My tip of the week: Anything but video games!

A few days ago a good friend of mine asked me what to get her 10 year old nephew and I was at a loss of ideas...I asked her the next day what she purchased and she said, without enthusiasm: "a video game".  She sounded discouraged, and I agree, as I would be the same.  It seems as though we feel all kids are doing and want to do these days is play video games.  She then told me that her parents bought him a monopoly game and to her big surprise he LOVED it!  I think we underestimate kids these days and fail to realize that some board games are great classics that would be loved by all.  So my tip of the week is, don't hesitate to get a pre-teen one of your favourite classic board games.  You may be surprised!

Via Scholar's Choice

Via Scholar's Choice

Via Scholar's Choice

Via Scholar's Choice

Rainbow Themed Party

Loved Mrs. P!'s rainbow cake.  Definitely looks yummy and I wish we lived in the same city so I could have had  a piece!  This pregnancy really has me craving sweets ALL the time!

The rainbow cake got me thinking of how nice it would be to have a rainbow themed party.  So I searched the word "rainbow" on the Catch My Party site and seven pages of great rainbow themed party ideas popped up (have I told you before how much I love this site!).

Here are a few of my favourites.

Rainbow Care Bear 5th Birthday

Via Catch My Party

My little girl's first birthday

Via Catch My Party

Via Catch My Party

Via Catch My Party

Rainbow Birthday 10th

Via Catch My Party

Isabel's Rainbow Art Party

Via Catch My Party

Via Catch My Party

Hello Kitty Rainbow Birthday Party

Via Catch My Party

Frankly, I like too many to post here.  Take a look at the ideas by clicking here.

Hello Monday!: Rainbow cake

My son & I made our first rainbow cake this week-end! I've been waiting for a chance to try this and finally had the perfect opportunity for my cousin's birthday. I love that it looks like a regular cake from the outside and then you get to see everyone's surprise when you cut out the first piece. Our boys thought it was really cool and "the best cake ever".

If you google "rainbow cake" you will find a million versions and recipes. I took the easy route and bought a mix. It's as simple as:

1) Mix your batter according to packaging or recipe.

2) Separate the batter into 6 equal portions & color each portion separately (use food colouring gel if you want the color to come out vibrant).

3) Cook each portion separately (I did two portions at a time for 10 minutes each - use a toothpick in the center of the cake to make sure it's well baked. If the toothpick comes out clean it's ready).

4) Let cool a few minutes then turn out on a cooling rack and let cool completely.

5) Ice between each layer, on top and all around.

If your layers don't bake flat you can either trim the top off each layer or keep them as is but then you may need to place a couple wood skewers (I used plastic straws) near the center of the cake to keep it from sliding to one side.

I used edible paper to cut out hearts to decorate the top. It can be found here.

via Michaels

Never thought about this - the bathtub tray

I would love to receive this tray - and I can think of many people I know who would love to receive it.  The idea of taking the time to relax with a good glass of wine, in an already relaxing environment is certainly appealing.  

Via Etsy

Via Etsy

Via Amazon.com

Via Umbra

Via Umbra

Don't all these images make you want to play some spa music, grab a glass of wine, a good book and just relax!!

Gifts for 5 yrs+ girls

Last night I felt like I was Christmas shopping all over again, but on Christmas Eve! I had very little time after my little guy's bedtime to shop for all my upcoming birthdays and showers.  So the challenge was on, but I love that! I find myself productive and I pick great gifts (well, I think I do!).  Anyway, I had a 5 year old girl to purchase for and within just 10 minutes at DeSerres I had found everything I needed.  She and her sister already have so many toys, so I thought crafts would be best - they will keep her busy and she will have something to use at the end. I discovered this line and all these stood out for me:

Natural Soap making kit - DeSerres

Lip balm making kit - DeSerres

Bath Fizzie making kit - DeSerres

Solid Perfume making kit - DeSerres

If you haven't visited DeSerres' site or store, you really should!

Happy Valentine's Day

Hope you are all having a wonderful day filled with love and all things sweet!

Here is what my son ended up giving his child care provider this morning.  She was over the moon!!

My tip of the week!: there is nothing wrong with a belated gift

I think we sometimes stress too much over finding that perfect gift and to make matters worse, sometimes we just can't find one by the deadline. This happens to me at times and I have decided that in times like these, when I cannot find or think of the perfect gift by the date of the occasion, I am just going to have to make the person wait.  I stop worrying about the deadline and focus more about the gift.

Funny enough, every time this has happened, something has always clicked and soon after the deadline has passed, I have thought and found the gift I really wanted to give.  Maybe it is the stress of having the deadline lifted that ends up helping.  Of course, I don't do this with everyone but those who are close to me have come to know that sometimes, they just have to wait.   But in the end, they are super happy with what they receive.

So if you just don't have any ideas, and need more time, take the time (but of course, not too much time!).  Let the person know the gift is coming...and I am sure they will be happy when they receive it.

