Christmas Stock-ings

Austin won't be the only one getting presents, Jakey has a list that he is checking twice, hoping that him being little naughty (with a big tall Texan) and nice, will let him get his stocking stuffed.

Jake's love for cooking, gives cook books a permanent on the gift list. Mark Bittman's The Food Matters Cookbook has more than 500 recipes toward great dishes filled with vegetables, nuts, whole grains, and beans.

And it's not just what you eat to be eco-conscious but what you cook with too. How about spoons and spatulas made from recycled plastic water bottles. The chartreuse utensils are light but sturdy and dishwasher safe, and can be used at temperatures up to 425 degrees F.

Gardening and growing his own food has been a passion and how can you not have passion with bon-bons. Garden Bon-Bons that is. They're made of clay, compost, and herb seeds. Just plant when the ground thaws and they'll grow into basil, parsley, chives, and thyme.


Instead of cooking up a Ipad how about turning it into an Etch-a-Sketch. Well to look like one with an Etch-a-Sketch Ipad case. And talk about a fake out for paps. The rags would have a field day with being seen shopping in a FAO Schwartz and now carrying around an Etch-A-Sketch.




Wandering through the forest calling "here biggy, biggy, biggy" is not the best way to find Bigfoot. (well then again... maybe it could be just not in the forest) But Archie McPhee's says it is a tin of root beer flavored Bigfoot Mints because Bigfoot loves root beer. And they claim that sprinkling around the campsite and will have you roasting marshmallows with the big guy by nightfall! And then what would you drink with a Sasquatch? Sasquatch Seltzer.

Hairy not scary. Now before beards go biblical they can be rough and irritating. How about some all natural beard oil to soften it up. And Jake can be the dude with Dude No. 1?

Jake has shown his love for The Sox, Pats, and yes Celtics, (ok.. and the Lakers). Now he might not wear underwear all the time but socks are a different story and he can still be a fan even in LA.

Take a grandpa sweater, a zippy hoodie, plaid shirt, and elbow patches and what do you get? This. The answer to all Jake's fashion dilemmas and works out driving the family truckster.


You can't love Broadway and musicals and not love Stephen Sondheim. Finishing the Hat—titled after perhaps his most autobiographical song, from Sunday in the Park with George—Sondheim has not only collected his lyrics for the first time, he is giving readers a rare personal look into his life as well as his remarkable productions. The book has the lyrics for all of his musicals from 1954 to 1981—including West Side Story, Company, Follies, A Little Night Music and Sweeney Todd, as well never-before-published songs from each show, songs that were cut or discarded before seeing the light of day. He writes about working with his mentor, Oscar Hammerstein II, and his collaborations with Leonard Bernstein, Arthur Laurents, Ethel Merman, Richard Rodgers, Angela Lansbury, and Harold Prince.

Jake knows all about geese a'laying and how could he turn down some from his favorite Goose?


Another year another coffee maker, maybe this one will do the trick and keep Black Coffee in Bed instead. It makes a cappuccino, cafe’ mocha, latte, or a latte’ macchiato, all with the touch of just one button. And it's programmable and let you personalize your coffee size, strength, and temperature. Maple and sprinkles not include.

Now real deal sweets. Jake is a connoisseur of the Black & White cookie, but why not celebrate with something a little more grown up like a Black & White Torte from Zabars. And it works with bagels and lox, Christmas dinner or a little late night holiday Goose.