Pour Yourself A Cup of Ambiton & Inspiration!

In this polarizing time is there any greater unifier than Dolly Parton? She exudes warmth, love, and tolerance.

Dolly stands the test of time in every facet of her life.  Her music, lyrics, movies, theme park, books, podcasts.  Her compelling life is full of highs and lows we can all relate to.  Her latest book "Dolly Parton, Songteller: The Lyrics of My Life" just dropped, and I am asking Santa for a copy (available at Barnes & Noble $50.00 hardcover)!  

It's hard to name a favorite song by Dolly, but admit it, haven't we all tried to belt out Whitney Houston's version of "I Will Always Love You?"  Probably the most authentic love song ever written, it's truly an anthem.  Of course, when I sing along in my off key warble it's cringeworthy!  I cracked up when I saw this coffee mug...a must have for any Dolly fan. (Amazon $14.99) 

Spice up your Dolly Fandom with these darling embroidered cashmere sweaters from Lingua Franca NYC ($380).

In case you haven't heard, embroidery is "hot" this year.  

Want the embroidery without the couture prices? 

Check out @apparelbyanne (on instagram) in Dallas.  She can tailor a shirt/sweatshirt/sweater to a name or saying to suit you for a budget-worthy price. These are perfect gifts for that college coed with a great inside joke, or your tween who has a favorite song lyric, or the hipster mom who is cutting edge! 

 Place your book and sweater in this cute canvas bag as your gift wrap.  From Draper James, a cute tote we could all use. (Draper James $30)

Top off your Dolly tribute gift with an enameled pin (Etsy $6.92). Among my favorite Dolly lyrics is "Tumble outta bed and I stumble to the kitchen, Pour myself a cup of ambition"  

Now, if that's not an anthem for 2020 I don't what is!

Keep Calm and Put the Kettle On

The Brits are known for their love of and skill at making a good cuppa tea.  The secret?

 Aside from piping hot water and good tea leaves, is to be sure you have the right teapot to steep it in.  The Brown Betty is the legendary and favored teapot throughout England.

I purchased one myself several years ago, and am a complete convert.  At first, I thought who would buy this dark brown teapot when there so many cute china patterned ones?  

The teapot dates back to 1695 in Stoke-On-Trent in Staffordshire where the local craftsman developed the Brown Betty teapot from the indigenous red clay.  This pottery allows for the perfect heating and steeping of the tea.  In addition, the special shape of the pot prevents drips when you pour.  

The Brown Betty can be purchased in England, or to save yourself the cost of international shipping, is available through a U.S. importer called the English Tea Store.  The Brown Betty comes in 2, 4, 6, and 8 cup sizes ranging in price from $25.99 to $36.99 (U.S. Dollars).  I prefer the 8-cup which is what you would imagine a standard size for a teapot.  They carry the cobalt blue version, but traditionalists prefer the brown glaze.

Be careful of knockoffs--a true brown betty will have a certificate or tag from Staffordshire telling you which ceramicist hand crafted the pot.  The English Tea Store features Cauldon Ceramics which is one of the heritage ceramicists in Staffordshire.  Cauldon Ceramics sells directly and offers many Brown Betty varieties, but, again, the international shipping is more expensive.

Spice It Up:  Make your gift truly special with a British themed tea cosy from Jan Constantine ranging from $27.00-$120.00 (British pounds).  The tea cosy is placed over the teapot after you pour your hot water in with your tea.  This allows the teapot to stay warm, and keep the liquid at the perfect temperature to enjoy while visiting with your friends.

The Union Jack is one the most recognizable British emblems, and is especially fitting for a british teapot and tea cosy.  Jan Constantine is a British designer who specializes in handstitched  pillows, throws, etc.  Her haberdashery designs are so popular she has translated them to china, and other featured accessories.

Add a few tea cups to go with your cute tea cosy!  

