.::|TheDish|::.

Spoon Sisters & The Message Bean

Looking for a gift for a friend or relative that's a little creative or unique? A colleague of mine introduced me to a site called The Spoon Sisters. It's jam-packed with fun stuff, from practical and functional products like these Wobble Wedges or these travel nailpolish remover packets, to sillier items like the Hangover from Hell Eyemask and Clocky - The Alarm Clock that Runs Away and Hides.

What caught my eye, though, was this Message Bean; it's a little plant bean that has a word and an image lasered onto either side. With water, the bean grows into a plant, and the word and image is revealed on the plant.

Pretty wild! Available bean-types are: Thank You (with Thanks in Japanese), Love (with a heart), Happy Birthday (with a musical note), Happy Holiday (with two stars on the other side), and Get Well (with Get Well written in Japanese on other side).

Happy shopping!

Yet Another B-Day Surprise!

Last night, Mike surprised me with this absolutely stunning pair of diamond and platinum earrings! They are from the Hearts on Fire collection, a Boston-based diamond company that I think has by far the most amazing cuts; the diamonds sparkle like no others. Thank you baby for making this b-day unforgettable, and for this overly generous gift! And thanks to all my girlfriends for helping Mike select the perfect pair; you guys are amazing. As a friend puts it, "you got a good guy (and friends with good taste don't hurt)". That's the truth.

An Amazing Wiikend

This weekend, the beau and I traveled to Westchester County, NY to spend some long overdue time with one of my best friends and her husband. There, we were introduced to the Nintendo Wii; I am not at all a gamer, but the Wii kicks ass! Yes, its primitive from a graphics perspective - no life-like Halo 3 for sure - but its physical, interactive, somewhat unpredictable, and most definitely addictive entertainment!!! Oops, I forgot to say dangerous!

We played golf, bowling and tennis- I know you are asking, "how dangerous can that be"? Well, I am now battling the "Wii Arm", a sharp pain in my shoulder blade and arm as though I forgot to stretch before an intense workout. Thankfully, all the pain managed to yield some reward - I won one tennis match against those damn Wii characters. In chatting with other Wii-ers, I caught wind of a few websites devoted to Wii related incidents, accidents and foolery such as Wii Injury and Wii Have a Problem. And its clear that my injuries are wii ones in comparison to these por folks - ouch (image courtesy of Engadget):

It's hilarious, and painful. I am the first to say that Wii brought out the spastic, accident-prone best in myself and I can't wait to bring that excitement to my living room soon!

Mom's Day Ideas From Anthropology

If you are looking for some unique Mother's Day ideas, check out Anthropology. They have some hip kitchen accessories for Mom, like this adorable Ringa Apron, with matching Ringa Oven Mitt. If Mom is a young mother or a grandmother, throw in a matching Ringa Kids Apron for the little one. Adorable.

Wine Arc

I just love this Wine Arc by Molley Kinney & its just $21! You should check out the Zanisa site for other cool gifts and gadgets, all at great prices.

Valentine's Day Gifts for Him

Here's a few cool gift ideas for HIM for Valentine's Day:

Cole Haan Personal Kit
Red Envelope Leather Catchall
Massage or Spa Treatment
The Heavenly Bed from the Westin Hotels
Best Boutique Napa Cabs
The SupremePillow by Tempur-Pedic™
Restoration Hardware Monogram Decanters

Or there is always just a little extra lovin'... the best gift in my book :)

More Gifts, for the Lady

For the shoes and handbags obsessed lady, also with a sweet tooth, check out these unique gifts from Neiman Marcus:

Handbag Cookie Jars:

Two-Piece Handbag & Shoe Dessert Set:

Krinkles Shoes Cake Stand:

Winston's Perfect Orchid

I received the most beautiful orchid (my favorite flower) from Mike, as a welcome gift at my new gig. The plant, from Winston's Flowers, stretches about 3 feet tall, the buds are young and vibrant, and it has received so many oooh's and ahhh's on just the second day in it's new home. If you are looking for something to light-up someone's workspace (and their life!) I strongly recommend sending and gift from Winston's.

A B*tchin' Wine

I remember reading how there are strict regulations on exactly what can be on a wine label; nothing provocative, offensive, and no "dirty" words. Well, I was shocked, and truthfully so excited, to see this bottle as part of the Brix pix of the week; I guess the label-laws have relaxed! Yes, its "Bitch", an Australian Grenache produced by Chris Ringland of Three Rivers and imported by Dan Philips of the Grateful Palate. The back of the label is hysterical; its says "bitch" 77 times followed by "some more":

So, yes, I had to purchase one for myself (2005 @ $12/bottle), and another for a good friend that seems to be passionate about, well, saying whatever is on her mind :). And the wine is actually quite amazing for the price: ruby; cherry; strawberry; a hint of spice; chocolate. Its a definite must to have in your collection, if just for the bitchin' label.

Beauty Gifts for Him

'Tis the season for sharing, so here are some more great gift-giving ideas! eDiets has just  published the top-10 beauty gifts for him. I think there are some great ideas here for your metro-man!

1. Baxter of California, Anti-Aging Package, $50
Nourish and protect your skin with this ensemble of moisturizers designed to nourish, balance and firm skin to reduce visible signs of aging. Your kit includes: Under Eye Complex, Enriched

2. Kerstin Florian Gentlemen's Face Kit, $45
Vitamin E, a powerful antioxidant, and soothing Chamomile are combined with sunscreens to effectively protect again sun exposure and premature aging! Calms redness, smoothes and nourishes your skin.

3.New Beauty magazine’s TestTube, $25 each
It’s a package you simply can’t beat. When you sign up, you’ll receive four tubes per year, each filled with different skin-care samples and an easy-to-follow guide filled with valuable information about the products. It’s a great way for him to try the best and newest product and find out what he really likes.

