Shop Little Gifts

Pickled Shallots by Pat Chun 八珍

noreply@blogger.com (sweettooth) — Sat, 30 May 2009 14:00:00 +0000

On the topic of summer entertaining, there is nothing that triggers your appetite more than pickles. Since I'm in Hong Kong right now, I'm going to feature one of my favorite asian snacks: pickled shallots. They are sweet, sour and crunchy, a perfect condiment for vietnamese or korean barbeques. Great pickles always garner an addictive following. Bring a couple bottles to your next alfresco dinner party and impress the crowd with this unique find.

Shopping Tip! When it comes to pickles, you have to select a traditional brand that has mastered the recipe. Here's one that's been around making soy sauces, chilli paste and specialty vinegar for generations. Available at Patchun.com.

Price: $4
For: Him, Her
Interests: Food
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Karen Neuberger Bamboo Sheets Giveaway

noreply@blogger.com (sweettooth) — Sat, 23 May 2009 10:29:00 +0000

Our friends at Karen Neuberger have kindly offered a set of Bamboo Sheets (valued at $34.99) for our ShopLittleGift readers.

To enter for a chance to win:
Simply write a comment below sharing your ideas for summer gifts. The best entry will be selected for this free gift. Enter by 11pm PST on Friday, May 29th!

Wine in the Park

noreply@blogger.com (sweettooth) — Sat, 23 May 2009 09:47:00 +0000

With summer just around the corner, it's time to plan all your outdoor excursions. Here's a great kit for wine-lovers to tote a bottle along for a Saturday afternoon stroll at the park, sailing with friends or a visit to an organic farm in the countryside. All you need with this is a crusty ham and cheese sandwich and perhaps a crunchy golden delicious. Available at HandPickedCollection.com.

Price: $51
For: Him, Her
Interests: Wine, Food, Gadgets
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Stonewall Kitchen - The Best of the Best Gift Basket

noreply@blogger.com (sweettooth) — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 01:34:00 +0000

Shopping Reminder! Just a friendly reminder, Mother's Day is rolling in very soon. It's May 10th this year!

Recently, I've been tasked to find a replacement for my grandmother's kiwi spoon. She is looking for the exact replica of her original one: a short spoon with half a kiwi as a handle. You would think that finding a kiwi spoon is a rather simple process. Well, nope, I've been looking high and low for it everywhere across the web. Definitely message me at shoplittlegifts@gmail.com if you locate one.

During this massive search for a spoon, I came across lots of fun kitchen specialty stores. Here's a find that will definitely say Happy Mother's Day in a sweet, decadent and appreciative way: a basket full of jams, jellies and breakfast essentials. Included in the basket are: Raspberry Peach Champagne Jam, Sour Cherry Jam, Wild Maine Blueberry Jam, Farmhouse Pancake & Waffle Mix, Pure Maine Maple Syrup...and much much more. Available at Stonewall Kitchen.

Price: $175
For: Her, Him
Interests: Food, Cooking
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Shopping Tip: Coupon Chief

noreply@blogger.com (sweettooth) — Fri, 10 Apr 2009 14:05:00 +0000

Shopping Tip!

Problem: Being a shopaholic, I'm also a big fan of coupons. The problem is that many of the sites out there are just way too cluttered and most of the time I find coupons that are not applicable.

Solution: Just discovered this coupon site, it's really easy to use and find up-to-date coupons and discounts. All you need to do is type in the site you are shopping from and they will show you the most recent coupons. The best part is that this is a user-generated coupon site; so coupons are submitted by people like us who want to shop smart and share the tricks on getting the best deal.

Some of my favorite sites:
Jcrew
Crabtree & Evelyn
Gaiam
BananaRepublic
eBags

Check it out and keep us posted if you find a great deal!

Candy Popcorn Movie Gift Basket

noreply@blogger.com (sweettooth) — Fri, 10 Apr 2009 14:00:00 +0000

Crunchy popcorn, chewy candy and a fizzy drink set the tone for a fun movie night with friends. Also included is a blockbuster certificate. Available at Giftbasketsfordelivery.com.

Price: $51.99 Get 10% off at Coupon Chief
For: Kids, Him, Her
Interests: Movies, Candy
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Sweet Cupcakes Baby Gift Basket

noreply@blogger.com (sweettooth) — Thu, 09 Apr 2009 21:47:00 +0000

So I've been searching for cupcake gift baskets but haven't successfully found one that looks and tastes delicious. Instead I came across this baby girl gift basket filled with baby essentials: organic hooded towel, short-sleeve onesie, socks, bib, blanket and more, all designed with the sweet cupcake motif. Available at SimplyUniqueBabyGifts.com.

