New-ish Jewish Puzzles

Amazing but true...Hanukkah starts in just 4 days. Here's a gift that will last throughout the year in case it doesn't arrive quite on time. My four-year-old spotted this set of Jewish Holiday Puzzles in the Leaps & Bounds catalog and said, "Awesome! Jewish puzzles!" True, Jewish puzzles aren't so easy to find, and this set looks lovely. The collection of four solid wood puzzles represents Shabbat, Rosh Hashanah, Hanukkah, and Passover, and each features 7-9 chunky knobbed pieces. Storage case included. On sale for $19.95 (reduced from $29.95) at Leaps & Bounds.

R. Nichols Holiday Cards

One of my favorite stationers for years, R. Nichols, has just reduced the price of his whimsical hand-drawn holiday cards to just $14 per box. I just love these designs, especially for city folk like myself. Take a look at the samples below. All are available at R-Nichols.com.

Clean Your Carrots

How cute is this Carrot Bottle Brush from Sparkability? Makes the chore of cleaning bottles a tad less tedious (and check out this Tulip Bottle Drying Rack for more fun). 12.6" long and made from non-toxic materials. $8.50 at Sparkability.

MyMomShops Sponsor: Ga-Ga Baby Boutique

Welcome to our newest sponsor, Ga-Ga Baby Boutique, featuring "exceptional gear for you and your baby." A family business, Ga-Ga Baby Boutique features hand-selected, hip baby products (with a special eye towards new designers and hand-crafted products), and also supports charitable causes. Here are some of my favorite picks from the site:

Vinyl Baby Bibs. Stylish, aren't they? They're even lead-free so baby can chew away! Velcro closure. ($29.98)


Pastel Toys Wooden Micki Walker with Blocks. Pastel Toys are built by Israeli adults with special needs and proceeds from each beautiful, hand-painted piece goes to help this community. ($90)


My Little Sleepy Cowboy-Cow. Adorable, mom-designed 100% cotton portable nap mat with pillow and blanket, too! (On sale for $49)


Visit Ga-Ga Baby Boutique for these and other baby & holiday gift ideas.

Receive a 10% discount on your next order when you sign up for Ga-Ga Baby Boutique's mailing list. After you sign up through the "contact us" section (mention you were referred by MyMomShops), a 10% off coupon code will be e-mailed to you.

Doilies Gone Wild

As you know I'm a big fan of melamine tableware- especially the kind that fools you into thinking it's fancier than it is! Like this totally cool Doily Melamine Plate Set from Fred Flare. Just like you used to see at Grandma's house, but this time, child-friendly and shatterproof. The set of 4 dishwasher-safe plates costs $40 at Fred Flare.

Hanukkah oh Hanukkah

Both my kids would have fun with this Hanukkah Play Set from The Land of Nod. Much safer than letting little ones near the real deal, this set features a pretend wooden menorah with candles, two latkes with frying pan, dreidel, gelt, storage bag, and activity guide. $34 and shipping is free (but hurry, quantities are limited). Check out this and other holiday gifts with free shipping at The Land of Nod.

Santa Baby

I love customized holiday gifts like this Personalized Santa Blankie Buddy from One Step Ahead. A sweet and soft gift for baby's first Christmas, it can be personalized with up to 10 letters. $19.95 at One Step Ahead.

Cupcake Cutie

This Polka Dot Bows Dress from Gymboree pretty much has R's name written all over it: it's her favorite easy, comfy cotton pullover style, and has my favorite colors (brown + anything) and pattern (polka dots). Something for everyone! I must say I really like this new Cupcake Cutie line at Gymboree. The dress is $26.60 in sizes up to 5T (up to 3T includes diaper cover) at Gymboree.com.

