Citrus Lane

Last week I wrote about my love for Birchbox, a service that delivers samples of amazing high end beauty products to your door each month.  I didn't want to leave little ones out of the fun, so this week, I'm introducing ya'll to Citrus Lane.

For $25 a month (shipping included), Citrus Lane will send you a box full of age appropriate products geared towards your child (ages birth through 3).  Products in each box are valued at a combined $30-45 each month.  They also have gift subscriptions; what a great gift for grandparents or aunts and uncles to give!  What child wouldn't love a box full of goodies delivered just for them?!

Each month's box has a theme...and almost all I've seen include a book, which I love!  If this amazing service had been around a couple of years ago, I would have most certainly subscribed...or strongly hinted that my family combine resources to gift this to Hazel.  But alas, my baby turns 4 in just a few days. 

To register or shop the amazing items on their website (which are all discounted!), visit citruslane.com.

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!

Fashion Playtes

Do you have a little girl on your holiday shopping list this year? If so, get ready to cross her name off thanks to Mamapedia and Fashion Playtes.

Expiring soon (November 11) is a great deal on an even better product. For $15 you receive a $30 credit to use at FasionPlaytes.com, a site where the little girl in your life becomes her own clothing designer.

Starting with a shirt, dress or choice of bottom, she will begin to channel her inner fashionista by selecting a style, followed by color and many, many embellishments. Matching doll-size clothes can also be purchased for her American Girl doll!

A site plus: All clothing options are age appropriate; there are no cropped tops or mini skirts!

To purchase this deal visit mamapedia.com through this link. Your confirmation will be emailed to you along with the detailed voucher ID. To give this as a gift, I'd include a copy of the voucher with photos from the site (and perhaps a sketch pad and pencils to further her design interests)!

Jordan Grace Owens

I opened a package this morning that took my breath away. Lovingly, carefully, and delicately enclosed were the paper dolls you see here of my family of six: My husband Aaron, daughters Martha and Hazel, son August, myself, and our wire fox terrier, Skone. It is no exaggeration to say my heart skipped a beat.

I have always loved paper dolls. And even more, I love hearing my own mother talk about how much she cherished her paper dolls when she sees my daughters' paper pals...the combination of picturing my mother as a little girl and seeing my own daughters play is very magical. Martha and Hazel change their doll's clothes nearly as often as they change their own; my real life Barbie dolls. (In frequency, not in build. Thankfully.)

The man behind these intricate and beautiful works of art is Jordan Grace Owens. I found this talented artist/illustrator on Etsy where she has a wonderful shop full of various paper goods she's created.

You too can commission Jordan to create custom paper dolls of your family members by contacting him through Etsy where she'll create a private sale for you. Each doll will cost you $25.00...a steal in my opinion for a custom, personal, and timeless work of art! You'll need to send her close-up photos of each family member along with details of their personalities.

For example, I mentioned Martha is a lover of all things pink and frilly; she dressed her in a tutu! It's a rare occasion Hazel and I don't wear cardigans, or that my husband isn't wearing a blue plaid shirt. And anyone who has met my son August will admit this is a carbon copy of him. I don't know how Jordan Grace Owens does it, but I sure am glad she does. And I'm even more thrilled that she shares her talents with the rest of us!

Visit etsy.com/shop/hollandsworth to see her shop and get started on ordering your own family.

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!

Snow Globe Ornaments

Each year the kids and I make ornaments for family members. Yesterday we created these snow globe ornaments with little penguins. I had originally pictured these with miniature trees and deer and perhaps a snowman inside, but my children have been obsessed with penguins since we read Mr. Popper's Penguins this fall. And when they saw these figures at the store I couldn't talk them out of making a penguin (or "gork gorks" as they've been calling them...you'll have to read the book to understand) project.

These look beautiful on the tree with the lights around them shimmering the glitter inside. And I must say the penguins are adorable. This project would be great to do in the new year as well when winter is still in full force...you could simply skip the hanging loop part and make a scene to sit on a shelf.

This project is fun, easy and inexpensive to make as most of what you need you probably have on hand...I only had to buy the penguins and the cups. Here's the project blueprint:

Materials

• Clear plastic cups (the short/wide ones are the best)
• Paper plates or other cardboard
• Cotton balls
• Winter figurines
• Ribbon or wire
• Beads
• Glitter
  
• Hot glue gun
• Scissors/scalloped-edge scissors
  
• Utility knife or other sharp object
  

Instructions

1. Cut out a circle from your cardboard base a bit larger than the diameter of your cup.
   
2. Take your cotton balls and break them up a bit to give them a light snowy texture. Place them on your base and cover with a cup to be sure you have the right amount. Then hot glue the cotton to the base.
3. Place your figurines where you want them and then take your scissors and cut out the cotton in that place. Put some hot glue directly on the base and place your figurine. It's important to secure the figures directly to the base and not onto the cotton or they won't be stable. Do this for each figure until your scene is complete.
4. Sprinkle glitter over your scene...we used white to give a subtle shimmer. When it's finished wipe the glitter from the rim of the base (where your cup will be placed).
5. Take your utility knife and make a hole in the bottom center of the cup.
6. Cut about a foot of ribbon and fold it in half. String a bead so that both ends of the ribbon go in at the same time. Then put both ends of the ribbon into the hole of the cup (starting at the top of the snow globe)...and then string another bead on (so that the cup is in the middle).
   
