See one of our new gift baskets, for that pick me up Peet's House Blend is a perfect choice, one of San Francisco's favorites. We have included a Peet's Coffee Mug, Lady Walton's Dark Chocolate Wafer, and some other great snacks.



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I wanted to let you know how pleased I was with the basket. My daughter was thrilled. I would highly recommend this item to others. Thanks.

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Still struggling over what gift to buy for Mother’s Day? Among the many possibilities, the gift basket stands out as one of the best ideas. Why? Selection, ease of giving, and long-term enjoyment top the list of reasons.

If you’ve ever shopped for a Mother’s Day gift at a large retailer, you know the problems: What size should you get? Will she like the color? Can it be returned? With gift baskets, it’s easy to decide – just think of something she likes, and make it the theme. Whether it’s coffee, spa products, candles, or golf, there will be a basket available. Want a great way to remind her of that time you traveled together in Napa Valley? Send a basket of gourmet items from California.

Another great thing about gift baskets is that they can be shipped almost anywhere, even to members of the military who are stationed overseas. You won’t have to wrap the gift, box it up, or wait in line to mail it. Even the simplest gift basket makes an impressive statement when it arrives, as most are wrapped up with cellophane and bows and other colorful touches. Just place your order and the basket will be delivered, complete with a personal message from you to the recipient.

Finally, even gift baskets that contain food items or flowers can be enjoyed for years to come, because the contents make up only one part of the gift. The container can be a gift in itself. On my last birthday, I received a little warming pot that is used to melt scented candles. It arrived in a tall cylindrical box that is black with little white polka dots all over it. I used the warming pot a few times, then put it away when I got tired of it taking up counter space. As it turned out, the box has been the best part of the whole gift. I have used it as a “cover” for a flower vase (it looks super with red tulips!) and as a cutlery container for a buffet line.
Similarly, the large hand-woven basket that arrived holding a selection of treats from Santa Fe continues to give me joy long after the snacks were eaten. Many of the gift baskets available now come in clever and very re-useable tins, baskets and boxes.

So, if you are feeling frustrated trying to pick a gift to give for Mother’s Day, consider a gift basket. They can be personalized, enjoyed for years to come, and never, ever have to be returned or exchanged for a different size.

Contributed By Laura Weaver

Body lotion, perfume, candles – many of the gifts you can buy your mother for Mother’s Day are scented. It’s no wonder that scented products are popular, because they can evoke emotions and memories like nothing else.
Scientists believe that we begin to learn about odors even before we are born, when flavors from our mothers’ diets are introduced into the amniotic fluid. As we grow up, our reactions to various odors are linked to what we were experiencing when we were first exposed to them. Because of this, everyone reacts to scents in their own unique way.
If your beloved grandmother always made delicious apple pies when you visited her, the smell of apple pies might make you feel content. If you were once forced to drink a medicine that was wintergreen-flavored when you were very sick, you might dislike the smell of wintergreen.
When I was young, my mother only wore perfume on special occasions. If I smelled Shalimar or Chanel No. 5, I knew that my parents were going out for the evening. Even now when I smell those scents, I think about my mother - all dressed up in a black dress, pumps and pearls.
Although everyone’s response to a particular scent depends on their own experiences, there are essential oils that are believed to have similar effects on a majority of people.
Here are some of the most commonly used scents and the effects generally attributed to each:

• Lavender – calming and balancing
• Lemon – refreshing and energizing.
• Jasmine – lessens anxiety and depression, aphrodisiac
• Rosemary – stimulating, enhances mental clarity
• Peppermint – stimulating, may relieve headaches
• Chamomile – calming, reassuring
• Orange – refreshing, relaxing
• Marjoram – soothing, warming
• Rose – relaxing, aphrodisiac
• Bergamot – refreshing and uplifting

Aromatherapy is popular today, but it isn’t new – ancient Egyptians, Grecians, Romans and Chinese used scents for a variety of religious, medicinal and cosmetic purposes. Now, the use of scents has become a major industry – there are even special schools where you can learn about the use and effectiveness of essential oils.
How do you know which scents to choose for someone else if you aren’t an expert? You can buy a product that is believed to have an effect that you think the recipient would appreciate; or choose a scent that reflects a person’s interests or preferences. Still not sure which scent to give? Try taking a stimulating whiff of rosemary – it may enhance your mental clarity.

Contributed By Laura Weaver

Sure, you’d like to give your mother a gift certificate to a posh spa on Mother’s Day, but let’s face it…most of us can’t afford the cost. Destination spas generally charge at least $200 per night with only the most basic services included. Even at more affordable day spas, prices and tips can quickly add up.

There is another way you can treat your mother to a spa-like experience on Mother’s Day. She won’t get a fancy seaweed wrap or a mud bath, but with a gift basket of spa-inspired products, she can still enjoy a little pampering at home.

Start with a pretty container and fill it with products that are based on popular spa treatments. For facials, you can find delicious-smelling cleansers, facial massage oils, scrubs and moisturizers. If you like to dabble in the kitchen, you can make your own products - there are lots of recipes online for facial masks that contain ingredients such as avocados, eggs and honey.

Body treatments, which are like facials for the rest of the body, often include exfoliating scrubs, such as those made with sea salt, sugar or grains. These scrubs are frequently infused with essential plant oils such as peppermint or lavender and, like masks, can be made at home. As an alternative to a body scrub, you can buy a pair of inexpensive exfoliating gloves. They do the same job, but without the mess.

