January 2015 archive
5 Unique Valentine’s Day Gift Ideas
Good to know: this post contains affiliate links, and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking on my links.
Yikes, January went fast! It’ll be Valentines Day soon, and this gift guide, sponsored by ModCloth, is here to help you out. I was asked to choose items that would make great Valentine’s Day gifts, so here are my off-the-beaten path choices.
1. Pin Up Girl Lip Balm
This trio of all-natural, flavored beeswax lip balms are each labeled with the name of a saucy character with personality. Split them with your besties or gift them as a set. I hear they make a good bachelorette party favor too.
2. Punny Typewriter Mug
As if having coffee together with your sweetie isn’t already pretty perfect, this mug takes it to a whole new level. Besides, try to come up with a more romantic pun. I dare you.
3. Wanderlust Wallet
This would be kind of perfect to tuck two tickets to London into, now wouldn’t it? I mean it’s JUST a suggestion…but if I got that as a gift I certainly wouldn’t complain.
4. Polaroid Notecards
Write your love notes on cards that look like Polaroid photographs, or give the set as a gift and hope that you get a few written back to you!
5. Foxy Embroidery Kit
“Happy Valentine’s Day, honey! You get to make this present yourself!” Okay, maybe that wouldn’t go over well. But if your Valentine is crafty, this little embroidery kit will be a hit. Or finish it yourself and gift the finished product. Plus, did you know that in Feng Shui, it’s considered good luck for relationships to decorate with pairs?
This list was super fun to put together and I hope it’s inspiring as you think about Valentine’s Day shopping!
Gossip Girl Day Link Up-XOXO
Betcha didn’t know today was Gossip Girl Day! Seriously. I’m linking up with other bloggers to share our style ensembles inspired by the show. Thanks for hosting, The Monogrammed Midwesterner, Carrie on Blogs, and Behind Her Monogrammed MacBook! It’s slightly ironic that bloggers are crazy about Gossip Girl because it’s about the creepiest, most drama-crazy blogger in NYC. But no matter-we won’t let that plot point get in the way of an opportunity to discuss the amazing fashion landscape that is this GG. The show was really a fashion magazine disguised as a six season soap opera and I loved every designer-saturated, exaggeratedly dramatic moment.
The stylists for this show were very clear on developing each character’s personality through style. Serena is sequins, bohemian, and effortlessly sexy; Blair is classy, polished, and traditional; and Jenny…well, that just went downhill fast. Personally I loved both Blair and Serena’s styles. Style-wise I’m more Blair than Serena, but I’d have to be crazy not to admire Serena’s daring and fashion-forward looks. Although, side note: I really disagreed with Serena’s choice of husband in the finale. You really shouldn’t get me started on this.
1. Who is your outfit inspired by and why did you pick them?
There are so many good gossip girl fashion moments to draw inspiration from-headbands, capes, classy wool coats, and tights come to mind. I was inspired by Blair’s blazers and colored tights for this outfit. So here is contribution to Gossip Girl Day 2015, in the form of a Blair-inspired outfit, which I found pieces of at Marshalls/TJMaxx (a place Blair would not be caught dead in-don’t tell her).
2. Favorite Gossip Girl Moment?
Probably the finale, minus the above mentioned Serena wedding thing. I know most fans of the show will disagree with me-let me know what you thought of it!
Dress: Similar / Jacket: Similar at H&M / Necklace: Similar by Trina Turk / Tights: Nordstrom / Boots: Similar / Bracelet: Similar (The jewelry made appearances earlier).
I’ll leave you with the iconic words of Blair Waldorf from season 3, episode #19: “Destiny is for losers. It’s just a stupid excuse to wait for things to happen instead of making them happen.”
Multicultural Books for Children – Giveaway!
Multicultural Children’s Book Day
The Importance of Multicultural Books for Children
Have you ever noticed that very few children’s books show diversity?
January 27 was designated as MCCBD by Pragmatic Mom and Jump Into a Book because 37% of the U.S. population consists of people of color, but only 10% of children’s books published have diversity content. This much needed national event’s goal is to change that. Children deserve to read books that reflect the diverse world around them. “Our young readers need to see themselves within the pages of a book and experience other cultures, languages, traditions and religions within the pages of a book,” the founders explain.
