Rosy High-Tops

How did I just notice these Rose Bouquet High-Tops in the Garnet Hill kids catalog now? I wish that R. would give them a try instead of her usual Geox (this kid has amazing brand loyalty, I tell you). I've never seen ruffled roses--one of my favorite embellishment trends--on sneakers before. It's a great high/low combo. These are available in 3 colors (fuschia, silver gray, or white) in European kid sizes 25-34. The laces are just decorative, by the way; you can zip these up on the side. Buy them for $58 at Garnet Hill.

Inventori by Tori Spelling

Have you heard that Tori Spelling has just opened her own home decor and gifts shop in Sherman Oaks, CA? It's called (not surprisingly) Inventori, and it opened its doors on Valentine's Day. In answer to questions about just how involved she will be in day to day operations, Tori answered, "I'm too much of a control freak to let somebody else do it and I wouldn't have it any other way." The shop offers home decor, antiques, accessories and gifts for adults, kids, and even pets. In the photo above from the kids' section of the store, I see that they sell some of my favorite gifts- Taro Gomi coloring books, Sophie the Giraffe teethers, and (I think) plates by Jane Jenni. Another perk about Inventori: you can rent its outdoor patio for private events. If I lived in L.A., I would definitely want to check this place out! For the next best thing, check out Inventori's Facebook page or Twitter feed.

p.s. I'm having a flashback--didn't Donna Martin (with Kelly Taylor's help) also open her own little shop in a later season of 90210?

Art Thingys Giveaway Winner

Congratulations to entry #50 (chosen by Random.org), "Monorox," who posted, "I LOVE the 'fillet' wall hook!" Please e-mail me to claim your prize.

Thanks everyone for entering the Art Thingys giveaway!

Monkeying Around

Speaking of birthdays, party season seems to be creeping up on us here in New York City. One of S's friends (a boy) fell in love with a plush rolling backpack that R. owns during a playdate here at our apartment, so I wanted to buy him a similar one for his upcoming 4th birthday. The brand is Kreative Kids and the usual retail price is about $35, so I wanted to find a better price somewhere else. I found them on Ebay and chose this Plush Rolling Monkey Backpack for $20.95 (there was no bidding competition). I don't know what it is about this plush "luggage", but preschoolers go nuts for it and love pulling it around (even if there is absolutely nothing inside). And it's perfectly sized for travelling...whether to the airport or just back and forth to the living room. Check out more of the designs available from this Ebay seller here.

Happy Birthday to Our #1 Baby Boomer

This weekend we're celebrating Grandma's (my mom's) milestone birthday. Yes, she was born in the first Baby Boomer year of 1946. Typically low-key, she does not want anyone to make a fuss about her birthday, but the kids and I have something special planned. And contrary to what my "guest blogger" (7-year-old R., who hijacked my keyboard) wrote below, it is not a surprise party. The playdough part is true, though.

Tomorrow it is Grandmas birthday.We are going to have a suprise birthday party . There will be three cakes one chocolate one vanilla and one playdough cake.Rachel wrote this.

Happy Birthday to our amazing, devoted Grandma & Mom with all of our love and thanks!

Photo by Kate Burton: Me, my mom, and R. (age 8 months).

Jewelry Never Looked Better

I don't know about you, but my jewelry has been a mess for years...a tangled up collection of (mostly) costume necklaces, bracelets and half-pairs of earrings. When I'm in a rush, I can never find what I am looking for, and in fact I've forgotten some of what I actually have. So I was thrilled to receive Red Envelope's brass-and-nickel Sculptured Jewelry Tree recently as a gift. I'd had my eye on this for years, actually, and it does not disappoint. It's a beautiful way to keep your jewelry on display, and wearable too. After sorting through years' worth of assorted baubles, I put my favorite necklaces and bracelets on the branches, and my most-often worn rings on the wooden tray below. The jewelry tree costs $79.95 and you can also choose to have an optional shiny nickel plaque engraved on the bottom for an additional $5. Before you make a purchase, be sure to visit Red Envelope's coupon page to take advantage of any discounts (Retail Me Not also frequently has click-through discount links for Red Envelope purchases).

