Shamrock’s for St. Patty’s Day

Here are a few shamrock goodies for St. Patty’s Day from Sturbridge Yankee – you can find all of them at their link:

http://www.sturbridgeyankee.com/catalogsearch/result/?q=shamrock

 

$19.95 for Shamrock Thermometer

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$9.95 for Shamrock Jute Trivet

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$39.95 for Irish Lace Shortbread Pan

 

Spice It Up for Valentine’s Day with The Spice House

How about a gift of spice for Valentine’s Day? If you like it hot, here is a great gift box to turn up the heat!

http://www.thespicehouse.com/spices/some-like-it-hot-gift-box#content

$22.95 for 4 jar Spice Gift Box – “Some Like it Hot” (includes: Hot Chili Powder, Vulcan’s Fire Salt, Very Hot Cajun Seasoning and Black & Red Spice)

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If that much heat is more than you were looking for, check out their website for all of their fabulous gift boxes. There are plenty to give someone a little “sugar” or something in between sugar and spice!

click here: http://www.thespicehouse.com/spices-by-category/gift-boxes#content

Little Passports Valentine’s Day Lunch Idea

http://www.littlepassports.com/blog/2015/02/valentines-day-bento-box/?utm_source=bronto&utm_medium=email&utm_term=Image+-+http%3A%2F%2Fwww.littlepassports.com%2Fblog%2F2015%2F02%2Fvalentines-day-bento-box%2F&utm_content=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.littlepassports.com%2Fblog%2F2015%2F02%2Fvalentines-day-bento-box%2F&utm_campaign=2.5.15-+Valentines+Day+Bento+Box

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First of all, this is adorable.

Second….that is NOT how my kids get lunch.

Once in a great while maybe, but not on a regular basis. According to the little blurb about the mom who designed this fabulous lunch, she does this all the time and has a little “cookbook” of sorts with ideas for these Bento box type meals. Lucky kids. I want a lunch like that all of the time!

Hey…this could also be a great idea to surprise a grownup in your life – the possibilities are endless!

Little Passports is also a super fun idea, a great way for children to learn about different parts of the world and you can select packages based on age ranges.

To learn more about Little Passports and the mom behind this healthy and fun Valentine’s Day lunch, click on the link above.

White Chocolate Bark

Today, I needed to escape the pressures of working on my website and one of my happy places is in the kitchen. I am not sure why but White Chocolate Bark became the desired project so I set about creating flavors combinations.

Delish!

Click on the link below to be taken to my recipe blog for the scoop and how to make it.

White Chocolate Bark

 

Maple Sugaring Starter Kit from Blain’s Farm and Fleet

Being from the Northeast and close to New England, maple sugar is a love of mine. I used to get little packages of pure maple candy when on vacation and I savored that treat. The way the sugar just melts and dissolves in your mouth….mmmmmm.

I received an email from Blains Farm and Fleet and this is what I saw (click on link). How fun! Aside from the kit, there are other related goodies.

http://news.farmandfleet.com/public/?q=preview_message&fn=Link&t=1&ssid=10172&id=l4u61humtvrpc4qu1v2jkhf241kqh&id2=f48a2u6oikl88xgckhlm5m8w0s06h&subscriber_id=abywdyrkvwxiszvtywgaafkdfxwcbge&delivery_id=bppsjdqhkvowogqgvgvfogezokgabih&messageversion_id=buuzhghqtukyfgdgzdcymqqsnghkbpb&tid=3.J7w.B71jlA.GBdP.Afb9Zw..AlnRpQ.s.awo.s.AVgs.b.VNIz8A.VNJPqA.J53MYQ

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This kit looks like so much fun, although I suspect there is a learning curve and a bit of work involved. But you just might have someone on your gift list who would love this fresh idea.

$90.00 for Tap My Trees Maple Sugaring Kit

http://www.farmandfleet.com/products/878661-tap-my-trees-maple-sugaring-starter-kit.html?utm_source=bronto&utm_medium=email&utm_term=Image+-+Tap+My+Trees+Maple+Sugaring+Starter+Kit&utm_content=Breakfast+will+never+be+the+same+again%21&utm_campaign=150204+6806+Spring+Dollar+Days+Tap+My+Trees+In+Area#.VNJipTM5CUk

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Even if I could take on this hobby, one important factor is missing…

We only have one tree in our backyard.

