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

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

Colors of Autumn

So it begins.  The days are still warm but the nights are cool.  I love New England in autumn.  Every year Mother Nature surprises us with a unique pallet of colors and following her lead, we fill our gift baskets with New England treats and wrap them in New England autumn colors.

All of our gift baskets are individually designed specifically to our clients’ needs and budget.  We create gift baskets for any occasion from anniversaries, to birthdays, weddings, housewarmings, new baby, get well, thank you, condolences, or just because.

A sample of our design styles can be seen on our website at laurelmtbasket.com

So when you need a unique gift from the heart, we are just a phone call away.  It's that easy. Just dial (413-527-1243) and your gift giving problem is solved.  In just a few minutes we will help you choose the gift that is just perfect for you.

Remember, “Laurel Mountain Basket Company where gift giving won’t make you a basket case”.

Happy autumn

Marie

Eat Drink and Be Scary!

Holiday – a day fixed by law or custom on which ordinary business is suspended in commemoration of some event or in honor of some person.

Some holidays. Like Christmas and Hanukkah are religious/spiritual, while others like Mothers' Day and Fathers' day are sentimental. Holidays like Memorial Day and Labor Day honor a specific group of people and Halloween, well Halloween is just plain FUN.

Okay, so it does have spiritual roots but for most of us it's simply a day to cut loose and have fun. Witches and goblins, black cats and pumpkins have lost their original significance and have become whimsical decorations.

In many communities schools or civic organizations sponsor Trick or Treating events where children can come together in a safe environment to have fun with rag shag parades, prizes, movies, lots of candy and other treats.

Even the family pets are getting in on the fun. Veterinarians and pet day care centers have parties and hold contests for the best Halloween costumes – dog and cat categories.

More and more adults are getting into the spirit (no pun intended) too. Costume parties are common with all sorts of themed foods and drinks like Black Cat Canapes and Candy Corn Jell-O Shots.

One of my favorite Halloween treats is Black Magic Cake.  Most recipes call for instant coffee but I sort of like it better with coffee flavor liqueur.  

Houses and streets are decorated in anticipation of kids out trick or treating.   Laconia, NH is hosting a huge pumpkin festival where they will try to break their record  of 10,000 lighted Jack-O-Lanterns and pumpkin carving has become an art form.

We don't have kids and don't live in an area with lots of kids so Halloween isn't so much about trick or treat but is more about the beginning of the Holiday Season... my favorite time of year. Halloween leads to Thanksgiving and I love Thanksgiving because, to me, it's all about family.

Thanksgiving leads to Christmas and Christmas is about Peace, Love and Friendship.  What's not to love?

So, I am looking forward to Halloween and all of the wonderful holidays that follow.
Happy Halloween,
Marie

P.S.  Check out our new website at www.laurelmtbasket.com 

What's So Special About October 15th?

At Laurel Mountain Basket Co we pay close attention to traditional Holidays. After all, supplying gifts is pretty much the business we re in.

I've always loved holidays and enjoy finding gifts for people. It's October already and I was just thinking that I am way behind on my Holiday shopping. Really, I don't usually stress around the Holidays because when I see something I think would make a great gift for someone, I pick it up and keep it in my “gift chest”.  This year the gift chest is only half full.

Unfortunately, I'm finding that more and more people don't enjoy holidays. I was saddened a couple of Christmases ago when a tradesman I do business with refused to accept a token gift I brought him. He said he didn't like the idea of HAVING to give a gift and that people have forgotten the Reason for the Season.

I didn't offer the gift because I had to. I offered it because I love giving gifts to people I value and I like that there are special days like Christmas and Birthdays set aside for celebrating and giving gifts. I do see his point though. 

Take Valentine's Day for example.  I wonder how many husbands really give their wives luxury cars and expensive jewelry on Valentine's Day. There was a time when I thought I was the only wife in history that didn't get a Lexus or BMW or February 14^th.

