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carasueachterberg · 4 years

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Almost all of the PA Pups are fat little butterballs.

It’s been a challenge to get to know them as mom prefers that we keep our hands off. Bell is an absolute love when she’s out of the puppy pen. She is embarrassingly affectionate, even with strangers, and always happy to go for a romp. Her favorite place to walk is in the woods where there are so many smells, she quite literally quivers with excitement. In the playyard she chases balls and carries the jolly ball around proudly, but mostly she wants to sit in your lap (and no she is quite definitely not lap-dog-size).

The puppies are two weeks old now, but Bell is ready to resume her single life. She waits at the gate all day, yipping when she hears the other dogs, whining when she hears me, begging anyone to get her out of that room. She’s tall enough that she could certainly jump the gate, so I’m assuming it’s her nice manners keeping her in there. Because she tested positive for Lymes, I’m hoping to get those pups weaned by five weeks so we can get her on a course of antibiotics. Somehow, I don’t think it will be too difficult. For all her protective mama-ing, she is quick to forget about them once she’s out of the puppy room.

One of the puppies, the tiny little runt, is not growing as fast or as well as the others. Where as they are fuzzy chunkeroos, she is sleek like a seal and weighs about a pound less than the others. On Sunday a weird rash appeared on her head, likely a staph infection that developed because of her compromised immune system. We’re hopeful that as she grows and gets stronger it will right itself as she is too young for antibiotics. This poor girl! She looks pretty rough, especially with one eye not quite open yet (it opened the next morning!).

I decided to try supplementing her in the hopes that she will start to thrive. She took to it immediately, slurping and gnawing at the syringe tip, demanding more. I wish I could get a picture of her with milk mouth and a full belly, but I’m always on the clock while Bell is out. This picture gives you an idea of how much smaller she is than the others.

Part of my hesitation in naming them is that when I named the last litter at about this age, one of the puppies who had been struggling but holding his own didn’t make it. But I’m a second guesser and a wish-I-had-er, and a person who struggles to let go of history and still believes in jinxes, so for now, they shall all remain nameless until I’m certain we’re out of the woods.

Meanwhile, if you’re nearby and want to help, I’m always looking for people to come walk/babysit Bell so I can work with the puppies. Just Facebook message or text me if you’re available.

Before I introduce you to the ten-pack, I have to tell you a little about Houdini/Hot Diggity, since he’s now been here more than a week. I took him to an adoption event on Sunday where he charmed the masses and kissed lots of babies (and displayed his team loyalty).

His sweet, friendly nature is remarkable for a dog who has not had a charmed life to date. His appetite speaks to either a hound nature or the fact that he quite literally almost starved to death from the deadly combo of shelter stress and worms. He is driven to find food and every crinkling bag or hand in a pocket mean (to his mind) that there are treats to be had.

He has a super soft, white coat, but his spots are beginning to appear more everyday as he gets healthier and happier. Now there is a faint smattering of light brown spots all over his back that had previously been lily-white, and the black spots on his face are darkening.

He gets along beautifully with every dog he’s met; he and Fanny have enjoyed lengthy bouts of face-wrestling, many happy hours snuggling, and short games of chase (Houdini does not have Fanny’s stamina).

He is appropriately respectful of Gracie, and when he met tiny Kakuna at the adoption event, he was captivated and invited her to play but backed away when she said enough was enough.

This boy is a doll baby and would make the perfect family dog. Other than his stellar counter-surfing skills (he stole a loaf of home-baked bread off the counter) and one roll-in-horse-poop episode, I have no complaints. Adopt this boy quick, he won’t last long!

And now, let me introduce you to the PA Pups, for now we’ll go by collar color and markings:

This is a little boy puppy whose most alarming characteristic is that he squeals like a pig whenever I pick him up!

This is the puppy that everyone always notices. He looks like a panda bear and his skin beneath that white coat is black, making him look (to me) like he’s always dirty. He is very strong and usually laying on the top of the pile. (I added that last picture because every time I look at it, I think he looks more like a hedgehog – also that already pointy nose makes me think these will be long-nosed dogs because usually at this age their noses are still very smashed in.)

This is the pink collar girl puppy who is simply gorgeous – I expect a stampede of adopters for this girl.

This yellow collar pup is a gorgeous shade of caramel brown and he’s a boy!

This light green collar boy is a rich chocolate color (maybe this is Hershey?).

Dark Green Collar boy is another stunner.

This is the biggest pup – huge, fuzzy, black with white marking similar to his mother. I think this one is the mini-me of Bell. (there’s one mommy mini-me in every litter.)

Blue collar is a girl version of the big boy.

Orange collar is another dark brown boy with gorgeous eyebrows!

And then there is my little darling who slurped up another helping of milk replacer this morning and is sporting a plump little belly on her skinny frame. Not that I want to jinx anything, but she is a little fighter, so I’m holding out hope.

Thanks for reading!

Cara

If you’d like regular updates all my foster dogs past and present, and to find out if my house will be invaded by puppies this week, but sure to join the Facebook group, Another Good Dog.

For more information on me, my writing, and my upcoming book, One Hundred Dogs and Counting: One Woman, Ten Thousand Miles, and a Journey into the Heart of Shelters and Rescues, visit CaraWrites.com.

And if you’d like to know where all these dogs come from and how you can help solve the crisis of too many unwanted dogs in our shelters, visit WhoWillLetTheDogsOut.org.

Our family fosters through the all-breed rescue, Operation Paws for Homes, a network of foster homes in Virginia, Maryland, D.C., and south-central PA.

