Christmas is Just Around the Corner...

Christmas is two weeks away and we are working hard on the many presents we are making this year. We love this time of year because we get to spend tons of time with our family and friends, get to drink lots of hot chocolate (which I love with whipped cream and marshmallows of course) and give back in a small way to the many people who share their love and support with us throughout the year.

Since having a child, I have realized the joys of receiving handmade gifts particularly from kids. So in our house we are literally making several gifts from our son to give to the people he loves including his grandparents and great grandparents. I found several of these ideas on pinterest (which is a definite addiction of mine) and am going to attempt for them to be as cute as the pictures are...

For those of you without kids I have several ideas for Christmas gifts that you can share with your many loved ones. Luckily Christmas is a time when you can give anything that shows them you love them, were thinking about them or that they may need or want. So you could put together a basket of necessities for your husband that includes cologne, deodorant, under shirts, boxers and socks. For many this time of year means a much needed vacation with me time so you could provide a woman that needs a little pampering some bubble bath, manicure set or pampering in a jar.

 If you are looking for a cute and simple gift perfect for the many neighbors and coworkers that you may have this is a cute idea of We Whisk you a merry Kissmas which includes a whisk and Hershey kisses. You could also make some hot chocolate jars or snowman soup which includes hot chocolate mix, marshmallows and peppermint stirring sticks. There is also a simple idea of a oven mitt, cookie mix and cookie cutter which would be fun and cute.

If you are looking for a gift to give as a thank you hostess gift for any body's house you are going to for Christmas or a gift to help make people feel good or for a difficult guy you need to buy for then the idea of a basket with the makings of their favorite drink or a drink enjoyed by all is always a good idea. Maybe a bottle of hard alcohol for the guys and a bottle of wine for the girls.

Just remember Christmas is the time to enjoy quality experiences with your family and friends. It is all about the giving of your love and time. So make sure to tell those that mean the most to you how important they are and how much you love them. As always if you would like any help with ideas or making a basket just email me at CaringExpressionsGiftBaskets@gmail.com or feel free to check me out on pinterest. Merry Christmas to you all!!!

This Year...

I know I promised to have pictures up of my son's birthday party and it has been a while since then but I do have a very good excuse for that. The amazing florist who worked on my son's party has gotten his party published online and I couldn't really post pictures of his party before then. His party was a complete success, it was gorgeous, the food was yummy and the prizes were a hit. I made baskets with homemade apple butter (a recipe I got on pinterest by the way) and homemade shortbread cookies (my mom's recipe) which I of course didn't get a photo of because when you are running a birthday party sometimes the little things get forgotten. I do have a couple photos from his birthday to share with you.


This photo is what our backyard looked like for his party. I know you might think I am crazy for doing all of this for a one year old birthday party and I might very well be but nonetheless this is how it all turned out. All of the flowers and design concept was created by the amazing company Entwined Design Events and Florals. They are extremely creative, talented, imaginative and I will never use anybody else ever again. Thanks to them my son's party was a success :) You can check out the feature at blog.hwtm.com. It is posted on Nov. 6th and titled Adorable "Barnyard Extravaganza" Birthday Party. Let me know what you think :)

 This is what my son wore on his birthday.

We thought it would be a nice surprise to share the news of our growing family with everyone on his birthday so his shirt says Only Child Expiring Feb 2013. This is also another reason I have been super busy the last few months. We are thrilled to be having a second child. So you can expect that I will be sharing tons of baby gifts, shower ideas and every other baby related thing ;)

This year has been a whirlwind of amazing experiences, thrills and exciting new adventures. Luckily there are still the holidays coming up. So look for a blog post on Thanksgiving host/hostess gifts, Christmas gifts and maybe a few little surprises here and there :)

Anniversary!

Today is a very special day in our house...it is my husband and my anniversary! We have been together for 9 years today and married for five of them (we got married on our dating anniversary). My husband is a wonderful man, amazing father, hard worker, artistic, caring, giving, loving and everything I could ever hope for. I am a very lucky woman and I try to let him know that especially today.

