Well, do you?

There’s nothing like a good cookie and Marisa Angebrandt,  President and co/owner of WannaHavaCookie is literally “baking” on that idea.
Remember  Woopie Pies?  Updated and delicious, Angebrandt’s Woopie Pies are offering a new taste on an old favorite cooked up by the resident baker herself.

Launched in April, 2008 along side her husband Mark, this team is baking and marketing Woopie Pies in chocolate, red velvet and lemon flavors.

Partners in Cookies

I met the couple in New York City at the “Let’s Eat” Media event where I had a chance to sample the Whoopie Pies and they are good!   Lucky for consumers, The Whoopie Pies are sold individually and in a trio set  or by the dozen.  This makes it easy to treat yourself  (one at a time) or purchase a gift  package and deliver an “old favorite” snack to someone.  Angebranndt promises The WannaHavaCookie company will ship your order “faster than you can say, WannaHavaCookie”  “We bake and ship within 24 hours”, she said.

“These recipes have been crafted from my love of simple flavors and fun combination’s,”  Marisa said.  The baker, who remembers childhood treats of homemade pies, bars, cookies and cakes, developed a knack for baking her own treats so she and her helper husband decided to “go to market”.  “It’s a labor of love,”  she says about the treats she first started handing out as gifts.

Marisa & her Whoopie Pies at the Let's Eat Media Event

Asked about the unique name, Marisa says she and her husband stumbled upon it because it’s exactly what they want to say to everyone:

Do you want to have a cookie?”

The tradition chocolate cookie has vanilla, peanut butter, mint or chocolate buttercream filling, while the vanilla cookies are available with chocolate or mint filling and the best selling “red velvet” is delightful with vanilla or raspberry cream buttercream.  Altogether there are four flavors of cookies with six different flavors of buttercream.

Whoopie Pies

“It surprises me that a lot of people don’t know what a Whoopie Pie is”, Angebrandt said, but the buzz is ramping up with with recent opening of their first retail store this month at the Limelight Marketplace in New York City.

While the Whoopie Pie is a popular specialty, WannaHavaCookie offers traditional chocolate chip cookies, toffemills cookies and a Linzer Torte bar.  The cookies have a 7-10 day shelf life and are made with all natural ingredients and no preservatives.

Whoopie Pies can be purchased online at www.wannahavacookie.com and you can check up on their latest news on their blog at www.wannahavacookie.com/blog.

I guess the only question that remains is:  Wannahavacookie?

Then you know where to go.  Www.wannahavacookie.com.

A simple question deserves a simple answer so here it is:

Order a Prosperity Cake from a line of cake products called Full Spirited Flavours, owned and operated by a trio of self described “high spirited ladies.”

Sisters Kathy, Carole and Sue

Sisters Sue Katein (whose recipes rock), Kathy Lanyon and Carole Algier,  (the sister that designed the trademark prosperity tree), admittedly, “reinvented ourselves after the economy slowed” but really wanting to do something together, combined their love for baking with their love for one another and introduced their line of  “Prosperity Cakes.”

So if you  answered yes to the  “good cake” question then Full Circle Flavors, LLC, at www.fullcircleflavors.com is the place where this group of sisters  have taken good to the next level with the creation of sensational tasting cakes.

I’ve tasted and I’m convinced.  These cakes are pure indulgence of the best kind!   I met the sisters at a recent Let’s Eat Media event in NYC.  They had come  from the Philadelphia area  where they live and run their business in Phoenixville to introduce Prosperity Cakes to the New York market.

These three sisters, all admittedly in their 50’s, rallied together to start the business they’ve always dreamed they would start because of their love of cooking.  “We always said someday, but its interesting how the economy takes you forced through the door.”

The Prosperity Cake line includes the popular signature Amaretto Cake which is a buttery yellow cake made with Amaretto and  yummy chocolate chunks, then topped off with an Amaretto glaze.  I give this one an A+.

But if you prefer lemon, then you’ll want to try the Prosperity Limoncello Cake made with Limoncello liqueur, white chocolate chunks and the Limoncello glaze. (I give this one an A+ too)

Limoncello Cake

Making you hungry yet?

