Christmas 2015, Our Favorite Things

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The Christmas season is upon us.  Bill, the kids, and I will be driving out to visit the Christmas tree farm this weekend; the decorations will be brought out from storage; and the sounds of Christmas music will be heard throughout the house.  As the shopping season begins, We wanted to share some of our favorite gift ideas. The products have been tested, used, and enjoyed by us or our dog, Glory.  It was fun putting the list together and we hope they will help you cross off one or more Christmas presents this season.

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1 — Wide vacuum insulated Klean Kanteen $24.95, keeps content hot up to 6 hours.  Easy to use and clean.  I like the variety of colors they offer, especially white.

2 — Starbucks Christmas Blend has become a part of our Christmas tradition.  We look forward to be able to enjoy it during the holiday season and to give as gifts.  1 lb-whole bean $14.95, 24 K-Cup packs $24.95, 12 VIA instant $11.95.

3 — Apilco Oval Porcelain Serving Platter $59.95
4 — Pillivuyt Rectangular Porcelain Serving Platter $119.95
Classic white serving platters from France.  Ideal gifts for those who loves to cook and entertain.  I used one recently to display fall decorations.

5 — Stonewall Kitchen Holiday Jam $7.95
6 — Sarabeth’s Orange Apricot Marmalade $11.00
The combination of these two gourmet products will make a great gift to give.  In addition, I like to make scones, cookies or bread to be added for a little personal touch.

7 — Victorinox Hunter XT Swiss Army Knife  $54. 95 is ideal gift for  the hunter and outdoor enthusiast.  The bright orange exterior is made of a non-slip material for easy grip and comfort in the hand. More info, YouTube.

8 — Antler Dog Chew $10.00 – $20.00 is great for dogs that love to chew things up.  It will last longer than most chew toys and it won’t splinter or chip.

9 — SmartWool Men’s Reversible Training Beanie $27.95
10— SmartWool Women’s Snowflake Flurry Socks $24.00
SmartWool products have been a part of our family wardrobe-accessories for years.  They are ideal gifts for the “no fuss” active person.  They will keep him/her warm and comfortable in cold weather.

11— Philosophy Super-size Snowman Shower Gel 32 oz. $28.00
12— Philosophy Super-size Purity Made Simple 32 oz $ 55.00
These are our everyday products.  Purity Made Simple is a favorite of my teen-girls as a one-step cleanser to remove makeup.  The 32 oz size bottles are great for our family and I don’t have to replenish often.  If you prefer, they come in smaller sizes.

13— Duncan Quinn $345.00 and London Undercover $150.00 are two sources for good quality umbrellas made with wood handle, wood shaft, and woven cotton fabric canopy.

14— Trask Reese leather clog, $248.00, limited quantity and colors {black} {brown}.  Similar style, Trask Gwen collection.

15— Hunter Men’s Original Tall Rain Boots $155.00

16— The Hobbit Trilogy Extended Edition $99.98 was released on November 17th. We have not seen the extended versions, but are looking forward to watching all three Hobbit adventures again. For a recap of the story click, here.

17— The Tale of Three Trees: A Traditional Folktale $14.99 is not a traditional Christmas children’s book. The story is about three trees that grew to become the manger, a boat and the cross of Jesus Christ.  It’s a great children’s book to be enjoyed year round.

This is typical northwest winter weather with cloud covered sky and sprinkling of rain throughout the day.  A good sturdy umbrella is always handy to have around.  Often times it’s an afterthought purchase and the cheapest will do.  I highly recommend purchasing a high-quality umbrella, it will change how you look at them. You will have confidence walking in the wind and rain. It’s also quite stylish.  The umbrella I have was purchased many years ago and no longer available.  The ones in the above list from London Undercover and duncan quinn are similar.

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Hot drinks in insolated mugs and tumblers are great ….especially for a slow coffee drinker like me that likes the first and the last sip to be just as hot.  There are many great ones out there to choose from.  I didn’t mention Bill’s camouflage coffee tumbler on the list because it’s no longer available.  The Klean Kanteen products are great and we like the simple design, easy to clean parts, and the variety of colors and styles to choose from.

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When it comes to purchasing a new pair of shoes or boots, it can be a little investment. When I gave Bill his Hunter boots as a gift fifteen or maybe twenty years ago, that was a big purchase. They have truly paid off and have been well used over the years.  My slip on clogs from Trask are new this year.  They are my everyday go-to footwear to keep my feet warm and comfortable.  The little extra platform is great to keep the rain water away and my ideal alternative to wearing boots.  The last pair of clogs I had were made by Ugg, loved them  I wore them almost everyday, the fussy shearling lining almost disappeared.  A good quality pair of shoes or boots will last a long time and well worth a little investment.

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With our coffee and latte in hand, an umbrella to shelter from the rain,  boots and clogs to keep our feet dry, we are ready to get on with the day.

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We love to hear from you, please share your favorite Christmas gift ideas with us..

Posted by Bill & Kay