Ready, Set,Shop!

Shopping during the Holiday Season can be quite stressful. Crowded stores, limited time, and limited money, are all factors contributing to a stressful shopping experience. Here are a couple of tips to make Holiday shopping more enjoyable.

Plan ahead. Planning ahead is one way to limit the amount of stress brought on by shopping during the Holidays. Start by making lists. Make a list of people who you want to buy gifts for and determine how much money you are going to spend on each gift. Next, write down one or two gift ideas that fall within the pre determined price range next to each name.
Start your Holiday shopping early and plan to shop on more than one occasion if at all possible. By starting early and knowing you don't have to buy everything on your list that day, you will have a better chance of finding the gift you want at the price you can afford. If you wait until the last minute, you may find yourself spending more for a particular item or spending money on a gift simply to have "something" to give because you have run out of time. Spending more than your budget allows will certainly add stress to the Holiday Season and beyond.

Finding the "perfect" gift for that "hard to buy for" individual can create a lot of stress. The way to avoid this type of stress is to realize that you can't please everyone. Simply select a "nice" gift that is within your budget and be done with it.

Gift baskets are wonderful gifts for "hard to shop for" people. At Laurel Mountain Basket Company, we have a large selection of gift baskets designed for every occasion and we work with our clients to help them select ones that are appropriate to their needs.

A Little Taste of New England

I love New England. To me it's not a place so much as a state of mind. So when I started Laurel Mountain Gift Basket Company almost 10 years ago, I created gift baskets that reflected the tastes and the people of New England. I sought out local artisans, farmers, chocolatiers, herb growers and sugar house operators, and developed a line of gift baskets made up almost entirely of locally produced goods.

Our line of New England Gift Baskets has been very successful, and as we discovered new products, we were able to increase the number of designs we could offer. So I was really excited when I discovered Appalachian Naturals a producer of all natural, certified organic foods made from ingredients grown on small New England farms. Now we will be able to add a line of all natural and organic products like their Veracruz Salsas and Cape Cod Caviar to our own New England gift baskets!

From Cape Cod to the Berkshires, from Maine to Rhode Island, we bring the taste of New England to where ever you are!

Food For Thought

The month of October is Adopt A Shelter Dog Month. Laurel Mountain Basket Company is dog friendly and we donate a portion from the sale of all of our pet gifts to several local animal rescue services. I also donate items I know the shelters need to continue to operate. Items like gently used toys, office supplies and laundry supplies. This year I decided to send an e-mail to our clients and let them know, that during the month of October, I was collecting items for the local shelter. I know that our clients are great people but I was amazed at the response we got.

We collected several cases of canned dog and cat food, a big box of office supplies, another box of paper products and laundry supplies. Blankets, towels, pet dishes, collars, and leashes, Hundreds, yes hundreds, of dog and cat toys, all of them in perfect condition, many of them new. Dog beds and three cat condos!

Well, it's November and Thanksgiving is only a few weeks away. To me, Thanksgiving means food and lots of it. We celebrate Thanksgiving with my sister and her family in Connecticut and every year she serves up a wonderfully traditional Thanksgiving meal. Everything from turkey to pumpkin pie with plenty left over for sandwiches for the next day. It was touch and go with the stuffing the first couple of years after she got married since she and her husband wanted to use their family recipe. They've been married now for over 25 years, so I guess it worked out okay.

We are very fortunate but we know there are many who are not. That's why I've decided, since collecting for the shelters was such a success, we are going to collect food for our local food pantry. From now until Thanksgiving day, Laurel Mountain Basket Company will be collecting non perishable food for the Easthampton Food Pantry.

Help share our good fortune, bring your food contributions to the Laurel Mountain Basket Company studio at the Eastworks building at 116 Pleasant Street in Easthampton any time. We filled our Toyota 4 Runner with supplies for the animals, I' m hoping to do the same for the people of Easthampton.

Thank you and Happy Thanksgiving!

Breast Cancer Awareness

Those of you who follow my blog know that I was going to participate in the Terry Brodeur Breast Cancer Foundation Walk Across Southeastern Connecticut. Well, I am here to tell you I made it!!! My niece, Kate, a student at the University of New Hampshire, and I took part in the event on October 4th.

When Kate called me and invited me to walk with her, I immediately agreed, but one of my caveats was that I would donate my time and my feet but I would not raise any money, that would be totally up to her. She agreed. This may seem harsh to you but Kate is 20 years old and an idealist. Been there, done that, got lots of tee shirts. I have raised a lot of money for "causes" , as a business owner I am contacted daily by individuals and organizations wanting money. I have learned that as much as 60% to 80% of money goes to "administrative costs". I will not give my hard earned money nor ask anyone I know to give hard earned money to "causes" when the money does not get to the people it is supposed to help.

After committing to Kate, but before committing to the Terry Brodeur Foundation, I did some checking. Happily I found out that administrative costs of which there are many, are taken care of by soliciting area businesses for fund. These costs are not taken out of the money donated by participants or donors.

Having organized several fund raising events and having volunteered and/or participated in many more, I know that the costs associated with planning and executing one can be substantial. There are printing and mailing costs, for an event such as this, providing water, power drinks, granola bars and fruit for the walkers, transportation, advertising, tee shirts, signage, equipment rental, etc., etc, etc.

My company, Laurel Mountain Basket Company, occasionally will participate as a sponsor for a local event. Most recently we were one of the sponsors for the Whately Triathlon, a fund raiser for the Whately, MA Police Department. In most cases, such a the TBBCF Walk, I prefer to participate.

