Tween Scene Necklace

Just last week I purchased this necklace (for our younger niece) and love it so much I had to share! A great gift idea for the tweens on your list, the girls between 8 and 13.

The designers at vmdesigns decoupage Scrabble-sized tiles with fun and hip papers then personalize it with an initial, seal it up and add a Swarovski crystal for a little more flash. They string the pendent on three colorful ribbons that are tied in the back so the girls can adjust the length of the necklace themselves. The final product is too cute! And each necklace comes packaged in a little truffle box ready for gifting.

The Tween Scene necklace can be paired up with a number of other gifts ideas for the little girls ...

~Gift card to their favorite store or mall

~iTunes gift card

~Fun stationary or notepad

~Book(s)

We are giving our niece a set of Junie B. Jones books along with her necklace.

The price is great too! Just $9.50 plus shipping. Check out the necklace pictured above here at vmdesign's etsy shop and be sure to look around at the other funky styles.

now taking requests ...

I'm just about done with my Christmas shopping. A few gift-ees left on the list and I have an idea or two for each of them. If you could rewind to five or ten years ago you would find me completely done by December 1st. My Thanksgiving morning tradition was to address our Christmas cards. Oh how children change our lives ...

Do you still have a few people to buy for? Need some ideas? Inspiration? Let me help! It is easier for me to find fun gifts if I have someone in mind.

Either comment below or email me with a few details of the person/people you have left on your Christmas list. I would love to help!

Snowflake Wreath

Quite a few years ago my husband's sister and her family sent us a holiday wreath in the weeks before Christmas. The wreath is gone after hanging in our home many, many Christmas seasons but it remains my favorite gift. I loved that we got to enjoy its beauty during the weeks and days before the big holiday. And each time we glanced at the wreath we thought of our loving family that sent it to us.

Here is the Snowflake Wreath offered by Garnet Hill. This wreath caught my eye because of its unique shape, yet it still has the traditional greens and berries for Christmas.

Its priced at $68 (plus shipping).

happy thankgiving

My favorite holiday is Thanksgiving.
Maybe its because Thanksgiving is also my mother's favorite holiday.
Maybe its because Thanksgiving is the holiday in which we focus on what we have, and not the 'gifts' that follow the other two big holidays (ironic coming from the woman who loves to shop for gifts!).
Maybe its because Thanksgiving brings us yummy food all.day.long.
Maybe its because Thanksgiving ends with football viewing.

What I am thankful for this year are no different than in years past. I am very lucky to have a wonderful husband. On our wedding day I loved him so much, yet I had no idea how much that love could grow as we build a life and family together. I have two daughters that I am blessed to share each day. Even when they push me to the edge I simply look into their beautiful blue eyes and remember how special they are to me and the world around us. My immediate and extended family mean so much to me. There is no better way to spend this holiday, or any holiday/celebration, then with family. My dear friends, the ones I get to see often and those scattered around the world with whom I share an online community. They help me to be a better person, a better mother, a better wife. I am so grateful for all the wonderful people I have in my life.

Happy Thanksgiving!

The Shopper

There are three important words to describe this reusable bag from Garnet Hill - large, lightweight, and pouch. Oh, and one more phrase - free monogramming until tomorrow, November 24!

I have two reusable bags (that fold into its own pouch) that I keep in my purse at all times. The convenience of carrying them in my purse means I use them ten times more often than if I have to remember to bring them into the store.

Personalize the red bag with a last name initial and stuff it with your loved one's gifts. No wrapping paper needed!

Find this bag here for just $10 and free monogramming on solid colors until tomorrow.

Waiting for Twilight

This is how I pictured the trees behind Bella's house.

This is a TTV (through the viewfinder) photograph so it has some 'character' which I think adds to the charm of the picture. At 5*5 this photo is the perfect size for displaying on a desk. Pickup a 5*5 frame and this lovely picture, and you have a really cool gift for any Twilight fan.

Find this photograph here at Aral33 Photography's etsy shop for $15 (plus shipping).

Twilight Bookmark

We all have to move on from The Twilight Saga and read books that don't include Edward, Bella, and Jacob. If you have a Twilight junkie on your gift list then this bookmark from motherrap on etsy is perfect.

Pair it with a gift card from a book store. And a gentle nod that yes, its okay to read fiction about events that take place outside of Forks, Washington. But remind the recipient that when its time to re-read the four books about Edward, Bella, and Jacob this bookmark is ideal to mark your page!

Find it here for just $6 (plus shipping).

Twilight Notebook

How beautiful is this notebook?! Only another Twilight fan will know that the question 'Do I dazzle you?' comes from Edward. Stay close to your love for The Twilight Saga by using this notebook to keep track of just about anything - holiday planner, gift lists, journals, meal planning, memorable moments, etc.

