Today's Cool Gift Idea

Holiday Gifts for Baby

Don’t forget the baby this holiday season. Here are a few holiday gift ideas for the baby.

Sleep Sheep

From Cloud B comes the Sleep Sheep. It’s the perfect gift to give for those who have fussy babies who have a hard time sleeping at night. The Sleep Sheep is a 12″ plush sound machine with four soothing sounds; Mother’s heartbeat, spring showers, ocean waves, and whale songs. Created to be attached outside the crib or as a plush for the baby once the sound machine device is removed.

Pee-Pee Teepe

From Beba Bean it’s the Pee-pee Teepee. A great gift for those who have mishaps changing baby boys. The Pee-pee Teepee is a 100% cotton cone-shaped cloth which is used during changing to provide an extra hand and makes sure diaper changes are dry and easy! Each package comes with five Teepees.

100% Organic Cotton SleepSack Wearable Blanket

Halo created the SleepSack Wearable Blanket to keep babies safe at night by replacing dangerous lose blankets. This wearable blanket carries the “#1 Safe Sleep Product” gold seal from First Candle/SIDS Alliance, and makes the perfect gift for new mothers and those who are just worrywarts. The SleepSack comes in organic cotton, which is free of dyes, chemicals, and preservatives. Great for those who are concern with both safety and the environment.

California Baby Holiday Cheer Gift Tote

California Baby’s Limited Edition Holiday Cheer! Gift Tote is the great gift to give this season if you really don’t know what to give. The tote comes with a bubble bath, aromatherapy spritzer, and bath mesh. The limited edition Holiday Cheer! scent is a blend of orange, lavender, and a touch of vanilla. All products from California Baby are used with essential oils and contain organic and sustainably grown ingredients. The biodegradable bubble bath is non-drying and is free of sodium lauryl sulfate and DEA.
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Have any holiday baby gift ideas? Please leave a comment and tell me all about it!

Looking for gifts? Browse our GIFT STORE! Also, check out the COUPONS page for savings at the best online gift stores!

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How to Wrap Presents When Traveling on an Airplane

Millions of Americans will head to an airport this holiday season and many of those air travelers may be thinking about how to bring along Christmas gifts for the ride. I’m heading to a family gathering this week and since I won’t see these relatives again before Christmas I thought I’d bring their gifts with me. Here are some tips I’m using to make sure my gifts arrive safely.

Think Ahead

If you know you are going to try transporting your gifts in your luggage, try buying items that aren’t big and bulky. You’ll be thankful for the extra room in your bag. Also, try to avoid very fragile items that might not survive a bumpy ride. And don’t buy any sharp items that could be mistaken as weapons.

Try Gift Bags

Unfortunately airport security doesn’t like wrapped presents and if they are suspicious of what you’re carrying they may be forced to unwrap all of those gifts you’re carting around. Rather than take the chance of having that hard work ripped apart by someone other than your friend or family member, try using gift bags instead. That way if you’re asked, you can easily unwrap it to reveal the contents.

Use Ribbon and Boxes

If you have an item that you really want to put in a box, instead of wrapping it just use a pretty ribbon. Crate and Barrel has beautiful tinsel ribbon that will add sparkle to any plain box.

Wrap the Top and Bottom

If you must use wrapping paper, wrap the bottom of the box separately from the top. Be sure to use plenty of tape to secure the paper to the inside of the box. Then use a ribbon to keep the top and bottom connected. If asked, you’ll be able to open the box and put it back together once the security check is complete.

Buy Bubble Wrap

You don’t have to travel much to know bags can take a big beating. If you’re putting fragile gifts in a checked bag, be sure to wrap items in thick layers of bubble wrap. They’ll have a better chance of surviving the airplane trip.

Expect a few Wrinkles

No matter how careful you are, chances are your beautiful gift bags are going to get a little wrinkled and your boxes may have a few dents. But at least your gifts aren’t going to get lost in the mail.

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If you have any other ideas on how to wrap presents when traveling on an airplane, please share!

Looking for gifts? Browse our GIFT STORE! Also, check out the COUPONS page for savings at the best online gift stores!

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Interview with Sílvia Leite

I interviewed Ms. Sílvia Leite, creator of handmade dolls and miniature play food on LookMamaMadeIt.Etsy.com. I asked her a few questions about her creations and the work she puts into her craft.

What made you start creating children’s toys and accessories?

To tell you the truth, this is something I wanted to do since my early childhood. I simply can’t get tired of small scale objects. I started to make my own toys when I was about my daughter’s age (she is 6). I used to build large mansions with furniture made from cardstock and homemade glue, and to populate them with happy families of paper dolls. I also sewed, knitted and crocheted for my dolls. My deep love for miniatures lead me to unwillingly kill two innocent bonsai trees, and also made me want to become an architect. I gave up this project when I understood that what I really wanted was to build 3D models and maquette- and that is not what architects do.

Latter in life, and even though I was able to follow another dream of mine (taking a degree in Art History), I found myself doing repetitive, administrative work, and forgot all about toys and miniatures. Till the day when my daughter asked me to make her favorite doll a birthday cake!

Then, in the beginning of this year I had a little spare time in my hands (I was in between jobs) and decided to give it a try. I made my first felt cakes, cookies and dolls for my friends’ children, and they were the ones who encouraged me to start selling.

