We are deep into Graduation season and if you are still on the hunt for the perfect gift for that high school, college or graduate school celebrant in your life, I’d like to suggest you check out my fave online site and partners, Etsy!
Logged on the other day and instantly spotted some sentimental and funny gifts like…
These T-shirts modeled after the “Friends” TV show logo but with a funny play on the word Seniors. It’s just $9.34 now on sale. Order it today before the sale expires.
I also absolutely loved these personalized chains and charms celebrating the graduate in Rose Gold, Gold and silver. They’re practically a steal at just $19.95. Want!
How clever is this mug to celebrate a woman who has earned her Master’s degree? I HEART it sooo much! It’s just $13.95 by The Gift Mug Shop which has a host of other clever mugs! Check them out HERE to find one that fits better with your grad!
Speaking of clever, for that kid who could not wait to graduate, this hilarious shirt is for him or her! I have just the person in mind for this next year! ha! It starts at $13.99 which is a steal in my eyes.
Now for the design fan who cherishes graduation, this personalized frame grad art it superb! So sentimental and so perfect! I love it and surprisingly just $13.95. Wow! Get it!
Finally, something that a graduate can carry around that is both functional and commemorative: a silver keychain, personalized, and just the right touch at $17.99.
Get on these for a graduate this year, in the fall or next year!
Father’s Day is around the corner. Here are my handpicked fave pieces I spotted on my partner site, Etsy, a marketplace for handmade items.
This adorable Dad and Me Tee shirt set (above), “I broke it” and “I Fixed It” is too cute for words and just $36.99 for the entire set!
Spice up the romance with this “come hither” candle!
Select from a 4 ounce to a 16 ounce jar and your own sent from leather, blueberry cobbler to caramel, bourbon and more!
I love love this candle which is a great gift from a wife or a significant other to dad! Woot! It’s just $12 with FREE shipping!
For a stepdad, this creative metal keychain the shape of a guitar pick is perfect. I couldn’t pick a better dad is a wonderful sentimental message. Get it for $26.00 and personalize it!
I love a back pack and what I love more than a nice back pack is a back pack with an ability to charge my phone and use renewable source of energy such as the sunlight!
So…this chic and hip solar powered backpack is on my own personal list for dad. I’d love to bower it when he’s not using it! It’s steep at $90 but according to reviews quite sturdy and worth it!
Finally, I’m a sucker for a good personalized gift! And this company promises a fast 1-3 day turn around. Send them a photo and they can turn it into a black and white or personalized photo block.
My husband would love to have this to hang in his office at work. I’m so crushing on this. And at just $39.00, this is practically a steal!
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Still scrambling for what to give your sweetheart today for Valentine’s Day?! Don’t panic! I racked my brain and came up with five last minute ideas that you can pull off today and at a cost of less than $50 total! And the other great things that they should take less than one hour to prep for presentation if you are focused on the task and get going!
Thank me later! Get busy! Here they are to choose from: onePlan a Romantic Casual Pizza Dinner and Movie Date Night In
Commitment Time: 1/2 hour to 45 minutes
Cost: $25-$30
Step 1: Pick up phone and order a Papa John’s heart pizza
Step 2: On the way to pick it up or while you wait for delivery, head to the local liquor store or grocers and pick up a bottle of wine and/or order or pick up take out Chinese for two and some flowers for the table.
Step 3: Order a movie or two on DVR or from Netflix or Redbox and have a romantic casual dinner in.Two:Have Your Love Star in a Social Media meme
Commitment Time: 10 minutes
Cost: $0Step 1: Pull up the WHO DO YOU XO? website. Step 2: Add a photo, add big bold x & o’s with a description of the person and post in social media. Very cute! It is the brainchild of Robert Appelblatt and Tim Crean, who came up with the idea after updating and completely revolutionizing the old tic-tac-toe game by creatingTIC STAC TOE. three
Present a Personalized Photo Wall
Commitment Time: 20 minutes to 45 minutes
Cost: $10-$25
Step 1: Use the CVS Facebook Order function to order photos of you and your honey from Facebook and pick up the prints the same day. There is even a mobile App which makes the process 2x faster!
Step 2: While you’re there to pick up your pics, grab some tape.
Step 3: Pick a blank wall in the bedroom or living room and arrange the photos in the shape of a heart above your bed.
Step 4: Have movies and/or take out nearby and make it a movie night.
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Send Personalized Balloons.
Commitment Time: 20-45 minutes
Cost: $10-25
Step 1: Print out the messages from the website here on the tattoo paper and adhere the clear liner on top according to the instructions on the package.
