The Vintage Pearl {20% off}

 

The Vintage Pearl is offering 20% off all jewelry from their Ready To Ship Shop. 

Use code MOVING, good until Monday, August 2nd.

the "it" list ~ July 30

Hooray for Friday! The "it" list is back with a great round up of all sorts of goodies on the web... be sure to visit all these lovelies blogs for tons of inspiration this weekend!

• sweetie pie pumpkin noodle visits some of THE most fabulous boutiques and shops in Mill Valley and takes us along for the ride. She also hunts down amazing chandeliers along her way. Don't miss this goodness!
• merci blah blah rounds up tons of gorgeous drape-style dresses from all over the interwebs. And not just once... but twice. Um, I'll take one of each!
• good life for less gives us the highlights of her recent trip to Forever 21... these shoes were definitely a great find!
• a spot of whimsy forks over a delicious dose of Mad Men style and photos. I swoon, just swoon for that show!
• penguins gift is giving away a Stella & Dot bracelet for the little ladies in your life. So cute!
• style your life puts together a casual outfit featuring an unexpected item - a pencil skirt. I just love this look - so chic!
• spry on the wall gives us a practical and affordable version of this amazing outfit from Isaac Mizrahi's Spring 2010 line.
• the hillside home just bought a new house and is planning, planning, planning. SO FUN! Join her as they start picking out colors, finishes, etc. I just love the adventure of a new house!
• john's journal outlines a simple but fantastic looking diy roman shade project. You will absolutely want to try this. It turned out amazing!
• elena's custom designs makes a custom pillow out of a scarf/handkerchief. I just LOVE this idea!
• really cute stuff is featuring their "family style" notecards... a great gift for friends or teachers or just to have for yourself for thank you notes or notes to teachers. I love these ideas!
• good look for less is offering wardrobe consults at half price through the end of today... hurry and snag yours before they go back to full price for fall!

Really Cute Stuff WINNER

Thanks to all who participated in the Really Cute Stuff GIVEAWAY!

I am happy to announce the lucky winner is comment #17 ~~ Ingrid!! 

Congratulations!!

 

Ingrid -- Becky and Sally from Really Cute Stuff will contact you very soon.

Stella & Dot GIVEAWAY {little girl bracelet}

 

Last weekend a box arrived at my doorstep and I opened it immediately.  It was my order from Stella & Dot.  Remember me telling you about their little girl jewelry?  I ordered four bracelets, two for upcoming birthday parties and two extras.  When I saw the bracelets from Stella & Dot I was in awe!  They are beautiful, and each bracelet is packed in a round tin for easy storage (a must for little girls who are learning about organization and keeping their nice things nice) and just perfect for gift giving. 

The two extra bracelets were quickly requested by my two daughters.  They offered to do some things around the house to 'earn' the fancy new jewelry.  They *love* their new bracelets.  I love that they can have nice looking jewelry to wear outside the house.  The bracelets (and all of the little girl jewelry) is priced to be fun yet affordable so I'm not stressed about them breaking *expensive* bracelets when they put them on and off twenty times a day.

Stella & Dot recently launched their fall line {swoon} and included two new little girl bracelets with fun back-to-school feeling fabric plaids.  Either would make a great gift for a little girl about to enter school soon.  Of course they would make a great birthday gift, each Stella & Dot girls bracelet is priced at just $14!  A steal, I tell you!

 

Jo-Ann Coe, Stella & Dot Stylist and my favorite fashionista, has generously offered to give one little girl bracelet to a Penguin's Gift reader.  Yay!!

The winner can pick the little girl bracelet of their choice, remember there are eight little girl bracelets offered by Stella & Dot including the two Lola fabric plaids pictured above.

You have 4 chances to WIN! Make sure to leave a SEPARATE comment for each entry, and leave your email address if it is not easily visible on your profile or blog.

~COMMENT~ Visit Stella & Dot and browse the beautiful jewels.  Come back and leave a comment on this post with your favorite piece of adult jewelry (we can swoon over great jewelry too!).

