Getting mom a great Mother’s Day gift at the last minute

Mothers Day GiftTradition is the name of the game this year and fruit baskets are among the freshest picks.

Aside from Christmas, Mother’s Day is the holiday with the largest amount of gift giving in the entire year, but it isn’t always easy to know what to get, especially when it always seems to spring up on you with very little time left to shop.

This year, a study performed by BigInsight for the National Retail Federation (NRF) has shown that consumers will be spending approximately 8 percent more on their gifts than they did last year. In 2011, moms saw gifts worth an average of $140.73, but this year, that’s expected to increase to $152.52. Across the country, this will mean that $18.6 billion will have been spent on efforts to show mom that she’s loved.

Bouquets of flowers, eating out, gift baskets, and fruit of the month clubs are the top choices for 2012.

The survey went on to show that moms will be receiving more traditional gifts this year. While over half will be taking their mothers out to brunch or dinner, the rest will be buying gifts with meaning and that have a proven track record for success. organic fruit baskets, for example, give the recipient the chance to enjoy a sweet favorite treat, but with a healthy twist.

People are discovering that the electronics they had been choosing in previous years are not being used, are simply too confusing, or are the gift that has “already been done”, and now they are looking for something more refreshing and meaningful.

Fruit of the month clubs, for example, continue to give well after the holiday has passed.

The same goes for those sweaters and blouses that had been popular in the past, but that are likely to be ill fitting or simply returned to the store. Consumers are discovering that the traditional Mother’s Day gifts such as organic fruit baskets have earned their status as the preferred choice year after year because they are known to be well received and show that thought and care has been put into the purchasing of the item.

 

Why give mom a fruit basket for Mother’s Day

Mothers Day gift giving ideas

Mother's Day Gift's for 2012Though you may have purchased flowers for your mother every year for as long as you can remember, perhaps it’s time to break away from the expected and give your mom a fruit basket for Mother’s day this year.

This special day may not get as much attention as some of the others marked on the calendar, such as Christmas or Thanksgiving, but it is the one time of the year that you truly can’t forget to do something special just for your mother because she’s wonderful and you love and appreciate her.

This year is a good time to show your mother that you have placed just a little bit more attention to detail than you have in the past. Not only can you send her a selection of fruit in a pretty basket, but you can choose organic options to make sure that you’re offering a gift with the most rich and natural flavors, and that are packed with nutrients instead of chemicals.

It will also show your mom that you didn’t wait until the last moment, this year, to buy her whatever was left on the store shelves. Instead, you carefully thought out the gift and had it ordered for her so that it would be artfully arranged for a gorgeous (and tasty) display.

Still not convinced? Then why not top it off with that timeless classic that every mom adores: chocolate! A chocolate fruit basket not only tastes wonderful, but it turns a pretty gift into the ultimate in thoughtful and enjoyable experiences. The fruit and chocolate can either be eaten together – such as strawberries dipped in chocolate – or separately. It’s all up to the way mom likes it most.

An organic fruit basket can be the perfect Valentine’s Day gift for loved ones

Organic Fruit BasketsFinding a dull, traditional, perfunctory Valentine’s Day gift is simple, but if you want to find something unique and meaningful for the special people in your life, a little bit more thought is often involved.

There are many options from which you can choose, but one that is becoming increasingly popular is organic fruit gift baskets. This not only gives you the chance to offer a gift that is tasteful, beautiful, delicious, and thoughtful, but it is healthy and environmentally responsible, too.

There are a number of things that you need to consider as you choose the basket this Valentine’s Day, to make certain that you choose the perfect option.

To begin, it is important to realize that these baskets come in virtually every kind of fruit, so you will need to make sure that you choose one that not only fitsValentines Gift Basketswithin your budget, but that also appeals to the recipient. If you’re sending the basket to someone you know well, then you may be able to choose fruits that you know they enjoy or feel that they would like to try.

Otherwise, you can send a beautiful array of different organic fruits that are certain to appeal to any recipient and that your loved one is certain to enjoy.

Make sure that you always shop from a store or website that you can trust and that is well known for providing quality products and services. This will help you to know that your loved one will receive only the best arrangement of organic fruit in his or her basket and that it has been packed with care for a safe arrival.

Here are some other ideas to help you with your shopping…

Give a happy and healthy holiday this year

Organic Fruit BasketWhen most people think about the holiday season, they bring to mind images of sweet treats and excess that will cause both smiles and bellies to swell. This helps to explain why so many people make weight loss and healthy lifestyles their New Year’s resolutions.

This year, give a gift that will cater to both health and enjoyment by giving gifts that will suit those needs. For example:

• An organic fruit basket – give a basket of organic fruit, or give the gift of a fruit of the month club so that the baskets will be sent all year long. That way, the recipient will be able to enjoy a tasty sweet treat, without any of the guilt.

