Just in time for Father’s Day, a do-it-yourself kit beer making kit from Brooklyn Brew Shop. Whether your patriarch is familiar in the kitchen or not, this no-brainer, easy-to-follow process allows even the I-can’t- boil-water type to make high quality and complex beers on top of the stove.

Brooklyn Brew Shop’s user-friendly beer making kit uses only fresh, whole ingredients, such as cracked barley, hops, spices and yeast, and follows the traditional brewery method to producing beer that has been used for centuries. This kit includes a one gallon reusable glass fermenter, chambered airlock, thermometer, tubing, racking cane, sanitizer and beer making mix.

Here is the video to show each simple step:

With flavors such as Summer Wheat, Chestnut Brown Ale and eclectic sounding Coffee & Donut Stout, the Beer Enthusiast will enjoy experimenting with his micro-brewery. Let him proudly brag to all his friends when he invites them over for a taste and exclaims that, “yes, I, indeed, made this! Cheers!”

Buy directly from BrooklynBrew  or UncommonGoods.

Some men take their grilling pretty seriously. My husband Scott is definitely one of them. He would, if he could, barbecue everything. We have been loyal owners of both the charcoal and gas Weber barbecues for most of our married life. My husband faithfully cleans them, pampers them and loves accessorizing them. To Scott, grilling on a fine barbecue is like driving a fine car. It is not only about the performance but also about being aesthetically pleasing. Here are three that Scott has put on his wish list.

	All Purpose Outdoor Grill with Pizza Stone and Griddle – The Element by Fuego is a compact and mobile cast iron grill BBQ designed with dual cooking zones. The center cooking zone, heats up fast and hot, allowing for the perfect seared steaks and burgers, while the outer burner and roasting lid create a perfect convection-like cooking environment for slow cooking, smoking or baking. Add the Pizza Stone and Cast Iron Griddle and you will never have to cook in your kitchen again. Buy on Amazon for $750.00
	Table Q – What is more fun than social grilling? The Table Q is all about getting everyone into the action. Beautifully designed and made of anti-rust alloy aluminum this BBQ table can seat between 4 – 8 people. The outdoor grill allows guests to sear, grill, smoke, bake or stir-fry their own food. When not in use the grill has a sleek cover to convert to a regular table. It also comes with stylish wicker chairs. Go to AfireInc to purchase. $4500.00 – $5500.00.
	Eva Solo BBQ Grill – This Cadillac of charcoal grills would be any serious griller’s dream. The grill is elegantly designed and is made of stainless steel inside and out. This Danish design is not only known for its beautiful lines but also for its functionality and efficiency. The charcoal sits in a coal bucket and once done, it easily lifts out and emptied. Also, the BBQ can be transformed into a fire pit by placing small logs over the glowing coals and removing the grill, creating the perfect ambiance for an after dinner drink. Buy from Amazon from $700 to $1200.

This year I am challenging myself to grow a vegetable garden. I have tried in the past and failed miserably. Having a green thumb is obviously not an inherited trait. I have many fond childhood memories that are all about helping my father in our garden, going out to pick the lettuce for our evening salad, or simply pulling out carrots, beans and sugar peas to munch on.

I want my children to have similar memories and to see firsthand how food is grown. My childhood memories are from living in a small town, in a house with lots of property. Here in this quaint ocean side town in Southern California, our property is very limited. Although, I have successfully grown a herb garden, I am now looking to grow an edible garden. When I came across ALLOTINABOX, I thought this was the perfect solution. These “grow your own” kits are specifically designed for urban settings where space is limited.

Whether you have a spot on a balcony or a patch in your garden, this kit supplies you with everything you need; from organic seeds to accompanying equipment, such as organic jute twine, plant tags and a garden grow wheel. The kits include seeds for such veggies as carrots, spring onions, leeks, spinach, swisschard and chives. The company’s website is full of simple practical advice and ingenious tips and tricks on how to plant the seeds, helping to make the whole process feel very approachable.