Since it is our anniversary I thought that I could use this as an opportunity to share ideas for anniversary gifts. An anniversary is a good time to get very personal gifts. I know that shopping for men is an extremely hard thing to do and trying to get them something personal without being overly mushy is even harder. Now I tend to be a little more mushy on our anniversary because I like to let my husband know exactly how I feel about him on our anniversary. I usually write a letter (handwritten on a piece of paper or more than one rare I know) to express how I feel and include it in his gift and on a few occasions he has been nice enough to reciprocate this. There are several different ways to let someone know you care about them. One way is to get them a basket filled with all of there favorite goodies; snacks, candies and drinks. This way you are showing them you have paid attention and know them. You could make a basket out of stuff you need for the house. One year my husband and I discussed how we needed new sheets for our bed so I bought some and put it in a basket with movie snacks and new movies so that we could have a movie day in bed with our new sheets. You could also make date night baskets to spend the evening together, alone and enjoy each other.

There are several ideas that you could use as gifts for your significant other. Just think about them, how you feel about them, what they would appreciate and what they would enjoy. Guys always remember that flowers and jewelry are typically a big hit along with a clean house, dinner and dishes done that she didn't have to do.

I thought that as an ending to this blog I would include a couple of pictures from our wedding to share with you.

Our wedding party...yes they are a little crazy but that is why we love them!

We were so in love on our wedding day and have been every day since.

One of the many kisses we have shared since we said I Do.

Now I am going to go enjoy my anniversary with my husband!

Crazy Summer!!!

Sorry you guys that I have been a little MIA lately...I have been having a crazy but incredibly fun Summer. I have been working on some awesome prize gift baskets for birthday parties and wedding showers and actually need to get working on some for my son's 1st birthday party next weekend. I cannot believe that he is going to be one a week from tomorrow. This year has been the fastest of my life. To see how much he has changed and grown is amazing. I am in awe of the adorable little boy he is becoming and am so proud. He is saying mama and dada, woof for his doggie, towel when he pulls out all the towels at my mom's house and just a week ago he took his first steps. I am absolutely completely in love with this little boy. So of course I had to plan a huge first birthday party. We are having a country/barnyard themed birthday party and it is going to be amazing. I am very lucky to have a best friend that is an amazing florist and another good friend that is an event planner/crafter who are so very nice and are helping me out. I am making homemade gift baskets for the prizes for the games. I will post pictures of how his party turns out and the gift baskets I use for prizes.

Hope you guys are having an awesome summer! I am posting a couple of pictures of my son the almost one year old.

Joseph when he was born.

Joseph about a month ago.

Joseph a couple of months ago.

Happy Father's Day!!!!!!

Growing up I had a wonderful relationship with my father. He would always listen and give good advice. He was supportive by being at all of my dance recitals and we even had all kinds of father/daughter date nights together. He is hardworking with an incredible work ethic. He has supported his family, taught us responsibility and shown us a ton of love. My dad taught me how to change a tire, protect myself and about the man I want to marry (one like him). He is a wonderful father and I love him very much. I am very grateful for everything he has sacrificed to support us, all the love he has shown us and the lessons he has taught me. I wouldn't be the adult I am or the parent I am if it weren't for him. Below is a picture of my mom, dad and my little boy :)

When I was 17 I met a man that is very much like my father and I couldn't help but fall in love with him. He is hardworking, dedicated, loving, caring and an incredible father. He supports his family in many ways. He is a kind man that opens doors for people, helps complete strangers and would give the shirt off his back if somebody really needed it. He is a loyal husband, a source of strength and my best friend. I love my husband and I am thrilled that he is the man that I have started a family with. When I look at my husband I think that he is definitely the type of man I want my son to be. He is a great role model and I am very lucky. Below is a picture of my husband with our little boy :)

