Gifts with Zazzle

One of my favorite websites is Zazzle... Zazzle for customized stamps, clothing and much more.  You can create your own custom stamp or t-shirt and now an iPhone case with a photo of anything you can think of and they make it so easy with their drag-and-drop design tools...

In the section of the website called 'Gift Center' they organize it by women, men, teens and kids.

For instance, the categories for teen gifts are broken down by type of teen, like techno, rockstar, artist, activist, etc...

I love how the tools have become so accessible and easy to use, allowing everyone to express their creativity.

Tomorrow for St. Patrick's Day you could have designed your own or purchased one of their designs for a sticker...

So maybe now you can start thinking about Easter or Passover or the 4th of July!

White Out!

...and I don't mean snow!
That last bit of dirt-crusted granular snow has finally been replaced by spring soaked soggy ground.
Oh, don't get me wrong, I'm happy to see mud and grass again.
Here are some stylish looking electronics that won't break the bank.  I know my kids are always talking about Dr. Dre headphones for $200 to $300 dollars!... what about these cool looking Bongo Headphones I found on Urban Outfitters website...

$76

Or this vintage camera that uses real film!...

Holgawood Camera $46

Or this instant camera which produces credit card size photos in minutes!...

Instax Mini 7S, $130

Also Urban Outfitters offers FREE returns.

Happy Monday!

Whimsy in the Kitchen

One of my favorite stores to visit with the kids when we're in NYC is Pylones (pronounced pee-lone), a colorful and innovative French import with everyday objects, but with a twist...

Inside the Lexington Avenue store

I bought this grater for my kitchen years ago and still love it...

$31

The latest kitchen gadget is this pizza cutter which comes in 6 different patterns...

$32

There are 5 different stores in NYC from uptown to downtown and if you can't visit you can shop online.

The kids are off for the Christmas vacation starting tomorrow... it'll be fun and relaxing I hope... wish me luck (I may need it)!

Pendants of Strength

As we approach the gift-giving time of year, I have a major resistance to buying gifts under pressure.  I'm one who likes to buy gifts when I see something and it hits me how perfect this would be for so and so...  I'll buy it and give it a friend or family member no matter what day of the week it is, it doesn't have to be their birthday or Christmas/Hannukah... I can hardly wait for that giving moment!

A friend of mine recently emailed me about her good friend Ellen's Equestrian Jewelry and since I'm not a horse person, I wasn't sure if I would like it... but I just love the necklaces... you don't have to a be a horse person because these special pieces are just great looking and the bonus is that they also send a message of HOPE!
 They're inspired by antique medals from the 1800's and Ellen's life-long passion for horses. One of the medals depicts Joan of Arc on one side and her shield on the other.  When Ellen decided to engrave words like Strength, Triumph and Valor on the medals she soon realized just how powerful these pieces would be especially for women facing life's greatest challenges head on...

love the chains too

Ellen can engrave your special message... as one friend told Ellen, "I gave it to a dear friend who is fighting every day for her life, I hope it brings comfort and strength to her".

If you're interested in purchasing Ellen's Equestrian Jewelry, contact her at this NY number: 516-695-2423.

Just remember, that gift-giving time will be upon us in a flash!... Enjoy. 

Some Mens Dream

Some men dream about women, some about cars, and some both... mine is the former, and of course, he only dreams about me...
Anyway, if your hubby is a car lover, and he has the HOT car already... and you want to get him a gift of driving accessories... check out this website, Car Guy Gear... they have great stuff, including these very stylish Piloti driving shoe...

... and some are on sale for about $60, down from $90

Neon sign... stylish, large and impressive...isn't that what they all want!

$469

Happy 'Gifting'!

The Last Hurrah!

Summer keeps on slipping, slipping, slipping into...

With the days getting shorter and the TV playing ADs for back to school, I'm getting nervous that SUMMER will escape me without enough heavenly mojitos, pool parties, late afternoon beach jaunts, outdoor music concerts... 


Here are some things that say summer...

