Gift Guide: Boys Rule

 by stylescout1 on Polyvore

1. Patagonia Boys Down Sweater
2. Automoblox Cars
3. Zara Boys Hi-tops
4. One 10 Vintage Wayne Gretzky Tee
5. Mini Kick Scooters

Gift Guide: All things Girly

Gift Guide: For little girls by stylescout1 on Polyvore

1. Silver Service Tutu by Tutu Du Monde
2. Shop Belle Necklace
3. Jess Brown Doll
4. Personalized beaded beaded bracelet
5. Baby Bloch shoes 

Gift Guide: Just for girls (under $40!)

If you have multiple sisters, friends, or relatives to shop for this year, you may want to find some great gifts that won't break the bank.  I have come up with a fun round-up of gifts all under $40!

FOR THE GIRLY GIRL: I purchased this set for myself (while shopping for others) and I love all 3 colors! One dark, one very vibrant pink and a soft neutral...there is something for everyone. by Face Stockholm for J.Crew $12.99 on sale!!!

I would absolutely love if this was in my stocking this year! This Stila lip gloss set comes with 4 of their best sellers and 4 limited edition holiday colors. You get a total of 8 glosses for only $25

FOR THE MONOGRAM/LILY LOVER: How fun are these monogram earrings by Fornash?  You can customize both the enamel earring and initial monogram color. $35 and you have to allow 2-3 weeks for delivery...so order quick if you want them!

FOR THE WORLD TRAVELER: If you have a friend who is always jetting off to a new and fun destination, these Jonathan Adler luggage tags are fantastic. At only $6.95 each you can get a few for each of your friends.

And also for the traveler, I am obsessed with these Lucky Minimergency kits. They are $15 and come with almost anything you may need in a pinch...sewing kit, stain remover, clear nail polish, and a teeny-tiny hair spray.This is great tucked into your carry-on or handbag.

 FOR THE PAPER LOVER: She will adore these bright and colorful personalized notepads. Perfect for the working girl, or a mom on the go. $18 includes a custom monogrammed cover and 200 blank pages.

Any girl would love this Kate Spade calendar.  I have saved my old Kate Spade Calendars and plan to frame some of the pages because they are so pretty! $26 on seejanework.com

 Gloves are always a fabulous gift! Especially when they are as cute and colorful as these On The Spot gloves by Anthropologie. $28

And lastly, a small leather gift always packs a punch. I love these little lizard mini-wallets by Madewell. Great to hold a subway or El-train card or to clip onto a diaper bag.

Make it personal...

Are you in throws of Holiday shopping yet?! Ugh, hard to believe it's only 3 weeks until Christmas!!! Etsy is my go-to for special and unique holiday gifts. If you are having trouble finding something perfect for your picky little sister, or your in-laws who have everything, why not do something personal? Buying a personalized gift is like getting a one of a kind item. Just by adding a monogram or an initial a gift suddenly feels just a bit more special. Here are some of my favorite personalized items this season via Etsy...

For your niece or nephew that has WAY too many toys...

Custom Art Smock  by The Diaper Bag Wrangler $23

For the Grandparents that tell you they don't want ANYTHING...

Custom silhouette ornaments by Le Papier Studio $30

For the sister who has things like "Gucci bag" and "Louboutin's" on her Christmas list...

Set of 3 monogram pillows (loooooove!) by Alexandra Ferguson $149

For your child's teacher...who doesn't love a great big coffee mug?

Custom monogram mug by Berd and Bee $20

For your cousin that lives in her Ugg boots and can't stop texting to save her life...

Gossip Girl inspired necklace by Spoonerz $49.99

For your family member that is hosting you for Christmas Eve dinner...

Monogram wine tote by Bliss Designs Inc. $26

Happy Cyber Monday everyone!

I'm holding out for a HERO...

yes, these are a lyrics from a song in the movie Footloose...remember Kevin Bacon dancing in the abandoned warehouse?! So great...

But really, I am talking about Hero Bags! My husband and I stumbled upon them in our recent Food & Wine mag. They make the most darling wine tote. I love nothing more than a BYOB, AND many places now offer a corkage fee so that you can bring your own wine. We have done this a lot lately, and it really makes dining a lot more fun (alcohol buzz aside...) it makes your bill much smaller! So, if you are toting your wine around town, why not look good doing it? I also think it would make a great hostess gift...

