Family Trees

We all seem to have one or two people on our gift lists that are difficult when it comes to finding the right gift.  Often these are our grandparents or parents!  When I saw the beautiful Family Tress offered by LoviDay on Etsy I knew they would make a great gift for these members of the family!  Your Family Tree is an illustration of the amazing family they have helped create and what a wonderful gift for them to display in their home.

The names of the family members are randomly placed on leaves of the tree - love this!

Are you more of a DIYer?  LoviDay offers a Family Fingerprint Tree that includes a printed 'bare' 11" x 14" poster and 2 ink pads (1 light and 1 dark green) for you to create your own custom tree.  This would be a fun family activity on Thanksgiving or any of the upcoming family gatherings!

Looking for something for your little family?  LoviDay also offers a Whimsical Family Tree that has the parents names at the bottom and their children's names beautifully illustrated n the leaves of the tree.

LoviDay also has a wonderful selection of Guest Book Alternatives for weddings, baby showers, etc.

Total processing and delivery is typically 2-3 weeks, so keep this in mind when ordering for the holidays!

Free shipping for the holidays!! Use coupon code HAPPYHOLIDAYS.

Everyday Mugs {from Crate and Barrel}

I want new crisp white mugs.  There I said it, and I feel a little better now. ;)

I realized during Christmas brunch that we have a hodge-podge of mugs and I'm ready to enter the grown-up world of having nice matching mugs for my guests.  I'm eying these Everyday Mugs by Crate and Barrel ($2.95 each).  They are not so big my kids can't enjoy a reasonably sized cup of hot chocolate on cold, snowy days.  And not too small like the mugs that came with our dishes (Pfaltzgraff dishes I bought in college, I can't believe we haven't needed to upgrade yet!).

I am not the only one wanting new, matching mugs!  Pair 2 (or 4 or 6 or 8) of these mugs with a yummy hot chocolate mix, or an assortment of teas, or their favorite coffee and you have a wonderful winter gift.

ETA:  My wonderful sister gave me a set of eight of these Everyday Mugs as a thank-you gift.  I love them!  We've used them for hot chocolate and coffee.  Big, big thanks again!!

2010 Holiday Ornament from The Rusted Chain

There is something about annual Holiday Ornaments that catch my attention.  I love this one from The Rusted Chain because it is simple and beautiful.  Each one is stamped with their exclusive swirls, topped with a sparkling crystal and strung with silvery pewter velvet. 

The ornament can be completely personalized (up to 22 characters).  Here are some suggestions outside the the traditional 'Christmas 2010' and 'Baby's First Christmas':

~Merry and Bright 2010

~Peace Joy Love 2010

~Blessed 2010

Priced at $20 (plus shipping) but use the Penguin's Gift exclusive discount code penguin20 for 20% off through November 30!

***Keep in mind everything from The Rusted Chain is created/stamped by hand.

Order soon to ensure Christmas delivery!***

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).

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!

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

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!!

Letter Banner

I have been obsessed with banners lately.  Remember my daughter's birthday banners?  Well they are now hanging in her room (and her sister's birthday banner from January is still in her room!).  Currently hanging over our fireplace is a beach ball banner spelling SUMMER! from Pumpkin Petunia. 

A few weeks ago I saw the Letter Banners made by Karina, Ink featured as a giveaway by mary elizabeth and fell in love.  Each letter is hand cut from beautiful coordinating cardstock and strung with ribbon or twine or raffia.  I think having a name (first or last) or an important/inspirational word banner would be so fun!  Great gift idea for the family that has it all.  Or to welcome a new baby.  Or a funky graduation gift.

Fortunately for all of us Karina, Ink has re-opened her Etsy shop and is now selling these beautiful letter banners.  Just $2.50 per letter with $4 shipping.

Disclaimer:  I featured these Letter Banners for a chance to win one myself.  Although I've wanted to featured them anyway after seeing them on the giveaway in May because I really do love them ... and I have thought about giving one to a new little bundle of happiness and now I can since the Etsy shop is open!

House of Wisdom

Remember this post about my love of giving prints? Well, I can finally share with you the print that was waiting to be given ... its from hope ink on Etsy.

