Five Links to Make Great Gifts Look Even Better

I’m not exactly known for my gift-wrapping skills. Yes, I do fancy art stuff, but when it comes to wrapping presents, I’m not the neatest girl on the block. My husband, thankfully, takes this task over for me. However, I know a few good “how-tos” that can help me, and possibly you, overcome this grievous character deficiency and start wrapping.

Posted on 7 Dec 2007 by Tina V.

The Nike+iPod Sport Kit

If you know of a runner, then the Nike+iPod Sport Kit is the newest gadget to get him or her! I’ve run 3 marathons (not fast, mind you, but I finished—yea!), and I wish that I had this package when I had run them. This combination, although the kit runs at $29 or less, can be a little pricey if you don’t already own the Nike+ shoes and the iPod Nano. But I think ultimately this is worth it!! So, if you know of someone who is trying to get into shape and who also loves music, then this is the package to get for Christmas and New Year’s combined (you know the whole resolution thing?).

Posted on 16 Oct 2006 by Anne B.

Cowgirl’s Girlfriends Game

I am working my fingers to the bone these days. So after taking care of my family, then my business, it doesn’t leave much time left for my friends. I miss those girlfriends I usually get to talk with during the course of the week.

Posted on 27 Sep 2006 by Anne W.

Spa Shower Mat

As I said yesterday, with 2 small kids, a husband I adore and 2 businesses finding the time to enjoy a bubble bath is virtually impossible. But that doesn’t mean I don’t want to find ways to relax.

Posted on 14 Sep 2006 by Anne W.

Spa Massage Bath Pillow

I have this huge garden tub that I admire while I step into the shower every morning. With two small kids, the idea of finding the time to enjoy a long hot bubble bath seems daunting. But I have my hopes.

Posted on 13 Sep 2006 by Anne W.

Instant Manicures from Avon

Well, Ladies, I don’t usually write about beauty products, but this is the best thing since the hair dryer was invented. As a retail salesperson and a mom of two young children, I have zero time to paint my own nails. I also don’t have the time or money to pay a babysitter so that I can go get a manicure. So, when my friend gave me a sample of Avon’s new Instant Manicure, I thought I’d at least give it a try. I have to admit, I was extremely skeptical at first—those press-on nails never seemed to work. Why would this be any different? But, I am now hooked and will probably never go back to wet nail polish again.

Posted on 12 Sep 2006 by Anne B.

Assorted Brownie Tray

My birthday is speeding into reality very soon. I know my family loves me. And as a mother and wife, but if I want a birthday cake, I am probably gonna have to bake it myself. Now I like cake, but I don’t love it. So I rarely bother. My family makes a big enough celebration without the cake.

Posted on 6 Sep 2006 by Anne W.

Travelon Messenger Style Shoulder Bag

My mother-in-law has been doing a lot of traveling back and forth to my home for baptisms and such. And in order to make her trip comfortable, she needs to be extra organized and have all of her necessary “things” with her. So, her solution to this necessity is her Travelon Messenger Style Shoulder Bag. She not only has one, but two, of these incredible bags made by Travelon. We do a bunch of travel, ourselves, and I am really close to purchasing one of these great bags for myself before we head to the Caribbean this Fall.

Posted on 14 Aug 2006 by Anne B.

I See Me! Personalized Children’s Books

For my daughter’s second birthday, her Godmother sent her one of the nicest, cutest gifts she’s ever received: a personalized I See Me Book! This ultra-professional and beautifully illustrated (by Mark Mille) hardcover book is all about my daughter’s name, spelling the name out in rhyme with animals. Each book is totally unique to the child, and what child doesn’t love to hear a book where he or she is the main character?

Posted on 7 Aug 2006 by Anne B.

Plate Caddy

We had a BBQ last night at my house and took out the Plate Caddies for everyone to use. They were such a hit that I wanted you all to know what a wonderful and useful product this is. I can’t tell you how many parties I’ve been to where I have to try and juggle (and this is truly what you do when that drink starts to fall) my plate, silverware, a napkin and eat all at the same time. Well, at my house, you will never have to do this again, because we have the Plate Caddy at your service!! The caddies come with a hole to put your silverware, napkin, and even a little colored tee that identifies that plate as yours! Very clever!

Posted on 1 Aug 2006 by Anne B.

Action Sampler Camera

Even if you aren’t a photography fanatic, you’ll love this camera, simply for it’s simplistic mechanisms! I’m no Richard Avedon, but I love to take pictures to capture the moment. As the mom of two young ones, I always want to have a camera handy for that memorable moment that needs to be made into instant history. Along my travels, I found this little doozy in a neat gallery shop in Brooklyn last year. The Action Sampler Camera is an incredible gift for the photography enthusiast, scrapbook maker, or amateur historian in your life. The no-frills, non-automatic device uses four lenses to portray a collage of action shots, each about a quarter of a second apart. The results are artistic and interesting depending upon who or what your subject is.

