Novel Gift Baskets

Easter is "hopping" up on us....

2009-04-01T09:50:00.000-07:00

Only a few weeks until Easter arrives and Novel Gift Baskets has once again stocked our shelves full of the most adorable Easter Baskets for children and families alike! New designs and new goodies make this Easter something to be truly excited about.
Don't forget, Easter is not just for your kids. Grandparents can send their Grandkids Easter baskets, Aunts and Uncles can say "Happy Easter" from a completely different state and you can even have a kids Easter get together with small baskets of bunny love for everyone in attendance!
Check out or new Easter cookies gift basket! Freshly baked and hand iced, this Easter basket is a great example of a gift that can wish the whole family Happy Easter!
Have a wonderful holiday and don't forget that Novel Gift Baskets has gifts and flowers for all occasions. Enjoy!

Kelly Sisler

Fathers Day

2008-06-10T05:50:00.001-07:00

Come One, come all! The day for Dad's is practically here, June 15th, and if you haven't already purchased the perfect gift basket for Dad then you better get a move on! Today (the 10th) is the last day for a guaranteed on time delivery using UPS Ground, after today you will have to upgrade to expedited shipping if you want it to get there by Friday the 13th!! Hurry and shop Novel Gift Baskets now!
We have a great selection of unique gift baskets for Dad's this year ranging from Dartboards and Gourmet Meats, to Cigars, Trucks, Sports and Books. We have something suitable for all the wonderful father's in your life! Don't forget about Grandpa's, Uncle's, Brothers, Cousins, Special Neighbors, Sons, etc. They all count!!
Enjoy your Father's Day 2008 and we hope to see you soon!

Sincerely,
Kelly

Wedding Gift Baskets

2008-05-19T20:27:00.000-07:00

I don’t know about you but I’m always wondering if the couple getting married have already been gifted the item I’m getting them ---- and how many times? It’s about time wedding gift guidelines got less rigid and presented greater options and room for imagination from the ordinary! Before you get too crazy, though, it should be mentioned that there are several good reasons for many traditional wedding gifts. One, they are often necessary to get the newly weds first home set up. Two, we’re all suckers for nostalgia. What would a wedding be without a toaster oven and a blender?

All joking aside, there are reasons for buying traditional gifts, however, if you know the couple already has everything, i.e. the necessities or if you know that they would appreciate a unique gift to keep things balanced there is no rule these days that prohibits you from toasting the couple in your own way.

Some unique, and appropriate wedding gift suggestions are:

One gift that is fun and always well received is a cooking gift basket. Something that contains all ingredients needed for the newlyweds to use that new grill. Something that they will be able to do together, while creating lifelong memories.
I would suggest the Master Of The Grill, The BBQ Lover Gift Basket, or the Spice It Up Gift Basket.

Perhaps the couple you are buying for love Wine? Why not send them a wine gift basket with a few different unique labels? Our wines are from all of Napa Valley and more and they are delicious. This is a lovely gesture and again, something they can enjoy together! You might want to consider the California Signature Wine Basket, the Champagne and Chocolate Gift Set or the Regal Wine Basket.

Be creative and have a gourmet food gift basket sent to the hotel they're staying in on their honeymoon. After a long day traveling it would be a special surprise to have some delicious treats waiting in their hotel room! Some of our more popular Gourmet Gift Baskets are The Grand Indulgence Gift Basket, The Metropolitan and The Ritz Gourmet.

How about Wedding Gift Baskets? These gift baskets are always beautifully decorated and come with a variety of stuffers including candles, champagne, chocolates and just about anything else you can imagine going into a wedding basket! Take a minute to look at the Wedding Delight gift basket.

Enjoy Wedding season 2008 and let me know if I can help you choose a special gift basket for your most important occasions!

Sincerely,
Kelly
Co-Owner
www.novelgiftbaskets.com

P.S. Every gift you buy from us increases the rewards you get in our "Frequent Basket Buyers Club" or FBBC for short. We feel honored to have your business and we think it's about time you get rewarded for it! Refer a friend and we have something special for you!

Mothers Day

2008-05-02T07:55:00.000-07:00

Well, Mother's Day is nearly here! The day to celebrate all of those wonderful Mothers in your life is next Sunday, May 11th - order today if you want it to arrive by Friday, in time for the weekend celebration.

Mother's Day is Sunday May 11, 2008

Order by Tuesday, May 6, 2008 for guaranteed 3 Day delivery

Order by Wednesday, May 7, 2008 for guaranteed 2 Day delivery

Order by Thursday, May 8, 2008 for guaranteed overnight delivery

The beauty of our Mother’s Day Gifts is that they can be sent anywhere in the United States with just a few clicks of your mouse. If you have questions, a quick call to us at 888-518-4407 will make you into the gift giving expert this Mothers Day!