We gave the House of Wisdom print (8x10 for $25 and free shipping) to my husband's sister and her family as a housewarming gift. Needless to say they love it! I think its perfect for a newly built home as well as one that has been established by loving family for many years. This would also make a great Mother's Day gift because really, every mom is proud of the home she has created for her family.

While you are visiting hope ink's Etsy shop be sure to check out their other wonderful prints, including the Sweet Flower print that was featured here in February.

Lilly Pulitzer Towels

Remember when I told you how I've missed the designer handbag boat here? And the the Pandora bracelet train here? I have one more confession to make - I'm not a fan of the Lilly Pulitzer clothes. We are lucky to find some in the bags of hand-me-downs from my daughter's older cousin but I'm not that crazy about the dresses. Yes, they are super cute! But are they worth all the money? Not for me.

Recently I received a catalog from Garnet Hill and oh-my-goodness I've fallen for the Lilly Pulitzer Home collection for Garnet Hill. Big time. I love the bedding! One set for me and one set for each of my girls.

I also love the towels! The color bands of blue, green, or yellow are bright and beautiful. The best part of Garnet Hill carrying the Lilly towels - free monogramming! I love the image of one with black lettering in a powder room. You can have a single initial, monogram, or last name embroidered onto a hand towel for just $24 plus shipping.

I think they would make a great Spring hostess or housewarming gift.

Cloth Napkins

Last year a friend remodeled her kitchen. They gutted the entire room down to the studs, moved the pantry, relocated appliances and light fixtures. Not only was it a huge investment of money but also a sacrifice for her family during the remodel. To help her celebrate the completion of her beautiful new kitchen I gave her a lovely cookbook and a set of cloth napkins.

Gifts that mark a milestone in our lives are not limited to birthdays and anniversaries. Try to mark the other life events in some one's life with a little present. Or just a note. Sometimes its as simple as writing a few sentences in a card and dropping it into the big blue mailbox, you know the old fashion way!

The napkins I sent my friend were from Little Birds Boutique on etsy ($18 for a set of 4 - 15 inch square napkins). Stop by their shop and check out all of the beautiful items they have in addition to napkins ... little girl hair clips, keychain wristlets, and reusable fabric Happy Birthday banners.

Pink Bunny Bum Note Cards

Sometimes I wish I wasn't an adult so I could still receive an Easter basket (and Christmas stocking). If I was getting a little basket this year I would want these Pink Bunny Bum Note Cards inside. So cute!

Theses cards would be perfect for sending to the friends and relatives that are far away and you cannot celebrate the Easter holiday with in person. They would also be a great thank-you note for the host of your Easter dinner and/or festivities.

And don't forget the kids! Sending notes of gratitude starts early in our home. If your children receive gifts from friends or relatives in the mail then these Bunny Bums would make great thank-you notes. I can envision my daughter's handwriting on them ... it has been so fun to watch her penmanship develop.

Find the Pink Bunny Bum note cards at Crafted By Lindy's Etsy shop (set of 8 for $10.50, plus $2.50 shipping).

Some Kind of Magic

This 5 x 5 print from Wren & Chickadee etsy shop captures my thoughts for spring 2010 - bright, beautiful, blooming.

'Some Kind of Magic' print in a simple frame is the perfect reminder of spring and how the season renews our hope at the end of each winter. Great gift to brighten a friend's mood, and the perfect size to tuck into just about any little space throughout an apartment or home.

Find this ($13.50 and free shipping) and other prints here. Check out the cute cupcake papers photo print as well!

... 25 days until spring ...

Spring Cupcake Stencils

33 days until Spring!

(Can you tell I have the winter blues?)

Spring Cupcake stencils from Crate and Barrel, here, for $5.95 plus shipping. I think the bumblebee is my favorite.

25% off everything at Feather Your Nest

Feather Your Nest is liquidating its inventory due to a family loss. The quicker they can close up the shop, the quicker they can begin to find a new normal. Everything is 25% off. The discount will be taken once items are added to your cart. No returns/exchanges unless the item arrives damaged.

http://www.shopfeatheryournest.com/

Some of my favorites:
~Oilcloth aprons here
~Alphabet flash cards here
~Bird cage here

Turtle Pot Holder

We are in the middle of 'refreshing' our outdated kitchen. The big remodel won't be for a loong time so we are doing the best we can with our 1968 kitchen. All the effort will be worth it because the kitchen is truly the heart of our home.