• Reusable food storage containers – this can include water bottles and thermal lunch bags that are both attractive and practical. With these items, your recipient will be encouraged to drink more water and to pack a lunch, instead of buying something from a fast food restaurant.

• Smaller dishes – research now indicates that the larger the plates you have and the wider the glasses, the more you’ll put in them. Buy your recipient narrow glasses and ten-inch plates to reduce the number of calories that are consumed at a meal. It’s a healthy way to get the same satisfaction from a meal but with smaller portions.

• Healthy mobile apps – give the gift of technology with an app that can help with easy healthy recipes, a shopping list creator, and a reminder to eat lots of organic fruits and veggies!

How to make an inexpensive eco-friendly gourmet biodynamic wine basket to give as a gift

Gourmet Gift BasketMaking a gourmet gift basket that is both eco-friendly and flavorful doesn’t need to be an expensive experience. The trick is to do it yourself and choose the right products to make a difference both to the environment and the recipient of the gift.

Gift baskets are a type of present that will never go out of style, and giving one that has personally selected items that are tasty, luxurious, and organic can add even more enjoyment for your friends and family.

The following are some great ideas for assembling these gourmet biodynamic wine baskets, which can be made to fit virtually any budget and can be customized for almost any recipient.

Start with a bottle or two of biodynamic wine. They come in a range of different prices and from many different regions. Have a glance at biodynamic wine sites online to watch for award winners for that extra flair to your present.

Next, shop around for additional eco-friendly gifts such as organic candies and packaged baked goods (such as cookies or fruit cakes) that have been made using organic ingredients.

Don’t forget to make sure that the basket itself is made out of environmentally friendly materials, to top off the greenness of your gift. Look for decorative recycled heavy cardboard boxes, baskets woven from organic straw, or totes made from bamboo or salvaged fabric strips. Use filler products such as crinkled recycled paper strips, organic straw, or even a bamboo towel that can become part of the gift and can be used by the recipient. Forgo the cellophane wrap, if possible.

Also, adding organic fruit gifts make for a nice finishing touch!

Why give a fruit of the month club membership as a gift?

Organic Fruit of The Month Club

Gift giving can be a real struggle these days, as people accumulate an increasing amount of “stuff” and don’t want to receive yet one more thing that they need to store in a closet and forget about. For this reason, fruit of the month club gifts are rapidly rising in popularity.

Fruit of the month clubs allow you to sign up the recipient to receive a new basket of fruit every month for as many months as you want. By giving a recipient a membership to this kind of club, you know that you’ll be sending a new treat every time a new basket is shipped, and that it will be enjoyed, instead of being stuffed into storage.

In today’s economic uncertainty, this type of gift can be especially helpful, as it can supplement the recipient’s monthly groceries and help them to get more out of their monthly budgets.

Among the most popular fruit of the month clubs are those that offer organic products. By sending organic fruit gifts, you’re making sure that the recipient is eating food that was grown only under the strictest organic conditions, without the use of chemical pesticides and fertilizers. Many people prefer the flavor of these foods to those grown using more conventional farming methods, and appreciate that it is a healthier alternative.

Fruit of the month clubs are a wonderful gift for newlyweds, retired individuals, students off at college, and are perfect for weddings, birthdays, Christmas, and other gift giving occasions.

As you choose your fruit of the month club, look for an option that offers organic produce, and make sure that it is a company that concentrates on quality, so that you know that your recipient will always obtain the best treat every time.

How will you be observing National Grandparents Day?

Grandparents Day GiftsNational Grandparents Day is rapidly approaching in the United States and a number of other countries, and parents and children are preparing to show grandparents how much they mean to them throughout the entire year.

This day falls on the first Sunday after Labor Day every year, making it September 11 in 2011. It has been celebrated in the United States since 1978, with Marian McQuade from Oak Hill, West Virginia, as its official founder, for which she has received recognition by senators and President Jimmy Carter.

McQuade founded the day as a complement to her personal life goal to provide youth in her community with an education regarding the importance of the present and historical contributions of senior citizens. Aside from National Grandparents Day, another of McQuade’s efforts was to encourage youth to “adopt” a grandparent.

This secular holiday is meant to give people the opportunity to honor grandparents and to provide grandparents with the chance to show their own love for the children of their own children. This can help to make children more aware of the information, strength, and guidance that senior citizens have to give.

As of 2004, National Grandparents Day has had its own official song, which was written by Johnny Prill, and is called “A Song for Grandma and Grandpa”. Prill received the National Songwriter’s Award for this composition.

Similarly, in the United States, there is an official flower for the holiday, as well. It is a forget-me-not. However, as this is a spring bloom, it is traditional to give more seasonal flowers or a organic fruit basket to grandparents on the holiday itself.

