Virtual Lemonade Stand for the Peds Infusion Room at Shands Hospital

Getting an IV infusion is tough on any kid. (Just ask Sadie, whose screams can be heard in the neighboring county!)  One perk is that after the IV is placed, the kids get to pick something out of the treasure chest. It’s usually a long process… searching through all the goodies that have been donated to pick JUST the right prize. It’s  something the kids look forward to!

Last Thursday, we were at Shands Hospital getting Sadie’s monthly treatment for her JRA. When Sadie went to get her prize out of the treasure chest, the pickings were quite slim. (The treasure chest is stocked by donated items or by items the nurses purchase with their own money.) With roughly 100 kids coming through the pediatric infusion room each week, this can be a big expense.

So, Sadie decided that she was going to raise money to buy some toys to go into the treasure chest! Her first thought was to get out her plastic recorder, play music and have people put money in a box at her feet. But after some thinking, she decided that at lemonade stand would be much more better.

Today, from 11:30-1:45 Sadie had a lemonade stand where she sold cups of lemonade for a quarter. Thanks to all the wonderful people in our neighborhood, she raised $15. Via facebook and text, tons of friends said they wished they were closer to stop by, get a cup of lemonade and donate toward her project.

So, we’ve set up a virtual Lemonade Stand so that everyone can do just that! For just $1, you can purchase a virtual cup of lemonade and help stock the treasure chest at the Pediatric Infusion Room at Shands Hospital. All donate funds(minus credit card fees) will go directly to this project. Stay tuned and we’ll update you on what our fairies donate and show you the loot!

If you (or your company) would like to donate items, please mail them to BluFairy, P.O. Box 621044, Oviedo, FL 32762 and we’ll be sure it gets to Shands! Donations can include toys, trinkets, new stuffed animals, jewelry, games, puzzles, books, crafts, individually wrapped food/goodies, etc. By the way, they are ALWAYS in need of items for kids ages 11-18.

Well, are you feeling a bit thirsty yet??? How about a nice virtual cup of cool, Countrytime lemonade!! )

THANKS for your support! Our BluFairies are the best!!

Easing Holiday Stress: Step 3 Assign a Dollar Amount

So far, we’ve set a budget and made a list. Well done!! We’re taking small steps to ease the holiday stress. By working along with us, you will have a holiday that is special, within your means and completely enjoyable! (Well, we can’t guarantee the completely enjoyable part since you’ll be surrounded by family, but we can guarantee a less-stressful holiday.)

Step 3: Assign a value to each person on your list.

Yes, it may FEEL like you’re assigning a dollar value based on how much you LOVE the person on your list… but in reality you’re simply making sure that you have money budgeted for the most important people on your list.

So, start at the top of your prioritized list and assign a dollar amount to that person. Then, work your way down the list assigning each person a dollar amount until you run out of your budgeted money.

This may sound like a basic step, but it’s HUGE!! So get busy, decide what you are willing to spend on each person. Good luck 🙂

Easing Holiday Stress: Step 2. It’s ALL about the list!

As you know, Out of the Blue Delivered‘s mission this season is to Ease the Stress of the Holidays! If you’re working along with us then you have already completed step one which was to Make a Budget! 

Step 2: Make a Prioritized List (and check it twice!)

Though it may seem basic, this is a VERY IMPORTANT step! It’s not only about making a list, but then prioritizing it.

You have a gift budget (thanks to Step 1) and now you need a list of who you will be spending that allocated money on.
Begin by listing everyone that you WANT to buy a gift for. Include anyone that you normally give to: family members, friends, neighbors, nieces, nephews, your kids’ friends, boss, co-workers, nanny, teachers, caregivers, doorman, mailman, etc. Be sure to include any secret-santa or other gift exchanges you are planning to participate in. Also, if you send out holiday cards, be sure they were included in either Step 1 or Step 2.0

Once you have your list, you MUST prioritize it. (Otherwise you’ll run out of money before you get the gifts you REALLY need!) Decide which gift recipients are most important and rewrite your list in descending order starting with the most important recipients at the top and working down to the least important.