It was a great experience. Kate has raised most of the $500 pledge herself (she's still working on the last few dollars) and we're already talking about doing it again next year. When I said I would donate my feet, I didn't know how true a statement that was. My feet are KILLING me! I'm glad I plan ahead and scheduled a chiropractic appointment for this morning. I should have scheduled a massage as well.

If you have the opportunity to participate in an event such as this, I encourage you to do so. The experience will be well worth it but I caution you, make sure you are in good shape and that you train hard before hand.

Sincerely

Marie

The Best Dogs In The Universe

I tell my dogs daily that I am very lucky because when I went looking to adopt a dog, I got the best dogs in the Universe. Okay, so I tell little white lies occasionally but you have to understand that their "universe" is rather small.
When we lost our Boarder Collie mix Cassie, my husband was lobbying for two dogs. We work all day and he felt that they could keep each other company. Great in theory but you've heard the expression "two can live as cheaply as one" well, "raising two dogs is as easy as raising one" is just as true. Also, I knew that I would be the one who would be doing 90% of the work, taking them to obedience classes, buying the food, visiting the vet, etc., etc., etc.
I have had a dog companion since I was in college. I've been lucky in that they have all been healthy and had long lives. Each of those four dogs has come from a shelter. So, we called F.A.C.E.S., Inc. in West Springfield, Ma. and arranged to see a litter of puppies they had. The home where the puppies were being cared for (F.A.C.E.S., Inc. is an all volunteer rescue and adoption service so the animals are kept in private homes) was about an hours drive from our house.

As soon as we entered the yard, a little black puppy came up to us. She was so beautiful and so cute, we both knew immediately that she was the dog for us. As I started making arrangements to sign the paperwork and write the check, my husband said, "Look over there. You have to see this other dog. The shy little guy in the corner." Somehow I just knew that if I looked, we would be signing paperwork for two dogs. Now I ask you, could you resist that face? I couldn't.

Two dogs rode home in the cabin of a pick up truck with us that day. Ten years later we are still one big happy family. Our cute little puppies have grown into two beautiful dogs and I've never regretted looking at the shy little guy in the corner and agreeing that we really did need two dogs.

Because we adopted our "best dogs in the Universe" from F.A.C.E.S., Inc. our company, Laurel Mountain Basket Company, donates a portion from the sale of every dog gift basket and dog gift to that organization. Please visit our site, and know that if you purchase one of our beautiful gift baskets, you will not only be giving a favorite pet or pet owner a great gift, you will be helping a wonderful organization.

What Was I Thinking?!

Okay, I know it's for a good cause, the Terri Brodeur Breast Cancer Foundation's 2008 Walk Across Southeastern Connecticut, but when I agreed to do the walk, I didn't stop to think just how far 12 to 15 MILES really is. What was I thinking?

It started so innocently. My niece called and told me she wanted to do a benefit walk. I figured she was going to ask me for a pledge. She's in college now and I don't get to see her very often so when she asked if I would walk with her, I was thrilled. What a great experience it would be.

For the record, I thought I was in good shape. After all, I work out 3 or 4 mornings a week at the gym where I take a step & sculpt class twice a week, work with weights and work out on the machines as well. I take the dogs for a mile fast walk almost every day after work. A simple walk shouldn't be that difficult.

I did realize I would need to do some training. My friend Sue is a personal trainer and enters marathons and triathlons for fun so I asked her to work up a schedule for me. She was very encouraging, telling me I was already in good shape and would be fine. I got my schedule and was ready to rock and roll.

The first time I walked the treadmill for five miles at a steady 4.0 mph, I thought I was going to die! My energy level was still okay. My heart rate and breathing were fine. I just could not move. Every muscle from the waist down simply seized up! I didn't know how I was going to get across the entire gym to the locker room without a stretcher.

It took a very long sauna and hot shower to get me moving again. As long as I didn't make any sudden moves, I was fine. The next day wasn't too bad once I got both feet moving. Stairs were still a big challenge and bending over was totally out of the questions. Well, I'm pretty sure I'm past that now. I'm able to do 5 miles on the treadmill and feel great.

I hope on October 5th I'll be able to report that all went well, I finished the walk and am not in intensive care somewhere. One thing I am sure of, the next time someone asks me to do something like this, I'm going to donate a gift basket instead.

Laughing Out Loud

The other day I received the funniest e-mail I have ever seen. Well, maybe not THE funniest but it sure was close. It made my day!

You don't have to work from home like the character Adam in the comic strip "Adam" to feel isolated in the work place. I work in a studio outside of my home but most of my business is done over the phone or via my website http://www.laurelmtbasket.com/ . Don't get me wrong. I love to work alone in an environment without distractions when I'm designing a new gift basket and especially at this time of year when I am designing a full line of gifts and gift baskets for the up coming holiday season.

But eight or ten hours is a long time so I'm really glad I have my on line friends who fill my inbox with the most insane e-mails. There are so many fun things out there that I'd never have time to find on my own. I don't spend time on You Tube but I'm sure glad someone does, because I really enjoy some of the amazing videos found there.

Many of my friends are artists, writers, crafters, designers of one sort or another or other professionals who also work solo. Swapping silly e-mails with them is a great way to take a break and spread some cheer.

There are days when you will catch me LOL for real. I especially enjoy photos and videos of cats and dogs (or any animal really) doing something silly. I love the Cats on a Treadmill and the Moose with the Sprinkler type videos. They are too cute and hysterically funny.

Be a good friend and share a laugh today!