~SPREAD THE WORD~ Post about this giveaway on your Blog, Twitter or Facebook page.  Come back here and leave a comment that you did and be sure to include the links to each (up to 3 entries for posting on each, and don't forget to leave a separate comment for each entry!).

This giveaway will close on Wednesday, August 4th. Please leave all of your comments by 10:00 p.m. on that day. This giveaway is for USA residents only (sorry to my Canadian readers!).

Good luck!!

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

Jo-Ann has graciously offered a FREE girls bracelet with any order of $100 or more placed on her Stella & Dot site.  Simply place your order then email her at pjcoe@verizon.net with your order number and girls bracelet of choice.  Big, big thanks to Jo-Ann!! (see, I told you she is amazing!)

Free bracelet offer good until Sunday, August 8th, 2010.

momAgenda {free shipping}

Something new here at Penguin's Gift - I'll share some of my favorite online deals.  If you know me, then you know I *love* to shop online and have been almost exclusively buying online for years.  You'll also know that I love free shipping codes!  And of course, discount codes!!  So when I come across a promotion code and it is gift-related (and sometimes that could mean BUY THIS FOR YOURSELF!  You deserve a gift now and then, too) I'll be sure to share it with you!

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

Back to School also means its time for a new planner.  I have used the momAgenda Desktop for three years and I love it!  The Desktop is a week-at-a-view which works great for me (they also offer a Daily that is smaller with a day-on-a-page layout).  The planner isn't too big to haul around if you like to have it with you (I leave mine at home on the table or near my computer) and has plenty of room for your appointments, activities, and a few date specific to-dos. 

The best part is momAgenda knows we need to organize our children's schedules as well!  They leave four rows for your child(ren) and their various appointments and activities.  Its a great way to keep the entire family organized!

I also use the bottom row titled 'dinners' for my meal planning.  I plan at least 5 meals a week and jot them at the bottom while I make my grocery list.  As I prepare a meal for dinner I easily cross out that meal idea.  This would work great if you meal planned by specific days.

No children to keep track of?  Then check out the myAgenda planners!

I've been holding out on buying my 2010-2011 momAgenda (the Desktop is an eighteen month planner) because the shipping charges are so high (my *only* negative about momAgenda).  Well, today is our lucky day!  momAgenda just released a free shipping code (FREEMOM) -- yipee!  Good through the end of Monday, August 1st.

I just ordered my Desktop in Ruby ♥!

Cupcakes (made from sand) that last!

{this is not a gift idea but a fun idea to use with a previously posted gift idea ;) }

Remember this cute cupcake sand set from Melissa & Doug?

While you are at the beach snag an extra cup or two of sand to bring home.  You can make sand cupcakes that last for weeks, or even months, using this recipe from Family Fun.  Perfect for rainy summer days!

Family Tree

This Family Tree from Naturally Meg's Etsy shop is one of many brilliant handmade creations on Etsy.  But who would have thought of putting together these elements.  Certainly not creatively-challenged me!

Fabric + cardstock + hand stitching =

a gorgeous piece of artwork to celebrate your family

The fabric tree is sewn onto 8x10 textured cardstock then the initials of parents and children are stitched onto the tree with a "carved tree" look.  You can request a removable mount so that additional initials can be added in the future.  Also, how about requesting hand stitching of two names.  Wouldn't a 'Jack + Diane' look so cute!  Great gift for an anniversary.

Be sure to check out her shop!  Naturally Meg offers these beautiful trees in a few different styles:  Summer, Autumn, Winter, Spring and other fun patterns like dots, blossoms, and ones with a bird nest.  Priced at just $25 (plus $3.50 shipping).

the "it" list ~ July 23

The "it" list blazes on... don't you love Fridays? Take some time today or this weekend to check out the best of the web here!

