Is it really New Years Eve 2010?

Most mornings I wake up and think out loud "What day is today?" And on the majority of those mornings, when my feet hit the floor, I'm hoping its fall, after the humidity of the summer and before the bitter chill of winter.  We all know how this ends... it's winter and it's cold, so I still find it hard to believe that the Christmas holidays have come and gone, and 2011 is knocking on the door.

In 2009, Doug and I started the tradition of having cheesecake with blueberries.  Last year, we purchased the cheesecake and this year I made it myself.  While the recipe was simple to follow and one I had made before, it came out a little brown across the top.  To disguise the browned top, I made a quick sour cream topping.  But I digress...

In my earlier years, I found it fun to go out and celebrate with all.  But these last two years it's been about the one person I'm with while ringing in the New Year, rather than out with the masses.  It's not what you're doing, it's who you're with when the ball drops and I consider myself extremely fortunate and blessed to have a partner who not only knows me,  but who also understands me.  And one who believes in creating our own traditions.

Tradition is defined as: the handing down of information, beliefs, and customs by word of mouth or by example from one generation to another without written instruction.  While I still wake up hoping it's warmer outdoors than the temperature dictates, I know that the traditions we create today, even one as simple as eating cheesecake at midnight,  is something that we will carry on through the years while we develop our own ways to celebrate our holidays together.

So, I ask you, what are you doing this year to welcome in the 2011? Is it something traditional or something new? Either way, I wish you an abundance of happiness and health as you ring in the New Year! See you next year...

A timeline of denim

How many times a week do you wear denim? Fortunate for me, my work environment is such where I can dress casual, so most days denim is what I opt to wear.  In recent years, our denim options have grown, and they have become an acceptable wardrobe selection in almost all situations. It's comfortable, can be dressed up or worn casually, and comes in many different washes, fits and price points.  But, I found myself wondering when the trend began, who initiated the style and where the denim movement first took off.  Let's take a look at the evolution of denim.

The word "jeans" comes from the French phrase bleu de Gênes, meaning the blue of Genoa, but the fabric, Denim, used to make jeans gets its name from the French town of Nîmes (de Nîmes).  The Denim trousers were first made in the 16th century and sold in Genoa, which at the time was an important Naval and trading harbor in France.  The men stationed here were required to wear all-purpose trousers while washing the deck, and denim fit the bill. To wash, the pants were dragged behind the boat in a net and dried in the sun.  The sea and sun combination eventually bleached the pants, turning them to white. 

The Jean made it's way to American and was introduced to the mining community in 1850.  At this time, a tailor named Jacob Davis noticed that men were bringing jeans in for repair, and they were ripping in the same spots.  Mr. Davis approached Levi Strauss, the only commercial maker of jeans at that time, and recommended rivets to reinforce the weakened areas on the pants - around the pockets and at the top of the button fly.  In 1873, the American blue jean was introduced! 

Widely accredited to the cowboy community in the 30's, they spread to the working community in the 40's, and became a symbol of teenage rebellion in the 1950's, after James Dean wore them in his movie Rebel without a Cause.  Jeans became widely accepted in the 1960's and became fashionable in the 70's. Who doesn't remember the stonewashed Guess? jeans in the 80's (at the time, the $60 price tag seemed absurd) and in the 90's, when vintage jeans and purchase of such products in second hand stores took off?  In 2005, Americans spent roughly $15 billion on denim.  

Designer jeans were introduced in 1978 by Jordache, who originally only marketed their brand to women.  Guess, Gloria Vanderbilt, Calvin Klein and Diesel followed, with brands such as True Religion, Seven for all Mankind, Citizens of Humanity, William Rast and Rock and Republic being the most recent to enter the luxury denim market.  

A pair of Gucci "Genius jeans" that had been distressed, ripped and covered with African beads, when they debuted in October 1998 in Milan, were priced at an astonishing $3,134, but this wasn't the most expensive pair we've seen on the market.  Forbes showcased Escada jeans that sold for $10,000, which were Swarovski crystal-encrusted from top to bottom. The most expensive jeans (as in the most anyone has spent for a single pair of jeans) go to Levi Strauss & Co., who spent $46,532 buying a pair of its own jeans on an eBay auction in May 2001. The jeans were found in a Nevada mining town and date back to the 1880s. 