If you are like me, there are Mother's gifts to give in addition to your biological mother. Regardless of the type of mother, it is important to recognize them for the work they've done, and the hours they've spent helping with homework, applying band-aids, buying school clothes, giving advice, and carpooling all over creation. Step Mothers, Mother-In-Law, Aunts, Cousins, Grandmas- even girlfriends! They've all been there, and they've all done it. New Mom's are especially fun to recognize on Mothers Day, since it's their first!

Send her one of our Mothers Day Gifts that matches her hobbies, interests, and food preferences and you’ll get a ‘Thank You’ that you’ve never heard before.

Our Mother's Day Gift Baskets are all new this year, and I will say I have never been more pleased! We literally have something for every type of woman. From chocolate gift towers to gardening gift baskets, and book gift baskets to spa gifts- there is a basket for any Mom.

Customer Service is especially important to us here at Novel, and Mother's Day is no exception. If for some reason your gift arrives unacceptable, incorrect or later then you anticipated then please don't hesitate to contact us- we will do everything we can to make it right.

See you soon!
Kelly
Co-Owner
www.novelgiftbaskets.com

P.S. Every gift you buy from us increases the rewards you get in our "Frequent Basket Buyers Club" or FBBC for short. We feel honored to have your business and we think it's about time you get rewarded for it! Refer a friend and we have something special for you!

Kids Gift Baskets

2008-04-22T14:39:00.000-07:00

What a wonderful category this has become! We started with a few new designs and the ball has not stopped rolling! I am so excited and I hope that everyone who knows a child finds this website! These baskets work great for a Kids Get Well gift, Kids Birthday gift, Children's Thinking Of You or Kids Congratulations gifts!
Children's Gift Baskets have always been difficult to find- good ones, that it. I am not a big believer in stuffing a cute box full of "junk" just because it's going to a kid. They are very perceptive and speak what is on their minds, if they don't like their gift they will probably let you know! I never wanted any of our gift baskets to be the gift that your child receives and says, "What am I supposed to do with all of this stuff?" We focused more on the betterment of the child himself by using brain exercisers like coloring books, activity books, puzzles, games, etc. Oh, and we also had to throw in the classics- silly putty, Pez, slinky and so on.

Our most unique gift baskets for kids come in the form of a "Kids Lemonade Stand" and a bucket of "I can make Mud Puddle Pie!" Our Kids Lemonade Stand is a great gift for the summertime and it forces your little ones to get out of the house, and into the sun. While they learn about business, and how to work together they also enjoy their time and the weather!

My favorite is the "I Can Make Mud Puddle Pie" mix. This adorable red bucket comes complete with chocolate baking mix, gummy worms and shovel for stirring. It is compact, unique, inexpensive and fun for the whole family!
Step outside the box the next time you go to order a children's gift. There are so many new, fun things out there that don't have to do with a TV or a video game!

See you soon!
Kelly
Co-Owner
www.novelgiftbaskets.com

Corporate Summer Gift Baskets

2008-04-11T15:41:00.000-07:00

Summer planning is upon us and with Summer comes big corporate gift giving. Usually in the form of a formal recognition ceremony, an office party, or an awards banquet. Company gift giving is and always has been a very popular arena in which a gift basket is best suited. From gourmet coffee and tea, to the highest quality chocolates, to fine wines and international cuisine- there is no where else you can get everything in one big beautifully arranged basket.

Attempting to buy each of these items separately would be much more expensive, completely time consuming and an overall waste of gas as you drive from store to store looking for Godiva chocolates and Dom Perignon champagne- and with the price of gas at another record high I don't think anyone wants to waste it!

Take some time and browse our Corporate Gift Baskets, you'll find exactly what you are looking for and more. If you have something specific in mind, and you don't see it on our website, give me a call or send me an email, I am more then happy to do some more research to help you find exactly what you're looking for!

See you soon!

Kelly Sisler

Co-Owner

www.novelgiftbaskets.com

The Perfect Specialty Gift Basket

2008-04-01T05:32:00.000-07:00

Hello to all of our readers! Almost 1 month later I am finally getting around to updating this blog- Easter was a rush! I hope everyone had a wonderful Holiday and if you sent or received a Novel Easter Basket, I sincerely hope you enjoyed it and thank you for choosing us. Remeber each purchase counts towards great discounts and gifts in our Frequent Basket Buyers Club.

Don't forget I am always open to hearing your feedback on the basket, the process, the customer service, etc.

Now, onto the next round of special days this year! Coming up are Nurses Day (May 6), National Teachers Day (also May 6) and most notably, Mothers Day (May 11). Often times we aren't looking for a huge expensive gift for these Holidays, but rather, something unique and meaningful. Specialty gift baskets are a great gift because they are a category of unique gifts, diversified enough to fit anyone's tastes!

For example: Perhaps your childs 3rd grade teacher is an avid reader, and you happen to know that she loves James Patterson novels. Perfect! Our "Curl Up With A Good Book" gift basket includes snack mix, popcorn, chocolate chip cookies and the latest paperback novel by the author of your choice! Not only that, but it's only $29.99! It's a perfect gift for the teacher in your life.

