Archive for the 'Gift Ideas' Category

Page 3 of 3

Birthday Present to Myself

Published on Tuesday, March 4, 2008 in Birthdays, Gift Ideas, Hair and Photos. 2 Comments

It’s no secret that I’ve wanted to get my hair cut short for a while now. On January 4th I took a big step and cut my hair. (I was able to convince my hubby that cutting my hair has nothing to do with how much I love him…silly guy.) Well, I did it again!

This is my birthday present to myself, and I love it! My head feels so light, and I can’t stop playing with my hair! My stylist did such a great job with the highlights last time that I opted to forgo them this time…they are blending very nicely.

back

side

For comparison, feel free to check out the previous post! I’ve come a long way… :)

Evidence of a Struggle (or a Photo Update to “Priceless”)

Published on Thursday, January 17, 2008 in Artwork, Claire, Drama, Fun, Gift Ideas, Parenting 101, Photos and Venting. 3 Comments

Back in December, I posted a little something about Claire and her disdain for finger-painting. You can check out the original post here.

I had wanted to leisurely make handprints with her to use in some holiday projects for our relatives. Well, as what sometimes happens with a toddler, things did not go as planned, and certainly didn’t look like the good ol’ time they were having on the outside of the finger-paint packaging.

False advertisers! Tricksters! Filthy no-good liars! If I still had the packaging, I’d show you their smug little smiling faces as they sit at the table not getting paint in anyone’s hair or on anyone’s faces or all over anyone’s clothes in an attempt to escape from the kitchen table. No one is screaming in their pretty little marketing pictures.

Maybe I’m being a bit too harsh. I’m sure there are parents out there who wish their child wasn’t into finger-painting. I’m sure there are toddlers who like to get their hands slimy while painting with their fingers. My princess daughter is just not one of them.

So, here is the result of our struggle:

Evidence of a Struggle

Click on the photo to enlarge. Clicking a second time will show more detail.

I’ve added the above arrow and note you see on the photo using Gimp. (“Bring out the gimp…”) And, just between you and me? There is evidence of a struggle all over that paper. NONE of the marks on that page were made voluntarily and without a lot of screaming. Ugh.

After nearly crying over my failed project, I decided to suck it up and figure out a way to make it work. I did not get paint in my hair for nothing! That’s when I totally altered and rearranged the plan in my head (that’s the good thing about plans in your head…you can do that pretty easily…and it’s much easier than moving furniture), and figured out how to cut around her handprint so that the sixth finger was no longer visible.

I didn’t want her growing up thinking she was born with six fingers on one hand and that she’d had it removed in a surgical procedure before she was old enough to remember. (Not that there’s anything wrong with having six fingers on one hand, mind you. Well, unless you’re an acquaintance of Inigo Montoya…then I’d watch my back if I were you!) ;)

Here is the finished project:

Finished Project

See? No evidence whatsoever of the six fingered toddler or the struggle required to get her handprint. And, I had her color a picture, especially for PaPa, to go along with her handprint.

Needless to say, my hopes of going into business by creating cute little handprinted projects for people (let alone making any more holiday projects) had been dashed. I wonder what Claire would have to say about helping me with some Papier-mâché? ;)

Thank You Photo Card

Published on Friday, January 11, 2008 in Christmas, Claire, Gift Ideas, Parenting 101 and Photos. 2 Comments

I think most everyone should have received their Thank You Cards in the mail by now, so I’m going to post the picture online! (I didn’t want to ruin the surprise.)

Claire colored special pictures on the Thank You Cards for her birthday presents, but for the Thank You Cards for her Christmas presents, I went with my old stand-by…photo cards!

I love photo cards. They are so versatile, simple and fun to make. I’ve had fun putting together photo cards for all kinds of occasions in the past: Claire’s birth announcement, Holiday Cards, Valentine’s Day Cards, or Just Thinking of You cards. I even used a picture of Claire taken on her first birthday for her Thank You cards for her gifts from that event.

I usually use whichever major retailer is offering the better deal at the time, and I create them online and have them delivered to the house (or have them printed for pick-up, depending on my schedule). When used as Thank You Cards, they are a neat way to thank the gracious givers of gifts and also give those people a cute picture of Claire at the same time.

It’s pretty easy to have “Thank you! Love, Claire” printed on the card with enough room left over to write a personalized thank you note on each one. (I love things that save me time, yet leave my options open for including a personal touch.)

Here is the picture we chose this year for the Holiday Thank You Photo Cards:

Thank You Photo Card

Click on the photo to enlarge. Clicking a second time will show even more detail.

If every picture is worth 1,000 words, this one is worth 1,002…the last two being Thank You, of course. ;)

Loot

Published on Thursday, December 27, 2007 in Books, Christmas, Claire, Fun, Gift Ideas, It's a paycheck, Photos and Visitors. 2 Comments

Toy Store Explosion

Toy Store Explosion

Momma is trying to get the Kitchen assembled as the Ballerina wastes no time starting to cook (both gifts listed below).

