All Kinds of Glass

Goblet Mint

Engraved, Printed or Hand Painted – You Decide

You know you should have started shopping for gifts months ago and have really left it a little too late when you notice that the sales have begun and the stores have dragged out the same old tat that they offered as bargains last year. If you haven't got around to buying the presents yet, you probably haven't a clue what you intend to buy for all your friends and family either. This means that you have to find time in your busy schedule to dash off to town, sit for ages with all those other shoppers in the queue for the car park, pay an exorbitant parking fee, and put up with being shoved and pushed by other shoppers with their bulging bags, each one of them looking more frazzled than you feel. Tempers begin to be lost and you decide to have a break and go and get a coffee. More queues for you to deal with. And on top of all this, you walk miles from department store to department store trying to find the right gift, only to settle for something inappropriate just so you can escape the madding crowds. But there is really no need to panic about buying those gifts. What you need is a plan. Once you have drawn up that all important list of people for whom you are buying presents, consider these words – Personalised Gifts. No, you had not thought of those had you? This opens up a whole new vista of ideas for you to choose from, and your selection of presents can carry whatever personal short message you wish. There are personalised gifts for each and every one of those people on your gift list. All you have to do is decide what unusual and original gifts to give. When it comes to having your message displayed on the lovely present, is it going to be engraved, printed or hand painted – you decide.

If you are opting for engraved personalised gifts, the choice is almost limitless. There are Personalised Gifts for the kids, sports fans, girls, boys, men and women, even your great great grandma. Kids of all ages will be thrilled with a money box. You can choose from several fabulous designs including a Noah's Ark, VW Camper Van, Children's Pram and Fire Engine. You can have up to 50 characters engraved on these attractive yet practical gifts and set the kids up for a saving spree that will stand them in good stead for a rainy day.

For those who enjoy the odd tipple, there are elegant champagne flutes or beer tankards in stainless steel, as well as a traditional and beautiful pewter goblet, all of which can carry your personal message perfectly. There is also a stunning crystal brandy glass in a gorgeous presentation box. The champagne flutes will pair up well with a fabulous personalised gift set of champagne and wine, again carrying your personal message on the labels. Or for those who are not big fans of the grape, but prefer the rich and creamy liqueur, how about an amazing Baileys Basket, a traditional whicker hamper which contains two personalised glasses, box of mint cremes, bag of coffee and of course the eponymous bottle of Baileys. Oh, how I wish someone would think of me and give me a Baileys Basket. Still, I digress.

Moving on from the engraved Personalised Gifts to the more unusual presents, you have to buy the personalised door mat for at least one person. You can have your personal message printed on to this in bold black letters, as long as the message contains less than 12 characters per line. You can really go to town with this one and think up some cheeky or charming message, or simply have ' We live here' printed onto it. For the gardeners in your life, a delightfully traditional antique apple crate planter can be personalised with the message of your choice. This fabulous plant holder will look stunning in a summer garden, planted up with bright flowers or delicious home grown vegetable seedlings. Alternatively, it can be filled with whatever the imagination allows, and is very useful as a storage box whilst attractive enough to be a display item.

Personalised Gifts are also available with a hand painted message. There is an amazingly varied selection of children's canvas paintings to choose from, each one proudly displaying a child's name and special date. There are animal canvases, fairies, princesses, football, flowers and so much more, and your message is expertly painted onto the canvas with glitter, much to the delight of that special little girl or boy. So make your gift shopping enjoyable and easy by giving a personalised gift this year.

About the Author

Written by John Smith co-founder of GettingPersonal.co.uk

GettingPersonal.co.uk are one of the UK's leading on-line retailers of Gifts, Personalised gifts, Valentines Gifts and Mother's Day Gifts. Their website is packed with over 1,500 gifts for any special occasion.

For more go to www.gettingpersonal.co.uk

Authentic Julep Recipes

Brandy Mint Julep

1 spoon of powdered sugar
1 small shot of Bourbon Whiskey
1 small shot of peach brandy
A few sprigs of mint leaves

Mix as directed for a standard julep. Use plenty of crushed ice and frappe with a long-handled bar spoon.

It is heresy even to mention it, but some Georgia julep experts make theirs by substituting Bourbon Whiskey for cognac brandy. Whichever you use, the Bourbon or brandy, remember that quicker and prettier frosting will result if you use a silver or other metal goblet rather than glass. The outside of the container must be kept dry if it is to take on a good frost, so do not hold it in your hand when mixing.

St. Regis Mint Julep

1 teaspoon of sugar
1 teaspoon of water
1 dozen mint leaves
1 large shot of rye whiskey
½ shot of rum
1 dash of grenadine

Into a tall glass crush the mint leaves with a bar spoon. Dissolve the sugar in water and stir. Pour in the whiskey and rum, then the grenadine syrup. Fill the glass with crushed ice and mix with the spoon. When properly frapped decorate the top with sprigs of mint.

This recipe departs in two ways from the usual-the use of rye for Bourbon and the introduction of grenadine syrup. In spite of its straying from the neither straight nor narrow path of Bourbon, this julep is exceedingly good on a hot day, or any day, for that matter. It is the julep that was served at the St. Regis Restaurant bar and was the pride of head bartender John Swago.

Louisiana Mint Julep

1 teaspoon of powdered sugar
1 ½ shots of Bourbon Whiskey
A few sprigs of mint
Crushed ice

Put a dozen leaves of mint in a bar glass, cover with powdered sugar and just enough water to dissolve the sugar.

Crush sugar and mint leaves gently with a muddler or bar spoon. Pour half the mint and sugar liquid in the bottom of the tall glass in which the julep is to be served. Then enough shaved or snowball ice to half full.

Next add the remaining mint and sugar liquid and fill nearly to the top with shaved ice. Pour in the Bourbon until the glass is full to the brim.

Place in the refrigerator at least an hour before serving to acquire ripeness and frost. Top with mint sprigs.

There once was a time when the mint julep was strictly a symbol of the South-a green and silver emblem of Dixie's friendly leisure. But today the mint julep, that most glorious of summer drinks, is becoming as popular above the Mason and Dixon line as below it. It is very typical to walk into a bar or cocktail lounge and find a line of juleps resting on their stone coasters (http://www.thirstycoasters.com/servlet/-strse-Garden-Accents/Categories).

Some term the Louisiana julep the last word in perfection, so if you have the feeling you haven't sampled a real julep, try the above. If you are still in doubt and are willing to go to some trouble, try the one below.

New Orleans Mint Julep

Put the glasses or the metal goblets in the refrigerator the night before you are to serve juleps. This is a high-powered julep so you'll need two large shots of Bourbon for every glass. It is also recommended to have absorbent coasters, http://www.thirstycoasters.com/servlet/-strse-Hope%20For%20The%20Cure/Categories, on hand since the frosty glasses will produce much condensation. A good host will not want the drink glasses dripping on their guests.

In the serving glass drop a layer of mint leaves, fill ¼ full with shaved or snowball ice, then one teaspoon of powdered sugar. Repeat until the glass is half full.

Add one shot of Bourbon. Repeat until the glass is full, the second shot of Bourbon being the last to go into the glass. Serve on a tray with a straw in each goblet so that the hand does not touch the container, which will be frosted white.

About the Author

Sarah Martin is a freelance marketing writer based out of San Diego, CA. She specializes in fine wines and dining. For an amazing selection of
sandstone coasters
and other accessories, please visit
http://www.thirstycoasters.com/index.html
.