Posts tagged housewarming

What is a snow day without some hot chocolate???  The delicious drink is not only the perfect Winter treat, it also makes a fabulous gift!  Here are a few of my top picks (in no particular order):

1.  ”Mr. Chocolate” Jacques Torres Hot Chocolate Combo Pack: $36

http://www.mrchocolate.com/most-popular/hot-chocolate-combo.html

2.  ”Chocolate by the Bald Man” Max Brenner: $10.90

http://shop.maxbrenner.com/chocolate-collections-treats/chocolat-milk-chocolate-powder.html

3.  Serendipity Frozen “Hot” Chocolate:  $16.95

http://www.amazon.com/Serendipity-Frrrozen-Hot-Chocolate-Canister/dp/B0001I1HFS/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&m=A1VFMEDRM0EEIX&s=generic&qid=1327158023&sr=1-1

Happy (almost) New Year! :) :) :) :) :) :) 

And what better host / hostess gift then this fabulous cork cage?! Give the wine-lover in your life a fun place to keep and collect their corks.

The wine bottle cage is around $25, and comes in a few different shapes (champagne bottle, wine barrel, pocketbook).

http://www.amazon.com/Bottle-Great-Place-Favorite-91-035/dp/B00243YRP0

I picked up a rosemary tree this year at Trader Joe’s, and let me tell you - it really is the gift that keeps on giving (even though I got it for myself)!  

If you have a holiday party to go to and need a GREAT (and festive) hostess gift - look no further. Especially if the person loves to cook - this makes a very thoughtful gift because they can use the fragrant herb long after the holidays have passed!

The tree pictured above is from FTD and retails for $34.99 (perfect if you want to send some holiday cheer via mail): http://www.ftd.com/the-night-before-christmas-holiday-tree-prd/p368/

Otherwise, check out trader joe’s or your local grocery store / florist to find one near you!

A few weeks ago, I was sick with a cold.  I was laying in bed flipping through the channels when I stumbled upon QVC (my husband would tell the story that I purposely WENT to QVC- but that is not true - I literally stumbled on it).  I am not a big QVC shopper, but I have ordered a few times before.  Fast fwd to 15 mins of them pitching me (and they were talking to ME) on these luxurious throws, and I was SOLD.

The Berkshire Blanket is by FAR the softest and warmest throw I’ve ever owned.  And, the price is RIGHT - $28.24 for TWO - that’s right TWO (insert qvc pitch here)! They are huge: 50x70 - big enough to cuddle up with the one you love, but you don’t have to because you get TWO! They warm you so quickly, it almost feels like an electric blanket.  

This makes a great holiday or anytime gift - I would love to have these scattered all over my home! :)

http://www.qvc.com/qic/qvcapp.aspx/view.2/app.detail/params.item.H168799.desc.Berkshire-Blanket-Set-of-2-Super-Soft-50x70-Fluffie-Throws.cm_scid.zone

Until this gift showed up at my door, I didn’t know Mrs. Meyer’s offered gift sets!  Now, this idea is definitely NOT for everyone.  It is, however for that person in your life that will get excited when a box of cleaning products shows up at their door (I was almost jumping up and down)!  

Mrs. Meyer’s offers a line of all natural cleaning products (hand soap, dish soap, counter spray, bathroom spray, surface scrub, all purpose cleaner and more).  Not only do they actually WORK (unlike some other natural cleaners), they smell AMAZING!

This is the perfect gift for that Neat Freak in your life :)

The gift sets are $24.99:

 http://www.mrsmeyers.com/Products/Gift_Ideas/Variety_Gift_Set

I love the gift of soap / lotion, and William Sonoma has one of the best soap lines out there. 

Pictured above is the Winter Forest collection - a “woodsy” scent with hints of pine, cedar, thyme and cinnamon.  

WS has many scents to chose from - you can’t go wrong with my personal fave, Meyer Lemon. 

The soaps / lotion sets range in price from $9.95 - $58

I love this gift, because who CAN’T use soap?!  It works for everyone and smells GREAT!

http://www.williams-sonoma.com/products/essential-oils-collection-winter-forest/?pkey=csoaps-lotions-fragrance&cm_src=hero

How many times have you been at a party and picked up someone else’s wine glass by mistake?  Or, you only own stemless wine glasses so those wine markers that go on the stem don’t work?  I didn’t realize I had this problem until my bestie brought me this amazing house warming gift!

These Riedel colored wine glasses are so pretty, and make a great house warming / host / hostess gift (or a holiday gift for the wine lover in your life)!

Each glass is tinted with a different color, so no more glass mix-ups! 

They retail for around $50, and you can find them at Bed,Bath, and Beyond:

http://www.bedbathandbeyond.com/product.asp?sku=14812083&utm_source=google&utm_medium=organic&utm_campaign=shopping

For Little Girls, or for anyone that loves Paris!  

This sculpted wire version of the Eiffel Tower doubles as a unique momento holder for photos, cards and notes.  

The Large ($79) sits on the floor, and the Small ($34) sits on a tabletop 

You can find it at Restoration Hardware (Baby): 

www.rhbabyandchild.com/catalog/product/product.jsp?productId=rhbc_prod261226

The last time I had Mrs. Fields cookies, I was most likely wearing braces, leg warmers, and a NKOTB T-Shirt.  

That being said, I think this makes a GREAT gift for a lot of people because it takes us back to the good ol’ days of wearing snap bracelets and wandering around the mall eating Mrs. Fields Cookies!

You can send these cookies online in a variety of tins, baskets and towers starting around $29.99

If you don’t want to send the classic tin - they have adorable cookie jars in seasonal shapes:

These are around $45 and up (depending on how many cookies you include).

http://www.mrsfields.com/gifts/Holiday-Jubilant-Snowman-Cookie-Jar

Enjoy!!!!

Whether it’s a BBQ or a Fireplace, Men love to be in charge of anything having to do with FIRE!!! (insert bevis and butthead impression here).

As you can tell, it’s a bit harder to come up with creative gift ideas for the men in our lives..but it dawned on me that as long as it has to do with fire, it should be a hit!

The Dura-Tough Standing Log Carrier from LL Bean is a man’s tote bag for wood - and as it says on the site, it “reliably stands up to a rugged job.”  

It retails for $29.50 www.llbean.com/llb/shop/42721?feat=38683-ppxs&dds=y

If you want to pair it with another fire-appropriate gift - I came across this Modern Fireplace Tool Set from Crate and Barrel (it’s hard to find modern when it comes to a warm fireplace setting).

The set is $169 www.crateandbarrel.com/decorating-and-accessories/fireplace-accessories/alton-pewter-fireplace-tool-set/s678379