Hand-knitted rabbit hat

Here is a close-up of the Rabbit Hat (as listed below). What you can’t really see is that the ties have carrots (like the ones on the top of the hat) knitted onto the ends of them.

Click on each photo to enlarge it. Clicking again on each photo will show you even more details.

Everyone was so generous to us this year, and from the sounds of it, everyone enjoyed the gifts that we gave to them as well. It was another successful gift-giving exchange!

In no particular order, here is a list of Claire’s loot:

Claire’s Gift Card, Target Gift Card, money, Wild Animal Baby Magazine Subscription, a Grinch Christmas Tree Ornament, four books, a coloring book with crayons, box of fruit bars, bag of dried fruit, numbers/letters/shapes that stick to the bathtub walls when wet, a mesh bag (in the shape of a turtle) for all her bathtub toys, play-doh set (complete with tools), a kitchen ensemble (complete with sink, fridge, microwave, stove top, blender, and a double oven) and many play food sets (some that you can pretend to cut with faux knives and then put back together with Velcro), dollhouse and two room set-ups, a princess tea set, a dress/turtleneck outfit w/matching purse, hand-knitted hat (complete with rabbits and carrots – see above), and a ballerina outfit.

Whew. I think that’s it…but with a toy store explosion like that, it’s quite possible I missed an item here or there. If I did, I’m sure we will find it over the next few days as she re-discovers all these cool toys. (Some of the food sets haven’t even been opened yet! We’re trying to make this experience last as long as it can!)

I’m hoping to get official Thank Yous out in the mail soon. They’ve been ordered and should be here shortly. (I’m doing something similar to what I’ve done in years past, and it’s a surprise.) ;)

In the meantime…Thanks to all!! Now, I’d better get back to work. Because of an impending storm (which actually seems to have arrived today!), our guests have left us.  Luckily, Daddy will be here to keep the Ballerina Chef entertained while I at least pretend to work today. ;)

A New Camera!

Published on Tuesday, December 25, 2007 in Christmas and Gift Ideas. 3 Comments

Well, I got to open my super-secret surprise present today, and it is a new camera!! This makes me extremely happy. The old digital camera we have (that has taken most of the pics on my websites) was a really good camera years ago. And, it still works for its intended purposes, but it’s slow. Life with a toddler is fast. Things would be easier if the two were more the same speed. ;)

This camera rocks! My hubby has done a great job finding a fabulous gift. A while ago, we actually looked at one like this at the store, and I was impressed. I’m not a professional photographer, so I like cameras that do pretty much everything for me. Oh, look at that! Click. Ooooh, pretty. ;)

I didn’t think anything of it, because we have a digital camera that works, and the budget didn’t allow much room for an extravagant purchase at the time. It was on my wish list, but I didn’t really think it would become a reality anytime soon.

Well, he really surprised me!

Needless to say, I’m thrilled. I haven’t had much time to play around with it, but I’m amazed that when you push the button, it takes a picture. I know, I know…that’s what cameras are supposed to do, but our old camera would take its sweet old time really understanding that what you wanted to do was take a picture after you’d pressed the button, and then usually what you were taking a picture of was just a fleeting memory.

My in-laws have a nice digital camera, but there is literally a five-second delay between when you press the button and when the picture is actually taken. Like I said, a lot happens in a span of five-seconds when there’s a toddler involved.

This new camera is practically instantaneous. I nearly dropped it; it was so fast. Luckily, my hubby got a cool strap that comes with it. I’ve always had a wrist strap, and this is a neck-strap. We’ll see which one I prefer.

And, the screen on the back is HUGE. It takes up practically the whole back of the camera! I feel like I’m taking pictures with a big-screen TV.

It’s awesome.

So, that’s what was in my super-secret surprise package…and I couldn’t be happier!

Here’s a picture of my new little Canon PowerShot SD870 IS Digital Elph:

My new camera

Even taken without the flash, this picture turned out pretty good. You can see the back of the camera in the mirror. (Click on the photo to enlarge it. Clicking on it a second time will make it even bigger.)

Note: I’ll post an update on Claire’s gifts tomorrow, or whenever I have a chance to sort through the toy-store that exploded in our living room. ;) Needless to say, she is thrilled (and rather overwhelmed) with all the wonderful gifts she received…and I think we all share that sentiment.

Claire’s Gift Card

Published on Saturday, December 22, 2007 in Christmas, Claire, Conversations and Gift Ideas. 2 Comments

“Hey! Guess what Claire got in one of her Christmas Cards!?”

“What?” Daddy asked.

So, I showed him this:

A Claire’s Gift Card for Claire

This is the gift card that was in a special card addressed to Claire from one of my friends and her family.

“Right. So, where’s it to?”

“What do you mean? It’s to Claire’s…” I said.

“Right, I understand that. But, which store is it for?” He asked again.

“It’s a Claire’s Gift Card,” I repeated.

“TO WHAT STORE?”

“Um, it’s for the store called Claire’s? You know, the little store at the mall where they sell accessories and girly stuff?”

