Thank a Teacher!

The school year is coming to an end. Students, teachers, and even parents are counting down the days and hours until the last bell rings. As students are preparing to run for the doors of summer it is a good time to look back at all the hard work, dedication, and efforts that were put into the past 9 months of education.

Teachers have worked hard to help the students learn vital information over this past school year. Because of their hard work and dedication we should thank our teachers for what they had done. Show your teacher or your child’s teacher all that they mean to you and their hard work didn’t go unnoticed with a balloon bouquet from Balloons By Mail. Choose from the many teacher related balloons or a combination of thank you balloons to be sent directly to his/her classroom. If you would like to show your appreciation to the entire school staff, send a bouquet to be placed in the staff lounge or office so all can enjoy and know they are cared for.

A Memorial Day History

Many Americans look at Memorial Day as a day that provides them with a three-day weekend, a day to have a barbeque with potato salad, or a day that represents the beginning of the summer. While all these are great reasons to celebrate, they aren’t the true purpose of Memorial Day.

While there is some debate as to where Memorial Day began, in 1966, Congress and President Johnson declared Waterloo, NY the “birthplace” of Memorial Day because of a ceremony on May 5, 1866 in which veterans who had fought in the civil war were honored. In 1868, an organization of Union veterans declared May 30th to be Decoration Day. They chose May 30th because flowers would be in bloom all over the country and they wanted to ensure flowers were strewn on both Union and Confederate graves.

It wasn’t until after World War I, that the day was expanded to honor those who have dies in all American Wars. In 1971, Memorial Day was declared a national holiday by congress and was to be placed on the last Monday in May.

As American citizens, it is our job to celebrate and honor those who have fallen, fought, or are still fighting for our freedom and the freedom of others. If you know someone who has served our country or has lost someone for the freedom of others, show them you care this Memorial Day. Send a Thank You or Patriotic balloon bouquet from Balloon By Mail.

Retirement

Although I am no where near the time of retirement I have had the privilege of seeing those I love retire and thoroughly enjoy the benefits. A great friend and neighbor of mine retired last year. It was a bitter sweet occasion. She had fretted over being able to retire, leaving those she worked with, and if she really wanted to leave a job she loved. She knew she would miss her time at work with the co-workers she had gotten to know so well, however on the flip side she would now have that time to spend with her four children and grandchildren. When she finally made the decision to retire, we (her friends and family) knew it was an occasion to celebrate. We wanted to make sure her 30+ years of service didn’t go unnoticed and her future years of rest and relaxation weren’t overlooked. When her final day of work came we surprised her with goodies, events, and parties throughout the day (balloons included of course).

Do you know someone in your life that is going to retire soon? Make sure that their last days of work are celebrated. Send them balloons from Balloons By Mail. Check out our retirement and celebration balloons. Make sure your balloon bouquet is exciting and original by adding smile balloons or even an extra large singing congratulations balloon. Choose from our many gift ideas or select a specific retirement koozie to add to the bottom of your balloon bouquet. But most of all, don’t forget to celebrate this milestone in your loved one’s life!

Graduations to Celebrate

In addition to doing social media and design for Balloons By Mail, I am a teacher of special education in middle school and high school. Because of this I have get to see the accomplishment of graduation twice a year. I get to watch m 8th grade students walk across the stage to become high schoolers. I get to watch my high schoolers walk across the stage to become college or career bound adults.

These graduations, in addition to primary school and kindergarten graduations, are huge milestones for our children and young adults. The graduation ceremonies represent the movement from one position in life to another with added independence and responsibility. As a teacher I recognized the increased demand on our youth and the true accomplishment it is when these graduations take place.

When the child or young adult in your life graduates let him or her know how proud you are! Send balloons that sing celebration, and show congratulations to the graduate. Include a graduation singing bear or a “Great Job” tiger. Choose from our pre-designed graduation balloon bouquets or make your own combination of graduation, good luck, and congratulations balloons to send. But no matter how you send your blessing make sure you let these graduates know they have crossed a milestone, should be proud, and ready to concur the world!

