December 15, 2011 by pbenjay
Invited to a holiday cocktail party? Or to a Hanukkah latke supper? Or a Christmas dinner party? You know you gotta bring a hostess gift…of course you can always opt for the traditional (read boring and unimaginative) bottle of wine, perhaps even some Veuve Clicquot. OR you could bring a jar of that strawberry jam you made this summer. In the past I have made batches of seasoned nuts and given them as gifts – but we’re running out of time to shop for ingredients, find appropriate containers and then make the peppermint bark or spicy pecans, so take a look at this list and maybe a couple of the items will jump off the page for you or at least inspire you to think a bit creatively when picking out that Hostess Gift.
Retro Kitchen Timer
Retro Kitchen Timer
An aluminum timer buzzing with old-school charm will wake up any kitchen’s style. Available in six colors.
To buy: $18, apartment48.com
Still Hot From The Oven
Bread Warmer
Heat this terra-cotta plate, then tuck it into a bread basket to keep rolls soft and warm. Score brownie points by showing up with it packaged with a fresh-baked loaf of focaccia.
To buy: $15, uncommongoods.com
Say Cheese
These markers are a great gift for any hostess. Perfect way to identify an assortment of cheeses for a cocktail party.
Sweet Clementine Soap & Hand Lotion
This refreshing scented duo is perfect for the hostess’s kitchen.
Posted in Amuse-bouche du jour, BY THE WAY | Tagged Bread, Christmas, Cocktail party, food, Gift, Hostess (brand), Shopping, Veuve Clicquot | Leave a Comment »
December 14, 2011 by pbenjay
And who isn’t a bit of a “techie” nowadays? I know I am with what being a woman of a certain age and owning and using a Droid, an iPad, an iPod, a computer, a lap top, a digital camera, and a Kindle….well enough said. My husband is NOT. So no gift on this list for him- he who doesn’t even answer or for that matter look at his email, lol.
This first gift just cracked me up! It has twenty-something, thirty-something (or otherwise known as the kids born in the digital generation) written all over it.
DigitsNothing–not even the bitter cold–will keep you from commenting on your friends’ Facebook posts. Simply attach these small electronic pads to the fingertips of your gloves and you’ll be able to send those urgent (or not so much) messages fast.To buy: $20 for eight, quirky.com.Digits
Are cameras going the way of snail mail? Personally I hope not because this blog would sorely miss Murray’s photos. However, for the less than professional photographer who uses his or her cell phone camera for shooting just about everything, take a look at this! Now you can carry these around with you as well as the extra batteries you will need to keep your Smartphone charged!!!
Smartphone Camera Lens
Smartphone Camera Lenses
Take high-quality photos by simply attaching these mini-lenses to your camera’s phone. Made of high-clarity glass, they bring amazing pictures to life. The set includes macro/wide angle, fisheye, and telephoto lenses (all lenses also sold individually).
To buy: $49, photojojo.com.
iPad Stand
Blue Lounge Nest iPad Stand and Desk-Tidy
Colorful rubber lining cushions and cradles your iPad while also providing a stashing spot for your phone, keys, spare change, you name it.
To buy: $15, bluelounge.com.
Posted in Amuse-bouche du jour, BY THE WAY | Tagged Camera, Digital camera, Facebook, IPad, Ipod, Photography, Smartphone, Telephoto lens | Leave a Comment »
December 14, 2011 by pbenjay
“It’s better to give than receive” and if you believe in this theory and have taken it to heart, then you might be interested in this list of Christmas gifts that not only give pleasure and joy upon receipt, they also give back to a worthwhile cause.
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A jar of homemade goodness. This sweet mix is packed with all of the ingredients (flour, brown sugar, chocolate chips) for baking three dozen tasty treats. Williams-Sonoma will donate a portion of the proceeds to Share Our Strength’s No Kid Hungry Campaign to end childhood hunger through December 31, 2011.
To buy: $16, williams-sonoma.com.
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KLAPPAR ELEFANT
Soft, snuggly, and begging to be hugged. An adorable pick for the young–or young at heart–on your list. For every soft toy sold, the IKEA Foundation will donate $1 to UNICEF and Save the Children education programs through December 24, 2011.
To buy: $15, ikea.com.
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Mercury Owls
If you’re looking for a decorative piece with a little extra sparkle, these mercury glass owls are a wise choice. For every purchase, West Elm will donate 50 percent of proceeds to the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. Available in two sizes.
To buy: Starting at $14, westelm.com.
