Basket Cases - Case Studies in Gifting

October Newsletter!!!

2011-10-13T09:05:00.000-07:00

October 2011

"If you fall, say you'll fall for me,

When autumn leaves are fallin' from the trees"

from "A Girl For All Seasons" music & Lyrics by Domenic Bugatti & Frank Muskeer

While it's almost time to witness ghouls, monsters and zombies roaming the streets, in just a few days, we should remember to recognize those great bosses and the "sweetest" people in our lives.

On October 15th, Sweetest Day arrives to give us the opportunity to shower our "sweeties" with tokens of affection. Monday, October 17th, we are able to show our best bosses our gratitude for their hard-work and dedication.

Make this holiday weekend the sweetest possible!

Sweetest Day

The "Sweetest" of Gifts

Treat that special someone with a token of your affection on Saturday, October 15, otherwise known as "Sweetest Day."

Sweetest Day was created by Herbert Birch Kingston in Cleveland in 1922 to bring happiness to the lives of orphans, shut-ins and others that were normally forgotten.

Over the years, Sweetest Day has turned into a time to express love and to show appreciation to friends and family.

Baskets by Bonnie has you covered with a nice variety of gifts for all your treasured relationships.

Boss' Day

For the Boss who puts the "Super" into Supervisor

Boss' Day is on October 17th.

Show your appreciation for that special leader with a gift that says "Thanks A Million."

Since no two bosses are alike, Baskets by Bonnie can customize each order to send the perfect message.

Book Reviews

Books for the Occasion

Romantic Holidays tend to put relationships under a magnifying glass. The scrutiny can either push a romance to the next level or cause a breakup. A good book can help a friend navigate through the various stages of dating and can make a nice addition to a gift basket.

For the Romance that is heating up:

Are You made for Each Other? By Barbara & Allan Pease

about Are You Made for Each Other
After more than thirty years of research into how relationships work and where they often go wrong, Allan and Barbara Pease devised this clever quiz book to help you determine how compatible you and your partner are.

To console a friend in the throes of a breakup:
It's Called a Break Up Because It's Broken
By Greg Behrendt & Amiira Ruotola-Behrendt

about It's Called a Break Up...
It's called a breakup because it's broken, and starting right here, right now, it's time to dry your tears, put down that pint of ice cream, log out of his e-mail, and open this book to Chapter One-and start turning your breakup into a breakover.
For a friend who needs to move on but doesn't know how:
How to Dump a Guy
By Kate Fillion & Ellen Ladowsky

about How to Dump a Guy
Irreverent yet practical, supportive, knowing, and very, very funny, How to Dump a Guy is a wise, refreshing book about how to end relationships. It is a coward's manual that takes the reader's hand from the first sign that it's over to the aftershocks. There are the Dumping Do's and Don'ts.

Special Buy!

Vueve Clicquot in a limited edition box, only $52.99 while supplies last

The Value of FaceBook

2011-10-06T08:17:00.000-07:00

After questioning the value of having a FaceBook page for Baskets by Bonnie, we finally took the plunge a few months ago.

The tipping point was when we were testing new cheeses for our shop. I was really excited about a few of the choices and posted a photo on my personal FaceBook account. I was amazed at the number of friends that were interested and had an epiphany. FaceBook is perfect to post pictures and short updates that don't warrant a blog post or newsletter.

It was relatively simple to set up. What to post, how often and if our customers would find this useful were some of my concerns. I was also worried about redundancy with our website and blog. We were reluctant to beg friends and customers to become "Fans" & "Like" us. However, we remained open-minded.

A little over a week ago, on a whim, I posted a quick photo of Matt wrapping a basket for a custom order.

After posting and "tweeting", we had a good laugh and forgot about it.

Yesterday while taking a phone order from a new customer, I asked how she had found us.

After the usual response of "I found you from the web", she added that she had looked at a couple of websites.

Aside from being impressed with our assortment, she was sold from our FaceBook page; specifically "Matt in Motion". The picture conveyed the idea that we made each basket to order and could customize.

I couldn't wait to tell my staff. After a few chuckles at Matt's expense, I had a shift in my attitude. A simple phone call had turned me from skeptic to advocate.

Status Update: I'm a "Born-Again FaceBook Fan"

How to Be A Good Mother and Avoid a Lawsuit

2011-08-31T07:18:00.000-07:00

I came across this article today about two children, ages 23 and 20 who slapped their mother with a $50,000 lawsuit claiming she caused them "emotional" distress. Among the accusations were that the mom, Kimberly Garrity didn't send her son care packages at college and didn't send money in birthday cards.

