A Cupful of Attitude

A fresh shipment of Ann Taintor Mugs arrived this week. Among them are my new favorite coffee mug and a fun mug & napkin combo to add to a Hostess Gift!


Some reason I love this mug. Perhaps because I am not a "Happy Camper"! I'm usually pretty chipper. Just not much of a camper. I rather be in a nice, clean, warm bed than to sleep outdoors in a tent.

I think I'll save this mug for my weekend morning lattes!



I had to pull a set of these napkins and a mug to include in a hostess gift to take to my sister for Thanksgiving. The perfect sentiment for a Holiday dinner where there are usually too many cooks in the kitchen!

Sticky Situation

I love this time of year. As we gear up for the "Holidays", there is a steady flow of products coming into our warehouse. Many of these items are new to Baskets by Bonnie and we have a lot of taste-testing going on.

I also love to take time to marvel at innovations in packaging.

When I saw this carton of gourmet Potato Chips that was in yesterday's shipment, I remarked that I had never seen a box with cutouts labeled "A Hand Hole". For some reason this had caught my eye. And made me chuckle at the attention to detail this manufacturer displayed.


Importance of Getting the Real Message

A short while later, I saw the opposite side of the cardboard box. The side where I could see the full message. A warning that was not partially obscured by a poorly placed sticker.

Ooops! NOT A HAND HOLE! Whole different message. While I was slightly troubled by my initial interpretation, I used this as a "teaching moment" to my staff.

Detail Orientation
This is why we need to pay attention to detail in ALL steps when processing orders. Every associate should be knowledgeable on procedures and policies so they understand how their function needs to be executed as part of a bigger picture. Cross-training staff members not only leads to higher job-satisfaction but creates a more productive and efficient team.

Fortunately none of our staff was injured. But if someone was, we are always prepared. We at Baskets by Bonnie take safety very seriously.

Just in case, we also have cute Bandages as well!

Portable Picnic Table Saves The Day!

One of the perks of being a "product tester" is getting to try out cool new items for our store. The portable picnic table has been a big hit this summer. It has gotten a real workout at the local pool and other summer events. This table with seating for four, when compact is not much bigger than a briefcase and weighs in at about 22 lbs. Because of its portability and in preparation for a spontaneous picnic, this gem of modern design can usually be found in my car.

This weekend, when visiting family, we found ourselves short on outdoor seating. Suddenly I remembered the table in my vehicle. When I volunteered to go fetch my table, I was met with amused smirks from skeptical family members. Those expressions were changed into slack-jawed gazes of amazement as I quickly assembled what was to become "The Children's Table"!

While I was happy to save the day and impress my in-laws with one of Baskets by Bonnie's finest in gadgetry, I am afraid there is a down-side....

I am now on the hook for a few of these as "family gifts" for the December gift exchanges. Luckily I get an employee discount. Better make sure we're stocked up!

Putting the Fun into Functional

Summer, summer, summertime
Time to sit back and unwind - Will Smith


Just a few more weeks of Summer left. Parties are in full swing. Birthday parties, Wedding parties, Going away parties, Party parties, the list is endless...

Places to go, people to see and gifts to buy on the run. We have some cool items that make great gifts. You might even want to buy them for yourself!


For Hands-Free Picnicking, How About A Picnic Backpack?

Picnic in comfort and style with this deluxe picnic backpack for two. With a unique combination of polyester canvas and simulated suede, this attractive hands-free carrier comes fully equipped with all the accoutrements.


Our Favorite New Summer Find: The Portable Picnic Table
Perfect for a spontaneous picnic, this portable picnic table can be stored in a trunk or back seat and pulled out when ready to use.

Just give us a call..... "To hit you and get you equipped for the summer time"

Win This Backpack: For Contest rules visit:
http://www.facebook.com/skyepr

Going Green in the Garden

One of my favorite Summer hobbies is gardening. As part of our ongoing product testing, we like to try out the seeds left over from our Spring Gardening Basket. (pictured above)

This year we grew lettuce, peas, basil and squash in our vegetable garden and Zinnias in our flower beds.



The book, "Slug Bread & Beheaded Thistles" by Ellen Sandbeck (which you can purchase at Baskets by Bonnie @ $10.95 plus tax) is a wonderful resource of non-toxic remedies for both garden pests and for housekeeping. I have found the book full of useful tips to help rid my plants of aphids, slugs and Japanese beetles without having to use harmful pesticides.



















Not only are you being kind to our environment and creating a healthier garden, the bees will love you for it!

Wordless Wednesday at the Creekside Farmer's Market

Be Careful What You Tweet For

Yesterday was a happy day at Baskets by Bonnie. A shipment of cookies and treats arrived with three new items for the staff to sample. Once again we sacrificed our diets to insure the products were up to our high standards. We were not disappointed. They were all yummy!

When I "Tweeted" the above TwitPic photo on Twitter, (try saying that 10x fast) Barb from Honey Grove Botanicals tweeted back:

@basketsbybonnie re: http://twitpic.com/ao4b8 *swoon* Need a drool guard on my keyboard. Yah, probably my monitor too.3:58 PM Jul 17th
and then a few minutes later this:
@basketsbybonnie, anything new and interesting on your wine list? Need a tester. I have the glasses. Don't forget the cookies.4:04 PM Jul 17th from web

We couldn't resist indulging Barb and brought a variety of cookies for her to sample. We even brought her a pot of freshly-made coffee ( Coffee Masters Caramel Creme) instead of wine due to potential liability issues. ( drinking alcoholic beverages while working with hot wax at her shop would probably not be approved by OSHA)


After much deliberation, a winner was chosen. Elsa's Story Raspberry Filled Strudel. They were our favorite, too. In addition to being irresistable, these cookies from Israel are also Kosher!


What's your favorite cookie?