Now my husband wouldn't be the man he is without the guidance of a very special man. My husband's father is technically his stepfather. Often times I think that stepparents get a bad reputation because of all the stories with evil stepmoms and kids always complaining about their stepparents. In reality they are a loving adult that is choosing to raise a child that is not theirs by blood and yet they love them, guide them and cherish them all the same (the same with adoptive parents). That is exactly what my husband's father did. He treated my husband like he was his flesh and blood. He was there for support, advice, guidance, lessons and to provide a ton of love. If you ask my husband this man is his father no ifs ands or buts about it. Below is a picture of my husband's mom, dad and our little boy :)

It is nice to give some recognition to all the things the dad's in your life have done. Sometimes they don't get enough of it. So make sure you tell them you love them and thank you! Happy Father's Day!

Father's Day...

Father's Day is coming up on June 17th of this year. Now if you are like me then the men in your life are the hardest ones to shop for. It seems that they either buy what they want or they want something that is totally out of my price range like a new electronic gadget or tool (which I typically know absolutely nothing about). Since this is my husband's first father's day as a daddy I wanted to figure out something special to get him and it has made me think about different basket ideas.

Have you ever noticed during a gathering, party or bbq that the men are always either gathered around the grill or the alcohol? I don't know if this is just my family and friends or if it happens with yours too but that is what I have noticed. So how about a bbq basket with a new grill set (like spatula, tongs, grill brush), apron (with maybe grill master on it), their favorite bbq sauce or seasonings, a meat rub and cookbook. You could get them a shots basket which includes small bottles of different alcohol, shot glasses and recipes or a basket with all the makings of their favorite beverage. Then they can share all their new goodies with the other guys at the next gathering.

Most of the guys in my family like various sports like football, golf, fishing and baseball. You could make tailgating baskets filled with their favorite snacks, some beer and maybe tickets to a game. If they like fishing you could buy a bunch of fishing lures and some new fishing line and put that in a basket. You could set up a golfing basket and include golf balls, tees, pencils, set up a tee time at a course they love and some money for some drinks at the clubhouse after.

Now you could always just make a basket filled with all his favorite things. You could include his favorite cologne, snacks and drinks. If he loves the movies you could include movie tickets. If he loves electronics include a gift certificate to his favorite gadgets store.

Just remember that guys like that sentimental mushy stuff too...sometimes.  But also remember that you have to lighten it up with a joke of some kind too (you know guys and showing their emotions).

Make sure that whatever you get that special dad in your life it expresses how much you love him and appreciate everything he has done for you. Dad's are hardworking, loving, giving and deserve to feel loved too. As always let me know if you would like a basket by emailing me at CaringExpressionsGiftBaskets@gmail.com

Happy Mother's Day!

This mother's day is my very first mother's day as a mom and it is a very exciting day. It is the one day a year that people recognize your effort, hard work and love for your children. Now don't get me wrong I would do everything for my son on a daily basis even if there was no mother's day but it is definitely nice to be appreciated and acknowledged.

 As an adult and realizing the true meaning behind mother's day makes me want let my mom know how much I appreciate her. Before I had my son, I thought I had learned to appreciate everything my mom had done for me throughout my life but until I had a child of my own I didn't fully appreciate it all. When you have a child you realize how hard it is to be completely responsible for the way another human being turns out. Making decisions on a daily basis that could potentially affect the rest of their lives is extremely hard. As a parent you are trying to shape them into responsible, intelligent, independent, caring, kind, loving, compassionate and successful adults. My mom did it extremely well. I will be eternally grateful for all the things she did for me. My mom had a nice balance between being strict and fair. She was extremely clear about her expectations of us and the consequences if we did not comply with the rules. She has always been loving, caring, hard working and an example of the adult I wanted to be. She has been an incredible influence in my life and I am so thankful that she is my mom.

This is a picture of my lovely mother, father and my little boy. Can you believe he is only nine months old?

