Alison - I am overwhelmed! Thank you!

18 years ago

I almost tripped going out the front door while taking my dog out for her afternoon potty break. There was a huge box just sitting there in front of the door. I didn't hear the mail person come to the door, must have had a substitute today. Mine is too lazy to deliver it to the house but leaves it at the end of the 150 yard driveway by the mailbox. With this misty rainy weather I am glad they brought it to the door.

The gifts were wrapped in colorful tissue paper. What to open first? I figured I should read the card last to keep up the surprise. First I opened the Nordic Ware Bundt Multi Mini Pans. I love them!!! I have some of their larger pans but these are perfect because, like Alison said in her note, I can make them ahead and freeze them. I am just getting into doing that for portion control and so things don't go stale before we finish them. I can't wait to try them out this weekend and make something fancy for Sunday.

Then I opened the set of 3 dark green mixing bowls. You must have read my mind. I have been saying I need some better bowls. I have two I use all the time because they are deep, but when doing lots of cooking I have to stop and wash them to use them again. These will be perfect.

The big giveaway was the Penzeys Spices envelope. I saved the best for last and was nearly knocked over when I saw the gift certificate for $20. That was so generous of you Alison, I don't know what to say except thank you. I already have been drooling over their catalogs because unfortunately we don't have a store. I know I am going to get some vanilla beans and a different variety of cinnamon then what you get in the store. This could be a start of a new addiction.

And what a lovely card. I love what it had to say.

Walk in the rain.

smell flowers,

stop along the way,

build sandcastles,

go on field trips,

find out how things work,

tell stories,

say the magic words,

trust the universe.

Bruce Williamson

Alison - Thank you for all the wonderful gifts. I will enjoy them all.

Clare
{{gwi:1467502}}

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Comments (20)

lackboys3
18 years ago
Well, the lovely words in Alison's card had me a little misty eyed:-) Clare, what a happy surprise to find such a great swap box waiting for you! I love the color of those mixing bowls, and they look quite sturdy too. You will find many uses for those. The mini bundt cake pan is one that I have been admiring for months, and now that Clare has one, I'm going to enjoy it vicariously through her!!!! A Penzey's gift card is awesome, I could spend $20 just replenishing all my baking spices now that the winter holiday season is approaching. I can smell that cinnamon from here Clare!

Alison, great job on a lovely, generous swap box. Clare, enjoy it all and let us know what you purchase with the gift card.
DONNA
artsyshell
18 years ago
I agree with Donna.. What a lovely card! (I have saved that to use in my artwork somewhere. I really like those mixing bowls, very nice colour, and one can never have too many mixing bowls, especially with Christmas approaching. I really like those bundt pans as well. My dad won't eat muffins or cupcakes but will eat any cake that comes from a bundt pan, (how weird is that), so I may have to get some of those and see if they will work on him, lol.
What a great idea, sending a gift certificate so you can pick out your own spices. Very nice swap gift, have fun shopping!

Shelley
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earthlydelights
18 years ago
nice box of goodies. wonderful card!

i love that bundt pan, i have one as well and it's in use quite a bit. great idea on the gift certificate so that you can get exactly what you want. and mixing bowls - i can never have enough.

enjoy it all
maryanne
brenda55
18 years ago
Alison, what a really nice swap box you sent. Love the idea of Penzey's gift certificate, that was very nice. The mini bundt pans are great, especially for giving individual treats. I hope you post some pics and recipes with those, Clare. Great bowls, too.

Brenda
arabellamiller
18 years ago
Great job Alison! I love everything, but those bundt pan are particularly adorable and useful.

Well done. Enjoy!

AM
sigh
18 years ago
Oh how thoughtful and how nice! I love the lip & the pour spouts on the mixing bowls, I'll bet they're very easy to handle. I adore mini bundt pans! And the Penzey's GC was a totally sweet (and brilliant) idea.
Getting to "open" everybody elses box is almost as much fun as opening my own!

Nina
Marigene
18 years ago
What a great swap box; you will get lots of use out of the mixing bowl set and the little bundt molds. And you can stock up on some spices with the gift certificate. If you haven't tried the Vietnamese cinnamon, it is wonderful! Alison...great package!
Terri_PacNW
18 years ago
Very nice package..Many of my favorite things! LOL Funny how that is around here..
Bizzo
18 years ago
AWESOME! the mini bundt pans are something I don't have nort have seen but what I great idea... to make serving sizes might help me keep the calories under control... I may need to get me some!

I love the bowls, and what's not to love about Penzey's?? Very nice package!!
granjan
18 years ago
The Penzey's gift certificate is so clever. A true favorite that allows Clare to get what she needs. And the bowls are great, who ever has enough. The mini bundts are great. I've been trying to talk myself out of the ones that are even smaller. But those are lovely.
kathleen_li
18 years ago
Lovely gifts and gift certificate.
Alison, you did a good job, your buddy sounds happY!
alison
18 years ago
Yay! I'm glad you've got a spot for the bowls -- seems like the kind of thing everyone would have, but I've really struggled to find mixing bowls that really work. And I thought anything less on the Penzey's GC would just be a tease -- I looooove spices.

You could use the mini bundt pans as a way to portion control. Or you could use them as an excuse for six kinds of frosting!

So glad you like them -- enjoy!
annie1992
18 years ago
Alison, I like the six kinds of frosting theory on those bundt pans, to heck with portion control! Those are very cute, I love them.

The mixing bowls are also a good idea, most just aren't "right", those look like they are nice, deep and usable.

Penzey's? Well, they speak for themselves. I love the Vietnamese cinnamon, their 4 pepeprcorn blend, the boss is hooked on their Vindaloo seasoning. I think it's a perfect choice.

Annie
msafirstein
18 years ago
Neat bundt pan and the minis are getting to hard to find now! Make sure you check out several of the cinnamon varieties at Penzey's!

Good job Alison!!

Michelle
KatieC
18 years ago
Love the bowls, and the bundt pan is really cute. Yes, you will indeed be addicted to Penzey's, Clare!
Carol Schmertzler Siegel
18 years ago
Great idea, Alison! you will LOVE Penzey's, Clare! Definitely the cinnamons, I love the foxpoint seasoning, the double strength vanilla, the choices are endless! Have fun with your choices. What a great idea! I love the bowls and the bundt pan! What a great swap! Nice going, Alison! Enjoy your gifts, Clare. Can't wait to hear what you picked!
doucanoe
18 years ago
Love those green bowls and the shape of that pan! A gift certificate to Penzey's? I'd be in heaven!

Great job!

Linda
diana55
18 years ago
Lovely package!!! I have those bowls in brown. They are great. I use mine all the time. You should enjoy that pan too. You did a great job Alison. Way to go!!! Diana55
riverrat1
18 years ago
Alison, Very very nice swap box. The card is really lovely and had me a bit teary eyed.

Clare, Enjoy your goodies...Ummmm, I can help you spend that gift certificate if you need some help ;-)
jessyf
18 years ago
Another Penzey-holic in the making bwahaha. Nice package Alison, those bundt pans are too much!

Alison - I am overwhelmed! Thank you!

Comments (20)

lackboys3

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