want it now: the little printer
I’m not sure why I want it. I have no idea how much it will cost (unannounced). I don’t even know when it will be available (the site only says sometime next year, in beta). Still, I can’t help thinking how much fun it would be to print Onion headlines from my iPhone. Or 1,000 other equally silly but meaningful things. You, too, can get hooked on the little printer. Watch the video, then add your name to the mailing list for launch details — Sarah L.
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shopping for a cause: st. jude thanks & giving
Around the holidays, besides the focus on entertaining, gifting and shipping deadlines, my thoughts often return to where I want to spend my charitable dollars to help those in need. This year, I’m thankful to be working for a company that partners with St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital® in their annual Thanks and Giving® campaign which asks all holiday shoppers to “give thanks for the healthy kids in your life and give to those who are not.†It costs an incredible $1.7 million a day to operate St. Jude, and more than 75% of that funding is derived from public donations. Luckily, some of our favorite home retailers have answered the call again this year with an assortment of holiday goods benefiting St. Jude. From hostess-gift-giving to stocking-stuffing to holiday decorating, the Williams-Sonoma family of brands has us covered while donating 50% of the purchase price of the following products to this worthy cause.
West Elm
Mercury Glass Owls, $14-19
St. Jude Charity Mug, $10
Pottery Barn
Etched Mercury Spiced Vanilla Filled Votives, set of two, $19.50
Mercury Spiced Vanilla Candle Pot, $29.50
Mercury Rose Filled Candle Pot, $24
Pottery Barn Kids
Oatmeal the Bear, $20
Oatmeal Ornament, $10
Tartan Sherpa Throw, $59.50
PBteen
Sparkly Sequin Pillows, $25
Sparkly Sequin Word Pillow Covers, $29
Sherpa Stocking, $25
Not interested in product? The Williams-Sonoma family of brands will also donate $5 for the purchase of your eGift Card when you select the St. Jude option at West Elm, Pottery Barn, PBteen, Pottery Barn Kids or Williams-Sonoma.
To donate directly to St. Judes Children’s Research Hospital®, click here.
– Sarah C.
want it now (b4 thanksgiving!): super smart apron
I am one of those cooks who always makes a mess. I splatter, splot, drip and am constantly reaching for a towel or a rag to wipe my hands on. Sure, I have worked my way through a few aprons, but none of them have become indispensable and are often left hanging on a hood rather than around my neck. But this lovely, clever number from Studio Patro makes my heart flutter. Its straps are on grommets and designed not to strain your neck and it has pockets for those constantly misplaced tasting spoons and tea towels. The linen/cotton blend gets softer with each wash. At $68, they are a bit pricey, but a wonderful gift idea of the chef in your house. – Angela M.
where’s the pollen? another good reason to buy local honey
We heard some troubling news last week. A study from Food Safety News found that most of the stuff sold as honey on our grocery store shelves has been filtered so much that it no longer contains pollen. What?! Honey without pollen? Isn’t that why we buy honey in the first place, for all those antioxidants, nutrients and unique flavors. Also, as we read on ivillage.com, “without pollen, it is impossible to trace where honey comes from and guarantee its purity.”
Ever since our foray into beekeeping (that’s one of ours, above), we’ve have made a point of always buying honey at local markets. It’s also a great souvenir to bring back from travels. We’ve stocked up in the golden stuff from Martha’s Vinyard, Maine and California. During our recent visit down South, we stopped into a Savannah Bee Company store. After taste tasting their current offerings, we settled on a bottle of Sourwood, which has a rich, nutty flavor.
The good news from Food Safety News, is that honey from Trader Joe’s contained proper amounts of pollen. Just be sure to read those labels carefully when shopping elsewhere! — Angela M.
monday fun: anthropologie’s e-card ornaments
Leave it to the always-creative Anthropologie to interrupt my workday doldrums with a bit of fun. Just as I entered the longest part of Friday afternoon, into my inbox popped an e-mail featuring The Branch Bunch, Anthropologie’s adorable, sendable, givable clan of cuties for the holiday tree. Click through the assortment to shop your favorites or pass on the joy by sending an animated e-card to a pal. Who can resist a Walrus in a top hat? — Sarah C.
