{"id":3232,"date":"2012-08-01T08:00:36","date_gmt":"2012-08-01T12:00:34","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.catchingfireflies.com\/blog\/?p=3232"},"modified":"2013-08-25T16:42:56","modified_gmt":"2013-08-25T20:42:56","slug":"the-top-3-greatest-gift-challenge-stories","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.catchingfirefliesgifts.com\/blog\/2012\/08\/the-top-3-greatest-gift-challenge-stories\/","title":{"rendered":"the top 3 greatest gift challenge stories"},"content":{"rendered":"

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.\u00a0 We’re truly honored to have a place in a chapter of your story.\u00a0 So without further ado… here are the entries we chose as our top three.<\/p>\n

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Catching Fireflies has been helping me spread smiles for many, many years.\u00a0 I, honestly, enjoy giving more than receiving, and your gift selection and wonderful employees have always helped me choose special gifts of the heart!\u00a0 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.\u00a0 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.\u00a0 Our home is full of those special gifts.<\/p>\n

However, my favorite gift was given to me from my childhood friend, Mary Kay Stark Marwil.\u00a0 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.\u00a0 We finally united our shopping adventures while she was going through 2 years of chemotherapy.\u00a0 She had so much positive energy, and she wanted to share that spirit with her fellow chemo patients.\u00a0 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).\u00a0 We also would shop for holiday treats for the dedicated doctors and nurses at the Oncology Department at Beaumont.\u00a0 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.\u00a0 It was a personalized leash hook with the puppy picture of my dog, Tug.\u00a0 Coincidentally, the picture she selected was from the award winning Catching Fireflies dog photo contest.\u00a0 It captures the personal touch that is the foundation of your store.<\/p>\n

Sadly, Mary Kay lost her battle with cancer.\u00a0 She will always have a beat of my heart and I cherish all our fun outings.\u00a0 My ‘Tug’ hook<\/a> is proudly on display and I start each day thinking of her and all the joy she added to our lives.\u00a0 And Tug. also,\u00a0 appreciates this special gift…his walks are his favorite thing.<\/p>\n

This Greatest Gift is a smile for my heart! ~Ann Calvert<\/p>\n

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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.<\/p>\n

Last month, being a Michigander, I was off to a grad party for a friend. \u00a0I wanted to give her a cash gift, but also make it a little personal. \u00a0What could be more personal than Poo-pourri<\/a>–a bathroom product created to eliminate (hee-hee) odors that arise in bathrooms at times? \u00a0It was nearing closing time as my daughter and I went in. \u00a0I made a beeline to the clerk and asked where I could find the Poo-pourri. \u00a0Without hesitation, she took me to the display as if everyone comes in just for Poo-pourri.<\/p>\n

My daughter was amazed at this casual exchange over what she felt was yet another embarrassing idea of mom’s. \u00a0After 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.<\/p>\n

This is where my story begins…and gets out of the bathroom. \u00a0My daughter was leaving that week to return to her college town approximately 1300 miles away from home. \u00a0She was setting up her first apartment for the upcoming fall semester. \u00a0To 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\u00a0that apartment.\u00a0 Feeling the tugs of both home and the excitement of her own place, she fell in love with a wall decoration<\/a> that read “DETROIT” cut from Michigan license plates. \u00a0She showed it to me using her best wouldn’t-this-be-perfect-for-my-new-apartment expression and voice. \u00a0I agreed and put it back on the display. \u00a0I had come for Poo-Pourri and was unmoved (heh-heh) by her efforts.<\/p>\n

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. \u00a0I hid it in a dresser drawer as we loaded the van with apartment needs.<\/p>\n

Several days later she had signed a lease, and was able to unload the van of all her worldly goods. \u00a0I had to keep my mouth shut until she discovered it. \u00a0When she did, she called and let me know it was perfect–said she knew what it was before she even unwrapped it. \u00a0Should’ve sprayed a shot of Poo-pourri on the gift wrap… ~Alison Martin<\/p>\n

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A couple years ago on Mother’s Day my daughter gifted me with a Kelly Rae Roberts print. \u00a0It is a lovely picture of a woman’s face with her head slightly tilted and the phrase is “Listening to grace”. \u00a0She 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.<\/p>\n

I lost my dear mother – the epitome of grace – several years ago. \u00a0She was the lady of all times. We all miss her dearly. Her name happened to be Grace. \u00a0Obviously, this simple print evokes so many more emotions in me than the artist could ever know.\u00a0 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.\u00a0 My first response ( I hope I said “thank you” first) was – “Where did you get this?”.\u00a0 As soon as I could I went to your Berkley location and ordered five more of the same gift for my siblings. \u00a0They all have been equally grateful and honor this print as I have.\u00a0 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!\u00a0 Thanks for your wonderful selection – it’s always a treasure trove! ~Maggi Rasch<\/p>\n

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Online Surveys<\/span><\/a>\u00a0&\u00a0<\/span>Market Research<\/span><\/a><\/div>\n

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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.\u00a0 We invite you to vote for your favorite story through August 8, 2012.<\/p>\n

1st place will receive a $123 gift card<\/strong><\/p>\n

2nd place will receive a $103 gift card<\/strong><\/p>\n

3rd place will receive a $83 gift card<\/strong><\/p>\n

Thank you firefly fans for helping us celebrate the art of gift giving!<\/p>\n<\/div>\n