The View from 37

Tomorrow (Halloween) is my 37th birthday, so I will be taking a break from the computer and posting again on Monday, November 2nd (with two super giveaways by Dwell Studio- don't miss them).

As lots of you know by now, this has been a rough year for me and my kids- the 2nd such year in a row, in fact. Our lives changed dramatically days before my 35th birthday two years ago, and it's been an uphill battle ever since. I can't go into details, but your jaws would drop. Nonetheless, there have been rewards that are beyond compare, most notably seeing my children starting to do so well despite paths that are anything but typical. And realizing my own strength as an unexpectedly single mother. And, I continue to have so much fun writing this blog and getting wonderful feedback from its readers. This is a much-needed creative outlet for me and I thank you all for reading it.

And to my incredible family and friends (you know who you are), thank you for helping us through another year...and for hoping, too, that the next one will be easier.

I wish you and your families all a fun, safe, and happy Halloween!

Central Park, New York City, October 2009.

A Birthday Tea Party

I was surfing through 1000 Markets (a site similar to Etsy) and fell for this unique Birthday Party Playbox with Wooden Dolls. Handmade by the artist (who was inspired by her own little girl's 1st birthday), the green and lilac-accented wooden storage box with bamboo handle contains all of the following: 2 children (the birthay child and a friend), 2 plates, 2 scones, a teapot, birthday cake, cake plate, 4 presents, a table, and a sidetable. All custom crafted. Of course, such loveliness comes at a cost- in this case $85. Even if you don't buy it, it's awfully sweet to look at...and while you're doing so, check out the other beautiful handmade playsets by the artist, The Enchanted Cupboard.

20% off Holiday Cards at Tiny Prints

If you're an early bird who is ready to order holiday cards, take advantage of prices slashed up to 20% at top stationery site Tiny Prints. I'll be showing you more of my favorite picks from their 2009 photo card collection soon, but in the meantime, if you act fast, you'll score discounts on cards like their classic "Holiday Grid", which is designed by Robyn Miller and is available in three different color schemes (I love the slate blue with turquoise version- shown here- for a generic "Happy Holidays" card that will work for both Christmas and Hanukkah). The regular price is $1.74 each; it is currently on sale for $1.57 each. Which, when you're ordering 100 cards, will add up to some significant savings. Check out the entire holiday card collection at Tiny Prints and act fast!

Prices are slashed up to 20% on holiday cards at Tiny Prints through midnight tonight, October 29th. No coupon code necessary.

Kicks for Your Little Peanuts

R. has been racing to put on her new New Balance/Peanuts Sneakers every weekend since they arrived. We first saw them at an event for bloggers that we were invited to by Alpha Mom last June. New Balance very kindly sent each kid who attended a new pair of kicks this Fall. There are 3 styles, all of which celebrate the Peanuts characters and their holiday celebrations (Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas). They are all based on New Balance's classic 574 running shoe, and are made special with fuzzy tongue linings and comic book insoles. They will last long past holiday season! Sizes 10.5 through 3, for $52.99 at New Balance.

Ann Taylor Loft Maternity

Regular readers know that Ann Taylor Loft is my go-to clothing store to shop for myself. I only wish they had introduced their maternity line several years earlier so I could have worn it! Available online but not in stores, Loft Maternity has versatile tops, pants, and dresses in bright solid colors that are easy to layer and transition from one season to the next. At left is a 3/4 Puff Sleeve Scoop Neck Sweater for $44.50; it's available in three colors and most other pieces are available in multiple colors, too. Check it out at Ann Taylor Loft.

p.s. In non-maternity clothing, Ann Taylor Loft is offering their jeans (a staple of my own wardrobe) for just $25 (online only) for the next three days- check their homepage for details.

Skip Hop with Savings

Skip Hop has introduced a line of lower-priced diaper bags at Target- it's called Spark by Skip Hop. The Cargo Tote Diaper Bag in charcoal strikes me as a diaper bag that Dads might like to carry. It's polyester, but it has many of the standard Skip Hop features (stroller attachments, side pockets, magnetic flap closure). At $26.99, it's a steal. Buy it at Target.