Of course there is another woman that I need to acknowledge as well, my mother-in-law. My husband is an amazing man with good morals, an amazing work ethic, loving and caring personality and I want to thank my mother-in-law for raising him to be such a wonderful person and teaching him all of these qualities. She has shaped him into an incredible father and husband which is just a testament to the incredible mother she is. I am glad that I married her son and I get to have her in my life too. I am very thankful to have her as my mother-in-law.

This is a picture of my lovely mother-in-law, father-in-law and my little boy.

I am so blessed to have such incredible mother's in my life. Thank you so much for being there and helping us and teaching us. I know that as I continue on this journey of parenthood that I will be alright because I have such great examples in my life.

So I hope that you all have a wonderful mother's day! I know I will have a great day because I have such incredible people to share it with. 

Mother's Day Is Coming Fast!!!

Mother's day is a week and 1/2 away. What have you gotten your mom? I know as a new mom I am looking forward to celebrating my very first mother's day. I give everything I have to my family and it is nice to know that it is appreciated. A good way to show mom that you care and that you love her would be a nice gift basket that I would be happy to provide :) I can make baskets in various price ranges starting at $15. I have a few pictures to share with you of Mother's Day Baskets I made.

The first basket is a spa basket that includes bubble bath, bath salts, lotion, nail polish, eye mask and a loofah. Perfect for a relaxing day which every mom deserves.

A little larger spa basket that includes bubble bath, bath salts, lotion, body wash, body scrub, a loofah and a body spray. Spa baskets are enjoyable, relaxing and perfect for any super mom that does anything and everything for their family (which is pretty much every mom).

The next basket is a two sided basket but could be made into two separate types of baskets. The first side has wine, chocolates, cookies, crackers and cheese. This could be turned into a gourmet basket that includes their favorite type of wine, candy, cheese, sausage. In this particular basket it is included to relax after a day in the garden.

The other side of the basket is a gardening basket which could be a basket within itself. It includes a gardening tote, knee pads, new gloves, new gardening tools (a rake, two shovels, a weeder and shears), flower seeds and flower food. A woman who enjoys relaxing by working in the garden would love this basket.

May 13th is mother's day, so don't forget to show mom that you love her and appreciate her. Get her a gift that is as special as she is and let me know if you need help with that gift.

Make Mom Feel Special!!!

Mother's day is a day to let your mom know that everything she has done for you has not gone unnoticed or unappreciated. Mom's provide a support, love and generosity that no one else can give you. They have been there to give those special healing kisses or that piece of advice that has put everything into perspective. They have been your cheerleader your entire life and have loved you with every piece of their heart since before you were born. Mom is the one person you know you can count on no matter what and that is why they deserve to feel special for at least one day out of the year. I know several amazing mothers who are inspirational and deserving of an incredible gift. Now as a new mother (my son will be 9 months old this mother's day), it has given me a whole new appreciation for my mother and made me realize why this day is so important.

So what can you get them that will make them feel special? I have several ideas and options for you. First of all I want you to think about your mother and figure out what she loves to do. Not the things she has to do but what does she love to do. If she likes to garden then a gardening basket would be a fun gift. You could include a new pair of gardening gloves, some tools, some seeds of her favorite plants, a book about certain herbs or plants and something to enjoy while waiting for those plants to grow (like a nice bottle of wine or her favorite snacks). You could just give her a basket of all the sweets she loves like her favorite candy, cakes, brownies and cookies. If she loves coffee then you could do a gourmet coffee gift inside a large coffee mug. It could include a new flavor of coffee, some biscotti or a creamer that she would love. Is she a wine connoisseur? Then a gourmet basket with her favorite wine with chocolates or cheese and gourmet crackers. Does she love movies? Give her a movie basket with popcorn, candies, sodas and either movie passes or a new movie.

