party in a box

I love this idea from you are my fave on melodie's blog...who wouldn't love to receive this 'party in a box' on their birthday?

wild for this present

My go-to gift for the latest round of 2 year-old birthday parties has been this Catherine Ledner book. Beautiful enough to sit out on a coffee table- but a favorite among the toddler set as well.

les petits presents

Les Petits Presents is a little gem of a blog- with cute, easy DIY ideas from homemade Valentines to teacher presents. You'll want to check it out!

haley's picks: gifts for pre-school boys

Another stellar list of gift ideas (all but one under $30!) from Haley:

"In a house full of girls, I am always completely stumped when an invitation for a little boy's birthday party arrives in our mailbox. My mind immediately floods with the dread of the impending gift. Luckily, while doing my month-long search for my picks for preschool boys, I was graced with the knowledge of several mom friends who tackle the especially challenging task of raising these little balls of energy day in and day out. So thanks, ladies! Oh, and thanks to my husband, who came through at the last minute with some incredible finds on his geeky websites. Since I am totally unfamiliar with this territory, I relied heavily on these resources, and those of professional toy reviewers. So rest assured...all of these items are SURE to be a total hit with your preschool boy or one you know!!!!

1. Branch Building Blocks ($30)... These are by far the most incredible building blocks I have ever seen. What a great alternative to lincoln logs or legos! Each 21 piece set is made from salvaged wood and comes in a handmade drawstring bag. Swoon.

...via oh dee doh

2. Cat in the Hat "I can do that" game ($20)... Start by flipping over three cards to discover your new challenge. What will it be? Can you jump up and down...while holding the fish...under your chin? Can you limbo under the trick-a-ma-stick…while balancing the boat...on your stomach? If you think you can, shout, "I Can Do That!" There are hundreds of hilarious possibilities. The player who earns the most stars wins!

3. Zubbles ($15 for a 2-pack) This is the most exciting thing I have seen in awhile...COLORED BUBBLES!!! Zubbles are the world's first disappearing color, non-staining, non-toxic bubbles. The possiblities are endless. They are available in pink and blue, and there is a manual that comes with them to tell you ways to make every color of the rainbow! The website is great. You can watch a streaming video of the bubbles in action. I ordered them immediately and am anxiously awaiting their arrival!

4. Backyard Safari Time Capsule ($25) While most time capsules require a level of patience that's not entirely suited for a child's attention span, the Backyard Safari Time Capsule can be both buried and continually stocked with new items. It's really a neat idea. You bury the capsule, then an artificial rock hides a tube that reaches the surface. Whenever a child wishes to add more objects (baseball cards, LEGO minifigs, dead pets) they simply drop them down a hole.

5. Spy Glove ($20) Here's every essential your little spy needs, on a super-cool, wearable Spy Glove: wrist watch to synchronize the time, digital recorder to record secret conversations, mini-telescope for surveillance, flashlight for night missions, and magnifying glass for examining evidence. What more could a little spy ask for? Even if they don't understand any of the functions, the mere sight of this toy marveled a prestigious panel of preschool toy reviewers.

6. Sky blasters ($13 for two): Like a bow and arrow and stomp rocket all rolled in to one. Reviewers all over the internet raved about this toy and its ability to entertain kids for hours on end. They launch the rocket by pulling back on a string and then release! Each rocket soars up to 120 feet and its tails can be manipulated for either straight flight or twists!!! The best part is, they have to run and go get the rocket once its been launched...which should hopefully lead to a nice long nap that afternoon. Moms everywhere will thank you.

7. I spy stick ($7) My friend Julie swears by these. She loves to use them in the car to keep her little boy (4 years old) busy on road trips. Kids twist and turn the stick to reveal up to 42 items hiding inside it! Parents can read the included card and prompt their kids to find the "soccer ball" or the "pirate hat." Too cute. And at $7, you could stock up for every little boy you know! Also comes in holiday versions, so the fun never ends!

8. Super hero cape ($42) This cape is a bit pricier than the other picks, but I thought I would include it in case you were looking for a gift for your OWN little superhero. These capes are by far the best quality and best looking around. They will fit for years on end. There are so many different options. A total must for any preschool boy.

