As I’m certain you can tell by the picture(s) on my site(s), I’m a full figured gal. Have been for most of my adult life.
When I got married many, many moons ago, I looked for a really nice wedding dress. I went to many of the local name-brand stores, but the dresses I liked weren’t in my size, and the dresses that were in my size were, in my opinion, hideous. I was already self-conscious about the whole thing, as when I met my husband, I was thinner, but over the course of our engagement, I gained some of the weight back. After having gone to a “professional” wedding store and not finding a nice dress that fit well made me feel that much more depressed. I dreaded the ceremony so much that I even considered eloping to avoid having to purchase anything formal.
Then, I went to the local malls. I went to Lane Bryant, the only “full figured” store around at the time. The internet wasn’t an option back then, as this was in the mid 90s; not everyone was online yet. I went to chain stores, like Macy’s, JC Penny’s, etc., but I was still unable to find a wedding dress in my size that made me look (and feel) special. I considered having a dress made, but we were having a small wedding, and to me, it just didn’t make sense to spend the money to have something made that I was only going to wear once when I could spend the money on the honeymoon or for something for the house.
By this point, I was getting upset. I mean, this was supposed to be MY day! I was supposed to look like an elegant vision in white; not Moby Dick! I ended up buying an off-white Easter style cocktail dress. Don’t get me wrong; it was a beautiful dress that I looked nice in, but in my opinion, I wasn’t the vision of elegance I was meant to be.
Please don’t get the wrong idea; I wouldn’t have changed a thing about my wedding; I married a wonderful man, and that’s all that really matters, but looking back, I very much would have loved to have worn a more “girly” dress.
Which brings me to the point of this article. I have a client getting married. I’m handling her wedding favors and wedding party gifts. But, like me, she’s a full figured gal. Again, like me, she has shopped locally and not found anything she has liked or anything within her budget. Knowing that I’m internet saavy, she asked me to help her find a site with plus-sized wedding dresses.
In my research to find a website for plus sized brides, I came across CurvyBrides.com. Oh-my-goodness! Where WAS this site when I was getting married? Beautiful, curvy, feminine-looking dresses, designer wedding dresses, classic elegant dresses, unique wedding dresses, theme wedding dresses, dresses with lace, satin, or silk; they have it ALL!
This site also features everything (and I mean EVERYTHING) the full-figured bride needs on her special day; dresses of all styles and lengths, veils, shawls, trains, accessories of all sorts. Already married? Then place your dress up for sale on their site. They even have plus-sized lingerie for the honeymoon. (wink-wink)
I really wish that this website had been around when I got married, but now that I know it exists, it is my MISSION to spread the word in the hopes that other full-figured goddesses (like myself) can purchase the perfect dress, so it’s all about the bride!
Be honest. How many times on any given day do you say thank you? To friends, family, co-workers, clients, even strangers, and the list probably goes on and on. We say it so often and hear it so often that unfortunately the words tend to lose any real meaning. They become just words without the impact they should have.
In an era when “actions speak louder than words”, when someone does something extra to make their “thank you” stand out, it gets noticed (and remembered). Regardless of what you’re trying to say, a personalized coffee gift is a great way to say it, and the message it conveys to the recipient speaks volumes.
This coffee falls into your stomach, and straightway there is a general commotion. Ideas begin to move like the battalions of the Grand Army of the battlefield, and the battle takes place. Things remembered arrive at full gallop, ensuing to the wind. The light cavalry of comparisons deliver a magnificent deploying charge, the artillery of logic hurry up with their train and ammunition, the shafts of with start up like sharpshooters. Similes arise, the paper is covered with ink; for the struggle commences and is concluded with torrents of black water, just as a battle with powder.
~Honore de Balzac
Coffee has been maligned in the press as being “bad for you”, but the scientific community has finally gotten around to proving that there are healthy benefits to coffee and caffeine!
Sorry, folks, you can’t hook up an I.V. to your Mr. Coffee; everything in moderation. However, it has been proven:
- Coffee has more antioxidants that green tea
- Decaffeinated coffee has just as many antioxidants as its caffeinated counterpart
- Coffee has a positive impact on physical and mental performance
Read the rest of this article, and you will never again feel guilty about having that next cup of coffee…
February 15th is just around the corner, and if you have the foresight, we have a wonderful creative romantic gift idea guaranteed to get you where you want to go this Valentine’s Day (or night).
Ladies: He wants to watch the Daytona 500, you want to go out to dinner. He grudgingly gives in. Over dinner, while he’s trying to get the highlights of the race from the busboy at the next table, you give him a gift with a wink and a nod. He apprehensively opens the gift. It’s a personalized romantic novel, Racing Hearts, (Nascar-themed love story) with him as the hero and you as his prize.
Gentlemen: You’ve been in this relationship for some time. Perhaps things are ho-hum; perhaps not. But either way, imagine the reaction you will get from her when you give her Pirates of Desire, a high-seas action romantic novel, with you as the swashbuckling pirate and her as the pirate’s prisoner of passion.
Whether you are looking for a high-seas adventure, a medieval epic, a romantic comedy, a classic western, a medical drama, stock car action story, a vampiric romance, or a reality TV-based loved story, these personalized romantic novels have everything to get the party started.
These are full length, professionally written, published, and bound novels that are certain to become part of your “arsenal” of romantic “weapons” for years to come.
The best thing is, these aren’t just for Valentine’s Day or Weddings and Anniversaries; they can be for a romantic birthday, Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, just because, or even a “Honey, I’m sorry” gift.
Either way, folks: Why read between the lines when you can read between the sheets?
