Bookworm

Got a bookworm on your gift list? Whether that person is big or small, I have the perfect gift idea for you!

First, visit expressionery.com and look over their BookPlateLabels. So fun! They have designs for children, men and women, and each set is personalized. Want to know the best part? Use the promotion code holiday09 and receive 40% off and free shipping. That makes each set of 32 Book Plates under $13!

Second, get yourself to Barnes_&_Noble for a gift card and you are done. Perfectly personalized and affordable gift any bookworm is sure to love!

The expressionery.com promotion code is good for just about any of the products on their site and expires January 31, 2010.

Sea Glass Wish Necklace

I've told you about the Silhouette Prints from Pumpkin_Petunia, but here is something special for the women on your gift list - Sea Glass Wish Necklace!

These cute little necklaces would be perfect for the beach-loving woman, or girl, or tween. A simple way to remind someone of the beauty of the ocean. And give them hope that summer and warmer weather will return again!

Sea Glass Wish Necklaces can be found here, choose from Kelly Green, Sea Green, and White. At just $20 (plus shipping) they are a fun and affordable gift!

Thanksgiving Tree Leaves

Last week I was searching around Etsy and found these Thanksgiving Tree Leaves from Between Hitching Posts. Aren't they the best? Each leaf has a blessing to be thankful for on the back with burlap, and fall-ish cotton fabric on the front. A link to the directions for making the wooden tree can be found on Between Hitching Posts etsy page also.

You can purchase the leaves in bundles of five for $7.50 or all 25 blessing for just $30 (plus shipping) here.

This would be a wonderful gift for the hostess of your Thanksgiving dinner. Or that someone on your gift list that just *loves* Thanksgiving. It would also be a great family gift to yourself. These Thanksgiving Tree Leaves can be the start of a tradition of November gratitude and make lasting memories for a family.

great deal on kids play blocks

I've told you about Craft-E-Family before. Now they are featuring their Kids Play Blocks for just $16 with free shipping! The blocks come in six different themes and look super-cute.
This would be a great Christmas gift for an infant or toddler. It would also make a great birth or first birthday gift.
At this price stock up on one or two sets to have on hand!
Craft_E_Family

Hola Baby

Looking for something fresh and new? Check out the Spanish Tees by Hola Baby. I'm in love with the Campeon/Champion tee pictured above. So fun for little boys! Really, what little boy doesn't think of himself as a champion?!?

Even if you aren't fluent in Spanish most likely the little person on your gift list knows a good amount of words in Spanish. I know the mainstream cartoons have refreshed my Spanish vocabulary.

Campion/Chapion tee comes in sizes 2T, 3T, and 4T for just $18 plus shipping.

Find lots of fun Spanish tees and onesies for boy and girls from Hola Baby here!

Candyland

You can't go wrong with a classic board game like Candyland! So simple, yet often overlooked. A classic amoung the high-tech games available for kids.

My family has had so many fun times playing Candyland. We even help our younger daughter play, although the rules are fairly simple for those who can count and recognize colors ;).

You can find Candyland at Target or Amazon for around $10.

Pretty Pretty Princess

My daughters aren't into the Disney Princesses (although they know all of their names). I would say they aren't overly girly but they do *love* playing the Pretty Pretty Princess game. Could it be the fun earrings? Maybe the bracelets and necklaces? Or the crown?

As you travel around the game board you collect the jewels that match your color. If you collect all of your jewels and the crown you WIN. Really, collecting and wearing the jewels is just as much fun as actually winning!

There are a few different versions of Pretty Pretty Princess (we have the Cinderella). You can find the Sleeping Beauty one pictured above at Amazon for under $15.

Cranium Cariboo

This is another favorite from Cranium! Children reinforce letter, number, shape, and color skills as they search for the hidden balls to unlock the treasure.

Cranium_Cariboo is geared toward the younger kids, ages 3 to 8. Although I like to give this game for second birthdays, just when the birthday child is ready to play games! My daughters enjoy playing Cariboo by themselves at times, just using the purple key to open the doors in search of the hidden balls.

