Holiday Gift Guide 2009: LinenKids
December 19, 2009
Boutiques are one of my favorite kinds of stores to shop in. Unfortunately, I haven’t had a lot of opportunities to frequent the ones in my area, as I get closer and closer to my due date. What’s great about boutiques is that they offer unique items, you often can’t find in other stores. But that also means that sometimes you’ll see something you like, and it won’t be there again if you don’t buy it in that moment.
Most of my shopping this year has been completed online. I buy from a variety of types of stores, depending on who it is I’m shopping for. I recently happened upon a quaint, online store that I would definitely categorize as being a children’s boutique. LinenKids specializes in natural linen products for children, linen and wooden toys, accessories, and bed and bath linens. The company was started by a mom who is passionate about unique organic products. Here is a little more information about the company:
LinenKids features special, luxurious, hand-crafted kids’ clothes and accessories that are made from natural, Lithuanian linen. My clothes are beautifully made by skilled local craftswomen, following traditional techniques and styles.
I was most impressed by the Christening section (I can’t imagine why) which offers some of the most exquisite baby outfits I’ve ever seen. Their wooden toy section is also neat and offers beautifully crafted, imaginative toys for children. Their toys are eco-friendly and colored with child friendly, water based paint. We received a cute Bear Wooden Toy that I think we’re going to put on our tree (if my hubby gets motivated to put it up this weekend!).
Because the company is in the European Union, prices are in Euros and shipping could take up to 2 weeks. But if you’re looking for a unique, eco-friendly gift, you may want to check out LinenKids.
For more fabulous Holiday Gift Ideas, visit The Mommy-Files
Disclosure: I did not receive compensation for this review. I did receive a product, courtesy of the company in order to facilitate my review.
Holiday Gift Guide 2009: Peet’s Coffee – Holiday Blend
December 19, 2009
One of my favorite local coffee venues is Peet’s Coffee. I am an avid coffee drinker and I’ve found that no two coffee venues are the same. Some offer stronger, richer blends while others specialize in what I like to call “fru fru” drinks. Still others offer premium and custom blends and roasts. I am particularly fond of Peet’s holiday drink offerings, specifically their peppermint mocha, eggnog latte, and gingerbread latte.
If you have a coffee drinker to shop for, Peet’s offers gourmet gifts featuring their fresh, hand-roasted coffees. Every year, Peet’s offers a new Holiday Blend, and this year is no different. It’s the 25th anniversary of their Holiday Blend and it contains hints of toffee and cacao. It smells and tastes incredibly smooth and rich. I’m actually interested in trying their Decaf version so I can drink more of it! My husband likes a strong coffee and has really enjoyed this blend. Unfortunately, it’s only available through December so be sure to pick one up because they’ll sell out! The Holiday Blend retails for $14.95/pound.
Many of their holiday gifts are sold out online, so I highly recommend visiting a store if you can for the best gift options.
For more fabulous Holiday Gift Ideas, visit The Mommy-Files
Disclosure: I did not receive compensation for this review. I did receive a product, courtesy of the company in order to facilitate my review.
Holiday Gift Guide 2009: The Snowman’s Song: A Christmas Story
December 18, 2009
There is not enough darkness in the world to extinguish the light of one small candle.
Spanish proverb
I think children’s books are probably one of the best, most affordable gifts you could give a child. My son loves to read with me because it’s something we’ve done together since he was a baby. Naptime and bedtime routines are incomplete without our story time. My son is now at an age where he actually enjoys longer stories…even more so than the simple board books we’ve been reading.
The Snowman’s Song: A Christmas Story by Tracy La Rue Hohn, is a delightful story about a snowman’s quest to find his voice so he can sing. We all know that a snowman cannot sing. Or can he? This book is about dreams and possibility. It’s about teaching children to embrace their unique identity and find their own voice. It’s about believing in yourself, regardless of the obstacles ahead of you. The author has taken something imaginative and used it to illustrate a life lesson. Self-esteem is critical to a growing, developing child. The book also touches on kindness, an important message during this season.
Along with a story that will touch your heart, is a beautifully illustrated book that you and your children will be captivated by. The pictures are bright and colorful with a swirly, free-flowing feel. They seem to perfectly convey the message of openness and possibility.
