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!

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

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!