Who Gives A Gift?

Show love to the one person who tucked you into bed when you were little, took care of you when you were ill, was by your side through the good and the bad, and cooks your favorite dish. Mother’s do everything and anything for their children so why not give her something back to show how much she is appreciated. There’s always that one food that our mother’s make that we absolutely love. Celebrate your mother by giving her a night off from the kitchen this Mother’s Day. Get into the kitchen and make her a simple dinner that she will enjoy. The dinner doesn’t have to be perfect but trying to make her something out of the ordinary will make her smile. (Extra Tip: Don’t forget to clean up!)

Here are some easy-to-make recipes that your mother will love:

Green Goddess Salad 

Baked Lasagna

Blueberry Cupcake

Rich Lemon Bars

While you are doing the food preparation, add a peaceful ambience with her favorite candle.. So by the time dinner is ready to be serve, the room will be filled with an enticing fragrance (no lingering cooking odors at your feast!) Our perennial bestseller is Red Currant from Votivo.

Votive Aromatic Candles

This fragrant rich fruity blend will add a warm energy throughout the house!  It’s so popular among the celebrity crowd and has even made the famous “O” List.  Each wonderful candle hand poured into a heavy glass and  packaged in an impressive metal trimmed box with the signature votivo top ornament. Choose from three other scented blends… Glorioso, Mandarine and Rush of Rose.

During dinner why not celebrate by listening to songs that truly make Mother’s Day exceptionally special for your Mom. Make a CD or upload these songs about her into her Ipod so when she needs a pick-me-up she can always listen to them. If you need some ideas for songs here are a few that are dedicated to mothers:

• Mother’s Day Song by Tom Gardner
• Drive My Mommy Crazy by Gary Rosen
• Thank You Mom by Good Charlotte
• Sweet Child O’Mine by Guns N’ Roses
• Of Mother by Christina Aguilera
• Hey Mama by Kanye West
• Mother by Pink Floyd
• Mama Said by Metallica
• Mother by John Lenon
• You’ll be in my Heart by Phil Collins
• Dear Mama by 2Pac

Also, Mother’s day is a day to spend some time with your mother remembering all the fun times you have shared. To do this you can either take her out for a fun evening of just kick back and relax with a movie and popcorn night with your mother. There are several movies that show the importance of the mother daughter relationship and show the special bond. Don’t forget to think about her taste in movies as well so you both can enjoy the night of relaxation.

Here are some ideas for a Mother Daughter Movie Night:

• Pretty Woman
• Freaky Friday
• Mama Mia
• The Parent Trap
• The Grapes of Wrath
• Auntie Mame
• Parenthood
• All About My Mother
• Terms of Endearment
• Mermaids
• Steel Magnolias

Curl up together on the sofa or bed and enjoy a cozy cup of hot chocolate or chamomile tea.  Serve Mom’s in her very own mug that says it all…”You are Loved”.. generously sized and comfortable to drink from.. it will bring on a smile every time!

You Are Loved Mug.

So we’re all on the hunt for a Mother’s Day gift that she will truly enjoy. We even have a extra week to fulfill our mission of love and appreciation. We at LBM Gifts are going on a decade of offering gift giving ideas and selection for Mother’s Day to our wonderful customers! From tried and true to trendy treasures, Mom deserves a gift that shows the thought you put behind it regardless of the price!  Here are three beauties to consider!

For those mothers who like show off their offspring “celebrity style” we have our stunningly popular Alex Woo Number Necklaces. 

Kelly Ripa wears a "3"!

Many beautiful women YOU know are wearing their number! Even Kelly Ripa wears a ” 3 ” to celebrate her three children.

Because this is a newer version of the initials pendant necklace, people are going to be curious when they see it on. So not only is it chic and meaningful, it’s a conversation piece for sure. This Mother’s Day order her an Alex Woo Little Numbers Necklace- the special gift that represents the number of kids she brought to this world, including you! Whether you choose sterling silver, 14kt gold or pave diamonds/white gold, the unsurpassed quality of the chunky number charm and diamond cut chain will even impress your jeweler! Don’t delay…There’s still time to get it on time for Mother’s Day!

Maybe your mom is more on the spiritual side. You can present her with a beautiful gift of love, laughter, and positive energy with our fabulous Buddha and Pearl Necklace.  The necklace has a rich gold vermeil figure of Buddha, who was in search of answers about why his people were suffering. His teachings had influenced people to be happy and peaceful. By wearing the necklace, we are reminded to follow his teachings and be happy and peaceful.

