sweet and salty summer dessert
Steve & I were invited over for a little BBQ with some friends recently & it was my job to bring the dessert. Ever since I had that pretzel ice cream cone from Springers in Stone Harbor, I’ve been craving that sweet & salty combination so I cruised Pinterest & was inspired by this combination.
Since I only needed to make 6 servings I decided to join the dessert jar trend & create these sweet treats in half pint wide mouthed jars I bought at Meijer. I also needed to used gluten free pretzels & heard that Synder’s brand was the best & I have to agree. They were also super crunchy!
Here’s what you’ll need to make 6 jars (double if you want to make in a 9×13 dish):
4 ounces of crushed pretzels
1/3 cup melted butter
2 tablespoons sugar
4 ounces cream cheese
1/2 cup powdered sugar
8 ounces heavy whipping cream
raspberries and blackberries 
Crush the pretzels. (I did this the old fashioned way, however I’m considering finally caving into adding a food processor to my kitchen tools.) Add melted butter & 2 tablespoons of sugar to the crushed pretzels & mix. Place pretzel mixture in the jars & bake at 400 for 7-10 minutes. Let cool.
Whip cream cheese & powdered sugar until smooth. Add whipping cream & continue to beat until fluffy. Do not over beat. Spoon cream mixture onto pretzel crust. Top with raspberries and blackberries or your favorite fruit & enjoy!
These jars fit perfectly into my 9×13 dish which made them a cinch to cover & transport. They were a big hit & now I’m dreaming up other desserts I can make in these great little jars.
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soaking in the last week of summer
Steve & I escaped to South Haven this past weekend with Jule to show her the beauty of Lake Michigan and to soak in the last bit of summer.
After searching for some tunes to add to my beach playlist, I stumbled upon the band appropriately named, Poolside and really liked this daytime disco-esque Neil Young cover of Harvest Moon.
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help us choose our birthday charity
We’re looking to celebrate 12 years of making days brighter at our Berkley store this fall. Because of our birthday, we’ll be offering 20% off EVERYTHING at both our locations and online Saturday, September 22 + donating 7% of all our sales that day to a Detroit charity. There are so many fantastic non-profits making a difference in our city, it’s hard to choose just one.
So we need your help! We’ve selected 3 charities and would love for you to vote for your pick.
Alternatives For Girls delivers three key services to homeless and high-risk girls and young women: AFG Prevention; the AFG Shelter and Transition to Independent Living Program; and AFG Outreach. AFG programming is designed to address both the immediate and long-term needs of the young women we serve, empower them to seek and make positive choices, and affect lasting and meaningful change in their lives.
The Pink Fund has been formed to help women and men suffering from breast cancer focus on healing, raising their families and returning to the workplace. The Pink Fund will provide short-term financial aid during the brief period of active treatment and recovery.
“Wish I knew who said, “When Life hands you lemons, make lemonade.” The Pink Fund is the lemonade I made, only, in pink, of course, when I learned I had breast cancer.” – Molly MacDonald, 7 Year SurThrivor & founder
Camp Casey is a 501c3 nonprofit horseback riding program for children with cancer headquartered in Michigan. Through generous donations and amazing volunteers, Camp Casey has spread the healing power of horses for over eight years.
We’re looking forward to blessing one of these amazing groups this September. And don’t you agree… it’s soooo hard to choose! Help us decide with your vote below. Thank YOU for helping us make days brighter for those in our community.
Voting ends September 9, 2012
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add some adventure to your year!
As many of you know, Steve & I hosted an exchange student from Germany last year. Our experience with Tessa was wonderful in many ways & we really enjoyed the time we spent with her. After she left, we actually missed having that youthful energy in our home so we decided to grow our international family by hosting another lovely German girl this year named Jule.
Jule has been living with us for a week now & I already know this is going to be another fantastic & exciting year. There really is something so gratifying about pouring into and inspiring the next generation. Plus it’s great fun to be part of experiencing many ‘firsts’ with these kids… (Halloween, cupcakes, refrigerators that have ice & water dispensers, Mexican food, Friday night football games and even the Dream Cruise) No doubt, it does create an appreciation for the everyday things we often take for granted.