Another example might be a nurse who has taken wonderful care of a family member or friend while they were in the hospital, or nursing home. Don't forget about the school nurses that work so hard every day in schools across America to ensure your kids stay healthy and safe! Nurses come in all types and honoring them is important, especially on "their" day. A Thank You Gift Basket always brings a smile to their faces. Another idea is something fun and whimsical for a Nurse like our "Get Well medicine Cabinet." Obviously, they aren't sick but how fun for them to receive a medicine cabinet filled with the things they are surrounded by everyday, only in candy form!

Mothers Day will always be a great Holiday for sending a gift basket. Our Mothers Day gifts will expand greatly this year so I will make sure to update you on those the closer we get to May 11. Start thinking now though, what is it that your Mother enjoys? What would she be delighted to receive in the mail? A Spa Gift Basket? A Chocolate Gift Basket? Maybe she is a fan of Book Gift Baskets too!

Whatever it is, Novel would love to help you send it!

Enjoy the beginning of April and hopefully we'll see you soon,

Kelly Sisler

Co-Owner

www.novelgiftbaskets.com

Big Easter Baskets

2008-03-04T09:31:00.000-08:00

Big Easter Baskets are all the rage this Easter season. Along with the rest of the retail and food worlds the gift basket world is increasing their “portion sizes.” More and more often we are finding that people sending Easter Baskets are more likely to be sending them to a family, or to multiple siblings. It is too much of a hassle to pick out 2 or 3 (or more in some cases) Easter gifts only to have to pay for shipping on each basket. Then later you find out that Johnny liked Tommy’s basket better and there was a huge fight over them on Easter morning….I really don’t think that’s the memory you’re going for! By sending one large Easter basket you eliminate “bickering” amongst siblings and everyone in the family (including Mom and Dad) can enjoy some part of your gift- all while paying only one low shipping cost!
In order to better fulfill the needs and requests of our customers, we are offering a few big Easter baskets this year, and by big I mean these will easily please 2-6 people!

	Our largest Easter basket amongst the family size baskets is the "Plus Size Easter Assortment." A big smiling elephant, large plush monkey, lion and tiger with bunny ears are the novel centerpiece of this fun new basket. It's also filled with every single Easter candy you can imagine!
	Our second largest (but most popular) family size Easter gift basket is the "Easter Cuddles Family Pack." Two charming Easter bunnies, soft fluffy lambs and a classic Easter assortment are a welcome addition to any Easter celebration. We also threw in lots of sweets and gourmet chocolates!
	Last but not least, you might think about sending an Easter Tower. They range anywhere from from 3-7 boxes and each box is filled with a different treat! Our favorite gift tower so far is the "Easter Springtime Tower." Five boxes painted with various Easter scenes of bunnies, flowers and eggs are filled with jelly beans, bunny corn, raspberry shortbread cookies, and more!

Enjoy your Easter season and don't forget about our Frequent Basket Buyers Club! We like to give you rewards for your return business and always look forward to helping you create lasting memories!

Sincerely,

Kelly Sisler

Co-Owner

www.novelgiftbaskets.com

St. Patrick's Day Gift Baskets

2008-02-24T17:06:00.000-08:00

It may not seem like the most likely day to send a gift basket but, St. Patrick's Day is indeed, a GREAT day for giving a fun, thoughtful and (of course) deliciously unique gift basket!
Before I highlight our most popular clover, leprechaun and green shamrock gifts- perhaps we should divulge a bit (just a little bit, I don't have tons of space) of history on Saint Patrick himself.
St. Patrick is believed to have driven the snakes from Ireland. In 1737, Irish immigrants to the United States began observing the holiday publicly in Boston and held the first St. Patrick's Day Parade in New York City in 1766.

Today, the tradition continues with people from all walks and heritages by wearing green, eating Irish food, and attending parades (and giving irish gift baskets of course!). St. Patrick's Day is bursting with folklore; from the shamrock to the leprechaun and to pinching those that are not wearing green, one of my favorite parts of the day!
You will not find Irish Gift Baskets on many other gift basket websites. It is usually overshadowed by Easter which is understandable but not how I like to do things. Here, I will always honor my own Irish heritage by selling a bit o' blarney on my website!
Our newest addition to the Irish gift collection this year is a "Good Luck Blarney Bear" gift set. It is a male or a female bear (you choose), dressed in Irish clothes accompanied by an old fashioned jar of homemade hot cocoa mix. It is inexpensive, unique and you will only find it at Novel!
Take a minute, think of someone who might need a little Irish sunshine in thier day, and send them one of our Irish Gift Baskets. Make sure to attach an infamous Irish blessing, if you do. I've included a few of my favorites for you to use below.
And now, I will leave you with an Irish toast;
"May the best day of your past be the worst day of your future."
Slainte,
Kelly Sisler
Co-Owner
www.novelgiftbaskets.com

"Here's to your coffin...
May it be built of 100 year old oaks which I will plant tomorrow."

"Health, and long life to you
Land without rent to you
The partner of your heart to you
and when you die, may your bones rest in Ireland!"