9. Gallop! Scanimation book ($11) I am one of those geeky moms who likes to give books for birthdays...which I guess can be a tad boring. Not so with this INCREDIBLE scanimation book! It features three animals and their gaits, and is a fascinating way to explain to your preschooler a little more about animation and how it works. I am just as obsessed with this book as my four year old is. Truly, truly amazing.

10. Pluto Plasma ($4) Pluto Plasma is stretchable, bounceable and it looks super futuristic with its marbled, frosty appearance. It appears liquid in the container, but reviewers say, upon removing it, it’s more solid than it appears to be. It also apparently makes some really funny noises when your little one is returning it to its container, which delighted little boys who tested the product. At $3.99, this would make a GREAT party favor!!!

Once again- I am floored by Haley's ability to pull together a list of great gifts! Whenever anyone asks me what my son wants for his birthday, I'm going to direct them right here. Thanks, Haley!

Haley's picks: gifts for pre-school girls

For those of you looking for gift inspiration for the pre-school {girl} set that doesn't include Jasmine, Ariel, Belle, Mulan, or Cinderella (the Disney princesses for those of you 'uneducated' in the world of little girls); look no further then Haley's picks for this month. Even better, they are all (but one) under $30!

From Haley:

1. I had just had to include this super-cute costume.  Anytime we give a costume to a friend, it is always such a hit.  But it is hard to find quality costumes at a 'birthday-budget' cost.  This one is a STEAL at $30, and it has a lace-up back to ensure a good fit. 

2. Giant Play and Learn Book ($13.50)...Moms everywhere will thank you over and over for this incredible activity book.  The pages are filled with fun games and projects that will keep both mom's and preschoolers busy for months!  A great way to learn to follow directions, color in the lines, and write letters and numbers!

3. Euro Play Cases ($29)...I love the vintage feel of these play cases.  Such a great open-ended toy....leaves so much opportunity for imaginative play.  And a great place to house all of those teeny tiny dolls and clothes that little girls insist on collecting.

4.  Manners Can Be Fun ($15)...This book is hilarious.  It is easy to understand, and the pictures are amazing.  A great addition to any book collection.

5. If your little one goes for sparkle (mine does), then this "tiara" headband is great ($22).  It would be great for playing outside, grocery store runs, dinner with family (all times in which my toddler INSISTS on wearing a crown.)  It isn't too offensive as far as tiaras go, and she can still feel like she's the princess she says she is!

6. School Years Scrapbook ($26)...A great gift idea for those late summer/early fall birthday parties!  A wonderful way to document a child's school experiences...it even has places for "first day of school" photos, and pockets for all of that artwork you can't bring yourself to throw away.  Think of it as a baby book for the older set.  A must have in my book.

7. I am just obsessed with these little rainboots ($38).  What a GREAT gift idea!  Until their feet are big enough to fit in those super-cute wellies, these are such a fun, rainy-day option!  

8. I adore this felt version of a tiara ($14) I spotted on Etsy.  I chose this because it is so much softer than its plastic competitors.  And the sweet birds are a fresh take on a normally tacky trinket.

9 & 10.  I fell in love with these kits from dumpling dynasty on a recent trip to miami.  The pigtail kit ($16) is filled with everything they could ever need to play "beauty shop" with their girlfriends, and the baking kit ($16) has a real wooden rolling pin and spoon...it even has a set of adorable pink birthday candles!  These are truly precious, and a great gift for any preschool girl.

{haley will be tackling pre-school boys next!}

oh, birthday presents...

'Tis the season of summer birthdays...and the same question for me always comes up: what do I buy a ____ year-old ____ (boy, girl)? And how much do I spend? The answer to this question varies wildly (obviously depending on age, gender), and the money question always leaves me stumped. For me, I think the standard birthday gift varies between $15-30, depending on who it is going to, the age, etcetera.