“Ohhhhhhhhhh! Well, why didn’t you just say that!”

Granted, if our daughter had a different name, Daddy wouldn’t have been so confused…maybe. ;)

Harry and David

Published on Friday, December 14, 2007 in Anniversaries, Birthdays, Christmas, Gift Ideas and Product Reviews. 1 Comment

I’m in love with a new store.

I’ve wanted to write about this place for a while, but a certain someone reads this site, and I know she’d be wondering why I was talking about such a place, and then she’d figure out what she and Dad were getting for their 35th Wedding Anniversary today.

Yes, I’m talking about my mom…and Harry and David. Have you heard of this place? You have? Where have I been?

A while ago, my siblings and I were discussing what to do for Mom and Dad’s 35th wedding anniversary. We were bouncing ideas off one another, and in one of the many emails going back and forth, one of my sisters said that she’d always had good luck with Harry and David in situations like this in the past.

Who?

I didn’t want to admit that I had no idea who she was talking about, so I nonchalantly typed the name into Google and immediately fell in love with this store! Where has it been all my life! Surely this is a regional thing and that’s why I’ve been left in the cold dark world without Harry and David. Then, I realized that one of the malls in our area has a store! How could I have missed this!?

No, I’ve not gotten the courage to actually walk into a Harry and David store, because I’m not sure if I’m strong enough to walk out. :) Just looking at the site online makes me want to lick my monitor, so I’m afraid of what the clerks would do to me if I was left alone in the room with all of the actual gift baskets. Those places have video cameras. Youtube is an icon. Claire wouldn’t want to go anywhere in public with me again. ;)

Anyway, we sorted through the bazillion options and settled on what we thought would be the perfect gift for Mom and Dad. Hopefully the real-life basket was just as exciting as the online version. It actually arrived earlier than we anticipated, but with the crazy weather the Midwest is having, I suppose ‘early’ is better than ‘dumped in the ditch somewhere on its side in the middle of an ice storm.’ :)

I just peeked at the site…dangerous, I know…and it says that today is the LAST DAY to order something for Christmas and have it arrive via standard delivery! Here’s the link! So, if you’re at a loss as to what to get a certain someone for the holidays, or a birthday, or an anniversary, check out Harry and David. I really don’t think there’s a poor choice.

No, this little product review is not a paid endorsement, and like I’ve said before, if something appears on the sidebar, it’s purely coincidental. (Awesome, but purely coincidental.) ;)

Of course, now that I know how wonderful Harry and David is (are?), I see them everywhere. Go figure.

Oh, and Happy 35th Anniversary, Mom and Dad! Here’s to many more!

Blog Action Day: Wild Animal Baby

Published on Monday, October 15, 2007 in Blog Action Day, Blog Business, Claire and Gift Ideas. 2 Comments

Today is Blog Action Day, and the topic is The Environment. Bloggers across the world are going to be writing about this topic. It will be neat to see who participates!

About a year ago, a neat little book arrived in the mail addressed to Claire. It looked kinda like it was part of a magazine subscription, but it was thicker paper, and it was just her size. I was thinking it was a gift from someone, but I couldn’t tell for sure. I did some calling around, and that’s when I discovered it was a surprise birthday gift from Grandma. As what happens sometimes with gift subscriptions, the book arrived before the little “Gift for You” postcard. That’s when I found out that my mom gives all her grandkids a subscription to The National Wildlife Federation’s Wild Animal Baby.

What a great idea! Claire loves it! Every month or so (there are 10 issues per year), a new issue arrives, and she loves it to pieces (quite literally, I’m afraid). ;) I was very impressed with the quality of the books and the entertainment and educational value of the pictures and stories. They not only discuss colors, shapes, numbers and letters, but they are also fostering a love of the environment in Claire.

We read every issue of Wild Animal Baby to her over and over and over, usually starting the moment we bring it in from the mailbox. :) She never tires of looking at the different animals or the pretty pictures. She’s at the stage where she will pretend to read the book to us, as well. I can tell which page she’s on by the different sound effects she uses or her version of how the story goes.

For someone who’s not even two years old yet, it’s amazing how quickly she’s catching on, and I’m so glad that she’ll grow up to have an appreciation for the world around her. My hubby and I wanted to instill these values in her, and this subscription makes that very easy to do.

Claire loves reading Wild Animal Baby

Here she is with one of the issues.

Because Claire enjoys this book so much, I’ve given gift subscriptions to other friends of ours. It feels good knowing that our money is going to a worthy cause, and that other kids are getting to share in the Wild Animal Baby experience.

So, if you’re trying to think of a creative gift to give a little kid, check out the different subscriptions at The National Wildlife Federation. They have Wild Animal Baby for ages 0 to 4, Your Big Backyard for ages 3 to 7, and Ranger Rick for ages 7 and up.

It’s never too early to start paying attention to the world around us or understand how interconnected we all are, and Wild Animal Baby is an awesome place to begin.

Bloggers Unite - Blog Action Day