Spring time is almost upon us. This year, March 20 is the first full day of Spring. What feelings does that bring? It can be a refreshing time, especially if you live in a colder region where winter has seemed endless. Winter has a way of encouraging us to hibernate indoors, while spring calls us outside to enjoy the beauty of budding flowers and trees.

I love to see the tulips blossoming when I go for walks – a sure sign of spring! For us in the northeast, it can be a changeable time – many times windy and alternating between sunshine and cold rainy days. But we know that summer is just around the corner.

We usually wait until later in May to plant flowers since a frost is still possible up until that point. It’s fun to go to the garden store and choose some pretty colorful flowers to plant in our garden.

Spring is also the time we pull out our outdoor furniture, making it possible to enjoy dinners on the patio again. We enjoy eating outdoors, so that’s always a treat.

What are your favorite things about Spring? Please share them with us below.

If you’ve been wondering when is Easter in 2013, we’ve got the answer for you.  This year it falls on March 31st, the last day of this month.  It’s always on a Sunday, hence the term “Easter Sunday.”

It’s pretty early this year, as many times we celebrate Easter sometime in April.  If you live in the northeast, as I do, you’re pretty much guaranteed a cold (and possibly white) Easter if it’s in March.  So, instead of pretty spring colored dresses, we’re still wearing our heavy earth tone sweaters:-)

This is one of our newest 2013 Spring baskets, which would make a perfect Easter gift. The presentation on the basket is so pretty and it’s stocked full with all kinds of goodies! Here’s what it looks like. Click on the image to see everything that comes in this beauty of a basket!

If you’d like to keep track of other holidays, check out and bookmark our 2013 holiday calendar.

Just added to the store is a new spring gift basket!  With Spring just a few short weeks away, it has arrived just in time.  Besides being a great gift for Spring, this basket would make an ideal Easter gift, Mothers Day gift or special birthday gift.

Spring is a time to say goodbye to the long winter.  For many who live in colder climates, it is a time to be able to get outside again and walk, work in the garden, ride bikes or just enjoy sitting in the sunshine.

This spring gift basket is filled to the brim with gourmet goodies! Here’s some of the items that are included:

• Gift Book “Inspirational Promises For Today – 101 Thoughts That Bless”
• Rich Chocolate Truffles
• Large Assortment Of Delicious French Cookies
• Assorted Chocolates
• Cashew Log Roll
• Rum Frosted Pecans
• Gopher Chocolate Caramel Pecan Turtles
• Tin Filled With Old Fashioned Candy Sticks

• Peppermint grahams
• Truffle cocoa
• Dark chocolate mocha
• Assorted Crackers
• Cheese Spread
• Dark Chocolate Smothered Graham Crackers
• Yogurt Bridge Mix
• 20 Sachets of Peppermint Tea
• And there’s more!  Click here to see everything that’s in it!

If you want to give a gift that really makes a statement, this is the one to do it!  Order and have it sent to you to give or have it delivered right to her door.  It doesn’t get much easier than that, does it?

Wondering what to buy that special lady in your life for her birthday?  What would be the best gifts for her?  Well, first let’s look at what not to buy her.

Is the gift going to make her feel old?  There are lots of age appropriate gifts you can buy, but be sensitive to her feelings.  Is she feeling down about the upcoming event?  If so, what can you give her that doesn’t make her focus on her age or getting older?

A practical gift might be ok, but again, is it something she will appreciate?  Or will she feel like there’s nothing romantic left about her?  Consideration of her feelings will go a long way, so think before you buy.

Ok, so what should you buy?  What would she find fun? A birthday is a time to celebrate, and keeping it light and fun is a good idea. Take her out to dinner or away for the weekend.  Give her a gift card to a local spa (or maybe not local is even more fun!)

Women tend to like gifts that come in many parts, so a gift basket is an ideal gift.  There are so many different goodies that it’s like her birthday celebration goes on for days.   Consider giving her a gourmet foods basket or a spa gift basket for an afternoon of relaxation.  Or a tea or coffee basket might be what she would like.   Take a look at our entire line of birthday gift baskets for women.  It’s a gift that “keeps on going.”

