Showing Respect and Consideration

 

"Treat someone badly and you can expect they'll return the favor. Treat a person well and you've earned a friend. Even the most devoted person gets fed up with continual bad treatment, but few can resist someone who treats them with respect and consideration."

-Excerpt from 365 Treasured Moments for Couples

Ohhh how true! To me, this is one of the biggest deals in life, in terms of relationships (with anyone). It should be a given that if you treat someone good, they'll treat you good in return. If you treat someone badly, they'll treat you badly. Remember the saying "treat others like you want to be treated"? This is why! If you believe in karma... you put something good out there and to others, and you earn a friend back! The second half of this paragraph talks about how even the most loyal, committed, dedicated person is going to, rightfully so, get down, depressed, and sad they have constant, ongoing negative interactions with someone they love of care about in their life. We all have either been or know someone that is in this situation... you feel this way about your husband or wife, you have a family member, a best friend, co-worker... someone that you know who feels this way. We all deserve to have that thoughtfulness, admiration, and value placed on them from those that they love.  Remember that.

So, if it's you, or someone you know, please enjoy and pass on these few sentences.

Top 10 Host/Hostess Gifts

I am going to one of my neighbor friends' homes this weekend, and it got me thinking... what are some of the BEST hostess gifts out there to give? So, here I compiled a list of the TOP 10 host/hostess gifts to take to your next gathering or party!

1. Are they into baking? I LOVE this Nordic Ware Bouquet Pan for baking. It adds SUCH a fun element for spring and summer baking. My favorite things to bake in these are little mini cakes and banana bread!
2. Is he or she in to wine, or trying to be? The occasional drinker that you think would benefit from an easy to use wine opener? The Screwpull Metal Trigger Lever Corkscrew, by Le Creuset, was named Consumer Research best wine opener.
3. Into vintage decor? What about this Vintage Gold Mirror Vanity Tray, or any other charming little "finds". You or a friend like vintage home decor? Visit my Old Soul Charm Etsy store for more! (oh, and handmade little treasures, too! :))
4. Note cards or stationary, I think, is another lovely choice for a hostess gift. It is the old-fashioned (or, "old-school", if you will) way to tell someone you're thinking about them, missing them, or thanking them. I love this simple old soul charm touch, and use it often myself! These Folk Art Birds Note Cards are adorable for any of your friends.
5. An apron! This is often one of those items, I believe, that most cooks don't think to buy for themselves, but can always come in handy. For the female hostess, try Jessie Steele Bib Josephine Café Toile Apron. It goes with any apparel, and looks adorable in use! For the male host, how about a fun Deluxe Embroidered Apron with "All This...and I Can Cook" written in white across the chest? How fun!
6. Have a green thumb?Another perfect idea is a lovely potted plant or herb garden.This Italian Herb Garden Trio is such a usable, fantastic idea. They will then have fresh herbs for all their home-cooking before long!
7. Dishtowels! You can never have enough of these babies. Try Now Designs Set of 3 Floursack Towels, Olive Series... they are "flour-sack towels", which are my ABSOLUTE favorite. I think they are the most absorbent, easy to use dishtowels... ever!
8. Gourmet coffee or tea! Are they the usual basic Folgers people? That's okay and all... but this is your perfect opportunity to give them a new variety to try. Starbucks VIA® Ready Brew Vanilla Flavored Coffee is instant coffee.... but don't lose me yet! Trust me when I say, it is WONDERFUL!!! It is perfect to stick in a briefcase, purse, or bag... all it needs is hot water, and it's done. Dunkin' Donuts Ground Coffee, Cinnamon Spice is probably my favorite make-at-home coffee right now. It is delicious. Adagio Teas Tea Chest is a great idea for tea drinkers. It has a great variety, and is more gourmet than regular old Lipton (which I still enjoy!).
9. Picture frame. Who doesn't have or take pictures these days? It is a great idea for those with kids or grand kids, too, as they will always have plenty of photo's. Lawrence Frames Venice Bronze frame is inexpensive, but beautiful! Have a cute picture of you with the host's? Just print it to the size of the frame, stick it in, and you're done! Such a nice personal idea.
10. Everyone likes cheese, right? Yes, just about everyone does. Go this route instead of one of giving them desserts or chocolates. igourmet's Favorites - 4 Cheese Sampler is SO amazing. It has Mountain Gorgonzola, Extra Aged Gouda, Gruyere, and Vermont Cheddar making up the sampler. The host's will love this for an snack, any time of the day!

