Basket Buzz Blog

hip hip halloweekend!

2010-10-25T14:31:00.001-04:00

We're ready for Halloweekend, are you?

Whimsical Treats

Spooktacular Balloons

Creative Gift Ideas

Party Favors

All items pictured are available at our retail store or on our website. You'll find tons of clever treat ideas and a tricks for your little ghosts and goblins.

Love to see the new goodies we're getting in every week? Then sign up to receive our colorful blog posts in your email inbox.... window shopping has never been so easy!

Have a very Happy Halloween!

Diane Sawyer Coincidence

2010-09-23T22:32:00.009-04:00

Weird thing happened to me. I had seen the Diane Sawyer interview with Facebook's Mark Zuckerberg online the other day and I got a call today with an order from her! It was a basket of cheer for a young girl recuperating at home from the hospital.

Here's the interview I had seen:

celebrity gifting gig

2010-09-16T09:19:00.023-04:00

I have heard that NY Giants Super Bowl champ, Eli Manning, and his wife Abby live in Hoboken. As luck would have it, one of our regular customers is a close friend and neighbor of the Mannings. And on Friday the 10th we had our first opportunity to create a gift for them--yippee! Our customer wanted to give them some delightful goodies to kick-off the season and we were thrilled to help pick out some fun finds to make their weekend a little brighter.

I wrapped everything picture perfect...

Here's what they got:

Football stadium chip & dip platter, bottle of Merlot (Eli's favorite), spicy blue tortilla chips, green olive salsa, custom hand-painted wine glasses, homemade sausage bread (my customer's specialty), ace bandages, sports tape, eye black, Eucalyptus Mint essential oil for pain relief, cooling gel pack, Giants collar and bandana for their dog Chester.

I hand-delivered this arrangement to their apartment and was greeted by Abby and family dog Chester. We hope you enjoy your goodies Eli & Abby!

Get Your Hoop On

2010-07-28T10:00:00.004-04:00

My latest obsession is hooping. There, I said it. It's fun, social and a great workout. My dirty little secret is I've been going to hoop class once a week in NYC. Now it makes sense why I couldn't keep the kiddie hoops up long enough. Adult hoops are bigger and have more weight so it's easier for beginners to learn. I have my eye on this hoop. My goal is to be able to hoop dance and hoop jam with fellow hoopers in the area. How about you? Ready to dust off your hoop and show us your skills?

Can't wait to get my hoop on at the Luau on 7/31. Join me for a Hula Hoop Contest from 5pm-6pm!

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2010-06-09T12:31:00.001-04:00

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Judaica Sneak Preview

2009-09-14T20:40:00.004-04:00

We love these one-of-a-kind Miriam goblets and personalized Latke plates by Suzaluna. They'll be availble for pre-order after Rosh Hashanah.

Lemon Herb Roasted Chicken Recipe

2009-09-10T12:48:00.004-04:00

Olivier Napa Valley Oils has made it on The O List: "Subtle yet zesty, these multipurpose medleys can be sopped up with bread, tossed over salads, or marinated with chicken."

LEMON HERB ROASTED CHICKEN

Olivier's Meyer Lemon Garden Herb Oil is delish! Use it to enliven vegetables, leafy greens, seafood and poultry, such as this roasted chicken recipe.

Ingredients:
2 Tbs. Olivier Meyer Lemon Garden Oil [http://tiny.cc/G4gmg]
2 tsp. chopped fresh thyme (or your favorite herb)
2 tsp. salt
1 tsp. freshly ground pepper
1 chicken, about 5 lb., rinsed and patted dry

Directions:
In a small bowl, combine the oil, thyme, salt and pepper and stir to form a paste.

Using your hands, carefully separate the skin from the chicken around the breasts and legs so as not to tear the skin. Rub some of the oil mixture under the skin, then rub the remaining mixture on the outside of the chicken and inside the cavity. Place the chicken in a large sealable plastic bag or wrap with plastic wrap and set on a baking sheet. Refrigerate for 1 hour.

Preheat oven to 400ºF.

Remove plastic bag or wrap from chicken and place the chicken on a rack in a large roasting pan. Roast, basting occasionally with the pan juices for about 1 1/4 hours.

Transfer the chicken to a carving board, cover loosely with aluminum foil and let rest for 10 minutes before carving. Serves 6.

