Limited edition of 100 exclusively for Walt Disney Signature, part of the hayden-harnett Tron collection. Santa clearly had my upcoming trip to Disney World in mind when this fell off the sleigh a few weeks early. Thank you Santa! It really does pay to be nice.
available for preorder now, estimated ship 12/15
I am loving this gift however......
holiday's are hard for the newly divorced mama. I'm okay but sometimes it hits me like losing my grandfather this past Thanksgiving Day. My children were in Virginia with their dad and I was driving home from my aunts... alone and sad. Now onto holiday, thankfully with four little ones at home and lots of parties to attend I make the most of this time of year as it is My Favorite Holiday. However, Christmas eve does come and after the kids are in bed..........
I love this gift and if I were in a relationship or married it would be mine! So I thought to put a different twist on it. I am getting one for each of my children's beds that say... Mom ... always kiss me goodnight.
To this post thats my happy ending!
XO Kimberly
Pretty Penelope Dress from French Connection
Oh Santa..I've been nice. Well..I tried really hard.
Having seen this dress in person here, I can assure you that you will outshine the angel atop the Christmas tree in this little number. Layers of chiffon in an almost blush color topped by a sweetheart neckline with an embellished neckline. Swoon..
And. For those of you on the naughty list, it is also available in "comet".
There was a time when I'd lounge footloose and fancy free with a stack of fashion mags, and pour through them, studying every detail like a forensic scientist. These days, it's three months of back issues and 4.5 minutes, and if something catches my eye, it's like hitting the jackpot. Sure enough, while perusing last month's People Style Watch, I hit gold.
Ever been in a situation where you just cannot google something fast enough? It was that good. M.Mavi Jewelry. And it got better....
and better....
and it just didn't stop getting better...
And clearly this Queen Bee just about died when I saw
M.Mavi was started by Michele Mavissakalian, who actually began making jewelry while working in the competitive field of New York City recruiting. It's so wonderful to see someone take a leap of faith into their true passion, which takes a lot of courage. But like the Lion in the Wizard of Oz, searching for courage, perhaps Michele had to only look as far as her jewels:
When her paternal grandmother passed away, among the jewelry she was offered was her grandmother’s large blue turquoise bead hanging on a gold chain, a symbol of protection in many Middle Eastern cultures. All M.Mavi pieces are imbued with as much meaning as her own personal pieces have to her. The blue bead, hidden on each creation, is now a trademark of M.Mavi Jewelry and the love, luck, protection and happiness it offers the wearer.
The love, luck, protection and happiness she needed was right there. And it's in every piece she creates. What an amazing gift to give this holiday season to a loved one! Not only is the jewelry stunning, but it's also something that could become a timeless keepsake to be handed down.
Of course you know I had to contact Michele, because that's just how I am. And out of the kindness of her heart, she agreed to answer a few questions for our readers and for those of you hoping to start your own business. So come back tomorrow for a little Q+A for the "mavi-leous" Michele Mavissakalian, designer of M.Mavi Jewelry
It's December 24rd, the kids are stepping onto the school bus for the last time before holiday break and you suddenly break into a sweat. Oops. Teacher gifts. School secretary gift. School nurse gift (I cannot possibly be the only mother who's children are frequent fliers into the school nurse office? Right? Please tell me that's not silence.).
Or how about the office co-workers? There are 8 of them. The mail lady? Teenage babysitters? Gym day care workers?
Gulp. What's a mama to do? Learn from the mama who's been there too many times to count pro.
My Philosophy on this problem is bulk gift buying. It's not creative, it's not an original idea, but it gets the job done, and it's a heck of a time saver. Generally I purchase 10-12 of the same gifts, wrap them up identically, and when trouble beckens, I turn to my pile of bulk gifts. And if you are one of the aforementioned, this year is different. I hand selected each gift individually, and yours especially.
Philosophy-Love, love LOVE their products. Until 11/30, you can get FREE SHIPPING, with NO MINIMUMS. Did I get my point across, because let it be known, that deal is just too good to be true. If you shop through Ebates right now, you can get 7% cash back too! They'll smell good, and you'll look good with all that extra cash hanging out of your purse.
Peppermint bark holiday ornament-mint candy shampoo, shower gel + bubble bath-At only $6 you get three products already wrapped up in an adorable ornament. Bulk buy mamas..bulk buy.
Candy Cane foaming bubble bath, lip shine and shower gel-At $12 still proof that you don't need to spend a mint to show you care.
The Gingerbread Girl foaming bubble bath + shower gel-$16-Having consumed no less than 37 of my mothers molasses cookies over Thanksgiving weekend, I'm thinking this bubble bath might be the answer to my prayers. Utilitarian and calorie free. May I suggest adding a personal touch? Perhaps a giant homemade gingerbread man cookie, decorated by the kiddos, attached to the package for bonus-cuteness points? Oops. Did someone mention cookies?
With Gratitude-shampoo, shower gel+bubble bath-not everyone celebrates the holidays, but how are you to know? To avoid any uncomfortable oops! Keep this on hand to show your gratitude in ways that don't shout "We love Santa Claus around here!". $25
Happy post-long weekend mamas! What a weekend it was! I not only celebrated Thanksgiving with a trip up north to see family, but also did my entire Christmas shopping (including the wrapping and returns!), hosted 20 nine year old little girls for a half sleepover (read: they all left, sugared up, at 9 o'clock pm! Thank you parents of guests!!),got my Christmas card shoot accomplished (to the best of me and my three children's ability), and decorated the whole house with Christmas decor. Today, I rest.