As you can probably tell I’m all for couples, singles or families of all ages who would consider hosting one of these great kids . I can say that we have no regrets. The only thing you’re responsible for is having a place for them to sleep (and they could share a room with a sibling) and providing meals for them. They come with spending money for the rest. Also, many people don’t realize that you get to pick out what student you want to come live with you.
Sadly there are still over 40 students that don’t have placements yet this year. Here are some of their bios…
Yannick from Germany describes himself as a sporty guy – but he also says”I like to tell jokes and make people happy”. He likes sports like soccer and bicycling but hopes to also learn a new sport, or sports, while in the U.S. He says he is outgoing, friendly and very easy to please. His teachers agree and also say he is helpful, communicates well with others and adapts to situations well. He wants to work in aviation because he loves airplanes. Yannick also likes to cook and hopes to do some cooking for his new family. He likes to spend time with his friends, at the movies, hanging out or playing some soccer. Yannick likes dogs and talks very fondly of the family puppy who was recently added after they lost an older dog last year. An energetic young man who is very excited about his new life. He writes, “Thank you so much for your willingness to receive me as a family member”.
Laura, 15, from Germany, is an excellent student and a cheerful young lady. She enjoys music immensely, and plays the flute in her school orchestra. Laura also sings in the choir. Besides music, she loves sports, including rope-skipping! Laura is an excellent student, and likes languages and mathematics. She thinks it’s fun to do the calculations and draw the figures in geometry. Besides English — her favorite foreign language, she also takes French and Spanish. Laura comes from a loving and supportive family, where everyone helps out when needed. Laura is very excited to “collect many new experiences” while being with her new host family.
Not quite the “starting five,” Raphael from Switzerland lives at home with 3 brothers and he’s been playing basketball for eleven years (on a team and also with his brothers). Plus he also makes time to work out. His family comes from the French-speaking region of Switzerland, and they enjoys hiking in the mountains and taking an annual vacation together. At home, Raphael has to clean his room, do his laundry and sometimes take care of his little cousins when their parents go out. He describes himself as independent and stable. His teacher comments that he is an open-minded student with a good sense of humor. Raphael is determined to spend a great year and bring smiles and joy into his host family.
Laid-back, friendly and always willing to lend a hand! That would be Joao, age 17, from Brazil! Joao is not content to just watch the world — he wants to be part of the action. He works hard in school to maintain above-average grades as he plans to study international relations. He dreams of becoming a diplomat and interacting with various nations. With a very good command of the English language as well as Spanish and his native Portuguese, he is on the way to being able to communicate during those intended travels. Joao enjoys writing and is good at it. On the weekends, Joao like to go shopping, go to the cinema or just hang out with his friends. He likes soccer, handball and volleyball, and would enjoy participating in any of those or in American sports. Joao is looking forward to his exchange year and learning a lot about North America in this, his first international trip!
Monika, 16, from Denmark is a popular girl because of her happy, positive attitude! If you have a lonely piano, Monika would give it some company! She plays occasionally because she loves music. She also does Karate since her uncle persuaded her to try and inspired her interest in it last year. Now she loves it. But she loves many kinds of sports as well. Monika likes her school (for gifted kids) because it is a place to both have fun with your friends and learn new stuff. Monika’s favorite subject is math since she loves to learn about trigonometry. But she also likes to learn about “old” things and go to museums. She and her mom visited Pompeii and she thought it was amazing! Monika also loves painting, skiing, and spending time with her friends. She says she really likes animals but she is allergic to cats. She could live with a dog, but not in her bedroom. Monmon, as her friends call her, is really looking forward to meeting and hearing from you!
If any of these kids sound like they would be a lovely addition to your family, you can call 1.800.872.0200 & select option 2 or email founders@yfu.org. Feel free to email me with any questions or concerns & I’d also be happy to talk with you. Steve & I are looking forward to another year full of marvelous memories and hope you can take advantage of this great opportunity too!
keeping things clean giveaway
I don’t know about you, but any extra motivation to get me to clean is always a good thing. That’s why we try to take the drag out of doing daily dishes by offering some clever kitchen goodies that get grins.
I wish this wand shaped dish scrubber made dirty dishes magically clean on it’s own… but it does take some scrubbing effort by you. Don’t take the chance of any grease jumping on your clothes by wearing this of this adorable apron with a removable towel. These quirky gloves will keep you company while washing the dishes. Tackle any crusty pan with some help from these super smart microfiber dish cloths with a built in scrubber. ($60.80 value)
So how do you start adding a little fun to your cleaning chores for free?
