Unique pet photography keepsakes, fun family games, more great gift ideas and even a healthy snack to help you fuel your shopping trip – it's all here in this week's edition of OnMilwaukee.com Recommends.
Oloves – People are three ways when it comes to snacking. They are savory munchers, sweet nibblers or, like me, the deadly combo of a savory/sweet chomper. For those into savory/salty or looking for a new idea to bite on when your growling stomach demands a tasty morsel, I can't urge you enough to try Oloves, "The Healthy Olive Snack." Packaged in single serving, 40-50 calorie pouches, these tasty treats are fantastic alone, thrown on top of a salad, chopped up and used to marinate poultry or plopped into a martini shaken so hard there are ice chips floating on top. Well, that last idea may not be the healthiest, but with the flavors that Oloves sent me – "Tasty Mediterranean" and "Light Hearted Vinagrette" – it sure was delicious. Oloves are also the perfect gift idea for the foodies in your life. Order them online. – Lindsay Garric
Local gifts for pet lovers – Currently, I do not have a pet, but I did for most of my adult life and am no stranger to how deeply these furry four-leggers burrow into our lives. Hence, giving a pet keepsake to yourself or another animal amigo is a warm, fuzzy gift idea. Consider a photo shoot with pet photographer Stephanie Bartz, and then local jeweler Sarah Mann will customize one of the images into a pet photo ring or photo pendant with a patina finish. The prices range from $45 to $50 for silver plated or $120 for sterling. You can also have pieces of jewelry made with images of your children or family members taken during one of Bartz’s shoots. But order soon; turn-around time is two to three weeks. Also, every Saturday in December, Black Sheep Photography, 801 E. Center St., is offering a 15-minute holiday pet photo shoot for $20. Photos will be put on a CD and will be available for pick-up within three days. Walk-ins are welcome from 3 to 9 p.m. or by appointment from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Call (414) 339-0465 for more information. I hate to get macabre during this shiny and twinkly time of year, but someone might really appreciate having one of these at the end of the ninth life. – Molly Snyder
Morphology – Perfect for the board game lover, friend-with-kids or kid-at-heart on your holiday gift list, Morphology makes for a great gift if you're still looking for something affordable and fun. Similar to Cranium but without the trivia, players take turns "sculpting" and guessing clues made from string and other pieces included in the box. It's easy to learn and play, and would work well for both family game nights and parties with friends. Consider substituting in your own string to help during game play, but otherwise this gift is good to go. – Renee Lorenz
