Celebrate a Graduate with Lladro

Posted on May 17, 2013 by Jess
Lladro His Commencement

Lladro Figurine - His Commencement

This weekend is going to be especially busy in town.  It is graduation weekend at the University, which means a mass influx of family and friends to watch the procession of new graduates. Final exercises is a truly joyous occasion when parents and grandparents are full of pride for their child’s academic accomplishments, spouses share in the moments of another great milestone of their marriage, and professors rejoice in their successful mentoring of young students to mature graduates.  After the diploma ceremonies, the celebrations continue around town because there are the festive post-graduation dinners and parties planned.  My husband and I already have a mother and daughter graduation party to attend to next weekend, which takes me back to memories of my own graduation party, which I shared with my brother who also graduated from college that same year.

Lladro Female Doctor

Lladro Figurine - Female Doctor

Are you looking for a special gift to give to a recent graduate?  Lladro and Nao by Lladro has a selection of porcelain figurines to mark a graduate’s achievements.  There are the His Commencement or Her Commencement figurines to choose from, both in the classic Lladro glossy finish, with each figurine showing the attributes of a graduate, a long black gown with mortarboard cap and a diploma in hand.  If the graduate completed medical or nursing school, then what a wonderful way to acknowledge their accomplishments by giving a Lladro Male or Female Doctor  or the very popular Lladro Nurse porcelain figurine. There are also several other Lladro Professions figurines that reflect the graduate’s course of study, such as for science and education.  When choosing your gift, remember that GiftCollector.com offers Free Shipping on all Lladro orders over $150.

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Happy Mother’s Day

Posted on May 12, 2013 by Jess

We hope you had a wonderful Mother’s Day!  Over the weekend I was gift shopping for my

Celebrate your Mom with this mom bead from Chamilia

Mom Chamilia Bead

own mother and it was very noticeable that a really popular gift item for this special day to honor moms was a charm bead.  The lines to look at and purchase beads were so long! Jewelry always seems to be a much appreciated gift by mom, and picking-out those unique beads to show your love and care for her is something very special and a great tradition from year to year.

Chamilia Clearance Sale. Glitter Purse Chamilia Bead

Glitter Purse Chamilia Bead

If you don’t want to endure the lines at malls, don’t forget that GiftCollector.com currently has many charm beads and jewelry by Chamilia on 30-50% clearance, including sterling silver, 14k gold, sparkling Swarovski crystal, and beautifully crafted Italian murano glass beads. Whether it is for Mother’s Day, a birthday or graduation gift, Chamilia jewelry makes a wonderful personalized gift. Mixing and matching the many different beads can truly reflect her interests and personal style. GiftCollector also offers Free Ground Shipping on all Chamilia orders over $50.

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Baby’s First Dinner Set

Posted on May 8, 2013 by Jess
Royal Doulton Bunnykins

Royal Doulton Bunnykins

I have a baby shower to attend this coming Saturday and unfortunately I was too late with picking the item I wanted to give from the baby registry, a baby’s first dinnerware set. I think they make wonderful, traditional baby giftware.  There are still many much needed practical gifts on the registry, like of course clothing, bath time accessories, a diaper bag, a bouncy chair, etc. but I still would have loved to give an item that becomes a real keepsake.

GiftCollector has great baby giftware sets from the Royal Doulton Bunnykinsseries,

Wedgwood Peter Rabbit Baby Set

Wedgwood Peter Rabbit Baby Set

including the 3-piece children’s set which has a plate, bowl, and one-handled mug, and the 2-piece baby set with a baby plate/bowl and a two-handled mug. Each piece depicts different Bunnykins scenes on Royal Doulton fine china, but is still practical for everyday use because they are dishwasher and microwave safe.  Each set comes in a gift box, ready to give to a special baby or toddler.  If you are a fan of the timeless children’s classic tale Peter Rabbit, then you will love the children’s dinnerware sets from Wedgwood Peter Rabbit. There is the original 3-piece set or the Wedgwood Peter Rabbit Christening 3-piece set to choose from, each containing a bowl, plate, and mug.  Each piece beautifully depicts a scene from Beatrix Potter’s most famous story.

