Christmas Gift Idea #9
Don't you love that delicious and comforting smell of cinnamon this time of year? Try the new Orange-Cinnamon Diffuser Set from Fruits and Passion.
It all started with a simple idea, really: to make a CD of kids music
that adults could enjoy, not just tolerate. The result is a treasure chest
of luminous harmonies and sophisticated lullabies that are unlike any children's
music you've ever heard. It's A Big World is a thoughtful, nuanced, and
long-overdue departure from the Wheels-On-The-Bus rut that children's music
generally veers into. These are songs by two gifted musicians (and parents) who
understand the difference between sweet and saccharine and who know their
audience does, too. Most importantly, though, they are songs with heart.
Everything from the writing to the recording was an earnest and intimate
venture. The title track came to Jeremy Toback (guitar, vocals) on a walk with
his 1-year-old son, Ezra, after wondering what life would be like through his
eyes. And Renee Stahl (vocals) crafted her haunting and minimalist lullaby,
Powder Blue, out of her own meditations on motherhood before becoming one
herself.
The album's most miraculous accomplishment is one that you will have to
discover yourself: in the morning on your way to the office, or late at night,
long after they've gone to bed, you will find yourself slipping the CD into your
stereo, alone this time, and you will sing along, and your eyes may get a bit
teary, but they will never, ever be rolling.
A folding easel is an ideal activity and learning centre for young children.
This easel is a great way to entertain a young child, and subtly reinforce learning at the same time. Its double-sided design incorporates a chalk board, a wipe board and a metal strip for magnets, plus troughs to hold chalk, crayons and other bits and pieces, for hours of stimulating fun away from computer and TV screens.
This easy-to-build project makes a terrific Christmas gift for children aged three and up. It folds down for convenient storage and the legs can be lengthened or shortened depending on the child’s size.
And how special would it be to give a gift you made yourself?
Druide's certified organic toothpaste contains Calcium Lactate which fights tartar deposits and ensures local mineralization (helps the teeth enamel). The organic essential oils act together with soft abrasive agents and strengthen the gum tissues.Available in 4 flavors:
Cinnamon: Desensitizing and fungicidal.
Anise: Refreshing and purrifying.
Mint-Lemon: Very refreshing. Efficient and potent mouthwash action.
Banana: Very mild. Ideal for children. Delicious natural banana flavor obtained from dried fruit.
A customer of ours personally testified to the excellence of this product. After switching to Druide, the dental hygenist informed her that, rather than 6 month recalls, one cleaning a year would be sufficient.
Make a seasonal statement with wall art that celebrates the essence of the holidays.
Black Forest Bars
The combination of chocolate and cherries that defines a black forest cake is found in these dainty squares, along with a little coconut and just a touch of citrus.
Makes 1 8-inch square pan: 36 squares
Base:
Filling:
Icing:
For base, preheat oven to 350˚F (180˚C). Grease and line an 8-inch (20 cm) square pan with parchment paper, so that the ends hang over the sides of the pan.
Stir flour, cocoa powder and sugar to blend. Cut in butter (by hand or with a pastry cutter) until it’s a rough, crumbly texture and press into prepared pan. Bake for 15 minutes and cool while preparing filling.
For filling, stir jam to soften. Add sugar, cornstarch, vanilla and baking powder and stir well. Add eggs and blend, then stir in coconut. Pour filling over cooled crust and bake for 30 minutes, until top is golden and set. Cool to room temperature then chill for two hours.
For icing, beat butter with electric beaters or by hand and add ½ cup (125 mL) icing sugar. Beat in lemon juice and vanilla then beat in remaining ¾ cup (175 mL) icing sugar. Spread over top of chilled squares and chill another hour before slicing into 1-inch (25 mm) squares.
Squares can be stored chilled for up to 10 days or at room temperature for five days.
Find this recipe and more in the Winter edition of Home at Home magazine, available FREE in store!
Look at this charming foaming bath collection! 6 different scents of foaming bath packaged in adorable christmas bulbs. Brighten up your bathroom with this shimmering beauties, or tie them onto packages! Also ideal for stockings--too cute.