Fun tip: Have an iPhone? Of course there’s a Holiday Gift App that can help you make and track your holiday gift list!

Easing Holiday Stress: Step 1

The Harry Potter characters, Star Wars figures and assorted princesses have all come begging for candy (and gone home to devour a year’s worth of sugar in one sitting) which means that the holidays are officially upon us! 

Our mission for 2010: Stop the Cycle of Madness!! Let’s make a pact right here and now that we are all going to ENJOY the holidays this year. 

How, you wonder, are we going to do this? One step at a time.

Today’s assignment (aka Step 1): Make a budget

In order to prepare for the holdiays, you MUST know how much you can afford to spend on them. There is NOTHING more stressful than the stack of bills that arrive in January that you work all year to try to pay off only to do it again the next year. This year, the cycle of madness ends!!

So sit down with your computer, your checkbook, your significant other, and whatever else you need to decide on your budget and figure out the dollar amout that you are willing to spend on the holidays this year. Be sure to allow for gifts, travel, accomodations, food, Holiday meals, etc. Need Help calculating a holiday budget? Here is a worksheet plus tips to help! 

 

Stick with Out of the Blue Delivered as we work together to make this your best, most enjoyable holiday season ever!!

Fab tribute to cancer patients by Lance Armstrong and Team Radio Shack

At Out of the Blue Delivered, we have a special place in our hearts for cancer patients. So, you can imagine how thrilled we were to see Lance Armstrong and the entire Radio Shack Team ride to honor cancer patients worldwide today.  As the teams rode out for the start of the final stage of the Tour de France, Team Radio Shack showed up in all black jerseys with a huge number 28 on the back. (Smokin’ hot, sharp jerseys!)

“Today, we’re riding for every one of the 28 million people all over the world whose lives and families are affected by this disease,” said Lance Armstrong.

Unfortunately, the officials did not let the Radio Shack team wear the jerseys for the race, but they did get their message out and raise awareness about cancer patients, their families and the impressive number – 28 million – people that are living with the disease today.

At Out of the Blue Delivered, unique gifts and care packages for cancer patients are our specialty! We offer hand delivery in the Orlando and Central Florida area and we ship worldwide.

Who needs to know that you care today?

Want to honor a cancer patient on facebook? Radio Shack has a black #28 jersey that can be sent as a “gift” on facebook.

Thank you Lance Armstrong and Team Radio Shack for honoring all of these courageous cancer patients and survivors! You give them inspiration and strength!!

“Out of the Blue” find in the Florida Keys

At Out of the Blue Delivered we love to bring you unique,original gift ideas for every occasion and life event. Sometimes, we come across creative gift shops that we just have to share with you! While in the Florida Keys this past weekend, we happened upon just such a gift shop… Out of the Blue Gifts! While it’s not hard to figure out that the name drew us in, we were surprised and thrilled with the eclectic range of gifts we found inside!

Located in a bright pink house at mile marker 29 on Big Pine Key, Out of the Blue Gifts houses an eclectic collection of gifts including a wide range of handmade gifts by artists in the keys (and you KNOW how much we love to support local artists!) Our absolute favorite were glasses made from recycled wine bottles. The bottoms of the bottles were turned into tumblers and the tops into fluted glasses. INCREDIBLE! And at $12 each they were a bargain.

Upstairs was a kids’ area filled with stuffed animals, books and games. The backrooms of the store “house” a consignment boutique cleverly displayed. If you’re passing through Big Pine Key, FL, be sure to stop and browse. You’re sure to find something fabulous that you can’t live without or the perfect gift to bring someone at home.  Oh, and when you stop by, be sure to tell them that the girls from Out of the Blue Delivered in Orlando, FL say “hello”.

How to Help After a Cancer Diagnosis

Tips for Showing that You Care After a Friend’s Cancer Diagnosis

Have you had your annual boobie squishing or physical yet this year? Be sure to remember to take care of yourself. So many times we get busy over the summer that we postpone our own care!