Posted on 3 Jul 2006 by Anne B.

Teeter Hang-Ups

Oh dear, my back has been killing me lately. Too much sitting and not enough of my normal work out routines….what I would really like is about 15 minutes hanging upside just to loosen up my back.

Posted on 20 Jun 2006 by Anne W.

Sudoku Puzzleboard

While we were on vacation last month, my wonderful in-laws came and stayed with our kids. What a great time we had too. But that’s not what we are talking about here.

Posted on 14 Jun 2006 by Anne W.

Digital Photo Frame

I love my digital camera. And I love taking pictures of my children. So needless to say, I have a lot of pictures. And I would love to be able to display them without having to print them out (or send them out for printing) and then framing. Well you get the picture.

Posted on 6 Jun 2006 by Anne W.

Ashton Cigar Humidor

Father’s day is around the corner. And while it’s not politically correct these days to promote smoking (and as an ex-smoker – I don’t promote it), let’s face it some still smoke. And for those cigar smokers having a really nice humidor is a thing of joy.

Posted on 31 May 2006 by Anne W.

Hey I am still on vacation, and as such, I am only thinking about yummy things to eat. So here’s one for all your popcorn lovers and chocolate lovers all rolled up in one.

Posted on 24 May 2006 by Anne W.

Peaceful Progression Alarm Clock

Hmm, I love to sleep in. Just ask my husband. But life marches on and I have to get up early enough to get it all done. Breakfast, pack lunches, showered, kids dressed, oh yes, me dressed too, beds made, dishes done. And then we are off to start the day.

Posted on 17 May 2006 by Anne W.

Dinner My Way

Happy Mother’s Day to all those moms out there reading this. I wish I’d gotten this entry in before today, but being a mom myself of two small children, life and its exercises often get away from me. But Dinner My Way is a company and concept that saved my life after my son was born in February, and if your husband forgot to honor you, as a mother, today, then let him read this entry SOON!

Posted on 14 May 2006 by Anne B.

Magic Beans

We are daily watching our little window garden grow. We planted our six little pots of seeds several weeks ago. And daily we water them, and wonder if they will bloom one day as they stretch sunward every morning a little more.

Posted on 10 May 2006 by Anne W.

Photo Book from Kodak.com

This month, I’m all about the Mother’s Day gifts, because it is up to us ladies to guide our men to the gifts and keepsakes that we want. Raise your hand if your husband has ever gone to the drugstore the night before your birthday, Christmas, or Mother’s Day to buy you a gift. Mine is raised, and, boy, was I upset about it—not because I didn’t like the gift, but because it showed that my husband had failed to really put some thought into what the special day was supposed to mean. So, for all of you men out there that are now mad at me for dumping on you, I AM HERE TO HELP YOU FIND THE BEST GIFT FOR YOUR MOTHER OR WIFE FOR MOTHER’S DAY. One great option is to create a photo book at Kodak.com.

Posted on 1 May 2006 by Anne B.

Cup-A-Cake cupcake holder

I like to bake, though I’m not, by any means, a baker extraordinaire. I can do a few things well, like muffins, cookies and cupcakes. The one problem I usually have is transporting baked goods to friends. Cookies and muffins are fine—they can be schlepped into a basket or artfully arranged on a plate and then covered with foil or plastic-wrap. Cupcakes, however, are a problem.

Posted on 29 Apr 2006 by Tina V.

Rose Bliss Bath

Hmm, so you want to pamper your Mother for Mother’s Day, right? Say right. Yes, that’s it. Ok, so you have lots of wonderful ideas to do so, a great gift basket, some wonderful flowers, a new book, or a card.

Posted on 26 Apr 2006 by Anne W.

Vincci Wine Opener

As a part-time wine connoisseur, albeit still a novice one at that, I look around at all the various wine paraphernalia in great wonder. My kitchen drawer contents consist of three different wine openers. And its become apparent that without any awareness of it, I have been on the great search for a new and unique wine opener.

Posted on 25 Apr 2006 by Anne W.