• merci blah blah is talking fall... her fall wish list to be exact. I love each and every one of her picks. I can feel the leaves crunching under feet already...
• the hillside home puts together a lovely summer/garden/cottage inspiration montage. It's just dreamy...
• style your life puts together a casual summer look for the guys. Ladies, raise your hand if shopping for your husband falls under your duties. It does in my household!
• spry on the wall puts together her take on Nina Ricci's Resort 2011 collection. This is pure genius!
• john's journal gathers beach chic inspiration from planet blue and then puts together outfits that are much more affordable. Love these!
• a spot of whimsy gives some food for thought for the women that want to do it all (this would be me...). I loved this quiet moment.
• penguin's gift has a great stationary giveaway. Check it out... you have a few days to enter still!
• elena's custom designs offers a great grab-and-go baby shower gift, check this out!
• one hundred inspirations lays out this Olivia Palermo outfit for less than $100. I love this!
• good life for less is participating in the 30/30 Challenge... that is 30 wardrobe pieces mixed and matched for 30 days. See how she does it!
• sweetie pie pumpkin noodle features her top 10 picks for earrings... it's impossible to choose a favorite, they are all so lovely!

Happy Weekend!

another GIVEAWAY link

It feels like Giveaway Central around here lately (with another Penguin's Gift giveaway in the works for next week-YAY).  Visit my favorite blogger, Chris at Notes from the Trenches, HERE to see her greatroom painting project (love the color!) and for a chance to win a $100 Lowes gift card. 

We *just* finished our kitchen update and I can tell you a $100 gift card can go a looong way in transforming a room. 

Good luck!!

Divine Twine GIVEAWAY

Go to Posh Pixels Design Studio and enter to win one spool of Divine Twine (your color choice ~ I am loving the Cotton Candy Pink).  The Divine Twine Giveaway at Posh Pixels Design Studio ends this Friday, July 23rd.

Read more about my love for Divine Twine here, here, and here.

Good luck!!

First Dictionary

This summer has been fun for the three of us.  Lots of planned events as well as impromptu play dates, pool time, etc.  But this is the first summer that I don't have an afternoon napper and we've found the day can get looong come 3pm.  The library is a great place to break up the afternoon hours for us. 

During one of our visits I browsed the juvenile nonfiction looking for a dictionary.  My oldest daughter is constantly asking for the definition of words and although my husband and I try to define each word it can be challenging.  We checked out The American Heritage First Dictionary and it hasn't left the family room, its become our resource book!  The dictionary has been fun to flip through and look at the pictures with my younger daughter.  Its amazing how a conversation with a 3yo can start!

I'm adding this book to my preschool birthday party gift list!  I think its a great gift idea, priced at under $13 from Amazon, with loads of information for any young child.

Really Cute Stuff GIVEAWAY -- closed!

I was so happy to stumble upon Really Cute Stuff a few weeks ago.  Once I read their line 'Put the Fun Back into Hand Written Notes with Our Line of Custom Note Cards' I was hooked!  I've shared my love for note cards here before, especially personalized note cards, and I love an affordable gift idea.  These note cards can easily be customized with font and color of your choice.  For me, note cards are a no-fail gift idea.  From babies (so cute to see a new baby's name on stationary!) to small children to young adults to grownups, personalized note cards are perfect!

Really Cute Stuff has four different designs of note cards all sold in sets of 15, priced from $10-$15.

Signature $10 Note Cards

You can have lots of fun with the font and color choices on these cards!

The Color Collection
What a great selection of vivid complimenting colors to choose from.

Family Style Note Cards

Think outside the box with these. 

I love the suggestion of Teacher Cards with the name of the school in the background.  Also great for Summer Camp teachers as well as Swim Lesson teachers (name of pool in background).

Monogram Note Cards

(not yet pictured but available!)

A classic.  You can't go wrong with monograms!

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Today we kick off another great GIVEAWAY here at Penguin's Gift! Becky and Sally from Really Cute Stuff have generously offered my readers a chance to win one set of 15 super-cute note cards! If you are the lucky winner you can pick the personalized note cards set of your choice along with the color and font, all shipped directly to you from the lovely ladies at Really Cute Stuff.