Recently released from Pegasus Books and available anywhere books are sold: Another Good Dog: One Family and Fifty Foster Dogs.

I love to hear from readers and dog-hearted people! Email me at [email protected].

Meet the PA Pups and a magical pup named Houdini that you'll want to adopt! #adoptabledogs #puppypalooza @rescueoph Almost all of the PA Pups are fat little butterballs. It’s been a challenge to get to know them as

#adoptable dog #failure to thrive #fosterpuppies #kid-friendly dog #litters #puppies

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recentanimenews · 5 years

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Indivisible Turns Friendship Into Strength in This Charming Indie Title

I was able to play the first demo of Lab Zero’s and 505 Games' Indivisible a few years ago on the PS4, some time after it got funded on their IndieGogo. There was a lot to be done in terms of fleshing out the world, but the team behind Skullgirls already packed a lot of depth and character in that small snippet I played. From its unique take on action RPG combo gameplay to the personality I could feel from its eclectic cast, I couldn’t wait to see the world of Indivisible fully realized in its official release on all major platforms. Fast-forward to 2019, and Indivisible has indeed finalized itself as a charming and challenging action platformer indie title, though not without a few kinks in the machinery.

Jumping off from a gorgeous Studio TRIGGER x Titmouse-animated opening (and a Gurren Lagann-esque prologue to boot), you play as Ajna, a young and rambunctious youth who grew up undergoing strict training from her father. After her village comes under attack by an evil army, Ajna embarks on a globe-trotting quest for vengeance and answers to her parents’ mysterious past.

Along the way, she meets several warriors, mages, and other helpful companions who she can somehow store within her mind and can summon to aid her in battle. Each one provides different benefits for her both inside and outside of battle, and the choices you’ll have with your party members will eventually become overwhelming.

When I first played the demo way back when, I could already tell a lot of thought went into crafting both platforming and combat. That novel game design was certainly retained in the final product. Using a variety of tools and weapons in the overworld, Ajna can slide, wall jump, and bust her way through obstacles to find tons of hidden treasures. There are a lot of clever and intuitive platform challenges to be had as your skills expand. But be prepared for a lot of trial and error.

In my experience playing thus far, some of the platforming was more than a little aggravating. While it can be really fun to scale up walls with your axe and create platforms out of monsters, I found myself punished by tiny miscalculations. More often than not, I knew exactly how to get somewhere and what to press to make my way there. If I was a millisecond late with my button presses or took one extra step off course, I’d either get stopped in my tracks or lurch off the edge of a cliff and back to square one. Being an action platformer, I'm willing to accept the game will demand a lot from your reflexes and Ajna's growing traversal abilities. I’ve had similar run-ins with arduous platforming in other classic indie titles like Shovel Knight and Guacamelee. It takes time to hone your reflexes and stick your landings, and knowing how to manipulate each of your abilities is an acquired skill. I've gotten plenty angry at the game, but with as far as I've gotten, time and patience will pay off.

Combat, of course, is a whole different beast. Indivisible features a ton of strange and unique enemies that you’ll fight using Ajna’s growing powers and the abilities of your diverse teammates. Your party members’ techniques vary widely between attacks, buffs, and healing, with each of your actions in battle coming with a cooldown. If you time it wisely, you’ll be able to keep enemies at bay and take them down with flashy, stylish combos.

While you’re waiting for your abilities to recharge, you’ll be wide open against enemy attacks. This is where blocking, one of the most crucial elements of the game, comes into play. With proper timing, you’ll be able to reduce the damage done to you, and if you’re absolutely perfect, you’ll even recover some health instead of taking hits at all. Of course, every enemy requires different timing, so you’ll have to be flexible with your combat.

Indivisible’s combat mechanics are pretty engaging. Battles are quick-paced and keep you on your toes, and often encourage you to try out different characters and play styles to see which one suits you best. You can either have a full team of attackers or have a healthy mix of offense, defense, and sweet tricks in battle. And the best part is that everyone’s stats are tied to Ajna’s, even when they’re not in your party. That means that everyone levels up together, which mitigates a lot of level grinding.

While battles can be fun and exciting, though, multiple enemies may prove a bit overwhelming. When you’re on the defense against several opponents at once, it can be difficult to keep track of who needs to block and what timing you’ll have to employ. It’s especially annoying when you run into a tiny enemy who deals a disproportionately-large amount of damage if you don’t block precisely. But like the platforming, practice makes perfect. If you embrace the learning curve, you’ll definitely start to improve and take on enemies more readily. Just be prepared for some blood, sweat, and tears along the way.

On its own, the gameplay of Indivisible provides a fun, if not a bit steep, experience as you progress. But it’s all wrapped up in a dazzling hand-drawn anime style. The overarching world takes remarkable notes various cultures and presents it in a visually stylish manner. It also helps that some of the landmark cutscenes in the game are beautifully animated by Studio TRIGGER of Kill La Kill and Little Witch Academia fame as well as Titmouse Animation! It’s a shame that they’re not all as stunning, as other key scenes boil down to dynamic pans of static images. Though as an IndieGogo project a few years in the making, it’d be pretty unreasonable for me to ask for everything to have that Studio TRIGGER look.

But even with challenging gameplay and pretty visuals, we haven’t even gotten to my favorite part about Indivisible! As you sidescroll through various cities and landscapes, Ajna will encounter lively and colorful characters, some of whom will join you on your quest. And if I had to choose one thing that Indivisible absolutely nailed in their game, it’s the people that fill the world (in more ways than one).

