The gift of giving

As it is with fine food, presentation is a critical component of gift giving.  It excites the senses and, frankly, gives you a bit of a reprieve when it comes to the actual contents within.

My girlfriends gushed over these little boxes I gave them last night.  They’re adorable!  Inside was about $15 worth of lip balm and a hand-painted magnet, both from Anthropologie.  It’s my favorite place to find trinkets and treasures, especially if you’re a frequent visitor and can take advantage of their deep discounts. http://www.anthropologie.com

Another great and practical gift is this awesome reusable grocery bag by Ityse (it comes in a compact carrying case with several other bags).

Not only are they stylish, practical, washable and strong,  they’re also made in the USA…in fact Ityse contracts its production with Oregon Corrections Enterprises (OCE). OCE provides inmates with skills to enhance their opportunities to secure employment upon release.

A large percentage of wages earned by the prisoners are returned to the community in the form of payments to victim’s restitution and child support. OCE is NOT funded by tax dollars.  Cool, huh?!   http://www.ityse.com

And, for the gift that keeps on giving, I have to give a shout out to my favorite farm friend, MaryJane Butters.  Her magazine is gorgeous and professional, yet as homegrown as it gets.  MaryJane takes the majority of the beautiful photographs on her organic farm in Moscow, Idaho and works with her small, smart, resourceful staff to create a conscientious, clever and creative magazine low on advertisements and high on content.

http://www.maryjanesfarm.org/magazine.html

And, I’d be remiss in not mentioning Ree!

“The Pioneer Woman Cooks; Recipes from an Accidental Country Girl” is delightful new cookbook.

Ree Drummond has parlayed her incredibly popular blog into an incredibly lucrative publishing career.

“I’m the wife of a rugged cowboy. I’m the mother of four spirited children. I have horse poop on my porch. I’m Ree Drummond, also known as The Pioneer Woman. You can read more about my adventures, my cooking, and my photography on my crazy website.”

Her self-deprecating humor makes her lovable, her talents make her marketable, and her country cookbook makes a great gift!

ThePioneerWoman.com