If you’re a chocolate lover, the sisters have added the scrumptious Prosperity Chocolate Razz Cake, made with imported raspberry liqueur and topped with white chocolate raspberry genache. (sounds good, but I didn’t try this one.  It gets an A+ just based on the other two)

The labor intense cakes, that the ladies are quick to point out are not pound cakes, are made by a chosen and trusted International Pastry Chef.  ” If we were 35 we’d be making them, because we’re in our late 50’s, in order to make this become something where it can grow, we have to take everything  we’ve learned through our careers and be smart business ladies.”

You can’t go wrong with these cakes.  Their unrefrigerated shelf life is 4  months or they can be easily frozen for later.  Asked how the cakes can stay fresh for so long the sisters offered, “It’s the liqueur.  It’s a fabulous preservative.”

You MUST purchase one of these deliciously moist cakes, take my word for it.  This time KathyDowDiscovers has hit  the jackpot with www.fullcircleflavors.com.

Prosperity Cakes

“When you’re in your 50’s, you’re not afraid,” said Carole referring to the new leap of faith that launched their cake business in 2009 and has seen Prosperity Cakes featured as the Snack of the Day on The Rachel Ray Show and in the Sundance Film Festival gift lounge, as well as their local television.

These best friend sisters have the full support of their best friend husbands whom they have tagged as the “J Team” because their names all begin with a J.  The hubby’s stand behind them in this second life, full circle endeavor. “We’re very fortunate, they’re behind us 150%.”

“Cooking was something we all did as children, our entire lives centered around cooking and catering,” Sue said.  The sisters call themselves the “Matriarchs” of their family and have two other sisters, two brothers, 3 kids and one cat between them.

A great gift giving idea, the cakes are packaged in matching polka dot boxes and shipped fresh to your door.  Carole is the expert on the packaging.  “We branded ourselves by matching the box color to the cake flavor color” she explained.

Cakes are available in two sizes, a $30 large size which yields 10-12 slices, or you can treat  yourself with the  small $10 cake.  A lot of sales come from corporate accounts. “We got a call from  a customer who received a cake from his client.  He called and ordered 4 more after receiving the gift.   He said it was the only gift  that stood out.”

Currently selling in seven locations throughout Pennsylvania  and with high internet orders, the company bakes about 400 cakes per month and have a new Mango Coconut Rum Cake slated to come out this summer.

Between  the sisters, owners and creators of Full Circle Flavors, LLC, they have a world of business experience.  Although there’s been one snag with the name of the company, (which they found out was already trademarked), these sisters are on the road to success.

Calling themselves “pay it forward girls” the trio looks forward to providing jobs and initiating a campaign to donate to local food shelters.  “You give back what you get,” Sue said adding that they only hire local help in an effort to help their economy.

If you’ve got cake on your mind, this is the one to try.  It’s Full Circle Flavors, LLC with a product line called Full Spirited Flavors.  Just remember it’s the circle of sisterly love, producing the spirited flavors of delicious cakes!

You’ll be pleasantly surprised that these sisters, who have come full circle in life now doing what they love to do, are really good at it.

Walking around the  New York Marriott Marquis ballroom, where nearly 50 companies and small businesses  were promoting new food items, was enough to wreck my diet for the day.

I didn’t get a chance to talk to everyone but over the next few days I’ll tell you about a few of the ones I did chat with and sampled their goods.  YUMMY!

Look for a “Spotlight” interview with three sisters who started a company called Full Circle Flavors, LLC and learn of their story of reinventing themselves and creating “cakes” out of this world!

Mama Says

Which cook are you? A new cook, a tired cook, or a cook that just wants a new idea?  The Mama Says “No more Frozen Pizza” recipe collection has tasty alternatives to take out.

Created by two Atlanta moms, Lynn Epstein and Iris Feinberg, the collection of two dozen budget friendly and easy to make dishes came right out of their own kitchens.  “It’s personal recipes from two families,” Epstein said.