Even with more than 20 characters at your disposal at launch, many of them have compelling and even entertaining camaraderie with each other through snappy dialogue and surprisingly-funny jokes. Each of them even have unique and thoughtful character designs with none of them ever feeling too out of place within the enormous world. When not in battle or speaking with others, your party members are housed in Ajna’s Inner Realm, her psyche given form. Here, you can speak with each new comrade and companion, upgrade your stats, and more.

As Ajna’s comrades grow in number, each of them brings their own depth and weight to the group, not just in terms of gameplay but in a genuine sense of companionship. It also helps that a lot of the English voice-acting is fresh and exciting. Not every voice is pitch perfect, but I absolutely adore listening to everyone speak with each other and chime in on your quest every now and then. Among all the things I like about Indivisible, the thing I look forward to the most is finding new friends to add to my party.

Overall, Indivisible is a tough love indie title wrapped up in a gorgeous anime package. As an action platformer, it’s certainly challenging and rewarding enough for me to want to improve at it. I’ve grinded my teeth and hissed at my TV a number of times when trying to tackle the many obstacles, but a little pushback can be helpful in getting better. And to me at least, all that effort is worth it just to see Ajna and her buddies interact some more. It’s an age-old anime cliche, the idea of your friends being your power. Indivisible takes that classic trope and has made it into an enjoyable ride!

REVIEW ROUNDUP

+ Gorgeous anime style

+ Fun characters with great voice acting and wonderful designs

+ Compelling story

+/- Combat is engaging and challenging, though may overwhelm some at first

+/- Platforming mechanics are unique, but are unforgiving if you're not careful

- Some of the more important cutscenes ltend to be a bit static

- Some odd sound mixing makes certain characters too loud or hard to hear

Will you be picking up Indivisible? Getting any Skullgirls vibes from the art style? Which character is your favorite so far? Let us know and comment below!

----

Carlos is a freelance features writer for Crunchyroll. Their favorite genres range from magical girls to over-the-top robot action, yet their favorite characters are always the obscure ones. Check out some of their satirical work on The Hard Times.

Do you love writing? Do you love anime? If you have an idea for a features story, pitch it to Crunchyroll Features!

By: [email protected]

#Anime #News #Latest in Anime News by Crunchyroll!

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edmondmoller · 5 years

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15 Awesome Foodie Gift Ideas for Your Friends

New Post has been published on https://womanshealthwithmegan.com/15-awesome-foodie-gift-ideas-for-your-friends

15 Awesome Foodie Gift Ideas for Your Friends

The ultimate gift for your favorite foodie. KitchenAid’s Limited Edition stand mixer with ceramic hobnail bowl is a dream gift. Image: Williams Sonoma

We hope you like the products we recommend. Just so you are aware, Freshome may collect a share of sales from the links on this page.

Finding the perfect foodie gift is a matter of taste. Though your foodie friends may share a love of all things food, their gift needs go way beyond picking up a tray of something at the grocery store on the way to their party. If you truly want to be the best gift-giver, then you’ll need a strategy to find just the right gift. Though foodies do love food, your gift list should also include a several non-food options. If you’re bringing a food gift to a party, your recipient may feel obligated to share it with you and the other guests. We love the idea of a non-food gift, with a delicious treat tucked inside your foodie friend can enjoy once the party is over. Here’s a list of our favorite foodie-friendly gifts:

Practical gifts for foodies

A practical gift for your favorite foodie doesn’t have to be all work and no play. You can choose a gift that serves a useful purpose with a twist on color or design. Look for gifts that make cooking or entertaining easier, but are also fun to open, too. The best practical gifts are the “why didn’t I think of that?” items that delight the recipient.

A butter bell

The butter bell is the unsung hero of the dining table. Image: Williams Sonoma

A butter bell is one of those kitchen items that you don’t know you need, until you get one. The butter bell keeps butter soft and easy to serve, which is great for entertaining. Today’s butter bells are stylish and perfect for tabletop use.

The perfect combo cutting boards

Versatile and stylish, these wood and stone boards do double duty. Image: Williams Sonoma

This clever and beautiful board is a must-have at a party. Slice and serve bread on the wood half, then arrange an assortment of cheeses on the cool marble. Give two or three of these boards with cheese knives for a beautiful gift.

Grilled Cheese Kitchen: Bread + Cheese + Everything in Between cookbook

Indulge your love of grilled cheese with a Grilled Cheese Kitchen Cookbook. Image: Barnes & Noble

A cookbook is a great gift idea for any foodie. This simple and delicious cookbook, Grilled Cheese Kitchen: Bread + Cheese + Everything In Between, has a simple goal: to make the most basic sandwich into something special. We say they succeeded.

Gifts for adventurous foodie friends

We know that many foodies are also adventurous. The love of food can bring out the explorer in our friends as they discover new flavors and cultures. The best gifts for adventurous food-lovers celebrate the diverse food around the world.

Kitchen linens foodies will love

Spice up a foodie kitchen with these colorful towels. Image: World Market

Whimsical and worldly, the Los Muertos kitchen linens add color and fun to any kitchen. Plus, let’s face it, we all could use more kitchen linens. A set of kitchen towels or pot holders is always a welcome gift and are also easily personalized with your recipient’s interests.

