A Few of My Favorite Things – Gift Guide 2017

Kromers on noggins and planners that pop
Tom’s tasty steak rub and cool rural tops
A snowy white Christmas and all that it brings
These are a few of my favorite things

Should I keep going?

I could keep going.

But I am no Julie Andrews, or Weird Al. And I’ve run out of rhymes for all of my favorite things, so I’ll stop my feeble attempt at a parody and start telling you about them.

Plus, I have what I think is some pretty exciting news (exciting news like sales and special offers on almost all of my favorite things!) to share with you that just wouldn’t fit into the song – at least not with my skills. So, let’s just get right into it. 

A Few of My Favorite Things – Gift Guide 2017

Let me start by saying that in order to qualify as one of the few of my favorite things, items had to first pass rigorous testing by me. And as you may, or may not, know I am all about practical gift giving, so this list is equal parts practical and awesome. Because I also like awesome.

PS – this post does contain some affiliate links. For more on how we use affiliate linking here on FFB, please visit the Terms & Conditions, which you can do by clicking here.

Kromers on Noggins. 

Of all the Kromers to have ever graced my noggin, the Harris Tweed Button up is by far my favorite. From its stylishness to the way it perfectly hugs my head and keeps it warm, I love everything about that cap. Despite my love affair with this particular style, Stormy Kromer offers many other stylish, yet functional, caps for ladies, gents, and kids alike.

I’m also a huge fan of a little cap called The Snowdrift, It was brand new to the Stormy Kromer line-up last fall and has become my second favorite cap to have ever graced my noggin. In addition to its woolen exterior The Snowdrift is Thinsulate™-lined and features tie-up earflaps for warmth that is beyond compare. I literally don’t need a hood when I go out in this bad boy. 

Visit your local retailer, or go to Stormy Kromer online, if an American-made Stormy Kromer cap (or other apparel) sounds like the perfect gift for you or someone you know. 

Planners that Pop. 

So, I am something of a planner geek. I love planners and usually have at least two or three of them around at any one time. And that, my friend, is a bit strange considering my love-hate relationship with planning.

Anyhow…

In 2017, I discovered the wonderfulness that is the Heart of the Farm Planner Weekly + Monthly Planner. My planner had it all – pages for dreams and goals, monthly calendars, seasonal bucket lists, weekly dated calendar, monthly top priorities checklists, master task lists, monthly freezer inventory, weekly menu plan, a field meals planner, inspirational quotes, and gorgeous photography. See what I mean when I said “it all”?!?!

Or so I thought. 

The lovely Cory (brains behind Heart of the Farm) unveiled a brand new planner for 2018 – a Daily + Monthly Planner. This planner has time slots for 6 a.m. through 9 p.m. It has space for menu planning, gratitude, health, and praise plus prayer.

There’s a pocket to tie up all the loose ends, full month calendar view, beautiful full-color inspirational quotes and crowd sourced farm lifestyle photography (one from yours truly). This planner has a space for monthly dreams and goals and it lays flat thanks to its spiral binding. 

So you know what I did?

I got them both. Because I’m a non-planning planner geek and I just could not decide. And I’m not sad about my decision. In fact, I cannot wait for the New Year. If you are interested in the planner(s) that has it all, shop Heart of the Farm. 

Oh and did I mention, there are lots of other goodies at Heart of the Farm as well – goodies like super cool recipe binders, wooden spoons, pocket planners, and more!

Tom’s tasty steak rub. 

There are a couple of things you should know about my husband Tom. first – he loves the color pink and wears it proudly. Second, he makes one heckuva delicious steak rub!

He’s been making “The Rub” since 2005 (that’s pretty much as long as I’ve known him) and it’s been our favorite ever since. The unique blend of flavors just pair so beautifully with steak, burgers, eggs, potatoes, pork, popcorn, beer…  – and these are just the pairings we know about. Anyway…

A couple of years ago we started mass producing it for Christmas gifts. Our friends and family loved it so much that in the spring of this year, I had the harebrained idea to start mass producing it on a much larger scale and to make it available in Shop FFB. So if you’re looking for a delicious stocking stuffer, I know where to find one. 

Cool Rural Tops. 

My friend Brooke has an online shop full of cool rural tops – literally. The Beef Boutique has a wide selection of graphic tees with fun sayings like “Home is where the cows are,” “Burnin’ Daylight,” and “Cattle & Cardio” to name a few. One of my absolute favorite t-shirts came from The Beef Boutique that says, “Keepin’ It Rural” and I hope to have the “Burnin’ Daylight” tee real soon. Hint, hint – to those shopping for me. 😉

And the cool doesn’t stop with the tops.

Brooke also stocks her shops with beautiful jewelry, bags, hats, jeans, greeting cards and more. And I happen to know that you can get any item your heart desires from The Beef Boutique at a discount from now through Monday. 

ABC’s on the Ranch

ABC’s on the Ranch is a children’s book written by my friend (and neighbor) Michelle. This fun little book takes kids right to the ranch while teaching them the ABCs. All of the photography came straight from real-life working ranches. In fact, you might recognize the little cowboy on the cover.

ABC’s on the Ranch is toddler, pre-schooler, and first-grader approve, i.e. it is a favorite among my brood. If you’re looking for a fun book full of awesome photography and sprinkled with creativity for your kids – I highly recommend stuffing their stockings with ABC’s on the Ranch this Christmas!

Awesomely Honest Hats

Brought back by Tayler Teichert, these awesomely honest embroidered trucker hats are the resurrection of the old classic. 

I refer to them as “awesomely honest” hats – even when I am wearing one. Not because I think I am all that and a bag of chips (is that even a phrase anymore?), but because it is absolutely 100% truth. Beef does build beautiful bodies. It’s pretty much the tastiest super food ever – just sayin’.

This year we’ve add a new style to the line-up. Now we have Beef Builds Beautiful Bodies Patch Hats in addition to the embroidered Beef Builds Beautiful Bodies Trucker Hats. And they’re pretty awesome! If you need that kind of awesome honesty in your life and atop you head…

When the tree lights
When the caroler sings
When you shop with dad
Simply remember my favorite things
And Christmas shopping won’t be so bad

Okay, I promise I’m done this time. But seriously, if you are at a loss what to get those on your shopping list this Christmas come back to my favorite things gift guide because there is literally something for everyone.

A Few of My Favorite Things – Gift Guide 2017