See You in January!

I'm taking a blog break until Monday, January 3rd (nope, not going on vacation...I wish.) I'll be working on some other big projects and, most importantly, spend lots of time with my kids while they are on break from school. I'll miss you all. Feel free to browse around the archives while I'm gone (do you like the new "You Might Like..." suggested post feature by the way? I'm enjoying all the old posts I forgot about).

Here's what you have to look forward to when we come back in January. Right off the bat on January 3rd, we'll have a New Year's giveaway. I like to welcome everyone back with free stuff. And then in mid-January, MyMomShops celebrates its 4th Blogiversary which means a whole week of giveaways of major prizes. It's a sure fix for the January blues. Finally, at the end of the month, I'm judging the newly expanded Baby & Child division of the New York International Gift Fair. So I'm going to have a preview of all the hottest new products for you. See...January isn't so bad after all.

Until then, enjoy what's left of 2010. Thank you so much for making this a great year for MyMomShops. I wish you and your families a wonderful holiday season and a happy, healthy 2011!

"57th and 5th" cards by R-Nichols.

MyMomShops Best of 2010

I wrote over 730 posts this year. Phew. Sometimes even I forget what some of my favorite stuff is (when I'm stumped for a good gift, I consult my own blog. Really). So at the end of each year, I like to do a "Best Of" highlighting my favorite finds of the past 12 months (scroll to the end of the post for the Best of '07, '08, and '09, too).

Here are 20 of my favorites from 2010. Enjoy!

Best New Site: Zulily. During a year when members-onlt "deal-of-the-day" sites glutted the market, Zulily sparkled with the best daily offerings of gorgeous clothing and accessories for kids (and moms!) at super discounted prices. I've discovered great new brands here, too. There are few sites I check nearly every day, but Zulily is one of them. If you're not a member yet, join here.



Best Kids' Decor: Jonathan Adler Junior. Way out of most people's price range (mine included), but if you love JA you'll flip for his "mini-me" line of modern kids' decor...everything from cool zebra rugs to mini sofas to monogram pillows.



Best New Toy: Perhaps I should say the best new toy in your kids' opinion...Hexbugs. Am I thrilled to have a half dozen Hexbug "nanos" scaring me every time I turn a corner in my apartment? No. But they make my daughter soooo happy.



Best Baby Gift: 100 Good Wishes Personalized Quilt from Red Envelope. I'd seen this gift before on Red Envelope's site, but didn't appreciate it as much until my friend Beth told me about what it mean to her as a new mother.



Best Toy Bargains: Amazon.com toy outlet. I can't tell you how much money I've saved by buying my kids' toys (not to mention birthday gifts for other kids) at Amazon's toy outlet. You have to dig a little- and check back every few days- but then you can pounce on amazing deals (over 70% off) on top-rated toys. Bookmark the Toy Outlet homepage and stock up when your gift supplies run low!


Best New Stationery: Pixie Chicago. This newcomer impressed me greatly with its Skyline Silhouette Notecards and personalized social stationery. It's growing a cult following among celebs, too. Look for more by this promising stationery shop in 2011.



Best Kids' Graphic Tees: Jane Jenni for 10 Again. My son lived in this tee this summer- it was cute, comfy, and made everyone smile.

Best Holiday Cards: Paper Culture. The verdict is in. I ordered half of my holiday cards from Paper Culture, and it turns out that a number of my friends and family did, too. Without exception, they all turned out beautifully. With thick recycled cardstock, rounded edges, modern designs, and superb customer service, Paper Culture will be the first place I'll look for my cards next winter.


Best Birthday Gift: Home Depot Tool Box. I've never seen a kid- boy or girl- not want to play with this toy. And at $4.99, you can't help but buy a few to stock up for birthday parties.





Best Trend: Map Designs : There were plenty of short-lived fads this year (from rompers to jeans diapers), but one design-worthy that lasted throughout 2010 was using map graphics on everything from baby blankets to throw pilllows to wall art. Suddenly, designers realized that people love to show off where they live (or wish they did).


Best Etsy Find: Personalized Stroller Blankets by Elise Hooper Designs.



Best NYC Shopping: Formerly a 1980s nightclub (and before that, a church), the Limelight was revived as a hipster boutique emporium selling everything from whoopie pies to cheeky onesies to funky home decor.




Best Jewelry: Princess Diana/Kate Middleton Imitation Engagement Ring(s)



Best Accessory for Mom: I spotted Reisenthal's motherchildbag at the January 2010 New York INternational Gift Fair (the same gift fair where I'll be judging the Baby & Child division this coming January!), and suddenly it sprouted all over the place (often selling out). An ingenious solution to the age-old problem of mom not having enough hands!