Price: $169.95
For: Baby
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Do you know of a cupcake shop that makes cupcake gift baskets?

Mondavi's Cellar's Selection Gift Basket

noreply@blogger.com (sweettooth) — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 14:00:00 +0000

Price, value and appeal. The key to the formula of a worthwhile basket is that the appeal + value is greater than the actual price. Wine Country Baskets hits this mark with decadent baskets filled to the brim with several bottles of wine, a myriad selection of cheese, chocolates, nuts, crackers and more. Available at WineCountryBaskets.com.

Price: $114
For: Him, Her
Interests: Wine, Food
Buy Now

Dean & Deluca Gourmet Bagel Gift Basket

noreply@blogger.com (sweettooth) — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 21:38:00 +0000

The best gift baskets spring open an unusual surprise, in this case, bagels, lox and plenty flavor packed spreads. Included in the basket: 24 bagels, Scottish Salmon, Gravlax Salmon, Crème Fraîche, capers, Koeze Peanut Butter, Sarabeth's Peach Apricot Spreadable Fruit and more. Available at DeanandDeluca.com.

Price: $130
For: Him, Her
Interests: Food, Picnic
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What makes for a great gift basket?

noreply@blogger.com (sweettooth) — Sat, 04 Apr 2009 14:00:00 +0000

Whether you are shopping online or building your own basket at home, there are a few elements that will help you find or make an inviting and indulgent package.

Complementary Variety:
You want your recipient to experience nibbles of flavors, colors and textures. However, variety can sometimes be overwhelming and subtract from the overall experience. Think of elements in the basket as part of a story. If you are building a wine and cheese basket, try adding grapes, a wine opener, crackers, cocktail napkins, olives and dried apricots. Elements in basket should help the recipient create a complete experience. If you are doing a chocolate basket, try adding other types of fun candy to the mix: sour lemon, gummi bears or toffee pops. Candy in a range of flavors, shapes and mood add dimension to the gift.

Basket:
A simply weaved basket without adornments displays an old-fashion sense of sincerity. Baskets come in a variety of sizes. Tiny two inch oval ones filled with cherries or candy are small and sweet. Nantucket baskets always make a refined statement. Just make sure you find one that's slightly smaller than the contents you have for it; this way you can pack everything snugly without any items swimming around in space.

Packing:
When I walk into a store for a gift basket, I normally look around to see how things are displayed first before I even check out what is in the basket. If there is someone there packing on the spot, you might want to spend a few minutes observing the process.

Just like gourmet food, how something looks is equally important to how it tastes. A good basket has some stuffing in the bottom but doesn't disappoint with the quantity of goodies. You will find larger filler items forming a frame around one side of the basket, in front of which elements of the story unfolds. If it is a christmas basket, you will normally find a box of chocolates in the back, followed by tins of tea, jam, ginger bread cookies, ginger bread house, stollen, cheese and crackers. The display is above the rim of the basket and gradual from back to front. There is always a focal point around which everythings sits softly but securely.

Later this week, we are going to explore ideas for home-made gift baskets...stay tuned!

Do you make your own? For what occasion and what do you put in it?

Ultimate Gourmet Chocolate Easter Basket by Lake Champlain

noreply@blogger.com (sweettooth) — Sat, 04 Apr 2009 01:08:00 +0000

First up is an adorable chocolate easter basket by Lake Champlain. This colorful selection includes gourmet truffles, chocolate squares, a milk chocolate carrot and a pop of fruity jellybeans. Available at LakeChamplain.com.

Price: $89.50
For: Her, Him, Kids
Interests: Food, Chocolates
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What am I looking for this month?

noreply@blogger.com (sweettooth) — Sat, 04 Apr 2009 00:50:00 +0000

April 2009

Easter springs up just around the corner. Are you ready to send or deliver a gorgeous, edible and festive basket? This month, I'm going to find and explore the best gift baskets in the market. Send in your suggestions to shoplittlegifts@gmail.com. Happy April!