You have 5 chances to WIN! Make sure to leave a SEPARATE comment for each entry, and leave your email address if it is not easily visible on your profile or blog.

1. Hop over to Really Cute Stuff and leave a comment on this post telling us which of the wonderful note cards are your favorite (remember, the monogram note cards are so new they haven't made it to the store yet!).

Bonus Entries:

2. 'Like' Really Cute Stuff on Facebook.
Already 'like' Really Cute Stuff on FB?  You are eligible too!

3. 'Like' Penguin's Gift on Facebook.
Already 'like' Penguin's Gift on FB?  You are eligible too!

4. Subscribe to Penguin's Gift via blog reader or email subscription.
Current subscribers are eligible also!

5. Post/Blog/Tweet about this giveaway on Facebook, your blog, or Twitter and post a link with your comment.

This giveaway will close on Tuesday, July 27th. Please leave all of your comments by 10:00 p.m. on that day.  Good luck!!

Reader Feedback {giveaway} Winner

Thanks to everyone who provided feedback here on the blog, in person, or privately. 

Muchas gracious!

I plugged the numbers into Random.org and the winner is comment #2

~ Lizzy from That skinny chic can bake!!!  ~

Congratulations! 

Lizzy is also 'likes' Penguin's Gift on Facebook so she'll get a $10 gift card of her choice (Target, Starbucks, or Amazon).

I'll be emailing you to award your pirze very soon ...

Check back on Monday for another Giveaway! (crazy, I know!)

the "it" list ~ July 16

It's Friday again and we're back! The best of the web is right here! Take some time to check out these awesome links from blog-land...

• a spot of whimsy features a hansel and gretel-like cottage in the woods... my only question, can I rent this for a weekend? It looks absolutely dreamy!
• the good life for less is swooning for silver tote bags... at several price points, it's almost impossible to choose a favorite!
• merci blah blah is sporting a forever 21 top and a new pair of target wedges and looking amazing! this girl has style...
• spry on the wall gives us her take on versace's resort 2011 collection... this outfit is so simple and chic (and hello! orange! loving orange for pre-fall!).
• style your life is going casual, yet sophisticated with this outfit full of silver accessories. this outfit is great... i'll be looking to copy it soon!
• penguin's gift has scouted some awesome sales on lands end canvas handbags... yes, please!
• one hundred inspirations gives you audrina patridge's look for less... there is something about nude accessories for summer that is so easy and fresh!
• speaking of the hills! sweetie pie pumpkin noodle features kristen cavallari's pad on her blog this week, I just love combo of modern and eclectic styling.
• john's journal whips up some bridal inspiration for a friend... each look is so gorgeous, it would be hard to choose a favorite! hopefully she keeps us updated on the final look!
• the hillside home explores the rose bowl flea market and brought back tons of inspiration... you won't want to miss these gorgeous photos.

Bags from Lands End Canvas

Have you looked around Lands End Canvas?  A friend recently said 'Its JCrew for less!' and I couldn't agree more.  They are having a Summer Sale right now!  What a great time to add some new pieces to your summer wardrobe as well as stock up on a few gift ideas.

I love the bags pictured above - Ragtop Newspaper Tote ($17.99) and Ragtop Washed Canvas Tote ($19.99).  (I shared my love for the Newspaper Tote in February and it remains a favorite of mine, but be warned its HUGE)

Pair one of these bags with a great paperback book, Sarah's Key and The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo are on the top of my reading list, to make a great late summer birthday gift.

ETA:  Lands End Canvas upped the sale --
the bags are now $13.99 and $15.99!

Cupcakes!

Everyone loves cupcakes!  Am I right?  They are the perfect dessert because cupcakes are just the right serving of sweetness.  Yum!  I would love to expand my cupcake baking skills with the book Cupcakes! by Elinor Kivans (under $7 from Amazon).  She offers great tips on baking and decorating cupcakes as well as some easy, delicious recipes.

Pair Cupcakes! with a few packs of baking cups from Bake It Pretty for a completely yummy gift. 

