Christmas Gifts / Holiday Baskets

Once again, its that time of year when we feverishly design new Christmas Gift Baskets, taste test products, photograph, price and update our website. Then we redesign and re photo and re cost due to supplier product issues.

We've had to purge items and move things around just to make room for the hundreds of Holiday Gift Baskets that will be going out the door. More employees have been hired and we've stocked up on our vitamin supply for those anticipated late nights. Its a very busy time of the year for us and also, a very exciting time of the year.

Orders have already began to pour in and deliveries are being scheduled. A lot of our corporate clients like to add their company's promotional materials to the gift baskets to make them stand out. Company mugs, pens, calenders and special labels are just a few things that are added.

The poor economy has certainly has its effect on us as with all businesses but, this years orders are fully expected to surpass last years. The only issues we will (and already have) encountered is the lack of inventory from our suppliers. Stock will be very low on their end and once a product is gone - its gone.

Visit our website for our selection of Christmas and Hanukkah Gift Baskets and order early to avoid disappointment. Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!

Gifts for Every Reason is Proud to support the Harold Green Jewish Theatre Company's production of:

"Sholom Aleichem - Laughter through Tears" Starring Award winning Actor, Singer and Musician, Theodore Bikel

A biographical look at the Yiddish writer's life, will have its Canadian premiere at Toronto's Winter Garden Theatre, October 13 - 18, 2009.

For tickets and information visit: http://www.hgjewishtheatre.com/

Thanksgiving and Halloween Gift Baskets

Happy Canadian Thanksgiving!

Can't make it for the family get-together this Thanksgiving? Send them a Fall Gift Basket and let them know you're thinking about them.

FREE Delivery to all Cities in Ontario and Quebec! $5 shipping to the rest of CANADA!

And don't forget about Halloween. Send that special loved one a fun gift and say BOO!

Visit our website for safe and secure shopping. All gifts assembled on site to ensure quality and freshness! In business since 2003!

NEW- FREE DELIVERY Ontario AND Quebec

NEW - due to overwhelming demand, Gifts for Every Reason now offers FREE DELIVERY across ONTARIO and QUEBEC !!!

We've listened to our customers and we want to reward them with more FREE Delivery areas.

Free next day, local hand delivery will still be available (Monday to Saturday 1pm to 6pm). All other cities in Ontario and Quebec will be shipped via Fed Ex Ground delivery (Monday to Friday, 9am to 6pm, delivery within 2 -5 days).

With over 100 Gift Basket designs to choose from and all made on site to ensure quality and freshness, your gift buying choice just got a lot easier.

Trust Gifts for Every Reason to send the best...even when you can't be there.

Rosh Hashanah - Jewish New Year

Happy Kosher New Year or Rosh Hashanah!

The Jewish Holiday of Rosh Hashanah literally means the “head of the Year”, or the New Year. It is a deeply religious occasion symbolising the Day of Judgment, the Day of Remembrance, and the Day of Shofar Blowing. (a Ram's Horn)

On Rosh Hashanah, it is customary for families to gather together for the holiday meal. Traditional sweet foods, round challah, honey and apples are served, symbolizing sweetness, blessings, abundance and the hope for a sweet year ahead.Other customs are the sounding of the Shofar (a Ram’s horn blown somewhat like a trumpet), candle lighting, special prayers, reciting the Kiddush and the blessing of the Challah.

As always, Gifts for Every Reason has a variety of traditional Kosher Rosh Hashana gifts to send to loved ones. (Click here to view). All items used are clearly labeled with Kosher symbols. Customization is available and quantities are limited. Order early for best selection.

L'shanah tovah (Happy New Year)

Well it’s that time of the year again when we attend Gift Shows and start designing our Holiday Gift Baskets.

This is no easy task mind you. Shopping, tasting products and comparing notes may sound like a lot of fun, but it involves lots and lots of walking, tired feet, sore back, crunching numbers and gaining at least 5 pounds.

Well the good news is that we have some exciting new locally made products:

-Tasty sugar free fudge made with real cream and butter
-Yummy Sexy Gourmet Belgian chocolate covered Pretzels
-Sexy Gourmet Spices with receipe cards for Diabetics
-Delicious Chocolate Cashew Crunch – home made and all natural
-Apple Strudel Cookies
-A new Chocolate Fudge Brownie Spa Line
-And so much more!

Our Christmas Designs will be available starting mid-September and 10% Discount will be offered this year for all Christmas orders received before November 1st.

Check our Website for new designs. http://www.giftsforeveryreason.com/

Gourmet Smoked Salmon now used in Outer Space?

Who would have figured that one of the products we use (and love) has actually been choosen by NASA to be on the menu for the Endeavour Astronauts. Seachange Savouries - Smoked Salmon Pate - An award winning Canadian product proudly made in BC.

Just how does NASA choose the foods that will accompany the Astronauts into outerspace? According to the Tom Hawthorn of The Globe and Mail:

"Seachange Savouries fish has been poked and prodded – not to mention analyzed, sampled and tested – by a bevy of finicky dietitians and food scientists at the Space Food Systems Laboratory at the Johnson Space Center in Houston. Agriculture Canada and the Canadian Space Agency also conducted four sessions in which foods were evaluated for taste, colour, texture and appearance.

Most importantly, the smoky treats had to pass a tasting panel of the most discriminating palates – the astronauts who will spend weeks in orbit without thebenefit of ordering take-out on a whim.

