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.
 

 

Girls Fun in St. Joseph, Michigan

When I first saw the schedule the St. Joseph Tourism Board had laid out for my friend Lynn and me, 

I have to admit I was a bit overwhelmed. It was a very full day. But, it turned out to be an extremely fun one.

After a good night’s sleep at the Inn at Harbor Shores, we headed to downtown St. Joseph. We started off fueled, thanks to Caffe Tosi.

Lynn had a plate full of fruit and granola and I went for plain yogurt with a luscious almond horn on the side.

The second place on the agenda was actually the home of another bakery, but not one for us. FuzzyButz is actually a pet bakery, where owner Mary Schaut creates treats for her four-legged friends.

We were incredibly impressed with Mary’s creativity as we walked around, looking at items such as Sweet Potato Pie flavored treats; ones made to look like burgers, fries, and cannoli; peanut butter squares (peanut butter is actually a base for most of her items); and even squares that taste like lamb stew.

Before we left FuzzyButz we were able to go into the kitchen production area to see where all the cookies and treats are made.

Next, we were off to check out the offerings at a few of the downtown boutiques, DK, Friends by Design and Perennial Accents.

Each store has distinctive items for women, from clothing to shoes and accessories. It was nice to hear that all the shops work together to make sure they can collectively provide unique things for everyone to buy -- and wear.

We continued the girls theme, though Revive was a spa like no other I’ve been to.

Jonathan took us around Revive and I’m sure he heard “wow” out of me quite a bit! I had never seen a place like this.

Although Revive does have regular treatments that you would find in other spas, they are also a “self spa.” 

I had never heard this term before. Basically, it meant that you rented out the room and the equipment to use yourself.

Among the options were spray and UV tanning, a Lumiere Facial machine, a relaxing massage chair, Red Light Therapy, and a Hydration Station.

Lynn and I were able to each pick a complimentary treatment (the costs are very reasonable, beginning at about $30 a session).

I went for the Red Light Therapy, which is said to help combat aging while also reducing pain and inflammation. 

I wouldn’t say it cured anything, but I did feel good and my skin looked a bit better when I came out of it and met back up with Lynn, who was in the massage chair.

By this time, we were really hungry and it was a good thing because the menu at The Buck, Burgers and Brew looked fantastic.

Owner Ken Kozminski came over to say hello and show us the menu, which included the option to create your own burger with beef, ground turkey, chicken breast, or black bean patties, then top it with anything from old fashioned American Cheese to cream cheese and a variety of sauces.

I didn’t need to make my own burger because there was one that immediately caught my eye: The Harvest Burger. It is a turkey burger with apples, cranberry jam, and brie cheese.

It was one of the best lunches I’ve ever eaten. Lynn was equally satisfied with her Turkey IPA Ruben, made with avocado and coleslaw.

After lunch, it was time to taste some more Southwest Michigan wine. Two tasting rooms were located right downtown so it was easy.

Baroda Founders Wine Cellar had some good wine, such as their Lake Side Breeze Demi-Sec, and also fun wines.  I really liked Smorleaux, a red wine infused with marshmallows and milk chocolate.

At White Pine Winery, I agree with the awards given to their fruity pinot grigio.

Lynn and I walked down to the Silver Beach Carousel. I happen to love Merry-go-rounds so I was looking forward to this all day.

We met with Carla and she told us about the history of the carousel, which has hand-carved horses and a brass ring machine, and dates back to 1910.

A century later, a fundraising campaign is underway to restore the carousel, but it still looks quite beautiful. I got to take a ride before we left.

Our final stop of the day was at the beach. I still find it hard it’s believe that Lake Michigan is as big and beautiful as it is.

We walked along the sand for a while and enjoyed the quiet. I always find myself enjoying beaches more in the spring and fall than the crowded summer.

We drove back to the Inn at Harbor Shores and had an early dinner. St. Joseph had been wonderful, but it definitely wore us out.

We’d be leaving Southwest Michigan in the morning and heading back to Illinois, where we were checking out Hotel Arista in Naperville.