Have you been to Bake It Pretty?  Stop by to see the amazing selection of baking and party supplies from baking molds to chocolate molds to party candles to bakery boxes and much more. 

 

These are some of my favorite baking cups from Bake It Pretty and each of them would pair with the Cupcakes! book perfectly.

Reader Feedback {and a giveaway} - CLOSED

Penguin's Gift was started almost ten months ago.  Wow!  Ten months of blogging about fun and affordable gift ideas.  I am so happy I finally decided to take the jump and start a gift blog.  And I hope you have enjoyed stopping by, reading, and shopping with Penguin's Gift! 

I thought now would be the perfect time to ask for your thoughts.  Please leave a comment with your feedback and suggestions for Penguin's Gift.

~What do you like?  What do you dislike?~

~What would you want to see more of?  Less of?~

~Like things just fine?  Then tell me that as well!~

One comment to this post will be chosen via the Random Number Generator on Saturday, July 17.  The winner will received a $5 gift card to Target, Starbucks, or Amazon (I couldn't decide, so the winner can!).  If the winner is a follower of Penguin's Gift on Facebook I'll double the prize - a $10 gift card to Target, Starbucks, or Amazon!

Thanks to all of you for reading ... I really appreciate it!

the "it" list ~ July 9

Are these summer days just flying by or what? It's Friday again! Take some time to check out these awesome posts from around the web today!

• penguin's gift has a round up of the sweetest tooth fairy "gear" - my son is just about to start losing teeth. Such a sweet age and any of these accessories would make the experience much more magical for sure!
• sweetie pie pumpkin noodle has ten watches you are going to swoon over. I'll take one of each, please!
• the good life for less is already swooning over fall... are you with me or do you dream of endless summers?
• one sweet find has this adorable mother/baby giraffe set for sale in the shop. It would be so great in a nursery or for any lucky mom or mom-to-be!
• style your life has the inside track on an amazing Stella & Dot sale... I just love Stella & Dot and these pieces are to die for!
• merci blah blah is getting bedazzled... from this great Jenna Lyons look to the most fab embellished shoe you have ever seen - check out this fun inspiration!
• a spot of whimsy is featuring Michigan ALL WEEK (you know I love that!) - you won't want to miss this amazing Michigan based stationer. Such gorgeous paper goods!
• one hundred inspirations has a simple and chic look inspired by Gwenyth Paltrow - all for under $100, of course!
• jess lc launched her new "intention" necklaces this week... they are gorgeous AND inspiring and even feature braille. I am SO in love with these!

The Tooth Fairy

My oldest daughter is sure to lose her first tooth sooner then I am ready to acknowledge she is growing up.  Lucky for me she still has all of her baby teeth.  Though I have to admit they are starting to look a little small for her smile.  But I'm fine with it as long as she gets to stay my little girl a while longer ...

The Tooth Fairy hasn't had a reason to visit our home just yet but I need to be prepared for the big event.  Once school starts I am hitting the bank for some golden dollar coins for the first tooth.  But I still need to find the right pillow.  One that fits her personality.  One that will be a lasting childhood memory. 

Here are some of my favorites from Etsy:

Tooth Fairy Pillow Clip

from Adorn With A and M

$3.50 (plus $2 shipping)

Shabby Chic White Linen Tooth Fairy Pillow

from Simply Sweet Shoppe

$10 (plus $2.75 shipping)

Hawaiian Print Airplane Tooth Pillow

from sweetlee3

$10 (plus $2.75 shipping)

Tooth Fairy Box

from Quilt Dailey

$4 each (plus 2.50 shipping)

Tooth Fairy Pillow

from Sparkle Power

$12 (plus $3 shipping)

Tooth Fairy Pillow Fish

from kmkc78

$5 (plus $2 shipping)

Little Tooth Fairy Pillow

from chickabiddy baby

$12 (plus $3 shipping)

Mario Graphic T-Shirt

A birthday invitation arrived in the mail last week, yippee!  I'm not sure who was more excited - my children because they get to par-tay with one of their friends or me because I get to gift shop for the birthday boy!!  This little man *love* his Wii and I have had the pleasure of watching him play Super Mario Brothers (and he is really good)!  So off I went looking for gift ideas ...

