What to Buy That Foodie In Your Life {Gift Guide}

Posted on December 7, 2020

If it’s Time to shop for that Foodie on your holiday shopping list, this is the gift guide for you!

Do you have someone on your holiday shopping list who is a connoisseiur of cuisine and who appreciates food of all cultures, the shapes, the textures, the flavor, the plating?

Then, it’s likely that you might have to shop for a foodie.

Foodies enjoy food as an art not just for eating and foodies are usually adventurous when it comes to trying out different dishes, eateries, and restaurants.

This passion also extends to drinks as well.

Shopping for a foodie requires you to be adventurous and seek out the best in kitchenware.

Here is my list of top gifts for Foodies.

WOOD AND MARBLE BEVELED CHEESE BOARD, SMALL, RECTANGLE

$39

Everyone is into charcuterie boards this year. They are usually wooden or porecelin and used to display range of different cured meats, these platters go beyond salami and prosciutto, typically featuring various cheeses, crackers, spreads and produce.

Shop Mark & Graham

SMART GARDEN Self Watering Indoor Garden

$99.95

Foodies prefer the freshest of ingredients and can usually tell the difference between taragon, oregano, chive, basil, thyme and other delicate fresh seasoning. It would be a delight to a foodie to get to grow his or her own fresh ingredients even if s/he doesn’t have a large yard.

Shop Nordstrom

My Family Cookbook

$30

You know those family recipes tacked on the fridge, in a tin canister on a kitchen ledge, in Aunt Josie’s head? Pen them all down in this one spot, a family cook book that you and the family customize.

Also, foodies are always looking for new dishes to create. Here’s a way for them to organize all the different recipes they discover or wrangle from folks and chefs.

Shop Uncommon Goods

Wine Trio

$67

Bring the elegance of Bordeaux to a friend or family member’s doorstop with this special trio. The experts at Wine Insiders have selected three beautiful red blends from one of the world’s premier wine regions, representing the exquisite terroir and craftsmanship that Bordeaux is known for.

Savory and food-friendly, these remarkable reds are perfect for pairing with roasts, lasagna, charcuterie, and delicious holiday dishes. Featuring two award-winning bottles, this impressive collection is sure to impress fans of French reds and makes a thoughtful gift.

Shop Wine Insiders

Molcajete

$50

Everything Avocado is hot now, and what better way to mash up fresh guacamole or any spice, paste or rub for a dish than with a molcajete?

Among the world’s oldest culinary tools, volcanic rock mortars and pestles like these have been used by great cooks for thousands of years. Williams-Sonoma makes a molcajete (mortar) and tejolete (pestle) that are hand carved from a single piece of basalt rock, so every piece is unique.

In addition to being a great prep tool, the molcajete makes an impressive serving dish for guacamole and other party favorites.

Perfect for crushing whole spices and making spice blends.
Ideal for blending and serving guacamole – or for making pesto and other rustic sauces.

Shop Williams Sonoma

Insta Vortex Air Fryer

$30

Just because your foodie enjoys carefully prepared meals that take time to whip up does not mean he or she isn’t down with fast-cooked foods.

Your foodie will enjoy the taste and crunch of his or her favorite deep-fried foods by cooking with super-heated air instead of hot cooking oil in the Instant Vortex 6-qt. air fryer. Air fried food is cleaner, healthier, and less expensive than cooking in oil, making this appliance a must-have in every modern kitchen.

Shop Kohl’s

BON APPETITE AND HAPPY FOODIE SHOPPING!

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What to Wear To Thanksgiving Dinner This Year

Posted on November 16, 2020

Photo by Karolina Grabowska from Pexels

Next week is Thanksgiving in the US and this year, health experts and government officials are recommending that everyone forego the large family gatherings with out-of-town guests and instead have a small private meal at home with just the immediate family.

Those of us planning on adhering to this suggestion will spare ourselves the hassle of getting dressed up to join others or invite others into our home. While going total casual and having Thanksgiving dinner in our PJs would be fun, there is a less lazy route: dress in a shirt dress in flannel material!

It’s soft, and the Buffalo check is homey. Slip on a pair of cozy ballet slippers and you’re good to go and don’t have to worry about what to wear for Thanksgiving this year.

The Universal Appeal of T-Shirt Dress

The shirt dress with a collar universally flatters all shapes, body types and silhouettes, even expecting mamas-to-be. In fact, the easy-to-wear versatile silhouette is appealing in case you plan to take photos for the gram.

You can actually put some effort into the endeavor by wearing a tee shirt or turtleneck or camis underneath it.

Land's end model in belted bufallo check shirt dress

Land’s End makes a long-sleeved flannel knee-lentgh belted dress. The material is soft and made of quality material that are well stitched and runs for just $49.97 In addition to the Buffalo check pattern, it comes in other patterns as well. The belt is also removable.

