BLOG.KSPIRITCASES.COM

Do you own Challenge Coins?

kim@kspiritcases.com (KSpirit Kim) — Sat, 27 Feb 2010 14:55:00 GMT

Do you own Challenge Coins?

My interest has really peaked! Late last year Kspirit Cases was requested to provide a custom case, for a collection of challenge coins, by the Marine Guard Detachment in Baghdad, Iraq. It was our pleasure to do it! In the process of it all, it brought our attention to exactly what Challenge Coins are. The history of them, more importantly the significance of them.

Wow, who knew. Well now we know and I can't believe the beautiful designs and creative ideas we are coming up with for Kspirit Cases to hold these beautiful coins.

I would love to hear your story! If you have a story about your challenge coin or how you received it, please share it with us here. I am positive many others with enjoy reading it too.

Looking forward to hearing from you!

Kim

Marines give recommendation to KSPIRITCASES

kim@kspiritcases.com (KSpirit Kim) — Sat, 02 Jan 2010 19:26:00 GMT

234 Smiles for KSpirit Cases!

kim@kspiritcases.com (KSpirit Kim) — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 09:21:00 GMT

KSpirit Cases' makes it to the Ball!

...(and what a ride it was)

And Wa-la, our challenge coin case was made! LOL, and I am laughing out loud, as it wasn't quite that easy.

The request came in an email... Beautiful cherry stained, custom engraved coin cases, made as gifts for the First Marine Corps Birthday Ball ever held in the Baghdad new Embassy. Our KSpirit Case(s) as the gifts; that little break every small company hopes for! We were excited to be contacted for this project, of course! 500 cases needed in short order (is there any other way), custom engraved, inserts and designs, and oh yes, lets not forget to mention the added obstacles that can arise dealing with overseas shipments. Do you catch the preface here? LOL It was big and we were in- head first.

The process started smoothly and really it seemed like things were falling in place. We had worked our way through the delays and many of the anticipated obstacles, and a few unanticipated ones. Then WHAM! It hit, just as quick as the necklace box upon Julia Roberts' fingers in the movie Pretty Woman. Just that quick but not shiny and happy, it was more like OMG! Explicative!

The deadline to ship was just days away, three months into this project and at the eleventh hour, ...that's right, Murphy's law in full force. I laugh thinking about how I would love to meet this "Murphy" person and kick his ass. Pardon my "french", but c'mon, seriously!? At that moment it seemed impossible, down right heart breaking, a major failure of production that we couldn't have anticipated. It will never cease to amaze me the measure of limitlessness experienced in those types of emotional "highs and lows". The details aren't import, it's just the components of doing "business".

But what I can tell you is the feeling at that moment, when the clouds were the darkest, when all seemed lost,except the drive in our hearts. As your fighting back the lump in your throat and the tears as they well in your eyes, there is something deep inside you that won't let it die and refuses to give in. With sheer determination and the help of a few local Elkhart business's, our KSpirit Cases made it to the Birthday Ball in Baghdad. Our heart felt thanks to Century Foam for their Amazing Service, Flex Pac for their donation of packaging materials, and to Trudy and Billy from Direct Waterjet Inc., we appreciate all you did!

We thank all of our troops for their service and dedication, enjoy your cases for years to come!

If you would like to see this case visit us at http://www.kspiritcases.com

On to our next adventure with big smiles, a great sense of accomplishment, and even more heart.

Kim & Sue

Exciting Happenings at KSpirit Cases!

kim@kspiritcases.com (KSpirit Kim) — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 06:10:00 GMT

Yes! There are some new and exciting developments happening with KSpirit Cases in the way of our Service Persons overseas. Stay tuned for pictures of our new products! We look forward to hearing your comments and hearing about more products you would like to see from KSpirit Cases.

New Products!!!

kim@kspiritcases.com (KSpirit Kim) — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 23:14:00 GMT

Whew! and Yeah! (wish I could find that lil "happy icon" or "brow sweating swooshing icon" that is the only way to describe what an adventure it is to create and find new cases to add to our collection. Sue and I are psyched this week to be showcasing a new line of cases. We are adding "heart-shaped" boxes, baby boxes, and graduation boxes! Our new line is smaller, yet can be personalized, just as our larger cases. That is the beauty of what we do...it is only limited by your imagination! if you dream it, we will try to do it!

I love it when we find new things to add. It is amazing how a single block of wood can be carved into something so beautiful. So here it is, a line of cases ranging from 22.50 and up! In the next few days we will be showcasing Heart-Shaped boxes in a variety of sizes to fit any gift need. Baby boxes and Graduation themes and any thing else you could dream up... And I thought the Military Case was fun!...

The new variety of cases makes for the perfect bridal party gift or keepsakes for many occasions. Just imagine a solid wood heart box that can hold your bridal party earrings or ribboned bird seed packets. Step it up a notch with personalized engraving on your cases. Now that's a keepsake.

Big smiles )

Kim

Check it out! www.kspiritcases.com

Welcome

kim@kspiritcases.com (KSpirit Kim) — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 23:24:00 GMT

Welcome and Thank You for Visiting KSpirit Cases' Blog

Our blog site offers suggestions and ideas to customize your KSpirit Case. From time to time we will highlight our New Products or Designs. We also will offer "Occasion Suggestions" for which to use a KSpirit Case, as well as, sharing thoughts and experiences through postings on our site. Your sure to find some wonderful stories and Great Ideas!

A little about KSpirit Cases, LLC

The very first KSpirit Case was given as a heart-felt gesture in a time of loss: A beautiful box that could reflect on the outside the feelings of love and friendship written on the cards inside. The idea seemed like a wonderful alternative to the typical plants or flowers. For me, as well as the recipients of the case, it became something so much more, the handwritten cards being placed in the box weren’t of condolences but of joyful living memories - something the family could take with them.