For Your Next Party at the Peach Pit

I stumbled onto Party Dotts when I noticed they were following me on Twitter. This small company has a cute idea--they make double-sided photo confetti that you can use at parties to decorate the table, party favors, or even the cake. While customers have used them for baby showers, birthday parties, bridal showers, and the like, the sample confetti that caught my eye was the "90s Party Reunion"- perfect for 1990 high school grads like me. I suppose you could submit photos of Dylan, Brenda and the gang (read how it works), but I think you are supposed to scour your own collection for embarrassing snaps of you and your friends decked out in babydoll dresses. One "party pack" (enough confetti for a 30-person bash) costs $29.99. Read more at Party Dotts.

Bank On It

I know that many of you shop at our affiliate Frecklebox.com for great personalized kids' gifts including puzzles, books, and notebooks. The company has just introduced a brand new product, 4" tin piggy banks which serve double duty as collecting tins for whatever your child has been hoarding lately (Silly Bandz, perhaps?). Or use it without the lid for a pencil or crayon cup. There are 3 dozen designs for girls and boys, and each cup costs $16.95 (personalization included). Take advantage of the coupon code, too (see below) to stock up on some gifts while you're there.

Get 15% off your entire order at Frecklebox.com with code "PENNY15" now through March 4, 2011.

Bargain Alert: Alex Toys Complete Kitchen Set

I became an even bigger fan of Alex Toys after taking a personal tour of their booth at the Toy Fair recently and learning about their latest products (more on that next week). So I think you can count on this Alex Complete Kitchen Set being a great gift (it gets top reviews on Amazon, too). It's a 38-piece pretty-in-pink cookware and baking set which is actually oven and stovetop safe, plus it also includes a 13-piece porcelain tea set. All that on sale right now for $26.60 (originally price is $50, even at Target), and shipping is free. Snatch this up--it will be a perfect birthday gift for someone, or a treat for your own daughter.

Fat Tie for Little Guys

I don't know if you remember but last year I wrote a post about "Fat Tie" tees for boys. When he was three years old, S. had the "Bifford" tee and everyone asked me where we got it (sadly it no longer fits him...and the company only makes sizes up to 5T). So I wanted to alert you lucky moms of boys that Zulily is hosting a Fat Tie sale right now where the shirts (normally $37) can be snatched for as little as $12.99. Trust me, these are winners. Buy an extra or two to give as gifts (and buy a size up; I found they ran a bit small).

The "Fat Tie" sale runs at Zulily through February 26th. Other Zulily sales I recommend right now are Just Jen and Mixbook (Mother's Day gift for Grandma? Crossed off my list already!).

Personalized Pillows at sarah + abraham

One of my favorite shops, sarah + abraham, just introduced these fabulous new 12" square personalized pillows featuring hand-sewn likenesses from its popular olliegraphic line. You choose the child's expression (smiling or laughing), facial features and colors, the font for the name, and the pillow's fabric color. Each pillow is made using upholstery weight fabric, muslin, felt, and hand embroidery. These are true works of art and take up to 3 weeks to complete, so order early if you're giving one as a gift. You can order the cover only for $49, or the cover plus insert for $59. Visit sarah + abraham.

MyMomShops Giveaway: Art Thingys

I'm excited to share one of my favorite new finds from last month's New York International Gift Fair, plus offer you a giveaway. Art Thingys is kid-friendly, handmade wall decor by Massachusetts artist Paul Ocepek. The "thingys" are colorful Pop-art-esque 3-D wall-mounted monkeys, elephants, penguins, alligators, and the like. Each piece of art is hand-constructed from sustainably harvested birch plywood and then decorated with non-toxic water based inks. The finished product arrives signed by the artist, fully assembled and ready to hang with pre-cut mounting holes. There's wall art or wall hooks, and, in my opinion, one design is more adorable than the next. I had a hard time choosing which ones to feature in this post, but I thought these were some of the best:

Filbert 3D Wall Art ($64; blue, stripes, red, or the set of 3 for $182). I love how the trio looks...don't you?



Personalized Popcorn 3D Wall Art ($78; red, blue, orange, or green). Perfect for the budding cinephile...or for any playroom, den, or TV room.


Tusker 3D Wall Hooks ($84; blue, yellow, or red). Really cute for a nursery, bedroom, or bathroom.

Albert 3D Wall Art ($68; green, blue or orange). I love the sawtooth edges on this one.


Want to see more? Check out all of the designs-- I promise you'll find even more to adore-- at Art Thingys.

Enjoy a 25% discount code at Art Thingys with code "mymomshops-save25" now through 3/31/11.

