Twisted Cookie Exchange: Gingerbread people, complete with missing parts

In real life, there’s nothing funny about amputation. It’s just… wrong. The rules on funny bend a little bit, though, when applied to the lives of cookies. If you live in a household like mine, with a mind like anyone in my small family possesses, it’s extremely telling when you look at which part of the gingerbread person (we respect their privacy and don’t refer to them in any gender-specific manner) gets gobbled up first. With my daughter, it’s usually the head. She’s merciful for a preschooler. My husband prefers the legs (so they can’t run away). Me? I go for whatever is sticking out, because it’s a cookie.

When I saw these cookie cutters on Baking Bites, I knew these would be an awesome addition to our holiday cookie exchange. Instead of waiting for your child to horrify friends and relatives, you can make your own, pre-bitten, twisted cookies and decorate accordingly. It may not be for the faint of heart, but if you have some fans of the horror genre, or just some sick little puppies in your circle of friends, these are a perfect gift. Just be sure to include a nice recipe (if you’re at a loss for a recipe, try Baking Bite’s Gingerbread recipe) with them, so that gingerbread people can be made and shared immediately.

Posted on 10 Dec 2007 by Tina V.

“I Love You” Message Beans">“I Love You” Message Beans

Well, Happy New Year to all of you! The wreaths are coming down and the menorahs are being put away, which only means that Valentine’s Day is right around the corner. So start getting those hearts out or wearing your “I hate V-Day” t-shirts. Oh, and get ready to say “Happy Anniversary” to us at g3!! We’re about to turn one year old! But, back to the gifts. If you are not a romantic, but still want to give your special someone a gift that he or she will remember, try to “I Love You” Message Beans from Signals.

Posted on 1 Jan 2007 by Anne B.

Beat the Leaves, Part 2: Poly Leaf Scoops

Okay, for the second installment of my series on lawn refuse removal techniques and gifts, I’ve chosen the Poly Leaf Scoops to go along with my Port-A-Sac Lawn Bag Holder. In my quest to make my job of leaf disposer a little easier, I found these huge green alien suckers that are like 10 times the size of my own hands. The rake is never easy to use when putting the leaves into the refuse container (bag, can, whatever), and I’m tired of scraping our snow shovel against the driveway to pick up the leaves. My personal philosophy is that the grab is more efficient than the scoop. Hence, the Poly Leaf Scoops.

Posted on 20 Nov 2006 by Anne B.

Beat the Leaves, Part 1: Port-A-Sac Lawn Bag Holder

My husband’s favorite time of year is Autumn. I don’t know why—we spend every weekend on the lawn raking up the leaves. Well, I for one have had it!! He’s out of town for the second Fall in 3 years, and it’s up to me to get the leaves picked up and tossed. I’m only 5’3 so the big garbage cans aren’t exactly easy for me to fill and then dump into a huge lawn bag! I’m fracked, as they say on Battlestar Galactica!! (Sorry, I hope that wasn’t too cultish or crass.) Anyway, my goal is to beat the leaves without them beating me. I’m going to have to haul these suckers away from my grass during nap times, so time is of the essence. My first solution is to get something in which to put the leaves, hence the Port-A-Sac Lawn Bag Holder from The Container Store via Amazon.com. Stay tuned next week for part 2 of how I beat the leaves!!

Posted on 13 Nov 2006 by Anne B.

Spa Shower Mat

As I said yesterday, with 2 small kids, a husband I adore and 2 businesses finding the time to enjoy a bubble bath is virtually impossible. But that doesn’t mean I don’t want to find ways to relax.

Posted on 14 Sep 2006 by Anne W.

Instant Manicures from Avon

Well, Ladies, I don’t usually write about beauty products, but this is the best thing since the hair dryer was invented. As a retail salesperson and a mom of two young children, I have zero time to paint my own nails. I also don’t have the time or money to pay a babysitter so that I can go get a manicure. So, when my friend gave me a sample of Avon’s new Instant Manicure, I thought I’d at least give it a try. I have to admit, I was extremely skeptical at first—those press-on nails never seemed to work. Why would this be any different? But, I am now hooked and will probably never go back to wet nail polish again.

Posted on 12 Sep 2006 by Anne B.

Fourth of July Wreath

If you want to show your patriotism, I suggest that you go to to Collections Etc. and take a look at the Berry Fiber Optic Wreath! Due to copyright laws, I was unable to download a picture to show on our website. But this wreath is ultra cool with it’s lights and resemblance to a flag. We can’t put flags out on our houses due to HOA Rules, but this wreath will help me to show my patriotic colors! And being a military family, we may just keep this baby on our door year-round!

Posted on 26 Jun 2006 by Anne B.

Magic Beans

We are daily watching our little window garden grow. We planted our six little pots of seeds several weeks ago. And daily we water them, and wonder if they will bloom one day as they stretch sunward every morning a little more.

Posted on 10 May 2006 by Anne W.

Cup-A-Cake cupcake holder

I like to bake, though I’m not, by any means, a baker extraordinaire. I can do a few things well, like muffins, cookies and cupcakes. The one problem I usually have is transporting baked goods to friends. Cookies and muffins are fine—they can be schlepped into a basket or artfully arranged on a plate and then covered with foil or plastic-wrap. Cupcakes, however, are a problem.

Posted on 29 Apr 2006 by Tina V.

Timmy Alphabet Turtle

My daughter is a puzzle fan. She can do puzzles for hours it seems. At her age, she is challenged by the small to medium size puzzles. I think that puzzles help children to think logically and learn along the way.

Posted on 22 Apr 2006 by Anne W.

