Wish List

A Herman Miller Aeron chair (in size A) has been on my mind for a long time. It's one of the few chairs I've sat in and felt like it was a perfect fit. Because I'm petite, I often feel awkward in office chairs (that are designed for people much bigger than me). I'm thinking 2013 is the perfect year for a new desk chair.

(Photo courtesy of Herman Miller)

What's the Scoop?

I don't know how this pint of Ben & Jerry's Vanilla Caramel Fudge ice cream got in my freezer, I swear. Okay... I may have snuck it in there and tucked it behind some frozen peas so my husband wouldn't find it. It made for a great late-night indulgence recently.

I bought this Zeroll 2-oz ice cream scoop after reading a recommendation on the food and kitchen blog The Kitchn. This ice cream scoop really is fabulous. I don't know how they do it but it has some sort of heat-conductive fluid inside that makes scooping even rock-hard ice cream a breeze. Unfortunately, not dishwasher safe. So good, you'll let it slide. Just this once.

The Kitchn: "Zeroll Original 2-Ounce Aluminum Ice Cream Scoop"

In the Closet

I use these Iris shoe storage boxes for my bedroom closet for shoes and other miscellaneous items like wallets and scarves. Our linen closet used to be a total hurricane of items. Contained in these clear boxes, the stuff is now organized but still easily found. They are perfect for storing personal care products, first aid/medical supplies, nail polish, travel items, and just about everything else. I have purchased at least two sets of 12 to use around my home and in the car. If you're lucky, you can even find them at your local Costco.

Products Made in America - Consumer Reports

From the February 2013 Consumer Reports magazine. Discusses "Made in the USA" labeling, products that are (still) American-made, the quality of a few US-made items, and why more and more companies are "bucking the outsourcing trend." A brief but informative article.

Consumer Reports: "Products Made in America"
(Stock photo.) 

Skin Care for the Fellas

Jack Black Pure Clean Daily Facial Cleanser and Double-Duty Face Moisturizer

While my husband has a very elaborate shaving routine, his skincare is as simple as one can get. He does, however, like to use a face moisturizer. I bought a Jack Black travel set for him a couple of years ago. I don't think he gets much use out of the facial cleanser but really loves the moisturizer. He requested it the following year for Christmas. I bought the 8.5 oz size knowing that he wears it daily. It's gentle, lightweight, has an SPF of 20, and doesn't feel oily or greasy. Great for guys who are sensitive and no-nonsense. My guy is both.

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links.

Gift Wrapping

As I previously mentioned, I use sheets of my Stendig calendar from past months for all of my gift-wrapping needs. I didn't realize until recently, though, that the scissors and tape I use for wrapping gifts are also American-made. Who knew that Scotch tape was made in the USA? I like this Matte Finish Magic tape because it's pretty invisible against the gift wrap. These American-made DuraSharp scissors are old so I'm not even sure if new versions are made in the USA anymore. This website shows a similar pair as such but I'm not sure if this is universally true.

For those gifts that are USA-made, you can even make a gift tag that boasts about it. I made these for last year's gifts:

This year, I got lazy and didn't even include labels or gift tags. There's always next year.

Christmas Jigsaw Puzzle

I am not sure when it started, but my mom and I have a tradition of doing a jigsaw puzzle on Christmas. Sometimes they are new and sometimes they are used, found from various places. A second-hand puzzle can be a bit of risk. I like, however, to live dangerously. This year's puzzle was a four-sided 550-piece one from Ceaco (Newton, MA) entitled "Boudoir." It was surprisingly fun and quick, only taking about one glass of wine to finish. Thankfully, no missing or duplicate pieces for this year's Christmas puzzle.

Other companies that make jigsaw puzzles in the USA:

Buffalo Games (Buffalo, NY)
Channel Craft (Charleroi, PA)
Serendipity Puzzles (Milwaukee, WI)
Springbok (Kansas City, MO)
SunsOut (Costa Mesa, CA)
TDC Games (Itasca, IL)
White Mountain Puzzles (Jackson, NH)