Win it! One MyMomShops reader will win a a 3D Wall Art of choice (valued at $75 or under) from Art Thingys. Here are the contest rules:

1) Visit Art Thingys and tell us what your favorite product is (it does not have to be 3D Wall Art). Leave your comment on THIS post (click on "comments" below).
2) Post your comment by 11:59pm EST on Sunday, February 27th.
3) You may leave up to 3 separate entries- 1 entry with a comment as described in #1, 1 entry with a link to where you have blogged about this giveaway, 1 entry with your Twitter name if you have tweeted about this giveaway (you must also follow @MyMomShops on Twitter).
4) One winner will be chosen at random (using Random.org) and announced on Monday morning, February 28th.
5) 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 morning, February 28th. If the prize is NOT claimed within 72 hours, the next random winner (using Random.org) will be contacted.

Good luck!

Wordless Wednesday: President's Day Fun

Playtime outdoors (Riverside Park) and indoors (Scribble Press).

Good Things for Boys

This "Good Things for Boys" kit caught my eye in the retail section of Scribble Press where the kids and I paid a visit on President's Day. Made by Seedling--a toy company in New Zealand (a country in our thoughts right now)--the set kit includes a wooden boat, juggling balls, pencils, dominoes, glider plane, cards, and a notepad. It's a clever gift idea when you just don't know what to buy a boy who might already have everything (else). Recommended for ages 5-10. $27 at Julabug.

I Wonder if Countess Luann Has These

Pretentious as they may be, I can't help but think these zip code pads would make a cute hostess gift for someone with a Hamptons house or Upper East Side address (truth be told, my own zip code is in there, but it is one of the less-posh New York City ones...the closest I'll ever get to the Hamptons is as a guest). I also really like those snazzy bamboo pens pictured with the notepads; for $21 total, this is a relatively affordable gift for an upscale crowd. Buy it at The Elegant Setting.

Bargain Alert: Free Shutterfly Cards

Here's a great freebie I spotted for you via Retail Me Not on Twitter. It's for your choice of 5 free 5x7 greeting cards, or 5x7 stationery cards, or 5x5 stationery cards from Shutterfly (see code below). Since I have, oh, nearly nine years of photos stored at that site, I'm definitely going to take advantage of this one. Maybe you have some family birthdays coming up, or you could even get a head start on Mother's Day cards (it'll be here before you know it....).

Get 5 free cards (any of the options listed above) with code "5FREECARDS" at Shutterfly now through March 7th, 2011.

New for Spring/Summer '11 by Williams-Sonoma Inc.

A couple of weeks ago I attended a spring preview for the Williams-Sonoma Inc. brands: Pottery Barn, Pottery Barn Kids, PBteen, Williams Sonoma, Williams-Sonoma Home, and West Elm. I got to check out highlights from each brand's Spring/Summer '11 collections and to chat with the brand managers for each company. Plus, I got to arrange a few giveaways for you guys (more on that another time). First let me show you my favorite picks from the new products I saw that evening. Everything is available online by now, so I've provided links:

De-Lite Lamp Base + Ruffle Rings Shade ($35-$39) at PBteen. You know that ruffled lamp shades are on-trend now, right? I love how this one is paired with a Simon-Pearce style acryclic base.


Meadow Floral Sheet Set ($24-$99) at PBteen. Just introduced, this set is already a top-seller not just with teens, but also with little girls and little girls at hearts (read: moms).


Wire Word Hooks ($19 with free shipping) at PBteen. Available in "Dream", "Smile" and "Laugh", these can be used to neatly hang everything from clothing to jewelry to small handbags (the pillow behind it is the Hanna floral sham for $25).


Baked Brownie Mixes ($16 each, or the trio for $39.95) at Williams-Sonoma. The founders of renowned NYC bakery Baked NY--Matt Lewis and Renato Poliafito --urged me to try one of their delectable brownies. I ate a bite of the peanut butter brownie and it was heavenly.


Seasonal Williams-Sonoma Logo Kitchen Towels ($18 for a set of 4, various colors) at Williams-Sonoma. Nothing says "spring cleaning" like fresh new kitchen towels. It's a good way to start the new season on the right note.


Stamp & Style Cookie Cutters ($19.95) at Williams-Sonoma. This set contains four cutters (egg, basket, bunny and flower) plus rollers and stamps to further customize the cutest Easter cookies.