Another LBM Gifts customer favorite is the artistic design and color of our  Dream Catcher Earrings which make another great gift pick for this Mother’s Day! The hoop on the dream catcher is a sign of strength and unity. Native Americans thought that the dream catcher would bring positive dreams through the center of the hoop and glide down to the person sleeping. Our dreamcatcher earrings pair beautiful blue crystal and goldstone stones that are hand wire wrapped around an 18kt gold vermeil hoop. Now you can give the give of sweet dreams (day and night) that will look just right with just about any look this Spring and Summer.

Whatever her style, Mom is sure to be delighted with one of these these lovely and unique  treasures that will arrive gift wrapped and bowed to make the perfect presentation!

The Spring season is the host to many wonderful occasions and yearly events. Having just celebrated both Easter and the commencement of Passover this past weekend, there are still several noteworthy affairs on the calendar. The month of May is traditionally the time of year for a child’s First Communion.  Young boys and girls have been preparing for this special rite of passage and the ceremony will be honored with many happy gatherings of family and friends.

As a parent, relative or friend of a child making his or her First Communion, it is customary to give a gift and one that will carry some significant meaning over time. (That means ipods, ipads, iphones and other things that start with “i” are “inappropriate.”)   That leaves us with obvious and meaningful gifts like crosses, prayer books and rosaries, but if you feel that those types of gifts will be covered or you want to be a little more original, maybe it’s time to find a unique, more personalized gift to give.

At LBM Gifts, we love to find and offer gifts that are truly unique for all ages. For First Communion gift ideas, we think our one of a kind Jane Basch Custom Monogram Necklace is a wonderful choice for your special young lady. It’s very stylish yet timeless, which means decades from now, she will still appreciate the fine quality and personal meaning it holds today.

monogram necklaces

Similarly, the Alex Woo collection containing the Little Letter Necklaces is a wonderful personalized gift of any girl. The initials trend is extremely popular this season. This modern classic look comes in sterling silver, gold and white gold with diamonds. Either of these handmade initial necklaces are the perfect personal touch making them uniquely special.

Another lovely gift idea is the Dogeared Pearl of Love Necklace which is a beautiful pearl necklace displaying the idea of natural beauty and simplicity. This piece is a freshwater pearl that comes on a fine terling silver chain. This truly elegant gift shows the true meaning of a girl growing through the stages of life and becoming more beautiful with each stage. The Pearl of Love Necklace is a different way of expressing how important inner beauty really is.

For young gentlemen receiving their First Communion, you don’t have to be lost for good ideas.  A handsome frame, like our Frank Lloyd Wright frames, can hold a picture from the event . Gifts that he can grow with or into make great choices too. In that category, we recommend unusual accessories like the leather men’s valet tray and our selection of real coin cufflinks, including the

Indian Head Penny Cufflinks

Indian head pennies, buffalo nickels and Winged Liberty dimes.

In the end, it’s always the thoughtfulness that counts. So take a moment to ponder what gift might carry meaningfulness and appreciation of this occasion in the years to come.

The environment was not of major concern until President Kennedy  came to office in 1962. He went on a national conversation tour to create awareness of this issue. Although the tour was not an immediate success it was the launching pad to what we now recognize as Earth Day.   It is Senator Nelson who is credited for starting “Earth Day”. He spoke to twenty-five different states to inform them that the environment was indeed suffering. The people of these states were concerned with the issue, but the politicians were not.  Senator Nelson was delivering a speech about anti-war demonstrations in colleges when he came up with the idea of how to present the problem to politicians in a way that they would take the issue seriously. He planned on expanding the anti-war energy into an environment cause to force politicians to realize how important it is to preserve and respect the environment. In 1970, his demonstrations at the grassroots levels had an amazing response. The idea was seen in newspapers, letters and telegrams nationwide, and the environmental concerns of the people were finally heard. Along with the schools and local communities that participated together in the grassroots demonstration, Earth Day was created.

Earth Day is April 22nd.  In support and celebration of our beautiful planet, we should all go out or stay in and find at least a few ways to recognize and appreciation this day!

Here are 14 easy ways to celebrate Earth Day:

1. Plant a tree. Planting trees will help reduce greenhouse gas emissions, cleans pollution,  and creates a home for many animals. (Not to mention beautify any spot outside!)

2. Make nature crafts. Bird houses or bird feeders can bring birds into the neighborhood which is not only good for the ecosystem, but is a fun way for kids to get in touch with nature.