Enter below & we’ll draw a lucky firefly fan’s name on Wednesday, August 29, 2012 and the winner will be listed on this post.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Have fun, good luck and thanks for playing!
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our wedding picks
Whenever we get a save-the-date card in the mail, we know right where to go to grab our great wedding gifts… and so do our firefly fans. We make it so easy that we’ll often wrap wedding gifts for guests on the way to the shower or even the reception! Here are a few of our go-to recommendations for happy couples tying the knot.
I liked this clever photo of vintage cash register keys arranged so it looks like a date as soon as I saw it. I’ve given these prints for wedding gifts & also want to order one for our anniversary. The image is printed on beautiful metallic paper making it a truly hip & modern gift for couples that are recently married or celebrating many years together. $49.95 for the print
I love the classic look and colors of this frame…great for any newlyweds to display their favorite wedding photo! $37.50
These kissing bride and groom salt and pepper shakers are the perfect wedding gift! A perfect asset to the newlyweds home to remind them of their special day. $13.95
I absolutely love this personalized hanger. This is something that is very unique and the bride to be will adore it. $25
I gave this to my girlfriend as an engagement gift and she absolutely loved it. It’s such a beautifully made tile with great colors that could go with any decor. Of course the sentiment is classic and fitting for many occasions. $26.95
I love the a.i. paper frames because they make such great gifts. This particular frame is my absolute favorite. I actually got this as an anniversary gift my my mom and step dad, and they loved it. For future weddings, this will definitely be my go to gift. $37.50
I gave these mugs to my sister and brother-in-law for their wedding! A funny gift for any couple with a great sense of humor! $29.95 for set
We can all use a little advice now and then and even more so when you’re newlyweds. This wedding wisdom book is a great shower gift that attendees can pass around and provide the bride & groom their heartfelt words of wisdom. A treasured keepsake to look back on and appreciate…and maybe even admit to learning a thing or two! $27
This is a cute gift to give a new bride to be. I love to give this as a congratulations gift on your engagement. Pair it up with the brides favorite bottle of soda and you have a wonderful gift to give. $9.95
I purchased this personalized frame for a friend’s bridal shower and she absolutely loved it. It was passed around during the shower and received many oooo’s and ahhhh’s. It ended up being one of the first things to be hung up in the couples new house! $40.50
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exploring the beaches of new jersey
Before the summer slips away, Steve & I wanted to squeeze in a little road trip & decided on the New Jersey coast. It’s just a day’s drive away & is full of festive beach towns & shopping areas… a perfect combination for my exploring soul.
Our first stop was Ocean City.
I don’t know what it is about amusement rides paired with beaches that makes me happy… but they do.
I’m also a sucker for pretty painted shops that have garage doors as their entry way.
The 2 mile long boardwalk really comes alive at night & offers loads of entertainment options, a variety of shops & all kinds of eateries.
Like this place that serves ginormous pies… have you ever seen such a large piece of pizza!? It was quite tasty too :-)
Next we headed south to Cape May.
This very popular beach town has many streets lined with colorful Victorian homes.
And lots of sweet storefronts. The layout reminds me of something Disneyland would try to recreate… but this is the real deal. One of my favorite stops was Bath Time… their displays were dynamite!
It was an overcast day while we were there, but the beaches were still beautiful.
Next we turned north to hit the classic Seaside Heights boardwalk.
This boardwalk had more of a fair feel because it was full of those games where you play to win insanely large stuffed animals.
But my favorite part of this stop was the skyride.
And the free fun house mirrors were quite amusing too. What can I say… I’m a kid at heart.
Another 25 minutes north and we hit Point Pleasant.
More cute shops (my favorite was Stella Luna) & another boardwalk. Turns out they have fireworks on the beach every Thursday night so we bought a bag of salt water taffy & enjoyed the show with sand between our toes.
Two smaller towns not to miss are Stone Harbor & Avalon.
After soaking in the sun & jumping some big waves, we headed over to Pirate Island for a mini golf dual.
And what would a summer vacation be without some delicious ice cream from the local creamery, Springers? Plus can I say that pretzel cones are the best invention ever!? I need to scope out if any ice cream parlors offer these in Metro Detroit.
