The Gift Exchange

Blog by Tracey Graham

With Thanksgiving coming up, I’ve decided to be thankful for a new way of thinking instead of stressing over all I have to do. My Thanksgiving thanks goes like this:

1. I am so thankful that my kitchen is large.
2. I am so thankful that my mom and grandma taught me how to cook.
3. I am so thankful that I have little helpers to keep the punch bowl filled.
4. I am so thankful that these same helpers can stay and help clean up.
5. I am so thankful that parades and football will keep most trespassers out of my kitchen.
6. I am so thankful that I have to work on Fridays and will miss my sisters’ idea of a good time shopping.
7. I am so thankful that I can order so many wonderful gifts online and will hardly have to go to a store.
8. I am so thankful that my family understands what makes me happy.
9. I am so thankful that my family will be right where they belong this Thanksgiving, and that is with our family.

Blog by Kirian McClure

Folks will usually answer Halloween or Christmas when you inquire as to what their most favorite holiday is and don’t get me wrong, those two certainly have their appeal.  Costumes are fun and candy is scrumptious, and who doesn’t love giving and receiving presents? However, there’s also a pervasive element of stress associated with all the extensive preparations those holidays entail.  You have to worry about the perfect costume, decorations, lights, Christmas trees, ideal gifts, and you can usually count on snowy weather to further complicate things.

With Thanksgiving all that matters is food and family.  Its all those other holidays stripped down to their most basic, and in my view, most appealing level.  One need not fuss about all the extra stuff!

My family has a recipe that we’ve tried to fulfill every year, and one that has never failed to guarantee a spectacular Thanksgiving experience (despite that one time when I was a typically moody teenager). Its pretty simple and can easily be summed up with 3 G’s:

Good food
Good company
Good beer (or wine)

The first two are a necessity, but the third really ties it all together. Starting the day off with a mimosa and a light breakfast while “Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade” plays on TV is a tradition that never gets old.

We also like to divvy up the responsibilities for the day so no one person has an inordinate amount of work to do. My mother will pull all the ingredients out and do the cooking prep while each person works on crafting their own dish according to a slew of recipes that we rotate in and out every year.  My mom, ever the culinary artist (she ran her own restaurant and was the head chef for years before I was born), roams back and forth giving tips and making sure everything is living up to her “very” high standards.  Yet when it comes time for apple pie its a different story entirely. That is solely my mom’s domain and year after year she continues to devise the most mouth-watering, knee-knockingly delicious pies anyones ever tasted.  In the same room we have the the day’s football games playing so everyone can watch while they cook. This way everybody can stay involved and folks aren’t separated off into different rooms, easily keeping the Thanksgiving spirit alive throughout the day.

When it finally comes time to eat we are presented with a veritable cornucopia of goodness that seems to continually impress those in attendance year after year.  I carve the succulently cooked and seasoned turkey and  all gorge themselves on the feast. While we eat we exchange great jokes, get life updates, and listen to some entrancing stories.  Eventually we arrive at the point of the day where the final Thanksgiving tradition is observed: the annual loosening of the belt!

However you choose to celebrate, I, and everyone at Gift Tree, wishes you a wonderful and safe Thanksgiving and as over-abbreviators like to say, “Happy T-Day!”

Blog by Linda Wallace

Fun Facts about the First Thanksgiving:

• The Plymouth Pilgrims were the first to celebrate the first Thanksgiving Day at Plymouth, Massachusetts in 1621.
• The Wampanoag Indians were the people who taught the Pilgrims how to cultivate the land.
• The first Thanksgiving celebration lasted three days. It was not a feast, but rather a time when Native Americans helped Pilgrims by bringing them food and helping them build off the land.
• Lobster, rabbit, chicken, fish, squashes, beans, chestnuts, hickory nuts, onions, leeks, dried fruits, maple syrup and honey, radishes, cabbage, carrots, eggs, and goat cheese are thought to have made up the first Thanksgiving feast.
• The pilgrims didn’t use forks; they ate with spoons, knives, and their fingers.