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Cinco de Mayo…with a Twist

Posted on May 5, 2013 by Jess
Villeroy & Boch Twist Alea Limone 18 piece set

Twist Alea Limone

Cinco de Mayo  has developed into a celebration of Mexican heritage and culture. As with any celebration, there is a large emphasis on the gathering of friends and family around great food and drinks.  There are a few wonderful Mexican restaurants in the area, but today may not have been the best day to go out to eat unless you want to spend quite some time waiting in line for a table.  So I had an attempt tonight at semi-replicating my favorite menu item from a great local restaurant. They serve these awesome fish tacos with this fantastic pickled side salad that adds just the right amount of acid to the dish and fish.  Well I didn’t go through the trouble of pickling any veggies (not even sure how to do that!), so a simple side salad just had to do.  But the whole time I was preparing dinner I kept craving that one restaurant’s house made chips and salsa.  I could only imagine how crowded that restaurant was on this particular holiday, but maybe I could have endured the wait just for those yummy house made chips…

What were your celebration plans for Cinco de Mayo? GiftCollector.comhas some really

Villeroy & Boch Twist Alea Verde

Twist Alea Verde

festive dinnerware for all of your latin-inspired dishes, including Villeroy & Boch’s Twist Alea which has a bright color-blocked design that comes in three different complementary colors: Caro, Verde, and Limone.  They can be mixed and match to create a vibrant table setting for serving-up those spicy recipes. For a limited time GiftCollector is offering a 50% off sale on the entire collection of Twist Alea by Villeroy & Boch. Offer ends May 24! Happy 5th of May!

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A Mother’s Love

Posted on May 2, 2013 by Jess
Lladro - Someone To Look Up To

Lladro - Someone To Look Up To

Mother’s Day is just a little over a week away.  Do you know what you might be getting her?  Fresh flowers are by far the most popular Mother’s Day gift year after year.  My siblings and I always do give my mother flowers and some years we combine our efforts to also give her a really awesome gift.   This year I am going to suggest maybe we get her a lovely gift that she could enjoy year round.

Lladro has beautifully crafted mother and child figurines

Lladro - Unconditional Love

Lladro - Unconditional Love

depicting all the love between a mother and her child.   I am especially fond of the figurine Someone To Look Up To because I do look up to my mom as my number one role model and confidant. There is also some fun charm in giving this particular figurine to my mom because although the child depicted is looking up to the mother, in reality my mom is a very short woman at five feet and my brothers and I tower over her.

Maybe you see a figurine in the Lladro collection that depicts the special relationship you share with your mom.  Perhaps it is Goodnight My Angel (new for 2013), Look Mommy! , Bedtime Story, or simply Wonderful Mother.  Each figurine is made of classic porcelain and styled in Lladro’s signature soft colors. GiftCollector is an authorized Lladro dealer and offers free ground shipping on all Lladro orders over $99, just in time for Mother’s Day!

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Main Street Revival

Posted on May 1, 2013 by Jess
Snow Village - Sophia's Pizzeria

Snow Village - Sophia's Pizzeria

Over the weekend I met with an old friend from college for lunch. She was staying just outside of Washington DC for work and rather than her driving all the way to my place in Central Virginia we thought it would be a good idea to meet at a half-way point.  I suggested the town of Culpeper because I had never been there before and had heard there were some great lunch places and it has a wonderful historic downtown area. It was more than a pleasant afternoon and I was so impressed by the main street revival going on in Culpeper.  What was very noticeable is how many of the historic building facades have been restored, but with a new wave of small businesses of restaurants, clothing boutiques, and specialty shops.  As we walked along the main street of the downtown area and saw all the historic buildings, it reminded me very much of the Department 56 Snow Village.

Department 56 Snow Vilalge Fire House

Department 56 Snow Vilalge Fire House

Many buildings reminiscent of 1950s small town America are captured in the designs and characters of the Dept56 Snow Village. After visiting Culpeper, it was very charming to see in a sense a real life Snow Village and I am sure to visit during the Christmas season when the historic downtown area is with holiday decorations and maybe even some snowfall!  GiftCollector has all the newest DE56 houses where you can bring a bit of main street to your village, like Sophia’s Pizzeria, The Little Brown Church, or the Jackie’s Cards & Gifts shop. You can also visit our sister website, Department56Corner.com, and browse all the villages and accessories that we offer.

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Spring Cleaning. Don’t forget the bath!