Once upon a time, back in the Stone Age when we sent our newsletters out via USPS, we had a column dedicated to weird Holidays. I have decided to resurrect that practice using our Facebook page. For example, did you know that February 5th is Bubble Gum day or that May 15^th is National Chocolate Chip Cookie Day? Now there's a holiday I can get behind! Think about what fun it would be if you brought a big place of home baked chocolate chip cookies in to work on May 15^th to celebrate! Spreading joy around the office sounds like a good idea to me!

So if you think life would be a little more fun if you had something to celebrate every day. “Like” our Facebook page and we will do our best to keep you in the know.

In case you are wondering, October 15^th is National Grouch Day.

Happy holidays,

Marie

P.S. Check out our new website at www.laurelmtbasket.com

The Cookie Monster

Did you know that the average American will eat 35,000 cookies in their lifetime and that Chip Ahoy! Is ranked number one in store bought cookies?

I'm not surprised that a chocolate chip cookie ranked number one since chocolate chip cookies have been around since 1930 when Ruth Wakefield baked her first Tool House cookie. Ruth and her husband owned the Toll  House Inn, so named because the structure, built in 1790, served as the toll house between Boston and New Bedford.

Toll house were where travelers paid their tolls, rested or changed their horses and got a home cooked meal. In the tradition of the earlier toll house, Ruth cooked and baked for her guests. One day, while making Butter Drop Do cookies, a recipe that dates back to Colonial days, Ruth decided to cut up a bar of Nestles semi sweet chocolate into little bits and add it to her cookie dough.

The chocolate did not melt like she thought it would. It only softened and held its shape. The cookie was a huge success and her recipe was published in the Boston paper.

Ruth was approached by Nestles and they eventually came to an agreement. The company could print the recipe on the wrapper for their bars and Ruth would be supplied with chocolate for the rest of her life!

Samoas, Trefoils, Do-si-dos and Thin mints If you recognize these cookies, you've provably bought a package or two from a Girl Scout. The first Girl Scout cookies were baked at home with moms volunteering as technical advisers. It was a way for the Mistletoe Troop of Muskogee, OK to finance troop activities. Being true entrepreneurs, the troop sold their home baked cookies in the school cafeteria. That 1917 troop project went national and today the Girl Scouts sell about 200 million boxes of cookies a year. Amazing what a couple of million girls can accomplish.

Oreos (ranked #8) used to be my favorite cookie until I tasted Brent and Sam's Triple Chocolate Bliss. Okay, so it's not “technically” a store bought cookies but you can buy them on Amazon and we used them and other Brent and Sam varieties in many of our gift baskets.

What is your favorite store bought cookie and which Girl Scout cookie do you buy and keep for yourself?

Marie

P.S.  You can see lots of our gift basket designs by visiting the Laurel Mountain Basket Co website.

When Words Are Not Enough

What do you say to a parent who has lost a child. Even if that child is an adult it is a devastating loss. How can words comfort a brother or sister who lost a best friend or a wife who was looking forward to enjoying a quieter life with her spouse without the strain of jobs and children? And the children. What on earth do you say to the children who have lost a parent?

Our neighbor passed away earlier this week. We haven't lived in the area long but had gotten to know Ron and Cindy a little. Ron had been fighting his battle with Cancer since we fist met him but he always had a good word and smile no matter how poorly he was feeling on any given day.

As I sat down to write Cindy a note I realized, yet again, that I didn't know what to say.

At Laurel Mountain Basket Company making and delivering sympathy gift baskets is a big part of our business. Often the sender will ask us for suggestions as to what to write on the care. “Thinking of you during this difficult time”, Keeping you and your family in our thoughts and prayers” or “With deepest sympathies” have always seemed appropriate but this time, they didn't work.

I think it was because I was too close to the situation and was forgetting what condolence wishes are all about.

1. They are not about you, not about how you feel. They are not even about the person who has passed. Messages of sympathy are about the ones who are left behind.

2. Messages of sympathy are not about “fixing it”. There is nothing you can do or say that is going to take the pay and grief away. Time will change things but it is NOT your place to point that out.