Delight your foodie friend with small plate inspiration

Find small plate inspiration in Graze. Image: Barnes & Noble

Serving “small plate” dishes is at the center of most international dining styles. There’s more to this trend than just smaller portions, however. This foodie gift can inspire countless dinners with Graze: Inspiration for Small Plates and Meandering Meals by Suzanne Lenzer.

Let’s make crêpes!

All the tools a foodie needs to create the perfect crêpe. Image: Sur la Table

We love everything about Crêpes, both savory and sweet. Your foodie friends have probably thought about trying to make crêpes, but without the right tools it won’t be successful. Enter the Staub Cast Iron Crêpe Set with all the tools they’ll need to create crêperie magic.

Food gifts for foodie friends

It’s understandable when you can’t resist gifting food for your foodie friend — after all, that is their passion. Be sure your food gift is special enough to express the care you took in choosing it. These food gifts will not be found in your local grocery store (which makes them even more fun to shop for).

Spanish saffron is the ultimate indulgence for foodies

Spanish saffron is an exotic treat for foodies. Image: Sur la Table

Known as the most-expensive spice in the world, saffron probably isn’t on your foodie friend’s shopping list. This Spanish saffron is a small indulgence that makes a big impact as a gift. Consider pairing it with other exotic spices as a gift.

Sustainable, beautiful, Bitterman’s craft salt

Specialty salts and spices make excellent gifts. Image: Sur la Table

Craft salt is a culinary star right now. Gift your foodie friend with the Bitterman’s Foundation Salt Set to open up a world of taste. If you’re gifting salt or spices, look for sets to give your foodie friend more options for experimentation.

Specialty vinegar and oil make simple and delicious foodie gifts

Raspberry vinegar is a versatile accent for more than just salads. Image: Crate & Barrel

A gift of specialty vinegar or cooking oil is a favorite for foodies. They can combine the two to create a simple salad dressing, or use either for marinating or roasting vegetables.

Stylish foodie gift ideas

Stylish designs make any gift more special. A unique shape or finish gives your foodie gifts that “wow” factor when opened. Though your stylish foodie gift is meant to be used, strive for gifts that looking amazing on display, too.

A showpiece pitcher that is meant to be displayed

Stylish and practical, the Ona pitcher makes a tabletop statement. Image: Crate & Barrel

The Ona’s signature off-center handle makes it the center of attention. Handmade in crystal-clear glass with a thick, cut and polished rim. This is one pitcher that is meant to be left out every day.

Stylish cutting board gift ideas

This stylish cutting board brings the popular herringbone pattern home. Image: Crate & Barrel

Herringbone pattern is everything right now. This beautifully-crafted cutting board makes a stunning gift. Pair your foodie gift with specialty cheese and crackers for a party-ready combo.

Shake it up with a gorgeous cocktail shaker

Shake it up with the champagne gold Neil cocktail shaker. Image: CB2

The Neil champagne gold cocktail shaker is a sophisticated take on an already-swanky gift — this is a gift with impact. If your foodie friend enjoys serving cocktails at home, a shaker makes the perfect gift.

Luxury gift ideas for foodies

The best part about giving a luxurious gift is knowing that it is something your foodie friend would not buy for themselves. Your gift doesn’t have to be expensive, just special. Look for cooking and serving tools in unusual finishes, colors, and shapes.

Fondue pots are always in style

Copper fondue pot with gold accents makes a statement. Image: Williams Sonoma

Fondue pots are still wildly popular, and it’s not surprising. One or two fondue pots can liven up any party, and they definitely make excellent gifts for a foodie that loves to entertain. Pair your fondue pot gift with rich chocolate and specialty marshmallows to get the party started.

Metallic serving pieces work with any decorating style

Melt Reactive Gunmetal Grey server is an inexpensive gift that looks luxurious. Image: CB2

Exotic finishes can elevate even the simplest of foodie gifts. Look for serving pieces in unusual colors or textures — they really make a statement on any table. Organic shapes also keep metallic service pieces from looking too modern.

Chargers for the dinner table are back

Brighten a dinner table with the gold Verona Charger. Image: Perigold

Have you heard about chargers? Using a charger under a dinner plate adds color as well as style to a sit-down dinner. Look for chargers with updated textures and metallics for a trendy style that your foodie friends will love.

What is your favorite foodie gift? Let us know in the comments.

The post 15 Awesome Foodie Gift Ideas for Your Friends appeared first on Freshome.com.

Read more: feedproxy.google.com

#food gifts #gift ideas #hostess gifts #shopping

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jeremystrele · 5 years

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15 Awesome Foodie Gift Ideas for Your Friends

The ultimate gift for your favorite foodie. KitchenAid’s Limited Edition stand mixer with ceramic hobnail bowl is a dream gift. Image: Williams Sonoma

We hope you like the products we recommend. Just so you are aware, Freshome may collect a share of sales from the links on this page.

Practical gifts for foodies

A butter bell

The butter bell is the unsung hero of the dining table. Image: Williams Sonoma

The perfect combo cutting boards

Versatile and stylish, these wood and stone boards do double duty. Image: Williams Sonoma

Grilled Cheese Kitchen: Bread + Cheese + Everything in Between cookbook

Indulge your love of grilled cheese with a Grilled Cheese Kitchen Cookbook. Image: Barnes & Noble

Gifts for adventurous foodie friends

Kitchen linens foodies will love

Spice up a foodie kitchen with these colorful towels. Image: World Market

Delight your foodie friend with small plate inspiration

Find small plate inspiration in Graze. Image: Barnes & Noble

Let’s make crêpes!