I guess there will not be a brunch at our house to celebrate my first batch of homemade maple syrup!

Dollar Shave Club & Manly Man Goodies

Check out these super cool gift ideas for any male on your gift list…

https://www.dollarshaveclub.com/?localization=en_US

A monthly or bi-monthly subscription for shaving supplies – what a treat!

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Or…if you like a soft fuzzy face, how about a Beard Pack to soften the scruffies!

http://www.uncommongoods.com/product/beard-pack

$40.00 for Beard Pack

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And if your giftee would love some extra lovin’ to get spiffied up, how about the Working Man’s Kit?

http://www.uncommongoods.com/product/working-mans-hygiene-kit

$50 for Working Man’s Hygiene Kit

Love these!!

Mouthwatering Superbowl Must-Haves!

As a batch of chicken wing sauce simmers away on my stove, let me tell you a story…

Meet one of the loves of my life…oh how I long for those wings and that pizza!

But we have a long-distance relationship because they are in NY and I am not.

Sure, it just looks like pizza and chicken wings, so what is my problem you are wondering – they are all over the place. Sadly, not all chicken wings and pizza have the same flavors and I cannot find those exact flavors in my Midwestern world.

So, I set about to see if I could create them myself.

I make a homemade pizza (homemade as in using frozen pizza dough!) that is tasty and has been a pleaser for years so it satisfies me when I want pizza even tho it is not the pizza you see above.

Thus, the chicken wing sauce became my obsession and after trying many recipes online I came up with the recipe below that is pretty darn close to the flavor that I crave. It seems that simmering the sauce to reduce it and then refrigerating it is key. Once you have the wing sauce, the possibilities are endless. Obviously it is perfect when paired with chicken wings but it is also delicious when tossed with popcorn chicken or as a dip for your chicken fingers. How about dunking your fried egg sandwich or adding it to a burger?

It is also fabulous in a Buffalo Chicken Pizza (see below) that was another favorite food from a restaurant in NY that I just had to figure out how to make myself.

I have also included a recipe for Blue Cheese Dip from the Pioneer Woman (adapted ever so slightly), that goes perfectly with this chicken wing sauce.

Just below the pictures are the links to my original posts and then the recipes follow in case you just need to get to the good stuff (although why you would want to miss out on my gabbing session is beyond me…)

Oh – and keep scrolling for the Hot Dog of your dreams!

(I needed to show you two shots because you just had to see the melty blue cheese dollops)

Buffalo Chicken Pizza

Buffalo Chicken Pizza

• Difficulty: easy but has a few steps
• Print

Buffalo Chicken Wing Sauce

– adapted

8 tablespoons Frank’s Original Red Hot Sauce (try to use Frank’s Original – I have tried with the wing sauce version and it is not the same)
8 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
1 1/2 tablespoon white vinegar (I used seasoned Rice Vinegar for a little flavor)
1/4 teaspoon cayenne (optional)
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder (or less if you do not like as “garlicky”)
3-4 splashes of worcestershire sauce

Combine all ingredients in a saucepan and simmer on a very light bubble for 15-20 minutes. Add more “cayenne heat” if you need to adjust the taste.

Remove from heat and let cool a bit.

You can use the sauce now, but I discovered that refrigerating it overnight made the flavors and ingredients blend into a much better “sauce”. Give it a stir. If you prefer or need to reheat it, you can use the microwave for short bursts at a time or use the stovetop just to warm it. If you are adding hot wings to the sauce then you really do not need to reheat it because the heat from the wings will soften the refrigerated sauce.

Blue Cheese Dip

I like the Pioneer Woman’s version of Blue Cheese Dressing so I used that and just tweaked it a bit.

http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/ree-drummond/fast-blue-cheese-dressing-recipe.html

1/2 cup mayo
3/4 cup sour cream
3-4 dashes of Worcestershire sauce
1 cup Blue Cheese Crumbles
1/8 tsp garlic powder
salt and pepper to taste

Combine all ingredients and refrigerate.