However, not everyone braved the Black Friday crowds like I did (scaredy cats!). According to the National Retail Foundation (NRF) some 106.9 million (insert Dr. Evil voice) people plan to shop online today, Cyber Monday, compared to 96.5 million last year. That's a lot of laptop yeilding mamas looking for a deal. And why not? No traffic, no mobs and the kids are in school. Take advantage of great deals like free shipping, mark downs and of course, one of my favorites, cash back sites like Ebates.
My theory has always been shop now, enjoy the season. There are so many wonderful opportunties that come up, holiday parties, shows, kids plays, etc, why stress out about shopping? Get it done now, and be done with it. And if you can score yourself a deal, even better.
An oldie but still funny, from 2005, Mr. Colbert sells Cyber Monday on a different note. See if you can spot me in the Black Friday mob scene.
| The Colbert Report | Mon - Thurs 11:30pm / 10:30c | |||
| Cyber Monday | ||||
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In the upcoming weeks we will be highlighting some of our favorite gifts to give, how we tackle the hard to give (i.e. teenagers, people you don't know so well, in laws...), and also be spot lighting some women business owners who tell us their secrets of how they do it all. But for now, start up the engines, err, laptops and hit the sales mamas.
Still not sure what to wear to Turkey day festivities? Try shimmying up to the table in these festive frocks and such and see if anyone notices the turkey's overcooked and Uncle Morty's half stewed.
Alice by Temperley, Ghana beaded crepe dress. Heads will turn, and it won't be because of the carrot souffle
Vivienne Westwood Anglomania, Draped Jersey Dress. True fact-see how fast your husband shuts off the football game when you walk in wearing this dress.
Bottega Veneta Oxidized sterling silver earrings-for those who need to color coordinate right down to the last side dish.
Michael Kors wool boucle dress-meeting the future in-laws for the first time. Stay cool, calm and chic in this haute, yet classic dress?
Issa printed silk kaftan-go on. I dare you.
Vivienne Westwood Anglomania, Fulfilment washed-silk top-the belt hits a little higher in the waist, allowing for some flattering extra room should you choose to indulge. Not that you would. I wouldn't either.
Christina's Thanksgiving Day outfit courtesy of Banana Republic
Kimberly's Thanksgiving Day outfit top $69!! Oh and I am sooo wearing this with elastic waist leggings!! Seconds Please!! XO
Don't feel like dressing up still? Now is the time to wear black. All black. Dramatic black. Maybe those black cats are onto something?
deborah lippmann fade to black nail color
nars larger than life volumizing mascara
and the one that haunts me..the chanel j12 watch.
Am I the only one who inserts love notes to my lovelies inside their lunch boxes? Fairly certain my 8 year old is rolling her eyes at the lunch table but don't care! She can look forward to these spooky sweeties inserted starting tomorrow (shhh! It's a surprise!).
Go here for the free printables and spook out your ghosts and ghoblinas. Bwha wha wha!
How about these fur balls? Who's bringing these to the Halloween party? The how-to.... justincase
-Get a leg up on the neighbors in decorate in style
One of our local favorites, Style Boston is giving away two tickets to Rowes Wharf Sea Grilles, Spooky Tea for little witches and monsters. Parents enjoy a traditional tea while little ones sip witches brew cider, + tackle cookie decorating. There will also be a trick or treating treasure map that will take them around the hotel. This runs Friday October 29-Sunday October 31, 2;30-4:30, however, if you're interested in winning tickets, and we loves a good contest, go here
Living next door to a decorator can be tricky. On one hand, you're home will never live up to theirs, so you're forced to constantly meet them at the front door, and halt them less they think they can enter your temple of chaos. On the other hand, it's a constant home magazine tour when you visit them, and a wealth of decorating knowledge at your fingertips. Meet my neighbor. Carol's a part time decorator/furniture restorer and proprieter of the uber fab Chic Home Antiques. She is constantly decorating, re-decorating, re-storing, you name it. She is also the nicest neighbor out there so sometimes...I let her in. We've bragged about Carol before but I had to share her Halloween decor because not only is it chic, it's unique. Carol was kind enough to share her decorating tips + photos so that you too can attain a haute haunted home.
Chic Home for Halloween.Halloween is one of my favorite times of year to decorate. You can still use those spooky decorations but in a way that is chic and not verging on the way of tackiness. First impressions always last a life time so I always start with the front door entryway. Making it creeping and just spooky enough for the little ones to still enjoy. Hanging glittery black skeleton heads on the front door and dead branches with dried leaves and green moss placed in my cement urns give my entrance way a haunted appeal. As you step inside I always have old glass vases filled with red,black and orange food coloring and old branches painted black as night covered with spider webs. The round table is draped in an old white cloth with skeleton heads and spiders creeping about. As you climb the stairs inside from the entryway cockroaches are waiting on the stairs. Little black mice are scattered throughout the more the better, where there is one there are always more. Taking an old silver candelabra covering it with spider webs, spiders and drooping old candles give the affect of a haunted kitchen. Halloween doesn't always have to be black and orange. Mix it up use silver and black instead, use white pumpkins instead of your typical orange. Use things from the outside like dead branches, green moss and bittersweet. Most of all have fun and remain Chic!-
For more of Carols beautiful work please visit her eye candy of a site, or you can also visit her on facebook or twitter
Thanks Carol!
and we'd love for you to share your halloween home decor!
and don't forget to enter to win our first giveaway-the $100 gift card to TJ Maxx! Think of the chic + spooky halloween decor you could buy!!