While you can order directly from Jan Constantine's website, it may be expensive to ship internationally.  Many of her products can be found on Amazon or through U.S. retailers like The Bees Knees with Tea Cosies for $135.00 (U.S. Dollars). 

Gift Pepper is back in action!

Gift Pepper is back in action after a brief hiatus!  Due to a family member's illness, I took a break from blogging.  The good news is my father is doing better, and I am bursting with great new gift ideas to share on Gift Pepper!

As a teaser for the good things to come, I'll start you off with a tip for some quick unique gifts.  Nordstrom has started a Pop In Shop within the store called "Wit & Wonder."  It is usually in the center of the store by the escalator where they have sourced hip gifts from Etsy and other websites.


These are not your run-of-the-mill mass produced department store gifts--they are clever, hip and ready to go (especially when I don't have time to scour the web and have an item shipped).  From whimsical pillowcases for Anniversary or Wedding, to copper tankards (Moscow Mule drinks) for Father's Day, to dorm room placards for Graduation Gifts and more.


I found this terrific pillow for my sister-in-law for Mother's Day.  I love the muted turquoise color with the cat and the perfect saying, "Cray Cray."  It is an inside joke name we use in our family, and we all got a laugh about the pillow.  My sister-in-law said my niece confiscated the pillow to her room as soon as they got home--a sign of a truly great gift when your kid steals it from you!

Gift Pepper Preview...

Some Nordstrom stores feature their Pop In Store Surf City shops by the escalators too.  Pop In Stores will change seasonally. Expect new gift ideas later this week at Gift Pepper from Nordstroms' cool beachy boutique.

Along with my traditional gift posts, I will be adding a new feature for memorable gift experiences for kids. Think Camp Counselor meets Auntie Mame meets Neiman Marcus Fortnight--great ideas for kids during summer vacation when "I'm bored" becomes a constant refrain.

Amazing Adventures!

Some of the best gifts are not trinkets, but rather memorable experiences.  A scavenger hunt, ala the Amazing Race, is guaranteed to get those couch potatoes off the sofa and diving into a local adventure!

Whether for a birthday, date night, anniversary, proposal, corporate team building, or holiday outing for the family, a scavenger hunt is a neat way to engage the entire family or a group of friends in a day to remember.  Most hunts include the use of your smartphone, so the teens/tweens won't feel deprived of technology for the day!

My friend, Misty W., discovered this great idea while dreaming up a plan for a special birthday for a dear friend.  There are several great scavenger hunt services that you can tap into online which are tailored for your particular interests.  Watson Adventures is one that specializes in hunts at local museums, while My Mystery Party focuses upon faux murder mysteries.  For adults, there is the ever popular Urban Beer Hunt. 

Watson Adventures is highly recommended and has been featured by the ABC News, Daily Candy and the New York Times.  Upcoming public hunts include The Met in NYC, Franklin Institute in Philadelphia, the American History Museum in D.C., and the DeYoung Museum in San Francisco.

Up the ante by utilizing Segways on your hunt.  In most cities, you can rent Segways for city tours to tie into your adventure.

Or, plan team costumes like these Gnome and Where's Waldo teams at the Urban Beer Hunt.

Spice It Up:  Prepare the contestants for their adventure with a drawstring bag to carry.  Pack it with bottled water, a snack and any extras they might need to gather clues.

Make sure the teams use their smartphones to take pictures as they reach each checkpoint and to record any antics along the way.  After the race, use the photos to make a photo collage commemorating the adventure. 

Where to Buy:
Scavenger Hunts - Hunts vary by price depending on the size of your team, where it located, and whether it is custom designed for your group.  Most hunts allow for as few as 2 people to as many as 50. 

  Basic Hunts - These are downloaded on your phone and are preplanned for general use.  Tours For Fun - $44.00 for a group, Scavenger Planet $20.00 for a group

  More Elaborate Hunts - Watson Adventures, My Mystery Party, Urban Beer Hunt prices range for each of these hunts depending on whether you have a custom hunt or public hunt.  ON average it is $35.00-$40.00 per person but may require a minimum number of people.

