Jenny Gaynor Glass

Mother's Day is quickly approaching. I've written about some very special gifts and jewelry ideas for mamas in the past, and this personalized wearable art is no exception!

My husband gifted me with a Jenny Gaynor glass-stamped initial charm necklace last year and I cannot tell you how much I love it! Each child's first initial is stamped into a glass charm of their favorite color (although Martha's favorite has now changed from pink to purple). They are smooth and colorful and instantly make any outfit more stylish...or make me feel more stylish, anyway.

The wide color selection of glass (including recycled options) is gorgeous, making it difficult to decide which one(s) to choose. And to take the personalization a step further, in addition to initial charms, you can have silhouette and footprint charms made of your little one...or string all three together for a triple dose of love!

Visit jennygaynor.com to see all of her beautiful jewelry and to order. Update: I just received an email from Jenny Gaynor offering Ugga Mugga readers a 15% discount on all orders placed through May 13 using coupon code MOM. Thanks, Jenny!

J.Crew Coloring Pages

Yesterday was Mother's Day and I trust you all spent it being doted on by your little ones...although this wasn't quite the scene at my house. My girls were tired and crabby for most of the day and I logged quite a few hours refereeing fights. Not quite what I had planned. So to treat myself, I just printed out these fashionable and frame-worthy coloring pages from J.Crew's Crewcuts.

As I type this, each of my children are gathered around a table and coloring as they chat happily about which colors they're using. August just asked two-year-old Hazel, "What color are you using?" and she said, "Dark pink." As a color-lover myself, I'm thrilled at her being thoughtful about color at such a young age! Now this is a happy memory! (Oh, I spoke too soon...now she's crying that she can't find turquoise.)

These mom and shoe-print pages are available for FREE printing at jcrew.com. They are also available online where your child (or you) can "color" them by clicking and choosing colors right on the screen...although I prefer the old fashioned way.

Mom's Five-Second Memory Journal

Mother's guilt. We all have it.

And a big source of it in baby's first few years is tracking all of the developments in a baby book. After those first few years, we look back and think, "I really wish I had written down more of the silly things they said."

Today, I urge you all to let go of the guilt. There is no going back and beating yourself up inside will only result in you not being present in your child's today. All we can do as parents is acknowledge the things we can change (and know there are some things we cannot) and then make our best effort to do so. I can't help with every regret, but perhaps I can assist on the baby book front.

The Mom's Five-Second Memory Journal is unique in that it isn't chronological...this means there's no guilt if you don't fill it in for a week (or month...or three). It is "playful, breezy, and sometimes eccentric" and includes prompts to jot down thoughts on your life as a wife, a professional, and/or a mother to your wild and crazy kids!

Because it's small and portable, it can be kept in your bag to be filled out as you wait in the carpool line or doctor's office, but it's substantial enough to become a keepsake. And what a great Mother's Day gift this would make!

Available at amazon.com for only $8.00 and ships FREE with a $25 purchase.

Half Off Mother's Day Flowers from FTD

Today's Living Social deal for my area is a great one...and anyone can take advantage of it because it's an online service. Pay only $15 and receive a $30 credit to spend at FTD.com on delivered Mother's Day flowers!

But wait, the deal gets even better! If you shop through Ebates (which will have a link to FTD), you'll receive an additional 20% back on your purchase!

Today is the day to order Mother's Day flowers...if even for just yourself! Or, pass it along to your husband so he can order a bouquet for you!

Follow this link to livingsocial.com to purchase the credit to FTD and then use this link to shop through ebates.com! And happy early Mother's Day! Let our countdown begin!

Life Factory Beverage Bottles

When Hazel was born I purchased Life Factory silicone-sleeved bottles to use when I was out of the house (although she never took to them...or any other bottle, for that matter). I always coveted her color bottles and wished there was an adult version for me. And now there is!

Life Factory has started making beverage bottles for us adults that come in the six colors you see above. I ordered the white, and have to say I love the clean, sophisticated look of it! Although I may be ordering another one in a fun color as well...you can never have too many water bottles around!