MyMomShops Giveaway: Dado Squares

This contest is now closed. Congratulations to Kara, who wrote, "My nephew would love these! Very cool." Kara, please e-mail me your name and address to claim your prize.
I was thrilled to receive these new Dado Squares from Fat Brain Toys, since R. is obsessed with building "card houses" (for her, this means using the cards from Dora Candyland, and might I say this is no easy feat). She is very happy with the much sturdier- and infinitely more imaginative and colorful- Dado Squares. Like the Dado Cubes which I've posted about previously, Dado Squares inspire complex thought through simple design. Kids (and grown-ups) build their visual spatial development skills without even realizing it by building an infinite number of three-dimensional structures (for R. these have included swimming pools, skyscrapers, and "a crib for my brother"). This is definitely a toy that will last a kid well into their elementary school years, and even beyond. Each set contains 35 three-inch squares, and stores very neatly in a compact plastic container. $19.95 at Fat Brain Toys.

Call Me

I just ordered these new "Amy calling cards" from Event Bliss and they are, in my opinion, the best "mommy calling cards" I've ever used. Is this sleek design great or what? The figures are available in pink, blue, or green; you can also mix and match. I chose pink for Mom with 1 girl (pink) representing R. and 1 boy (blue) representing Baby S. I even added the web address of this blog. I am having so much fun giving them out. The cards are glossy UV coated on front and cost $60 for 100 or $65 for 250. Check out these and other mommy calling cards designs at Event Bliss.

MyMomShops readers receive a 15% discount off their order at Event Bliss with code "MYMOMSHOPS".

Zutano Giveaway Winners!

Congratulations to the following winners of the $150 Zutano.com shopping sprees (our most popular contest ever- 215 entries)!

Meredith, who said, "What an awesome giveaway! My daughter is rapidly outgrowing everything... this would be perfect!"

Becca, who said, "The pea coat and the darling hats and scarves would be perfect for visiting family in cold-weather-states during the holidays!"

Meredith and Becca, please e-mail me your names and mailing addresses to claim your prizes. Congratulations and enjoy!

Hey everyone else...there's another contest coming this morning- check back!

Happy Thanksgiving

This will be my last post until Monday, when the TWO winners of our Zutano $150 shopping spree contest (scroll down to enter) will be announced (and there will be another contest to enter right away on Monday, too...how 'bout that?) Happy Thanksgiving and have a great holiday weekend!

The First Adventures of the Incredible You

Since first-born kids tend to get all the good gifts, I jumped at the chance for poor "neglected" Baby S. to get his very own personalized copy of The First Adventures of the Incredible You, an award-winning children's book. A perfect gift for the child who already has four copies of Goodnight Moon or Fancy Nancy, The First Adventures of the Incredible You is a lasting and cherished keepsake as well as a delightfully illustrated and narrated story. There is rhyming text (my musically-inclined kids always prefer that) which follows the child from the day of his/her birth through adventures including the playground, the zoo, and fun times with mom & dad. All you do is supply details about your child's favorite people, places, and things...it is 1, 2, 3, quick and they do the rest! While Baby S. does not yet quite appreciate this newest masterpiece, it made me teary when I read it to him. Order it now for $32.95 in time for the holidays at Custom Made for Kids: Personalized Children's Books & Gifts.

Spoon Sisters

Have you ever shopped at the website Spoon Sisters (a business started by, yes, two sisters)? They have a cool, electic product mix ranging from classic to kitsch, funny to functional. There are some great holiday gift ideas here. Take a look:

Eat, Drink and Be Merry Tower of Notepads ($15):


Sky Umbrella ($48) I have this and love it!


Taxi Booties ($33):


45 RPM Adapter Record Insert Tie ($45):


Visit Spoon Sisters for more holiday gift ideas.

Hombre Jr.

I love, love, love dressing my little boy in threads like this Hombre Long Sleeve Tee ($34) at boys-only site Ochanga.com. The aqua tee is 100% baby rib cotton with contrast stitching and raw edges. A great look! Available in sizes 6-9 mos through 6 years at Ochanga.com.

Early Bird

Don't hate me, but I already have my holiday cards. Just have to address and stamp them. I get an A+ for organization, but it's tough when I keep seeing more and more designs I love, like the always spectacular selection at our affiliate Tiny Prints. Their 2007 holiday card selection is simply their most gorgeous stuff ever. And they're printed on premium, 110 lb. stationery card stock (no flimsy photo paper here). There are even choices that work as dual baby announcements/holiday greetings. Feast your eyes:






Want to see more? Browse the holiday cards at Tiny Prints.