Segway Tours - In Dallas, try Dallas Segway Tours $60.00-$85.00 per person.  In other cities, search online or check Trip Advisor for recommendations.  It is worth your while to call and negotiate a possible group rate or discount for non-peak days.

Drawstring Bags - Found at most sporting goods stores.  Academy from $9.99-$32.99  Custom type or monogram bags at Etsy (Etsy sites allow for small orders 1-10 which is preferable to promo sites which require minimum of 150+ bags). $10.00-$15.00 per bag

Photo Collages - Easily created on photo sites like Shutterfly.  Or try Pic Monkey to create your own printable collage.  $5.00-$15.00

Pillow Collage - See my post dated September 4th for a quality collage pillow from Stitchagram.

Family Tradition

Thanksgiving is a time for gathering with family.  Each year, my mother prepares our Thanksgiving meal from cherished family recipes.  Though I’d love to relieve her of the duty, she is an amazing cook and there would be a mutiny if she didn’t make our beloved dishes!

Whoever hosts the turkey dinner in your family, here is a meaningful gift to bring to your host or cook as a thank you for their arduous work preparing the house and the meal for the family gathering:  a recipe carving board from 3D Carving. 

Grab your great-grandmother’s turkey dressing recipe, or Great Aunt Millie's special green bean casserole recipe and make the tradition permanent on the etched carving board.

I love this idea, because it warms the heart to see a loved ones’ handwriting--you can almost picture them there with you.  The carving board commemorates a time honored recipe to pass down through the family.

This gift works well for holidays, newlyweds, grandparents, parents, in-laws, friends, BBQ kings, etc. Alternate ideas are to scan children's artwork, or a love note, etc.

Spice It Up:  Whether you are a turkey or a ham fan, Ham I Am has the best you have ever tasted.  I have been buying from them directly for going on 20 years, and they have the highest quality meats.  My favorites are the Lemon Pepper Turkey and  the Pepper Ham—to die for! 

Neiman Marcus is one of Ham I Am’s loyal clients.  Ham I Am products are featured each year in their holiday food catalogs.  This high end retailer is known for exceptional quality, so you know if Ham I Am meets their discerning taste it is a remarkable product.

Even if you don’t plan to eat it right away, it is a wonderful gift to have in the house around the holidays as you can eke out several dinners and sandwiches from the ham.  In addition, Ham I Am makes a terrific corporate gift for clients.  Easy to ship, and everyone loves a generous tasty food gift. 

Where to buy:  Order the carving board now so that you can receive it in time for the holidays.  You will need to scan in your document.  If you do not have a scanner, any FedexKinkos/Office Depot/Staples can scan it for you.  3D Carving on Etsy features several styles which vary by size (8.5x11 to 9.5x13) and price $30.00-$78.00.

Ham I Am website features several options of Turkey, Ham, Bacon and their famous Hogwash.  Prices range from $39.95 - $54.95 depending on product/size/sliced or whole.

 

 

 

M&Ms...Mmm Mmm Good!

You’ve probably seen the ads for personalized M&Ms, and I’m here to tell you they are even cuter in real life! 

M&Ms make a great Hostess gift, Thank you gift, Birthday, Bar Mitzvah, Co-Worker, Grandparents, Teens, Kids, Anniversary, Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, Diwali, Hanukkah, Christmas, Valentine’s,  party favor, etc. 

With Thanksgiving approaching, think of the festive color combinations you can order to make for a Hostess gift for your Mother-In-Law, Sister, or Friend who will be toiling over the turkey dinner!  For Thanksgiving, try Orange/Brown/Red or Orange/Yellow/Red with clip art of a Turkey, a maple leaf, and “Happy Thanksgiving” or “Gobble Gobble.”

As for me, I gave this gift for Father’s Day, and as a Thank You/Hostess Gift.  For Father’s Day, I picked Blue/Green/White M&Ms.  Then, uploaded a photo of my niece, a photo of my father’s dog, and the words “Happy Father’s Day.”

