My first stop at Earl B Feiden’s is with Vixen in mind…quite the wine connoisseur!  The new Liebherr Drop Door Wine Cooler would be the perfect gift! With the capacity to hold up to 18 bottles of wine, this Push-to-Open wine cooler installs flush with the cabinetry face…perfect for a bar or even the master closet I dare say! It’s luxury and elegance wrapped up in one for any beverage aficionado…creating an intimate experience with the option of a black or white exterior finish. Telescoping shelves and interior LED lighting across the top allows for the selection of “best paired wines with a charcuterie board” a tranquil undertaking.

Now, Dasher is more of a connoisseur of spirits, who loves to find new ways of presenting guests with options to influence flavor, aroma and appearances of served cocktails. At The Dark Horse in downtown Saratoga, I found a Smoked Starter Kit for the bar! Never heard of it? Much like smoking food, you can smoke a drink…it’s easy…first, select one of the wood bricks. Then use a cocktail torch to burn the wood brick until it has an independent flame (about 30 seconds). Next, using an empty glass, turn it upside down and cover the flame. While the glass is smoking, craft your cocktail then strain it into your smoked glass with optional ice. It’s a whole new experience in tasting! I also found the Smoking Duo Kit which is fabulous for those aspiring bartenders in your life like Dancer! Included in the kit is a Smoking Saucer…once you’ve had the pleasure of its sophisticated addition to your beverage, you’ll wonder how you ever entertained without it! You’ll also find elements from the Old-Fashioned Kit including two Sphere Ice Molds. By placing the saucer atop your poured beverage, you can encounter the smoking sensation as it unfolds… Magnifique!!

On the coldest of days, I know Cupid is a lover of a good wood burning fireplace; cozying up with his pipe and bathrobe after a long holiday dash.  Finishing Touches just so happened to have this hand forged, Gold Branch Decorative Fireplace Screen in stock! The delicate detailing of hammered iron reminded me of the woods and the trails we travel during the warmer months when our schedules aren’t so busy! The reflective glow of the fire will be oh so relaxing on the bright gold leaf finish as well! It’s just the perfect size at 47 W X 32 H X 6 D… Sold!
And for Donner, I just so happen to know that all sorts of boxes are top of the list! Always being a sport at the back of our pack, I thought it deserving to wrap up this Hippodrome Box as a special treat! The oblong metal container is crafted of steel with a highly distressed acid brass finish. The travertine honed top offers soft edges with a large racetrack-shaped handle to compliment its overall shape. With a gorgeous black velvet interior, I know Donner will store his cherished gold whistle used for training the newbies for Santa’s team as he did for me all those years ago! Definitely a gift worthy of giving!

For Comet, the view to earth from above is a love-language! I just so happen to take a peek into Granite & Marble Works to find the last of the Rainforest Green Soapstone available in inventory. It’s simply spectacular with its pretty greens and rich coloring running through it! The field of stone appears to mimic the Rainforest as seen from high above in the skies…I’m sure Comet will adore a new kitchen countertop from this slab…especially as its from Brazil, one of the warmer, favored stops along our holiday route!

For fun, I made a trip over to Lakeside Farm Country Store where I reminisced about my youth and all the kids that would visit to feed me and say hello! The store was full of wonderful items to choose from! I know Prancer is a big collector of seasonal knickknacks and would adore this Lit Boy Reindeer Gourd decked out in a woolen scarf and snowflake cut-out detail on its belly! It can even be illuminated with the included electric light…Honestly…this little guy has some similarities to Prancer! HaHa!!

Now, there’s this new trend that’s soaring off the charts called Infinity Lights which I wanted to know more about. So, I stopped in at Accents at Allerdice to find out what they knew before the rush overtook us! Wouldn’t you know, there I found a brightly colored 12" Cardinal Indoor Tabletop Infinity Light that Blitzen would be excited to find on Christmas morning! What’s all the fuss…it’s the endless light array, echoing a never-ending, showstopper of holiday cheer! Simply explained, this optical illusion is created by concealing a standard mirror between two 2-way mirrors at an angle. LED strips are placed between these resulting in never-ending light bouncing off the sandwiched standard mirror, casting light into…infinity. I purchased mine, better get over here before you miss out!

And what would Christmas be without a gift for the two most generous people in the world…Mr. & Mrs. Claus! With a quick dash over to the lake, I headed straight to The Furniture House to pick up this splendid Hand Painted Nutcracker Decorative Pillow with a green ribbon knife edge. Mrs. C has a full ensemble of Nut Cracker elements and will cherish this new addition in her collection. For the Big Guy, he appreciates a long winter's nap after his big haul on Christmas Eve. I spied the perfect Eastham Throw in Sable to help him settle into his recliner in front of the fireplace…

Phew…I think that’s it!

Aren’t you glad you came along with me now? Look at all the ideas you have for your own personal shopping! Be sure to take the time this holiday season to visit all the local Saratoga shops for all your stocking stuffers and under-the-tree goodies…Tell them all I sent you! I’m headed back north…but I’ll be sure to stop by on Christmas Eve with all my friends and our dear Santa! Don’t forget the carrots!

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year to All!