Opening Up to a New Year!

Hard to believe we have just said goodbye to 2007 which seemed to pass by in a blur. But we eagerly look forward to 2008 and the exciting unknown that lies before us. Don't be afraid to push the envelope yourself in the New Year, and eagerly open the door to the endless possibilities that await! Our Letter Opener shaped like a crescent moon is the perfect gift to inspire anyone's fresh new start along with our Words To Inspire Magnets. And to extend an extra bit of good luck in the New Year, don't forget our charming Jeweled Pouch with Shamrock Charms.

I have a little bit of inspiration tacked to my office wall that I thought I would pass along to maybe spur us all on to some great new adventures this year. It reads, "Life's journey is not to arrive at the grave safely in a well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, totally worn out, shouting, 'WHAT A RIDE!'" Conjurs up a great visual, doesn't it?? :) So cheers to you all, and my best wishes for seeking out the ride of your life!

A Flurry of Holiday Excitement!

Snowflakes and presents, festive parties and an abundance of mistletoe. The "gifting" season at Lasso the Moon has most certainly begun!

But before you jump into the frenzy, why don’t you grab a cup of hot chocolate, and cozy up to your computer screen to join me, if only for a few minutes, by sharing a holiday story from your past that embodies what the true meaning of this season is for you. I guarantee that your stories won’t be about the most expensive holiday gift you have ever received. That may sound like a crazy thing for a gift retailer like myself to say, but the truth of the matter is that there was one fundamental principle behind why I started Lasso the Moon, and that same principle inspires me still. I call it creating “heart impressions” . . . those magic moments in time that become indelibly etched into the fabric of your life and which remain with you and fill your heart for years to come. Through our sentiments and the gifts that represent them, that’s what I hope to accomplish with Lasso the Moon’s gifting approach. Our concept was inspired by a storyline from the wonderful holiday classic film, “It’s A Wonderful Life.” In the same way, I hope you will inspire others through your treasured holiday stories.

When I was growing up, one of my favorite holiday moments occurred every Christmas Eve before my family and I had our dinner and before we went to midnight mass. My Mom is of Polish decent, and brought into her married life with my Irish Dad, a custom that was part of the fabric of her life when she was a girl. It is called sharing an “Oplatek” or Christmas wafer. Each member of my family was given a piece of wafer and beginning with my Mom and Dad, we would go up to each other to express whatever was in our hearts. This could be thoughts of gratitude, love, or encouragement for goals we knew the other would like to achieve in the coming year. With each heartfelt wish expressed, a piece of the Christmas wafer was broken off and then eaten. The exchange was always capped off with a kiss and an emotional “I love you very much.” There was usually never a dry eye in the house, and we loved every minute of it. It was the words that were so very important to me then, and which remain one of my “heart impressions” still. We have kept this tradition going to this very day, and I believe it’s one of the many reasons my family has remained so close. If you’re interested in reading the history of this custom, you can learn more here.

So how about you? I would love to hear your holiday “heart impression” stories, so feel free to add your entries to our blog.

And if you find yourself at a loss for words this holiday season, I would love to be of assistance. Visit the Holiday Gift section of Lasso the Moon. Perhaps our heartfelt words and the unique holiday gifts that represent them will be exactly what you've been looking for to express your feelings to the loved ones in your life. And if we can customize any sentiment to make your Christmas gift or Hanukkah gift all the more personal for you, we’ll be happy to do so, free of charge. Just give us a call at 773-267-8100.

Until next time, may peace, joy, and goodwill reign in your part of the world! Merry Christmas and Happy Hanukkah!

Gifts on Sale at Lasso the Moon!

Hi all! We're getting ready for the BIG holiday season at Lasso the Moon, but wanted to encourage you to visit us today to take advantage of some wonderful Gifts on Sale!

Our summer-themed gifts on sale include our Calypso Placemat Set, a Calypso Cooking Set, a Deluxe Picnic Kit, a Picnic Blanket, and a Garden Tote complete with tools. For Christmas Gifts or Hanakkuh Gifts, why not give something unexpected like these items to remind recipients that fun in the sun isn't too far away!

These sale items won't last long, so get while the getting is good! And stay tuned for our holiday blog which will be coming soon.

Until then, and from all of us at Lasso the Moon, Happy Thanksgiving!!

Lasso the Moon's Summertime Gift Splash!

I am excited to announce that Lasso the Moon has just added 27 new gift items to our online store!

