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.