Thanks, Oprah!!  I received a fantastic link from Oprah today, providing 100 fantastic recipes for the upcoming holiday. 

http://www.oprah.com/article/omagazine/recipes/200811_omag_thanksgiving_menus

The clock is ticking.  Why not make it your best Turkey dinner ever.  Or, perhaps you will find your wild side, and choose a less traditional option.  Whichever your preference, I hope all remember to eat clean and enjoy! 

While Oprah has the food covered, let me help you to set the stage.  Our fabulous Holiday Treasures give you many options to create a unique environment with hand made decorative decor.  Spread out your tablecloth, and create a decadant centerpiece with our Iron Turkey Basket.  Made of recycled materials, this hand crafted basket will set the stage for fun and elegance.     Fill with beautiful gourds as is shown, or your favorite breads or fruit. 

Welcome your guests with a fabulous glass of wine using our Giant Bowl Wine Glasses made of recycled glass.  Find the perfect wine using these fantastic tips:  http://wine.about.com/od/holidayswithwine/a/thanksgivingwin.htm  When all is said and done, curl up under a blanket and enjoy a great book.  Here are a few of my favorites:  Three Cups of Tea by Greg Mortenson, How She Does It by Margaret Heffernan and The Art of Possibility by Rosamund Zander. 

As always, first time buyers will enjoy 10% off your order.  Take care and have a great week!

"We should all be thankful for those people who rekindle the inner spirit."  -Albert Schwietzer

In the spirit of Thanksgiving, I thought this to be appropriate.  I have a few special friends I know that have brought me back from some dark places, more than once.  There are two in particular that I owe years of thanksgiving to; they are my husband and my best friend, Michelle.

At 22, I was a bit lost.  Then I met my soulmate.  It wasn't a romantic novel by any means.  Turbulant rollercoaster ride is a far better description.  Nonetheless, he gave me the means to see my fullest potential, something I now know only a fraction of the population ever has the opportunity to see.  Ten years into our marriage, we have been challenged with lifes rollercoaster rides.  Our most difficult hurdle was a major medical diagnosis.  Many wouldn't have made it through as partners.  Again, we fought, and cried, and questioned why.  But, we made it through.  I am grateful. 

I met my best friend in 2004.  She is literally a rock.  I think women in general are blessed with a strength like no other creature!  She has been through so much with me, and always pulled me out, even when I just wanted to sink further.  We have all been there, no doubt.  This friend, Michelle, is truly one-of-a-kind.  I have never seen her cry over her own problems.  She is consistently upbeat and logical, regardless of how ridiculous the circumstances.  She is my blessing. 

I am grateful this day to know I have these supports.  I am aware that this is a treasure that some lack.  On this day I wish that everyone finds their rock and soulmate.  When you do, remember to let them know.  Remember, this site was created just for this purpose....to remind those we love, how much they mean to us.  That special gift, that long lasting unique gift, that will always remind your loved one that you are also there for them.

I am sitting on a patio overlooking an acre and a half of untainted beauty, natures’ beauty.  The serenity is so pure it makes me want to freeze the moment forever.  I would love to say that you will find equal beauty in my gifts, but once again, I can’t compete with God!  However, I can join in his cause to pleasure the world with splendor.

The gifts selected for this site are not just chosen randomly as yet another item to fill a page.  They are chosen with several things in mind.  First, I hope to bring a sense of understanding as to the importance one feels for the other.  These gifts are meant to signify this importance.  They are not slapped together in a hurry with a glue gun.  Instead most  are gifts created with passion by artists from around the world.  The time and talent expended is easily interpreted by the result of the creation.  Gifts do speak love to others.  They act as a symbol of the care you hope to communicate to the special people in your life. 

Second, much of our gift selection has a global affect on real people.  Our entire Kalalou line is hand crafted by artisans from all over the world.  Most of these people had nothing before Kalalou stepped into their lives.  The story behind its co-owners is fascinating.  The people they affect is humbling.  We receive great joy in being able to participate in a worldwide effort to empower people out of poverty while using their God given talents.  What a fantastic blessing.  Still there are others.  The artist gifted with the unique ability to transform metal junk, such as wrenches or bolts, into useable, breathtaking pieces of art, is a real hoot.  Born and raised in a small Wisconsin town she never left.  She supports her family on this passion and talent.  She could have been many things, probably made more money.  But, she loves her work.  I, again, am blessed to be able to support her efforts. 

