Aiding And Abetting

Got a friend who is your partner in crime?  You know--the one who turns an ordinary night out into an epic adventure for the record books?

This is a friend you want to honor with a wink and smile, and something worthy your hijinks!  

Bourbon & Boots celebrates co-conspirators with Thelma & Louise, Butch & Sundance, or Bonnie & Clyde etched cocktail glasses for $39.00 a pair.  

As Bourbon & Boots says, "Celebrate the girl that pushes you to do unbelievable and outrageous things...For the best friends who always have the wind in their hair, and the law hot on their heels and enjoy celebrating their friendship with a toast to each other."

Spice It Up:  Cocktail glasses are great, but if you're truly Thelma & Louise worthy you need an elixir handy.  These clever Trixie & Milo Flasks at $29.00 each are a perfect match to the glasses, and they have numerous styles to suit your friend's personality.  I especially like their packaging with the decorated cardboard gift box.

On your gift card inscribe the wise words of Thelma:  

"Louise, no matter what happens, I'm glad I came with you."

Where to Buy: The cocktail glasses can be purchased directly from Bourbon & Boots online.  The Flasks are from Trixie & Milo which can be purchased from them directly or I have seen them in numerous gift shops.  In Dallas, you can find them at Froggies, Betty Lou, etc.

Cure the Homesick Blues!

Good news:  your best friend landed a fab new job. 
Bad news: it's out of state.

What to give your friend as an excellent bon voyage gift?  Keep in mind they'll be missing the comforts of their hometown...so send them off with a cookbook featuring local cuisine.  When they pine for home, it is simply a recipe away! 

For far flung Texans missing chiliquiles or BBQ brisket, I recommend this delicious cookbook called The Homesick Texan by Lisa Fain.  My friend Susan L recently moved to New York City, and, though she will enjoy the restaurants there, I know she'll be cooking a few nostalgic Tex Mex meals from this cookbook.

Spice It Up:  Your ex-pat friends will feel closer to home with a monthly subscription to a homegrown magazine which allows them to catch up on local happenings. 

Texas Highways is a gem of a magazine whether you're from Texas or not.  Texas Highways details the local towns/hotspots/festivals/daytrips around the state bringing you a new appreciation for the allure of the Lone Star state.


Top it off with a foodie item from your area.  For Texans, remind them to Keep Austin Weird with a gift from Jo's Coffee. 
Jo's is the quintessential funky coffee hut with its flagship on south Congress across from the legendary Continental Club.  No visit to Austin is complete without a stop for breakfast tacos & Jo's!

Where to Buy:
Cookbook - The Homesick Texan is available at most bookstores including Barnes & Noble and Amazon.  $23.87

Magazine - Subscriptions are available online at Texas Highways.  Buy a single copy at your local bookstore to present as your gift with a note detailing the subscription information. 12 issues (1 year) $19.95

Jo's Coffee Gift Set - The Hotel San Jose has a cool gift shop online that is part of the Bunkhouse Group that includes the Jo's Coffee Gift Set.  Gift includes Jo's Tshirt, Jo's Coffee and mug with a picture of a Grackle (the scourge of Austin birds) $45.00

Tip: 
+ These gifts are easily tailored for different states/locales.  For example, for the Rajun Cajuns from Louisiana. try a John Folse' cookbook, Louisiana Life Magazine, and coffee & beignets from Café Du Monde.

+ Lisa Fain maintains a terrific blog of recipes that inspired her cookbook.  Check it out at www.homesicktexan.com

Cowboy Cool

Howdy pardners! Here is my go-to gift when I am traveling, and need a gift to tuck into my suit case.  The perfect pint sized coffee table book: Cowboy Boots by Tyler Beard. 

Even if you are not from Texas, I promise you will love this book! I discovered it through my friend Greg H.J. who is from Lampasas, TX where the author penned the book on a ranch nearby.

The book details the history of Cowboy boots, and the evolution of custom designed boots. I keep a copy on my coffee table, and everyone who comes to my house ends up thumbing through it. The colors are vibrant, and the boots are captivating folk art.

I especially like this book because it is small—6 in. x 6 in. x ¾ in. (slightly wider than a cocktail napkin), so if you are traveling it packs well. Wrap it in brown construction paper or a bandana with a bit of raffia for a bow—a perfect casual western looking gift.

Spice It Up: For a host/hostess or housewarming, give your friends a chuckle with this triangle dinner bell to call everyone to chow time at the O-K Corral!
 Add to it with a few old fashioned milk bottles with a fun recipe for a homemade Frappuccino, smoothie or milk punch tucked in the bottle!

I admit, I borrowed this idea from one of my favorite Dallas restaurants called Bolsa. They serve a delicious New Orleans style Milk Punch in old milk bottle glasses with a festive straw. It keeps the drink ice cold, and looks so tasty!

Where to Buy:
Book – I have seen this book in several gift stores, but to be safe, order online at Barnes & Noble or Amazon. Order 3-5 books to keep handy when you need a quick gift to go. $11.71

Triangle Dinner Bell – There are many online, but the one featured here is from Crate & Barrel. $34.95

Milk Bottles – A variety are available online or at local antique stores. I particularly like the ones online at SweetLuLu, or Jilly Bean Kids. 12 for $30.00 at SweetLuLu, or carrying tray and 2 bottles for $25.99 from Jilly Bean Kids

Recipe Suggestions:
Frappuccino – try this one from Food.com

Strawberry Mango Smoothie – check this one out from The Bakers Mann—this is my favorite blog for great recipes!

Milk Punch – I’m sorry I don’t give out my mother’s top secret famous Milk Punch recipe, but here’s a good one from Emeril.

Luck Be A Lady!