Creators of Mama Says

Featuring main course recipes along with sides and salads, the laminated recipe cards come cleverly disguised in what else?  A pizza box! The picture of a completed dish on one side and the detailed instructions on the other are surefire roadmaps to a successful meal.

Recipe card with picture

Lynn says her son was always calling home asking, “what to cook and how to cook it”.  “The traditional recipe books I sent him were to complicated,” she says.  “He wanted easy to follow directions and needed to see what the dish was supposed to look like too.”

The Mama Says recipe collection evolved.  “We saw a need for a new kind of cookbook for a whole generation of recent college grads or students,” Lynn said.

The recipes are designed to encourage healthy eating and cooking.  For the beginner cook, stocking up on basic staples will get them through a lot of the dishes as the same ingredients are intentionally used.

“Sure it’s easy to order a pizza”, Lynn says, “but what’s better than recipes, tried and true that  come right out of our own kitchens?”

This is one box that really delivers and it makes a perfect gift for the new cook.  Available online at www.MamaSays.com and at a handful of retail stores, the collection is less than $20.

That’s a small tab for a great dinner!  Next time you want to reach for the pizza box, reach for the one that has recipes and not calories!

KathyDowDiscovers has a free giveaway of the Mama Says recipes.  Subscribe to Kathy’s List for a chance to win.

This will be one of those “why didn’t I think of that” moment for a lot of us.

Mommy Jana Brinkhaus and her husband Chris of Massachusetts  created their new spin on a baby bib in 2007 and named it the “myBibzy”  with the intention of offering protection from wetness without the inconvenience of a bib.

What it is, is simply a baby bodysuit with a built in bib!

myBibzy

Baby bibs come with baby clothes at baby showers  like it’s a given that one goes with the other and if you’ve done loads of laundry of tiny clothes with wet or stained necklines then you too get the picture of “myBibzy.”

MyBibzy  is made from 100% cotton and the bib consists of two types of materials.  The outer layer is a cotton knit terry that catches the drools and prevents the wetness from sliding down the front of baby or saturating baby’s top.  Then there’s the waterproof inner layer, which is 25% polyester, 75% vinyl and this keeps baby dry.

Teething babies drool, bottles sometimes leak and there’s the occasional spit up:  “myBibzy” to the rescue!  The terrycloth front dries and the wetness is caught in the inner layer, keeping baby dry.  Sweet!

The myBibzy is made in the USA and is 100% child safe, meeting all material safety standards for use in children’s apparel.  It has both neck and bottom snaps, and a tagless label in the back of the neck for added baby comfort.

Neck and bottom snaps

There are lots of different color options including the standard blue or pink, short or long sleeve, that make this the perfect baby shower gift.  There’s even an organic baby mybibzy!

While the whole idea of a built in bib is just a novel idea (and again, too bad we didn’t think of it) what makes this an even better creation is a personal story that goes along with it.

Jana shared with me that her beautiful baby girl was diagnosed with Type One Diabetes and in an effort to help all children and adults with this disease, the Brinkhaus’ are donating 25% of their profits from the sale of myBibzy to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation in hopes of finding a cure.

That story right there – makes one of these right here  – something that should be on your list next time you shop for baby.

myBibzy

You can purchase the myBibzy on the website at www.mybibzy.com or contact them at info@myBibzy.com for further information.

Put one on your gift list or buy one for your own baby and slow the flow of your laundry!

I had a chance to meet artist, designer and manufacturer Scott Wilson at one of New York’s Media Events for New Products last year and was so touched by his genuineness and his line of inspirational shirts.

Scott Wilson

Although he has been in the clothing business for a long time, it was his empathy for a family friend who had lost a child that led him to create the clothing line that he says “inspires from the inside-out.”

After the death of his friend’s daughter, Scott designed a shirt that had a picture of the young lady on the inside above the heart.  This way he felt that his friend would have his daughter close especially when he wore the shirt.

What a lovely idea!

