One of the traditional bridal essentials is the good ol’ fashioned wedding garter. Nowadays brides wear wedding garters not to keep up their stockings (thank goodness for that) but as a tradition that has become part of most receptions.
If you are looking for a really romantic garter, check out this sparkling entwined ivory garter that I found over at Eye Candy Gift. What I love about this garter is how soft and delicate it is. And the garter comes with a 2nd, toss-away garter that the groom can use for the toss the garter event.
And here’s a neat idea. Many brides are looking for that ’something blue’ to wear (or hold) during the wedding ceremony. I also found a blue garter. Now wouldn’t that be fun to show off!
 |
What could be a more perfect gift for that coffee lover in your life than famous quotes coffee mugs. Start their day with something such as “Given enough coffee I could rule the world” and send them off to, well, rule the world. Five other quotes are available including “Chocolate…coffee…men, some things are better rich” for your lady coffee drinking friends or “Coffee and love taste best when hot” for the gentlemen coffee drinkers.
|
But wait, there’s more. On the side opposite the quote, you can have a single-initial monogram added to make that mug even more special. If used at the office, no one will mistake this mug for theirs when they see the monogram on the back. These mugs are made of heavy-duty white ceramic to stand up to the hottest brews and will hold 15 ounces to get the day going right. See them at EyeCandyGift.com and order several for holiday gifts for all the coffee drinkers in your life. Even if they don’t drink coffee, these unique mugs can hold pencils or hot chocolate with marshmallows or even a posey! Perfect.
Tags : ceramic mug, coffee mugs, famous coffee quotes, gifts, monogram, personalized gift
What makes a gift extra special is when it has a very personal touch to it. Our photos are taken to remember a special time whether that is a holiday gathering, a family vacation or a special gathering like a wedding ceremony.
Photos are a vehicle for us to vividly recall all the details of what occurred. Just looking at a photo can bring strong emotions and let’s us remember just how much we care about our family and friends. When you place that photo in a personalized frame, it can really magnify the impact of those emotions for us.
Consider a personalized picture frame for your next gift giving event.
With Father’s Day just around the corner, what do you get a dad who’s got just about everything he wants? If your father, like mine, is fairly well off and buys whatever gadget that he wants, gift giving times can be a challenge. Fortunately there is one gift that he can’t buy – memories. And that’s what propelled me to find this delightful Father’s Day picture frame from EyeCandyGift.com. Putting a picture from a special time the two of us shared in a nice photo frame is one great way to bring him pleasure and keep with the spirit of Father’s Day.
What I like best about this frame is that it holds a 4″ x 6″ picture and it’s personalizable – you can have up to 3 lines of custom phrases. That way you have room to get your special message on the frame.
 |
Personalized Father’s Day Picture Frame Now On Sale
|
Tags : father's day, gift, photo frame
I wrote some time back about how my husband loves his money clip. He still loves it and I realized that I had not revealed the exact style. He really likes this Dalton Folding Money Clip that you can find at EyeCandyGift.com. What he likes most about this clip is the hinged construction is unique in money clips and it makes it much easier to get bills in and out.
Here are the specifics on this money clip. Its dimensions are 2 1/4″ x 1 1/4″ and it’s very light weight. You can even get an initial engraved (Old English Style Font) for free. And best of all, right now EyeCandyGift.com is running a special on all their money clips so if you buy 2 you can get the 3rd at 33% off. This makes it a fantastic deal for groomsmen gifts. And it all works automatically – no coupons required. In fact, you can get their multiple clip special pricing and STILL use the coupon code we have on our site here.
 |
Dalton Hinged Folding Money Clip Now On Sale
|
This money clip is a real treasure but be sure to check out more of the money clips reviewed at EyeCandyGift.com and all our special ‘Perfect Present‘ recommendations.
Tags : Add new tag, dalton money clip hinged money clip, money clips
It’s almost time again – Valentines Day. My husband and I have plans at a nice restaurant but for my girls, I’d like to get them something nice that won’t cost too much. It’s not that I can’t afford to spend more – I can – but I like to keep it reasonable so that they aren’t too spoiled.