All the tools a foodie needs to create the perfect crêpe. Image: Sur la Table

Food gifts for foodie friends

Spanish saffron is the ultimate indulgence for foodies

Spanish saffron is an exotic treat for foodies. Image: Sur la Table

Sustainable, beautiful, Bitterman’s craft salt

Specialty salts and spices make excellent gifts. Image: Sur la Table

Specialty vinegar and oil make simple and delicious foodie gifts

Raspberry vinegar is a versatile accent for more than just salads. Image: Crate & Barrel

A gift of specialty vinegar or cooking oil is a favorite for foodies. They can combine the two to create a simple salad dressing, or use either for marinating or roasting vegetables.

Stylish foodie gift ideas

A showpiece pitcher that is meant to be displayed

Stylish and practical, the Ona pitcher makes a tabletop statement. Image: Crate & Barrel

Stylish cutting board gift ideas

This stylish cutting board brings the popular herringbone pattern home. Image: Crate & Barrel

Herringbone pattern is everything right now. This beautifully-crafted cutting board makes a stunning gift. Pair your foodie gift with specialty cheese and crackers for a party-ready combo.

Shake it up with a gorgeous cocktail shaker

Shake it up with the champagne gold Neil cocktail shaker. Image: CB2

Luxury gift ideas for foodies

Fondue pots are always in style

Copper fondue pot with gold accents makes a statement. Image: Williams Sonoma

Metallic serving pieces work with any decorating style

Melt Reactive Gunmetal Grey server is an inexpensive gift that looks luxurious. Image: CB2

Chargers for the dinner table are back

Brighten a dinner table with the gold Verona Charger. Image: Perigold

What is your favorite foodie gift? Let us know in the comments.

The post 15 Awesome Foodie Gift Ideas for Your Friends appeared first on Freshome.com.

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owensrhodes · 5 years

Text

15 Awesome Foodie Gift Ideas for Your Friends

The ultimate gift for your favorite foodie. KitchenAid’s Limited Edition stand mixer with ceramic hobnail bowl is a dream gift. Image: Williams Sonoma

We hope you like the products we recommend. Just so you are aware, Freshome may collect a share of sales from the links on this page.

Practical gifts for foodies

A butter bell

The butter bell is the unsung hero of the dining table. Image: Williams Sonoma

The perfect combo cutting boards

Versatile and stylish, these wood and stone boards do double duty. Image: Williams Sonoma

Grilled Cheese Kitchen: Bread + Cheese + Everything in Between cookbook

Indulge your love of grilled cheese with a Grilled Cheese Kitchen Cookbook. Image: Barnes & Noble

Gifts for adventurous foodie friends

Kitchen linens foodies will love

Spice up a foodie kitchen with these colorful towels. Image: World Market

Delight your foodie friend with small plate inspiration

Find small plate inspiration in Graze. Image: Barnes & Noble

Let’s make crêpes!

All the tools a foodie needs to create the perfect crêpe. Image: Sur la Table

Food gifts for foodie friends

Spanish saffron is the ultimate indulgence for foodies

Spanish saffron is an exotic treat for foodies. Image: Sur la Table

Sustainable, beautiful, Bitterman’s craft salt

Specialty salts and spices make excellent gifts. Image: Sur la Table

Specialty vinegar and oil make simple and delicious foodie gifts

Raspberry vinegar is a versatile accent for more than just salads. Image: Crate & Barrel

A gift of specialty vinegar or cooking oil is a favorite for foodies. They can combine the two to create a simple salad dressing, or use either for marinating or roasting vegetables.

Stylish foodie gift ideas

A showpiece pitcher that is meant to be displayed

Stylish and practical, the Ona pitcher makes a tabletop statement. Image: Crate & Barrel

Stylish cutting board gift ideas

This stylish cutting board brings the popular herringbone pattern home. Image: Crate & Barrel

Herringbone pattern is everything right now. This beautifully-crafted cutting board makes a stunning gift. Pair your foodie gift with specialty cheese and crackers for a party-ready combo.

Shake it up with a gorgeous cocktail shaker

Shake it up with the champagne gold Neil cocktail shaker. Image: CB2

Luxury gift ideas for foodies

Fondue pots are always in style

Copper fondue pot with gold accents makes a statement. Image: Williams Sonoma

Metallic serving pieces work with any decorating style

Melt Reactive Gunmetal Grey server is an inexpensive gift that looks luxurious. Image: CB2

Chargers for the dinner table are back

Brighten a dinner table with the gold Verona Charger. Image: Perigold

What is your favorite foodie gift? Let us know in the comments.

The post 15 Awesome Foodie Gift Ideas for Your Friends appeared first on Freshome.com.

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jovialsoulinfluencer · 5 years

Text

15 Awesome Foodie Gift Ideas for Your Friends

The ultimate gift for your favorite foodie. KitchenAid’s Limited Edition stand mixer with ceramic hobnail bowl is a dream gift. Image: Williams Sonoma

We hope you like the products we recommend. Just so you are aware, Freshome may collect a share of sales from the links on this page.

Practical gifts for foodies

A butter bell

The butter bell is the unsung hero of the dining table. Image: Williams Sonoma

The perfect combo cutting boards

Versatile and stylish, these wood and stone boards do double duty. Image: Williams Sonoma

Grilled Cheese Kitchen: Bread + Cheese + Everything in Between cookbook

Indulge your love of grilled cheese with a Grilled Cheese Kitchen Cookbook. Image: Barnes & Noble

Gifts for adventurous foodie friends

Kitchen linens foodies will love

Spice up a foodie kitchen with these colorful towels. Image: World Market

Delight your foodie friend with small plate inspiration

Find small plate inspiration in Graze. Image: Barnes & Noble

Let’s make crêpes!

