10 products for green thumbs and brown knees

February 25, 2011 By Daily Grommet Leave a Comment

You’ve always been cool as a cucumber, the chief cultivating officer of your luscious home garden. Each season you break new ground, ready to try out the latest gardening products and showcase the breadth of your gardening gifts. This stuff is for you.
unique gift idea - Jill-able Vase

Jill-able – Say it with a Vase

Add to the pleasure of cut flowers with these unique, reusable vases that fold completely flat for easy storage. Buy Jill-able’s portable and collapsible flower vase.

EarthBox® – Self Contained Garden System

This no muss, no fuss organic gardening system is simple to set up, and you don’t have to worry about soil conditions, over-watering or weeding. Buy the EarthBox® flower and vegetable container gardening system.
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Moultonology – Garden Bon Bons

From compost and clay you get… bon bons? A sweet gift for expert and novice gardeners. Buy Moultonology’s Garden Bon Bons herb seed balls.
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GatorHyde – Garden Hose

Keep your lawn and garden green with the GatorHyde hose. It’s durable, lightweight and kink-free, plus it’s made with recycled materials. Buy the GatorHyde heavy duty lightweight garden hose.
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John & Bob’s – Smart Soil Solutions

John and Bob’s soil solutions can literally add life to your plot of earth by replenishing missing microorganisms and enriching the soil’s nutrient base. Buy John & Bob’s soil conditioning system.
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BOSKKE – Sky Planter

The Sky Planter suspends ferns, orchids and herbs from above, saving space and resources while decorating the ceiling and purifying the air with plant life. Buy the Boskke hanging upside down modern planters.

Pearl’s Premium – Lawn Seed

Make the transition to an organic lawn with Pearl’s Premium lawn seed. You’ll enjoy less mowing, less watering and no runoff from harmful chemical fertilizers. Buy Pearl’s Premium grass growing seed.
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Rosie’s Workwear – Overalls

These rugged, protective overalls do the job of typical workwear, but they’re fit and constructed especially for women. Buy Rosie’s Workwear work overalls for women.
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Bionic Glove – Ergonomic Gardening Gloves

An orthopedic hand surgeon designed these leather gardening gloves with strategically placed pads to reduce blisters, calluses and hand fatigue. Buy Bionic Gardening Gloves.
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Worm Composting System – Cascade Manufacturing

Nourish your garden with homegrown worm castings and you’ll produce lovely green leafies that would make an organic farmer beam with pride. Buy the Worm Factory organic home worm composting worm bin.
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5 Unique Gift Ideas – Weekly Grommet Wrap Up

February 6, 2011 By Tori 2 Comments

If you are looking for unique gift ideas, this week’s Grommet line up won’t disappoint. From a smashing cake to jewelry that “pops out” — the line up this week is full of creativity.

unique gift idea - pinata cake Serenade Chocolatier. It’s a piñata, it’s a cake – it’s a chocolate piñata cake from Serenade Chocolatier. Yes, each cake-shaped molded chocolate shell hides a surprise: It’s filled with the chocolatier’s signature artisanal chocolates. This show-stopping, mouthwatering celebration of chocolate could be called the crown jewel of Serenade’s decadent offerings. ($50.00) Buy Serenade Chocolatier’s Piñata cake here.

SkinnyShirt

SkinnyShirt. If you love the classic look of a collared shirt under a sweater but you’re not a fan of feeling uncomfortably bulky, you’re going to be thrilled with Julie Kalimian’s creation, dubbed the SkinnyShirt. This ingenious shirt has a stretchy, knit body paired with a woven cotton collar. From the neckline up, the shirt appears to be a classic button-front collared shirt. But below the neckline, it’s all about comfort. Imagine your favorite stretchy, comfy camisole — that’s how the SkinnyShirt feels. In fact, that’s just how Julie came up with the first prototype for the SkinnyShirt. She asked her local tailor to merge one of her collared shirts and a camisole. (Starting at $68.00) Buy SkinnyShirt here.

Keys to My Castle. Michele Lilley loved to discover antique keys when she’d go treasure hunting with her grandmother at estate sales and auctions. She used to wonder why modern keys are so plain compared to yesterday’s beautifully ornate keys. Now, instead of wondering, Michele is creating tricked-out keys with designs that range from vintage classics such as fleur-de-lis and crowns to contemporary icons such as baseballs and flip flops. Add personality to your own key chain or give as a unique gift idea — think housewarming gift! (Starting at $24.95) Buy Keys to My Castle here.