Unfortunately, most of us have already been touched by cancer… breast, lung, prostate, lymphoma, leukemia, colon, ovarian, cervical, etc.

What’s a girl to do when her business associate, friend or loved one is faced with cancer? Well, here are a few tips I picked up during my 12 years of treating cancer patients:

• First, depending on your relationship with the patient, drop by, send a card or leave a message of support.  It’s ok to send funny, uplifting cards – they don’t all have to be serious and deep.
• It’s ok to tell her/him that you want to help but don’t know what to do or say! The patient just needs to know that you care and support her. The patient has a whole medical team to give her answers!
• When you’re with your friend, take cues on the conversation. There will be times they want to talk about the diagnosis and journey and other days when thety will want to avoid it altogether!
• Remember that cancer affects all of those in the patient’s immediate circle. Depending on the situation, offer to give the caregiver a break by driving the patient to an appointment or treatment, watching the kids or grocery shopping.
• If the patient has a family, drop by with dinner. Don’t ask, just do it! Many times, patients hesitate to ask or accept help. Figure out how you can help and go for it!
• Google and learn.  Did you know that there many types of breast cancer? or lung cancer? etc.  Learn about their specific type so that you can better understand the patient’s journey.  This knowledge is for YOU! Do NOT share all the gory details with your friend regarding their cancer, treatment, prognosis, etc. The patient has doctors for that!
• Be persistent in your support! Call, send cards, email…show support in whatever way you can. NEVER expect a response. Depending on where the patient is in the journey, they may not be up to responding…just keep supporting! Trust me, your love and support will lift the patient up.
• Pace yourself! Battling cancer can be a long process… A little support ALL the way through is much better than 24/7 support for the first couple weeks!
• Pray for your friend often and be sure to be extra grateful for all the blessings in YOUR life!

by Dawn Veselka – Radiation Therapist and owner of Out of the Blue Delivered

Give your woman EXACTLY what she wants this Valentine’s Day!

Let’s face it… Valentine’s Day is ALL about the women!! It‘s SO NOT a guy holiday… but it sure does put the pressure on the men to give the right gift. Many a man has doomed a relationship (or ended up in the doghouse) by giving the wrong gift on Valentine’s Day. Hmmm, are you feeling little beads of perspiration yet?

Are you wondering what on earth you can get your special someone this Valentine’s Day that is sure to be a hit? Wish you knew the ONE thing that would make her happy (and that wouldn’t break your bank account)?

Well guys, its easier than you think… seriously!

Let’s ponder for a moment: What do we all want? Unconditional love!

OK, so that’s all well and good, but you’re probably wondering how we turn this knowledge into a fabulous gift that will make her fall in love all over again?

Here’s how:

1. Write a Love Letter – Yes, as in the old-fashioned, grab a pen and paper kind of letter. Even if you say “I love you” a hundred times a day, a woman wants to know WHY you love her. So, grab a pen and tell her. Don’t get cheesy. Instead write from the heart about what she means to you, what she does for you and what you truly love about her. I promise you, it will be the best gift you ever give her!

2. Ease a burden – Figure out ONE thing that adds to her stress and eliminate it for one day. For example, cook dinner (or take her out), clean the house (or hire someone clean it), or detail her car (women go nuts for this thoughtful gesture).

3. Make her feel special – Consider your woman and what she would make her feel special. Stumped? Out of the Blue Delivered asked women what their ideal Valentine’s Day gift would be and the top three answers were peace and quiet, relaxing bath products and chocolate goodies ( jewelry was fourth). If your budget allows, send her off for a luxurious spa day. If not, create one for her. Put a “Spa” sign on the bathroom door, run a hot bath with bath salts or oil, turn on some relaxing music, light a candle or two, add a glass of wine and her favorite treat and leave her to soak in the peace and quiet. For extra points, warm her towels and robe in the dryer, give her a yummy body cream, give her a full body massage, paint her toes, and bring her dinner in bed. She will appreciate the thoughtfulness and the work you put into making her feel loved and special!