While not every line of product has quite as glamorous a story, each line is chosen to bear a dramatic effect on the recipient.  They will know you care, the way we care about creating a moment of appreciation.  Take care.  Tonya

A wedding can be many things.  Happy, exhausting, painful, thrilling, emotional, crazy, and quick!  Let's face it, for those of us who have been there, it is like preparing Thanksgiving dinner.  You begin at about four in the morning.  First comes the ritualistic gourmet breakfast of eggs soufflee followed by the mouthwatering homemade cinnamon rolls.  While the family eats, you begin the many appetizers that will be served throughout the day, as the main meal slowly transforms into a feast.  At about four in the afternoon, after you have slaved away for hours, the family swarms the dining room table.  Then, poof, like magic, in minutes, it is all gone. 

The same goes for a wedding celebration.  The planning begins a year or more in advance.  Every fine detail is mulled over for hours.  The bride dreams of the perfect day.  Over and over the day repeats in the brides mind: the rehearsal dinner, the ceremony, and the reception.  Each thought spawns careful tweeking and changes to the smallest detail, in preparation for the most joyous event she will ever know.  Then, the day comes, the guests arrive, the guests leave.  Poof, like magic, it is all over in what seems like minutes compared to the hours of preparation.  An amazing time no doubt, but it goes fast.

What's left?  That's where this terrific site comes into play.  What is left are the memories.  What takes them back are the visuals of that day.  Find the appropriate wedding gift, and you can take them back over and over again.  The Small Mixed Media Bowl under Eco-Friendly Gifts/Metal, for instance, offers a variety of recycled metal pieces that fit together perfectly to form a beautiful eco-friendly bowl.  Not unlike their marriage.  Each of them brings to the table a variety of characteristics and traits that fit together perfectly to form a perfect love.  Not only is the gift unique and eco-friendly, but with like kind words, it will serve as a reminder of their perfect fit.

Another example, is the Sun/Moon Thermometer found under Garden & Patio/Outdoor Ornaments.  With a passage such as, "Like the moon catching the sun, may you catch each other through the moments of rain".  Again, a very unique, useful gift, that will always be a reminder to them that through the rain, their is sunshine found in one another.

These are just two examples of the many beautiful, and unique wedding gifts that can be found on this site.  Offering a unique gift with quality is the key to making the day last longer than a minute.  You can bring the magic of that day to them always.  Good luck shopping!

One part of real estate sales that solidified my passion for the industry, was the many amazing people, with amazing attributes, lifestyles, and thought processess. Recently, I launched a new business, www.gotchagifts.net, which supplies distinctive, artistic closing gifts for real estate agents. Yet again, I am amazed at the talent and remarkable "think outside the box" mentality that is conscious throughout our world. What do I mean by this? Well, by trying to find the unique gifts, I found unique artists and suppliers with amazing ideas, talents, and thought processess.

For instance, there is Tammy Roy, a dumpster-diving recycle-based artist from Wisconsin (my home state mind you). Her passion for creating art out of recycled metal was inspired by her mom's "hobby" of rummaging through industrial dumpsters and junkyards. A few welding lessons from Dad, and Voila!, 180 Design was created. I told her that since I lacked that level of creative thinking, I would live vicariously through the sale of her creations.

Another? How about Kalalou? It is a company that travels the world, and literally seeks out talented, poor individuals that create beautiful product. The owners will create contracts, begin carrying their artistic creations, and facilitate the families in building their own micro businesses. How amazing is that? My favorite story is that of "Tom Sawyer". They named the young boy, selling shells on the street, this name because that is who he looked like. Passing by, they couldn't forget his face. The next day they found him, discovered that he lived with 7 siblings and his grandmother in a one room, dirt floor home, with little money. Its a long story, but in the end, Kalalou now successfully distributes "Grandmas" knit bags, and the family has now moved into a new three bedroom home. All 8 kids are attending school. Additionally, they carry about 65% recycled products, typically hand made by artisans. Kalalou is triumphant in so many ways, and I hope to be the same in my business as it grows.

These are just two examples of the magnificent way in which people use their talents and minds to produce quality products, and better the world.  Have fun shopping!

How in the world am I going to find the time to search for a gift that will possibly convey the importance of our relationship?  That is what I found myself thinking when I decided to form this website.  I had been checking for months, via the internet, to find a source that provided amazing gifts at the touch of a button.  Not just any gift.  I wanted gifts that were extraordinary.  Gifts that, when received, would be a true surprise to the recipient...something they haven't seen the likes of at a standard shopping center.  Why?  Because when a meaningful relationship manifests itself, even when building a business relationship, gift certificates and gift baskets will not convey that importance. 

Life has gotten fast, very fast.  The gift certificate/basket is another example of this speed.  And, it has taken away the soul of relationships.  I built this site to bring that back.  Let people know that they are worth more than a quick stop at the local restaurant for a piece of paper worth $25.  Gotcha Gifts is here to combine the fast paced lifestyle we all have with the ability to discover gifts that will hold life long meaning.  Your only problem?  Which one do I choose?  Good Luck!!