3 Best German Inspired Gifts Under $100 (2013)

This time of year is all about family and friends! I love it when I find the perfect gift for the people on my list and a lot of those people would be super excited about these great German gifts that I found/made. So here are my top pics for this year!

#1- Let's Get Cookin!


DIY German Cookie Mix in a Jar
Everyone loves to eat Oma's cookies and a great way to share them is by making a DIY cookie mix and put it in a decorative mason jar. Take a great oma cookie recipe and collect all the dry ingredients and put them into the jar. Then create quick instructions telling them how to bake the cookies and what wet ingredients they will need to add. Its a great personal gift that will only cost $5-$20 depending on the ingredients and how you decorate the jar! Here is a link for recipes for cookie mixes as well.

German Cook Book
If the do-it-yourself option isn't for you, a great cookie cookbook is another perfect option! I love the cookbook that the American Aid Society's Kindergruppe put together called "Was Gibt's zum Essen?". It's a fabulous collection of German and American recipes. They are $12 each and e-mail erikaneumayer@mac.com to get more details.

#2- Bag it up!

A Perfect Purse
A great way to complete your dirndl look is with a great purse. I love this suede 'Andrea' purse from Bavarian Specialities. It has subtle details with the piping and the edelweiss broach and is imported from Germany. It makes a great gift at $49.90 and is available in 3 colors






Classic Tote
From dance shoes to groceries, school books to toys, the Rare Dirndl Logo Tote is a great gift that is super versatile and one of my favorite new things. This classic canvas tote has the custom designed Rare Edelweiss logo screen printed on it and has already proved super useful for me and is only $10!








#3- Baby It's Cold Outside… Stay Warm!

Hats, and Scarves, and Warmth… OH MY! 
I don't know about other people, but during this crazy cold time of year… I've gotta have a warm scarf! I've got a favorite right now and so does by boyfriend. He loves the Swiss füssball scarf I bought for him last year and he highly recommends it! Whether it's Deutschland, or Die Schweiz, its a great buy for the man in your life. You can find them all for $20-$30 online.





Last but not least, I made this quick video to show you my top 5 Rare Dirndl items (all under $100)

BONUS!!!
So I can't end this blog without mentioning this book. The book by Elizabeth B. Walter is one of my favorite books. Having participated in the Kirchweih Fest for both the Karlsdorfer Verein and the American Aid Society, it is a tradition that should never be lost. This amazing book is tells the story of the celebration of Kirchweih from Banat to America. All the artwork was also done my "Tante Elsa". They are etchings! Its a very tedious process involving metal, acid, and a boat load of talent. I helped her with the page layout for the book, but I honestly LOVE love love this book. I have a copy on my bookshelf and am selling the book on my site for Tante Elsa. Click here to buy it or see more sneak peeks of the inside of the great story and fabulous artwork.

If you think any of this info would be helpful to your friends, I would be honored if you would send them to this blog post so they can get some fresh holiday ideas. I hope this helps you with your Christmas shopping for those crazy-fun Germans on your list. I know my list is full of them… and I love them all!! Merry Christmas to your family from ours!

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*Video* Designer to Baker? Let's See!

Sunday is the 2nd annual International Market and Wine Tasting and its the perfect time to get a jump start on your Holiday shopping and support small and local businesses! Vendors include Pampered Chef * Baubles & bags * Rare Dirndln * Thirty One Gifts* Homemade German Christmas Cookies * Tastefully Simple * Handmade Jewelry and 10+ more!

I volunteered to make some cookies for the event, however I'm not a very good baker nor do I know any German cookie recipes. So I contacted my good friend from mybestgermanrecipes.com and she told me about a great Hazelnut Macaroon recipe from her Christmas Cookie Cookbook. Check out this video to see how I did with sugar and eggs instead of fabric and thread!

For my first attempt making a christmas cookie, it wasn't too bad, but I didn't whip the eggs enough… they needed to be more firm. The best way is to use a hand mixer, but I don't have one. That way the batter will be thicker and then when you place them on the pan, they will turn out much better. I also baked them too long, so make sure you keep an eye on them after that 10min mark.

I had such a fun time baking and hopefully I will slowly but surely get better at the craft and be able to try more of the cookies from the cookbook! The Christmas Cookie Cookbook is only $4.99 and you'll be able to download it and try the recipes instantly! Just in time for the holidays!!!

Ever wonder what dirndl style you are? 
Take our dirndl quiz and find out! Simply type in your email here