New Years Resolution – Bring Back Letter Writing

When did we lose the fine art of letter writing?  We seem to have evolved into an age of high-tech gear.  Younger generations are “plugged in” to everything these days.  If they’re not texting, they’re on a computer [although far be it from me to criticize, I wouldn’t be able to write this and get it out to all of you without the good ‘ol computer].  However it makes me wonder sometimes if younger generations even know how to compose a letter.

And what about ’emails’ taking the place of actual written correspondence?  Nowadays everyone seems to turn to the quicker, easier way to get through such ordinary tasks.  I do believe the one thing that misses with a quick email, is the feeling that you give  the person on the other end.

Take for instance, a hostess who just threw the largest party of the year for her closest friends and relatives.  She labored for months over what to serve, who to invite, who to have cater the affair etc.  The evening finally arrives and it’s over in what feels like an instant.  Now imagine the thrill she gets when a beautiful hand-written note arrives just days after her party, letting her know that her efforts did not go unnoticed.     Or perhaps the teacher, who has gone above and beyond for her class, receiving a note from a parent commending, rather than criticizing her for her skills.

The fine art of letter writing is one that is slowly slipping away, and yet doesn’t impose such a heavy burden on the one writing the letter.  Perhaps we should all try to ‘pay it forward’ or ‘pass it on’ this year by taking notice of the positive that surrounds us and commending others for their efforts.  You just may be surprised at the outcome.

So if you’re looking for a New Years resolution that might fill others will a fabulous feeling, commit to sending 1 letter a month to someone who has made a difference.  You will both be filled with joy, and continue to keep our US Postal Service in business.

From all of us at Diana Dee’s-

Have a Happy & Healthy New Year!

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Christmas Gifts & Thank You Notes

I know exactly what you’re thinking, the day after Christmas and you can finally relax as it all came together so perfectly.  Now it’s time to sit back, relax and enjoy a much-needed rest, right?  Wrong!  Time for those “thank you’s”!

It has always amazed me how the majority of people never send a thank you note.  So what is the rule of thumb, and is there one?  Is a thank you necessary when the person giving the gift is in your presence?  Is there a certain dollar amount that justifies a hand-written thank you?  Are thank you’s necessary when a family gift has been given, rather one to each person?

The answer to all of these is YES!  Imagine how much time and effort you put into choosing and buying each and every gift you gave.  Some with far more creative energy than others, but effort nonetheless.  Now picture each person who actually gave you a gift choosing and buying those as well.   Many hours to decide WHAT to give, then the time to go and actually find it.  Not to mention the wrapping and bow making etc.

A gift is an expression of one’s feelings and fondness for another.  Whether the gift was from your parents, your big brother or your great Aunt Jenny, they each deserve a nice hand-written thank you.  Imagine the surprise and the special feeling you will give them when they receive it, especially if you’ve never written them before.

So make this the year that you sit down and spend an hour of your busy post-Christmas time to send thank you’s to those who blessed you with their gifts this year.    Don’t forget to mention what they gave you and take the opportunity to say a thing or two about it.  No need to write a novel,  just a simple “note” will do.    When you know the fabulous feeling on the other end, you’ll be happy you did.

Stop by Diana Dee’s for a fine selection of Thank You notes ready for your personal touch.

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Baked Goods Make Delicious Gifts!

Baking pies, cookies and more can be an easy way to add a little Christmas cheer to someone elses holiday.  There’s nothing like being on the receiving end of a fabulous home-baked pie, or basket of cookies, muffins or scones.  Add a beautiful platter or basket and you’ve created a masterpiece that is certain to add to anyone’s holiday.

A great gift idea why not buy your favorite sweet-tooth a wonderful cookbook, then bake  something out of it.  Give the book, along with the scrumptious recipe you chose.  It’s a great twist on a holiday favorite.

One of our favorite books The Cake Doctor, has been keeping our customers happy for years.  And our favorite recipe The Pumpkin Pie Crumble Cake! 

Pumpkin Pie Crumble Cake -Oh so yummy!