What a Perfect Pair!

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Yes this dog just might be your next best friend, the kind that you love to bring to parties and show off .

Sometimes, a simple hot dog is best. But when you want to add a little somethin’ somethin’ to it, you can’t go wrong with meat sauce, and a hearty one at that. It’s easy to throw together and very forgiving if you need to substitute an ingredient or two.

Hot Dog Meat Sauce

Hot Dog Meat Sauce

• Difficulty: easy
• Print

1 lb ground beef (chicken, turkey, or even tofu I suppose)
1/4 cup pasta sauce
1/4 cup BBQ sauce
2 tablespoons ketchup
2 tablespoons hot sauce of your liking (or omit)
1 tablespoon mustard
1 tablespoon vinegar, any kind – I used seasoned rice vinegar
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
3 dashes of Worcestershire sauce
3 dashes of soy sauce
salt & pepper to taste

– Brown and drain the ground beef.
– Combine all of the ingredients and mix in the ground beef.

Serve with fresh diced onions, fried onions and banana peppers…yum!

That’s it – you’re done! This can be made ahead of time and refrigerated if need be (just warm it before serving).

Hand-Dipped Ombre Cherries from Shari’s Berries

http://products.berries.com/chocolate/20-HandDipped-Ombre-Cherries-30166173?sk=sharies+berries&ref=SSSorganicmsfbrand&prid=sbseomb&trackingpgroup=productsearch&viewpos=1

$29.99 for 20 Hand-Dipped Ombre Cherries (white chocolate)

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This idea all by itself is a fabulously fun way to send a little love for Valentine’s Day…or a baby shower, birthday party or “Just Because”.

But…because I have the “gift of gab” there is more to this post – a back story.

Last year when I started blogging one of my first recipes was for Nutella Chocolate Dipped Strawberries. I created this super easy treat because I like the idea of a chocolate-covered strawberry but trying to eat them is not pretty. The chocolate is hard and falls off when you bite into the strawberry. Then you have to coordinate putting a piece of the fallen chocolate with a bite of strawberry into your mouth.

I was planning to share that recipe, if you can call it that, for Valentine’s Day because there is the color red, there is chocolate and because it is a way to sneak in that tasty treat.

I also became obsessed with making chocolate-covered cherries over the winter holiday season and was going to add that recipe to my Valentine’s Day suggestions for gifts. But I was planning to tweak it a bit from the traditional treat. (Just to clarify, a chocolate-covered cherry works because the cherry is small enough to pop the whole treat into your mouth so that the hard chocolate doesn’t have a chance to fall anywhere other than where it is supposed to, your eagerly awaiting mouth.)

(it can be very gray here in Wisconsin – I will make a better picture someday, I promise!)

Then, today, a mailer came from Shari’s Berries and the above Ombre Cherries were featured. How fun (or Chow Fun as I like to say when I am being weird)!

The ombre cherries are made with white chocolate and it is tinted slightly a few times to make the “ombre” effect.

I had not thought of making ombre-colored cherries but I was considering trying white chocolate. I still think that good ole chocolate-chocolate would be my first preference but variety is the spice of life so I was up for the switch.

Until I get to whip up some of my own cherries and try this all out for myself to share with you, here are the recipes for my “Chocolate-Covered Strawberries” and the recipe for “Chocolate-Covered Cherries” that I found at Taste of Home and liked the best – I tried a few. (Click on the words above for the recipes).

Rum Chata

 

(Must be 21 years of age to view website – it contains alcohol!)

http://rumchata.com

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This is a Wisconsin “thing” and I received it for my birthday…delish!

It’s a dairy, rum, spice-vanilla-y, “hard to put your finger on the flavors” kind of drink…fun stuff and lots of recipes to try too!

A Twist on Tradition from Pro Plants

http://products.proplants.com/-30171945?REF=PPPFRE15JAN21PPNOBXHB2ACTPPFSA&trackingpgroup=PFCRET&CustId=21494106&PRID=FGVPP12CPP&sd=TRUE&VER=ACTP&cvosrc=..