A spa experience wouldn’t be complete without a manicure and pedicure. Your mom probably has the basic manicure tools, such as nail clippers and files, so consider giving her cuticle oil or cream, cuticle pushers and nippers, and a fragrant hand-soaking solution. For her feet, buy a pumice stone or exfoliating rub and foot cream. You can find lightweight cotton socks and gloves for her to wear after she moisturizes; and foam finger and toe separators to use while she polishes her nails.

A spa-style robe (usually made of waffled white cotton or terry cloth), a towel hair-wrap and bath pillow would make nice additions to your gift; as would scented candles and a CD of her favorite songs.

If you are overwhelmed by the thought of putting together your own spa kit, consider buying a spa gift basket. They are available in all price ranges and are often assembled around a theme, like rose- or lemon-scented products, so you can find one that matches her tastes.

She may not leave the house for her spa-style getaway, but with the right combination of products, your mother can still feel pampered on Mother’s Day.

Contributed By Laura Weaver

Valentine’s Day is approaching and along with the many romantic picks for dining out, melt in your mouth chocolates and fragrant flowers vying for your attention, you can combine all these favorites with the element of surprise and delight your date.

If your special someone is a long-time sweetheart or a first date, most people love a surprise.

Recently, a 23-year-old college grad was anxious to plan an unforgettable evening with his girlfriend and take their four year dating relationship to the next level. Popping the question would surely be the most romantic yet exhilarating night of their life so a series of surprises filled the young man’s agenda. His girlfriend had no knowledge of his secret until the evening, which would turn out to be a celebration that a soon-to-be fiancée, would never forget.

The setting was a favorite steakhouse located in a metropolitan city. A dozen red variegated long stemmed roses from a florist were a carefully selected choice and were delivered to the waiter at the restaurant earlier that day. Next, a stuffed animal was placed on a tray covering the ring box and after dinner two waiters paraded to the table with the gifts. The bride-to-be was stunned as she became the center of attention for the night. She opened the ring box and her beau dropped to one knee and proposed, accompanied by a room full of onlookers erupting in applause.

You may not be proposing marriage but you can slip in a surprise just the same. Here are some ideas to make your day or evening on February 14 just a bit more intriguing.

• Compliment an intimate dinner at home with background music from the country where the food originates. They can be found at area bookstores. So if Italian food is your favorite, set the mood with music that brings amore’ to the table.
• Are you both lovers of the fine arts? Tickets to a symphony or live theatre will be sure to please. Tuck the tickets (like a bookmark) inside a book of poetry or a favorite read and present it at dinner prior to the show.
• Arrange an overnight at a Bed and Breakfast. If there are children that need a caregiver, initiative a surprise and hire the sitter and make the arrangements. If the price is out of reach, makeover your bedroom with a B&B feel and include guest soaps & towels, candles and a pleasing menu in the morning.
• Find a favorite childhood photo and have a local artist paint or draw your sweetheart’s likeness for a present that will be remembered for years to come.

Sweeten up Valentine’s Day with a surprise that fits your personality and you’ll be sure to have an enjoyable and fun holiday.

Contributed by
Elizabeth C. Searcy

Come see the great gift basket collection for Valentine's Day! Make his or her day extra special this year.

Brought to you by Susan's Basket Store

It’s nearly Valentine’s Day and that means that hundreds of thousands of people (okay, mostly men) will be frantically trying to come up with Valentine’s Day gifts that make their partners happy.

Remember how simple Valentine’s Day was when you were a kid? You’d hand your mother a homemade card and set off to school with a bag of cartoon- themed grocery store valentines (one for every person in your class, because that was the rule). In class, you’d exchange cards with your classmates while you ate the heart-shaped cookies that the room mother baked. If you were really lucky, some of the cards would be attached to candy.

For teens, Valentine’s Day was a little trickier.

Read more!

We’ve all heard about the impact that the internet has had on holiday shopping, and Valentine’s Day is no exception. With help from the Internet, suitors have the potential to shine (or fizzle) on Valentine’s Day like never before.

A smart shopper will use the Internet to his advantage by choosing a gift that makes his sweetheart feel special. With so many choices at hand, the perfect gift may be just a few mouse clicks away. The important thing is to carefully tailor the gift to the tastes of the recipient.

For an unmotivated person, the Internet offers the opportunity to take the easy way out for Valentine’s Day. But beware of this temptation – no woman has ever been swept off of her feet by a last-minute e-greeting. Similarly, not many women would consider it romantic to be the feature of an Internet video or blog.

When you do your Valentine’s Day shopping online, gift ideas are limitless. You can order anything from the timeless (candy and flowers), to items you’ve selected to fit her special interests, like candles, spa products, or coffee. If her favorite thing is spending time with you, why not find a gift you can enjoy together, like champagne, gourmet foods or the ingredients for a romantic bubble bath?

Would your Valentine appreciate a traditional token of love, like chocolates? Instead of giving her a single foil-wrapped box of grocery store sweets, use the Internet to find attractively packaged, high-quality chocolates. Consider a gift basket that includes several chocolate delicacies in a beautifully wrapped, re-usable container.

You can deliver the gift in person, but you’ll earn extra points if you have it delivered to her place of work and make her co-workers jealous. Just remember to include a romantic, personal note.

The Internet can also help if your loved one is far away. A gift bought online can be sent across town or around the globe, proclaiming your love even if you can’t be there to do it in person.

Don’t think you’re going to dodge the bullet just because your Valentine lives in another country - Valentine’s Day is a global holiday. It is celebrated not only in the places you’d expect, like Europe and Australia, but also in most of Asia, Africa, South America and the Middle East.

This year, instead of limiting your gift search to the local mall, use the power of the Internet to comb the globe for a present that will show your Valentine just how much she means to you.

Contributed By Laura Weaver