Whatever you do, make her birthday a time she will enjoy.  Let her know you think enough of her to give her something she will find special.

Here at Gift Expressions, we want to send along some special Valentines Day wishes to you and yours.   I hope you have a wonderful day!

There are some great ways to send your Valentine a special “love wish.”

• A beautiful card with some heartfelt sentiments
• A bouquet of their favorite kind of flower
• A “gram” – teddy bear, candy gram , etc.
• Even a nice phone call can do the trick – it shows you’re thinking of them.  This is especially nice for a parent or grandparent.
• A gift basket is a great way to send Valentine wishes!  Filled with delicious goodies or some luxurious spa items, they’ll know they are special to you!

Again, Happy Valentines Day!

Here at Gift Expressions, I am happy to present to you a 2013 Holiday calendar for easy reference and reminders.  I grew up knowing when all the holidays were, including things like the first day of fall and spring, etc.  I thought everyone did, but I have realized that not everyone keeps track of these special days.

To that end, I have created a calendar for you to look at – just click on any month you want and you will see holidays highlighted in green.  If appropriate for that occasion,  I have also included a link to a page of gift baskets that would make great gifts for that particular holiday.

I  have also included days like Administrative Professionals Day and Bosses Day for your convenience, so that they don’t slip by without you remembering them.

Make your 2013 gift giving a year to remember!  With this calendar, you can keep track of special days plus have some great gifts right at your fingertips.  The baskets can be delivered right to the recipient or to you to give in person.

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Looking for some birthday gifts for your mom?  Do you feel like she’s a little hard to buy for?  Don’t worry – you’re not alone!  Many times, a mom can be difficult to buy gifts for because she doesn’t often express what she wants.  She may put the needs of her family before her own, and therefore, doesn’t tell her secret desires.  Or she may not relish the idea of turning a year older, so she would rather just ignore the day.  But you know you can’t just let the day slip by without letting her know how special she is to you.

A mom deoesn’t have an easy job and it’s certainly not a 9 to 5 one.  She is there to help however she can and encourage you along the way.  Sometimes it may seem like a thankless job until she gets a special gift or note from one of her kids, expressing their appreciation for all she has done.  That can make all the difference.  I have received some very special sentiments from my kids in notes and cards, and they have been some of the best gifts I could have received.

Here’s some ideas for gifts for her.

Clothes

If your mom enjoys getting new clothes, but you don’t feel like you can pick something out that she would like, consider giving her a gift certificate to her favorite store (or mall) so that she can choose something she wants.

Time to Pamper

All moms are working moms, whether she works outside the home or at home.  And she may enjoy some time to relax and pamper herself.  She might like a gift that gives her a day at the spa, where she can have time for just her.   Or, if she doesn’t really like to go to the spa, give her  a gift basket filled with items to help her recreate  “a day at the spa” at home.

Time Together

Your mom will appreciate the gift of your time.  You can either offer to do something for her that she has been putting off  (like spring cleaning part of the house ) or just spend an afternoon together.  You can go to lunch or even take her on a picnic.  Take a walk or a drive.  I think it’s the fact that you want to spend time with her that is special, and not so much what you do.

Gift Baskets

Moms love gift baskets!  It’s a gift that comes beautifully presented and she will love having “many gifts in one.”  Most baskets are filled with different gourmet treats and it’s fun to try them all!  We have some delightful birthday gift baskets for women here at Gift Expressions.  Some are filled with delicious goodies and others include special sentiments.  Still others have some luxurious spa products.  You know your mom best.  Choose one that she will enjoy. It will be a gift she will remember for a long time.

Here’s just a few of the baskets we offer for a birthday gift.

You Take The Cake

3 boxes of delicious goodies make this “layer cake” the perfect gift!

  Birthday Surprise

Includes “The Guide to Better Birthdays,” a book of
inspirational quotes, poems and ideas plus some
delicious treats.