"As you slide down the banisters of life may the splinters never point the wrong way."

"May you be in heaven one half hour before the devil knows you're dead."

Gift Basket Ideas For Readers, Librarians, Teachers

2008-02-21T10:24:00.000-08:00

When Novel Gift Baskets first opened online in 1998, our only content was book gift baskets. At that time, gift baskets were not all the rage that they are now and creativity regarding contents was just starting to grow. We found that book gift baskets were a very popular gift amongst teachers, librarians and especially- readers! A book is a very personalized item, especially when you get to choose which type of book is included. Maybe your recipient loves Romance novels, or perhaps they can't wait for the next James Patterson thriller. Most of our book gift baskets give you the option to choose which title you think suits your recipient best. Adding special touches like, hot cocoa, popcorn, biscotti,chocolates, and other yummy treats complete the ambiance a specialty gift basket like this portrays. I am a big fan of personalized gifts as opposed to "this is all they had, enjoy." I went ahead and listed our top 3 "choose your own book" baskets here:
1.) Curl Up With A Good Book
For only $29.99 you can choose a paperback novel from such authors as Danielle Steele, James Patterson, John Grisham,and Nora Roberts to name a few. There's yummies in this one too- cookies, popcorn-- it's a great gift for get well, thinking of you, or happy birthday.
2.) Readers Deluxe Gift Set
This one comes in a beautiful wood chest full of perfect "snacking while reading" foods. This book gift basket allows you to choose one of the hardback selections we offer, all of which are current bestsellers or new releases.
3.)Rosy Readers Gift Set
This one is very popular amongst Women. Gifts for her are difficult sometimes and this one is universal in that it "covers all of your bases." You've got the hardback book selection you choose, the chocolate biscotti, a selection of jelly, coffee, tea and more. This is a great Mothers Day gift basket, Birthday gift, or get well gift. This would also be a great Teachers Day gift!
Speaking of Teachers Day-- don't forget it's May 9th! Any one of our gift baskets would make an exquisite Teachers gift.
The last book basket I'll mention is our best seller. Sometimes you may be in a position where you don't know what type of book your recipient will best enjoy, which is why we also offer a gift card option! Our Book Lovers Gift Chest comes in bookends that can be opened or closed and used on a book shelf, delicious goodies and coffee, and a $15.00 Barnes and Noble gift card. We also offer the ability to upgrade the gift card to $25.00 if you'd like!

The next time your looking for something unique, personalized and special- think about sending a book gift basket!

Click here to see our entire selection of book gift baskets.

Enjoy shopping and we'll see you soon,

Kelly Sisler
Co-Owner
www.novelgiftbaskets.com

Birthday Gift For The Man Who Has Everything

2008-02-12T11:40:00.000-08:00

Long gone are the days of "Soap On A Rope", and as much as guys love getting neckties- it's not exactly #1 on their all time favorite gifts list!
When Birthday time rolls around, why not do something totally unique and different? DVD's are fun, and gift cards are universal...everyone loves to spend money- but do they really prove how well you know your man? I challenge you to look beyond what's "easy" and take a few extra minutes to make his Birthday, a fun day to remember.
- Is your Husband/Father/Brother/Boyfriend a grill master? Is the grill the first place you know to look when they are M.I.A? Why not add to their collection of marinades, spices and grill tools? If you know that's what they love then why not give something that you'll be able to enjoy as well?! Our Grill Gift Baskets are stuffed with all of the above- This is the BBQ Lover gift basket, one of our favorites!

-Perhaps you are married to a sports fanatic. Golf, Football, Nascar- any sport in general? We have a group of sports gift baskets containing nothing but sports related items. Please realize that sending one of these sports gift baskets not only earns you major brownie points, but it requires hardly any effort on your part!

-Maybe the man you're shopping for is an all around "guys guy". He loves handyman projects, hanging out with the guys and once and a while enjoys a good cigar. Sound familiar? Our "Men At Work" gift basket actually comes with a Lowes gift card! Not only are you giving him what he enjoys, but now that kitchen sink might get fixed a little sooner!

Those are just a few fun Birthday gifts for the man who has everything. Check out all of our Mens Gift Baskets and please leave me some feedback on which ones you like the most, or which ones you order.Gifts for him can be hard to find, hopefully we helped give you some new ideas. Enjoy!

Sincerely,
Kelly Sisler
Co-Owner
www.novelgiftbaskets.com

Be My Valentine Gift Ideas

2008-01-31T09:28:00.000-08:00

As January quickly turns into a memory, February becomes the next thing we focus on. When most people think of February, they think of Valentines Day. For some it's a happy day- full of romantic gestures. Breakfast in bed, fancy dinners on the town, etc. For others it's the worst day of the year, sitting at the office watching those around you get bouquets of roses and boxes of chocolates gets old. For the newly single, Valentines Day can make anyone a "grinch". So, we put together a list of the Top 10 Be My Valentine Gift Ideas. Whether you are single (another single friend would probably like to share the day with someone!) or in a relationship (you don't have the option of not doing something!) these items will help you think of new, fun things to try- from gifts to gatherings, make this Valentines Day something "exceptionally unique!"