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Kids’ Victorious Graphic Tee
There won’t be any complaints about getting clothes when he unwraps this cool graphic tee, designed by Dallas Clayton, author and illustrator of the Awesome book series. Proceeds from the sales of the t–shirts go to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. We’d say that makes this gift pretty awesome.
To buy: $25, jcrew.com.
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TOM’s Campus Classics
Cool enough to wear around campus; comfortable enough to make your weekend shoes. For every pair of kicks purchased, TOM’s sends another to a child in need. Available in 26 styles.
To buy: $48, toms.com.
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Kiehl’s Crème de Corps
Even winter skin needs extra TLC. Tuck this rich hydrating cream into stockings and feel even better knowing that Kiehl’s will donate 100% of the net proceeds from this collection to the Koons Family Institute on International Law and Policy.
To buy: $29 for 8.4 oz bottle, kiehls.com.
KLAPPAR Elephant
Mercury Owls
To A Child In Need
Posted in Amuse-bouche du jour, BY THE WAY | Tagged Christmas, Cooking, Kiehl, Leukemia, Tom, UNICEF, West Elm, Williams Sonoma | Leave a Comment »
December 14, 2011 by pbenjay
Even Seniors Like Them
Does anyone out there remember when going to the movies was a cheap date? I mean seriously, the price of a movie ticket is so high I’m happy to pass my self off as an almost senior! In New York City, the price of an adult movie ticket ranges from $12.50 at The Film Forum, an art and vintage movie theater, $13.50 at AMC theaters and a whopping $19.50 to see a movie at IMAX.
So who wouldn’t want some gift certificates to their local movie house or a gift card from Fandango?
Not an original idea for sure, BUT this year let’s get creative with the packaging.
You can get an open striped carton favor box online or a store like The Container Store sells many various creative containers. A popcorn box or container would be great and I bet if you go to your favorite movie theater’s concession stand and ask for an empty popcorn holder, you’ll get one or two! Fill it with favorite movie-watching munchies like Good & Plenty, Junior Mints, Sugar Babies and of course the certificates or gift card. Tie a ribbon around it and you have the makings of a perfect (not too expensive) gift. And it can be given to just about anyone on your list.
Posted in Amuse-bouche du jour, BY THE WAY, Only in New York | Tagged AMC Theatres, Container Store, Film Forum, IMAX, Junior Mints, Movie theater, New York City, Sugar Babies | Leave a Comment »
December 13, 2011 by pbenjay
It's A Wonderful Life
I never thought about a category of quotes devoted to Christmas, but here are ten for your review. I think a few of them would be wonderful as a tag line below your signature on your Christmas cards!
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“Teacher says, every time a bell rings an angel gets his wings.”
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“Christmas is not a time nor a season, but a state of mind. To cherish peace and goodwill, to be plenteous in mercy, is to have the real spirit of Christmas.”
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A Quote from A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens
“I will honor Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year.”
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“Your children need your presence more than your presents.”
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“Thanksgiving comes after Christmas.”
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“Christmas isn’t a season. It’s a feeling.”
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“Christmas is a bridge. We need bridges as the river of time flows past. Today’s Christmas should mean creating happy hours for tomorrow and reliving those of.”
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A Quote from Gladys Taber
“Christmas is a kindling of new fires.”
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“Christmas is not an external event at all, but a piece of one’s home that one carries in one’s heart.”
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“When Christmas bells are swinging above the fields of snow, / We hear sweet voices ringing from lands of long ago, / And etched on vacant place / Are half-forgotten faces / Of friends we used to cherish, and loves we used to know.”
Posted in Amuse-bouche du jour, BY THE WAY | Tagged Charles Dickens, Christmas, Christmas Carol, Edna Ferber, Freya Stark, Gladys Taber, Jesse Jackson, Peter Kreeft | Leave a Comment »
December 13, 2011 by pbenjay
Gifts to buy, presents to wrap, groceries to buy, decorate the house, buy stocking-stuffers, get the Secret Santa gift, send out Christmas cards, go to the office holiday party and on and on and on….
Here’s one holiday preparation that is truly quick and easy and yummy too. Check it out.
Directions
- In a large saucepan, melt the butter over medium-high heat. Stir in the brown sugar, cream, and cocoa, then boil for 1 minute.
- Remove the saucepan from heat, add the peanut butter and vanilla, and stir until smooth. Stir in the oats and peanuts.