Maybe I Do Like Hemp

I don't think I've mentioned many products with the word "hemp" before on this blog, but I have to say these new infant Hemp Trekkers by our affiliate Isabubu Designs are pretty darn cute (particularly the seasonally-appropriate pumpkin ones shown at left). Available in sizes 3-6 or 6-12 mos, these make a sweet baby gift for eco-minded parents. They are 100% animal free and made of natural hemp lined with organic cotton. They have Isabubu's trademark soft soles and easy slip-on design. $29 for your choice of four designs at Isabubu Designs. Need a sibling gift, too? Check out their selection of Barefoot Books for one-stop shopping.

Get 15% off your order at Isabubu Designs with code "hemp09" now through Saturday, October 31st.

For Those Who Miss Their Magazines

I love my magazines, and I hadn't even finished mourning the demise of Domino when I found out recently that Cookie was shutting down, too. I did, however, actually spot a new magazine (a rarity these days) in my Duane Reade store a few weeks ago- a preview issue of Best You Health. Think of it as Selfmeets Real Simple. I liked the articles and photos and recipes very much. It's not being published again till the Spring '10 issue, but you can order a subscription in advance ($10 for four yearly issues) here.

The Little Mermaid on Third Avenue

R. wore her Halloween costume one week early to a party we attended for YAI (the agency that provided Early Intervention services for both of my kids). This being New York City, I thought no one would bat an eye at a backpack-wearing Ariel one week before Halloween, but it turns out she attracted a lot of attention. Several tourists even took her photo (including one on the bus...after all, it's not every day you see a mermaid riding the Lexington Avenue local). The one person she would not let photograph her, of course, was me!

It's My Book

I love to gift books as birthday gifts to children, but I also like to include something a little extra special. I just ordered this set of personalized car bookplates for one of S's friends as a birthday gift, to include with a new picture book. I ordered the adhesive bookplates from Modern Classics Kids, an Etsy shop that I stumbled onto. It's a pretty good deal- just $7 for twelve plain bookplates, or $8 for a personalized set. You choose the color and font. There are several other cute designs for both boys and girls- I like the round circus bookplates and also the set of nursery rhymes. Visit Modern Classics Kids.

Say Cheese

My 3-year-old is wearing this outfit from The Children's Place "Blue Traveller" collection for his first school photo tomorrow. I think he'll look pretty sharp, don't you? He's got the blue eyes to match, too. Kudos to The Children's Place on another great collection of clean-cut looks for little boys. And, each piece is $16.50 or less; search Coupon Chief or Retail Me Not for additional coupon codes if you're going to buy online.

Pillow Talk

I've wanted to buy one of Alexandra Ferguson's color-block graphic pillows for a while, and I finally took the plunge and bought one of her best-sellers, "Be Nice or Leave" ($69 for 16" square pillow including filling). Let me tell you all the reasons I love it so much. First, of course, I love text graphics incorporated into decor. "Be nice" is our household motto (thanks, Grandma) and the "or leave" gives it an extra dose of (fun) snark. I recently got new beige slipcovers on my furniture, plus some red throw pillows; this oatmeal pillow with red text will also match a red accent wall in my living room.

Second, these pillows are eco-friendly. They're made from 100% post-consumer recycled felt derived from water bottles. Each pillow cover is approximately the equivalent of four water bottles- how 'bout that? Plus, the felt is made here in the U.S.A. The pillows themselves are hand-made by Alexandra in her New York City studio.

Visit Alexandra's Etsy shop to see more fine examples of her work, including the chatty "Pillow Talk" series, a monogram series, and nature designs.

p.s. Hey New Yorkers! You can also catch Alexandra and her work in person at the fabcraft fair currently running at Madison Square Park through this Sunday, November 1st. She's in the "NYCraft" booth with 7 other local artists- check them out!