1.) Pack up a picnic and surprise your loved one with a dinner under the sky. Now, obviously if you live in Colorado (or any other state currently experiencing freezing temperatures) this one will be tough but you could always alter it a little and eat your dinner in the car under the stars. Bring some blankets, for staying cozy, and your favorite Frank Sinatra CD for the perfect mood music!

2.) Since Valentines Day lands on a Thursday this year, it may not be realistic to have an entire day to carry out a romantic adventure (unless you decide to celebrate it on Saturday which might not be a bad idea!)- however, if you live in an area where there are walking trails or nature paths that you haven't previously explored make the decision to come home from work, slip into your walking shoes and spend some quality time exploring your area. Sometimes the best of nature is right in our neighborhood!

3.) If you are the hopeless romantic who still loves to send flowers, especially if your Significant Other works all day, add a little twist this year! Ask the florist to send a specific amount of roses every hour throughout his/her 8 hour work day. If the florist can't do that, stop by and pick up the flowers and ask one if your spouse’s co-workers to help you out by "delivering" her flowers every hour. Been together 5 years? Send 5 roses every hour for 8 hours....unique, fresh and obviously well planned out!

4.) Some people think chocolate is overdone, especially at Valentines Day. I, however, completely disagree with those people. Chocolate is like the language of love in candy form. Every woman loves chocolate and if they don't, they have a girlfriend who does who will gladly take it off their hands. I kid. But really, there are some very chic, very nouveau ways to send chocolate these days. One of my favorites that I've seen so far is the Gourmet Chocolate dipped wine bottle. It is a dessert bottle of wine that you can sip and enjoy while you break off and enjoy the delicious chocolate that encases the bottle! Genius!

5.) Perhaps your significant other is more low key then dinners out and flowers galore. If your SO (stands for significant other, it's so much shorter!) is a reader then plan a fun trip to the bookstore. Most big bookstore chains have a coffee counter inside these days so venture to your local bookseller with your mate, order a few coffee's (or teas if that's your "thing") and wander through the many intriguing aisles of the store. Make it a point to go to sections that you normally wouldn't. Make a deal that at the end of the visit, you will both purchase a book for your SO that you think they will like. Maybe it's something you've heard them say they want, maybe it's not- but keep their interests in mind while you shop! This is a fun game, and usually spurs some fun conversation after you've left the store.

6.) If you are fortunate enough to live near a fun amusement park, or theme park plan a day to go together and just "be kids again." It's easy to get caught up in the daily stresses and frustrations, sometimes just riding rides, eating bad food and being together is all you need to refresh your spirit and help you re-recognize the spark in your relationship! Cotton Candy and Corn Dogs here we come!

7.) If your SO travels a lot and happens to be out of town for the big day that doesn't mean you can't still do something special. Let's say your SO is staying in a hotel in another city- find out what time they'll be back and call that city's local Pizza parlor and order him/her a pizza delivered to their room for dinner. Your SO will be grateful that they don't have to go back out after a long day and he/she will know how much thought you put into it! Perhaps your SO is arriving at an airport on Valentines Day- call a local limo service and arrange for a limo to pick him/her up and take him/her to their hotel. Talk about a surprise!

8.) Prepare a candlelit dinner for two! No, this doesn't mean order takeout for two, it means cook dinner! Make an appetizer, a main course and of course dessert. Even if you cook dinner regularly, adding a few extra courses and a special dessert will make it all that much more memorable.

9.) Make a coupon book. Cut out square pieces of paper (in whatever amount you'd like) and make each piece a coupon. Things like 1 free backrub, 1 homemade dinner or your choice, 1 movie of your choice, etc. are all things that you can use. Make the coupons be for events that the two of you can spend time doing together. This will extend the fun of "alone time" for more then just one day!

10.) Send a gift from Novel Gift Baskets! Did you really think I could go through this whole blog without suggesting you send one of our "Exceptionally Unique Gift Baskets"? From buckets of candy to chocolate dipped wine- we have lots to choose from. Go shop around and see what you find! www.novelgiftbaskets.com

Hopefully this list helped get those gears moving! Have a wonderfully romantic Valentines Day everyone!

Sincerely,
Kelly Sisler
Co-Owner
www.novelgiftbaskets.com

Valentines Day Gift Baskets-- they're here!