So many people suffer silently on the inside but try and appear strong on the outside.  I love the idea of having a lost loved one’s picture near your heart, yet no one knows but you.  It’s your own  personal tribute and can give you comfort and strength at the same time.

From this idea came the expansion of his line of fashions to include shirts with themes that encourage a positive attitude through Faith, Inspiration, Wisdom and Love.  Scott wants the wearers of his shirt to be reminded that,    ” Wherever we go, good things come from the heart”.

Love Theme Shirts

I particularly love the friendship shirt that says,  “We all need someone to believe in, trust and be there.  I will be that person.”  Can you imagine giving that shirt to someone special?  That person will feel your spirit whenever she wears the shirt.

Then there’s the  inspirational shirt that will help one realize their own potential and work towards goals and aspirations.  That shirt says, “Open my mind’s eye.  Visualize the thing you want.  I will see it, feel it, believe it.”

Message on side panel of gift box

The shirts, made in the USA,  come in women sizes either long sleeve or short sleeve fitted styles;  nine different colors and each shirt individually packaged in its own inspiring, coordinated box.  When you purchase a shirt from either the Love, Faith, Inspiration or Wisdom line, (each theme has several messages for you to choose from) the shirt is folded inside out with the message showing through the top of the box.

Shirt prices are approximately $30 for the short-sleeve or $36 for the long-sleeve and can be purchased in exclusive boutiques or online at www.heartthreadsclothing.com.

I can’t think of a better gift to give a special someone  than a daily reminder to keep hope alive; stay positive, foster love or be encouraged.

What’s next to your heart everyday?  Why not let it be a message of wisdom, inspiration, love or faith?

Shop HeartThreads and leave a message on someones heart or carry your own reminder close, where no one sees it but you.  After all, what you say from your heart is what’s important, isn’t it?

We bundle our baby, add a blanket and a wind shield to the stroller and tuck them inside to protect them from the elements of winter before heading out, right?

But what about Mommy?  What happens if she forgets her gloves?  She still has to push the stroller.  It’s even worse, if she had gloves with her but lost them during all the baby shuffling while shopping.

What to do, what to do?  Here’s the answer:  The Mommy Mitten!

It was during a chilly October walk in 2007 that a young entrepreneur mom, Amy Saperstein of New York City,   had a novel idea.  While it was early fall, it was chilly enough for Amy’s hands to get a little cold.  That’s when she got the idea for the  Mommy Mitten!

Amy and the Mommy Mitten

This easy to use, dandy little add on to your stroller,  is fleece lined and will keep your hands toasty while pushing the stroller. The Mommy Mitten is insulated, water resistant and machine washable. It velcros right on to the stroller handle and comes in either blue or pink.

Easily connects to stroller handle

I met Amy when she debuted her Mommy Mitten in New York at The Baby Show last year.  Below her girlfriend Kelly gives me a demonstration showing how chic all mommies can look using the Mommy Mitten.  A really cute idea isn’t it?  And no more cold hands!  That’s what I love about Amy’s invention.

Mommy Mitten Demonstration

There’s an external pocket for your keys, cell phone or pacifier which makes a quick run to the bodega or out for coffee much easier and this time you don’t have to worry about gloves!

A contestant in the “Most Innovative” category of the 2009 Home Based 100 contest by Start Up Nations, The Mommy Mitten is now available on Babies R Us Online.

If there are babies in your life, there’s still plenty of winter to get good use out of a Mommy Mitten.  Buy one for yourself or do another mommy a favor!  Mommy Mittens retail for $29.99.

You can visit Amy’s website, www.mommymitten.com for more information or to place an online order.

The Mommy Mitten, why didn’t I think of that?  Congratulations Amy, first time entrepreneur and you hit a home run with this idea.

For a Christmas gift for my husband I decided I’d get her to paint a portrait of our family pet, a 7 year old Labradoodle named Apollo.  All I had to do was send Vjera a jpeg file picture and within a week she had it ready.  Usually she’ll mail it, but she was doing a craft fair nearby so I drove over to pick it up and to see her again.  She’s a lovely person.