Best Wall Decor: Prints by J Hill Design. I love this designer's work. Geneology has never looked so pretty...doesn't it make you want to fill out a family tree right away?


Best New Line for Target: Liberty of London. All good things come to Target at some point, and cheaper....right? I sure hope so. Liberty of London started a frenzy at Target last summer with goodies like this floral bicycle. I can't wait to see who Target has lined up next.




Best Magazine: Woman's Day. Yes, I love to curl up on the couch with In Style and read about the Kardashians, too. But when it comes to practical advice and tips, Woman's Day is a "real life" magazine. And I was actually able to make that candy corn wreath myself. Hurrah! p.s. A subscription costs a mere $10 or something like that. Treat yourself.

Best Event of the Year: BlogHer '10 conference. Amazing people (not just the costumed variety below), exceptional panels, lavish parties, and the best location ever...my city! So grateful that I got to attend.




Favorite Post of the Year: I didn't actually write it here; I have to thank New York Family magazine for inviting me to pen 20 Things To Know If Your Child Has Special Needs for its November 2010 issue. This writing opportunity--and the feedback it received--meant a lot to me.


Favorite Place To Give You The Scoop (Besides Right Here): Twitter. I joined Twitter in 2009, but I hit my stride this year. I tweet extra shopping finds, coupon codes, and behind-the-scenes info that wouldn't make it the blog otherwise to over 2000 "followers." So if you are looking for another addictive site and have extra time on your hands (as if!) follow me on Twitter.

Want to see past "Best of" winners?

MyMomShops Best of 2009
MyMomShops Best of 2008
MyMomShops Best of 2007

The Holiday Spirit

I have been remiss in not writing sooner about real holiday giving. Not gift-giving, but charitable giving. It has been on my mind a lot.

My holiday budget was tight again this year, but I made sure to stick to it so that we had a little leftover to donate to a couple of charities (I always debate whether to make on "larger" gift to one charity, or to divvy it up...I chose the latter, which means it will be four tiny gifts, but it still feels right). I also like to involve the kids in this process, especially now that they are older (ages 4 and 7). They know that the money we save in our change jar all year long always goes to "tzedakah" at the end of the year, along with the other amount I budgeted.

This year I chose four charities, and the children helped me choose the first one. We got a fundraising letter in the mail from DOROT, a NYC charity that delivers meals and provides friendly visits to the homebound elderly. This was something tangible that easy to discuss with the children on an age-appropriate level- i.e. "Why do you think it is hard for older people to cook for themselves?" "Why do you think older people like to have younger people visit them?" R. also liked that this is a Jewish charity, although I pointed out to her that it provides food for elderly people of all backgrounds.

The other 3 charities I chose myself: The Doe Fund (a favorite NYC charity of mine for years which provides training and jobs to formerly homeless, addicted or jailed individuals); Autism Speaks (an organization I consider the "gold standard" in autism awareness, research, and treatment...plus I know the boy who inspired the organization from our neighborhood); and Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (I am thankful for the care they provided for my aunt years ago, and I continue to be grateful for each year that my family is healthy).

Of course, there are many other ways to give this holiday season besides donating money (one of my favorites is to give glood since the supply is traditionally low this time of year). A wonderful blog that I discovered this year, Operation Nice has many other inspiring ideas and anecdotes.

What are some of your family's favorite ways to "give back" during the holidays? Tell us about them in the comments.

Still Time for New Year's Cards

If you haven't ordered holiday cards yet, don't worry. You can still order New Year's cards and stand out from the crowd! I personally love to receive cards after New Year's....it's a fun way to stretch out the holiday season. Here are some of my favorite designs this year (you can probably snag some additional discounts, too; check each site's homepage).

Harlequin New Year's Photo Card (starting at $1.19 per card) by Good Greetings LLC


float + peace new year's photo cards ($1.63 each) at Minted


Happy New Year Photo Card in Espresso (starting at $1.49 per card) at Paper Culture


Purple Pop Art New Year's Card by Stacy Claire Boyd for Shutterfly (starting at $1.03 per card)

Too Good by Jenny McCarthy

Last week I attended a launch event here in New York for Too Good by Jenny, Jenny McCarthy's new line of affordable, safe bedding for babies and kids. You probably all know by now that Jenny McCarthy is both an entertainer and an activitist/"mother warrior" who speaks out about autism and the possible environmental toxins that may contribute to the disease .