What is your inspiration for your creations?

My daughter was my first client, and the main cause and inspiration for everything I’ve created since her birth. A lot of the toys and accessories I make are also based in memories from my own childhood. Of course, this means I am particularly at ease with girl’s toys! I believe children should play with good quality, beautiful objects. I design my products to be visually appealing, pleasant to the touch, and easy to play with. They must have the right size, feel and weight for children’s hands, and to be stimulating and suggestive enough to encourage pretend play. Finally, everything is carefully and lovingly crafted, and tested in my home lab (my daughter’s playroom)!

What kind of materials do you use for your handmade toys and accessories?

I use mainly felt. Just love this material! I choose a high quality, rich wool blend felt that I can buy in a wide range of lovely colors. I always try to use non-allergenic, all-natural materials, and also use recycled materials when possible.

How long does it typically take to make one of your creations? Small (e.g. a cupcake) and large (e.g. a doll)?

Well, with a 6-year-old child and a full time job I have very little spare time to craft. I mostly craft at night, or on weekends, though I also need to take time for my family. I usually cut several pieces in one crafting session, then sew them all in another session, and then make all finishing in yet another day, so it is hard to answer this question. But if I had to make a doll in a single session I would need
at least 5 hours to finish it whereas one cupcake would take me about 1-2 hours.

Do you take into account customer feedback and suggestions when you start a new creation?

Yes, by all means. Clients can customize almost anything from my shop, and I am always glad to have special orders, because they help my work to evolve. Feedback is very important, since I really want my clients to be satisfied. My toys are conceived to make people happy.

What is next for Sílvia Leite and her handmade children’s toys and accessories?

I don’t know. Maybe I should, but I am not really making plans. I love to craft, and would love to be able to do this full time, but the right moment hasn’t arrived yet. Anyway, a part of me likes to keep this business in small scale… like my toys. But I always have ideas for new products!

Tell me what you think of Sílvia Leite’s handmade children’s toy and accessories. Please leave your comments and let me know if you enjoy handmade and handcrafted gifts.

Looking for gifts? Browse our GIFT STORE! Also, check out the COUPONS page for savings at the best online gift stores!

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Gifts For Her

Gifts for the Bookworm

Looking for a gift for someone who always has their nose in a book?  Here are some gift ideas for the avid reader.

Boxed Sets

If you know what type of novels, series or favorite author a person reads, then a boxed set is the perfect present.  You can give an entire collection of works which can be added to a person’s personal library, or start one,  if they just gotten into reading books.  For instance, crime fiction lovers would be pleasantly surprised with the Complete Ripley Novels boxed set, which includes the well known The Talented Mr. Ripley novel for which a movie was made.  For lovers of the classics, Barnes & Noble Classics Great Novels Set comes with six timeless works for one affordable price.

Bookends

If you know someone who already has an extensive library, then bookends would make a great gift. Barnes and Noble has a great collection of bookends to choose from to match any decor.  From Playful Puppies Bookends to Homer and Aristotle Cast Marble Bookends, you would be sure to find the ones which would match any person’s personal taste.

 Reading Aids

Of course, the bookworm is not complete without the use of their reading aids.   A bookmark is nice, but a bookmark which is also a dictionary is even better.  The Franklin Compact Oxford Dictionary is a bookmark and compact dictionary in one, for serious readers who don’t want to get stuck with literary terminology.  If you want to give something more on the practical side, then the Old School Wooden Lap Desk is what you are looking for.  The wooden top of the lap desk has a pencil ledge and has brass hinges which opens to storage underneath.  The bottom is cushioned, which makes it great not only for reading, but also for writing notes in bed.

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Do you have any suggestions?  Please leave a comment or tell me your gift ideas for the bookworm.

Looking for gifts? Browse our GIFT STORE! Also, check out the COUPONS page for savings at the best online gift stores!

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One Week Left to Vote for The Leakey Collection!

Today we are hosting a special announcement to help our friends at the Leakey Collection.

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Vote Now ! One week left to vote!

The voting phase of World Challenge 08 closes midnight 21 November, so to make sure your favourite is in with a chance of winning, visit the World Challenge 08 website and vote now.

Remember, with your help the winning project will receive $20,000 and the two runners up will receive $10,000 to continue their good work so make sure your vote counts.

Tune into BBC World News this weekend to watch the series and find out more about the finalists. All finalists are also being featured in Newsweek.

The winners will be announced in the final programme on 20 December. They will also be featured on the World Challenge 08 website and in Newsweek on 22 December (Issue date 29 December).

Also, don’t forget to watch BBC World News on 22nd November 2008, or pick up Newsweek on 17th November 2008 (Issue date 24th November) to find out about last year’s World Challenge winner and how their project is going one year on.

Regards
The World Challenge Team

The BBC has a new policy on competitions.
Visit bbc.com/competitioncode

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If you’d like to find out more about The Leakey Collection and their mission to help the Maasai women, please read our post Zulugrass Jewelry by The Leakey Collection - A Gift That Gives Back! or just visit their website at http://www.leakeylife.com/

Looking for gifts? Browse our GIFT STORE! Also, check out the COUPONS page for savings at the best online gift stores!

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