Yumbot Cupcake Molds

Not long ago, I posted about a cupcake pop mold as a possible stocking stuffer; today I have Yumbot Cupcake Molds from (who else?) ThinkGeek! For $17.99 you get a set of four robot-shaped silicon cupcake molds into which you pour the batter directly for baking and then decorating. I think they're adorable, and if you split them up among recipients they're not too expensive.

Of course, it's unlikely anyone would ever want to make only four cupcakes at a time, but the robots would make a cute centerpiece for a display that is rounded out by more traditional cupcakes. The set has one each of red, yellow, blue, and green. They're oven-safe to 450 degrees, and of course they're dishwasher safe as well.

What: Yumbot Cupcake Molds
Where: ThinkGeek
How much (as of today's post): $17.99 for set of four (plus shipping)

Cupcake Pop Mold

One of the many blogs I follow is Bakerella, whose creativity and talent amazes me. If you're one of the few people out there who don't know who she is, she's the one who makes all those amazing cake pops, or little decorative (and edible) cakes on a stick. She has her first book out, Cake Pops: Tips, Tricks, and Recipes for More Than 40 Irresistible Mini Treats, and she's been on a whirlwind publicity and signing schedule lately. I have her book on my wishlist, even though I know I'm not likely to attempt her creations since I'm not even good at making cookies from already-prepared dough!


So where am I going with this? I was looking at the Cake Pops book on Amazon, and Amazon helpfully suggested to me I might also like this cunning little cupcake pop mold for $5.95. It certainly is cute! (It does occur to me that one mold might not be very helpful, if you have to make these one at a time, but on the other hand, I imagine every type of cake pop is kind of labor intensive to make!)

Anyway, if you are stuffing the stocking of someone who loves to bake creatively, the cupcake pop mold would be a great stocking stuffer, perhaps paired with the Cake Pops book under the tree. And this book has started quite a trend, because there's another beautiful book, Pop Bakery: 25 Cakes on Sticks and Other Tempting Delights by Clare O'Connell, coming out in March 2011.

What: Cupcake Pop Mold
Where: Amazon or a baking supply store
How much (as of today's post): $5.95 (plus shipping)

Snowman Spoon Swizzles

When I was in high school and college, I was a bookworm who was almost completely antisocial. I'm still a bookworm, but now I love socializing, and especially throwing parties. My husband and I give huge New Year's Eve parties that are themed with optional costumes. Some of our themes have included a "Don't Worry Be Happy" beach party; a supervillains and superheroes party; an aliens party; and a Swingin' Sixties/Psychedelic Seventies party. This year we're having a "Phantasmagorical Literary Salon", which will be book-themed with people dressing up as any literary creator or character.

And although I love these big, sprawling themed parties, sometimes I get the urge to just have an intimate, classy dinner party -- but we don't, because we have no dining room table. Actually, we have no real furniture, not even a couch -- we just have several hand-me-down, cat-clawed armchairs. That works fine for a party of 80 people, but not so much for a elegant dinner for 8.

Anyway (yes, there is sort of a point to all this!), I love love love to see elegant partyware, and fancy little touches like these Snowman Swizzle Sticks. I can just see these adorning a pretty holiday table. And while I won't buy these for myself considering the kinds of parties we give, I can see these as a lovely little stocking stuffer for the kind of entertainer who does host the more intimate dinner party-style gatherings.

(I have to admit, I'm mentally ready for the holiday season. I'm really looking forward to it, and I've made a good dent in my holiday shopping. Let's hope my enthusiasm stays the distance!)

What: Snowman Spoon Swizzles
Where: Pier One stores (link is to view only; cannot be purchased online)
How much (as of today's post): $8.95 for set of 4

Sock Monkey Wine Cozy

Yesterday I received a Solutions catalog in the mail, and they always have lots of cute stuff for the holidays. I was struck by this sock monkey wine cozy -- it seems sock monkeys are everywhere these days!

Anyway, this little guy would be fun as a hostess gift when you're going to a Christmas party -- he'll certainly stand out from all the Christmas-themed wine bags and boxes!

What: Sock Monkey Wine Cozy
Where: Solutions website or catalog
How much (as of today's post): $9.95 (or three for $8.95 each) (plus shipping)

Skull Swizzle Sticks

This set of 21 skull swizzle sticks is certain apropos of the season! They are 7.25 inches tall and feature hand-painted resin skills atop clear sticks. The only drawback is that they must be hand-washed, but on the other hand it certainly wouldn't take long to wash a handful of these in one go.