All the tools a foodie needs to create the perfect crêpe. Image: Sur la Table

Food gifts for foodie friends

Spanish saffron is the ultimate indulgence for foodies

Spanish saffron is an exotic treat for foodies. Image: Sur la Table

Sustainable, beautiful, Bitterman’s craft salt

Specialty salts and spices make excellent gifts. Image: Sur la Table

Specialty vinegar and oil make simple and delicious foodie gifts

Raspberry vinegar is a versatile accent for more than just salads. Image: Crate & Barrel

A gift of specialty vinegar or cooking oil is a favorite for foodies. They can combine the two to create a simple salad dressing, or use either for marinating or roasting vegetables.

Stylish foodie gift ideas

A showpiece pitcher that is meant to be displayed

Stylish and practical, the Ona pitcher makes a tabletop statement. Image: Crate & Barrel

Stylish cutting board gift ideas

This stylish cutting board brings the popular herringbone pattern home. Image: Crate & Barrel

Herringbone pattern is everything right now. This beautifully-crafted cutting board makes a stunning gift. Pair your foodie gift with specialty cheese and crackers for a party-ready combo.

Shake it up with a gorgeous cocktail shaker

Shake it up with the champagne gold Neil cocktail shaker. Image: CB2

Luxury gift ideas for foodies

Fondue pots are always in style

Copper fondue pot with gold accents makes a statement. Image: Williams Sonoma

Metallic serving pieces work with any decorating style

Melt Reactive Gunmetal Grey server is an inexpensive gift that looks luxurious. Image: CB2

Chargers for the dinner table are back

Brighten a dinner table with the gold Verona Charger. Image: Perigold

What is your favorite foodie gift? Let us know in the comments.

The post 15 Awesome Foodie Gift Ideas for Your Friends appeared first on Freshome.com.

from https://freshome.com/gift-ideas-for-your-foodie-friends/ via 15 Awesome Foodie Gift Ideas for Your Friends

#Freshome.com - Interior Design & Architecture Magazine

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boxyladies · 6 years

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I recently received the Norvina Palette by Anastasia Beverly Hills ($42) as a surprise from my bestie Melissa, and it inspired me to bring back the palette series I began last year.

Since I started the Boxy Ladies Palette series, Instagram Stories got bigger and bigger, so recently, I have begun sharing more of my daily makeup looks there, rather than a regular Instagram post, so definitely make sure to follow us on Instagram and check out our stories to catch all of my latest makeup looks, lil makeup hauls, unboxings and random flat lays I create at 6:30am at the gym bathroom. (Hey, they have a white marble counter, so it’s Instagram-approved!)

Just to give a bit of background on the Norvina palette, Norvina is the daughter of Anastasia, of Anastasia Beverly Hills. So the Norvina palette is essentially all of her favorite shades. Norvina is a striking woman, and she’s very bold in her looks. She has had various hair colors over the year including hot pink and purple most recently. She is basically the personification of the unicorn emoji.

When I first saw the promo pictures of the Norvina palette, I thought it was totally gorgeous. However, I noticed it was mostly a neutral palette with a few pops of color, so it wasn’t a palette I was immediately drawn to. Like, it’s very beautiful but is it for me? I wasn’t sure. But I knew I didn’t need to be first in line to get it, having learned my lesson from Subculture.

I was totally surprised when it showed up at my house, courtesy of Melissa. She and I hadn’t talked about it, so it was just a total surprise. Because I hadn’t been manically checking out every single review and dozens of tutorials in preparation for receiving it, I had more of an open mind because I was just excited to start playing with it! I really wasn’t expecting to feel this way, but it just made me excited about makeup again! I was really excited to use it every day and come up with different looks with it.

Here are a few videos I made on Instagram Stories. I don’t have the best way to insert them, but they are just 15-second close-ups!

Here is a close-up video of the shadows!

Here are the swatches of the shimmer shadows.

Here are the swatches of the matte shadows!

And finally, below are some of the looks I came up with over the week I used the palette regularly.

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Final Grade: A

I loved this palette! I think the formula is really, really nice – it is more like the Modern Renaissance formula than Subculture, so if you were nervous about that, I think you will be happy. Several of the shades DID have some kick-up, but if you remember you just need a light touch, I think you will be fine! I think the shades blended so beautifully. I had a slight issue with Soul, the matte lavender shade, but it’s quite possible that it was just user error. For the most part, I thought the palette worked beautifully, and I was happy with almost all of the looks I came up with this week. (More on the “almost” in a second.) I will note that I mostly used my fingers for the shimmers, which I think is the best way to apply most shimmer shades in general. I think you get much better color payoff than when you use a brush, though you could probably get a way with using a flat synthetic brush with some Fix+ to get a similar effect, but I do think using your fingers on those kinds of shades is best.

One of the biggest criticisms about this palette, and one of the observations that I had, is that this IS mostly a neutral palette.

ABH Norvina

ABH Soft Glam

There was also criticism that it was very similar to the ABH Soft Glam palette ($42), which was the the last palette ABH released. Soft Glam is a very neutral palette, and though beautiful, I didn’t feel like I needed it. (However, if it magically showed up at my house the way Norvina did, I wouldn’t hate it. 🙂 ) So if I was someone who already owned Soft Glam, I might be a little disappointed in the similarities from Norvina to Soft Glam. But since I skipped Soft Glam, I found Norvina to be an extremely versatile palette!

