Tag Archives: Gifts

A Tracy Helps You Gift Certificate is a Great Mother’s Day Gift

Give a Tracy Helps You Gift Certificate to Your Mom This Mother’s Day

It’s May in Chicagoland, to me, that means lilacs (my fav) ~ May also means Mother’s Day to us Americans.

On Mother’s Day, we honor our mothers with gifts and cards. Flowers seem to be a particularly popular gift. Many families treat Mom like a queen on Mother’s Day … treating her to breakfast in bed and a day of relaxation by taking over her usual household duties for the day. Many families go out to share a meal together.

Speaking as a mother, and I’m pretty sure I speak for most (if not all) mothers, when I say one of the most wonderful gifts to receive is the gift of time spent with my family. Just spending time together, reminiscing and making new memories together is the best way to spend the day ❤

Everyone needs some free time / me time, especially Mothers. Sometimes, Moms can feel a little guilty about taking some time for themselves in their busy life. There is always so much to get done. While I am taking care of her To-Do List, she can be relaxing without worrying about things not getting done.

While you are making your Mother’s Day plans and choosing the perfect gift for her ~ remember that your Mom deserves to be pampered & treated far more often than just on the holidays. While you are with her this weekend, helping her out with some of those chores around her house, give her a Tracy Helps You gift certificate. It’s like giving her the gift of free time.

This week, in honor of Mother’s Day, I’m offering a special rate for Gift Certificates ~ 3 hour for $50 … contact me 🙂

This Valentine’s Day, Show Real Love With Acts of Kindness <3

Love is in the air ♥

It’s that time of the year again … Valentine’s Day … the time of year that the stores try to guilt you into buying something heart shaped and red.

The media makes the most of this “Hallmark Holiday”. Weeks beforehand, you see commercials and ads about jewelry, flowers and chocolate. Every store you go into some kind of Valentine’s Day display … from power tools to lingerie. Most of these specials are geared toward couples in love.

What about everyone else? What about friends and neighbors? Not everyone is in a romantic relationship. There are many kinds of love, like … love between a child and parent or platonic love between friends.

While candy and flowers are nice gifts, they don’t last long. I would rather do something for someone as a way of showing that I care about them, that they are important to me. A simple act of kindness, like running an errand for someone is easy to do and helps them out.

Time is a valuable commodity. Show someone you care by spending time with them. Treat them to a nice leisurely lunch. Go for a nice long walk and catch up with all the happenings going on in their life. Bake some cookies for someone 🙂

This Valentine’s Day, show the people you care about how you feel about them with kindness.

BTW, if you decide you want to get a heart shaped box of candy for someone … helping them eat it will show kindness to their waistline (but not to yours) ♥

Black Friday Shopping ~ Yay or Nay ??

Black Friday isn’t what it used to be. When my kids were young … you know, back in the day, I used to shop on Black Friday. That was when the coolest toys were on sale, and if you didn’t want disappointed kiddos on Christmas morning, you braved the crack of dawn time, the weather & the crowds. Back in the 90’s, before everyone was online, stores ordered a certain number of the item and when they were sold out, that was pretty much it … waiting to see if another shipment came in before Christmas was a big gamble. So, I went … Continue reading →

Handmade Gifts for the Holidays ~ Update

So, it is getting toward the end of November, on the very cusp of the Holidays. Back in the end of September (while it was warm & sunny ~ unlike now, when we have measurable snow in the weekend forecast), I wrote a blog post talking about making handmade holiday gifts. You can read that post here.

In that post, I laid out some goals for myself. So, I wanted to give you an update on accomplishing them. Sadly, I haven’t met all of them … yet. There, of course, is still plenty of time ~ it’s not even Thanksgiving yet. The perfectionist in me wanted everything to be done super early, but that perfectionist won’t be getting her way this year 🙁
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Handmade Gift Ideas

It is a glorious September afternoon. I’m working on my blog post while sitting on my new patio enjoying the beautiful weather. It is warm & sunny with a gentle breeze blowing through the branches of my gi-normous maple tree.

