Long Distance Gift Ideas

If you're in a state or a country that has been locked down due to COVID 19 you have probably been shut down since March of this year. (It's soon September, just in case you're anything like me and forget what day of the week it is anymore!) So, chances are, you probably had a birthday or 2 or maybe an anniversary or maybe you just wanted to brighten a loved one's day but you've been limited in options. 

Fortunately, we still have some options for gifts or just a simple, "Thinking of you" gift basket or some goodies for a college student! Back to school shopping hasn't been the same, summer hasn't been the same, 2020 hasn't been the same but one thing that hasn't changed is the fact that you can still find ways to brighten someone's day! So many different small businesses have stepped up and some who didn't offer delivery or even websites have now started these things. It's even easier to support small businesses now! 

Of course, we have the infamous chocolate covered strawberries! Those always seem to be a hit at our house! My oldest son especially loves the white chocolate strawberries which is great for me since I don't eat the white chocolate and he leaves all of the dark chocolate for me. 

You can also find pre-made gift baskets and care packages for any age, any profession, you can even find some wonderful ideas for sports fans, (even by their favorite team.) Personally, I always prefer to make my own care packages by buying specific snacks and extras such as journals, pens, books, cards, board games, and music that  I know the recipient would love. I also think this adds a nice, personal touch. But if you're in a rush, there are a lot of good options and deals online. 

Homemade gifts are always cherished by the recipient. This is the perfect time for making jams or bread or even cookies! Depending on where you live and the shipping rates, this may be something limited to more local friends and family members. Here in PA, the end of August is an excellent time for produce! The only fruits I cannot buy locally are strawberries and blueberries but everything else is available or will be any day now make for some tasty jams and dips. Grab a case or 2 of Mason jars, some pretty labels, twine, and pectin and you are well on your way to creating mouth-watering, summery good jams that can be enjoyed even with 5 feet of snow on the ground. 

Flowers are a fun way to add a little bit of sunshine! Not only do they smell beautiful but when arranged beautifully, they turn into artistic masterpieces that are sure to delight everyone. New Jersey flower delivery from Plant Shed has such a stunning variety of options that are very aesthetically pleasing you'll end up finding an arrangement you'd like for yourself as well!

I know many of you are thinking I am forgetting wine or gift cards so I figured I would add these to the end since. Oh, and who can forget pumpkin spice is it? I like pumpkin pie and pumpkin roll when made properly but I've never been a pumpkin fan. More of a chocolate fan! I'm also not a wine person but I do understand there seems to be some wine fad that has been going on. Much like the whole pumpkin, latte, Starbucks, mermaid smoothie, something or other! Gift cards are cool and while I don't typically jump for them right away only because they are too quick and not very personalized, I will use those for kid's and teenager's birthdays. Especially when my kids are invited to a few parties in a month, I figure the gift cards are much appreciated by their friends. 

Whether you want to go all out and buy lots of Lego sets or a cute urban cheesemaking kit or order a NJ flower delivery, your loved ones will be grateful and sure to smile! That's the most important part after all!

 

Craving Coffee Giveaway

Welcome to the Craving Coffee Giveaway!

1 Winner Crave French Vanilla Flavored Coffee.

This giveaway is part of our Dads and Grads Gift Guide – Stop by to see all the giveaways and great products. Satisfy your craving coffee with Crave coffee!

Host is Michigan Saving and More

My co-hosts for this giveaway are Deliciously Savvy, This Frugal Family, Gifts for all seasons, Home Jobs by Mom, Ice Cream n Sticky Fingers, Miki's Hope

 

Below is a list of all the bloggers involved in the gift guide.

A Rain of Thought, Deliciously Savvy, Eclectic Evelyn, Giveaway Gator Here We Go Again Ready,, Home Jobs by Mom, Java John Z’s, Lisa-Queen of Random, MarksvilleandMe, Michigan Saving and More, My Crafty Zoo, My Silly Little Gang, SaraLee’s Deals Steals & Giveaways, Simply Jennifer, Tales From A Southern Mom, This Frugal Family

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This giveaway's Sponsor is:

WEBSITE ~ FACEBOOK ~ TWITTER ~ PINTEREST ~ INSTAGRAM

If you are craving coffee then Two Rivers Coffee will help satisfy that craving with all their great varieties of coffee.