Spirithoods. Feeling fierce? Frisky? Fraternal? SpiritHoods has the perfect headgear to express your wild side. Each hood is made of faux fur, and you can choose your species: grey wolf, snow leopard, fire wolf, black wolf, grizzly bear or the nighthawk. Buy Spirit Hoods furry animal hats for adults here.Who’s wearing these, you might wonder? Jules spotted animal hoods being worn all over the streets of New York. She posted photos on Facebook and immediately struck a chord with the Daily Grommet community. More than 100 comments later, we started digging into the trend and found SpiritHoods. (Starting at $129) Buy Spirithoods here.

Pop-Out Jewelry.
Melissa Borrell merges industrial techniques and organic designs to create remarkable metal jewelry that starts out flat and only reveals its final form when you pop out the shape. It’s fun, contemporary and, since it’s made by lasers, it’s literally cutting edge! (Starting at $28.00) Buy Pop-Out Jewelry here.

Filed Under: Weekly Grommet Wrap-Up Tagged With: gifts for her, gifts for him, jewelry, unique gifts

Spirithoods: Our tribe has spoken

February 3, 2011 By Tori Leave a Comment

Today’s Grommet, SpiritHoods, began with this curious photo we posted on our Facebook wall …

Jules snapped the photo while she was walking the streets of NY during a recent business trip. The animal hat caught her eye and its wearer happily agreed to being in the spotlight.

So along with the photo, here’s what she asked our Facebook community:

Would you wear this? I saw so many versions of this “giant animal head” hat all over New York this week. Both on men and women. >Jules

Within instants, we’d received over 100 responses (you can read them all here on our Facebook page). It was obvious we’d hit a nerve. Our Discovery Team began to dig deeper into this idea, vowing to give the people what they wanted: animal-inspired hats.

SpiritHoods is perhaps the most “socially sourced” Grommet to date (how’s that for Citizen Commerce in action?). And that makes today a particularly special day for me as the Community Manager here at Daily Grommet. So speak up folks … we hear you!

Now, let’s keep doing it. Have another Grommet idea? Submit it to our Citizens’ Gallery or tell us about it on Facebook or Twitter.

Filed Under: Behind the Scenes at Daily Grommet, Citizen Commerce, Discoveries Tagged With: Citizen Commerce, gifts for her, gifts for him, unique gifts

14 Unforgettable Gift Ideas for Valentine’s Day

February 2, 2011 By Katherine Leave a Comment

No one wants to be the partner who under-delivers on Valentine’s Day. We’ve weeded through good stuff, bad stuff and ugly stuff to find the best gifts worthy of your someone special. Plan early and you can have your ideal Valentines gifts delivered to your door, just in time for celebrating.

Leigh Elana – Leather & Enamel Cuff Bracelets

See what happens when Leighelena fuses metal with glass. Buy Leigh Elena leather and enamel cuff bracelets here.
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Wallet Pen – Small Sterling Silver Pen

Longtime Wallet Pen loyalists rave about this tiny silver beauty. Who knew a pen could be so cool? Buy the Wallet Pen here.
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iSi Whip Creamer – Easy Whip Creamer

A few shakes and you’ll be ready to enjoy fresh, preservative-free whipped cream. It’s fast, easy and delicious. Buy the iSi whipper for cream here.
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klik klik – Interchangeable Magnet Jewelry

Design your own jewelry using magnetic spheres, cubes and wands that link securely to create bracelets, necklaces and rings. It’s art you can wear. Buy klik klik interchangeable magnetic jewelry here.
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Brooklyn Brew Shop – Beer Brewing Kit

Be the brewmaster. It’s an easily mastered art and you’ll be experiencing the taste of home brewed beer in about five weeks. Cheers! Buy Brooklyn Brew Shops beer making kits here.
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Taza Chocolate – Stone Ground Organic Chocolate

Artisanal chocolate melds flavor, tradition and history. You can see, feel and taste what’s different about this chocolate Buy Taza Chocolate organic chocolate gifts here.
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Scandle Candle – Body Massage Soy Candles

These beautifully scented candles produce massage oil as they burn, so you can enjoy the fragrance then dip into the heated oil to nourish your skin. Buy the Scandle Candle soy body massage candle here.
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Indieflix – Film Festival in a Box

Instead of a book club, why not host a film festival in your home? IndieFlix makes it easy to screen short, superb independent films. Buy the Indieflix film festival in a box game here.
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Toffee Talk – Little Pieces of Conversation

Want to know a secret? CJ’s Toffee Talk is a delicious conversation starter with a rich family history. Buy Toffee Talk gourmet toffee candies here.
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Moultonology – Garden Bon Bons