Bloggers (like me!) are reviewing books this week by amazing authors who are increasing the saturation of books that depict diversity. By discovering and sharing multicultural books for children, we can raise awareness for these books and get them into libraries and classrooms. I will be donating my copy of Enough of Frankie Already! to a family member who is an administrator and teacher at an urban school district in New York.
Multicultural Books for Children: Enough of Frankie Already!
Author Felicia Capers
We met the author last week in her guest post-make sure to check it out if you haven’t already. What initially intrigued me about this book was that author Felicia Capers is an experienced child advocate. She worked for Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) and serves on an anti-bullying advisory board for a school district in New Jersey. She expertly weaves a story for K-3 children about seven-year-old Amir and his friends who are tormented by Frankie the bully-but what happens when they find out Frankie is being bullied too?
The illustrations, reminiscent of a graphic novel, add a level of authenticity that children will relate to. The messages in the book provide a constructive, holistic way for children and adults to look at handling bullying in way that treats the issue on a large scale.
Ways to Celebrate MCCBD!
The perfect way to celebrate multicultural children’s book day is to support the distribution of these books to schools and libraries.This week, there is a virtual book drive through First Book where donations will be used to supply multicultural books for children in need.
Another great way to celebrate is to visit a bookstore or library and read a multicultural children’s book with your favorite kid. You can even make the characters of your favorite multicultural children’s book to act out the story! The above paper dolls were made using paper punches.
Giveaway: Win it!
If you want to read this book for yourself, you can win your own copy signed by both the author and the illustrator! This would be the perfect book for any child in a school environment. For an entry to win, comment below on one of the following questions. For an extra entry, join the conversation on Facebook.
1. Why do you think multicultural children’s books are important?
2. Who you would give this book to and why?
3. How do you think we can address the issue of bullying in schools?
Two winners will be contacted on February 7, 2015. Books can only be shipped to winners with a U.S. address. Winners will have 48 hours to respond, after which we will select another winner.
Thanks for supporting this great cause!
This event has nine cohosts and the following 2015 sponsors. Platinum sponsors: Wisdom Tales Press, Daybreak Press Global Bookshop. Gold Sponsors: Satya House, MulticulturalKids.com, Author Stephen Hodges and the Magic Poof. Silver Sponsors: Junior Library Guild, Capstone Publishing, Lee and Low Books, The Omnibus Publishing. Bronze sponsors: Double Dutch Dolls, Bliss Group Books, Snuggle with Picture Books Publishing, Rainbow Books, Author Felicia Capers, Chronicle Books, Muslim Writers Publishing, East West Discovery Press.
Upcycled Leggings DIY
This upcycling project is inspired by a pair of boutique leggings first worn in the New Year Style Guide. I realized these unique, comfy, cuffed leggings could be easily recreated as a DIY upcycled leggings project. Here is the original pair:
The cuff part can easily be made out of the sleeves of old sweaters, or old decorative crew or knee socks. You’ll need a coordinating pair of leggings to sew the cuff to. H&M has a serious deal on affordable organic cotton leggings.
For a sewing project, it was pretty easy! I don’t consider myself a confident sewer (I gave up trying to get the machine properly threaded for my Princess Anna costume and ended up hand stitching practically everything) but this was totally doable.
Easy Steps to Make Upcycled Leggings with Cuffs
Step 1: Cut the arms off the sweater or the foot of the sock. Up to 12 inches is a good length for a cuff. You should now have two tubes of fabric which will become the cuffs of your upcycled leggings.
Step 2: Slide the tube onto the ankles of the leggings. Fold down the edges if needed and pin to secure.
Step 3: Hand or machine sew both the top and bottom edge, securing the upcycled cuff to the leggings. Wear them with flats or ankle boots to show off the cute cuff of your new upcycled leggings!
Full price, the boutique leggings were $36. Congratulations, you’ve just made a pair for the cost of a basic pair of leggings, plus created a new use for an unwanted garment that might have ended up in a landfill. Not to mention this is a totally exclusive item that no one else will have!
Here’s what they look like on.
