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.
 

 

Arriving in Red Wing on the American Queen

My friend Lynn and I slept well on our first night on the American Queen. We had a full day a head of us and we started with a quick breakfast at the Front Porch Café. One of the complimentary amenities of the cruise line was unlimited specialty coffees and we took full advantage preparing our lattes to taste with our eggs and pastries.

The American Queen is all about conservation. Everyone was given a water bottle and there were water filling stations on every floor. There were no plastic water bottles available.

Another thing available to all passengers at no charge were the hop on, hop off bus tours at every stop. It was nice to have the freedom to explore, with transportation that included taking my scooter on the bus, a guide telling us about the towns and attractions, and all admission fees paid by the American Queen Voyages.

Our first experience with the tours was in Red Wing. I had never been to this Minnesota town before and I was looking forward to checking it out. It’s known mostly for pottery and shoes. Am off combination, but it worked for the town.

The tour guide told us about the stops available to us, as well as other places within walking distance of the bus stops. She also told us about Red Wing’s scenic bluff, houseboats, and fishing in Pottery Pond Park. The town is also filled with historic houses, including the TB Shelton Mansion.

We had limited time and decided to skip the Military and Marine Museums, but some veterans in our group enjoyed them. It was a beautiful day around 70  degrees, with no rain in sight so we were ready to do some walking. Well, Lynn was walking and I was on my scooter.

Our first stop was the pottery museum. We watched a demonstration of basic pottery making and heard about the history of this art and how it brought a lot of income into Red Wing. We also saw many examples of the pottery made there, from simple dishes to more complex and colorful designs.

We got back on the bus to the downtown area. There were lots of shops and some restaurants. I was drawn to Red Wing Confectionary, where the owner was actually making chocolates in the back of the store. I had a Café Mocha and bought some treats to bring home to Mom.

After the candy store, we went to the bus stop by Red Wing Shoes Museum. We missed the world’s largest boot (638 ½). We did have enough time to go to the Red Wing Arts Cebter in the old train depot. They had some locally made jewelry and beautiful scarfs.

We were back on the American Queen in time for lunch in the dining room. Lunch each day was a choice of buffet or sit down. Many chose to do a little of each, as did we. We had the first of many creative salads, this one with blueberries and feta cheese.

For a main course, I had a Thanksgiving meal, which I love anytime of year. There was blueberry cheesecake for dessert.

After lunch and some work, I took a nap before showering and dressing for dinner. I don’t have a chance to get dressed up too often and I liked it. 

Dinner did not disappoint. I started with a Spring Mix Bouquet, had a very tender pork chop with fresh vegetables, and chose the pecan pie for dessert. There was a waiter ready to pour more complimentary wine at all times.

The show was “Southern Celebration” and the music and dancing was quite good. We really liked the balcony seats to stretch out in.

Before we turned in, we had a nightcap in the Engine Room bar, where there was music and dancing each night. We didn’t stay long before heading back to our suite on the American Queen to get ready for the next day in La Crosse, Wisconsin.

I was hosted by American Queen on this voyage, but opinions are my own. 

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Celebrating Romance is Different This Year

 

Sanctuary at Camelback

I know it’s been a while. I think it’s pretty obvious that I haven’t been doing much traveling. Like everyone else in the world, I’ve mostly been sheltering in place.

I did manage to get in two short, socially distant trips over the past six months that I will be posting soon. In the meantime, I thought I’d do a roundup of some ideas for those looking to celebrate Valentine’s Day.

Romance deserves more than one day a year. February is the month that you’ll see most of the deals for it. That’s not different in this crazy time. What is different is the options to do things from a distance – if you’d like.

Here are some ideas from places I have been to and enjoyed.

Stay healthy. Wear your masks. I hope we’ll all be hitting the road in the near future.

Marcia Frost

Heart-Shaped Chocolate Cake? Of course!

The chocolate cake at Portillo’s is one of my favorites ever. In honor of Valentine’s Day,, they always have a heart-shaped one available. This year, they are partnering with No Kid Hungry to donate $5 for every cake sold.

If you are in Illinois, you can pick up a cake at Portillo’s or have it delivered from one of your local services (i.e. Grubhub, Door Dash). You can also order from their website to be shipped anywhere in the country.