Step 2: Trim each message as close to the letters as possible
Step 3: Peel off the clear liner from one of the messages and lay it face down on top of the balloon, wherever you would like it. NOTE: We recommend not putting your letters within three inches of the edge of the balloon, to ensure they are legible once inflated.
Step 4: Use a damp paper towel to moisten the tattoo paper completely and then peel it away, leaving the tattoo behind. Repeat as desired.
Step 5: Inflate the balloon(s) with helium and tie with ribbon.fiveHave A Romantic Indoor Picnic
Commitment Time: 30 minutes to 1 hour
Cost: up to $50
Step 1: Order Take out
Step 2: Pick up cupcakes at local bakery, wine and scented candles
Step 3: Arrange a blanket with all items on the floor in the basement or living roomsixCapture Your Relationship in a Personalized Photo Book
Commitment Time: 20 minutes to 45 minutes
Cost: $10-$25
Step 1: Go to the CVS Photobook order page to order photos of you and your honey from social media or your hard drive. Use Coupon code: Save30 to get 30% off today and pick up the prints the same day. There is even a mobile App which makes the process 2x faster!
Step 2: While you’re there to pick up a bag, tissue paper, a card and candy.
Step 3: Arrange book, candy and card in bag and present over dinner!sevenPresent a Personalized Digital Video
Commitment Time: 20 minutes to 45 minutes
Cost: $0
Step 1: Go to SoundCloud and pick a Valentine Mix to download, depending on the genre of music you or your sweetheart likes.
Step 2: Upload a video on your smartphone app (I like MixBit )
Step 3: Pick your fave videos and photos from your phone’s photo album or social media accounts, then upload and use the valentine mix as the background.
Step 4: Give your phone with the finished project to your sweetheart to look at it and put the headphones over their ears so they can focus on that and not other distractions of TV, social media alerts, other people around etc
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Make Homemade Cookies for partner With Dietary Restrictions
For your sweetheart who has dietary restrictions like lactose intolerance, or is vegan, why not make these yummy Kick-Ass Carrot Cookies, featured in a new book, Dr. Koufman’s Acid Reflux Diet: With 111 All New Recipes Including Vegan & Gluten-Free? Dr. Jamie Koufman collaborated with Chef Philip Gelb for this recipe, perfect for Vegans.
Makes 3 dozen cookies | 65 calories per cookie
1 cup rolled oats
1 cup white flour
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon baking powder
½ teaspoon baking soda
¼ teaspoon salt
½ cup maple syrup
½ cup grapeseed oil
1 cup grated carrot
½ cup dried cherries
Notes: For the picky eaters in your home, sneak a little carrot into their diet with this amazing cookie recipe. For a fun variation, dried cherries can be replaced by currants, raisins, dried blueberries, or dried cranberries, or a combination. – Chef Philip
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Gift a Plush Gift that Gives Back to the Community
Give a gift and do good.
If you live near a Kohl‘s department store, you can pick up a Leo Lionni soft toy or other gift that are part of the Kohl’s Cares collection for just $5 each, and let your honey know that 100% of the net proceeds will benefit children’s health initiatives nationwide. The collection is available at Kohls.com now through early April.
Books and accessories featured in the Kohl’s Cares collection this spring include:
Good luck lovers and friends!
It has been 10 years since I last posted the annual Bellyitch Most Expensive Strollers post. It was a yearly blog post staple and used to get tons of traffic because, honestly, I think people, generally, are obsessed with knowing what baby items are used and coveted by the super wealthy and celebrities.
Since the last post, a few stroller companies have gone out of business. RIP to Orbit, Maclaren and newer brands 4Moms and iCandy, which were once considered “it” strollers in their day but no longer manufacture luxury strollers.
In 2013, I published the list as part of the Bellyitch 100, a book of the top crib makers, maternity wear designers, stroller makers and baby clothes brands.
Anyway, so I used to publish the Most Expensive Strollers list at a time when I was raising a young family and brands would boast that they were on the list.
My social circle at the time included professional working women, stay-at-home moms, and mom bloggers, several who were affluent and looked at the stroller as a status symbol.
Here is another secret about what happens among moms at the park, at the school pick up lot, in the mall and other social places where mommies congregate. They check out what strollers they’re pushing a baby or child in and make judgments.
Yes, there is a definite hierarchy in quality of strollers and believe me when I tell you that certainly check out what stroller another mom’s child is being pushed in and make judgments.
When I was raising my children as a young lawyer, I went through 6 strollers, which is a low number considering many of my friends at the tiem had way more.