From compost and clay you get… bon bons? A sweet gift for expert and novice gardeners. Buy Moultonology’s Garden Bon Bons herb seed balls here.
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Chococoa Baking Company – The Whoopie

The traditional whoopie pie has been updated and refined with sophisticated flavors. It’s still comfort food, but it has a new look and taste. Buy The Whoopie gourmet Whoopie Pie here.
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Anywhere Fireplace – Ventless Fireplace

A ventless fireplace is an elegant, eco-friendly way to add instant warmth and ambiance to any room, inside or out. Buy a contemporary stainless steel wall mount or pit Anywhere Fireplace here.
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Sassy Sauces – All-Natural Dessert Sauces

Spoon over ice cream or cake, or have a Valentine’s day fondue night, make semi-homemade truffles, or add milk to make hot chocolate. Buy Sassy Sauces dessert sauce toppings here
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Jimmyjane – Adult Intimate Accessories

This Valentine is for mature audiences. Jimmyjane’s bedroom accessories combine sophisticated design and innovative technology to provide maximum pleasure. Buy Jimmyjane’s adult intimate accessories here.
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Filed Under: Grommet Gift Guide Tagged With: gifts for her, gifts for him, unique gifts

A week of creative gift ideas

January 30, 2011 By Tori Leave a Comment

This week, we shared several creative gift ideas and an extra special video roundup. Take a glance at what you may have missed this week and check out our Valentine’s Day roundup — full of unique gift ideas for your Valentine.

Whip it Good. If you’ve ever tried fresh whipped cream, you know that no preservative-laden grocery variety can match the sweet, creamy peaks you get with the real thing. But if you’re daunted by the thought of hand-whipping your own topping, fear not. We’ve found a gadget that does the work for you. (Starting at $49.95) Buy the iSi whipper for cream here.

Plug Into Positive Energy. HappyLight is a line of sunshine supplement systems comes from Verilux, which has been creating ways to simulate natural daylight since 1956. When sunlight is unavailable, these light therapy lamps can trigger your own natural energy enhancers and help you to focus and feel revitalized. (Starting at $89.95) Buy the Verilux full spectrum light therapy lamp here.

Naturally Crafty. Crayons have a knack for finding their way into little kids’ mouths, and even big kids have a hard time keeping paint-covered fingers away from their faces. The inevitability of art supplies making contact with kids’ skin got veteran teacher Diana Mercer thinking: Just how safe are so-called nontoxic art materials? Diana’s curiosity led to experimentation, and her kitchen experiments led to an entire line of 100% natural art supplies. (Starting at $22.00) Buy Clementine art products here.

Jackie Kaufman. Smudged across the refrigerator, TV and every window in the house, tiny fingerprints are a housekeeping hassle. But preserved on a beautifully handcrafted silver necklace? Priceless. Hand cast silver that uses fingerprints or pet nose prints to create personalized, sentimental, heirloom quality jewelry that will last a lifetime. (Starting at $74.95) Buy Jackie Kaufman’s silver cast jewelry here.

creative gift ideas - Valentines day Creative Gift Ideas for Valentine’s Day. We rounded up several products that are sure to make for a unique Valentine’s Day. Set the mood for Valentine’s Day with gifts that are sweet, tasty, scandalous and romantic; unexpected, thoughtful gift ideas that will please your Valentine. (Starting at $7.50) See all of our creative gift ideas for Valentine’s Day here.

Filed Under: Grommet Gift Guide, Weekly Grommet Wrap-Up Tagged With: creative gifts, gifts for her, gifts for him, unique gifts

This One’s For the (Teen) Girls

February 17, 2010 By elapkin 4 Comments

Have one of those tough-to-shop-for teen girls in your life? We’ve got a treat for both of you.

Remember how nutty everyone got over the Da Vinci Code? Staring at The Last Supper, looking for clues… well, Invisible I, the first novel in a new series called The Amanda Project, is a little bit like that, but its target audience is teen girls. It is a story of a mysterious “new girl” at Endeavor High who touches the lives of the main characters, and just as quickly disappears, leaving everyone — including the reader — compelled to figure it all out. Even more importantly, it’s a totally interactive experience. Beyond reading the book, your teen can use a cell phone camera to crack a code in the book, visit the website, and contribute her own stories and ideas to the online community.

Author Melissa Kantor creates a vivid and authentic reality, with text messages and passed notes baked right into the story, as well as moments of gritty realism (an alcoholic parent) all tastefully and carefully handled.