Freeze the scooped out orange and slice off a bit of the bottom for a refreshing bowl with scoop of ice cream, you can also add fruit and drizzle a balsamic and sugar reduction on top!

 Great idea from MSN today... your ice will last longer

Orange is my favorite summer color... great next to a tan... and flattering to most skin types...

Cynthia Rowley for Roxy, was $115 now $56.99

Loving this summer color...

Urban Outfitters, Paul & Joe Summer Nail Enamel, $14

I'm going to start planning a summer party today... hope you savor every minute of your summer too!

2 of My Favs!

As you may have noticed I'm clearly in a summer schedule, what with no school for the kids, one off to sleep-away camp, the other kid, a teen and night owl sleeping until 11ish (that's a big 'ISH' too), I've been sleeping late, late, late... I will get back to an earlier schedule but it may take a few days of enjoying this resbite.
Today I wanted to give you some insight into 2 of my favorite bloggers... not mommy bloggers... just bloggers with great style in fashion, home, cooking and design... I'm such a big fan!  I read them regularly...

Oh Joy!

Cupcakes and Cashmere

Thank you ladies for providing so much pleasure in your  'jewels on the web'.

A Special Gift

Last night I attended a special dinner party with six other friends from high school at one of the girls fabulously fabulous home overlooking Long Island Sound... it was a great evening as one might expect, with lots of catching up and good food paired with savory wines... what wasn't expected was an unexpected gift, the first being the sight of a friend I most wanted to see and didn't know was coming... the other was the lidded vessel, urn, jar (not sure what to call it), that upon arrival she held up and asked me if I knew what it was, while all waited for my reply...  as my life in terms of objects flashed before my eyes, it looked familiar like an old friend, but I wasn't sure so I replied with a question, "Was it mine, something from my family?"...

Yes, it was something my parents sold to her at a Tag Sale they had before retiring from the suburbs to NYC.  She bought it years ago with the idea of someday returning to me!!!... How wonderful is that?!

Now that's what I call a Special Gift... Luv ya girlfriend and thank you!

Books for Your Host

I know I've found the perfect gift when I'm thinking, "one for you and one for me"... well, I felt that way in general when looking at these beautiful books from Anthropologie, and as you scroll down the page they just keep getting better and better.
This time of the year with Memorial Day and Summer gatherings upon us, any one of these would make the perfect gift for your host...
They range in price from $14.95 to about $75... there's even a book that costs $1,200.00, yes, I thought I was seeing double, but it's an art book, can you guess which one...

I may buy a few to have just in case, and one may end up on my night table (whoops) by accident of course... Enjoy!

Bejeweled

Some retailers have really mixed it up this season, as far as price points... for instance... Anthropologie has beautiful earrings and necklaces this season ranging from $298 all the way down to $38...
These are in the $28 to $38 range...

Love these milky aqua beads... they remind me of the old milk glass dishes from the 40's and 50's

The other retailer who surprised me at how pretty their accessories are this season is Ann Taylor Loft, with the same reasonable prices... and I thought I had to go to Target for these prices...

This gorgeous aqua bib is only $44.50... and I love the chain

This can be worn long or short

Wow... $49.50... Stunning!

Have a great weekend, hope you'e making outdoor plans, as the New York area is expecting 80 degree temps!  I'll be at Little League for a 5:30 game on Saturday night... where's my Sangria!

A Dramatic Trend!

This Season's most dramatic trend... 'Bib Necklaces' (funny name) has to be my favorite... and wearing them dressy, or casual with jeans and a tank top... any simple neckline is the best way to frame them.  They make even the most simple outfit very striking.  I wore this one last Friday night out with the girls to dinner and a show in NYC with jeans, a navy tank top and navy asymmetrical sweater, taupe suede boots, and I got so many compliments...

Lester's, $39.99

You don't have to spend a lot on this trend... I picked some rose colored bibs on sale...

Forever 21, $10.80

Kohl's, $11.99

These are more expensive...

Anthropologie, $99

Rachel Leigh, $198