Showing posts with label gifts. Show all posts
Showing posts with label gifts. Show all posts

14 Things I Love Now That Would Make Great Gifts

 

Tis the season when we are searching for the perfect gifts we will be remembered for giving. There are no guarantees, but I always like to get something a bit out of the ordinary. I’ve received a lot of items lately. Some have been given to me and others I have bought myself. They wouldn’t be on the list if I didn’t really like them.

The holiday gift ideas below are in no particular order, but I’ve linked to the best deal I found. (Maybe good enough to also pick up some for yourself.) I do receive a small commission on some of these.

 

1.        Lectrofan

Anyone who has a Yorkie knows that they can hear a fly a half mile away! I had the bedroom noise under control during the summer with a hepa filter fan. I replaced that with the (quiet) humidifier. After a few nights of Teddy waking up with every outside sound, I received the Lectrofan. It has many white noise and fan options. I set it to duplicate the sound of the fan we had. I’m sleeping better too. They have a micro version that also acts as a Bluetooth speaker.

 
2.        Harry’s Famous Sauce


I spent years perfecting my sauce and never use jarred, but I was intrigued by Harry’s Famous Sauce. Harry Hamlin had me at “Rosemary Red Wine.” I poured some over pasta and, while I enjoyed it, “cacciatore’ immediately came to mind—simple and delicious in the crockpot, with the sauce, mushrooms, carrots, and chicken thighs.

 
3.        Heated Wearable Shawl


I have been dealing with a lot of arm and shoulder pain since my fall in April. I’m always looking for ways to ease the pain. This heated shawl covers my arms in gentle warmth. It’s also going to be great for all the winter nights to come.
 

4.        Ayla & Co. Vacuum


This handheld portable car vacuum is light weight, but strong enough to clean your car easily. It has a rechargeable USB cord and a replaceable filter to make it easy to use.

 
5.        Mettalusso


This vegan brand is for pets and people. I loved the way the Pet Wipes and Waterless Mousse Shampoo made Teddy’s hair clean, smooth, and fresh, without a strong odor. I tried the Serum Primer and noticed more smoothing and tightness in my face in a few days.

 
6.        European Deli

If you want to go back to memories of European markets like I do, or pay homage to a family member or friend’s heritage, you’ll find a huge selection of products to choose from the European Deli website.

 
7.        Skechers Slip Ins

I was skeptical about the new “slip in” shoes, but they really do work. You can put them on perfectly without ever bending down. I love the feel of these, and they also have a lot of support.

 
8.        Audible Membership





I really enjoy listening to books on Audible, especially autobiographies read by the authors. You can gift an Audible membership that has thousands of free books to read, and a complimentary bestseller every month.

 
9.        XXI Martinis

With everything you have to do this holiday season, why waste time mixing martinis? XXI Martinis are perfectly mixed and just need chilling. While they are all good, the Espresso is so outstanding a friend who doesn’t like coffee couldn’t  wait  to go buy a bottle.
 
10.   Sausalito Liquor Company Unsinkable Chocolate liqueur

You can do whatever you want with this chocolate liqueur, but I liked it just on the rocks and in coffee. It’s got the deepest, richest chocolate taste of any liqueur I’ve ever had.
 
11.   Ricardo Avalon Luggage

As much as I have loved my Samantha Brown luggage (some pieces I’ll probably keep forever) for many years, I needed something lighter weight. Ricardo offered me a set of their Avalon luggage and it is perfect. They are so light and functional, with pieces that fit my wheelchair. There are great deals on them at Macy’s now.
 
12.   Travelambo Multi card Bifold Wallet


I finally found a wallet that can hold lots of cards without taking up lots of room in my bag. This is a fantastic gift that comes in a ton of colors and is currently only $11.04.
 
13.   Furzapper


This is the perfect stocking stuffer for everyone. They can slip right into your pocket and be used to remove lint, fur, hair, and more from clothing and furniture.
 
14.   Alter Eco Dark Chocolates


These are also a must for stocking stuffers and hostess gifts. These rich, dark chocolates are made with the planet in mind, with compostable packaging and organic ingredients.
 

 

Ready to Stock the Bar and Fridge? Here are my latest finds

I hope your holiday season is going as well as mine. I have been spending lots of time with family and friends.