For a Thank you gift, my friend loves all things French, so I picked the colors of the French Flag (Red/White/Blue).  Then, uploaded a Fleur-De-Lis logo, an Eiffel Tower Clip Art, and the word “Merci.”
If you are stumped for creative ideas, the M&M website provides a great “idea gallery” to help you come up with gifts for your particular occasion. 

Spice It Up:  You can search for a container on your own, or (on the M&M Website) select one of their candy dispensers to add to your order.  The dispenser is well designed because it is relatively small (though it holds a large bag of plain M&Ms) to sit nicely on a desk, and won't clutter up your space while keeping the candy fresh.

Dispenser Size Comparison

Where to Buy:  Go to the website at My M&Ms.  Prices vary depending on the items you select.  Personalized candy only runs $6.99 for 7 oz. to $159.99 for 10 lbs.   The combo of a candy dispenser with 1 lb bag of personalized candy varies from $49.99-$69.99 depending on your selection. 

Tip 1:  I recommend picking a 3 color combo you like as it makes the gift more distinctive than mixing more colors in together.  If you choose to go with the dispenser, pick “white” as one of the M&M colors at it will look nice with the dispenser and will make the other colors pop.

Tip 2:  M&M is strict when it comes to trademarked logos, so you cannot upload your own logo from your favorite sports team if it is trademarked.  They have available on their site most major league teams to pick from, but they charge you more to use them snice they are trademarked.  M&Ms has some college teams, but not all.  I was able to upload a longhorn logo that was not an official UT Austin Longhorn pic, but I had to work at finding a clip art that was not an official trademark.

Tip 3:  You are allowed to choose 2 photos /logo/clip art + 1 word combo, or 1 photo/logo/clip art + 2 word combos at the standard rate.  When uploading photos you have to pick a headshot or it won’t come out clear enough.  M&Ms is very good about emailing you quickly to tell you if your pic or word selection will not fit on the M&M--be prepared to have a few alternates handy.

Tip 4:  The candy arrives in bags packed alongside the dispenser.  I recommend shipping to yourself so you can place the candy in the dispenser to present as a gift.

Personalized Pillows...Dreamy!

Got a friend who loves to post photos to Instagram?  Selfies on the cellphone?  The gift solution is Stitchtagram pillows!

Remember those t-shirt quilts of yesteryear with all your college party t-shirts woven together as a keepsake quilt? 
Stitchtagram has cleverly updated the idea for the digital world.  They take a menagerie of your Instagram photos and print those on textured black denim to create a hand stitched pillow that is, at once, playful and sentimental.

Tweens, Teens, Adults will all love this memorable way to display their favorite photos.

Think of all the gifts you can run with:  Special Birthdays (16, 21, 30, 40...80) High School Graduation, College Graduation, Bridesmaids, Engagement, Wedding, Anniversaries, Grandparents, Housewarming, Fathers Day, Mothers Day, Christmas/Hanukkah.

If your recipient has a particular passion, you can tailor the photos to a theme:  favorite pets, pics of their artwork/crafts, pics of their house, a favorite vacation spot, how they met or got engaged, high school start to finish, a special trip or study abroad, summer vacation, pics of the grandkids, favorite Christmas decorations, etc..

Spice It Up:  Encourage the burgeoning photographer with an old school Lomography Diana + Dreamer Camera.  This funky 1960s retro camera has a cult following for its "dreamy, lo-fi images" that give your pictures a magical otherworldliness.  They'll be creating artistic collages in no time!

Where to Buy: 

Pillow - Go to the Stitchtagram website where they offer several personalized products.  They sell gift certificates in case you want your recipient to choose their photo combinations. 
Pillow $68.00, Tote Bag $78.00, Wristlet $82.00, Coin Purse $28.00 (price does not include shipping cost, allow for 2-3 weeks for delivery upon ordering)

Camera - The Lomography Diana + Dreamer Camera can be purchased at multiple stores.  I found this, and other fun retro cameras online at Urban Outfitters.  If you prefer to pick up in-store, most are available in your local store.  This particular camera includes a book of Lomography photos to help inspire.  $65.00

The Littlest Artists

Trying to think of a special gift for your child, grandchild, niece or nephew?