A friend recently relayed that her 2-year old had received a $50 gift certificate for her birthday from a non-family friend. She didn't seem at all phased. I think my internal jaw dropped, however - is that really what people are spending on presents these days? Even for a good friend's child, that seems excessive, no? What do you spend on presents? Any money-type of question is a personal one, I know, but I certainly hate to be the chintzy one! Do tell.

photo by Melanie Acevedo

traveling with tissue

Whenever I travel with a gift bag, I am challenged by the tissue paper 'issue'. No matter how pretty and perfect the tissue is before I leave the house, it is almost always smushed and unsightly for one reason or another by the time I arrive at my destination. So now I travel with the tissue paper and finishing ribbon left on top, and add it right before I give the gift to the recipient. Much prettier!

alligator gift bags

Spotted on Cookie's Nesting blog...very cute crocodile gift bags!

the exchange

Every year Gen and I have an unspoken competition as to who can out-package each other's birthday gift. Our birthdays are a week apart, so we usually exchange gifts sometime in late April. It's not so much about what is in the package, but how the package is wrapped. While I'm desperate to see what treasures are inside, I try to linger on the wrapping for as long as I can stand. She always, always out does me! Though to my credit this year- I was preparing for a dinner party while also trying to wrap- it didn't get the attention it deserved. Next year, I will try again...

because, who doesn't need a cape?!

My friend, Jessica, passed along the website of a super-creative friend of hers...Eleni. Eleni makes handmade custom pieces- including adorable mobiles, ornaments and yes, capes! What child wouldn't adore their very own personalized cape? For those of us who are not-so-crafty, it's reassuring to know we can buy something like this, even if we don't have the skills to execute it on our own. Above is the cape creation Eleni made for Jessica's daughter, Reese, nicknamed 'Reesecake', and her son, Robert- deemed 'Giggleman.' For $50, I'm betting this would not only make an amazing gift for your tiniest superhero, but it would be around (and used) for a long time to come.

gift toppers

I'm in love with Denise's collection of silver gift toppers.

xoxo

thank you, gen & odie.

one word

brilliant! from d.sharp

my new favorite thing

The hit gift at Christmas was this little album I gave to the grandparents. I created it on iphoto (I'm on a Mac) in under 10 minutes. The album is slightly larger then a credit card, and contains up to 14 images. A pack of 3 (you can't buy them as a single) costs about $18 with shipping. But be prepared to wait...it took over a week and half to arrive. I loved it so much I ordered a second pack of three to give to other relatives and to have one for myself!

fyi: I realize sometimes I sound like an advertisement for certain things/companies, but NO ONE pays me anything to say anything! I promise, if I ever do get paid for something like that- I am totally transparent and won't try to pass it off as a 'post.'

oooh...purl

I love Purl Soho's blog, and really just about anything and everything they do (such a pretty logo, too...Brooke!). So it was no surprise when I came across these cookie beauties on the Purl Bee. Yes, yes...I know- they were intended as holiday gifts- and I promised no more Christmas, but I think this is one of those ideas that could be easily translated to any time of year. They give a great tutorial for packaging them...and for a fabric hound like me, I'm loving this super easy idea.

handmade gifts

Do you have friends that you are in awe of? My friend, Miller, is one of those people. She's a mother of 3 girls under the age of four, and yet somehow managed to make Christmas gifts for friends. This year she delivered a belated birthday gift for my son, Gram...a freestyle hand-embroidered American Apparel tee (we love it!). She also decoupaged a picture of her girls atop a simple red box, filled with holiday m&m's. It's a simple, but really lovely, idea. Of course...I have no willpower, so the candy is already gone!

1st birthday gifts

A friend is headed off to a 1st birthday party this weekend, and asked me about my favorite gifts for a one-year-old, since it is fresh in my mind. 

Personally, I don't like electronic gifts- things that make 'annoying' noises (my husband was actually the worst culprit this time around), or anything too big, since we're short on storage around here. Touch-and-feel books are favorites, as are anything that 'shakes' (maracas, particularly), things that stack (blocks), anything that can safely be put in the mouth (stuffed animals or lovies), and puzzles with big knobs.

Above: maracas by schylling, charlie monkey book series (they have a robot, dinosaur, etc. as well), haba's first blocks (lots of fun things in the blocks: jingle bells, etc); melissa and doug puzzles (love those big knobs for little hands); jelly catz plush animals (they are SO soft and cuddly); and another great touch and feel book series, by Usborne. 

There are many great independent vendors out there as well, so if you are looking for something more unique, head to Etsy. 

Also- I promise to give a photo garland how-to very soon (hopefully tomorrow), since I know a lot of you have asked for one!