(I am not going to address the vaccine debate here, because as both a special needs mother/advocate and someone with an MPH degree, I respectfully disagree with Jenny on this issue, as well as the theory that children with autism can be completely "cured." However, I am grateful to her for bringing more awareness to the epidemic of autism and the enormous toll it takes on families, including financially; Jenny noted that it costs an average of $80,000 a year to treat a child with autism, which is often not covered by insurance).

As a mom of children with special needs, though, I do wholeheartedly agree with Jenny, though, that wherever possible, you should err on the side of caution when buying products for your babies, particularly products that will be close to their skin for long periods of time (like crib bedding). Too Good by Jenny bedding is made with high quality, high-thread count cotton (including some organic cotton pieces) that are extremely affordable (an entire crib set can cost you as little as $99, which is pretty amazing). Right now the collection is primarily crib bedding but they will offer big kids' bedding soon, too. Another plus: even the packaging is PVC-free and 100% recyclable.

The prints are cute and colorful and definitely will appeal to a wide audience. I usually prefer more muted designs, but I did like the pink ladybug set shown above. The bedding is coming to Target, Buy Buy Baby, and Baby Depot soon, and in the meantime you can also buy it online at Baby Super Mall.

Nothing Wrong with Gift Cards

I've never had a problem with giving or receiving gift cards. In fact, I think that many people prefer them (who wouldn't love a chance to shop online on someone else's dime?). And, of course, e-gift cards save the day for those who procrastinate when it comes to completing their holiday shopping (yes, I'm talking to you).

When I give e-gift cards, I usually choose big stores like Amazon, Barnes & Noble, or Target so that the gift recipient has a wide range of products to choose from (in other words, so the gift mirrors cash as much as possible). I do try to choose gift cards that are aesthetically pleasing because, hey, if you're not going to wrap a present with paper and ribbon, the image on the screen should at least look pretty, right?

Here are some of my top picks for gift cards that you can send right up to the last minute (though, really, it will look better if you send them today or tomorrow!)

LL Bean gift cards ($5 to $500, no expiration). Love this retro graphic. And there's something for everyone to buy at LL Bean- from sweaters to gloves to housewares to luggage.


Target. A fun gift card to use, but note though they can only be used online, not in-store.


Barnes & Noble ($10-$350). Popular for teacher gifts, these also make great last-minute alternatives for any hard-to-shop-for relatives on your list.

Amazon.com E-Cards (any denomination up to a whopping $5,000). I like that an Amazon gift card pretty much enables someone to buy whatever they want. Whether it's books, toys, groceries, or toothpaste, they're happy.

Pottery Barn Kids (plus PB Teen, Pottery Barn, and Williams Sonoma) are all donating $5 to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital when you choose the St. Jude design (not the one shown here) for your e-gift card. An extra thoughtful touch for an e-gift card.

50% or More Off Last Minute Toys at Amazon.com

We're getting down to the wire, you know. If you haven't finished shopping...well, there's not much time to do so online (more on that tomorrow). But if you're an Amazon Prime member (you know I keep recommending that you join!) you get unlimited 2-day shipping on thousands of items, including these toys that on sale for over 50% off:

Playskool Musical Activity Ball and Gear Center (reduced to $11.99 from $24.99; 52% off)

I Spy 3-D Board Game (reduced to $17.98 from $39.99; 55% off)

New Syma 3 Channel S107 Mini Indoor Co-Axial Metal Body Frame & Built-in Gyroscope RC Remote Controlled Helicopter (reduced to $36.35 from $129.95; 72% off)

Radio Flyer My 1st Scooter Pink (reduced to $32.99 from $65.99; 50% off)



Melissa & Doug 800-piece Pink Sticker Collection (reduced to $5.50 from $17.19; 68% off) or Blue 500-piece Sticker Colllection ($5.68 reduced from $17.19; 67% off)


Plan Toy Wooden Trike (reduced to $63.99 from $139.99; 54% off)


Check out Amazon.com's holiday toy selection for more last-minute bargains.

Okutani for Babies

I found a cool new baby brand via Twitter the other day- it's called Okutani and it's carried by the shop Psycho Baby. Okutani makes hipster baby clothes and accessories (everything from hats to bibs to leggings) with funky prints and designs that are sure to turn heads. Take a look (clockwise, from top left): Hamburger Hat ($10); Kung Fu Romper ($20, sizes 6-9mos and 9-12mos); Pink Fedora Hat ($13); and "I Love Mom" leggings ($8.50; sizes 12-24mos and 2-4 years). Check out Psycho Baby's entire selection of Okutani products here.

