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Oh Baby! It's a …

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It seems to be the season for celebrations: graduations, weddings, and babies. I myself have babies on the brain. Not because I have one, or am having one, but because my sister-in-law is. Baby Isabella is due in July and is already the most spoiled child on earth. The baby on the brain part comes from the baby shower happening this Sunday…so of course, there’s a lot of baby talk about things like cribs and rocking chairs, diapers, diaper bags, and toy chests.

This unique, handmade toy chest from MomModFurntiture can be passed down from generation to generation.

There are so many ridiculously cute items to be found online. The creative community thrives on handmade baby items for all types of moms and all types of babies. After all, isn’t your favorite childhood item something someone made for you–a blanket, hat, stuffed animal? It’s a shame we all too often fall into the trap of last-minute gift-giving and simply go with what we know (in my case, a registry gift from Pottery Barn Kids).

This growth chart from Giraffes And Stuff is a fun, unique gift that can be added to the nursery.

And don’t forget mom-to-be wouldn’t mind a gift or two that was a little bit about her as well. This bud vase from Red Hot Pottery is a perfect gesture.

When it comes to gift-giving, think outside the box, or crib as it may be.

Dear Old Dad

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Father’s Day is a tough holiday to buy a gift for, at least it is for me. And not for any reason, except that dear old dad is a no-frills kind of guy. You might call him old-fashioned (but please not to his face). A recent retiree he likes golf, reading, the Yankees, the Jets, gardening, and drinking coffee. There’s only so many sports shirts, golf balls, coffee mugs, coffee beans, books, and gardening supplies you can give him.

These unique coasters, from Medium Control, are a twist on the been-there-done-that coffee mug.

There’s a whole new generation of Dads out there. They’re a little hipper (sorry dad!), and younger (really sorry!), and it seems ever so slowly more people (both buyers and sellers) are being more creative when it comes to gifts for Dad.

If Dad likes to bike to work or around town running errands, he’ll love this bike bag from Laplander Bags.

Thinking outside the box this year, I’ve searched on Best of Handmade, to see what a search of Father’s Day gifts brought up. Truthfully, there’s a lot of the same old, same old, but then I started digging a little deeper, and found quite a few unique gems. (Tip: When searching for Father’s Day Gifts, don’t type in ‘Father’s Day Gift’ but try typing in a favorite book or hobby, to get a wider range of gifts.)

Remember, Dad had a whole life before you came around. Maybe a gift that appeals to his pre-you life will make him smile.

Was Dad a wanna-be rocker? Get him these throwback cufflinks from Cufflinks Rock.

Of course, there’s nothing wrong with the more traditional gifts either. Dad’s #1 aprons, mugs, hats, and shirts have been around for a long time and will be around for as long as Dads are.

A t-shirt, like this one from Zoeys Attic praising Dad never seems to go out of style.

Happy Father’s Day!

Coffee To Go

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cupcozy-1

I love coffee.  I love the flavor, the smell, the warmth and I love to drink it several times a day. I also like it best when it’s piping hot.  (Piping hot coffee is something you don’t do, according to coffee-purists, but I don’t care because that’s how I like it.) Because of my need for heat, though, I have been known to double up the coffee cup when no sleeve is available. I know it’s wasteful but this is my coffee we’re talking about.  This is why, when I stumbled upon these coffee cup cozies from Atelier de Soyun and Bagel Creations, I was immediately thrilled.

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Who knew? Ok. You might have, but this is a BIG revelation for me. There are hundreds of handmade variations online.

I’ll need 2 to 3 cozies and they’ll have to be machine-washable. I get places by walking mostly– I live right outside NYC–so the convenience of  throwing a cozy in one of the many bags I’m schlepping with me is a great solution. I no longer have to double up on cups and sleeves, saving trees and the environment and keeping my coffee piping hot.

