Shops I Adore: The Crave

Crave: (v) to have an intense desire for something.

Yesterday was my bi-weekly shopping trip with Mom. My brother and I trade off taking her to buy groceries and whatever else she needs. Her soon to be 90 years may sound like we're following a little feeble lady with a shopping cart through Walmart, but our Mom is no little old lady.  She wisely decided about a year ago that she might kill somebody behind the wheel of her car because of her poor eyesight. She willingly gave up her license, which speaks volumes about her feisty razor-sharp mind.

Our normal shopping day consists of Sam's Club, Walmart, Target, etc., but whenever we want a true shopping experience, we try to hit one of the locally owned shops in the Greater Yuba-Sutter area. Yesterday we discovered a chic little gourmet shop on Bridge Street in Yuba City aptly named The Crave.

Owned by  George and Melinda Barlow, The Crave is a gourmet food and gift shop filled with a massive assortment of Olive oils, condiments, teas, and all manner of epicurean delights and gifts for the foodie in us all.

"Our mission is to make gift giving fun, easy and unique for every occasion. 

We want to satisfy your crave to give and make our little corner of the world 

a place where smiles are contagious."

If you're into olive oils, then The Crave is THE place to come.  I didn't count the number of 

olive oil makers, but I noted that many of them were from local 

Northern California growers. 

And YOU CAN TASTE every one of them on the spot. 

I loved their private label oil myself.

The shelves of The Crave were filled with other delights

 to enhance your cooking experience:

salts, mustard, jars of pickled stuff, jams, etc...

heart warming teas and teapots...

 

And a variety of gifts and treasures all to complete great gift baskets 

for a friend, family member or foodies...

George and Melinda have been open a year and 

I can't imagine why I never found this shop before.

 

Though I didn't see Ronnie in Walmart yesterday, 

our visit to The Crave was far more enjoyable...

if you live in the area, it's a must visit!! 

If you don't, they have online shopping in addition to this lovely storefront.

Mom and I will be back...and Walmart Ronnie will have to wait!

P.S. TO MY Facebook FRIENDS and FOODIES - THEY SHIP - go online to their website

The Crave

454 Bridge Street St.

Yuba City, CA 95991

(530) 790-0792

 (855) 854-3700

info@thecravegifts.com

www.the cravegifts.com

Laurel. Support Small Business!!

Last Minute Gift...

I am a procrastinator.  I think that I've mentioned that personality defect once or twice on my blog.  I think about doing things and for some reason, those thoughts slip back into my brain storage where I keep all the things that I intend to do...someday.

I think I am most famous (at least among my family and friends) for procrastination involving birthday presents. Our grandchildren might get their gift a month later than they should, all because Grandma put that task on her to-do list and it got stuck in that brain storage drawer. I'm also equally bad at picking up little hostess gifts beforehand when we have a soiree to attend.  Put those two together: event + gift, and my brain finally shifts into gear the day of the party.

"Gee, I shoulda got a _______ for her." Or "Oh no, I forgot to get them something!" Whatever the reason, my brain suddenly engages and I think about all the things I could have made for that person beforehand. However, when you are creative, 6 or 7 hours is enough time to make most anything. I'm not tooting my own horn here, I'm just saying that I will try anything...once...and Laurel works really good under pressure!

So, fast forward to yesterday and a friend was having a birthday dinner that evening.  No presents were expected but I got the brilliant idea of giving him a work of "art" for his mantle...at 6:00 a.m that morning.  He is a gifted contractor whom I had the privilege of working with a few years ago on a building project. So what contractor would not want a set of custom nails? (Probably none, but hey, it's going to be art!!) I needed to make 60 of them, one for each year of his life.

8:00 a.m - off to Lowe's and Michael's early to get the supplies...wasn't sure yet how I was going to make this little artwork, but just walking around Lowe's gave me a good start, then I finished up at Michael's.

The Raw Material: Paint, 16 Penny Nails, wood blocks, etc.

After making the wood base, I made a grid for the nail holes...

(still using those Excel skills from work)

I have to say that my skills with Dave's drill were rather lacking...what a pain!!

On to the fun part! Spray paint for the initial base of the hand-painted nails...

Took a seat at the kitchen table with my acrylic paints, brushes and voila! 

(well, not exactly that quickly...)

60 Custom Nails - Check!

Gives new meaning to the word "Nail Art", doesn't it Gayleen? (my manicurist friend)

One of a kind.

Laurel. 

No, I'm not going to make you one...