You can find Cranium Cariboo at Amazon for under $20.

more gaming fun!

In the spirit of Penguin's Gifts Game Night themed week check out Sara's blog. Sara has reviewed two of the Elefun and Friends games that she has played with her family. The best part - 'Sara the Savvy Shopper' is giving away *two* Elefun and Friends games here!

Be sure to check out Sara's weekly Target report also. She highlights some great finds at Target AND links to printable coupons. Sara the Savvy Shopper has been a coupon printing inspiration to me!

I'm off to print out my coupon for Elefun and Friends games right now ...

Crazy Eights Card Game

My older daughter *loves* playing Crazy Eights. And its fun for us to play with her. My younger daughter plays with us sometimes, although she is always paired with an adult to make a 'team'. There is nothing like a good old fashion card game!

I found this Kidz Cards in a Tin on Amazon. It includes the games Crazy Eights, Go Fish, War, and Old Maid. The cards looks so cute! Fours sets of cards/games in a nice storage tin (I'm all about toys/games that self store) for under $10. Any child will have lots of fun with these card games for many years to come!

Check out this card set at Amazon.

Cranium Hullabaloo

My older daughter played this game at a friend's house last spring. Then she wouldn't stop talking about it. Would NOT. So I finally broke down and bought it and gave it to her on one rainy day over the summer. After playing it myself I now understand why she couldn't stop talking about Cranium Hullabaloo because it is such a fun game!

Cranium Hullabaloo is a movement and listening game for children four and older. It can be played by just the kids or with the adults too. Jump, spin, and hop between the colored floor pieces while listening to the voice from the console give the next direction. Oh, and don't forget to do a funky dance at the end! So fun!

You can find Cranium Hullabaloo at Amazon for under $25.

Family Game Night - Oops!

Did you know that Family Game Night was September 23? I didn't! I did, however, know that September 26 was National Pancake Day AND we ate pancakes for dinner that day. Do I get an bonus mom point for that?!?

This week Penguin's Gift will focus on games for the younger kids. I'm kinda excited because this will be our first themed week. I hope to bring you more theme weeks in the months ahead.

With all the new game gift ideas you will be all set for Family Game Night in 2010!

Fabric Zipper Clutch

I have totally missed the boat on designer handbags. You could be carrying a $500 bag and I'd have no clue. I couldn't even tell you the fancy handbag designers ... well, maybe a few I've heard in conversations with other gals. What I *love* is a beautiful, handmade fabric bag.
I purchased a clutch from boojibootique over the summer. It is a really fun bag for a quick run out the door, be that Target or a night out with my husband. The clutch is big enough to carry my important things (cell, keys, credit cards, lip gloss, and a few dollars). Yet its small enough that I *almost* forget the days before children, huge diaper bags, and carrying nearly everything for that just-in-case moment.
This would be the perfect gift for so many of the women on your gift giving list - moms, teachers, sisters, coworkers, teenagers, etc. You can't beat the price - under $20 with shipping! To browse more of the beautiful clutches and handbags offered by boojibootique go here.

Superhero Capes

Love, love, love these capes! I purchased the Superhero Capes for a twin birthday party last winter. Oh my where they a hit! The two little boys happened to live down the street from us and just days after their party I saw them riding scooters down the street wearing the capes. So fun! Their mom says the capes continue to be worn often.

Superhero and Princess Capes are available from babypop's etsy site. Each cape is handmade and customized to your order. Colors, letter, and even the background (either shield, crown, circle, star, lighten bolt, or heart) is your choice.

Check out the capes (just $16 plus shipping) and lots of other fun items at babypop's Etsy site.

