the National Retail foundation has reported that roughly 20 to 25 percent of gift cards given last year still haven't been redeemed, the key is to get gift cards or gift certificates that are easy to redeem and that don't expire !!!!

One of my favorite places to shop for gifts is Amazon, so an Amazon gift card makes a great last minute Holiday gift, with thousands of items for your loved one to choose from.... 

Enjoy all your last minute shopping ! 

Happy Holidays !!!!

Spa Gift Baskets

Spa Gift Baskets are a great present for anyone on any occasion like a birthday, wedding, graduation, mother's day and etc. Anyone can relax, unwind, and take a break from everyday stress with a spa treatment. Spa gift baskets make thoughtful gifts for anyone needing a touch of stress relief. Luxurious bath and body gift baskets designed to calm body, mind, and spirit.

Here is one that you will love to give, the Tranquil Delights Lavender Spa Bath and Body Gift Set - Tea & Cocoa Gift Basket. If you are in the mood to make one, Dr. Grace Livingstone outlines the best way to make one in this article : How to create the Ideal Spa Gift Basket for her in 5 Easy Steps. 

Falling prices on Christmas Gifts ! Where to shop ?

Unlike Australians who are likely to have to pay more for goods and services this Christmas where falling company profits force businesses to raise prices......out here in the US compnies are scrambling to lower prices and get cutomers into the door. As sales and profit expectations go down and expectations for employment growth are at their lowest levels, the retail industry shifts their attention to getting new and retain old customers with lucrative buys and free shopping offers.

Look for sales flyers in your mail boxes, free shipping offers in your inbox. Here at Elegantly Expressed we are offering FREE SHIPPING if you call and place your order before Dec 5th 2008 for your very first order with us !  

"Sales at department stores and specialty retailers are falling rapidly. They are cutting staff, discounting merchandise and liquidating stores to survive. But even as the financial turmoil strangled discretionary spending at many stores, it sent struggling consumers into the arms of Wal-Mart — and left it, the world's largest retailer, poised for a blockbuster Christmas." So shop smart this Christmas and make the best of the financial gloom that is upon us.