Hint: If you have kids, be sure to keep them out of the “spa” AND to clean up any mess they make. Nothing spoils a relaxation session like kids walking in every 5 minutes OR coming out to a huge mess (aka instant stress!)

Good luck men! I have a feeling this is going to be the year that you ROCK Valentine’s Day!

If you want a little help in putting the spa experience together, Out of the Blue Delivered has creative gift ideas like our “45 Minutes ALL to Myself” Gift Box. Out of the Blue Delivered specializes in delivering creative gifts. Hand-delivery option available the Orlando area otherwise, we shipp worldwide.

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Business Ideas for Young Entrepreneurs

Raise your hand if you ever had a lemonade stand as a kid… I know I did!

I also sold homemade cookies door-to-door in my neighborhood and kindling that I collected in the woods (which is too funny since I grew up in Orlando and how often did we actually USE our fireplaces?!)

Regardless of the success of these adventures, each of these experiences gave me valuable knowledge and the courage to believe in myself and to attempt anything… definite qualities I drew upon when I decided to launch Out of the Blue Delivered in 2008.

What kind of businesses do today’s entrepreneurial kids start? When Mike Michalowicz, aka The Toilet Paper Entrepreneur, recently asked for business ideas for today’s kids, I was intrigued. He got 80 responses which he lists in his post Business Ideas for Young Entrepreneurs! There were many ideas with the same theme…internet, artistry, pet sitting, yard work, etc.

Here are my 5 favorites in no particular order:

1. Social Media Mavens – Teenagers are the experts when it comes to social media: Facebook, YouTube, etc. A business where they set up and post on all the media outlets for a company targeting teenagers would be great for them. They can easily use PayPal as their payment portal for getting paid for their services. Thanks to: Stacey Kammerman of KAMMS World Wide

2. Be Green And Earn Green! – Teach a young child the importance of earning money AND doing good. For example, there are artists in every town that make things using recycled items. Have your child team up with an artist to collect the items they use (cans, bags, metals, computer parts, clothing, etc) and then sell them to the artist who will then turn the items back into a usable commodity. Your child learns about making and handling money while doing something good for the environment and learning ways to reuse and recycle. Thanks to: Dawn Veselka of Out of the Blue Delivered

3. Photos + Stories = Product – Our daughter loves the digital camera. She also loves to tell her version of what her photos are. Her perspective is better than mine. She takes photos in our neighborhood. Then, she picks her favorites, tells a story to go with each photo.We print them up as sets of note cards.She includes the location, story, her name and date.She’s sold several sets because her stories are so silly. A photo of flowers can take on a whole new meaning when you can see hidden fairies behind them.Thanks To: Susan Finch of Susan Finch Web Solutions Provider

4. Kids Are Masters Of Technology – A great business idea for kids would be to help out technology challenged adults. Here are some examples: Program Grandma’s DVR with all her faves – $20 bucks, get the family’s new printer set up and linked to all the home computers – $15 bucks, etc. Kids today know so much more about all kinds of technology than many adults do. There is definitely money to be made with that knowledge! Thanks to: Debra Medina of Spa Time Baby

5. Poop Patrol for the Youngsters – The best business tip for a youngster ages 6+ is “poop patrol”. AKA “pooper scoopers” – its a relatively easy business with zero overhead. This simple business can be the foundation of future entrepreneurs.Thanks To: Cindy Tollen of Sudz N Bubbles, Ltd

What business ideas do YOU have for today’s kids?

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Tips for Showing Support After Loss of a Loved One

What Should I Do for Someone Who Just Lost a Loved One? It’s the most common question we get at Out of the Blue Delivered. Here’s what I’ve learned during my years of treating terminal patients and from interviewing family members…

1. Call or email a message of support. Do NOT expect an answer. In fact, your message should state something “do not feel the need to reply to this message”. Your mission is to show love and support for the person, not to add the stress of returning messages or phone calls.