-Sweettooth

NatureMill Automatic Composter

noreply@blogger.com (sweettooth) — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 17:13:00 +0000

Technically, this is a not a *little* gift. But it's definitely a miniature version of the standard outdoor composter station. Take your apple peel, lemon rind, lettuce head - all the food scraps that can magically become rich compost in just two weeks. Best of all, this NatureMill has a small footprint and can sit in the kitchen, so you don't have to transport food scraps outdoors. A rotation mechanism and heating unit accelerates the decomposing process, and a carbon filter minimizes odors. Once the compost is ready, it transfers automatically into a soil chamber, ready for the spring garden of herbs, vegetables and fruits. Learn more about how it works, here. Available at NatureMill.com.

Price: $299
For: Him, Her
Interests: Gardening, Eco-Gifts, Home
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Hands On Art by Uncommongoods

noreply@blogger.com (sweettooth) — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 19:07:00 +0000

Instead of sweet edible rewards, why not try to entice your child with an everyday learning treat like this set of art books focused on tactile and interactive components. Expose a young talent to the feeling of Van Gough's famous pieces and Andy Warhol's iconic artwork. With digital learning, television, video games, smart electronics kids get fewer and fewer real experiences. Diversify their palette for discovering the world of culture with this fun and diverse collection. Available at Uncommongoods.com.

Price: $35
For: Kids
Interests: Art, Books
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Silver Crane Leather Pendant by MbLife

noreply@blogger.com (sweettooth) — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 18:00:00 +0000

Gift Challenge: My girlfriend is going to study abroad in Kyoto in the next few months. Before she leaves I want to get her something to remember me by. I'm looking for something "cute" by her standards but not too formal. Budget: under $60.

Aaah yes, the first significant but non-serious gift. Check out this silver crane on a leather strap, the design is ornate but the style is everyday. People will undoubtedly ask her where she got it and you will be proudly introduced. Available at MBLife.com.

Price $48
For: Her
Interests: Accessories
Buy Now

Action Organizing Clips by Mateo Ilasco

noreply@blogger.com (sweettooth) — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 19:30:00 +0000

Feeling under with all the papers, bills, projects and to-dos? Get ahead of the action curve by sorting your paper work with these smart paper clips to help prioritize and highlight your next steps. Available at MateoIlasco.com.

Price: $13 for set of four
For: Him, Her
Interests: Gadgets, Accessories, Stationery
Buy Now

Egg Timer by Lego

noreply@blogger.com (sweettooth) — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 14:00:00 +0000

Shop Mini Gifts! These are gifts that I would add as stocking stuffers and morsels of fun in goodie bags.

Are you always burning the toast, turning a medium-rare steak to medium-well steak, or letting the soy milk boil over? Well, it's time to get one of these. Available at Lego.com.

Price: $7.99
For: Her, Him, Kids
Interests: Gadgets, Accessories, Mini-Gifts
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Victorinox Werks Traveler 3.0 Deluxe Garmet Sleeve

noreply@blogger.com (sweettooth) — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 14:00:00 +0000

Gift Challenge: It's our 3rd anniversary coming up next week. I have no idea what to get my boyfriend. He's a consultant and has to fly between Chicago and Boston every other week. What do you get a practical, workaholic? He loves gadgets and smart devices but I've already gotten him the iphone, powerbook and itrip. Any good ideas? Preferably under $200.

I heard about this gift from a guy who received it and loves it. He described how useful a garment bag is for business travel. You can easily carry a suit and keep it wrinkle-free for a meeting after a flight. Accessories or toiletries can be tucked in the inner or outer accessories pockets. Also features: adjustable padded carrying strap and a detachable j-hook for hanging. Available at eBags.com.

Price: $139.99
For: Him
Interests: Accessories, Gadgets, Travel
Buy Now

Great Coffee Cakes, Sticky Buns, Muffins and More by Carole Walter

noreply@blogger.com (sweettooth) — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 14:00:00 +0000

Have you been craving sticky buns? On a cool spring morning, it's the perfect sticky, warm and delicious sweet bite to start the day. If you are like most people who are kicking the coffee shop habit and brewing home-made coffee for the drive to work, why not bake up a dozen or so muffins and sticky buns on the weekends for workday breakfasts. Award winning author Carole Walter shares over 20 years of experience in her meticulous and foolproof recipes. Available at Amazon.com.

Price: $23.10
For: Him, Her
Interests: Baking, Food, Home, Books
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Polka Dot Sock Box by Boden

noreply@blogger.com (sweettooth) — Mon, 09 Mar 2009 18:36:00 +0000

Gift Challenge: I have a couple baby showers coming up. I don't have time to go to the stores and pick up something from the registries. Is there something at an affordable price point that I can get a couple of that the new moms will appreciate and use?

