Tiny Prints Meets Baby Gap

What do you know....babyGap has teamed up with holiday card guru Tiny Prints to create its own line of babyGap stationery for Tiny Prints. The line includes birth announcements, party invitations, thank you notes, address labels, and, of course, holiday cards. The designs are stylish, simple, and sweet. Take a look:





Want to see more? Visit the entire babyGap collection at Tiny Prints.

Enjoy these coupon codes at Tiny Prints:

GAP15 for 15% off babyGap stationery orders of $99 or more.

GIFTFORYOU for two FREE sets of address labels when you spend $75 or more.

HOLIDAYSHIP49 for free ground shipping on orders of $49 or more.

Paper to Make You Smile

Paper to Make You Smile is a delicous new line of fun-patterned stationery products by designer Kelle Boyd. The line includes doodle books, list pads, notecards, and the 18-month double-duty "mouse pad calendar" ($20) pictured at left. And as a big listmaker, I'm partial to Kelle's list pads ($8.50 each). The designs are so colorful and sweet, I challenge you not to find one you love. Great stocking stuffers or teacher gifts. Visit Paper to Make You Smile.

Enjoy a 20% off discount at Paper to Make You Smile (excluding holiday cards), now through December 5th. Use code "MMSsmiles".

Here Comes the Sun

If you've got a Sid the Science Kid on your holiday gift list (or a 'tween who is hard to impress), consider this cool Sun Jar designed by Tobias Wong. You leave it near a window during the day, and, viola! It provides 5 hours of glowing light when nighttime comes. Curious how it works, aren't you? Check out the
product description. I was pretty impressed. And it works! R. and I have fun leaving hers near her window each morning, and then it becomes a nightlight at night. No controls or switches at all...it just lights up when it is dark enough. A very innovative way to go green when it goes dark! It's now on sale for $34.99 (regularly $40) at Wishing Fish.

Holiday Gift Picks: Christmas Apparel for Little Ones

I almost can't stand the cuteness of these Christmas-themed clothing and accessories for babies and young children:

Cotton Holiday Baby Bib and Burp Set ($20 and free shipping! Also use code "UHOLIDAY" for free shipping on most other items through 12/1/08) at The Land of Nod:


Naughty and Nice Tees (on sale for $18, regularly $24 each) at Tote & Tee:


Ho Ho Ho To Go Gift Basket ($50) including bib, burpcloth and bodysuit, from BlueberryBabies:


Bon Bebe Reindeer Set on sale for just $7 (regularly $14) at Kohls.com:

Pretty Pretty Pretty

This Pink Floral Shopper Set by Smudge Ink is a picture perfect holiday gift for moms, grandmas, or just about any girly-girl. Who wouldn't love to receive this? Each set includes 3 machine-washable, multi-purpose totes (great for running errands) made from 15% recycled material, along with stylish coordinating note paper printed on 30% post consumer recycled paper (the papers are bound with a silk ribbon in a pink linen tray). Each set costs $65 at Fine Stationery.

Happy Thanksgiving!

The kids and I are heading out of the city later today for Thanksgiving with my family. I'll be posting again on Friday. In the meantime, I wish you all a happy and safe Thanksgiving!


Popeye at the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, 1959, courtesy Irish Elk.

Mrs. Goodbee Does Good

Remember the Caring Corners Mrs. Goodbee Interactive Dollhouse by Learning Curve that I posted about back in October? My kids (and their playdates) are still enjoying it every day. And this week, as part of the Bloggers Give Back program, we are donating an extra dollhouse plus accessories to one of my favorite New York City charities, YAI/NIPD.



For 50 years, YAI/NIPD has been a national leader in providing services, education, and job training to people with developmental and learning disabilities, across the entire lifespan. Comprised of seven not-for-profit health and human services agencies, YAI/NIPD services 20,000 individuals and their famlies in more than 450 community-based programs.disabilities. Back in 2003, when I was pregnant with my daughter R. and worked in the non-profit world, I joined the board of one of YAI/NIPD's seven agencies (the division that provides services such as Early Intervention to young children). Coincidentally, both of my children have ended up requiring Early Intervention services, and, naturally, I turned to YAI. My two-year-old son currently receives several Early Intervention services through YAI, including speech therapy, physical therapy, and occupational therapy. His therapists- and those who worked with his sister when she was younger- have helped my children meet milestones like walking (S. took his first steps from his YAI physical therapist to me a year ago), and talking (S. is getting there, slowly but surely).


(S. watches R. on the big jumpy castle at last spring's YAI/NIPD Central Park Challenge, which raised over $1.4 million!)

So it was an easy decision that when I was asked to donate one of the Caring Corners Mrs. Goodbee Interactive Dollhouses, that I turned to YAI. They operate several preschools for children with developmental delays and disabilities. I loved the idea that this dollhouse could be a new additional to a play area. Since funding is tight for all non-profit organizations this year (particularly those in New York, who can no longer rely on support of Wall Street's biggest companies), I am especially glad that my kids and I could do a little something to help brighten the holidays for some other children.

Want to learn more about how you can help build better futures for children and adult with developmental delays and disabilities? Visit YAI/NIPD. And read more about the Bloggers Give Back program here.

MyMomShops Giveaway: Sweet Darlin Ranch

I stumbled onto the Etsy site of Sweet Darlin Ranch and fell hook, line, and sinker for these adorable Feed Me Change Me sets. Designer/mom Kristen Nix makes these by hand from soft, high-quality cotton fabrics. Each Feed Me Change Me set includes a generously sized, velcro-closure cotton bib trimmed with chenille, and a 16" x 20" changing pad that rolls up and ties with grosgrain ribbon. Both are machine washable, of course. I love the fun, vibrant patterns. They are a welcome splash of color from your baby's array of pastel accessories. While I love all of the patterns, my favorites are (top to bottom) Groovy Guitar, Lollipop Dot, and Carnival Bloom.

