Holiday Gift Ideas - Bloomin' Blog

The Perfect Last Minute Christmas Gift Idea

December 15, 2008 by Flower Shop Network Leave a Comment

Alright. It’s the middle of December and you still haven’t managed to cross everyone off of your Christmas gift list. No worries! Just like always, your local florist is available to help you out of this holiday haze. Flowers are traditional and classic but can be updated to fit into any contemporary decor. It’s the perfect Christmas gift idea!

Let’s face it. A week before Christmas leaves zero time for hitting the stores plus gift wrapping and holiday parties. Though we should probably all be given a super-hero moniker, it’s just an easier holiday on everyone if we’re able to enjoy it without rushing around in a panic looking for gifts. Slow down, take a deep breath, and call your local florist. Believe me. The good people at your local flower shop are trained experts in dealing with the holiday rush. You’re in good hands when you choose to send flowers to friends and family.

Need A Holiday Helper? How Florists Can Help!

December 10, 2008 by Flower Shop Network Leave a Comment

Florists Help Send A Happy Chanukkah Bouquet or Flowers For Another Occasion!

I recently read the new Flower Shop Network Holiday Helper newsletter about how florists are the perfect holiday helpers when stuck on a great gift idea. You know, I sit and think all day about how great florists are in helping design and deliver the perfect gift. Sometimes it is easy to get lost in that “forest for the trees” view of things which is why I really enjoyed the Holiday Helper newsletter.

We often get super busy around the holidays. Running around from store to store and bouncing between holiday parties starts to take a toll on us. One thing most people do not remember is that florists are the holiday helpers that we’re all craving! The next best thing to a personal assistant, your local florist is a holiday lifesaver. I can quickly think of three ways that I learned about how choosing a local florist is going to be the saving grace during an otherwise hectic holiday season.

First, florists create amazing flower arrangements. Gift idea solved right there! Need a traditional gift that can’t miss? Want to splash it with a more modern feel? Let your florist know and he or she can create awe-inspiring floral designs with your ideas.

The second way that florists are holiday helpers is that florists provide personalized gifts. You can send a completely different arrangements to all of your family members. Is your brother a concert junkie who spends every spare minute listening to, playing, or watching other bands play music? Ask your florist to include concert tickets instead of a card. You can even send a cd with the arrangement! Is your little sister a big fan of Strawberry Shortcake? Ask your florist to create an arrangement of pink, red, and white flowers. A pretty bow and Strawberry Shortcake birthday card will set your sister’s heart awhirl. Regardless of their tastes, you can satisfy every person on your list with unique flower bouquets from your local florist.

Now of course this is just a small taste of the great ideas described in the Holiday Helper newsletter. Don’t just take my word for it. Check it out!

Filed Under: Flower Suggestions, Gift Ideas Tagged With: Holiday Gift Ideas, Local Florists, Newsletters, Sending Flowers

A Great Way To Celebrate The Season With Joy And Merriment

December 1, 2008 by Flower Shop Network Leave a Comment

It’s almost too easy to celebrate the season this December. Family, friends, good food and great traditions make Christmas one of the few holidays that really move me to the core. It’s probably for this reason that I chose the Celebrate The Season arrangement as the featured flower arrangement of December. And why not? It’s the perfect addition to holiday decorations. It’s colorful, festive, cheery, and nearly bright enough to guide Santa’s sleigh.

Celebrate The Season Arrangement Flowers are the perfect way to Celebrate The Season!

I’m a big fan of color during the winter months and I’m quite sure that I’m not alone in this. It is very common for the bleak white, blue and gray landscape of winter to leave people feeling rather blah. I do everything that I can to avoid the feeling of blah. I want my friends and family to enjoy the Christmas season with me also without the wintry blues. That’s easier this year than the last now that I have the Celebrate The Season arrangement sitting atop the piano in my living room where my very musical family spends hours upon hours each year during the large Christmas get-together.

There are many ways to decorate with flowers every month. Whatever design is your favorite, decorate with colorful flower arrangements this December and brighten your holiday. I guarantee that it’s much harder not to smile when seeing vibrant colors of fresh flowers.

