GREAT GIFTS FOR NEW PARENTS

TEACHER GIFTS

GIFTS THAT WILL MAKE YOU THE Teacher's Pet

8 GIFT IDEAS TO BRING A SMILE TO A TEACHER’S FACE

The holiday season is a great time to show our appreciation for all the teachers who work our children all year long. BY WANDA CURTIS 5. TOTE BAG: Every teacher can use a tote bag. Many are simple to make and can be personalized by using the teacher’s favorite Throughout the pandemic, school teachers have been on the front line — here are a few ideas to say thank you. 1. PERSONALIZED FACE MASKS: Many school districts are now requiring teachers to wear masks. So why not provide a favorite teacher with a supply of attractive face masks which can be personalized to match their profession? Some online companies now allow consumers to choose the color and designs of masks, including the printed names of subjects such as reading, math or social studies, as well as pictures of school items such as books or pencils, or even basketballs for the coaches in your child’s life. (The CDC recommends that all masks be at least two layers thick with a nose wire.) 2. BASKET OF SNACKS: Most teachers can use a pick-me-up snack during the day. Why not find out their favorite snack foods and fill a decorative basket with those items? Include nutritious items like trail mix or raisins or granola bars. Throw in a few small scented pine cones and include a nice holiday bow and the gift will be complete. 3. HOT DRINK MIXES: As winter rolls around the corner, most people enjoy a hot drink to get warmed up. Hot cocoa, herbal teas and even powdered soup mix in a decorative basket make a nice gift. Those items along with a personalized mug are sure to bring a smile to a teacher’s face. 4. SCENTED CANDLE: After a long stressful day at work, many people enjoy lighting a scented candle at home to create a warm, relaxing atmosphere. Find out the teacher’s favorite scent and add a Christmas candle ring for a nice holiday touch. colors and special interests. Patterns are available in most fabric departments and online, and some are even reversible. 6. SCARF & GLOVES SET: Whether store bought or homemade using a teacher’s favorite colors, a scarf and gloves set always comes in handy during the winter. Sets for both men and women can be found from many local Maine artisans. 7. CALENDAR BOOK: Every teacher needs a calendar book to schedule and keep track of both personal and school activities. Many styles and sizes are available, and some include calendars for multiple years. 8. CANDY JAR: The holiday season is a great time to share a decorative candy jar filled with homemade fudge, tiny candy canes or other holiday delights from local bakeries and candy makers. Tie some holiday ribbon around the jar with a bow or wrap a short string of tiny twinkling Christmas lights around it for a festive touch.

TEA SAMPLER KIT TENSION RELIEF GIFT SET

FROM TEA MAINEIA BY PERRY HOME NATURALS

Give a little relaxation in a cup. Sampler kits from Tea Maineia include five 1 oz. packages of loose tea and 20 tea filters. Kits are available in their Winterport store and online. Check out 130 varieties of loose tea, many of which are blended in-house, along with a large selection of tea pots, tea cups and tea accessories. TEAMAINEIA.COM Who couldn’t use a little tension relief? This handcrafted gift set contains an aromatherapy eye pillow, a small custom-blend Tension Relief room and linen spray, a chickadee sachet filled with organic lavender and a hand-stamped tree design sachet. You can choose which blend to use for the eye pillow and the scent for the tree sachet, including Maine balsam fir or organic lavender. MUGBUDDYCOOKIES.COM

MUG BUDDIES FROM

MUG BUDDY COOKIES

Mug Buddy Cookies specializes in handcrafting whimsical 3D mug topper cookies called Mug Buddies. Each cookie is made from scratch before being hand decorated and assembled by a team of icing artists. And the best part — they taste as good as they look! Order online or find local retailers on their website. MUGBUDDYCOOKIES.COM

