A Reflection on Love

Love... perhaps the most effective word in any language. This tiny one syllable word has been the cause of combat, treachery, and insanity, but it is also the reason for harmony, unexpected adventures, and unprecedented inventiveness. How does it come to be that a thing that should be so good can drive us to so much evil? The French, acknowledged for love, have many interesting love stories to share. Take the story of the sculptor Rodin and his mistress Camille Claudel. Claudel sculpted for Rodin when they fell in love. His unwillingness to leave his wife for her drove Claudel insane and she demolished quite a lot of her artworks during episodes of paranoia which was a symptom of her schizophrenia. Claudel spent the last 30 years of her life in a home for the insane. How can a power that can drive someone to such bouts of depression be the one thing that we all seek in this world? Then again, let us look at another french couple. Voltaire and Emilie du Chatelet had a 15 year long love affair which was looked down upon by the general public, yet tolerated by Chatelet's husband, the Marquis Florent-Claude du Chatelet. Chatelet and Voltaire shared a healthy intellectual link and spent time philosophizing together, collecting books for the library, and offering feedback on each other's research in mathematics and science. Their shared values and commitment to each other fueled their love even after her untimely death. After her death, Voltaire wrote of Chatelet, "It is not a mistress I have lost but half of myself, a soul for which my soul seems to have been made." Despite her arranged marriage to the Marquis, the relationship between Chatelet and Voltaire was tolerated and not envied. They were the subject of contempt but were allowed to live their lives together in shared respect. Their story illustrates love in its greatest form. In my experience, love is the sole thing worth living for. Whether it's love of family, love of something, or love for a companion, without love life is trivial. Perhaps that is why love can bring us to such extreme limits. For some people, love is worth dying for. For others, it is worth living for. As Valentine's Day gets closer love is on everyone's minds. I wish each and every one of you a beautiful love story filled with all the best love may bring and none of the worst. This Valentine's Day, demonstrate your love with a Valentine Wine Gift Basket from Baskets By Rita. Send a Valentine's day wine gift basket with a bottle of white wine, two wine glasses and a compliment of assorted munchies. Chardonnay Havarti Cheese spread, Beef Summer Sausage, Gourmet Crackers, Smoked Gouda Cheese, Trail Mix, Caramel corn, Cookies, Chocolove dark chocolate bar with a love poem on the label, snack mix, and milk chocolate truffles. We all need a small reminder sometimes of simply how much we are loved. If you like this blog, be sure to forward it on via Twitter or Facebook. Thanks a bunch!  http://www.basketsbyrita.com/Valentine-Wine-Gift-Basket_p_259.html

Famous Colorado Food Gift Ideas

As a Colorado native, it seriously amazes me just how much this state has changed in the last ten years. While living in France people would ask me where I came from. When I informed them I came from Colorado, they would all laugh and say "Oh, like Doctor Quinn!" I can certainly tell you that Colorado today is substantially different from the setting for Doctor Quinn, Medicine Woman. Since the year 2000 the state's population has risen by over 750,000. Once famous for our vast expanses of land, these are swiftly becoming a part of the past, but I guess we can only blame ourselves for this. Colorado has become an incredibly charming place to reside. Louisville, Colorado was titled the number one place to live in Money Magazine's top 100 list for 2011. Besides Louisville, four other Colorado towns made the list. Pretty surprising, huh? I guess if we would stop becoming recognized for these types of things we wouldn't have so many newcomers from all over the place. But who wouldn't like waking up to a gorgeous rocky mountain backdrop every single morning? Not only are our towns earning recognition for the total well being they provide to their citizens, but Colorado is home to quite a few reputable companies. One industry that we particularly love here at Baskets By Rita is the gourmet food industry. Not only is Colorado known for restaurants including Old Chicago, Chipotle, Noodles & Company, Quizno's, and Good Times, but Colorado is also home to quite a few well known food companies as well.

At Baskets By Rita we carry products from Colorado companies including Bhakti Chai, Bobo's Oat Bars, Celestial Seasonings, Chocolove, and Boulder Natural Foods, all located in Boulder, Colorado. There has to be something about Boulder that inspires people to produce healthy, tasty foods. If you are not familiar with each of these brand names, you may possibly be acquainted with other Colorado companies for instance Hammond's Candies, Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory, Larabar, and Too Haute Cowgirls. Maybe I'm a bit of a foodie, but if the mountains don't bring new citizens in, I would think that companies similar to these would motivate people to come to Colorado. Oh, and did I mention that we have more than 120 breweries in our state? Colorado has been often called the Napa Valley of the beer world. What more can I say? This state is amazing! If I've managed to wet your appetite and you're now longing for Colorado crafted food and beer why not order a Colorado Wine Gift Basket from us and treat yourself. Our Colorado Wine Gift Basket come in our hand made Colorado crate which we fill with a great assortment of Colorado made products. We add a bottle of Two Rivers Merlot wine to make this a very impressive wine gift. Would you like to add a wine glass Maybe if you try one of our baskets and like the products enough, you too will consider moving to the centennial state. Like this blog? Share it on Facebook or Twitter.