So (on one of the last days of summer) … I decide my topic will be about ideas for making a handmade gifts for Christmas. That’s right, I said Christmas … but only because you need plenty of time to plan and work on your gift projects. Otherwise, I am a believer of enjoying each holiday as it comes, not rushing it 🙂

I have always loved doing crafts. Making or creating something is a labor of love. I feel like the finished product has a little piece of me in it ♥ However, I have learned (the hard way) that in order for me to love making the gift for someone, I have to allow plenty of time to finish it … not be rushed to get it done in time.

That being said, here is my game plan:
• Search Pinterest, craft websites & blogs to pick the projects I want to make
• Only choose a handful of recipients, so making the gift remains a joy ~ not become a burden.
• Decide early on who will be getting what gift
• Buy all the supplies I will need for each project ahead of time, (that way I can have multiple projects going at the same time)
• I’ll work on the gift while watching TV in the evening
• I can switch up which gift I’m working on, so I don’t get bored … like I can work on my knitting project if I don’t feel like making jewelry.

Some of the handmade gifts I given in the past are … a knitted or crocheted scarf, note cards for stationary, jewelry, Christmas ornaments, personalized photo frames, a “scrapbook style” keepsake shadow box, bath salts, and, of course, baked goods 🙂

I really enjoy giving handmade gifts to friends. I feel that because time is such a valuable commodity, the time I spend making the gift communicates how much I care about them. I hope they enjoy receiving them. Of course, because it is so time consuming, I only choose a few friends to make gifts for each year. My other friends receive store bought gifts … I love shopping too <3

I haven’t decided what I want to make for this year’s gifts yet, but I’m glad I’m starting to think about it early … because, as we all know, times flies by quickly.

The Christmas Season Is Upon Us … Already !!

It’s Friday, December 5th … only 20 days til Christmas …Let the countdown begin!

Christmas celebrates the birth of Christ … Peace on Earth & Goodwill to Men. However, in the 24/7 world we live in, sometimes the preparations for Christmas can be anything but peaceful … it can be downright hectic.

Everyone’s to-do list gets longer during the holidays. All the festivities are great fun, but they also add more to our already busy schedules. Our December to-do list has additional items like sending out holiday cards, decorating & baking, shopping & wrapping, not to mention holiday parties & get- togethers.

Tracy Helps You is here to, well, help you 🙂 We can take care of some of your to-do list items. We can do some of the more routine stuff on your list, or we will Christmas shop and wrap your gifts for you. We can get your Christmas cards written & mailed out for you. We will even go to a party for you, oh wait … you probably want to take of party attendance yourself (we understand, lol).

Hiring Tracy Helps You will free up your time to do the most important things … spending time & making memories with the people you love, your family and friends!

Some time to relax and peace of mind is just a phone call away 🙂

Give a Tracy Helps You Gift Certificate to Your Mom This Mother’s Day

It’s May in Chicagoland ~ we are slowly but surely starting to get a taste of spring time warmth 🙂 May also means Mother’s Day to us Americans.

This year marks the 100^th anniversary of the observance of Mother’s Day. In 1914, President Woodrow Wilson signed a measure officially establishing the second Sunday in May as Mother’s Day.

We honor our mothers with gifts and cards. Flowers seem to be a particularly popular gift. Many families treat Mom like a queen on Mother’s Day … treating her to breakfast in bed and a day of relaxation by taking over her usual household duties for the day. Many families go out to share a meal together.

Speaking as a mother, and I’m pretty sure I speak for most (if not all) mothers, I think one of the most wonderful gifts to receive is the gift of time spent with my family. Just spending time together, reminiscing and making new memories together is the best way to spend the day <3

This week, while you are making your Mother’s Day plans and choosing the perfect gift ~ remember that your Mom deserves to be pampered and treated more often than just on the holidays. While you are with her this weekend, maybe helping her out with some chores around her house, give her a Tracy Helps You gift certificate. It’s like giving her the gift of free time. Everyone needs some free time / me time, especially Mothers. Sometimes, Moms can sometimes feel a little guilty about taking some time for themselves in their busy life. There is always so much to get done. While I am taking care of stuff on her To-Do List, she can be relaxing without worrying about things not getting done … she will love it 🙂

This week, in honor of Mother’s Day, I’m offering a special rate for Gift Certificates ~ 3 hour for $50 … contact me 🙂

My Memories of the Christmas Holiday Season

I have always loved the Christmas Holidays!