Order now! Receive 10% off your order, plus free shipping, at Tiny Prints now through December 3rd. Use code "GOBBLE". Enjoy!

MyMomShops Giveaway: $150 Zutano Shopping Sprees!

This contest is now closed. Congratulations to winners:

Meredith, who said, "What an awesome giveaway! My daughter is rapidly outgrowing everything... this would be perfect!"

Becca, who said, "The pea coat and the darling hats and scarves would be perfect for visiting family in cold-weather-states during the holidays!"

Meredith and Becca, please e-mail me your names and mailing addresses to claim your prizes. Congratulations and enjoy!

Ahhh, autumm is in the air, the turkey's (almost) in the oven, and the sales are on! How about a HUGE shopping spree to add to your Thanksgiving merriment? Zutano.com has offered us TWO generous $150 shopping sprees- 1 each for 2 lucky winners. In case you missed it earlier this Fall, Zutano.com has opened its colorful e-boutique where you can directly purchase their high-quality, fun-patterned cotton clothing for babies and kids. Here are some of the newest products for late fall/early winter. I absolutely love the mix of rich fall colors with lively prints:

Bordeaux Dollhouse Dress ($47)


Navy Smooth Operator Jacket ($48)


Pink Mini Pea Coat ($58)


Bordeaux Cable Knit Sweater ($44)

Pottery Barn Kids "Threads" Debuts

Last summer I posted about the impending arrival of a new Pottery Barn Kids spinoff store in NYC called Threads just a few blocks away from me (in fact, it's in the same building where I lived immediately after college). The store just opened, and features mostly the same baby clothing and gifts (sleepsacks, blankets, etc.) you see in the Pottery Barn Kids catalog, plus a few new items. The real benefit, I guess, is getting these items monogrammed in-store and not having to pay shipping. Overall, though, I was not too impressed. Maybe it is just the holiday selection right now, but I found the products a little staid and boring...not nearly as fun as other neighborhood stores like Giggle. Plus they didn't want me to take pictures, though I got a couple beforehand (See above: the outside of the store, monogrammable onesies, and cute crib shoes).

I'm curious, what do you all think? If there were a Threads store near you, would you go there for baby gifts instead of ordering online from Pottery Barn Kids? Yea or Nay?

Happy Feet

How could you resist a toy as cute as this rocking Penguin Rattle from Garnet Hill Kids? Handsomely crafted from preservative-free rubber wood, it's a safe, fun, and eye-pleasing toy for newborns on up. Perfect inexpensive holiday gift (and I'll be posting about lots more holiday gifts from this fave site of mine). $16 at Garnet Hill.

Enjoy a special 20% off promotion at Garnet Hill this weekend ONLY (through 11/18). Enter code "H7W44B" to receive 20% off your entire order.

Holiday Gifts: Craftsbury Kids

I have soooo many holiday gifts to share with you; I am rounding them up and will post several at a time. Here a bunch of fab finds from our affiliate Craftsbury Kids. If you'd like to think outside of the (Fisher Price) box- and want gifts that are creative and natural- rather than noisy and plastic- Craftsbury Kids is the place for you:

Butterfly Cottage Playhouse. Simply magical and, yes, a splurge. Ask Grandma and Grandpa to treat. ($490)


Tree Blocks So long, Legos. Beautiful set, handcut from retired hazelnut trees. ($47)


Plush Police Car. Great alternative to plastic toys, it doubles as room decor. Designed in Denmark, handmade in Nepal. ($27)


Blabla Butterfly Backpack Perfect for preschoolers, it's 100% cotton and hand-knitted. ($38.95)


Want to see more toys that are "a breath of fresh air in a gadget-filled world"? Visit Craftsbury Kids.

Soft as a Feather

I visited the booth of relatively new company Feather Baby at the ENK Kids' show last July, and I was very impressed with the simple, soft infant and toddler clothing. Featherbaby was started by Manhattan boutique owner Sude Dellinger Peta and her husband; in addition to this "baby" they have triplets! Featherbaby features affordable, classic layette styles in soft 100% Peruvian pima cotton. Pictured here is a sweet ruffle jacket in solid periwinkle ($26, sizes 3-6mos, 6-12mos, 12-18mos) with matching footed leggings ($18). Browse around at Feather Baby.

