The Gift Exchange

When I think of the perfect food, there is only one that comes to mind… cheese! It can be used for breakfast, lunch, dinner AND dessert. It can be paired with wines, added to sauces, melted into fondue, topped with fruit, put in sandwiches, mixed with pasta and put in desserts.  Not only that, but cheese is used in every day lingo. From “Say Cheese” to “The Big Cheese”, it’s obvious that in terms of world food domination, The Cheese Stands Alone.

One cheese in particular I’ve been interested in lately is Goat Cheese. Just this past weekend, we whipped up a delicious spring salad with creamy goat cheese dressing (get the recipe here) to accompany our steaks. It was a huge hit!  Goat cheese is a very creamy, rich cheese and also pairs well with fruit. In particular, I LOVE the combination of goat cheese with fig, and plan on making a fig and goat cheese pizza with arugula this weekend (get the recipe here). Yum!

Exploring the world of cheese can be a bit overwhelming, but a delicious journey. Not sure where to start? The Artisan Cheese Hamper is the perfect solution. Full of handcrafted cheeses from around the world, it also includes an upscale collection of gourmet treats to pair them with. Bon appétit!

Oregon and Washington have an established reputation for some of the best wine in the world.  If you are fortunate enough to live or visit the Pacific Northwest, you have a unique opportunity to make a trip out to wine country and explore the  dazzling array of  top-notch wineries each region has to offer.

Oregon’s Willamette Valley region is home to over 200 wineries & tasting rooms, and carries some of the best Pinot Noir you can find.  This area is perfect for a day trip, with many wineries being a stone’s throw away from each other.  Friendly wineries and gorgeous views aside, the wines in this region are simply some of the best, and are home to popular wineries such as Erath, Argyle, Domaine Serene and Sokol Blosser.

The Columbia River Gorge wine region is the epitome of what the Pacific Northwest culture is all about. Surrounded by waterfalls and mountain views, this region is host to a plethora of different wine varietals, due to its ideal growing location.  Along with an abundance of award winning wineries, the Gorge is famous for its outdoor activities including hiking, white water rafting, wind surfing and skiing.  An ideal weekend getaway spot, the Gorge is the perfect choice for a Bed & Breakfast stay.

The next stop on our tour is the beautiful Walla Walla valley. This farming town of 30,000 has exploded in recent years with new tasting rooms and vineyards, quickly making it a tourist destination for wine lovers. Fondly referred to as the “Napa of the North”, this is the perfect region for discovering the talents of local winemakers and enjoying a vineyard picnic overlooking the countryside.

These are just a few of the regions available for you to explore on your NW wine tour. You don’t have to be a wine enthusiast to enjoy your wine tasting experience; there is something to please every pallet!

Just what are we buying for Valentine’s Day? The History Channel has compiled the following information about what we send to our loved ones.

• 141 million Valentine’s Day cards are exchanged annually, making Valentine’s Day the second-most popular greeting-card-giving occasion. (This total excludes packaged kids valentines for classroom exchanges.) (Source: Hallmark research)
• Over 50 percent of all Valentine’s Day cards are purchased in the six days prior to the observance, making Valentine’s Day a procrastinator’s delight. (Source: Hallmark research)
• Research reveals that more than half of the U.S. population celebrates Valentine’s Day by purchasing a greeting card. (Source: Hallmark research)

Candy is Dandy

• 1,241: The number of locations producing chocolate and cocoa products in 2004. These establishments employed 43,322 people. California led the nation in the number of such establishments with 136, followed by Pennsylvaniawith 122. (Source:http://www.census.gov/prod/www/abs/cbptotal.html)
• 515 locations produced nonchocolate confectionary products in 2004. These establishments employed 22,234 people.
• The total value of shipments in 2004 for firms producing chocolate and cocoa products was $13.9 billion. Nonchocolate confectionery product manufacturing, meanwhile, was a $5.7 billion industry.
• 3,467 Number of confectionery and nut stores in the United States in 2004. Often referred to as candy stores, they are among the best sources of sweets for Valentine’s Day.
• The per capita consumption of candy by Americans in 2005 was 25.7 pounds. Candy consumption has actually declined over the last few years; in 1997, each American gobbled or savored more than 27 pounds of candy a year.

