Gift Guide: For Him!

This holiday season is flying by so quickly, that I cannot believe we are just two weeks away from 2017! Before that, I put together yet another Gift Guide of presents for all the men in your life, which I updated from last year's, with some help of course.  :)  You will find plenty of fun things to add to your shopping list, and afterwards make sure to take a peek at this year's Gift Guide for Her to inspire your own wishlist!

Happy browsing!

Look and Feel Fresh

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Olive Heights Trading Co. feature & GIVEAWAY!

This week on Shop Small Saturday Showcase, I have something just for the big kids.  :)  When I first found Olive Heights Trading Co. at Artisanal L.A. last year, one of their bottles of bitters ended up being one of the only items we bought that day.  Usually, I try lots of samples, file away all the business info, and figure out what to buy from the online shops later, but this just couldn't wait!  All of the items were interesting, but the Moroccan Orange Bitters came home with me that day.  :)

Actually, if you are interested in trying it for yourself, the awesome owners and of Olive Heights Trading Co., Benjamin and Scott, are giving away a gift set of Moroccan Orange, Basil Rosemary and Padre Pio Molé Bitters to one of my lucky readers!  But first, check out the interview where you'll find out the amazing inspiration for the Padre Pio Molé Bitters and more interesting tidbits!

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Tell me a little bit about yourself!

Our company was founded in 2013 by veteran bartenders Benjamin Carpenter and Scott Winnie with the vision and guidance of longtime friend and business analyst Skyler Champion. Our aim was simple; to produce quality artisanal bitters while only using organic ingredients from the finest domestic and international sources.


Where did the name of your store come from?

Olive Heights is the neighborhood in Pasadena where we founded the company in an attic apartment of a historic Craftsman home.

Why did you start making goods for Olive Heights?

Ben had recently become head bartender of Green Street Restaurant in Pasadena. His owner and bar manager, Michael and Alison Hawkins had approached him about buying bitters for the bar and Ben asked for the opportunity to make them himself. A couple of weeks later, they hosted a bitters tasting for him and enjoyed them so much that they encouraged him to start a company and offered to be his first account.


What is your favorite item?

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Hydrate this Summer the Sparkling Way!

This post is in partnership with Dasani and Target. However, 

the opinions expressed below are all my own.

Somehow, summer is upon us and that means just about a million plans!  Just this weekend, I have two all-day craft festivals, a beer fest on the beach, and a charity wine tasting event.  Whew!  I'm getting pooped just typing that!  But seriously, since I'm constantly on the go, I try to stay healthy so my energy stays up.  That means that I can see more, do more, and have more fun!

That means three things to me: hitting the gym, eating healthy, and drinking enough water!  If you follow me on Instagram, you'll see that I do my thing at the gym.  :)  I always make sure to have enough healthy snacks, which is even easier now that practically every one of my favorite fruits and veggies is in season!  Lastly, I make sure to have lots of water all day, every day.

Even though it should be easy to drink plain water when it's hot out, during the summer, it seems like everyone has pretty drinks.  Yes, I noticed that if my beverage is just a bit more special, I totally drink it up!  After finding Dasani Sparkling, I was so happy because it's just a little fancier than normal water but keeps me hydrated.  It is lightly carbonated, unsweetened, has no artificial flavors, and has zero calories.  Perfect for swimsuit season!

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Triple Chocolate Stuffed Monkey Bread (with Milky Way Bites Centers!)

Oh. Em. Gee.  I'm not typically one for superlatives, but I have made the most delicious, gooey, chocolaty, creamy, and caramel-y monkey bread of my life.  It's so easy to prepare that you'll HAVE to make it immediately.  Honestly, I made it in practically no time, which is perfect for the tailgaiting parties that we're doing every Sunday (now that I'm into football).  And best of all, not only is the bread itself delish, there's a secret weapon inside...  Milky Way Bites!  And lucky you, I'm sharing the recipe AND a coupon for up to $2 off these bites that put the triple in my Triple Chocolate Stuffed Monkey Bread!

Really, it's the perfect dessert for game day because your guests can just pop off a piece and enjoy all of the deliciousness with just one hand.  If you don't want to include the sticky chocolate glaze (what's wrong with you?) because it might be too messy for your home (oh yeah...), then it is still ooey-gooey in the middle of each piece of monkey bread.

Really, don't hate me because there is the possibility that you might need to bake two: one for you, and one for your guests... and then let out your pants.  It's a good thing I sew!

Bon appetit!

Triple Chocolate Stuffed Monkey Bread (with Milky Way Bites Centers!)
A Vintage Zest original

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