MyMomShops Sponsor: Shoestring Home

I love funky home accessories boutiques like our new sponsor, Shoestring Home (I first posted about them back in June). Shoestring Home is an online boutique as well as a bricks-and-mortar store in Wisconsin, and it has a superb selection of gifts and accessories including linens, bath products, and children's items. Owner Mandi Gerth chooses unique items that prove that even a comfortable, lived-in home can look sophisticated and stylish. Here are some of my finds:

Sally Russell cocktail napkins ($26)


Witty Cover Journals ($9.95)


Re + New Organic Cotton Baby Long-Sleeve Onesie ($28)


Modern Twist Placemats ($18)


Visit Shoestring Home to start your holiday shopping!

Enjoy free shipping on orders of $50 or more (regularly $80) through 11/30/07. No code required- the work is done for you! Giftwrap is free, too!

Earmark These

As you know, personalized stationery is one of my vices and I have fallen in love with everything I've seen at the Etsy storefront of Earmark Invitations. Here are just some of the personalized stationery sets they offer. About $22.50 for each set of 10 cards with envelopes. Visit Earmark Invitations.

Star Baby

I like this washable cashmere sweater from Baby Gap as a new baby gift. The soft, 100% cashmere boy's sweater says "Star" and is machine washable (see the girl's version here). Available in sizes 0-3 mos, 3-6mos, and 6-12 mos for $59 at Baby Gap.

MyMomShops Giveaway: CCC Gifts

This contest is now closed. Congratulations to these 3 winners. Winners, please e-mail me with your design and personalization choices and mailing address:

Diana, who wrote, "Maggie would love this! Please, please, please."

Karina, who wrote, "Super cute!"

Cheri, who wrote, "Too cute! My daughter would love one of these."




CCC Gifts is a site which offers tons of personalized gifts for kids- including clothing, decor, gift baskets, toys, and jewelry. Their personalized placemats make a fun birthday gift, holiday gift, or big sibling gift (the bottom two shown above). Each laminated mat measures 11" x 17 1/2”, features a print of hand-painted pictures, and wipes off easily with soap and water. Very cute...and who knows, might make mealtimes a bit less of a battle!

MyMomShops readers get a 10% discount off all orders at CCC gifts through 11/30/07 with code "mymomshops10".

Dance the Polka

Check out this Sweet Little Holiday Dress I found on Etsy.com, custom made for sizes 2T to 5T. Love the funky polka dot pattern in red, black, beige, and subtle silver. Dress it up with a turtleneck, tights, and Mary Janes, or play it casual with leggings or pants. A truly unique and modern choice for a little girl's holiday wardrobe. $25 at the Etsy storefront of leila and ben: handmade for modern kids.

Getting Twiggy With It

While I can't imagine spending $150 on a 65-crayon set, you gotta admit that these twig crayons would look mighty beautiful on a special someone's desk. The chunky wooden crayons are handmade and tucked inside a white birch holder. If you're feeling more frugal, spend just $28 for a set of 12 (5"W x 4"H). Available at Chasing Fireflies.

MyMomShops Sponsor: Growth Sprouts

Last July we had a very popular giveaway of "Grow Baby Grow" snapsuits (perfect for a baby's monthly birthday photo) from a brand-new company called Growth Sprouts. Now I am pleased to tell you that Growth Sprouts has become a sponsor here at MyMomShops. So I can show you even more fun products designed by owner/designer Shannon Carter, who happens to also be a former Martha Stewart editor and mom of two little ones.

Check out these absolutely-perfect-baby gift birth tees- a wearable birth announcement! These custom-designed onesies are available in four trendy designs: Polka Dots blue or pink, and Stitches blue or pink. They are machine washable and cost just $18, making it an affordable baby gift I can guarantee a new mom will love. When you order you can indicate the baby's birth weight and current age and Growth Sprouts will send you the appropriate size.

For this and other delightful baby clothing gifts (check out these for a 1st or 2nd birthday gift), visit Growth Sprouts.