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1 Winner receives the below. Crave French Vanilla Flavored Coffee

Craving coffee with Crave French Vanilla Flavored Coffee

$17.99 ARV plus shipping

See review HERE.

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THE GIVEAWAY

This giveaway/sweepstakes is in no way endorsed, affiliated, or associated with Facebook, Twitter or any other Social Media Networking Site. This Giveaway is valid to continental United States residents only, Entrants must be 18+ years of age to enter. This giveaway event will end at 11:59 PM (EST) 6/10/20. The winner will have 48 hours to email their information back to las93063 at gmail dot com or a new winner will be drawn, you may want to put this email address as safe as it could go to spam. The giveaway is not valid where prohibited! By entering you are authorizing us to collect the information on the form below, this information is used only to contact the winner! No purchase necessary, Void where prohibited by law, and the number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Winners are chosen randomly by the Giveaway Tools program. The sponsors are each responsible for shipping of the above prizes. No blog associated with this contests are responsible for prize fulfillment. If you would like to be a sponsor in a giveaway like this please email Laura Smith at las930 (at)gmail (dot) com. If you take an entry you must stay following for the entire contest or you will be disqualified.

If you are a blogger interested in our gift guides sign up here or more information is HERE.

Get blogger opps just like this by signing up to receive blogger emails HERE.

Sponsors interested in joining our gift guides can see the information HERE.

 

Entry-Form

Takobia Earrings Giveaway

Welcome to the Takobia Earrings Giveaway!

1 Winner will receive 2 pair of Takobia earrings from their most recent collectiton.

This giveaway is part of our Dads and Grads Gift Guide – Stop by to see all the giveaways and great products.

Host is Michigan Saving and More

My co-hosts for this giveaway are Deliciously Savvy, This Frugal Family, Gifts for all seasons, Home Jobs by Mom, Ice Cream n Sticky Fingers, Miki's Hope

 

Below is a list of all the bloggers involved in the gift guide.

A Rain of Thought, Deliciously Savvy, Eclectic Evelyn, Giveaway Gator Here We Go Again Ready,, Home Jobs by Mom, Java John Z’s, Lisa-Queen of Random, MarksvilleandMe, Michigan Saving and More, My Crafty Zoo, My Silly Little Gang, SaraLee’s Deals Steals & Giveaways, Simply Jennifer, Tales From A Southern Mom, This Frugal Family

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This giveaway's Sponsor is:

Takobia Earrings

AMAZON

Since its inception in 2007, Takobia has been featuring the latest in fine fashion jewelry made to the highest quality standards. Each piece of jewelry is treated with care and inspected for quality numerous times before it makes it into the hands of customers. By keeping practices modern and fresh without sacrificing that personal connection with valued customers, Takobia provides a quality experience to shoppers that complements the quality found in their jewelry.

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1 Winner receives the below.

2 random pair of earrings from their most recent collectiton.

up to $72.00 ARV

See review HERE.

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THE GIVEAWAY

This giveaway/sweepstakes is in no way endorsed, affiliated, or associated with Facebook, Twitter or any other Social Media Networking Site. This Giveaway is valid to continental United States residents only, Entrants must be 18+ years of age to enter. This giveaway event will end at 11:59 PM (EST) 6/12/20. The winner will have 48 hours to email their information back to las93063 at gmail dot com or a new winner will be drawn, you may want to put this email address as safe as it could go to spam. The giveaway is not valid where prohibited! By entering you are authorizing us to collect the information on the form below, this information is used only to contact the winner! No purchase necessary, Void where prohibited by law, and the number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Winners are chosen randomly by the Giveaway Tools program. The sponsors are each responsible for shipping of the above prizes. No blog associated with this contests are responsible for prize fulfillment. If you would like to be a sponsor in a giveaway like this please email Laura Smith at las930 (at)gmail (dot) com. If you take an entry you must stay following for the entire contest or you will be disqualified.

If you are a blogger interested in our gift guides sign up here or more information is HERE.

Get blogger opps just like this by signing up to receive blogger emails HERE.