Thanksgiving Facts throughout History:

• Benjamin Franklin wanted the turkey to be the national bird of the United States.
• Sarah Josepha Hale, an American magazine editor, persuaded Abraham Lincoln to declare Thanksgiving a national holiday. She is also the author of the popular nursery rhyme “Mary Had a Little Lamb”
• Abraham Lincoln issued a ‘Thanksgiving Proclamation’ on third October 1863 and officially set aside the last Thursday of November as the national day for Thanksgiving.
• In 1939, President Roosevelt proclaimed that Thanksgiving would take place on November 23rd, not November 30th, as a way to spur economic growth and extend the Christmas shopping season.
• Congress to passed a law on December 26, 1941, ensuring that all Americans would celebrate a unified Thanksgiving on the fourth Thursday of November every year.
• The traditional cornucopia was a curved goat’s horn filled to brim with fruits and grains. According to Greek legend, Amalthea (a goat) broke one of her horns and offered it to Greek God Zeus as a sign of reverence. As a sign of gratitude, Zeus later set the goat’s image in the sky also known as constellation Capricorn. Cornucopia is the most common symbol of a harvest festival. A Horn shaped container, it is filled with abundance of the Earth’s harvest. It is also known as the ‘horn of plenty’.
• Thomas Jefferson thought the concept of Thanksgiving was “the most ridiculous idea I’ve ever heard.”
• Contrary to popular belief, Native Americans did not eat cranberries. They did, however, find them extremely useful for dying fabric and decorating pottery.

Fun Facts about Thanksgiving Today

• Each year, the average American eats somewhere between 16 – 18 pounds of turkey.
• Californians are the largest consumers of turkey in the United States.
• Black Friday is the Friday after Thanksgiving in the United States, where it is the beginning of the traditional Christmas shopping season.
• The night before Thanksgiving is the single biggest day for bar sales in the United States. Bigger than New Year’s Eve. Bigger than the Super Bowl. Even bigger than St. Patrick’s Day. The big reason is that everyone descends on their hometowns… gets together with their old friends… and goes out to bars.

Fun Turkey Facts

• The heaviest turkey ever raised was 86 pounds, about the size of a large dog.
• Turkey has more protein than chicken or beef.
• Male turkeys gobble. Hens do not. They make a clucking noise.
• Turkeys have heart attacks. The United States Air Force was doing test runs and breaking the sound barrier. Nearby turkeys dropped dead with heart attacks.
• Turkeys have poor night vision.
• Fossil evidence shows that turkeys roamed the Americas 10 million years ago.
• Turkeys were one of the first animals in the Americas to be domesticated.
• Wild turkeys, while technically the same species as domesticated turkeys, have a very different taste from farm-raised turkeys. Almost all of the meat is “dark” (even the breasts) with a more intense turkey flavor. Older heritage breeds also differ in flavor.
• According to the National Turkey Foundation, when Armstrong and Aldrin sat down to eat their first meal on the moon, their foil food packets contained roasted turkey.
• When Columbus discovered North America, he thought the turkey was a type of peacock, which roam India.

Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours from GiftTree!

Blog by Robin Crocker

When I think of Thanksgiving I think of pilgrims, cornucopia, and, most importantly, FOOD AND FAMILY! Banquet tables full of yummy food and happy people I love all squeezed together. One of my oldest and best memories is of my grandmother’s country home at Thanksgiving – sweet potatoes, apple crisp, cranberry sauce, and deep-fried turkey (yes I’m from the south!). And every Thanksgiving table she ever set included the same fold-out orange-and-brown-paper Thanksgiving turkey. It’s just not Thanksgiving without that paper turkey!

While I would never accept a substitute for Granna’s perfect centerpiece, GiftTree has some awesome festive harvest-themed centerpieces that would be a great addition to any family’s beloved traditional decorations.

The Harvest Happiness is a warm, full arrangement of seasonal flowers ranging in tone from burgundy to bronze to sunflower yellow. Arrange this on the table with all your fresh-made goodies, light the candle in the center, and your guests will “ooh and ahhh” in nostalgic delight.

The Fallen Leaves centerpiece adds even more holiday hue and warmth to the table with its signature gold bowl, deep orange roses and red chrysanthemums. Everyone loves a candlelit dinner and the double 12” candles top off a unique and creative fall arrangement.

Blog by Linda Wallace

Honestly, it seems like summer just suddenly ended here in the Pacific Northwest. Seems like one week we were all out on our patios enjoying the sunshine, and the following week the leaves turned, the rains came, along with the winds, and suddenly it is autumn everywhere you look!

We all miss summer when it goes, but there is something so magical about fall. The colors as the leaves are turning are so pretty, the reds, golds and russets always make me smile.

This Autumn, we have some beautiful gifts to celebrate the season, and I am sure you will find just the perfect thing!

Let’s start with my absolute favorite, the Fall Harvest Cheesecake. The presentation on this gift is unbeatable, and it was even featured in Bon Appetit magazine!

Another sure-fire hit is the Family Gathering Centerpiece (gift #16940). It comes in three different versions, each more beautiful than the last.