See all of the Feed Me Change Me sets here; each set costs $29.

Win it! 1 MyMomShops reader will win a Feed Me Change Me set (design of choice) from Sweet Darlin Ranch. Here are the contest rules:

1) To enter, please comment on THIS post (click on "comments" below), indicating which design you'd choose (click here to see all available designs).
2) Post your comment by 11:59pm EST Sunday, November 30th. One entry per person, please. US addresses only.
3) One winner will be chosen at random and announced on Monday morning, December 1st.
4) NOTE: If you wish to be contacted by e-mail if you win, please include your e-mail address in your comment. Otherwise you must check back on Monday to see if you won. Unclaimed prizes are forfeited after 72 hours.

Good luck!

Gorgeous Gift Labels

I'm gaga over everything at Sarah and Abraham, but especially these new personalized gift labels. They can be personalized with any text ("Happy Holidays", "A Birthday Gift From", "Your Friend," etc.) and your choice of a variety of silhouettes. I'd ditch my old smiley stick-figure gift tags for these in a sec. Prices start at $14 for 20 labels at Sarah and Abraham.

Holiday Gift Picks: Hanukkah-Themed Gifts

Hanukkah is approaching fast...the first night is Sunday, December 21st. So Hanukkah shoppers better start purchasing soon! Of course, any of the holiday gifts I've posted make great Hanukkah gifts, too, but if you want specifically Hanukkah-related gifts, here are some that have caught my eye.

(First, I want to show you a nice Hanukkah gift for mothers. Alli's Originals is a site where you can get "Mommy jewelry" in Hebrew. I'd never seen this before and it's a great idea. Shown here is the large disc pendant which can accommodate up to 4 Hebrew characters per line. Click here to see designer Alli Grosberg's other pretty Hebrew jewelry.)

And, now, moving to (what else), toys for the kids....

Fisher Price Little People Hanukkah Set from Amazon.com ($41.99)


Happy Hanukkah Wall Hanging form The Company Store (on sale for $29.99, regularly $39,99, plus free delivery!)


Hanukkah Rocks! T-shirt (packaged in a "record album") by Georgie World ($32)


Wood Hanukkah Peg Puzzle from The Jewish Museum ($9.95)


Hanukkah Wooden Play Set from The Land of Nod ($34 with free shipping)

Baby You Can Drive My Cah

My 27-month-old son doesn't say may words yet; he receives PROMPT therapy four times per week for a possible speech disorder. We hang on each of his new, adorable, not-quite-fully-pronounced words! One of his favorite words is "cah" for "car." I am thrilled to celebrate this with his new "Translation Tee" by Temporary Language. The people behind this site had the clever idea to immortalize your toddler's "temporary language" by pairing your child's pronunciation along with a picture. You can get ideas from their photo gallery or they can work with you to custom-design a tee if your toddler's vocabulary is especially unusual! They'll even add your child's name and age, as they did with S's shirt above. The shirts themselves are fantastic 100% cotton, wash really well, and start at $30.


MyMomShops readers enjoy a special 10% coupon code at Temporary Language now through April 1, 2009. Enter code "mymomshops10" on the shopping basket page.

Skip Hop Studio Bag Winner

Congratulations to "bocktalk", who wrote, "Awesome bag with lots of space- would love to have it!" Please e-mail me with your name and mailing address to claim your prize!

In the Mail Soon...

My holiday cards have arrived and they are fantastic. I went off the beaten path this year and decided to order them on Etsy.com, the mecca of all things handmade, so that I could work personally with a designer to create just what I wanted. I chose Less Ordinary Designs, where designer/mom Sara helped me design my perfect card (I get a little picky about fonts, layouts, etc. so this was no small feat). Sara was a pleasure to work with and I would highly recommend her. I especially like the damask and toile patterns she often uses. I'm not going to post my finished product here since I haven't mailed them out yet (yes, I'm one of those people who mails them in early December...don't hate me!). But here are some of Sara's other winning designs. Visit Less Ordinary Designs to create your own (she has a great deal where she will print 100 cards for you on high quality cardstock for just $70, envelopes included).

Holiday Gift Picks: Wooden Toys

There are so many awesome wooden toys out there now, right? Too bad my kids' favorite gift last year was this mass-produced, loud Pizza Party Elmo. Oh well. I'll try again with some more wooden toys this holiday season. Here are some good ones I've stumbled onto recently:

All in One Dollhouse Stacker ($49.99) at Three Sisters Toys:


Camden Rose Good Eggs ($7.99 for half a dozen in a recyclable cart) at Urthchild:

Haba Skyscraper Set ($33.99) from Oompa:


Balancing Cactus from Plan Toys ($19.99) from Moolka:


Retro Wooden Pens ($4.99) by The Paper Princess:


Plan Toys Tea Set ($24.99) at KangarooBoo:

Around and Around We Go

R. and I took a stroll down Museum Mile last weekend and stopped in at the Guggenheim Museum, among other places. I tried to explain to R. how, as an art history major, I wrote a research paper on the construction of the Guggenheim, but she wasn't interested. The pretty entrance marquis lights by French artist Philippe Parreno (part of the Guggenheim's "theanyspacewhatever" exhibition) were of much more interest (plus they kept us toasty warm on a cold windy day):




The famous spiral, from the outside:


From inside looking up:


And inside, looking down:


And, take a look at this artwork by Italian artist Maurizio Cattelan (which critic Walter Robinson cleverly called "Disney Goth"). R. was skeptical ("I've never seen a dead Pinocchio before...") Only in New York!