Philadelphia based Wooberry Dolls custom creates a doll based upon your child’s drawing. Whether a free form Martian, Picasso-esque self-portrait, or a cute doodle of a pet, Wooberry transforms their creative artwork into a full sized doll.
 

Spice It Up: Take the artwork a step further and create a custom book/story around the artwork. Bookemon makes it easy by allowing you to upload your own story or use their templates to help create a neat fairy tale for your child.



Start with their Martian drawing, and develop a full story and include your child in the story—they will love it! Or, have them join you to create a story all their own.

Together, these two gifts will become a treasured keep-sake and will inspire your child to create, to draw, to write!

Where to Buy:

Doll – Wooberry is available online, and I will warn you it is a bit pricey. Order now to be ready for Christmas/Hanukkah at discounted price of $180.00 per doll.

Each doll is unique and constructed out of velour & velveteen. Upload the drawing by scanning a copy of it or taking a photo. The site offers drawing inspirations and instruction.



Alternate Gift Idea: Wooberry also offers “Wedding Dolls” for brides & grooms if you can provide a photo or caricature of the couple. Other suggested ideas are: Dads & Kids, Moms & Kids, Pets, etc.

Book – Bookemon online allows you to create a book online. Prices vary according to templates used, number of pages, binding style (hard or soft cover), number of books to be printed, etc. Books can range from $10.00-upwards.

Other recommended sites are TikATok and Storybird.

Storybird is a great site for creating a story with neat artwork—but you cannot upload your own artwork. I recommend this for someone creating a story for a wedding couple or anniversary (“The Story of Us” type), or just for a kid to noodle and learn how to write a book.

"As a child, I drew like Raphael but it has taken me a lifetime to draw like a child."– Pablo Picasso

London Calling

Serious music aficionados have all heard of the legendary Abbey Road studios in London.  This hallowed studio has recorded many Grammy winning works by the Beatles, Pink Floyd, Duran Duran, Kate Bush, Radiohead, Florence & the Machine, John Williams/Star Wars, etc. 

Give your music fan the Abbey Road: The Best Studio in the World book by Alistair Lawrence which includes a complete history, discography, album covers, and photos of many of the bands who have recorded at the studio.

Spice It Up:  You don’t have to be a Beatles fanatic to love these Beatles lyrics cups & saucers!  Cleverly packaged, the saucer looks like a vintage vinyl record and the cup features lyrics on the back with the title on the front.  The retro colors and fonts make them especially nifty. You’ll be humming along as you sip! 

Check out this cute Tea Sub infuser to combine with the cups & saucers.  A mini-yellow submarine ode to the Beatles will make you want to break out their old songs for afternoon of Beatle mania!

While these all make a great birthday gift or Father’s Day/Mother’s Day gift, together it makes an especially great Anniversary gift. 

Why?  Well, think of the endearing love songs by the Beatles:  "All You Need Is Love," "She Loves You," "A Hard Days Night," "Eight Days A Week," "Here Comes The Sun," "I Want To Hold Your Hand," "Love Me Do," "P.S. I Love You," etc.

Where to Buy:

Book – Barnes &Noble and Amazon $48.32-$67.83 (less expensive at Amazon)

Cup & Saucers – in store at Whole Earth Provision Company, or online at Oldies, The Music Stand, or Amazon  Available styles include:  All You Need Is Love, Help, Yellow Submarine, Hard Day’s Night and She Loves You   $12.98-19.99 per set (Oldies is the least expensive)

Tea Infuser - online at Cool Stuff Express or Amazon - $12.00-$16.95

Suggestions for Anniversary/Birthday/Father's Day/Mother's Day :

Run with the British theme…

• Take your sweetheart out to a local tavern or gastro-pub for fish & chips
• Catch a Beatles cover band or get tickets to a concert from your favorite British import
• Or, if no band is nearby, buy a box set of the artist or download their tunes to listen to at home.