2008-01-14T09:00:00.000-08:00

Guess what everyone? Valentines Day Gift Baskets are here and ready to ship! We have a few new styles this year which I will continue to upload throughout the week, but for now, you can check out our most popular Romance Gift Baskets by shopping our Valentines Day category.
Seems like I was just uploading and delivering all of our Holiday gift baskets- but I guess that's how time works- it flies! We have already begun designing new St. Patricks Day Gift Baskets, and new Easter Gift Baskets which is exciting because new designs are always fun to look at and send to our friends and family. Who wants to send out a Gift Basket that was designed 5 years ago? No one! That's why we use the latest, most popular products to ensure we stay "hip" and "cutting edge." According to some I'm not supposed to claim that we are "cutting edge" but it's my opinion, and I think we are, so I'm using it. :)
Well, I hope this finds you all happy, and working hard to accomplish all of your New Years resolutions. Maybe you should add one more resolution this year....celebrate each Holiday and Birthday (whether it be yours or someone elses) in a big way--- by sending a Gift Basket!!!
Thanks for reading and come visit us soon--

Kelly Sisler
Novel Gift Baskets

The Holidays Are Here!

2007-12-11T06:15:00.000-08:00

Well, we are within 2 weeks from Christmas with Hannukah just ending and it seems like the days are beginning to move faster and faster.
Have you completed all of your Holiday shopping yet? If so, then you deserve a pat on the back. I am not even close. Something I did notice this year (about myself anyway) is that I have, so far, done all of my shopping online. I used to love going to the malls to find those perfect gifts but dealing with the crowds, and the parking (ugh! the parking!) is just frustrating for me! With all of the websites offering free shipping these days, why not just stay at home- bundled up in some worn in sweatpants and a warm mug of hot chocolate? Makes perfect sense to me! I think my friend The Mad Gringo over at www.madgringo.com would agree with me. His motto is "Go Slow", and by shopping online this Christmas I believe I am practicing what he preaches.
Novel Gift Baskets is also offering FREE SHIPPING this Holiday season! Good until Friday, December 14th at 12:00PM. Use the discount code FREESHIP at checkout and watch your shipping costs disappear!! It's a good feeling, really...you should try it!

From all of us here at Novel Gift Baskets, we wish everyone a safe and happy Holiday season. Enjoy your time with family, make lots of memories- and send a gift basket! :)

Sincerely,
Kelly Sisler
Co-Owner Novel Gift Baskets.com

Fall is in the air!

2007-11-06T16:26:00.000-08:00

Whew- it was so chilly here in San Diego today! I know many of you will scoff when I say it was 62 here today, but that is pretty cold when you factor in the cold, humid air! I was definitely feeling very "wintery" today and was pretty excited to actually need a sweatshirt when I left my house!
As Thanksgiving approaches I would like to take a minute to introduce our basket designer and the brains behind some of our Holiday gift baskets! Her name is Julie O'Connell, and she is my Mom! Julie has been a huge fan of gift baskets for quite a while and started putting them together around the Holidays as gifts to our neighbors! Her baskets are my personal favorites, and as we continue to grow you will hopefully see more of her creations!
Which leads me to.....WE NEED YOUR HELP! Have you been looking all over for a specific theme in a gift basket? Do you work for a corporation who could use a gift basket that you just can't seem to find anywhere? We are looking for new ideas- not that we don't have plenty, but we want to know what you want! What are you looking for? Send us your gift basket ideas at kelly@novelgiftbaskets.com or just respond to this blog in a comment, and let us know- what do you want?!
As always- thanks for reading and visit us soon!

Your friends at Novelgiftbaskets.com

San Diego Wildfires

2007-10-25T09:19:00.000-07:00

I want to take a moment to let everyone in Southern California know that my thoughts and prayers are with all of you. I myself live in Southern California and was just last night allowed back into my home.
The fires are wicked and dangerous and can move and jump and demolish at a pace unknown to most. Thank you so much to all of the firemen, police officers, EMS, Sheriff's and National Guardsmen that are out there working tirelessly to defend our homes and our neighborhoods. Your efforts are not going unnoticed!
If you read this blog and know someone in California who has dealt with the fires, you can use the discount code T97C at checkout if you'd like to send them a "Thinking of you" gift basket, or perhaps a "Cheer Up" snack basket. This discount code will save you $10.00 on your order.
While so many people have lost their homes and obviously cannot receive mail, there are some people who only sustained damage and have been allowed back into their areas- perhaps they could use a little pick me up?!
That's all for now- just wanted everyone to know that we are thinking of you and pray that everything looks up after today.

Take Care-
Kelly Sisler
Co-Owner
www.novelgiftbaskets.com

"Basket Season" has begun!

2007-10-15T07:15:00.000-07:00

Well, it is October 15th and "Basket Season" has officially begun! Did you know that tomorrow (10/16) is Boss's day? Order your basket today and choose overnight delivery for an on time gift that will really impress!
After Boss's Day we have....Halloween!! What a perfect Holiday for a gift basket. To me, Halloween embraces what gift baskets are all about. Candy, cheer, unique mystery and of course- that cheery feeling the recipient gets in the pit of their stomach when they open the door and find a special box just for them! We have more Halloween baskets this year then we've had in a while and if you haven't already, I highly suggest you stop by to check them out!
Click Here --->

After Halloween comes (obviously) Thanksgiving- the perfect "snack basket" Holiday. Because really, what is better about being able to sit around with family and friends while snacking on some delicious baked goods while watching your favorite movie? Nothing compares!