Momo’s

TEEN GIFTS

WHAT TO GET YOUR Teenager

5 GREAT GIFTS FOR Children often marvel at the world around them. They’re delighted to receive

TWEENS AND TEENS just about any toy, and play with items that others may not see as fun — including everything from mixing bowls to cardboard boxes. Slowly that cherubic toddler turns into THIS HOLIDAY SEASON a school-aged wonder, and later into a young adult trying to find his or her place in the world. With each passing year, the task of finding gifts for tweens and teenagers becomes COURTESY OF METRO CREATIVE that much more challenging. While most parents and other relatives may never seem “cool” in the eyes of their teens, they can gift the tweens and teens they love with presents that will earn them a few extra brownie points. The following are five gift ideas that are tailor-made for tweens and teens. 1. LED STRIP LIGHTS Every kid wants to customize their rooms as they see fit. Teens can utilize LED strip lights to create a unique ambiance that reflects their style. These often self-sticking ribbons of lights adhere right to walls. They come in a variety of lengths so they can be used to frame the perimeter of the room, if desired. Complete with multicolored options and a remote control, teens can set their room colors as their mood dictates. 2. GIFT CARDS Teens try to keep up with the latest styles. A gift card or clothing gift from one of their favorite retailers can help them build their ensembles that much quicker. Aeropostale, Abercrombie & Fitch, Hollister, Forever 21, Zumiez, American Eagle and Tilly’s are just some of the stores popular among today’s tweens and teens. 3. WIRELESS EARBUDS OR HEADPHONES Wireless headphones are used on a daily basis by tweens and teens. They rely on them for listening to music, watching movies on their devices and even during remote learning sessions. There are many brands to choose from, and Beats by Dre and Apple AirPods are among the most popular. 4. SNEAKERS AND SHOES Sneakers have long been popular gifts for teenagers, but they tend to be costly, especially for trending styles and brands. Vans Slip-On® Core Classics, Converse Chuck Taylor All Star High Top Sneakers, Reebok Club C 85 Vintage, Nike Air Force One and Adidas Sobakov are popular among today’s tweens and teens. In addition, thanks to the resurgence of 1990s style, Dr. Martens boots are once again in demand. 5. VIDEO GAME CONSOLES Each gamer has his or her preferred platform for gaming. From the Nintendo Switch to the Xbox Series X to the Sony PlayStation 5, these systems are in high demand. Due to that demand, these products may be harder to find the closer you get to Christmas Day. Grab them while you can and soak in the smile on your favorite tween’s or teen’s face. Teens and tweens are notoriously challenging to shop for. However, with some knowledge, loved ones can find gifts tweens and teens are more likely to use and enjoy.

HOT COCOA MIX

FROM BIXBY CHOCOLATE

Warm some hearts this holiday season with Bixby Peppermint Drinking Chocolate. Rich dark chocolate and peppermint are ready to be melted into the milk of your choice, creating a thick hot chocolate drink that is simply delicious! Available at independent stores across Maine or online. BIXBYCO.COM

FOR HOME COOKS

Gifts for

HOME COOKS

10 GIFT IDEAS FOR PEOPLE WHO LOVE TO COOK

Many people know someone who loves spending lots of time in the kitchen. Certain home cooks may enjoy whipping up favorite recipes, while others might get excited about experimenting with new flavors and ingredients.

A love of cooking paves the way for many different gifting opportunities. Foodrelated gifts also come in a wide variety of price points, making it easy for shoppers to spend as little or as much as they want. Check out these 10 gift ideas for the foodie on your holiday shopping list.

1. SHEET PANS: They may not seem like the most sexy or high-tech tools of the kitchen, but sheet pans are among the most versatile. They can be used for cookies, sheet pan cakes, oven-frying cutlets or fries, or even serving as the perfect bases for candy brittles.

2. AIR FRYER TOOL SET: By now many people have hopped on the air fryer bandwagon, but they may not have all of the accessories to take air frying to the next level. From spatulas to tongs to silicone brushes, an air fryer tool set can make meals even more delicious. 3. DUTCH OVEN: You’d be hard-pressed to find a more hard-working tool in the kitchen than a Dutch oven. These heavy, often enameled cast iron vessels come in various quart sizes. They can be used to cook stews, breads, cakes and much more.

4. KITCHEN COMPOST BIN: Home cooks who want to cut down on waste will appreciate a countertop compost bin to gather food scraps.