MyMomShops Holiday Sponsor: Happy Chickadee

Happy Chickadee is one of those sites that makes you smile. This little e-boutique is new to the scene and features fresh, unique clothing, gifts, and toys for little girls (though many of the items, especially the toys, are appropriate for either gender). I am loving this Jingle Bell Ball Trio by Apple Blossom as a holiday gift for newborns or infants. Created by a part-time pediatrician who wanted to find safe and imaginative toys for her baby, this toy is hand-made in the USA with gorgeous 100% cotton designer fabrics. The soft jingly balls are large enough (3.5" diameter) for even the tiniest hands to grasp. And, this gift costs just $18 and wrapped in tulle with a ribbon- ready to give! Check out this and other unique and "safe" toys at Happy Chickadee.

Fabric of Your Family

Thanks to Real Simple magazine for introducing me to the genius K Studio, a small Michigan-based design shop that makes marvelous personalized housewares out of sustainable materials like organic cotton, hemp, and recycled wool. It is wayyyy out of my budget but I adore this family series pillow ($118). You choose from a variety of embroidered characters to represent your family, and they are sewn onto the pillow's removable cover. Is this a fab gift or what? Browse all the goodies at K Studio.

Lands End Fleece Slippers Winner

Congratulations to "Mindie100" who wrote, "Concord purple snowflakes design would be perfect. Thanks." Please e-mail me to claim your prize.

Everyone else, remember there's still time to enter our Skip Hop Studio Diaper Bag giveaway! Click here to enter by 11:59pm EST Monday, November 24th.

MyMomShops Giveaway: Skip Hop Studio Bag

THIS CONTEST IS NOW CLOSED.

Can you believe it's been 5 years since Skip Hop burst onto the baby gear scene with its Duo Diaper Bag? I was the proud owner of a Duo in bubblegum pink in the Fall of 2003, when I toted newborn R. and her baby gear around to our new moms' group and playgroup. I got so many compliments on my Skip Hop bag and used it for years. Now, of course, Skip Hop bags (and other accessories) are de rigeur for new moms nationwide. Their diaper bags remain modern and stylish, yet supremely practical.

Skip Hop's newest diaper bag is the ooh-la-la Skip Hop Studio Tote ($89) shown above. Deemed "stylish enough to pair with a little black dress, but practical enough to keep you and baby stocked for a long day at the playground," the bag does indeed carry you from day into night. There is the usual abundance of handy Skip Hop features like two insulated side pockets for bottles, food, and drink; quilted cushioned changing pad; and 12 additional pockets for your "regular" gear like phone, wallet, keys, and more. The Studio bag has adjustable stroller straps which can be unhooked to convert it to a bag any woman (mom or not) would love to use. There are even nickel "feet" to keep the bag off the ground and scuff-free- I love that feature especially here in NY where you never know how clean the ground is. Plus, it is entirely made of PVC-free, eco-friendly materials and is water resistant inside and out. The roomy bag measures 17" wide x 12" tall x 6" deep and is available in 4 sophisticated colors (black, chocolate, dark grey, and champagne) for $89 at Skip Hop.

Holiday Gift Picks: Back to Basic Toys

Welcome to the first of many Holiday Gift Picks posts I'll be writing between now and the holidays! Sometimes I'll feature my top picks from favorite websites (like today's picks from Back to Basics Toys), sometimes I'll pick a theme such as Hanukkah or Christmas-themed gifts, wooden toys, and of course, gifts for moms. Remember you can always browse all of my past gift picks by clicking on the holiday gifts label, or by taking a stroll through my favorite gifts from the past. Happy Holiday Shopping!

I love the site Back to Basics Toys. It features some of the best classic children's toys- ones you'll remember from your own childhood. No Elmo or Hannah Montana in sight. Check out these oldies but very goodies:

The Original Lincoln Logs Commemorative Edition in Tin Keepsake Case ($39.99). Ages 3 and up. I loooooved my Lincoln Logs and spent hours creating little villages in our attic playroom.


Lite Brite Cube ($24.99). Ages 4 and up.


The "Original" Award-Winning Brio Labyrinth ($39.99). Ages 6 and up. Another toy I spent hours with, trying to perfect my labyrinth-ing skills. Yes, I was a nerdy kid.


Shop for more retro-style holiday gifts at Back to Basics Toys.

MyMomShops Holiday Sponsor: Three Lovelies

If you're like most moms, you've probably been thinking of holiday gifts for everyone but yourself. Hey, start to make your own list, too (and leave it visible somewhere...). Consider these ultra-stylish Ava Rose Ryan Zip Top Clutches from our holiday sponsor Three Lovelies. The ultimate holiday accessory, this zip top clutch features wrist strap, black satin lining, inside zip pocket, and credit card slots. Great for holiday parties or even quick wintertime errands! I love the deep rich colors- berry and turquoise are currently available; cement is out of stock. The clutches measure 4 1/4" x 8 1/4" and costs $60 at Three Lovelies (check out their other gifts for women, too, including some very pretty jewelry).

Enjoy a 15% discount at Three Lovelies using code "HOLIDAY". Valid through 12/23/08.

Going Postal

Cross one more thing off of your holiday to-do list and order your stamps online now. At the US Postal Service site, these newly-released holiday nutcracker adhesive stamps cost $8.40 for a booklet of 20. They feature four designs- Santa, a king, a captain, and a drummer. Cute, aren't they? My only complaint is that the Hanukkah stamps look the same every year (anyone else notice this?) Those of us who celebrate Hanukkah would like some fun new stamps, too! Visit the US Postal Service site to buy your holiday stamps.

