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. 

5 Top Gifts for your dad for "Father's Day" June 15th

Father's Day is fast approaching on June 15th. It's a time to honor your dad ! President Lyndon Johnson made Father's Day a holiday to be celebrated on the third Sunday of June. The holiday was not officially recognized until 1972, during the presidency of Richard Nixon. Here are some suggestions for gifts for Father's Day.

For a Digital dad : A great new digital camera is the best. According to Aby Johns, there are a wide variety of camcorders out there, made by a wide variety of brands. So, what brand of camcorders should you focus on? Consumer Reports has Sony at the top of the camcorder market, so if you are a camcorder novice and you just want to make sure that you get a quality camcorder, then buying a Sony camcorder may just be your best bet. Good noline stores are buy.com, bestbuy.com and geeks.com.

For a Dad who likes to Grill : Outdoor BBQ grill is the best. Dads can be very picky about picking just the right one, so a gift certificate to the store that he has been browsing would work. A Weber Grill is classic, yet there are many options available nowadays.

For the "Do-it-yourself" dad : He can never have enough tools so how about giving him a gift card from his favorite neighborhood hardware store. He will surely find a use for that, soon.

For a Foodie dad : if your dad is passionate about food and cooking, a cooking class can be a fun, exciting and a useful Father's Day gift. Find one that is close by and check for times and interesting classes.

For a "dad-who-does-not-like-to-shop" : Give him a day at the mall with you so that you can help him find a great outfit for himself. Usually men dont like shopping for themselves so a little bit of design help can go a long way in bonding with your dad.

Happy Mother's Day !

Mother's Day reaches its 100th Anniversary in 2008.The woman who was responsible in making this day possible was Anna Jarvis.

Did you know that she was never married and had no kids of her own?

She was the one who in 1908 organized a celebration in her church for Mother's Day on the second Sunday in May in honor of her mother ! From that year onwards, Mother's Day has been celebrated every year on the second Sunday in May and mothers all over the world over have been getting appreciation for all the work they do for their families.

If you have not thanked your mother today...please do. I can tell you that the best thing that ever happened to me is being a "mom". I could have never known real pain and extreme joy and happiness. I could have never known empathy in the deepest sense. As only a mother can feel the pain / joy her child feels. I love my 2 daughters. They are my sunshine and moonshine ! Without them I could not have grown as a woman and person. So, as much as I want to be appreciated, I appreciate them being in my life.....Life could not be sweeter....

So wishing all you mothers out there A VERY HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY !

Hope you get from your kids what "YOU" "REALLY" want !

Top 3 Last Minute Valentines Day Gifts for Women !

Most of the country is in a deep freeze. So how can you warm it up with your honey? Whether you're just dating, engaged, or married, the gifts that provoke the most delight are the ones that touch her heart.
Here are the Top 3 Valentines Gifts for Women

1. Roses : Flowers have the magic to melt even the hardest of hearts. So a bunch of deep rich red roses is the way to melting her heart. Stop by at any local grocery store to pick those up. Don't forget to write your feelings on the card. Forgetting that - not recommended !
2. Chocolates : You know which chocolate your sweetheart likes. Double the pleasure by pairing it with her favorite wine !
3. Back Massager : Have you ever wanted someone just to scratch your back? Pamper your valentine's back with a nice back massage. Maybe get her one of these HoMedics PM-30BX On-The-Go Battery Operated Mini 3 Node Massager (Colors May Vary) from Walgreens and make it special !

or call us at 847-277-1483 to make a special Valentines Gift Basket !

"Love looks not with eyes, but with the mind" - Valentines Day - February 14th

February 14th, Valentines Day, across the country and the world, candy, flowers, and gifts are exchanged between loved ones, all in the name of St. Valentine. With a little advance planning, you can save yourself a lot of stress and ensure a fun and romantic Valentine's Day--one where you won't be stuck without a reservation or paying too much for a rush delivery of flowers. It goes without saying, but restaurants are flooded with reservation requests for that night, so book early at your favorite romantic spot, or at that hot new bistro. If you leave yourself a little more time, you can also find a more personal gift.

Personal gifts take planning and knowing what your sweetheart loves, is important. Maybe its a flat screen TV or a romantic getaway or a special ring ! Make it something they REALLY REALLY want not what you want them to have. You know it could be as simple as a movie night or a romantic dinner at home. Think of the simple things - things that dont cost a dime - like paying attention, being romanitc or having the best time ever !

If you have already thought of those things you are already ahead of the game. So now it's time to choose a card....I would say, skip all the canned, commercial messages and buy a blank card; it doesn't take too much time to write your own personal message inside, and it will mean far more. Better yeat make it a funny one...tickle her/his funny bone. My husband always gives me a really funny card...and laughing nad smiling with him is more special than anything else.

Here are some Love Quotes by the most romantic bard that ever lived : William Shakespeare

• "They do not love that do not show their love."
• "The course of true love never did run smooth."
• "So long as I can breathe or I can see so long lives your love which gives life to me."
• "When you depart from me sorrow abides, and happiness takes his leave."
• "Love looks not with eyes, but with the mind."
• "A lover is one who knows who you are, understands where you have been, accepts what you have become, and still gently allows you to grow."
• "When I saw you I fell in love, and you smiled because you knew."
• "Love is the most beautiful of dreams and the worst of nightmares."
• "What's in a name? That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet."

For more inspiration, peruse this list of the 100 Greatest Love Poems

Names of some romantic-sounding places in the USA:


Valentine, NE
Valentine, TX
Loveland, CO
Lovejoy, GA
Lovelock, NE
Love Valley, NC
Loveland, OH
Loveland Park, OH
Loveland, OK
Lovelady, TX
Loves Park, IL
Loving County, TX
Lovington, NM
Loving, NM
Love County, OK
Lovington, IL
Romeo, CO
Romeo, MI
Romeoville, IL
Sacred Heart, MN
Heart Butte, MT
South Heart, ND

A healthy way to treat someone on Valentines Day !

Gift baskets, especially gourmet gift baskets are sometimes filled with delectable candies, chocolates, and gourmet goodies which can be bad for the waist line :) So what are the alternatives....edible alternatives. One company in particular has taken fruit to another level. An art form !

Edible Arrangements in Connecticut http://www.ediblearrangements.com/

Edible fruit baskets are a great alternative to a regular gourmet fit basket. No I am not denying that the Gourmet Gift baskets we make are simply delicious and filled to the brim with elegant goodies, but fresh fruit made to look like a beautiful bouquet of flowers is the way to treat someone who is watching their weight, or who just wants to be treated to something fresh and crisp !

As a fan of fresh fruit, this would be a great gift basket for Valentine's Day !

About the company :

Edible Arrangements® specializes in creating delicious fruit designs filled with fresh strawberries, pineapple, grapes, oranges, cantaloupe, honeydew, bananas and pears. Arrangements are guaranteed fresh and are available in a variety of styles and sizes. They are perfect for any occasion from happy birthday, thank you, congratulations and sympathy to business events, client gifts and employee appreciation. Each arrangement is made to order and can be customized with a jar of all natural fudge and a special occasion Mylar balloon. All ingredients are natural, no preservatives or sweeteners are used.