Now every mother works unbelievably hard and gives her all to her family so for mother's day you could give her a way to relax and rejuvenate. You could give her a spa day basket with bubble bath, an eye mask, new lotion, loofah and a gift certificate for a massage. Another idea is to give her a new book, a new blanket to snuggle up with, a favorite beverage, snacks and some alone time to enjoy it all. Maybe those husbands out there could take the kids out for the day letting mom rest and relax and do whatever she wants for a day (not necessarily mother's day but as a gift take them out another day).

The most important thing to give to your mother is to tell her how much you love her and appreciate her. Let her know that all the things she does for you on a daily basis mean the world to you. Personalize the gift to your mother so she knows that you pay attention to her. Oh and if you can't think of anything else jewelry always works wonders with most women :) If you would like us here at Caring Expressions Gift Baskets to help you out with a gift we would love! Just shoot us an email at CaringExpressionsGiftBaskets@gmail.com and we can work something out! Show your mom how much she means to you and let her know that she is one special lady!!!

Easter is just around the corner...

Easter is Sunday and I am looking forward to my son's first Easter! I have been busy making Easter baskets, getting them ready to go. I have some new pictures to share with you. Let me know if you would like an Easter basket by emailing me at CaringExpressionsGiftBaskets@gmail.com We can make them in various price ranges starting at $20.

A basket for a little girl. It includes bubbles, sidewalk chalk, a new stuffed animal, candy, a snow globe, a new light up toy and a movie. It can be personalized with the favorite candy or stuffed animal or movie.

 The finished product ready to ship.

 A treat basket filled with favorite snacks, candy a favorite flower seed and surprise filled easter eggs. It can be personalized for any recipient.

 The finished product ready to ship.

 A family basket. It includes a household item, candy for mom and dad and something for the kids. It can be personalized for any family.

 The finished product ready to ship.

 A sweet treat basket perfect for any adult or teenager. It can be personalized with the favorite candy of any recipient.

 The finished product ready to ship.

 A basket perfect for any teenager. It reaches the kid inside with a cute toy and favorite candy which can be personalized.

 A baby boy basket. It is filled with a chalkboard for parents to write notes on, a first car, foam balls and puffers (those yummy dissolvable treats).

A little boy basket filled with a chalkboard, sidewalk chalk, a puzzle, mini nerf footballs and water balls. Perfect to get them playing outside and possibly out of mom's hair for a few minutes.

Easter Baskets!!

We know how busy you can all be so we are here to help. We made some sample Easter baskets and have some pictures to share with you. If you would like some help in the Easter basket department you can contact us at CaringExpressionsGiftBaskets@gmail.com.

A sweet treat perfect for any adult or teenager. It can be personalized with the favorite candies of any recipient.

 Perfect for a family. Include something that the parents need, a couple of favorite candies and something for the kids.

 A baby boy basket. Include puffers, a couple of soft foam balls, his first car and a chalkboard for the parents to write notes on.

A boy basket. Include a chalkboard and sidewalk chalk, mini nerf footballs, a little puzzle and a couple balls. Perfect to encourage some outdoor fun and possibly get them out of mom's hair for a couple minutes.

We can make personalized Easter baskets or ones similar to above. Let us know what you need and we would gladly help you out.

What to give this Easter...

As a kid I loved easter! Those easter egg hunts were always a blast, the new dresses were always so pretty and my easter basket had candy that I loved. As a new mom I am looking forward to making Easter as special for my child as it was for me. But as a mom of a 8 month old I need to come up with an idea that does not include the miles and miles of Easter candy that is at the stores. Also as a mom I think that easter baskets should have things other than just candy. So I have been trying to brain storm and I have come up with a few ideas.

For a baby why not include some puffers (those desolvable little treats) or a new baby food that they haven't tried. Baby Einstein dvds or a special toy that they seem to like in the store are always a good idea. You could include a new outfit if they aren't stockpiled with clothes already. You could also include something that they need like formula, bath wash or lotion. Some parents may appreciate a basket that helps them as well.