4.Armani Code,by Giorgio Armani for Men 2.5 ounce Eau de Toilette Spray, $60
Armani Code for men is inspired by the timeless sensual style and elegance that one can expect only from Giorgio Armani. For the sexy and modern man, a seductive fragrance with an alluring freshness.

5. Truefitt & Hill Ultimate Comfort Shaving Gift Set, $60
Any gentlemen (or any man who aspires to be one) looking to master the perfect shave will appreciate the timeless dedication of Truefitt & Hill. The Gift Collection includes: Ultimate Comfort Pre-shave Oil (2 ounces), Ultimate Comfort Shaving Cream Travel Tube (3.5 ounces), Pure Badger Hair Brush (3.75 inches), Ebony Bath & Shower Stand.

6. NYNE LIVES. New Male Fashions, $45 to $100
NYNE (New You New Energy) is designed to help men of all ages navigate their NYNE LIVES in our multi-tasking world -- whether they move from the college classroom or the corporate boardroom to daycare pickup to dinner out. NYNE offers a lot of new, luxurious, versatile and affordable "guy gifts" -- corduroy and velvet jackets, upscale, patterned shirts, trousers, sweaters and more.

7. GoSMILE, ADVANCED Formula B1, $89
Whiten with new ADVANCED formula B1, the most potent form of tooth whitening outside the dentist's office. It's clinically proven to whiten teeth up to 10 shades in just 7 days, without compromising tooth enamel or causing sensitivity. GoSMILE ADVANCED also safely lifts stains from porcelain crowns and veneers. You're just 7 days from a brilliant, beautiful, white smile.

8. Md Formulations Men's Vit-A-Plus Eye Creme, $47.70
Dramatically reduces the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, and it instantly hydrates around the delicate eye area. Improves skin texture and firmness. Soothes, calms and reduces the look of puffiness. Ideal for all skin types and contact lens users.

9. Destination, Hair Gift Box, $44
Destination Hair Gift Box comes in a distinctive metal box lined with a real highway map. Your kit includes the following full-sized products: Destination Adirondacks Daily Shampoo (I-87) 8.5 ounces, Destination Blue Ridge Mountains Conditioner (I-85) 8.5 ounces and Destination Red Rocks Hair Pomade (I-40) 3.3 ounces.

10. California North Titanium Self Tanner, $22
California North makes this self tanner with men in mind. It has a refreshing, citrus scent and is easy to apply. It uses a combination of natural ingredients to give you a medium tan or help maintain the one you already have.

The Chic Connect Four Game

We all remember the game called Connect Four, by Hasbro. Well, check out this chic twist on the old-school favorite, available at Intuition! Also check out the swanky Travel Tic-Tac-Toe, travel Puzzle of Patience game, and the all-in-one Backgammon, Checkers and Chess game. What great gift ideas for that hard-to-buy-for guy!

Smittens

I am a fan of cutesy, thoughtful gifts and definitely a fan of Restoration Hardware's unique ideas for gift-giving, but come on! Smittens?!?! I mean, we all are smitten at one point in time, but these are just a tad silly, don't you think? I know my boyfriend would not be into sporting these, would your significant other? At least it was good for a holiday chuckle!

La La Ling & Appaman T's

In search of a cool baby gift? I just love La La Ling, a kid's boutique in L.A. They now carry the Appaman bulldog T (as seen on Brangelina's son Maddox) in long sleeve! Also, they have an Appaman T-Shirt Club; for $100, your little one will receive 4 designer T's in a year, before they even hit the stores! I wonder if they can be ordered in size-increments of 3 months, seeing first-hand how much kids grow in a year!

O-Riedel

I am always looking for the perfect, functional gift for a family member or friend, and other folks are always asking me for advice on cool gift-giving. Well, I have the perfect suggestion for a sophisticated wine connoisseur who is also a new parent. Made by Riedel, Austrian fine-glass makers, the glasses from the "O" wine series are missing something - the stem! These tumblers have the elegant and sophisticated design that's Reidel's signature, but are also perfect for daily wine drinking and particularly perfect for households that have little adventurous ones constantly getting their fingers into everything. So rather than downgrading your glassware when you have kids, just go for something classy but functional! The glasses are available in different sizes, associated with the different grape varietals: Cabernet/Merlot; Pinot/Nebbiolo; Syrah/Shiraz; Chardonnay; Viognier/Chardonnay; Riesling/Sauvignon.

Simon Pearce Madison Carafe

Today we received a beautiful gift from Mike's parents, Esther and Carl, as thanks for a fabulous weekend in Boston 2 weeks ago. From Simon Pearce, this elegant hand-blown decanter will undoubtedly aerate our Reds to perfection, as well as assuredly be put to great use! Thanks so much, Esther and Carl, we love it!

Samsung 50" Plasma!

We decided it's time to make the investment in a new flat screen, and so we did :). Check out the new 50" Samsung Plasma HDTV that we will be perched in front of tomorrow eve, if everything goes as planned... yeah!!!

The Laundress

I stumbled across The Laundress website the other day, a site devoted to products that will help you clean up your life - literally. The collection features detergents for your swimwear, wools, or dark loads; fabric conditioner for a soft touch; scented ironing water; all created to safeguard and extend the life of your most treasured threads. There is also a section to purchase laundry totes and accessories, and a form to to "Ask the Laundress", for those of you who are "sick of the yellowing on your favorite T's" or for those crafting ways to hide the terrible stain on their favorite garment. You can order online or see the list of retail stores in the Massachusetts area that carry "The Laundress" products if you prefer. What a great option when searching for a unique gift for that tough-to-buy for friend, or simply for a trendy way to air out your dirty laundry.