I have a fabulous find to share with you today!  I love sending flowers to friends and family;  I think it’s a great way to say Happy Birthday, Congratulations or Get Well if you can’t do it in person, and I especially like the idea for a hostess gift! When it’s your turn to be the guest be gracious.  A wonderful and surprising way to express gratitude to your host is by sending flowers the day before a party.  In the midst of preparations, it is a treat to receive a beautiful arrangement that says, “we’re excited and grateful to be with you tomorrow”.

My pick, for doing just that, this summer is the Berry Beautiful Bouquet by 1-800-Flowers. Money is tight for everyone these days and this arrangement is not only beautiful, it’s two gifts in one!  The roses, daisy poms, carnations and asters in this bright and beautiful bouquet are delivered in a reusable ceramic berry bowl. It’s decorated with a delicate strawberry pattern and has holes so that you can rinse and serve delicious berries in the same bowl.  The arrangement comes in Large $69.99, Medium $59.99 and Small $49.99.

I have been using 1-800-Flowers.com for years. It takes the risk out of sending flowers, because the arrangements are true to the quality and color represented on the site. There is also such a wide variety of styles, colors and price points to pick from and the designer lines are very special.

As a special gift to Partybluprints’ Blog Readers 1-800-Flowers.com gave me a $40 Savings Pass to give away.  To be eligible to win, leave a comment here and let me know the name of your favorite 1-800-Flowers arrangement.  Share your picks and discover those from others!  Winner will be selected randomly and announced August 20th.

Disclosure: I was not paid for reviewing this product.  These are my opinions and the post represents my personal pick for a great gift idea.

Hands down one my favorite sites, Bakeralla.com, continually blows me away with great ideas.  This one is from last year, but no matter, it’s perfect if you have the time to create a special treat for Dad this Father’s Day.  The formula: Cupcakes + Brownies + Cookies = Father’s Day Happy Meal.  Complete directions for the entire Father’s Day Happy Meal and printable templates (you can download them FREE) for the miniature paper box tray, french fry holder and Happy Father’s Day tissue are provided on the site.  Thanks Bakerella!

View Directions at Bakerella.com  Go>

What happens when you give a Dad a cookie? Well, you make him feel special!

Above are some clever cookies ideas from Sugar Siren Cake. I like the idea of cookies for Father’s Day because they are simple yet special and best of all the kids can pitch in and help too.  Let Dad enjoy a few and then relax with a nice long nap  – I’m sure he can use one!

Image from Sugar Siren Cakes. Visit the blog for more info and other wonderful party ideas.

Father’s Day is around the corner and Dad’s these days really deserve a day of celebration and adulation. Every Dad has his own personality and finding the perfect gift for him can be challenging. Gifts.com has come up with a great way to organize their menu of amazing gifts. This year you can search the site by Dad personality and find gifts that match his special lifestyle.

Categories include gifts that would appeal to The Guy’s Guy, The Geek, The Devoted Dad, The Achiever, The Adventurer, Field and Stream Dad, Metro Man, The Thinker, The Hipster and Country Clubber. I checked out the results for each Dad type and you should be able to find the perfect gift in your price range.

Gifts.com really is an easy way to find great gifts. Now that the site has filtered it’s search function in even more detail for Father’s Day it’s a great option for finding the perfect gift at a great price too!

To shop All Gifts.com Go>

My picks:

Chairs For Chilling>

MicroBrew Beer of the Month>

Hammock>

Guinness Logo Bottle Opener Baseball Cap>

Cool Bar Cocktail Table Side Table and Cooler in One>

For centuries, May Day, May 1st, has been celebrated by many cultures around the world through many different traditions. You may have heard of a Maypole, well, its’ big day was May Day. People would gather on May Day and dance around the Maypole, which was decorated with long ribbons.

Since I’m not about to erect a Maypole to celebrate May Day, I chose another beautiful and equally festive tradition to honor the day which celebrates the beauty and excitement of spring. Our tradition is to make May Day Baskets/Tussie Mussies that can be hung on a door knob. The idea is to create a sweet bouquet of spring flowers, place them in a basket or decorated paper cone (Tussie Mussie), and leave them for a neighbor to say “Happy Spring”. Tradition requires good ole fashioned “ringing and running” so your beautiful gesture is anonymous. Maybe the recipient will be inspired to pass it on. Regardless, you will undoubtedly brighten someone’s day. Make sure to tie a tag on the basket wishing the recipient “Happy May Day”!