Black-and-Whites, Halloween-Style

Like many New Yorkers, I enjoy a good "black and white" cookie (my apologies to out-of-towners who don't know what I'm talking about). I just found out that Fresh Direct (another local phenom) has introduced an "Orange and White" Boo! Cookie versions of the classic pastry just in time for Halloween. We are going to order a bunch for my birthday party. They cost $1.99 apiece at Fresh Direct (thanks to my sister for the tip!)

Last Day for Free Shipping on My Photo Cards!

Today is the last day I'm offering free shipping on ALL orders at my little card shop at Etsy, Brown Eye Blue. So you can scoop of Halloween photo cards (like my top-seller, the "mini pumpkins" card shown above, which has been featured at several other blogs) for just $3.75 apiece, or $9.75 for any 3 cards of your choosing (you can also buy them as frameable prints- contact me for details). There are pumpkins, foliage, parks, scarecrows, mums, and more. The cards are all handmade, with my professionally printed photos mounted by hand onto thick white fold-over cards. Envelopes are included, and each card is individually wrapped in a cello sleeve with raffia ribbon- very pretty! People have been buying them to use for Halloween cards, fall correspondence, gifts, or even as Halloween decorations (we have a bunch on display in our apartment- this one is R's favorite, natch). If you buy them now, you should have them in time for Halloween. Check them out quick at Brown Eye Blue.

Solana Swaddle Wrap

When I had my first baby there were about 2 swaddle blankets on the market- ugly yellow polyester and ugly green polyester. Times sure have changed. Swaddle blankets are de rigeur for new babies now since they decrease the risk of SIDS and also, of course, because they help baby (and mom) get longer stretches of sleep. The new Solana Swaddle Wraps are a collection of beautiful swaddle blankets designed by a pediatrician mom. They're made of breathable sheer and stretch cottons, and have pretty organic trims printed with earth friendly dyes. I like that they are available in girl, boy, or gender neutral designs- making them an affordable baby shower gift (they start at just $19.95). Visit Solana Swaddle Wraps.

I'll Take It

The top item on my Halloween birthday wishlist is probably sleep, but I also fancy this Tiny Pumpkin necklace for myself. It's made of silver with inlaid pumpkin orange-tinted concrete, and you can choose a 16" or 18" chain. Each piece is made by hand and arrives in a recycled gift box. $58 at the Etsy.com shop of Lulubug Jewelry.

Psst...speaking of Etsy, this weekend is your last chance for free shipping on any and all Halloween photo cards & prints at my very own Etsy shop. Take a peek at Brown Eye Blue!

Happy Birthday "Grancka"

I want to wish a very happy semi-milestone birthday today to my father, whose preferred name has been "Grandpa" for the past 6 years (and, now that his adoring 3-year-old grandson has started talking, it comes out more like "Grancka"). "Grandpa" is the most amazing father and grandfather I ever could have wished for. He (and my mom) teach me- and my children- on a daily basis what it means to be caring, dedicated, hard-working, ethical, loving, and generous. There has never been a time that Grandpa has not stepped forward for my children and me- and, these days especially, that means the world to us. He has a wonderfully close relationships with R. and S. (who are both named in memory of his parents, the "original" R & S), and spending time with him is a cherished part of their daily lives. If my own son turns out to be half as good a man as his Grandpa, I will know I did my job well.

Happy Birthday, Dad/Grandpa! We love you!

S. (age 18 months) falls asleep on Grandpa while having his last bottle, March 2008.

Save Yourself a Trip to Hallmark

I think every mom could probably use this Emergency Box of Cards by Bob's Your Uncle. It covers a bunch of cheery occasions including birthday, wedding, new baby, thank you, congratulations, and bon voyage, plus a "get well sooner" card. I also really like the kraft box that stores the cards, but that's a paper-phile thing. Each set costs $12 at Bob's Your Uncle, which I'm sure is well worth the time saved running to a card store.

Couture Invito Gift Certificate Winner

Congratulations to socmama, who wrote, "I really love the Sterling Silver Necklace with Nickel-Sized Charm. Thanks!" Please e-mail me to claim your prize.

