A New Year is about to be ushered in. Although my family and me have suffered some adversities this year, the blessings in our lives have far outnumbered them. A true blessing in my life has been Great Finds For You. It has been a real joy to share with you ideas and tips to help you with your gift giving needs.
The best gift idea at Great Finds For You was "The gift of your time, concern and love for others is the best gift you could ever give." This gift idea has been added to the bottom of our home page as the theme for the website. This is a two-way gift. It gives to the person doing the giving a "good feeling" and it is a blessing and joy to others.
Great Finds For You has been affiliated with some fabulous companies this past year, whose products and services we feel you can appreciate. We would like to extend our personal thanks and appreciation to these wonderful companies. If you're unfamiliar with these companies, please view our About webpage and get to know them.
Our greatest joy at Great Finds For You has been YOU. Having you share our ideas and choice product selections has been a true pleasure and blessing. Would like to take this time to extend to you heartfelt wishes for a New Year filled with much happiness for you and your family.
Cheers,
Gin
Great Finds For You With You In Mind!
My sister had Christmas dinner this evening at her home. Because it is such a hectic time of year, she decided that it better suits everyone's schedule having Christmas early. It is always wonderful to have the family together, sharing and creating memories, as we enjoy the wondrous delight on the young ones faces as they immerse themselves into the frantic opening of their Christmas gifts.
My Dad's memory is impacted by dementia, but it does not stop him from enjoying the great grandkids. His face lights up in a contagious smile as he reaches out to hold them. Fortunately, I remembered to charge-up my camera's battery, so I could capture his glowing smile and the wonderful excitement of the children.
Picture taking at the time can be somewhat of a bother or chore; however, in years to come pictures of our family and friends become priceless treasures for us. Would like to encourage you to take the time to capture with your camera or video recorder the wonderful memories that the season offers.
Sincerely wish you and your family a blessed Christmas.
Cheers,
Gin
Great Finds For You With You In Mind!
Time is passing quickly by and Christmas will soon arrive. Some of us have finished our Christmas shopping and others have only just begun. If you find yourself in the only just begun category here are a few gift ideas to hopefully help you with your Christmas gift shopping.
1. The gift of flowers is a timeless gift that almost anyone would love to receive. Women and even young girls especially love the captivating beauty and fragrance that flowers offer. Their appreciation and enjoyment of the gift can be recognized by that radiant smile when they receive their beautiful gift of flowers. Men take enjoyment from the gift as well, but many times tend to prefer the more classic touch of nature by the gift of a plant. If you are strapped for time and want to give a gift that you know will be loved, then the gift of flowers or a plant would be wonderful.
2. Many websites offer 2nd day or next day delivery enabling you to shop online and not have to contend with the crowds at the malls and still be able to receive the gift by Christmas.
3. If you find yourself without much time and don't want to pay the extra shipping, then head on down to your local bookstore. Bookstores offer some wonderful Christmas gifts. Focus on hobbies, interest and lifestyles of individuals on your list and you should be able to find an array of pleasing gifts. A book makes a wonderful gift not only because of what the content offers the recipient, but it can be easily personalized. Be sure to take the time to write a heartfelt message inside the book before giving it to your friend or loved one.
4. If you're clueless on what to give that person on your list that has "everything", then considering making a contribution in their name to a worthy organization or cause that you know holds special meaning for them.
5. There is always that classic gift of money. Pick up a wonderful Christmas card to place the money inside and don't forget to write something special.
6. The best gift you can ever give is your time, concern and love. Hope these gift ideas help. Enjoy your Christmas shopping.
Cheers,
Gin
Great Finds For You With You In Mind!
The other day when I was lying in bed, I looked up at the top of my wardrobe and saw my cherished collection of cuddly plush friends. A smile immediately sprang forth for they always seem to touch that special spot in my heart with their cute expressions and plush bodies that beckons to be held. In my small collection, some of my cuddly friends bring back long ago memories where they served as a memento for marking a special occasion in my life.
Some of you can probably readily connect with my feelings regarding my cuddly plush friends. There seems to be a kind of magical presence, which captures us in its mist when our eyes behold and we touch that special adorable cuddly plush friend.