It quickly became the gift of choice for friends and family not only at funerals, but Weddings, Baby Showers, Retirements, Any occasion. The gift of sharing memories, the imprints of our lives, in an heirloom quality case became the focus in creating our company.

Sue and I have been friends for, let's just say, a lot of years, we have shed a few tears along the way but laughed even more. I wouldn't even venture to guess how many pots of coffee we've been through! Creating our company has truly been an endeavor from the heart – as strong and beautiful, individual and unique, as our 25 years of friendship.

Thank you for visiting our site today and don't forget to stop by the blog for ideas, suggestions or to find out what's new with KSpirit Cases! We look forward to creating something special with you!

Wishing you generations of cherished memories!

Kim & Sue

Thank you for visiting!

Olympia's Poem

kim@kspiritcases.com (KSpirit Kim) — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 17:08:39 GMT

A few years ago I was blessed to meet a great man, John . Meeting his family was something special with all their "traditions" and personalities. Their closeness touched me as they openly embraced me and welcomed me into their family. I had the pleasure of traveling to Texas to visit with John's parents on several occasions, enjoying every moment I spent with Olympia and "Pop" as he is lovingly known... When Olympia passed away earlier this month the loss was clear, but more than the sense of loss there was an uplifting feeling of life, of love, and of the impressions she made on all of those who knew her. John's niece, Morgan, wrote a beautiful poem to her grandma Olympia when she found out she was sick. Morgan was able to share her thoughts with her grandma before she passed and Olympia kept her special tribute from Morgan in the nightstand beside her bed. Today, I would like to share Morgan's poem with you, it is definitely a memory for Olympia's KSpirit Case.... I hope you enjoy it.

Thank you Morgan Carricarte for allowing us to share your beautiful tribute to your Grandma, Olympia Carricarte, and the whole Carricarte family.

Grandma Carricarte

By Morgan Carricarte

Memories are indestructible despite sickness and health

They cannot be tampered with or even dealt.

Much like love, they are not tangible but are without a doubt free

Infinite amounts, there will always be

Such love and memories result from past experiences and thoughts

Like Sandy, the dog, frantically sniffing visitors to embarking in late night talks

Grandma’s house was the house to be

From no age at all, to the age of 16

A cliché statement would suggest

A ‘Grandma’s house’ like all the rest

Homemade cookies and Thanksgiving dinners

Ancient board games with losers and winners

I wouldn’t be lying when I say

That Grandma’s house was slightly cliché

We endured recipes and dyed Easter eggs

We talked about boys and shaving our legs

I introduced her to a new generation

Stealing her from Jazz to enter the Pop sensation

Although there was no point in listening to the radio in the car

Because we shared family gossip on trips near and far

She and I shopped, every year, for my Father- Daughter Dance dress

At a time when I only had her son to impress

And when we got home and were still sharing a clothes- connection

She would let me enter one of her six closets and try on her collection

Her clothes were innumerable and most times out-dated

But that didn’t stop us from the fun we created

And after that we would find a picture album or share a story

Possibly about Dad when he was little or there would be a visit from Aunt Lori

Her neighbors were always around for a regular invasion

But none of this was possible without Grandma in the equation

Small children came to visit to see “Linda and Lou”

The door was always open and to walk in, one just knew

Grandma’s relationship with Sandy was one of the best

“Louie call the dog” she would often express

Anytime the dog would walk on the kitchen floor and “tippy tap”

It was sure to push Grandma to an immediate snap

Many- a- dog called 11 California Avenue a home

In the fenced in backyard they would roam

Every once in a while they might walk by

The ‘radiation birdbath’ that stood quite high

My brother, Louis, named it due its lack birds willing to stop

Grandma just laughed and blamed it on Pop-Pop

Louis also favored Grandma’s cheese tray

Rubbermaid from the 60’s holding cheeses and crackers that lay

This talk of food brings me the kitchen next,

My train of thought is obvious, I do digress.

One time we experimented and tried to make “flan”

Nothing rhymes with that, but I will go on

Somehow the recipe card from 1966

Called for twelve eggs to add to the mix

Needless to say that flan was quite goopy

It restored our request for a gelatin and turned out rather soupy

Chocolate donuts in the fridge was quite key

When Louis and I would spend the night, the second shelf they would be

With the apple juice she bought just for us

And the dinner left-overs when, once again, she made way too much

Thanksgiving was the holiday when Grandma would shine

She set up a beautiful table, her seat always next to mine

One year I learned what a charger was,

A decorative plate beneath your real one, just because

Also, I loved having a salt and pepper shaker all to my own

And staying with Grandma even after my parents went home

She would watch the News in the den

And fight the clock to stay up past ten,

In the mornings though, you could trust her to be up

In her pink sweat suit drinking out of her pale-blue coffee cup

She would clip coupons or write on the calendar,

She noted everyone’s birthday, even people that lived before her

I would watch her from the couch of silky white

That one wouldn’t dare to put shoes on, to ruin its delight

Despite my family’s location she and Pop-Pop were sure to visit

Tennessee, Maryland, Pennsylvania, there was no limit

But the constant, indeed, was their white-paneled home

With the 70’s mirror and a cord on the phone

The house itself holds different memories for everyone

But I, myself, recall memories of only fun

Ultimately, where Grandma lives has no bearing

On the love and memories that we will always be sharing

She is a special person to all of us, in our own unique way

At times, it is indescribable, I must say.

This is not intended to advocate a longing for the past

But, instead, a reminder that time went so fast

Growing up I watched Grandma be a great sister, friend, mother, and wife
And with admiration toward her she has shaped much of my life