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by Pamela Spiegel
Ah, the holidays, the joy, the folly…the nagging family members crowded around the dinner table? While many people are filled with the holiday spirit others are filled with stress. The pressure of what to prepare for the family feast and what presents to buy for your loved ones can create quite a bit of unnecessary tension.
Buying the right gift is the #1 stressor for me: How much do I spend? Is this gift too personal or too informal? Should it be a surprise or should I consult the recipient on what they would like? Below are a few gifts from the Bullfrog & Baum holiday gift guide that I may be giving this year (and for those who may be reading this, I wouldn’t mind receiving either):
InStyle, The New Secrets of Style
InStyle has released a new edition of its top-selling classic, The New Secrets of Style (Time, Inc. Home Entertainment, October 2009). The perfect holiday gift for the fashionista in your family, The New Secrets of Style includes chapters on shoes, bags, jewelry and more. You will find strategies for successful shopping (like tips for buying online and vintage), tailoring ideas, and recommendations for which shoes go with which ensemble.
Price: $29.95, where to buy: www.amazon.com
Sprinkles Cupcakes
Sprinkles Cupcakes are a deliciously sophisticated update on an American classic. Sprinkles is known far and wide for its delectable cupcakes – despite only having locations in three states. The rest of the country can still get their Sprinkles fix by recreating the famed cupcakes in the comfort of their own home. Sprinkles offers seven varieties of mixes – vanilla, dark chocolate, red velvet, lemon, pumpkin, chocolate peppermint and banana – and will debut the eighth, a delicious Spice mix, this fall.
Price: $14, where to buy: www.sprinkles.com, www.williams-sonoma.com Cooking Light Way to Cook
Cooking Light Way to Cook (Oxmoor House, October 2009) is Cooking Light’s how-to book brought to you by America’s leading epicurean magazine. With over 20 years of experience, Cooking Light, unsurpassed in providing delicious and balanced recipes to all 12 million of their dedicated readers, presents this highly visual guide, combining the healthiest kitchen tips and 200 delicious wholesome recipes with 850 full-color, step-by-step photographs.
Price: $29.95, where to buy: www.amazon.com
Bach Rescue Remedy
Give them the gift of calm this holiday season with Rescue Remedy. Trusted for over 70 years in 66 countries, Rescue Remedy is a blend of five individual flower remedies, formulated to provide relief from various forms of everyday stress. It calms the feelings of stress, fear and nervousness to help one face any situation in a better frame of mind. Taken anytime, anywhere, Rescue Remedy is all-natural, non-addictive and completely safe.
Prices: 20ml for $16.95 or 10ml for $10.95, where to buy: www.rescueremedy.com
Karlsson’s GOLD
Surprise the drink connoisseur on your list with GOLD – Karlsson’s GOLD. Made in Sweden from virgin potatoes, Karlsson’s GOLD is distilled just once to ensure a rich, complex flavor. This premium vodka first launched in New York City in 2007, and has recently expanded distribution, making it new to most of the country. Noted spirits expert David Wondrich says, “Deliberately old-fashioned, Karlsson’s is sweet and buttery, silky and thick, and utterly winning.” It is best served straight up in a martini or on the rocks – both topped with cracked pepper to bring out the savory taste.
Price: $39.99, where to buy: www.parkavenueliquors.com and at retailers throughout the U.S.
Happy shopping!
What I’m:
Reading Handle with Care by Jodi Picoult
Watching Top Chef
Eating Egg white wrap
Listening to Leona Lewis
Drinking Iced Coffee
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