Filed Under: Flower Suggestions, Gift Ideas Tagged With: Featured Flower Arrangement, Flower Suggestions, Holiday Gift Ideas

Arriving With The Perfect Hostess Gift For Thanksgiving

November 19, 2008 by Flower Shop Network Leave a Comment

Thanksgiving Unity Floral Centerpiece

Every year I’m invited to an elaborate Thanksgiving party, and must greet the occasion with an air of Southern hospitality. Many people have heard the common rule, “Never arrive to a party empty-handed.” It’s one of those understood rules of etiquette that can be a bit hard to carry out in a unique way for yearly occasions such as Thanksgiving gatherings. However, I recently learned of a very fun and festive gift for the hostess.

Jamie and I were recently discussing our upcoming plans for Thanksgiving. Though I think my presence is gift enough, I still wanted to find a great gift for the ladies in my family that are hosting our Thanksgiving dinner this year. Jamie is wise in the ways of the world and suggested a unique fall floral centerpiece. We brainstormed for a bit about all of the ingredients in a gift like this such as miniature pumpkins, colorful foliage, fall flowers, berries and more. When we put all of these things together, I knew that I just had to share this great gift idea.

Nature's Bounty Cornucopia

Imagine how beautiful a carved pumpkin with flowers brimming over the top would look next to the turkey. Want something a little smaller? Try surrounding pillar candles with a wreath of fall flowers. These very traditional Thanksgiving centerpieces are tried-and-true gifts. For the real traditionalist, a cornucopia filled with fall flowers and festive fruits is a great way to liven up the table.

If you don’t feel up to the task of creating your own fall centerpiece but are still interested in sending flowers to your host, contact your local florist whose creative fall centerpieces will soon become the life of the party!

Filed Under: Gift Ideas, Holiday Info Tagged With: Fall Flowers, Holiday Gift Ideas, Local Florists, Sending Flowers, Thanksgiving Centerpieces, Thanksgiving Flowers

Top 5 Types of Holiday Wreaths For The Front Door

November 12, 2008 by Flower Shop Network Leave a Comment

Grapevine Wreath

1. Grapevine wreaths refers to the type of material intertwined to form these wreaths. Grapevine wreaths commonly form lovely bases for other wreaths such as Christmas wreaths. Though a bit plain by themselves, grapevine wreaths can stand alone if desired. They can also be decorated with many other accessories to form a completely different wreath for every occasion. To get started on the holiday cheer early this year, contact your local florist for grapevine wreaths and many other interesting designs.

2. Bottle brush wreaths are those dark blue-green wreaths that look (and feel) like one could scrub the holiday dishes with the material. The very coarse plastic material keeps bottle brush wreaths in the top 5 because of the durability of these wreaths. They can be sprayed with fake snow for a wintry look, decorated with ornaments for a festive look, or left alone to add some warm color to the gloomy gray days of winter.

Flower Shop Network Festive Holiday Wreath

3. Christmas wreaths or swags are hands down the most popular holiday wreath for the front door ever. Usually formed of a decorated grapevine wreath, festive Christmas wreaths can be made of a variety of materials but always form the treasured look of Christmas. These wreaths greet passengers with holiday cheer, transforming the home into a warm holiday gathering place.

4. Vintage ornament wreaths are just what the name implies–made of ornaments. Colorful ornaments of all shapes, sizes and colors are attached to form a very fun and festive holiday decoration. Ornament wreaths are also fun to make with older children who enjoy helping operate a glue gun or tube of super glue.

5. Floral wreaths cannot be left out of any top 5 wreath list. It’s just not right. Floral wreaths are the amazing decorations formed entirely of different flowers woven together. These are great holiday gift ideas for people who adore flowers such as gardeners, florists and others.

Filed Under: Seasonal Flowers Tagged With: Gift Ideas, Holiday Gift Ideas, Local Florists, Seasonal Flowers, Wreaths

Trouble Finding A Boss’s Day Gift Idea? Not Anymore!

October 13, 2008 by Flower Shop Network Leave a Comment

I’m not going to lie. My boss is amazing. Yes, I thank my lucky stars (figure of speech) every day that I’m one of the fortunate ones blessed with a supportive, instructive, intelligent, respectable boss. It’s times like Boss’s Day this October 16th that really throw me for a loop though. Sorting through all of the gift ideas for Boss’s Day can be a real chore when shopping for someone of such worth. So how does one go about finding the right gift for their boss? Easy! Contact a local florist.

Show Appreciation With A Mug Bouquet of Flowers!

Florists always have great gifts. Beautiful arrangements of colorful flowers, unique gifts for special occasions or any occasion, and a love of floral design are so much an intricate part of the greatness of florists that DNA samples from the best florists are probably shaped in some Ikebana or traditional while gorgeous design.