I lived with my Grandmother and the whole family gathered at her house for every holiday. I have wonderful memories of the house being filled with the aroma of baking cookies. I remember my uncle used to paint pretty, snowy winter scenes on the big windows in the living room. My Grandma loved to crochet, and there were often gifts of scarves and afghans … I still have a poncho she made for me (it was the sixties). I remember someone usually had to run to the corner drugstore to get more batteries or film and flashcubes (anyone remember those?).

We had an artificial Christmas tree and I have couple memories of a few choice words being uttered when the assembly didn’t always go as planned 🙂 I remember there were a few fragile ornaments from great grandparents that I wasn’t allowed to touch until I was ten. I have many of the ornaments that hung on that tree … hanging them on my tree each year always brings back cherished memories of my childhood.

I remember always having so many new toys to play with. We always had a big turkey dinner on Christmas Day and the house smelled so delicious and wonderful, all warm and cozy.

Our celebrations continued all through the week between Christmas and New Years. Both my Grandma and I have a birthday during this time. I remember toasting with 7UP after counting down to New Years. I remember loving to watch the parade while Grandma was getting the New Years dinner ready. She always gave me the extra maraschino cherries she didn’t need for the ham 🙂

I cherish these nostalgic memories of childhood ♥

Christmas Busyness VS. the Reason for the Season

Christmas is upon us ! For the life of me, I don’t understand how time flies by so quickly. We all lead very busy lives. Sometimes I wonder why we over commit ourselves, after all, many times, we decide what goes on our schedule. I think in part, as a woman (and a perfectionist), I’m expected to do it all … a.k.a. SuperMom. The Holidays seem to add even more commitments to our already busy days.

I love lists, as you probably know, they help me stay organized. During the year, I have many various kinds of lists … personal, household and business to-do lists. Some lists are seasonal, gardening – camping – raking – and, of course, Christmas. My Holiday to-do list is always long.

I always want the Currier and Ives feeling for my home. You know, where the loving family is gathered around a beautifully decorated tree sitting in front of a warm, cozy fire in the hearth. The well-behaved children are eating warm from the oven cookies while listening to Dad read the Christmas story, patiently waiting to open the perfectly wrapped gifts under the tree. In my dreams …

It’s totally unrealistic, I know, but in my perfectionist mind, I disappoint myself by not getting it all done. Will the world end if I don’t bake 10 varieties of cookies or the gifts don’t have matching bows?? Of course not … I know I make my own busyness (I write the lists), but I truly want to be able to slow down and enjoy the Holidays. I need to learn how to simplify my preparations. I want to concentrate on what this holiday is all about … not all the commercialism and Santa Claus.

Jesus is the reason for the season. Christmas is about the gift of love, not things. It’s about spending time with family … and if you know of someone who doesn’t have family near, adopt them into your family 🙂 It’s about celebrating traditions and reminiscing with loved ones and friends. It’s about making new memories. It’s about being grateful for all you’ve been blessed with. It’s a time for blessing others. It’s about enjoying the simple things …

I want to wish you and yours a very MERRY CHRISTMAS and HAPPY NEW YEAR !!!

Tips and Ideas for Homemade Christmas Gifts

Most everyone loves to receive a homemade gift for the Holidays … especially an edible one ♥

Speaking for myself, I appreciate the time and effort that that someone put into making the gift for me. It’s like an expression of loving care.

I like giving homemade cookies and candies as Christmas gifts. Many times, several gifts come from one batch of your recipe. This tip can save time and money … a win–win scenrio.

In the past, I’ve made homemade Hot Cocoa Mix and paired it with a holiday theme mug. Giving mini loafs of pumpkin or banana bread has always been a hit.

This year I’m making layered mason jar mixes. I was thinking about doing the basic tollhouse chocolate chip recipe (who doesn’t love chocolate chip cookies??) but then I thought, hmmn, lots of people make a New Years Resolution to eat healthy, so I decided to make some bean soup layered jars. I think it will be a great way to keep warm and be healthy during the long winter months.

I also like doing crafts, and I like giving some of my completed projects as Christmas gifts. There is a long list, but here are some of my favorites: knitted scarf, handmade cards, ornaments, or earrings 🙂

The library has tons of books for homemade gifts, as well as, Pinterest. I’m sure your family and friends will love getting your heartfelt homemade gift ♥