This notebook, by Pink_Trailer_Designs, is 5" by 7" with 100 lined pages inside. It also includes a large envelope for storage of smaller notes and a bookmark. Find it here on etsy for just $12 (plus shipping).

Forks Washington Shirt

Show your love for the town of Forks, WA!

Oh my, wouldn't this be the best shirt to wear to the movie? Bright red ink on a white shirt - it couldn't get more Twilight than that.

Forks is the cozy little town that Bella, Jacob, and the Cullen family call home. The town that somehow ignores the signs of a few of its residents being vampires and werewolves.

Find this cool shirt here at CramCreative for $16.95 and get FREE SHIPPING (US, or $4 off international shipping) when you type Penguin's Gift into the message to seller.

Twilight Apple Pendant

I love the pendants offered by PrettyWhimsical, particularly the Twilight inspired ones!

The apple pendant pictured above caught my eye first. I think this one is really cool with the red apple against the black lettering and background. Its the perfect font match to the Twilight Saga cover fonts.

You can find this and other fun Twilight pendants at PrettyWhimsical for $6.95 (plus shipping). And don't forget the snake chain for just $5.

Twilight week!

About this time last year I was knee deep in The Twilight Saga by Stephenie Meyer. I was the crazy lady reading at red lights, reading while stirring dinner, reading late into the night, basically reading at any free second I had.

I gave two Twilight books as Christmas gifts last year and both girls enjoyed the first book and went on to read the next three books. If you'd like to give the complete set to someone, its here at amazon for under $50 (a great price for four huge hardcover books). Or if you just want to just share the first book you can find Twilight at amazon for under $7.

Have someone on your gift list that has read the complete saga twice, seen the first movie over and over, and has a countdown to the release of the second movie New Moon? Or someone not that over the top but still just loved the books? I've got some great Twilight themed gift ideas for you this week! All classy and subtle but they each have just enough Twilight to show you are a fan.

Oh, and don't forget the second movie will be in theaters Friday, November 20!

and the winner is ...

LeAnn!

I used random.org to generate the winner. Thanks to all that participated in the GiftsIn24.com Giveaway!

last chance

... to enter the GiftsIn24.com giveaway! You have until 11pm tonight. Go here and comment if you haven't already.

The winner will be announced tomorrow morning.

Lite Brite

I love writing this blog (and I hope you love reading it!). My only problem is posting gift ideas I haven't given yet. Like the lampwork bead earlier this week, I purchased that TWO months before my sister's birthday but had to keep it hush-hush until now. The good thing is my kids don't read Penguin's Gift so I can share their gifts before they open anything!

A friend posted about Lite Brite over the summer and its been on my daughter's Christmas list ever since. Oh, you know the Christmas list that *I* write for her because they are the things she really can play with. Not the Ah-Choo baby she sees on TV (insert eye roll) although I'm afraid one of those might make it into this house before the year is over.

I found it at Target for $10, and I've read online that you can also get it at Walmart for the same price. Its around the Play-doh and Pixos in the toy department. The Lite Brite would be a great gift idea for the classmate birthday parties or a little surprise on rainy/snowy days this winter.

amazing frames at Target this week

If you were planning to buy some prints as gifts and like black frames then get yourself to Target asap! The black frame pictured above is on sale this week - 11*14 and 10*13 (I think) for $9 , 5*7 and 8*10 for only $6.

You can get more details at the Target website. In my Target the frames were featured on an end display in the Home Decor department.

These frames would work great for the Our Family print here and the Silhouette print here.

Gleek

I *heart* the new comedy on Fox, Glee. Glee, and Hank on ABC, make my Wednesday night full of laughs! What more could a girl ask for on a Wednesday night? So when I saw the volume 1 CD for Season one of Glee for pre-order at Amazon I had to scoop it up! It arrived last week and hasn't left my car CD player since.

Do you have any Glee fans on your gift list? I'm sure they would love this CD. And, volume 2 will be released on December 8! Or you could pre-order the first half of Season one on DVD here, it will be released on December 28. Remember you get Amazon's pre-order price guarantee!

Volume 1 can be found at Amazon here.

Lampwork Bead

So I've shared with you my lack of designer handbag knowledge before. I have something else to admit to ... not catching the Pandora bracelet train (gasp!). My sister and lots of my friends have Pandora bracelets, and a few have a necklace or a second bracelet. I have so much fun looking at each charm and hearing the story of how she got it or why its meaningful to her.