3. Actions speak louder than words so if you are in a position to help, here are a few things you can do.

4. Remember that everyone grieves differently. Let them know you are there if they want to talk or if they would like your help but don't push or hover. Respect their need to grieve in their own way.

5. Offer to run errands or do chores like picking up people at the airport, baby sitting, cutting the grass, or picking up some groceries.

6. If you are not in a position to personally help out, send prepared meals or a gift basked filled with fruit or other easy to eat foods.

7. Don't question them about the details of the death.

Sympathy may be one of the most difficult emotions to convey and there is not easy way to approach someone who has just suffered a significant loss. Offer what you can whether it is an ear to listen with or a shoulder to lean on. It will be the right thing.

Marie

P.S. For more information or to view some of our recent designs, check out laurelmtbasket.com or call us at 413-527-1243

Opportunities In Disguise

While unpacking a distributors order, I noticed that a carton of cookies was crushed on one end and several of the individual boxes were damaged. That wasn't a big deal because I knew my distributor would credit me for the damaged goods (which they did). The problem was that I had a dozen boxes of cookies that I couldn't use in my gift baskets.

I like almost any cookie. I've been known to buy a package of Oreos out of a vending machine on occasion but Brent & Sam's chocolate chip cookies are in a league of their own. They are to die for. So you can see my dilemma. A dozen boxes of my favorite cookies that I can't use, what to do?

As difficult as it was, I chose not to eat all of those delicious cookies myself but I did need to get them out of my sight as quickly as possible. I gave a couple of boxes to my mother, another couple to my husband, who loves to taste test our products, and the rest I dropped off to clients around town. Okay, I did save two for myself but they were small boxes.

The wonderful thing about Brent & Sam's chocolate chip cookies is that they are all about the chocolate chips. My husband couldn't believe the number and size of the chocolate chips in each cookie. The cookies are made from scratch with no added preservatives. Everyone who received a box commented on how delicious they are.

My mom and husband both wanted more….. I created two cookie monsters! I bet my clients were tempted but since they aren't related, they probably felt it would be inappropriate to take advantage of our relationship.

My point, I do have a point, is that not all cookies, coffees, or chocolates are created equal and at Laurel Mountain Basket Company we choose our products very carefully. Not that we don't use Oreos and Pringles. They are practically a staple in our College Survival Kits, but our gourmet gift baskets are filled with wonderfully delicious, quality treats.

When we create a gift basket for you, you can be assured that it will

It doesn't happen often but occasionally we are forced to make sacrifices for our craft, like having to eat a couple of boxes of the best chocolate chip cookies anywhere. (They really were small boxes.)

Marie

P.S.  See lots more Laurel Mountain Basket Company designs at laurelmtbbasket.com  

Special Orders Don't Upset Us

Remember the lyrics to the Burger King jingle?  Hold the pickles, hold the lettuce, etc.  Well, at Laurel Mountain Basket Co. we also know that tastes differ.

Our website is filled with gift baskets designed for a wide range of tastes and budgets but we know that even this wide assortment doesn’t include something for everyone.  That’s why we’re more than happy to work with our clients to design gifts that are specific to their need.

Most gift basket you see on our site and others are filled with chocolates, cookies and other “feel good” treats.  After all, a gift basket is supposed to lift the spirits and satisfying the sweet tooth usually does just that.  But there are some folks who just can’t enjoy a couple of cookies or crackers and dip without becoming ill.  I’ve discovered that more and more people are becoming gluten intolerant or have other dietary issues.

Thirty years ago I knew one person who had a gluten problem and twenty years ago I knew two.  Today several of my friends or their children are gluten intolerant.

I do have my own briefs about why so many are getting ill from common foods but I’m not a scientist so my opinion doesn’t matter.  What does matter is that I do understand that gluten intolerance and other types of allergies do have a real impact on lives.  That doesn’t mean that a person who suffers from gluten intolerance can’t experience the joy of receiving a beautifully designed gift basket filled with yummy foods they can actually eat and enjoy.

We can design a gluten free gift basket for any occasion and have worked with clients to design baskets for birthdays and other celebrations, various holidays and to express get well or sympathy wishes.