The Nursing Bracelet at Uncommon Goods

I am currently a nursing mom who wishes that she had thought of this wonderful piece of jewelry first. This [Nursing Bracelet] from [Uncommon Goods] is not only functional but beautiful also. Most new moms are tired and tend to feel a bit frumpy—we don’t fit into our maternity clothes nor do we fit into our pre-pregnancy clothes—so feeling beautiful isn’t exactly how I would have described myself right after giving birth. But if you want to make the new mom feel special AND beautiful, give her one of these [Nursing Bracelets]. There are 4 colors of semi-precious stones in addition to the sterling silver beads that are used to “tell time” as to when the baby was last fed. And to remember from which side the baby last nursed, simply switch the bracelet to the proper hand. If you think a new mom can’t remember things as simple as this at 2 a.m., then quiz her and you’ll get your answer. We can feed babies on no sleep, but forget simple equations or basic memory. This piece of jewelry is the perfect new mom gift for husbands who don’t want to get her diamonds, but want to tell their breastfeeding wives how much they love them and how proud they are of them. And don’t husbands always like to buy gifts that make their wives cry AND that are practical?

Posted on 24 Apr 2006 by Anne B.

Timmy Alphabet Turtle

My daughter is a puzzle fan. She can do puzzles for hours it seems. At her age, she is challenged by the small to medium size puzzles. I think that puzzles help children to think logically and learn along the way.

Posted on 22 Apr 2006 by Anne W.

All in One Kitchen Garden

The other day my kids and I planted a window garden. We purchased some seeds with the idea of learning about plants and how they grow. As many of you know I am an avid gardener, but I live in a rental home in Southern California. My current home has only a few beds in the back yard and the rest of the yard is beautiful concrete. The backyard is very nice, but not at all conducive to the kind of gardening I would like to do. I love both flowers and vegetable gardens, but I miss my herbs the most.

Posted on 12 Apr 2006 by Anne W.

Grill Fork/Thermometer with Rapid Read Tip

Its spring here in Southern California. Woohoo! And we can’t wait to start grilling again. My hubby is master of the grill. He loves grilling up something yummy for dinner. But like most grill masters he asks the age old question, “Is this done?â€?

Posted on 11 Apr 2006 by Anne W.

Light Wedge

I love to read, but I hardly have time any more except just before bed. And I love reading in bed, but I love my husband more. So I don’t want to read in bed if he’s sleeping, the light would keep him awake. So when I found the Light Wedge, I loved it immediately.

Posted on 5 Apr 2006 by Anne W.

Flickr Pro — Give the Gift of Service

I’m a bit of a shutterbug. It comes with the territory: my art degree involved a lot of photography and I also am a parent, which means that when my daughter sneezes funny, I want to take a picture. Couple that with living in a city full of fascinating architecture and you’ve got a Tina who takes her camera everywhere. When Flickr, an internet photo sharing application, debuted, I signed up immediately.

Posted on 31 Mar 2006 by Tina V.

Shea Shell Brooches

I love truly unique and different jewelry. Some time ago, I discovered Carolyn Shea’s Shea Shells beach décor, jewelry and accessories. I have often drooled over her beautiful beach jewelry, truly unique and absolutely lovely. In particular, I love the SeaShell brooches

Posted on 29 Mar 2006 by Anne W.

2006 Birth Year Keepsake Box

Do you have a friend who’s about to give birth? Do you want to get them something more unique than a pack of onesies or diapers? Uncommon Goods has the perfect gift for your new parents: the 2006 Birth Year Box. But this isn’t just a regular keepsake box—it follows the Chinese calendar and includes the various traits that the newborn may possess as a member of the year of the dog.

Posted on 27 Mar 2006 by Anne B.

Chenille Baby Blankets

Baby clothes come and go, they get stained, they grow out of them. Baby blankets on the other hand can be (and often are) kept forever. Last week I was sorting through my children’s rooms and found my stash of baby blankets. There are a couple for each that are special, precious and definitely heirloom quality.

Posted on 25 Mar 2006 by Anne W.

Single Knit Receiving Blanket with Fabric Trim

When I used to hear the word “monogrammed,â€? I’d think of my grandmother’s pristine towels in her guest bathroom. However, since I came upon [Namely Sew], I’ve changed my views of monogrammed merchandise. As a mother of a new baby girl, I received a few adorable bibs and blankets from [Namely Sew] with my daughter’s name beautifully embroidered on the items, which included her nursery theme of puppies. The [Knit Receiving Blanket] was my favorite, and over 2 years and MANY washings later, it is still one of the softest and most special items I’ve kept from my daughter’s infanthood.

Posted on 20 Mar 2006 by Anne B.

Morgan Handbag

Some women collect shoes, some jewelry, I seem to collect purses. Now, I have cut back on my collection significantly in recent years. But I am always on the lookout for the perfect purse. I am always looking for the purse with all the bells and whistles and still small, simple and not too bulky. Wouldn’t you just love to ask the designer to add another pocket? Or pick the perfect fabric for you?

Posted on 15 Mar 2006 by Anne W.

Heart Stones

I am an avid gardener so anything to make my garden a special place to relax, and “smell the rosesâ€? is inviting to me. These heart stones are just what I mean. These are sweet heart shaped stones make a wonderful surprise for you or your guests to stumble upon. They will lighten your mood, warm your heart, a little reminder that there is love in the world.