Green Never Looked So Good

2009-08-21T13:49:00.005-04:00

I'm always looking for ways to make less of a carbon footprint. Over the past year customer requests for recycled gift wrap have increased. The past couple of weeks in particular I've had customers asking for eco-friendly gift wrapping solutions for the trendy "green' Bridal showers.

So, I was thrilled to recently find a planet friendly option! We now offer regular cellophane or 100% biodegradable cellophane for only $2 more). Just ask for the smart choice cello when placing your order.

The new cellophane are made from cellulose fibers (composed of trees and plants) sourced with sustainable forestry principles--no rainforest or old growth trees are used. Certified biodegradable, compostable and made carbon zero. Meets ASTM D6400, EN13432 standards for CA and other states. Meets FDA requirements for direct food contact.

Yummy Fair Trade Chocolatey Goodness

2009-07-07T18:36:00.008-04:00

My first introduction to Theo was from a friend in Seattle who sent a gift of truffles and assorted chocolate bars to my husband Tim and I. They were to-die-for and Tim and I absolutely fell in love with their confections and what the company stands for.

As the first and only organic and Fair Trade chocolate factory in the U.S., bringing Theo Chocolate into our store made perfect sense as we strive to offer our customers only the best. Learn more about their high standards for social and environmental responsibility.

I've decided to keep the store stocked with Theo 3400 Phinney bars because the flavors are the most unusual of all the chocolate bars. These fun bars are available in milk and dark chocolates that are combined with a ton of unique ingredients such as chai spices, hazelnut brittle, cocoa nibs and my favoritest flavor of all ... coconut curry! I know some people who think it's too weird. I think who was the genius that decided to combine milk chocolate with coconut and curry spices? This bar tastes AMAZING with crunchy bits of grated coconut, gentle spices reminiscent of Chai, with a great zip of heat as it goes down.

Could Tim and I want to move to WA so that we're closer to 3400 Phinney Avenue North in the Fremont neighborhood of Seattle so we can be close to the Theo Chocolate factory and store?

The sacrifices I make for store research is mind-boggling.

New Art Cards In Today

2009-07-06T19:07:00.002-04:00

Fashionistas will love our new card collection by artist Nicole Wright! 6 hand drawn styles embellished with watercolors, glitter and rhinestones.

The street sign on the bottom right says Washington St! We had Nicole change that from Rodeo Dr. for our local shopping divas--too cute.

Mama's Tea Open House

2009-05-10T15:58:00.006-04:00

And thank you to all of the moms who stopped by and enjoyed a cup of EMAB's organic herbal teas with us this Mother's Day weekend.

Congratulations to Laura Cooney on winning the Earth Mama Angel Baby basket raffle!

Extravaganza

2009-05-04T10:58:00.004-04:00

Thank you to everyone who participated in Baskets of Distinction's 2nd Annual Webkinz Extravaganza. We appreciate you & your continued support!

Jellybean Challenge Winner:
Casey Vitiello--guessed 1,134
(There were a total of 1,135!)

Retired Webkinz Collie Raffle Winner:
Jayden Caprindica

We're still taking donations in the store for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society until Sunday, May 10th.

Stay tuned for photos of the weekend... We'll post them up by the end of the week.

WEBKINZ EXTRAVAGANZA TICKETS!

2009-04-22T20:11:00.005-04:00

Webkinz Day Extravaganza is the can't-miss celebration of the year for every Webkinz fan!

FEATURING:
Games – such as: The Wheel Of Wow, Gem Hunt, Chef Gazpacho's Hot Potato, Fence Painting, Balloon Blast, Quizzy's Questions, Pin the Tail on Plumpy, Sandwich Making, Jelly Bean Challenge.

Prizes -such as: Mystery Webkinz Pets, Webkinz Bookmarks, Webkinz Trading Cards, Webkinz Tattoos, JellyBean Challenge jar and Basket Bucks.

Face Painting

Charitable Raffle for Retired Webkinz to benefit The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society

A whole lot of fun!

HOW TO ATTEND:
Stop by Baskets of Distinction and purchase your ticket for $15.00 – this includes price of admission for the weekend and a FREE Mystery Webkinz! or Call 201-656-5427

Don't miss out on your chance to join the Webkinz fun. Hurry in and purchase your ticket today while they are still available!

