A Gift for Every Girl on the Go

Aren't we always looking for that sweet little something for a friend's birthday, token of appreciation for an act of selfless friendship or just because...she's a gal who can't be without her vodka fairy for very long. (Isn't that why you're friends in the first place?)

Faux Croc Mini Keychain Flask from Z Gallerie

Pave Mini Keychain Flask from Z Gallerie

Not sure what I find more disturbing - the fact that your options are faux croc or blinged-out or Z Gallerie's description that includes the phrase "...one ounce of freedom."

OR because it's a flask. On a KEYCHAIN.

J. Crew did the same thing two holiday seasons ago and all pieces were promptly removed from retail locations after the company was battered with complaints. (Don't worry I scored two on the interwebs...thinking it would be a collector's item or an excellent way to sneak booze into football games.)

Oh, please. Like you weren't thinking the same thing!

For $6.99 and $9.99 respectively - you can buy one for the spare set too...

Stay tuned. More at 11.

xoxo,

Mrs. News Readin'

Chef's Choice

I'm thinking about this for a chef friend's kitchen shower...




Index Chopping Boards - Damian Evans, 2007

The chopping boards are designed to avoid cross-contamination of food types: red/raw meat, white/cooked foods, blue/fish, green/vegetables. Stored in a sleek filing unit.

It's too cool for my counter top, but will work for hers...


Sous chef to chop and dice - not included. Bummer.


Stay tuned. More at 11.

A Mother's Day What Not to Gift Guide

Mr. News Readin's lovely mother has a birthday that seems to squarely land on Mother's Day bi-annually. This year she is turning 60.

Guess who didn't figure this out until Tuesday night, while on the phone with his baby sister, our Wedding Belle? Their gift of choice: fruit of the month from Harry & David.

Seriously, gang? You still throw your dirty laundry down her laundry chute while home for the holidays...and she washes and folds it within minutes.

Fruit of the month?! Come on. That's what I sent our pet-sitter, Peggy, last year for Christmas.

So, our dynamic brother/sister duo went looking in a different direction.

The text read:
"I think we are going to get mom a schnoodle. What do you think?"

First I thought - you're getting your mother a German pastry? After a brief tour on the interwebs, I found out that schnoodles are poodle/schnauzer mixes. And super cute. See below.




I quickly responded to the text:
"That's a sh*t idea. She just barely unloaded you two."

Last night I overheard him ordering the monthly Tower o' Fruit.

Me: "You went with the fruit."
Mr. NR: "Well, I'm going to tell her we were going to get her a dog."


Nice strategy. Let her know it could have been much worse.


Stay tuned. More at 11.

Tech Savvy Tailgating

Brilliant! And can be monogrammed...

Ordered one of these last night for a soon-to-be-wed couple's Tailgating Essentials Shower:

Speaker Cooler from Pottery Barn

Hopefully it will be a little more useful beyond a handful of fall weekends in Athens - than red and black coolers, serveware, folding chairs or coozies emblazoned with a big G.

Mr. News Readin' was pleased with the gift decision. Mainly because,
"...waiting 155 days to use it would stink."

Just in case you don't have your 2009 football schedule handy - Georgia takes on South Carolina at home on September 12 or 155 days.

Bet he's keeping a similar count until our wedding anniversary...

Stay tuned. More at 11.

Bad Ass Bunny Gear

Just like my Santa swills scotch, my Easter Bunny is a bad ass.
(But you already knew that...)

This just might be waiting for a certain News Readin' Husband and our star boarder, The Prince on Easter Sunday, courtesy of our B.A.E.B.:


Psycho Bunny Polo Shirt in Kelly Green

A better look at Psycho Bunnies in the Wild

I big puffy heart Psycho Bunny's design mastermind Robert Godley - and not just because he's a nice lad from across the pond. Although, the accent and his former employment at Turnbull and Asser, Jermyn Street, help tremendously. Check him out. Adorable - no?


Keep your fingers crossed that the B.A.E.B remembers little old me:


Large White with Rasberry Bunny Tote from Bunny and Chad
On sale, too!


Or should our Bad Ass Easter Bunny decide to drop off a certain Mr. Godley for a late lunch on Sunday accompanied by a massive basket of Cadbury Creme Eggs - that would be just fine, too.

Stay tuned. More at 11.

Gift Card Rescue

The holidays have left me with gift cards to Bath & Body Works that I will never use.

It's not that I don't appreciate the thoughtful gesture but I have a severe aversion to B&BW. It stems from a suite mate in college that worked there and doused herself in Juniper Breeze and Plumeria. The thought of those scents makes me gag a little. I go as far as to walk at least 50 feet from any entrance to a B&BW. Sorry if you're a fan.

I could pawn those gift cards off on someone else, re-gifting, if you will. But, it makes me feel sort of guilty - especially the next time I see my aunt err...the gift giver. Enter GiftCardRescue, an online service that allows users to exchange their unwanted cards either for different gift cards or for cash. News to me!



GiftCardRescue will then provide the redemption value it's willing to pay - usually between 60 percent and 80 percent of the card's value. You can then elect either to receive cash via PayPal, or select a new gift card from the site, up to the redemption value of their original card.

Happiness is not having to buy from Bath & Body Works - and $$$ in my PayPal account to buy Jo Malone off Ebay. Just what I wanted...

Stay tuned.
More at 11.

New Favorite Catalog Contender

My love of catalogs will someday lead me to a church basement - sitting in a circle, sipping black coffee, talking about "addictive behavior cues." Until that day, I will continue to hurry to my mailbox daily to see what our mailperson has left. On a good day - Wisteria, Anthro or Sotheby's Jewlelry. Bad day - Duluth Trading. On a great day - a brand new catalog which I have never perused. Friday was a great day.