I really liked the darker colors at the far right of the palette the best: Drama and Passion. I think those burgandy-ish colors really bring out my green eyes a lot, so I am very drawn to them. (FYI, those were the colors I wore during the photoshoot where everything looks really grey/silver. It was right after I got my hair done, so I was trying to get some fun pics of my hair, too!) I really liked mixing Incense and Love to make a rosy-ish brown transition rather than a plain pink or plain brownish transition. I used that combo on most looks I came up with. I really liked the shade Love, because it’s a really dusty pink – a lot more subtle than other pinks that I own, and so it’s quite pretty.

OK, I lied about Drama and Passion being the best shades – Rose Gold is really the best shade in the palette. How could I have forgotten? It was the first shade I was drawn to, swatched like a dream, but then looked so pretty on the eye. It’s like a deeper, more burgandy rose gold than the lighter pink rose golds I tend to think of, so I thought it was really unique. I think that will be the color I end up using the most from this palette. It’s very easy to use a quick transition shade (I might honestly use one of my shadow singles as a transition over some of the shades in this palette for that particular look) and then swiping Rose Gold all over the lid as a one-and-done kind of color. If they make Rose Gold as a single shadow, you definitely need to buy it immediately. I think this shade will definitely make blue and green eyes POP.

I also really enjoyed using the neutral shades in this palette. While I do like experimenting with color a lot, I really have been enjoying a lot of more neutral looks recently. I liked doing a very light, warm brown eye with Incense, Volatile and Eccentric with Summer, the lighter gold shade, all over the lid. I had this idea for a very classic look with a very neutral eye and a tomato red lip, so these shades were beautiful for that, and I really loved the look I came up with.

Ironically, since this is a purple palette, and Norvina the person loves purple so much, I really didn’t love the lavender/purple shades in this palette. Soul, the matte lavender-ish color was really strange to me. I may just need to play with it more, but it’s such a muted lavender that it came off very bruise-like on me, and I really wasn’t super happy with my makeup look that day. I think the shimmery purple, Celestial, is very gorgeous, but it’s just not an every day color for me, ya know? I actually thought I would like it a lot more than I did. Since my hair is so icy right now, I thought I would really be drawn to those shades more! But maybe I will experiment with both Celestial and Soul on my lower lashline to see if I can get a look that I am happier with in the future!

I do think I like Wild Child, the shimmery pink more than I like Celestial. I can see myself using that more regularly as sort of a light, one-and-done type lid look, because it’s such a pretty pink/gold duochrome. The day I used it, I was working half of the day, so I didn’t want to go all out, so I used a mix of Incense/Love in the crease and Wild Child all over, and I thought it looked really nice! Like, I looked pulled-together but also didn’t really look like I was trying too hard. I don’t think it photographed too well, so I’m not sure if that will be included in the looks above, but I did like it!

I haven’t mentioned it because it’s kind of a boring shade, but Base is definitely a great workhorse shade for setting your eyeshadow base, (which is obvs what it was included for) and also great for highlighting browbone a bit! I really enjoyed Dreamer for a nice inner corner highlight pop, however, I do feel like it helped to spray my brush a bit with some Fix+ to prevent fall-out, and to make it pop a bit more. The one shade I didn’t use is Dazzling, but I didn’t find it to be particularly unique. However, it swatched beautifully and felt exactly like Rose Gold and Summer, so I’m sure it would wear and apply exactly the same.

All in all, I really loved Norvina, and I look forward to playing with it more. If you were thinking of getting it but you were worried it would be too powdery/not blend well like Subculture, I think you will be really happy with it. If you have Soft Glam, you may not also need Norvina – you might be able to find some single shadow dupes of the lavender/pink shades. However, if you wear a lot of neutrals but you are also drawn to some pastel-y colors, I think you will really, really love this palette!

A big thank you to Melissa for sending this palette my way! Are y’all interested in picking it up? Let me know! I’m actually going to Baltimore to see Melissa AND JILL this weekend, so I hope I’ll be able to get some great pics of Jill and I so y’all can actually see us together! Jill, Melissa and I have this iconic picture of the three of us from like 10 years ago that we hope to re-create. If we do, I’ll try to post both pics on the blog next week! 🙂

The next palette I’m going to play with for the palette series is the Melt Twenty Seven palette ($58) that I received for my birthday! I’m really excited to start playing with it, and seeing what looks I can come up with!

xo, Lauren

The Boxy Ladies Palette Series Returns Featuring The ABH Norvina Palette! I recently received the Norvina Palette by Anastasia Beverly Hills ($42) as a surprise from my bestie Melissa, and it inspired me to bring back the palette series I began last year.

#ABH #ABH Norvina #ABH Norvina Palette #ABH Norvina Review #Anastasia Beverly Hills #Norvina

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craftyhope · 7 years

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Finishing up #The100DayProject (plus giveaway and previous winner)

Yesterday, I completed my last pair of earrings for #The100DayProject. This project started on April 4th and encouraged creators to pick a project to work on/complete each day for 100 days with the intention of fostering more creativity. These projects were to be featured on Instagram with the project's hashtag and our own unique hashtag. I chose to make a pair of earrings, using #Make100Earrings. As I said, yesterday was day 100. Previously, I've revealed earrings 1-20, earrings 21-40, earrings 41-60, and earrings 61-80 along with a giveaway for each set.