So the next time you want to send a gift to a friend or family member who is gluten intolerant, you can send them a beautifully designed gift basket.  You just need to order it from a company that has years of experience designing gift baskets using products that are suitable for those with gluten allergies.  A company like Laurel Mountain Basket Co where special orders don’t upset us.

Marie

Can't Get That Here

Dom Perigon, Russian Tea Cakes, Pistachio & Almond Croccante and Truffle Oil are just a few of the items you won't find in our gift baskets.

I don't think many of the folks I know would be watching the Sunday game munching on Russian Tea Cakes and drinking Dom. Most folks I know, and I bet those you know too, are more of the chip and dip types. Not that they wouldn't enjoy a nice hot and spicy mustard with their pepper jack cheese and a three pepper cracker with their summer sausage, but you get the idea.

Years ago my husband managed a large warehouse operation. During the Holiday Season he would receive gift baskets from vendors and clients.

The first thing we would do when we opened one of those gift baskets was divide the contents into two piles. One pile was for “Who eats this stuff?” and the other was for “This looks pretty good”. I'm not a big fan of glazed roasted figs or Kalamata olive spread but give me any kind of cookie or chocolate and I'm your friend for life. Another thing about the contents in those gift baskets, by the end of the season , we would have a third pile consisting of all of the Starbrite peppermints.

I realize that sending gifts at the Holidays was a smart way to do business and that a busy executive didn't have time to personally select a gift for everyone on their list. It made sense that they would contact a local company or go on line, choose something in their price range and be done with it. I think the saddest thing was that I knew the gift baskets we received weren't cheap as far as cost but they looked pretty ordinary as far as presentation. Those gift baskets were what got me started in the business. I knew I could do better.

At Laurel Mountain Basket Company we create every gift as if we were personally sending it to our best client or our best friend. We fill our baskets with gourmet treats we know they would like. Sure, we like to surprise your taste buds with treats like yogurt covered cranberries but mostly your find high quality “simpler” items like Brent & Sam chocolate chip cookies or Ghirardelli chocolates. We also know that our clients work hard for their money so we work just as hard to give them the most value for their dollar.

Shopping local is a big deal for us and we are always on the look-out for new vendors, We have a great time attending Farmers' Markets and Craft shows making new friends and taste testing new product.

If you're looking for a gift basket with champagne and caviar, we can recommend a couple of places but if you are in the market for some down to earth, really good gifts for your friends and family, we can help.

Check out our website laurelmtbasket.com for samples of our work and give us a call at 413-527-1243 and we'll be happy to put together a gift basket just for you. Remember, consultations are always free and we can work with any budget.

Bon appetite,

Marie

Fouls To Felons

What do a baby horse and a home invasion have in common?

Answer:  They are just two of the reasons we make gift baskets

As I was going over the accounts to send to the accountant, I was reminded of the variety of projects we worked on over the years.  Most were for occasions you’d expect like the birth of a child, death in the family, birthday, get well and of course Christmas.  We’ve designed gift baskets for corporate events like annual board of directors’ meetings and regional sales meetings and with schools providing “final exam survival kits” for their students.

We’ve designed some very interesting gift baskets too.  There was the $600 gift basket that included gift certificates to several restaurants, movie houses and golf courses as well as some sexy lingerie.  I was given a list and a budget and went on a shopping spree.

We have a line of pet gift baskets and make a lot of baskets for dogs and cats.  We have even made some for small animals like ferrets and bunnies but the most unusual one was the welcome baby gift basket for a horse.  Not for the owner but for the horse herself.  Our inventory was low on “horse” gifts so this also required a fun shopping trip.  A straw cowboy hat became the “basket” and we filled it with things like a curry brush, shampoo and mane tamer and a package of carrot and apple cookies.  I don’t know what the horse thought but the owner loved it.