Curl Up and Take a Nap with This Blanket

The sample chunky knit throw blanket I received from Lands End arrived with impeccable timing, the day before I was hit with one of those winter coughs/colds/aches that made me lose my voice, energy, and any desire to get up off the couch. Add in the fact that it was about 18 degrees outside, and the timing was ripe for a nap with my new blanket. It gets a thumbs up- I slept soundly for an hour (very rare for me). The blanket is indeed "chunky" and heavier than most throw blankets I've used before (I usually go for the cheaper, lighter fleece throws) so it feels quite luxurious by comparison. It's generously sized at 56"L x 44"W and comes in 3 solid color cable patterns- gray, light blue, or cream (I chose cream, which given my kids' track record for spills, I may regret...and the other possible downside is that it's dry clean only). At $89, this makes a warm holiday treat for yourself, or for your holiday hosts. Buy one at Lands End, or browse their other blankets and throws.

Enjoy free shipping today at Lands End on orders of $50 or more with code "FREESHIP20" and Pin "1343".

December 17th is National Free Shipping Day

In case you hadn't heard yet, today is National Free Shipping Day, which basically means that a gazillion different online retailers are offering complimentary shipping guaranteed to arrive by Christmas Eve, if you order today. I'll hedge my bets here and guess that some of them might extend this offer through the weekend depending on how sales go today (but don't risk it...order today if it's important). Go to FreeShippingDay.com to see who's participating. You'll find plenty of big names including Toys R Us, Nordstrom, Red Envelope, Zappos, LLBean, Game Stop, Hanna Andersson, and Barnes & Noble...over 1700 retailers in total. Enjoy!

Something Fun at the Post Office. Really.

I can't find these on the United States Postal Service website, so I guess you can only buy them in person (good luck with those lines). But I had to show you these totally adorable new Charlie Brown Christmas-inspired USPS packing supplies. I spotted them at our post office and thought they'd brighten up any holiday package, whether you're sending it to a kid or not (in fact, maybe they have more retro appeal to grown-ups anyway). Wouldn't you love to receive a present wrapped in one of these?

Soft Clothing for Sensory-Sensitive Kids

Remember Soft Clothing, the sensory-friendly line of kids threads? It's been growing by leaps and bounds, and not just among parents of children with special needs who appreciate all of its awesome features (flat seaming, tagless necks, encased elastic waistbands, and no zips, buttons, or itchy trims, to name just a few). Pretty much all parents (and kids) love the fun designs; check out the latest in the collage above. At a recent trunk show hosted in conjunction with an event with new NYC group Spark, I got to see these designs in person and particularly liked the bow print tee for girls and the moped tee for boys. And the prices- $18.50 for each of these tees- can't be beat, especially when you know that these clothes have been especially made for kids who are "tactile defensive" (they have all been rigorously tested with children who have these specific sensory aversions). So if you have a child who wiggles and squirms at every clothing label, zipper, and button, definitely check out the wares at Soft Clothing.

Use code "SOFTSPARK" for a limited time only to get 15% off your Soft Clothing order plus free shipping (valid for US shipping only and one use per shipping address).

Couples Couch Cards

I've already exchanged holiday gifts with all of my family (this is one of the benefits of Hanukkah arriving very early this year). I gave my cousins and their spouses these personalized "Couch Couple" foldover notecards by one of my new favorite stationers, Pixie Chicago, and they were a big hit. You can customize the color of the throw pillows (the envelopes will match that color, too); I chose lake blue for some and red for others (red would be a great choice for Christmas hostess gifts, too). These are a definite conversation piece, and would make a super cute engagement gift or bridal shower gift, too. Pick up a few sets at Pixie Chicago- prices start at 12 cards for $18.50.

Today is the last day to get 20% off at Pixie Chicago with code "RED10".

Container Store Stocking Stuffers

Have you noticed that The Container Store seems to have the best stocking stuffers each year? I don't celebrate Christmas, but I have bookmarked some of these to keep in mind as small, fun gifts to give year-round.

Plug-In Charging Shelf ($14.99). No more phones and cords dangling on the floor. Genius!


Drinking Glasses ($3.99). Who can resist these?


Mini Microfiber Fuzzy Finger Mitt ($2.99). Perfect for cleaning off that computer screen you've been in front of all day. Ahem.


3-D Drawing Set($6.99). Forget the kids...I want to try this!


Note: these are all available in-store only (sorry!)