Mama Needs Her Sleep

Since we turned the clocks back, Baby S. routinely rises between 4 and 4:30am. My sleep has become even more precious to me. So I am really enjoying this birthday gift from my cousin- it's a buckwheat pillow & silk eye mask set from Wrapables.com. This set is touted as providing muscle support, spinal alignment, and relief from shoulder/neck tightness. All I know is that my sleep- while far too limited- is blissful and uninterrupted. A thoughtful gift for a sleep-deprived mom. $39 at Wrapables.com.

Good Egg

I'm loving these faux-layered screen-printed Personali-tees in the latest Garnet Hill Kids catalog. They remind me of Boden Kids, but the prices are maybe a smidge lower. The slogans are Bad to the Bone, Cute as a Button, Good Egg or Heartbreaker. Sizes 12 mos through 6 years, $26 (or two for $48) at Garnet Hill.

By the way, for those of you who have been following Baby S's progress, I am overjoyed to report that this past Tuesday, 1 day shy of his 15 month birthday, he took his first steps alone...months before predicted. He was cheered on by a proud and emotional Mommy, Grandma, physical therapist, and (under-impressed) big sister. Hooray!

Oh Build Me a Home

Why is it that I have a harder time choosing a dollhouse for my children than I did when purchasing actual real estate? There are too many choices these days- and they all look great- especially modern styles like this Dollhouse with Furniture from The Museum of Modern Art's store. Accessible from every side, the dollhouse has two components that can be arranged in various ways (the large unit has 3 levels; the smaller one has 2). There is skylight roofing, movable staircases, and a bevy of furniture and accessories. Love this one! Available for $165 at MomaStore.org.

MyMomShops Giveaway: Ferd Kids

This contest is now closed. Congratulations to Alicia who said, "Way cute! Would definetely love them for my 4 yr old!" Alicia, please e-mail me with your name, address, and choice of size.

Ferd Kids is a superb new boys-only clothing line that I discovered at the Bubble NY show last summer. Mom/designer Jennifer Connaughton has a talent for making boys' clothes that are trendy but not over-the-top. She has kindly offered us this hip outfit in size 18-24 months; it includes a 100% cotton button up shirt (brown base with white dot) and 100% wool trouser (brown/white tweed) with ultrasuede tab and nickel hardware clasp. A pretty spiffy look for your little guy, isn't it? The retail value is $130.

Lights Out

Add this to the list of clever mom inventions- the Downtime Sleepy Hat ("a hat that helps your baby to sleep"). It's a patented, practical, and adorable (love those eyelids!) fold-down sleep mask which creates a dark, sleep-like environment for your little one. Apparently it even works for hat-averse babies like my little one. Of course, they are just plain cute too...and super soft and lightweight. Nice gift for a new mom who herself is sleep-deprived (splurge and get her a grown-up mask, too!). $22 at Downtime Baby.

Receive a 15% discount at Downtime Baby with code "MYMOMSHOPS".

Humidifiers You Won't Hate

I find everything about humidifiers to be a real drag- buying them, filling them, cleaning them, and then deciding whether you should just ditch them at the end of the season. But the process will be a bit cuter this year since I bought the kids these Crane Adorable Humidifiers (yes, that's what they're called) at Drugstore.com. They are 1 gallon ultrasonic humidifiers which provide up to 11 hours running time plus a nightlight feature. Check here for all the designs including Hello Kitty, Thomas the Train, and more. On sale for $34.99 at Drugstore.com.

Anyone else up with a cranky, teething baby at 2:15 AM? Leave me a comment (and some company) here!

MyMomShops Giveaway: Sandbox Threads

This contest is now closed. Congratulations to Patricia, who wrote, "LOVE give peas a chance! too cute!" Patricia, please e-mail me with your name, address, and size of onesie or tee.

OK, I've posted about a lot of mom-launched businesses thus far. Now it's time to give kudos to an entrepeneurial stay-at-home Dad. This one has given birth to Sandbox Threads, an online boutique that sells decidedly hipster, original tees and onesies. There's someting to suit just about everyone's tastes (and you won't see another kid at the sandbox wearing the same shirt). Choices include future activist onesies (it's Election Day today- remember to vote!), vintage onesies (being a child of the 80s, I am partial to the Joystick and Rubik's Cube designs), and famous faces onesies (like Jimi Hendrix,pictured here...there's also a fab Bill Murray one). And, these great threads are priced starting at just $17 (a pretty retro-sounding price these days). Check out all the offerings at Sandbox Threads.