Our first stroller was a Peg Perego which converts from a baby carriage or pram to a push stroller. At the time, it was among the best. Then, when my first born turned into a toddler, we ordered the Inglesina Swift umbrella stroller from the Italian stroller manufacturer. It had a great run!
To pair with the Inglesina, a sturdy Italian brand, we got a lower cost Combi umbrella stroller for travel, a stroller we could beat up which was so much less that so that we wouldn’t mind if it got lost by the airline or damaged during travel.
Then, when I was expecting baby #2, I got as an amazing shower gift from my co-workers at my old job: a Peg Prerego Aria double stroller!
By the time baby number 3 rolled around, the Inglesina had hit the dirt, we left the Combi on some island we visited for vacation once and we had loaned out the Peg Perego Buggy to relatives who didn’t take good care of it.
The wheels on the double gave out and we opted to give to Goodwill rather than try to fix it or get the company to repair it.
We opted for a lesss expensive Graco Snug Ride for Baby #3 and a B.OB. jogging stroller (the air-filled jogger stroller with hand activated rear wheel brakes that can ride smooth on any terrain) when I was ready to get back in shape.
Now, while we didn’t get any of them to make a statement, I have had many moms and dads comment on the pricier high end ones while walking in the parks, malls etc. People are always looking for a status symbol and there is a preconception that most expensive means the best!
It’s no wonder, you can see celebrities strolling their children in many of those on this list. The celebrities know that too. That is why Jennifer Lopez and Marc Anthony sued Silver Cross from publishing on their website an unauthorized endorsement which featured a People magazine photo of them pushing their twins in two Silver Cross prams.
People flock to buy whatever celebrities purchase and that stroller companies know that endorsement mean lots for their bottom line.
Anyhoo, on to the list. Of course, as a disclaimer, this list is not exhaustive. As usual, this list is based on my own personal research and I urge readers to point out other vehicles that should grace this list. Certainly, I would amend the post to reflect corrections.
In the meantime, check out this year’s list of “it” strollers pushed by the most Poshest of moms and celebs out there (I’m updating this list with a few more after the initial post so come back and ping me on Twitter if you don’t see one you think should be on this list)
cover photo Cella Jane, Pinterest
But while I was surfing for the perfect skin, I bumped into a bunch of other fun skins I liked and thought I’d share with you all.
Whether you have a MacBook, ChromeBook, HP or Dell laptop, there is a skin out there for you starting at $5.00 on Amazon.com . You could also get decals and logo for the area next to the mouse pad too!
Anyway, here are my faves:
For Superhero fans of DC Comics ($9.32)
Or Marvel Avengers Fans ($9.32)
For the Coffee lover MacBook ($13.41)
For the Art Fan ($9.95)
For Music Lovers or DJs($3.91)
For Van Gogh Fans ($9.32)
For Cat Lovers ($3.91)
For Book Lovers – $19.99
Or this one for Bookworms
For Tech Nerds ($2.99)
For Fans of New York City ($9.99)
For Science and Math Nerds ($9.32)
For the Hipster ($9.99)
It’s time to use those gift cards you got for Christmas! Since 2005, some $45.7 billion has been floating around in unused gift card balances, according to Finder!
We can guess why. Life is Busy. We are Forgetful. Don’t join the statistic! Avoid hesitating on spending your gift card!
I recommend you get on Amazon and quickly order something you would ordinarily NOT get for yourself!
It is an excellent excuse to gift yourself something novel, fun, quirky or just different.
Here are 7 items I’ve seen, purchased, used and looked up to see if they sell them on Amazon and they do! Sweet!
1. Game on!– Get nostalgic and play some of your fave Atari 6400 games you played as a kid with your own kids! We love Blast’s vintage “Plug and Play” video game that comes with a wireless controller and features 8-20 classic video game titles like Centipede, Millipede, Yar’s Revenge, Asteroids, Missile Command, Pitfall, River Raid, Space Invaders, Pac-Man, Galaga and Dig Dug. We picked one up at Target for like $25.00 on sale. Online it’s at Amazon.com for just $18! My husband and I played for hours with our kids on Christmas Eve! So fun!!! Thanks AtGames for gifting us a controller as well!
2. Coffee Lovers – I have been eyeing KRUPS’ Electric Spice and Coffee Grinder for a while now and it’s down to $15! Perfect price point for this best selling press machine for coffee aficionados like myself! It makes 3 ounces worth of yummy goodness in about 10 seconds! Love mine! I got one for Christmas and I’m hoping it saves me money on Starbucks! Oy vey! LOL!!