If you don’t have any small baskets, it’s fun to make paper cones, decorate and fill with a few flowers and ta-da, you have yourself a modern day Tussie Mussie. You can use scrapbook paper, wallpaper, or card stock to construct your paper cone. Then decorate it with ribbons, bling, pom poms, whatever fun decorations you have in stock. One essential component before filling the cone with flowers is to punch 2 holes on either side at the mouth of the cone. Use these holes to tie the ends of your ribbon, providing a means to hang your May Day Tussie Mussie on the doorknob. Make a “Happy May Day” tag and tie it on the basket/cone, but don’t sign it, remember this gift is anonymous! Have fun.

Here are two great gift ideas and to be honest steals for this Mother’s Day. Even as a fan of Lenox, I was not familiar with the jewelry line. There are lots of designs to choose from, but these two necklaces stood out to me for their beauty, meaning and price!  I love the symbolism of circles for Mothers.  They represents both a Mother’s eternal love for her children and theirs for her and because Mom is the one who make the circle of life go ’round, every day!  They also made my picks as a “luxe for less” gift idea – check out the prices below.  Mom would be proud because she is the one who taught me to watch my pennies!

Diamond Simplicity Pendant: Suggested Retail: $136.00 Online Price: $99.95 view/buy online>

• Crafted of sterling silver set with 3 diamonds
• Includes 18″ chain with 2″ extender and lobster clasp

Butterfly Circles Pendant : Suggested Retail: $200.00 Online Price: $89.95 >view/buy online

• Crafted of 14 karat white gold
• .10 ctw genuine diamonds
• Includes 18″ white gold chain

Recently I went to Bliss Spa for a massage and bought a product that I had to share with you - t spheres . There’s nothing like getting a massage, but if you’re like me and time and money keep you from enjoying them as much as you wish – give these little magic balls a try.  Seriously they rock, I will be giving them out as gifts this year (starting at $20).  I can’t think of a better idea for someone who travels a lot or works on a computer at a desk too many hours each week!

INNER BEAUTY: rose geranium infused for lifting the spirits and allowing your inner beauty to shine

PERK UP: a bit of peppermint mixed with grapefruit to improve concentration and circulation for those days and flights that seem endless

PEP-UP-MINT: (tiny t spheres®) peppermint infused to mend those tired feet, mouse-moving hands and overworked brains

The golf ball-size rubber orbs are designed by a massage therapist to relieve pain from the body in a natural way by uses the two most scientifically researched alternative methods for stress relief: massage and aromatherapy. To use them just put them under your feet (<– my fave) , between your back and the chair, or simply hold them in your hands and let them roll. The pressure not only massages muscles; it releases an aromatherapy scent.  You can use them hot or cold -  I nuke them for 2 minutes and give myself a warm foot massage while I watch TV, nice hunh?

To learn more or shop visit > tspheres.com

http://www.tspheres.com/

Easter is around the corner and if you need a hostess gift or just want to spread some cheer this spring we found a great little gift for under $10. These precious little egglings look and feel like a real egg, but are really a little garden ready to grow.  They are perfect for Baby Shower favors too!

Cultivation is easy — seeds are already sown into eggling’s fortified peat mixture, just crack it’s top (by tapping on it with a spoon), water and place in bright spot. Plants grow for up to five months in the eggling, after which it can be planted directly in soil.

The Eggling is made of white porous ceramic (2.125″ height x 1.875″ diameter) and comes with a terra cotta tray and seed pack of either herbs or flowers. We love the Strawberry for Spring, but the egglings also come in a several other flower and herb varieties.

Egglings are available at ochelly.com

I love this idea for celebrating  a “Big Girl” Birthday from Paulette Macarons.  How many times have you celebrated with the girls and everyone passes on a piece of cake?  Lots, right?  Try this idea instead and I bet you’ll have all takers for a sweet and light macaron.

For her special occasion or your own, try the five tiered tower. It holds 60 macarons of your choice . It’s doubles as the perfect centerpiece and a delicious dessert!

This is perfect Paulette!  For the Webiste Go> PauletteMacarons.com

This week is Birthday Week!  My birthday is today, February 22nd and Elizabeth’s is Thursday the 25th.  So in the spirit, we will bring you birthday treats each day!

Birthdays come but once a year, so a fabulous cake is a must.  This Swarovski Cake Topper makes a birthday cake extraordinarily exquisite!  Whether you bake a cake or purchase one from your local bakery, once you mark it with your girl’s initial(s), it’s sure to dazzle her, regardless of her age.  After the celebration, the birthday girl can hang the topper on her wall as a memento (safe keeping until the next birthday)!

Hot Tip: In addition to birthdays, these toppers are the crown jewel for spectacular Bridal Showers, Wedding Cakes and Mother’s Day!