For a toddler you could include bubbles and a coloring book/crayons. A kite in the spring time is always a fun activity as well. You could include hot wheels or small dolls. There could be some candy but make sure to check with the parents first!

For those kids that are a little older you could include maybe a video game or a board game. How about putting some water balloons in the basket and encourage a fun and entertaining water balloon fight. You could include a diary and some colorful pens for a girl. You could include a football, soccerball or baseball/glove. Encourage some creative expression and outdoor fun. Include paints, paper, scissors, glitter and glue so they can create art and crafts. Don't forget to include a special treat!

Now as adults it is important to not forget eachother. I mean we could all use something every once in a while that makes us feel special, important and appreciated. So don't forget to let your spouse, significant other and your parents know that they are special this Easter too.

Give a little love and support!

Everybody needs a little love and support once in a while. Sometimes this is the best gift that could ever possibly be given. I was at a memorial today and was reminded of how much that show of support and love means to people. A hug, a shoulder to cry on, being someone to lean on or a listening ear are incredibly wonderful gifts that don't fit in a basket but trust me when I say that they mean the world.

It is also incredible to me when people show love and support to those they have never met. Charities are wonderful in the sense that they are supporting those who truly need it and people can provide this to someone they would have never known. There are so many causes out there and wonderful ways to give your time, support, love and even money to. There is one cause that is near and dear to me. It is a program for Chron's and Colitis to help find a cure. Why is this special to me? Someone that I know and love suffers from Colitis. He is an incredible person and anything I could possibly do to help find a cure I would be willing to do. This program helps those that are in my area that suffer from this and raises money to fund research. If you want to learn a little about the disease or the organization or donate to this cause you can from here  http://online.ccfa.org/site/TR/2012TakeStepsWalk/Chapter-GreaterLosAngeles?pg=team&fr_id=3109&team_id=102953

Take some time today and show a little love and support. Find that special cause that hits near home or that person that could use a little extra help. You would be surprised how that gift can not only make that person or organization feel better but you as well.

Birthday Love!!!!

In the next couple of weeks I will be celebrating my husband's and my best friend's birthdays. I think that a birthday is an excellent reason to give someone a gift basket. With a gift basket you can make a very personal and special gift that they will love.

My husband is a very tough person to buy a gift for because he tends to buy the things he really wants or he wants something that is financially not possible. With a gift basket it is possible to give a gift they will love within a budget. My husband loves movies and so making a movie night gift basket with candy, sodas and popcorn is always a hit. You could also give almost any guy a gift basket with beer and tailgating snacks. You could make a basket with a nice bottle of alcohol and special glasses. If they are a coffee lover make a basket with a mug, some nice coffee and biscotti/cookies. You can make a gift basket out of almost anything that they love.

My best friend is an incredible woman. She is kind hearted, creative, loving and an amazing mother. She is hard working and hilarious. She is the first person that would give the shirt off her back if you need it. Because of how absolutely wonderful she is I feel that she needs a birthday gift to match. I know how much she loves baths, so a basket filled with spa necessities such as bubble bath, lotion and a new loufa would be a good idea. I also know how much she enjoys a nice massage (and she deserves a much needed relaxing hour) so I could give her a massage gift certificate included with other stress relieving items. You could include a nice bottle of wine or other drinks of their choice. There could be some nice chocolates. For most mothers a nice night out without the kids would be an amazing gift. She has done so much for me that a nice birthday gift is the least I could do for her.

Remember that a thoughtful, caring and special birthday gift does not have to break the bank. Make it small but meaningful. The thought behind a gift showing how well you know someone tends to mean the most. Show those special people in your lives some birthday love.

My Husband's Valentine's Day Gift!

My husband is my soul mate. He is kind, loving, caring, funny and everything I could have ever wanted in a partner. He has made me unbelievably happy. Now as much as I love him, I know that I don't tell him or show him how much nearly enough. I have heard people complain that Valentine's Day is a holiday created by the candy corporations or it is a made up holiday etc. However, I view Valentine's Day as reminder to tell the people we love how much they mean to us. So that is what I did for my husband.