When I opened the birthday gift from my mother-in-law, I gave a snobby little chuckle. Wow. Didn't see that coming. A Snuggie. As seen on TV. My mother-in-law gave me a blanket with sleeves. Just the thing I'd need to wear as I dragged through the sycamore leaves and to the mailbox to see if my Cash 4 Gold money had arrived yet.
"Oh. It's a Snuggie. I've seen them on TV. Thanks." MIL had a playful look in her eyes, a knowing look now that I think about it.
Didn't she know that I'd lampooned the Snuggie? It was nuts, this impossible wad of fabric that claimed to be cool enough to wear to bars and ballgames with your (lame) friends.
"Try it on," she said.
"OK," I said. This Snuggie was emblazoned with the UNC Tar Heels logo and was easily big enough to accommodate the entire team. What was she thinking?
I used scissors to free it from its wrapping and Snuggie immediately expanded like a life raft, filling MIL's den and threatening to knock Duh Hubby's portrait off the wall along with the collection of candles flickering just below.
"Wow!" I said. If this thing didn't work as a cozy cover-up, it would make a fabulous drop cloth for, uh, Switzerland.
Because of its immensity, it took a few seconds to find Snuggie's actual sleeves. I haven't been this kerflummoxed by an article of clothing since I bought my first thong. Also my last, since you ask.
While the whole family watched, I put Snuggie on as best I could and figured I'd just model it quickly and give everyone a good laugh. Except that's not how it went.
Snuggie had me in its warm embrace. It was like those "rebirth" blankets you hear about people using to re-create the womb experience except without all the gooey placenta.
No! It was nothing like that. Snuggie wasn't some crackpot psychology experiment; it was the real deal. I never wanted to take it off. I would wear my Snuggie everywhere I went, conducting my daily errands, all while wrapped, nay, swaddled in this marvelous monklike monstrosity.
I take back every hateful thing I ever said, thought or wrote about Snuggie. Because there's nothing worse than criticizing something you haven't even tried (I'm remembering you, deep-fried Oreos).
Snuggie has changed my life, forcing me to feel adrift and helpless for 40 minutes every week as I wait for it to finally emerge from the dryer.
So, look elsewhere, hons, if you want to deride the Snuggie or mock its cheesy advertising campaign. Snuggie is a gift from God. OK, actually Walgreens, but still.
It seems like every time someone makes a list of #'d ideas, they are random and not in numerical order. So, I designate this idea number #103--Cupcakes to Go!
Ignite your senses with this stunning centrepiece. Our tray is 32” long, but you can customize the length to suit your needs.
Caution: Never leave burning candles unattended, and always keep out of reach of children and pets.
How cute are these? Protect your shrubs the festive way!Winter Pals Tree/Shrub Protector
Click Here to see some of the great Christmas ornaments, decorations and gifts Home has to offer this year!
Chocolate Pretzel Salami
These no-bake cookies are a good laugh – when sliced they look like real salami, but they have a great salt/sweet contrast, and a definite kick of brandy.
Makes about 4 dozen slices
Melt chocolate chips in microwave on medium, stirring every 10 seconds until smooth. Transfer chocolate to a large bowl and stir in sugar and corn syrup. Stir brandy and instant coffee together to dissolve, then stir into chocolate mixture (if you wish, you can bring the brandy to a simmer to cook out some of the alcohol — take care to watch for a flame). Stir in cookie crumbs until blended then mix in pretzel pieces. Dough should be shiny and still pliable.
Place a third of the mix on a sheet of plastic wrap. Roll up in the shape of a log about 8-inches (20 cm) long by 1½-inches (4 cm) across and repeat with remaining two-thirds of dough. Chill for 3 hours.
To serve, unwrap dough and slice into coins ¼ inch (5 mm) thick.
Cookies will keep up to two weeks in an airtight container.
Find this recipe and more in the Winter edition of Home at Home magazine, available FREE in store!