I have a friend who collects skull-themed things year round, so I always think of her when I see something like this. Hmmm, maybe I'll do a post on an entire skull-themed stocking.....

What: Skull Swizzle Sticks
Where: WineEnthusiast.com
How much (as of today's post): $9.99 for set of 12 (on sale from $19.99) (plus shipping)

Bamboo Tealight Holders

Happy Earth Day! In honor of this day, here is a nice, eco-friendly stocking stuffer: Bamboo Delights, or tea light holders made of 100% organically grown bamboo. Each holder measures 3 inches long by 2 inches wide, and they come in a set of six for $19.00. You could give them all to one person, or you could give two holders to three recipients, or three holders to two recipients, or even just one apiece to six different people, which would make this a very affordable stocking stuffer. I love their sleek, modern lines.

What: Bamboo Tea Light Holders
Where: Branch website
How much (as of today's post): $19.00 for set of six (plus shipping)

Concerto Crackers

Do you do Christmas Crackers? I was introduced to these by my British/Canadian husband's family. They're a fun British tradition in which you pull the crackers apart with a partner, making a loud "pop", then get a prize from inside. There's also usually a paper crown to put on. In any case, here's a really neat twist on the idea -- with this "Concerto Crackers" set, each of the eight crackers has a different-pitched whistle inside, and there are play-by-number music sheets so your group can play songs together!

Also, with their black, white, and red color scheme, these don't have to be limited to Christmas. I think they'd be great for a child's birthday party.

What: Concerto Crackers
Where: Signals website
How much (as of today's post): $19.95 (or 15.95 each when you buy two) (plus shipping)

Organic Bamboo Coasters

Aren't these bamboo coasters lovely? They are made from organically grown bamboo, by a company named Bambu in China. According to the description on the Branch website, "Bambu works only with manufacturing partners who demonstrate a commitment to health and safety, environmental protection and fair labor practices. In turn, Bambu supports and reinforces worker health and safety measures, and funds international third-party auditing procedures." This makes sense, considering that Branch's tagline is "Sustainable Design for Living".

The coasters come in a set of four, and measure 3.75 inches square. I like that they look elegant and natural at the same time.

What: Organic Bamboo Coasters
Where: Branch website
How much (as of today's post): $16.00 (plus shipping)

Quirky Corks Wine Stoppers

I can't even remember where I saw these -- somewhere when I was shopping this last weekend -- but at any rate they're available online too, which is always convenient. These Quirky Corks Wine Stoppers come with cute wine-related sayings, such as "Put a cork in it", "May your glass always be half full", and "I go well with everything" (clearly intended for that insecure bottle of wine that just wants to be loved....) My favorite is "Put a cork in it" but they're all cute! Each wine stopper is $11.95 from Wrapables.com, although it might be worth a little comparison shopping just to see if they're cheaper elsewhere.

What: Quirky Corks Wine Stoppers
Where: Wrapables.com
How much (as of today's post): $11.95 (plus shipping)

Ice Kabobs

(Another after-the-fact post -- hopefully I'll be back on track after this!)

These Ice Kabobs are little ice trays that make a fancy ice "swizzle stick" for your guests' drinks. I saw then in Sur La Table over the weekend, but they're also available online from Perpetual Kid and elsewhere. They would make a fun stocking stuffer for someone you know likes to throw parties!

What: Ice Kabobs
Where: Perpetual Kid, Sur La Table, or elsewhere
How much (as of today's post): $7.99 (plus shipping)

Tea Forte Cocktail Infusions

Are you familiar with Tea Forte, those elegant little pyramid-shaped boxes of tea? My husband once ordered tea in a hotel lobby bar, and they brought over the selection of flavors in these little pyramid boxes on a tray. People kept stopping by the table to ask if it was some kind of new fancy chess or board game we were playing! Anyway, I've always thought these looked elegant but I'm not much of a tea drinker myself -- but now they have "cocktail infusions", or tea mixes to make unusual cocktails with! They come in:

• Lavender Citrus (used to make a Lavender Pear Martini, a Cosmo de Provence, or a Lavender Lime Rickey
  
  
• Lemongrass Mint (used to make a Wild Mint Mojito, a Lemongrass Gin & Tonic, or a Bali Breeze)
  
  
• Silkroad Chai (used to make a Chai White Russian, a Bombai Chai Rum & Tonic, or a Peach Chai Crush)
  
  
• A collection of all three of the above blends

One box is $12, or you can get three boxes for $30 by using the coupon code INFUSE at checkout. The only problem is, I can't easily tell how many pyramids are in a box.