From Whales & Friends I found some adorable animal themed cuddly plush friends that could easily become cherished friends for young ones or the young at heart. I added a webpage called Cuddly to Great Finds For You, which displays some of them.
If you decide to give one of these cuddly plush friends to someone on your gift giving list, then be sure to have your camera ready to capture that magical moment when your friend or loved one's face will be filled with a loving smile.
Have a blessed day!
Cheers,
Gin
Great Finds For You With You In Mind!
The other day I began thinking about my neighbors and remembering the special times or familiar routines we shared. Some of them I know by name and am well acquainted with, others only a slight acquaintance has been established with a smile and passing hand wave. Either way our neighbors offer a certain feeling of warmth and sanctuary to our lives, which is much like the feelings we associate with our homes.
When an ambulance shows up at our neighbor's home or their familiar pet has not been spotted in awhile, we immediately begin to have concerns. Neighbors are many times some of the most cherished people in our lives. Lasting relationships are often formed, which last a lifetime even though life's journey may have changed our status of "neighbor".
I decided to add a page to Great Finds For You, which reflects upon the importance of neighbors. The Christmas season is a great time to remember our neighbors. A great way to help build upon our relationship with neighbors is by giving them a gift this special time of year and letting them know how much we appreciate them and how important they are in our lives.
If you don't really know some of your neighbors, a great way to build a relationship is with a simple hand wave the next time you see them. Sometimes you may experience that a neighbor does not wish to build any type of relationship. If so, this will become apparent, but for the most part I believe you will find this is not the case.
Remembering our neighbors during the holidays can also be done by giving them a holiday card and writing a heartfelt message. This is a great way to build upon our relationships with the neighbors.
Have a blessed day!
Cheers,
Gin
Great Finds For You With You In Mind!
I was in the kitchen this morning at seven o'clock baking a banana pudding. Normally, baking this early in the morning is not on my to-do list. However, today is a special day; it is my sister's birthday.
Giving my sister a banana pudding on her birthday is a tradition that she looks forward to each year. As a matter of fact, weeks before her birthday she always mentions how she looks forward to that much loved dessert.
Traditions are so wonderful because they hold a special place in our hearts. We anxiously anticipate and seek their presences in our lives. I believe a large part of it is because traditions afford us with a special warmth, familiarity and comfort.
Christmas is a special time that many families place emphasis on honoring long-standing traditions. Sometimes these traditions go as far back as our childhood. Christmas captures the very essence of traditions.
Frequently traditions involve little money, but are steeped in remembering, sharing or spending time together. They usually mark a special event or time in our life. To build traditions for your family look for fun things a family can do together, such as putting together a puzzle, playing a great game, watching a movie classic or baking some favorite goodies.
The key for making a tradition is to build a treasured memory; so loved ones will look forward to once again reliving the excitement that is captured by the tradition.
Cheers,
Gin
Great Finds For You With You In Mind!
Yesterday my sister and I spent the day together and had a wonderful time. She had a gift certificate that was getting ready to expire. It was not the type of store that one visits when looking for an affordable Christmas gift. It was from a very posh store, but we had a delightful time browsing and my sister found some wonderful items to spend her gift certificate on.
After some shopping we had lunch at one of our favorite restaurants. It is an Italian restaurant and each time we leave we are thoroughly stuffed. We did some more shopping after we had lunch. This time we were looking for some affordable Christmas gifts, as well as walking off some of the stuffed feeling that comes when overeating before making the 90 minute drive home.
One thing that captured my attention, while we were shopping, was the sock section was quite crowded. I believe the reason for this is socks make a really great Christmas gift. They are affordable and are an item that everyone uses. In fact, it is one of those items of clothing that many times needs replacing on a yearly basis due to wear.
If you find yourself looking for an affordable Christmas gift for a friend, co-worker or loved one to let them know that you're thinking of them, then the gift of socks would make a great gift. I have given socks often as gifts, as well as received them. Either way, they are well received and appreciated. In fact, a pair of socks I received, as a Christmas gift last year is one of my favorite pairs that I reach for often.
Have a blessed day!
Cheers,
Gin
Great Finds For You With You In Mind!