A gift for him and something nice for you...

A friend of mine "liked" Melanie Rebane photography's site on her Facebook page.  Because I love photography I always like to see a photographer's work, so I went on her site.  I really liked her work but what stood out for me were her Boudoir Photography Sessions, which she calls couture portraits.  Three to four times a year, Melanie Rebane hosts clients in a luxurious hotel suite to shoot the luxury boudoir sessions. She says on her site that her customers are spoiled with hair, make-up, champagne and treats, and a very private photo session (doesn't that sound so appealing!!).  And the results are classy, beautiful boudoir photos that are organized in a wonderful album perfect to give that very special man.

Via Melanie Rebane Photography - Boutique Boudoir

Via Melanie Rebane Photography - Boutique Boudoir

Via Melanie Rebane Photography - Boutique  Boudoir

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Via Melanie Rebane Photography - Boutique Boudoir

The great part for you is the amount of spoiling that appears to come with the session.  One reviewer on her site said the following: "I have no idea who that woman is...but I am over the moon knowing she lives inside me..." 

Definitely too late to do this for valentines, but I am saving her page in my favourites and keeping an eye on upcoming sessions (click here) for occasions to come.

Hello Monday!: Easy DIY photo Valentine

This is actually a Father's Day gift but I thought it could easily be made up as a Valentine's gift since Valentine's is also the perfect occasion for the kids to share what they love most about their dad.

via Positively Splendid

I found this on a site called Positively Splendid. You can download her template for Dad from this page. She also has a template for Mom here and for your child's teacher here.

via Positively Splendid

via Positively Splendid

Adorable, personalized and easy to make Valentine's gifts! Enjoy!

A gift for my son's child care provider

I love monkeys, so of course I love the sock monkey and today as I was shopping at Home Sense for nursery ideas and items for the upcoming new addition to our family, I saw this guy:

He was alone on the shelf! I had to buy him and thought he would be a great gift for my son's at home child care provider.  I'm gonna buy her some roses and have the monkey hold them!  She absolutely loves my son and he loves her, so I'm sure she will love this gift from him.  The bonus: the sock monkey can be left in the toy box for the kids to play with.  Hoping the end product looks good; if so, I will post some pictures.

Loving Michael Kors Rings

Hoping my hubby is reading my blog so he can get some hints on what I would love to get for Valentine's Day.  Loving Michael Kors rings these days, especially this first one:

Funny I have a similar one from my teens!

My tip of the week!: A twist on lingerie

For all you men out there looking for a twist on the typical lingerie gift why don't you consider "Panty by Post".   Just sign up for a subscription for that special someone, choose from their Signature line and wait for the surprised look on her face each month she receives her package in the mail wrapped up in tissue complete with its own handwritten enclosure card.  Who doesn't like to receive a surprise in the mail!

Via Panty by Post

Via Panty by Post

Plus the purchase is just a click away...no need to get out of the house!!  Happy Shopping.

Wedding rings scare!

Last night we hosted our 4th annual Super Bowl party.  Always a great time among friends but this year the kitchen was a complete disaster!  Way too much cooking going on and not enough game watching...lol. Anyway all went well until this morning when I couldn't find my engagement ring and wedding band.  Definitely not a good way to start my day.  I knew I took them off in the kitchen but it was impossible to look for them this morning because the kitchen was still a disaster and the cleaning was going to be done after work.  I tried not to panic about the possibility of them having made their way to the garbage or down the sink.

Thankfully my best friend had spotted them so when I got home I looked where she told me she saw them last and found them...phew!!!  She mentioned that after the same thing happened to her when her engagement ring did disappear in the kitchen, she received a ring holder from her mom from Zone Maison.

These ring holders are so cute and would look great in the kitchen.

Via Zone Maison

Via Zone Maison

Via Zone Maison

Via Zone Maison

These are a perfect gift for a newly engaged or married woman, or even for Valentine's day.  I'm definitely getting myself one!

Friday Fabulous Finds!: Get a FREE gift...Give a FREE Gift :)

I was perusing La La Lovely and fell on a post where Trina was sharing this free illustrated printable calendar:

via Musla.fi

via Musla.fi

I thought the illustrations were rather sweet. They are done by a Kirsikka Simberg of Musla.fi. You can download it here and check out her blog here...I just discovered her and really enjoy her recent posts.

Find some quality paper, print, clip for hanging and ta-da! A beautiful (and did I mention free?) gift.

Enjoy!

Did you know: Peter Rabbit Collection at the Gap

As I have said before, I love the Gap clothing for babies.  I find them trendy, colourful and super soft and I think my little guy looks so good in them. And now I am absolutely in love with their Peter Rabbit collection. Not the cheapest items, but they are oh so cute!

via the Gap

Via the Gap

Via the Gap

Via the Gap

Via the Gap

Via the Gap

Via the Gap

Via the Gap

Via the Gap

Via the Gap

Definitely a better selection for girls...but nice nevertheless.