We have things that would be perfect for those people that love the great outdoors including a deluxe picnic kit. Or for the garden warriors out there, we have an 8-pocket gardening tote with a garden rake and shovel. Actually the garden tools have been beautifully painted by the artisans at Art of a Cause, an organization which teaches business skills and a proper work ethic to children while raising funds for their schools. You can learn more about their good works here.

We also have great party gifts like a James Bond-inspired martini travel kit in an ultra-hip leatherette carrying case. Or how about some fun and games with our complete poker kit in a silver carrying case. Very cool!

There are also some very heart-touching gifts as well. Know someone that needs a little extra TLC? Then our new pewter Guardian Angel is the perfect item to remind people that they will always have someone watching over them.

I can go on and on (can you tell I'm excited about this new gift splash!?), but instead, I invite you to visit our New Gifts! page today to view all of our new-found favorites. Each item has been added into an appropriate gift category, and as always, it will have an accompanying sentiment appropriate for the occasion at hand.

Finally, with the summer social season in full swing, we also thought it would be a fun idea to add a new gift category called "Fill the Host or Hostess Box." We have made it easy for you to find the perfect host gift or hostess gift to show your appreciation for some warm hospitality. Take a peek to see what's in stock, and start filling a box!

I hope you are all being kind to yourselves this summer by taking a little R & R somewhere you enjoy, even if it's in the comforts of your own backyard. Be well, be safe, and above all, HAPPY SUMMER!

Thanks to the movie "It's A Wonderful Life . . ."

. . . a business idea was born! If anyone would have told me that a Hollywood movie would serve as the source of inspiration for my entrepreneurial spirit, I would have thought them crazy! Yet here I am, celebrating the 5-year anniversary of my online-gift company named Lasso the Moon whose gifting approach was inspired by a charming scene from the classic film, "It's A Wonderful Life."

If you're a fan of the movie, you'll remember a touching moment right before the Martini family crossed the threshold into their first, new home. George and Mary Bailey presented them with three simple gifts each of which were associated with a heartfelt wish: "Bread, that this house may never know hunger. Salt, that life may always have flavor. Wine, that joy and prosperity may reign forever! Enter the Martini castle!" That scene always stayed with me because I thought it was such a powerful idea to be able to associate a simple yet life-inspiring sentiment to a charming gift item as a means to extend a memorable and heartfelt "welcome home."

When I worked for a real estate developer, it was my job to think of a creative housewarming gift we could give to our clients to thank them for their trusted business. Because moving into a new home is one of the most significant and emotional experiences in a person's life, I wanted to properly honor the occasion with a gift that would leave our new homeowners feeling valued, cared for, and warmly welcomed into their new homes. A light bulb went on over my head, and I was reminded of the housewarming scene from "It's A Wonderful Life." I was inspired to create a basket filled with charming gift items, to which each had a heartfelt wish associated. The baskets were so well received that I said to myself, "I think I'm onto something here!" So I took the show on the road, so to speak, and created Lasso the Moon which, at its inception, was focused on housewarming gifts alone. (The name "Lasso The Moon" is a phrase which was pulled from another famous scene in the movie and can be heard here - clip #14)

As recently as a few months ago, we expanded our online gift presence to include all gift occasions imaginable including: birthday gift ideas, wedding or engagement gifts, anniversary gifts, good luck or goodbye gift packages, get well gifts, thank you gifts, congratulations gifts, friendship gifts, and of course, we have continued on with housewarming gift ideas. You can even create a custom gift package for any occasion that might be special only to you.

Great care and attention has been placed on the details of "gifting" to ensure your online visits are easy to navigate and enjoyable to browse. From our unique selection of gift items and the sentiments that are associated with each, along with our Signature Gift Box presentation, Lasso the Moon gifts are designed to "inspire a wonderful life" at every turn. You can also easily personalize your gifts by customizing the notes we have prepared for each special occasion or by writing a personal note of your own, and the customization is free!

Obviously all retailers are in business to make a living, but I like to believe our gifting intent is bigger than that. Even if in some small way our gift packages give someone a chance to pause and reflect on the simple pleasures in life that bring the greatest of riches, then our mission has been accomplished.

My hope for this blog is to share some gifting ideas both old and new that might help to spur your own "gifting" creativity. I also look forward to interacting with Lasso the Moon's visitors so that we can continually improve our online gifting services which will ultimately provide you with new and interesting opportunities to inspire a wonderful life in your own circle of family and friends.

So I invite you to stay in the "Lasso Loop," and to check back often!