I hope you enjoyed this instagram tour of our time away. If this type of vacation looks like fun to you, check out this great website that describes all the great beach towns in New Jersey.
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the top 3 greatest gift challenge stories
Once again, I must say reading all your wonderful gift giving stories brought a few tears to our eyes, made our hearts smile and also gave us some good laughs. We’re truly honored to have a place in a chapter of your story. So without further ado… here are the entries we chose as our top three.
Catching Fireflies has been helping me spread smiles for many, many years. I, honestly, enjoy giving more than receiving, and your gift selection and wonderful employees have always helped me choose special gifts of the heart! On the other side, I enjoy receiving gifts, because, when I wear them or display them throughout my home, they are daily reminders of how fortunate I am in family and friends. I think of those gift-givers every day. Even my husband caught on to the sentimental value that comes with a gift from Catching Fireflies. Our home is full of those special gifts.
However, my favorite gift was given to me from my childhood friend, Mary Kay Stark Marwil. Unbeknown, we had both discovered your fun and colorful store independently and often showed up at our “Girl’s Club” celebrations with special treasures from Catching Fireflies. We finally united our shopping adventures while she was going through 2 years of chemotherapy. She had so much positive energy, and she wanted to share that spirit with her fellow chemo patients. She would initiate Uno Games and we would shop for fun prizes at your store for the winners (we would make sure everyone was a winner). We also would shop for holiday treats for the dedicated doctors and nurses at the Oncology Department at Beaumont. Mary Kay and I had many different interests, but we were always connected in our love of gift giving and love for animals. She combined those interests with the perfect gift. I’ll never forget that big smile of hers when she gave me my #1 gift. It was a personalized leash hook with the puppy picture of my dog, Tug. Coincidentally, the picture she selected was from the award winning Catching Fireflies dog photo contest. It captures the personal touch that is the foundation of your store.
Sadly, Mary Kay lost her battle with cancer. She will always have a beat of my heart and I cherish all our fun outings. My ‘Tug’ hook is proudly on display and I start each day thinking of her and all the joy she added to our lives. And Tug. also, appreciates this special gift…his walks are his favorite thing.
This Greatest Gift is a smile for my heart! ~Ann Calvert
Anytime a gift-giving occasion comes up, I check out the website for Catching Fireflies, which usually has me popping into the store, which usually has me browsing for unrelated reasons…but enough about me.
Last month, being a Michigander, I was off to a grad party for a friend. I wanted to give her a cash gift, but also make it a little personal. What could be more personal than Poo-pourri–a bathroom product created to eliminate (hee-hee) odors that arise in bathrooms at times? It was nearing closing time as my daughter and I went in. I made a beeline to the clerk and asked where I could find the Poo-pourri. Without hesitation, she took me to the display as if everyone comes in just for Poo-pourri.
My daughter was amazed at this casual exchange over what she felt was yet another embarrassing idea of mom’s. After accepting the fact that maybe mom knew the poop (heh), she began her own speed shopping maneuvers throughout the store before we ran out of time.
This is where my story begins…and gets out of the bathroom. My daughter was leaving that week to return to her college town approximately 1300 miles away from home. She was setting up her first apartment for the upcoming fall semester. To a first-time apartment dweller, Catching Fireflies is the mother lode of what would be perfect for that apartment–even if you haven’t yet seen that apartment. Feeling the tugs of both home and the excitement of her own place, she fell in love with a wall decoration that read “DETROIT” cut from Michigan license plates. She showed it to me using her best wouldn’t-this-be-perfect-for-my-new-apartment expression and voice. I agreed and put it back on the display. I had come for Poo-Pourri and was unmoved (heh-heh) by her efforts.
The following Monday I made it back to Catching Fireflies, bought it, had it gift-wrapped (for free!) and cried in the car as I realized I wouldn’t get to see her face when she discovered it. I hid it in a dresser drawer as we loaded the van with apartment needs.
Several days later she had signed a lease, and was able to unload the van of all her worldly goods. I had to keep my mouth shut until she discovered it. When she did, she called and let me know it was perfect–said she knew what it was before she even unwrapped it. Should’ve sprayed a shot of Poo-pourri on the gift wrap… ~Alison Martin
A couple years ago on Mother’s Day my daughter gifted me with a Kelly Rae Roberts print. It is a lovely picture of a woman’s face with her head slightly tilted and the phrase is “Listening to grace”. She is a great depiction of the gentleness we should all be mindful of as we journey through our lives… However, to me, it is much more personal.
