Heirloom Hand Knit Sweater

Love this beautiful hand knit sweater from www.marikahahn.com, on sale for $50 (and free shipping!)

"Original MARIKA HAHN DESIGN famous Heirloom Hand Knit Sweaters. Knit with superb 100% cotton tanguis yarn in comfy fall weights. All knitting and detailing are done by hand using the expert "intarsia" method. Each color yarn is hand knotted in the back to prevent little fingers from getting snagged. Original MARIKA HAHN DESIGN handmade sweaters will last and last."

Beautiful!

Victorian Chocolate Dress

Found this absolutely stunning dress at www.gracelanedressshop.etsy.com (or click the title for a direct link) for $44.00. Amazing designs, beautiful craftmanship, great prices and wonderful selection. Check them out!

Smocked Christmas Dress

For those who just love the tradition of smocked dresses, how about this "Here Comes Santa" green corduroy smocked dress from www.nanas-boutique.com. Priced from $44 (depending on size) you're sure to capture the feeling of Christmas' past.

Christmas

While browsing today I found some cute holiday finds at www.littlefashionsboutique.com. This red ruffle dress is another take on that bubble hem and is just so darling! $69

Also love these tights! Really fun and will dress up any outfit. $23

Christmas Stockings

I can't be the only one who absolutely LOVES these custom stockings by www.pattycakekreation.etsy.com ($25) She lists a choice between these 2 colors but says she can do others also. I think they're great!

Santa Hat

I love this adorable, hand crocheted Santa hat from www.ReneesCrochetShop.etsy.com Available for $20 in sizes from newborn to the adult, I think you will see this on my kids' heads this year! Fun, affordable and unique (will keep them warm too!) Can't wait for our pictures from Storybook Land (NJ) with Santa!

Holidays!

New for Christmas this year, our fun holiday penguin (now in red!) Check out our funky Christmas tree sneakers (goes great with that Michael Miller fabric you see everywhere!)

See these and other holiday shoes at www.jlperillo.etsy.com or www.snanimals.com!

Hair Clips

Here's a great way to perk up your holidays! Visit http://www.bbsbowtique.etsy.com/ for these and other great hair clips!
First up is a big tom turkey (the turkey is removable) $9

Adorable witch's hat $3

Happy 4th of July!

Visit http://www.fabulousfoods.com/ (or click the title for a direct link) to make this fun 4th of July Cake today!

Basically, take your favorite cake mix, 2 pints of strawberries, 1 1/3 cup of blueberries and a tub of cool whip.

Bake the cake and let it cool. Slice up a cup of the strawberries and set aside. Halve the remaining strawberries and set aside.

Take the cup of sliced strawberries and a cup of the blueberries and put them on top of the cake. Cover with the whipped topping. Take the remaining strawberries & blueberries and arrange them on top in a flag design! (or go wild and try a fireworks design, either way it will be fun and patriotic!)

Have a great day!

Sweetheart of a deal

Okay, time to focus on Snanimals for a bit! Don't forget that at http://www.snanimals.com/ we hand paint children's shoes for special occasions, holidays and everyday. How about a pair of our sweetheart sneakers or maryjanes! We're putting them on sale for our valentine gift to you. But remember, these are cute all year round, no need to put them away on the 15th!

More do it yourself

Some more do it yourself Christmas gifts from http://www.wikihow.com/Make-Your-Own-Christmas-Gifts

Make chocolate-covered spoons.

Go to your local dollar store or discount supermarket and stock up on plastic spoons. Melt chocolate in the microwave on 50% power for one minute(if you have a fixed setting, do it for 30 sec.. Stir, and continue melting in 10-second increments at 50% power until smooth. Dip spoons until generously covered with chocolate. Lay them on waxed paper lined cookie sheet to cool down. If you want to get fancy, roll in crushed peppermint candies or drizzle them with melted white chocolate.

Make a peppermint candle.

Buy a large plain white unscented pillar candle and peppermint candies (round or stick). Unwrap the candies. Using a hot glue gun or glue dots (found at craft stores), glue candies all around the sides of the candle. It will look like candles sold for $15 and more in catalogs and fancy stores.

S'mookies!

Fresh from the pages of Parenting, a fun and yummy cookie recipe for the holidays!

