On the Rocks or J's Birthday Present

Thanks to this girl, who sent me a link to a cool new store in Omaha, I found J the perfect birthday gift.  I purchased them and she was kind enough to pick them up when they were traveling there last weekend during their whirlwind trip!

As some may recall, I bought J a gin decanter for Christmas (see more about what we gave each other this year here) and when I came across these little guys, I knew I'd be adding to his bar collection for his birthday.

They are granite stones that chill your drink without diluting it or adding flavors (especially if your local water has a distinct "taste" to it) like ice cubes do.  One or two rocks are perfect for each drink and their shape allows you to swirl your drink and take a sip without them falling in your face!

The set came with six stones, a wooden tray and two highball glasses.  The best part, one that I was not aware of until I bought them and J opened them up, is that the company who makes these stones is very green friendly.  For every tree they use in the making of the trays, they reforest ten trees and for every stone they pick from the Atlantic (yes these babies were rolling around in the Atlantic Ocean) they return a similar stone to the sea to start the process of smoothing out the edges over again.  Pretty cool, huh?

Here's what the tag said:

On the front:

"We have deep respect for nature and our planet.  For every stone we collect, a rough quarry stone is "planted" for the water to tumble into smoothness.  We also replant 10 times the number of trees we harvest for our work."

And the back:

"Oh, if this stone could talk...I was born from magma in the center of the world, millions of years ago.  I've traveled thousands of miles through the shifting earth to what would become New England.  I've been deep underground, deep underwater, and high on a hill.  I've been splintered by glaciers, baked in the sun, and rolled and dashed relentlessly by the mighty Atlantic.  My epic journey ended when I was carefully chosen from gazillions of neighbors based on my size, coloring and shape, for an inventive role in your home.  Life is easier now, and sweet...so when you touch me, I will touch you back and tell you my story."

After I read it, I have to admit I did touch them and marvel at their journey.  Definitely makes you look at a rock differently, doesn't it?  I am excited to borrow these and try with lemonades and other non-alcoholic drinks too!

Have you given or received any good gifts recently?  Please share as I'm always looking for new ideas!


P.S. I was in no way compensated for this post.  I just like sharing fun presents!

Gifts Galore Part 3: Homemade with Love

Considering it's mid-January, I think it's time we wrap up this holiday gift series, don't you?  I thought about leaving this post out all together but the gifts are so unique and heartfelt I just had to share them, even if it's just a record for years to come so I can look back and remember what I got for Christmas in 2010.

First, I received some very special homemade gifts from my Grandma D (whose famous Christmas cookies I shared with you here).  She knitted J and me beautiful scarves to keep us warm this winter along with some house goods that will add a great deal of cheer to our kitchen.  She cross-stitched pictures and the names of fruit on large white kitchen towels, perfect for decorating our oven door or using to help get fresh bread dough to rise.   Here is a little collection of the towels--aren't they bright, fun and just a little bit retro.  I love them and love them even more because I know my grandma made them especially for me!

She also sent us several crocheted wash clothes which we have been using almost daily.  These are great because the holes from crocheting allow the cloths to dry quickly which avoids any mold or musty smells from taking hold.  My favorite is the bright yellow one!

Next, J and I received a very unique and special gift that we will definitely use come football season next year!  It is no secret that J and I root for different football teams: he, being a good Nebraska boy, the Huskers and I, Notre Dame's Fighting Irish.  Therefore, his mom had a bowling ball made for display in our home to let everyone know where our loyalties lie.  

I envision us switching which side faces the front next year based on which game we are watching.  

With Nebraska joining the Big Ten, it might not be that many years before Notre Dame and the Huskers have a rematch game!  That will be a challenging day for our marriage.

The final homemade gift we received was from my brother Dan and was also football related.  This requires a bit of back story however.  My grandparents (the ones who sent us the homemade gifts featured above) are very avid Minnesota Vikings fans and have some of the best tailgate parties during the games.  A vital part of the games, however, was the foam brick, painted in its purple and gold, which was always perched on a TV tray, ready for action.  This was used during games to throw at the TV when the referee or coach made a bad call.  It was and is a great way to get out frustration during the game without doing actual harm to yourself, the TV or those around you!  Dan made a brick for each of us, again with our team colors on them.  I am hoping I won't have to use my brick too much during next year's season, but I will be ready just in case!

So there you have it, part three of our holiday gift series.  Did you get or give anything handmade for Christmas this year?  I'm always looking for homemade gifts (in fact giving all homemade gifts for Christmas one year is number 74 on my 130 list) so let's hear it!

Gifts Galore, Part Two: For the Kitchen

Back in this post, I outlined some things we could really use in our kitchen.  Thanks to generous family and friends we have some new cookbooks, gadgets and gizmos, some of which appeared on the wish list, that we can't wait to try out.  Here they are in their glory:

China Village Wok

J and I have been cooking quite a bit of Asian food lately--we even helped make homemade sushi while we were in Pasadena last week, as I alluded to in this post (pictures and details to come)!  At home, we have been using our All-Clad large skillet, which has worked okay, except when you are trying to stir large quantities of food, like fried rice, and end up with half of it all over the stove.  Now we will be able to stir fry all sorts of things with ease and thanks to the next featured gift, we will have all sorts of new recipes to try!

Homestyle Asian Cookbook

J received this from my grandparents for Christmas.   The Asian dishes we have made so far have all been online, so it will be nice to have a source that we can use non-electronically!