Our Family

This is on my Christmas list! I saw the above family print over the summer and couldn't get it out of my mind for weeks. Isn't it the best family design ever? It would look so good hanging in the front hallway with my children's artwork taped to the wall below. It will find its way under my tree this year even if I have to buy and wrap it myself!
Each print in JLink's Our Family series can be customized. Little girl/boy, big girl/boy, tween girl/boy and baby carriage are all available. Only the mom and dad remain the same - and I really like the idea of me wearing heels ;). JLink prints on archival premium matte paper and the Our Family prints are available in 8x10, 11x14, and 13x19.
You can find the Our Family - Vintage print (8x10 for $28 plus shipping) and other beautiful prints at JLink on etsy.

glassybaby forever!

This is the most beautiful votive holder you will ever find! And solid, its a heavy piece in your hand. Each glassybaby is hand blown in Seattle with the belief that it can uplift a room and a room full of people. A quote from the website that I love is 'glassybaby serve as a metaphor to symbolize hope and are humble in spirit but not beauty' - so, so true. I have a thing for green lately so the glassybaby pictured above is the color greenlake. They come in over 70 colors, some transparent and some opaque. Display one solo or a grouping of complimenting colors, either way you will have an inviting warm glow in your home.

The glassybaby website was shared by a friend starting her own online business many years ago. I fell in love with the look as well as the colors. I quickly ordered two, one for me and one for my sister. My sister burns a votive in her kitchen daily so I thought a glassybaby would be a perfect gift for her. Once they arrived I couldn't believe how sturdy they were in your hand. Glassbabies look so delicate sitting on a shelf yet they are so solid.

You can shop for glassybabies here, $40 plus shipping.

Baby's First Block

This is my go-to gift for new a baby! A friend shared the Craft E Family website with me many moons ago and I've been sending Baby Blocks to new babies ever since.

All you need are the details of the birth and you have an amazing personalized keepsake for the newest joy in a family. I go by the rule that if I receive a birth announcement then I send the family a Baby Block.

You can't beat the price, just $15.50 with free shipping! Personalize the bottom with the givers name(s) for just $1.50 more.

Check out Baby's First Block here. And while you are visiting Craft E Family take a peek at the Holiday Block Set.

Fat Witch Bakery

Nothing says gift-love like food, especially chocolate food. YUM! Fat Witch Bakery has delicious brownies and the gift packaging is so cute. Great gift idea for just about any occasion.

I've sent yummy gifts from Fat Witch to everyone from my sister to the nurses at the local hospital. And every time the recipient has raved about the brownies. I even snuck a few while visiting my sister :) .

Visit the brownie goodness at here, Fat Witch Bakery! Don't forget to check out the Cauldron Specials.

Pirate Princess Tutu

If you are a mom of a little girl I'm sure you are knee deep in the Halloween Costume Discussion. If you are not one of the lucky ones to have decided and purchased/started making a costume and have a princess in the house then I have a great etsy site for you. Check out JoJo Sweetpea. Cute, cute handmade tutus - what could be a better princess costume starter?

Pictured above is the Pirate Princess Tutu that my older daughter would jump at the chance to twirl around in on Halloween night. Add the tutu to a simple black shirt and leggings for a *comfy* and fun Halloween costume. And the best part is all year 'round your little pirate princess can wear the tutu over and over again for dress up!

Searching for a gift for a little girl? Tutus are the way to go! Browse JoJo Sweetpea for a great selection of fun and colorful tutus.

rules are meant to be broken, right?

I started this blog in my mind many, many months ago. I put the restriction on myself that I would only blog about things I've either given or received. My PayPal account has a finite balance. So I knew that I'd reach a point at Penguin's Gift when I'd begin to blog about gift ideas that I thought were fun, cool, interesting, etc that hadn't been touched by me personally.

Penguin's Gift isn't even two weeks old yet and I'm rethinking that restriction. There are so many great gift ideas that I'd like to share. Why should I save the' untouched by me gifts' for the time I run out of my personal gifts? Those gift ideas deserve to be shared as well.

So out the window goes the rule 'only blog about things I've either given or received'!

And maybe some of my close family can get some gift ideas for me and my children for a change ;).

