5 Valentine’s Day Gift Ideas

Wondering what to buy this Valentine’s Day? Don'y fail by sending your significant other a  “Hug E Gram” or these terrible gifts from Jimmy Kimmel fans. Here are a few suggestions from us, including some gifts you can find here at Hidden Treasures Décor & More. 

• Flowers.  Flowers are such common gifts for Valentine’s Day or really any other occasions for a reason.  It is a safe bet they will be loved.  Red roses are the staple flower for Valentine’s Day, but don’t be afraid to get a little creative by adding different color roses, a few of her favorite flowers, or creating a completely personalized arrangement. An assortment of white and red flowers will look classy and make the red roses stand out. A red bouquet with smaller bright green flowers will still have the roses she may expect with bright green hinting at the coming spring. Some guys just don’t understand flowers and don’t like the idea of spending money on something that will be dead in a week. Another option is purchasing artificial roses that will last for years.  The Hallmark Blooming Expressions I Love You Rose opens to reveal an unexpected “I Love You” message when button is pushed. 

• Chocolates.  It’s hard to go wrong with a box of chocolates. Personalize the selection of chocolates you give by finding her favorite brand of chocolates or favorite flavors.  Instead of buying a prepackaged box of chocolate, pick out your own assortment at a local chocolate shop.  

• Stuffed Animal. Know her favorite animal? Buy a stuffed animal that she will love and that will remind her of you like this adorable pup or Pepe Le Pew’s Kiss Zee Chef plush animal.

• Relaxing Gifts. Get her a selection of bath products to give her a chance to unwind and relax in the tub and an excuse to stay in longer than usual.  There are also great lotions and aromatherapy products specifically designed to help with relaxation that make great Valentine’s Day gifts.

• Jewelry. With jewelry, there is such a vast selection it may be overwhelming.  Take a look at her current selection to get an idea of her style and stick to that for a safe bet on something she will love.  You may find a specific designer she likes that can really make for an easy win.  

We hope this can help give you a few ideas for gifts this Valentine’s Day.  Remember that whatever gift you give, it will mean so much more if it is personalized to her taste. Let us know what you ended up getting below and how it went!

Making New Year's Eve Memorable with New Traditions

Whether you choose to spend New Year's Eve with family, friends or both, you can make the occasion more meaningful by establishing some fun traditions. You can add a level of sentimentality to the night by including simple rituals. You can also consider throwing a big party or choosing a special location to observe the midnight hour. Traditions can vary greatly, but the sentiment can provide years of wonderful memories.

Gatherings
Hosting a New Year's Eve party is a familiar tradition, but you can add a personal touch by creating a unique theme. For example, you can develop a family-friendly tradition of hosting movies, board games and singing. Adapt to an adult crowd by hiring a DJ and renting a dance floor. One of the most important traditions is spending time with people that matter, and that can be accomplished by putting on the party of the year.

Midnight Rituals
The tradition of kissing your significant other at midnight is well-known. Make it more creative by finding a fun location for that midnight kiss. You might choose the same location every year, or you could choose a unique spot annually. In either case, you can make the moment memorable and fun.
A midnight toast is another familiar tradition. Add some creativity by selecting themed champagne glasses like redneck champagne flukes. Make it meaningful by writing a sentimental speech or a humorous limerick to read before the glasses clink. Simplify it by encouraging everyone present to share a resolution or positive thought for the coming year.

Resolutions and Alternatives
Many people enjoy the idea of choosing a resolution for the New Year. However, many are also frustrated by the idea of trying to keep up with a lofty goal. Consider replacing resolutions with New Year's predictions, encouraging those with whom you celebrate to make a personal prediction for the coming year. This will allow for that same sentiment without the pressure to perform.

Cultural Traditions
You can explore the New Year's traditions of the international community by serving different foods and observing special activities. Make a huge batch of tamales for a Mexican observance. Eat round fruit and wear polka dots as you ring in the year Philippines style. Don't forget to sing Auld Lange Syne as you add a Scottish flair to your celebration.

Traditions are fun, and you can make your celebration an event to remember by including those activities that will make a personal impact for you and for those with whom you share New Year's Eve. For a wide selection of decorations for this holiday season visit our online store.  We carry seasonal decorations and much more.