Here are more of my favorite ways to reuse old items. What are yours?
Ode to the 80s
I’m excited to share this guest post by Felicia Capers, the author I’ve partnered with for the upcoming Multicultural Children’s Book Day on January 27. After connecting over our shared bond as children of the 80s, Felicia was kind enough to write this ode to the 80s on childhood experiences that shaped her as an author. Make sure to check back later this month when we will be giving away a copy of her book!
80’s Made Writer
Being an only child for seven long hard years just tore me to pieces. I mean to smithereens, shreds, broken fragments of yesterday reflecting on today’s-enough of the drama already….
I am certain that for the seven years before my sibling was born, I was fine. I was a normal private school attending, long bippity boppity ponytail wearing, skinny as toothpicks, little girl. It was the early 80’s and I can recall seeing Ronald Reagan on television in a really nice neat suit several times a week. I didn’t know why I had seen him so much back then but I get it totally now. Let’s see, there were always my favorite dolls to keep me company: JEM AND THE HOLOGRAMS! Can I tell you how much I loved JEM and her squad? From the pink rocker hair to the tour bus accessory my mom had saved up to buy for me, those were the days. And in my world called my room, JEM and friends were way cooler than those stinky Thundercats.
source: ebay
Next up were my tea sets. Oh how I loved to wear my mom’s heels (I swear I think she sported four inches every day to her office job) and hats and sit down at that round pink tea table with all that fake china and sip my even faker tea. Usually tea parties came after I’d watch an episode of the A-Team on Saturday afternoons or the Cosby Show on Thursday nights. Some of my other favorite shows were Different Strokes, ALF, The Wonder Years, Full House, and Saved by the Bell (Mario Lopez hasn’t aged a bit, but I have. I don’t know how I feel about that fact.) Of all my shows, my favorite 1980’s TV discovery was none other than MTV! Yes, I’d sneak into the living room when my mom was asleep. Yes, I’d turn the volume down extra low so I’d have to sit so close up on the screen to hear that my nose was touching. And yes, I’d scream on the inside when my favorite videos played. I loved everything Bobby Brown in those days. Michael Jackson came in a close second. (Yes she had all the Michael Jackson albums. And albums meant records and record players people!)
Source: imgkid.com
Secluded in my room surrounded by Rainbow Bright, Teddy Ruckspin and the pegs to my Lite Brite, I had a lot of time to imagine. Who didn’t set their dolls up around their tea table for a tea party? Well I did that too, but what was fascinating to me, now looking back all those many many many years ago, is I also had a note pad. There were no fancy password journals and my mother couldn’t afford those lock and key journals. I’d rip papers from a school notebook, grab a dull pencil and make up stories. Jem would have an affair with Ken and upset Barbie. Then the Cabbage Patch dolls would all fight over who would get to bake the last brownie in the Easy Bake oven. I’d set up my toys in an effort to make them ready for action and I’d write the stories, play by play. I do believe a writer was being groomed!
Source: Goodreads
Later, I learned to explore my imagination between the pages of classics by Ann M. Martin. You guessed it: THE BABYSITTER’S CLUB series. My friends and I traded these books like baseball cards and Bazooka gum on a muggy summer day. Oddly enough, required school reading intrigued me more than it did my peers. Classics like The Good Earth,The Outsiders and Lord of the Flies (which I was happy to read twice, what a dweeb I was) gave glimpses into adventures that I assumed awaited me just outside my small bedroom window.
As I got older, and put away girlish play, I traded it for big girl panties- in the form of a laptop computer, hours long client meetings to tweak a manuscript, large cups of coffee, two hours of sleep and matted hair because the night before I just couldn’t rip myself away from the salacious scene I’d been writing, and expensive cigars and red wine to celebrate the sendoff of a final manuscript to my editor.
80’s- Made!
Felicia Capers is the publisher and author of Enough of Frankie Already! an anti-bullying book for young readers. To learn more about Felicia and upcoming projects, visit her on the web at http://www.frankiethebully.com. Contact Felicia directly for more information on this topic and other writing topics in general. info@frankiethebully.com.
Did you play with any of these 80s toys? Share your favorite childhood toy memories in the comments!
