Dollar store baskets that look like a million bucks: Part 2

I am back with some more baskets today. Up next are my friend Courtney's baskets. Courtney's baskets are actually to thank some people who were extra helpful during her battle with breast cancer, which is why they are so plentiful. While she elected to fill the baskets with expensive gourmet goods, the baskets themselves were from the dollar store and were styled for little money. We began with $1 buckets, which we personalized with vinyl. I cut these on my Silhouette machine. You could do it with stickers easily, however, if you do not own one.



We separated her goodies into individual bags with labels. I started to cut these on the silhouette, but it was giving me fits (I have the original model and it may be nearing it's end). So, I free-handed these toppers instead:

To affix them, simply staple the back to the bag and then use a glue stick on the front (this way the staple won't show). Here they are arranged in the basket:

Finally, she made baskets for her nieces with traditional Purim cookies, known as Hamantaschen. She denoted the different flavors with tags made from a circle punch and a label maker (even though I have a fancy machine, sometimes it is nice to use old school supplies). You can easily make these at home:

Delivering these sweet baskets will certainly show the recipients how much Courtney appreciated their aid in her darkest hour! How's that for a Friendly Friday?

Friendly Friday: The Nod

If you are not watching Blackish, you need to start. It is as good as Modern Family, New Girl and the Mindy Project (all tops in my book). This week we caught a re-run where the family was talking about "the nod."  Its spot on with my idea of saying hello (except you know I am white Jewish lady but I think its universal)

This week I have not done a great job with my resolution to say hello first.  I ran into the grandmother of the boy for whom I styled the bar mitzvah.   I have seen her several times since, but she <i>never</i> remembers me.  I didn't have time to go through the whole thing, but then we ended up seated next to each other.  The whole time she kept staring at me, obviously trying to figure it out.  I could have solved the mystery and been polite in approximately 30 second.  I really regret that I didn't do it. Similarly, I was meeting a colleague at my old work to talk business (more on that later).  I used to work exclusively in the Family Court; if our meeting had been there it would have been like  old-home week, with me high-fiving everyone (okay, maybe I am just imagining that part).   Anyhow, we met at the Civil Courts Building, where nobody knows me.  Like nobody--even with a bar card in my hand, they made me go through the metal detector and take off my shoes.  And I was sock-less.  Sock-less with a half-worn off pedicure when I saw another attorney I know.  I should have owned it, but instead I kept my head down and prayed he didn't see me.  Probably no harm done, but it still would have been nice to be nice!  Next week is a great time to try again!      

Friendly Friday: what a wonderful word hello

Credit for the delightful montage above goes to: http://www.dannisawthis.co.uk/hello-what-a-wonderful-word/

A few important things have happened for me this week regarding friends and acquaintances. If anyone is just tuning in, I have a firm resolution to say hello to people this year and a larger on-going goal to deepen some friendships that I have neglected.

While I have been craving deeper connections, I still have many friends and am often invited out. A fun "girls" night happened earlier this week and it gave me the perfect chance to practice what I have been preaching about saying hello to people first. The moment I walked in, I spotted my old boss seated at the table next to my group. My relationship with her ended on a very sour note. She did a fabulous thing in founding a not-for-profit legal services organization. Nobody can deny that; it exists helping people today. At times she was a brilliant mentor to me and at times she was undeniably cruel. Having nothing to do with her "management" style, she left her position at the helm without much fanfare in a scandal complete with a legal defense for all of us lawyers. Being a very smart and capable person, I hear she has once again risen to a high and powerful position now in the for-profit world. My guess is she experienced a lot a pain and shame.

I also guess that she was far more uncomfortable seeing me walking in than I was. I thought about it for a split second and then walked right up to her before even stopping at my table. In case she had forgotten me in the past seven years, I stated my name as I walked over. Of course she remembered. Before I knew it I was not only saying hello but hugging her hello. Our interaction was very brief, pleasant, and not at all meaningful, but what a gift to us both! Had I averted my eyes both of us would have had horrible nights and not been able to concentrate on our dinner companions wondering when the shoe would drop. I am so glad I just did it. On her way out she stopped and thanked me. Not in the usual way, but in a way that I thought symbolically said "thanks for remembering the good parts of me." That, in turn, made me remember the good parts of me too!

Later in the week I was on a phone call with a friend I used to talk to every single day. Now we talk to every few weeks. There was an organic moment where referenced that I have been feeling removed from her and our close-knit group. Its easy to express remorse that you rarely talk to your college sorority sisters two states away. It is entirely different to tell someone a mile away that you feel distant. I literally had to take a deep breath first and will the words to come out. It was so scary. The second of dead air before her reply felt like an eternity. She responded in a kind way--just one sentenced that subtly acknowledged she had noticed it too while moving the talk in a positive direction. I am so glad its out there. I am glad there is a chance to make it better even if it isn't set right just yet.

As if reading my mind Kelly at Kelly's Korner had a post that spoke to me so much yesterday--so close to what I have been working through. After reading it, I have an idea in the works about something nice I can do for a friend. I will keep you posted!

Friendly Friday

One of my goals this year is to reach out and make plans with friends more. I just want to connect with people rather than feeling isolated. Most people would laugh that I feel this way because we are part of a HUGE circle of extended friends; I am in a tennis group, a supper club, a Temple, a member of a social club, and I am on the PTO. But you can feel lonely in a crowd, and sometimes I have. So, I just made my plan yesterday to be with a friend. We went shopping. One of my other goals is saving, so I didn't buy much. I mostly just looked around. I bought $4 worth of Valentine's decor (no candy this year) and splurged on a bottle of avocado oil that took my roast veggies to the next level last night. I felt a wee bit guilty as I started my next shift (when the kids came home) and had done nothing towards making dinner or organizing. Laundry sat undone and the house suddenly looked cluttered, but I felt as if I had accomplished so much more.