Holiday Greetings From....Well, Everywhere

Since we've already started talking holiday cards, I wanted to show you these fun "regional" designs by up-and-coming stationery site Minted.com. In fact, I am considering one of the designs below for my own cards. You can probably figure out which one. I think these are so unique and would be fun to send to friends across the country.

And, keep in mind, if you order before Nov.1st from Minted you'll get 10% off with code "FALL09" and you don't even have to send in your photos yet (so you have more time to try to get that elusive shot of your children all smiling).

Here is a sampling (each card costs about $2 each):

New York Transit Holiday Photo Cards. If only the actual subways were this attractive...


float + chicago Holiday Photo Cards. A winter white Windy City skyline highlights your favorite holiday photo.


City by the Bay Holiday Photo Cards I love this one. Almost makes me wish I lived in San Francisco.


There are other regional designs, too, plus plenty more attractive holiday photo cards- browse them all at Minted.com.

Honkytonk Holiday Photo Cards Perfect for families who hail from the West.


Enjoy 10% off all holiday cards (and you don't have to send in your photos till later) with code "FALL09" now through October 31st at Minted.com

A Message from Tori

What a treat- I woke up to this message on Twitter from Tori Spelling, thanking me for these gifts. This makes my day. Thanks, Tori!

p.s. Our traffic is through the roof today thanks to Tori's mention- over 1000 visitors already today and it's only 8:30am! Welcome to those of you who found us through Tori's post on Twitter. To stay in the loop about MyMomShops' exclusive giveaways, special finds & more, please e-mail me with "newsletter" in the subject line. Enjoy your visit!

Beauty Sleep for the Girls

This is such a sweet idea. "Mommy and Me" Time Out is not what I originally thought (a naughty corner for both mother and child?), but is actually a gift set of mother/child organic lavender-scented eye pillows. The idea is that when you want a few minutes of Mommy relaxation, your busy little princess may actually wind down and join you for some quiet time (it's worth a try, right?) Both eye pillows are made from 100% organic cotton and are filled with 100% organic lavender and flaxseed. You can choose from three pretty designs- I like "Ohio" (the one shown) best. $30 for each set at the charming girls-only boutique Happy Chickadee.

Pssst! Happy Chickadee is celebrating its 1st birthday and you can get $10 off of any order over $10 (how 'bout that?) with the code "Birthday" at checkout.

Would You Put Your Infant in This Cradle?

I chuckled when I saw this Eco Cradle by Green Lullaby. It looks a little like something from a Saturday Night Live commercial. The description says that it conforms to European safety standards, but the words "corrugated cardboard" make me wary. My babes- who surpassed their bassinette's weight limit within weeks- wouldn't have lasted long in this contraption. But if having a recyclable cradle is something that appeals to you, try it out and report back! It costs $69 at Abe's Market.

Debbie's Dream

Attention NYC moms- a friend of mine is hosting a shopping benefit for "Debbie's Dream", a non-profit that raises money for gastric cancer research. Debbie Zelman Guttman is my friend's younger sister- she is a 42-year-old mom of three beautiful children, and has been diagnosed with stage IV incurable stomach cancer. Although there are about 24,000 cases of gastric cancer diagnosed in the U.S. each year (usually caught in a late stage), there is not a lot of money devoted to research. This benefit will raise money to support research to help Debbie and other patients. There will be tons of items from designers including LEMON, (whose "Goldalicious" dress is shown at right), Rockin Robin belts and accessories, Playdate NYC tees, Dolls and Divas dresses, and Notes by Nanette stationery. Everything will be discounted a LOT.

The benefit will take place on Thursday, Oct. 29th from 10:30am-4:00pm at the home of Tammy Caress (345 E. 80th St. between 80th St. and 1st Avenues, apartment 19EF). For more information, visit Debbie's Dream. I will be there for a while to shop, too, so please come say hello!

For Kids of All Ages

This "Hall of Fame" toy pack I spotted at Z Gallerie would be a cute gift (or stocking stuffers) for kids of all ages this holiday season. It includes a Slinky, a Duncan Butterfly yo-yo, and a mini Etch-a-Sketch. $19.95 for the set at Z Gallerie.