This is the perfect centerpiece for your own table, or a wonderful gift for friends or family to let them know you are thinking of them.

The warm color of this centerpiece really compliments the season.

Just like Will Ferrell’s iconic character Ron Burgundy in the movie “Anchorman”, I too love scotch. It is smooth, and it does go down nicely while listening to Barry White or reading from some leather bound books by a roaring fire. Scotch is a sophisticated alcohol that intimidates some people who aren’t sure what foods to pair with it and how to properly serve it. After doing some research, I have come up with a list of tips and gift ideas to help out the scotch newbie or the connoisseur.

1.)  Cheese: Scotch goes well paired with stronger cheeses like Swiss and Gouda, or softer cheeses like Brie. The perfect cheese gift to accompany scotch would be GiftTree’s Artisan Cheese Hamper – Deluxe  which offers Gouda, Manchego, Smoked Cheddar, and Swiss, along with some gourmet food options.

2.)  Chocolate: Surprisingly, scotch and chocolate go quite nicely together, especially dark chocolate. For a chocolate related gift, I would recommend gifting The Chocolatier Collection, which is filled to the brim with gourmet chocolates from well-known brands like Godiva, Moonstruck, Ghirardelli, and more.

3.)  Fruit: Choose something more tangy or tart, like apples or pears, to go with scotch, and stay away from citrusy fruits like oranges. The perfect gift in this case would be GiftTree’s Chocolate Dipped Apples & Pears, which includes the freshest, premium Fuji apples and Forelle pears hand-dipped in Belgian chocolate. The best of both worlds.

4.)  Pub mix: Traditional pub snacks aren’t just for the beer drinkers. Foods like pretzels, rice crackers, beer chips, and salted peanuts go together nicely with scotch. For a more upscale version of traditional pub grub, give the gift of gourmet perfection with GiftTree’s Fall Perfection Snack Tower—a combination of gourmet cheeses, premium mixed nuts, New York pretzels, and more.

5.)  Dinner: When it comes to serving your main meal option, choose a protein that has a little bit more of a sweeter taste to it, and stay away from smoky or spicy flavors. Some good choices would be steak, barbecue chicken, or shrimp. For a to-die-for dinner delivered right to their door, the Surf & Turf from GiftTree is amazing! The dinner includes two Maine Lobster Tails, two premium cuts of Filet Mignon, and clarified butter for dipping.

6.)  Glass Choice: Just like with wine, the type of glass you use to drink your scotch can make a big difference in the overall experience. For optimal oxygenation, it is recommended you choose a glass with a wide, rounded bowl. The absolute best glasses I have ever seen for scotch or wine drinkers are sold at GiftTree. The Angled Glasses have a unique design that is both functional and fun. The bottom of the glasses are actually angled upward so that when you place your glass on a surface it safely swirls in place, intensifying the aromas and mixing your drink for you.

Blog by Linda Wallace

One of my favorite things about working at GiftTree is the chance to get the first peek at our ever-changing array of amazing gifts. This one hits near the top of the list for sheer elegance and style.

This gift is new this season, and is so incredibly beautiful! It has been featured on Good Morning America, Oprah’s Wedding Issue and Bon Appetit! White pumpkins have moved from a novelty to a very popular fall decoration, and this one has it all!

Handmade by San Franciscan artisans, this “pumpkin” is actually a Vanilla and Pumpkin Hazelnut Toffee Swirl cheesecake with shortbread crust and covered in white chocolate.

If you are planning to serve this amazing dessert this Thanksgiving, a great centerpiece to go with your meal can be made out of a real white pumpkin. Hollow it out the same way you would with a traditional jack-o-lantern, but instead of carving a face in it, utilize it as a vase! It looks especially stunning with white flowers, but a fall themed bouquet would be beautiful as well.

There is enough cheesecake here to feed the whole family, as it serves from 10-12 people.

Don’t forget to invite me! I promise to be thankful.

Blog by Tracey Graham

I remember well growing up, my dad was the strongest man I knew. I’d seen him carry oil barrels on his shoulders when we would go to his job. He worked two jobs to support our family and never once complained. In fact, he is known as a man of few words. So early on I learned to really listen when he spoke to me.

When it came time for my sisters and I to date, well he wasn’t ready to think of us growing up. Our boyfriend’s would have to come to dinner before they were allowed to take us anywhere. My dad would sit in his chair, literally growling at the boys, scaring them into running out of our house and we’d never see them again.

Finally, when I had moved out of the house and began dating in earnest, I thought I had found true love. He was a hard worker, just like my dad. And when he would forget a date, I would chalk it up to him having to work and just being busy.