I purchased a beautiful opal and brown lampwork bead from BrendanBlakeGlassArt for my sister as a birthday present. She loves it. Another great gift giving sucess!

To see more of the Pandora and Troll-like beads from BrendanBlakeGlassArt go here. The beautiful beads are all under $18 (plus shipping) and add lovely color to any collector's bracelet or necklace.

GiftsIn24.com - and a GIVEAWAY!

I don't remember how I found GiftsIn24.com but I am so thankful to whomever shared the link with me! I've purchased many gifts for others and my family from their website, and everyone has been pleased with the personalized stationary.

There are so many occasions and recipients for stationary that the ideas are almost a long as your gift list. Here are three of my favorites:

~For the Tween girl - note cards with just her first name on the front like this.

~For the newly married couple - note cards with their married monogram (his first initial, last initial, her first initial). I love this style!

~For the couple with a new baby - note cards with 'The Jones Family' embossed on the front of a classic style card like this one.

The last one has to be my favorite gift I've given from GiftsIn24.com. Oh, so many fun gift ideas!

I really love this site - can you tell? Don't forget to follow this and other favorite websites on Facebook and Twitter! Its great to be one of the firsts to know about promotions and new products. Here are two quick links to become a fan of GiftsIn24.com on Facebook and Twitter.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Okay, now for the GIVEAWAY! Yay! GiftsIn24.com has generously offered one of the Penguin's Gift readers a set of 50 Traditional Monogram Notes (pictured above and details here) with a return address up to three lines. Wow! That is a $53.95 value.

To enter the Giveaway simply leave a comment on this post. Please be sure to include your contact information if it's not easily accessible on your profile or blog.

This Giveaway ends at 11:00 pm EST on Thursday, November 12, 2009.

so excited!

Penguin's Gift will have its first ever GIVEAWAY beginning tomorrow!

The lucky winner can treat themselves or have an great gift for someone on their gift list.

Advent Calendar Garland

How cute is this Advent garland! As you count down the days to Christmas turn over the little boxes to reveal the message 'Merry Christmas'. The decorative papers used to cover the boxes are beautiful!

At six foot long this garland is perfect for hanging on a mantle, buffet, or bureau. The little boxes are just big enough for your little Advent notes, candy, stickers, etc.

You can find the Advent Calendar Garland ($36 plus shipping) at Merry Matchboxes Etsy shop.

Whimsical Advent Calendar

The beautiful scrapbook paper got me on this Advent calendar from DabberDoo. I love how not every box is numbered and the embellishments look so pretty. Each drawer is just 1.5 inches square so its just right for little notes and surprises each day as you countdown to Christmas!

You can find DabberDoo's Whimsical Advent Calendar here for $33.95 plus shipping. While you are there also check out the JOY wooden blocks!

Magnetic Advent Calendar

This is another one of my favorite finds on etsy - A New Patina's magnetic Advent calendar. What a beautiful way to count down the days until Christmas! The tree is made of metal sheeting covered in beautiful paper (the bottom square is almost like the tree skirt). Count down the number of days until Christmas by moving the small numbered magnetic ornaments to decorate the tree. The last magnet is a vintage jewel star!

The bonus of this Advent Calendar - it folds up for easy storage.

Check out this calendar and other amazing Christmas decorating (and gift ideas) at A New Patina.

LEGO Advent Calendar

This looks like a fun way to share the Christmas countdown with the younger guys in your house. Each day you can create a new little LEGO set together while enjoying the excitement of the season. The 2009 edition includes some new Christmas items such as a snowman and sled - FUN!

The LEGO Advent Calendar is just $29.99 here at amazon.com.

Holiday House Advent Calendar

How cute is this Holiday House Advent Calendar from Pretty Swank?! I love how it is very much a Christmas decoration but isn't screaming CHRISTMAS like some of the other calendars out there. Fun and classic at the same time.

Are you brave, I mean crafty, enough to make on yourself? Pretty Swank offers PDF instructions of two of their other Advent calendars (which are also super cute - funky numbers and French house) at the Etsy site also.

You can find this lovely Advent calendar here for just $32 (plus shipping).

Christmas Countdown week!

I know, Halloween was just yesterday. I was among those headed to Target this morning to grab the discounted decorations and costumes for next year. But remember that Thanksgiving is just 25 days away ... and with a late turkey day that means Christmas isn't that far away either.

This week Penguin's Gift is sharing some Christmas Countdown ideas, also known as Advent Calendars. These are great gift ideas too! One of my favorite Christmas gifts was one that my SIL gave me weeks ahead of Christmas day (I'll share more about that gift idea later).

So keep your mind open to those on your Christmas list that might enjoy one of these calendars as an early gift this year.