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Fireworks and the 4th of July go hand-in-hand, but did you know the use of fireworks for the first Independence Day was the new nation thumbing their nose at the British? Fireworks were used by the British to celebrate the birthdays of kings and queens and in an act of defiance, America set off fireworks celebrating […]

Since the years following the Civil War, the United States has celebrated Memorial Day, once known as Decoration Day. Observed on the last Monday in May, Memorial Day became an official federal holiday in 1971. Many Americans mark the day by placing flowers, flags, and other mementos on the graves of veterans. Parades and family

Emerald Isle (Ireland) and Emerald City (from The Wizard of Oz) conjure up images of lush, rich locations, an apt description for a gem that is one of only four precious stones (diamonds, rubies, and sapphires are the other three). Emerald is considered “The Jewel of Kings,” is a symbol of hope, renewal, and growth, and

1.     Baskets are tailored to a theme 2.     Every item is carefully selected to tie-in to the theme 3.     A gift basket shows your thoughtfulness 4.     A gift card may be perceived as impersonal, but never a personalized gift basket 5.     A basket is an overflow of generosity, with many gifts to use over time 6.     Each gift basket has to

I frequently walk in my neighborhood, giving my muscles a good workout on the hilly terrain. My senses also are awakened with the delights of tulips, forsythia, crabapple, pear, and redbud trees in peak bloom. Springtime in Michigan is bursting with hope and expectation.  The season changes have a way of wiggling into my soul

Mother’s Day has been an annual tradition in America since the 19th century, with variations of celebrating the day evolving over the years. The “Mother’s Day Work Clubs” were formed after the Civil War to teach young women how to care for their children. The work clubs segued into “Mother’s Friendship Day” to gather mothers of

Warmer temperatures, budding trees, chirping birds, and the sound of lawnmowers mark the spring season.  It’s a perfect time to hang a wreath bursting with colors on your front door or above your fireplace mantel to declare a new season. A wreath created by Designs by Alfreda has handcrafted bows, carefully arranged life-like floral, and adornments that

We all can agree that the pandemic has taken a toll on us. There are limits on where we can eat or were we can go. So for the most part we are spending more time at home. Have you tried rearranging a room? Are you working from home? Are you looking for certain items

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

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,