Saving Money on Great Gifts

In today’s world money is often a hot topic for conversation. Our financial stability has changed in our homes and our country. The majority of America, and the world for that matter, have had to make changes in their spending. We are trying to spend our money wisely, make every penny count, and give up some things to purchase others. So today it can be difficult when a birthday or other celebration comes up, because we know our budgets are tight. However, there are still ways to provide the perfect gift to someone without breaking the bank or looking cheap. Here are a few tips for saving money when buying gifts:

1. Buy from the sale section: When looking for the perfect gift, start in the clearance or sale section of the store or website. Often time items in these areas are not there because no one liked them; they are on sale because stores are overstocked. When a store orders 6 of an item and accidently receives 12, there is limited space and the products are put on sale to help make things less crowed. Check out the Balloons By Mail Clearance Section to find great balloon weights for the balloon bouquet you want to send!

2. Use coupons: Coupons are a great way to buy what you want, but save money while you do so. Clip coupons from the paper; search the internet for special deals, and sign up for email specials. Balloons By Mail sends out weekly or biweekly emails with specials on product and savings coupons. Mailing lists are not only great for savings but also provide inspiration of other great gift ideas. Sign up for the Balloons By Mail Email list for information on specials and coupons!


3. Send food: The common saying is “Food is the way to a person’s heart.” Giving the gift of food will not only satisfy the belly but also the soul. While, food is always a well appreciated gift, it is also typically less expensive than stuff. Choose from traditional and gourmet candies, salty treats, coffee, or soups from Balloons By Mail to make someone feel special on their special day.

4. Ship directly to the gift recipient: When ordering a gift on-line, instead of having the gift sent to you, send it to the true gift recipient. Shipping costs can be expensive if you personally receive the gift, wrap it, and then send it on to that special someone. Often times the shipping and handling you pay on a product is less than the actual cost, leaving the business to absorb the extra. Most online stores offer the item to be sent as a gift for a small fee, resulting in a nicely wrapped package and an invoice without the price. Balloons By Mail always packages and ships balloons and gifts decoratively. In addition to arranging and packaging the items neatly, Balloons By Mail will include gift messages and tags at no extra cost!

A Tribute to My Mom

In honor of Mother’s Day I would like to note what an awesome mom I have and thank her for all she has done for me over the years. My mom, the founder and owner of Balloons By Mail, has worked so hard to provide her children, my two brothers and myself, with everything we ever needed. Growing up my mom was always there to help point us in the right direction, but allowed us to make our own mistakes so we could learn and grow. When a mistake hit one of us hard and we stumbled, she was there to catch us when we fell. Although I didn’t appreciate it at the time she took notice in the things I did and where I went as a teenager. She put up with my sometimes bratty attitude and still took the time to let me know she cared.

Today my mom and I are best friends and rarely do a few days pass without a phone call. When I got married last summer I came across a song that seemed to say it all, “Because You Loved Me” by Celine Dion. Here are a few of the lyrics I would like to present to my mom.

“For all those times you stood by me
For all the truth that you made me see
For all the joy you brought to my life
For all the wrong that you made right
For every dream you made come true
For all the love I found in you
I'll be forever thankful for you
You're the one who held me up
Never let me fall
You're the one who saw me through, through it all”

Make sure you tell your mom what she means to you by sending her a gift that shows you care.

40th Birthdays

As I have mentioned before “birthdays often come in themes.” What about the theme of Over the Hill? When talking about these birthdays people like to include anything from 30 to 80 as OVER THE HILL, but today let’s discuss the 40th birthday.

The 40th birthday is definitely a birthday that most would refer as crossing over into the “Over the Hill Era.” A 40th birthday is the transition from those thriving 30sand even farther from those terrific 20s. So when it comes time to celebrate a 40th birthday it is time to play! Make this birthday an enjoyable one, party with friends, share a drink, and let everyone know that you are tickled to be 40!

Think of the people who are turning 40 in your life, or are you turning 40? A wonderful way to any 40th birthday boy or girl feels loved and enjoy is by sending a balloon bouquet from Balloons By Mail. Choose from a wide selection of birthday balloons, over the hill bouquets, 40th birthday specific balloons, and other great gift ideas for a 40th birthday. To make your bouquet special choose a “4” and “0” balloon or an over the hill singing balloon to add with 40th birthday koozie or beer mug. Also take a look at our “Aged to Perfection” woozie. If your loved one has a sense of humor, don’t forget to look through the other Over the Hill gifts as well, and celebrate this true milestone birthday!