by Cece | Business Gifts, Everything Baby, Gifting Etiquette, Parenting, Party Planning
It starts with a co-worker letting you know that she’s expecting, or a colleague telling the team about his wife’s pregnancy. What should we do? The word starts to get around about throwing an office baby shower, but how exactly is that done? Here is a step-by-step guide to throwing an office baby shower that will be remembered and enjoyed by everyone. Your Guide to Office Baby Showers: Q & A Is it ok to throw a shower at all? First thing’s first – before jumping in, make sure that you’ve cleared it with both the expecting person and your HR department. If the expecting mom or dad would feel uncomfortable with a shower being thrown for them, respect their wishes. And at some companies, HR may way to take the lead on all celebrations, so make sure you’re good there, too. And even though surprises are fun, it’s probably wisest not to risk it unless you’re absolutely sure they would love it. Who should be in charge, and who should be enlisted to help? If you’re their closest work-friend, manager or direct report, congratulations – you’re the one who should be in charge. If you need assistance in putting the shower together, ask their department co-workers or those you know are friendly with the expectant person to help. Most importantly, it is best to keep the guest of honor involved in the whole process, so that they feel good about all of it. When should an office baby shower take place? Most people would prefer for an office party to be short and sweet, not taking...
by Cece | Gifting Etiquette, Holidays, Thank Yous
It’s January – the chaotic (but totally worth it, of course) holiday season has finally come to a close. January is also National Thank You Month. That means it’s time to get going on writing thank you cards for holiday gifts you received. Often, people ask if sending a thank you card for holiday gifts is really necessary. The answer is a resounding yes – especially if you didn’t see the gift-giver over the holidays and your gift came in the mail. But what should you write? Here are some helpful tips to remember when writing your thank you notes! 1. Handwritten notes are best. When you put pen to paper, you’re showing someone that they’re worth the extra effort, beyond an email or a text message. Plus, scientific studies have shown that handwriting is more memorable than talking, texting or typing. So when you write, you’re planting that gratitude in your mind, and when they receive the card, your writing will be better remembered, too. 2. Kids should send thank you cards for every gift they received. Even if the gift-giver was present when the gift was opened, children should write thank you cards for every gift they received. You’re teaching them the importance of etiquette and gratitude – two virtues that will benefit them greatly in the future. Especially for those parents whose children are young – get out the crayons and markers and make a fun activity out of it! 3. Write about what you received. The gift-giver really wants to know that you appreciate their gift, so go into specific detail! It shows that their...
by Cece | Gift Baskets, Gift Ideas, Gifting Etiquette, Gifts By Occasion, Weddings
There are 2.3 million couples getting married every year in the US, and over 10 percent of those weddings happen in June! June is the most popular month for Weddings in the United States, and for good reason. In this sunny time of year, we find ourselves at the tail end of Spring when we can start to expect less rain, and we’re at the early stage of Summer, when the temperatures haven’t risen quite so high yet. With all the weddings you might be attending this June (my husband and I are attending three this month!), it can be quite a task figuring out all the wedding gifts you’re going to give to the happy couple. That’s where GiftTree comes in! Our curated collection of wedding gifts is full of perfectly sentimental, romantic and thoughtful offerings to send the happy couple off with best wishes on their new adventure. PS – Don’t forget to sign the card, too! Every happy couple deserves a toast! Send your best wishes with this gift of premium champagne, along with two genuine crystal champagne flutes. Elevate your gift by adding a personalized initial to each flute, presenting a thoughtful and endearing offering that’s perfect for celebrating any special occasion. Speaking of Champagne, our Champagne and Caviar gift presents a perfectly charming toast with the definitive pairing. Two splits of indulgent Chandon brut arrive with premium Saraivanov caviar and savory crackers, in a lux picnic case. How about something for the newlyweds’ home? Our Modern Acacia Cheese Board is one of our bestselling wedding gifts, complete with complimentary engraving of the Bride and Groom’s initials. If the happy...