3. Wine On – Ever since I won a wine tumbler in an Instagram contest, I’ve not stopped using mine. Not sure if to laugh or cry about that! ha! If you have an Amazon gift card, you can pick one up for under $20! It’s my go to at the end of a trying week!
4. Future seekers – Going in 2019, a lot of people have big dreams and hopes of making the next year better than the last. I’m a fan of astrology and birth order and the zodiac and I can say emphatically that I got my kickstart going thoroughly through the pages of Mecca Woods‘ book “Astrology for Happiness and Success!” ($10.39) I not only perused Woods’ very practical tips, delivered in a casual conversational tone for my sign, Virgo, I did for my children’s and husband’s as well. I found the career and wellness guidance extremely relevant and they appear so personalized to me! The book is wonderfully sectioned and organized making it a super easy read! You can pass it on to your mom, sister, bestie when done! Get it!
5. Ski down – It’s the season for hitting the slopes and a new pair of over the glasses ski goggles would be a great gift to give yourself this winter! These are just $18 on Amazon! It gets good reviews, fits with your helmet and fog resistant! Looks like a winner! I think I’ll get the purple ones!
6. Well Read – For the design and/or book lover, this exquisite reading lamp I peeped a teen using while sitting and reading books in Barnes and Noble over the holiday caught my eye. It is pretty, sleek and super portable. I asked her if she got it in the bookstore and she told me no, Amazon! For just $15!!! I just ordered one!
7. Wild Animal – Signal your love of your pet dog or cat with these adorable fridge magnets! I saw these on my girlfriend’s fridge a few months ago! I thought they were so cute and they’re only about $10 for a set on Amazon!
Have fun shopping for stuff you know you may not ordinarily get for yourself!
The holiday season calls for entertaining and being entertained, in other people’s homes at cocktail parties, open houses, family and friends’ gatherings.
It is common etiquette to take the host a hostess gift, a small token of gratitude for opening their home and planning a gathering.
Here is a list and guide for hostess gifts you can order today in time for Christmas!
1.Wine– Gift wine in any variety and presented in a festive gift bag but make sure your hostess is a wine or alcohol drinker. Don’t want to offend. You can still get wine delivered in time for Christmas from Wine.com. I like this gift set that sells for $39.99.
2. Chocolates – Everyone loves chocolates and the season is about decadent excessive eating after all. Godiva is a fave, as is Ghirardelli or anything Swiss. I like this Oh! 2018 Gourmet Handmade Marshmallow, Gift Box of 16 Artisan Sweet Chocolates you can get before Christmas if you order today from Amazon for $32.
3. Elegant Sea Glass Fine Art Note Cards – Nice note cards are the type of things people don’t buy for themselves ordinarily so that’s a great gift. These elegant note cards by Donald Verger Photography can actually be used year round by the recipient. They can be ordered and arrive before Christmas at Amazon for $14.95I love these Teacher notecards for just $6.50
4. Potted Plant or Succulents These can last he season of taken care of well. Great gift. A succulent plant is great because they can thrive in any weather or environment practically! These very popular plants are hard to kill but look great in an office, a small apartment window sill, and anywhere. Get these at Etsy for $17.85
5. Olive Oil Decanter –Many kitchen stores and gourmet gifts stores sell olive oil in nice decorative decanters. Get this Rachael Ray Serveware Stoneware EVOO Bottle for just $9.00 before Christmas if you order today for just $9
6. Personalized wine labels I love these festive wine labels you can use to customize a gift for a hostess, a co-worker, your child’s teacher and more! Get them at Stationary, Templates and Party and Paper Supply store Distincvs Party on sale now for $4.99
7. Scented Candles – You can never go wrong with scented candles. They are perfect hostess gift that could be used in any home. Get these Fireside Cozy Candles at Uncommon goods on sale for $12.99
8. Gift Basket. Whether it’s candy, scented soaps or lotions, anything tied in a nice bow would work. Even cookies! You can still get these Oh Nuts! Gift canister in time if you order today from Amazon for $29.99
9. A Swarovski limited edition ornament – It’s never too late to gift an ornament that can be cherished every year. You can order this one in time to arrive by Christmas from Amazon for $20.99
I have created gift guides for every person on your list but sadly waited this long to share my picks for the expectant mom! Shame given this is a blog mainly about pregnancy! Well better late than never and a lot of things on this list can be purchased in time for Christmas anyway!
Check them out!
1.Letters to My Baby: Write Now. Read Later. Treasure Forever ($11)
Fill these twelve envelopes with memories and hopes for your bundle of joy. Then postdate, seal, and save the letters to gift to your child at a later date. Such a sweet idea and concept!