The book is perfect for the season, but it’s not something we’ll put away once December 26th comes around. The story is one that can be read over again because the message is truly timeless.
I enjoy reading to my son, however, you can also utilize the audio CD which accompanies the book. The CD includes a reading by the author with accompanying background music.
Right now, The Snowman’s Song: A Christmas Story is on sale for $16.95 and can be purchased directly from the site. For every book purchased, a book will be given to a needy child.
For more fabulous Holiday Gift Ideas, visit The Mommy-Files
Disclosure: I did not receive compensation for this review. I did receive a product, courtesy of the company in order to facilitate my review.
Holiday Gift Guide 2009: Fashion Playtes
December 18, 2009
This is the LAST weekend to shop before Christmas (I’m not stressed at all…ha!). I’ve been known to wait until Christmas Eve to do some shopping so I’m actually feeling pretty good about what’s already been done. This weekend I have some LAST minute gift ideas to share with you. And, I will be posting and closing more giveaways.
If you have a little girl (oh how I can’t wait!), you may want to check out FashionPlaytes.com. I actually found out about the site through TwitterMoms and I thought I’d share it with you for two reasons. First, I’m going to share a pretty incredible discount at the end of this post. Second, if I had a little girl between the ages of 6-12 I would be heading over there to shop!
FashionPlaytes.com is a design studio geared towards girls between the ages of 6-12. Girls can create and build their own fashion collection with a personalized label and share their creations with friends and family. They can also collaborate with mom and dad to order clothes and have pieces shipped to them. This is your little girl’s opportunity to own pieces unlike anyone else!
Right now you’ll receive $15 off your first gift certificate or custom outfit purchase over $25 with the code “TWITTERMOM15.”
Holiday Gift Guide 2009: Lovely Baby CDs *Giveaway*
December 18, 2009
This giveaway is now closed. Thanks for stopping by. The winners are Kelly and Wehaf. Congrats!
Every station I turn to seems to be playing Christmas music. From traditional carols to modern remixes, Christmas music is the perfect way to get ready and in the spirit for the upcoming holiday.
In two short weeks, our baby girl will be here (we were hoping for a Christmas baby, but more on that in another post). One of the things I didn’t do a lot of was play music for our son as a baby. Now that he’s a toddler he likes to sing and dance and enjoys music immensely. With our baby girl due very soon, we are planning on introducing music from the very beginning.
Lovely Baby CDs were specifically “created for the emotional, intellectual and physical development of babies.” The series was created by Raimond Lap, a Dutch composer and expert in baby music. The series of CDs are used in elite infant education programs around the world.
My son and I have been listening to the Baby Christmas and Baby Christmas 2 CDs from the series. The compilation was created specifically for babies and toddlers (upto 36 months) and is primarily Classical without any vocals. It’s very soothing and I think it’s definitely geared towards babies, rather than toddlers like my son. Along with several well-known classics are original compositions created by the composer himself.
The entire collection is designed to stimulate your baby’s brain, as music is a beneficial learning tool for babies and toddlers. One of the benefits I’m looking forward to evaluating with our baby girl is whether or not it soothes her when she’s crying (after she’s been fed and changed of course).
Right now you’ll save 10% off the entire site with the code “rockincd.”
Here are some sample audio tracks, courtesy of the company:
We Wish You A Merry Christmas Theme
Win It! Two of you will win a copy of Baby Christmas 2. Simply leave me a comment with another CD from the site that you’d like to have or another benefit you learned about on the site. Comments will close on December 25, 2009 at 10 PM PST. One comment per person, please (unless you do the extra credit). US residents only. Duplicates and comments not including the above information will be disqualified. Comments are moderated. If you don’t see your comment in a reasonable amount of time, send me an email. Bloggers and non-bloggers may enter. If you don’t want to leave your email address, please be sure to check back for my announcement on the winner. Please note that winners must respond within 48 hours of being announced/contacted or another winner will be drawn.
Want an extra entry? Do any or all of the following and receive an extra entry for each one.
Be sure to leave me a separate comment for each additional entry.
Add the “Holiday Gift Guide” button to your sidebar and leave me a comment (be sure it’s up for the duration of the gift guide!)
Check out my Holiday Gift Guide and leave a comment on that site about a product you like! (Maximum of 1 Comment for this).