Not so long ago, astronauts endured meals in which appetizers were reduced to bite-sized cubes, and entrees were consumed by squeezing a semi-liquid from an aluminum tube. This was washed down by a glass of powdery Tang. Yum. By comparison, today's foodstuffs are an epicure's delight."

Congratulations to Seachange Savouries. Gifts for EveryReason, is proud to continue it's support for their company valuesand Award Winning (and Tasty) products.

Click HERE to read the whole story.
Courtesy of Tom Hawthorn — Globe and Mail, Tuesday, Jun. 16, 2009

Raising the Bar - new line of Healthy Choice Gifts

New Raising the Bar Gift Basket is part of our Health Choice Gifts.

We have Diabetic Baskets which contain sugar free products. Great tasting and perfect for sharing with everyone. Items such as Crackers, No sugar added Ontario Apple Butter Jam, Smoked Salmon, Vegetable Antipasto, Herbal Teas, Assorted Nuts, Candies and Chocolates sweetened with Malitol instead of Sugar.

We also have a line of All Natural Gift Baskets containing products that have no additives or perservatives. Great for those concerned with sending only the best that can be offered.

Look for upcoming updates as we continue our search for more great tasting healthy choice products. Have a recomandation? Feel free to drop us a line and share your healthy choices ideas - info@giftsforeveryreason.com

Online Shopping Tips - How Safe is it?

The number one reason shoppers do not make purchases online is because they have concerns about credit card security. The news media sometimes have stories of commercial websites being infiltrated by computer hackers, or credit card numbers being stolen online. However, these days, it is more common that thieves will get hold of your credit card information in a restaurant or gas station.

When shopping online, there are several things you can do to help ensure a safe shopping experience.

1. When using a credit card online, make sure you are on a "secure" site before you give your name, address or credit card details. Look for a padlock or a key symbol, which are usually in the bottom corner of your screen or for a policy that indicates use of strong security technology such as SSL. On a secure site, your information is scrambled into code, (encrypted) before being sent over the Internet, and stored on a secure database.

2. Even better is to look to see if the company you are purchasing from uses an online credit card processing company. Sensitive information is sent directly to their highly secure site where address verification and Visa/ Master Card security codes are used to catch fraudulent cards. (InternetSecure is one example of a secure credit card hosting company. They are one of the largest and most reliable payment processing networks in North America processing over a billion transactions annually.)

3. Avoiding sending your credit card details in an email, this is not a secure means of transmitting information and can be copied easily to others.

4. Check website privacy policies, returns and guarantees. If in doubt, call or email the company you want to purchase from. A reputable company will be more then willing to help answer any questions you may have.

5. Be sure to keep a paper trail. Print out the seller’s contact information, a copy of your receipt, a page describing the item you ordered, and the email confirming the order.

6. And finally, if you are ever in doubt about whether you should give out your credit card information, CALL the Customer Service number found on the back of your Visa, Master Card or American Express, and ask THEM if the company you are dealing with is a "SAFE AND SECURE" company to give personal information to.

Gifts for Every Reason is one of those companies!
Have a safe and enjoyable shopping experience.

Traditions of Sitting Shiva

In the Jewish mourning tradition, mourners of the deceased will usually sit shiva. As someone close to the mouner or to the deceased, it is appropriate that you pay a shiva call.

A shiva call takes place usually in the mourner's home. Often before entering the shiva house, there will be some water and hand towels which you can use to purify your hands. Especially on the first day if coming from the cemetary, washing your hands is appropriate. When entering the house, you may notice a tall candle burning. Since shiva takes place for 7 days, these candles are designed to burn for 7 days and are often provided by the funeral home.

The mourners typically have the mirrors covered, may not wear make up or shave. It's also common for those in mourning during the shiva period to sit lower than everyone else. This is a sign of humility and being brought closer to the earth.

As is typical for Jewish get-togethers, there is often quite a bit of food and drinks available. It is common for the friends and Jewish community to provide enough food for the mourners because they aren't epected to entertain guests or even to do their own cooking during the shiva period.

You should feel comfortable to bring some food to leave at the shiva house. This is always appreciated and is better than bringing flowers or other types of gifts and yes, you should bring kosher food.

It's common that the mourners may not greet their guests and this is not considered rude. You're free to come into the shiva house, walk around and talk with whomever you wish. It's appropriate to greet the mourner with "I'm sorry for your loss" or "If there is anything I can do to help, please let me know". This is better than "How are you" as clearly they are not well emotionally.

The period of shiva is dedicated to grieving and so if the mood in the house is solemn. It is very appropriate to tell a story about the deceased or to share some memories. Sometimes there will be a photo album on the table and it's appropriate to look through it with or without the mourner with you.

If you're not comfortable bringing food, another great gift is to make a donation to a charity that the deceased supported. For example, if they were close emotionally with Israel, you can plant a tree in Israel. If they were supporters of education, you can make a charitable contribution for that. Often at the funeral they will announce a charity that has been selected by the family.

Although the best way to show your support to the family in mourning is in person, it is also appropriate to send a card or a Kosher Shiva Gift Basket if you cannot make a shiva call if you are out of town or for other reasons.

The Best place to find authentic Kosher Shiva Gift Baskets to send anywhere in Canada is, Gifts for Every Reason. Free Delivery in Toronto, NewMarket, Thornhill and Mississauga. Only $5 delivery fee to Montreal. All Kosher Baskets are clearly labelled with Kosher symbols to easily identify items.

(Excerts taken from Kaddish Bands - http://kaddishbands.com/how-to-pay-a-shiva-call/)