5 Fabulous Last-Minute Gifts You Can Buy at the Grocery Store

So here's my little secret: one of my favorite places to buy last-minute gifts is the grocery store!

Even the most basic supermarket usually has tons of fun and inexpensive goodies that can easily be packaged into a great gift for those last few folks on your shopping list. And the best thing is that many grocery stores are open super late or even 24 hours, so you can run in at night long after all the other regular shops are closed.

And this isn't just for the holidays...this tip is also great all year long--baby showers, bachelorette parties, hostess gifts--the supermarket is your friend, friend!

Below are some awesome gifts you can give from items commonly found at a typical supermarket:

1. International Themed Dinner Basket

So first you pick a country. Think something like "Italian Pasta Night" or "Spanish Paella Party." Then you stock up--grab a box of the fanciest looking dried pasta or a bag of Spanish rice.

 A couple jars from the spice aisle. Some dried chorizo or salami. A jar of artisan pasta sauce. A wedge of good cheese. A bar of dark chocolate or a box of biscotti.

Tuck them with tissue paper into a basket or an inexpensive ceramic bowl, and there you go!

2. Gift a Cozy Night In

Many grocery stores carry a pretty great selection of recent popular novels and nonfiction. Grab one or two books you think your friend might enjoy.

Pair it up with a few other goodies good for a cozy night in like a box of fancy tea, a bag of caramels or cookies, maybe even a cute mug and a pair of warm fuzzy socks.

Tuck it all into a paper gift bag from the greeting card aisle, and you're good to go!

3. The Gift of Nostalgia

This one is perfect for siblings or friends you've known since childhood. Think back to the favorite treats you enjoyed as kids, and pull together a selection of them!

If I were to do this for my brother, I'd probably grab things like those Chuckles gummy candies, Milano cookies, marshmallow-covered Sno-Balls, circus peanuts, those mini boxes of Fruity Pebbles, etc. You might even hit up the magazine aisle and grab a couple issues of the magazines you used to read as kids (think stuff like Highlights, Boy's Life or Archie).

To finish it off, check out the kid's toy aisle or those toy machines near the check-out: nothing like a sticky hand or funky monster finger puppets to make anyone feel like a kid again!

4. A DIY Spa Day

From fancy soaps to pretty nail polishes, you can find just about everything you need to create a spa day at home for a special someone.

Grab some Epsom salts from the first aid aisle. A nice rich lotion. Some single-packet face masks. A jar of coconut oil. A loofah or set of scrubby gloves. One of those microwavable neck wraps. You can usually even find things like essential oils and scented candles.

Don't forget a few fun magazines!

Wrap it all up, and you'll have a pampering gift basket that rivals ones found at luxury department stores!

5. Impractical Goodies for the Cook or Baker

So here's the thing, those of us who love to cook usually love the grocery store. It's a chance to browse around see all kinds of fun and fascinating products. But because we're usually at the store when we're shopping for specific items or on a budget, most of those other fun, but impractical, items usually never make it home with us.

So this is your chance to surprise your favorite kitchen maven with all the things she usually passes up!

Think things like luxurious spices (saffron! Vietnamese cinnamon! vanilla beans!). Bars of really great chocolate. Fun sprinkles or cake toppers. Fancy fruit spread or curds from the jam aisle. Flavored honey, oil, or vinegars. Luxury salts. Artisan crackers. The list is basically endless!

****
Loved this post? Let's connect so you can find out the next time I post! Follow me on Twitter, Instagram, or Pinterest, become a fan on Facebook, or sign up to receive my once-a-week e-mail updates. Thanks so much for reading!     

0

The Best Gift Ever

My best friend Ilana lives in Edinburgh, which is a gorgeous and absolutely wonderful place to live and visit, but really inconvenient for us when it comes to typical best friend activities like grabbing coffee or shopping or laying about watching movies in pajamas, or really just about anything that requires that we both be on the same continent.

We do make a point of meeting up about once or twice a year, either here in New York or somewhere else interesting. (Past locations include Portugal and Palm Springs; we're hoping for a Greek island next year!)

But, as amazing as those trips are, they're never quite enough.

Fortunately, Ilana also happens to be really amazing at surprises! They show up every so often: a postcard with a recipe for deep-fried Mars bars (a well-loved Scottish delicacy), a set of Kate Spade bangles inscribed with inspirational messages, and--most recently--the most wonderful gift ever:

A custom-made necklace featuring a perfect mini slice of my signature cake: The Italian Rainbow Cookie Cake!

Ilana found this wonderful shop on Etsy and had the artists custom make the charm.

And they did such an incredible job! They even got the detail of the snowflake design on the chocolate frosting!

The texture of the layers looks so realistic I really had to resist biting into it...

I'm, admittedly, nowhere near equal to Ilana when it comes to thoughtful surprises. I come up with great ideas, but then my ADD kicks in and I get distracted trying to make ice cream out of wine or researching mid-century gelatin salad recipes or trying to figure out how to turn an old t-shirt into a throw pillow, and then I can't really remember what the great plan was.

