christmas gift guide: dog lovers
Our pups, Emmy Lou and Harris, are spoiled so of course they’ll have some surprises under the tree!
Here’s a few ideas for your pet-loving friends:
1. Rope Tug-and-Toss Toy – these toys are durable enough to withstand many, many rounds of tug-of-war and are colored with earth-friendly dyes.
2. Canvas Dog Bed – this bed comes in many colors and rolls up easily for travel.
3. Hungry and Thirsty Dog Bowls – this bowl is heavy enough to stay put while dogs gobble up their food.
4. Custom Pet Ornament – these hand-painted ornaments will be treasured for a long time.
5. Linen Neckerchief – for the pup with style, these neckerchiefs have velcro fasteners for secure and easy size adjustments.
1. Letterpress Correspondence Cards – these beautiful cards would make any hand-written note even more special.
2. FOUND Collar and Leash – FOUND’s products help support spay and neuter clinics in rural communities.
3. Fetch Stuffed Toys – made of cotton canvas backed by berber fleece, these stylish stuffed bones are filled with eco-friendly fiberfill made from recycled bottles.
4. Inubar Solar Lounge Bed – every pup needs a comfortable bed and every owner wants it to be beautiful – here’s a win-win.
5. Jan Barboglio Treat Jar – store Fido’s treats in this beautiful iron and glass jar.
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Check out the rest of the Christmas Gift Guides:
Wine Lovers
Cooks & Hostesses
Athletes
Bibliophiles – 11/19/13
Whisky Lovers – 11/20/13
Ladies – 11/21/13
Gentlemen – 11/22/13
Everyone – 11/25/13
Stocking Stuffers – 11/26/13
christmas gift guide: athletes
You may not be a fitness buff, but you’re bound to know one or two.
In my case, I live with one.
Here’s a selection of gifts for the athlete on your list:
1. GolfSense – this golf swing analyzer provides instant feedback on the user’s iPhone.
2. Sony MP3 Headphones – runners no longer need to carry an iPod or mp3 player while running — just pre-load songs on these headphones and go.
3. Hydro Flask Insulated Water Bottle – these water bottles have double wall vacuum insulation technology that keeps liquids cold for 24 hours.
4. TRX Suspension System – this innovative home gym builds strength, increases flexibility, and develops core stability and power — and its weight (less than 2 lbs.) makes it super portable.
1. 26-Function Bike Tool – far and away the most comprehensive bike tool. According to my husband, there is nothing on his bike that cannot be fixed with this tool.
2. Fitbit Flex – this slim bracelet tracks steps, activity, and sleep and syncs wirelessly with iPhones and Andriods.
3. Zeal Optics HD Camera Goggles – there’s nothing quite like the view as you fly down a ski slope. skiers and boarders can experience it again and again with these goggle’s HD recording function.
4. Drymax Cold Weather Running Socks – with a special Dual Layer Moisture Removal System, these socks keep feet dry and protects from blisters.
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Check out the rest of the Christmas Gift Guides:
Wine Lovers
Cooks & Hostesses
Dog Lovers – 11/18/13
Bibliophiles – 11/19/13
Whisky Lovers – 11/20/13
Ladies – 11/21/13
Gentlemen – 11/22/13
Everyone – 11/25/13
Stocking Stuffers – 11/26/13
christmas gift guide: cooks & hostesses
If I have free time, I am probably spending it in the kitchen or around the table with friends.
These are a few (okay… a lot!) of things I think any cook or hostess would appreciate:
1. SpiceAce Spice Collection – curate your own selection of delicious spices, herbs, chiles, peppers, salts, sugars or blends.
2. T-Fal ActiFry Low Fat Multi Cooker – this ingenious little fryer uses heat pulse technology and just 1 tablespoon of oil to make perfectly crispy fries.
3. Taste No. 5 Far Eastern Umami Paste – a natural flavor enhancer with tomato, garlic, anchovy paste, black olives, balsamic vinegar, porcini mushrooms, parmesan cheese, olive oil and just a touch of sugar and salt.
4. Bodum French Press – this beautifully designed coffeemaker produces superior taste and aroma.
5. Himalayan Salt Tequila Shot Glasses – these glasses naturally add salty note to your favorite tequila and add a fun flair to parties.
1. Lift-Up Apron – measurements, cooking times, techniques for gauging the “doneness” of steak, and other supremely useful tidbits are printed at the hem, upside-down for easy flip-up reading.
2. Norpro Cast Iron Bacon and Hamburger Press – get extra crispy bacon and perfectly cooked hamburgers with these presses.
