Posts Tagged ‘fourth of july’
Give to Quilts of Valor This Fourth of July
Happy 233rd birthday, America! Today I discovered Quilts of Valor at a farmer’s market. Quilts of Valor seeks to give homemade quilts to men and women wounded while serving in Iraq and Afghanistan. I gave a donation and signed a quilt patch to thank the troops for their service and sacrifice. To date, this non-profit, non-political organization has given nearly 22,000 quilts of valor to war wounded (physically or psychologically) across the country.
Consider donating high-quality cotton fabric or giving online to cover material costs and shipping. With each quilt, we express our gratitude through a gift of warmth for wounded soliders.
Tags: charitable gifts, fourth of july, gift ideas, thank you
Flag Day is Sunday, June 14, 2009. My favorite flag gift is the Elizabeth Ross Heritage Series Flag Set ($70). The 30-by-50-inch cotton flag comes antiqued — it’s tea-dyed a rustic brown color for an historic feel. The maker, Valley Forge Flags, sews together the 13 stripes and embroiders each of the 50 stars.
The flag set also features a mahogany-stained wooden pole with a pineapple finial and a brass mounting bracket. This decorative flag is not meant for year-round use. We proudly display our Elizabeth Ross flag during the summer months, especially on Memorial Day, Flag Day, the Fourth of July, Labor Day and Patriot Day.
Tags: fourth of july, gift ideas
With the grand opening of an Omaha Steaks store nearby, we treated ourselves to filet mignon this weekend. We selected four six-ounce beef tenderloin steaks for grilling. Omaha packages the steaks in a sturdy box for up to three months of storage in the freezer. Ideally, you allow them to defrost in the fridge overnight. Otherwise, you can defrost the vacuum-sealed steaks in cold water for 45 minutes.
I liked the easy-open packaging for each steak. The grilling instructions were also simple. Based on the steak’s 1.5 inch thickness, I grilled on high heat for nine minutes. Then I flipped the steak for another seven minutes. Finally, I took them off the grill and let the steaks “rest” a few minutes, so the juice flow to the center. Our first two steaks were juicy and delicious, served with a mustard sauce on the side.
These premium steaks make a great present to ship to your non-vegetarian giftees. To order online, visit OmahaSteaks.com or purchase from Amazon.com
Tags: dining, father's day, food, for dad, for hosts, fourth of july, gift ideas, gift sites, guy gifts, indulgences
For the Fourth of July, I gave my wife the gift of floral fireworks. I chose red rose minis, white daisies and blue-dyed Anastasias from our local grocery florist. She loves to arrange flowers, so I had the three bouquets wrapped separately. Her eye-popping results bring oohs and ahhs.
Tags: flowers, for her, fourth of july, gift ideas
Belated birthday presents. Late Christmas gifts. Forgotten anniversaries. To give great gifts, we strive to give them in a timely manner. While “better late than never” applies, often gifts are meant to mark a specific occasion. Yes, in the case of weddings, gift etiquette allows guests to give gifts up to one year from the ceremony. But do you really need 12 months to decide whether to shop from a gift registry or go creative with a carefully chosen surprise?
Here’s one way to stay on time. Set up automatic reminders for gift occasions as recurring alerts. Allow yourself enough advance notice to keep from scrambling for that last-minute present. For example, my iPhone just chimed to notify me that Valentine’s Day is one month away.
Not only is a great gift given in a timely manner, the actual present is in season. Giving water skis for Christmas or snow skis during the Fourth of July can deflate the impact of your gift. Give seasonal presents in season to avoid a delay in enjoying the gift. Of course, there are always exceptions. Let your giftee be your guide. If your recipient specifically hints about a premium picnic basket as a Christmas present, then by all means, visit Picnic-Basket.com.
Tags: birthday, christmas, fourth of july, giftology, reminders, valentine's day