I lost my dear mother – the epitome of grace – several years ago. She was the lady of all times. We all miss her dearly. Her name happened to be Grace. Obviously, this simple print evokes so many more emotions in me than the artist could ever know. I was enamored with this gift and this canvas is displayed in my home where I see it several times daily and am constantly inspired. My first response ( I hope I said “thank you” first) was – “Where did you get this?”. As soon as I could I went to your Berkley location and ordered five more of the same gift for my siblings. They all have been equally grateful and honor this print as I have. It was also my introduction to your wonderful store – and you have since been my go-to shop for the perfect gift. When my daughter-in-law visits from out of state, your store is a must to visit! Thanks for your wonderful selection – it’s always a treasure trove! ~Maggi Rasch
It was hard enough for us select the top three out of all our entries, so we’re going to need your help to determine who gets first, second & third place. We invite you to vote for your favorite story through August 8, 2012.
1st place will receive a $123 gift card
2nd place will receive a $103 gift card
3rd place will receive a $83 gift card
Thank you firefly fans for helping us celebrate the art of gift giving!
great gift giving stories
A BIG THANKS to all our firefly fans who shared their wonderful stories about receiving and giving great gifts from catching fireflies. There were so many fantastic entries ranging from sweet to sad to funny to sentimental… it was incredibly difficult to just select the top three. So we decided to showcase a few more stories and reward these firefly fans with $10 gift cards to catching fireflies.
Catching Fireflies is a super store to shop and find the right gift or card for someone. It is also a destination for me on a day when I need an emotional pick up. It provides great therapy because I know when I walk in feeling blue that I will walk out smiling to myself or giggling about some items or card that I spotted in the store.
Shopping with a friend in the store and laughing together is even more fun! Which brings me to my story about my “Birthday Mug”. About 6yrs ago on such a day my friend and I were looking about the store when I spotted this Coffee Mug “INSTANT HUMAN – just add Coffee“. We both shared a good laugh. Many months later the same friend had prepared a Birthday dinner to celebrate herself, myself and another friends birthday (We are all November Babies within 3 days of each other) Normally we do not buy gifts for each other, but to my surprise she had a nicely wrapped gift for me. It was thee “INSTANT HUMAN” Coffee Mug we got a kick out of a few months earlier. Again, we all laughed with our husbands and the MUG instigated much conversation.
Now, six years later, when I have company and am serving Coffee, some lucky person gets to use my Mug. It provides a good laugh and insightful story from the guest. (Isn’t laughter a gift in itself?!!) My Birthday MUG is gift that keeps giving. ~Shawn Young
Hello Catching Fireflies! Whenever I need a special gift, I stop in and see you because I know you’ll have what I need. This was never more true last year when a dear friend and I were both in the throws of trying to start families. We wanted nothing more than to each have our own little one to love and watch grow. One evening, before we met for dinner, I stopped in to your Berkley store and bought two small ceramic stones with the word “Hope” stamped on them. They were not expensive, but to us, they were extremely valuable. Just a small reminder to have hope and stay open to possibility. I kept mine on my dresser and looked at it every day until….I became pregnant. And then almost one month to the day later, my friend was pregnant! We were finally going to be moms!!! Last fall, we both had little boys- Ari was born in November and Benjamin in December. I’ve attached a picture of their first meeting. It’s one of my favorite pictures of all time because there is so much behind our smiles. What was once hope is now joy! You guys are the best! :) ~ Erica Stoddard-Salomon
In early April 2012, my mother came to visit me from Florida. She had not been up to visit in 5 years. A month earlier, I had to put to sleep my fox terrier, Ripley, who was 13 when his cancer caught up to him. We’d had him since a puppy and my 2 daughters grew up with him. During her visit, we decided to visit the Rochester shops, and I remembered your store from visiting it a year ago and loved how unique and fun it had been. Catching Fireflies was the last place we visited and my 2 daughters, mother, and I spent a long time browsing all the delights. We are all animal people and a square picture mounted high on the wall immediately caught my eye. I mentioned how it looked like our dog Ripley and even had the saying “little angel in heaven’. Well, unknown to me, my mother decided to buy it and later presented it to me. It hangs in a hallway in our house, and is a nice memory to our dog. I really don’t think we could have found anything better to represent our dog. I took a picture of it, adding the photo of our dog to the top of it to show how he resembles the dog in the art picture. This is certainly a gift that will have meaning for a long time in that my mother got it for me and it includes the memory of a beloved dog. ~Diane Higgins