If I were splurging, I’d invest in Salvator Ferragamo Joy Ballet Flats, to wear to Thanksgiving dinner this year, but sensibly, Vera Wang‘s affordable Simply Vera‘s Berner Women’s Flex Round-Toe Ballet which is a modest $17.99 is a better fiscally more responsible route.

OTHER PLAID SHIRT DRESSES

OTHER BALLET FLATS

Upgrade the Basic Look

To upgrade this super casual look a bit, tie your hair in a bun, drape a scarf around your neck and swap out the ballet flats for pumps or booties.

I like the H&M woven scarf which runs just $12.97 and I think is on sale this fall for like $10!

I like to mix up original items. I’d swap out the original belt with belt more edge like the handmade leather wrap belt by Ada.

Wearing pumps is cool if you’re a heel type of woman. They are conservative yet still always on trend and you can get them in a low heel too. I prefer booties. My fave booties are peep toe ones though they require you to have your tails polished and well pedicured.

I like Michael Kors Blaze Peep-Toe Leather Booties!

Ditch the Plaid and Upscale It With a Wrap Dress

If you’re from one of those families that do not “do casual” for major holidays and you treat Thanksgiving meal like a formal occassion, you can still be comfortable and shi shi at the same time by opting for an elegant wrap dress instead of a t-shirt dresss.

A knee length of longer version of the dress would also make it more dressy. Wear your nice pearls and switch out the pumps for elegant heels or a nice pair of calf or knee-height boots. .

I like Dress Barn‘s striped cotton faux wrap dress which is currently on sale for $44, down from $75.

A String of Pearls or A Necklace Upgrades The Look

I am obsessed with the Wolfe Back Pearl by jeweler Serefina is exquisite way to show off a toned back. Dotted with baroque pearls, this necklace is perfect to drape for a showstopping back detail. It’s only $69 which is a steal in my book.

A pristine pair of heels complete the look.

The candle in this collage is Jo Malone LondonEnglish Pear & Freesia Candle.

Black Friday Shopping outfit

Finally, the next day, my plan is to throw on an oversized comfy sweater over a pair of jeggings and head Black Friday shopping.

GET THE LOOK!

Dark Green Hooded Drop Shoulder Sweatshirt

Faux leather Spanx jeggings

Balenciaga iphone cover

Herschel Mini Backpack

Apple Watch

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Reviews

Santa HQ at Tyson’s Corner Center Mall In Va Is A Must Visit This Season

Posted on November 12, 2017

This weekend, I headed down to the Tyson’s Corner Center Mall to attend the launch kick off event of its Santa HQ, an interactive, and engaging exhibit featuring virtual reality, social media and other engaging experiences, essentially an enhanced Santa’s workshop for the digital era..

It was a fun family mid-afternoon spent decorating Nestle‘s Tollhouse cookies, listening to a local school band perform, getting complimentary face painting and touring Santa’s Observatory near the Nordstrom entrance in the mall.

The tour kicks off with kids (and adults if they like) being “scanned” as they arrive to determine if they’ve been “naughty or nice.” Your name appears on the Nice list if you’re lucky enough to make it!

Complimentary selfie sticks are available to borrow while walking through the observatory to take photos. Guests can use special tablets to view Santa’s magical world – the night sky or Santa’s elves at work. They appear like holograms before your eyes!

But right before entering the observatory, your kids can stop off and take an “ELFIE” (a photo opp as a dancing elf).

Download the Elfie or Elf-Ray Visions app from the Apple or Google Play store onto your phone, tablet or other mobile device and the walk thru becomes an even more magical experience as trigger stations throughout the exhibit ignite animations that come to life through the device and before your eyes. It’s quite magical!

At the end, families can take a photo in front of a screen of gifts and kids get to sit on Santa’s lap and tell him what they want for Christmas. Prices start at $39.99 for the photo.

I have been to a lot of holiday exhibits in the area and over the years and I must say this is one of the best Santa experiences in the #DMV (DC, MD, VA area)

Kids get a coloring book as a parting gift and parents can drop off a toy for a toy drive for needy area families while there. That equals fun and altruism all in one fun afternoon. Can’t beat that!

I read in a recent report that suburban malls are on the downturn because millennials in the GenY generation prefer living in the city and shopping online, but that prognosis does not apply to this mall!

It has so many amazing and different stores and is electrifying and bustling in there with lots of options and two food courts! Go #ShopTysons.

As a takeaway and gift for coming down to explore this year’s exhibit, the nice people at Tyson’s gifted me a wonderful gift bag filled with goodies from Origins, a sample of beauty products from Inglot which also provided complimentary make up touch ups for moms before the Santa photo, a couple of free admissions tickets to Tysons Ice Rink at the Plaza, and the latest copy of HGTV magazine, which is a sponsor of the Observatory experience.

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