He's Not Johnny Depp

Like lots of kids, I loved reading stories about pirates and their adventures on the high seas.

Unfortunately, there is a modern version of the pirate that is less romantic and more like what pirates of old were really like.  Pirates were outlaws who robbed, plundered and stole. 

Today we are faced with a new version of the pirate, aptly named, Porch Pirate.  These “pirates” scope out homes and rob, plunder or steal packages that are left on doorsteps.

As we kick off the busiest season for shopping on line, be aware that you could be a victim of a Porch Pirate. 

Whether you are purchasing items that you want delivered to your home or to be delivered as a gift to someone else, there are a few things that you can do to minimize becoming a victim of a Porch Pirate.

1.        Have your package delivered to a secure location.  Instruct the delivery service to leave the package in a place not visible from the street such as behind a bush or in a garage.

2.       Have your package delivered to an alternative address like your office or a neighbor who is always home.

3.       If you are going away and having your mail held, ask to have your package delivered to the Post Office where it will be held along with your other mail.

4.       Install a lock box on your property.

5.       Install a security camera.  Even if it doesn’t deter the theft, it will give police evidence for prosecution.

6.       Track the package.  Most delivery services provide tracking information.  If you know a package is going to be delivered on a certain day and time, ask someone (a neighbor) to “keep an eye out” and take the package in until you get home.

7.       If you are having a package delivered directly to a friend or family member, track it so you know exactly when it will arrive and follow up.

If you become a victim of a Porch Pirate.

1.       Immediately contact the seller. Many provide replacements or refunds.

2.       If the seller does not respond or resolve the issue, file a claim with the delivery service.  

             

3.       Call your credit card company.  Most provide some kind of protection.

It is sad that the Grinch does exist but by being aware and being proactive, we can all enjoy a Happy Holiday Season.

Marie          

Sunshine On My Shoulder

Such a beautiful day!  Finally, after months of snow, freezing temperatures, rain and more rain, the sun is shining and there is a warm breeze.

I'm going to take advantage of the gift of this sunny day by getting my rock garden ready for Spring plantings.  I'm sure many others are also going to find reasons to spend time outdoors as well.

But not everyone will be as fortunate.  I'm thinking of my friend John who has spent the last several months in and out of the hospital and will not be able to spend time outside of a hospital room for some time to come.

I'm sure you know someone who is in a similar situation.  A friend or family member who is ill or infirmed.  Someone who is in the hospital, nursing home or even confined to bed at home.

If they can't go out to enjoy the sunshine, why not bring a little to them inside?

At Laurel Mountain Basket Co we are experts at sending sunshine and good cheer.  We can help you design a gift basket full of warm wishes that will bring a smile and shed a little sunshine too.

Check out our site where you can see some examples of our work then call or email us.  We design unique gift basket to fit every taste and budget.

Laurel Mountain Basket Co where gift giving won't make you a basket case.

Happy Spring!

Marie

A Hug In A Box

When I was growing up my Dad’s parents lived across the street.  We played in their yard so saw them every day. My grandmother always had a fresh baked treat for us.

My Mom’s parents and most of my aunts, uncles and cousins were a short car ride away.   We were always visiting one or another and family gatherings happened often.

Today my closest family lives hours away and I have family in every corner of the country. A cousin lives in Washington State another lives in Kentucky.  And one nephew lives in Texas so we rarely get to visit.  We stay in touch via email and phone but it’s not the same.

There are times when I wish I could be with a family member or friend to give them a big hug.  It could be an anniversary, celebrating the birth of a baby, a house warming, a birthday, wedding or getting a new job. Or they are recovering from an illness or dealing with the loss of a loved one.

When a hug is not possible, a gift basket can let them know that they are loved and thought of.

A “care package” to a student away at school or someone serving in the military is also ways to show love and support.

The next time you wish you could give someone a hug, remember that you can always send a custom designed gift basket.  It’s like a hug in a box.

Call today and let us help you custom design a gift basket for someone you love.  (413) 527-1243 laurelmtbasket.com

Marie

The Bruchetta Challenge

Bruchetta Basket

All of our gift baskets are original designs are individually prepared at the time they are ordered.  We talk with our clients to get a sense of who will be receiving the gift basket so that we can include items that they will enjoy.

We even had clients who have provided all of the items and asked us to come up with the design.  The Bruchetta Basket is one. 

Bruchetta is an antipasto consisting of grilled bread, rubbed with garlic and topped with olive oil. Many recipes add tomato, veggies, beans, cured meats or cheeses.

The client provided all of the ingredients, including jars of crushed garlic and peppers, flavored olive oils as well as cook books with various bruchetta recipes.  The challenge was to place all of these items on the bread board they also provided.

The board was boat shaped with a very narrow base.  The items had to be placed so that the gift was balanced enough to stand on its own.  We were satisfied with the results and the client was thrilled, which is always our goal.

