Designs By Alfreda

Who doesn’t love a good chocolate? There are very few people that do not like chocolate.

To give a brief history of chocolate. First of all, chocolate was done in liquid form with no sugar. It was a fashionable drink throughout Europe around the 17th Century. It was a drink for a priviledge few.

In about 1815, a Dutch chemist discovered a way to reduce the bitter taste. Soon after this solid chocolate was born. The first chocolate bar was created in 1847 by Joseph Frye. And you know since this time, there is an array of chocolates to choose from.

When I want to spurge, my go to chocolate is dark chocolate. If I have milk chocolate, I like to have one with nuts included. For my birthday my children sent me another one of my favorite chocolate treat–turtle chocolate with pecans. That was special.

If you include chocolate in a gift, try to make it a chocolate without nuts. This is so, if you are not sure if the recipient has a nut allergy.

If you receive a gift of chocolate, what kind do you prefer? Do you like chocolate with nuts? Are you a fan of dark chocolate since it is suggested to be healthier for us?

Comment and share your thoughts on chocolate. Thanks.

The last few months of my life has been filled with challenging times. So much so that I haven’t been able to be creative and put out new designs. My challenges has been with the pandemic somewhat but mostly family health matters. My family health matters required my full attention. When you love your family, you must put them first. At the moment, I’m taking a much needed rest right now but decided I’ll at least do this blog. You will be hearing from me more often.

I’ve been thinking about Christmas and the beautiful flowers I have to work with for the holidays. There’s some awesome containers as well that I purchased that’s going to add a wow factor to my designs. I look forward to creating some beautiful designs for the holidays.

Check out what I have left in my Etsy Shop. However, we are working toward putting new designs up. Make it a great day!!!

https://www.etsy.com/shop/DesignsByAlfreda Twitter @dbaonimo Instagram @dbaonimo

The last few weeks have been challenging for all of us. I hope everyone is staying safe doing these times of the corona virus pandemic.

My family and I have been staying home. We are spending time being creative and doing various projects around the house. We pray for those who are suffering from the virus and for families who have lost a love one from the virus.

Let’s continue to do what we can to stay safe and take care of our families. Make it a great day as best you can! Blessings!

This present situation has been a challenge for all of us. Whether you live alone or with roomates, friends or family, to be told to stay home takes away what is accustom to us. Howbeit, try to make the best of the situation. Enjoy your time together. What things have you wanted to do but didn’t have the time to do it? Do you sing? Dance? Act? What book have you be yearning to read for a long time? Are you creative? Focus on things you can be productive in if at all possible. Whatever you do or decide to do, stay safe. Many many blessings to you.

As for me, I find myself being really creative. I say really creative because anything I design or put together, I’m having to use what I already have on hand. I’m not doing the usual shopping or ordering as I usually do due to this Coronavirus. Below take a look at my creations. Make it a great day!

My Etsy Shop:

https://www.etsy.com/shop/DesignsByAlfreda

As the days continue to get cooler and Fall is slowly drifting away, I find myself still in creativity mode and reorganization. It’s nice to be able to work to provide special services and to put care and energy in making others happy. Reflecting on Fall and continuing to work everything through is both challenging and rewarding.

I love the beautiful colors of Fall but I’m looking forward to the Winter and Christmas colors. Colors are part of the beauty of the world.

https://squareup.com/store/designs-by-alfreda

While we are preparing for our Christmas shows, I took a break to welcome Fall. I see Fall and/or Autumn as a fresh beginning. It’s a start to cooler weather. It’s colorful with so many places to walk or drive to see the Fall colors. It’s special in another sense for me. It the season in which I was born as well as my mom, one of my sisters, and my oldest daughter.

So while the weather is turning cooler,see Fall as new beginnings and new opportunities. Enjoy this season.

What is the favorite thing you like about Fall?

Working a full time job and running a business can take its toll. Having your own business is rewarding but tiresome. However, the good news-since retiring, I can spend more exciting times working on my business. At present, I’m restructuring, designing, looking at what worked, what I need to add, new trends, reorganizing, retooling, you name it, we’re doing it.

We will be sharing more in the coming weeks. Our grand opening for the relaunch, will be happening next year. Until the next time, make it a fabulous and fun Saturday.

What do you like in a Spa Basket?

Relax. Relax. Relax. When I think of the word spa, the word relaxation comes to mind. The word spa is a noun and is defined as a mineral spring giving health benefits; a place or resort with a mineral spring. Webster’s dictionary also defines it as a mineral spring; a resort with mineral springs. It further defines it as a fashionable hotel or resort. All of these spell out relaxation to me.

I like to think that a spa basket can translate into relaxation. This is so because it’s filled with contents that spell out relaxation because of their pleasant and soothing smells and how they make you feel. The right tools and the right products makes for ones on personal spa in a spa gift basket.

When I do a spa basket, I like to include such things as a fragrant candle, a soothing lotion, a good sugar body scrub, loofah, and a bath net sponge, to name a few. The color and theme of the basket enhances it and gives a special feeling. So fabulous products and tools adds to its ambience.

Diaper cakes, if you have ever seen one or made one, can make you just go wild on your creativity. I made my first one some years ago. Looking back I realize it was just okay. Since them I’ve been honing my skills on making them.

Diaper cakes are a great addition to any baby shower. A diaper cake is both decorative and practical. It adds a special touch to the theme, color, and decoration of the shower. It’s practical because the diapers can be used for the baby. The cake can stay pretty for the shower but can later be broken down to use the diapers for the precious new little one.

When making the diaper cake, I take great care in using the diapers and making sure they can eventually be used for their intended use. I love making the diaper cake beautiful and oh so elegant. Take a look a this one that was made especially for a precious little baby girl.