 

OMG... BBQ Loaded Baked Potato

So... now that I live in Southern Missouri... one of my favorite foods, if not the top favorite food I have, is a loaded, BBQ, baked potato. Now, you may have had baked potatoes before, and you may have had them loaded, but, if you have not ever had them BBQ LOADED, you do not know what you're missing!

I have two favorite places to go get them. My top, most- favorite place, is called BBQ Station in Cassville, Missouri. It has other great food (I've only tried it off other people's plates- do NOT mess with me and my potato), but their Loaded BBQ Baked Potato is AaaaaMmmaaazzzzzIIiiiNNNNnnGgggg! Need I say it again, louder?! It is SO good! I visit there at least once a week, but I could honestly go at least every other day (its about a 30 min drive from my home). The gigantic potato is topped with a generous helping of butter (I will never watch when they ask if I want it. Of course I want it. I just don't want to see them when douse it all over the potato!), sour cream, shredded cheddar cheese, and your choice of meat- brisket, pulled pork, or chicken. I'm completely in love with their brisket, which they chop up and place on the potato... so I get this standard on mine every time. I also ask (well, I used to ask, now they just know!) for green onions/scallions on mine as well. You cannot go wrong. They serve it up and at each table, you have your choice of 2 BBQ sauces, a sweeter sauce, and a spicier sauce- either are good. I go for the spicier of the two (not too spicy, their "original"). I've never looked at the bottle of sauce before and after, but I'm guessing I use a good half of the bottle every time. I like it saucy, what can I say?! When you get a bite of all of the toppings of the potato, with the potato... the rich butter, cool sour cream, creamy cheese, melt-in-your-mouth BBQ brisket, scallions, and the sauce? It is pure heaven.  (pictures to come!)

My second favorite BBQ place around SW Missouri? A little place in the town that I now live, Monett, Missouri. Big Baldy's Backwood BBQ is the name of this little joint, and it is just fabulous. All of the pictures on this posting are from the Loaded BBQ Baked Potato I had to-go today. The potatoes from here are GIGANTIC. As you can tell, they fill up the whole white Styrofoam container! Their potatoes also come standard with butter goodness, sour cream (at least 2 dollops... at least), onion, scallions, THREE meats (chicken, pulled pork, and beef brisket), and topped with bacon and MELTED cheddar cheese all over the top. It is amazing to look at! Their potatoes come with your choice of sauce, and they have four different kinds to choose from- mild, medium, mustard, and hot. I love the medium. Just enough heat, while not burning my mouth to take away from the taste of the food! In this potato, you just keep discovering all the layers. It seems to take forever to get to the bottom- where the potato is! SO good! 

Enjoy the pics.... and, if your mouth is watering from all of this talk, but you have no BBQ place near you? Or, you've never had a Loaded BBQ Baked Potato? Make one at home! It probably won't be QUITE as good as the two here, but, hey, it's better than nothing, right? I've made these at home quite a few times, and, while I do not have the smoked/BBQ taste, I can still make them taste pretty darn good!
Loaded BBQ Baked Potato- @ Home Recipe!

• Extra large, russet potato
• Butter
• Sour cream
• Shredded cheddar cheese
• Onion/scallions (optional)
• Bacon, crumbles (optional)
• Shredded meat. Your choice, cooked in the oven or slow cooker, until falling apart ( I like to do a pork loan in the slow cooker- Crock-Pot- all day, until it just falls apart)
• Your favorite BBQ sauce

Bake the potato in the oven, or, if you're low on time- pop it in the microwave until soft (around 10 minutes for an extra large).

Top with butter, meat, and onion. Then, add cheddar cheese and sour cream. Finish with bacon crumbles and scallions, if using. Finally, to make it a BBQ potato... add a generous helping of your favorite BBQ sauce. (If you're anything like me, you'll have to add more about 10 more times until you're finished!) A fabulous meal!

Know of any other places around the USA that have THE BEST LOADED BBQ BAKED POTATOES? Let us know, we'd love to hear and talk about them!

Valentine's Day Love

"The true meaning of loving... is to love without measure."- St. Bernard of Clairvaux

Photo Source 

Valentine's Day Countdown- Valentine's Day Gift Ideas, 1 Day Remaining

Depending on if you're married, engaged, dating, single, or somewhere in between, chances are you have at least one person whom you have to buy a Valentine's Day gift! Usually it's your loved one, and it can take a lot of work to figure out "what to get them"! I know... it seems every year, for the past (at least!) 10 years, I've had a steady "someone" to buy for on Valentine's Day. Now, that person changed throughout the years... :), but there was always still a "someone"!

So... lets get down to it! Some fabulous gift ideas for the man or woman in your life.

NOTE: Cards are the obvious given! Make it a good one on this special day!!!

