Today, we have officially arrived 100 Days away from Christmas! (Don’t panic, we haven’t started our shopping yet either!) Since Alabama became the first state in the U.S. to do so in 1836, every December we nationally celebrate Christmas with exciting festivities,

Valentine’s Day is just around the corner and I’d like to chime in with my thoughts on gifting for this special occasion. 

Ditch the heart-shaped box of chocolates and teddy bears from the local drug store. If you really want to knock it out of the park for that special person in your life, I suggest a more thoughtful approach.

Instead of a random, unmarked assortment of chocolates- which could go terribly wrong if your significant other has any allergies- how about selecting some of his or her favorite type of chocolate or another favorite treat? Here are a few chef-crafted options.

Then perhaps you could pair their favorite treat with a book they’ve been wanting to read or another small item you know they’ve been wanting. Think about it? Would they rather get something that’ll go up on a shelf and collect dust, or something they’ve been wanting that shows you have been listening?

And hey, if it’s really important to you to keep an element of tradition, you can always select some festive wrapping to put your personalized gifts in.  

If you’re gifting for a client, colleague or prospect, consider sending the gift before or intentionally late with a smart message on your card.

This Friday is National Peanut Butter day! 

There are three men credited with the creation of this lovely concoction: Marcellus Gilmore Edson, Dr. John Harvey Kellogg, and Dr. Ambrose Straub. However, peanut butter has actually existed, in its original form, since the Ancient Incas and Aztecs. Traditionally, they would roast the nuts and then crush them into a paste. Yum! 

Nowadays, peanut butter comes in many forms. You can have it chunky, creamy, mixed with different flavors- the options are nearly endless. 

Here’s a fun fact: The world's largest peanut butter and jelly sandwich was made in Grand Saline, Texas and, weighed 1,342 pounds. That’s a mouthful! If you’re looking for a more modest combination, I’ve got a few ideas to help you liven up your treat.

Here are some of my favorite peanut butter combos:

• Chocolate

• Apples

• Pretzels

• Bananas

• Pancakes or Waffles

• Marshmallows

For a triple threat treat, you can purchase our black and white pretzels to dip in your peanut butter for the ultimate decadent dessert. Enjoy!

One of the questions I frequently get about corporate gifting is, “what are some good times to give client gifts,” particularly when my clients have missed the Christmas/New Year’s window. If that’s you, don’t fret- there are plenty of other opportunities for you to consider. 

For some businesses, a mass gift send once per year is just not realistic. If that’s the case for you, another option is to send a client gift box for the clients birthday or on the anniversary of when they started doing business with you.

If however, you like the idea of mass client gifting but either missed Christmas or don’t want to be like everyone else, I’ve got a really fun idea for you. 

Ever heard of Christmas in June? Gifting mid-year is a great opportunity to show your clients you’re unique and different and catch them off guard. 

Another option is to maybe consider Thanksgiving gifting. After all, it’s a great time to show your clients that you’re grateful for their business. 

I hope you’ve found these suggestions helpful. Happy gifting!