My nine day adventure in NYC.....what a fun experience! It is my last night in New York City and after successfully managing to pack everything back into my bag for travel I thought it was a great time to tell you a little bit about my trip. January 24, 2013 3:00 a.m. Woke to a buzzing alarm clock, but only took a second to realize that it was time to get ready for long early morning drive to St.Louis to catch a flight to NYC for the New York International Gift Fair.  Flight landed at LaGuardia on schedule and I swiftly  gathered my bags and phoned Natalie Chang to find out where to meet to split a cab to Manhattan.  Without delay, we headed to the curb and loaded everything into the cab for a speedy drive into the city.  The driver pulled up at the Affinia Manhattan located directly across the street from Madison Square Gardens.  Natalie and I quickly checked in and dropped our bags in the room and headed down to meet the rest of the set up team. NYC is fast paced, we grabbed a yummy lunch at Fresh and company and waited for James and Geri from LifeGuard Press.  Quickly we hailed a cab to the Javits Center to examine our crates and booth space.  Once all crates, pallets, and merchandise were inspected it was off to pick up some last minute prompts and so we hailed a cab to 75th and Madison Avenue and popped in at the Lilly Pulitzer Store.  After doing a little research there we headed over to Dylan's Candy Bar to look at the Tech Merchandise produced by LifeGuard Press and pick up a few sweet treat.  We worked our way up Madison and stopped in at FAO Schwartz and then to the Apple Store.  Running short on time in a city that never sleeps we decided to have dinner at TAO on 42nd Street.  Enjoyed a wonderful dining experience and finished the evening with a giant chocolate filled fortune cookie for dessert.  Hailed a cab back to the Affinia at 7th and 31st and called it a night. January 25, 2013 Met James and Geri in the lobby, grabbed breakfast at Cafe Europa and hailed a cab to the Javits for a full day of set up.  Spent the entire day opening crates, unpacking merchandise, and organizing the booth.  James ordered pizza around 8 p.m. And we continued to work until around 11 p.m.  Called it a night and hailed a cab back to 7th and 31st and caught a few winks. January 26, 2013 Met James and Geri in the lobby and stopped by Fresh and Company for breakfast and hailed a cab to the Javits for final day of set up.  Worked all day on merchandising and displays.  Natalie sent me back to the hotel to met the courier, so I headed outside to the curb to hail a cab to 7th and 31st.  Met the courier and hailed a cab back to the Javits to begin applying vinyl lettering and cleaning up the booth.  When we walked outside at 11:30 p.m. it was snowing, but fortunately there was a cab outside so we quickly returned to 7th and 31st and grabbed a quick bite at Harringtons across the street from our hotel.  Called it a night around 1:00a.m. January 27, 2013 Met James and Geri in the lobby and grabbed breakfast at Fresh and Company.  Hailed a cab to the Javits and James quickly made sure all scanners were working and the booth looked its best.  Customers began to pour into the booth admiring the Lilly Pulitzer, Jonathan Adler, Bando and Dylan's Candy Bar Merchandise.  The day flew by.  We ended the day at 6:30 p.m.  and joined Todd, James, Geri and Kim for dinner at Hell's Kitchen on 59th and 34th street.  We enjoyed fresh guacamole for an appetizer and I had fresh ahi tuna for dinner.  Enjoyable evening followed by hailing a cab back to 7th and 31st to call it a night. January 28, 2013 Met James and Geri in the lobby and grabbed breakfast at Fresh and Company before hailing a cab to the Javits.  Super busy day at the show writing orders and meeting with clients big and small.  Finished the day and hailed a cab with James, Andy, Kim and Geri to Dos Caminos in Soho.  We enjoyed Fresh Guacamole, chips and salsa and spicy Mahi Fish Tacos.  Called it a night and hailed a cab back to 7th and 31st. January 29,2013 Enjoyed our usual morning meeting with James and Geri and grabbed breakfast and hailed a cab for a ride to the Javits.  Full day of selling and meeting customers.  Everyone agreed to dine at Serendipity that evening, So at the end of the day, we hailed a cab to Serendipity on 60th and 3rd.  What a fun little restuarant it is. Realized halfway thru our meal that Lady Gaga's sister Natali was sitting next to us enjoying a frozen hot chocolate.   We enjoyed chicken pot pies, frozen hot chocolate and a broadway sundae.  