Earth Day 2011

The big event is almost here. We are just a little over one month away from a worldwide happening. For over 40 years now, we

Earth Day Flag

Earth Day Flag

 have been bringing attention to our environment by celebrating Earth Day on April 22nd. In honor of Earth Day, here are some statistics, and a few ways to get started going green; without losing your hard earned green.

When people think of “going green”, they also think about how much it’s going to cost them to do it. Some things do initially cost you more to get started, but over time that amount is compensated for in savings. What about right now? There are things you can do now, that won’t cost allot, and will make a big difference.

One thing that will make a big difference is recycling. Recycling just one aluminum can saves an amount of energy equal to watching three hours of television. Do you like chocolate? Hershey Kisses are wrapped with tin foil, and it’s recyclable.

Want to save between 10 and 20 percent on your overall electric usage? Turn off lights when you’re out of the room. Depending on the bulbs you use and their wattage, you could save a lot. Unplug laptop and cell phone chargers, and kitchen appliances, when you’re not using them; this helps save energy also.

Open up your blinds and curtains during the day and let the natural light in. This could also help warm the room on a cool day. Winterizing your home by sealing the drafts around windows and doors can save a bundle on heating and cooling expenses too.

Do you have one of those pesky, leaky faucets? If you can’t afford to fix it right away, try putting a container under it and using that for small clean-ups, or watering flowers. You could lose five to twenty gallons of water a day from a leaking faucet; depending on how bad it is.

Look for products labeled as biodegradable; use less plastic, and buy products you can use more than once. All of these things together will make a huge difference. And lastly, give an organic fruit basket this holiday…the earth enjoys a these pesticide free gifts!

Anyone can say their product is natural but is it organic?

Everywhere you look, manufacturers are describing their products as “natural” and “organic.” The fact is, the majority of peopleOrganic Fruit are actually reading labels more, and trying to make better choices; for their health and the environment. This has forced companies to be more forthcoming in their advertising about ingredients they use in the products that we buy. But are the descriptions true? Not necessarily.

Believe it or not, there are no laws or specific requirements a company must follow in order to label a product as natural. So any business can label their goods as being all natural, or earth friendly, and it doesn’t necessarily mean that they are. The environmental and green movements caused many corporations to have to redesign their labels, touting themselves as health and environmentally conscious, to stay competitive.

 There are a couple of labels that businesses can use that actually mean they have standards to adhere by. One is from TheNatural Products Association Natural Products Association. For a product to carry this label it cannot contain petrochemical ingredients, formaldehyde, parabens or phthalates. They also cannot contain more than 5 percent synthetic ingredients, and those ingredients can’t be toxic. Additionally, there are other guidelines that manufacturers have to follow to earn the certified seal.

Organic Fruits and VegetablesThe other label that has specific standards is “organic”, or “certified organic.” This is defined by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and is monitored by the federal government and certain consumer watch groups. Organic agriculture is based on management practices that enhance, restore or maintain environmental harmony; as well as other specific requirements that must be followed.

Merchandise that carries the Natural Products Association seal did so voluntarily; there are no mandatory laws requiring all companies to do this. While the organic or certified organic label does require specific standards to be met.

Picking Organic Fruits on a Budget

Buying organic products is one of the ways of investing for health. However, there are some factors that need to be considered when buying organic foods. Organic Fruit on a Budget

Before buying any organic foods, it is safe to know what the word ‘organic’ means as defined by the USDA. There are four levels of organic that is set by the said department. 100% organic refers to food that are certified organic when it comes to all the contents of the food. Organic refers to those that are 95% organic, with the exclusion of water and salt. When 70% of the content of the food is organic, this is referred to as made with organic ingredients. Lastly, ingredient panel only is for those whose contents are less than 70% organic.

There are some basic rules to keep in mind when buying organic foods. First, think about the skin of the food. When buying foods that have edible skin just like apples and other fruits, it is safer to buy the organic ones. For animal products, those that are organic are preferred. But should you choose to buy non-organic meat, choose lean meat since the fats contain the impurities. Buying from local farmers is an excellent way of getting healthy foods.

Organic foods can be more expensive than those that are not, so when your budget does not permit you to buy all organic food, then consider those that are worth it to buy. For organic fruits, it is important to buy those whose skins are edible like grapes, tomatoes, peaches and other similar ones. This goes the same with vegetables. If you are going to peel them, then it is not necessary to buy the organic ones.

Organic Fruit Bloom Basket

Organic Fruit Basket Under $50

Organic meat products are of course highly recommended since these are definitely healthier.

As we all know but sometimes choose to forget…all organic food does not necessarily mean that it’s healthy. Check out fat, sodium and other nutritional information before purchasing…if you’re going for the healthiest options.

Check out organic fruit baskets for under $50.00 here!

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