For A Very Special Lady

Lots of gourmet treats plus a A beautiful hand painted wooden keepsake plaque that reads “Love, Laughter and Friends are always welcome here.”

Just For Her

Spa products and chocolates – a winning combination!

We all know flowers and candy can be the way to a woman’s heart, but what are some ideas for Valentines gifts for men?  They are not always as easy to come by.

Of course, it depends on what the men like.  Do they have any special interests like golf, fishing or woodworking?  You can always focus on their hobby and buy them something related to it.

If they don’t have any special hobbies, or if you are looking for a little more “romantic” way to tell them you care, consider some of the following ideas.

Food!  It’s no secret that the way to a man’s heart can be food, but be creative in how you can present that food to them.  Here’s some thoughts.

• A candlelight dinner that highlights their favorite meal
• Make a dessert that they like and eat it in front of the fireplace on a cold winter night
• Invite them out (your treat) to their favorite restaurant
• Give them a gift basket of goodies that they can enjoy for days to come

A Movie – is there a movie out that they have been wanting to see?  Treat them to it and go out for coffee afterwards.

A Walk – I think a walk can be very romantic.  Invite him out on one and keep the conversation light and friendly.  This is not the time to discuss how the bills are going to get paid or the kids’ problems.  Focus on the two of you – maybe how you met or recall a special date you have had together.   A walk can be especially romantic if it’s at night and there is some light snow falling.

Jewelry – some men like getting jewelry as a gift.  I gave my husband an engraved pocket watch for our 25th anniversary.  He is not a jewelry kind of guy, but it’s a nice remembrance of the occasion.  An engraved key chain can be a nice gift too.

We have added such a beautiful assortment of Valentines Day gift baskets!  Any gift seems much more special when it comes all presented in pretty wrapping with some festive accents!

What’s inside these baskets?  Lots of delicious gourmet treats!  We even have some that have some pampering spa items in them so that you can give her a special gift of time to herself to relax.

Valentines Day is a special time to show her you care.  You can do that easily with one of our gift baskets made especially to say “I love you.”

Take a look at some of these below to get some great ideas of what we offer this year.  This is only a small selection – we have more more!

Heart to Heart

This beautiful basket includes a milk chocolate “love letter” with a love poem!

Romantic Dinner For Two

A lovely basket that includes the essentials for a delicious romantic dinner for two! (sorry, you’ll have to provide the candles!)

Mulberry Lane

A wonderful combination of delicious chocolates and luxurious spa products make this the perfect Valentines Day gift!

Love You Latte

This gift basket is a great way to tell someone that you love them “lots!”  Makes an ideal Valentines gift for either male or female.

Click here to see the rest of our gift baskets for Valentines Day.

Do you have a special someone in your life and are looking for ideas for Valentines gifts for her?  We’re here to help!

Here are some tried and true ideas for Valentines gifts (or gifts for just about any occasion.)

Jewelry – this is always a nice gift, but be sure to notice what style of jewelry she wears.  Buy her something with her taste in mind, not yours.  Jewelry can be flashy and quite “showy” or very subtle.  What does she currently wear?

Flowers are a big seller for Valentines gifts.  A pretty colorful bouquet is always a great “pick me up” in the colder, drearier months of winter.

Candy is still a top one on the list!  Beware, though, that this is only a good gift if she is not watching her weight.

A nice dinner, either out at her favorite restaurant, or home cooked by you.  This can allow for some genuine conversation time, which women tend to appreciate.

Gift baskets filled with gourmet goodies or spa items are always a welcome treat.  They come so nicely packaged and with a variety of treats – she’ll love it!

Spa time at a day spa can be a fun getaway for some women.  Again, be sure she will enjoy it.  If she would rather pamper herself in the privacy of her own home, give her a gift basket with all the makings for a day spa at home.

Valentines can bring up some apprehension for some, not knowing what kinds of gifts to give.  Just tailor the gift to her likes and you’ll find success.