Flowers

• The combined wholesale value of domestically produced cut flowers in 2005 for all flower-producing operations with $100,000 or more in sales was $397 million. Among states, California was the leading producer, alone accounting for nearly three-quarters of this amount ($289 million).
• The combined wholesale value of domestically produced cut roses in 2005 for all operations with $100,000 or more in sales was $39 million. Among all types of cut flowers, roses were third in receipts ($39 million)to lilies ($76.9 million) and tulips ($39.1 million).
• There were 21,667 florists nationwide in 2004. These businesses employed 109,915 people.

Jewelry
There were 28,772 jewelry stores in the United States in 2004. Jewelry stores offer engagement, wedding and other rings to lovers of all ages. In February 2006, these stores sold $2.6 billion worth of merchandise. (This figure has not been adjusted for seasonal variation, holiday or trading day differences or price changes). The merchandise at these locations could well have been produced at one of the nation’s 1,864 jewelry manufacturing establishments. The manufacture of jewelry was an $9 billion industry in 2004.

Data courtesy of the U.S. Census Burea

One of the most culturally-recognized icons of Valentine’s Day is Cupid. Today we view him more often than not as a chubby cherub with a little red bow and arrow. However, the roots of Cupid lie in Greek and Roman mythologies. While “Cupid” is the Roman name, the Greek myths use the name Eros.

Though the Greek mythologies differ from earlier to later, the most common representation of Eros is that he is the son of Aphrodite, who is the goddess of love and beauty. Eros was known for interfering in the romantic lives of gods and mortals alike. Another ancient source, Hesiod, wrote about Eros as a primordial god, rising from the darkness and mating with Chaos in order to create the human race.

The myth most commonly associated with Eros/Cupid is that of Eros and Psyche. Jealous of her beauty, Aphrodite had commanded Eros to make Psyche fall in love with a hideous creature. Instead, Eros is stricken by her beauty and falls in love with her. After a cruel intervention from Psyche’s jealous sisters, Eros leaves her wandering the earth seeking him. She appeals to Aphrodite for help, who gives Psyche a series of challenges to face. After completing them, Psyche is made immortal and she and Eros live together happily and have a daughter, Hedone.

Interestingly enough, the chubby cherub Cupid who we most often see today was not brought into being until the Renaissance, when the mythological figure was adapted to meet the day’s popular artistic trends.

Happy Valentine’s Day.

Happy February 2 everyone! This day has come to be known as Groundhog Day. As you well know, if the groundhog comes out of his burrow and sees his shadow, six additional weeks of winter are said to be in store. If he does not see his shadow, it is said to be an early spring. Groundhog Day as we celebrate it originated as a Pennsylvania German custom in the 1700s, but has its roots in ancient European weather lore, where a badger was used to predict the coming of spring. Originally called Candlemas, our Groundhog Day is celebrated in locations all over the world. The most famous Groundhog Day celebration is in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, which was glamorized by the 1993 Bill Murray film.

Another fun fact? The National Climatic Data Center has reported that Punxsutawney Phil’s predictions have been accurate 61.7% of the time.

Happy Groundhog Day! Let us watch and wait, and see if Phil gets it right in 2013.

Tell us the story of how you two lovebirds met for a chance to win an entire basket filled with gourmet chocolates from popular brands! To enter, click the link here  & follow the instructions. Sharing is encouraged so don’t forget to Share the Love by sharing on your wall, re-tweeting & +1′ing for some EXTRA entries. The person with the most entries wins! Contest closes Sunday February 3rd at midnight PST. The winner will be announced on Monday February 4th.

Valentine’s Day is right around the corner! Join us each week as we count down to the big day with romantic-inspired tips, discounts, contests and more!

Click here to enter!

Valentine’s Day is all about spreading the joy of love and kindness. We want to hear how kindness has touched your life. Share your own personal story of kindness with us to win this Valentine’s Day Gourmet Gift Basket filled with the best in gourmet indulgences.
One entry per a post and additional entries given for every share, re-tweet, or +1, because as everyone knows, sharing is caring! Contest closes Sunday, Jan. 25th at midnight PST. One winner will be chosen at random on Monday, Jan. 28th.