Here’s  Vjera at a street fair with some of her pet rock portraits.  She also paints on wood.  The rocks have a piece of felt glued on the back so it won’t scratch your furniture.  What a family keepsake!

Artist

Here’s the jpeg file of Apollo:

Adorable isn't he?

And here’s her work:

Apollo

My husband LOVED IT.  He took it to work with him and now Apollo sits on his desk and  I’m sure it’ll be a conversation piece.  People LOVE their animals.

Vjera’s work is very good and it was a great personalized gift that didn’t cost that much but meant a lot.  My husband says she really “captured Apollo’s spirit.”

She prefers not to do “people portraits” but does do homes and other animals in addition to some other work.  Check her out!

Vjera Thoma at valpovo@aol.com.

Pet Portrait of my dog, Apollo

Sipatiniz creator, Renee Williams

The Sipatiniz, pronounced Sip a TEE neeze,  is a martini glass that offers a spill proof solution yet maintains the class of the iconic martini glass.

This is the glass we’ve been waiting for!

Sipatiniz's

The creation’s design is simple:  a lip on the outside rim that keeps your glass filled to the brim but no more spills as you navigate your way from the bar back to your friends.

Why didn’t you think of that you ask?  I’m asking myself the same thing as I have flashbacks of martini, appletini and cosmo spills and near spills.  This ingenious glass solves that problem.

The curved rim allows allows just enough room for a straw and classic martini garnish around the rim while maintaining the class and style of the traditional martini glass with the long stem.

Sipatiniz glass with straw and garnish

During a conversation with Renee, a full time information technology industry employee, she shared her motivation for inventing Sipatiniz.  “I view ordinary things with a twist,” she said and I noticed the popularity of the glass but saw the problem of the spill.”

This simple but unique twist on the existing martini glass was enough to propel the Texas CEO/Designer into the spotlight where she emerged as the winner of the 2009 ” The Next Big Thing” contest,  a national search for the best new products by the  Dallas Market Center.

“Winning that was a tremendous opportunity,” said Williams who never thought she’d be a finalist in the contest much less the winner.  It just goes to show that a creative eye and a little determination can go a long way.

The glasses which sell for about $18 each can be purchased on her website at www.sipatiniz.com and is available through her Rowlett, Texas company Fabulous Touch Gifts.

Speaking of gifts…THIS is the gift for the martini drinker or non drinker (it can hold a non alcoholic drink too) on your list.  Get the gift they don’t have but would love:  Sipatiniz!

A Dallas, Texas entrepreneur has created a neat way to keep just the right amount of aspirin handy in case you need it.   It’s the Aspirinpod!

Aspirinpod

Patti Frenette, the inventor of Aspirinpod,  developed the product after her her mother passed away from a pre-existing medical condition and  her brother suffered a heart attack.  Believing that she could help people she set out on her mission to invent the Aspirinpod.

Patti Frenette and the Aspirinpod

The Aspirinpod is a small molded-plastic container  that holds one uncoated 325 mg aspirin or four uncoated 81 mg aspirin.  That’s the critical amount of pain reliever that has been shown to increase the survivial of a heart attack if taken immediately at the onset of symptoms.

This tiny pod holds a gift of love that you can give your family to help keep them prepared should heart attack symptoms develop.  It can be attached to  a key chain,  your purse, golfbag, or even kept in your desk drawer or glove compartment.

The gift that saves

With holiday gift giving upon us and the economy creating a more cautious shopping atmosphere here’s something unique, affordable and it shows just how much you care.

Ever hear “It’s the small things that matter?”   Then this miniature heart  is something you shouldn’t be caught without.  Aspirinpod!    Imagine the scenario:  someone suffers heart attack symptoms  and there’s an aspirinpod handy.  The likelihood of decreasing heart damage is at your fingertips.  Thanks Patti!  You’re a lifesaver.

The  heart shaped pod sells for $2.99 and can be purchased online at www.aspirinpod.com.  It’s the “must give” gift of the season.  Do your loved one a favor – gift them with an Aspirinpod.

Get it for the holidays!