If only the mom knew about Baskets by Bonnie. This whole sordid matter could have been avoided with a few well-placed gifts as shown in our Student Care Package section on our website.

one of the many options of Student Care packages
available from Baskets by Bonnie's website

Fortunately the lawsuit was dismissed.

Perhaps the children should consider sending Mom a peace offering. Might we suggest the "Happy Housewife"?

July Newsletter Highlights: Say Cheese!

2011-07-20T06:34:00.000-07:00

The Cheese Extravaganza

A fresh shipment of cheese and gourmet snacks has recently arrived!

Espresso BellaVitano

As a tasty snack for breakfast, dessert or just about any time at all, this freshly roasted, espresso-coated cheese blends the sweet and sugary flavors into a creamy perfection.

Goes best with:

Wines - Pinot Noir, Shiraz, Merlot, Chardonnay, and Sherry
Foods - Sweet Pastries, Bagels, Chocolate, Nuts, and Dried Apricots

Black Pepper BellaVitano

To bring a little extra "buzz" to your next cheese platter, add the natural zest of this rich, nutty, creamy BellaVitano. Enhanced with the subtle zing of cracked black peppercorns, BellaVitano imparts a buttery richness that blends the flavors of both a premium Cheddar balanced by a full-flavored Parmesan.

Wines - Chianti, Chardonnay, and Light Red
Foods - Dried Nuts, Roast Beef, and Crusty Artisan Bread

Sole GranQueso

A gourmet, Spanish-Styled mini cheese with a distinctive bite and sweet finish.

Grand Cru Gruyère

Cured over four months for quality and versatility, smooth and mellow with light floral notes, melts easily, a cook's best friend.

Pita Crisps

Naturally Baked Pita Crackers with Sea Salt. These tasty Pita Bites taste great and make for a sensible snack. Nine crackers are only a 120 calories w/four grams of protein and zero trans fat! As a bonus, they are even kosher!

Veggie Chips

Garden Veggie Chips with Sea Salt.About 38 chips per serving and only 130 calories! They are kosher, no trans fat, all natural, and best of all....they taste great!

The Deluxe Wine and Cheese
It's time to party...wine and cheese style! Whether it's a picnic, wedding or anything in between, this Wine & Cheese Party is the quintessential gift for the wine and cheese lover or as a token of appreciation for the host or hostess with the mostest!

We've loaded up on all our favorite cheeses as well as tasty crackers and 2 awesome wines from Chile, the EcoBalance Chardonnay and Carmenère, to liven up any party.

June Newsletter

2011-06-13T07:38:00.000-07:00

Just like the weather, the season for weddings and graduations is hot! It's the time of year to celebrate that special occasion between two people, as well as showing support for that recent graduate.

Let's not forget Dad! On June 19th, it's time to thank dad for all he's done for you. What better time to celebrate all these special occasions than with the first day of summer, June 21st, approaching?

At Baskets By Bonnie, we have that special "something" for each and every special occasion!

Wedding | A Most Memorable Matrimony

It can't be overstated that a wedding day is a highly marked occasion. No other event will require so much planning than the day the bride and groom begin sharing their lives together.

To make the most out of every moment, the newlyweds can explore new adventures together with their own Wedding "Picnic for Two" Backpack. In addition, you will have the option to include a bottle of wine of your choosing.

Keep that "spark" alive with a special gift for both the bride and the groom.

Father's Day | R & R for Dad!

It's Dad's turn for a time-out! On Sunday, June 19th, let this Father's Day be a way to show Dad what he means to you. With the Time-Out Basket, you can pay your father back for all the tough love with some sweet-tooth goodies, a great novel, and even some hand-picked items that are fit for a king!

Dad can stand in the corner and think about what he's done with a wide arrangement of snacks, including Peanut Brittle, Butter Cookies, a BBQ nut mix and Espresso Candies just to name a few. Also to keep his mind fresh, this gift includes Magic Metal Puzzles and our featured novel The Appeal.

For the coolest pop, or even the ones striving to be, this basket is sure to be a hit. With salt, spice and some sweets to be nice, this basket is for putting up with you for all these years.

Graduation | Best Wishes & Good Luck (You're Gonna Need it)!

Good luck on your future endeavors graduates! You need all the help you can get, because it is time to start paying for the student loans! Parents, show your support one last time before cutting the apron strings with the "Bite the Bullet" basket.

Along with a few snacks to help you on your way, this basket helps you "Bite the Bullet" both figuratively and literally. In order to keep the kid inside alive, we've included a colorful box of Swedish Fish. For those tough times ahead, don't forget your Bite the Bullet Mints for when things just aren't going your way. Don't fret! Alas, Saint Homobonus, the Patron saint of Business and Good Fortune, will assist in your quest for upward mobility.