While I find it tough to shop for jeans, I love when I find a pair that fit just right.  And who knew that every time I put on my J. Crew Matchstick jeans (which are my favorite), I was wearing a piece of history.  Which are your favorites? How do you wear them? 

Bootcut Denim by Old Navy
Straight Denim by True Religion

The definition of Southern Hospitality

You only know what you know and all I know is how my family celebrated Christmas.  In years past, we have gone to church and then to dinner, in others, we would go to a friend's house and most recently, we would open presents, eat Christmas dinner and gather together on the couch to watch movies. This year was different, as I would spend the holiday with Doug and his family in Florida.  Knowing nothing of how they spent their Christmas or any traditions their family celebrated, I was looking forward to seeing how other families celebrated their holiday.

Doug's family is from South Alabama and truly embrace all of the stereotypes of the Southern culture.  The term, southern hospitality, attributed to Jacob Abbott, came to fruition while he was traveling through the South in the 19th century and defined the Southerners willingness to provide a stranger with food, shelter and entrance to their home as a part of the culture of southern hospitality.  The southern culture focuses heavily on etiquette, such as "yes ma'am/no sir," holding the door open for woman and the removal of hats upon entering a home.  It also focuses largely on cooking, food and eating!

The preparation of food began early on Christmas Day, with the boiling of a fresh ham and putting a roast in the oven.  A female friend came late in the morning to help with the preparation of the meal and brought with her a turkey, deviled eggs and a bundt cake.  From there, the women prepared potatoes, sweet potatoes, sauteed squash, cornbread stuffing, stuffed celery, spinach salad and green bean casserole.  Also on the table, one could find: spiced peaches, different types of pickles, olives, pickled crab apples, cranberry sauce and a various assortment of breads.  And that was just dinner! Dessert included pound cake, rum bundt cake, ice cream, both a chocolate and a caramel layer cake, ambrosia, and two kinds of cookies.

While I have a lot of extra calories to burn, it's warming to the soul to enjoy food that is prepared with love, where eating is an event in and of itself, and most importantly, that I have felt loved and welcomed with open arms into a family, with different traditions and a whole lotta Southern hospitality!

Merry Christmas to you....

A funny joke, a happy day, and a Merry Christmas to all... 

Thanks A Lot

As the clock ticks closer to Christmas Eve, I recognize that we are indeed in the season of giving thanks. While generally give thanks for health, happiness, and more embarrassingly, the promotion, the bonus, the new person that entered our life; sometimes, that thanks can take another, more practical form. For it is the little things that add up to big things. In my case, the proverbial little thing came in the way of a lost and found bag.

Yes, the one thing that holiday travelers fear the most: "I'm sorry ma'am, we can't seem to find your bag anywhere in the system."

To be more specific, I tried to bring a bag with me on my flight down to Florida, which the good woman (who was not filled with holiday cheer) at the US Air gate told me was "one inch too big" to fit overhead. She did, however,  offer me the 'courtesy' (quotes intended) of a curbside check to my final destination. After a brief back and forth, I reluctantly relinquished my carry-on size roller bag full of six days worth of clothes for my trip to Florida and walked down the jetway to my seat.

Foreshadowing aside, when I got off the plane in Florida, my bag was not on the conveyor belt. I was forced to do the traveler's walk of shame to the US Air claims office where the woman at the desk attempted to track its whereabouts, only to tell me that it was "no where in the system."

As I stood there, assessing the six-day durability of the jeans, scarf, sweater and flats I had opted to wear on the flight, the computer--which was a box style display, not the more modern flat screen set-up we've all grown accustomed to seeing--pinged. The woman told me that my bag was still in my connecting city and that it might be here, in Florida, by 10pm. As I filled out the paperwork, I couldn't help but think of all the planning I'd put in to perfectly selecting, thinning, and ultimately packing a week's worth of stylish, practical and cute outfits into one bag, only to have that bag 'lost in transit.'

Merry Christmas from Florida... 

We gathered our things and left the airport. As I headed to the home where I would spend Christmas with Doug and his family, something clicked inside of me and I had to smile. Here I am, sitting in a car, driving to a home where I will be surrounded by people that love me, underneath a moonlight sky with stars so plentiful that they are too vast to count (and not so easy to see in DC). I have my health, my family, my friends, my passions, and my presence. I am loved and I have people to whom I give my love. Why am I so worked up about a bag of clothes? The question was rhetorical, and the answer was simple: it's just a bag, and it's just clothes inside.