Get out the basket…
We’ve all seen those standard fruit, cheese, and meat baskets passed around during the holidays and other occasions throughout the year. The cheese is simply “cheddar,” or something just as generic. I was happy to hear from Murray’s Cheese about their selections, which are anything but ordinary.

They sent me The MVP: Most Valuable Player. It includes: tasty Murray’s Gruyere, tangy Humboldt Fog, mild and delicious Grazier’s Edge, and hearty Point Reye’s Bay Blue cheeses, as well as an excellent Prosciutto San Daniele and a lean Creminelli Wild Boar Salami. The Pistachio Cranberry and Olive Oil Crackers were a perfect accompaniment, and the buttery Marcona Almonds are addicting.  

One of the other things I love about Murray’s Cheese is that they let you build your own basket from all these interesting ingredients. Definitely give them a try for your next gift giving.

Grab the Little Black Dress…
If you haven’t tried LittleBlack Dress Wines yet, you should. I sampled and enjoyed their Diva Red. It was quite fruity and not too dry. Their Cabernet Sauvignon is also a bit less dry than most, retaining its dark raspberry notes.

A different kind of red…
Pinot Noir is far from my favorite wine, but I did a double-take when I tasted the 2014 from AdlerFels. It’s unlike any other I’ve tasted. This Monterey, California, selection is light and filled with blackberry, cassis, and other dark fruit.

International wines…
Some wines from around the globe I would definitely recommend you stock up on.

Astoria Caranto Pinot Noir carries the more traditional oak and dryness of a pinot noir, but it’s smooth enough that you don’t need a big steak with it.

La Cana Albarino is an easy drinking white, with light citrus and a bit of acid.

Luna Nuda PinotGrigio is something I could drink all the time. It’s very fresh and filled with fruit.  

One 8 Distilling…
I didn’t have a chance to visit One8 Distilling on my trip to Washington, DC, but they sent me a box full of samples of their spirits to try out. The company’s name comes from it’s opening date, January 8, 2015. Despite only being open two years, they have quite a selection of gin, vodka, and whiskey.

I’m not a huge fan of barreled gin (I think the spirit should have enough flavor on its own, as their Ivy City Gin does), but the One 8 Untitled No. 1 had a fairly short (3-10 months) aging in old bourbon barrels so it doesn’t lose its juniper and spice. I also recommend their White Whiskey, and their District Made Vodka, which is made from rye and uses Russian Distilling.
                                                                                                                                                              
Experiment with cocktails…
There’s more to life than gin & tonic, Captain & Coke, and Bloody Mary’s. You need to mix it up a little and why not do some mixing with something healthy?

Natalie's Orchid Island Juice Company has a selection of all natural juices that mix very well with your favorite spirits.

We paired the sweet Honey Tangerine with tequila, the tart Strawberry Lemonade with vodka, Orange Beet with gin. Their newest flavor, Pumpkin Apple Spice, was excellent with whiskey. And, of course, you can mix the Orange or Lemonade with endless possibilities.

What a great combo…
I was excited to try Belle de Brillet Pear Liqueur, which is a blend of cognac and fresh pears. I was not disappointed. This is a perfect after dinner drink with or without ice, or mix it in some cocktails such as these:

Spiced Pear Affair
.75 oz. Belle de Brillet Pear Liqueur           
1.5 oz. Premium Reposado Tequila 
1 oz. Lime juice 
.75 oz. Agave nectar        
Dash cinnamon and cayenne     
Cinnamon and sugar, for garnish
Shake with ice and strain into martini glass, rimmed with cinnamon/sugar mixture.

Snowy Pear Lager
1.5 oz. Belle de Brillet Pear Liqueur
4 oz. Winter Lager
1 oz. Apple cider
.5 oz. Lemon juice
Apple slice and cinnamon, for garnish
Shake together Belle de Brillet, cider, and lemon juice. Strain the mixture into a glass. Add beer. Garnish with the apple and a shake of cinnamon.

Healthy frozen vegetarian…
I’ve tried and enjoyed cedarlane frozen meals before. They had sent their delicious breakfasts to me in the spring. This time I was able to taste two of their gluten-free vegetarian options, the Three Layer Enchilada Pie and the Chile Relleno. Both were flavorful and very filling, and under 400 calories for a complete meal.


Recent Blogs