• Solid vegetable shortening for greasing the pan

• Flour for dusting the pan

• 1 package (18.25 ounces) plain yellow cake mix

• 8 tablespoons (1 stick) butter or margarine, at room temperature

• 4 large eggs

• 2 cans (15 ounces each) pumpkin

• 1 can (5 ounces) evaporated milk

• 1 1/4 cups sugar

• 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

• 4 tablespoons (1/2 stick) butter or margarine, chilled

• 1 cup chopped pecans

• Sweetened whipped cream for topping

1. Place a rack in the center of the oven and pre-heat the oven to 350 degrees F. Lightly grease a 13- by 9-inch baking pan with solid vegetable shortening, then dust with flour. Shake out the excess flour. Set the pan aside.
2. Measure out 1 cup of the cake mix and reserve for the topping. Place the remaining cake mix, the butter, and 1 egg in a large mixing bowl. Blend with an electric mixer on low-speed until well combined, 1 minute. Using your fingertips, press the batter over the bottom of the prepared pan so that it reaches the sides of the pan. Set the pan aside.
3. For the filling, place the pumpkin, evaporated milk, 1 cup sugar, remaining 3 eggs, and cinnamon in the same large mixing bowl used to prepare the batter and with the same beaters (no need to clean either), blend on low-speed until combined, 30 seconds. Increase the mixer speed to medium and beat until the mixture lightens in color and texture, 1 to 2 minutes more. Pour the filling over the crust in the pan, spreading to the sides of the pan with a rubber spatula. Set the pan aside.
4. For the topping, place the remaining 1/4 cup sugar, the chilled butter, and the reserved cake mix in a clean medium-size mixing bowl. Rinse and dry the beaters. Beat with an electric mixer on low-speed until just combined and crumbly, 30 seconds to 1 minute. Stop the machine and stir in the pecans. Use your fingers to thoroughly knead the pecans into the topping mixture. Distribute the topping evenly over the filling mixture. Place the pan in the oven.
5. Bake the cake until the center no longer jiggles when you shake the pan and the pecans on top have browned, 70 to 75 minutes. Remove the pan from the oven and let cool slightly on a wire rack, 20 minutes.
6. Prepare two recipes of the Sweetened Cream from page 432. Slice the cake into squares and pass the Sweetened Cream to spoon on top.

Try it this holiday, or make two, one to keep and one to give.  Stop by today to get your copy of our favorite cookbook, they make great gifts- the gift that keeps on giving, so to speak!

Tips for creating the Perfect Holiday Cookies for Gift Giving:

• Don’t struggle with dough sticking to your rolling pin when making cut-out cookies.  Instead, roll out your dough between two sheets of waxed paper. This will eliminate the sticking problem and eliminate the need for too much flour, which can make your cookies dry and hard.
• Having trouble with the store bought cookie dough rolls crumbling as you try to slice them? Start with a log that has been frozen for several hours. Then use a very sharp knife to slice them and allow them to defrost on the cookie sheet before baking.
• Cookies too brown on bottom?  Always line your cookie sheet with parchment paper for more even browning.
• Allow cookies to cool on the cookie sheet for a few minutes before trying to lift them, or else you’ll end up with broken or smashed cookies.
• Don’t stress over last-minute baking, set aside one day prior to Christmas for all your baking.  Store cookies by type in air-tight containers and freeze.  Then take them out several hours before you need them for gifts and or parties and they’ll taste like you just popped them out of the oven.

Happy Holidays- and Happy Baking!

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Secret Santa Gifts- Guidelines to Follow

December brings with it many parties and Secret Santa exchanges at work and within organizations or groups of friends.  Some dread the annual Secret Santa ritual, while others embrace the challenge of finding the perfect gift for their recipient.  Here are a few guidelines that will help you navigate your way through without feeling overwhelmed while giving someone a special feeling when they unwrap their treasure.