Follow me on Twitter AND tweet about the contest. Be sure to use the hashtag #holidaysurvivalguide
Enter Shannon’s giveaways (Maximum of 1 Comment for this).
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Blog about this giveaway. It doesn’t have to be a separate post. Just include a blurb about it when you blog about other giveaways.
Click on one of the very cute buttons below and digg, stumble, fav, etc. Just let me know what you did in the comments!
For more fabulous Holiday Gift Ideas, visit The Mommy-Files
Disclosure: I did not receive compensation for this review. I received a product, courtesy of the company in order to facilitate my review.
Holiday Gift Guide 2009: Rocketfish Mobility Bag
December 18, 2009
My husband (the techie) travels a ton for work. His job involves a ton of computer time so he’s always toting his laptop to and from work and business trips. We’ve already had to get his laptop fixed because of some “damage” our little boy did to it, so a protective case is a must.
If you’re looking for computer accessories, Rocketfish has a large selection, including travel cases, lapdesks, adapters, webcams, and more. The Mobility Bag protects laptops (up to 15.4″ display) and acts as both a storage case and a lapdesk. The case has a storage space for your power cable and a few other accessories. I like the straps that keep the laptop secure, particularly during travel. While it does have handles, it might be kind of nice if it had a shoulder strap. I have a small MacBook which fits nicely in the case, however a heavier laptop might be difficult to carry, considering the case weighs 6.5 pounds.
I’m not particularly fond of soft computer cases, simply because they don’t offer the protection I’d like. I prefer a hard case and I like that this can be used as a lapdesk. I spend a lot of time working at night in bed and this actually works really well for those late nights. The Rocketfish Mobility Bag retails for $69.99 and is available at Best Buy.
Best Buy offers much in the way of gifts for the “techie” in your life. From cameras, camcorders, and digital picture frames to computers, cellular phones, and navigation systems, Best Buy really does offer so much when it comes to electronics. Right now they’re having a 3 day sale with great prices on popular gift items.
For more fabulous Holiday Gift Ideas, visit The Mommy-Files
Disclosure: I did not receive compensation for this review. I did receive a product, courtesy of the company in order to facilitate my review.
Holiday Gift Guide 2009: Lands’ End *Giveaway*
December 16, 2009
This giveaway is now closed. Congrats to Some Lucky Dog!
I was at the mall earlier today, trying to get those last needed gifts and some items for our baby girl (nesting?). If you’re a late shopper like I am, you should definitely check out Lands’ End! You’ll find gifts for men, women and children! The site has TONS of items on sale and if you order by Monday, December 21 you’ll still receive items in time for Christmas!
I’m also pleased to tell you about a new line from Lands’ End called Lands’ End Canvas. This casual line features well-crafted clothing “that reinterprets authentic American sportswear designed for today’s relevant approach to effortless, lived-in style.” I checked out their women’s section online and the clothing looks modern and fun, but mostly casual in appearance. There are some cute dresses I’d like to get once the baby weight is gone! The line looks to be geared towards those in their 20′s and 30′s but that isn’t something the company told me so don’t quote me!
The website actually offers an enhanced, personalized, interactive shopping experience. Be sure to check out My Canvas while you’re there which allows you the option of creating personalized artwork that can be posted on social networking sites such as Facebook, Flickr, Twitter or your blog.
Now through December 21 (last day for shipping!), enter the code “DEAL” and pin “1802″ to receive free shipping on any Lands’ End Canvas item.
I received a Women’s Regular Original Fine Gauge Argyle Cardigan Sweater just in time for the holidays. And…it fits! : ) It’s made from 100% Supima cotton which makes it super soft and cozy. It’s available in nine colors and features a classic Argyle pattern and falls mid hip (a bit longer on me since I’m short). Right now, most of their colors are on sale for $49.99 although the sweater does retail for $69.50.
Win It! This is a SUPER quick giveaway. One of you will win a Women’s Regular Original Fine Gauge Argyle Cardigan Sweater in the color and size of your choice (depending on availability). Simply leave me a comment with the name of another item you like on either the Lands’ End site or the Lands’ End Canvas site. Comments will close on December 21, 2009 at 8 am PST. Please be sure to check your email that way and respond as soon as possible with your choice, if you win. One comment per person, please (unless you do the extra credit). US residents only. Duplicates and comments not including the above information will be disqualified. Comments are moderated. If you don’t see your comment in a reasonable amount of time, send me an email. Bloggers and non-bloggers may enter. If you don’t want to leave your email address, please be sure to check back for my announcement on the winner. Please note that winners must respond within 48 hours of being announced/contacted or another winner will be drawn.
