Last Minute Shopping

Loving these ideas on last minute stocking stuffers for the kiddos....

Baby Boy Gifts!*

 

 

*not for either of us

Wine + Jelly Beans

In the last month, we've both hit the big 3-0. Yikes.

While I much prefer to plan parties for others, some pesky family members convinced me to have a little birthday gathering of local friends that involved one of my favorite activities -- wine tasting! 

As part of the weekend, we assembled gift bags for all the ladies that contained "A Few of Farrell's Favorite Things." As you will note from the bag decor, my birthday falls on a certain patriotic holiday.

  Now, we couldn't get queso into the bags (don't worry, we did have it during the course of the weekend), but we did get a few fun treats in there, including these Jelly Bean Wine Shooters. 

Check them out.  The Jelly Bean Wine Bar (great customer service, by the way) puts together these fun little "test tubes" that contain jelly bean flavors which, when combined, taste just like your favorite vino.  In our gift bags, we featured Blanc de Blanc, Sauvignon Blanc, and Pinot Gris.  So fun. 

I'd definitely recommend these as a fun addition to your next favor bag, girls' weekend, or wine themed event!

Party Favors: The Candy Buffet

Made popular as a wedding-favor alternative by Martha Stewart, Candy Buffets are also a great option for shower (bridal, baby, engagement, whatever) favors.  My favorite on-line candy vendor is Oh Nuts -- they sort their candy by color, tell you how many pieces are in each package (no matter how small the candy pieces), and ship quickly with cool-packs to protect against melting.  Candy Buffets are actually relatively simple - just order the candy, round up clear vases and jars of varying sizes and heights, procure some spoons or scoops, and display everything with clear plastic candy bags and ribbons or even miniature Chinese take-out containers. 

These buffets are always a hit!  Below are some real-life photos of recent buffets I have done for baby and bridal showers.  The color selections coordinated with the invitation and decor colors for each shower.

Indecisive Cooking?

Can't decide what you feel like eating tonight?  Cooking for a family of picky eaters who can't agree on the same meal?

Try this trio lasagna pan from Spoon Sisters.  Allowing you to make up to three different types of layered Italian goodness at once, this pan takes the commitment out of lasagna.  Perfect for those who can't pinpoint just what they want to eat tonight.....not that we know anything about that!

Cyber Monday

Is anyone else's email inbox blowing up with sale emails today?

So far this morning, the highlights of mine include....

40% off entire purchase and Free Shipping at Ann Taylor (code: MONDAY)
20% off all sweaters and Free Shipping on orders over $150 at J. Crew (code: HOLIDAY)
20% off your online purchase and Free Shipping at all Gap Inc stores (Gap, Banana, Old Navy, Piperlime, etc) (code: Monday)

The list goes on and on! Any good deals coming through your inbox for Cyber Monday?

For Good Measure

How fun are these kitchsy measuring spoon sets from Anthropologie? They'd be great stocking stuffers!

Mod Measuring Set

Dining Room Measuring Spoons

Baker's Bliss Measuring Spoons

Creative Gift Giving: Element Bars

Looking for a holiday gift for the hard-to-buy-for person in your life?
Try a gift card to Element Bars. This interactive website allows you to build your own energy bars, with a combination of countless ingredients. What an original, interactive gift for the health-conscious person your holiday list.

Shabby Straps

How cute are these Shabby Straps, found on Etsy?

I am planning on picking up a few as gifts for my camera-loving friends (they come in appropriate sizes for both point-and-shoot digital cameras, as well as the SLR/DSLR variety), and maybe one for myself!

Reader's Request: Couples Showers

A reader wrote in with the inquiry below:

When you are invited to a couples' shower (bridal, baby, etc), should your gift be double the cost/value of what you would usually spend for a shower of just ladies? Or, do you stick with the usual amount that you would spend, regardless of the number of attendees in your party?

What are your thoughts on the matter?

Present Idea #8: PicPads

Want to give a personalized gift this season? Check out the options at PicPads. They will take your digital photos of pets, family, landscapes, etc and transpose them onto a variety of notepads for you. These would be a great option for far-away relatives, grandparents, etc.

Present Idea #7: Eco Totes

For the eco-conscious recipient, why not pick up a cute reusable shopping tote as a gift for them?

Socially conscious and incredibly useful, there are so many styles out there to choose from for transporting groceries, bottles of wine, and whatever else they have in mind! Click on each photo below for a link with details.

Present Idea #6: Snuggly Laptops

For the recipient who seems glued to their laptop (really, who isn't a little overly attached to our computers?), how about a funky laptop sleeve? With a pop of personality, they’re bound to please the workaholic (or blogaholic) on your list this year!

Present Idea #3

Any dog lover will not let their furry friends go unnoticed at the holidays. There are so many cute things out there, and here are just a few ideas for them...

A cute retro inspired collar from Lucky Fiona at Etsy



LL Bean’s Storm Chaser dog coat. As the mom of a dog with a LOT of long hair, this is a life saver on rainy days!


Personalized Collar from Orvis. I have seen more and more of these at the dog parks lately. A great way to eliminate the jingly metal tags that a lot of our pups sport.

Present Idea #2

If you're looking for a gift for the man in your life who needs a little help with their organizational skills, why not try a valet tray? These are great not only as a nice gift, but as a "clean up" to a cluttered dresser-top. This one from Coach comes in a variety of colors.

Dogs have Manners, too

We have a love of etiquette books, and apparently they aren’t just for humans anymore!
Charlotte Reed’s Miss Fido Manners Complete Book of Dog Etiquette: The Definitive Guide to Manners for Pets and Their People addresses a multitude of issues relating to both canine and human behavior. From the most basic issues of grooming and dealing with guests in your pet-friendly home, to the more in-depth chapters of “Best Practices on the Dog Run” and “Dogs, Custody, and Divorce,” just about everything is covered, most of the time with an over the top, tounge-in-cheek approach.
What a cute gift for the new-dog owner and seasoned pet veteran alike!
flj

Almost Spring....

With the fleeting warm weather we had earlier this week, I started seriously thinking about spring. It seems like all of local retail establishments are thinking about it, too. The stores are filled with cute spring clothes and accessories.
While out running errands yesterday, I picked up these cute gardening gloves as a housewarming gift for friends who are new first-time home owners. Paired with a gift certificate to their local nursery, they should make a cute gift! Hable Construction’s website features a plethora of adorable gifts and home accessories and is definitely worth checking out!
flj