Tis the Season for Tiny Prints

Hard to believe Thanksgiving is around the corner! That means it's time to order your holiday photo cards. I've posted some suggestions already, and will continue to do so over the next few weeks (though I advise ordering sooner rather than later!) but today I want to show you some of the beautiful designs at the current go-to site for holiday photo cards, Tiny Prints. I have yet to see a Tiny Prints card (whether online or in person) that I didn't love. I think you'll feel the same way! Here are some options (prices start around $1.24 oer card, by the way, and see below for coupon codes):

Vintage Stripes


Bright Nights


Holiday Bouquet


Gingerbread Kids


Hanukkah Stripes


Vintage Print



Browse all the 2008 Holiday Cards at Tiny Prints- you really can't go wrong with any of them!

Here are some super duper coupon codes for you to use at Tiny Prints (I think you can only use one or the other): RMN10 for $10 off orders more than $100; or HOLIDAYSHIP49 for free ground shipping on orders over $49. Enjoy!

The Silken Thread

Love these personalized hair clips from The Silken Thread. Handmade and available in 12 different colors, these are a cute holiday gift (or sibling gift) at just $11 apiece. Available at The Silken Thread (worth a visit for lots of other personalized goodies).

Enjoy 20% off at The Silken Thread with code MMSHOPS!

MyMomShops Giveaway: Lands End Kids' Fleece Slippers

THIS CONTEST IS NOW CLOSED.



It's suddenly gotten cold here in New York, and my five-year-old's thoughts have turned to warm PJs and hot cocoa. And today's giveaway is just about cutest cold weather gift I've seen in a while. These fluffy kids' fleece slippers from Lands End pull on easily and stay put thanks to rib-knit ankle collars. They are cushioned for extra comfort and have suede footbeds to prevent slipping. And, the appliques are adorable! There are eight designs available; my favorites ones (top to bottom) are penguin, pink ice skates, and dog. They're available in sizes toddler (5, 6, 7, 8) and Kids (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, and 1 through 7...if you've got small feet you can wear them, too!) $19.50 per pair at Lands End.

Fancy Kids

These beautiful Fancy Children Wooden Magnets by French-based company Djeco are a sweet holiday gift that will provide hours of quiet imaginative play. Children can mix and match the costume pieces to their heart's delight (my daughter R. would love that knight). Appropriate for ages 2 and up, the set is available at Petit Baby for $19.99.

Enjoy 15% off your purchases at Petit Baby (not valid on sale items) with code GIFT15, valid now through 11/23/2008.

Retail Me Not

In today's tough times, every dollar counts. Whatever I buy online, I always check the site Retail Me Not for the latest coupon codes. I've used Retail Me Not to save money at dozens of different sites, most recently Kohls.com and ExposuresOnline.com. I can not recommend it enough (I've visited lots of other coupon sites and this one is definitely tops). It takes just a second to check Retail Me Not before you check out online, and you might save more than a few bucks. Visit Retail Me Not.

Winter Fun in the Land of Nod

You don't know how many times it'll snow this year thanks to global warming, so you'd better be prepared when the flakes start falling (last year my kids got to play in the snow just twice entire winter- so sad):

Baby Rosebed Sled ($129). Just like in the 'ole days, this handcrafted ash and maple sled comfortably accommodates tots ages 18 months and up.


Snowman Family Dress Up Kit ($69). Wish I had this last year when we were rummaging in Central Park for snow men accoutrements! Each family kit includes accessories for Mom, Dad, and Junior (you can purchase each individually, too). Think wooden carrot noses, crimson shawls, "coal" eyes, and the like.


Browse more winter gifts at The Land of Nod.

Radiance Memo Album

Exposures Online makes beautiful photo albums that can be pricey, but I stumbled onto this pretty iridiscent Radiance Memo Album in their clearance section. It's on sale for $34.99 (reduced from $65) and accommodates 300 4" x 6" photos along with your hand-written notes. One line of silver personalization is included for free, too! Visit Exposures Online.

Get an additional $10 off any order at Exposures Online with code "40518008800" now through 12/31/08!

Autumn In New York

Central Park, November 2008

MyMomShops Sponsor: CCC Gifts

Our sponsor CCC Gifts has perfect gift-worthy clothing and accessories for women and children; I've posted about their personalized kids' placemats and striped nursery bookholders before. Among the other personalized gifts for children are baby blankets, clothing, and more.

CCC Gifts has recently added two special new categories. The first is "Gotcha Day" which features gifts, announcements, jewelry, frames, and more commemorating the special day when an adopted child comes into a new family's life. I particularly like this Gotcha Girl Canvas ($70):


Another new category is "Memorial and Loss". A portion of the proceeds from these items will go to SHARE (Pregnancy and Infant Loss Support, Inc.). This pretty pink heart love box costs $42.50:


One of my favorite categories at CCC Gifts is bags and totes. I'd love this Snorkle Duffle Bag ($88) for weekend getaways . It can be monogrammed, too.


Browse more products (including holiday items) at CCC Gifts.

Use coupon code "Holiday" for a 10% discount at CCC Gifts now through November 30, 2008.

Marmalade Ink Holiday Card Winner

Congratulations to Jenna, who wrote, "I really like the Elaine card. They are all nice though. Thanks for the giveaway!" Jenna, please e-mail me to claim your prize!