Wouldn't these be a great conversation starter at a fancy party, or an elegant addition to a brunch? The Tea Forte website even has a downloadable PDF recipe booklet.

What: Tea Forte Cocktail Infusions
Where: Tea Forte website (or ask at an upscale liquor store)
How much (as of today's post): $12.00 per box (plus shipping)

Jigger Cube

At $20.95, this jigger cube from Wrapables just squeaks over that $20 limit I've arbitrarily imposed, which is why I'm posting it as a luxury Friday stocking stuffer. The cube features six different measuring "pours", one on each side, including: 0.50 oz, 0.75 oz, 1.00 oz, 1.50 oz, 2.00 oz, and 2.25 oz. It measures 3 inches on each side and weighs a pound (so you'd want to make sure the stocking is sturdy and securely hung!). It's made of aluminum, so it should pretty much last forever. The package includes 14 cocktail recipes to try. Personally, the strongest thing I drink is wine, so it's not something I would need, but it's great for anyone who likes mixed drinks.

What: Jigger Cube
Where: Wrapables.com
How much (as of today's post): $20.95 (plus shipping)

Rockstar Drink Charms from Vinyl Records

I would normally post these on a luxury Friday due to the price ($28.00 for set of six), but I really really wanted to post an eco-friendly stocking stuffer today because I'm feeling eco-minded right now. These lovely wine charms -- one each of blue, red, black, pink, green, purple, and pink -- are handmade from old vinyl records with stainless steel charm hoops. I love that they're simply made, and don't consist of some cheap metal or plastic charm with a few colored beads, which is what most wine charms consist of these days.

And why am I feeling eco-minded? Because today my husband and I filled two cars worth of paper for recycling, and drove it to a major recycling center across town. You should have seen our two little cars sandwiched between the semi-trailers full of scrap paper! We recycled a total of 380 pounds of paper on this trip. We do this once or twice a year, taking our newspaper, office paper, junk mail, cereal box cardboard, and so on. Whew! You should see how much roomier our garage looks now!

What: Rockstar Drink Charms from Vinyl Records
Where: BTC Elements
How much (as of today's post): $28.00/set of six (plus shipping)

Magnetic Steel Vases

To me it seems odd to sell vases, even bud vases, in sets of five, but so be it. These magnetic steel vases from ThinkGeek.com are very striking, don't you think? They look as though they couldn't possibly remain upright, but the secret is a thin steel plate/base that you can hide under your tablecloth if you wish. I rarely use a tablecloth myself, but I think it looks just as striking with the steel plate visible since the plate is fairly small itself. And I always find single blooms in bud vases to be particularly elegant.

At $39.99 for a set of five, this qualifies as a Friday luxury stocking stuffer, but when you think about it, the five are only about $8 apiece before shipping. And since I have a mother, a mother-in-law, two sisters, and three sisters-in-law, it really wouldn't be too difficult to split these up among recipients for fairly inexpensive stocking stuffers. I also think a set would be a wonderful gift for someone who likes to entertain. Can you imagine how gorgeous a table would look with one of these at each place setting? (Again, five is such an odd number, though! Oh well....)

What: Magnetic Steel Vases
Where: ThinkGeek website
How much (as of today's post): $39.99 for five (about $8 apiece)

Fall Forest Piecrust Cutters

Just another Manic Monday! Today's stocking stuffer is perfect for the crisp days of autumn and the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday: Fall Forest Piecrust Cutters, available exclusively from Williams-Sonoma. They measure approximately 1.75 inches wide by 1.75 inches high. You press down the leaf's edges to cut, then use the spring-loaded handle to release the cut shape. Pretty, don't you think?

Gentlemen, a word of caution: do not buy your wife or girlfriend any kitchen-related stocking stuffers as a hint that she should do more cooking or baking! You may only give such stocking stuffers if the said wife or girlfriend is a self-affirmed lover of cooking or baking. You have been warned!

And by the way, in frugal times, I see nothing wrong with purchasing the set and splitting it up among two recipients.