3. Premium Balsamic Vinegar of Modena – good, syrupy Balsamic vinegar is such a treat; this one is perfectly sweet and tangy.
4. Edge Brownie Pan – everyone likes the chewy edges and now everyone can have them with this brownie pan.
5. Sliced Iberico Ham – Jamón Ibérico is the crown jewel of Spanish cuisine; with very little salt, the ham’s natural flavors shine through.
1. Nutmeg Mill and Chile Grinder – everyone knows spices are best when they are fresh. Get more aroma and better flavor with these grinders.
2. Confetti Paper Placemats – spruce up a birthday party or dinner table setting with these festive mats.
3. Midas Collection Large Carafe – these carafes are simple, yet elegant.
4. Classic Cowgirl Creamery Collection – a decadent collection of Cowgirl Creamery’s most popular cheeses — a triple cream, a cow’s milk dusted in sweet and spicy dried red pepper flakes, and a semi-firm cow’s milk perfect for melting.
5. Takuro Yarai Cocktail Mixing Glass – for cocktails that are meant to be stirred, not shaken, which chills drinks without bruising the nuanced flavors of fine spirits.
1. Menu Winebreather Carafe – my hands-down favorite decanter, the Menu Winebreather is functional and easy to use.
2. GIR Silicone Spatulas – heat proof to 464°F and heat resistant to 550°F, these spatulas come in a variety of fun colors.
3. Dorset Cocktail Shaker – named for the picturesque county on England’s southern coast, this lead-crystal barware catches and reflects light, thanks to its hand-fluting.
4. Blenko Glass Pitcher – exquisite color, skilled craftsmen, and imaginative designs have made Blenko famous in the time-honored craft of hand-blown glass.
5. Polished Brass Coasters – these lovely coasters can be monogrammed.
1. Double Wine Cooler – add style to any gathering with this polished wine cooler.
2. Le Creuset 3½ qt. French Oven – a must have for beginners and serious cooks alike.
3. Reed & Barton Oxford Pewter Julep Cup – crafted in bright pewter with a contrasting brushed interior, this mint julep cup makes an impressive gift; monogramming available.
4. Edible Garden Kit – turn a humble patch of ground into a garden of delicious delights, brimming with herbs, salad greens and edible flowers. Just toss these little seed bombs down and watch what crops up.
5. Teroforma Issi Small Tumblers – form meets function: these non-lead crystal tumblers are individually mouth blown.
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Check out the rest of the Christmas Gift Guides:
Wine Lovers
Athletes – 11/15/13
Dog Lovers – 11/18/13
Bibliophiles – 11/19/13
Whisky Lovers – 11/20/13
Ladies – 11/21/13
Gentlemen – 11/22/13
Everyone – 11/25/13
Stocking Stuffers – 11/26/13
christmas gift guide: wine lovers
A few years ago when I did Weight Watchers,
the leader said we should aim to drink nothing but water every day.
It served as a good time in my life to cut the daily chocolate milk and Coke habit,
but a world without wine is not one in which I want to live.
So here are the gifts for the friends and family on your list that love wine too —
whether they are casual wine drinkers or serious cork dorks:
1. Wine Lines ID Tags – these cheeky tags are a fun way to distinguish glasses from one another.
2. Spanish Wine Glasses – simple wine glasses: stackable, easy to store, great for parties.
3. BuiltNY Wine Totes – these neoprene sleeves are a fun way to present a bottle of wine.
4. Electric Corkscrew – open wine bottles easily with the simple push of a button.
5. How to Love Wine by Eric Asimov – a down-to-earth discussion of loving wine written by New York Times chief wine critic.
1. Corkcicle – maintains the temperature of chilled white wine for 45 minutes to 1 hour.
2. Cookies & Corks – sweet and savory cookies perfect for wine pairing.
3. Le Creuset Champagne Stopper – we all know how impossible it is to get champagne corks back in the bottle. This nifty little tool saves you the hassle.
4. What to Drink with What You Eat by Karen Page and Andrew Dornenburg – while focusing primarily on wine, the authors include matches for a variety of other beverages, including tea, water, coffee, beer and spirits, and offer the pairings in reverse.
5. Rapid Ice Wine Chiller – can chill a bottle within five minutes and keep it cool for up to four hours.
1. The Billionaire’s Vinegar by Benjamin Wallace – Part detective story, part wine history, this is one juicy tale.
2. Govino Wine Glasses – these unbreakable glasses are made from a food-safe, 100% BPA-free polymer, which reflects a wine’s color and projects its aromatics much like crystal.