You guys have no idea how many unsent postcards I have in my desk.*

But, I do, fortunately have this blog! And that means that on this blog I can let the thousands and thousands of you who come here every day know how wonderful Ilana is.

(Very.)

I also wanted you all to know about the wonderful little Etsy shop she found!

It's called Inedible Jewelry and you can visit it here: https://www.etsy.com/shop/inediblejewelry/

If you have food lovers (or miniature lovers!) in your life--I bet they'd enjoy a sweet gift from there just as much as I did.

But hurry--Christmas orders have to be in by the 18th (aka...tomorrow!).

*I do have a good plan for Christmas this year, though I haven't quite made it to the post office yet. (Fortunately Ilana is Jewish, which I think gives me a bit of leeway in terms of the deadline.)


****
Loved this post? Let's connect so you can find out the next time I post! Follow me on Twitter, Instagram, or Pinterest, become a fan on Facebook, or sign up to receive my once-a-week e-mail updates. Thanks so much for reading!    
 

0

Festive Finds with Nespresso and Sur la Table

Earlier this month, I surprised my mom with a mini birthday/early-holiday shopping spree in the city. I was able to do this thanks to Nespresso® and Sur la Table, who provided me with gift cards and everything I needed to create a special day for her.

I had my mom meet me at my apartment, keeping the plan a secret until we arrived at our first destination--the Nespresso Boutique & Cafe on Madison Avenue. She was amazed with the shop from the moment we walked in (her actual words: "This is like coffee...elevated.").

We started off with a light lunch, and then finished off with a couple cozy mugs of coffee from the amazing variety on their menu.

(I chose the coffee of the month, which was an amazing cinnamon honey latte that I plan to recreate on here soon). I then had a car service take us back across Central Park over to the Sur la Table store located in the Hearst Tower on 57th Street.

We spent a couple hours in the shop first browsing, and then finally making our choices for the items we wanted. With the holidays coming up, we both stocked up on a few entertaining basics, but then also picked a out a few fun gift items for ourselves (admittedly one of my favorite parts of holiday shopping!).

We then bundled back into the car with our packages, and headed back to my apartment for dinner and to go over our goodies. Just before she left for the evening, I gave my mom one final surprise--her very own Nespresso® VertuoLine® machine!

Here are my favorite Festive Finds from our shopping trip:

1. Gold-Rim Coupe Glasses
I've been searching for a set of vintage style gold-rimmed coupes for ages! The minute I saw them, I practically yelped before grabbing the box. So gorgeous for holiday entertaining--even the simplest cocktail looks super festive served in one of these. 

2. Gold Wire Napkin Rings
A little sparkle is the quickest way to glamor to your table setting. No need to buy all new napkins--just switch out your napkin rings and you have a whole new look!

3. Rocco Brushed Gold Flatware Set of 5
Are you sensing a theme here? I've been obsessed with gold flatware for a while now, and this set is particularly lovely. Adds warmth and elegance to the dinner table.

4. Urban Accents Mulling Spices
Add these to a bottle of wine or a jug of store-bought cider, and simmer. Your house will smell incredible, and it's also a wonderful thing to serve guests who are coming in (or heading out into) the cold.

5. Linen Kitchen Apron
I thought I'd had my fill of new aprons until I saw (and felt!) these. The linen is so soft, but still sturdy enough to protect your clothing. Perfect for both hosting and everyday wear. (They also make tablecloths, napkins, and runners in this same fabric!)

6. Nespresso® VertuoLine®
This gorgeous machine makes both classic espresso AND full cups of American-style coffee. The quality and flavors are incredible. I have the red one, and I gave my mom the chrome. All are sleek and gorgeous.

7. Organic Serve Bowls
I fell in love with these the minute I saw them. Hand-made in Portugal, they have a natural imperfect shape that adds casualness to the table. Perfect for salads, roasted vegetables, or other sides. I got them in gray, but the white is also lovely.

8. Winterberry Wreath
Sur la Table sells a variety of beautiful natural wreaths, but this fresh juniper one covered in a mix of real dried and faux red berries is my favorite (red + gold is my thing this year!).

9. Nespresso® Aeroccino 3 Black Milk Frother
If you follow me on Instagram, you might see that I'm a little bit obsessed with super frothy cream on my coffee. (Seriously. OBSESSED.) I have this whole ritual every morning of steaming and frothing the cream. It's the perfect way to start the day. This handy little gadget both heats up and froths your milk or cream (non-dairy milks, too!) so you don't need to fuss with the stove or microwave. Kind of amazing.

10. Gold Flake Truffles 
I've long loved Charbonnel et Walker truffles--they always come in such gorgeous little packages and are delicious. These are flaked with real edible gold. A unique and memorable gift for your favorite party host or tuck it into your favorite chocolate lover's Christmas stocking!

11. Peppermint Mug
A set of these festive red and white striped candy cane mugs would be perfect for your morning mug of coffee or a late night hot chocolate (add a shot of espresso to make a mocha!).



**I was compensated for this post by Nespresso and Sur la Table, who provided me with car service and gift cards to use at their stores. All opinions and recommendations are my own.

0