Bridal Shower Gift: Vera Wang Love Knots Cake Serving Set

For my wedding I used a cake and server set that my mother used at her wedding nearly 30 years earlier. My mother and father's name and the date of the wedding was engraved on the cake server. My two aunts used the same serving set and added their names. Then it was my turn, followed by my brother. It is beautiful to see a classic cake server set that is adorned with the names of a loving family. The beauty of the serving set and the personalizatoin is wonderful, but the tradition is what holds the most meaning because it represents a moment in time.

You can start this tradition for a bride and she'll be so excited! For just over $60.00 you can give a personal gift that is the beginning of a cherished tradition. You can give a $50.00 crock-pot to a co-worker or a relative you see once a year, but for brides who are family or are dear friends go with the cake serving set. Be sure to use a conservative size font and placement of the names and date on the cake server because the hope is that many more couples will be able to add their name to the server and eventually the trowel.

Gift: Vera Wang Love Knots Cake Serving Set.

Budget: Sold online at Exclusively Weddings for $56.00 for the set. It's another $8.00 for the engraving of the names and dates.

New Baby Gift: Teddy Lux Recycled Cashmere Bears

Think "signature gift." Allow me to explain. I have a handful of close friends. The very first of my close friends just announced her pregancy. I intend to hit up her registry for the baby shower so I know that she gets exactly what she wants and needs for the new baby, but when the new baby arrives that is when I give the gift of my choosing. In this case, it will be the Teddy Lux Bear. These bears are going to be my go-to, signature gifts to welcome a new baby into the family of my nearest and dearest, inner circle of friends. It's a no brainer: new baby equals Teddy Lux bear.

Cashmere. How luxurious is that? So what if it gets a little baby drool on it--it's just a teddy bear! Right? And let's talk variety. You can get girl, boy or neutral teddy bears. You can buy an elephant or a rabit. You can even send in your own cashmere and have a cutom made teddy bear! A custom made cashmere teddy bear! One-of-a-kind. Made by hand. Packaged with the cutest box and dainty bow. I'm dreaming.

Green Gift: All Teddy Lux stuffed animals are made with recycled cashmere. Hand-picked cashmere sweaters are given new life as unique teddy bearsand cashmere animals to be treasured for years to come. The vintage cashmere is extra soft, luxurious, and earth friendly.

Gift: Teddy Lux Recycled Cashmere: Cashmere Bear

Budget: $50.00 sold online at Teddy Lux.

New Baby Gift: Desktop Framed Baby Footprint Kit

I picked up this smart, classic little gift to welcome our friend's new baby girl. With a little thought and few clicks on the Internet, I ordered a gift that will stand-out to the new family of three.

Mark the new arrival of a baby with this adorable, heirloom quality keepsake. Skip the $50.00 silver rattle that will collect dust. Opt for this footprint kit. The benefits are twofold: (1) it will be immediatley used as any parent would be proud to display the desktop frame in a nursery (or in an office as a reminder of their little one!) and (2) it's a fun bonding activity for the family and the tiny tot. Bonus: the mold is easy to use so you can redo the footprint if it doesn't turn out quite right the first go around.

Gift: Discovery Desktop Framed Baby Footprint Kit.

Budget: Sold exclusively by the Discovery Store for $29.95.

Hostess Gift: Salad Dressing Emulsifier

Retire the bottle of wine and scented candle as your go-to hostess gifts. Instead, spring for this nicely designed salad emulsifier that would be a welcome complement to any kitchen table. Take this gift to the next level by filling up the emulsifier with a delicious fresh dressing, vinaigrette or flavored dipping oil. The ingredients and quantities needed for various dressings are listed directly on the bottle!

Green Gift: Using the emulsifier reduces the amount of store-bought plastic bottles. Plus you can make your own fresh dressing from organic ingredients or items bought at your local farmers market.

Gift: Chef’N Salad Dressing Emulsifier from Williams-Sonoma.

Budget: The Chef'N Salad Dressing Emulsifier is sold exclusively at Williams-Sonoma for $14.95. Depending on the ingredients your buy it could run you another $5.00 to $10.00.

Baby Shower Gift: Heirloom Hanky Bonnet

My grandmother fashioned a baby-bonnet out of a linen handkerchief that I wore home from the hospital when I was born. Along with the baby bonnet she gave my mother a poem reminding her that with a few snips of thread the baby bonnet handkerchief could become the "something old" on my wedding day. Among the gifts at my bridal shower was the baby bonnet and the poem and I proudly carried the handkerchief down the aisle at my wedding.

