I am really fond of the British tradition of afternoon tea and biscuits (or “cookies” as us Yanks call them). It seems so civilized — and, it makes sense. Around 2:00 or 3:00 every day I feel in a bit of a slump. Tea and cookies is a perfect remedy!
This “Dunk Mug” from British purveyor, Mocha, is a perfectly efficient, clever way of having a coffee or tea break. The cookies slide right in the bottom, eliminating the need for a plate and a mug.
This would make a perfect gift for a coffee or tea lover. Mocha even offers a left-handed version of the mug should you need it!
It’s no surprise that I have a soft spot for good baked goods. Pies, tarts, cakes, cookies… I am not picky! So I was particularly excited to find a bakery that not only creates delicious sweets, but also gives 15% of each purchase to a charity you choose.
Baking for Good is an “online bake sale that supports great causes.” They offer a variety of treats, ranging from cookies to bars to granola and they all look delicious. Their margarita shortbread, for example, is calling my name.
margarita shortbread from Baking for Good
They even offer gift packs and suites of themed iced sugar cookies. The cookies would be fabulous for a party, a baby or wedding shower, or an engagement party.
iced wedding-themed cookies
How fabulous would it be to share with guests that each bite they take of their sweet treat goes to an even sweeter cause like First Book (one of my favorite non-profits) or The American Cancer Society.
Here’s to all the charitable sweet tooths out there!
Monogrammed tote bags are a perfect gift for bridesmaids. Brides can pick a bridesmaid’s favorite color and then have a bag personally monogrammed for her.
I find personalized bags to be particularly helpful on the wedding day so the bridesmaids can put all of their personal belongings in their bag and not mix up items in the frenzy of pre-ceremony preparations.
The totes aren’t only perfect for weddings, though. They would make a great gift for a girlfriend, sister, mom…. You can even get creative with the monogramming: “Beach” for a friend with a beach house; “Yoga” for your sister who is mastering downward dog; and so on!
My guest post for the DC Ladies Blog today focuses on the rising popularity of French Macarons in DC. I, myself, have a growing obsession with them, fueled by a dear friend who also adores them.
Check out the post for scoop on where to find great macarons in DC and how to incorporate them into your next social gathering!
Valentine’s Day is just around the corner. Going to a Valentine’s Day party? Hosting one? Need a sweet gift for a special someone? Try some of these on for size…
Chocolate and salt are such a beautifully delicious combination. Add some caramel and walnuts and you have one amazing “turtle” chocolate.
Caramel clusters from John Kelly Chocolates
Remember pop rocks? The fizzy candy you used to eat as a kid? Introducing a very grown up version from Francois Payard: pop rock truffles.
Pop rock truffles from Francois Payard
A-D-O-R-A-B-L-E. That’s all I can say about these cinnamon marshmallows from Whimsy & Spice.
heart-shaped cinnamon marshmallows
My personal favorite? Chocolate-covered strawberries – a classic that never goes out of style! Add a glass of champagne and …. YUM!
As I stare at the mountain of gift wrap in the wake of opening our Christmas presents, I cringe at the thought of throwing all of that pretty paper away. The ribbons I always keep, but the paper? I know I will never re-use it to wrap another gift (it would be so clear that was what I did!) so what else can I do with it?
Before throwing out all that decorative paper, check out these ideas on how to “recycle” the wrap:
Create Liners
Use the paper to line drawers (just test first to make sure the ink does not rub off on anything) or a serving tray (great idea from Martha!).
Tray Liners idea from Martha Stewart Living
Cut into Squares
Use the squares for origami or set a stack by the phone for notes. Keep some on hand for craft projects with children.
Cover Books or Journals
I’ve been really into covering books lately (which totally takes me back to high school when I covered all my books with paper bags and drew all over them!). Wrapping paper is the perfect decorative cover for your reading material.
Frame it
If it is particularly high quality and aesthetically grabbing, make it into a wall hanging by framing it. An inexpensive way to add a splash of color to your wall.
Make Cards or Embellish Gifts
Save the paper in your gift wrap stash. Use cut outs of the paper to embellish homemade cards or use a strip of the paper to add a layer of wrap to a gift.
Embellish a Box
Paper-Source is a great go-to resource for all-things-paper. I am digging their clever idea of using wrapping paper to embellish the top of a gift box. Click on the photo to be directed to the “how-to.”
It’s funny — I love receiving gift certificates (what’s not to love about free money to spend at a store or place I love?) but I always feel like such a gift-giving failure if I give a gift certificate.
If you’ve been as reluctant to give a gift-certificate like I am, these DC-area services may change your mind. Unique, tailored to the individual, and thoughtful, I can’t imagine anyone wouldn’t be jumping for joy if they unwrapped one of these this holiday season.
Interior Design — Owner Malena Kaplan of One Pretty House Interiors offers gift certificates for interior decorating, interior redesign, and personal shopping services. What a great gift for a newlywed, someone who just moved into a new home, or a friend who is struggling to decorate their home!
Image Consulting — Give the gift of style with a gift certificate for personal image and fashion consulting. Styleateur offers a variety of services that help clients project their best image.
Art Classes — Is there an art lover or artist on your list? Help them hone their craft at The Corcoran Gallery of Art. The Gallery has a wonderful set of course offerings from sculpture to printmaking to art education.