Lastly, in order to jump-start payment for those student loans, "How'd You Score That Gig" is a guide to the coolest jobs and how to get them. Growing up won't be so bad after all.

May Days

2011-05-06T09:25:00.000-07:00

May 2011

Making way for the May holidays!

May 3rd - National Teachers' Day
May 8th - Mother's Day
May 12th - Nurses' Day

Today is National Teachers' Day (Don't forget to vote for your local levy), and it's time to start thinking about end-of-the-year gifts for your favorite educators. This Sunday remind mom why you're the apple of her eye, and next Thursday, show your appreciation to your favorite nurse.

Stuck for ideas? Baskets by Bonnie can pave the way this May!

National Teachers' Day/End-of-the-School Year Gifts

A+ Celebration

You get an "A" for effort!

Show appreciation to teachers who provide outstanding performance. National Teachers' Day is a day to recognize the lasting contributions teachers make not only to the classrooms, but also to our lives.

Teachers' Day originated in 1944 in Arkansas. Mattye Whyte Woodridge, an Arkansas teacher, prompted the people to dedicate a national day to honor teachers. Woodridge was able to persuade Congress to proclaim a National Teacher Day only 9 years later in 1953. Later, the National Education Association (NEA) would revive it making it an annual event celebrated the first Tuesday of the first full week in May.

Show your gratitude to a teacher that went above and beyond performance this year with our Teachers' Tin. Forget the apple and give teachers a variety of tasty goodies.

Mother's Day

Mother deserves the best!

Mother's Day originated in the early 1900s by Anna Jarvis to commemorate her recently departed mother. Joining with her partner, John Wanamaker, they campaigned to make it a national holiday.

On May 9, 1914, president Woodrow Wilson declared the first National Mother's Day to honor the mothers who had lost sons during the war.

It's that time of year to really show your gratitude for all of mom's effort and support. Gift mom with the "Happy Housewife" basket! Including chocolates, dried fruit mix, cheese, crackers and a bottle of Mad Housewife wine, mom has all of the fixings to have a perfect holiday just for her.

For other ideas to honor and pamper, check out our Spring Seasonal section of the website.

Nurses' Day

Spread the Care!

Doctors may think they know it all, but nurses call the shots!

(Inter)National Nurses' Day is a holiday dedicated to show appreciation for all of the hard-working nurses in the world. Held on the birthday of Florence Nightingale, who is considered to be the founder of modern nursing, each nurse can receive an extra special thanks for how significantly they touch our lives.

There's no better way to say "thank you," than by sending the "Nurses' Kit." Packed full of treats, this gift is just the right amount of care to give back to those special care-givers.

Spring Holidays

2011-04-26T09:25:00.000-07:00

Spring holidays to remember this April:

Earth Day - April 22nd
Easter - April 24th
Administrative Professionals' Day - April 27th

Whether it's celebrating Earth Day the "Green" way, sending a care package to your college kid for Easter or thanking the administrative professionals who make your life easier, we have you covered at Baskets by Bonnie!

Make your friends "green" with envy.

April 22nd is the 41st Anniversary of Earth Day, which was started by US Senator Gaylord Nelson of Wisconsin in 1970 as a "Teach-In".

Earth Day is now celebrated by over 500 Million people around the world and is the largest non-religious holiday.

At Baskets by Bonnie, we practice being "green" here by recycling as much as possible. Many of the containers we use for our baskets serve more than one purpose.

Think your friends have a cool way to be "green"? Well, show them up and help the planet all at once. Help keep the landfills clear of plastic bags with our "My Reusable Bag Makes Me Better Than You" shopping tote.

Send the Easter Bunny to college!

Will your son or daughter be home from college for this Easter on April 24th? If not, Baskets by Bonnie can help!

Get them jacked-up on sugar this Easter with the Easter College Package . It's a great gift for any college student! Packed with Easter snacks, Red Bull, Jones Soda candies and much more.

SAY THANK YOU WITH A CUP OF GRATITUDE!

Celebrate Administrative Professionals' Day on April 27th with Baskets by Bonnie.

Started in 1952 by the IIAP as "Secretaries Week" (Day), this holiday that honors office workers was changed to "Administrative Professionals" in the year 2000 to keep up with the times.

The name of the holiday may have changed but the tradition of honoring your valued associate on this day with cards, gifts and perhaps a luncheon, is still very much in style.

Baskets by Bonnie has you covered with a wide variety of gift baskets that are sure to please, including the Cup of Attitude basket.