I found this Mario Graphic T-Shirt on Eagle Eye Designs' Etsy shop.  You choose the color (white, blue, green, pink, or yellow) and the size of the t-shirt (toddler and youth sizes available).  Priced at just $15 (plus $3.95 shipping).  Perfect for the birthday boy!

I love the simple graphic outline, but if you wanted to jazz up this gift idea toss in a package of fabric markers.  The giftee can decorate his Mario and really personalize the t-shirt.

If I had discovered Eagle Eye Designs shop twelve years ago I would have ordered this Zelda t-shirt.  My dad, nephew, and I were HUGE Zelda fans!

When I Grow Up I Want To Be Me

I love, love, love giving When I Grow Up I Want To Be Me by Sandra Magsamen (around $14 at Amazon) to 6-8 year old girls.  Its a very simple book with few words but the book offers a lot of meaning and inspiration!  With all of the expectations and stress we put on our children (and ourselves!) its nice to have a quiet moment and remember the simple ways of being ourselves.  Being us.  Being who we are.  Accepting who we are.  Knowing we are each someone very special.

the "it" list ~ July 2

Hooray for a holiday weekend... hopefully you have some fun and some blog reading scheduled for this nice long holiday weekend! Take some time to check out all of these lovely blogs, you will be glad you did! (say hello while you are there!)

• sweetie pie pumpkin noodle turns an old mirror into a fun new chalkboard... she's definitely got an eye for style. I love this DIY!
• good life for less celebrates Independence Day all week with "red, white and blue week" - these beach outfits are perfect for a long weekend in the sun!
• one hundred inspirations brings you Jessica Alba's chic-mom-on-the-go outfit for less than $100!
• where is the me in mommy dresses in red/black/white for the Eclipse premiere... I am loving this look! (ps, how was the movie!?!?)
• the pretty bee makes old frames into fun jewelry displays... fun for jewelry creators and collectors alike!
• style your life pulls together an amazing ensemble for a summer pool party... I love that she included a cocktail, my kind of gal!
• merci blah blah once again pronounces her love for ASOS (this time accessories) and you will fall in love too!
• a spot of whimsy honors female legends... this month it is Princess Diana. So, so lovely. These photos are just amazing and it was inspiring to re-visit her amazing life. LOVE.
• penguins gift has the Tour de France in mind with these bicycle inspired gifts... I have a lot of bike lovers in my family. Such fun finds!
• spry on the wall has an amazing knack for hunting down the best in runway style... don't think runway style is for you? Check out how her take on Chris Benz's Resort 2011 collection. Nice!
• really cute stuff has an opportunity to win their new monogrammed card collection before you can buy them - hurry! Go check this out!

Viva la Tour!!

The month of July is one of our favorite months, second only to December.  Not because of the scorching heat.  Not because of a fabulous family vacation.  Because its is the month of the Tour de France!  We watch the Tour coverage on Versus daily, multiple times on most days.  We wear lots of yellow during July and do lots of crafts that involve the color yellow.  And it all starts in two days - this Saturday!!

In honor of this epic race I thought I'd share some great cycling themed Etsy finds for any Tour fan on your gift list.

Bicycle Ride Print on Vintage Dictionary

from CrowBiz

$10 (plus $2 shipping)

Sterling Silver La Bicicletta Necklace

from Kenton Beadworks

$25 (free shipping)

Frank the Robot on a Bicycle Cards

from Naomi Cayne

$10 (plus $1.75 shipping)

Spokes mens/unisex t-shirt

from totalradness

$25 (plus 3.95 shipping)

Bicycle Zipper Pouch

from Cut Out and Collect

$10 (plus $2 shipping)

Yellow Bicycle

from adriantoddzilla

$3 (plus $2 shipping)

Eiffel Tower Crayons

from Blackbird Design House

$8.75 (plus $1.95 shipping)