About 90 minutes after I came to this resolution, the good people at White Sands Delivery called and said that my bag had arrived and would be delivered to the house within the hour. A reluctant smile crept across my face and I realized that once again, I had unsuspectingly learned the lesson of holiday gratitude: that it is and forever will be about what we have, not what we do not have. That our blessings are measured in what we are able to do, not by our limitations. That our wealth is measured not in currency, but by the faces of family in friends, we hold dear with each passing year.

So with that, I must pause to give my own holiday thanks. For the bag? Sure. But more so for having yet another subtle realization that the genuine joy we all seek to find, is right there before us and inside of us... sometimes we just need a reminder.

DIY Button Earrings

With Christmas quickly approaching, I wanted to try a last minute DIY gift - button earrings!  The idea came from my grandmother by way of a vintage box full of buttons that she had collected through the years.  What a great way to remember her and put all of her buttons to good use!  I found it easier to use buttons, where I could remove the back hook, rather than buttons with holes in them - easier to cut the hooks than cover up the holes, where the backing was visible.

I purchased from Michael's (they are also available through Jo Ann Fabric) earring posts, earring backers, wire craft cutters and super glue (rather than a hot glue gun, either would work fine) . Here are the simple directions!

1) Hold the button between two fingers and cut the hook off of the back.  I recommend holding the button inside a plastic bag, to catch the cut piece.  Otherwise, it will fly and will be difficult to find (until you step on it, barefoot!)




2) Put a drop of super glue on both the button and the back of the post, which I found to hold better than simply putting one drop on the post.

3) Hold the post on the back of the button for 60 seconds, before letting it rest (button side down on the table, post side up) for 30 minutes.

4) Enjoy!

Having Grace

Last night, I had dinner with three very important people in my life.  It was a time to catch up, laugh and enjoy the company of one another before Christmas, as we're all traveling this year. We exchanged gifts and I was passed a small bag and was told "your blog inspired this gift."

To back up, I enjoy hearing about how my blog has an impact, however small, on people's lives.  Whether it's a story I've shared, their experience with a recipe or, much like having a cup of coffee, it's become a part of a morning routine, which is what my friend shared with me last night.  Hearing that it was saved in her internet "favorites" on both her work and home computer was truly a gift in itself.

I pulled out the red tissue paper and unwrapped the box, which contained a lovely bottle of perfume, called Amazing Grace, by philosophy.  The descriptor on the back read: amazing grace is the ultimate feminine fragrance that makes a women feel as if she is wearing her best dress every day of the week, even when she dresses casually.  


Grace is defined as moral strength, elegance or beauty of form, manner, motion of action; favor of good will; a pleasing or attractive quality or endowment.  The gift truly reflected the spirit of the blog, but what meant the most is she felt it was what I embodied: Grace.  At the moment, I can't think of a more powerful and moving compliment.  Each day, I intend and try to act with grace and dignity, treat others as I want to be treated and have all of my actions reflect kindness and consideration.

I am touched by the grace and love I was shown by way of a perfume bottle. Yet as with anything, it's not the gift or the action itself, but the intention behind which it was given.  I'm thankful today for the love in my life and the kindnes of others which warms my soul on this first day of Winter...

Good day or bad day: It's all a choice

• When I wake up in the morning in a bad mood, it's my choice as to whether I take it out on those around me.   
• When I have a disagreement, it's my choice to let it go or carry it throughout the day.  
• When something goes does not the way I want it to, it's my choice to hang onto the problem, or to live in the solution.  

I have a difficult time when I'm not feeling connected with those I love.  I feel down, I feel off and I want to fix the situation immediately.  But sometimes, it's just not my place to get in there, roll up my sleeves and fix it.  There are times when I have to let time run the course.  On these days when I'm in a slump or when things just aren't quite going the way I would like them to, it is up to me to turn my day around.  It's my choice to make it a good day or to continue to wallow in self pity.

We control our thoughts and our actions.  Today, I am making a conscious choice to have a good day.  I hope you will do the same!

Calming benefits of yoga

With the holiday season in full swing and the 2010 year winding down, time is a precious commodity that seems to escape me daily.  And I don't have kids, so I'm more impressed by those of you who do, who do what you do with grace and a smile! But, I digress.

