Remember those cute little girl bracelets?

Remember those cute little girl bracelets I shared with you earlier this month?

They are now an extra 20% off (score!).

  Get the red Lola or blue Lola for just $5 each.

The Mini Bloom Flower necklace for just $15 and the Mini Soiree in coral is just $8.

Each one of these sale pieces comes packaged in an adorable keepsake tin perfect for giving.

Dare I talk about the next gift-giving holidays?!?

These all would make great Valentine or Easter gifts for the little girls on your gift list.

Extra 20% is good now through Sunday, January 9th.

2011 Modern Design Calendar

When a friend of mine (Sara) received this calendar from Lisa Samartino Atelier on Etsy I fell in love.  A beautiful calendar is sure to make 2011 a fabulous year! 

If you have someone with a January birthday or need to send a belated December gift then this would be perfect!

The Modern Design Calendar can be found here for $18 ($3 shipping) or you can purchase the pdf file for easy printing at home for $10.

Tangled

Yesterday we saw the Disney movie Tangled and *loved* it! 

As I sat with my two daughters in the movie theater I couldn't help but think about buying the CD.  My younger daughter has an early January birthday and it is so, so, so difficult to find birthday presents for her.  Not only is her birthday less than two weeks after Christmas, but she also has an older sister that usually gets all the girly, age-appropriate toys / games that are then passed down to the younger one.

So if you have a little girl to buy for in the next few months (before the release of Tangled on DVD which will probably be in the spring) I recommend the Tangled soundtrack from Amazon for under $12. 

I just ordered it myself!

care to share?

What were some of your favorite gifts, either to give or get?

My favorite gift received was our Family Rules sign from Barn Owl Primitives.  My older daughter loves reading it and she has referred to one or more rules in the last three days.  (go to their Facebook page and enter to win a Keep Calm and Carry On sign)

My favorite gift to give was the Dream Teach Inspire necklace from The Rusted Chain that my daughter's class gave to her teacher.  She was so touched that I almost cried right along with her.

Holiday Photo Booth Fun!

I saw the Holiday Photo Booth Accessories from Paper & Cake yesterday and decided I have.to.have.them.NOW!  I think the Santa props will provide lots of laughter tomorrow night when we celebrate Christmas with my side of our family.  This reminds me I need to recharge the camera battery for all the photo ops in the next few days! ♥

For $9.95 you get the Photo Props which include mustaches, lips, Santa hat, Santa beard, Mrs. Claus' spectacles, reindeer antlers, and Rudolf's red nose.  As well as a customizable pennant banner and fun signage.

Eggnog Pound Cake

This Christmas we are making a few baked goods to go along with our gifts.  I haven't given cookies or breads for Christmas since before I had my children but I'm so glad to be doing it again this year!

Baking in the oven as I type is Eggnog Pound Cake (recipe below).  I am using the cute small kraft loaf molds from Garnish.  I plan to pop the finished pound cakes into a cello bag along with a wooden knife and fork (also from Garnish) tied together with a ribbon.  Slap a fun gift tag label that says 'From the Kitchen of ...' (from Tiny Prints) on the outside and it makes a super gift.

If you have some extra baking time give this recipe a try!

Eggnog Pound Cake

Ingredients
3 cups flour
2 tsp baking powder
¼ tsp salt
¼ tsp nutmeg
½ tsp cinnamon
1 cup butter (softened)
2 cups sugar
3 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
1 cup eggnog

Method:
Sift dry ingredients together in a small bowl.

In a separate bowl, cream butter and sugar. Add eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition, then the vanilla.

Add flour mixture to bowl, alternating with eggnog.

Bake at 325° for about 65-75 minutes (in 2 loaf pans), 70-80 minutes (in a Bundt) or about 22 minutes for mini-loaves.

Cool in pan.

I don't remember where I got this recipe from so if any of my friends know of the blog or message board please let me know. 

I'd love to give credit to someone for this yummy Christmas pound cake!!

Headbandz

Well, I thought I was done with my Christmas shopping.  

Until I was told Headbandz is the hot new toy/game! 

I ordered it from Amazon (gotta love Amazon!) for under $15. 

Thanks to my Amazon Mom / Prime membership it should be here before the big day.

Thanks Tracey!

Felt Holly Corsage

Handmade gifts are often the most treasured.  This year I'm making these Felt Holly Corsages from Martha, first seen by me at Pumpkin Petunia last year.

I mus disclose that I am not a crafter.  I like to think I am.  Then when I sit down to make something it never, ever turns out how I've pictured in my mind.  But these corsages were different.  They turned out beautiful and can't wait to give them to a few special people this holiday.

Here are my tips and tricks:

~I purchased two dark green felt sheets (9" by 12"), gold bells, 5/8" cream grosgrain ribbon, and 1" pin backs (in the jewelry making section of my store) at a chain craft store.  I was able to get eight corsages from the two felt sheets.