Saturday Events (5/2/09)
11-12 Jelly Bean Challenge
12-1 Fence Painter
1-2 Gem Hunt
2-3 Hamburger Cook
3-4 Quizzy's Questions
4-5 Gem Hunt
5-6 Wheel of Wow

Sunday Events (5/03/09)
11-12 Wheel of Wow
12-1 Gem Hunt
1-2 Hamburger Cook
2-3 Jelly Bean Challenge
3-4 Face Paining
4-5 Fence Painter

Webkinz Coloring Contest Winners

2009-04-15T11:55:00.006-04:00

Baskets of Distinction - Webkinz Easter Coloring Contest Winners

We have listed the winners of the Webkinz coloring contest below. If you see your name on the list, please call the Baskets of Distinction retail store at 201-656-5427 or visit us to claim your prize. We would like to thank everyone who participated in this popular event. We had a great response and appreciate everyone's enthusiasm. We will continue to offer fun contest and events that kids of every age can enjoy, so check the Baskets of Distinction's website often and sign up on our mailing list to see what's happening with Webkinz at Baskets of Distinction!

Winners for the Webkinz Easter Coloring Contest:

2-4 Years Old
Eden Rose Renda--Wins $15 gift certificate

7-9 Years Old
Serina Bernardo--Wins $15 gift certificate

Creativity & Uniqueness Prize
Mimi Weinstein--Wins Plushie Pals magazine

10 Years Old and Up
Zoe Mossman--Wins $15 gift certificate

Please contact the store to claim your prize! Thank you once again.

All submissions will be available for pick-up at our retail store location.

Even though the contest is over, you can still find the coloring contest. Download or print the
Baskets of Distinction's Coloring page for fun.

3/50 Project

2009-04-13T17:34:00.002-04:00

I just found out about the 3/50 Project and love what it stands for! Move over gloom-and-doom, make room for positive shopping experiences.

I plan on spreading the word to shop local.

Check it out:
http://www.the350project.net

Carmela's Birthday Celebration

2009-04-03T12:21:00.003-04:00

It's Carmela's Birthday! (A Little Birdie Says She's Turning 30).

Birthdays are always better with friends. Stop by, say hi, and help me celebrate with cake, bubbly and a mystery discount with every purchase.

When:
Saturday, April 4, 2009
2:00pm - 4:00pm

Location:
Baskets of Distinction
1102 Washington St.
Hoboken, NJ

WEBKINZ COLORING CONTEST

2009-03-28T15:51:00.006-04:00

I was inspired by the Webkinz Lamb and am excited to announce that over the weekend I finished drawing one for this year's Webkinz Coloring Contest.

So get your crayons and markers and join in on the fun!

All you have to do is click on the link provided on our homepage and print off your very own Webkinz Lamb coloring page. Then with your parent's help fill out the contact information and mail your artwork to:

Baskets of Distinction
1102 Washington St.
Hoboken, NJ 07030

If you live in the Hoboken area, you can also stop by and pick up a coloring sheet or drop off your submission!

The contest will begin on Monday, March 30th and will end on Saturday, April 11th. All entries must be in by April 11th at 2:00 PM (Eastern Time). We will be contacting the winners after the contest has ended.

So HOP to it and get yours in today…and remember to be creative!

There will be Great Prizes available for 4 Separate Age Groups.

Jewelry Trunk Show!

2009-03-22T14:16:00.000-04:00

Your invited to a Trunk show featuring the one-of-a kind beautiful designs of Janet Greene's wearable art jewelry.

Take advantage of personal styling tips, light refreshments, and great discounts!

Each one-of-a-kind and limited edition piece is lovingly designed and handcrafted by Janet. They are fun to wear and as unique as the person who wears them. Unexpected combinations of color and texture are the signature of Janet Greene Designs. She works with semi-precious stones, lustrous freshwater pearls, art glass, pottery, and sterling silver.

Her unique, artisan-crafted jewelry is exclusively available through a handful of galleries and boutiques--We're elated to be one of them!

These will make memorable gifts or a feel-good treat to reward yourself.

Support a local artist.
Grab and friend, stop by and ask to see these must-haves. Wish List cards will be provided to pass along to your honey *hint* hint*

www.JanetGreeneDesigns.com

Santa Baby

2008-12-27T16:23:00.002-05:00

Well, Santa was good to me this year. Greedy girl that I am, I had lots of things to write down on my Wish List. I was psyched that he remembered to drop off one of Damned Dollies brooches!

I got Darla whose got major attitude--yeah, I'm smoking and what?

Hey, I've been damned good... it's only fair that I got a Damed Dollie out of the deal.

NEW Webkinz Bulk Pack

2008-11-02T19:20:00.003-05:00

Just in time for the Holidays we now offer Webkinz Bulk Packs that saves you money!

Perfect gift-giving solution. Great for classroom parties, gift exchanges, and for last-minute gifts. At this price point your children can easily exchange gifts with their friends and not break the bank! It's all age-appropriate, friendly and welcoming.

Webkinz are an affordable collectible! Ages 3 and up.

MONSTERPIECE FUNDRAISER

2008-10-06T15:57:00.005-04:00

Ghosts, Goblins & My Own Monsters - Oh My!
Our cuddly and quirky monsters are the talk of the town and
boy do these funny fiends have charitable hearts.

We're having a frightfully fun fundraiser
for Global Action for Children.

*$25 Registration Fee Includes:

* Monsterpiece Drawing Submission for a chance to win a One-of-a-Kind custom designed Monster ($249 value)
* Raffle ticket for a chance to win large Penguino Monster ($30 value)
* My Own Monster Keychain ($6 value)
* Goody Bag
* Permission Slip

Upon registration you will receive a Monsterpiece Drawing sheet and permission slip to be completed at home and dropped off at our store. Your permission slip must be returned with your child's Monster Drawing and received by the following deadline:

DROP-OFF BY:
Sunday, October 26th
5:00pm

PLACE:
Baskets of Distinction
1102 Washington St.
Hoboken, NJ 07030

*50% the Registration Fee will be donated to Global Action for Children. To learn more about this international children's organization, visit http://www.GlobalActionforChildren.org.

Help us make this event a SCREAMING SUCCESS
and call 201-656-5427 to REGISTER today!

We're Back

2008-09-20T19:18:00.002-04:00

Thank you everyone for your patience. We finally opened the store again after over a week of being closed from the flood.

Everything has been ripped up and the bare plywood is exposed, but in about 10 days our new Eco-Friendly Bamboo floors will be in!

So bear with us for a little bit longer, it'll be worth the wait.

Rain on my Parade

2008-09-12T16:45:00.003-04:00

It was a sunny and glorious day until I took two steps into the store on Wednesday morning and heard that nasty squish sound.

My first reaction was that somehow the fire sprinklers turned on, but realized that everything above ground was still dry. I continued walking and found large puddles of water starting from the back all the way to the front of the store. As it turns out building maintenance was testing the fire sprinklers of the building and the drainage system was blocked. So all of that water came gushing into my store, Paul Michael's store and my poor neighbor Brent's apartment.

We're in the process of waiting for the professionals to properly dry the place out. Then we can arrange to have the new floors put in (which I'm hoping won't take more than a week).

I'm always up for a vacation, but this is ridiculous! I'm anxious to start our Halloween window and put out the great merchandise we got in. So, stay tuned...I'll let you folks know what goes on as I know.

Webkinz Halloween Bats Now In Stock!

2008-09-09T12:05:00.001-04:00

Halloween is just around the corner, and we're ready now that the fabulously spooky NEW Webkinz Black Bat HAS ARRIVED!

Which pet is all that? Just ask anyone - it's the Bat! This pet loves to fly around Webkinz World visiting friends, playing games, and enjoying a cup or two of Freaky Fruit Frappe!

Special Item: Batwing Chair
Special Food: Freaky Fruit Frappe

This cool bat would love to make some great new friends who really like fun tricks and yummy treats.

The Black Bat is now in our store.
Call us at 201-656-5427 to reserve your Webkinz Bat
and make this Halloween spook-tacular!

BACK BY POPULAR DEMAND!

2008-08-19T17:49:00.005-04:00

For those of you who didn't reserve a Whimsy Dragon and have been looking all over for one, we have fantastic news. Although the Whimsy Dragon was never retired, it has been quite a while since retailers could order new stock.

As of today, the Whimsy Dragon is back on the Webkinz Dealer Order Form. We don't have an exact release date yet, but have ordered a limited quantity and hope they arrive soon.

If you would like to reserve one please call us at 201-656-5427.