Go to ALLOTINABOX to view their entire selection. Beautifully packaged, these gardening kits would also make a great gift. Personally, I am looking at the annual subscription, so that I can enjoy eating the fruits of my labor all year long (because in Southern California, I can actually do that!).

For more ideas on gardening products see our previous posts on this page and this page.

Just like any other perfectly normal, healthy, emotionally well-balanced woman, I have a thing for shoes. Do NOT ask me how many pairs I have. That is completely irrelevant to this conversation.

I know you understand. There are so many reasons to love shoes. They can elevate a seemingly blah outfit to one that begins new trends. They can make you feel like can conquer the world… Comfort? Pfffftt… No kingdom was ever conquered on the basis of comfort. Or walkability factors.

But, most of all, I’m quite certain that women love shoes so much because they are that part of the wardrobe that will always fit, no matter how much we cheated on our gluten-free diet. Shoes would never betray us like a pencil skirt would. Traitor.

Here’s an ode to shoes, appropriately titled God Save my Shoes. If anything, view it with your husbands or boyfriends as demonstrable evidence that shoe-love and addiction is a universal condition (notice, did not use the term “problem”) that they should just accept. Nothing anyone can do about it.

Click here to view the embedded video.

For you shoes addict out there, the film is available on iTunes and to buy or rent on Amazon.

I have always been attracted to the aesthetics and ornamentation of the various cultures around the world. The more ancient and the more “exotic” it is, the more it speaks to me. Which is why I was found gaping, high in visual nirvana, when I came upon the Images d’Orient collection.

Peggy Raphaël Dabar is the designer behind this collection of tabletop gems. She is from Lebanon and studied design in the United States. You can see the homage paid to her Mediterranean heritage in the various collections at Image D’Orient, the company she and her brother founded twelve years ago. The everyday functional objects – coasters, trivets, placemats, etc… – celebrate the motifs of antique ornamentation while rendering them in an undeniably contemporary and fun manner. Brilliant color combinations paired with the choice material of silicone (used in a relief manner) bring the intricate designs down to an approachable, usable and highly endearing scale.

Each collection has a specific inspiration. There is Henna, Sejjadeh, Moucharabieh, Nasssij among others. Each collection is associated with its own story. For example, the Sejjadeh collection is inspired by historical homes, where the floors were covered with ceramic tiles of different colors, arabesques and graphics. Juxtaposed, these tiles created a gigantic picture, thus their nickname “Sejjadeh” or carpet.

You can read more about the inspiration behind each collection by visiting the various titles on this page.

As Peggy Raphaël Dabar mentions, Image d’Orient is a “Contemporary concept paying tribute to the legacy of past civilizations… A world where diversity is embraced, where modern is a resonance of the ancient.”

Besides creating glorious (and durable, washable, unbreakable…) tabletop presentations in your own home, these items also make for great wedding gifts, or hostess gifts (think the trivets, coasters, bottle holders). Buy on Amazon or find a retail location here.

Happy Cinco de Mayo everyone….I’ve created this amazing chick pea guacamole that will surely knock your socks off and keep your Cinco de Mayo festivities rollin’…

SMOKED CHICKPEA GUACAMOLE for Cinco de Mayo
Gluten-Free and Vegan

Ingredients

2 avocados, peeled, pitted and cut into chunks
1 cup chickpeas, drained and rinsed
1 Roma tomato, diced
1/3 cup fresh cilantro, chopped
2 scallions, chopped
1/3 cup red onion, chopped
1 Tablespoon lime juice
2 Tablespoons lemon juice
1 teaspoon white balsamic vinegar
1 teaspoon chili powder
1 teaspoon smoked paprika
1 teaspoon sea salt
1/3 teaspoon pepper
1/4 teaspoon curry powder

Directions

In a large bowl, combine all ingredients; gently toss until combined. I preferred to keep the avocado chunks in the guacamole instead of completely mashing them, as this gave the guacamole a beautiful appearance and was easier to eat atop crackers.

