creative gift ideas | whimsical & uncommon gift ideas | catching fireflies blog

back-to-school staff favorites

Monkey Penny Pal $4.95 I love coin purses in general and this one has such personality. It makes an adorable lunch money keeper.

Little Picasso Brag Board $23.50 Finally! A decorative and organized way to show off the art work of my
little picasso. A great gift for grandparents to use as well. LOVE IT!!!

Crush Lunch Box $13.95 I just think this is the most adorable saying. For any smart and sassy gal, this lunch box is the tops.

Image Changing Notebook $8.95 Being a Lions fan I appreciate something that shows I love the game but
doesn't tie me to the hometown winless Lions. This journal is great for
any football fan heading off to school!

Alligator Stapler $16.95 Won't you be the most popular kid in your class with this alligator
stapler sitting on your desk as you secure all your completed
assignments together. This item certainly makes a statement about you.

Inspirational Charm Necklaces $36.50 I love these charm necklaces. It's about time that charms made a come
back! From tons of different beads to choose from, you can always find
the right charm to add onto a necklace and give as a gift. Perfect for
friends, family and especially yourself!

Butterfly Lunch Sac $16.95 These lunch sacs are so cute, I love the bright colors! And they come
with note cards so you can send a special message to your kids to let
them know you're thinking of them. So sweet! There different animal
designs to choose from too.

Image Changing Notebook $8.95 This notebook stimulates the brain for learning. I love it and it is great for all ages. Use it for homework or I use mine for a journal.

'Every Moment' Shadowbox $36.95 How great to have words of inspiration displayed so artsy reminding us
to make every moment count. I recently passed this on to my daughter
who is off to college. Every moment DOES count…pass it on!

Poo-Pourri $9.95 It's been a while since my college days, but one thing I can vividly
remember is having to share a bathroom with three girls I didn't know.
I wish this magical potion was around back then – it definitely beats
the smell of that fake ocean breeze air freshener.

Do you like seeking out sweet goodies that bring bright smiles? We're happy to share some of our clever ideas. Simply sign up to receive these blog posts in your email and you'll be the best gift giver around!

join us for the 4th annual mega march

Here at catching fireflies, we believe it's important to give back to our community and are big fans of furry friends of all shapes and sizes.

We
originally adopted our first cat, Tuesday, eleven years ago from a local
humane society and she has given us great joy, amusement and love
throughout the years. Since then we added two other cats, Piper & Shideh plus a Basset Hound, Gus to our four-legged family.

If you have a furry family member you know nothing beats coming home
to find your pooch eagerly waiting your entrance like you were a famous
rock star. Or having your kitty climb in your lap as you're surfing
the web (which is Tuesday's favorite pastime besides begging for food).

These kinds of moments make everyday life a little extra special.
That's why we love supporting the Humane Society because they help well
deserving animals find good loving homes.

We invite you and your friends to support us in this year's Mega March on Sunday, October 4th.

You can get involved two different ways:

1. You can join our team, collect donations and walk with us.

Some of the benefits of joining our team include receiving a pampered pet swag bag from catching fireflies, a free catching fireflies tee and you'll get to meet GUS… not to mention support a GREAT cause. What's not to love?

Still on the fence? Here are some fun photos from last years march.

2. You can securely donate to our team right online.

We really appreciate your support and to show our thanks, we're offering free magnetic dog and cat photo clips when you bring in your $25 or more donation confirmation printed email to our Berkley or Rochester store before October 31, 2009. (no purchase necessary to receive your free item)

If you're not located near one
of our physical stores, but would still like to donate and get a free
pet item… Simply purchase something from www.catchingfireflies.com before October 4, 2009, forward your donation confirmation to service@catchingfireflies.com stating what free item you'd like us to ship with your order. (purchase is necessary because of shipping logistics)

Get one of these cute magnetic photo clips for free with any $25 donation!

And we'll even create a personalized one for your furry friend when you donate $50 or more.

The funds you raise will help MHS…

Provide shelter, vaccinations and medical care to animals in need
Find loving homes for thousands of dogs, cats and other animals
Investigate over 5,000 cases of abuse and neglect and bring abusers to justice.
Educate pet guardians, children, the media and general public about animal issues
Expand MHS' low-cost feline sterilization programs to help stem the flow of unwanted animals
Reach additional homeless animals who are hungry, lonely, neglected or abandoned

It all adds up to care for more than 100,000 animals each year!

While the needs of every animal the Michigan Humane Society cares for are different, on average, it costs $120 for MHS to care for one animal.

Thank you so much for supporting this wonderful cause and maybe we'll be seeing you and your pooch very soon!

giving back to the community

Each year at this time, we like to showcase some of the charities that catching fireflies proudly supports. We're happy to help these groups raise money by donating $60 gift card books to their fund raising events.

BRAS for a cause benefiting Gilda's Club Metro Detroit Their mission is to create welcoming communities of free support for everyone living with cancer – men, women, teens & children – along with their family & friends.

Eton Academy educates students with reading, attention and other
learning challenges — building academic skills and self-confidence in
an accepting and supportive environment.

Scleroderma Foundation To promote education of the disease, the
foundation facilitates health and professional seminars, produces
and distributes literature and conducts publicity campaigns.
To help support the 300,000 people living with scleroderma,
the foundation offers peer counseling, mutual support programs,
and physician referrals.