Now, if you want to really go over the top…

Plan a trip to Vegas and take in the Cirque Du Soleil’s Beatle inspired show called Love at the Mirage Hotel

 

 

Sip, Sip Hooray for the USA!

Most everyone has given a bottle of wine as a gift at one time or another.  It is a convenient, and universally appreciated gift. 

Be patriotic, and support the U.S. vineyards by sharing their wines.  Chateau Montalena is one vineyard that has a fabled history in Napa that will swell your patriotic heart!

California wines were dismissed and ignored by Europe’s wine elite for many years until the 1976 Judgment of Paris competition.  Set during the bicentennial year, the competition established Chateau Montalena and Stag’s Leap wineries as world class.

If you are looking for a nice gift for Him or Her, for Mother's Day, for Father's Day, to honor an Anniversary, to celebrate a Date Night, to be patriotic for the 4th of July, or to recognize an Achievement the chardonnay from Chateau Montalena is excellent.  $45.00 per bottle

 

Spice It Up:  Make a simple gift of wine special by adding a copy of the book Judgment of Paris by George M. Taber.  The book chronicles the history of California wine country, and the 1976 Paris competition which literally blew the lid off the closely held European wine industry to level the playing field from California to South America, New Zealand and beyond.  Whether your recipient is into wine or not, the book is a fascinating tome about the region’s fledgling start, and the transformation of an entire industry.  $13.37 for softback edition

Even better, include a copy of the movie Bottle Shock which is based on the book.  Some of my favorite actors are in this movie: including Alan Rickman, Bill Pullman, and Chris Pine (and, yes, even with the blonde “spicoli” wig, Chris Pine is still a handsome devil).  The movie is a fun watch for guys & gals in for a laid back evening.  As soon as it starts, you will want to uncork your bottle to sip as you watch!  $4.99-7.99 for unused/new DVD

 

Note 1:  The movie has some language and a love scene, but still fairly mild.

Note 2:  Bottle Shock is a very different story from those of you who have seen the movie Sideways.  Sideways is a great movie, but it is raunchy and melancholy.  Bottle Shock is an upbeat, inspiring tale about the underdog who succeeds.  Unless you are sure of your recipient’s humor, I recommend going with the milder Bottle Shock.

Where to Buy: 

Wine:  Chateau Montalena can be ordered online from the vineyard or at your local fine wine shop/liquor store.  While you can find it at the big discount stores, I like to support the local “mom & pop” stores who are working hard to make it in the business, and who provide a personal touch. 

 Note 1:  If you can’t find Chateau Montalena, try Stag’s Leap which was one of the other winners.  Also, try Grgich Hills Estate wines which are produced by Mike Grgich who originally worked at Chateau Montalena as the winemaker back in the 70s before starting his own vineyard.

Note 2:  If you do not want to spend for such a pricey bottle of wine, your local store can guide you to a very good $10.00 bottle of wine from California in keeping with the spirit of the book and movie.  As the story unfolds, you will see the California vineyards banded together to support each other because “If one succeeds, we all succeed.” 

Book:  Barnes & Noble, Amazon and most bookstores carry the book in the Wine/Food History section.

DVD:  Vintage Stock/Movie Trading Company carries 2-3 copies in each of their stores which is an easy pickup locally if you need the movie right away.  It is also available to be shipped on Amazon and Barnes& Noble online.

End Note:

The timing of this gift idea is bittersweet as Jim Barrett of Chateau Montalena passed away on March 14th of this year at the age of 86.  By following his dream, Barrett built a quality vineyard, and his success helped lift the fortunes of many in Napa Valley.  Read more of his pioneering spirit at Wine Spectator.