He proposed to me, and of course I said yes, because I loved him he was perfect. He went to my parent’s house with me to dinner to ask my dad for my hand in marriage. My dad sat there growling at him and never actually answered him, but I’d seen this before and so I thought nothing of it.

The day arrived of my wedding, and there I was waiting with my dad to walk down the aisle. He turned to me and said “Would you like to go have a burger and talk about this?” I should have listened to him that day. My marriage was a wreck, with my husband aloof and emotionally detached. So when it was finally over, and I was ready to begin my life again, my dad sent me a card with the words “Would you like to get a burger and talk about this?”

I cried and realized that my first love was a love so pure for my dad. He would never lead me wrong, and would always have my best interests at heart. And I made a promise to myself that the next time I hear those words from my dad, we would go get a burger so I could listen to his wisdom.

As the 11^th of November approaches, the thoughts of most Americans turn toward the three-day weekend and the excitements and stresses of the holiday season to come. We are fortunate to live in such a society, where the worry about armed conflict is completely eclipsed the comforts of pumpkin spice lattes and an anxiety about shopping lists. However, this extraordinary privilege can sometimes leave us blind to price of our comfortable existence.

War was certainly not on my mind during my sojourn in France, and it was the last thing I wanted to think about after a long day of climbing around Mont St. Michel, but nevertheless I found myself being driven through the Breton countryside toward a small piece of home in the form of the Brittany American Cemetery. A staid looking French woman and an affable gentleman, whose French was tinted by a distinct New Jersey accent and whose straight posture immediately identified him as an American Serviceman, greeted our party. They told us the remarkable story of the cemetery, how this piece of land, still surrounded by war-torn stone barns, was given to the United States by the French people in gratitude for service in the World Wars, how the United States government had paid for every widow and mother of a man interred there to visit their loved ones’ remains and how the old woman fondly remembered the American GIs coming through the village at the end of World War II with candy and chocolate for the grateful children.

To me though, the truly extraordinary aspect of the cemetery lay in the bucket of roses the woman held. She was part of an organization called Les Fleurs de la Memoire, a group of French people who ensure that each grave in the cemetery receives a flower at least once a year. She then handed us each a rose and a card with the location of a grave and asked us to go honor a soldier.

My soldier’s name was Private William Elgie. He was with the 39^th Infantry 9^th Division. He was from California. He died on August 7, 1944, probably during the German counter-offensive in Arvanches. That was all I knew about him. The Jersey accented veteran from earlier approached as I was putting down the flower and I told him that I was sorry I didn’t know more about the man whose grave I was decorating.

“You know about his sacrifice and you are honoring it by giving him the gift of time and remembrance. That’s the best we can do for the dead.”

He was right of course. This is often the best we can do for the dead. However, there are still many living veterans whose sacrifice deserves the same honor and regard. This Veteran’s Day, I invite you to salute our servicemen with the gift of time and remembrance.  You can choose to emulate Les Fleurs de la Memoire and leave patriotic flowers or send a more tangible gift such as a Delightful Combinations fruit and gourmet basket to a living veteran to honor their service. Veteran’s Day only comes once a year. Be sure to take some time to express your gratitude and remember.

I feel very lucky to have a November birthday. It’s perfectly nestled between Halloween and Thanksgiving, so I always have something festive to look forward to during this time of year. But it’s not just those of us who were born this month who are lucky! Our friends are also very fortunate because the November birth flower is the lovely chrysanthemum, which makes the November birthday gift one of the easiest to shop for. The cheery, multi-colored blooms can be arranged in countless bouquets that say anything from “I love you” to “You’re a great employee” and the flower is so abundant at this time of year that you needn’t agonize about picking the perfect present; just choose from one of these gorgeous GiftTree bouquets:

• The Autumn Burst is a great seasonal arrangement that will complement their fall décor as well as celebrate their special day.
• Our Harvest Happiness Centerpiece makes a fun alternative to a traditional flower bouquet and looks great on the table at a birthday dinner.
• This Birthday Wishes Bouquet is the perfect office gift. The pink roses and yellow mums will brighten their day and the included balloon will let all their coworkers know that today should be a celebration!
• For a bit more of a romantic, feminine touch the Loving You Bouquet featuring purple mums sends a heartfelt birthday greeting.
• The pink and white Cotton Candy Bouquet looks good enough to eat and is a perfect gift for the young or young at heart.
• Chrysanthemums come in a variety of colors, including deep purple and bright green. These stylish hues feature in our fragrant One Fine Day bouquet, which makes an excellent gift for any friend with modern and colorful taste.