Guest Blogger Tracey Graham

Growing up in the wilds of Alaska, I grew up with a love for books. Since there was no television station that transmitted to our home, my family would sit around the living room each night to read out loud.The stories would range from adventure, to sci-fi, to teen romance books (this last to be read when dad was not home).

Now that I’m older and have a family of my own, I look back on these nights with the hope that my little family will always be as close as these books kept me and my sisters.

I found the perfect gift to send to my sisters…. It’s the Chocolatier Keepsake Chest. The box itself is made to resemble a book, and is just the perfect reminder of warm nights by the fire with our family. My only problem is choosing which set of chocolates to send to my sisters. I think for my sister who traveled Europe, I will send the World-Famous Chocolates, and for my sister who would rather read about traveling, I will send the Godiva Chocolates. Either way, I am anticipating that these gifts will bring back these same memories to my sisters.

All around the world, people gather together every December 31 to celebrate the passing of the old year and the commencement of the next. This New Year’s Eve, dazzle all of your fellow party guests with your amazing knowledge of New Year’s celebrations past and present! Kick back with a holiday-themed Personalized Wine Gift, a West Coast Wine Quartet or a festive Champagne Toast to Health, and cheers!

Did you know…

⁃    The first year a ball ever dropped in Times Square in New York was in 1907. It was composed primarily of iron and wood and weighed 700 pounds.

⁃    The first record of a New Year’s celebration dates back almost 4000 years to ancient Babylon, when the first new moon following the vernal equinox was celebrated. Although in March, this was still considered to be a new year by the Babylonians!

⁃    It was after the creation of Julius Caesar’s version of the Roman calendar that January 1 became the official “New Year” marker. “Januarius” as they called it was named after the Roman God of Beginnings, Janus, who had two faces, allowing him to look back into the past and forward into the future.

⁃    Pigs are considered to be a symbol of prosperity and progress in some cultures. Pork is a common New Year’s dish in Cuba, Austria, Hungary and Portugal, among other countries.

⁃    A Swedish  and Norwegian tradition involves placing a single almond inside a rice pudding. Tradition dictates that whoever finds the almond is sure to receive a year of good luck.

⁃    Perhaps the most unique New Year’s celebration is held in Tallapoosa, Georgia, where instead of a ball, the town tradition is to drop opossums at midnight.

⁃    A common British tradition is to sing “Auld Lang Syne,” which was written by the Scottish poet Robert Burns in 1788. The line translates to approximately “old long ago,” and is a celebration of times past.

Cheers to you in 2013!

For me, the single most enjoyable thing about being a parent is getting to play Santa Claus.

I think every kid loves Christmas. Presents, cookies, family…what’s not to love? Nobody ever tells you, though, just how much you’ll love Christmas when you become an adult, and for entirely different reasons.

The feeling of carefully selecting gifts for my children is so rewarding. I can look at a gift and imagine the way their eyes will light up when they see it. Christmas has become about that to me; the ultimate goal at Christmas is for my children to be happy. There are so many things to give thought to in order ot make Christmas the best it possibly can be. Which Christmas movie will we watch on Christmas Eve? “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” was always my favorite, but they seem to like “The Santa Clause” more. Which cookie shapes will we use to make Santa’s cookies? Ethan prefers the reindeer and Caroline the snowman. It’s tradition that the kids always get a new pair of pajamas to wear on Christmas Eve, so choosing just the right pair is tough, too. There are so many things to consider without even considering the Christmas gifts.

Christmas goodies are a must-have! Kids love treats, and with the Fresh Fruit & Cookies Basket or the Tempting Treats Tower, you will be absolutely stocked up on treats . I know I always spend time pondering which goodies to fill stockings with, or just how much candy is too much! With these great gift ideas not only do they get tasty treats, but they also get a cute Christmas-themed bag or stocking.

Knowing that the treats are taken care of, I have so much more time to devote to finding the perfect everything else. Now I can make the hard decisions…… like ham, or turkey? Tinsel or garland? Snowmen or Christmas trees? Decisions, decisions!