For a graduation, a milestone birthday, a bridesmaid gift or a bon voyage for a friend who is moving away, you want to bestow good wishes.  These Dogeared brand necklaces are stylish, and meaningful gifts to express this sentiment.

The Lucky Cat is fun, and a conversation starter.  The small size keeps it from being too "cutesy" for an adult.  It wears well from day time at work, to casual sweats on the weekend, to out on the town at night.

The 100 Good Wishes, though pricier, is unique as it lists out the 100 good thoughts and wishes.  Each "bead" on the necklace represents one of these wishes, and there are exactly 100 beads on the necklace. 

We can all use good vibes, good karma, and blessings--whatever your beliefs--and this necklace is a magnet for all if them! 

This is one of my favorite necklaces because it layers beautifully with other pendant necklaces.  Personally, I have one in silver and one in gold just so I can combine it with my other jewelry depending on what I am wearing. 

The strand is one single long necklace that you can wear long or double up as shown.

In addition, this necklace works for any age—from teenager to grandmother.  It is just that good looking, and subtle.

Spice It Up:  The lucky cat legend is a charming Asian tale of a cat that brings good luck.  This festive statuette is a great addition to double down on the good luck from the necklaces.  

For a graduate’s college dorm room, a housewarming gift, a co-workers desk, or a going away gift for a friend who is moving, the Lucky Cat gift box offers Feng Shui and good luck for any space. 

This particular one includes the decorative box to display the cat, along with a booklet describing the legend of the Lucky Cat.

Where to Buy:

Necklaces:  Dogeared jewelry has numerous necklaces with charms that have different sayings included in the box. 

The styles are available in both silver & gold so you can pick which best suits the recipient.  The brand can be purchased online or in stores at Nordstrom, NeimanMarcus, Bloomingdales and other stores. 

Dogeared products range from $38.00-$140.00 and include sentiments such as: Faith, Good Luck, Friends Forever, Life Is Beautiful, etc.

Lucky Cat necklace $58.00 

Good Wishes necklace $90.00-$100.00 (price varies slightly depending on whether it is gold or silver)



Box is roughly the height of a iPhone
Cat is height of a standard Lipstick

Lucky Cat Statue: 

I found this one at Barnes & Noble on the display stands near the counter.  Though Barnes & Noble shows that they are sold out for online order, I have seen them in the actual stores as recently as this week.

It is also available through Amazon.  If you cannot find this particular statuette, google “Lucky Cat” online and you will find many other similar cat statues.    $9.95

Ready, Set for College!

High school graduations are just days away, and you need a gift for a graduate.  To start, consider what the grads could use in the fall when they head off to college.

Now, think back to your own college days…hiking across campus to class with your backpack, socializing at keggers, and running out of allowance money a week before the end of the month...

Ah, those were the good 'ol days!

An iPhone wallet is a perfect gift for a new graduate. It is small enough to stuff in a Backpack (who wants to lug a giant purse around), and keeps a student ID and phone safe.

For the girls, you can find many cute styles, though I recommend the wristlet type.  Wristlets are desirable because you can still dance at a party without losing your belongings!

KateSpade, Coach, and Tumi all have very nice iPhone wallets/wristlets and you can certainly spend the $80.00+ for these lovely cases.  But, remember, the reality of a college student's wallet is that it will have beer spills, pizza stains, and crushed edges from sitting under a stack of books.  Basically, it's not worth ruining an expensive one.  

So, stop by Target and buy the stylish ones like these two affordable examples.

 I like this Black & White Polka-Dot wristlet because it fits a phone that may already have a protective case (like an Otterbox), and allows for a few extra items. This is soft faux leather so it is not heavy to carry like real leather, and you can spill all the beer you want without staining the cover! $14.99

 
An alternate style is the hard case found in this light gold wristlet edition.  It is a bit smaller, and fits the phone in the case (sans cover) and serves as a protective case in itself.

The gold is a bit more glam for nights out on the town!

In addition to graduates, this is a neat gift for a 21st birthday or 30th birthday as she heads out clubbing with her besties!  $12.99

For the boys, the iphone wallet combo is simple and sleek.  This is available at Target, as well.  $39.99

 

Note:  Another option is to go to the website for the bookstore at the college of their choice.  Oftentimes, there will be cases with the school colors.

Spice It Up:  Add gift cards to the wallet! 

Whether studying for exams, or just needing late night munchies after the cafeteria is closed, a little junk food is a real treat for the college student! 

Tuck a few gift cards from various fast food restaurants in the wallet.  These will be their “emergency” kit when they truly need it!

Note 1:  Pizza tends to be expensive.  If you choose to do this, select one like Gatti’s or CiCi’s that have pizza buffets.  This way they can make the card last longer than just one pizza at $20.00.  Otherwise, $5 or $10 increments are sufficient at most fastfood places.

Note 2:  Possible cards include: Pinkberry, 7-11, Starbucks, Einstein’s, McDonalds, Whole Foods (if you are trying to avoid the junk food), Pizza Hut, Taco Cabana, Chick-Fil-A, Taco Bell, Wendy’s, Whataburger, etc.  Be careful about convenience store or grocery store cards--a friend of mine spent his first semester using his gas card to buy copious amounts of beer until his father figured out he wasn’t filling up his car!

Note 3: Be sure to tell the recipient that the gift cards in the wallet are real and are not just display cards!

Where to Buy:

Wristlets are available at most department, and gift stores.  I found these at Target (wristlets).  $12.99-$14.99

Mens' phone/wallets are available at student bookstores, department stores or try Target (Agent 18 men's phone/wallet). $39.99
 

These are great gifts for Graduation, For Him or For Her, For 21st Birthday, For 30th Birthday (headed out clubbing)!