The Gift Exchange

For those of you lucky enough to be born in May, your birth month flower is the lily of the valley. Did you know that lilies of the valley are highly poisonous? Until just now, I didn’t, and I talk about flowers all day every day here! It’s true what they say that you learn something new every day! Here are a few interesting facts about the lily of the valley

• Lilies of the valley grow naturally in Northern Asia, Europe and in the Appalachian region of the United States
• The lily of the valley is often also called “Mary’s Tears,” as many stories claim that the origin of the flower is that it rose from the ground in the place where Jesus’ mother, Mary’s, tears fell to the ground.
• In Germanic mythology, the lily of the valley is symbolic of life and represents the goddess of spring, Ostara. These flowers always head the feast of Ostara.
•  When Britain’s Prince William married Catherine Middleton, her bouquet contained lilies of the valley.
•  In France it is a tradition to sell lilies of the valley tax-free on May 1, as a celebration of French Labor Day, and of spring.
•  Majalis, the scentific name for the plant, means “of (or belonging to) May”

Happy birthday to our May babies! Don’t forget to stay away from your birth month flower – it’s poisonous!

Well, Mother’s Day is quickly approaching. Yes, the one day out of the year where you need to step outside of yourself and show appreciation to that woman who gave you life. I have decided to pass along some wisdom for a smoother day and a happier mom. You wonder from whence this wisdom is derived? Well, I have been a mom for 18 years, with 5 kids, and have had a mom for XX years. I also feel that giving birth to a child over 10 pounds (oh he owes me big time!) qualifies me to dispense advice .

I have chosen to focus on some things to not do on Mother’s Day:

-DO NOT forget your mom on Mother’s Day. It’s as simple as that. There are reminders everywhere–stores, television, the internet, the newspaper. If you know ahead of time that you will be in a remote location with no cell service or you have a premonition that your dialing finger will be incapacitated, call ahead of time. The day doesn’t matter as much as the thought!

-Don’t show up to your mom’s house asking what’s for dinner. No, no, no, that is the day for you to finally cook something for her or take her out! She will not really care what it is, make her a sandwich, bring over pizza, or take her to lobster. The idea is to get her out of the kitchen. And DO NOT leave her a mess. Oh, and if you get pizza, splurge a little and get the breadsticks (Moms like breadsticks).

-Taking your mother to the local warehouse store so she can eat the free samples is not considered buying her dinner. At least spring for the hot dog!

-Do not bring a month’s worth of laundry and expect your mom to take care of it! She is not responsible for you having clean clothes, at least that one day out of the year.

-Do not choose Mother’s Day to announce you are moving to a foreign country. Your mom wants to have her kids close, and you should choose a more appropriate time to ruin that illusion for her.

-The above rule also applies to going to prison, having a terrible illness, or any other sort of bad news. Mother’s Day is not the day for disclosures.

-If you are out of college, the macaroni necklace that you have been making for your mom for the last 20 years is no longer enough. Admittedly, she will still make a fuss over it, but you know better by now.

-Do not get your mother a gift that you would actually rather have. If she is not in to fishing, she is not going to like the creel and waders. She does understand that you are just hoping she will give it back to you because “you would use it more”.

-Do not give your mother a gift that will make her work harder. A mop or an iron are not fun, they just make us think our floors are dirty or our clothes are wrinkled.

I am sure there are plenty more pearls which I could offer, but for now we will leave it at these. I want to wish everyone a Happy Mother’s Day. Remember, there are plenty of men and women out there, parent or not, who should probably be honored on this day. Best wishes, my friends!

Every year, the fourth Thursday in April is “Take Your Child to Work Day.” This year that falls on April 25, and GiftTree is excited to participate!

Take Your Child to Work Day was founded in 1993, originally called “Take Your Daughter to Work Day.” It was created by the Ms. Foundation for Women and Gloria Steinem. The program was intended to be a nurturing experience for girls, who historically were excluded from the professional workplace. It was seen as an opportunity to give girls a self-esteem boost and a glimpse into a traditionally-male world. The Ms. Foundation sent literature about the program to schools, and held the day on a traditional school day in hopes that schools would encourage participation. Most schools were very hesitant to encourage the program initially, as it was geared solely towards female students. Growing voices called for the inclusion of male students, and in 2003 the program was officially expanded to include boys as well as girls, becoming “Take Your Child to Work Day,” a more gender-neutral and all-inclusive name. The newly restated goals of the program are to give children a glimpse into all kinds of career fields while they are still young enough to be more flexible in terms of gender roles. Since the expansion of the program, schools have increasingly encouraged participation and more and more workplaces also have begun to encourage employees to bring their children to work.

Don’t forget to take your son or daughter to work on April 25!

On behalf of everyone here at GiftTree, I’d like to say welcome to the world to baby Rainier!

GiftTree’s own blogging extraordinaire, Robin Crocker, and his lovely wife Amy, just welcomed their second child, baby Rainier. We are all so excited for you and wish you the best as you begin to get acquainted with your newest family member.