Buying gifts for MEN on Valentine's Day can sometimes be one of the hardest things to do! Think about what he likes, activities he enjoys, his favorite hobbies, etc. Chocolates, homemade cupcakes, new lingerie (not ON him!), and decorative Valentine's are some basic ideas... But, for new, fresh ideas? Lets start here!

• Tickets to a game. If he into sports? Have a favorite team he follows? This is perfect. Go with him or let him take a friend. 
• Massage. Stressed from work, constantly? Sore muscles? Treat him to a body massage at a nice salon!
• Movie tickets. Wayyyy into movies? Never misses a new release? This is the perfect, and can be romantic, gift for the movie lover. If he rent's more movies than he visits the theater, how about a subscription to an online movie rental store, such as Netflix. Or, to stick with the movie theme, I bet he would LOVE a new Blue-Ray player to watch his movies!
• Gym membership. Does your sweetie love to workout and stay in shape? Does he want to get back into it? Renew his gym membership if he already has one, or start him one!
• Beer. Need I say more? If you're man's a beer drinker, he would love a beer gift set.
• Coffee card. This gift card is perfect! Stop by the local coffee joint on his way to work every morning? Make coffee at home but wishes he could get coffee from a little coffee shop more often? This is the perfect solution, and one of my favorites (to receive also!). He will think of you every time he gets it out of his wallet, for the life of the card!
• Homemade coupon book. This is also another favorite of mine, and one that I've used a few times. Hand make it, or make one up on the computer and print it out! Some good "coupons" are: massages, cooking his favorite meal, and going to a movie or event of his choice.
• Organize his closet/music/movies/house. This may sound somewhat silly on first glance, but I do believe it is one of the best things you can give him. Does he wish all of his music was in one place, or organized correctly? Do it for him on his computer. Does he want his movie collection in alphabetical order but doesn't know where to start? He would be thrilled you took your time to do it for him. Does his closet/house look like a tornado hit, or is just not "organized"? Do it!!! I've done this before, and, let me tell you, I know, even a few years later, that it was still talked about as THE BEST gift ever!
• Golf balls or equipment! Hey, spring is coming, right?
• What man doesn't love a good steak? And hopefully he'll cook one for you, too!
• Shoes! If he loves tennis shoes, like a lot of men, these shoes are perfect! See the "My Favorite Place to Buy Shoes" banner at the bottom of the blog for the BEST place to buy! Free overnight shipping, too!

For WOMEN, this can be a tricky day. Either you buy a gift she loves... or, well, you fail. :) The good news is that most gifts, as long as they come from the heart, will be well received! Chocolates, flowers, and jewelry are the standard Valentine's Day gifts. Men- need help? Start here!

• Romantic weekend away. This is BY FAR my favorite thing... ever... to receive. It is so exciting to go somewhere new and different with your love one. Fly away to somewhere warm, or, take a road trip, even a few hours away. Just getting outside of where you know is great. What better, relaxing gift to receive?
• Cozy pajamas. Lingerie= for him. But, a pair of cute, comfy pj's?... perfect for the girl on your list!
• Year of love. Find a nice, pretty vase. Cut out 365 pieces of paper, and on each one, write something special about her, a reason you love her, a word to describe her, or something you want to do in your relationship together. It may seem like a lot of work, but, trust me, this one would be a home run.
• Personalized. If you plan on getting her jewelry, have a special message engraved on the back or inside. Does she have a favorite piece of jewelry? Sneak it out to get engraved. She will love that every time she looks at something she loves to wear, you will pop up in her mind!
• Hair/nail/spa gift certificate. Do you know she loves to get her hair done? Her nails? Does she sometimes "go without" in this regard? If so, she would adore that you thought of her "girly" needs with this gift card. And, she'll come home all "prettied up"- for you!
• Photograph of the two of you. A special photo of the two of you... get it blown up, (changed to black and white if you'd like), matted, and framed. This is so special for her home or office wall.
• Year calendar. Visit Shutterfly to upload your digital pictures, choose a layout for your calendar (they have these pre-made), add in any special dates, and you're done! Have it mailed to you, or see if you can pick up at a local store.
• Most any woman would love a gift basket full of little things to make her feel pampered and special!
• Start her days out right and with a smile on her face, as she pours her coffee into an "I Love You" coffee mug. How thoughtful are you, boys!
• Does she ADORE purses? If she's anything like me, the answer is probably, YES!! She will be completely surprised if you buy her a brand new, designer handbag. She probably won't believe that you took the time and effort in a woman's store to pick one out for her!

Need more ideas? Have thoughts on some gift ideas? Let me know! Happy shopping.