Melissa & Doug Birthday Cake

Celebrate a birthday everyday! Even twice a day with this wooden playset from Melissa & Doug.

My cousin told me about this birthday set a few years ago and I took a mental note. We gave this wooden set to my youngest daughter on her first birthday. Nearly 1.5 years later we are still singing Happy Birthday and loving it!

What could be better for a little person than to receive a birthday cake for their birthday!

Available through Amazon ($15.22 - their prices change without notice) with free super savings shipping. Also available through Target ($19.99).

Hand-Stamped Charm Necklaces

I have these charms and I've given them as a gift. Its something about the hand-stamping that draws me to the charms from Liberty Worth. Love, love, love them!

The one I own was from my second Mothers Day. I had both of my daughter's names stamped on oval charms and also purchased the necklace. I wear it often and every time I do one of my daughters will ask to see which charm has her name on it. Its a very sweet moment added to my days with them.

I gave the rectangular charm to my niece for her 16th birthday. I had 'sweet 16' stamped onto the charm and also purchased the necklace. She really enjoyed wearing it and looks forward to passing it on to one of her cousins when they turn sixteen - so cool!

The charms are available in oval, rectangular, heart, circle, and square for $25 each. Just about any word or name can be hand-stamped on the charm.

Check out Liberty Worth charms here and on Etsy.

Baby Stella

Baby Stella is the cutest fabric doll I've ever seen. So cute and lovable.

She is perfect for a 'first' doll because she is soft and all fabric. No plastic head or hands for little girls to roll on while napping or swing at an older sibling or dog (not that its happened in my house, nope!). And her little pacifier attaches with a magnet. Children quickly learn that if the put the paci near Baby Stella's mouth it 'jumps' in just the right spot.

All of her accessories are just as cute as Baby Stella. We have the feeding set with a magnetic bottle and a cute change of clothes that included an ice cream cone with a magnet.

You can find Baby Stella and lots of her accessories at Amazon.

Happiest Bracelet You Will Ever Wear

A friend posted a link to Jillian's Garden on Etsy and I fell in love with this bracelet! The colors of the glass beads are beautiful and the variation of sizes and shapes make this bracelet very interesting. And each bracelet is unique!

At just $10 (plus shipping) this would be a perfect little something for just about any woman on your gift list. And sometimes you have to buy a gift for yourself!

The added bonus of buying this beautiful piece of jewelry is all of the proceeds go to a great cause and one that Jillian's Garden is very passionate about - Easter Seals.

Check out the beautiful bracelet here.

Personalized Wedding Bowl

Have a wedding this fall? Maybe an anniversary that should be marked with a small gift? Then you must check out Elm Studios on Etsy. I'm in love with their Personalized Wedding Bowl (pictured above) as well as the Tree of Life Bowl.

Elm Studios has created two bowls for me already. Each time I've opened the box and I'm instantly in *love* with the piece. In the past I've ordered this bowl as an anniversary gift (40 years and 50 years, oh my!) and each couple has cherished their Wedding Bowl.

Check out Elm Studios, the Wedding Bowl ($20) and other lovely personalized pottery gifts at their Etsy site here.

It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown

If the pumpkin spice lattes at Starbucks and beautiful fall mums sitting on just about everyone's front steps haven't clued you in yet - IT'S FALL! Yay! My favorite, favorite time of the year.

It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown board book by Charles Schulz is the perfect way to celebrate the season and share the wonderful Charlie Brown tradition with any little person in your life. This is not your typical board book because it comes with reusable stickers that are used inside the pictures to help tell the story.

I bought this for my older daughter last fall. She was 3.5 years old and very familiar with the Charlie Brown series of holiday shows. She quickly put each sticker in its place and we read the book over and over and over again. When I pulled the book out again this year I saw the same joy in her eye! We've read it many times so far this season and even my younger daughter wants in on the story!

You can find it at Amazon.

ETA:  They no longer publish the reusable sticker book.  Instead, check out the new hardcover book here.