Fit for a Queen

Remember how I obsessed over which bedside mirrored table to buy? I eventually chose Pier 1's Hayworth Nightstand (available in-store only, limited quantities left). I bought them on sale ($179 apiece, usually $199) and they are now on either side of my king-sized bed. They look fab and I feel like Hollywood royalty. I'll take some pictures of the whole set-up soon, but in the meantime here is a picture of my new gems when they arrived (pre-assembled- woo hoo!).

Check out Pier 1's entire Hayworth Collection of bedroom furniture.

MyMomShops Giveaway: Couture Invito

Couture Invito is a custom invitation and stationery company with fantastic paper products and photo gifts (I first mentioned their beautiful silver-plated photo paperweights back in 2007). It's a mom-owned business; Ohio mother-of-two and paper-phile Alesa Upholzer launched the site with her husband three years ago. Several items have become beloved "go-to" gifts for customers, particularly at holiday time. Here are some of their best-sellers (and you should note that all of their printing is done at a commercial printer onto 100# cardstock, unlike many other sites which use desktop publishing):

Kids' Art Stationery is always a crowd-pleaser (particularly with grandparents). I never really considered these before, but now that my six-year-old is drawing things that actually, well, look like things, I'd love to try this out. One side has your child's name, the other side features their own artwork. This also works nicely as a teacher gift. A set of 25 cards and envelopes costs $34.50.

Couture Invito's custom holiday photo cards are truly "custom" in many ways. There are a dozen options you can choose from to make your card unique- from background colors to font types (for each different line of text) to your choice of design for the back of the card (yes, each card is printed 2-sided in full-color at no extra cost...so if you have additional photos or text you want to include, it's not a problem at all). There are lots of designs including the holiday block photo card shown here, which I personally like because you can choose from over 2 dozen colors for the bottom of the card (translation: you can turn a Christmas card into a Hanukkah card, or vice-versa). Cards typically cost about $1.59 each.


Finally, Couture Invito's top-selling item year-round are their custom photo notepads. These are perfect gifts for anyone, but are especially ideal for relatives. Most often, people put their kids on these, but they also can be made for weddings, school classes, pets, or special family events. Shown here is a set of 2 color notepads for $34.25. Black-and-white notepads are also available.


Browse Couture Invito for these and other holiday gifts (be sure to check out the jewelry, too!).

Win it! One reader will win a $50 gift certificate to Couture Invito. Here are the contest rules:

1) To enter, please comment on THIS post (click on "comments" below), indicating what your favorite item from Couture Invito is.
2) Post your comment by 11:59pm EST, Thursday, October 22nd. One entry per person, please. US addresses only.
3) One winner will be chosen at random and announced on Friday morning, October 23rd.
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 Friday to see if you won. Unclaimed prizes are forfeited after 72 hours.

Good luck!

Brand New Items at My Etsy Shop

I added a bunch of new items to my Etsy shop, Brown Eye Blue, including pumpkin farm photos I took this past weekend (some of my photos were also published here!) Cards cost just $3.75 apiece (or $9.75 for your choice of any 3 cards) and shipping is free on all orders through October 25th (no mininum, and no coupon needed). Happy Autumn!

Etsy: Your place to buy & sell all things handmade BrownEyeBlue.etsy.com

Mom's Treat Bag

It's a great time of year for this Orange Star Satchel Handbag I spied at Bright & Bold. It's a waterproof, eco-friendly purse that has lots of inner storage pockets (plus one outer front zip pocket) and happens to be made from recycled soda bottles (PETE materials- I must read up on this since I still don't get it). Makes a nice "treat bag" for Mom on Halloween. It costs $42.95 at Bright & Bold.

Little Maven by Tori Spelling Winners

Congratulations to the two winners:

Jane who wrote, "I LOVE the dress, it is darling!!! Anna would look so beautiful. I'd like to be entered for the dress giveaway!!"