Free Concerts

Nickelback at Ravinia

Ravinia Festival is normally three months of concerts in a relaxing Chicagoland atmosphere. Like many other events, they’ve had to adapt die to the pandemic.

Chicagoland’s loss is the world’s gain as Ravinia Festival is broadcasting a concert series on WFMT.com. The shows will continue through March 11^th, on Thursday nights.

 

Don’t forget the donuts

Stan’s Donuts always gets creative with flavors for holidays and Valentine’s Day is mo different. My mouth is watering just thinking About how good their Peanut Butter Pocket is!

For February,  they are offering Beignet, Birthday Cake, and Lemon Pistachio. You can also order Stan’s Donuts for nationwide shipping through their website.

 

 

We Love Friends

On my last trip before Covid-19 hit the U.S, I was in Chicago. One of the things we did was to visit the Friends anniversary celebration at the AT&T store. It was a fun experience for any fan of the show, and we are.

The Friends Experience is coming back to Chicago, as well as New York. It will once again include displays with actual pieces from the sets, as well as interact opportunities. Visit the website for details.

A Romantic Inn

If you are ready to get away, Hotel Saugatuck in Michigan is a great place for romance. My stay was too short, but long enough to enjoy the spacious suite with jacuzzi, homemade dessert brought to our room in the evening, and delicious breakfast delivered in the morning.

If you are looking for the ultimate romantic getaway, check out the Hotel Saugatuck Proposal Package. It’s available through March 31^st. They have rooms at the inn as well as cottages. 

Head to Titletown

Lodge Kohler Lobby

Green Bay, Wisconsin, is not only home to the Packers, it’s the location of Titletown, an outdoor complex of fun. From ice skating to tubing (free February 18^th), you can bring your children or relive your childhood.

You can stay right there at Lodge Kohler, which has a full-service spa and  full-service spa and two great restaurants, Taverne in the Sky with its farm to table food and great views,  and the Leaps and Bounds Café (try the popovers).

 

Something Warmer

I’ve been to Sanctuary on Camelback Mountain in Arizona twice. The scenery is stunning and the spa is filled with unique and rejuvenating procedures. The resort also offers plenty of private casitas so you can easily socially distance.

With the warmer weather you can also find your own space at the pool, on the tennis court, or hiking. Check out all the specials they arecurrently running. 

A Deliciously Fun Day in Chicago

It’s always fun when I get to spend a day exploring with a good friend. Angela and I managed to eat our way around Chicago for this trip!

I had no idea what to expect when was invited to check out and sample the foods at the Chicago French Market.

I actually thought it was outside, so I was surprised to find it inside a building.

The market is actually conveniently located to the train station from the suburbs.  (it’s also only a 10-minute walk from Union Station).

They’ve also got something you will be hard pressed to find anywhere else in the windy city – free parking (you do need to spend $20 at the market).

I had set up a meeting with a rep from the market to take me around and provide us with some samples. 

Before she met us, I walked around and took a quick look at the variety of shops.

It seemed they covered everything among the 30 vendors. In some cases, it was the only location in the city.

I saw all types of fruits at City Fresh Market; meats and fish at Funare Meats & Deli; cooked and raw food at Vegan Now; and deli and soups (which I wish we had in Champaign) at Bebe’s Kosher Deli.

We than began our closer examination to some of the other spots.

I enjoyed watching Frenchman Antoine Elie make his FliP Crepes right before my eyes. He makes both sweet and savory, all of which are gluten-free.

The raspberry one we got to try was delicious!

Next it was Beavers Donuts, which had been featured on the Cooking Channel for its Donut Milkshake.

Before we tried that concoction (and it was as unbelievable as it sounds) we watched them make mini donuts, which customers can top with whatever they want. 

Some stayed with simple accompaniments such as chocolate and cinnamon, while others went for unique blends, like the Fluffernutter with peanut butter and marshmallow.

We continued the sweet snacking at Vanille, a bakery at the French Market that specializes in cakes and tarts. 

By this time, we were on sugar overload, and they kindly packed up some for us to try later.

They were all fantastic, especially the white chocolate raspberry cheesecake.

For the ultimate in chocolate, Lolli and Pops, has the best truffles I’ve had, deep and rich, clearly made from fine chocolate.

Although I never complain about eating too many desserts, it was time to actually taste some food and The French Lunch Box at Chicago French Market is a wonderful place to do it.