After dinner we hailed a cab to Rockafeller Center and watched people ice skate, saw where they Film the today show, Saturday Night Live and radio city music hall as well as walking in Times Square. Bright lights and tons of people fill time square even at 11 p.m. at night.  After a quick trip in the Sephora store we called it a night and hailed a cab to 7th and 31st to the Affinia. January 30, 2013 Last meeting with James and Geri as we grabbed breakfast at Fresh and Company and hailed a cab to the Javits. The NYIGF closed at 2 p.m. And then the wait is on.  When will our crates be delivered?  We spent 3 hours breaking down and there was still no sign of the crates, so we decided to take a break and hailed a cab to Soho to do a little research at Kate Spade.  Nicole was so helpful and we enjoyed shopping and visiting with her entire staff.  They recognized our Bando accessories we were wearing, so we gladly gave them one of our Sparkly sequined hearts.  Left Kate Spade and hailed a cab back to the Javits and low and behold - our crates had arrived!  Packed everything in crates, shrink wrapped it tight and bid farewell to the Javits and hailed a cab to Stanton and Rivington to dine at Beauty and Essex.  To my surprise, it looked like a prawn shop when you first walked thru the door, but as the doorman escorts us threw the second door, it was soon I realized that this was truly a New York dining experience.  We enjoyed tapas style of lobster mac and cheese, tomato tar tar with quail egg on top, chicken meatballs, grilled cheese and bacon with tomato dumpling soup, avacado lemon and espalette, New York pretzel, followed by brick pressed chicken.  We enjoyed chocolate and raspberry fidonuts sin beignets for dessert.  What a surprise when I went to the ladies room - they serve you pink champagne as you leave.  Ended the night around 11:30 by hailing a cab and headed back to 7th and 31st.   January 31, 2013 Began the day with a cab ride to Amsterdam and 83rd street to enjoy breakfast at Cafe Lalo on the upper west side.  We enjoyed the Morracon Delight and Steamed eggs with mushroom, Gouda and  fresh herbs.  This lovely little French cafe is a must if you visit the city,  we made a quick stop at Dylan's Candy headquarters to drop off some product and hailed a cab to Madison Avenue to window shop.  Our first stop Tory Burch...Love...Love ...Love the three story shopping experience.  Walked down to Laudree for some fresh made macaroons.  Left and hailed a cab to 58th and 5th and shopped at Henri Bendel for a gift for Ms. Emily's Birthday.  Left there and went to the HUGE Gap Store for some huge bargains and then to the Peter Rabbit Baby Store by Gap where we picked up a special baby gift for a friend.  Walked past St Patricks Cathedral and then stopped at the American Girl Store for Miss Chelsea.  Walked thru the Diamond District, grabbed a green tea and iced lattte and hailed a cab back to 7th and 31st to drop our packages and recharge!  Natalie made a quick call to wish Emily a happy Birthday and we headed downstairs to hail a cab to Soho.  We enjoyed a quicstoops at Deen and Delucca - what a fabulous place to buy fine gourmet foods and fresh veggies, meats, cheeses and desserts.  Next stop was a little shop that couldn't have been any bigger than 100 sqft where we bought cupcakes by Melissa.  they were bite sized and delicious. bWe stopped in at Kates Stationary and Harvey and Sons before  hailing a cab to 35th and 18th to shop at  Fish Eddys.   Such a cute store with lots of items to use when entertaining .  We walked across the street to ABC Kitchen for dinner.  What a wonderful place to enjoy farm to table fresh food.  The restaurant makes there own herb infused sodas and Natalie enjoyed a lemon and basil one.  We started the dinner with a roasted kabocha squash toast with fresh ricotta and apple cider vinegar.  Natalie enjoyed the entree of pork and I had the  fresh made ravioli.  We split the chocolate cake with toasted marshmallow frosting. What a wonderful meal....another must have if you travel to NYC.  We hailed a cab back to 7th and 31st and started the fun process of packing.  It all fit although I am thinking my bag is way over 50lbs....and guess what we will do in the morning....hail a cab to LGA and that will be the last cab for me for awhile......until the next adventure !  Thank you Natalie for a great week in NYC and to all the new friends, new experiences and all the food finds! Until we hail a cab again..........TAXI