The next book in the series, Signal from Afar, is due out in June, which makes it a great time to join in the fun.

And if you’re a grown up with a fondness for other younger folks’ series (Twilight anyone?) this might be something new for you, too!

Filed Under: Books and Music, Discoveries Tagged With: books, kids, unique gifts

Getting Ready For Valentine’s Day With The Mominatrix

January 27, 2010 By Angella 17 Comments

Kristen Chase is the blogger behind the popular site Motherhood Uncensored. I have had the pleasure of meeting Kristen in person and can testify to the fact that she is just as charming and funny in real life as she is on the Internet. Her personal website morphed into a column, a radio show and now a book about, well, sex. While the tagline reads, “A no-surrender advice books for naughty Moms”, this book can be used by anyone who is looking to spice things up a little.

With Valentine’s Day fast approaching we thought it would be great to highlight “The Mominatrix” and Kristen has offered us a signed copy to give away. Details of the giveaway are at the bottom of the post.

I sent Kristen some questions to help us all get to know her a little better and here is what she had to say:

How did the Mominatrix come about?

The Mominatrix is the brilliant brain child of Prescott and Jessica Carlson from ImperfectParent.com, who asked me to write a sex column for moms a couple of years ago based on my own ramblings at Motherhood Uncensored, my personal blog. I pitched them a few really lame names and Jessica actually came up with the name “Mominatrix” and my leather clad alter ego was born.

What did you find to be the hardest part of the writing process for the book?

Aside from the fact that I was hugely pregnant and then immediately post partum (which to me are probably the least sexy times in my life and thus not the greatest time to be writing a sex-help book), I was accustomed to having feedback from readers and commenters on my blog. So writing what I hoped was a funny book without anyone to really tell the jokes to was a little disconcerting. I remember turning in my manuscript and hoping that what I wrote was indeed funny to someone other than me.

What did you find to be the best part of the writing process for the book?

As a blogger whose medium is usually limited to 400-500 word snippets, I loved being able to write in longer chunks. Ironically, I found this to be quite a challenge at the time, but in retrospect, it was something for which I was extremely grateful. Plus, I have to be honest. It’s fun to tell people you’re writing a book.

Was there any point in writing the book where you felt overwhelmed or has it been gangbusters from Day One?

I think most authors would say that at one point in time they asked themselves “Why the heck did I decide to do this?” It’s a cocktail of anxiety, overwhelm, and an indescribable joy, though, and one that I’m still drinking as the book gets into the hands of the masses.

Do you have a favorite chapter? If you could tell people to read one chapter, which one would it be?

Oddly enough (since I’m not a single mom), I absolutely love the chapter I wrote for single moms, which was based on interviews with two of my favorite single moms out there – Jennster and Kristin Darzugas. I also received invaluable feedback from single moms on Twitter, which apparently is the book author’s new fantastic research tool. Even if you’re not a single mom, I think you’ll still get a chuckle out of it. And a funny back story, I joined e-Harmony to do some research for it and to this day, my husband still holds that over my head after seeing some email notifcations and wondering what the heck I was doing.

Now that the book has been out for awhile, and you’re on the other (Published) side of it, is it anything at all like you thought it might be?

It’s definitely been the roller coaster ride I expected. You get on, scream the entire way and wonder why the heck you decided to get on, and then by the end, you’ve got your hands up in the air and you’re ready for another round.

What is coming up next for the Mominatrix?

She’s definitely got a few exciting developments on the horizon. But she’s a tease and doesn’t give it up that easily.

Thanks, Kristen!

You can buy the book here.

And for those of you who would like a (Signed!) copy of Kristen’s book, here are the rules:

General contest rules: To enter, you must be a U. S. resident, and at least 18 years of age and you must leave a comment or question for Kristen. No purchase necessary. The winner will be randomly selected and will receive a copy of the book “The Mominatrix.” Employees, contractors, and the families of employees and contractors of Daily Grommet, Inc. are not eligible to enter. You are not eligible to win if you have received a prize or giveaway from Daily Grommet in the last six months. Void where prohibited. Contest will run from 9am EST through 10pm EST January 27, 2010.