2. Keep in mind that this time is ALL about SUPPORTING THEM! If you have some epiphany about your life because of this death, now is NOT the time to share it with the grieving person. If you are sad and heartbroken about this loss, find someone else to lean on. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve seen the widow or widower standing strong and offering support to friends around them because their friends were crying uncontrollably about the sadness of it all.

3. If you hear of the passing in the first two weeks, send a card. ALL cards do NOT need to be super-deep, emotional cards. “With Sympathy” over and over can be hard to take. Depending on the recipient, feel free to send a light-hearted card with a handwritten message of support.  If you knew the person who passed, be sure to include your favorite memory or what he/she meant to you in the note that you write. If you didn’t know deceased, then your note should just be one of support. EVERYONE says “You’re in my thoughts and prayers”. So, try to be original… what would YOU want to hear? What has someone said to you in the past that meant a lot to you? Pass those sentiments along…

4. DO NOT send a sympathy card after the first few weeks. Instead, send a “Thinking of You” card. A person can only take so much sympathy and then they just need love and support. It’s nice to honor someone’s life, but you don’t want to keep the flow of sympathy cards coming in. Again, be sure to include a meaningful note in the card. If you don’t have anything personal to say, then perhaps you shouldn’t be sending the card.

5. Remember that there are 5 stages of grief: Denial, Anger, Bargaining, Depression, Acceptance. Depending on the circumstances of death and the individual coping with the loss, it can take months to move through a stage. (Especially in the unexpected loss or loss of a child instances). Therefore, don’t assume that just because 3, 6 or 9 months have passed that the person is “back to normal” or “over it”. Our daily lives may be moving on, but the person who has experienced the loss will be dealing with it for a long time. (Again, this varies by person/circumstance).

6. Don’t walk on eggshells around the grieving person. Most people are afraid to say something because they don’t know what to say or they are afraid to make the person cry. If you don’t know what to say, then say that! But don’t tiptoe around the person like they have the plague. They are dealing with enough emotions without having to feel like a leper! Look them in the eye and say “I’m not quite sure what I should say to you, but I’d like to ask if there is anything I can do for you.”

As far as being afraid to make them cry… well, tears are part of the grieving process. If the emotion is still strong and fresh, then you’re probably going to get some tears. Don’t be afraid of them. Give the person a shoulder to lean on and a hug of support… THAT is sometimes the greatest gift you can give a grieving person – the comfort of a strong hug.  If they want to talk, then listen! It’s cathartic for a person to talk about their loved one that they just lost.

7. There is a lot of stuff beyond the emotional heartache that a person has to handle when someone passes. Things like making funeral arrangements, calling lawyers, dealing with bank accounts, nursing home, hospitals, insurance companies, writing thank you notes, maintaining the daily routine (if the person has kids), sending copies of the death certificate to numerous places, etc., etc, etc. It’s overwhelming to think about much less live through it. Ask yourself what would help make the grieving person’s life a bit easier? When you come up with an answer, go do it!! Don’t ask or offer, just do it! Instead of saying “Do you want me to bring dinner over?”, leave a message saying  “I’m dropping dinner off on Thursday.”  Most people do not feel comfortable asking for help. So, tell them what you want to do for them and unless they protest vehemently, then do it!

8. When deciding HOW to help, “think outside the box”. Again, this depends on your relationship with the grieving individual, but think about ways to make their life easier…

• pick up the kids from school and take them to practice
• keep the kids for a night or two
• offer to call and cancel/reschedule all the appointments for the next few weeks
• if there are deadlines on the schedule, offer to complete the needed work
• clean the house and do laundry or mow the grass
• go over and make a bunch of the dreaded phone calls for her- lawyer, insurance company, hospital, etc.
• run errands… grocery, post office, dry cleaner
• write out all the bills for the month
• write out thank you notes and mail them
• offer to notify anyone that needs notifying

You get the picture… figure out a way to make life a little easier.

9. Remember to check in on the grieving person. There is no time-line for heartache and recovery. Depending once again on your relationship, check in on the person on a regular schedule…daily, weekly, monthly, yearly… Never expecting a reply…just sending messages of love, support (and sometimes humor).

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