Congratulations, Robin and Amy!

We are all aware that today is dreaded tax day. Don’t forget! (Honestly if you forgot until now, you better just go ahead and file for that extension). But this day 101 years was MUCH more dire. It was on this day in 1912 that theRMS Titanic’s maiden voyage sank into the North Atlantic shortly after its departure. 1522 people perished. (It wasn’t until a few years later in 1997 that Titanic the movie perished in the cultural consciousness shortly after its release)

The “unsinakble” ship launched from Southampton, England, en route to New York City on April 12th. At 11:40 PM pm on April 14th, it struck a massive underwater iceberg; it sank only two hours later. Now it has been a century since this fateful wreck, which spawned endless moral metaphors and philosophizing about man’s hubris and arrogance being undone by natural forces. Yet, true to form, the human race rises again to attempt the impossible: in February the International Business Times reported that an Australian Billionaire has set to rebuild the Titanic for another voyage in 2016. Passengers are already offering $1 million dollars for a seat aboard the Titanic.

If you were lucky enough to win the lottery, would you press your luck again and climb aboard the Titanic II? Sounds like cheating fate to me….

Happy Tax and Titanic(s) Day!

This month we are featuring Konnie Kitt, from the Customer Service Department! Konnie has been with GiftTree a little over a year, and we are so lucky that she found us! She was kind enough to take some time out of her busy day to answer our important questions:

What’s your favorite thing about working for GiftTree?

First of all, I am part of a great company, what amazing people to work for and with!!! Secondly, I love helping people send gifts for the happiest of happy occasions and the saddest of sad occasions. It really is true that we sell feelings, not gifts. I also enjoy that my days are never the same. Variety is fabulous!

Describe your perfect day.

A perfect day would probably entail a long nap, a long bath, and all the junk food I can eat without calories. In the real world, however, probably doing anything with my hubby and kids because I know I am going to laugh, and laughing charges my batteries!

If you could only see black and white, and ONE color, which color would you choose to see?

Even though purple is probably my favorite color, if I could only see one color, it would have to be red. I can’t imagine not seeing red.

Would you rather spend a weekend at the beach or in the mountains?

Hard choice! I really dislike being cold so I would probably say beach, but I also love to ski and love the sights and smells of the mountains. Hmm, a bit wishy-washy on this one!

You are famous around here for your baking skills. Any day you leave your tasty treats up front for us = a GREAT day. Any tips for wanna be bakers out there?

Baking is my thing, in case anyone hasn’t noticed. I guess because I love it so much, I can’t really make other bakers successful, but I will share a few of the things that I think make me a little unique: I never use butter, I only like Mexican vanilla, and I under-bake everything. I am being slightly vague because I don’t want to be replaced by someone who gets better than me! Bake for people you care about, it makes a difference. (And I do take suggestions so if there is anything anyone would like me to make or re-make, I am always willing).

Why we love Konnie…

Konnie is an asset to our department not only because of her mad baking skills (we literally fight over her cookies). She is always willing to help out wherever she is needed! She places floral orders, takes sales and customer service calls and handles tracking and vendor issues. She is also a customer loyalty rockstar. Konnie is someone we count on for so many things, and her sunny smile always gives us a lift!

Spring has officially sprung! It may not seem like it in some areas, I personally saw an amazing amount of snow on a road trip recently, but it is actually time for the seasons to change. Here in the Pacific Northwest, the flowers are blooming, the trees are beginning to bud, and the grass is turning green. People are beginning to come out of hibernation and venture outside for activities. For those of us who enjoy running, this is the time that we wait for all year. The temperatures are getting warmer, but not unbearably warm, just comfortable enough once the body is warm and active.

I see many people out on the road and trails running, after being trapped inside a gym on a treadmill for most of the winter. This is the season when organized racing begins in most parts of the country. These races range from distances of 5 kilometers (approx. 3 1/2 miles) all the way to marathons, which are 26.2 miles. (There are ultra-marathons that range all the way to 100 miles, but they seem to be held in very limited areas). I have not been a runner for long, and actually participated in my first 5k as a walker. Which brings me to the purpose of this blog: spreading the word that one does not have to be a seasoned runner, or even very athletic at all to participate in one of these events. Most of the “fun run”s out there have a walking division, as do the longer events (which are recorded, but only to a certain time limit). Basically, a running event is there for people to enjoy, not necessarily to prove that one is an Emil Zatopek or a Ryan Hall.

I encourage people to participate in these events, not only for the health benefits, but because the proceeds tend to go to charities. I have been in running events for Habitat for Humanity, different children’s charities, and local organizations. A lot of charities find that, even if people are not particularly interested in their cause, a fun run is a great way to fund-raise because a racer is always looking for an event. Most running/walking events will allow strollers and even pets. Quite often there is a children’s 1 mile race or other activities for children throughout the day. There is usually some sort of food or drink at the end, as well. I have had breakfast, fruit, fresh fish, water, sodas, and even beer at post-race celebrations! Even if none of these perks seem interesting, the fact that free t-shirts are given ought to draw participants! I love wearing my race shirts as badges of honor in public. Most events do have an entry fee, but it is nominal until reaching the 1/2 marathon or marathon levels, but again, that money generally goes toward a worthy cause.