We are always up for a challenge.  The next time you need something really special, give us a call and let us help you create a gift that is truly one of a kind.

Marie

Thank You Mother Nature

I was born here so I may be a bit prejudice but I believe there is nothing as beautiful as Autumn in New England.  Autumn heralds the beginning of an amazing number of celebrations.  

The County Fair season is in full swing and as Farmers’ Markets are winding down, Craft Fairs are gearing up.

Halloween is followed by Thanksgiving and Chanukah, Christmas and New Years Eve are right around the corner. Of course there are many more holidays that we celebrate at Laurel Mountain Basket Co. Holidays like Bosses’ Day, Mothers – In – Law Day and Cabbage Night.

Cabbage Night, also known as Gate Night, Trick Night, Mischief Night Goose, Night, Devil’s Night or Devil’s Eve depending on where you live, is celebrated on October 30^th.  On this night, mischief makers patrol their neighborhoods looking for gardens that have not been cleaned up.  They collect the over ripe vegetables and bombard the offending gardener’s house with the collected crop.

The trick is not to get caught or fall down while carrying an arm load of the over ripe ammo.

For the record, our vegetable garden is cleared and ready for Spring planting so we’re going to skip celebrating Cabbage Night again this year and go straight to Halloween.

We only have a couple of kids in our neighborhood so we don’t go big on the Trick or Treat thing or spooky decorations but this weekend we’ll be buying pumpkins, flowers and cabbage kale to decorate our front steps.

I also love to bring the colors of Autumn into our gift basket designs. The reds and rusts, yellow and oranges are so bright yet bring a certain warmth.  It may be the many holidays that come along during the season give us a feeling of hearth and home.

Whatever the reason, Autumn and the colors of Autumn are also loved by our clients.

Have an event or occasion coming up soon?  Let us design a gift basket with the colors of Autumn and you too will come to believe that there is nothing as beautiful as Autumn in New England.

Marie

P.S.  To see samples of designs we have created for our clients, check out laurelmtbasket.com and let us design one just for you.

Tick, Tock

Time.  Time is one of the most valuable commodities we have.  We all have 24 hours in our days; that’s 1,440 minutes.  If you are like me, you find that some days those minutes seem to fly by. 

As much as I love certain activities, I have to delegate them or they don’t get done.

You may love shopping for gifts but driving to the mall or even shopping on line can be very time consuming. It’s even worse when you don’t know what you want to buy.

That’s where we come in.  We can be your personal shopper. We design every one of our gifts baskets to fit every occasion and every budget. A simple five minute phone call and you’re done.

Our corporate clients love shopping with us.  When they need a get well or sympathy basket for an employee they just let us know when and where to ship and how much they want to spend and done.  Some of our clients prefer email.  It really can be that simple.

Don’t really know what to get?   We’ll talk about choices and help you put together a gift basket that will be as delightful to give as it is to receive.

Because every gift basket is created to order, you know it is fresh and has not been sitting on a shelf, collecting dust for months.

We will also deliver your gift basket locally or ship it anywhere in the continental United States.  We take extra care to make sure your gift arrives in a timely manner in as beautiful condition as when it left our studio.

The next time you find that you need a gift and are running out of time, give us a call and let us create a stunning gift basket just for you.

Marie

Create A Stress-Free Zone In Your Business

It’s confirmed.  I took one of those on line stress tests the other day and my score indicated I have many signs of burnout like lack of energy, feeling overwhelmed, unable to relax and inability to focus.  Wow, I don’t think I know anyone in business today who isn’t suffering from “burnout”.

All of us are affected by work related stress at one time or another.  Of course, some jobs are more stressful than others.  Air traffic controllers, police and fire personnel come to mind, but would you have guessed that the job of bus driver is highly stressful?  Bus drivers sit for long periods of time, are responsible for the safe operation of the bus in dense traffic while maintaining tight schedules.  They deal with all types of passengers, some of whom may be threatening or violent.

Stress is pretty serious.  It causes everything from headaches to heart attacks.  75 to 90 percent of doctor visits are fro stress related complaints.

But, there is hope.  There are many ways to reduce stress in your life.  Exercise, eat right, get enough sleep, join family and friends in fun activities.  I’ve met with my Board of Directors and we’ve come up with some ways to relieve stress on the job at Laurel Mountain Company.

Stretch, play, nap, yawn (lowers BP), run for no reason, drink lots of water, love unconditionally, and live simply.  Did I mention that my Board of Directors is made up of my dogs, Zeva and DixieLee?

Now that Laurel Mountain Basket Company is a stress-free company, we are prepared to help you become stress-free, at least as far as helping you manage your gift giving needs.  Just give us a call and we’ll do the rest.

Stay Calm,

Marie