I have to admit that I went into the project fully expecting myself to fail miserably. I didn't think I would make it near 100 days. I did miss two days while I was out of town during this bunch but made them up as soon as I got home. So, in the one hundred days...I made one hundred pairs of earrings. I can't even believe it. As I said above, the purpose of the project is to garner creativity by repeating a similar piece of work day after day. This repetition forces the individual to step out of the box rather than become mundane. I found this forced creative innovation to be true for the most part. Though, towards the end, I began to feel like all my ideas had run their course. A hundred days is probably the perfect number before the project becomes tiring. In any case, I present you with the last of my contribution to this year's project.

Days 81-84

Day 81: I don't even remember what I had on my desk previously, but I distinctly remember getting frustrated that it wasn't working out the way I wanted. Rather than continue to fiddle and fume, I stacked some beads on headpins. These turned out beautifully.

Day 82: After creating my own stencils with my Silhouette Cameo and page dividers, I traced the same shape onto some tin. From there, these teardrops were cut and sanded before being hung from the small coral beads.

Day 83: I've hung onto a couple of rolls of thin metal I got for cheap forever ago. It hit me that the metal was thin enough to be run through an embossing folder. From there, I aged the metal with patina, cut it to fit in the bezel, sprinkled on mica powder, and sealed it with Magic Glos resin. The violet beads are salvaged from old jewelry and flanked on an eye pin by copper spacer beads.

Day 84: The flower fairy beads from Mermaid Glass have been in my stash for ages. I love them too much to use them...or some such nonsense as that. They're accented simply with bead caps and tiny Chinese crystals and moonstone-colored glass beads from ZnetShows.com.

Days 85-88

Day 85: Using random scraps of leftovers from cutting apart the tin days before, I paired up the pieces and hung small amethyst briolettes from the bottom.

Day 86: For some reason, the polymer clay discs caught my eye. I was working from my travel box so I dug around for coordinating beads and came up with this combination.

Day 87: When I came upon a list of earring idea for this challenge, I noticed that I had made all of them except for one that mentioned these tiny spools. A few wood discs were added to the top and bottom since the holes were so large. As well, I glued on embroidery floss to add color.

Day 88: At the end of an extremely busy day, I thought I had already made my earrings. Once I realized I hadn't, I dug around in the craft room for something, anything different. These mokume gane polymer clay beads that I made eons ago were unearthed. I paired them with silver spacers and cherry quartz-colored glass beads.

Days 89-92

Day 89: It was another long day. The beads for these earrings were in a small bowl on top of my bead cabinet waiting to become something. Earrings, they became earrings.

Day 90: We had another day spent almost completely outside, and I just wasn't feeling inspired. Finally, these came together. And, looking at the one on the right...it seems that maybe I cut the bottom wire. These will have to be re-made! I might even make them less sloppy.

Day 91: With summer in full force, I was drawn to these cobalt blue cultured sea glass conch shells from ZnetShows.com. The Czech glass beads I used with them have a feeling of sand to them. Now I want to head down to the beach.

Day 92: It was the 4th of July, and I wanted to make red, white, and blue earrings. I recalled that one of my tins used that color combo. To keep the patriotic theme, I cut the tin into star shapes. They're too cute!

Days 93-96

Day 93: I left out of town EARLY that morning. Late in the evening, when we finally checked into the hotel, I was just climbing into bed when I realized I hadn't made my earrings for the day. I quickly pulled together some of my altered and patina-ed Vintaj blanks and faux blue pearls.

Day 94: The size of these faux pearls are what got my attention. However, I wanted to make them dainty. The use of bead caps and the airy rings finished this pair.

Day 95: Inspired by my niece, my best friend, and the star beads; these earrings took me a little while to decide on. But, they fell together once the decisions were made.

Day 96: Here's where things went wonky. I was still out of town and didn't have a minute to myself. So, these were actually made after I got back home. The discs are mica washers and are paired with pretty blue glass beads.

Days 97-100

Day 97: Like #96, I had to make these late. The metal teardrops were unearthed in one of my little drawers and were the inspiration for the earrings. They're pretty much a take on earrings #94, but with a bolder statement.

Day 98: The lampwork spacers in these earrings are from StudioJuls. Once I realized a small chain would slip through the holes, these seemed obvious to me.

Day 99: I was drawn to try to make a chandelier frame with wire. There are worse versions of these. While these are not fabulous, at least I tried and know what my weakness is. I'll try this technique again another time.

Day 100: Wanting to go out with a bang, I decided to a new approach entirely. I pressed conditioned scrap polymer clay into shallow bezels, stamped an image, covered it with mica powder, and baked the clay until cured. From there, acrylic paint gave accents and shadow before the whole thing was sealed with resin. They're stunning and make me wonder why I hardly every work with clay anymore.

Now for the giveaway from the last reveal. I received five entries:

And the random number generator chose a number between 2 & 6:

Angela, that's you! I'll be sending you an e-mail soon about getting your prizes to you. Congrats.

If you're interested in entering the new giveaway to win some of the earrings from this current selection, leave me a comment letting me know which of these earrings are your favorites. I do ask that you live in the US and leave me your e-mail address with the comment. I'll have this giveaway open until the end of the month and draw a winner at the beginning of August. Thanks for checking out what I made and for playing along. Good Luck!!

via Blogger http://ift.tt/2umoNVI

#Blogger #earrings #make 100 earrings #the 100 day project

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