I have participated in a 5k already this year and have entered a 1/2 marathon and a marathon in the future. Through work, we are participating in an electric run which is held at night with glow in the dark paint and glow sticks. Last year we all did a color run, where there were stations set up to douse us in colored powder. The internet is chock full of different fun races such as bubble runs, mud runs, and even zombie runs (where the zombies chase the runners throughout the course). So, really, if you are in the area, come join me in something to make you feel better, or find an event in your hometown and learn just how fun and addicting these great events can be!

Maybe it’s just me, but one of my favorite ways to celebrate any holiday is to turn it into an excuse to bake something delicious and fun. St. Patrick’s Day is no exception! What a great excuse to break out the green food coloring and shamrock cookie cutters! Here is a fun recipe for some delicious St. Paddy’s Day cookies:

Cookies:

1 1/2 cups butter, softened (not melted!)
2 cups sugar
4 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
5 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon salt

Directions:
In a large bowl, cream together the butter and sugar until they are smooth. Beat in the eggs and vanilla. Then, stir in the flour, baking powder, and salt. Cover, and chill the dough for at least one hour in the refrigerator.
Preheat oven to 400 °F. Roll out the dough on a surface sprinkled with a mixture of powdered sugar and flour. Use your favorite shamrock, leprechaun or other St. Patrick’s Day-themed cooking cutters to cut the dough into shapes. The cookies should be one inch apart on your cookie sheet.
Bake 6 to 8 minutes until you see them turning a light golden color on the edges. Do not decorate them until they are completely cooled!

Icing:

3 tablespoons meringue powder
4 cups powdered sugar
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
6 tablespoons water (add them one at a time, not all at once, because the amount needed may vary)

Green food coloring

Directions:
Combine all ingredients in mixing bowl. Beat on high for at about 10 minutes or until stiff peaks form.
Divide and color as desired. Add more water as needed for flooding or more sugar if you get a little heavy handed with the water.

You can separate your icing into several different bakers’ bags (or even just snip the corner off of a plastic bag) and add varying amounts of food coloring to create different shades of green. You can decorate them however you want to, they will taste delicious!

When I think of the perfect food, there is only one that comes to mind… cheese! It can be used for breakfast, lunch, dinner AND dessert. It can be paired with wines, added to sauces, melted into fondue, topped with fruit, put in sandwiches, mixed with pasta and put in desserts.  Not only that, but cheese is used in every day lingo. From “Say Cheese” to “The Big Cheese”, it’s obvious that in terms of world food domination, The Cheese Stands Alone.

One cheese in particular I’ve been interested in lately is Goat Cheese. Just this past weekend, we whipped up a delicious spring salad with creamy goat cheese dressing (get the recipe here) to accompany our steaks. It was a huge hit!  Goat cheese is a very creamy, rich cheese and also pairs well with fruit. In particular, I LOVE the combination of goat cheese with fig, and plan on making a fig and goat cheese pizza with arugula this weekend (get the recipe here). Yum!

Exploring the world of cheese can be a bit overwhelming, but a delicious journey. Not sure where to start? The Artisan Cheese Hamper is the perfect solution. Full of handcrafted cheeses from around the world, it also includes an upscale collection of gourmet treats to pair them with. Bon appétit!

Oregon and Washington have an established reputation for some of the best wine in the world.  If you are fortunate enough to live or visit the Pacific Northwest, you have a unique opportunity to make a trip out to wine country and explore the  dazzling array of  top-notch wineries each region has to offer.

Oregon’s Willamette Valley region is home to over 200 wineries & tasting rooms, and carries some of the best Pinot Noir you can find.  This area is perfect for a day trip, with many wineries being a stone’s throw away from each other.  Friendly wineries and gorgeous views aside, the wines in this region are simply some of the best, and are home to popular wineries such as Erath, Argyle, Domaine Serene and Sokol Blosser.

The Columbia River Gorge wine region is the epitome of what the Pacific Northwest culture is all about. Surrounded by waterfalls and mountain views, this region is host to a plethora of different wine varietals, due to its ideal growing location.  Along with an abundance of award winning wineries, the Gorge is famous for its outdoor activities including hiking, white water rafting, wind surfing and skiing.  An ideal weekend getaway spot, the Gorge is the perfect choice for a Bed & Breakfast stay.

The next stop on our tour is the beautiful Walla Walla valley. This farming town of 30,000 has exploded in recent years with new tasting rooms and vineyards, quickly making it a tourist destination for wine lovers. Fondly referred to as the “Napa of the North”, this is the perfect region for discovering the talents of local winemakers and enjoying a vineyard picnic overlooking the countryside.

These are just a few of the regions available for you to explore on your NW wine tour. You don’t have to be a wine enthusiast to enjoy your wine tasting experience; there is something to please every pallet!