Get a few boxes of polka socks. They send a fancy yet practical message and I'm sure both the new moms and babies will enjoy warm, colorful feet. Available at Bodenusa.com

Price: $25
For: Baby
Buy Now

Teak Swing by Design Within Reach

noreply@blogger.com (sweettooth) — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 16:00:00 +0000

This is one of the most unexpected gifts. Whether it's for a special anniversary, a child's birthday or a housewarming party, it will definitely be cherished. The simple and contemporary open waffle design prevents rainwater from getting trapped. Fasten it outside under a pergola, tree or beam. Available at DWR.com.

Price: $297
For: Him, Her, Kids
Interests: Outdoors, Fun, Home
Buy Now

What am I looking for this month?

noreply@blogger.com (sweettooth) — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 20:52:00 +0000

March 2009
Spring is well on the way. It has always been a time of new beginnings. Are you planting your garden, decluttering your home or just embracing a fresh motto in life? This month I'm looking for ideas to making life brighter, happier and more delightful. Don't know what to get someone? Email in your gift challenges. As always, you can reach me at shoplittlegifts@gmail.com.

-Sweettooth

Wedding Day Survival Kit

noreply@blogger.com (sweettooth) — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 19:00:00 +0000

Gift Challenge: I'm heading to a bridal shower in a few weeks. What should I get the bride/bachelorette?

Here's an idea that other people probably would not think of: essentials for the wedding day. She will thank you for helping her by pass all the little mishaps during the day. Included in the kit are: toothbrush, toothpaste, dental floss, mints, drinking straw (absolutely essential!), pain reliever, antacid (right after lunch and before the ceremony), mending kit (yes, the train can get battered), safety pins, stain remove (absolutely, positively, necessary especially after the photos and before the ceremony) and many more... Available at Mr&Mrs.com.

Price: $49
For: Her
Occasion: Wedding Day, Bridal Shower
Buy Now

Other fun ideas:
Soaps
Lipgloss
What Happy Women Know/Rachael Ray Cookbook
Clarisonic Skin Care System
Brown Sugar Body Polish
Working Girl Survival Kit
Honey Bee Gift Box

Yu-Be Moisturizing Skin Cream

noreply@blogger.com (sweettooth) — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 23:17:00 +0000

When it comes to skincare, it's always good to stick with formulas that have been around for a while; the wisdom of the crowd over time is generally a good sign especially when it comes to the sensitivity of your skin. Yu-Be, a Japanese brand, has been producing this vitamin enriched skincare formula for over 50 years. Unlike many of the products in the market today that are petroleum based resulting with an oily and ineffective result, Yu-Be is made with glycerine, vitamin E and vitamin B2 to combat dry, cracked skin. Available at Yu-Be.com.

Price: $24
For: Him, Her
Interests: Beauty, Spa, Skincare
Buy Now

What's your go-to moisturizer?

ESPN Subscription

noreply@blogger.com (sweettooth) — Thu, 26 Feb 2009 23:04:00 +0000

Gift Challenge: I am needing a gift for my boyfriend who is in college at Wake Forest. I go to college in Texas. We have known each other since 6th grade and dated for 3 years. He is very thoughtful and romantic. He plays basketball and is learning Chinese. He plans on being involved in international business and will be studying in China in his junior year. Hope you can help.

Shopping for guys can be difficult. Ideally you want to find something romantic but not too cute, functional but not too boring, trendy but not overly stylish. Here are some ideas, see what you think:

READ
-Most basketball lovers would enjoy this:
ESPN magazine subscription $26

PRACTICE
-I'm sure your boyfriend is taking chinese classes, but this may be really helpful for everyday use, I have a copy and love it:
15 minute chinese $15.56

EAT
-For something on the cute/romantic side, perhaps you could get him a pair of these egg cups, so you can enjoy them when you visit:
Alessi Egg Cup $17

PLAY
-This is a fun electronic version of taboo, definitely useful in the dorm or at parties:
Catch Phrase $25.99

ORGANIZE
- My favorite of all is this Fossil wallet - it's functional, stylish and will be perfect for his year abroad and something he can remember you by everyday.
Fossil Traveler Apex $30

What would you pick? Feel free to share other ideas!