History for Sale

I'm saving all of my Obama memorabilia (S's shirt, the New York Times from the day after the election, etc.) for my kids to enjoy when they are older. If you don't already have an Obama tee for your little one, now's a great time to scoop one up. Our friends at Pluto Kids are offering a special deal on their Obama Rocks tees. They are comfy, 100% cotton American Apparel tees and are available in sizes 3-6 mos through 6T (size 18-24mos is sold out though). The tees are listed for $20 but if you write the code "CHANGE" in the "Notes to Seller" box, Pluto Kids will send you a refund check for $8 (and will e-mail you to confirm that you will receive this check along with your shirt). Join the celebration and order one at Pluto Kids.

Golden Girls

R. would call these dresses "too girly!" so I won't be buying any of them, but aren't they gorgeous to look at? Just perfect for the holidays.

Sparkly Party Dress by Mini Boden ($60; sizes 3/4 years to 13/14 years)


Gold Bubble Dress at Chasing Fireflies ($94, size 12mos-4T)


Tiered Dress by Gap Kids ($44.50, size 12-18mos through 5T)

The Whole Big World in Your Hands

This 40" Inflatable Globe looks pretty fun, doesn't it? Ultra-realistic (it's created with NASA satellite photos) and supposedly "easy to inflate", it's big but lightweight fun for outdoor (or indoor, if you have the space) play. It even glows in the dark. It arrives with a booklet of suggested games you can play. A great holiday gift for all ages. $98 at Chasing Fireflies (a smaller version is available for $40).

Please Just This Once

I wish my little girl would let me put something, anything, in her hair! Aren't these Personalized Name Clippies adorable? They can be made with various color solid or polka dot grosgrain ribbons with silver capital letters. You can even specify whether your little girl wears barrettes on the right or left side of her hair; the designer will adjust the positioning of the letters accordingly. A nice little sibling gift or stocking stufer at $9 apiece. Visit the Etsy.com storefront of Apple Blossom Bows.

MyMomShops Sponsor: Shoestring Home

I'm always on the lookout for online shops with unique home decor and accessories. Our newest sponsor, Shoestring Home, has a great selection of pretty and fun housewares that I don't often see elsewhere (not to mention some trendy children's gifts, too). If you're looking for new ideas for housewarming gifts, holiday gifts, or ways to spruce up your own digs, consider these:

Retro Diner Melamine Plate Set ($40) by Bob's Your Uncle. I'm a big diner fan, so I'd love to have these. Set of 4 packaged in a kraft gift box.


Wire Bread Basket ($48), measuring 7"x12"x18". A rustic yet stylish way to store just about anything in the living room or kitchen.


Handmade Stripes and Bobbles Pillow ($36). A textured pillow like this adds decorative punch to a drab sofa. This one is handmade in Armenia from 100% cotton and measures 10" x 20".


See more housewares and linens at Shoestring Home.

Free Shipping at Garnet Hill

One of my all-time favorite sites, Garnet Hill, is offering free shipping on orders over $75 now through Friday, November 14th. Take advantage of it now to start your holiday shopping! Check out women's clothes, kids' clothing, home decor, toys, and more. Holiday Pillowcases ($20) are shown at left. Happy Shopping!

MyMomShops Giveaway: Marmalade Ink Holiday Photo Cards

THIS CONTEST IS NOW CLOSED.

Tis the season...to start choosing your holiday cards, of course! Our sponsor Marmalade Ink is offering one lucky reader a free set of 30 flat holiday photo cards with envelopes (approximately $68 value). With everyone tightening their belts this holiday season, wouldn't it be nice to get your holiday cards for free?

Marmalade Ink's cards are uniquely designed on two sides- front and back. No plain white backs here. Creating your card is easy peasy- just upload your photo, personalize, and click to order. The cards are printed on high quality matte cardstock and are mailed lighting fast- within 3 business days.

Here are some of my favorite designs from which you can choose if you win this giveaway (the cards normally cost about $2.27 apiece):

"Grant" Card in Orange




"Zoey" Cards



"Danley" Card

Return to the Magic Garden

"This is the garden of make believe, a magical garden of make believe, where flowers chuckle and birds play tricks, and a magic tree grows lollipop sticks..."

I felt the warm fuzzies when I read about the new DVD release of Carole and Paula in the Magic Garden. This new set- which includes 2 DVDs and 1 CD- is the first time you can watch The Magic Garden on DVD. If you grew up in the New York tri-state area between 1972 and 1984, you need no introduction to The Magic Garden. If you didn't, you should know that The Magic Garden was the most successful regional show in the history of children's television. We local kids fondly remember watching it on New York's WPIX (Channel 11) just about every day. It was one of those shows that parents and grandparents loved, too...I fondly remember watching this show curled up next to my Grandma Ruth in her Brooklyn apartment.

The show is hosted by hippie-looking Carole and Paula and their loveable puppet friends Sherlock & Flapper (Carole and Paula are still around, by the way, and much like Marcia Brady, can not escape their seventies TV alter-egos!) The DVD set includes 10 of the best Magic Garden episodes. The show is sweet, low-budget, charming, and educational. There are songs, games, Chuckle Patch jokes, and Story Box tales. And those rad seventies hairstyles, clothing, and set decor. Oooh, I just can not wait to watch this with my kids. Buy it for $24.99 at Amazon.com.

Hey! The Magic Garden DVD was reviewed in The New York Times today- check it out!