And then, of course, we have Christmas and Hanukkah. We sell Kosher baskets and Hanukkah baskets as well as tons of NEW Christmas baskets. I once heard someone say, "Gift Baskets are the best because they are full of things you would never purchase on your own." I think this is very insightful because if you think about it, it's true! How many people do you know go to the store and buy bars of Ghiradelli chocolate, or sweet toasted marshmallows? They are both delicious, high quality sweets- and rarely are they purchased on a normal outing to the grocery store!!

So do something special for those who are too far to be with on these special Holidays. Send them a unique, quality, gift basket- from of course!!

Hope to see you soon!
Your friends at Novel Gift Baskets

Fall is upon is....

2007-09-19T06:19:00.000-07:00

Hello fellow gift basket lovers-
Sorry for the delay in blog postings, it's easy for it to get away from me. Seems like the days are flying by lately.
The newly designed site is up and going and as we continue to transition we work out little bugs and kinks. Thanks for you patience and understanding throughout this huge process.
We always get excited for this time of year as it is what I like to call "Gift Basket Season." Halloween to Christmas is the most popular time for sending that special someone, your collegue, your friends, or even your boss a gift basket full of goodies. Gift baskets are so universal they make an easy, and complete, gift. As we get closer and closer to Thanksgiving I will add new Fall/Harvest baskets that you are sure to love! Baked goodies, Pumpkins, Scarecrows and falling leaves- does it get any better?
My focus this year is to incorporate more Hannukah baskets into our Holiday selection. We always have the most beautiful Christmas baskets and our Hannukah baskets are just as eye-catching but I will hopefully have more of a selection this year.
So keep checking back and please feel free to e-mail me at kelly@novelgiftbaskets.com with any feedback on the site, our baskets, our prices, our customer service....anything!
Have a wonderful week and use the link that follows to go check out our Halloween baskets!!

Kelly

A new way to think about it...

2007-08-22T12:23:00.000-07:00

Although we might think of gift baskets as a modern way to give gifts, gift baskets have actually a rather long legacy. Spanning years and cultures, there are several fascinating stories of gift baskets that have been given throughout history.

Likely one of the earliest accounts of a gift coming in a basket is the basket of young plants that the pagan goddess Eostre carried in a basket, to be used as a sacred offering. Although some scholars argue the place of Eostre in Easter history, nevertheless this is the likely source of the idea of what came to be the modern-day Easter gift basket.

Another early gift basket story that had sacred connotations is the Old Testament story of Moses' mother placing the infant Moses into a wicker basket. She then hid the basket in the reeds on the river's edge so that the daughter of the Egyptian royal family would find him and eventually take Moses into her custody and protection.

Baskets have been used not only for gift basket purposes but also for utilitarian reasons for centuries. They were used to carry eggs into the house from the chicken coop, or baskets called trugs were needed to harvest vegetables from the kitchen garden and get them into the home to prepare for meals. Baskets were used as a kind of large saddle bag on horses, donkeys and mules to carry supplies, and even people on occasion.

Most baskets, including your next gift basket, even today are made by hand. Even with the advent of the Industrial Age, basket making is almost impossible to do using machinery, and instead requires the same hand-crafting that has been used throughout time. Some cultures have turned basket making into an art form. Today you will find many Native American groups who craft special baskets that are used to gather wild huckleberries in the late spring and early summer. Many Native American tribes are famous for their basket-making artistry.

The care taken with making anything by hand lends a level of special attention to detail that makes gift baskets so lovely to give and receive. Every item that goes into personalized gift baskets can be selected to meet the specific desires of the recipient. As well, the basket can be finished with the favorite colors of your special someone in terms of wrap, ribbon and bows used.

Gifts in baskets can also be focused around a particular theme, such as a baby gift basket or holiday gift baskets. You can include gift items particular to any event you wish to celebrate, including anniversaries and weddings. Even corporations bestow these baskets to employees or clients, so that they will be remembered in a positive way.

We are ALL NEW!

2007-08-17T07:19:00.000-07:00

My, My, My- It is finally here! We have a brand new, completely re-designed website. I don't mean a few new baskets, we have new colors and a new design, a new layout, an easier ordering form and of course....tons of new baskets! Our goal is to begin to establish oursleves amongst the leaders in the online gift basket industry, and it is my belief that this website is the first step!
One of the coolest new features is the "Gift Reminder" program we've established. You fill out the date, title, and event that you need a gift reminder for and we will e-mail you when the time rolls around! It is a wondeful new service and you can enter as many gift reminders as you may need! Birthday's, Anniversary's, Graduation, etc. Make sure to check it out!
We hope you find our new site much more shoppable and convenient as that is always our goal. We are working hard to develop unique, creative, quality baskets so continue to check in with us as we grow!
Thank you for your loyalty, and please feel free to e-mail any comments or suggestions to me at Kelly@novelgiftbaskets.com

Sincerely,
Kelly Sisler and the Novel Gift Basket Team

June has arrived!