3. Join a local group to protect the environment. Learning about places such as the deserts, and rain-forests that are suffering due to misuse of resources, water shortages, pollution, and climate changes. Animals that live in these places are greatly effected by these issues.

4. Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle. Reducing the amount of disposable plates and cutlery since they are not recyclable. Recycle papers, soda cans, and other every use items so that they can be reused to create other items.

reusable tote

Reuse bags and containers. Our adorable, Give Adopt Love bag, not only helps support homeless animals through the ASPCA, but also makes a great reuseable tote for small shopping sprees or snacks. Our Bobble Water Bottle is helpful to take on trips, to work, or any other on the go activity. Refilling the bottle has a carbon filter that not only makes the water taste better, but also purifies the tap water.

5.  Recycle children’s old toys. Giving another younger child toys that are not being used by your own child will teach the idea of giving.

6. Clean up litter. Getting rid of litter from roadways will make it not only easier for people to drive on clean roads, but will encourage others to keep it clean as well. A neat and clean road is enjoyed more than a litter filled road.

7. Sing and Listen to songs about the “Earth”. Songs about pollution and the plant will encourage children to be interested in their environment. Expressing the importance of the environment is crucial so when the children get older they still have the motivation to do something to help.

8. Hold an Earth Day fair in your neighborhood. Have a fair in your local school, street, or neighborhood to display the eco-friendly products. Hang up children’s artwork, have healthy foods, games made with recyclable items, have stalls with unwanted books to sell, and have musicians to really get the neighborhoods into the spirit of Earth Day.

9. Teach others about the environment. Teachers, professionals, students, or anyone that knows about the environment and is willing to show others how important is it should teach others what they know. Many schools across the country have their students plant seeds to show how important the environment is.

10. Wear Earth tones. Wearing the natural colors like brown and green is a great way to show your support and still be fashionista!r

11. Engage others in environmental conversations and concerns. Encourage others to learn about the environment and express their ways on how to help without being pushy or bossy.

12. Cook a wonderful Earth Day meal. Creating a meal with healthy organic foods to demonstrate the food that we take for granted. Bringing enviro-friendly candles to the home will make your Earth Day much more pleasurable (and smell heavenly!)

100% soy candles

Our Ergo Soy Scented Candles are all natural 100% natural soy wax without any chemical additives. These candles come in five different scents to bring enviro-friendliness to your home.

13. Buy a carbon offset. With the carbon offset you can see how much you are contributing towards global warming. Keeping one in your office or workplace can help determine how much of the environment is being harmed.

14. Ride your bike. Riding a bike to commute helps for exercise and creates less pollution and keep you in great shape.

Remember Earth Day can be celebrated every day. Helping our environment daily will make a difference!

Passover is the Jewish Spring Holiday that commemorates the story of the Israelite’ escape from slavery in Egypt to freedom.  Every year, Jews gather for the Seder meal to reenact the story of this journey. It is followed by eight days of eating only unleavened bread. Are you and your family lucky “invitees” to a Passover Seder this Friday?

Whether it’s your first time or you’re a seasoned seder guest, bringing a thoughtful (and useful) gift for the host family is definitely in good form. Along with the side dish or dessert you may be contributing to the big meal, don’t forget to show your appreciation with a tasteful gift that your hostess can use (or wear) for the occasion or for the ones to come.

Top of the list of good gift ideas are special serving pieces, like our murano glass spreaders, that are great for dips and spreaders any time of the year.that include a set of four beautifully colored handles in a black gift/storage box. Anyone who entertains will find themselves taking these out time and time again!

murano glass spreaders gift boxed

The set includes four spreaders with different beautifully colored handles in a black gift/storage box. Anyone who entertains will find themselves taking these out time and time again!

Or, to add a glow to a room, it’s hard to go wrong with our perennial best selling candle, Votivo Red Currant.

It’s a favorite among celebrities and has even made it on the prestigious “O List”! If you are looking for something more personal, think of something especially for the lady of the house.

Unique jewelry piece like our dreamcatcher earrings are a pretty accessory for Spring. They are hand wire wrapped goldstone and blue crystal on 18kt gold vermeil.

goldstone and blue crystal "dreamcatcher" earrings

or the Pearl of Love necklace by Dogeared Jewels and Gifts, another LBM Gifts customer favorite because it carries with it a special message and appeals to women of all ages and styles!

pearl of love necklace

And when this special gathering has come to an end, sending a written thank you is a gesture that will really set you apart but is so often overlooked.