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For the random days I do drive, a travel mug is my cup of choice. This ceramic coffee mug, from  A Piece By Denise, would do the trick. Because it’s ceramic it feels like a regular mug I can curl my fingers around; however, it has the lid so when it’s time to go, I can pour what’s left in my coffee pot, snap on the lid, and run out the door.

coffee-canister

Of course, I need a cute, coffee-inspired  canister to store my beans. And this one from Whitewash Sundries is ideal. I love the glass etching, and size. It can sit on my countertop. And because it’s glass and simply designed, it goes well in my kitchen, as I imagine it can fit well in many decors. You can also change ribbon upon request.

Spring Break

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The spring break season doesn’t really take place in spring at all. For many people, it typically starts in early February and goes through mid March, when many colleges have their breaks. I live in New Jersey, and growing up a lot of families flew or drove to Florida for a week in February. (A few went north to ski, but more went south.) This is such a popular time for family travel, suburban legend has it that the public school district in my hometown changed their spring break vacation from Presidents week to the week before only after being petitioned by many winter-weary parents who wanted to take families south but not incur ‘holiday week’ prices. (Watercolor by Laura Trevey, crab luggage tags from Salmon Barn.)

As I’ve mentioned, I do like winter. Just the other day, I happily walked through New York City bundled in a down coat puddle-jumping the sidewalk-moats. (A sidewalk-moat, for all of you non-NYC natives, is a disgusting phenomenon that occurs as the snow melts and forms ginormous slush puddles around street-corners, making it impossible to cross without fisherman-style waders.) I didn’t look as cute as this model from Charlie and Sarah’s shop. Not even close.

The sun felt good, and I was warm under my three layers of clothing. But that’s not to say I wouldn’t like a little tropical change of scenery. Someplace sunny, green trees, and blue seas sounds wonderful. Shedding the down coat might not be bad, either. (This dress from Ishkabiddle Designs screams for warm weather–and creamsicles.)

The local stores have shed their winter coats. Window displays are full of wonderfully light fabrics, brighter colors, and lightweight totes and beach bags. Perhaps my favorite item of the warm-weather get-away is picking out a new beach bag, like this one from Willywaw.

Although I’m not flying south anytime soon, I do like searching for the perfect warm-weather gear so I’m ready when it does appear.

In Bloom

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There’s nothing like fresh cut flowers. Here in the NYC area, it’s one of our few inexpensive luxuries. A simple bunch costs about $10, and adds instant freshness to any room. Placed in an office, on a kitchen counter, coffee table, or windowsill; flowers, like tulips, are an easy and inexpensive addition to your home. All you need to do is fill a container with water, add flowers, and done. (Small vases are perfect for small spaces, from Anna’s Pots. )

Tulips are the flower I buy the most often, and, I think, completely underrated by many people. Depending on where you live in the U.S., fully bloomed tulips can be found from the end of March through April. The Skagit Valley Tulip Festival, about 60 miles north of Seattle, is a popular tulip festival in the U.S. Showcasing fields and farms of tulips, the vistas are the closest thing we get here to Holland. For a tulip fix all year round, this beautiful felt appliqué pillow from Alexandra Ferguson would freshen up any room’s decor.

On the east coast, Washington DC hosts its Cherry Blossom Festival, the countries’ most famous. Under the category of “who knew”? The cherry blossom festival first bloomed in 1912 when the Mayor of Tokyo gifted the U.S. with 3,000 Cherry Blossom trees. First Lady Taft and the Viscountess Chinda, wife of a Japanese Ambassador, planted the first 2 trees. Visually the cherry blossom tree bloom is stunning and an apropos introduction to spring. (This cool cuff from The Shag Bag shop has a subtle cherry blossom pattern. It’s available in different colors.)

Peonies, another spring flower, are closely related in look to the cherry blossom. (This barret from The Belle And The Beau captures the beauty and fun of peonies.)

There are so many different flowers that bloom at different times during the Spring. Everyone has their favorite, from tulips to azaleas to roses to daisies to Dogwood trees; some bloom in March, others in May. That might be the best part of Spring, the seemingly endless roll call of new blooms.