ideas and inspiration for moms
Know a coffee drinker? Here are eleven gift ideas to consider:
[click on each image for details + pricing]
Do you drink coffee? If yes, what kind of coffee-related gifts would you want to receive?
*** Mini Gift Guides are a new thing here at Metropolitan Mama! Every week or so, I’ll feature creative gift ideas in specific categories. Let me know if you have a recipient that you would like me to feature.
If you’re shopping for a dad who likes camping, fishing, hiking, rock-climbing, cycling, canoeing, or skiing…think REI for Father’s Day.
The hardest part about your shopping experience will be deciding what to get out of a gazillion available options!
Here are 3 ideas for your consideration…
REI Halo +25 Sleeping Bag ($259)
This royal blue bag will make his journey easier and his sleep more peaceful. It is lightweight (really…it’s almost weightless!), durable, and feature-laden. He’ll be snug and toasty, thanks to the contoured hood, face muffler, and foot box.
REI Adventure Pants ($46.50)
Hikers, fishers, and world-travelers will get great mileage out of these lightweight, breathable, and comfortable pants. Available in 3 colors, the pants offer a UPF 50+ rating and a moisture-wicking material that will dry quickly as he hikes, climbs, and wades through water in the great outdoors. Zippered pockets keep his possessions from drifting away or getting dropped along the way. Tim gives these a solid 2-thumbs up for versatility and usefulness.
REI Nalgene Everyday Wide-Mouth Loop-Top Water Bottle ($9.95)
Keep him hydrated with this BPA-free, dishwasher-safe bottle. For a creative gift presentation, throw in an REI gift card and/or a handwritten note of appreciation. No gift wrap necessary!
There isn’t a giveaway with this one, but I did want to tell you about the REI Outlet, where you can get your favorite outdoor adventure products for 50% off (and more). Check it.
If you shop at REI, there’s a good chance, your guy will be grinning ear-to-ear when he unwraps your gift:
* REI sent product samples for review purposes.
SLY Award recipient Stephanie Precourt co-hosted an awesome blogger meetup back in January called Cupcake ’10 (read all about it by clicking on the link). After the event, she wrote, “While I love cupcakes, I am really not a cake fan, and my very favorite dessert of all is actually lemon bars.”
As such, I’m pretty sure she’ll be thrilled to receive 1 dozen Classic Lemon Bars from Schmerty’s Cookies, delivered to her door in a signature white box. The bars claim to offer “the perfect balance between sweet and tart” – and they look absolutely scrumptious.
Schmerty’s is a family-run business that prides itself in using the finest ingredients and in never using preservatives. Homemade cookies, brownies, and other treats can be shipped anywhere in the U.S. – making it a perfect gift option for any special occasion. After all, who wouldn’t want to hear the doorbell ring and find a lovely box of Peanut Butter Cookies or Coconutty Samoa Brownies waiting for them?
Schmerty’s also offers photo cookies and greeting card cookies for those times when you want to add a personal touch.
If you like, you can: Follow Schmerty’s on Twitter *** Become a Fan of Schmerty’s on Facebook
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WIN IT! One winner will receive 1 dozen Classic Lemon Bars ($30) by Schmerty’s Cookies. To enter, leave any topic-related comment on this post prior to Thursday, April 8th at 11:59 p.m. All generic comments like “Enter me!,” “Love it,” and “Cool stuff!” will be disqualified. Winner must provide a U.S. mailing address.
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Schmerty’s Cookies has generously donated 2 dozen Classic Lemon Bars for this SLY Awards promotion – one for Steph and one for the giveaway. I received no product or monetary compensation for this post. I’m just excited to celebrate Steph and…you.
*UPDATE* The winner is #99 Karen. Congratulations!
Do you ever think amazing compliments about people and not say them?
Like, for example, you’ll walk by somebody on the street or run into a neighbor or read someone’s blog…and THINK…
“Wow! She has the warmest, prettiest smile.” (That’s Stephanie of Adventures in Babywearing)
Or “She totally has the gift of encouragement.” (That’s Nini of Lettner Livin‘)
Or “Oh.My.Goodness. Is it even possible for someone to be more creative than her? She astonishes me.” (That’s Dana of MADE)
Or “Mercy! She has a way with words!” (That’s Sarah of Emerging Mummy)
Or, “Her sense of style has cool written all over it.” (That’s Leigh of Marvelous Kiddo)
Or, “She is thoughtful…ever so thoughtful…and she gives from her heart.” (That’s Nicole of The Pixel Boutique and Confessions of a Cropaholic)
Lately, I’ve been trying to remember to “just say it.” Out Loud.
Whenever someone or something strikes me as being beautiful, extraordinary, or sublime – I don’t want that little nugget of goodwill to be lost. Because I know that…”kind words can be short and easy to speak, but their echoes are truly endless” (Mother Teresa).
So…if you like a person’s yellow jacket or their sparkly teeth or their radiant personality, say so. If you notice a person’s gentle parenting techniques or spotless bathrooms or humility, stop and use your words (not just your mind).
Let’s fill this world with endless echoes of kindness. You with me?