On the days when my mind is swirling and I'm having a tough time focusing and checking things off of my "To Do" list, I truly find that yoga helps to still my mind and bring peace to my day.

It's a gift that I give myself, and for those 30, 60, or 90 minutes, I can focus on the pose and the way my body feels, allowing my mind to take a break from the chaos.  There are times when I finish the sequence and think to myself "I'm a better person because of yoga."

Yoga, which means "to unite," truly connects the mind and the body.  If you have yet to try the age old practice, I recommend finding a studio near you and taking a class this holiday season.  If you would rather try it in the privacy of your own home, go to Gaiam where they offer videos for all abilities.

Om...

Digging Deep to find Gratitude...

In a season of giving and thanks, many of us, myself included, have gratitude that merely runs surface deep. That is to say, we are thankful for the things, people and concepts, which quite often only affect us in the most superficial of ways. I was confronted with this reality, while watching a segment on NBC's Today Show, featuring the tragically famous case of Charla Nash, the woman who was attacked, mauled, and ultimately dismembered by a friend's chimpanzee. The radical nature of her injuries, are the type that you might not believe had you not seen them with your own eyes.

As I watched her thank the medical staff who saved her life, I asked myself silently if I would want to live under the conditions and direction in which her life has been rerouted. And then I thought, this time aloud, as I watched her shake hands with only a portion of a palm and a thumb and hug with half of her forearm missing, "She must have to dig really deep for her daily gratitude."

Everything about the way she lives her life changed in a few minutes.  The way in which she interacts with the public, as she now chooses to wear a veil.  Her daily surrender, as she must ask for help with cooking, getting dressed and brushing her teeth.  When I'm thankful for finding a parking spot close to my destination, she is thankful that her breathing is accomplished without assistance.  While I'm thankful for heat on a cold day, she is thankful that she has loved ones willing to help her in all areas of day-to-day operations.  And while I replay the words of a recent argument over again in my mind, she has the knowledge that her life will never be the same, for circumstances that are outside of her control... It is after we experience sadness or tragedy, that we can fully taste the sweetness of happiness and joy.  Without one emotion, we don't have the perspective to embrace the opposite.

My heart goes out to Ms. Nash,  because I imagine how I would feel after walking a mile in her shoes, but perhaps her shoes are softer and she is truly thankful, on a level that I may never understand, for all of the things that I take for granted everyday.

30 gifts for $30 or less!

All the gifts in the pages below can be found online for $30 or less... not only convenient, but reasonably priced.  Enjoy and happy shopping!

For the men and children in your life... 

Hooks by Anthropologie
Desktop Books by Anthropologie

For the ladies in your life... or a little something for you!

Artwork by World Market
Flats by BCBG MAX AZRIA

Chestnuts Roasting...

Pre-cutting

Nat King Cole's "The Christmas Song" commonly called "Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire" which is also the song that is most played during the holidays, got me thinking about roasted chestnuts.  During all of the trips to New York, I've never stopped by a cart to purchase and sample the roasted chestnuts.  So, what better time than now to try not only eating them, but roasting them myself.

Throw this one out!

The tradition began during the 16th century, where they were sold by street vendors in Italy.  Chestnuts were one of the few food crops that could be grown on steep mountain slopes, and sustain the cold winter, providing sustenance through the long winter months.  Today, roasted chestnuts are still sold by vendors in Europe, in New York City and during Christmas events in the United States.

I found several methods online for roasting chestnuts, including recipes for soup, cookies and other savory treats.  Some said it was best to soak them in water first, others said to pop them right in the oven, sans soak.  Some said to preheat the oven to 400 degrees, some said 450 degrees.  And to be honest, having never roasted chestnuts, I randomly picked, not dissimilar to pin-the-tail-on-the-donkey style.  Googled and pointed.

Chestnuts with crisscross c

Chestnuts before going in the oven

The chestnuts I purchased were from Whole Foods and priced at $4.99/pound.  Having never prepared chestnuts, I'm unsure if that is a good, or even reasonable price.  Before roasting, I discarded the ones that were opened fully, had a pinhole (which meant worms) and those that had a deep, dark, almost black shell.  All of the recipes called for the roaster to make an "x" in the chestnut before cooking.  This prevents the nut from bursting while in the oven.  Chestnuts have a good amount of water in them, so without the 'x' mark, there is no where for the steam to escape while in the oven.  The cut in the shell also makes it easier to peel the nut once it's been removed from the oven.