~Ours look like the first corsage in the second row in the picture above. I used the template from the Martha link above, copied it at 125% with my printer and used only the middle template - one double holly leaf per corsage.

~Don't skip the ironing/creasing step. Not only does it make cutting the doubled felt easier but it adds dimension to the finished holly leaf.

~I found it impossible to follow the curved lines of the template.  I traced the template onto the felt but I made my holly leaves with sharp, angular points using the tip of my scissors.  Looks great to me!

~I pulled the ribbon through the hole in the top of the bell and trimmed the bottoms.  Pulling the ribbon through was the most challenging part of this craft.  It took a little patience!

~Don't skip the step of pinning the corsage to a piece of cardstock.  It makes for a beautiful presentation!

Happy crafting and happy giving!!

GroopDealz - Rosette Ring from Love Stitched

There are so many 'daily-deal' sites coming out that my head is spinning.  One site that I've recently discovered is a little different from the rest, its GroopDealz.  GroopDealz features products from Etsy-like sellers, companies that offer unique and often hand-made products. 

Today's deal is Rosette Rings for $4 from Love Stitched (retails for $7).  The colors offered are pink, cream, grey, Tiffany blue, and floral.  Adjustable bands means one-size-fits-most. 

I'll take one!  Or two or three!!  Love these!

$2 shipping for any quantity ordered and the rings are expected to ship on the 17th just in time for Christmas.  Remember, this deal is only good for today - Tuesday, December 14th!

A Charlie Brown Christmas

I love the new Glee Christmas album but my Christmas season isn't complete without listening to A Charlie Brown Christmas at least once.  Its a timeless classic.

A Charlie Brown Christmas CD would make a perfect hostess gift, as well as a great addition to a family gift.  Priced under $17 from Amazon.

Lola and Mini Soiree Bracelets - $10 and under

Lola Stretch Bracelet (blue plaid) $14 $7

Looking for some adorable gifts for little girls?  I've got some ideas for you!  Not only does Stella & Dot have a entire line of jewelry dedicated to little girls but some wonderful pieces are one sale now.  The Lola bracelets are priced at just $7 (50% off), the Mini Soiree in coral is just $10, and the Mini Bloom Flower Necklace is only $19 (13" long, perfect for 3 - 7 year olds).

Shipping is only $5.95 for orders under $50.  Be sure to order by December 17th for Christmas delivery.

Lola Stretch Bracelet (red plaid) $14 $7

Mini Soiree in coral $14 $10

Mini Bloom Flower Necklace $26 $19

IlluStory Make Your Own Story Kit

My friend Janelle sent me a link to this product last month (Thanks again, Janelle!) and I think it makes a fabulous gift idea. 

IlluStory is a complete kit to help a child compose and illustrate his or her own book!  The lucky boy or girl can create a story along with pictures, design a cover, and write a little biography about the author (themselves!).  Send in the materials in a postage-paid envelope and in just a few short weeks they receive their professionally publish book!  No additional costs, everything is included with your kit purchase.

The suggested age range is 6 - 9 years old which is a little too old for my daughters, but this gift idea has already made it onto my Christmas 2011 list!

Find IlluStory Make your Own Story Kit on Amazon, priced at $19.95.

Have a budding artist on your list?  They also make a kit for turning a drawing into a 24"x32" Museum poster!  Find Creations by You My Masterpiece on Amazon, priced at under $20 also.

My Apologies {20% off at Stella & Dot}

I'm sure a lot of you are wondering why Penguin's Gift has been so quiet during this busy gift-giving season.  I am so sorry for not being able to share more gift ideas with you.  I've been busy with my new venture - Stella & Dot.  I hosted my second Stella & Dot Trunk Show in October and after the umpteenth person said 'You love the jewelry so much you should do this!' I took the jump and joined the amazing company.  And it has been wonderful!!  I'm having fun introducing Stella & Dot to lots of lovely women.

As my holiday gift to you, my loyal readers, I'm sharing a special promotion code for the month of December - use code SHARE10 at my Stella & Dot site and receive 20% off one item.  This offer is good through December 31st, and orders placed through December 17th will arrive in time for Christmas giving.

Here are some of the beautiful pieces that lots of lovely women have been enjoying at my Trunk Shows:

Pave Clover Earrings $49

Sasha Flower Brooch $34

Bardot Spiral Bangle $49

Rachel Necklace $89

Super-Cute Reindeer T-shirt from Mitetees {20% off}

Reindeer with pink or red nose $16)

Mitetees is offering 20% off one item with the promotion code PLENTY

now through December 26th.

There is still *plenty* of time for a Mitetees personalized t-shirt,

orders are shipping in only TWO days!