From Christy Turner, mom of Luke, 5, Emily, 3, and Grant, 1, Tuscaloosa, AL (Makes 2 dozen)

Cooking spray
Peanut butter cookie:
2/3 cup all-purpose flour
1 tsp baking soda
1 stick unsalted butter, softened
1 cup creamy peanut butter
1 1/3 cups packed light-brown sugar
1 large egg, beaten
3/4 tsp vanilla extract

Filling:
1/2 cup chocolate chips
2 Tbs unsalted butter
1/2 cup marshmallow cream

1. Preheat oven to 375°F. Lightly coat a cookie sheet with cooking spray. Mix flour and baking soda in a small bowl; set aside.
2. With a spoon, mix butter, peanut butter, and brown sugar in a medium bowl until smooth. Add egg and vanilla, and beat until smooth. Add flour mixture, and stir until combined.
3. Roll dough into 1-inch balls and flatten with a fork; bake 8 to 10 minutes. Remove from oven and let stand for 10 minutes, then place cookies in the refrigerator for 20 minutes.
4. While cookies cool, place chocolate chips and butter in a microwave-safe bowl; heat about 1 minute, until just melted. Let stand for 30 minutes, or until slightly stiff.
5. Heat marshmallow cream in microwave for 10 seconds to soften. Spread marshmallow on a cookie, chocolate on another and sandwich together. Store finished cookies in the fridge.

Last Chance for Polar Express Brio Train Sets

They're going going and almost gone. If you have the wooden train sets (as many of us do) be sure to pick up these fun and affordable Brio Polar Express Holiday sets before they're all gone. They're not expected to last beyond this holiday season. The Christmas tree set is $15.95 and the tree lights up and the figure 8 set is on sale for $35.00. Find them both at http://www.kindertrains.com

More Ideas for Inexpensive Gifts

While exploring the idea of inexpensive gifts to give this year I came across many instructions on how to do some things yourself. I'll be posting on them over the coming weeks and here is the first.

How about a lovely gift of home made soaps? You can pick your fragrances and shapes and arrange them in a nice basket or box. The instructions aren't too bad either:

Materials:
Bars of natural fragrance or color free soap
Essential oils of your choice (Lavender, rose and jasmine work well)
Food coloring
Oats
Vitamin E Oil (Optional)
Almond Oil

Instructions:

1) Grate soap in a blender or food processor.

2) Boil a pot of water and put a glass bowl over the pot, (like a double boiler.)

3) Add some almond oil into the bowl

.4) Add the soap into the bowl.

5) Take the water from the pot and add it into the bowl until soap changes into paste.

6) Add oils, color, and vitamin E as desired.7) Let cool in molds of your choice. You can use anything for a mold - ice cube trays, cookie cutters or your own hand. (To make hand soap, flatten soap paste to approximately 1/4 inch. Trace your hand on to the surface of the paste and mold accordingly. Finish by writing "hand soap.")

8) Air out on wax paper for a day or two.

Experiment! Make different shapes of soap or don't mix the color all the way in. Oats are great for exfoliating. Lavender pieces and rose petals can sometimes mold or rot if you don't air the soap out properly, so be careful. Your utensils should not be used for food afterwards but if you need to, wash very thoroughly.

Black Friday's Coming

Get a jump on the sales and know where you need to be! They've already posted a few (Sears, Kmart-Thanksgiving day, etc.) Go visit http://www.theblackfriday.com/ and see where the deals are?

Handcrafted Reindeer Sweater

I just love this luxurious cardigan sweater for little girls and am dying to order it for Anna. Precious reindeer (Anna's favorite) adorn the front of the sweater, which is available in blue or white. This would make a wonderful gift or, even better, an lovely outfit for those Christmas cards! (You just might see it on mine!) www.babybox.com

Just purchased by me, you next??

Had to order these custom Christmas long sleeve t-shirts from http://www.parsik93.etsy.com/. Couldn't resist! Choice of shirt colors, long or short sleve, personalization, and tons of different styles to choose from. Anna and John will be all decked out this season! $20!

More Toy Deals at Lakeside

As promised, here are a few more deals from http://www.lakeside.com/ and this time they're for boys:

Really love this horse trailer for $18.95 (your choice.) Have seen similar for $30 and more!and what boy doesn't like tools! Here's a black and decker set for under $30...happy shopping!

Holidays are Coming!

Here's a sneak preview from www.snanimals.com!

Our Jingles the Reindeer Sneaker ($27)

Our Candy Cane Layette Set ($22)

And our newest winter shoe-our Winter Penguin ($27)

Don't forget to use the coupon code "posh20" to get 20% off your order!

Great Deals at Lakeside Collection

Are you looking for deals this holiday season? Well, frankly, who isn't? We all need to carefully spend this year as we wait to see how the economy turns. Lucky for us, Lakeside Collection (http://www.lakeside.com/) offers great prices year round. Check out these toys for girls


A set of 6 princess dolls for $13And something hopefully Santa will bring Anna this year, triplet magnet dolls for $9.95! Go online and request your catalog today! Or, check back here as we bring more deals to you!