$14.95 and made of all natural Cotton Canvas

Their lunch bags could not be any cuter, we ordered one for Julian in the red and blue combo...

and if I had a girl...

100% Organic Cotton Canvas $24.95

and their Grocery bags are great...tall and sturdy!

100% Recycled Cotton $14.95

Who's Your Daddy?

Father's Day is less than a week away. I am the terrible wife/mother/daughter who is yet to buy a gift, but I have some ideas in my arsenal and I thought I would share them with you all. It's funny because I asked my husband what he wanted for Father's Day and his response..."a breakfast buffet". No surprise considering he's got the appetite of a small village! I will be putting together this buffet, but I will also include a little something for him. After all...he is the father of my child and he has put in his fair share of diaper changing and middle of the night wakings. If you are having some trouble coming up with gift ideas, here are a few of mine...

If you are shopping for a guy that has more products in his vanity then you do, look no further than Jack Black products. They are fabulous grooming products that any man would love. One of their best items is their Beard Lube. It's a pre-shave oil, shave cream and skin treatment that is specially formulated for men's shaving needs. Their all over wash is great for a man who doesn't want to fuss with body wash, shampoo and face wash. I personally love their gift set for $45 it has a sampling of their top products and is perfect for travel.

Does your man love to get dressed up? Does he actually LIKE to shop? If so, you can never go wrong with a shirt from Thomas Pink. This London based shirt maker is known for their gorgeous fabrics and perfect tailored fit. Their high-end Italian fabrics and impeccable construction make these shirts on the more expensive side. But, they are well worth it and will last longer than your typical Brooks Brothers shirt that you buy off the rack.

To compliment the shirt, you may want to include a pair of cufflinks. I bought these for my husband last year for Christmas and they were a huge hit. They are monogrammed cufflinks that are also a locket. A tip-if you order digital photos from Shutterfly, they include a sheet with really small images that you have ordered. These fit perfectly into the locket. Your husband/dad will be proud to show off all the pictures that you include in these unique cufflinks!

The grill Daddy will make any man in your life VERY HAPPY. This very cool tool cleans the grill with ease and looks a bit like some heavy duty artillery. It uses a forceful spray of water along with a bristle brush to clean the grill with ease. My husband owns one and I can always tell he gets really excited to use this before he grills. It is $25 and you can get it at your local Hardware store.

I hope you all have a WONDERFUL Father's Day with that special man in your life.

Future Mom in Manolo's

Is your pregnant friend always ahead of the fashion curve? Does she still rock her stiletto's even while pregnant? This type of friend is not the easiest to shop for...she will have high standards, and you better believe she's not putting her kid in anything from Carter's.  If you need some extraordinary gift ideas, look no further. I've scouted out some great ideas for you!

Bloch-the maker of ballet shoes since 1932 has launched a baby line. Made of luxurious Italian leather, and expertly crafted for comfort and style, and designed to protect a baby's growing feet. These shoes could not be more adorable. Even if they don't get a lot of wear, they would make a perfect addition to a shelf in the babies nursery. My personal favorites are the pair with Cherries on them or the ruffle front in pink sheepskin.  In the USA, there aren't many retailers that have them yet. The 2 stores that I found you can purchase online were Madison & Friends and Oh Baby Austin

You can never go wrong with buying someone a book. My favorite for fashionista friends is called This Little Piggy Went to Prada. This darling book takes classic nursery rhymes and turns them into tongue-in-cheek fun stories tailored to your oh-so-chic BFF. The illustrations are just gorgeous. It is the perfect addition to any nursery and will without a doubt receive oohs and aahs at your next baby shower. If you live in Kansas City, this book is available at Lauren Alexandra.

         

Who doesn't love being in head to toe Cashmere? Your friend will adore you if you pick up some 3 ply for her baby as well.  Eye Spy makes interesting Cashmere ensembles for boys and girls. I personally love this one-piece with striped footies at the bottom. It comes in Aqua blue and a shade of Lilac, perfect for a little boy or girl. You can find this and other pieces from the brand on Milkshop.com 

                                                  

 

Mrs John L. Strong, maker of exquisite stationary is sadly going out of business. BUT, Best & Co (in Bergdorf Goodman) is still carrying some of their items.  A posh mommy will adore these Playdate Invitations. Could you imagine getting one in the mail? How regal would that be?! It's perfect for the Mom who has everything!