Please call to make reservations ~ We would be happy to answer any questions you may have.  Come enjoy a 2 hour dining experience!

Guest Chef for the evening are Tim and Angi Behme

Please follow the link and scroll down for full details on the evening.... We hope you are as excited as we are!

Valentine Dining Package!!!

We appreciate everyone who entered our Facebook  Contest and told us what you are thankful for.  It was such a blessing to read your posts and see what each of you felt was your true blessing this season.

The 10 winners of the Contest are :

Lily Johnson

Annette Gass

Denise Kennedy

Olivia Leckron

Denise Stricklin

Samantha Tullis

Ashley Carr

Jennifer Reed

Lindsey Atkins

Cindy Biggerstaff

Each of the people listed may call and order their free dozen cookies  anytime before December 25th.  Please give us 24 hours notice for pick up by calling 618-252-2149.  If you are a winner that lives outside of Illinois,  please provide us with your shipping information when you call. Thank you for participating in our little Facebook contest.

Dream Baskets

 

Spending the morning cooking and thought I would share one of my favorite recipes with you!

Sour Cream Dinner Rolls

Ingredients : 8 oz. Sour Cream 1/2 cup Butter 1/2 cup Sugar 1 1/4 tsp Salt 2 envelopes Dry Yeast 1/2 cup warm water 2 eggs 4 Cups all-purpose Flour 2 TBS. Butter Cook first 4 ingredients in saucepan over medium-low heat,  stirring occasionally until butter melts.  Cool to 105 degrees.  Combine yeast and 1/2 cup warm water in a 1-cup glass liquid measuring cup.  Let stand 5 minutes. Stir together yeast mixture, sour cream mixture.  Add eggs and flour in a large bowl until well blended.  Chill covered 8 hours.   Divide dough into 4ths and shape each portion into a ball.  Roll each into 1/4 inch thickness on floured surface,  cut dough with 3 inch round cutter.  Brush rounds with melted butter.  Make a crease across each round with a knife and fold in half.  Gently press edges to seal.  Cover for 45 minutes - Baked at 375 degrees for 12 to 15 minutes.  Remove from oven and brush with butter. Yield 2 dozen. Enjoy!

Very excited about attending the Memphis Junior League Show this weekend.  Mrs. Natalie Chang has a  booth and we are headed down to take some Sissy Made It Tags and Mrs. B's Cookies to add to all of her creative cards, custom napkins and decor!  What a fun three days it will be.   Set up begins Tuesday and since Emily already is in Memphis,  the creative sisters will start with the set up.  Natalie has some fabulous new greeting and note cards.  For those of you who have never seen her work,  you just don't know what you are missing.  I can't wait to post pictures on Thursday morning.  The Merry Marketplace opens at 9 a.m. on Thursday and closes at 9 p.m.  Friday,  the hours are 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Saturday 9 a.m. -  6 p.m. Just so excited to see how the hustle and bustle of  holiday shoppers.  I love the holidays and working with Emily and Natalie make it so much fun!  If you want to get away this weekend,  why don't you fill your car with a group of friends and drive down ~ it's  only 3 hours and spend  the weekend in Memphis supporting a great cause and doing a little Christmas Shopping!   Watch our blog for more posts and updates starting Thursday. Please mark your calendar,  Dream Baskets is hosting our "Holiday Open House"  November 3rd !!!

We took the time to enter the Fed Ex Small Business Grant Contest,  and after being approved,  the voting has begun.  We would be elated if you would vote for Dream Baskets.  The grant has two winning categories.  The company with the most votes wins $25,000 to be used towards growing your business.  The second option is a $5,000 grant.  Either way,  we would be elated to win!  Today it gets harder and harder to expand your business,  so this would be a wonderful surprise that would allow us to expand our kitchen facilities and streamline the entire lunch process.   We would love for you to take the time to vote for us.... simply follow this simply link!

https://grantcontest.fedex.com/fedex-small-business-grant-voting/microsite/gallery/50780224f2a11c1f6d003afd

or click   HERE - VOTE!!!   DREAM BASKETS INC

Here is a copy of our entry!!!

