Budget Shopping Made Simple

Walking down the street earlier this week I stumbled upon a sample sale. This one was for high-end pajamas, undies and robes. As I walked past, I started thinking about who I need to buy gifts for this holiday season and circled back to the sale.  I purchased some super soft hoodies for my nieces and thought about what I was going to get everyone else on my list.  My husband is from a big family and there are 11 cousins we give gifts to. They range in age from 4 to 26! I always try to be the cool aunt but also want to give something that I would like my children to receive. We have a budget for the gifts so everyone is gifting at the same level. 

I won’t bore you with the rest of the gifts I’ll be purchasing for the remaining cousins but the whole experience got me thinking about this type of gifting.  Often in offices or among groups of friends, you are in a situation where you are getting a gift for someone but have a spending limit for the gift.  You want to get something thoughtful but that is sometimes difficult with the limitations set.  The marketplace at Julie’s Beet has some great buys for the budget conscious. Here are some of my favorites in each category.  Let’s be honest, a $10 bar of chocolate is so much better than a $10 bottle of wine so focus you’re efforts here! 

Under $10 : Lucy’s Granola Toffee Crumbles… so sweet and delicious, the bag will be finished in one sitting but the recipient will be thanking you for days.

From $10 – $25 : P & T Tea … These boxes of tea are a work of art on the outside and filled with 15 tea bags to keep the recipient warm all winter long.

From $26 – $50: Pasta Tonight Gift Set … This set includes Due Cellucci Tomato Sauce, Semolina Artisanal Pasta & FIVE Extra Virgin Olive Oil.  Giving the gift of a good meal cannot be beat!

From $51-75: La Boîte Spice Blend Gift Set… what is better than one spice blend from La Boite? 4 of course. 

From $75-100: FIVE Oil & Vinegar Set… A bottle of FIVE Estate Balsamic Vinegar and FIVE Extra Virgin Olive Oil are a statement on any table.  Together this duo makes a great salad dressing or dipping sauce for bread.

It is never too early to start your holiday shopping.  We’ll include a handwritten not with every order and can even hold the order to ship closer to the holidays if that is your preference.

Happy Friday,

Julie

 

 

Gifts and DIY, Oh My!

Gift giving can be something of a chore but when you find the perfect gift it can be magical. Nothing beats watching someone open your present and seeing their eyes light up and a big grin come across their face.  That is when you know you made a good choice. This can happen for kids of all ages, meaning kids and grown-ups alike, have the same reaction to the perfect gift.  We’re coming down the home stretch of holiday gift giving but there is still time to get that perfect gift and also to have it arrive in time with out paying an arm and a leg for shipping😊You can check out our Experience Gift Guide here to find out how to give the whole experience and not just something in a box.

If you are more of the crafty type, here are some DIY ideas that you could make mostly with things around your house.

Chocolate Chip Cookie Mix in a Jar – Of course we would substitute chunks of our favorite Rococo Chocolates Bar in place of the chocolate chips but this recipe from Very Best Baking by Nestle hits all of the right notes.

T-shirt Chew Toy for Dogs – I actually made this one and my sister’s dog can’t put it down. We all have old t-shirts laying around, right?

Kid’s Dishtowel Apron – If your kids love to cook as much as mine do, this is the perfect use of one of those extra dish towels spilling out of your kitchen drawer.

With gift giving it is often more about adding a personal touch than it is about how much you spent. As long as the gift is from the heart it will be loved by the recipient.

Happy Friday,

Julie

P.S. Our Showroom will be open today and tomorrow from noon to 5pm for your holiday shopping needs. Stop by for a visit if you are in NYC, we’re at 210 W 80th Street New York, NY 10024.

Life’s a Picnic

A picnic seems to be a quintessential summer outing; a nostalgic activity that quite effortlessly releases one’s childhood spirit. There is something so relaxing and youth-inspiring about lounging on a blanket laid overtop grass covered ground underneath the burning summer sun, sharing food, laughter, and time with those whom you cherish. More than just mere eating on the ground al fresco, a picnic ignites the melody of the summer breeze, bringing forth a connection to the ease, joy, and fascinating energy of the summer months. We think that a picnic is all about joyful relaxation, so we’ve compiled a list of tips, tricks, and artisanal food products to make your time outdoors as effortless and stress-free as possible. As with most things in life, preparation is key, and with any luck, our tips below will be the start to a relaxing summer day!