Girls' Harlington Nursery Bedding ($24-$164) at Pottery Barn Kids. Brand new to Pottery Barn Kids, the Harlington crib bedding collection reflects the growing trend of more modern patterns for nursery fabrics. I love the bright oversized red and pink florals here with just a touch of turquoise accents (see it?). By the way, did you know that Pottery Barn Kids offers complimentary design services for your child's nursery or bedroom? Neither did I. Go check it out. It sounds pretty awesome.

Princess and the Pea Doll ($34) at Pottery Barn Kids. Bratz dolls not for you or your little girl? Try these sweet long-limbed plush dolls based on the classic tale instead.

Bee Embroidered Sham ($39) at Pottery Barn. Part of the new French-inspired Bee Embroidered bedding collection, this sham features tiny satin embroidered winged bees on a 200-thread count cotton fabric. So elegant.


Snail and Butterfly Napkin Rings ($31 for a set of 6; free shipping) at Pottery Barn. Perfect for outdoor entertaining (or, again, bringing the outdoor vibe inside), these bronze-finished rings are definite conversation pieces.


The Jason Polan Collection for West Elm. This is so cool--West Elm met freelance artist Jason Polan outside NYC's Museum of Modern Art where he was attempting to draw every person in New York. West Elm now features Polan's wall art, tableware, and pillows.


Jason Polan glass tumblers ($8 each, free shipping) at West Elm. These eclectic glasses are decorated with gold decals and can find a purpose in just about any room of your home.


Printed Capri Stripe Rug ($21-$111) by Williams-Sonoma Home. Part of a new collection of casual outdoor floor coverings, these imported, 100% cotton loomed rugs are affordable yet sturdy enough for high-traffic areas.

Check out all of the latest spring collections at Pottery Barn, Pottery Barn Kids, PBteen, Williams-Sonoma, Williams-Sonoma Home, and West Elm.

Bargain Alert: LL Bean 30% Off + Free Shipping

I wanted to share a great deal at L.L. Bean with you. Through Tuesday, February 22nd you can combine two coupon codes to get 30% off any order (no minimum) plus free shipping at L.L. Bean (see below for coupon codes). If you've got some baby gifts to buy, I'd highly recommend this as a great time to order and save money on the classic "Boat and Tote" bags. I like to order these with monogramming--either the medium-sized open top tote ($20.95) as a diaper/stroller bag, or the large-size Zip Top Bag ($31.95) as an overnight/weekend bag. If you want to make it an extra special gift, add a baby blanket, some onesies, or board books inside.

Enjoy 30% off any order at L.L. Bean using code "JPA4393" and free shipping using code "LL3039329" today and tomorrow only. Both codes can be used on the same order.

Did You Get Your Invitation?

William and Kate just mailed out over 1000 invitations to their April 29th wedding. Did you get yours yet? Maybe your mail is just slow....

A few thoughts:

1) I wonder how Kate feels about having her grandmother-in-law-to-be's royal insignia at the top of her wedding invitation. Though I guess she has to get used to the other people making decisions for her...

2) Are you going to watch the wedding on T.V.? I got up at 5am to watch Charles and Diana's wedding in 1981. I was eight years old and it was the beginning of my worshipping Princess Diana for years.

3) Given that my four-year-old routinely rises at 5am, how am I going to battle him for control of the T.V. that morning? Which program will win- Franklin on Nick Jr. or live coverage of the royal nuptials?

4) I finally found a box of old photos that I think includes the snapshots I took of Princess Diana the several times that I met her (yep, I met her several times in person...and it was thrilling). I am going to scan them in and post them here, I promise.

5) Several of you have written to me that you are (past and present) royalty fans as well. So I've added a "royalty" category to tag all related posts. Enjoy.

Half Off at Little Maven

If you've been curious to try out Tori Spelling's clothing line for children, little maven by Tori Spelling, this weekend might be a good time to place an order. They're offering 50% off all new arrivals plus free shipping on orders over $50 (see coupon code below). So you can get the ridiculously cute outfit that Tori's 2-year-old daughter Stella is wearing in the photo at left (kelly green Crinkle Dress and Pink Leggings) for a total of $38 rather than $76. Check out the boys' orange-and-navy Paper Boats collection, too. Little Maven runs in infant sizes up to 6x for girls, and 7 for boys.