3. Annieglass Ruffle Wine Coaster – an elegant coaster for entertaining (bonus: it’s dishwasher safe).
4. Vinturi Wine Aerator – easily and conveniently enhances the flavor, bouquet, and finish of any wine by speeding up the breathing process and instantly aerating in the time it takes to pour a glass of wine.
5. Thumb Decanter – makes pouring a glass of wine a cinch.
1. La Marca Prosecco – a well-balanced Prosecco at a great price point; hints of apples and grapefruit, with a light creamy mineral texture on the palate.
2. Sonoma-Cutrer Sonoma Coast Chardonnay – my favorite white wine, with hints of Meyer lemons and nectarines and a creamy finish.
3. Swanson Merlot – full-bodied and dry, with black cherry and plum flavors.
4. Thurston Wolfe Touriga Nacional Port – a strikingly dense wine, with black cherry, cassis, chocolate and coffee liqueur flavors.
5. The Prisoner Red Blend – my favorite red wine, an intense blend of Zinfandel, Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Petite Sirah, Charbono and Grenache.
6. Numanthia Termes – elegant with velvety texture, ripe tannins, and silky finish.
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Check out the rest of the Christmas Gift Guides:
Cooks & Hostesses – 11/14/13
Athletes – 11/15/13
Dog Lovers – 11/18/13
Bibliophiles – 11/19/13
Whisky Lovers – 11/20/13
Ladies – 11/21/13
Gentlemen – 11/22/13
Everyone – 11/25/13
Stocking Stuffers – 11/26/13
tuesday things, vol. 16
my favorite instagrams this week
A few things I’m thinking about, reading, or loving right now:
- I am going to be posting Christmas gift guides starting later this week– check back for tips for everyone on your list!
- Here’s an interesting behind-the-scenes look at airbrushing.
- If you follow me on Instagram, you’d know how happy I am about this news item.
- Whitney just ran out of espresso beans so I’m going to browse through this list before buying more.
- If you have a potluck in Texas, chances are 4 or 5 people will show up with this.
- Just a dose of preciousness for your morning.
- Good news for my 16-year-old self.
- I am not sure I would trust this invisible bike helmet yet, but I like the idea. Check out the cool video of how it works.
- Mad Men take on a hated vegetable.
- To mafia bosses everywhere: let me introduce you to your new wardrobe.
xoxo
p.s. Happy birthday to my lovely grandmother!!
I’m so lucky to be her favorite.
(I kid, I kid.)
cacio e pepe
This is one of my favorite meals because (1) there is no better comfort food than pasta, (2) it is done in less than 15 minutes, and (3) I know I always have all of the ingredients in my pantry and fridge.
Cacio e pepe, or “cheese and pepper,” is an old Roman dish. Traditionally, the sauce is made with just three ingredients – pasta water, Parmesan and pepper.
Disclosure: I like adding a bit of butter and olive oil for creaminess. Purists would balk, but its my dinner so I don’t care.
Cacio e Pepe
1/2 lb. pasta
1 c. pasta water
3 tbsp. olive oil
2 tbsp. butter
2 tbsp. freshly ground black pepper
2/3 c. freshly grated Parmesan
1 tsp. salt
1-2 tbsp. freshly grated Parmesan, for serving
Cook pasta according to package directions. Reserve 1 cup of the pasta water. Then drain the pasta and set aside. Do not rinse the cooked pasta.
Melt the butter in a saucepan with the olive oil and pepper. Cook over medium heat for a few minutes until the pepper is toasty and the butter starts to brown. Add about 1/2 c. of the reserved pasta water and whisk to combine. Add the pasta and stir it in the butter sauce until it is coated. Add the grated Parmesan and salt, then stir to combine. If you would like to thin the sauce at all, add a bit more of the reserved pasta water. Serve with the additional grated Parmesan on top.
Serves 2.
tuesday things, vol. 15
my favorite instagrams this week
A few things I’m thinking about, reading, or loving right now:
- This invention might save a few marriages…. or at least make road trips more bearable.
- Do you know how popcorn came to be the snack of choice at movie theatres?
- Real life Mowgli: a couple of African wildlife photographers raised their daughter in the bush for the first ten years of her life, and this photo essay is beautiful.
- My lovely sorority sister Erin started a food blog and she has great recipes as well as weekly menu plans. Check it out!
- The results of this study are so sad. What a terrible catch-22: those who grow up poor may have impaired brain function, leading to an inability to escape poverty, and the cycle continues with their kids.
- How cool is this adult scratch-and-sniff book about wine?
- This dish looks like perfect winter comfort food. I can’t wait to make it! Cold air, come back to Houston!
- I bought 450 pieces of Halloween candy yesterday and I have not eaten one single piece yet. Self-control for the win! But its really only a matter of time before I make these. Probably tomorrow.
xoxo
our seventh anniversary!