$23.99 discounted price for New Ombre Bulb Trio from ProPlants

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Valentine’s Day is coming!

The gift ideas are crossing my path now so I am happy to pass on any fabulous ideas that I see and I love the tradition of chocolate, flowers and dinner for this holiday. However, I am on board with spreadin’ the love to anyone that you enjoy celebrating it with (it’s not just for “lovers” ya know), and sometimes the best person to love is yourself.

I really liked the modern take on the tradition of giving flowers in these beautiful ombre styled hyacinths – fabulously fun and a nice change from roses.

Surprise someone (or yourself, but you probably won’t be surprised) with this arrangement and spread the love!

Snowflake Cookie from Yankee Candle

http://www.yankeecandle.com/product/snowflake-cookie/_/R-1275342

$13.99 for “Snowflake Cookie” large tumbler

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Last year I gave this candle to my mother but I coveted it.

Badly.

I almost did not give it to her because I wanted to keep it, but I did the right thing and gave it as intended.

But I never stopped thinking about it so this year I picked one up for myself when Yankee Candle had one of their holiday deals going on.

As I start to de-decorate from the holidays and replace my décor with winter themes, I brought out this candle today and I love it.

It smells like a cookie but it is light and cozy, not heavily perfumed and overpowering.

I knew that I needed to share this with you because it could make a wonderful “winter” gift if you are in need of finding just the right thing now.

And to make it an even better gift, it is on sale!

My guess is that it will not be around long so do not hesitate – you may even want to pick up a few and tuck them away as fabulous “token” gifts for next year’s holiday season!

Winter Gifts on Sale from Bath and Body

If you are in need of some winter “token” gifts, here are some fun winter scents on sale!

 

$12.50 for the set of 5, Alpine Fresh Foaming Soap Bundle

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$5.00 for set of 5, Holiday Favorites Pocketbac Sanitizers

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Here is the link for these items and many more…

http://www.bathandbodyworks.com/search/index.jsp?kwCatId=&kw=winter&origkw=winter&sr=1

Braided Trivets in a Basket from The Braided Rug Place

Here’s a fun gift idea…a basket of braided trivets!

They have a nice selection for all season, décor and holidays – check out their website below to see more and pricing!

Here are a few ideas…

Winter Trivets

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All Season

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Spring

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Pinecones

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http://store.thebraidedrugplace.net/catalog/search?keyword=trivets

$46.00 each, for a set of braided rug trivets

Soup and Soup Mugs Make a Perfect Pair!

Is there a better season to give the gift of soup? (to yourself, perhaps…)

You can find all sorts of fun soup mugs, so have fun looking around for the perfect gift. I love the big oversized mugs that at one point were called the “Friend’s” mug when they were made famous from that show and their coffee shop moments. (Yes, I loved that show.)

Every once in while I like to switch it up a bit and use a large shallow bowl. It makes me feel sophisticated.

And whether you give one or a whole set, it will warm someone’s heart….(get it?)!

Any way you serve it, a soup gift for this time of year is fun. Add a soup starter kit, your own homemade soup or grab some from a local sandwich shop or grocery store.

And don’t forget the dipping bread!

(All below are from Kohl’s)

http://www.kohls.com/product/prd-1877187/certified-international-top-hat-snowman-4-pc-soup-bowl-set.jsp?pfm=rrrecs-pdp-gtab1

$61.99 for Certified International Top Hat Snowman 4-pc. Soup Bowl Set

or, if you want a deeper bowl…

http://www.kohls.com/product/prd-1877068/certified-international-top-hat-snowman-4-pc-ice-cream-bowl-set.jsp?pfm=rrrecs-pdp-gtab1

$53.99 for Certified International Top Hat Snowman 4-pc. Ice Cream Bowl Set

(Since it is technically called an Ice Cream Bowl, no sense fighting it – clean out your soup bowl and make a big ‘ole ice cream sundae!)