Now that I’ve climbed off of my soapbox, I must include one more reason to choose a local flower shop when picking out a gift for your supervisor or employer. One thing that florists add that other places lack is an extremely personal touch. Everything can be tailor made to suit the customer.

Have a fun picture? Put it on a mug that your florist can then fill with flowers or candy. Attach a few balloons to the handle and you have yourself a wonderful gift! Ideas for more Bosses Day gifts come naturally to some people. When they don’t flow as smoothly in your direction, contact your local florist for a gift idea that can’t be beat.

Think your job is tough? It may be but think about how much harder your boss must have it if he or she is handling their work, managing yours, and responsible for the great work (and flub-ups) of your coworkers. A fun little gift to celebrate Boss’s Day this October is a great way to say that you understand and appreciate how awesome they are–real Grace Under Pressure! Your boss will appreciate the extra support!

Filed Under: Flower Suggestions, Gift Ideas Tagged With: Boss's Day Gift Ideas, Holiday Gift Ideas, Local Florists, Local Flower Shops

Celebrating Sweetest Day In The Sweetest Way

October 10, 2008 by Flower Shop Network Leave a Comment

What’s the sweetest way to show appreciation for someone? With a Sweetest Day gift, of course! Mothers are celebrated with Mother’s Day gifts but one day is hardly complete compensation for the many sleepless nights that go into caring for children and nurturing their dreams. Lovers are celebrated with Valentine’s Day, but so much love is poured out throughout the year that one day is almost long forgotten as the later months of fall and winter come. To show true appreciation for the people that mean the most to you, simply share a “thank you” or “you matter to me.” When a gift goes the extra mile toward a meaningful holiday celebration, many look to a local florist for a Sweetest Day sweet treat.

Sweet Treats Mug Gift

Stacey’s Flowers and Gifts, a creative flower shop in Manistee, Michigan, is well known for their unique stock of sweet gifts and treats. The most popular items are the candy-filled mugs that everyone can enjoy. Children who may not want flowers love the sweet treats and balloons that can be easily attached to the handle. Men are often difficult to shop for when holidays arise, but a personalized gift is always a big win-especially when the gift comes with ounces of delectable goodies.

After birthdays, Valentines Day, Christmas and the many other gift-giving holidays, many wonder why another holiday should be thrown into the mix. The simplest answer is also the best: to carry on the noble tradition of letting the least of the least know that they are the most important to someone.

Sweetest Day is a burst of confidence and good will that began in 1922 with Herbert Birch Kingston, a candy company clerk in Cleveland. Kingston sought to show appreciation or the forgotten by delivering gifts of candy and good wishes to local orphanages, terminally ill, the disabled and others. The contagious feeling of doing a good deed quickly caught on and is now a popular holiday celebrated primarily in Ohio, Illinois, Michigan, Indiana, and Wisconsin on the third Saturday of October each year. However, the holiday is now taking hold in other parts of the nation as locals to these Great Lakes regions relocate but continue to celebrate the tradition.

Say You Are The Best To Someone Special

Regardless of location, it is always an appropriate time to show appreciation to someone for their contribution to the quality of our lives. Sometimes the smallest phrases have the biggest impact. “Thank you,” “I love you,” “You mean so much to me,” and “I’m who I am today because you cared” have significant affects on a person. Even cooing “Sweets for my sweet” while presenting a gift basket full of goodies is enough to show someone that he or she has had a significant impact.

Sweetest Day is celebrated every third Saturday in October which falls on October 18^th this year. A Sweetest Day gift may not seem like much, but for the people that mean the most to us, this is the least that we can do.

Filed Under: Gift Ideas, Holiday Info Tagged With: Holiday Gift Ideas, Holiday Info, Local Florists, Manistee Michigan Florists, Stacey's Flowers and Gifts, Sweetest Day

Send Flowers And Put The Razzmatazz Back Into The Nursing Home

August 18, 2008 by Flower Shop Network Leave a Comment

Strike up some Glenn Miller on the gramophone. Grandparents’ Day is just around the corner. As it falls on the first Sunday after Labor Day every year, Grandparents Day is September 7, 2008. Many people have parents and grandparents in nursing homes and want to celebrate this special occasion with their loved ones but are unable to visit. When you want to send a gift to let your loved one know that you’re thinking of them, send flowers that symbolize just how special that person is to you.