You can purchase a knife specifically for making the incisions, but in this case I used a paring knife.  I put the flat side of the nut on a cutting board and made the crisscross cut on the rounded side.  If you are not comfortable with the nut on the board and worried about slippage, using a towel is a great way to stabilize the nut, protect your fingers and hold it firmly on the cutting board.  While the idea is to cut the shell, it is okay to cut into the meat of the nut.

Chestnuts after 30 minute roast

The recipe I selected called for the 450 degree oven and roasting for 20-30 minutes.  After preparing, I put the nuts into a baking pan and put in the oven for 20 minutes.  After 20 minutes, only a few of the nuts looked like they had opened, so I left them in there for 10 more minutes.  Wrong choice.

A peeled chestnut

The nuts came out a little dryer than I had expected, but were still meaty and flavorful in taste.  I disagree with many of the resources online that said the process was labor intensive and time consuming.  An easy way to peel the shell off the nut, was to hold the warm chestnut in my hand in a wrapped towel and squeeze.  This trick helped the shell fall easily off the nut an contained the pieces in the towel.

I would make the roasted nuts again, but this time I think I would make cookies or soup.  Maybe next time?

No Secret Ingredient

Doug was traveling, it was the end to a relatively quiet, cold day and we had Kung Fu Panda, unopened on the coffee table, which had been sitting there for a few weeks now.  I popped it into the DVD player and for the next 90 minutes, I was not only entertained, but dare I say somewhat moved by a movie that also captivates my 4 year old niece.

Have you ever seen Kung Fu Panda?   If not,  I highly recommend checking it out.  No matter your age, no matter your gender, it's a movie that has a meaning in which I believe each one of us has searched high and low for at some point, if not often, in our lives: what is the secret ingredient to happiness, success, achievement?

The answer, which is so wonderfully depicted in the movie, is that there is no single answer.  There is no secret ingredient to any of the adjectives mentioned above.  The answer is found inside of you and the way in which you choose to see achievement, define success and find happiness lies within each of us.

Recently, it was shared with me that Dr. Suess was turned away from twenty-nine publishing companies before his first book, To Think That I Saw it on Mulberry Street, was published in 1937.  He wasn't published because he was a great poet or an award winning illustrator, but because he enjoyed what he was doing, believed in his product, and ultimately in himself enough to get up the next morning after hearing "no" yet again from another publishing house and go onto the next one.

Each one of us has our own unique gifts and our own spirit, bringing something positive to the world.  Listen to that inner voice and believe it when it says "you're worth it!"

Warmed Goat Cheese Salad on a cold, cold night

Sliced goat cheese

I adore Ina Garten and her Barefoot Contessa recipes.  They are tasty, use ingredients that are readily available and have been described as "elegant but earthy." So, when I came across her recipe for warm goat cheese salad, I couldn't resist making it.  It was easy to make and delicious, as well as the perfect light lunch or starter salad for dinner.


Ingredients
1 (11-ounce) log plain or herbed Montrachet
2 extra-large egg whites, beaten with 1 tablespoon water
Fresh white bread crumbs

For the dressing:
2 tablespoons good cider vinegar
2 tablespoons good Champagne vinegar

Breaded cheese headed to refrigerator 

Pinch sugar
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1 extra-large egg yolk
1 cup good olive oil


Enough mixed salad greens for 6 servings
Olive oil and unsalted butter, for frying

Directions:
Slice the Montrachet into 12 (1/2-inch-thick) slices. 
Dip each slice into the beaten egg whites, then the bread crumbs
Be sure the cheese is thoroughly coated. 
Place the slices on a rack and chill them for at least 15 minutes.


For the salad dressing: 
Place the vinegars, sugar, salt, pepper, and egg yolk in the bowl of a food processor fitted with a steel blade
Blend for 1 minute. 
With the motor running, slowly pour the olive oil through the feed tube until the vinaigrette is thickened. Season, to taste.
Toss the salad greens with enough dressing to moisten, then divide them among 6 plates.


Warmed Cheese:
Melt 1 tablespoon oil and 1 tablespoon butter in a saute pan over medium-high heat until just under smoking. 
Cook the goat cheese rounds quickly on both sides until browned on the outside but not melted inside. 
Top each salad with 2 warm rounds and serve.