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or how about soup-to-go?

http://www.kohls.com/product/prd-1609913/corningware-french-white-20-oz-mug-with-vented-cover.jsp

$9.99 for CorningWare French White 20-oz. Mug with Vented Cover – available in 4 colors

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Fit & Fresh Lunch Totes

While shopping at TJ Maxx, I saw a rack of fabulous looking lunch totes. Most came with plastic containers and thin-sized ice paks and I thought that they would make great gifts, especially since we’re all done with eating out and back to bringing our skinny lunches around with us…(aren’t we?).

I found the brand name at Amazon and other sources, as well as at Fit & Fresh’s site. Search the internet to see what you can find in addition to these below.

From Amazon:

$13.22 for Fit & Fresh Ladies Retro Insulated Lunch Bag with Reusable Ice Pack, Magnetic Snap, Black & White Damask (other solids ad prints available)

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$24.60 for Fit and Fresh Men’s Sporty Lunch Bag Kit with Lunch on The Go Reusable Container Set, Black

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$13.67 for Fit and Fresh Men’s Classic Roll Top Insulated Lunch Bag with Ice Pack, Light Brown

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$25.21 for Fit and Fresh Men’s Big Phil Lunch Bag Kit with Lunch on The Go Reusable Container Set, Brown

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From Fit & Fresh:

All can be found here:

http://shop.fit-fresh.com/b/6598052011?searchSize=16

various pricing from $10.00 – $19.99 for those styles shown above, other styles and prices available

 

Polka Dot Clutches from Kohls

These sassy little clutches would make a fabulous gift for the holidays. And at $11.99 each, you could pick one up for yourself.

Unless you are a guy.

But if you are a guy and you really want one, then you could get one too.

Who wouldn’t want these polka dots! (They have other styles too but I am partial to dots…and stripes).

http://www.kohls.com/product/prd-1870578/apt-9-rhonda-ruched-wallet.jsp?pfm=rrrecs-pdp-gtab1

$11.99 for Apt 9 Rhonda Ruched Wallet

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http://www.kohls.com/product/prd-1870371/apt-9-bobby-bow-clutch-wallet.jsp?pfm=rrrecs-pdp-gtab1

$11.99 for Bobby Bow Clutch Wallet

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http://www.kohls.com/product/prd-1870350/apt-9-brit-bow-clutch-wallet.jsp?pfm=rrrecs-pdp-gtab1

$11.99 for Brit Bow Clutch Wallet

Beauty Balms from Avon

These could make a great stocking stuffer!

https://www.avon.com/product/52482/mark-fix-me-up-multi-benefit-scented-balm-trio

$18.00 for FIX ME UP – Scented Balm Trio to cure all of your beauty ills!

Flower Ear Muffs from Old Durham Road

http://www.olddurhamroad.com/product/4931/Scarves_Wraps

$19.95 for Flower Ear Muffs

These are super fun and unique – know someone on your gift list who needs to keep their ears toasty? Treat them to these stylish ear muffs!

Mitten Tree from Plow & Hearth

I picked up one of these trees somewhere last year and I love it. No more mittens, hats, coats and snow pants scattered all over the floor, hopefully in a sunbeam, to dry. I fit every last piece of snowy wet gear (and wet summer sprinkler gear too) on it and it takes up little space and our stuff gets dry on all sides, not just the side facing up from the floor.

This version looked fun, especially for gift-giving because it has interchangeable finials available for an extra $9.95.

http://www.plowhearth.com/mitten-tree-with-heart-finial.htm

$39.95 for Mitten Tree

$9.95 for Seasonal Finials

Wrap it Thoughtfully with minted.com

With personalized wrapping paper from “minted.com” you are not only giving a thoughtful gift but wrapping it thoughtfully too!

My fave is the Sugar & Spice Recipe wrapping paper – surprise someone with their own recipe on wrapping paper…

http://www.minted.com/product/wrapping-paper/MIN-KN6-CWR/sugar-spice?ccId=141457&org=photo

$15.00 for 5 sheets (more are available)

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You can also get papers to add photos or names etc.  and there are many options for the holidays or even just winter – see here for all of the options (birthdays and other holidays too…)

http://www.minted.com/wrapping-paper?it_category=n_holiday&it_id=c5i1gw&us=new+visitor

 

Bouquets Garnis from Quelobjet

The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel shared this gift idea in their Food section and I thought it was a unique fun gift. A package of 8 Bouquets Garnis – savory herbs rolled up in bay leaves and wrapped – perfect for stews, soups and more. What a great stocking stuffer, host/hostess gift or token gift for foodies on your gift list!