Jennifer G. who wrote, "I like the Long Sleeve Knit Top with Side Arm Pocket. The colors are so bright. Enter me for the boys sweater."

Please e-mail me to claim your prizes. Enjoy!

Everyone else, stay tuned for another giveaway in just a few hours....

A Spider in the Library

Even at ages 3 and 6, my kids laugh hysterically at these finger puppet books. We have several of them including this Little Spider which is from Chronicle Books' collection of fall holiday books for kids. At $5.99 it makes a cheery Halloween gift or add-on gift for a new baby this Fall.

A sweet deal this Halloween: Enjoy 30% off plus free shipping (no minimum order) with code "HALLOWEEN" now through October 31st at Chronicle Books.

Cakes Gone Bad

I read an entertaining article in The New York Times last week about the blog Cake Wrecks, an ode to things gone terribly awry with baked goods (in particular, malaprops made with icing). My favorite image from the article was this one:


Which reminded me of my Halloween birthday cake last year, where my kids wished their "memmy" a Happy Birthday!


Cake Wrecks is a very fun read- check it out!

Ariel and Thomas

Even though I pride myself on finding unique things online, my kids want what they want (i.e. loud plastic toys), and this is true for Halloween costumes as well. This year, six-year-old R. has chosen this Mermaid Costume (sold out at the time at Lillian Vernon so I turned to Ebay instead where it costs $22.49). She wanted her little brother S. to be "Eric" to her "Ariel" but he is sticking to his original choice- Thomas the Tank Engine. The only one who still needs a costume is the birthday girl...me! Any suggestions are welcome.

Mama the Explorer

One of my earliest stationery crushes, R. Nichols, has just introduced its new travel collection including folded notecards (sets of 8 for $16) and sturdy coordinating plastic luggage tags ($6 each). Several destinations are available- my favorite is Pisa, Italy, shown here as a luggage tag. Buy the cards plus a luggage tag and you've got the perfect gift for a travelling friend (or, if you're the lucky explorer, yourself). And even if your travel plans merely consist of going to the in-laws at Thanksgiving, you can travel in some more style. Check out the new travel collection at R. Nichols.

Our Personal Favorites

I learned via Twitter that today only, kids' gift site Frecklebox is offering 20% off all orders with code "HOHOHO". I've posted about Frecklebox several times before; they make fantastic personalized kids' gifts including lunchboxes, puzzles, and big sibling gifts. My own kids' favorite Frecklebox gift is the Personalized Paperback Nature Namebook ($19.95 before discount) shown at top, which tells a story showing the child's name spelled out in a different natural setting on each page (such as clouds, leaves, and sand). You can also personalize the inscription page at no extra cost. We just this book for R., but even S. loves to read it at bedtime and point to her name on every page. I've given it as a gift several times and it is always a hit. Get an early start on your holiday shopping at Frecklebox.

Today (Oct.15th) only, enjoy a 20% discount on all items at Frecklebox with code "HOHOHO".

Hand-me-Ups

I love this idea. A site called Elisabethan sells "clothes with a history" which have been made with materials from other "upcycled" threads. I especially like this "Go Kiddo" tee which is on sale for $35 (reduced from $42, size large only which is about a kids' 6). It is made with pieces of other shirts which were washed, dried, cut and re-sewn into a new garment. A great idea- and yet something else I wish I were crafty enough to make myself. Check out all of the designs (for grown-ups, too) at Elisabethan.

Shop for the Cure

A few years ago, there were not so many "shop for the cure" products that were actually gift-worthy. Now there are plenty. Since this is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, I've selected some top picks- and remember that a portion of sales for all of these profits goes towards breast cancer research and support.

The North Face "Tahoe" Hooded Down Jacket ($249) at Bloomingdales:


Pink Ribbon Grand Leather Jewelry Box (on sale for $199.99, reduced from $299.95) at Red Envelope:


Apollo 18-piece Garden Tool Set ($79.99) at Target:


Prescriptives Pink Ribbon Palette for Cheeks and Eyes ($48.50) at Macy's:


Pink Melamine Mini Colander ($10) at Spoon Sisters: