A Gracious Plenty

About Friday the 13th

Friday the 13th occurs one to three times a year.  This year January, April and July will have a Friday the 13th.

Do you consider Friday the 13th as a day of bad luck? Whatever you do, don't walk under a ladder and don't let a black cat cross your path! After the movie "Friday the 13th" came out in 1980 (yes, it's been that long!) many people started to live in fear of this day.

Throughout most of recorded history, the number 13 has been seen as an unlucky number. Did you know that if are afraid of the number 13, you suffer from Triskaidekaphobia?

Historically, Friday has been viewed as an unlucky day of the week. However, we now find this hard to believe, after all, Friday is TGIF!! However, in the past, when you put the unlucky day of Friday, together with the unlucky #13, many people believe only bad things can happen.

Interestingly, there is a sizable number of optimists, who embrace Friday the 13th and the number 13. They shrug off the superstition and go buy lottery tickets with the number 13 in it.

 

 

Feature Friday: Personalized Baby Bank

For this week's Feature Friday Item, I picked one of my favorite first birthday gifts, our stainless steel engraved baby bank adorned with raised lettering. This is a great gift to commemorate the first birthday of a special child in your life.

It's a cute and practical gift for a child's birthday, and will become a keepsake for many years to come. It's a great way to teach a young child how to save.

The bank can be personalized with two engraved lines of up to 15 characters per line and comes in a gift box. Size: 2.5" x 2.5". Gift wrap (in pastel baby-themed paper with a coordinating bow) is available.  

 

Feature Friday: Monogrammed Heritage Biscuit Barrel/ Cookie Jar

This week at A Gracious Plenty we've talked about getting ready for the holidays, with host/hostess gifts for holiday gatherings and custom holiday stamps for holiday gifts and correspondence. For our Feature Friday item I'd like to shine the spotlight on our monogrammed biscuit barrel/cookie jar.  It can be filled with biscuits for people or pets and makes a wonderful gift for anyone looking for stylish storage. 

In fact, it makes a great host/hostess gift - just fill with it homemade cookies (or if you're here in the South, cheese straws or biscuits!) and tie on a ribbon for a great gift presentation.  Now your host/hostess has a delectable treat to enjoy soon after the gathering, and an elegant, displayable storage container for long after!

This 7" crystal cookie jar awaits your innovation.  We personalize it with hand-cut monogramming in your choice of fonts, and we package it in an attractive blue and white gift box. Gift wrapping (dark blue paper with silver ribbon) and a gift card are also available for an additional charge of $5.95.  

This item usually is ready to ship within 5-7 business days from our receipt of your order.  (Please allow a few extra days between Thanksgiving and Christmas.)  Shipping time is additional.  Standard shipping is via UPS Ground, although shipping upgrades to 2nd Day Air or Next Day Delivery are available.

Feature Friday Item: Pink Ribbon Stamp

 

Yesterday I noted how October is breast Cancer Awareness month, and today I wanted to continue the theme by featuring the Pink Ribbon Stamp, made by PSA Essentials.  This stamp is a great way to raise awareness and show your support for those fighting against breast cancer.  The wording around this special pink ribbon stamp design can be anything you wish, as long as it fits within the character limits (indicated below).  Just putting an address (for a return address stamp) or a repeating name (for stamping casual notes, etc.) around the pink ribbon design looks fantastic!  This self-inking stamp impression measures 1.63".  

PSA Essentials' custom stamps can accommodate up to 60 characters around the center design, including punctuation, spaces and dots used to separate the circular text.

This stamp comes with a special two-color pink and black ink cartridge already installed and ready to use.  Each cartridge contains enough ink to make approximately 10,000 to 14,000 impressions.

This item typically is ready to ship to you within 10-14 business days.  PSA Essentials offers a Rush Service in which they will complete and ship your stamp within 3 business days - this optional service costs $25.00 and does not include shipping costs.  Shipping time is additional.  Standard shipping is via UPS Ground, although shipping upgrades (Second Day Air, Next Day Delivery) are available.

Feature This Friday- Julia Monogrammed Crystal Pitcher

Since I wrote about anniversary gifts earlier this week I thought it was appropriate to pick one of my favorite gifts for an anniversary couple: our personalized crystal pitcher.  One of the reasons I love to give this gift is that unlike other formal gifts, it will be used all the time.  If entertaining house guests or hosting a holiday brunch, the crystal pitcher can be used to serve juice, lemonade, tea or water.  It is appropriate for formal affairs, but will also fit nicely into a more casual repast.  (Just between us gals, this pitcher also comes in quite handy for a 'girl's night in' pitcher of your favorite refreshing concoction, like sangria or margaritas!)  Using a crystal pitcher is a great way to dress up any drink you're serving, even your morning orange juice, if you like!  I can tell you through personal experience:  you can open a carton of orange juice and pour it right in - no muss, no fuss - and you and your guests will feel truly special!

The Julia Monogrammed crystal pitcher has graceful lines which accentuate a classic shape that will never go out of style.  The pitcher is engraved with an elegant script monogram and holds 64 ounces.  Its radiant sparkle will long reflect your good taste and thoughtfulness, making it an ideal anniversary, wedding or housewarming gift.  

   

  

Feature This Friday: Custom Photo Jewelry

Imagine having your favorite photo transformed into a beautiful piece of custom handmade jewelry, so that you can always keep your loved ones and precious memories close to your heart.  The Cherish Photo Necklace offered at A Gracious Plenty is a stunning design by jewelry artist Stephanie McCleary.  It features a square photo tile accented by a sterling silver bail and suspended on a Greek leather cord necklace.  To make the pendant, the photo of your choice is sized, sharpened for clarity and custom colored by the artist, then set into a sterling silver frame charm and sealed with a waterproof protective coating.  The photo measures 3/4" by 3/4", and is set on a 1 1/8" jewelry tile.  You may choose either a sepia-toned (antiqued) photo finish set on a brown tile and hung on a brown leather necklace, or a black and white photo finish set on a black tile and hung on a black leather necklace. 

This is the perfect way to memorialize a friend, relative or beloved pet, keeping them 'near and dear' to your heart every day.  Gifts that are this personal - and beautiful - are among our favorites here at A Gracious Plenty!   

Featured This Friday: Ornate Oval Silver Monogrammed Pacifier Clip

Gifts for newborns can be challenging. Luckily, A Gracious Plenty carries an assortment of heirloom-quality sterling silver children's gifts!  If you are looking for something unique, something that will be treasured, something that will likely become a keepsake and be passed down for generations, you might want to consider our ornate oval sterling silver monogrammed pacifier clip.  A Gracious Plenty will engrave it with baby's initials in your choice of four monogram fonts and we will attach a pink or blue ribbon. 

Like all of our monogrammed pacificier clips, this ornate oval clip is crafted from .925 sterling silver. We send it in a gift box and include a gift note (if requested) at no additional charge.  Gift wrap in pastel baby-themed paper is available for $5.95.  We ship all over the United States, and Express Shipping (Second Day Air, Next Day Delivery) is available to most locations. 

If you need a special gift for a special baby, this is an excellent choice!   

Featured this Friday...

Inspired by the fabulous women in my life!  The Love & Wisdom Necklace...an engraved sterling silver pendant, monogrammed on the front and inscribed with up to four names or lines of text on the reverse...accented on either side by a sterling silver heart, representing love, and a creamy freshwater pearl, representing wisdom...worn close to the heart on a sterling silver rolo chain.  Share it with a special woman in your life today!