I think these bottles would make great Mother's Day gifts for moms and friends! What better way to show you care than to give a healthy and eco-friendly gift! And one that can be thrown in the dishwasher!

And this beverage bottle gave me an idea for Hazel's old bottle too...I ordered the solid baby bottle caps for hers and now Martha uses them as water bottles when we're on the go.

Visit lifefactory.com to purchase where they retail for $21.99. And enter coupon code ILOVEGLASS to receive 25% off your order of beverage bottles!

Mini Monets

My friend from high school, Annette, is a talented artist who is sharing her love of creativity with the next generation through her Mini Monets classes, located in Oak Creek, Wisconsin. In the classes, children and adults are encouraged to create projects together...spending quality time and making precious keepsakes...and memories.

But these are not your usual projects...you will go beyond the traditional paper and paint and use canvases and other quality materials to add some sophistication.

If you live in southeastern Wisconsin, you'll want to check out the offered classes...and there happen to be two this weekend that sound wonderful...including a special Mother's Day Event!

Saturday, May 1 at 12:00 p.m., there is a class painting with textural objects such as Matchbox cars, corn on the cob, string, etc. Then, the painted canvas will be transformed into an umbrella or flower to be displayed.

Sunday, May 2 at 3:00 p.m., dads are encouraged to bring their little ones in to create a special keepsake for mom...something she is guaranteed to always treasure!

Both classes are $20 a child and all materials and a light snack are included. To register, contact Annette at aburckart[at]yahoo.com. And visit minimonets.weebly.com to check out photos of past projects, to stay up-to-date on upcoming events, and to get information on hosting your child's birthday party in the art space!

Momma Couture

What's the best gift to give a new mother for Mother's Day? Besides a full night's sleep, a sloppy wet baby kiss, or a hand print-made-at-home card? A new diaper bag!

I recently learned about Momma Couture bags and I think their beautiful yet simple styles really fill a niche in the diaper bag world! They're functional, but perfect for the fashion-forward mom...as well as the understated classically stylish mom!

These bags will make any new mom feel put together with all of the pockets and pouches to store all of baby's things. And if the bottle or sippy cup gets misplaced in the bag, she won't need to fret. Most Momma Couture diaper bags are fully insulated! What a great idea!

There are many great colors, sizes, and styles to choose from at mommacouture.com. Prices start at $22.00 for the Momma's Wristlet.

SimaGilady

Mother's Day is only a few weeks away, so you can expect quite a few gift ideas in the coming weeks. And the first suggestion is a great one...SimaGilady jewelry.

SimaGilady makes personalized mother jewelry any mama would be proud to wear! And the prices are so very reasonable!

There are traditional pieces and more modern designs for mother's with an edge; pieces to wear every day as well as statement jewelry; there is silver and there is gold...and there is silver and gold mixed.

And when you're thinking of Mother's Day, don't forget grandmas! I gifted my mother with a necklace with my children's names on individual charms and I know she feels proud when she's wearing it. I'm sure any grandma would!

Visit simagilady.com where prices start at only $25.00 for a necklace. Can you believe that?! What a deal! And on a piece that will be cherished for many, many years!

The Copper Ewe

I am on a first name basis with not only my postal carrier, but the UPS and FedEx delivery men as well due to them delivering packages to my home almost daily. Very rarely am I disappointed when I open a package. And even less often is my breath taken away when I unfold the top of a box and reveal it's contents...as happened today.

Because today my package from The Copper Ewe arrived!

The Copper Ewe is run by a talented artist named Roisin who I've had the pleasure of exchanging emails with over the last week. She is as lovely as her work....which is quite a feat in itself! I mean, just look at the intricate beauty of each letter above!

So when I opened my package, I first spied my daughter Hazel's name in the natural twig letters and then August's name in silver...each beautiful in their own unique way and each fitting their personalities. And then I saw the jewelry...an intricate silver bird nest with three little eggs inside and then the initial pendent for Martha. We both put our necklaces on at once!