Recently I stumbled over a cool personalized gift site that actually had a lot of choices that would work well for my ‘tweeners’. And the prices were reasonable with modest choices along with more expensive sterling silver items.
I’m looking at some crystral necklace pendents that I can get some cool ribbon necklaces for. Just the right touch for my girls. Good luck to all of you with your Valentine’s shopping!
Tags : personalized gifts, valentines day
I can’t believe how the year has flown by. It’s late October now and I’ve promised myself to start planning my Christmas gift giving early this year. I’ve decided that sports themed gifts might just be my bag. I wrote earlier this year about how my girls were into softball so that’s one area I could use for gift giving. And then there’s Andrew, my husband who loves to play golf so I’m thinking that certainly I can find some great golf gifts that will please him.
If I run out of sports ideas, I’ll have to get more mundane. Gosh how I dread buying clothes and toys! Santa – watch out.
School is in full swing, and that means lots of soccer practices. In addition to soccer, one of my daughters has taken up volleyball, so that adds a few more hours of practices and games to the week’s schedule. While all of this scheduling can be a bit overwhelming, it’s really fun to watch the girls improve their games. But more than that, it’s even more fun to watch them improve as team players.
My soccer player has advanced from pee wee soccer, where the “fans” never see the ball for all the little legs scrambling around the vicinity of it. This year, they now play a game that looks more like real soccer. They actually play specific positions and pass the ball to one another. It’s amazing how many more goals they make when they play as a team! Not to mention how much more fun it is to watch.
My volleyball player is in the fifth grade, and this is the entire team’s first year of playing the sport. Now, any of you familiar with 5th grade girls know that being kind to one another isn’t always the norm. But these girls are breaking that norm, thanks in part to their personalities and to the tone set by the coach. To be honest, they aren’t winning all of their games, but they aren’t loosing all of them either. But miracle of miracles, they are very encouraging to their teammates, and are having a great time.
So the moral of the story is, playing as a team doesn’t guarantee you’ll win, but it sure does increase the odds, and it makes the game a whole lot more fun for players and fans alike.
Tags : girls sports, team sports
School has just begun, and my oldest daughter has discovered this is the year that the school offers band. I played in the band when I was a kid, and I loved it. My daughter plays piano, and she loves music, so I decided she should also join the band. She’s not completely in love with the idea of adding band to her schedule. Despite my conviction that she should only participate in the activities she loves (because we are over-scheduled already), I have insisted she begin this new activity. I’m just sure she will love it, too!
So after “we” decided she should join the band, we had to decide which instrument to play. After much debate, she settled on the flute. (I played the tuba in the band, so was very pleased she chose a small, portable instrument.) The research began as to where to purchase this instrument, and to determine a reasonable price for it. This was easier said than done, but today, I was able to find a good quality flute for a reasonable price – at least I hope it is. To go along with the new flute, I had to purchase a repair warranty, a maintenance kit, two lesson books, a music stand, and private flute lessons. All-in-all, this is a pretty expensive (mother’s) dream!
I hope she loves the new flute. And if she doesn’t, I hope she treats it delicately so her sister can use it when I sweetly suggest (i.e. force) her to join the band!
Tags : band instruments, gifts
Summer is almost over. How sad.
We all look forward to summer vacation. The idea of endless hours to play, read, watch TV, swim, or just do nothing sounds so enticing after nine months of following schedules and watching the clock. Thankfully, we have had just such a summer.
But after three months of play time, I can honestly say, we are all craving some of that structured time. The toys that sat untouched for most of the school year are now all over the living room floor. I am ready for them to be put away. We have watched every episode of every kid’s show at least three times. (Yes, we started out limiting TV time. But like everything else in summer, the structured rules seem to fly out the window with the structured schedule!) I am ready for the TV to have a break. Our bottle of sun screen is almost empty and the chlorine damage to our hair is significant. Our skin and hair are ready for some recovery time and that lovely indoor air.
So, we are now counting the days (some of us are counting the hours) until school begins. And along with it, the lovely rat race of live. Complete with the endless hours of chauffeuring, practice, homework, and schedules. I can’t wait!