Holiday Party Table Décor Ideas

Tis the season for holiday parties!  This time of year is filled with times to get together with friends and family to celebrate the holiday season. We all want our homes to look perfect and well decorated, but you don’t have to break the bank of worry too much to get thing looking festive for your celebrations. Instead of stressing about your entire home, focus on the most inviting area - where the food will be. There are plenty of ideas out there for fun decorations and accents. 

Here are a few of our favorite ideas to adding Christmas spirit to your kitchen:

• Christmas serving platters – These are great for cookies, desserts or an appetizer such cheese and cracker plate 

• Decorative Handtowels – A quick way to add some holiday cheer to a guest bathroom or kitchen by hanging over the oven handle

• Holiday Mugs – Who doesn’t love a cup of hot chocolate or homemade eggnog during the holidays, spruce up your glass with a “naughty or nice” option

• Santa Salt and Pepper Shakers – Another easy way to add some Christmas “spice” to your kitchen is with Santa boot themed salt and pepper shakers

Christmas in the Kitchen by hiddentreasures-1 featuring ceramic mugs

The Original Bee’s Wax Polish Spray – Product Review

The Original Bee’s Wax Polish spray, named best furniture polish by “House Beautiful,” uses an old world formula to clean and protect surfaces. The Original Bee’s Wax Polish wipes fingerprints away without leaving a waxy build up. Unlike the most well-known brands of cleaners that only clean one surface, The Original Bees Wax Polish effectively cleans glass, stainless steel, wrought iron, wood, marble, granite, and even leather. This means that if you are cleaning a multi-surface table, entertainment unit, or piece of furniture, you won’t have to switch between cleaners and polishes to get the whole area clean. This reduces the amount of time that cleaning takes, as well as prevents damage that can occur when the wrong cleaner is used on the wrong surface. Using an award winning all-in-one cleaner also reduces the cost associated with having to buy a different cleaner for each surface in your
house.

The best part about The Original Bee’s Wax Polish is that it doesn’t just clean surfaces, it also protects them. In fact, The Original Bee’s Wax Polish actually makes granite acid resistant, making it a cost effective way to preserve high-end granite counter tops. It even enhances the true beauty of wood without buffing while simultaneously also keeping the wood from drying out.

With a formula that’s made in the USA, The Original Bee’s Wax Polish is a staple when it comes to cleaning furniture, kitchens, and bathrooms both professionally and at home. This powerful cleaning and protecting spray can even be purchased in larger quantities at a savings if you have an application that requires multiple cans, or if you just want to stock up for your home.

Here at Hidden Treasures Decor & More, we carry The Original Bee’s Wax Polish in 17oz cans, made in the USA.

Snoozies Foot Covers Product Review

Are you looking to keep your feet warm indoors this winter? Snoozies slippers are a great, comfortable option to keep your feet toasty through the colder months. These slippers come with fuzzy interiors to keep your feet cozy and have a fleece outer layer. Snoozies come in a variety of colors and whimsical patterns, so you can choose whatever fits your personality best. Be sure to keep away those winter blues with bright pattern options such as flower designs, martinis, peace signs or colored animal prints. Because Snoozies are inexpensive, we love the option of having multiple pairs to fit your mood each day. Remember - “If the shoe fits, buy it every color.”

The thin soles are not sturdy for outdoor wear, but they hold up for wearing around the house. Give you feet some pampering while you go about holiday cooking, lounging and doing chores about the house. For extra soft feet, apply lotion on those tired soles, slip on the Snoozies and continue with your list of to-dos. Snoozies are machine washable and safe for the dryer as well. Keep in mind that the sizes tend to run large to give your tootsies plenty of wiggle room.

Your shoe collection should not just be limited to heels and pumps, having something warm and fuzzy is great for any gal to come home to. When your feet need a little tender-loving-care around the home, Snoozies are perfect for the task. With their great price and delightful appearance, Snooizes make for great holiday gifts! Tell us what your favorite pattern is in the comments below, we would love to hear from you!