Some people enjoy regular visits to their family and friends in nursing homes. However, special occasions call for special gifts but it’s not always possible to break away from the office to shop for a unique gift. Nab two birds with one stone by having flowers delivered to your special person before your scheduled visit or possibly even during your visit. You’ll get to watch their face light up after receiving a beautiful flower arrangement and share in their special day.

There are a few things that everyone needs to know when sending flowers to friends or loved ones in a nursing home. As with all deliveries, your local florist will need accurate information including the following:

Recipient’s Name
Name of the Nursing Home
Address of the Nursing Home
Phone Number of the Nursing Home and/or Recipient
(Possibly) Recipient’s Room Number

These little trinkets help make sure that the florist is able to deliver your gift on time and without any hassle. Due to recently enacted privacy laws, it is not always possible for the recipient’s room number and other personal information to be given over the phone. Often delivery personnel are asked to simply leave the package at the front desk. To avoid any delays or confusion, call the nursing home and obtain this information as well as delivery protocol before contacting a local florist.

Lazy Daisy and Delphinium Flower Arrangement Send flowers to the young at heart!

Filed Under: Flower Suggestions, Gift Ideas Tagged With: Flower Suggestions, Grandparents Day, Holiday Gift Ideas, Nursing Homes, Sending Flowers

Mother’s Day Blessings Are Small Wonders

May 6, 2008 by Flower Shop Network 1 Comment

You’ve probably heard the expression, “It’s the thought that counts.” That is very much the case with Mother’s Day gifts. I recently found myself scrambling among the mass of people shopping for something very unique and non-floral for my mother. However, I realized that there are many reasons why sending my mother a special flower arrangement is a unique Mother’s Day gift.

My mother is as unique as a dainty snowflake. She is among the most important people in my life. Decades spent with her have woven together the threads of time into a bond between her and I that cannot be broken. Because of this I wanted to get the best gift possible for her this Mother’s Day. I walked through the aisles and peered through online galleries in search of the perfect gift for her but none seemed to show how much I care. Not one had the special touch that a child or grandchild can bring. I wanted a gift that warms her heart because it brought forth a special memory. I thought back through all of the many times that my mother had received flowers from her children, my father, her own father who is now deceased, and others. I remembered the chipper little girl that seemed to shine through when she received each arrangement. I knew then that what I really wanted to give my mother was another flower memory.

My mother’s father has been gone for many years now. I’ve heard her speak often of her “pa” and the many wonderful attributes of this amazing man. I poured through the recesses of my mind and finally remembered the story that I’d heard mother relay of the first time that her father gave her flowers. I couldn’t wait to call my local flower shop and order a bouquet of daisies because it is exactly what she received from him nearly forty years ago.

No generically manufactured gift can ever elicit the same response from my mother as the daisies and accompanying card that read, “Your daddy would be proud of how wonderful a mother you’ve been to me.” While generic gifts may conjure up some sort of general emotion, they cannot touch individual hearts with the same tenderness as a child. They rarely accomplish the feeling of awe as a child watches the wrinkles of her mother’s face melt away, replaced by the bright smile of a little girl. Though many offered ideas, few would’ve thought that the perfect gift with the most special touch was the one that I’d almost overlooked though all it really needed was my mommy-daughter touch.

Daisy And Delphinium Photo.jpg Daisies For My Mother

— Brynn Jackson FSN —

Filed Under: Flower Suggestions, Gift Ideas, Holiday Info Tagged With: Flower Suggestions, Holiday Gift Ideas, Holiday Info, Mothers Day Flowers, Mothers Day Gifts

Secretary’s Day: More Than A Simple Thank You

April 22, 2008 by Flower Shop Network Leave a Comment

I may not have a secretary but I’ve been one, and the simple pleasure that comes from an employer’s appreciation is worth its weight in gold. Sometimes it is hard to find the right words to show an employee how valuable their efforts really are. Administrative professional, clerical assistant, secretary—whatever title graces the placard, the right hand they provide helps ensure a smooth functioning workplace.

Sometimes the day begins cheerily with a bright smile from your assistant as you walk in the door. Other times it is the secretary who is always a step ahead during crunch times that proves of invaluable importance. This week is Secretary’s Week across America. What better time than now to show just how much you appreciate the smell of a fresh pot of coffee every morning, not having to field problem phone calls, office products in ample supply, and a workplace that feels like home every time you arrive. I would’ve loved receiving any of these popular arrangements for Secretary’s Day.

– Brynn FSN Support Staff-