7. Figure out how long you want your hanging loop to be and then tie a knot in place and cut the excess ribbon. Pull it tight and put a dab of hot glue under the top bead to keep the ribbon in place.
   
8. Lastly, put a circle of hot blue around the edge of your base and quickly put your cup in place. Push to secure it and then admire your work!

liaMolly for Anthropologie

It's one of my favorite times of year...when the children's liaMolly items appear at Anthropologie stores! And to make my heart race even more this year, the girl's clothes are sized up to 4T...and it just so happens Martha is 4! And to justify my inevitable empty pocketbook, I remind myself that Hazel turns 2 next year and each lovely liaMolly for Anthropologie piece purchased gets worn and appreciated by two girls! Lucky them me!!!

Here is a sneak peak at a handful of the collection. There are more at anthropologie.com.

Julian & Co.

I know it seems like giving a baby gift is easy, but it's not always...especially with second or third children when there is no registry. You want to give something that will not go to waste or get thrown in a closet. (Don't judge me, if you're a parent, you know you've done it). So, without further ado, here is my new go-to baby gift!

From Julian & Co. comes this personalized baby hanger. It is hand crafted out of solid maple wood and is adorned with a sterling silver plate. It can be personalized with two lines (think baby's name and birthday). Finally a gift that will be used and seen for years to come!

Available at julianandco.com for $39.00.

World Repair Kit

From Serena and Lily, the creator of the fabulous Market Sling I wrote about and carried my dear Hazel in her first few months of life, comes another great product: the World Repair Kit!

This great keepsake box is full of everything your eco-savvy family needs to further your knowledge of planet-changing tips. Included is a guidebook full of great activities your family and friends can do to make a difference, along with a World Repair Passport, stickers, stamps and an ink pad to document your conservationist achievements.

This kit retails for $24.95 and is available at serenaandlily.com.

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!

Hable Construction

I am LOVING these fabric-covered horseshoes from Hable Construction! I can't think of a more perfect housewarming or hostess gift! At just $18.00 they're perfect to keep on hand and gift to the lovely lady or gent throwing a party this summer! (And if you're invited to a party at my house this summer, I fully expect these little guys!)

The colors are bright and cheery and because they're made by Hable Construction, you know the quality will be out of this world! Wouldn't these be cute over your child's bedroom door in their favorite color?

And remember, horseshoes are meant to be hung to look like a U...to catch all of the good luck coming your way!

Available at hableconstruction.com. Enter coupon code MOM through May 10th to receive 25% off!

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!

Buddha Board

Last month a friend and I took our oldest daughters out to eat and to the ballet. It was a wonderful double date full of good food, a beautiful performance, and an introduction to Buddha Board. Since that day, I have purchased a handful of Buddha Board products...including the three mini boards that have become a staple in my everyday bag.

Buddha Board makes eco-friendly water painting surface boards that my children (and I) love! When we are out for coffee or at a restaurant, I simply get a small glass of water, pull out the boards and my children go to town painting with the enclosed brush on the magical board. As the water makes contact with the board the painting shows up...and it fades as it dries. To give you an idea of how long it takes for the painting to disappear, my children usually complete at least three paintings in one sitting.

In addition to the Mini Buddha Boards I carry with me on a daily basis, there are two other models as well...the Laptop Buddha Board (also called Water Wizard) which is a larger version of the fliptop mini board and the Original Buddha Board, a stand-alone permanent board. These two are great at-home options!

Although I have discussed my children's love of this painting medium, I should also mention that the act of painting and watching it disappear is quite relaxing for adults too. I'm hooked myself...and I've already given my brother a board as a gift since he fell in love using my son's board while him and I were out for a glass of wine one night.

Visit buddhaboard.com to learn more about their family of products. They are also available to purchase directly from Buddha Board or on Amazon.com where some models ship free! And keep in mind all of the summer birthday parties approaching...the Mini Buddha Boards come in a gift packaging that is perfect for giving!

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!

greenshanti

Green is "Being conscious of the earth's limited natural resources. Rethinking, recycling and reusing natural resources to build a more sustainable lifestyle." Shanti means "Peace, tranquility, enlightenment, the inspired path."