Forest Faces

Spring is definitely here in Southern California and everything is in bloom. The gardener in me is alive and singing. So when perusing my usual gardening spots, I found these forest faces and fell in love. I have half a dozen people to whom I will send these as a “Spring is here gift!â€?

Posted on 19 Apr 2006 by Anne W.

Pee Pee Teepees

One of the greatest gifts I’ve ever found to give to an expecting mom is the [PEE-PEE TEEPEES] from [Uncommon Goods]. This item is one of those that makes you say, “I wish I’d thought of that!â€? This gift will give Mommy a true chuckle and maybe a wake up call about having a boy! And if there’s ever a time to make a new or expecting mom of a boy, it’s at her baby shower.

Posted on 17 Apr 2006 by Anne B.

Get-A-Grip Ultra Ice Cleats

My mother-in-law is a home shopping junkie, and over the years, we’ve received some really odd gifts. But this year for Christmas, she truly had my wellness at heart when she gave me the Get-A-Grip Ultra Ice Cleats to go over my regular shoes. I’d never thought to ever ask for such a gift, but being 8 months pregnant and living in an area that gets more ice than snow, I was thankful for my mother-in-law’s thoughtfulness.

Posted on 15 Mar 2006 by Anne B.

Heart Stones

I am an avid gardener so anything to make my garden a special place to relax, and “smell the rosesâ€? is inviting to me. These heart stones are just what I mean. These are sweet heart shaped stones make a wonderful surprise for you or your guests to stumble upon. They will lighten your mood, warm your heart, a little reminder that there is love in the world.

Posted on 8 Mar 2006 by Anne W.

Sushi Magnets

My life hinges on the front of my refrigerator. Not the contents, mind you, but the little pieces of paper sticking to the front of the fridge, held on by magnets. As such, I can never have enough magnets. I fell in love with these little sushi magnets partially because of my dis-organization system, but also because I’m a fan of those little bite-sized pieces of heaven. If you know someone who loves everything Japanese (I know a few), or just likes a good California roll or maki, these sushi magnets would make a fabulous housewarming gift or just a little pick-me-up present.

Posted on 3 Mar 2006 by Tina V.

Display Tea: Adagio Teas

As much as I love coffee, I have a soft spot for tea. I grew up in a household where coffee was taboo for kids, but tea was perfectly alright for underage consumption, leaving me with an appreciation for the leafy water. That’s why I was thrilled when my buddy Chris sent me a gift certificate to Adagio Teas, where I found these beautiful display teas. Don’t be fooled by the name, display teas are meant to be consumed. They’re just prettier to drink. Imagine dropping a non-descript wad of tea into hot water, only to be greeted by an unfurling blossom in your cup. That’s display tea. It’s a beautiful drink and a party trick, all rolled into one.

Posted on 24 Feb 2006 by Tina V.

Flower Aquarium

As you already might have guessed I love the garden. I am an avid gardener and am known to take on large floral growing projects occasionally. My last crazy floral project was to dig up the beds surrounding my pool and plant 40 climbing roses. They looked and smelled incredible, but the amount of work to maintain them was a little overwhelming. I sold the house after the first season, but I have driven by and know at least some of them are still thriving. So needless to say, I love fresh flowers. And I love unusual ways to display them. So when I found these flower aquariums I was in love immediately. They are very unique. You place your floral arrangement in the base, fill it up with water, attach the base which seals in the water and turn it over to display your flowers. The hand blown glass globe magnifies each flower so you can see each beautiful detail. And the flowers last longer too! The flower aquariums is available in 3 sizes – Single, Medium (7â€?) $14.95 and large (8.5â€?) - $19.95. I would definitely encourage buying one in each size or multiple of two sizes. From Gardener’s Supply Company.

Posted on 15 Feb 2006 by Anne W.

Chocolate-Covered Java Drops

I’m a bit of a coffee freak. I just can’t get enough of the stuff: I drink it, cook with it, and sometimes I’ve even been known to eat the beans… covered in a little chocolate. Dean’s Beans’ chocolate-covered Java Drops are one of those chocolate-covered luxuries that make regular chocolate seem a little inferior.

Posted on 3 Feb 2006 by Tina V.

Smart Spin Storage System

Okay, if you’re like me, when those infomercials invade your television, the channel is quickly changed. Luckily, however, one of my relatives didn’t change the channel when the Smart Spin Storage System commercial appeared.

Posted on 15 Jan 2006 by Anne B.

Zap Cap

Hey, I know this guy who’s hard to buy for …. Who doesn’t have one of those in our lives? You’d like to find an inexpensive gift that he’ll not only use but also one that will impress him with your thoughtfulness. Whether he’s a beer or root beer drinker, the Zap Cap from www.thecontainerstore.com is an ideal gift.

Posted on 11 Jan 2006 by Anne B.

Aveda Comforting Tea

If you’re looking for a unique gift that will lift both the body and spirit of a man or woman, one great place to peruse is the Aveda.com website. Aveda is a line of hair, skin, and body products that centers around a philosophy that includes the integration of the environment and the body, as well as the use of natural ingredients in their products and methods of salon work. Of their 11 “beliefsâ€? that are found with their mission statement, the one I’m focusing on here is number 5: “We believe in inspiring and educating people to integrate wellness and beauty in their lives.â€?

Posted on 11 Jan 2006 by Anne B.

Monster Plates

These adorable monster plates from Sprout Home are perfect for the little monster at your table, or for anyone with a love for odd-looking little critters. While you probably can’t nuke dinner on them (they’re not suggested for microwave use), they’re kid-friendly and may actually inspire your little one to enjoy uncovering the entire monster as they eat their meal.

Posted on 10 Jan 2006 by Tina V.