At Hidden Treasures Decor & More we carry a huge supply of Snoozies for both men and women.  Browse our store to find the perfect pair for you!

Happy Halloween!! Enter BOO2013 for 20% off anything in the store today only!!

Fun New Thanksgiving Traditions for your Family

Every family has their own Thanksgiving traditions but it’s always fun to start some new traditions as well. Incorporating different things into your holiday celebration is a great idea if you’re having your first Thanksgiving in a new house, inviting a bunch of guests over, or are just looking for a way to keep your regular customs from getting old. Below are some fun Thanksgiving ideas to try this year!

Food
Turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, gravy and cranberry are the Thanksgiving usuals, but there are plenty of other food items that are on the menu in some kitchens on Thanksgiving.

• Pigs in a blanket
These quick and easy appetizers are a great way to keep guests fed before the big meal. People can get cranky when they have to wait to eat, so in order to avoid bad moods make sure guests aren’t famished while waiting for the big meal. Put them on a decorative serving platter for a festive feel!

• Grilled Turkey
Some cooks choose to grill their turkey for a smoky delicious flavor. Grilling the turkey is a new spin on an old favorite, and a very practical way to free up more oven space for other items that need to cook.

• Olives
For whatever reason, olives seem to be a popular favorite to snack on before the main meal, or even during the big meal. Kids love the big black olives that they can pop on their fingers and bite off. A small glass serving bowl is a good way to jazz up ordinary and inexpensive olives.

• Sauerkraut
A Maryland favorite, Sauerkraut actually compliments the regular Thanksgiving fixings nicely (and even tastes good with some gravy on top). This is also a good option for people who don’t like the typical Thanksgiving vegetables of green beans, peas, carrots, etc.
• Forget the Turkey Altogether
While most people cook a turkey, ham is also very popular for Thanksgiving. Other people opt for fried chicken, ribs, or even bratwust. Some vegetarians and pasta-fanatics even enjoy a delicious home-made lasagna instead of the traditional bird.

Crafts
Arts and crafts are a good way to keep the kids occupied while the grown-ups cook and chat. Crafts also make memories for later on in life.

• Make a Scrap Book
If you have kids a great idea is to make a Thanksgiving scrap book – with a new page for each year. Have kids make drawings and write messages to remember the holiday when they are older. Or, if you want to take it a step further, get a recordable scrap book and have the kids record a holiday message each year.

• Thank You Table Cloth
A really adorable idea is to buy a cheap table cloth each year and give kids fabric markers to write what they are thankful for on the cloth. Then use the table cloth to set the table so that all of the guests can read it.

• Make a Gift for the Host or Hostess
A good way to express gratitude after having a delicious Thanksgiving meal is to give the cook a special gift. Having kids make a gift for the hostess is a sweet way of saying thank you, and will give them something to do together.

• Make a Thankful Tree
Have each guest write what they are thankful for on a slip of paper and hang it on a tree. The tree can be a real tree outside, or a re-purposed card tree on a coffee table or desk.

• Use Leaves to make Name Cards
If there are leaves on the ground have kids collect some leaves and write everyone’s name on a leaf to serve as a name card. Put leaves on rustic placemats to let guests know where you want them to sit.

Get Active
For most people Thanksgiving is all about eating to excess, but if you are trying to be healthy there are plenty of ways to celebrate without gorging yourself.

• Turkey Trot
Many communities have a race on Thanksgiving day, but if your city or town doesn’t have one you can make your own turkey trot by inviting friends or family members for a run. Kick it up a notch by turning it into a competition and awarding a prize for the first place finisher.

• Play a Game of Football
Football is a Thanksgiving tradition, but most people watch football from the couch instead of getting out there and playing. For a more active holiday tradition get out there and play a little touch football.

Give Back
• Invite Someone Who’s Alone
The holidays can be a really hard time if you are by yourself, so this holiday season if you have the space and the food consider inviting someone who doesn’t have anyone to share the holidays with them.

• Bring left overs to the needy
Holiday leftovers are delicious, but the satisfaction of helping the less fortunate is even better than the taste of eating holiday extras. Bring leftovers to the homeless or volunteer at a soup kitchen to give back to people in your community who have less than you do.