What: Fall Forest Piecrust Cutters
Where: Williams Sonoma website or store
How much (as of today's post): $18.00 (plus shipping)

Party Manners Coasters

Since these coasters are made of paper and are essentially for one-time use, they are a little pricey, but you have to admit they're funny, and would make a cute little gag gift in a hostess basket, or a stocking stuffer for your family member who loves to entertain. After all, what hostess doesn't need to occasionally remind her guests not to: 1) double dip, 2) eat all the shrimp, or 3) pick through the nuts? I have definitely had a few guests in my home over the years that could have used some gentle reminders....

(And if you're crafty, or even just environmentally concerned, you could probably find a way to make something similar yet reusable, perhaps with customized sayings!)

What: Party Manners Coasters
Where: Spoon Sisters website
How much (as of today's post): $9.95 for set of 12 (plus shipping)

Porcelain Mice Cheese Markers

Cheese is by far my biggest food vice -- I'd much rather eat cheese than cake and ice cream, or even chocolate. I also like to entertain, so these porcelain mice cheese markers from the Potpourri catalog caught my eye. The set of four comes with a black wipe-off marker so you can write the cheese name on each, then re-use them with different cheeses on another occasion. Each marker is two inches high. The set costs $12.95, although there's a price break to $9.95 if you buy two or more sets.

And just a hint: remember that most cheeses should be allowed to warm up to room temperature before serving. It makes a huge difference in flavor.

What: Porcelain Mice Cheese Markers
Where: Potpourri website
How much (as of today's post): $12.95/set of four (plus shipping)

Ravi Instant Wine Chiller

Once again it's "luxury Friday", the one day I week I feature stocking stuffers that cost more than $20. (For the record, as of today, or not quite a year of posting a stocking stuffer every day, I've posted 69 items in the under $5 category, 93 under $10, 48 under $15, and 23 under $20, plus the 47 weekly "luxury Friday" items.)

In any case, today's item definitely is a luxury, both in price and in function. It's a Ravi Instant Wine Chiller, which is a little metal device you store in the freezer and then use to pour an unchilled bottle of wine, so that it chills within seconds as you pour it. I've been thinking about posting this item for a while, but kept coming back to the thought that "well, you can just keep wine in the fridge, after all!" And then last night, I had just poured myself the tiny bit of Chardonnay left in the fridge when I realized the new bottle wasn't chilled yet. Sigh.... So I guess this Ravi chiller might be nice to have in the freezer for those moments when you get caught off guard, or if you're having a large party and there's no way to fit all the wine in the fridge. Which means this would also make an elegant and generous stocking stuffer (or gift basket item) for a wine connoisseur or a frequent entertainer.

For what it's worth, the two customer reviewers on Amazon both give this five stars. The list price is $49.95, but Amazon has it for $38.31 as of this writing. Happy pouring!

What: Ravi Instant Wine Chiller
Where: Amazon or elsewhere
How much (as of today's post): $38.31 (plus shipping)

Wine Cork Candles (In a Wine-Themed Stocking!)

Here's something that would go perfectly with last week's wine cork place card holders: a set of four wine cork candles that fit atop empty wine bottles. Each cork candle will burn for two hours, so they're perfect for a romantic dinner or as a hostess gift.

In fact, think of what a lovely wine-themed gift basket or themed stocking you could put together with the wine-themed stocking stuffers I've listed over the past several months:

• Handmade grape cluster wine charms
  
  
• Chardonnay or Chambourcin wine jelly
  
  
• Saint and sinner wine stoppers
  
  
• Wine cork place card holders
  
  
• And of course (if it's a gift basket, a bottle of wine!

There are lots of other possibilities too: some chocolate to go with the wine, or a pocket-sized wine guide, or a nice corkscrew.... Themed stockings and gift baskets are easy once you start to think about them!

What: Wine Cork Candles
Where: Vat19 website
How much (as of today's post): $7.50 (plus shipping)

Wine Cork Place Card Holders

This set of eight place card holders looks like wine corks, although they're actually made of resin. Each holder has a slot for the name cards and a flat base, and the set would make a nice stocking stuffer for anyone who likes to have dinner parties. The holders could also be used to label wine and cheese at a wine tasting party.

For the crafty among you, you might also be able to make a do-it-yourself variety out of actual corks! I think the hardest part would be cutting to get the flat side really flat without crumbling the cork, but I imagine it could be done. I won't label this post as a possible do-it-yourself idea until I've actually tried it myself -- if it works, I'll come back and update!

What: Wine Cork Place Card Holders
Where: Uncommon Goods website
How much (as of today's post): $12.00 / set of eight (plus shipping)