5. SERVING BOARD: The rise in cheese and charcuterie boards means cooks will need something attractive to serve their spreads. Wooden and stone boards are attractive when serving sliced cheeses, crackers, chutneys and other appetizer.

6. ELECTRIC WINE OPENER: Wine is the perfect complement to many dishes, and what easier way to open bottles than with an electric wine opener? Many are compatible with almost any bottleneck and can open several bottles on a single charge.

7. SPIRALIZER: The trend for pasta alternatives continues, and having a spiralizer that can turn vegetables like zucchini into spiraled “noodles” will be handy in most kitchens. 8. APRON AND ACCESSORIES: Home cooks need to protect their clothing in the kitchen. A fashionable apron and matching oven mitts can make a statement and keep clothes clean.

9. MEAT DELIVERY: The number of directto-home meat shipping providers continues to grow. Have quality cuts of meat delivered right to a home cook’s house so that he or she can cut back on trips to the store.

10. NEW BLENDER: Today’s blenders can crush ice, process foods, puree and chop foods. These versatile appliances make a welcome addition to any kitchen.

Stock up on food-related gifts now for those people on your holiday shopping list who love to cook.

COURTESY OF METRO CREATIVE

Half Island

KNIFE ROLL FROM

WEFT AND WARP

Food Network’s Chopped winner and longtime chef Rachel LeGloahec is the owner of Weft and Warp, where she hand-sews and stitches knife rolls made from leather and waxed canvas for professional and home chefs, artists and craftspeople in Maine and beyond. With seven designs and color options (and semicustom features), there’s a roll to carry every chef’s load. Find the knife roll to fit your needs online, or locally at Strata in Portland or the Thompson’s Point Maker’s Market. WEFTANDWARPMAINE.COM

TEA TOWELS FROM

EMMA B. GARCELON

Give a beautiful, Maine-made kitchen accessory this holiday. Warm 100% cotton hand block or screen printed tea towels make perfect gifts, are eco friendly and will brighten your kitchen or bathroom. Find Emma B. Garcelon tea towels, napkins, prints, tote bags and more online and at Maine retailers like Swallowfield in Northeast Harbor, The Woods Maine in Norway, Maine Craft in Portland, Venn + Maker in Portland and more. EMMABGARCELON.COM

FOOD GIFTS

GREAT HOMEMADE

Food Gifts

Gifts from the heart are among the most coveted and appreciated come the holiday season. Hobbyists from all walks of life can turn their passions into handmade gifts, but few gifts may be as welcomed as those that can be eaten. Cooking and baking ramps up during the holiday season. People can turn extra time in the kitchen into opportunities to create festive treats that are ideal for gifting. But which items are the best of the best? Even though tastes are singular, these items will appeal to most foodies and others on your gift list. · JAMS AND PRESERVES: Fruit jams and preserves are versatile foods. They are as at home on toast and biscuits as they are as fillings in cookies and tarts. Jams and preserves can be made with relatively few ingredients and work well with seasonal fruits. You can also find a variety of Maine companies selling a wide selection of jams and preserves to satisfy every taste bud. · CINNAMON ROLLS: Warm, sticky and full of aromatic spice, cinnamon rolls are the perfect comfort foods. These rolls do not typically have a long shelf life, so be sure to present them promptly before they get stale. · PANCAKES (OR COOKIES) IN A JAR: If you have a fantastic recipe that you can’t resist sharing, try turning it into a gift. Measure and package the ingredients into mason jars, tie with ribbons and include directions for preparation and cooking. · MINI BUNDT CAKES: Fruit cakes may be a holiday standard, but bundt cakes make for great and traditional offerings as well. Miniature bundts filled with chocolate chips, dried fruits or even those soaked in a favorite boozy-butter glaze can be moist and delicious. · CHOCOLATE BARKS OR FUDGES: Seasonal flavors can come to life in chocolate treats. White chocolate filled with peppermint pieces or dark chocolate and cherry chunks are tasty pairings. Break apart portions of the bark or cut the fudge with cookie cutters and gift inside cello bags tied with ribbons or in cardboard candy boxes. · COCKTAIL SYRUPS: Create spicy or sweet syrups that are tailor-made for enhancing cocktails. Anyone on your gift list can then become a master mixologist. · SHORTBREAD COOKIE ORNAMENTS: Circular shortbread cookies can be decorated with royal icing to look like Christmas ornaments. They can be eaten or even placed on trees to complete holiday decor. · FESTIVE CAKE POPS: Cake pops can be made by mixing homemade or prepurchased crumbled cake with frosting or softened cream cheese and formed into balls. Insert a lollipop stick and dip the balls into melted chocolate or candy melts. Sprinkles, nonpareils or luster dust can be used to enhance the covered pops. Food gifts are perfect for the holiday season. Make your own or pick up goodies from a nearby Maine bakery or food shop and how just much you care.