2 Little Stars

I have to thank my dear friend (and loyal blog reader) Robin for suggesting that I take a look at 2 Little Stars, a charming new online boutique started by two St. Louis moms (one of whom went to college with Robin). This new site is perfect for those who ike to gift new babies with very luxurious, plush personalized gifts. 2 Little Stars offers personalized (or non-personalized) blankets, burp cloths bibs, onesies, tees, tag blankets, and more...and the fabrics are beautifully designed. I like that most of the fabrics are avaialable in different items (bibs, burp cloths, etc.) so you can create a coordinating gift set (they'll package it in a personalized decoupaged bucket) or order a la carte. Shown above is 2 Little Star's Chocolate Illusion Decoupage Bucket Gift Set ($61, includes personalized bib, burpcloth, and bucket) and Tropical Security Blanket Gift Set ($71, includes blanket, bib and burp cloth). For more gift ideas (prices start at $30), visit 2 Little Stars.

Hair in New York

Is there no end to the possibilities of adorable girls' felt barrettes? Apparently not. I just stumbled onto this Big Apple Collection 3 Piece Hair Clip Set by Best of Chums. This whimsical set includes one taxi cab clip, one big apple clip, one I Love New York T-shirt clip, and a handy skyscraper felt hair clip holder. Perfect gift for any little New York fashionista. Buy it for $19.95 at Polka Dot Whale.

MyMomShops Sponsor: Rock Candy Music & Gift

During the day, S. and I often each do our "work" quietly (paying bills for me, playing with toy cars for him) while listening to music. One of the CDs we listen to is "Sunshine of My Life" by our newest sponsor, Rock Candy Music and Gift. Rock Candy makes CDs (and gifts including CDs) featuring sweet piano versions of classic songs (the "Sunshine of My Life" CD we have features Motown classics like "Baby Love" and "The Way You Do The Things You Do"). You can listen to samples of the songs at the Rock Candy Music.

The CDs alone (there are several, including instrumental versions of classics by The Beatles, James Taylor, and Elvis) are an affordable baby gift at $12 apiece.


The Happy Baby Bag Set includes a CD, hand puppet, and rattle. At $22, it's a unique baby shower gift.


Rock Candy has also recently added beautiful 100% organic cotton, machine washable, 30" x 40" blankets which are packaged with a "Sleep Little Angel" CD of soothing lullabies ($50 per set).


These are some of the most soothing baby gifts around, something that noise-weary parents are sure to appreciate. Visit Rock Candy Music & Gift.

Festive Footsies

Don't forget to decorate one of your cutest accessories- your baby's feet- this holiday season. Baby sockmaker extraordinaire Trumpette proudly presents these Hanukkah socks and Merry Christmas Socks. They cost just $6 and arrive in pretty gift boxes. Fits infants up to 12 months of age. They're available at our sponsor My Princess Closet (don't be fooled by the name; these socks look just fine on a little guy, too).

Burger and Fries Please

R. has been begging for this Step 2 Fifties Diner ($129.99) for Hanukkah ever since she saw it in a magazine last month. I must admit, it's pretty darn cute. It has all the amenities of a real fifties diner, including booth-style seating, tabletop jukebox, griddle pan, burgers, fries, sundae fixings, and more. There are 2 sides (kitchen on one, seating on the other) so a few kids can play here at once. This toy screams "holiday gift"- I just hope its appeal will last past January (in a NYC apartment, a toy like this is a major space commitment)! Read more about it at Toys R Us.

Egg Cozy

This Cable Booties & Hat Set by Egg by Susan Lazar is a totally gorgeous and luxurious gift for a new winter baby. It's 100% cotton so it won't feel scratchy against baby's sensitive skin, and it's available in 7 colors (I like this mint green for either boys or girls). Plus, it arrives in a gift box. $70 at Baby Box.

Eco-Friendly at Naartjie

I browsed at Naartjie.com recently and spotted this clever boys go-eco tee on sale for just $11 (normally $14.95). The shirt is 100% cotton knit, machine washable, and available in 3 different colors, sizes 3mos-2T at Naartjie (curious what Naartjie is? see my original post here).

The Tube

Since I'm an Anglophile and have spent a lot of time in London, this London Underground Tube Stations Art Print from Etsy.com is rawther appealing to me. It features 12 popular tube stops professionally laser printed on thick archival cardstock. Arrives unframed, measuring about 8 1/2" x 11". Mind the gap! $13 at the Etsy.com storefront of Scarlet Beautiful.

MyMomShops Sponsor: Pure & Honest Kids

Our sponsor Pure & Honest Kids carries one of my favorite European children's clothing lines, Deux par Deux. Ever since a friend of mine gave R. a Deux par Deux outfit for her 2nd birthday, I have been hooked on the tres chic yet comfy European styling of these threads (and unlike many other European lines which are cut narrow, I find Deux par Deux runs true-to-size...very helpful when you have big, tall kids like mine). The colors and patterns are always vibrant and unique. If you're looking for European kids' clothing that won't cost you an arm and a leg (it ain't always cheap, but it's priced right for the quality), look to Deux par Deux. Here are two of my favorite Deux par Deux outfits at Pure & Honest Kids right now:

Coquette Dress Set ($70, size 12mos-4T). This long-sleeved corduroy dress features the hot color combo of orange, pink, and brown. Love the coordinating polka dotted and striped tights. It's a gorgeous outfit yet 100% cotton and machine washable. It's now on sale for $59.50!


Construction Shirt, Pants, and Vest Set ($124, size 2-6) . A great dressy outfit for a little boy (and something different from the blues and grays in his closet). The screen-printed graphic design shirt pairs with a striped V-neck sweater (perfect for layering depending on the weather), and adjustable waist pants. Again, a nice surprise that this classy outfit is 100% cotton and machine washable (though hand-washing is recommended for the vest). Now on sale for $105.40!