Enjoy a 10% discount on any order at Sandbox Threads, now through November 30, 2007, with code "momshops".

Be a Deer

Thanks to MyMomShops reader Deborah for telling me about Little Deer, a site whose products easily fall into the "too cute" category. The products- all handmade in Portland, Oregon- are made of cozy wool/rayon felt and, somehow, are all machine washable. Can you get over these shoes??? Wish my little girl could still wear these! They cost $26. Be sure to check out all the irresistible shoes, caps, and purses at Little Deer.

Safari Style

Wow, I am loving the chic look (and low price) of this Kenya Luggage from Room Service Home. Even if you're plans include an SUV instead of a safari, these giraffe-print canvas bags will help you travel in style during the holidays. The large rolling duffle is only $49. Visit Room Service Home.

Comfy Crawlers

I've written before about Baby S's motor delays, so needless that I am thrilled that at 15 months he is crawling like a champ, and walking may be just a few months away. To make his crawling cushier, he just got these yummy Mellow Melon Comfy Crawlers from GissyBella.com. Not only is the idea genius- padded knees for your "four-legged" wonder baby's pants- but the luxurious suede fabric is truly one of the softest ones I have ever felt. Of course, I love the melon orange-and-chocolate brown color combo for Fall. And, the pants are machine washable- hooray! They are avaiable in a bunch of colors in sizes up to 18-24 months and cost $30 a pair at GissyBella.com.

Receive a 20% discount with code "SFL2007" on your next order at GissyBella.com.

Speaking of Baby S., he and I have been up enjoying each other's company since 4:10 AM today. Gotta love daylight savings, right?

Hats That Stay On

Now that the weather is turning colder, I'm considering this colorful, cozy Zippity Zany Hat ($18) for Baby S. He tries to yank off anything I put on his head (including the monkey headpiece of his Halloween costume), so I figure this one should do the trick. And the colors go with anything. Browse all the baby hats & mittens at Hanna Andersson.

Spell Baby Spell

I never tire of browsing around for new crib bedding (even though I'm not buying). I stumbled onto this Dwell Baby Alphabet Crib Bedding at Design Public. The colors are a dream: pale blue and light brown letters scattered on a white background. The full set includes a reversible quilt, reversible bumper, fitted sheet, and crib skirt. $350 for the set at Design Public.

Company Kids Customized

Company Kids has just made a smart move and started offering free monogramming on lots of kids' items (sleeping bags, towels, and more). They have also added some nice personalized wall art like this Dinosaur Canvas. It measures 16 x 12" and is printed on cotton canvas with a wooden frame, ready to hang. $55 at Company Kids.

The Bird and the Thieves

I got the coolest Red Lap Owl Gang Tee ($28) for Baby S. from Little Thieves, the "brother" site to cult hit Bunny & Bee (a funky clothing site for little girls). The sites were founded by a San Francisco husband & wife team who report to a 3.3 year old and 14 month old (so how they find time to make this great stuff, I have no idea). The couple has worked in creative arts and design for years, and it shows! We have been getting lots of compliments on the owl tee. The Little Thieves line is just launching in NYC stores and they'll be at my favorite trade show, Bubble, in March 2008. Can't wait to meet this talent in person! Visit Little Thieves and Bunny& Bee.

MyMomShops readers get a generous 30% discount off their purchases now through November 30th. Enter "LOVEMMS1" in the comments at checkout and receive a 30% rebate credit back to your credit card within 24 hours.

Tangerine & Chocolate

Just because Halloween's over doesn't mean you can't enjoy more your orange-colored garb. If you need to buy a gift for a new baby, consider the Tangerine and Chocolate Collection from Elegant Baby. These comfy, cute, all-cotton items are reasonably priced (the bib/burpcloth set is just $20) and don't you just love those colors (great if you need a unisex gift, by the way)? Check it out at Elegant Baby.