Homemade Gifts To Warm The Heart

Every year, I hand make some gifts for a few girlfriends that I have known for many, may years. I wish every year I could buy them awesome, individual gifts, but it is just easier to make them something with some of my time and love.

As you may remember, last year I made these sequin earrings and in 2009, I made this rosemary sea salt. This year, I decided to try a recipe that I have eyed for a few years from Martha Stewart: Peppermint Marshmallows, paired with some Swiss Miss hot chocolate.

Here's what I started with for the hot chocolate:

- 3 boxes of Swiss Miss Classic Milk Chocolate Hot Chocolate (it is the best, so why try to make your own?!)
- Glass jars - I bought 3 Four packs (12 total) of the Rajtan from Ikea for $12. I love that they have screw tops too!
- Raffia to tie on the gift tags (already owned)
- Gift Tags (business card sized) I made on Microsoft Publisher

 Here are the gift tags up close:

I used 3 packets of Swiss Miss per jar, although I could have probably fit 4 packets... I just ran out of mix!

And here are the jars after a little embellishment:

Next came time to make the marshmallows, which I had never done before. A word of warning.... read all the comments under Martha's recipe, because I ended up needing some of these tips. I didn't take any in-the-making pictures because I was too worried about making them right, but they came out just as they said they would, so I was happy. So I cut them up and got them ready for packaging.

But here is the finished product, placed in little bags made by, who else? Martha Stewart.

Quite a sweet gift... I just love them! What is left to check off on your holiday to-do list?

Hard To Buy For? Be WANTFUL

I received an e-mail today with a great new site/idea. It is WANTFUL... a site that lets you customize a gift selection for that hard-to-buy-for person in your life.

You give them a little general information about your boss, friend or loved one, and they select 16 gifts in the price range of your choice. Don't like all 16 items they chose? Simply swap out the ones you don't think your recipient will like with some other choices they have selected for you. Once you are happy with your 16 items, simply pay for the gift, plus shipping and handling, and the WANTFUL people publish a book with the gift selection to be sent to you (to wrap yourself) or to your recipient directly. Once they receive their book, they flip through the book and choose which gift they want, and WANTFUL ships it to them free of charge. It is the surefire way to get them something they will truly love and appreciate!

I think it's genius, and not only is it perfect for bosses or hard-to-buy-for friends this Christmas, but you can send them for any occasion throughout the year as well! This may just be my go-to gift giving spot!

This post was not paid for or sponsored by WANTFUL. I just think it is genius and wanted to share.

Elfster

It is December 1, which means there are only 24 more days until Christmas. It also means that there are only 3 more weekends of errands and shopping, since Christmas kind of screws everything up this year on a weekend.

This year, our family is deciding to pick names for a Secret Santa gift exchange, instead of buying each person (12 in all) a gift. There are a couple of great sites out there, like Boogspace, that have been around for a while that are easy to use for randomly selecting names. I came across a new one the other day, Elfster, that also is super easy to use, and certainly helps you get into the Christmas spirit.

You can set spending limits, dates of gift exchange, and set your wishlist, all in one spot! How easy is that?!  One less thing on my Christmas to do list...

And just for fun, I love to "Elf Myself" every year, courtesy of JibJab and OfficeMax. Check out my video here for a good laugh. To elf yourself or your friends, go to www.elfyourself.com.

This post was not sponsored by or promoted by Elfster, Boogspace, JibJab, or OfficeMax. I just really like these sites and wanted to share!

My Dream Wish List

Totally non-food, party OR decor related, but in thinking about summer and wishes for my upcoming 30th birthday in July, I have created a DREAM list of gifts I would want, that is, if money grew on trees. I obsessed with the following:

Starfish Cuff Bracelet, Anthropologie

This bracelet is expensive for what it is, and I can think of lots of other things I would rather have for $198, but as a Florida girl, I just find it so cool. Maybe it will go on super clearance?! Doubtful, but a girl can dream.

Marc Chagall, "Nice et la Cote d'Azur"

Everything by Marc Chagall. The above painting is one of my favorites by him, not only for the rich colors, but whimsical feel, and the topic. I have been to Nice, France on the Blue Coast (Cote d'Azur), and have visited his museum there. While the museum looks pretty modern and plain from the outside, its views are spectacular and his art on the inside is nothing short of heavenly. I would love to own a piece of his work, or even just a signed Lithograph.

