Mangoes and Thank You's

Recommendation letters: Students often need them for graduate school and I am usually happy to help them out. I have written who knows how many, but getting a thank you is rare, and I definitely remember those. Sometimes students will write a thank you email. Sometimes, pretty rarely, a handwritten card.

Two students have given me chocolate--great idea, fortunately Godiva and some amazing South American chocolate. One student made a gift mug with candy and mini office supplies and a Starbucks gift card. Another student who was heading to environmental architecture programs gave me a mug that you can write chalk messages on with some mini spa products-- lovely!

Okay, so apparently, upon reflection, I have received a ton of thank you's! And I have, and they are deeply appreciated and remembered as you can see. I'd estimate maybe one in ten students goes that extra mile for a thank you, and as you can see, they stand out, and I suspect they will have outstanding careers as they are so savvy this early on! The thank you gifts are always a surprise.

This summer, a student heading to an engineering program emailed to track me down and said he wanted to give me some mangoes to say thank you for a rec. letter. He said the mangoes were from a tree in his yard and said how sweet they were. I was excited; as a South Floridian, I know that fresh mangoes in season direct from a tree are a true treat! However, when he brought the bag to me, I was even more shocked. The mangoes were so beautiful. The fact that he went out of his way to bring the mangoes was very overwhelming to me and then he was standing there, showing me this dozen or so beautiful mangoes-- and telling me how good they were.

After hearing all this and tasting the delicious mangoes, Mr. Wonderful said, okay, my wife will write recommendation letters for mangoes... They were the sweetest and juiciest mangoes, and once they were finished, I unabashedly took the student up on his offer for more. He so kindly brought another bag, and this time, we decided that these mangoes should continue.

I just planted a seed and we have two left-- will definitely be planting those too... not that we have space for a mango tree, but you never know. Will keep you posted on the mango seed progress...They are supposed to be beautiful houseplants. :)

Any special thank you's that stand out for you?

Have a blissful day!

xo xo,
Miss Bliss

image 1 and 2, ours-- THE mangoes!
image 3 source: here

Three MORE good things...

My heart leaps with joy when I see these blue and gold bags of deliciousness: Ghirardelli coffee--chocolate caramel has been my current favorite the last few days. You can face almost anything with a fresh cup of Ghirardelli chocolate caramel coffee in your hand.

Dr. Hauschka's Toned Day Cream is my latest find in the skin/makeup department. I tried it on a recent visit to my South Beach Whole Foods--love that you can sample before committing--and found that it was a must have! It's a nice moisturizing base with color-- I put it on and felt great! Mr. Wonderful said that it "does my face some justice"... and he hates makeup.

I loved the instant color-glow and knowing it's doing something good for my skin, too. Thanks, Dr. Hauschka! We love the lip balm too--one of the only ways to survive if you are in Colorado dryness. I think the $40 or so isn't too bad because it should last a while. (the lip balm is about 15 and totally worth it!)

Finally, if you are fighting a cold/flu or just want some spa therapy, Aura Cacia Eucalyptus is a go-to! I've been adding it to my shower and letting the tub fill--I read somewhere to put it in the corners of your shower. I put it on the shower head and window, and suddenly, EUCALYPTUS THERAPY!

How have you been adding bliss to your daily life lately?

xoxo

-Miss Bliss

pics: google images

Surprise: Sock Monkey Ornament!

Today Mr. Wonderful and I checked our mail, and found a delightful surprise--my mom sent us a sock monkey ornament! It is our third holiday season together as a married couple...wow time flies. I am so excited about our latest ornament... we were both so surprised and it is so cute! Sock monkeys were big at one point in our family with my younger sisters, so it's more than cute--- it even has sentimental value...

Sock monkeys would make a great holiday gift for kids, and they are so fun to make. On the sock monkey subject, did you see this...? It was in a Food Network Cake Challenge--- the sock monkey cake with sparklers... so funny!

Do you have a special ornament?

I Heart Hearts

isn't this the cutest? i can't get enough hearts...

update: hallelujah, I found the link: here.

Some niceties from Sur La Table

How lovely is this pink rubber covered toaster? No more fingerprints!

Cute eye rescue!

Here's a bright way to pour your beverages...

and a little something sweet: French sugar sticks...ooh la la

I have really loved Mr. Wonderful's introducing me to the French Press

And how cute is this espresso machine???

This one would be a nice one for the office

and for your happy hour...lovely little vino glasses

and last but not least, dessert! You can use your chocolate breaking fork
to do some serious deconstruction...

What would make your life a little sweeter?

images from sur la table

Chocolate Gift, check, Shoe Gift, check, and Coffee Gift, check : Hint Hint, Great Present Ideas!!!

Our three favorite topics make the perfect gift...

Chocolate comes in any size and fits all occasions... holidays, birthdays, just because days. One of our absolute favorites, Chocolove, made in Boulder, CO, has an adorable new size, perfect for little presents.

My friend Mo will tell you her shoe size is 7, even if she is not sure who you are when you text her a pic of a fabulous shoe find. Shoes are a perfect gift: they come boxed and wrapped in tissue paper. You can always offer a present perfect for the season, to add to your giftee's shoe wardrobe.

Mo's husband, in an admirable accomplishment, built her adequate shelving for her shoe collection. Can we have a picture, Mo?

Finally, coffee is the perfect gift because you can never have enough, just like shoes and chocolate. When our friends gave us the most fabulous Christmas gift ever, it included lots of coffee, chocolate, and books. It was the perfect package to come home to after a road trip, making home feel homier again and less like a truck stop with all our suitcases and road weary selves.

It soothed our souls, knowing the house was stocked once again with fresh choices in coffee and gourmet chocolate, not to mention books picked just for us. We could curl up with a blanket, a book, and a hot cup of java, or hot chocolate from our bounty.

With the love of your life, amazing friends, bubble baths, and presents like this, what else do you need?

chocolate and salt for the traveling soul

Does it get any better???

If you are in Boulder, Colorado, I suggest Belvedere's chocolate for their dark chocolate with a little caramel and rock salt on top. Your life is filled with flowers and song. At least if you take it with you up into the canyon... Belvedere also has cute little chocolate frogs and even chocolate cell phones.

If you are in or near St. Augustine, FL, go to Claude's. Claude also has a masterpiece of chocolate, caramel, and salt. We gave sampler boxes from Claude's to our wedding guests...no one complained.

Further north, in Jacksonville, FL, a place called Peterbrooke's dips all sorts of amazing salty stuff into their fine sweet blend of chocolate. Dark chocolate popcorn. Chocolate dipped Pringles chips. Chocolate covered rice krispie treat bars. Little chocolate race cars and butterflies.

Yes, I could survive on three square chocolate meals per day. And I do not mean a chocolate slim fast shake. Ha!