2007-06-05T07:44:00.000-07:00

Well, here it is the first week of June! I am really proud of our Father's Day basket selection this year and I look forward to making lots of Dad's and Grandpa's smile!
Novel is hard at work re-building our entire website right now which has been very fun but also very tedious. Who knew there were so many decisions to make?! The new site should be launched sometime this summer so don't be surprised if you start to notice different changes within the coming months!
Do you happen to know someone getting married this summer? June, July and August are statistically the most popular wedding months of the year and gift baskets are an easy and beautiful way to say Congratulations! Even if you are attending the wedding, why not have the basket shipped to your house so that you can bring it with you? A gift basket incorporates so many different fun items, the Bride & Groom will enjoy going through it and using (or eating) every item! Check out our "Wedding Gift Baskets" link on the home page for a few pages of ideas!
Thanks for reading and enjoy the sun- don't forget your sunscreen!

-Your friends at Novel Gift Baskets

New baskets for a new season!

2007-04-18T07:34:00.000-07:00

We are swiftly entering Springtime although it doesn't feel like that in certain parts of the US! Cold weather on the east coast, snow in Colorado and even chilly temperatures for this time of year in San Diego have some people saying...Brrr!
However, we are moving right along into the flowery month of May and with May comes...you know- Mother's Day!! If you receive our newsletter then you already know about the new baskets (if you don't receive our newsletter then what are you waiting for? Go to our homepage and sign up today!) but have you been to the site to see how cute they are? I am so impressed with our selection- we are really growing in a positive direction.
On that note, do you have any positive/negative or indifferent feedback for us? Have you had a wonderful experience with Novel Gift Baskets? Did you receive one of our baskets as a gift? Please feel free to leave us comments on how we can improve, or what type of basket you would like to see! We love positive comments too!
Well, have a wonderful week and stay tuned- thanks!!

Your friends at Novel Gift Baskets

New For Summer!

2007-04-03T07:31:00.000-07:00

Hello fellow basket lovers!
Novel Gift Baskets is about to release their new baskets for Summer! How exciting is that? We have joined forces with some of the hottest designers and their product lines in order to bring you the best of the best! Our new baskets are fun, exciting, and unique- perfect for lots of fun summer events! Keep your eyes on our home page for the new designs!
Mothers Day is just a few weeks away, can you believe it? Why not plan ahead and order the basket you want today!? We can delay shipping for a few weeks and send it when appropriate, ensuring a Mothers Day delivery!! We will be adding new Mothers Day baskets over the next week or so, so find the one you want, buy it and head for the checkout- it's that easy! You're done!
Thanks for reading and we look forward to seeing you on the site!!

Your friends at Novel Gift Baskets

Another Day Goes By!

2007-03-21T12:08:00.000-07:00

Man, the weather is beautiful today here in sunny San Diego! I am watching the clouds roll by while adding some new product to our website and realizing how lucky I am!
Have you checked out our updated site yet? We have lots of fun new baskets and not only that, we've already started preparing for our new Summer line!! We will host a series of really fun new products, all bundled up into adorable "theme" baskets!
Those will be posted on the home page soon so keep checking back with us!
In the meantime, if you are looking for that perfect Easter basket to send to a loved one, a friend, or maybe even yourself- you have to see out new Easter baskets for 2007!! The best part is, if you use the discount code EARLYBUNNY before you checkout (purchases must be made BEFORE March 25th) then you will receive an additional 20% off!! So don't wait, order early and save 20% today!!
Well, I'm off to find new products and fun ideas! See you soon!!

Novel Gift Baskets

New Easter Baskets!

2007-03-20T06:43:00.000-07:00

Hello again!
We have just added a new selection of the most adorable Easter baskets for 2007! Full of candy, pastels and bunnies- these baskets are sure to please everyone on Easter! You can find a few of my favorites right on our homepage, or you can use the "Easter Baskets" link on the left side of the homepage. Either way you go about it, you do want to miss them!
Buy now and ask to have your basket shipped on a specific day, so it arrives just in time for Easter!!

Have a wonderful day and we'll see you soon!!

Novel Gift Baskets

New Baby Baskets!

2007-03-12T11:32:00.000-07:00

Hello all of you gift basket lovers! BIG NEWS! Novel Gift Baskets added 5 new baby gift baskets last week! Two of our most popular ones so far have been the rubber ducky bathtime basket, and the ribbet froggy basket! Go to our home page at www.novelgiftbaskets.com to check them out!
Also, keep your eye out for that sneaky little leprechaun! St. Patty's day is around the corner and what better way to say "Slaunte!" (Irish for "cheers") then by sending an adorable, upscale, St. Patricks Day Gift Basket? Chek out our newest arrivals, right on our home page!
And last but not least, Easter is on the way- believe it or not the bunny is coming! We have some really unique Easter baskets this year and as we get closer and closer to Easter they will appear on our home page so keep your eyes peeled! If you can't wait that long or you want to get a head start on your shopping you can always use our links on the left side of the homepage to find exactly what your looking for!
Thanks for reading and we'll talk to you soon!!