I got this Mini Glass animal from my grandpa as a gift for my birthday! I love this little Mini Glass seal and I have many more of them and now I have started a collection. Every time I go to your store I go right to the Mini Glass Animals! There are various other thing I like at the store too. Thank you for the chance to win a gift card. I like Candy A LOT!!! ~ Ellie Crawford
Several years ago, a dear and longtime friend was turning 90. His wife planned a surprise birthday party for 50 family members and friends. I couldn’t miss this so I flew down to Georgia for the event. I pondered over what I could possibly give a gentleman turning 90….but I found the perfect items at Catching Fireflies: a copy of “101 Things to Do Before You’re Old and Boring” and a $1 Million bill to make sure he could fund all 101 things!!!! Everyone got a big kick out of the gift!!! It was perfect!!! And we had such a good time…. Five months later, he left this earth but all who attended his 90th birthday celebration lives with the memories of a fun-filled time with friends! ~Kathleen Marcaccio
My dear friends were transferred to London last year and I needed to come up with the perfect gift. I knew just where to go! I bought one of your wooden Michigan cutting boards as a going away present. They loved it! It was one of the very few items that they took with them to London. Friends and guests have commented on it numerous times, and my friends say that they smile and think of home every time they use it!!! ~Molli Lucido
My favorite gift was a AI Paper Design picture frame given to me by my dear friend, Susan. It was a pink baby frame with the words, “love at first sight” etched on it.
A little over five years ago my first daughter, Marin, was delivered stillborn. It was the most devastating time of my life. My life long dream of becoming a mommy was shattered. I never thought I would ever have any more children. Not because I was unable, but I didn’t think my heart could handle it.
A little more than two years after Marin was “born”, we found out I was pregnant again. It was so bittersweet. I was terrified, thrilled, and finally felt my dreams were coming true (again).
Susan, gifted me that beautiful frame a week weeks into my pregnancy with my now daughter, Abela. I proudly displayed her ultrasound picture on my desk at work. Every time I looked up at that frame it put the biggest smile on my face. I would show it to anyone who walked into my office. I was looking at my dream come true, and the verbiage on that frame was so perfect.
After I left my job to become a stay-at-home Mommy, I put that frame in Abela’s room. It is a daily reminder to me just how lucky I am.
On a side note, I personally bought an AI Paper Design frame with the words “sneak peek” on it when I was pregnant with Marin. That frame sat on my desk as well. It still is one of my favorite things, and her ultrasound picture is still in it. ~Alisha Person
This Mother’s Day I received the best gift from Catching Fireflies- a new apron. My daughters picked out the apron from the store for two reasons- one for function, two for style! First, I get too messy in the kitchen and end up changing my clothes after cooking, and second, because my girls knew I would love the design. The design of the apron includes cute mushrooms- big portobello, long enoki, beautiful shiitake, and tiny button mushrooms. From chicken marsala to mushroom pizza, my kids know that mushrooms are a welcomed addition to any meal we eat. Maybe my girls thought that if I had a mushroom apron it would subside my desire to sneak mushrooms into many of our meals (which it may actually do the opposite), but whatever the reason was, I am more than pleased to wear my mushroom apron each night to fix dinner- in functional mushroom style! ~Jillian Barbutti
For Father’s Day I gave my son your PERSONALIZED BBQ BRANDING IRON… a great gift!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! He loves cooking on the grill for his family, and on the 4thof July I received this MEAT MESSAGE……. A steak with his personalized note using the gift I gave him. The guests and especially his two little sons LOVED the idea. He could change the letters for each steak and make them to order. Fun idea……and it really works!!!!!!!!!!!! ~D’Anne Garrett
A gift I gave that was from Catching Fireflies was the Detroit Tigers 101 (My first team board book). I actually gave it at a baby shower to my good friend and her husband. The four of us (me & my husband, my friend & her husband) have been going to Tigers games together for the past few years and they were expecting their first baby this summer. In fact we scheduled our game choices around the birth of their baby.