Plus, I get to practice my French when I say it…

Merci beaucoup pour ecouter…(excuse my French – and my grammar…and my spelling – it’s been a while)!

http://www.quelobjet.com/bouquets-garnis-p-251.html

$15.00 for pkg of 8 Bouquets Garnis from Quelobjet

Bake for Two with Cookbook from Old-Mill

When you want to bake for one or two, this cookbook could be the answer. Sometimes the “math” to reduce a recipe is easy, but sometimes you don’t feel like doing the math or a recipe is hard to reduce. Give this a try!

It even comes with a skillet!

http://www.old-mill.com/shop/small-batch-baking-book-skillet-baker-52984

$34.99 for Small-Batch Baking Cookbook & Cornbread Skillet Baker from Old-Mill

Handblown Glass Pens from The Paragon

These look so unique and fun!

I cannot decide if they would be comfortable to write with or not, but at that price I could fake it for looking goooood!

http://www.theparagon.com/product/blue-red-handblown-glass-pen/web-outlet

$6.99 for Handblown Glass Refillable Ink Pens (2 styles to choose from)

Sweet Treats and Gifts for Gals

This may be a bit frivolous but I do have to say that the water dripping down my arm into my sleeve does get annoying. Would I actually use these? I am not sure but it seems like a good idea though.

http://www.femailcreations.com/Drip-Knot-Set-2130309

$25.00 for Drip Not! set – absorbent bands to catch water that drips down arms when washing face and a towel to keep your hair out of the way

From Femail Creations

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Check out these goodies from Miles Kimball’s Candy Shoppe

http://search.mileskimball.com/search?p=Q&ts=custom&w=tea+spoons

$14.99 each, gift box includes 8 spoons, flavors available: clover, lavender or honey & lemon

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I love brittles and even more so when I see a flavor other than peanut!

http://www.mileskimball.com/buy-gingerbread-pecan-brittle-6-oz-349992?icmp=search

$6.99 for 6 oz. Gingerbread Brittle

Maybe for the mail deliverer, garbage collectors or pet sitter?

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http://www.mileskimball.com/buy-old-fashioned-penny-candy-1-lb-314732?icmp=search

$26.99 for 1 lb. collection of Penny Candy

Ahhh…good old nostalgia! 1 cent and 5 cents is what I remember.

Birdseed Gifts for the Holidays from Gardener’s Supply Company

I love the idea of birdseed gifts for the holidays. They make great token gifts, as well as great gifts for people who have everything, those that you do not know very well and well, really…anyone!

It’s a perfect time of year to feed the birds!

Grab these and give as sets or break up the sets and give as token gifts or attach to your gift tags.

http://www.gardeners.com/buy/bird-seed-candy-canes/8587465.html?start=20&q=bird%20seed

$24.95 for 6 Birdseed Candy Canes

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http://www.gardeners.com/buy/birdseed-ornaments-set-of-3/39-811.html?start=7&q=bird%20seed

$19.95 for set of 3 Birdseed Ornaments

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http://www.gardeners.com/buy/birdseed-pears/8587712.html?start=3&q=bird%20seed

$24.95 for set of 6 Birdseed Songbird Tweets Pears

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http://www.gardeners.com/buy/owl-birdseed-ornaments-set-of-3/8589157.html?start=10&q=bird%20seed

$19.95 for set of 3, Birdseed Owls

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http://www.gardeners.com/buy/donut-shaped-birdseed-ornaments/8589532.html?start=21&q=bird%20seed

$24.95 for set of 6 Birdseed Donuts

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http://www.gardeners.com/buy/birdseed-strawberries/8586405.html?start=30&q=bird%20seed

$12.99 for set of 10 Birdseed Strawberries, sale price

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For their complete selection, please click here: http://www.gardeners.com/search?q=bird%20seed