- Drop heaping tablespoonfuls of the batter onto wax paper–lined baking sheets, spacing them 1 inch apart, and let cool until set, about 20 minutes.
- Storage suggestion: Keep the cookies at room temperature, between sheets of wax paper in an airtight container, for up to 3 days.
*** This recipe from Gina Maria Miraglia Enriquez to REAL SIMPLE magazine
Posted in Amuse-bouche du jour, BY THE WAY, Tasty Tidbits Tuesday | Tagged Butter, Christmas, Cocoa solids, Peanut, peanut butter, Secret Santa, Vanilla extract, Wax paper | Leave a Comment »
December 12, 2011 by pbenjay
This is a book you will love to give to a younger person on your gift list. It’s hard to really say what the age range is for a Shel Silverstein book – they have such wide appeal and the adults reading them to kids enjoy the life lessons contained within as much as the kids enjoy the precious drawings.
I read the Giving Tree to my kids so many times, I think we all had it memorized. Silverstein’s newest book is Every Thing On It. It’s a compilation of previously unpublished poems and drawings by Shel. It will capture the hearts of the young and not-so-young for years to come.
Every Thing On It
Posted in Amuse-bouche du jour, BY THE WAY, From My Point of View - Personal commentary on Movies and Books | Tagged A Light in the Attic, Arts, Bobby Bare, Christmas, Literature, Shel Silverstein, Shopping, The Giving Tree, Where the Sidewalk Ends | 1 Comment »
December 12, 2011 by pbenjay
A picture is worth a thousand words and in this case the picture is a thousand words or so. What a great Christmas gift for the gamester in your life. I play Scrabble every day with some friends online through Facebook. In my other life, (yes I had one) I used to play Scrabble every day in the summer with my friend Barbara Regan. Sitting at the pool or in her kitchen, we whiled away hours of word smithing. I’ll bet you know a Scrabble player too.
Triple Word Wonderful
* available at spoonsisters.com
Posted in Amuse-bouche du jour, BY THE WAY | Tagged Christmas, Facebook, Gift, Holidays, Online shopping, Organizations, Scrabble, Shopping | Leave a Comment »
December 11, 2011 by pbenjay
Here’s a festive idea to not only add some holiday cheer to your dinner table but to also provide place cards. And if you’re “green”-conscious this will appeal to you.
Cut up old Christmas cards in the shape of a star and then cut out the same star shape in tissue paper. Write your guest’s name on the tissue paper star, punch a hole in the two cut-outs, thread them with a length of red ribbon and tie up the dinner napkin.
Setitng Pretty
Posted in Amuse-bouche du jour, BY THE WAY | Tagged Christmas, Christmas card, Christmas dinner, Gifts, Greeting card, Hole punch, place cards, Shopping, Stationery, Tissue paper | Leave a Comment »
December 11, 2011 by pbenjay
Decorating your home for the holidays is usually an annual tradition and one that often sticks to the same theme year after year. While tradition holds a sacred place during the Christmas season, every now and then, a new idea comes along and this is one you might want to incorporate into your holiday decorating scheme. Kitchens often get overlooked in the holiday decor, so this sweet treat idea would look terrific on a window sill or on a counter.
Fill a few glasses of varying size and shape with sugar and mini-marshmallows, add some peppermint sticks and you have a 5 minute decorating idea that is sure to evoke some sweet comments.
Sweet Sensations
Posted in Amuse-bouche du jour, BY THE WAY | Tagged candy canes, Christmas, Christmas and holiday season, Christmas stocking, Christmas tree, Crochet, God, Holidays, Opinions, peppermint sticks, United States | Leave a Comment »
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December 8th-Count Down To Christmas-Book Lovers Gift
December 12, 2011 by pbenjay
This is a book you will love to give to a younger person on your gift list. It’s hard to really say what the age range is for a Shel Silverstein book – they have such wide appeal and the adults reading them to kids enjoy the life lessons contained within as much as the kids enjoy the precious drawings.
I read the Giving Tree to my kids so many times, I think we all had it memorized. Silverstein’s newest book is Every Thing On It. It’s a compilation of previously unpublished poems and drawings by Shel. It will capture the hearts of the young and not-so-young for years to come.
Every Thing On It
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Posted in Amuse-bouche du jour, BY THE WAY, From My Point of View - Personal commentary on Movies and Books | Tagged A Light in the Attic, Arts, Bobby Bare, Christmas, Literature, Shel Silverstein, Shopping, The Giving Tree, Where the Sidewalk Ends | 1 Comment »