The coloring of eggs reminds us that the cold season is now over and it is time to enjoy the blossoming of flowers. The colorful Easter Egg represents the birth of Spring as shown in several different cultures. In the Persian culture, coloring and dying of the eggs is a way to celebrate the holiday known as Nowrooz. Nowrooz is the celebration of the New Year for the Persians which happens to fall on the Spring equinox and has been taking place for the past 2,500 years. There are preserved sculptures that contain pictures of these hand painted eggs that were given to the Persian king. The eggs were also used in the form of a game where the eggs would be hidden so that the one who found the most eggs would win a prize. Similarly, today, egg hunts are part of the Easter celebration especially for children. Plastic eggs containing candy and other toys are be hidden the night before all over the yard so that on Easter morning, the children can excitedly go around and find as many eggs as they can. Don’t forget to include the grand prize, our Golden Egg Hunt Trophy, which will quickly become a family tradition.

The Golden Egg Hunt Trophy

The lucky person to find the Golden Egg not only wins the prize inside (so make it a good one!)  but also gets to write his/her name and year on it and gets to gloat until next year!  Have Easter baskets or pails ready for the kids to collect their eggs and count their finding afterwards!

So with another Saint Patrick’s Day on the way, you can turn this annual event into more than a day (or in this year’s case, a weekend) of gatherings and green beer drink outs by making it an especially lucky occasion for your sweethearts, big and small!  There are parades all over the country and if you are lucky enough to be in the Big Apple, you can watch this year’s St. Patrick’s Day parade beginning at 44th Street and Fifth Avenue starting at 11 am EST. In addition, for little ones, there are lots of creative St. Patrick’s Day crafts that bring memorable meaning of St. Patty’s Day to kids while they are having fun!

Although it’s not traditionally a time to give, why not celebrate the luck of the Irish in a non-traditional way! The elephant with an upturned trunk is a symbol of wisdom and luck! Surprise your favorite Lucky Lady by presenting to her this gorgeous sterling silver lucky elephant pendant from Alex Woo and you’ll probably in for some luck of the Irish yourself!

Lucky Elephant for your Lucky Lady

string of luck for little lephrechauns

Today is Leap Day!

A leap year, also known as intercalary or bissextile year, is a year with one extra day added to our calendar or common year.  Because the earth does not orbit around the sun in precisely 365 days, over time, seasonal events drift off the timing of the 365 day calendar. By adding this extra day, we keep these events on track.

In folk traditions, women may propose marriage only on leap day.  While details of this tradition vary from culture to culture, it is said that Queen Margaret of Scotland , at age five, passed a law in 1288 that would fine a man who refused a woman’s proposal a payment ranging from a kiss to money to a silk gown. Watch out guys!

Technically, babies born on Leap Day are known as “leaplings” and will have a quarter less birthdays and anniversaries than their actual years!  Aren’t we jealous!  Leaplings celebrate on either February 28^th or March 1^st.

Some famous people born on February 29 include:

1468 – Pope Paul III (d. 1549)

1792 – Gioacchino Rossini, Italian composer (William Tell, The Barber of Seville) (d. 1868)

1896 – Morarji Desai, former Indian prime minister (d. 1995)

1916 – Dinah Shore, American singer (d. 1994)

1924 – Al Rosen, American baseball player

1924 – Carlos Humberto Romero, former president of El Salvador

1960 – Anthony (Tony) Robbins, American motivational speaker

1964 – Lyndon Byers, Canadian hockey player

1972 – Antonio Sabàto Jr, Italian-born actor

1976 – Ja Rule, American rapper and actor

1980 – Chris Conley, American musician and songwriter/composer

Here’s an interesting bit of Leap Day trivia:

A Norwegian family named Henriksen from Andenes holds the official record of number of children born on February 29. Mrs. Karin Henriksen gave birth to 3 children on consecutive February 29; her daughter Heidi in 1960 and her sons Olav and Leif-Martin in 1964 and 1968 respectively.

So do you know a new baby that was born or will be born today? Welcome this little bundle of joy with a gift that will commemorate this auspicious occasion.

At LBMGifts.com, one of our most popular baby gifts is the custom handmade baby pillows!

custom handmade baby pillows

Artfully designed and skillfully stitched, each pillow is a wonderfully unique keepsake!  Baby’s family name, given name, birth date and weight  are whimsically hand stitched beneath an adorable stick figure holding a bottle. Each piece is adorned with a vintage one of a kind button and signed by the artist.