Serve with gluten-free crackers, atop a salad, spread onto a sandwich or as a dip with crudites.

Enjoy!

Erin Gallagher’s Gem Bar can help us create such customized jewelry designs quite easily. Her company offers a great choice of “Design Your Own” jewelry pieces, whether it be necklaces, earrings or bracelets. For Mother’s Day, I really like the idea of a pendant necklace where each gemstone would represent the birthstone of a child, and heck, why not, even that of the husband or anniversary.

Gem Bar’s Design Your Own system is very easy to follow thanks to the customization tools which allow to immediately visualize the chosen colors or textures of stone and metals. Orders placed before 2pm Central Time are shipped the next day. Wow.

You will also like to know that Gem Bar is very aware of environmental and global issues.  All the metal used in the company’s jewelry is reclaimed (recycled) and all their stones are conflict-free. They have trees planted in South America to offset shipping costs. All pieces are handmade in the Chicago studio.

Certain women – like me – will appreciate the fact that the sentimentality of this jewelry piece goes incognito, i.e. no engraved names or initials or kiddie stick figure. Just a simple stone to represent each loved one, or a cluster of gems within easy reach, to touch and remind us of what’s important.

Shop Erin’s Gem Bar for Design Your Own or other collection pieces.

That’s right. The Portion incorporates a graduated spoon that let’s one measure half teaspoon, teaspoon, and tablespoon measurements (3 tools right there). Then, the clear hollow handle measures up to 1/4 cup of wet or dry ingredients (4th tool) and the whole is, as you can see, also a mixing spoon (5th!), made of heat resistant silicone.

The Portion spoon is perfect for people in tiny apartments – I’m thinking of my son in college where storage space is at an absolute premium – and for the folks who like to keep the mess and washing in the kitchen to a minimum. A single tool to use and it all goes in the dishwasher (or the sink if you are that college student).

Buy on Quirky or at Bed Bath & Beyond for about $8.

Tomorrow we will be in the month May (already?). How many weeks are left of school? It already appears that the year is winding down. This year I helped out at both of my daughters’ (ages 6 and 8 ) schools, more than I ever have in the past. I helped with special art classes, taught a weekly yoga class and helped out in their classrooms. I was able to get a real glimpse into a teacher’s day and was in awe with what they accomplish in a day and their joy and commitment to teaching. I saw them in their multiple roles as leaders, actors, artists, singers, disciplinarians, mentors, counselors and confidants. I saw my children learn, grow and become confident, caring beings. I am always amazed on how they have grown since their first day of school in September. So, how do  I thank these teachers for their dedication in to my children’s education?

Volunteering in the classroom might well be the number one way to show appreciation, Beyond that, here are a few gift ideas to say “thank you” for the job they do:

	Custom Stamps – Give a teacher a personal touch to all their correspondence. These pre-inked stamps are fun to design to suit the personality of your child’s teacher. They last up to 30,000 impressions without re-inking. Perfect for pre-school to high school teachers. Buy at PJ Greetings for $39.95.
	One of a Kind Key Chains – Design your own jewelry/keychains. With a variety of original pendants that can complement each other – from gemstones and glitter boxes to initials, art charms and nameplates (i.e. teacher). The sky is the limited on a one of a kind piece that you can design. Here are my creations. Go to Art By Amy and be inspired.
	F in Exams – A humorous account of actual answers on tests taken by students from grade school through high school. Give them a chuckle and be thankful that your little Johnny or Janey did not make the book. Buy from Uncommon Goods for $8.50.
	Lesson Planners – A personalized, colorful Lesson Planner designed by teachers. It is full of inspirational quotes that will help simplify and stylize the weekly plan. Buy from Erin Condren for $50.00.
	And if the whole classes pitches in everything would fit nicely in a…
	Personalized Tote Bag – Perfect to hold everything from water bottle to lap top, this bag can go from the class room to the beach during their summer break. Buy from HTs Creations for $25.00.

And if you still need inspiration, check out our Gift Guide for Teachers.