Sponsors interested in joining our gift guides can see the information HERE.

 

Entry-Form

John Boos & Co. Walnut Rustic-Edge Cutting Board Giveaway

Welcome to the John Boos & Co. Walnut Rustic-Edge Cutting Board Giveaway!

1 Winner

This giveaway is part of our Dads and Grads Gift Guide – Stop by to see all the giveaways and great products.

Host is Deliciously Savvy

My co-hosts for this giveaway are Michigan Saving and More, Gifts for all seasons, Home Jobs by Mom, Giveaway Gator, Cruises 2021 & Miki’s Hope

Below is a list of all the bloggers involved in the gift guide.

A Rain of Thought, Deliciously Savvy,Eclectic Evelyn, Giveaway GatorHere We Go Again Ready,, Home Jobs by Mom,Java John Z’s, Lisa-Queen of Random, MarksvilleandMe, Michigan Saving and More, My Crafty Zoo, My Silly Little Gang, SaraLee’s Deals Steals & Giveaways, Simply Jennifer, Tales From A Southern Mom,This Frugal Family

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This giveaway's Sponsor is:

WEBSITE ~ FACEBOOK ~ TWITTER ~ INSTAGRAM ~ YOU TUBE

Find a Authorized Retailer Near You

1 Lucky Winner Will Win A John Boos & Co. Walnut Rustic-Edge Cutting Board Valued At $139!

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See review HERE.

A Little History On John Boos Boards:

John Boos & Co., based in Effingham, IL is one of the oldest manufacturers of premium quality foodservice equipment and butcher blocks in the U.S.A. Boos has been in business continuously since 1887. It was in his Effingham, IL blacksmith shop that founder, Conrad Boos first invented what would become the original Boos Block®. Having harvested sycamore from local wooded areas, and processed it in his sawmill, Conrad brought it to his blacksmith shop for finishing. That first block of sycamore slab placed on three legs evolved with sheer purpose of a block to absorb the shock of this smith’s hammer against the anvil. It was the local butcher, who having seen and admired Conrad’s block, became impassioned about owning a block for his meat market. Unknowingly, Conrad’s son, John, who having made and sold that first block to the local butcher, took John Boos & Co. into the infancy of the 125 year reign of serving customers in the commercial market sector.

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Entry-Form

This giveaway/sweepstakes is in no way endorsed, affiliated, or associated with Facebook, Twitter or any other Social Media Networking Site. This Giveaway is valid to continental United States residents only, Entrants must be 18+ years of age to enter. This giveaway event will end at 11:59 PM (EST) 6/28/20. The winner will have 48 hours to email their information back to mcushing7 at hotmail dot com or a new winner will be drawn, you may want to put this email address as safe as it could go to spam. The giveaway is not valid where prohibited! By entering you are authorizing us to collect the information on the form below, this information is used only to contact the winner! No purchase necessary, Void where prohibited by law, and the number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Winners are chosen randomly by the Giveaway Tools program. The sponsors are each responsible for shipping of the above prizes. No blog associated with this contests are responsible for prize fulfillment. If you would like to be a sponsor in a giveaway like this please email Melissa Cushing at mcushing7 (at)hotmail (dot) com. If you take an entry you must stay following for the entire contest or you will be disqualified.

If you are a blogger interested in our gift guides sign up here or more information is HERE.

Get blogger opps just like this by signing up to receive blogger emails HERE.

Sponsors interested in joining our gift guides can see the information HERE.

ProjeX Giveaway and Review

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Fun Facts About The US Flag

I would have written a completely different post about the US Flag and US Flag history if we weren't in the middle of such uncertain times. So, given our circumstances at the moment, I figured I could discuss different activities about the US Flag for kids to work on when they're home from school. 

Besides various worksheets, videos, coloring pages that are easily available for download, there are a number of online resources for homeschool curriculums that are free or discounted heavily for parents and teachers. (Due to the current situation, many businesses have stepped up to help to make sure parents can continue their child's education at home.) 

You can also create your own worksheets and puzzles with some facts about the flag. 

Fun Facts About The US Flag

Did you know that the flag actually has to be in bed at sunset each night? Not only that but the flag also needs to be awake at sunrise each and every morning! 