Tags : gifts, parenting
My oldest daughter was one of those clingy babies. By the age of four months, she was very aware when the adult holding her was not her mom or dad, and she loudly let the world know. She was never the toddler that ran off to play with the other kids at a family gathering. I always knew where she was – attached to my leg.
Fast forward a few years, and she is now a confident 10 year old. This year she has moved to a new city, started at a new school, attended camp for a week that was 300 miles away from home, and joined a new swim team. She accomplished all of this with very little fuss and carrying on.
This change in personality seems to be unnoticed by her. But her father and I are astounded! It highlights the fact that she is growing up in the blink of an eye. There are times I miss being her protector and the center of her world. But most of the time, I’m so thankful she is growing up to be a confident, self-assured young lady.
Tags : parenting
Earlier this summer, I experienced my 20 year high school reunion. I approached this celebration with some excitement and some fear. Yes, I wanted to loose 10 pounds, some grey hair, and facial imperfections. None of these wishes came true. However, I was excited, as most of my close friends, some of whom I have not seen in 10 years, were going to be in attendance.
As it turns out, the day was full of fun, laughter, and memories. It was the fastest Saturday I have spent in years. I even faced my high school boyfriend, whom I have not seen for 20 years. (To my dismay, he looks exactly the same as he did the last time I saw him!) I grew up in a small town with a graduating class of less than 100 students. Most of us went to school together from the time we were in preschool. I realize most people can’t say that, and in some ways, it is a gift! It was wonderful to see how we were able to pick up where we left off but without our immature high school ways.
In the end, I was not the big surprise of the class. I was still me, just 20 years older with a few extra pounds and a little grey hair. And as I think about it, that is truly a gift!
Tags : gifts, high school reunion
Our family loves to celebrate birthdays, but we do it in some unusual ways. My youngest daughter just turned seven, and her birthday celebration was quite typical for our family. We don’t usually have large, elaborate parties. In fact, we typically allow the kids to invite three or four friends to go to a play or a movie and then out for a treat afterwards. We also have a separate party for close family which may include sledding in the snow or playing in the sprinkler, depending on the time of year. And for the family members that are not able to be with us to celebrate, they often call on the phone during the party to let the birthday girl know she is being thought of. Yes, this is all pretty normal birthday behavior.
But our family has some unusual rituals as well. In our house, the day before your birthday is pinch day (yes, you are allowed to pinch the person – gently), the day of your birthday is spank day (one spank for every year – gently), and the day after your birthday is kiss day. Some of us enjoy “kiss day” more than others!
Another unusual ritual is “butter on the nose”. Allow me to explain. At some point during the birthday party, a family member gets a finger-full of butter (yes, the kind you put on your toast) and attempts to smear the butter on the birthday girl’s (or boy’s) nose. Strange, I know. None of us really likes having butter smeared on our noses, but we would be very hurt if the family forgot this little ritual. A birthday is not a birthday unless a terribly bad picture has been taken of you with butter smeared all over your face!
Tags : birthday rituals, family
Last Sunday was “Family Day” for our local minor league baseball team. It was a beautiful day – about 78 degrees with a slight breeze, and the kids were so excited to go to the game.
My two girls have now played a couple of years of t-ball or softball, so they are starting to understand the basics of the game. Because of this new knowledge, for the first time ever, the game itself held their interest. They even picked a favorite player to cheer for. (Of course, the mascot, concessions, and “between inning contests” helped keep their attention as well.) The only score the entire game was a home run hit by a member of “our” team. While this didn’t make for the most exciting game I’ve ever seen, it did help to keep the game moving along quickly.
To top it all off, because it was family day, the kids got to run the bases after the game was over. The bases were a little farther apart than those at the t-ball game! But all-in-all, it was a great day spent together, and we are all ready for another day at the ballpark.
Tags : family fun, girls sports
Last weekend, my husband graduated with his masters degree. He has been working on this for the past three and a half years, and our whole family was thrilled to have his degree completed. Between night classes, studying, and working full time, he has had to miss out on a few ball games and recitals and such. My husband decided to participate in the graduation ceremony, and I’m so glad he did. Even though the ceremony was very long, especially for our two little girls, it gave our entire family a sense of accomplishment.