What started as a small idea, has turned into a 15 year dream come true. Dream Baskets now has 13 part time employees, we have a small cafe incorporated inside our gift shop that is a hot spot during the lunch time hours. Our employees donate all of their tips to the local 4 C's Helping Hands, as we attempt to be very involved in the community. In a small town of 9000, business is more about relationships. We strive to build our customer base by providing quality products and services

Our community suffered an F-4 tornado that destroyed many local businesses on Feb.29, 2012 . The store received major damage and was closed for 7 weeks. We want to continue to rebuild so that Dream Baskets may grow, increase jobs in our area and renew our involvement in our community. Dream Baskets offers not only a place to enjoy lunch, but a unique environment to shop and feel like you are appreciated. We want to grow with our community and show that small businesses are important.

Dream Baskets would invest the money to update our kitchen facility to allow us to better serve our customers. We are in need of an ice machine, a new range, cooler, a new commercial mixer and baking sheets for all of our baked goods we make fresh each day. Dream Baskets would also update our ordering computer system and streamline our overall customer satisfaction. This grant would enable us to grow our business to the next level. The more we grow, the more we give back to our community.

For those of you that loved the samples of Granola we passed out at Dream Baskets today,  we promised to share the receipe! My husband and I found this recipe in the Food Network Magazine that featured the Granola  Recipe from the restaurant Eleven Madison Park in New York City.  The magazine explains how anyone who splurges on the $125 four-course dinner can take heart in the fact that they get a free gift from Chef Daniel Humm.  He sends everyone off after dinner with a half pound of sweet and savory granola packaged in an old -fashioned mason jar.    With a few adjustments,  here is Roman's version of this fabulous recipe! Enjoy ~ makes approximately 7-10 cups Coconut-Cherry Granola 2 3/4 cups rolled oats 1 cup unsweetened coconut flakes 1 cup salted pistachios 1 cup pecans halves 1 cup salted cashew halves 1 cup almonds 1/2 cup packed Brown Sugar 1/3 cup Maple Syrup 1/3 cup Extra -Virgin Olive Oil 1/2 cup craisins 1/2 cup dried cherries. 1.  Preheat the oven to 300 degrees.  Line 2 rimmed baking sheets with parchment paper.  Toss the oats, coconut, pistachios, pecans, cashews, and almonds in a large bowl.  Warm the brown sugar, maple syrup and olive oil in a small saucepan over low heat,  stirring, until sugar dissolves.  Fold the sugar mixture into the oat mixture to evenly coat. ' 2.  Spread the granola on the prepared baking sheets.  Place in the oven and bake 20-25 minutes.  Stir every 5 minutes.  Remove immediately from baking sheets into a large bowl and toss with dried cherries and craisins.  Allow the granola to come to room temperature, stirring occasionally.   Once it is completely cooled,  store in an airtight container.  We made 2 quart jars and 2 small 8 ounce jelly jars with one recipe. Hope you enjoy the crunchy sweet treat!!!    

  On Friday, July 20, 2012,  I could hardly believe the phone call we received at Dream  Baskets.  The lady on the other end of the phone was from American Express/Facebook  Big Break for Small Business and she wanted to inform us that we had been selected as one of the semi-finalists in this years contest. She said she needed to verify our eligibility and see if we were available for some important dates.  I sat  in disbelief and answered questions and completed the phone  interview portion of the next phase of the contest.   I was shocked, almost speechless to say the least.  When I entered the contest,  I never thought we had a chance of being selected as a winner. When I submitted  the entry,  I spoke from the heart.  I was  so grateful that Stephanie Milligan had taken photos at our Grand Re-opening,  so our entry  looked awesome with her fabulous photos attached.  In less than 500 characters,  I talked about how my job was my passion,  how I love what I do and how I am so blessed to work with my sister and other employees who love their job too!!!  I believe everyone who worked at Dream Baskets has developed a new attitude about Dream Baskets after it was stripped away from us on February 29, 2012 in the F4 tornado.  The seven weeks we were closed gave us  a renewed strength and a passion of enthusiasm that is contagious! Life  is short,  you should work at a job you enjoy,  a job you have a passion for and a job that makes you smile both inside and out.   As my employees continue the journey of rebuilding Dream Baskets with me,  may we always remember that we are a family,  a family of friends who have worked together to make a successful business thrive in a down economy  and in a community of less than 10,000 people.  Hard work does pay off,  and while some days you may feel like the world is controlling your life,  turn your faith and  trust to God and he will bring you through.  The rebuilding process at Dream Baskets is a tribute to letting God take control.   We believed in our contractor, our design team, our insurance company,  and our family of friends.  Without faith,   the seven week rebuilding process would not have been a success. We continue to give to the 4'C  Helping Hands project.  The average monthly tips that  our loyal  customers have given to this project is around $400 per month.  We recently requested a total from the day we began  donating, so we will keep you posted as soon as we receive the information.  As we continue to grow our business to the next level,  we hope that you continue to donate to our outreach  project that enables the 4 C's Helping Hands organization assist the less fortunate in our community. Should we make the final cut in the American Express Open/ Facebook Big Break Contest,  we will need your help and the help of your friends as  the voting is worldwide!!!  The chance to win $25,000 and a one on one meeting with Facebook and American Express executives would be the chance of a lifetime.  If we were to win the $25,000, it must be used to increase social media presence and other ways the Facebook and American Express executives see fit.  I can't imagine sitting and brainstorming with these executives and  explaining to them what makes Dream Baskets tick.  They in-turn teach  us how to increase our marketing presence using social media.  If we do make it to the final 5 grand prize winners,  we will have the honor of  hosting a session with the American Express and Facebook  executives for local business owners in our community.  They will help local  business owners understand how to increase their social media presence too!!! This would be an awesome opportunity for our little community! Keep you fingers crossed and we will keep you posted!  Our introduction to our contest entry is listed on our Facebook page!