I added three new webpages to the Great Finds For You website today. One of the webpages is entitled Best. My inspiration for writing this webpage came when writing another webpage for the website named Favorites. The Favorites webpage contains gifts that can be considered classic and timeless, as well as unique and distinct. Any recipient receiving these gifts would be absolutely thrilled.
As wonderful as the gifts are on the Favorites webpage to both give and receive, the best gift that we can give someone is the gift of our time, concern and love. If we give these gifts continually, then our priorities in life should be well placed. The Best webpage offers some thoughts to help inspire you and be a blessing to others.
The third page I added to the website was Spouse Gift Ideas. For some the spouse can be the hardest person to shop for on the gift list. Sometimes it seems that no matter what idea we come up with for our spouse, something always has us marking it off the list. Hopefully, these spouse gift ideas will help.
This year my home was graced with the addition of two new pets and my Dad who came to live with me. This will be the first Christmas for them in my home. Today it occurred to me that one thing I need to remember to do on Christmas is to record some video. Years later I'll be able to recall more vivdly with video the first Christmas my furry friends, Dad and I shared together in my home.
Enjoy you day!
Cheers,
Gin
Great Finds For You With You In Mind!
One of the questions that always follow the Thanksgiving Day meal is what to do with the leftover turkey. We begin looking through our cookbooks for a recipe for the turkey leftovers. Many of us package some the turkey up and send it home with our guests and still have lots leftover.
Today I made the journey through my recipes looking for a turkey leftover recipe. What I found was an easy chicken casserole recipe that a friend gave to me years ago. Believe this would be a recipe that a substitution of turkey for the chicken could easily be made, since chicken and turkey are in the poultry family.
Easy Chicken Casserole (substitute turkey for chicken)
Bake a regular pan of cornbread.
5 pieces of chicken breast – boil until done. (I prefer to cook my chicken in the crock-pot overnight.)
1 stick of butter or margarine melted.
In a large bowl crumble in the cornbread.
Next sprinkle onion flakes over cornbread crumbs.
Then sprinkle sage over cornbread crumbs.
Pour the 1 stick of melted (butter or margarine) over the cornbread crumbs. Mix well.
Take ½ of cornbread mix and place in the bottom of a 13x9 pan. Pull boiled chicken in little strips and lie on top of cornbread mix.
In another bowl mix 2 cans of cream of chicken soup with 2 can of the water you boiled the chicken in (broth). (If you're substituting turkey for the chicken and do not have any leftover broth from the turkey then you can use canned chicken broth).
Pour the soup mixture over the cornbread mix. Next place the rest of the cornbread mix on top.
Bake in a preheated 375-degree oven for about 45 minutes or until brown on top.
Hope you find this recipe helpful for your turkey leftovers. I have a friend that makes a similar recipe each year and serves as the dressing dish with their Christmas dinner.
Enjoy your day!
Cheers,
Gin
Great Finds For You With You In Mind!
Need inspiration for gift giving this holiday season, then checkout Great Finds For You gift giving tips, child gift ideas and parent gift ideas.
As I was going through my jewelry box today, one piece of jewelry caught my immediate attention. It was a beaded rope and if memory serves me correctly, it was made by Avon. This piece of jewelry holds special sentiment to me because my dear Grandmother gave it to me years ago when I was in college as a Christmas gift.
My Grandmother lived on a farm and other than her wedding band she rarely wore jewelry in her day-to-day routine. However, when she went somewhere special she would wear a piece of jewelry such as a pin. My sister has an antique jewelry pin that my Grandmother gave her as a wedding gift when she married. It was very dear to my Grandmother's heart because her Father gave it to her for her 16th birthday. Although the piece of jewelry is only costume, it is a family heirloom that is priceless.
Jewelry given to us as gifts frequently has sentimentality attached to it. Most of us can recall precisely who gave us the gift of jewelry, as well as the occasion that it was given. Whether we occasionally wear the piece or wear it on a regular basis, the love and sentimentality we have for the piece of jewelry is the same.
The gift of jewelry is a wonderful gift for the holidays. Whether you're giving jewelry as a gift to your mom, sister, spouse, or a friend, it will be a gift that will be treasured and loved.
Enjoy your day!
Cheers,
Gin
Great Finds For You With You In Mind!
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