Knowing these definitions, I'm sure you won't be surprised to learn that greenshanti offers artistic, eco-friendly products that are handcrafted from recycled, natural, and organic materials.

greenshanti is the result of the founders' travels...travels that let them to communities of artisans of less than ordinary means creating things of extraordinary beauty. They appreciated how the communities sustained themselves by pooling their local resources and directing them into creative energy. And to help these communities prosper, greenshanti offers these naturally beautiful products to the global community.

Visit greenshanti.com and you'll find a gorgeous collection of all natural handmade goods, including bags, stationery, blankets, eye masks, gift wrap, and soaps. All items are perfect for gift giving!

Patemm

Boy oh boy is it ever getting increasingly difficult to change Hazel's diaper. She tries to roll, crawl, kick, and any other move that may enable her to escape the change. The Patemm pad arrived just in time!

Patemm's pads are life-improving diaper changing pads that are round and large enough to cover enough ground to know your baby/toddler will remain on top while changing his or her diaper...no matter how much they squirm! And when folded, it holds diapers, wipes and a change of clothes. It folds to fit in a diaper bag or can be carried separately if you're lucky enough to be moving away from needing to tote all of your toddler's things.

I think a Patemm pad would be a wonderful baby gift as it would be a safe, clean place for baby to do tummy time out of the house and then when he grows and begins crawling, it can then be used as a diaper changing pad. And unlike most other diaper changing pads, Patemm can be machine washed...that gives it bonus points in my book!

Okay, still not sold? Well, how about the fact that Patemm pads are PVC, lead, Phthalate, latex, BPA, and formaldehyde-FREE? And come in some amazing prints? Yeah, I thought that would change your mind!

Visit patemm.com to see all of the different styles and to purchase. Prices start at $55.00.

Lucky Me Beads

I received many wonderful Christmas gifts this year...but my favorite was the necklace from Lucky Me Beads with three intricate charms of my children's silhouettes.

Each silhouette is cut by hand for a personalize one-of-a-kind piece and then framed inside of vintage and antique rings...most are aged brass. They are then protected on the front by non-toxic resin and backed with decorative paper...beautiful prints, antique sheet music or foreign language pages.

I can not tell you how stunning these charms are in person. I actually gasped when I first laid eyes on my three little charms that so perfectly captured my children! And the patina is simply perfect! This is and will always be one of my most treasured and frequently worn keepsakes. I have one prediction: This silhouette necklace will be cherished by not only me, but by generations to come.

Wait, one more prediction: I'll be the envy of every mother I encounter.

Charms start at $58.50 each at etsy.com/shop/luckymebeads.

Construction Site Playset

There are many advantages to having children...having someone to care for you in your old age, the tax deduction, viewing holidays through their eyes, etc. But one of my favorites is that I can sit outside of construction sites and watch buildings go up, areas get excavated, and see large machinery at work.

I'm always in awe of construction sites and how it all comes together. Luckily my children also enjoy watching. In fact, one of my favorite memories is once watching a local grocery store being demolished and the operator of the power shovel waving to my son August...and then having the worker maneuver the arm of the power shovel to wave at him. What an amazing gift!

If you have a construction lover on your holiday shopping list, you need to know that Pottery Barn Kid's Construction Site Playset is now on clearance...from $129 to only $59! And like all of their other wooden playsets, the quality can't be beat!

Included are 4 square floor pieces, 8 large rectangular floor pieces, 20 beams, 16 cinder blocks, 12 bricks, and a hanging pallet. Add the office, construction workers, wrecking ball and felt play mat for more excitement on the worksite (also on clearance).

Visit potterybarnkids.com to see all of the pieces and to order.

Suzanne Myers Jewelry Gifts

Just over a year ago, after the birth of Hazel, I received my Suzanne Myers charm necklace. I've written about it a couple of times and it's still one of my favorite pieces to wear. My children love it too and like to spot their names on their mama. And now, my girls will love my necklace even more...because they'll have matching ones!

Suzanne has created child-size initial charm necklaces for little girls to wear. As soon as I received the email notifying me of her latest jewelry addition, I ordered an M and an H for Martha and Hazel.

What a lovely gift for any little girl in your life! The necklaces are $58.00 and are very reasonable for a fine piece of jewelry! Something to be cherished for years!

And I also wanted to mention a gender-neutral gift option...the amazing keychain shown here. Perfect for dads, grandpas, uncles and Godfathers this holiday season! It's also on my wish list! They are sterling silver and only $65.00.

If you're looking to purchase gifts, please order before December 9 for standard shipping. After that, you can email Suzanne and she'll be happy to quote you on prices. For more information and to begin ordering, contact Suzanne at info@suzannemyers.com.