Enjoy 50% off all new arrivals, plus free shipping on all orders over $50 at little maven by Tori Spelling now through Monday, February 21st with code "LM5DAY".

Portlandia

Have I mentioned that my favorite new show on TV is IFC's Portlandia? It's a half-hour skit comedy show created, written by, and starring Fred Armisen (Saturday Night Live) and Carrie Brownstein. Each skit features different stereotypical "Portland-esque" characters ranging from feminist bookstore owners to aggressive bicycle messengers. The skits send up the liberal leanings of the Pacific Northwest city in a satirical yet gentle way (it is a show written by and for liberals, after all). It's an offbeat, perhaps acquired brand of humor familiar to those who enjoyed shows like Strangers with Candy or Flight of the Conchords. Take a look and tell me what you think. I hope it makes you chuckle.



Portlandia is on IFC on Friday nights at 10:30pm. Set your DVR.

Happy Campers?

I walked by this shoestore called Camper the other day. I hadn't heard of it before (maybe because I shop more on 86th St. than Madison Avenue...my NYC readers will know the difference). Anyway, Camper's kids' shoes looked super adorable. But $85 for those mismatched navy star Mary Janes? Wow. Anyone have experience with this brand? I'd love to hear more about them.

Disney by Dooney & Bourke

Dooney & Bourke makes very high-end handbags so I was surprised to hear recently that they'd partnered with The Disney Store. Turns out that they've designed some really, really nice Disney-themed handbags that somehow manage to look stylish while incorporating, yes, everyone from Mickey Mouse to Cinderella. So if you're a Disney-loving mom who happens to have a few hundred bucks to spend on a handbag, you might want to check some of these out:

Tonal Mickey Mouse Champsac Bag (on sale for $198.99, originally $220)

Balloon Mickey Mouse Mini Margot Crossbody Bag ($145)


Princess Tote (on sale for $197.99, originally $220)
Disney Sketch Weekender Duffle Bag ($395)



Get free shipping on most U.S. orders this weekend only at Disney Store with code "FREESHIP".

Pier Less

The Pier 1 Imports store in my neighborhood lost its lease (if the recession is over, why does every other store in my neighborhood close?). I was sad to see the store being dismantled because it's where I bought a bunch of items for my 1st apartment like a gazillion years ago (before online shopping, people!). Everything in the store was 30% off last time I checked, including some pieces from the popular "Hayworth" collection that I have mentioned before. It's a wonderful, affordable collection that makes any room look instantly "Hollywood glam" at a reasonable price (even with regular discounts):

Hayworth Dining Table (on clearance for $399.98, originally $599.95)


Adelaide Dining Chair ($159.95)

Rosette Hayworth Lamp ($99)


Hayworth Upholstered Headboards (on sale for $299.99 and $349.99, originally $399.95 and $449.95)

Our Latest Obsession: Disney Record-A-Books

I've said it before, but it bears repeating: on this blog, I have no problem recommending "forbidden" items like loud plastic toys made in China that run on batteries and feature Disney characters. Sometimes, our kids just like what they like, right? So, I am very very pleased to show you a favorite new finds, this Disney Princess Dreams Record-A-Book ($14.95) that I purchased recently for R. from Amazon.com. Wow, has she flipped for this! She plays it for everyone who comes into our apartment and giggles, asking them, "Do you know who's reading that story?" (They kindly play dumb and give her silly answers until she reveals, "It's MY MOMMY!!!") Basically, the book allows you to record the page-by-page narration to 3 abridged, illustrated Disney stories (Cinderella, Beauty and the Beast, and The Princess and the Frog). The instructions and recording mechanism are very simple and while the sound quality isn't the greatest, I can assure you that your child will be more than thrilled with the result. If you make a mistake, you can skip ahead or back to re-record a particular page. Also, when it's time to change the batteries, your original recording won't be lost (despite what the Amazon reviews say). Best of all, if your daughter happens to have a little brother who wants a similar book of his own (ahem), you're in luck. His favorite franchise, Toy Story 3, just happens to have a Toy Story 3 Record-A-Book ($14.06) of its very own. Did they make these just for us, or what??? Buy them both at Amazon.com.

p.s. In case you're wondering, yes, R. does "listen" to this book as a bedtime story. But it didn't replaced the "live" me because she had already asked me to stop reading her bedtime stories about a year ago anyway. This is what happens when little girls grow up. Sniff, sniff.