Well, here we are, 2008! Last year was good to us; we grew our business, and we developed some new relationships, some personal, some business.
But the purpose of this blog is not to be a “feel good” blog. The purpose of this blog is to educate. Education sometimes hurts, so here’s a kick in the head for you:
You may have given Holiday gifts to prospects and new clients, you may not have. But here’s the thing; that client probably received anywhere from15-50 gifts from other business associates, vendors, and others, some of them in your field of work. What you sent them was just one of many. Do you think they’ll remember that gift? Perhaps. Or, perhaps not.
“But Dawn, we gave a gift; YOU did it for us (or perhaps some other talented basket company did; it doesn’t matter). What do we do now?” Well, I’m going to tell you what you do to make yourself stand out: You give your client a 2008 New Year Kick-Off Gift. AND IT DOESN’T HAVE TO BE PRICEY, EITHER! It can be personalized coffee. It can be a candy bouquet. I know that yesterday, all I did was sit around the house and watch movies all day (you couldn’t get me to leave my house on New Year’s Eve for all the olives in Tuscany!), so how about a nice Movie Night Survival Kit?
The best thing is, it doesn’t have to be expensive! If you want, go ahead and get that logo’d mug and pen; give it to us, we’ll put some coffee and munchies in there, top it off with imprinted ribbon, and talk about an impression that puts your name in front of your prospects.
The point is, there are many reasons to want to make an impression, and many different ways to accomplish it. Of course, we want your business, but if you have a company you’re working with, talk to them about a New Year’s Kick-Off Gift; your client will Thank You for it!
Best Wishes for a Healthy (and Prosperous) New Year, From Ms. Dawn, Diedre, & the rest of the Staff!
In the past we did not like “tooting our own horns”, but some of our clients have actually requested that we tell people they are clients, as they are very pleased with our designs and service, and to that end, Dawn’s Designer Baskets is proud to announce our newest corporate contracted client, US Building Inspectors, Inc.!
I first met Patti Neri back in November at a Holiday Fundraising Business Networking Expo at Abacoa Golf Club (by the way; we’re a preferred vendor there…). I struck up a conversation with her (not too easy, considering I was wearing antlers on my head) about the coffee service our company provides. I followed up with her the following week, took in a few samples, found out what she was looking for in a gifting service, and we are proud to announce that Dawn’s Designer Baskets now handles the gifting program for US Building Inspectors for five counties! Click here to read what we did for them for the Holidays…
Now, let me tell you a bit about US Building Inspectors: They are a Florida-based corporation and a member in excellent standing of the National Association of Certified Home Inspectors, providing Home and Building Inspection Services for individuals and companies alike. They have 20 years of Trade Experience, which allows them to co-develop their own technology tools to keep them focused, sharp, and accurate. Every day, their experienced technicians perform accurate inspections using the latest available technologies. Same day reports for home inspections, commercial building inspections, mold inspections, leak detections, Florida Windstorm Mitigation Insurance Inspections (to help homeowners lower their property insurance rates). The lay it out plain; no techno-babble that you won’t understand.
We look forward to a long and prosperous relationship with US Building Inspectors…”Welcome Aboard!”
To read more about US Building Inspectors, visit my “Links” page.
Remember to always “think outside the basket” in all things you do….
Ms. Dawn & The Staff at Dawn’s Designer Baskets & Gifts wants to wish all of our friends and clients Best Wishes for a Happy, Healthy, and most importantly, Prosperous New Year.
This past year has indeed been rough, especially for many in the floral and gifting industries. Competition is a good thing, though; it makes us strive to be the best, whether it’s one basket or 100 baskets.
We learned some tough lessons this past year, and as a result will be changing some of our policies and procedures. We will keep you posted when those changes take effect.
This past year was rough for many, but things ARE getting better. We know that 2008 will bring with it many, many opportunities for growth, and we will be here to help you build the relationships that build your business(es).
We create more than just a pretty basket; we create memories. We create emotions.
The Wedding. It’s SUPPOSED to be the most beautiful and joyous day in a woman’s life. But planning a wedding has to be the most STRESSFUL time in that bride’s life! You have decor surrounding the rehearsal dinner (unless you’re “splurging” at the local BBQ joint), gifts for the wedding party (usually given at the rehearsal dinner), and don’t even get me started on the reception! You have the Wedding table, Groom’s table, Bridemaid’s table, the buffet table if there is one, and the gift table.
You have to worry that the centerpieces are not so short that they look “cheap”, yet you don’t want centerpieces that tower over your guests’ heads so that they cannot speak to each other. Do you do the centerpieces yourself, or do you bite the bullet and pay a professional to design them?
Read the rest of this article…
Gift baskets. Not everyone likes them, and that’s okay! Usually, when someone thinks of a gift basket, they think of a gourmet food basket. Well, there are food gifts available that are, quite frankly, not available in a gift basket. There are times that you just can’t put something in a basket or container (fresh baked goods, refrigerated products, etc.); it is necessary to either hand deliver it yourself, or have it delivered in a special shipping container directly to your recipient.
Now, imagine this: You have an out-of-town client or relative who you wish to send a greeting. It can be something inexpensive, or something grand; it doesn’t matter. Sure, go ahead; get a gift card. Yes, they can be used for whatever the recipient desires (to a point), but did you know that 68% of the time, those gift cards go UNredeemed (In my case, they go in my wallet, and by the time I remember they’re there, the company issuing the card has taken so much out in “non-useage fees” that it’s not even worth it)? That’s a waste of your money, and the time it took you to go to the store and actually purchase the card.
Hmmm….well, what do you do for that client or relative? You click this link to read the rest of this article…
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