Willow Tree

Memorial Day is usually associated with a three-day weekend and the unofficial start to summer because it falls on the last Monday of May every year. However, we can’t forget what the true purpose of Memorial Day is about, which is to remember the U.S. military men and women who have died in the line of service. Many people spend the day putting flowers or small flags on graves, lending a hand to living veterans, and attending parades to honor our nation’s fallen heroes. If you are wondering what you can do as an individual to pay your respects, here a few more ideas to add meaning to your Memorial Day on May 27. Fly the U.S. Flag Some people uphold the tradition of displaying an American flag in their front yard or on their house to honor soldiers. It reminds everyone of the sacrifices that have been made for our freedoms. On Memorial Day, American flags are to be flown at half-staff until noon. After that, you may raise the flag back to the top of the pole. At da...

A best friend can be defined in many ways. They’re someone close to you who you can always count on. A best friend is someone with whom you have a lot of fun. Best friends are trustworthy and genuine and accept you for who you are—life just wouldn’t be the same without them.  To celebrate the best friends in your life, be sure to mark your calendar for Saturday, June 8—National Best Friends Day. It’s a day to honor the ways best friends enrich our lives and make us better people. To honor and celebrate your friendship, here are a handful of thoughtful best friend gifts for you to consider. Decorative Books Since the early 20th century of Golden Age book design, beautiful books have long been collected as decorative objects for the home. You can add a special twist on this idea as a gift for your best friend. Have you seen those lovely faux books that look exactly like a book from the outside, but when opened can be used as a special place to store keepsakes...

Every Mother’s Day, you get the opportunity to tell the special mom in your life how important she is to you. You can say it to her through words, and you can show her through a gift as well. Finding her a distinctive gift—something special to warm her heart—is a thoughtful way to show her what a great mom she is. To help you come up with ways to express your love, here are a few gift ideas for celebrating mom on May 12. A Memory Box Full of Keepsakes If your mom doesn’t have a distinctive, special memory box, she probably would love to receive one. It’s a specific place for her to store sentimental items that she wants to keep but not necessarily display. With a memory box, she could safely store items she doesn’t want to lose or throw away, items like tickets to special events, photos, jewelry, cards from special occasions, letters, and other important mementos. A finely crafted wooden box with a carving on the front is a beautiful celebration of the relationshi...