Posted on April 21, 2013 by Amy

It’s Sunday and I could finally get some spring cleaning done today.  This time of year I love to have the doors and windows open to get some fresh air, but unfortunately that also means I am inviting a wave of pollen to enter my house.  I’m lucky so far that I don’t have spring allergies so the outdoor air was still refreshing, but the pollen dust is now very noticeable inside.  So after some heavy-duty dusting and vacuuming, I left my cleaning pet peeve to the very end, the bath.  Of course after a day of cleaning I myself want to get clean, but how disappointing is that to have the other rooms in the house cleaned and then step into a messy bathroom.  I actually have my very own bathroom that I don’t need to share with my husband so at least whatever mess there is, is my mess.  For me, my bathroom was another room to decorate so I went all out with picking the right colored bath rugs, matching towel sets, shower curtain, and many bath accessories.  When it’s time to clean sometimes I dread that I have so much bathroom décor, but in the end I get a great sense of satisfaction when everything is spotless and shiny clean.

If you are looking for a great way to add some color and a feel of luxury to your bath, GiftCollector offers the Casafina Bath Collections.  The Casafina 17thCentury Stoneware Bath Collection comes in several colors, including blue, teal, green, and multi-pink. Some of the matching bath accessories to choose from are the classic boutique tissue box holder (5.5”x 5.75”), tumblers, soap dishes, and wastebaskets. Additional ornate design bath collections by Casafina include, Casafina Blue Lattice , French Twist, and Spring Flowers.  For the less ornate designs, there are the Casafina Costa Nova Bath Collection in simple, yet bold stripes, and the handcrafted Casafina Capiz Bath, which is made of pearlescent capiz shells in either solid Pearl or Champagne color.

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A Wine Trail at Home

Posted on April 19, 2013 by Amy

It looks like we are going to have another weekend with fantastic weather here in Central Virginia.  One great activity to do here is to go on a wine trail.  Last weekend while strolling our downtown area, we stumbled across the Monticello Wine Trail Festival, which is a once a year event when over 20 wineries at one location offer wine tastings, together with music and food vendors.  I had no idea this event was happening that day, but it was one of those moments when I thought, “we should go on a wine trail more often”, something we normally only do if we have guests from out of town.  Plus, it seems like there are new wineries added every year so it keeps it a fresh activity.  What exactly is a wine trail?  The Monticello Wine Trail pays homage to Thomas Jefferson’s winemaking pursuits in Virginia and provides suggestions for a day of visiting wineries, but each of the five wine trails focuses on a particular region of Central Virginia winemaking.  They usually group together about 5-10 wineries all in close proximity to each other.  It is a great way to enjoy a guaranteed scenic drive and plan for an outdoor picnic on the beautiful winery grounds.

Lenox Tuscany Classics Burgundy Glasses

Lenox Tuscany Classics Burgundy Glasses

If you can’t make it to a winery where you live then there is always still enjoying a glass (or two) of wine closer to home.  GiftCollector has many wine stemware choices, including from Noritake, Villeroy & Boch, Lenox, and Dartington.  Currently, we are offering up to 40% off the regular price on the very popular Tuscany Classics Collection from Lenox.  Offer ends April 26!!! Taking its inspiration from the Tuscan vineyards, Tuscany Classics captures the sensual pleasures of Italy.  There are great sets of 6 glasses for classic red or white wines.  Also, the Tuscany Classics Collection has stemware and decanters for every type of wine, including champagne, Beaujolais, and Chardonnay.  Also, the stemless tumblers are a very nice alternative to traditional stemware.  If you are planning a tasting party, Lenox Tuscany Classics also has all the entertaining accessories one would need to round out your wine tasting experience.  The Lenox Tuscany Cheese and Cracker Board design combines a rustic crafted wood inset with sleek, modern metal sides. The Stainless Tray and Crystal Bowl set would be perfect for serving tapas or small bites to pair with wine.

Lenox Tuscany Classics Serving Set

Lenox Tuscany Classics Serving Set

 

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Cooking for the week: Pizza

Posted on April 17, 2013 by Amy

I am absolutely in love with my bread machine.  It was a present to myself last Christmas and it took me a good couple months to research which one I wanted to buy and talk myself into making the big purchase.  I had a cheaper secondhand bread machine a few years back, but I wasn’t too happy with it.  The crust never came out right or the rising was always off and then eventually the motor went kaput.  So when I read such great reviews about this one, then I was willing to pay a little bit more and I am glad I did.  A good loaf of fresh bread from a bakery can set you back anywhere from $3.50 to $7! I would also buy store shelf sandwich bread because it was cheaper, but you can’t compare it to freshly baked bread. Plus, I love the smell of baking bread that fills my house.