The Cartier Tank Francaise Steel Watch with the blue dials. Some people like the little blue boxes... I like little red boxes, specifically if it contained the watch above. This is the watch that women have forever. I know people say that about a Rolex, but I would take the Tank watch any day over that.

iPad, courtesy of Apple

Who doesn't want one of these?! They are so cool, and personally I am foregoing the iPhone for an iPad. I have trouble seeing things anyway, so I like that I could check e-mails and traffic, and play games on a larger scale. Plus, it would minimize my luggage purse a little bit, since I seem to carry my world around with me.

I'm sure I could come up with some more material things to wish for, but truth is, none of us need any of it. For my 30th, all I want are good drinks and good friends, all having a good time. If you have those things, life is good.

Love Actually Is All Around

As Valentine's Day approaches, I am reminded of a few items that I love, that happen to be perfect for gift giving this Valentine's Day:

Love Actually- One of the best LOVE stories that reminds us that LOVE is something we can find with many people in many different ways. It is everywhere around the world.

If you haven't seen this movie, you need to go out and BUY it. Don't rent it, you will never want to return it. I may just have to watch my copy this weekend.... again.... for the millionth-and-one time.

I also love mini cookies with royal icing from Cookie Mamas (on Etsy). I ordered their cute mini-heart cookies for the office this Valentine's Day, and they are soooo good. I love how they are bite sized, and even on your New Year's diet, you can't feel guilty about eating one or two!

 I do not own a pair of these (which may be astonishing to all of you who know about my shoe habit), but someday I will break down and buy them.... I really love Vivienne Westwood's Lady Dragon Slingback Pumps. The heart on these shoes "had me at hello", and I love just how many color combinations they come in as well. Perfect with the little black dress out on the town Valentine's Day, or any day for that matter.

Skip the chocolates and flowers! Here is a treat I really love.... Terra Valentine Cabernet Sauvignon. A great wine from Napa Valley, perfect for the Valentine's Day dinner, even at home. I love this cabernet and despite the name, will drink it year 'round!

And how could one resist anything RED from Kate Spade? And its name is just perfection: The Natalie Small Dot Cosmetic Case. If you know anything about me, you know I carry anything and everything I could possibly need in my purse. Screwdriver? Check! Medicine cabinet? Check! This cosmetic case may just have to come home with me as my carryall for traveling.


What are you coveting this Valentine's day?

Hostess Gifts & Our Second Giveaway

There is always a dinner party that you feel obligated to bring something to, but the Hostess insists she has everything. These are a few cute ideas for some inexpensive gifts (about the same price as a bottle of wine) to bring for your gracious hostess:

Food Snob Place Cards $14.00
Having some foodies over for dinner? Call them out on their food fetishes with these place cards. Pack of 8 includes library-like definitions of some basic and exotic foods, which ultimately will get the dinner conversation going!

Hot Mama Dishtowel $10.95
Let the cook know that she is Hot Stuff! This fun dishtowel will have her laughing, and provide her with a much needed tool to clean up those kitchen messes!




Kitchen Sticky Notes $12.95
An awesome book that includes note pads for a Menu, To Do List, and Shopping List, as well as tons of beautiful flags to mark your favorite recipes in cook books.


Micro S'mores 2 sets for $19.95
Perfect for the cook with a sweet tooth! No fire needed here... just pop the ingredients into this microwave safe contraption, cook for 10 seconds, and you have a perfect S'more. What's even better, you get two sets for $19.95... one for her, and one for you!


Giveaway #2
These PERFECT Hostess Gifts are the prizes this week for TWO lucky readers during our month-long Birthday celebration. Click here to find out what they are, and how you can win!

Angela Adams

Angela Adams puts the fun back into decorating and entertaining. With her mod designs and great pieces, you can add small or large pieces of her collection into any style home. I love her trays, coasters, and wine totes made from recycled sails. Any of these would also make wonderful hostess gifts too (hint, hint!).
And since I am a Daily Candy reader, I am sharing my 30% off promo with you! Just type in the word CANDY to get your discount. Go here for all the goods: www.angelaadams.com

New to the Blog!

Santa was very good to me this year. Check out my big present:

So, I have loved using my husband's Cannon PowerShot, but it was certainly time for an upgrade. That means that I will be bringing you even more delicious recipes this year, and now the pictures will be even better! However, if you don't see any improvement in the first couple posts, it is probably because I will still be consumed with my husband's gift:
Wish me luck, and check back often for all new updates!