Going Green

2011-03-18T09:07:00.000-07:00

March is the month to "Spring Forward". We advance our clocks, become Irish for a day, and rejoice as the days start to get warmer and plants start to spring up. We are becoming more "Green", not just for St. Patrick's Day, but in our growing concern for our environment.

This month we launched a new and improved website for Baskets by Bonnie, which includes some new, Eco-friendly products. In an effort to become more "user-friendly", we've added shopping carts and a secure gateway for credit cards to allow for 24/7 ordering without any "unnecessary" conversation. However, we still offer the same great customer service and availability during business hours to take your order by phone.

A Fresh New Look

At Baskets By Bonnie, we found there was a growing need for more efficient orders and payments . With the new and improved website, all orders can be made quickly, at any time of any day, entirely online, and without conversation. Order a basket with just a click of the mouse to enhance your shopping convenience.

We are still available to work with you by phone for any and all special orders!

Made to Order

We've added the ability to customize your basket of choice on our new, user-friendly website. With the option of adding any mug, book or game to a basket, each gift can be personalized with a click.

First order the gourmet gift of your choice and then visit our special categories:

* Wine
* Books
* Mugs
* Totes
* Puzzles & Games

Simply add the additional items you would like included in your gift to your shopping cart for a one-of-a-kind gift that is sure to be a hit!

"Greening-Up" Our Inventory

We recently added some new, organic Chilean wines from Eco Balance that take a biodynamic approach to wine-making. Eco wines make their vines as healthy as possible without using pesticides.

Eco Balance Carmenére is a medium-bodied, ruby-red wine with a smoky, strawberry-cherry nose followed by a plush-layered finish. A classic match with game, lamb, or beef and hard cheeses.

Eco Balance Chardonnay is a fruity palate with a hint of lime and grapefruit followed by an oaky, lush finish with light tones of butter. Excellent with white meats, smoked meats and creamy pasta dishes.

When shopping at the gourmet grocery for appetizers to accompany these organic wines, further your "all-natural" experience by using our Eco-friendly totes.

Winter Wine

2010-12-13T07:55:00.000-08:00

Put a Sparkle in Your Holiday

The weeks between Thanksgiving and New Years are prime time for entertaining friends, family, and business associates. For this time of year, a sparkling wine or unique Hors D'ouevre will add a special touch to your gala.
Below we have a few sparkling suggestions to spice up your gatherings.

Sparkling Wines Around the World

So often we ask for Champagne when we're simply looking for a wine with
bubbles. So, what is the difference between a Champagne and a Sparkling
wine?

Champagne
Champagne must come from the region of Champagne in France. Champagne is
the area that developed the standards for producing the delicate bubbles that add
such fun and excitement to any event.

Then terroir of Champagne is different than any other wine growing region in the world. The soil is layered over thick deposits of chalk. This chalky soil translates onto the
palate as a bone-dry, mineral rich solid flavor.

While many wines that sparkle are produced around the world, only Champagne holds
all of the elements to produce such a dry, elegant and refreshing wine. A perennial
favorite is Veuve Clicquot, because it is consistently sublime in the delivery of teeny
tiny bubbles. Vueve Cliquot also uses more Pinot Noir than most Champagne Houses, which helps create a bigger body and more of a structure than many wines from Champagne.

Also from France
Not All Sparkling Wines from France are Champagne. While they may look as prestigious, French sparkling wines offer a more moderate price-tag. One of our value French sparkling wines is the Charles LaFitte Rose Prestige at a bargain price of around $14.99 (current State-Minimum pricing.)

Closer to Home
Throughout the world, many wine producers use the Method Champanoise, or Champagne Method, to produce a beautiful sparkling wine. While these wines don't possess the super dry, mineral palate of Champagne, they are still excellent wines.
One such wine is Chandon.

Chandon is made in the Carneros region of California by the Champagne House
of Moet and Chandon. What you'll find in this wine is a much more forward fruit than is found in Champagne. The brightness of the fruit shines through in this wine, and creates
a palate that is pure California.

Sparkling Sweetness
Other sparkling wines to consider are Moscatos. Produced from the Moscato grape,
this grape has a tendency to retain its sweetness, and it is an excellent addition to the dessert table.
Opera Prima Moscato is a classic dessert wine at a bargain price of $6.99.*
*(current State Minimum pricing)

Let's Get The Party Started!

Caprese Bite

Place a cube of fresh mozzarella in the shell
Bake for 8 minutes at 350 degrees Fahrenheit
Top with Robert Rothschild Farm Roasted Red Pepper & Onion Dip & Relish and minced basil.

Your guests will love it.

Check out the Robert Rothschild Farm website for more easy to prepare recipes.