Posted on 8 Mar 2006 by Anne W.

Name Board Puzzle

I will never forget the first time my older child spelled her name out loud for the first time. Frankly I was shocked, pleasantly surprised and beaming with pride. But I was also curious as to how she really figured it out. It wasn’t as if we sat down and I coached her how to spell her name.

Posted on 5 Mar 2006 by Anne W.

KitchenAid Artisan Series 5-Quart Mixer, Metallic Chrome

Hey, Its me, Anne W. I am filling for Gadget Guru today. So I get to offer up a Home Tech/Gadget for us women.

Posted on 28 Feb 2006 by Anne W.

SS925 Storm Station">Black & Decker SS925 Storm Station

This is an All-in-one Rechargeable Power Source/Radio/Light for when those times when the lights go out. I lived a lot of years in the tornado alley in the Midwest and then moved to hurricane central in Florida for a couple of years and now I live in earthquake prove Southern California. I remember many times when the lights would go and we would scramble for the candles and matches, which we always had set aside for just such occasions. I have discovered the value of being prepared. So if you are looking to give a gift to someone who loved to be prepared for those times when the lights go out, take a good look at this Storm Station. It is a great help to have some light and power to assist with those little appliances that require electricity (like a cell phone charger). This unit has a detachable and rechargeable flashlight, an integral room light that illuminates the immediate area, a 25 watt power sources to operate low wattage devices, an AM/FM/TV Audio/Weather-Band Radio. And best of all, when the lights go out, if the Storm Station is left plugged into an electrical socket, the built-in locator light will automatically turn on and assist you in finding the unit. This great gift of a Black & Decker Storm Station is $99 at Amazon.

Posted on 21 Feb 2006 by Gadget Guru

Flower Aquarium

As you already might have guessed I love the garden. I am an avid gardener and am known to take on large floral growing projects occasionally. My last crazy floral project was to dig up the beds surrounding my pool and plant 40 climbing roses. They looked and smelled incredible, but the amount of work to maintain them was a little overwhelming. I sold the house after the first season, but I have driven by and know at least some of them are still thriving. So needless to say, I love fresh flowers. And I love unusual ways to display them. So when I found these flower aquariums I was in love immediately. They are very unique. You place your floral arrangement in the base, fill it up with water, attach the base which seals in the water and turn it over to display your flowers. The hand blown glass globe magnifies each flower so you can see each beautiful detail. And the flowers last longer too! The flower aquariums is available in 3 sizes – Single, Medium (7â€?) $14.95 and large (8.5â€?) - $19.95. I would definitely encourage buying one in each size or multiple of two sizes. From Gardener’s Supply Company.

Posted on 15 Feb 2006 by Anne W.

iPulse Zip Connect

Well its Tuesday and Tuesdays mean Gadgets. In fact in the coming weeks, you will be meeting our Gadget Guru who will be bringing some of the best and coolest gadgets available.

Posted on 14 Feb 2006 by Anne W.

Romantic Message in a Bottle

Valentines is around the corner and love is in the air. There are so many different ways to say “I Love Youâ€?. This is one special way of sharing your love that he/she will never forget.

Posted on 8 Feb 2006 by Anne W.

Because of You Custom Frame

Valentine’s Day is a great day to give a wonderful gift that will remind them of you all year round. Photographs make a great gift and what could be better than a wonderful custom frame that says how you feel about them too!

Continue Reading →

Posted on 29 Jan 2006 by Anne W.

Valentine’s Keepsake Wine

I found these delightful personalized keepsake wines, perfect for your special someone for Valentines Day. I had a friend who was an avid wine imbiber, quite the connoisseur. She had traveled the California and French wine country extensively. Her small wine cellar was filled with a small number of wines, of which she knew the exact details of when and where each was acquired. Now there aren’t that many true connoisseurs, but for special occasions, you really should remember the wine. What a better way to remember the wine, than to have the bottle forever?

Posted on 28 Jan 2006 by Anne W.

Southern Breakfast Basket

I’ve been a Southerner for most of my life, and food is a way of life in the South. Southern cooking and meals are staples of the culture of the South. And, having moved around to various parts of the country, I can honestly say that I missed the Southern foods that sometimes were not available elsewhere.

Posted on 21 Jan 2006 by Anne B.

Monster Plates

These adorable monster plates from Sprout Home are perfect for the little monster at your table, or for anyone with a love for odd-looking little critters. While you probably can’t nuke dinner on them (they’re not suggested for microwave use), they’re kid-friendly and may actually inspire your little one to enjoy uncovering the entire monster as they eat their meal.

Posted on 10 Jan 2006 by Tina V.