Happy dance!!
So here we were, working hard making baskets to keep our wonderful clients looking like rockstars when BAM! Out of nowhere we get an email informing us that we, Candid Gifts, were nominated to the FOX 2 HOT LIST as one of the top gift shops in the St. Louis area! Following some ear-piercing squeals and some gyrating that may or may not have nauseated a few passers-by, we collected ourselves and finished reading the email.
Turns out we haven’t won yet, and that’s where our wonderful friends and clients come in (that’s you by the way!). We need you to go vote for us. All you have to do is head on over to the voting site and register your name. You will receive an email with a link that will allow you to confirm your vote. They are accepting votes until March 19th, but as of today, we are tied for first! No really, see for yourself:
Awesome huh? Anyway, if when we win, we are going to throw one heck of a party, Candid Gifts style! I’m talking Plink-O, food and of course the ever entertaining Candid Gifts staff! Don’t forget … click here to vote for Candid Gifts!!
Lights, Camera, BASKET!
As your local gifting experts, the staff at Candid Gifts would like to show off one of our favorite baskets:
This Movie Night Basket would be perfect as a fun housewarming present. We can even turn it into a Romantic Movie Night Basket for you and your special someone to share on Valentine’s Day! Remember that we can customize the size and contents to meet your specific needs. Call us today and see what we can do for you!
Stop Playing & Get To Work!
Who hasn’t heard that one a time or twelve at work? Well we have decided to say “Pish Posh!” to that nonsense! Candid Gifts is celebrating Fun At Work Day on Wednesday, January 27! We’ve come up with a list of ideas to help you celebrate too:
- When your co-workers ask if you hear that noise, pretend you don’t so you can make them think they’re crazy. For example, if Joe asks if you hear the Fire Alarm, tell him it’s all in his head.
- As your boss is coming into the office, hide behind his ficus tree and then jump out yelling, “SURPRISE!”
- Try to convince someone it really is their birthday even though you know it’s not until June. Bonus points if you bring props like cake and balloons. (Super bonus points if you bring cake to Candid Gifts … hint hint!)
- Make everyone call you by your Super Hero name. A costume will really spice things up!
- Two words: Whoopie Cushion!
Be sure to post your ideas in our comments section or on our Facebook page! Have fun!
Tuesday Tea Triva II
Remember to send in your RSVP for our Dress-up Tea Party on Sunday, January 31. The deadline to reserve a spot for your princess is Friday, January 29! The event is $15 which will be donated to Autism Speaks.
Last Tuesday we learned about the health benefits of tea, but this week we wondered where tea actually comes from. Well never fear, my friends! Candid Gifts has done the research for you. All tea comes from the Camellia Sinensis plant which is native to Asia, but is often grown in tropical climates. The plants are farmed on large plantations like this:
Pretty cool huh? Even though tea comes from the same basic plant there are thousands of varieties of tea. However, all those kinds can be divided into five basic groups: black, green, oolong, white and puerh. This is what tea leaves look like as they are growing:
If the tea leaves are picked when they are just cute little baby shoots, the resulting tea has a delicate, sweet flavor and is called white tea. When adult leaves are picked and allowed to wither just a smidge before being quickly heated, green tea is produced. Oolong tea comes from allowing the adult leaves to whither more than green tea, but not completely. The process produces a floral or fruity quality to the finished tea. Black tea, what most people use to make iced tea, has the highest caffeine content and the boldest flavor. These characteristics come from allowing the tea leaves to completely whither until they are black and dried. The fifth category of tea, puerh, is a carefully shrouded mystery! It’s a form of black tea that is only produced in China. The process of making the puerh tea is a very closely held secret, but produces a tea with a strong flavor that is not bitter.
We really hope you’ve enjoyed learning a little about tea, and choose to celebrate it’s tasty goodness with us. Call Candid Gifts today at 310-1613 to reserve a spot for our Tea Party!
Mmmm … Pie!
Today we here at Candid Gifts are celebrating something near and dear to our hearts … food! More specifically, pie! Whether it’s being thrown in someone’s face a la the Three Stooges or served with love and a dollop of whipped cream at a family holiday, few things are more American than pie.
January 23 is reserved as National Pie Day, and we thought we would share one of our favorite pie recipes with you.
French Silk Pie
1 9″ Pie crust, baked and cooled
3 oz. Unsweetened chocolate, cut into pieces
1 cup Butter, softened
1 cup Sugar
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
4 eggs
Melt chocolate in a small saucepan and set aside to cool. In a small bowl, beat butter until light in color and fluffy. Gradually beat in the sugar until combined. Mix in the cooled chocolate and the vanilla and blend well. Add the eggs, one at a time, and beat 2 minutes on high speed between each addition. The final mixture should have a light, fluffy texture. Pour into the cooled pie shell and refrigerate for at least 2 hours. Serve topped with whipped cream.
So now you’ve seen ours, so show us yours! What is your absolute favorite pie? Feel free to share the recipe in the comments!