Want an extra entry? Do any or all of the following and receive an extra entry for each one.
Be sure to leave me a separate comment for each additional entry.
Add the “Holiday Gift Guide” button to your sidebar and leave me a comment (be sure it’s up for the duration of the gift guide!)
Check out my Holiday Gift Guide and leave a comment on that site about a product you like! (Maximum of 1 Comment for this).
Follow me on Twitter AND tweet about the contest. Be sure to use the hashtag #holidaysurvivalguide
Enter Shannon’s giveaways (Maximum of 1 Comment for this).
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Blog about this giveaway. It doesn’t have to be a separate post. Just include a blurb about it when you blog about other giveaways.
Click on one of the very cute buttons below and digg, stumble, fav, etc. Just let me know what you did in the comments!
For more fabulous Holiday Gift Ideas, visit The Mommy-Files
Disclosure: I did not receive compensation for this review. I will be receiving a product, courtesy of the company in order to facilitate my review.
Holiday Gift Guide 2009: See’s Candies *Giveaway*
December 16, 2009
This giveaway is now closed. Thanks for stopping by. The winner is trixx. CONGRATS!
This season is all about chocolate! Chocolate is really one of those gifts you can’t go wrong with. I would never complain about receiving chocolate! And one of my favorite companies is See’s Candies. When it comes to candy, I really prefer to spend all my portioned “sweet” calories on chocolate. However, I really like the company’s Lollypops because they’re not your traditional fruit flavors.
If you’re looking for quality gourmet candies and chocolates, See’s Candies is a respectable choice. They’ve been around for over 38 years and offer over 100 varieties of candies. The company uses only the finest ingredients from different parts of the world. My favorite? Truffles! And this holiday season I had an opportunity to try their White Mint Truffles ($5.95). They’re made with buttercream and peppermint and melt in your mouth, leaving behind a fresh, minty flavor. And look how cute they are?
Remember those famous lollypops I told you about earlier? Well now you can purchase the Snowman Lollypop Box ($10.90) which includes an assortment of Vanilla, Chocolate, and Butterscotch Lollypops. And new out for the holidays are their Cinnamon Lollypops which are yummy and perfectly spicey ($4.95).
We can’t talk about See’s without talking about chocolate! Their boxed chocolates include a nice assortment of dark and milk chocolate candies as well as caramels, brittle, and more. Some of the boxes feature a specific type of chocolate, such as truffles, or nuts and chews. My favorite kind of chocolate is dark and I prefer it to be free from nuts! I’m particularly fond of their Dark Chocolate Bordeaux which is a blend of brown sugar and buttercream surrounded by dark chocolate.
For an array of gift ideas, check out their Christmas section…or better yet…visit their store in person (they’ll most likely give you a sample!).
Win It! One of you will win a gift certificate for a one pound box of Chocolate, courtesy of See’s. Simply head on over to the site. Then come back and leave me a comment with something else you’d like from their Christmas section. Comments will close on December 30, 2009 at 10 PM PST. One comment per person, please (unless you do the extra credit). US residents only. Duplicates and comments not including the above information will be disqualified. Comments are moderated. If you don’t see your comment in a reasonable amount of time, send me an email. Bloggers and non-bloggers may enter. If you don’t want to leave your email address, please be sure to check back for my announcement on the winner. Please note that winners must respond within 48 hours of being announced/contacted or another winner will be drawn.
Want an extra entry? Do any or all of the following and receive an extra entry for each one.
Be sure to leave me a separate comment for each additional entry.
Add the “Holiday Gift Guide” button to your sidebar and leave me a comment (be sure it’s up for the duration of the gift guide!)
Check out my Holiday Gift Guide and leave a comment on that site about a product you like! (Maximum of 1 Comment for this).
Follow me on Twitter AND tweet about the contest. Be sure to use the hashtag #holidaysurvivalguide
Enter Shannon’s giveaways (Maximum of 1 Comment for this).