Start a new tradition! Give this gift to a mother-to-be and the new baby can wear the bonnet home from the hospital.

Gift: White Heirloom Hanky Bonnet from Babies R Us or make your own!
Be sure the poem is included:

I'm just a little hankie as square as square can be,But with a small stitch or two a bonnet I will be.
I'll be worn from the hospital or on my christening day, and after that, be folded then carefully put away.
When on that future wedding day so we've been always told,
The well-dressed bride must always wear something that is old.So what could be more fitting
Than to find little meAnd with a few fine stitches snipped A wedding hankie be.
And if perchance it's a boy someday he'll surely wedThen his bride can have the hankie once worn upon his head.

Budget: $22.99 at Babies R Us or even less if you’re crafty enough to make your own.

Wedding Gift: A Bluebird of Happiness

My Aunts are notoriously creative and thoughtful gift-givers. For my wedding we received the standard gifts purchased from the registry, but one Aunt also gave us this little baby Bluebird of Happiness. At first, I looked at the little bird in bewilderment, but then my Aunt chimed in with a story.

The Bluebird is handcrafted of blue glass from a studio in Fayetteville, Arkansas. My younger cousin was on the track and field team at the University of Arkansas and he drove to Terra Studios in the Ozark Mountains to select our baby Bluebird. She told us about the story behind the Bluebird of Happiness. The Bluebird has been associated with love, joy, and the renewal of springtime. Bluebirds are used to commemorate marriages and anniversaries and are considered messengers of good health and contentment.

A guest at the wedding heard about the Bluebird and said she received one over 30 years ago at her wedding! Well, my husband and I were sold. We have the little baby Bluebird nestled on a bookshelf in our living room. I love that I have a fond memory to recall every time I take a peek at the Bluebird peering out from behind the books.

Gift: Handcrafted baby Bluebird of Happiness by Terra Studios.

Budget: You don't have to travel to the Ozark Mountains to pick up this sweet little keepsake. It costs $7.99 plus shipping and can be ordered online from the Terra Studios.

Military Gift: St. Christopher Pendant

The Reason: My brother is a 2nd Lieutenant in the United States Army. Inspired by our grandfather, my brother graduated from college and became an Infantry Officer. Recently, he completed Ranger School--a grueling feat that has always been on his to-do list!

The Gift: St. Christopher is a sign of safety and protection in times of distress. A St. Christopher pendant can be found at Things Remembered. To make this gift even more thoughtful you can inscribe on the back of the medal a phrase that holds a special meaning. For my brother that phrase would be: Adapt and Overcome.

The Budget: The pendant is reasonably priced at $30.00. Plan to spend approximately $50.00 by the time you purchase a necklace chain and pay for the engraving.

Of Significance...

I read case law for a living. I continually decipher which cases hold precedential value, share similar facts and ultimately, which cases are of significance. The law is shaped by significant cases, landmark cases, or cases that are relevant in rendering a judicial opinion for a particular issue. I pour over verbose briefs written by highly capable and intellectual attorneys constantly honing in on what is and is not needed to render a decision. I filter out the white noise and focus on things of importance.

The lessons I have learned in the professional practice of law have applicability to my personal life. Of significance is my family and friends. Kind words, thoughtful gestures and meaningful keepsakes are the hallmark of my relationships. I think we all do a great disservice to our future relationships when we fail to see what truly is of significance in our lives.

In the spirit of all that is significant in our lives it is my intent to share simple ideas, good things, and genuine thoughts about how we can show affection for all the people who come and go in our lives and have an impact.

I almost titled this blog "We can't all afford granite countertops!" Why? Because society has this skewed materialistic view that we must buy the latest, greatest, biggest, best version of everything. There is an economic hierarchy and we simply all can't have everything all the time. Or, maybe we can, but it is often at the expense of ruining relationships, sabotaging credit and inducing financial frailty. Embrace your financial landscape and navigate it with integrity.

Get back to what is of significance. We cannot all give lavish gifts and we especially cannot afford to give the gift of luxury to compensate for our relational shortcomings. Give smartly, give quality, and give some thought to how you present a token of affection. Stop running to the closest store at the 11th hour for another $20.00 birthday gift off the shelf. If your budget only permits the giving of a $10.00 gift than find the most exquisite, meaningful, or timeless gift that money permits. Give with a purpose to those of significance and they will cherish not only the gift but the generosity and thoughtfulness of the gift-giver.