Bernard's Tailgate – Sarcoma Research Bernard is our fallen hero, who died of a sarcoma, a rare cancer of the
connective tissue, on June 11, 2008 at the age of forty. Sarcoma has
historically been an ominous, daunting, and fatal disease that affects
around 8,000 people in the U.S. each year. Sarcoma accounts for just 1%
of adult cancers and belongs to an unsung category of being an, “orphan
cancer.” These are the lesser known cancers, the ones that most often
get left behind when it relates to finding cures.

Angel Kisses Fundraiser for Children's Miracle Network Their mission is to generate funds and awareness programs
in partnership with and for the benefit of member hospitals/foundations
and the children they are privileged to serve.

Tin Can Auction for the Berkley Bear Boosters

St. Baldricks began as a casual conversation between friends and has
exploded into the world’s biggest volunteer-driven fundraising program
for childhood cancer! In nine years, events have taken place in 18
countries and 48 US states, raising over $50 million, and shaving more
than 72,000 heads.

Cystic Fibrosis Foundation of Rochester and Detroit
supports 200 CF patients and their families in the 9 surrounding
counties of Monroe, Wayne, Ontario, Genesee, Steuben, Livingston,
Yates, Wyoming and Chemung

Norup International School

Upland Hills
School is a place where community comes first. Our work
is centered on the idea that every child is born a genius
and that the true function of education is to draw out that
genius.

Rochester Community Schools: University Hills Elementary – PTA fund, Meadowbrook Elementary – school supplies, Brewster Elementary – PTA programs, Brookland Elementary – staff appreciation, Rochester High School Senior Party

Rochester Hills Public Library

Holy Family Regional School, a school of God, educates children in
grades Kindergarten through eighth grade at two campuses; Kindergarten
(full and half-day) through grade three at the North Campus, located in
Rochester, and grades four through eight at the South Campus, located
in Rochester Hills.

If you're having a fundraising event, we welcome you to bring by your information to either store.
Both locations have designated amounts of our "gift card
books" valued at $60 and will be happy to consider donating to your
cause.

Unfortunately
we can't give to every charity, so thanks ahead of time for your
understanding. We'd also like to thank all the volunteers that take
the time to plan these special fundraising events. It's people like
you who make the world a better place to live, play and work in.

for butterfinger fans

If your looking for something sweet to add to a lunch box, but don't want to commit to turning on the oven, these super tasty treats are the perfect solution.

I found this simple recipe in our No Bake Recipe book. Makes 2 dozen

Butterfinger Bars

Ingredients

3 cups cornflakes, crushed

1 16 oz jar crunchy peanut butter

2/3 cup sugar

2/3 cup corn syrup

2 cups milk chocolate chips

Directions

Grease 9×13 pan with butter

Heat peanut butter, sugar and corn syrup over low heat to melt.

Stir in cereal.

Pat into 9×13 greased pan.

Melt chips and spread on top.

Let chill for 20-25 minutes before cutting into bars

I found by storing them in the fridge, they taste the most like Butterfingers… but really I'd eat chocolate & peanut butter at any temperature :)

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silverware you can wear

Meet Pam & Randy Hall of Vintage Silverware Treasures. They rescue old unused spoons, forks and knives, then transform them into wonderful rings, bracelets, necklaces & earrings.

I had a chance to chat with them about their unique jewelry business.

What inspired you to start creating your art and how did you turn it into a
business?

We love antiquing and taking old treasures and giving them new life.
We have lots of fun objects of art (if you will) in our home from
what others may consider junk.

It all started with an old fork easel that displayed a vintage
plate, and it evolved from there. We started expanding ideas and
friends became interested and wanted to "buy" our creations. We
thought, "WOW, go antiquing (purposely), have fun, work together and
get paid?" What could be better?

What's your favorite thing about creating your artwork?

We love to restore the beauty of the pieces..especially when we take
grandma's old silverware from a dusty attic and turn the pieces
into keepsakes the family will use and treasure. I still get excited
with every new pattern and piece Randy completes…and we love to see
the same excitement from others.

We hope to retire sometime (soon) and focus full time on this passion
and expand the possibilities with vintage silverware even more
creatively.

Since each piece of jewelry is one of a kind, we only carry their work at our Rochester & Berkley locations. The necklaces, earrings & rings retail for $16.95 and the bracelets for $29.95. They also are happy to do custom jewelry using your family's silverware.

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Rare Bird Finds Feature

If I were to serve guests a hunk of yummy bbq meat, nothing would thrill me more than to personalize each one with a little message. $21.95 at Catching Fireflies

Thanks birdies for showcasing our fun grill accessories… just in time for tailgating!

Give a Gift Blog Feature

Thank you gals from Give a Gift Blog for chatting up our funny cocktail napkins. Bring on the lemons and ice cold vodka!

My Shopping Connection Feature

It's time to get back to school, and our second installment of
handmade items for kids includes incredibly unique choices to show off
your child's individuality.

Find cute accessories, outfits and personalized goods to boost their enthusiasm for heading back to school.

(excerpt)

6. Personalized Brag Board for Children's Artwork – $26.50

Rather than just hanging a child's artwork on the fridge, show off
his or her latest creation with this custom artwork hanger from a.i.
paper design. Each brag board is personalized with your child's name or
a message of your choice. The decorative clips attach to the board with
ribbon and hold any 8.5" x 11" piece of artwork. The 4" x 11" brag
board hangs from the wall by a ribbon tie.

Thanks Shopping Connection for featuring our handy brag board!