Unique Gifts for After the Holidays

Many people get money for Christmas or return presents and get a refund. If this happens to you buy yourself something nice with this money rather than use it for spending money. After all, someone wanted you to have a gift that you liked. If you received all the clothes and electronics that you want then get a unique gift.

What makes something unique? There is no single standard. It may be something that is rare. It may be something that is unusual looking or it may be something that just has some intangible factor that keeps it out of the mainstream. Something that seems to be commonplace can be unique. For example, bookends are not uncommon but brass bookends are. The manufacturing process for brass bookends has become too expensive so only a handful of companies make them anymore. They are somewhat of a throwback.

Gothic design is considered to be unique. Gargoyles and dragons are a mainstay of Gothic design. Obviously not everyone will find Gothic styling to be to their liking, but this is precisely what makes it unique. Gargoyles and dragons can add a touch of the unusual or even the eccentric to home decor. They will not fit in with any home decor scheme unless your entire house is of Gothic design. However, that is the point. They will stick out. If you want a quick conversation starter, throw a few gargoyles around your house. In fact, just one will do.

There are a number of different types of gargoyle statues. Some depict funny looking gargoyles and others depict scary looking gargoyles. The irony of the scary gargoyle is that originally gargoyles were thought to keep away evil spirits that were even scarier looking than they were.

Many gargoyle and dragon statues are designed by talented artists who specialize in the area. They are not limited to only statuary pieces. Imaginative artists have incorporated them into clocks, lamps and even three dimensional wall decor. Of course there are paintings of them, but these are more common. One of the most iconic and replicated pieces of religious art is St. George Slaying the Dragon.

Despite the unusual looks, there is something charming about gargoyles. You will have to make up your own mind about dragons.

Keeping with things that are not real, fairies are also unique. Unlike the poor gargoyles and dragons, artisans go out of their way to make fairies beautiful. Many fairies are made out of stained glass or hand painted resin. Perhaps because of their looks no one seriously debates the existence of gargoyles and dragons. That is not the case with fairies. As in Peter Pan there are people who believe in fairies. In fact in 1920 two photographs from a set of five were published which showed fairies with butterfly-like wings interacting with a woman. "The Fairies of Cottingley Glen," as the photographs came to be known, were taken in 1917 and immediately triggered a debate among believers and detractors. Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, the famous author of the Sherlock Holmes thrillers, was convinced of the authenticity of the photographs and even wrote a book, "The Coming of the Fairies," to chronicle them.

The main problem with unique or unusual gifts or decor is finding them. By definition they are not easy to find. You will not find gargoyles, dragons and fairies in most department stores. It's doubtful that Walmart has any (but who knows). Online shopping can help here.

The author is a lawyer, but more importantly his son operates a website that specializes in unique gifts and home decor. He actually finds this to be interesting. Please visit http://uniquegiftsanddecor.com for hundreds of unique gift and home decor items. Also, please join us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/pages/Unique-Gifts-and-Decor/154284867926830 where we post unique facts, pictures and other fun things.

This post was made using the Auto Blogging Software from WebMagnates.org This line will not appear when posts are made after activating the software to full version.

READ MORE - Unique Gifts for After the Holidays

When I asked soon-to-be 12 year old Ryann what kind of birthday cake she wanted she said, "Either a cookie cake or a chocolate cake". After deliberating which to make, I settled on both! I topped a chocolate-chip cookie cake with a rich chocolate cake, topped it all with chocolate butter cream frosting and, of course, birthday candles!

Unlike my friend Marianne Getz (Wolfgang Puck's pastry chef), I am NOT a good baker. However, I believe that Birthday Cakes should be made at home, with love, rather than store bought so...I made it myself...using mixes! Plus, rather than wasting $3.99 on the pre-made decorative colored frosting, I spent $.99 on white frosting and improvised. Unless you are really getting fancy, you can do it my way by using the vanilla frosting, food coloring, convection sugar...and a baggie!

Here's what to buy:

1 Krusteaz Chocolate Chunk cookie mix

1 Betty Crocker Devils Food Cake Mix

2 large tubs Betty Crocker Rich and Chocolate Buttercream-Style Icing

1 regular tub Betty Crocker Rich and Creamy Vanilla Frosting

All ingredients to make the cookie and the cake mix; eggs, oil, etc.

1/4 Cup confectioners sugar

food coloring for decorative writing and edging.

Directions:

Preheat the oven to 375-degrees and grease the bottom of two 11 x 13 non-stick pans.

Make the cookie dough according to the box directions and spoon into the pan. Wetting your hands with tap water, flatten the dough evenly across the bottom of the pan. Put into the preheated oven.

Make the cake mix according to the package directions and pour into the other prepared pan.

Bake the cookies for 18 minutes or until it is lightly golden. Take the cookies out and put the cake in. Let the cookies cool in the pan for 15 minutes before carefully flipping onto a cake platter.

Bake cake for the length of time directed on the box or until the sides are just beginning to pull away from the walls of the pan. Remove from oven and let cool in the pan until just barely warm. Use a long bakers spatula, or other long flat tool, to loosen the cake from the pan so as not to break it when removing.

When the cookie cake is cool, but before you place the chocolate cake on top, frost it with 1/2 of one tub of the Chocolate Butter Cream Icing. Carefully place the almost-cool chocolate cake on top and let cool completely. Use the remaining icing to cover the top and sides of the cake; I actually had about 1/3 of a container leftover but use as much as you desire.

To decorate the cake, first decide how many colors you will use and them divide the tubs of frosting into separate bowls to accomodate each color. Blend the frosting with the confectioners sugar; I used 1/4 cup of confectioners sugar to 1/2 of the tub of frosting but adjust as need to make the frosting thick but still moist and spreadable. Add a few drops of food coloring, if desired, and mix well.

Using a pint-size freezer bag, spoon the frosting into one corner and then barely snip off the tip of the bag. The bigger the opening, the more frosting comes out so I recommend starting small, practice on a plate or napkin and trim as needed to get the correct amount of frosting to write smoothly. Later, cut the opening bigger to do the sides, edges or accents.

Again...I'm no Marianne Getz but hey, it's a 12-year-old's birthday! My cake was yummy and brought big smiles and full mouths saying... Best. Birthday Cake. Ever. That's all I need!

This post was made using the Auto Blogging Software from WebMagnates.org This line will not appear when posts are made after activating the software to full version.

READ MORE - When I asked soon-to-be 12 year old Ryann what kind of birthday cake she wanted she said, "Either a cookie cake or a chocolate cake". After deliberating which to make, I settled on both! I topped a chocolate-chip cookie cake with a rich chocolate cake, topped it all with chocolate butter cream frosting and, of course, birthday candles!