I have a matching set with a sugar bowl and creamer that only gets taken out over the holidays. Holiday dinners seem to be bigger productions than the average dinner party or gathering, so I admit that I feel obligated to end up the meal by presenting coffee or tea a little bit more formally than I would otherwise. If I had a sugar dispenser that looked like this one, however, I wouldn't just be saving it for "special occasions." Called Life Of The Snowman, this little container is filled with snowy white sugar that, as it is poured out, leaves the impression that the snowman is melting away. Come to think of it, that sounds a bit depressing for the holidays - but the overall effect is actually a good one. The snowman would also look great filled with colored sugar, which could be used for decorating cookies.

When the holiday season comes around, I find myself pulling out plates with snowmen and little colored lights, as well as variously shaped cookie cutters and a few other choice holiday pieces. I don't usually intend to let the holiday spirit bleed into my regular cookware collection, however. After all, a spatula is a spatula is a spatula - right? Well, that may be true, but the snowman and snowflake spatulas that Williams-Sonoma is offering this year are pretty tempting. They have nylon heads that are heat resistant to 400°F, stainless steel handles and are dishwasher safe - just like my standard spatulas, but with the added bonus of an adorable design on each. A snowman and snowflake seem like seasonal icons that could be enjoyed all winter, as well as for much of fall and spring, without seeming inappropriate, so it might not be a bad idea to tuck these into someone's stocking this year. I know I wouldn't complain if I saw one.