Of course a graduation would not be complete without a party. We had an open house for close friends and family which was well attended. The invitation stated that guests were not to bring graduation gifts, however, some didn’t listen! The standard gift was cash (which is always welcome). However, he also received Omaha Steaks, a gift certificate for music, and champagne- all great ideas. But the greatest gift was having friends and family celebrate with us.
Tags : gifts for him, graduation gifts
My six year old was invited to a birthday party last weekend for a little girl in her class. The party was at the girl’s home and had a pirate theme. The guests were all asked to wear pirate costumes. So, we took an old pair of shorts and fringed the hem, and took an old shirt and drew cross-bones on it. Then my daughter made an eye patch out of construction paper, and tied a scarf on her head.
At the party, the kids had a treasure hunt, and other outdoor games. The party was two hours long, and it was an action packed, fun filled two hours. There were no inflatables to jump on, clowns making balloons, or the like. Yet, my daughter exclaimed that it was the best party she ever went to. To be honest, I think she had as much fun making her costume as she did playing at the party. So it was an entire day of fun!
Tags : kids party ideas
Do you remember the tradition of giving may baskets. This may just be an old-fashioned mid-west thing, but as a child, we used to make may baskets out of paper cups and fill them with candy and May flowers. Then we would deliver the baskets to our friends. The trick was to not get caught delivering the basket. So we quickly ran to the door, rang the bell, and ran back to the car. You see, if you got caught, you could get kissed!! Often, when we arrived home from delivering our baskets, there would be a couple of baskets on our own front porch.
My mother has continued this tradition by delivering may baskets to the elderly in her community and to her grandchildren. This year, I decided to ressurect this tradition with my children. We are new to our community, and are working on forging relationships with our neighbors and friends, and what better way do that than with treats. So, last weekend, my kids sat at the kitchen table with paper cups, colorful napkins, markers, scissors, and glue and created some may baskets. Sunday was a beautiful day, and many of our neighbors were outside, so we delivered our baskets a couple of days early. I’m still not sure if these neighbors are aware of the tradition, but they were pleased to get the treats! But in the end, I think my kids had more fun than anyone.
Tags : gifts, May Baskets, May Day
Last weekend was rare for us. There was nothing on the calendar! For the icing on the cake, it was a beautiful day. Originally, I thought I would spend the day painting a bedroom or working in the yard. But the idea of missing out on a free Saturday was too much to bear. We started the day by having our coffee on the patio while the kids put up their tent. Later, the kids and my husband played ball in the backyard while I read a book and watched. (I know, I know – I should have joined in.) In between relaxing activities, we would take the dog for a quick walk or go for a bike ride. We topped off the day by grilling out and then going out for ice cream.
At the end of the day, there were dishes in the sink, paperwork untouched, a room that still needs painted, and yardwork to be done. But that’s OK. I’m thankful for the rejuvinating gift of a free day.
Tags : gifts, time management
It is such a gift to see your child excel at something he or she has a passion for. My youngest daughter is playing t-ball. She is very small for her age, but she is very active and persistent. While this can drive us crazy at home, it has proved to be a benefit when playing ball.
At her first game and first time up at bat, she hit the ball the typical two feet. But the second time at bat, her determination showed through. She hit it into the outfield, and got a home run. She then pestered the coach into letting her play “pitcher”. (She knows this is where the action is!) After letting one runner get past her, she then got two runners out at home plate.
The evening was cold, and it was pretty late for a 6 year old, but she was on a real “high” from the game and her performance. It was great fun to watch her do well at something she worked hard at and has a passion for. I hope she has many such successes in all areas of her life!
Tags : gifts, girls sports, parenting
Last weekend, my family spent a very cold day at an amusement park. The day could have been miserable, but the park was featuring several shows in indoor theaters. These shows were displays of dance and music from around the world. There were Irish and Scottish dancers, Polynesian dancers, Chinese acrobats, as well as singers from Russia, and Africa. Besides being able to sit in a warm enclosure, the performances were fantastic. My children were so excited to see the costumes and learn about the traditions from other countries, they completely forgot about the fact that it was too cold to ride the train or take a spin on the roller coaster. My parents, my husband and I were thrilled because we really wanted to see the shows instead of getting queasy from riding the merry-go-round one too many times. If the weather had cooperated, I’m sure we would have spent the day standing in line for ride after ride and begging the kids to go to just one show. As it was, we all went home with our stomachs in tact and with a bit more knowledge about how people around the world live and celebrate.