 

 

Register for our Mother’s Day Contest – Winner will be drawn on

 

              Saturday, May 12, 2012 at Noon  * Winner Receives all of the following:             

 

• Scout   Bag – The Grand Plan

 

• Stonewall Kitchen Grapefruit Thyme Hand Soap

 

• Stonewall Kitchen Grapefruit Thyme Counter Spray

 

• Seattle Chocolate Assorted Truffles

 

• Cherry Fruit Tart Filling from Clearbrook Farms

 

 • Tarts from Clearbrook Farms

 

•Room Diffuser from Voluspa

 

• Pair of Yellow Box Flip Flops

 

• Lunch for Two from Dream Baskets

   

[caption id="attachment_1255" align="aligncenter" width="199" caption="New Signage... Designed by Natalie Chang. CBS Vinyl responsible for sign and Vinyl. (Chris & Shari Barter)"][/caption]   It's official we are open!   Thank you for being so patient.  Dream Baskets is officially back open and we are so pleased that Stephanie Milligan shot photos for  us  while we set up the store as well as the day of the Open House.  We decided to share some of those photos with you so you can appreciate the final product.  With the help of everyone from Dream Baskets and Natalie Chang and Emily Ward,  we pulled off the unthinkable.  From the date of the destruction to the opening date,  47 days passed!!!  You can look back at our blog or the old picture of the damage,  but we were determined to make something awesome from something bad!!  And here it is - a store that started as a Dream and was rebuilt with Faith and Hope!   Many of you have visited the store and know what it looks like today, but a few short weeks ago,  it was all just a drawing on a piece of paper and a glittery Grand  Re-Opening Invitation!  - Thanks to Natalie Ellis - Chang.     Since Natalie was my very first employee at age 16,  it was such  a joy to work with her to restore the  vision of Dream Baskets. The three days we spent in Memphis gave us the opportunity to refocus and regain our momentum to build  a bigger and better  Dream Baskets.   I still  have the voicemail saved from the morning  of the storm and it was sweet Natalie telling me "We" can rebuilt the  store!   We did rebuild and we did it bigger and better than ever!    Check out some of the awesome photos takes by Stephanie Milligan! One of our favorite surprises for our customers is the custom painted bathroom designed and hand painted by Julie Hilliard!  She  did a fabulous job! In whatever you do,  you have to have a vision,  you have to have a dream and you have to have ambition!  If you can possess all of those characteristics in whatever you do,  you will reach your goal. [caption id="attachment_1239" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Custom Designed by Natalie Chang Designs"][/caption] [caption id="attachment_1234" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Gourmet Foods just for You!"][/caption]   [caption id="attachment_1251" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="New Store - After February 29th Tornado"][/caption] [caption id="attachment_1252" align="aligncenter" width="200" caption="Logo Designed by Natalie Chang / Vinyl by CBS Vinyl (Chris & Shari Barter)"][/caption]