Mandoline

I think this might be my favorite kitchen gadget to try out.  My dad got this for us for Christmas and gave us a demonstration on New Year's Eve with his mandoline on how to thinly slice cauliflower, among other vegetables--as promised, the menu, photographs and recipes will be coming soon!  I know that I will be using it to make French Onion Soup in the near future!

Immersion Blender

This was another wish list item I am so glad to have received!  I really could have used it last night when I made this winter soup (recipe and photos to be posted this afternoon) but because the mandoline and blender have blades that are not allowed as carry-on items on airplanes, they are getting shipped to us later this week. I can't wait to have consistently thick and creamy soups without having to pour batches of the mixture into my regular blender.  Want to know the best part, now that I got this as a gift I can cross off number 19 on my 130 list!

Mario Batali's Spain: A Culinary Road Trip Cookbook

This was a present I got for J that I forgot to mention in this post.  J traveled to Spain in high school and really enjoyed watching the PBS Series Spain...On the Road Again with Mario Batali and Gwyneth Paltrow as it reminded him a lot of his travels there.  When I saw they had a cookbook related to the series, I knew I had to get it for him.  If the pictures are any indication of how great the recipes are, we are in for a treat.  Not to mention, it would help me accomplish number 20 on my 130 Before I'm Thirty list!

So there's our kitchen-related Christmas gift round-up.  Did you get any kitchen gadgets recently?  Anyone have either the Asian cookbook or Mario Batali's cookbook?  If so, any recipe recommendations?  Let's hear it!

Gifts Galore, Part One: Technology

J and I received an embarrassment of riches from our families for Christmas this year.  I thought I would recap some of the things we can't wait to get our hands on through a series of blog posts, grouped by theme.  As you can see from the blog post title, he first of these is technology.

J's mom Brenda was very generous and got me something I had wanted for a while.  In fact, I added it to this wish list.

What was it, you ask?  Adobe Photoshop Elements 9!

When not spending time with family and friends during this busy season, I have been playing with the software and love it!  

Want to know the best part?  I can cross off number 54 off of my 130 Before I'm Thirty list!  So be sure to stay tuned as there will be fun pictures and graphics heading your way once I figure out the software (also known as crossing off number 53 on my list).

Did anyone else get something they really wanted for Christmas, technology themed or otherwise?  What about tips for using Photoshop?  I'm all ears!

A Christmas Tradition

Last week J and I received a wonderful present just in time for Christmas.  I was so excited that I opened it and got it all set up even though we were leaving later that day for Omaha to spend Christmas with J's family.  Here it is:

A Fontanini Nativity scene!  

I almost started crying when I opened the box because growing up my parents had a Fontanini Nativity scene and now J and I have one of our own!  Growing up, my mom would hide the baby Jesus until Christmas day, when he would appear in the manger.  Meanwhile, Joseph, Mary, the shepherds, sheep and angels would wait patiently all of Advent for that little baby Jesus to appear that morning.  

I can't wait to start this tradition with our children some day with our very own set!

Woods of course had to interrupt my photo shoot.  This picture tells you one of two things:

• Woods is a giant cat
• The size of Fontanini nativity scenes.

Thanks so much Maureen and Joe!

His and Hers Christmas Gifts

I hope everyone had a peaceful and lovely Christmas.  On this Monday after Christmas, I thought I would share with you what J and I got for each other this Christmas.  Let's just say personalized gifts was the name of the game this year.

First up, my gift to J.  While watching an episode of Modern Family (one of our favorite new shows), J admired a decanter set Marshall drank from.  That got my wheels turning.  J is more of a gin drinker than a whiskey drinker, but I figured any type of alcohol would taste great when poured out of a personalized decanter.  I also picked up two glasses for him to sip from.  

I added a little message to the back of the decanter so that years from now we would remember when and where it came from.  It's a little hard to read in the photos since gin is clear but it says Eat, Drink and Merry Christmas!

J got me a beautiful jewelry box which he personalized with a message inside.  I promised him I wouldn't share the message but here are some pictures.  The top is an etched mirror with two little birdies sitting on a branch.  The mirrored surface made it hard to get a great photo of it but it is beautiful!

It has room for lots of rings, necklaces, earrings and bracelets--just what I need because right now they are all in little boxes on a shelf in my bathroom!  This means I can never find what I'm looking for since I have to open multiple little boxes each time!

I love that it has a second drawer for bigger items too!

So those where our Christmas gifts to each other this year.  I think we did pretty well and it was definitely one to remember since it was our first as a married couple and the first we've spent together in the five (almost six) years of our relationship!

What did you get your honey for Christmas this year?

Bandit

Last night I hurried home after a long day at work and to quickly wrap a present for J.  You see, I had bought him something earlier that day and wanted to be sure to have it wrapped and under our tree before he got home from school.  I finished wrapping it with literally seconds to spare as I heard the garage door open just as I finished wrapping.

While I had the wrapping paper out, I decided to wrap some of the other gifts we are giving our friends and families this Christmas.  Placing them under the tree, I was quite happy with the colors and designs of the wrapping paper and how the two patterns worked together to bring cheer and fun to our space.  

Until today.  When I came home from lunch today to this...

Photo slightly edited to keep its identity secret

Any guesses as to who opened one of our Christmas presents?

I'll give you a hint.

Stinker.