Tags : family fun
I spent my entire Saturday painting my daughter’s bedroom. We moved into our new home four months ago, and I have been promising to paint her room ever since we moved in. I finally lived up to my promise.
The room is a cute little space with a small alcove at one end. But it was a bit dark, as there is only one small window. And the ceiling and walls were the color of mustard yellow – very nice for a living room or an adult bedroom, but not a good color for a young girl.
So, I pained my first ceiling (aching neck and all) a bright white. Three walls were painted a light yellow, and the remaining walls a violet color. (Can you tell she is a pre-teen girl?) Now the room is bright (it’s amazing what a difference the white ceiling makes) and fun. My daughter is thrilled, and feels as if she has a new room!
Tags : children's room decor, gifts
I recently paid a visit to my grandmother. It’s a 10 hour drive to go visit her, so unfortunately, we don’t get to see her very often. Grandma is now 95 years old, and will be 96 this June, but she has the looks and presence of mind of a much younger woman. Because Grandma is wheelchair bound, she lives in a care home. My aunt recently received a questionaire from the care home asking some questions about my grandma’s life. Grandma’s only comment was, “Whatever you do, don’t tell anyone there how old I really am.” We were all so surprised by this comment, as we would be really thrilled to be her age and be in such good health. Her reasoning – “No one believes me, and they can get really nasty about it!” I just hope I have such problems when I am 95!
Tags : family, gifts
My 10 year-old daughter is invited to a housewarming party today. A friend of hers from school has recently moved to a new home, and has been allowed to invite a few friends to celebrate. Well, you can’t show up to a party empty-handed. But what in the world do you give to a 10 year old girl for a housewarming gift? The typical housewarming gifts, a bottle of wine or a nice houseplant, don’t seem appropriate to give to a young girl!
We discussed giving a birdfeeder, but most were more expensive than we wanted to spend. My daughter really wanted to buy a whole bunch of flower seeds, but I wasn’t sure they wanted to tear up their new yard to garden flowers.
In the end, we found a cute wind chime, and included one packet of flower seeds (my daughter just would’t give up on that idea entirely). I’m sure a week from now, the perfect housewarming gift idea for such an occasion will come to me. But for now, this will have to do!
Tags : housewarming gifts, kids party ideas
My husband is in the process of taking two classes to complete his masters degree while working full time – plus. Needless to say, this studying and working cuts into his “family” time. However, last Friday, he decided to take our two daughters out on a “date”. He took them out for breakfast at our favorite local diner, and then dropped them off at school. I have never seen my children get ready for school so fast in my life! The entire “date” took about an hour an a half. But that hour and a half meant more to all three of them than words can describe. Just one more example that gifts don’t need to be expensive or time-consuming. They just need to come from the heart.
Tags : family, gifts, time management
My daughter recently turned ten years old, and we had a small party for her this past weekend. About three months ago, our family moved to a new city, so this was the first time we have spent some extended time with her new friends. Ten years old seems to be a pivotal birthday. Cliques of friends form, and it becomes so very important for the child to “fit in” with a crowd he/she feels comfortable with. I’m pleased to say that I think she has found some very nice young ladies to hang out with.
The party was held at our home and four guests were invited. My daughter planned each minute of the party, including crafts, games, a movie, food, and free play time. (Yes, she is a “Type A” personality!) There were no fights, tears, or hurt feelings for the entire three hours. This is a major accomplishment for 10-year-old girls!
As for gifts, my daughter has obviously let her new friends know what she likes. She received some scrapbooking materials, a bookstore gift card, a purse, and a stuffed animal that you can register on-line and then play games and such on the web-site. All were excellent ideas!
Maybe for her 11th birthday our family will be ready for that all-important Sleep Over Party!
Tags : family, gifts, kids party ideas