SPICE UP THE HOLIDAYS WITH A TASTY HOMEMADE TREAT

COURTESY OF METRO CREATIVE

LEATHER RECIPE ORGANIZER FROM

GALLERY LEATHER

Give the foodie in your life a beautiful way to store treasured family recipes with an organizer from Gallery Leather. A Maine-based company, Gallery Leather offers handcrafted planners, journals, albums, organizers and more. Visit the outlet store at 8 Industrial Way in Trenton or order online. GALLERYLEATHER.COM

CHEESECAKE FROM

MOMO’S CHEESECAKES

Momo (aka Brenda Ledezma) opened Momo’s Cheesecakes back in 2016, and she’s been running her business on the Honor System since day one. Several large double door coolers are filled with up to 70 different flavors of freshly made cheesecake slices and whole cheesecakes that are available for grab-and-go. If you’d like to preorder cheesecake or gift cards just contact us a few days in advance via text message, social media DM’s, email or phone. Your order will be ready in the reserved cooler with your name on it! FACEBOOK.COM/ MOMOSCHEESECAKES

FOOD GIFTS

The Gift of Being

COZY AT HOME

A GIFT GUIDE FOR THE HOMEBODY IN YOUR LIFE

We all have that one (or a few of them) family member or friend who would just rather stay home. They like their quiet space and would choose BY KATIE SMITH SLIPPERS It makes sense — if you are home more you wear less shoes. Cozy slippers are a must for the winter months staying in to watch a movie underneath a cozy blanket than go out for dinner and movie any night of the week.

What better way to help them live their truth than to give them something that makes their homebody lifestyle even better and more comfortable? BOOKS Chances are, the homebody in your life loves reading. Books make such a great gift and give us something to look forward to after the holiday has wrapped up and we are looking to recharge. If you aren’t sure which genre your homebody likes and you don’t want to spoil the surprise you can select a cookbook, a great coffee table book or even a journal. BLANKETS Homebodies can never have enough blankets. They need one for every room, plus a few extras. If you aren’t sure of their color scheme you can never go wrong with a neutral color like camel, tan, ivory or gray. GOURMET COFFEE AND/OR CHOCOLATE If they are a coffee drinker, they will love having a variety of coffees to choose from right from their own kitchen. If the homebody you know likes chocolate, then a gourmet stash they can have on hand is the perfect thing to give them. It feels a lot more special to have something fancy waiting for you in the pantry whether you are relaxing on a Monday evening or need to pick me up on a Friday after a busy week. and especially appreciated by those who don’t leave the house much. Something soft and warm they can easily slip on will brighten their morning on those chilly days. GIFT BOX SUBSCRIPTIONS This is a great way to give them a gift that will arrive at their doorstep. There are so many different gift box subscriptions to choose from. You can find everything from makeup to food to pet supplies. CANDLES Nothing makes a home more inviting than a candle. You can choose from several different scents, unscented varieties or even a faux candle in a nice holder that will burn forever. PLANTS Plants make our house feel like a home. You can visit your local florist or greenhouse to pick out the perfect houseplant to keep your homebody company. There are also so many different faux varieties out there if you don’t think they have a greenthumb. LUXURIOUS TOWELS & SCENTED SOAPS Just because they prefer to stay home over traveling doesn’t mean they can't have the feel of a luxury hotel or spa right from their home. And there are lots of local companies that make delicious smelling (and looking) soaps. These make great, pampering gifts on their own, or when added to a set of towels.