When they opened it my friend’s husband got a big smile and a laugh from everyone in the room. In the thank you note my friend wrote ” We love that our Tiger buddies gave the baby it’s first Tiger’s gift – the board book is perfect….”
Great gift with a fun meaning. I had always seen this book at your store and knew that one day it would make the perfect gift for them. Thanks for always offering unique and creative gift choices. ~Erin MacRitchie
My story is short but sweet! I recently made my first purchase with Catching Fire Flies to purchase some unique teacher gifts for the end of the school year! All the gifts were fantastic hits!
I gave my daughters teacher the Flying Wish Paper and she said this was the most thoughtful and unique gift she has ever received. She mentioned that she is hosting a large family reunion this summer and that she is going to celebrate the final dinner by sharing the wish paper with all her guests. What a way to close the weekend she felt! ~Renae Sharp
This is really fun. I walked into Catching Fireflies after seeing the picture of the “Detroit” collage by EPTAS. I knew it would make the perfect birthday gift for my then 24 yr. old son, Dominic, for whom is very hard to buy gifts. He loves the Detroit and wants nothing more than the city to do well. I just couldn’t wait for his birthday but I did. He loved it!! I told him about the U of M one I had seen at the store as well. He checked it out and liked it but liked the one that spelled Michigan out. You see he is a Michigan graduate. Now he is moving to Chicago for a couple of years to continue his education. I went into the store to purchase a Christmas gift (yes, a Christmas gift) in June. I did just that but also purchased another birthday gift for Dominic. His birthday is the 5th of July. I completed his EPTAS collection by purchasing the Rochester collage. After all, this is the town he was raised in and will forever be his “home” no matter where he lives. Thank you, Catching Fireflies, for your wonderful collection of gifts. ~Mary Conti
Catching Fireflies is one of my absolute favorite stores, due to the atmosphere and uniqueness of the products carried. The Gurgle Pot is no exception, and I have a great story about it!
Back about two years ago, I was perusing the items offered at the Rochester location, and stumbled across the Gurgle Pot. It was quite an attention grabber. After leaving the store, I went home and did a little research on exactly what the Gurgle Pot was all about. I read online the story of Matt Ellison, and his visit to France. He couldn’t speak much French, and was entertained by a fish shaped pitcher that made a gurgling noise when poured. He found the sound humorous, and it served as an icebreaker between himself and his French hosts. 10 years after his visit to France, Matt was finally able to replicate (with his own twists, of course) the pitcher here in the United States for us to enjoy.
I loved the Gurgle Pot, and instantly posted a picture of it on Facebook and stated how cool it was. I have a core group of friends from my college (aka party) days, who instantly started a discussion about what a waste it would be to buy the Gurgle Pot. I was a little irritated at their comments- I mean, I thought this thing rocked, and how do they think they know whether or not I “needed” a pitcher! Unbeknownst to me, they had plotted to get the Gurgle Pot for my birthday as soon as they saw it pop up on my Facebook page, and didn’t want me to buy it before they had a chance to pick one up (I am apparently a “hard to buy for” gal).
Flash forward to my birthday… I received a HUGE box, with a million other boxes wrapped up inside it, all nestled together. At the end of my 30 minute unwrapping adventure, I saw the beautiful Catching Fireflies wrapping job, and instantly was hoping that I knew what was in the box. As luck would have it… a lovely salmon colored Gurgle Pot of my very own!! It was the best gift, and so unexpected.
My friend Jeff kept giggling every time he poured the water out, and he had a hard time relinquishing my gift back over to me. For that reason, I have decided to include a pictures of him. ~Katie Claya
My brother and future sister-in-law are about to create a house divided. Everyone in my family roots enthusiastically for the Michigan Wolverines, while my brother’s future wife is a (gasp!) Spartan! She is a great sport and even dons Michigan gear to tailgate with us in the fall. For her bridal shower, I raided the Catching Fireflies college section and put together a perfectly balanced gift. First, because we always tease my brother for being incapable of losing an argument, I got her the “Mr. Right” and “Mrs. Always Right” mugs. They were a huge hit! Then, to fill the mug I gave her Spartan green hot chocolate. Finally, a set of napkins to serve them with that read “We interrupt this marriage to bring you football season.” The gifts were absolutely perfect and she had a great time showing them off at her shower. I don’t know how you do it, but Catching Fireflies always seems to have the PERFECT gift! I loved sending my brother and future sister into married life in style, and she has threatened to bring the Spartan hot chocolate to a Wolverine tailgate if we don’t behave ourselves.