Like these ensembles? See more colorfully patterned Deux par Deux clothes at Pure & Honest Kids. And while you're there, get a head start on holiday shopping by checking out Pure & Honest Kids' latest toys, sibling gifts, and grandparent gifts.

Mommy Needs a Nap

For that special someone (yes, that includes you) who could use a nap more than anything this holiday season, I think this Cozy Chic Throw by Barefoot Dreams is just about perfect. Made by the same designer as some of my favorite baby blankets, this generous 54" x 72" throw is just what you need for a long snooze on the sofa. It's plush, soft, machine washable, and can even be monogrammed. It even got an official seal of approval from Oprah herself. Available in several colors (though white is my favorite) for $130 at Lucie Claire.

Jackie or Marilyn?

Here's a fun quiz. You'll probably enjoy it more if you're a Mad Men fan (it's based on this episode), but even if you're not, give it a whirl. Turns out I'm neither a Jackie nor a Marilyn; I'm a Doris (Day). Here's my personality profile. Sounds 'bout right:

You are a Doris -- "I must help others."

Dorises are warm, concerned, nurturing, and sensitive to other people's needs.

How to Get Along with Me
* Tell me that you appreciate me. Be specific.
* Share fun times with me.
* Take an interest in my problems, though I will probably try to focus on yours.
* Let me know that I am important and special to you.
* Be gentle if you decide to criticize me.

What I Like About Being a Doris
* being able to relate easily to people and to make friends
* knowing what people need and being able to make their lives better
* being generous, caring, and warm
* being sensitive to and perceptive about others' feelings
* being enthusiastic and fun-loving, and having a good sense of humor

Dorises as Parents
* are good listeners, love their children unconditionally, and are warm and encouraging (or suffer guilt if they aren't)
* are often playful with their children
* wonder: "Am I doing it right?" "Am I giving enough?" "Have I caused irreparable damage?"
* can become fiercely protective

Take the quiz yourself and see which 60s female icon suits your personality best. Have fun!

I'm a Sucker for Books

I love giving books to children for their birthdays or when they become big siblings. Sometimes the presentation is not so exciting though (my kids don't always jump for joy when a book arrives in a brown cardboard box). So I was intrigued to learn about The Lollipop Book Club, an online service that provides monthly (or one-time) book gifts for children. Each book arrives in a brightly colored padded envelope addressed to the child, and includes a personal note from the gift-giver on a sticker so you can place it inside the book (such a nice touch). And, here's the yummy finishing touch- the gift includes a theme-appropriate lollipop. The book selection includes hits by Kevin Henkes, Eric Carle, and Karen Katz, as well as Caledcott Medal winners, holiday-themed books, books grouped by age-appropriateness, and even "That's Life" books that help kids cope with events like moving, illness, or divorce. Keep Lollipop Book Club in mind for year-round literary gift-giving for kids!

The Paper Cafe Giveaway Winners

Congratulations to the 3 winners of The Paper Menu products, courtesy of The Paper Cafe:

Wall Art winner:
Mona, who wrote, "The butterfly wall art is just perfect and so cute for my daughter's room!"

T-shirt/onesie winners:
Nadia, who wrote, "So adorable! I'd love to win the Tulips T-shirt."
Mony, who wrote, "LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the sailboat onesie!"

Winners, please e-mail me to claim your prizes. Everyone else, get ready for two holiday photo card giveaways coming up soon!

This is the Time to Remember

Like so many other people, I am having a hard time putting into words my feelings about yesterday's election. Overwhelmed and overjoyed are probably good descriptions to start. On Tuesday morning, R. had come inside the voting booth with me (we have the good old-fashioned curtained booths here in NYC). After I made my selections, she pulled the big lever to register my vote and gasped, "I voted, Mommy! When does he win?" She tried to stay up to watch the returns but fell asleep on the couch around 9pm. I carried her into bed. A bit earlier in the evening, she had asked me, "How come people with dark skin couldn't vote a long time ago?" I gave her an explanation that was gentle and age-appropriate, yet direct and honest. I hope it sticks with her.

When the news of Obama's victory broke around 11pm, I burst into tears right along with everyone on T.V. Then I heard tons of people outside cheering, singing, and blowing horns. I went into R's room to wake her and tell her the news. "He won! He won!" I whispered. She barely opened her eyes, but gave me the biggest smile, hugged her bunny, and turned back to sleep. I think she's gonna remember this big day. I hope so.

p.s. The next morning, the first thing she wanted to know was "Will Malia and Sascha live in that big white house? Will they bring all their toys?" I think R. is going to be quite captivated by the new First Daughters!


Photo courtesy Times Online (UK).

Happy Holiday Headlines

This Headlines Holiday Photo Card is something upbeat and new (yet with a retro feel) for the holidays. Cute idea. It's printed on high quality cardstock and starts at $1.75 per card at Ringo Baby.

Ringo Baby is offering MyMomShops readers 15% off all holiday orders placed by November 18th with code MMSEB15. After November 18th, the discount will be 10% through the end of the year.

Stylish Surfer Dude

I can't get enough of the super-cool but not over-the-top shirts by Wonderboy. My son now has several in his closet. One of my favorite sites, Arte Bebe, has a wonderful selection of Wonderboy threads (including tops, tees, shorts, and jeans). This Santorini Surfer-Style Tunic is a bright addition to a boy's fall or winter wardrobe. I love the pop of salmon color at the collar. The shirt costs $54 and is available in sizes 2T, 3T and 5T. Check out all of the Wonderboy clothing at Arte Bebe.

Oh What a Night!!

More on the election later on....

Today's the Day

It's a big day for our country. I am excited to be sharing it with my five-year-old, who shouted, "Today we go vote!" as soon as she woke up. She probably will remember this day for the rest of her life. Whatever your political affiliation, make sure that you go out and exercise your right to vote! See you tomorrow....