Another great gift idea for a leap day baby is our custom decoupage baby frame.

custom handmade decoupage baby frame

Also handmade, this frame is personalized with baby’s name , birth date and weight.. The frame is covered in a cloud blue or delicate pink over white and detailed with baby foot prints in the lower left corner outlined in silver leaf. Just pop in your favorite 4×6 photo!

Congratulations to all our Leap Day babies!  Welcome to the world!

So for all of you who have wondered, pondered, or lamented the holiday associated with lovers and gifts and chocolate and dinners out, here’s a pretty thorough study of the origins of Valentine’s Day: \”Valentine\’s Day History\”

In this busy world we live in, it’s hard to find time and and the frame of mind to get to the heart of matters (every pun intended) during the Valentine’s Day season.

LBM Gifts makes it easy. Here are a couple of thoughts if you’re stuck wondering what you are going to get for your honey!

For your honey who happens to be on a chronic diet, why not consider the box of chocolates that are actually lip glosses? Fact: a woman can never have too much lip gloss, especially if she has a daughter!

a sweet treat without the calories

Another gift that you might want to consider for a special someone is this:

Because we all love cherubs--another timeless Valentine's Day symbol

Here’s what I love about these boxes–they’re great teacher gifts, kid gifts, mom gifts…and if you want to use it as part of a more special gift–it can hold jewelry or a special secret love note. The possibilities are endless.

For now, I leave you with those thoughts…and options…but I’ll be back with ideas for your man, and other Valentine’s Day ideas in the next few days!

Jewelry is a great gift, and gifts of gold are a classic. However, gold jewelry is not always affordable for everyone, so what choices are there that will fit into your budget this Holiday season?

Three popular and less pricey types of gold jewelry are gold-filled, gold plating, and gold vermeil. They are all used to make all kinds of beautiful pieces–but what’s the difference?

Ever had a piece of gold jewelry that over time began to look more silver? It’s probably gold plated Gold plated means that a base metal, such as steel or brass, has been coated with a thin layer of gold. The base metal is dipped into a bath of electroplating solution, along with a small piece of gold. When an electrical current is applied, poof! The gold coats the base metal. The gold color can wear off over time due to how thin the plating is.

Similarly, gold vermeil refers to sterling silver that has been coated in gold. To be considered vermeil, the gold must be at least ten karats. (Karats refers to the purity of the gold itself.)  The gold coating must also be at least 2.5 micrometers thick, making it much thicker and more durable than gold plated items. Today, vermeil is also made through a process of electrolysis (that is, using electric current to drive the chemical reactions), but it was developed in mid-eighteenth-century France, where it was made through a process known as fire-gilding. However, mercury was a significant part of the fire-gilding process, and France banned it because it was causing the craftspeople to go blind!

gold vermeil and pearl earrings

From classic traditional styles to flowing designs, gold vermeil can be combined with stones and beads of any kind. Elegant freshwater pearls entwined in gold vermeil circles come together to make these beautiful earrings that are a customer favorite!

There’s a long history of fine vermeil pieces of jewelry and even tableware. There’s a room in the White House called the Vermeil Room, named after the collection of vermeil tableware housed there. The tableware was given as a gift in 1956 from a woman named Margaret Thompson Biddle, and contains a wide variety of old French and English pieces, including work by English Regency silversmith Paul Storr and French Empire silversmiths Pierre-Philippe Thomire and Jean-Baptiste Claude Odiot.

Gold filled is also referred to as rolled gold, and it means that the gold coating is much, much thicker–up to 10,000 times thicker than gold plating! The gold is transferred to the base metal (brass, or more expensively, sterling silver) by heat and pressure, instead of electrolysis. The gold comprises 5% of the total weight. Gold filled can often closely resemble 14K gold.

Jane Basch Custom Monogram Necklace

Our custom monogram necklaces by Jane Basch are available in gold filled and sterling silver. Although it can’t be guaranteed for Christmas delivery. Your special someone will receive a gift wrapped box containing a picture of the necklace and “coming soon” enclosure. When your necklace arrives, it will be carefully inspected and sent free of charge to your recipient.

All gold reacts with chlorine, so no matter which type of gold jewelry you select, don’t wear it when you go for a dip in the pool! And to keep your gold jewelry looking shiny and new, use a toothbrush and warm soapy water–dishwashing detergent works just fine, or you can also get a jewelry cleaner formulated for gold. With a minimum amount of care for your gold-plated, gold-filled or gold vermeil jewelry well, you can enjoy it for years!