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December 3, 2009

I asked my husband to recommend some graphic novels for my gift guide, and he very happily obliged. 

KENDRICK’S GUEST POST: GRAPHIC NOVELS FOR YOUR GUY

Why care about picture books? Well, I’ll tell you. If you get a guy a comic book or a graphic novel, he will probably stare at you, jaw unhinged, as if you just brought home two 40s and invited him to an IFC cage match. He will then probably take you in his arms, sweep you off your feet, and be much more amenable to movies involving Sandra Bullock.

So how do you pick a dance partner at this particular soiree? You probably know what kind of movies your guy likes, right? Here’s my suggestion: pick which movie he likes best from the list below, and choose from the selection of comic books tailored to his tastes.  

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December 3, 2009

OK, so about a billion of you have written me about this German pickle tradition - apparently everyone in the world is aware of it except for me, who happens to have married into a German family. Whoops. 

According to German tradition, the pickle ornament brings good luck, and is the last ornament placed on the Christmas tree. On Christmas morning, the children all search for the pickle ornament, and the first to find it is rewarded with a little extra present from St. Nicholas. (The point, it seems, is to encourage children to appreciate the ornaments on the tree, rather than running straight for their gifts.) 

I think it’s a really sweet tradition, and will most certainly do this with our own kids one day.

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December 3, 2009

Every year, my family and I stop by the post office to participate in “Operation Santa Claus,” which began informally in the 1920s when postal workers started sending presents to impoverished children whose letters to Santa Claus (address: North Pole) had ended up in the “dead letters” box. 

It’s such a simple charity to participate in, and so incredibly fulfilling: all you do is stop by the post office, sift through the piles of letters (most from children, but some from parents asking Santa Claus for things like bottles for their newborns), pick up as many gifts as you can, and deliver them to the needy families. Sometimes the children greet you at the door with enormous smiles and you get invited in for coffee; other times you covertly drop Santa’s gifts off with the parents. Either way, I promise: it’s an experience not to be missed. 

Although Operation Santa Claus is based in NYC, many post offices around the country participate in a similar program. Inquire at your local post office for details and find out how you can get involved. 

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December 2, 2009

Aaand…just one more Gap hat, this time a recommendation from reader Caroline. Apparently this Sweater Knit Trapper Hat makes your head look quite large, but is unbelievably soft and cozy. Oddly enough, this hat doesn’t seem to be available on the US Gap site, but you can order it here. 

Now that the weather has made a decisive turn for the worse, I’m stockpiling gloves, hats, and the like, but am faced with a minor storage problem: I don’t want them strewn all about the house (ahem, husband), but we don’t have any drawers in close proximity to our front door (well, we have one, but it’s full to overflowing with umbrellas and other junk). I keep my scarves hung on a wall-mounted coatrack in our office and have been piling all my winter accessories into a straw basket by the door, but the basket idea just looks kind of…messy. So I’m wondering: what do those of you with small apartments and storage issues do with your winter accessories when they’re constantly in use? 

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December 2, 2009

For dinner last night, Mom, Dad, Trudy, Kendrick & I went to one of my favorite Hell’s Kitchen restaurants, Uncle Nick’s. Uncle Nick’s serves affordable (and extremely garlicky, which is good) Greek food, and is the kind of place you can bring someone who announces “I don’t like Greek food” to (the menu is extensive, and there are lots of items suitable for less experimental eaters). 

Above are my picks of the appetizers we ordered (clockwise from top: assorted olives, pita bread, tzatziki, skordalia, and stuffed vine leaves).

I absolutely adore skordalia, a potato-garlic dip, and it seems like it would be fairly simple to make. I did a little research, and here’s my favorite of the recipes I found online:

CLASSIC SKORDALIA (GREEK POTATO-GARLIC DIP)

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December 2, 2009

Last night was my aunt Trudy’s last night in NYC (she’s been visiting from Canada for the past week), so we all gathered at my parents’ place before dinner for some wine and a chat. (That’s Mom in the center.) 

Trudy does tarot and crystal readings, and I’m hoping to convince her to help me with a Domestic Bliss episode on tarot when I visit her in Canada in a couple of months. 

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December 2, 2009

meghanasha:

GEEKY GIFT IDEAS

Do you know someone addicted to carbonation? If so, the Penguin Water Carbonator may be just what the mixologist ordered. It’s a handy contraption that allows you to create your own favorite carbonated beverages at home. You can even customize each batch so that it has just the right amount of fizz. Interestingly enough, there are no batteries or electricity required. Who knew DIY drinks could be so easy?

Me! I am addicted to carbonation! 

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