A Twist on the Traditional Group Gift

There are all kinds of reasons for a group to come together to give a single gift.  Sometimes, they're elaborate, but most often the goal is just to show that you care.  Boheez carries a variety of gift books that can make a thoughtful, long-lasting reminder of the connections that tie us together, perfect for retirement celebrations, weddings, milestone birthdays, or encouraging someone dealing with an illness.

Our books are not only beautiful and contain inspirational passages, but they also have an abundance of open space, ready for each member of the group to add their own personal note on a page that speaks to them. Costing between $10 and $15, the books can stand on their own or be added to another gift.

When I was going through my own (multiple) crises, I fell into a habit of re-reading the facebook messages, emails, and texts that friends and colleagues sent. Especially on days when I was feeling sad, alone, and overwhelmed, those simple messages meant so much.  My late husband, when he retired early due to his disability and illness, received a large print surrounded with messages from his coworkers.  Luckily, we had space to hang it where could view it frequently.  It served as a wonderful reminder of happier days and strong friendships.

These books are like that, only in a smaller, portable, and more accessible version.  What innovative group gifts have you given (or received)?  Do you have any ideas for a twist on group gifts?  Share, please!

A Lesson I Need To Learn

There's a difference between learning from blunders and being weighed down by them.  This a lesson I need to learn in almost every aspect of my life.  How about you?

 Image Credit:  Hippie Peace Freaks

This is What I've Been Up To

A rule, maybe the cardinal rule of blogging is to post frequently so that your readers don't forget about you. Sometimes though, when an opportunity falls into your lap and a deadline is involved, the routine of writing and posting falls by the wayside.  Such was the case when I decided to open a pop-up shop at Gallery 3976, an awesome collection of artists and vendors at 1818 Margaret Ave. in the Annapolis Design District - the commercial area bounded by West Street, Legion Avenue, and Chinquapin Round Road.

Gallery 3976 located at 1818 Margaret Ave.

Boheez will be open Thursday through Saturday from 11 - 5 pm.  In December, we will also be open on Wednesday and Sunday, making it easier for you to get your holiday shopping done!  And, if those times aren't convenient for you, just email Service@Boheez.com and we'll make arrangements to meet you when it's convenient for you!  If you haven't liked the Boheez Facebook page yet, I highly recommend it -- that's where I'll be posting the latest news and special deals.

Zum Soaps at Boheez's pop up shop

The Gallery's first big event was a fundraiser for the Chesapeake Ballet Theater, which took place on November 14th.  It was a mad dash to transform an old warehouse space into a fun and functional space where creativity could thrive and customers could shop easily.  Close to 200 friends, family, and supporters of the Theater stopped by to shop, eat, drink, and shop some more!

Our Nautical Throw in the lobby!

That night, I realized that what I miss most about running a brick and mortar store is the instant reaction of customers to a product or the overall concept.  

Chesapeake Ballet Theater Fundraisers

There's no way any Yelp review can capture that look of joy (or disdain!) when a customer sees something for the first time. It's also so much fun to be surrounded by the creativity of the artists!  One of the goals of the Gallery is to be include a showroom of sorts -- combining all of the artists products together as they would be in an actual home.

For example, the Gallery Lobby resembles a comfortable family room, with artwork by Debra Watson, an embroidered pillow by Pier 77, a cedar trunk by Knot Shore, a driftwood sailboat by By the Bay, and a Nautical Throw that Boheez offers in two versions.  (The recycled metal Pelican is also available at Boheez, but only in the Gallery).   Please stop by if you're in the Annapolis area!  We'd love to see you!

Happiness is a Way of Travel

You're Not Alone ... And You Don't Have to Be

Did you know that in the US nearly 66 million adults serve as unpaid caregivers to someone who is ill, disabled, or aged?  That's a heck of a lot of people -- about 29% of the population. The vast majority of them care for a relative, but many of them support a friend, neighbor, or colleague.

Image Credit:  www.thecaregiverspace.org

There are a number of sobering statistics about caregivers. The one that makes me saddest was posted by The Caregiver Space on their Facebook page: 36% of caregivers feel they have no source of support to turn to. That translates into 24 million people, about three times the population of New York City, who feel they are on their own to deal with the responsibility, the stress, and the uncertainty of caregiving.

In my case, the reasons included not wanting to intrude on the busy lives of my friends, a belief that I should be able to do it all, and the relatively gradual increase in the amount of caregiving my husband required.  

Looking back, it's easy to say that if I had known about the resources available, or how willing friends would be to help out, I would have reached out. The reality is that I was trying to just hang on and get through each day.  I researched the heck out of his symptoms, the disease progression, and how to support him.  It didn't dawn on me to look for support for myself.  

I've just published a page on this blog that lists a few resources for caregivers. It's only a start, and I haven't vetted them beyond a review of their website and/or their Facebook pages.  I'll post additional resources as I find them, and I encourage you to send me ones that you know about. (You can add them as a comment here if you like.) 

With 40% of US families providing care for someone, it's almost certain that you know a caregiver, if you aren't one yourself.  Reach out.