Since this afternoon when the art arrived, my mind has been racing with more uses for the twig letters and people I can gift with The Copper Ewe jewelry. I could picture the twig letters spelling out FAMILY over a wall of photographs, LOVE over a bed, EAT in my kitchen, and SISTERS in my girls' shared room. And the meaningful necklaces and rings Roisin creates are perfect for modern mothers as they are subtle in their representation of children.

Another favorite product of mine that I plan on purchasing in the very near future for my fairy lover Martha is the Faerie Kits! These amazing kits come partially assembled and are to be completed by the recipient. I can imagine the hours of fun Martha and our family will have creating an intimate wonderland.

The Copper Ewe has products available at Chasing Fireflies and Viva Terra...two of my favorite online retailers. However, if you're like me, if you have the opportunity to purchase directly from an artisan, you jump at it! And here is that opportunity because all of these great items I've mentioned, and more, are available on Roisin's website located at copperewe.com. Although I do understand if you want to add a few twig letters into an order with one of the before-mentioned webshops!

Happy Mother's Day!

My son is the only one up so far today. As he walked down the stairs he said, "Happy Mother's Day Mommy!" What a thoughtful boy to remember first thing in the morning! He was holding two pieces of paper and flowers he had made with my husband using the paper craft below. The pieces of paper were pictures he had drawn...one of "the sun shining in through a window" and one of a black-eyed Susan. My Mother's Day is off to an unbelievable start...and I hope yours is as well!

Happy Mother's Day to all of you hard-working, loving mothers! I hope your day is full of love, laughter, and homemade gifts!

Paper Flower Craft

My children made these great paper flowers for me this Mother's Day. I love that they're made recycling old magazines, but mostly I love to picture my husband cutting out the pieces and working with my children on this project for me. I'm glad these flowers survive because I'll be keeping them forever!

Here is a step-by-step guide from parents.com.

What You'll Need

• Pencil
• Ruler
  
• Scissors
  
• Glossy magazines
  
• Hole punch
  
• Green chenille stems
• Buttons

Directions

• Cut 4 to 6 same-size strips lengthwise from colorful magazine pages. Choose the width of your strips from 1/2 inch to 1 inch -- the narrower the strips, the more you will need to make the flower appear full.
• Add remaining strips, arranging them to form a flower design, as shown. Thread the chenille stem through a button, then back in through the flower, twisting stem behind the petals to hold it in place.

Originally published in the May 2009 issue of Parents magazine.

Stacking Rings

These great stacking rings are from Silver Love Letters and are custom made with your child's name, nickname, favorite color, or lovie's name...the sky's the limit. What a perfect Mother's Day gift these would be!

These stacking rings are purposely imperfect and feature a hammered finish which provides a vintage distressed look to them. Each ring is different, just like your children.

These are a must for your jewelry collection...at $14 a piece, it's almost like stealing!

Available at munchkindesigns.com.

Year of the Necklace

I saw these great Year of the Necklaces at Anthropologie and immediately knew I had to share them as a Mother's Day gift suggestion...my first one for this year.

My son was born under the year of the monkey, my first daughter was born under the year of the dog, and my baby was born last year, the year of rat. I, myself, and a rabbit and my husband is a tiger. I have five different zodiacs to choose from making ordering a necklace a bit tough for me because they're all so unique, colorful, and personal...and pretty!

I think these would be a great gift to give your mother in her zodiac or your own...or to purchase for yourself (or hint for it as a gift) in your child's zodiac...especially if they happen to perfectly resemble their animal's traits. To get an idea of your meaningful years and their corresponding Chinese zodiacs, click here for a chart.

The Year of the Necklace if available at anthropologie.com for $48.00.

Camille Hempel Stacking ID Rings

I am in LOVE with these stackable ID rings from New York City jewelry designer Camille Hempel...and it's not only because she hails from my state of Wisconsin. It's because the rings are simple yet elegant, they are hand-crafted yet are so well polished, and because this sentimental mama can feel close to her children each time I look down at their initials on my hand! And because she hails from my state of Wisconsin.