I spend so much time in the kitchen, like so many other women! Why not have something fun and useful to enjoy? Like this Turtle Pot Holder! It certainly would make pulling those chicken nuggets out of the oven a little more glamorous ;).

This would be a fun, and practical, gift for so many ranging from 'living on their own for the first time' to 'I use the same boring kitchen stuff that I bought x years ago'. And this cute turtle is sure to bring a smile every time its used.

Find the Turtle Pot Holder ($13 plus shipping) and many other fun kitchen towels at BeanPickelSprout's etsy shop here.

Dot to Dot Towels

Need a fun and frivolous gift? Here it is! They just 'look' so happy! And really, why not add a little happy smile each morning to your giftee's life? I can see these towels in the kids bathroom as well as a grownup bathroom.
Dot to Dot Towels from Garnet Hill come in face, hand, bath and beach towel sizes. Priced from $10.50 (face) to $24 (beach).

Wine Wraps

A set of wine tags caught my eye a few weeks ago. I thought it would be a great way to personalize a bottle of wine for gift giving this holiday. But the price didn't make me happy.

I know, there are tons of wine bags out there now but they just aren't practical in my mind. Yes, fabric wine bags are super cute. But I lose them in my wrapping box of paper and often forget I even have some to 're-gift'.

Then I saw these from Garnet Hill - self adhesive wine wraps that you can personalize and a little gift tag to match. $15 for a set of 12, plus $4.95 shipping, making each set just $1.67 each. That is a price that makes me happy!

request from T

Engagement gifts were requested by T ... and I've been struggling with ideas. Here is what I have to share:

• Photo session. I happen to know that T is an excellent photographer. Offer to snap a few shots for the couple. Something that reflects their personalities in a setting they are comfortable. Edit and frame one, or two!
• This personalized love print from HopeInk's etys shop for $40 (they are offering a free second print of your choice with the code 'merry christmas'). The print being 12" square gives it a funky feel. Someone recently told me they had great luck finding 12*12 frames at Ikea.
• Silver plated wine stoppers engraved with his last initial from Red Envelope here for $30.
• A Vermont Wish Bowl here (scroll down to the smaller sizes at the bottom).
• Personalized folded note cards with the groom- and bride-to-be's first names (for all the shower & wedding thank-yous). I try to stay away from flowers and hearts, so how about this set of apples and pears from expressionery.com (remember there is a 40% off code).
• The Bride's Book of Lists found here at Amazon. And a nice bottle of wine, or two!

Christmas Trees

During our reception one of our guests whispered in my ear "We don't have your gift yet, I want to get you guys something I wish someone would have given to us but I can't buy it yet."

A few weeks later we received the gift (we were married in early October) from this couple. I was so curious about what it could be --- Christmas tree decorations! A sweet note inside told the story of how this couple wanted us to have a beautifully decorated tree for our first Christmas together.

I'm sharing this story with you because I don't want you to overlook the people on your gift list that might be in need of some Christmas decorations themselves. Not just the newly married couple like we were but others like the college graduate in their first apartment or the dorm room kids.

A friend shared the link to A Green Elephant's etsy shop and these adorable fabric trees. I fell in love with them. They are a great Christmas decoration for so many reasons, not just because they are super cute! Storing these will be a breeze and they will move well also. Theses cute Christmas trees are versatile too because you can display them just about anywhere in your house - mantle, table, cabinet, self, etc.

Place these trees in just about any room to add a little Christmas cheer - guest room, small hallway table, bathroom, kids room, nursery (but keep them out of reach of the little ones!).

You can find A Green Elephant's set of three Christmas trees here for $15 (plus shipping).

GrandLoving

I gave this book to my mother the Christmas before I had my second daughter. GrandLoving has so many fun ideas and things to do with children that it really shouldn't be limited to grandparents! This book includes ideas to do even when you are separated from your grandchild by hundreds of miles.

Whether its their first grandchild or sixth (as with my parents) this book will offer a grandparent lots of new ideas on how to make lasting memories with the little people in their lives.

Find GrandLoving here at Amazon for under $15.

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).