Today is Whitney’s and my seventh wedding anniversary!
I feed him pretty well, but every bit of credit for our marriage lasting this long goes to his unrivaled patience. I stay up way later than is necessary, I need to pause the TV like 17 times during each show because I keep thinking of things that need to be done right.this.minute, my skin is too thick and then next day it is too thin, I run with just about every urge I get- whether it is well thought out or not, I am prone to political rants and starting a batch of brownies at 10:30 pm. And he puts up with it all. Better than that, he celebrates it all.
Over the course of our relationship, we’ve learned to love each other in the ways that the other one wants to be loved, not how we want to be loved. Its not always easy, but it is always worth it to step outside of our comfort zones.
Whit has given me so much room to grow and change, not holding expectations over my head. He likes that I have an insatiable need to stretch and explore. And Whitney is super smart and curious about the world — he’s expanded my horizons in so many ways, from my beer preference to my views on fiscal policy. He will never make me like working out though; he can keep the Ironman to himself.
I love when we’re in a large group and I catch his eye. I feel so proud to be with him!
He is funny. Whit has one of the dryest senses of humor I’ve ever known. Its sneaky and catches me off guard all the time. And he’s hilarious without ever being cynical.
He’s one of the few people I know that sees the good in everyone. And acts accordingly with grace and integrity.
The dude makes a mean cocktail. And he always makes it in the nick of time. Its like he can read my mind with the way he says, “I’m going to pour you a drink now” at the exact right moment. This is a trait to look for in a man, ladies.
Whitney is my favorite travel partner. He appreciates the new experiences that come with exploring the world. He’s average, at best, with directions but excellent at everything else. Especially at staying calm when I lead us down the most dangerous street in the world.
We always have each other’s backs. Having Whitney in my corner makes me feel like I can’t fail. And it makes the failures that do occur (because, you know, I’m human) feel like the tiniest bump in the road.
Being married to Whitney has given me a partner that appreciates my faith, intelligently challenges it, encourages each step on my spiritual journey, carries my burdens, wrestles with my doubt along side of me, and supports my growth. He loves me and loves God so much that he seeks to live alongside me rather subscribing to gender ideologies that call for leading me.
I choose to love him each day. Real talk: marriage is challenging some days. Of course it is. But its easy and a privilege on most of them. No matter which kind of day it is, I choose Whitney.
Having met when we were 18, I’m lucky that my husband is in the center of every moment of my adult life. Its been fun to “grow up” together! And none of what I have accomplished would have happened without him cheering me on and encouraging me.
Here’s to many more!
salted caramel bourbon milkshake
I am surrounded by ice cream lovers. Whitney can take down a pint of ice cream like no one’s business. And my dad has a couple of scoops pretty much every night. And yet…
I’m not really a scoop-of-ice-cream eater. I don’t order ice cream at restaurants, no matter how local / gourmet / homemade / handmade / artisan / fresh / premium it is. (<– these are all descriptors I have seen on menus in like the past week)
I don’t ever pull a tub of it out of our freezer for dessert.
But I can’t get over my love of milkshakes.
I cannot explain it.
In my opinion, this shake flavored with rich salted caramel and bourbon is the best frozen dessert out there. Enjoy!
Salted Caramel Bourbon Milkshake
1 pint vanilla ice cream
1/2 c. milk
1 c. sugar
1/4 c. water
1/2 c. heavy cream
2 tbsp. bourbon
1/2 tsp. salt
Add the sugar and water to a saucepan and cook over medium heat for about 15 minutes. Swirl the pan – don’t stir! The mixture will slowly darken until it has reached a dark amber color. Remove the pan from the heat and whisk for 30 seconds. Slowly add the salt, cream and bourbon while whisking. Let cool for 20 minutes.
tuesday things, vol. 14
my favorite instagrams this week
A few things I’m thinking about, reading, or loving right now:
- Steel Magnolias is one of my top 5 movies. And now the iconic house from the film is for sale.
- “Women were the original beer drinkers. In fact, the first brewers were mothers if you really want to get specific, because beer was brewed in the home, just like bread was baked in the home.”
- Oh, these just take creepy to a whole new level.
- Cool photo gallery of Swiss cheese-making.
- This is really funny!
- Ummm… would you cook your dinner in the dishwasher?
- I’m really liking this folk trio.
- This spoken word performance is so powerful: “A fugitive stealing calories to which she does not feel entitled. Deciding how many bites is too many. How much space she deserves to occupy.”
- I’m definitely a perpetuator. Do any of these fit you?
xoxo
Is there any wine left? 