A friend of mine saw my rings while at coffee one morning this week with our children and immediately asked me to email her the ordering information so she could pass it along to her husband. She, like me, appreciates simple everyday jewelry that is still stylish, elegant and personable.

And these are personable...not only because they are made by hand and because you choose the initial, but because they come in all sorts of material options to compliment any style or skin tone: sterling silver, 14K yellow gold or 14K rose gold...which is popping up all over these days, including the latest Tiffany & Co. catalog to show up at my door.

Prices range from $115.00 (sterling) to $145.oo (14K) each. Visit camillehempel.com for Camille's contact information for ordering...or pass this post along to your husband so he can do the ordering!

Happy Mother's Day!

Today is Mother's Day...and in my house it is also my daughter's second birthday. We have a day full of activities planned to make the day special for her. And that will make it special for me as well.

Although I'd never turn down breakfast in bed and I certainly do sneak away from time to time to get a minute to myself to meet a friend for coffee or read a magazine, this mother's day I don't need to have extravagant gifts, a spa visit or time to relax...I just want to be surrounded by my two little monkeys and watch them play and hear them laugh and dream of my new little one that will join us this fall.

And that is the type of day I wish for all of you as well...a day full of love! Happy Mother's Day!!!

Mother's Day Gift Idea 1 of 5

I've put together a few of my favorite finds for Mother's Day. I suggest either utilizing the email icon at the bottom of the posts to send your favorite gifts to your hopeful gifter...or order it for yourself. Us mothers don't do nearly enough for ourselves. And if Mother's Day isn't an excuse, what will be?!

This Audrey necklace is by Lucina Jewelry and features a mixed-metals palette of hand-forged fair trade Bali silver beads paired with gold-plate fair trade "sugar" beads. In addition, 90-100% of the gold is reclaimed/recycled in this stunning twist on a classic style.

The necklace is 16 inches long and has a sterling silver clasp. I love this necklace and hope to get it myself...hint, hint hubby!

Available at lucinajewelry.com for $92.00.

Mother's Day Gift Idea 2 of 5

I found these Dana David Family Diamond Rings at Red Envelope. They can be purchased individually either with one, two or three bezel-set diamonds...and they can be stacked. I love the idea of having one diamond for each child or person in the family!

I love the clean design, matte finish and modern lines of these rings...and the sculptural element they create when stacked together!

These are made in the US of 14k-white gold and G/H color, SI1 quality, round cut diamonds...each totals .05 carat.

Available at redenvelope.com for $315-$725 each.

Mother's Day Gift Idea 3 of 5

Hable Construction makes some of my favorite, indestructible home textile items...and these garden gloves and belt are no exception!

The garden gloves are $25 a pair and come in a variety of colors and designs. You can either choose a matching pattern to a garden belt or choose a complimenting canvas. But the fabric prints are all so lovely you really can't go wrong!

The garden belts are $65 and feature 3 big pockets, 4 fabric loops (for carrying tools) and an adjustable waist to fit all sizes!

The garden gloves and garden belts are available individually at hableconstruction.com.

Mother's Day Gift Idea 4 of 5

For the mother-to-be is a great collection of products to pamper...just what she needs with her sleepless nights and changing hormones! This great Mommy Comfort Pack is from Mi Amore and unlike most gift sets, this one includes full-size products! And all of the products are organic!

Included are their Oh Baby! Belly Butter, Natural Glow face-complex, Moisture Me after shower body oil, and an Orange Blossom soy candle with 45 hours of burn time.

These full-size bottles can be expected to last over 3 months! Available at miamoreskincare.com for $95.00.

Mother's Day Gift Idea 5 of 5

For the mother who loves her family and her planet...and takes care of both...is this Green Mom shirt. I've seen a lot of green apparel, but this one is cute and stylish without being cheesy and preachy...and therefore has my stamp of approval.

If you buy organic, natural, and healthy products for your family and regularly follow the three Rs (reduce, reuse, recycle)...then this organic cotton tee is for you!

Available at choloeinstyle.com for $50.00.