Tips and tricks for the perfect picnic:
1)The right food is imperative! Food that isn’t fussy, packs and travels well, does not require multiple utensils, and is nearly mess free makes for perfect picnic eating. In addition to the amazing artisanal items in our Life’s a Picnic gift-set, you should find yourself packing things like an assortment of different sandwiches and wraps, chips with a few different dips like hummus and salsa, fresh fruit kabobs, vegetable crudite with hummus and pesto, a simple meat and cheese tray, crackers, and a few sweet options like cookies or brownies for dessert — maybe even an alcoholic slush for the adults. Make sure paper plates, utensils, napkins, and stackable disposable cups find a place in your basket as well — biodegradable and made from recycled materials if at all possible! Also, use frozen bottles of water to keep your chilled items cold, and then drink once they defrost. For more inspiration, check out our Life’s a Picnic Pinterest Board.

2)REMEMBER FOOD SAFETY! A picnic isn’t stress free and enjoyable if you get food poisoning. Remember to keep cold items cold, using plenty on ice packs and or frozen water bottles, and do not allow the food to sit out in the hot sun for too long before enjoying once your picnic is set up. Pack away the cold items when not in use, and pull out of the cooler when needed.

3)Cleanliness and sanitation is essential. When packing your basket, don’t forget a to add few empty trash bags, as well as wet-wipes, and hand sanitizer.

4)Stay hydrated! The summer sun can be brutal! In addition to summer inspired beverages, both adult and kid-friendly alike, don’t forget to pack bottled water as well. As noted above, use frozen bottles of water to keep your chilled items cold, but it doesn’t hurt to pack extra water just in case.

5)Sunscreen. If you’re planning on spending more than 30 minutes outdoors on a summer day, sunscreen is an essential element in your picnic pack. It may also be handy to pack some toxin-free bug spray.

6)A comfy blanket with a large surface area to fit you, your friends and loved ones, in addition to the food is a must — the foundation to a perfect picnic.

We hope these tips prove helpful! Enjoy the summer sun, everyone!

-Payton

Mother’s Day Round Up 2018

This year we decided to think outside of the (Gift)box for Mother’s Day and ask some of our artisans(who are also moms) what they would want for Mother’s Day this year.  While each of these women deserves to be pampered everyday for all their hard work in the kitchen and at home, they all seemed surprised that anyone would ask them what they want.  We’re so glad we did because their responses allowed us to put together this amazing list of gifts for moms that love to cook, hike, eat and just relax.

 Hedley & Bennett Ms. Marlin Chef Coat :  This Chef’s coat is designed specifically for women, has the look and feel of a traditional chef’s coat but is designed with a cleaner cut to highlight a woman’s curves.  Perfect for a day in the pasta kitchen according to Leah from Semolina Artisanal Pasta but also great for the home chef.

Darn Tough Micro Crew Hiking Socks: These hiking socks are made in Vermont but perfect for where ever your feet take you.  These socks are comfortable, durable and perfect for those days out in mountains or the urban jungle.

Chelsea Miller Chef’s Knife –These knives are for someone who takes their knife work very seriously.  Hand Made by Chelsea Miller, herself, each knife is a one-of-a-kind.  The perfect gift for your one-of-a-kind-mom who likes to cook.  To be honest, these knives are so amazing you could consider each one a work of art.

Persiana by Sabrina Ghayour – Lucy of Lucy’s Granola made it clear that she would love a home-cooked meal on Mother’s Day but not something ordinary.  She loves this cookbook and would eat anything from it.  Apparently, it is pretty difficult to get Ethnic Ingredients up in Maine so she would also love some of the special ingredients needed to cook from this book. Persiana is full of recipes from the Middle East bringing a lot of flavor to your table.

Stasher Bags –These bags are perfect for snacks and lunch on the go while also taking care of the environment.  In half gallon, sandwich and snack sizes these bags are perfect for mother’s and their children and they aren’t just for holding food. Cook in quantity and freeze portions to make packing lunch easy and feel good about reusing the bag.  Stasher bags are also great for carrying make up and small toy parts.

Plants – Whether you choose something with a flower or not, plants definitely make moms smile.  This Herb Garden Kit from The Tasteful Garden is perfect for the mom who likes to grow and also cook.  I’m secretly hoping I’ll find this waiting for me on Mother’s Day.

Maia Moda Breastfeeding Top –Give a pregnant or breastfeeding mom a wardrobe update that is beautiful yet still functional.  For those days when you want to upgrade your look to something a little closer to your pre-mommy style, the ladies over at Maia Moda have you covered (literally). This dual purpose maternity and breastfeeding top has it all from style to versatility and is even machine washable.    Not to mention the entire line is made in the USA.

Pair any one of these gifts with one of our gift sets and your Mother will feel like a queen for the day! I hope my family reads this list so I get something amazing.

Happy Friday,

Julie