by Cece | Family Matters, Flowers, Friendship, Gifting Etiquette
Writing a sympathy card or sending your condolences after a loss is never an easy of enjoyable thing to do, but it’s important to remember that you are serving those you care about. It’s an opportunity to give encouragement, be a source of comfort and let them know that you’re thinking about them in this sad time. Figuring out what to write in a sympathy card can be difficult. Here are a few messages that are meaningful and appropriate to write in sympathy cards, as well as some of GiftTree’s thoughtful sympathy gifts. These messages are perfect from a group, couple or family, but you can substitute I, me, or my, as well: “We are so sorry for your loss. We’re all thinking of you, keeping you in our prayers, and honoring the memory of your ____” “Our hearts go out to you and your family. We are with you in thought and we wish you comfort and peace as you remember (insert name here)” “As we remember your _____, our hearts are filled with love. We are all thinking of you and sending you peace in this challenging time.” “Words fall short at expressing our sorrow for your loss. May the love of those around you help you through the days ahead.” Short, poetic and inspirational messages: “May the memories of your ____ bring you comfort and peace in this challenging time.” “May you treasure the wonderful memories, find peace and comfort and know that I am with you in thought and prayer.” “Wishing you hope in the midst of sorrow and comfort through the pain of this...
by Cece | Business Gifts, Gift Ideas, Gifting Etiquette, Wine Gifts
Not all of us are sommeliers or wine experts, so when it comes to choosing the right wine that conveys the impression you’re hoping to achieve, it can be tricky! Here are our top three go-to tips when it comes to giving the right wine gift. TIP #1 – The relationship you have with your recipient should be taken into account first and foremost. Is the wine gift for your boss? Just because your boss is a wine lover, he might not appreciate a Gewürztraminer or a pink Moscato. So consider the relationship that you have – is it personal or professional? Also, take the occasion into account as well. A bottle of Champagne as a gift for someone who has been sick with the flu isn’t really a very thoughtful gift. TIP #2 – If you know of a particular label that he or she already loves, play it safe! Why take a chance when you already know what they love? If you’re unsure of their particular wine tastes, try to gauge what they might like at a very base level. When you saw them at that Christmas party, were they drinking red or white wine? If all else fails, reach out to someone close to them and ask! It’s totally acceptable to approach a close friend or family member and say something like, “I’d love to surprise her with a bottle of wine. Any recommendations on what she might like?” TIP #3 – Presentation matters. Up the game and elevate the gift with spectacular presentation (we love our Burlwood boxes). Especially if you’re giving a wine gift you already...
by Cece | Gift Ideas, Gifting Etiquette, Unique Gifts
Not every special occasion is a birthday, anniversary, graduation or retirement. There are plenty of special occasions that don’t quite fit into a category, and it’s hard to know how to celebrate, even if we would like to. Let’s say a friend gets a promotion at their job, or your cousin joins in a domestic partnership with their significant other. Your next door neighbors are sending their last kid off to college, or your nephew is celebrating 10 years of sobriety… these are all momentous occasions that deserve to be celebrated, but it can be hard to know how! That’s where GiftTree comes in. When it comes to our curated collection, you’ll find so many gifts on our website really allow you to think outside the box. Between our personalized gifts, our delicious epicurean collection and our classic gift baskets overflowing with goodies, you’re sure to find the perfect gift for celebrating any of life’s unique events. Here are some of our favorites! As Good As Gold This sunny gift basket makes the perfect congratulations gift, and that can really go a long way on a unique occasion. Gourmet chocolate drizzled popcorn, Ghirardelli caramel squares, Meyer lemon rolled wafers and so much more are collected in this gorgeous basket with real leather handles. Wouldn’t this be a great gift to send to your brother, who just got promoted to senior level at his company? Embossed Fine Leather Journal We love the idea of giving this journal as a gift to commemorate a sobriety milestone. Sourced and crafted from soft, supple leather and 192 pages of high quality paper, this leather...