Limited edition "A Time to Vote" Letterpress Poster ($10) from Etsy.com.

MyMomShops Giveaway: The Paper Menu

Today's giveaway is from our friends at The Paper Cafe, a shop which represents elegant stationery brands like Whitney English, Hicks Paper, and Three Designing Women. The Paper Cafe has recently added two very sweet personalized items for babies and children- wall art and T-shirts/onesies- by designer The Paper Menu:

Wall Art ($32 for wood-framed 11" x 11" print)


T-shirts or onesies ($20 each, onesies size 6mos or 12 mos, T-shirts sizes XS 2-4 through XL 16-18)


Here are some of the other designs which you can choose from:

Dress Wall Art ($32)


Airplane Wall Art ($32)


Birdie T-shirt or onesie


Sailboat T-shirt or Onesie ($20)



Win it! THREE MyMomShops readers will win a prize by The Paper Menu. ONE reader will win wall art; TWO readers will win a t-shirt or onesie. Here are the contest rules:

1) To enter, please comment on THIS post (click on "comments" below), indicating whether you'd prefer the WALL ART or T-SHIRT/ONESIE, and which design you'd choose (click here to see wall art designs; and here to see T-shirt/onesie designs).
2) Post your comment by 11:59pm EST Wednesday, November 5th. One entry per person, please. US addresses only.
3) One winner will be chosen at random and announced on Thursday morning, November 6th.
4) NOTE: If you wish to be contacted by e-mail if you win, please include your e-mail address in your comment. Otherwise you must check back on Thursday to see if you won. Unclaimed prizes are forfeited after 72 hours.

Good luck!

Mommy Knows Her ABCs

I just got one of these ABC necklaces by uber-talented jewelry designer (and mom of two) Jennifer Fisher. Inspired by her 4-year-old's enthusiasm for his ABCs, Jennifer created this necklace for both moms and their kids to enjoy. It is sterling silver and can be personalized by highlighting your child's initials in colored resins (your choice of 10 colors)- mine looks so sweet with the "R" and "S" colored right next to each other. If you have another baby you can even send the necklace back to Jennifer to color an additional letter. The necklace is unique and modern while still looking delicate (one of my peeves about modern jewelry is that some of it looks too clunky- but this piece is sized perfectly). The pendant measures 1 1/2” X 1 1/4” and is hung on a 16” brown cotton cord. The basic necklace costs $180; there is an additional cost for customizing the letters ($10 for first letter, $5 for each additional one). This is a seriously gorgeous gift for a modern mom; it is a definite wish list item this holiday season. And even better, Jennifer Fisher is donating a percentage of the profits from the sale of this necklace to children's literacy charities. Check out this necklace and Jennifer's other beautiful designs here.

Hey! The necklace is now on sale for $150 (reduced from $180) for the month of November. I am getting soooo many compliments on mine. Hurry over!

Penny People Designs Giveaway Winner

Congratulations to "lisanyc" who wrote, "I love the grosgrain ribbon pink!!! So cute with the picture." Lisa, please e-mail me to claim your prize.

Accessory A La Mode Giveaway Winner

Congratulations to "arrie" who wrote, "I love love love the mommy rings! Perfect for a new mommy! Like me!" Please e-mail me to claim your prize.

Ask MyMomShops: Thanksgiving Cards

Dear MyMomShops,

Do you have suggestions for suppliers of Thanksgiving photo cards? We love sending yearly Thanksgiving cards. It's fun to include fall photography of the kids and it's nice to have the annual family letter/card off my to-do list before the busy holiday season.

Sincerely,
Melinda from Iowa

Hi Melinda! This is a great idea. A Thanksgiving card is sure to get noticed before the ton of holiday mail and photo cards arrive. Plus it gives you one less thing to worry about crossing off your list in December!

I found several cards you might like:

Square Fall Leaves Photo Thanksgiving Card by Lil Duck Duck. 25 for $46.99. (See their other Thanksgiving designs).


Brown Dots and Orange Photo Thanksgiving Card by Paper and Punch. $4.20 per card. (See their other Thanksgiving designs).


Crisp Leaves Thanksgiving Photo Cards by Tiny Prints. 50 for $74.50. (See their other Thanksgiving designs).


Do any of these strike your fancy? I hope so. Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family!

Cheers,
MyMomShops

Halloween 2008

By request, here are some pictures of our Halloween celebrations:

Early on Halloween day, R. roars like a lion:


Some floral birthday gifts, plus "sticker pumpkin":


What got lost in translation? How did "Mommy" become "Memmy"?!


R. takes a turn at Pin the Nose on the Pumpkin:


Me in full ketchup regalia:


R., S., and their pal K. trick-or-treat at the fancy townhouses on East 78th St.:


Is S. the cutest cheeseburger or what?


R. and K. make their way home.:

Silhouette & Stationery Goodness

This past summer I posted these charming personalized silhouette sibling thank you cards that I bought for R. and S. (we got so many compliments on them, by the way). The talented designer, Sarah & Abraham, has now launched its own beautiful e-commerce website (seriously, I am jealous of the lovely design of this site) and blog. Here are some of my newest finds from Sarah & Abraham, which you may want to order for yourself (or as gifts) as the holidays approach:

Bird Flat Cards (20 for $23.50)


Family Folded Holiday Notecards (20 for $29)


Holiday Return Address Stickers (24 for $14)


Kids at Play Print: Siblings (8 x 10 print for $20)


Love this stuff, dontcha? Check it out at Sarah & Abraham.