2.Naipo Neck Massager ($19.99) I reviewed this earlier and found it to be the BEST thing since slice bread. You can see the review here but I swear by this thing!
3.Tom’s Slippers in Charcoal Glow in the Dark Tree Lights ($59.99) You cannot go wrong with this warm and comfy slippers to ease an achy pregnant and constantly expanding feet!
4.The Bump Pregnancy Journal This photo album is filled with blank pages that moms can fill with sonogram photos, bump updates, and other baby mementos. Get it at Amazon for $22
5.Spa Gift Card Any expecting mom could use a massage, facial and some good old fashioned pampering while she waits for her bundle of joy ($25+)
6. Uggs Dakota Slippers ($99) For a slightly higher price point, an expecting mom would really appreciate these plush puppies from a known quality brand!
7. Leachco Snoogle Original Maternity/Pregnancy Total Body Pillow If you know how uncomfortable sleeping can be while pregnant, you’d know that this pillow is heaven sent! It allows you to position your body and belly, neck and back in a way most comfortable for a restful night’s sleep. Your expecting family member or friend will LOVE you for getting her this gift! Get it at Amazon for $59.99
8. At Home Spa Gift For moms on bed rest, an at home spa gift basket would be perfect. This basket from an Etsy shop includes belly butter, magnesium lotion, anti-nausea tea, and a bath soak. Nice!($30)
9. A Pregnant Belly Painting Kit This could be a fun activity for mom and partner or an opportunity to create art to share with baby or friends on the Gram. ($19.99)
10. Preggatinis: Mixology for the Mom to Be Pregnancy means 40 weeks of missing out on your fave alcoholic beverages and although baby is worth it, a girl will still have cravings and here is were this book of booze-free drink recipes comes in handy! ($16.66)
Travel is good for the mind, body and soul and if you have a traveler friend who loves to wander on your gift guide, you will not be able to go wrong by gifting him or her one of these items on my carefully curated list
1. Fujifilm Instax Mini 90 Neo Classic Instant Film Camera Stylish Fuji Instant camera to capture moments and get pics right there to share! Get it at Amazon.com for $124
2. First Class Tech Case Store all of your tech essentials in transit in this leather zipped case by English brand Stow which includes an international adapter set and a powerful black leather memory stick, and you can personalize it with up to four embossed letters. Get it at: ahalife.comor $530
4. The Bucket List Book – This popular award-winning book lists over 100 fun and adventurous things to do and places to see before you kick the bucket! It will certainly inspire your traveling pals. Get it at Amazon for $27.89
3. Away Luggage This wonderful travelers brand sells the durable and quality fashionable hardside suitcase that all your fave celebs use. It is built for heavy travelers given its indestructible design, easy internal organization, and built-in USB charger, which is removable to comply with airline regulations. Get it at Awaytravel.com from $225
4. Bucket List Photo Book: Use this album book to inspire, document and curate memories to come. Get it at amazon.com, $35
5. Everlane Weekender – This brand is well-known for making super durable, long-lasting and quality constructed totes, bags, travel accessories and more and this Nylon weekend tote is great for quick getaways. It is also stylish. Get it at Everlane for just $78!
6. Scratch Map Luckies of London‘s makes an interactive fun map that lets you scratch off a city or country once you’ve visited. It’s a lively and festive way to display where you’ve been and inspire on where you’re going to go NEXT! Get it at Uncommongoods.com for $26.
8. Cork Globe Help your loved ones track previous and future adventures with this funky globe made of cork material! Colored pins keep track of bucket-list destinations and favorite vacations. Get it at worldmarket.com$34 or uncommongoods.com, from $48
9. I Was Here Travel Journal For the creative traveler, this travel journal has far more to it than blank pages waiting to be filled. It’s beautifully illustrated from cover to cover and offers fun challenges and includes prompts to encourage users to explore the world in a more fantastical way. Get it at Amazon.com for 16!
10. Everlasting Comfort 100% Pure Memory Foam Neck Pillow Airplane Travel Kit With Ultra Plush Velour Cover, Sleep Mask and Earplugs A frequent traveler doesn’t leave home without the essentials for a long flight across the ocean. This kit included a neck pillow, mask and earplugs to help them get some rest on an extended plane trip. It comes with a Lifetime Warranty! Get it at Amazon for $18.95
BONUS!
11. AirBNB Gift Card. Your fave explorer is always on the go and could always use funds towards his or her AirBNB stay in one of the 191 countries around the world where there are AirBNB spots. Get it at Amazon.com starting at $25!
There you have it! 11 Gifts that will certainly delight your wanderlust friend, loved one or family member!