I loved their Sweet Potato Gnocchi, which we brought to the back-seating area and relaxed with for a while.

This area is known for its happy hours, which feature live music.

Our final stop before leaving was at Pastoral, a wine and cheese outlet. They try to get most of their cheeses from the Midwest. You can ask for a sample of the latest finds.

After leaving the French Market, Angela and I went to the Chicago History Museum.

I had actually never heard of this one and was glad they approached me about their Race Exhibit.

The exhibit was fascinating, as was the rest of the museum. It explores everything from Chicago Cubs Baseball, to Chicago Jazz and Martin Luther King Jr’s history with the city.

We had walked off the morning’s tastings at the museum and were ready for dinner by the end of the day.

I had picked an unusual place for us to have a little fun with our meal.

Safehouse Chicago is a place to go with friends or family for the experience as much as the food.

The restaurant is hidden beyond a sign that just reads “60 E. Ontario.”

Once inside, you will be giving your reservation information and will be grilled by a member of the government.

If he determines you are not a spy, you can go through the office of International Exports Ltd and into the secretive headquarters – the restaurant.

Once inside, the fun continues with games, magic, and a chance to complete missions for free food and drinks.

Both are worth trying, especially the Friend Cheese Curds and The Provocateur Burger, which Chicago Magazine named best burger in the city. (It’s made with brie and bacon jam.)

I also thought the Raven, a Reuben sandwich, was quite good.

For dessert, we shared the Italian Job, a vanilla cake with mascarpone mousse, and Mr. Big’s Brownie Cheesecake which was sprinkled with walnuts and drizzled with chocolate ganache.

Needless to say, we left Chicago a few pounds heavier than we arrived, but it was a fun day discovering some new places.

Check for the best hotel prices in Chicago now at TripAdvisor. 

Hand Pies, Chocolate and More in Madison

It was day three in Madison, Wisconsin, and my friend Roberta and I were getting ready to leave The Graduate Madison and heading to our next hotel, The Edgewater Resort.

I had chosen to split the stay between the two accommodations because they are totally different.

We certainly had enjoyed the college town atmosphere of The Graduate Madison.

Before we left, we had breakfast in the lobby café, Portage Pi.

Hand pies are the specialty here, and very popular with college students.

Lots of locals show up just to eat here and get coffee and smoothies, while taking advantage of the free Wi-Fi and power hookups.

I went for sweet, while Roberta preferred the savory. Both were good with our smoothies and coffees.

It was one time I wasn’t anxious to turn in my keys as I loved the idea that Graduate Madison had made them look like student IDs, but it was time to head out.

While in Madison, I was also covering a tennis tournament at the university. Roberta dropped me off and did some shopping while I was there. 

She picked me up and we headed to a place I knew I had to visit the minute I saw the sign -- Chocolaterian Café.

The selection here of chocolate goodies did not disappoint and it took a while before either of us could make a decision.

We saw a selection of cookies, including Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip, Cherry Chocolate, Molasses, and Spicy Chocolate.

There was also something called, Kouiagn Amann, which was a cross between a croissant and a cupcake, layers of butter and sugar, and a crunchy exterior.

We decided to get two things to share: the Ugly Cookie, a chocolate chip cookie with pistachios, cocoa nibs, oats, and, toffee, and a Manona Bar, with gooey caramel, peanut butter, Rice Krispies, and milk chocolate.

With it we completed the cocoa overload with Parisian drinking chocolate. It was a heavenly experience.

Roberta and I left the café and took a scenic ride along Lake Mendota. It looked especially beautiful as the sun was beginning to set.

We checked into The Edgewater Resort & Spa. Our suite overlooked the lake and had a balcony so we could really take in the view.

It had been a few years since I had been to this resort and it had since been totally remodeled, making it the only AAA 4 Diamond in Madison and Dane Counties.

We got settled in and freshened up for dinner in The Statehouse, one of six dining options at The Edgewater (including room service).

I started with a Winter Kiss cocktail and we shared a mushroom flatbread for an appetizer.

It was the first in a selection of delicious food that arrived at our table, including steak, a tender pork chop, and scrumptious macaroni and cheese.

For dessert, the skillet apple crumb pie with ice cream was a perfect choice.

Roberta and I relaxed in The Statehouse bar for a bit before heading to our suite at The Edgewater .
It was supposed to be our one and only night there.