• STICK TO THE $$$ LIMIT: While overspending might be tempting if you pull the name of a favorite fellow employee, or someone who you know deserves something out of the price range, don’t do it!  This is the first rule broken, and can leave others feeling left out.  Stick to the agreed upon amount for your exchange.
• DON’T GET TOO PERSONAL: Especially for a work exchange.  Avoid buying clothes items.  These are gifts that are a little too personal for gift exchanges.  Wrong sizes, styles and personal preferences may make for an awkward reaction.
• BE OBSERVANT:  If you don’t know the person that well, take a look around their workspace.  Do they display pictures of children and family, perhaps something showing their favorite sporting team, or a hobby?  Engage in conversation that might lend clues to their likes and dislikes.
• GIFT CARDS & CERTIFICATES ALWAYS PLEASE: These are always a good option.  Almost everyone loves to go out to eat on someone else, or perhaps to a favorite Coffee spot or Bakery.  If you know the person has a favorite little store in town a gift card to pick out his/her own selection will always be enjoyed.
• SHOP LOCAL:  Support your local business community when possible. If the person loves coffee, find a great local Bakery/Coffee shop to create a fabulous gift.  Perhaps a delicious pastry wrapped up with a Gift Card for their own enjoyment at a later time.  Or a little ornament from their favorite Gift Shop with a Gift Card tied to it so they can make their own selection.

Whatever your Secret Santa needs are, at Diana Dee’s we have many options for your Gift-Giving needs.  Whether it’s ornaments or kitchen towels, Santas or snowmen, or the beautiful papers, bows and ribbons to wrap it all up with, we are stocked for all of your Holiday needs.  Call us today so we can help you find that perfect Secret Santa Gift.

Happy Shopping!

Diana Dee’s

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Family Holiday Newsletters- Appropriate or Not?

Holiday time….time to reach out to those you haven’t had the chance to keep in touch with all year-long.  The annual Christmas cards, e-mails, and for many, the dreaded holiday newsletter. 

Holiday newsletters are fine, but stick to the highlights.  Friends will be happy to hear that you survived an illness, but they won’t want to read the daily demands of all your volunteering.  As proud as you are of your children, remember that this is a time to send “good wishes” to others, not to boast about your children’s accomplishments throughout the year.  Avoid becoming “Betsy Bragger”, and simply let others know that the children are doing great in school and keep it to that.  No need to list off every grade they’ve gotten since September or every award they’ve been given.

An Emily Post Institute survey showed that people have mixed feelings about receiving newsletters: 53% like them and 47% do not.  With that in mind, only enclose newsletters in cards to those you think are interested in hearing your family news.

A few tips for your Holiday Newsletter:

• Avoid rambling, and keep your letter to one page or less.
• A hand-written personalized salutation {Dear John & Mary} is always more personal than receiving a computer generated generic “Dear Friends”.
• Include the newsletter IN a card, not in place of one.
• Keep your letter positive if you’re going through a divorce, or have recently been laid off work, don’t drag your situation into your holiday letter.  Keep it light and joyful.

Newsletter, or not, get your holiday wishes out in plenty of time to let your loved ones know you were thinking of them.

                 

Ornament Exchange – Fun & Festive Holiday Evening

Nothing says Holidays like gorgeous decorations, warm cookies and beautiful ornaments hanging from a tree.

 

A great idea for a holiday get together is to host an ‘Ornament Exchange’.    It’s the perfect setting for a fun, festive holiday gathering.  Invite your guests to bring a wrapped ornament.  Use the wrapped boxes to create a center-piece for your celebration or gather them under a tree.

Serve a fun and festive holiday inspired cocktail, or keep it alcohol free with Eggnog and Cider.  A wine and cheese theme can set the mood as well.  At the end of the evening number the packages [the numbers of ornaments should equal the number of guests].

Have each guest pull from a number from a Santa hat. The number they pull is the order they will unwrap an ornament. Guest who pulled #1 goes first.  They choose and unwrap an ornament and show the group. No one should tell which ornament they brought. Guest who pulled #2 has the option to unwrap an ornament or steal the ornament from Guest #1.  Any ornaments may be stolen, but only once per round and a new round starts every time a new Guest chooses an ornament.  Continue until everyone has an ornament. Encourage stealing others ornaments.   This adds a fun element to the exchange! The exchange may take an hour for approximately 15 guests.

Your guests will all leave with a delightful memory of an evening shared with friends.  A perfect celebration for a holiday gathering.

Diana Dee’s has a full selection of ornaments from Christopher Radko, Joy to the World and Christina’s World.  Stop by and see the gorgeous ornaments that adorn our tree.  They make great hostess gifts, and will be the perfect addition for your ornament exchange party.

Have a Happy Holiday Season…..

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