When a friend is experiencing tough times or times of change, it’s often hard to know what you can do to help.
For example, when a friend has…
Sometimes it’s best to go back to the basics and deliver a meal. Food can mean so much when a person is sad, sick, or smack-dab in the middle of something new (even if that something is a good thing).
One way to be prepared to give meals to friends and neighbors in times of need is to keep a few extra dishes in your freezer. Enchiladas. Lasagna. Berry Cobbler. Etc.
Not sure where to start?
Hot By 6 is an Oregon-based, mom-owned company that is committed to helping people spend less time in the kitchen and more time with their families.
Essentially, Hot By 6 is a database of budget-friendly recipes (searchable by course, category, dietary preferences, and ethnicity) that can all be made ahead and frozen. Currently, there are 12 recipes in the Breakfast category, 15 recipes in the lunch category, and 100+ recipes in the dinner category…plus ideas for desserts, side dishes, marinades, soups/stews, and appetizers.
Once you have created your menu plan, you can easily print out a grocery list, assembly instructions, and labels.
If you want to create meals WITH your friends, there’s a whole separate “group” functionality. Essentially, the site gives you everything that you need to create a Super Suppers or Dream Dinners in your own house.
The service is $6/month and is a great resource to help you get inspired with new recipe ideas for your family.
My suggestions for the company would be to:
Summary: Hot By 6 is an innovative concept…well-suited for busy parents looking for a new way of getting hot, nutritious meals on the table.
TRY IT! Hot By 6 is offering all Metropolitan Mama readers one FREE month! You can try it and see if you like it. Take the recipes and the system for a “test drive,” if you will. Just enter promo code “metromama” when you create an account. You have one week to sign up – promo code expires 2/15/2010.
***Please note that you will be asked to enter your credit card information. Your account will be automatically renewed at the end of 30 days unless you cancel it.
If you have a DSLR or an above-average digital camera…and you know how to use it, then you have an awesome tool for gift-giving in your hands.
Never underestimate the power of photos to stir a person’s heart.
Then, take an envelope and send a few snapshots.
Or, buy a memory card and send the whole set.
Inexpensive. Personal. Thoughtful.
People love to see pictures of themselves and of their kids so photos are a gift that is sure to be treasured.
Make someone’s day. Take pictures. Send them.
Easy, right?
“Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once (s)he grows up.” – Pablo Picasso
She paints picture after picture. Some with stripes. Some with polka dots. Some with one color; some with two; some with more. Each one is unique. Exquisite. Undeniably beautiful.
And every one is designed with someone special in mind.
Her creativity astounds me. Her generosity moves me.
When I watch her, I pray silently that she will always feel this assured, that she will always dream the biggest of dreams. I pray that her imagination will always be this vivid and her life this full of colors.
When she describes her finished pieces with grand gestures and animated expressions, she thinks that I am amazed by her paintings (and I am), but what really impresses me is…her. SHE is the real masterpiece.
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In these photos – products by Melissa & Doug
Tabletop Easel (~$39.99)
This brightly colored wooden easel features a chalkboard on one side and a dry erase board on the other. An ample storage tray is convenient for placing paintbrushes, erasers, chalk, and paint cups when not in use. We used a large binder clip to hold up a piece of paper for easy upright painting (the four accompanying magnets are pretty much worthless and do not effectively hold the paper up as they should). ALSO: The screws don’t fit just right and protrude awkwardly.
My overall synopsis of this product is that it is flawed in design, but it is a fantastic concept. With a few slight adjustments, this easel would be a top-rate addition to any child’s playroom or creating space. Even in its current state, we use it every single day and we think it’s fabulous (so much better than painting on a flat surface!).
NOTE: The Tabletop Easel is currently on backorder, but should be available on Melissa & Doug’s website shortly…
Easel Companion Set ($34.99)
The title of this set is a bit misleading because it implies that you must have the easel, but the truth is that it is also ideal as a “stand-alone” gift.
It comes with:
This is an excellent gift choice for any little artist – with or without the easel.
Artist’s Smock ($9.99)
Worried about stains and smudges? Place this super fun, stripedy (yes, I’ve been reading too many books starring Tigger lately…) smock over your child’s clothes and you can rest easy. The smock is easy-to-clean and has a little square on the chest where you can add your child’s name. The adjustable straps make it a one-size-fits-all garment so that you can stretch your dollars and use the same apron from preschool through elementary.
WIN IT! One winner will receive a Tabletop Easel (~$39.99), an Easel Companion Set ($34.99), and an Artist’s Smock ($9.99) from Melissa & Doug. To enter, leave any topic-related comment on this post prior to Sunday, December 27th at 11:59 p.m. (Don’t forget to follow the rules…all generic comments like “Enter me!,” “Love it,” and “Cool stuff!” will be disqualified.).
FOR A SECOND ENTRY: Blog or Tweet about my Christmas Gift Guide (or about this giveaway)…and leave a second comment telling me that you did.
* I received product samples for review purposes.
*UPDATE* The winner is #27 Abbi. Congratulations!