After finding the perfect shower gift at CF, I returned to get amazing wedding accessories as well. The bride survivor kit, happily ever after book and personalized hanger will be great additions to the rehearsal dinner and wedding day. Thanks for creating perfect gifts! ~Rachel Matz
My daughter and I entered the brightly colored old train depot now known as “Catching Fireflies” for the first time, last Thursday, July 26. We were having a Mommy-Daughter night out because my husband was out of town for a military event. We had spotted this eye catching building many times but just have never gone in. That was the night we decided we would explore this store.
What we discovered was a little nook of happy everywhere! We were so thrilled to be in this Gift Heaven that we simply got lost in time in there, and who knows, may have been browsing in there for almost a whole hour or more. Finally, we settled on a few items that we wanted to buy. Sparkling floral hair clips for each of us, so when we have to fancy up, we can have matching hair accessories (of course!), were the must have items that we first saw and held on to the whole time we were gazing around. But then, the coolest item ever came across our glance. There it was, the last one on the shelf too. We knew we HAD to buy it right then and there!
The gift…”My Dad. His Stories. His Words” book. The size is ever so small, but the content that can come out of this book can last for eternity. Precious memories – that is what this book is about. Not only the recollections of the dad to his child, but the memories that the child will have for their entire life when thinking back to when her dad would read a question out of the book and then answer it right then and there, or just take it out from time to time and open it up and write the answer in the spaces provided and then read it to her as a bedtime story.
When Hannah presented the beautifully wrapped gift (a pleasant surprise as part of purchasing from Catching Fireflies) to her dad when he got back home, she was beaming with pride. She, as did I, knew this would be one of the best gifts she would give him.
He opened it, and his smile and big hug to my daughter said it all — he thought so too. ~Shara Barrett
When I shop at Catching Fireflies I am frequently shopping for HOPE. HOPE for a better tomorrow, HOPE that there is good in every day and that I can take the time to see it and HOPE that, as the card says, a good manicure, a tiara or even a cape might actually help me save the world.
The best gift that I have given from your store is one I often wish I never had the need to give. In this past year I have given more of them than in any year prior. They are generally purchased out of my need to remind the recipients that they are loved, thought about and prayed for….in short that there is cause for HOPE. This special gift that I give from your store is the “prayer for your pocket” coin; a small token of something intangible that can easily be held in the hand of those in need of HOPE. While not a splashy, blingy gift this small smooth silver talisman is a lovingly fingered reminder that with loving friends and a belief in miracles great things are possible. It is a touchable reminder which brings a sense of peace and comfort, a sense of what can be HOPED for.
While I yearn for the days when I no longer feel the need to purchase these coins I will gladly continue to do so to let those I love know that they are not alone. ~MarySue Edwards
SEE WHAT I MEAN!? Thank you firefly fans for making our day seriously brighter with these awesome entries. Stay tuned for the top 3 next!
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secret of life
James Taylor sang it right… “The secret of life is enjoying the passage of time” but don’t you find yourself saying “Where did the summer go?” I’m right there with ya. That’s one reason why I decided to start capturing the little things every day with a some help from Chantelle from Fat Mum Slim.
Each month she reveals a list of daily prompts. All you have to do is use any camera you have {iPhone, Smartphone, Digital, DSLR, Polaroid … seriously anything that captures photos} and use the daily prompt as inspiration.
I’m a recent Instagram convert & since I usually always have my phone with me most places I go, I’ve been snapping away since April. If you’re not familiar with this snazzy free app that’s available on most smart phones… it has a number of filters you can choose for your photos that make them look artsy in a second. It also creates a feed that your friends can follow. You can follow me @tuesdaycat.
Here’s a peek at the beginning of my July…
I like to think of this as a visual diary of my days… and it only takes a minute to do. It reminds me a bit of our line a day journals we carry at catching fireflies. Because really… doesn’t a simple image or sentence sometimes bring up memories you normally would forget?
If you want to start remembering life’s little moments, I invite you to play with me (and a bunch of other people all over the world) starting this August…
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