The designer of our current flag was a high school student who received a B- from his teacher for his project. 

Robert G. Heft of Lancaster, Ohio, created the current design in 1958. President Dwight D. Eisenhower picked Robert's flag out of 1500 entries! 

6 American Flags have been planted on the moon. Neil Armstrong planted the first one on the moon in July of 1969 as part of the Apollo 11 mission.  Of the 6, only 1 has been removed. So there are 5 left standing. (The first one is no longer on the moon!) 

There have been 27 versions of the American Flag. There was a mistake made when North and South Dakota became states because some flag manufacturer's thought they would be combined into just 1 state. So, there was a version with 39 stars.

Vermont and Kentucky were states 14 and 15 and the flag changed from 13 stripes to 15 stripes. However, when there were more states added, there were discussions as to whether or not they would constantly add more stripes to each state. So, they decided to go back to just 13 stripes to represent the 13 colonies.

The US Flag that we have today is the very first flag to have lasted for 50 years. At one point, we had 17 different versions of the flag over a 50-year span!

There is just a time when burning the flag is acceptable. If the flag is damaged beyond repair, the US Flag Code does state that you can, in fact, burn it in order to dispose of it with dignity.

Just like a lot of us, the US Flag has a few nicknames! You have probably heard someone use one of those nicknames. One of the first nicknames was, "Old Glory". Another popular nickname a lot of people still use is, "Stars and Stripes".

The American Flag has been on quite a few trips! Not only has it been taken to the moon but, in 1909, Robert Peary traveled to the North Pole and took a flag that his wife had sewn and put it in the ice.
In 1963, Barry Bishop took a flag with him on his trip to the top of Mount Everest!

According to the US Flag Code, the flag should never be flown in bad weather. If it must be flown at nighttime, it must be illuminated.

History suggests that the colors of the flag were chosen because red represents valor, white represents liberty and purity and the color blue represents justice and loyalty.

The proper way to view the flag when it's on display is by facing the flag with your right hand over your heart. You've probably done this at school or right before a baseball game or a hockey game!
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On August 3, 1949, President Truman signed an Act of Congress that would designate every June 14th as  National Flag Day. Our current president, Donald J. Trump celebrates his birthday on June 14th too!

There are so many fun facts about the flag! This is just a short list but if you want to impress your friends (or your teaches!) check for more at your local library or online. If you're bored and looking for things to read about or learn about, you could also start memorizing the states and even include the order in which they became stars on the flag!

You could also check out Flags Unlimited for more fun facts and to purchase one of your very own!

Gift Ideas For The Man In Your LIfe

It’s the thought that counts. That’s what many people say about being presented with gifts that are unwanted, unnecessary or downright confusing. It’s a noble opinion, but it doesn’t help those individuals who struggle with finding the perfect present. Gift-giving anxiety plagues many shoppers, and it’s especially troublesome when one is charged with purchasing a gift for the proverbial man-who-has-everything. Father’s Day spending reached a record $16 billion last year, much of that adding to America’s fathers’ ever-growing collections of socks, ties and coffee mugs. With dad’s day on the horizon, get your father something he truly wants this year. Here are two gift ideas that will make him happy.

Science and History

Remember all those times your dad bugged you about your school studies? It just might not be because he recognized the importance of a good education. Many fathers continue to enjoy academic interests throughout their lives. If he’s a science and nature lover, take an active role in building a mineral collection or purchase a telescope and spend some quality time under the stars. To treat a history buff, take him on a day trip or mini-vacation to a Colonial community, Civil War battleground or Old West landmark. Even gifts like films and books about history will be appreciated.

Sports and Recreation

When dad’s a sports enthusiast, you’ll surely score when giving him game tickets to watch his favorite team play. If his fandom flirts with fanaticism, consider gifting him a jersey or other sports memorabilia autographed by his childhood idol or current favorite. If he’s a hands-on sporting type, treat him to a fishing or hunting adventure, or even spend an afternoon together in your favorite wild spaces hiking, trail biking or whitewater rafting.

Whatever you decide to do for your dad, do it together. The thing that matters most is spending quality time with the ones you love.