Not all baskets are for happy occasions.  In fact, sympathy baskets are a big part of our business.  The most emotionally difficult delivery I’ve made was to an elderly man who had just lost his youngest son.  When I arrived at his home he was sitting alone under an apple tree in his yard.  His wife and daughter-in-law were out taking care of one of the many things that need to be taken care of when planning a funeral.

I handed him the gift basket and offered my own condolences.  He placed the gift basket on a table and did something that made my heart break.  He hugged me and began to cry.  When he was finally able to compose himself I asked if he would like me to sit with him until his wife got home.  He said he was fine and I left.  I cried all the way home

Oh, the home invasion.  An employee of one of our clients was the victim of a home invasion.  It was horrible!  Not only was their home broken into the occupants were beaten.  Our client wanted to show support and sympathy for what the employee and his family were going through.

As you can see, there are lots of reasons why people send gift baskets and at Laurel Mountain Basket Company we take each one seriously.  We go the extra mile to make sure your gift says just what you want it to say.

Marie

P.S.  To see samples of our work, go to our website at www.laurelmtbasket.com

Sometimes Even The Professional Needs Professional Help

I’m the gift giving “expert”.  Clients come to me when they need a gift and have no idea of what they want.   At Laurel Mountain Basket Company we believe we have the knowledge and experience to help our clients choose gifts appropriate for every occasion.

Imagine how weird it felt when I needed a gift and didn’t have a clue what to give.

Vic and I are invited to the wedding of a woman I know but not all that well.  She is a widow and it is a second wedding for her fiancé also.  They are both in their 60’s and have everything they need for their home.  Unlike some brides, she didn’t “register” anywhere so that wasn’t an option. 

Time to call in the professionals.  One of the great things about the gift basket business is that it is filled with some very smart people who are willing to share their knowledge and experience.  We belong to a couple of industry groups and over the past 17 years, I have developed wonderful relationships with some amazing people.

With a click of the mouse, I was able to get some great advice.   After consulting with the professionals, I realized I had the answer the whole time.  All I needed to do was follow the Laurel Mountain Basket Co formula.

1.  Who is giving the gift? Seems obvious but we all fill many roles.  Will gift be sent from our company or from us personally?

2.  Who is receiving the gift?  What is our relationship?  Close friend, family member, co-worker, business associate?  The type of gift should reflect the relationship.

3.  What’s the occasion?  In this case, it’s a wedding but what kind of wedding?  Is it a black tie formal or a back yard bar-b-que?

4.  What’s the budget?  This is always an important consideration.

It didn’t’ take long to realize that I did know something about the couple that made choosing a gift easy.  They love to cook and they love Italian food so I designed a pasta gift basket especially for them and since I know she likes wine, I added a nice bottle of red.

When you need a gift and don’t know what to do, just ask a professional like the ones at Laurel Mountain Basket Co where gift giving won’t make you a basket case.

Marie

P.S.  To see samples of our work, go to our website at www.laurelmtbasket.com

Not Quite Feng Shui

You'd never know it but only a couple of months ago my whole house was filled with the semi useless possessions a couple manages to aquire over lifetime!  Moving a 800 square foot work space into a 1800 square foot house was definitely a challenge, but with a little de-cluttering and some downsizing of the gift basket company, it worked out well. The first thing I did was get rid of everything we hadn't used in the last 20 or so years.  I had sweaters and jeans that were older than some people I know.  Why were we holding on to the set of fireplace utensils, when we don't have a fireplace?  And as much as I loved Janice Joplin and Creedence Clearwater Revival, did we really need to keep all of those albums? The key was to narrow my focus.  Following Lau-tzu's teachings, "The journey of a thousand miles begins with one step",  I set out to conquer one small section at a time.  I chose a closet or a drawer and not move on until each little job was completed.  I was surprised at how quickly I was able to de-clutter the whole house when I didn't let the size of the task paralyze me. I have managed to acquire new clutter but it is well contained in my office space and I'm okay with that because ... "If a cluttered desk is a sign of a cluttered mind, what is the significance of a clean desk?"  (Dr. Laurence Peters, Educator and Writer). The view from Laurel Mountian today is .... uncluttered. Marie