The Gift Exchange

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? [...]

  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 [...]

Just what are we buying for Valentine’s Day? The History Channel has compiled the following information about what we send to our loved ones. 141 million Valentine’s Day cards are exchanged annually, making Valentine’s Day the second-most popular greeting-card-giving occasion. (This total excludes packaged kids valentines for classroom exchanges.) (Source: Hallmark research) Over 50 percent of all [...]

One of the most culturally-recognized icons of Valentine’s Day is Cupid. Today we view him more often than not as a chubby cherub with a little red bow and arrow. However, the roots of Cupid lie in Greek and Roman mythologies. While “Cupid” is the Roman name, the Greek myths use the name Eros. Though the [...]

Happy February 2 everyone! This day has come to be known as Groundhog Day. As you well know, if the groundhog comes out of his burrow and sees his shadow, six additional weeks of winter are said to be in store. If he does not see his shadow, it is said to be an early [...]

All around the world, people gather together every December 31 to celebrate the passing of the old year and the commencement of the next. This New Year’s Eve, dazzle all of your fellow party guests with your amazing knowledge of New Year’s celebrations past and present! Kick back with a holiday-themed Personalized Wine Gift, a [...]

For me, the single most enjoyable thing about being a parent is getting to play Santa Claus. I think every kid loves Christmas. Presents, cookies, family…what’s not to love? Nobody ever tells you, though, just how much you’ll love Christmas when you become an adult, and for entirely different reasons. The feeling of carefully selecting gifts for [...]

Blog by Linda Wallace Mistletoe’s history is a long and interesting one. There are references to “kissing under the mistletoe” in Celtic rituals and North mythology. The Druids considered mistletoe a sacred plant, believed to have medicinal qualities and mysterious supernatural powers. Mistletoe has long been regarded as an aphrodisiac and fertility herb. Going back to Norse [...]

Let’s face it, men have it pretty easy in the Christmas shopping department. Women love flowers, spa products or jewelry almost without exception. Women also have to decide every year what on earth to buy for the men in their lives. Men aren’t quite as simple to shop for; it isn’t always golf weather or [...]

Blog by Linda Wallace A nativity scene is a depiction of the birth of Jesus as described in the gospels. Nativity scenes exhibit figures representing the infant Jesus, his mother Mary, and Joseph. Other characters from the nativity story such as shepherds, the Magi, and angels may be displayed near the manger in a barn intended [...]