Filed Under: Books and Music, Contests & Giveaways Tagged With: unique gifts

How I Brighten My Home In The Summer

August 6, 2009 By Angella 2 Comments

Don’t miss today’s Grommet, the ever-bright and friendly Say It with Vases from Jillable. It’s just the thing to complement Angella’s passion for freshly cut flowers from the yard — or that last-minute-purchase of flowers at the grocery store when you’re heading to a friend’s for dinner. Enjoy! Barbara

By Angella of Dutch Blitz

Daisy The thought of “brightening” your home in the summer may sound a little ridiculous. Thanks to the sun and all of her (HOT)(And also, BRIGHT) rays, it is not as though we are wallowing in darkness right now. It is exactly the opposite. The rooster starts to crow at about five o’clock in the morning (Yes, we have chickens (and no, they were not my idea.)) The sky starts to brighten at that early hour and does not get dark until close to nine 0′clock in the evenin’.

While the actual daylight hours may be bright and HOTTER THAT ALL GETOUT, my home is often lacking in the “brightening” department. There are swim trunks/suits strewn about, half-eaten bags of “beach snacks” and random toys strewn about that the children are “too hot” to pick up and put away. Don’t even get me started on the sand that comes back from the beach and is trailed throughout EVERY ROOM.

Even after we straighten up the gong show that is our party of five and sweep up the sand of epic proportions something seems to be missing.

This is when I pick up a pair of scissors and head outside to our garden. I wade through the blooms and pick those that seems to speak to me that day.

It is no secret that I love flowers. I may take a lot of photos of my kids, but the number of flower photos that I take comes in a (very) close second. Flowers are colorful, vibrant, alive, powerful. One single bloom can simultaneously take your breath away and make you inhale like you have never done so before.

Flowers live fully, shine brightly and encompass all that we are on a smaller scale. They may not live long but they live hard.

Kind of like we all do.

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Filed Under: Guest Post Tagged With: creative gifts, flowers, unique gifts

Fun reasons to give: bye bye high school

May 13, 2009 By Barbara Leave a Comment

graduation Fun ideas for reaching out, staying connected, cheering up and expressing gratitude in these crazy times…

Did you know there’s a bubble of high school grads this year? For this academic year, estimates are that the number of public or private high school graduates will peak at approximately 3.2 million. Wow. That would explain why college applications are booming, and the selectivity of nearly every college and university has ratcheted up a notch (or two or three) lately.

This would also explain the slew of high school graduation announcements in our mailboxes. Isn’t it awesome to receive such a message of good news? And then comes that moment of puzzlement: “what on earth does one give a high school grad these days?”

Every kid needs a computer, whether they are heading to college or work. However, who can afford that as a gift?! To show you’re in the know to your young friend or relative, consider this: today’s Grommet is one of the coolest computer accessories one could ever give a grad. Orbita of Australia (everything Aussie has a cool factor, doesn’t it?) has re-invented the wireless mouse. It’s re-chargeable and much more ergonomic than the standard mouse. We think it’s a go-to graduation gift (I like it for Father’s Day, too, but more on that later!). So check it out, and if you give it — we’re pretty sure you’ll be the coolest aunt, uncle, godparent or family friend on the guest list.

Filed Under: Grommet Gift Guide Tagged With: creative gifts, unique gifts

What Mother's Day means to me

May 8, 2009 By Angella 4 Comments

Mother’s Day is right around the corner, and today’s Grommet, Animoto, makes a “wow” kind of last-minute gift for Mom, Nana, or Grammy! We invited our dear friend Angella to share what Mother’s Day means to her. Let us know what it means to you, too.
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What Mother’s Day means to me

By Angella Dykstra of Dutch Blitz

Mother's Day Gift For as long as I can remember, I always knew that I wanted to be a Mom. I had a doll that I held in the crook of my arm who appears in nearly every photo of me between the ages of two and five. I am the eldest child of two girls, and would often (s)mother my baby sister more that she could handle.

The reasons I chose my career as an accountant are twofold. 1. I find that it comes naturally to me, as well as challenging my intellect. I need this. 2. I knew working in this field would give me the flexibility to stay home more often when my (future) children were small.

I come from a circle of friends that were married/engaged in their early twenties. In hindsight I find it quite humorous, but at the age of twenty-four I was convinced that I would spend the rest of my days single and alone. Possibly surrounded by a dozen or so cats.

Within the year I met and married the man I get to (I get to!) call my husband. Fast forward nine years and we have three of the most phenomenal children that this world has ever seen. You really have no idea.

There are many times in a day where I will sit back and look at these creatures. They are flesh of my flesh and bone of my bones. And yet, they are also these fantastically unique human beings who amaze me daily with their very being.

Because of them, my life is fuller in every sense of the word. I smile wider, I laugh harder, I love greater than I ever thought possible.

This is all because I get to (I get to!) be referred to as “Mom.”

Filed Under: Guest Post Tagged With: creative gifts, Mothers Day Gifts, unique gifts