This year was our first Valentine's as parents. Our son is six months old and the love of our lives. So I had to buy my husband a Valentine's card from his son and one from me. In these cards I wrote exactly how I feel about him and how truly wonderful I think he is. Telling someone how much they mean to you is never stupid, silly or corny as long as you mean every word. A handwritten letter is sweet, personal and a rarity that makes it even more special. I also cut out construction paper hearts. On these I wrote one thing I love that he does for me and a coupon esque thing he could cash it in for. Now since we have a six month old I made them personal and worth alone time because it is always important to continue forming a personal and intimate bond with your partner while raising your children. I could have simply wrote things that I love about him or used them as decoration.

My husband works from home so I do not have ways of really surprising him so I created a gift basket for him with all of his favorite candy goodies. I also included some drinks I know he loves. I did this while he was out helping a friend one day. Otherwise posting notes around the house, candlelit dinner, low lighting, romantic music and rose petals would have been involved. No matter he loved his gift basket as much as I would have hoped. Below is a picture of all the yummy goodies inside of it.

Valentine's Day is not the only day you can show someone how much they mean to you. Sometimes it is nice to tell someone how much you love them just because you think they deserve to know. Hope you all had a marvelous Valentine's Day filled with lots of love!

Super Bowl Party!!!

Super Bowl is on Sunday and most of us are looking forward to that fun party, great food, and an awesome game. Although our favorite team, the San Francisco 49ers, did not make it to super bowl this year we are still excited for the party we are attending.

For that one very kind person that is hosting the super bowl party they are cleaning, prepping, buying the food, finding the seating and trying to make everything perfect for those who are coming to their home. Often times we forget how much effort is put into providing the perfect super bowl party. So if you are going to a super bowl party remember to bring the host/hostess a gift.

There are several options when providing a host/hostess gift. Since it is super bowl you could bring a football tailgating gift basket. This could include snacks, dips and candy that are perfect to munch on during the game. You could focus on their favorite football team and use those colors to create a gift. You could bring a drink tub that is filled with beer. There is the option of a gourmet basket that has a different kind of treat for them. There is also an option of providing them with something to help them relax after the party. For a woman this could be a nice spa gift that would include bubble bath. For a man you could bring a nice bottle of alcohol like whiskey or scotch.

Have fun! Be safe! Don't drink and drive! Enjoy the game, the food and the party! And remember to bring the host/hostess a gift!

Valentine's Day Ideas

It is always hard to find that perfect, romantic gift for our significant other. Trying to find that perfect card, planning the right reservations or buying the overpriced valentine's flowers is a lot of work and never seems to fully express how I feel about my husband. So this year I decided that a personalized gift basket is a great way to show him how much I love him.

I have a few ideas on how to make this romantic and loving but haven't decided which road I am going to take. My husband and I aren't big on the Valentine's Day crowds and would much rather have an intimate evening alone so one idea that I have is creating a date night basket. This can include a bottle of wine or champagne. A movie we have been wanting to see and maybe a blanket to go with it (I mean who doesn't like to snuggle up and watch a movie). A nice dessert like chocolate covered strawberries. It could be a picnic basket with a romantic dinner inside. It could include some candles and music to set a romantic mood.

Another idea is to give him a basket full of his favorite goodies. This could include his favorite candies and snacks. I could make homemade goodies like cookies or brownies. I could put his favorite drinks in there as well.

Another idea is to make a basket of love. This could include homemade coupons he can redeem or pretend money he can cash in for special privileges. I could include lingerie. I could include love notes that are on heart shaped paper. Or I could do a combination of these ideas. No matter what idea I decide to go with I know he will love this gift. I will post pictures of the finished product.

There are endless opportunities and ideas to create the perfect gift for Valentine's Day. Make it from the heart and filled with love and your significant other will love it.