Local Getaway — Is there someone on your list that needs a weekend getaway? Stone Manor Country Club just north of Frederick, Maryland is the perfect escape. Nestled in the countryside, this charming B&B offers peace and tranquility to all its guests.
Cooking Classes — What gourmand would not love the gift of culinary education? Classes offered at L’Acdemie de Cuisine or Culinaerie would be a wonderful treat for any home cook.
Personal Fitness — Just in time for the new year, one-on-one personal fitness classes are are perfect gift for anyone on your list — from health nut to couch potato! Fit One Studio in Alexandria offers some great options for fitness training gift certificates.
Entertaining Consulting — I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention that Rex & Regina offers gift certificates, also! They are perfect for newlyweds who are just beginning to entertain, veteran entertainers who want to know the latest trends in entertaining, or anyone who wants to take their at-home hospitality to another level.
I am totally crushing on the letterpress invitations and other stationery offered by Linda & Harriett, a Brooklyn-based custom letterpress house. Don’t you just love this wedding invitation?
crescendo invitation suite from Linda & Harriett
And this one?
handwriting invitation suite from Linda & Harriett
And this one?
heirloom invitation suite from Linda & Harriett
You get the idea! The designs are crisp, clever, and thoughtful, right down to the envelope liners. The rest of their work is equally impressive. What about this Save the Date that mimics a Ben & Jerry’s lid? Adorable!
Save the Date from Linda & Harriett
And this paper doll-themed birth announcement is equally charming.
paper doll baby announcement from Linda & Harriett
Just in time for the holidays, Linda & Harriett is offering some adorable holiday gift tags and other items.
moose tags from Linda & Harriett
2010 Calendar from Linda & Harriett
There’s nothing better than amazing letterpress — and these ladies have it down pat! What talent!
The holidays are upon us and that means our calendars are full with lots and lots of parties. Just as a gracious host is always prepared to entertain his or her guests, a good guest never shows up empty-handed to a soiree.
Should you opt for bringing wine (a perfectly lovely hostess gift) to one or more of the holiday parties you attend this year, there are a few things you should keep in mind:
1) Don’t expect them to serve it.
A host is not required to open a bottle that a guest brings as a gift to a party — especially if they have already gone to great lengths to pair wine to their menu. A guest should never be upset if the wine is not served right away.
I did get a chuckle out of Lettie Teague’s column in the December issue of Food & Wine (her columns are always so fun to read), in which she says she is generally disappointed when hosts don’t open the bottles she brings. (Note: If Lettie Teague ever brought a bottle of wine to my house, you can be darn sure I’d open it on the spot!)
Ms. Teague came up a with a few clever wine-giving strategies, some of which she specifically designed to help ensure the hosts opens the bottle:
Bring champagne — it’s such a celebratory beverage and its easy for a host to re-gift (not a horrible thing!)
Select a wine with broad appeal — like Pinot Noir from California, Oregon, France or Argentina
Tell them in advance – let your guests know if you plan to bring a very special bottle and always ask what they are serving to make sure the wine will complement the menu
Present the wine ready to serve — chill the champagne or a white in advance if that is what you are bringing
Bring a magnum — a large bottle “demands to be shared,” says Lettie. And what host would be so greedy as to not open such a generous bottle!
2) Transport it carefully
Keep the wine at the proper temperature and protect it from breaking when you transport it by carrying it in an insulated wine tote. I like this one:
Built NY Double Wine Bottle Carrier, available from WineStuff.com
3) Presentation is key
It’s a gift right? So why not make it pretty?!
There are so many fabulous wine gift bags out there these days, you may just want to stock up on a few and keep them on hand for gift giving.
"Cheers" wine gift bag, available from The Craft Pantry on Etsy
Solo Felt Wine Bag, available at www.bambeco.com
organza wine bags from Gumps
Built NY Fishnet One-Bottle Wine Tote available from Ecobags
Call me a hater, but Halloween is not one of my favorite holidays. Even when I was a child, I was never excited when Halloween came around. It always seemed so dark and meaningless and I just didn’t enjoy it. The candy, however, was the day’s only redeemable quality and I still enjoy the sweet treats that come along on October 31.
I’d like to think my taste in candy has matured over the years, though. And while I do still enjoy the Halloween standards like M&Ms and Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups, these days I fall more easily to the temptation of artisan and handmade chocolates. Here are some great options for “grownup” Halloween treats for your trick or treat collection this year:
While my husband and I do not have children, the majority of our social circle does and we have been blessed by getting to know each of them and watching them grow — their little personalities emerging, their hobbies and interests developing, their clever comments and cute expressions…
So when we are invited to a party at a home where the hosts have children, we try to bring a hostess gift that the whole family will enjoy. For we are thankful not only to spend time with the parents, but to visit with the children as well. A bottle of wine or a bouquet of flowers, while lovely, may not express that sentiment quite as well!
Here are a few playful, family-friendly ideas for hostess gifts to bring the next time you are visiting with your friends and their children:
I love these world maps from A+R Store. Perhaps its the education degrees talking, but I love how they serve a dual role — both a playful aesthetic and an opportunity to teach and learn something while at the dinner table. Fun!
World Dinner Maps from A+R Store
These game pads are perfect for a family who is often on the go. Have the pads personalized with the family’s name or with the children’s names. Who doesn’t love a good game of tic-tac-toe or hangman?!
Personalized Game Pad Set from Neiman Marcus
Dominoes is such a fun game and it can be adapted for many age groups. This colorful set is fabulous!
