The Anthropologie aprons look adorable on their website - but I've seen them in person at one of their stores, and the quality is unbelievably poor for the price. They're made from a flimsy cotton muslin that's almost transparent, the colors are watery and unsaturated, and there are stay threads all over the seams.

No one was more disappointed than me to learn this - I really wanted one last year and I'm so glad I decided to check them out in person before ordering online.

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These sound more like gifts for the homemaker.
Glasses, aprons, candle stick holders BAH! Where is the exotic chocolate, unique salts, recipe books, or something I'd want...
AO

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Here's my list of Gifts for Foodies. http://www.alli411.com

Flame Body Spray- $14 (includes shipping) This is hysterical: Burger King created a body fragrance that smells like burgers, or as they put it "flame broiled meat". For the man or woman in your life who loves burgers and has a sense of humor. This is a fun gift.

Bodum Pavina Tumblers-$19.90 for a set of 2
Love them! They are my favorite glasses. The tumblers are comfortable to hold in my hand and best of all, they are made of heat-resistant, scientific glass that can hold both hot and cold drinks. I hardly use my mugs anymore. They come in many shapes and sizes. The 12 oz. glass is under 5 inches tall. It looks like it holds a lot less liquid than it actually does. The glass is scratch resistant and can go in the microwave and dish washer. You can include some of your favorite tea or cocoa with the gift.

Fresh Oranges direct from Sequoia Orange Company-$30
Forget about expensive fruit baskets. These oranges are shipped straight from the grower, a much better deal. There are about approximately 35 oranges in 1/2 of a carton of fresh oranges. Most fruit companies charge the same for 9 pieces of fruit. You do the math. I love to arrange the fruit in a bowl and put it in my living room. It adds great color, smell and is a healthy snack.

Culture Magazine-$40
While in the Berkshires at Rubiners, one of my favorite cheese stores (that doesn't have a website), I discovered Culture, the new glossy cheese magazine that debuted this month. It is a fun gift for cheese lovers. It has a comprehensive list of cheese stores throughout the US.

Traditional Balsamic Vinegar of Modena aged over 30 years-$112
This vinegar is a real treat. It is so sweet and delicious. I know, $112 is a lot of money for a tiny bottle. If you look at it that way it is. On the other hand, you only need a small amount so it lasts about 6 months for me. Whenever I host parties, my guests ooh and aah over the salads partly because of this ingredient.

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