Subscribe to my feed via email or reader.
Blog about this giveaway. It doesn’t have to be a separate post. Just include a blurb about it when you blog about other giveaways.
Click on one of the very cute buttons below and digg, stumble, fav, etc. Just let me know what you did in the comments!
For more fabulous Holiday Gift Ideas, visit The Mommy-Files
Disclosure: I did not receive compensation for this review. I will be receiving a product, courtesy of the company in order to facilitate my review.
Holiday Gift Guide 2009: Jungle Gym: Ride & Learn Giraffe Bike by VTechkids
December 14, 2009
I can’t believe that Christmas is almost here! Ten days and counting. Are you ready? We don’t even have our tree up yet (that’s first on my hubby’s to-do list this week). And shopping? I’m about half-way done! If you can believe it, I actually find children to be the most difficult to shop for…especially when the children are not my children. Some parents offer a list (which I greatly appreciate), but most say that “anything will do,” which isn’t entirely true.
As a parent, I look for a few key features when shopping for a toy. Safety and long-lasting value are very important to me. I really like educational, open-ended toys that challenge a child and stimulate his/her imagination. In the past, we have purchased several toys from VTechkids and have been very happy with them. The company prides itself on developing quality, innovative educational products for children. We live in a society highly focused on all things technical. Rather than sheltering children from “electronics” I think it’s important to expose them to age-appropriate content.
VTechkids recently launched a new line of toddler toys (designed for children over the age of 18 months) called Jungle Gym. Toddlers like my son, need to be active daily. My son does not do well when he hasn’t had a chance to run, ride his bike and just release his energy. The new line is designed to stimulate both the mind and the body through active play. The animal theme immediately piqued his interest. And the bright colors are very attractive. Most important, toddlers will start learning the basic foundation for letter, number, color, and object identification.
We received the Ride & Learn Giraffe Bike, courtesy of the company. Immediately, I thought about the potential it has to teach my son how to eventually learn to ride a bike…and I was impressed. The basic premise of the toy is that as a child pedals, he/she is learning. There are five play modes and tots will learn the alphabet and count animals (among other activities). It’s relatively easy to put together and requires 3 AA batteries.
The age range is 18-36 months, but I’m not sure my son would have fully understood all of the concepts at 18 months. The bike is adorable and relatively sturdy (although my son could tip it over if he decided to). The funniest thing my son has done is ride the bike, then come back squawking, saying he is a parrot!
The Ride & Learn Giraffe Bike retails for $49.99 and is available at Toys R Us and Walmart
For more fabulous Holiday Gift Ideas, visit The Mommy-Files
Disclosure: I did not receive compensation for this review. I did receive a product, courtesy of the company in order to facilitate my review.
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Holiday Gift Guide 2009: Hershey’s
December 14, 2009
The combination of the holidays and pregnancy hormones seem to put me in the baking mood. My husband knows that I don’t need a whole lot of excuses to bake. For years I’ve been making thumbprint cookies with Hershey’s Kisses for Christmas. It’s a tradition and they’re so easy to make. Plus, I like every excuse to eat chocolate!
During the holiday season, cookies seem to abound. I’m still trying to figure out how to get invited to one of those cookie exchanges I keep reading about! Hershey’s is sponsoring 1,000 cookie exchange parties for people across the country to encourage people to spend time together and exercise their baking skills. If you’re like me (and haven’t been invited to one of these infamous parties), you can still enjoy delicious cookies in your own home (or why not just create your own party?).
Hershey’s has an entire site dedicated holiday cooking recipes and party planning tips. The site is very interactive (it’s a Ning site) and members (membership is free) can discuss holiday baking secrets, share recipes, and share photos from parties.
Just in time for the holiday season are their famous festive blue and silver and red and green Hershey’s Kisses. And if you simply don’t have time to bake, why not include them as a stocking stuffer?
Here are the cookies I made, using the basic Chocolate Thumbprint recipe, courtesy of Hershey’s:
For more delicious recipes, check out Hershey’s Kitchens!
For more fabulous Holiday Gift Ideas, visit The Mommy-Files
Disclosure: I did not receive compensation for this review. I did receive a product, courtesy of the company in order to facilitate my review.