The finished product, Warmed Goat Cheese Salad

Tips:

• The easiest way to slice the goat cheese is with a strand of dental floss.  Using a knife will crush the cheese.
• I found that browning the cheese on each side for 30 seconds worked well.  Any less, and the bread crumbs weren't browned and any longer, the cheese started to melt.  

Recipe from the Food Network, Ina Garten

Motivational Monday

We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, therefore, is not an act but a habit.
-Aristotle

Going above and beyond what is required is a choice... make the choice to be excellent today! Happy Monday!

The Questions and Answers behind Kwanzaa

So, I have to admit that while I enjoy all things holiday,  I know nothing of the holiday called Kwanzaa.  I find authenticity in being well-rounded, so I wanted to find out more, skim the surface to uncover who celebrates Kwanzaa, the traditions included and what the holiday means to those who celebrate.

Kwanzaa was created by Ron Karenga and first celebrated December 26, 1966 - January 1, 1967.  Since the first celebration, the holiday has taken place over those same 7 days each year.  Festivities include the lighting of a kinara and ending with a feast and gift giving.  A kinara, a Swahili word for candle holder, holds seven candles and represents the roots that African Americans have in continental Africa.  There are three red on the left representing the African blood shed, three green on the right representing the land of Africa, and a single black candle in the center symbolizing the African race.

Kwanzaa, derived from the Swahili phase "matunda ya kwanza" meaning first fruit of the harvest, was created as the first specifically African American holiday, as a way for African Americans to celebrate their roots and as a way to reconnect with the African culture and history.  Over the course of seven days, seven principles are honored and celebrated. These principles include:

1. Umoja (Unity): To strive for and to maintain unity in the family, community, nation, and race and represented by the black candle.
2. Kujichagulia (Self-Determination): To define ourselves, name ourselves, create for ourselves, and speak for ourselves and represented by a red candle.
3. Ujima (Collective Work and Responsibility): To build and maintain our community together and make our brothers' and sisters' problems our problems, and to solve them together  and represented by a green candle.
4. Ujamaa (Cooperative Economics): To build and maintain our own stores, shops, and other businesses and to profit from them together and represented by a red candle.
5. Nia (Purpose): To make our collective vocation the building and developing of our community in order to restore our people to their traditional greatness and represented by a green candle.
6. Kuumba (Creativity): To do always as much as we can, in the way we can, in order to leave our community more beautiful and beneficial than we inherited it  and represented by a red candle.
7. Imani (Faith): To believe with all our heart in our people, our parents, our teachers, our leaders, and the righteousness and victory of our struggle and represented by a green candle.

Kwanzaa was originally created as an alternative celebration, denouncing Christmas. However, as the holiday grew in popularity, individuals who celebrate Kwanzaa chose to also celebrate the Christmas holiday.

Stocking stuffers

The stockings were hung by the chimney with care, in hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there... 

The Night Before Christmas

Each of the three Phelps children had a stocking that we hung on the mantle each year, with hopes that Santa Claus would fill the stocking with goodies, because we had, of course, been well behaved children every year! We followed the tradition, because it was all we knew, but where did the tradition of hanging stockings originate?

The first of two traditions says that it began in the 16th century with the children in Holland, who would leave their wooden shoes out on the hearth of the fireplace.  The shoes were stuffed with hay for the reindeer and a treat was left out for Santa.  In exchange, the jolly man would leave treats for the children in place of the hay.

Another tradition reads that there was an older gentleman who was down on his luck, had lost his wife and money, and had three unmarried daughters.  St. Nicholas overheard the four of them crying one night over their lack of food and inability to produce dowries for the each of the daughters, who were at a marrying age.  Knowing the nobleman would not accept charity, St. Nicholas had to think of a way to provide for them without making an obvious donation.  Later that night, when St. Nicholas was doing his rounds, he noticed that each of the daughters had washed their stockings and hung them by the fire to dry.  The next morning, when the family awoke, they found a purse of gold in each of the girl's stockings, enough for three dowries.

I want to share with you some stocking stuffers that I would like, as well as a few that I'm going to get for others on my Christmas shopping list.  It's always the little gifts that are the surprises and the ones that seem so genuine and well thought out...

Stocking Stuffers for the women in your life...

Frames by Towle
Necklaces by Kenneth Jay Lane

Some stocking stuffers for you or for the men in your life...

Cuff links at Charles Tyrwhitt
Grooming Accessories by Jagger