Wilton Armetale Pizza Gourmet Grill Pan

Wilton Armetale Pizza Gourmet Grill Pan

For this week, I made some quick rising pizza dough in the bread machine.  It’s done in 45mins and then it is ready to bake or you can freeze the dough for later.  This recipe makes two dough balls for a thin crust pizza or one ball for thick crust.

Bread Machine Pizza Dough

1 ¼ cups water

2 Tbsp olive oil

1 ½ cups whole wheat flour

1 ½ cups all-purpose flour

1 ½ Tbsp granulated sugar

1 tsp salt

2 tsp rapid rise yeast

Optional: Try adding garlic powder or dried herbs

Add ingredients  (in order) to bread machine.  Use Quick Dough Course or set your machine to the following settings: 9mins (Preheating), 21mins (Kneading), 10mins (First Rising), Stir down/Punch, 5mins (Second Rising).  Preheat oven to 400F.  The dough will be tacky so use a bit of flour to shape dough in the pizza pan.  Add your toppings.  For this week I made two pizzas:  a ‘Hawaiian’ with mozzarella, pineapple and prosciutto and a BBQ chicken pizza with Weber original BBQ sauce, caramelized onions, and mozzarella.  Cook pizza for 20-25mins.

Wilton Armetale Deep Dish Pizza Pan

Wilton Armetale Deep Dish Pizza Pan

For pizza bakeware options, pizza stones and non-stick pans work well, but so do these great pizza pan options on GiftCollector.com from Wilton Armetale.  The Wilton Armetale Gourmet Grillware Deep Dish Pizza Tray is perfect for the deep dish pizza lover.  If you enjoy thin crust, no worries, you can still use the deep dish pan to bake thin crust,  the higher sides just insure that the pan catches any melted oozing cheese! For a fun decorative touch, you can also order the deep dish pan with your favorite collegiate team engraved, perfect for baking/grilling and serving at tailgates.  Ever tried pizza on an outdoor grill?  The whole pizza takes on an entirely different flavor. The Wilton Armetale Gourmet Grillware Pizza Tray is a great option for pizza straight from the grill.  Its two-sided handles make it easy to go from grill to table, but just remember to use grill mitts!

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End of the Family Portrait Era

Posted on April 13, 2013 by Amy

It was just about a week ago that the era of the family portrait as we know it came to an abrupt ending.  Sears, Walmart, and Babies-R-Us announced the closing of their portrait studios, the last of its kind. Many of these traditional family portraits still grace the walls of our parents’ and grandparents’ homes.  In my youth I can remember getting all dressed-up, heading to our local department store, and posing in front of the painted background of our choice, complete with spotlights beamed over us. Nowadays, with personal digital cameras and the desire for more natural setting photography, there is no longer a market for posing in front of a fake backdrop in an impersonal, indoor studio.

Lenox Portrait Gallery 5x7 50th Anniversary Frame

Lenox Portrait Gallery 5x7 50th Anniversary Frame

No matter how we go about getting our family photos, we will always want to display these keepsakes.  I personally still like to have a framed print of some of my favorite digital photos.  I know there are digital frames available now that can cycle through so many photos, but there are a few captured moments that I don’t think I will ever get tired of looking at.   Selecting a special frame to display these photos can be just as important. GiftCollector has an assortment of picture frames from Lenox giftware suitable for many special occasions.  The Lenox  50th wedding anniversary framewould make a perfect anniversary gift to frame a wedding photo of the couple.

Lenox Devotion Double Invitation Frame

Lenox Devotion Double Invitation Frame

Another unique gift idea for a wedding or anniversary would be to frame the original wedding invitation together with a couple portrait, such as the Lenox Devotion Double Invitation Frame  that has a very clean, contemporary frame, or the Lenox Opal Innocence Silverplate Invitation Frame, which has a more embellished design that looks like an open book.  I still give framed pictures as gifts and I hope this tradition doesn’t disappear as fast as the studio family portrait has.

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