On Friday, Cambria Cove arrived. Here are a few of my favorites from their pages...

They had me at this:

MOR Tea Cup Candle...what a nice hostess gift!



I've never met anything patent that I didn't like...gogovoyage Patent Laptop Sleeve.



Love the old world look of these Cameo Earrings with carved ivory insets...




These Portuguese soaps are amazing...the perfect Claus Porto Deco Collection sampler.


Aren't these pretty for a summer cocktail with your girlfriends? Sunflower Etched Glasses.


And they have stationery.
Be still my heart.



Obsessed with these Berry Cartouche Calling Cards.





Mandarin Sunburst Correspondence Cards. Flat gorgeous...


If you like any of the above, checkout their website. There are plenty more well-chosen gifts, accessories, stationery and candles.


Yours amidst stacks and stacks of retail wants and wishes,

Mrs. News Readin'

How to be better than Grandma...

...in the eyes of a child. Momentarily.

My first name is fairly common, but my mother had a late-seventies moment (as in the 1970's) and replaced an "i" with a "y" and well - the rest is history. A history riddled with tears on vacations because I couldn't get a license plate for my Strawberry Shortcake bike...or barrettes for my hair...not even a pencil with my misspelled "y" for an "i" name.

Damn. Life was tough. Thankyouverymuch, Mother.

My own life experience is probably the sole reason why I am a fervent believer that gifts should be personalized. Because you just can...

Recently I've started bestowing the ever growing number of minis in my life books from Frecklebox.

What is more fun than an entire birthday book with your name spelled out on cakes every other page or a coloring book complete with fire engines and your name in big letters? The seven year-old in me says, "Nothing better.."


Preview the Birthday Book here.



Preview the Rev It Up coloring book here.



Preview the My Name is Book here.


They have a good selection and even a book for new big brothers and sisters. My guess is if the book has their name in it - it will lessen the blow of a new baby. Good idea.

Which would have been nice to have when my parents told me about the best Christmas present ever...my younger brother born December 27.

Mmmm. Not quite. See I was thinking more along the lines of the Strawberry Shortcake bake shoppe shaped like a strawberry.

And to add insult to injury - his name is totally normal and afforded him all of the personalized tchotchkes imaginable.

It's a miracle that I'm not more medicated...


More at 11.

Big Easy Inspired Hostess Loot

We are headed to a casual alumni gathering tomorrow night.

I don't know the hostess all that well, except for she is Catholic, grew up outside of New Orleans and is a tried and true Lilly-ist. My kinda girl. Knows how to party, manage guilt and does it in a hot pink dress emblazoned with lemons and lobsters.

She flat refuses to allow any of us to bring anything besides beverages. Smart move considering this group tends to find their way to a bottom of a high ball glass quickly and often.

So, I'm doing what any good guest would do - bring along a nice bottle of wine and these goodies for a nice girl from New Orleans:



In the Land of Cocktails, from the proprietor's of the Commander's Palace, a NOLA institution.
Anyone who enjoys a mixed drink and appreciates the usage of chipped ice - needs this book.


If you are serving a Big Easy beverage, your napkins need to be just as bold:

Pontchartrain Beach Fabric image courtesy of Hazelnut New Orleans.

Cocktail napkins in Pontchartrain Beach fabric from the fabulous Hazelnut New Orleans.
Combines it all...bright, Lilly-esqe fabric (exclusive to Hazelnut, BTW) with crowns, crayfish and even Mardi Gras beads. (Why am I not keeping these for myself?)

Here's a close-up of the fabric.

Pontchartrain Beach Fabric image courtesy of Hazelnut New Orleans. Designed by Bryan Batt and Tom Cianfichi.

They have it pictured on their website on this adorable cushioned bench. Do you not love it?!
The tote bag isn't bad either...

Image courtesy of Hazelnut New Orleans.

Enjoy the weekend! Big plans, no plans - do tell.

Mrs. News Readin'

Baby Gifts: Bottoms Up

Between the inmate phone calls, being tagged 10 times to tell all my so-called friends on Facebook 25 things about me (I'm waiting to receive 25 tags before I respond), sorting Mr. News Readin's fan mail, deciding whether to do full monogram or single initial on my Snuggie, deal with dynamic of Kara the New Judge on American Idol and work - it's been a struggle to set the auto button on the coffeemaker at night - let alone think of creative baby gifts for all new arrivals of the mini-kind to the News Readin' circle of friends.

Love some babies! Especially those that will not depend on me for braces, bail, or college tuition. (Suleman octuplets excluded, of course. We are all on the hook for their bills.)

Personalized Diapers from Diapergrams are my standard baby gift, making life very easy.
They have great options for personalization and are great to work with if you wanted to create a team specific basket or even camo, for the family's newest Ducks Unlimited member.

All images courtesy of Diapergrams.com

They are also running a promotion with her personalized diaper apprentices (take that, Donald.) Mention "Diapergrams Sent You" and receive an extra dozen diapers:

www.AdorableDiapers.com
www.delightfuldiapers.com
www.dazzlingdiapers.com (this site will begin taking orders on Friday, Feb. 6th)
www.diaperscouture.com

Mr. News Readin' has on more than one occasion tried to get me to order a bushel with "Bad Ass Baby" printed on the back for his Fratty Friends' spawn. Ummm, no.

Shhh...should my resilience to the MM give way under the influence of several bottles of Rioja- if ya' know what I mean - it's how I'll tell him the big news.

Stay tuned. Up next: Big Brother and Sister gifts that will crown you Favorite Adult besides Grandma.

Ridiculous Gift of the Day

There are tons of classic television shows that have proved pop culture inspiring; I Love Lucy, Happy Days, Murder She Wrote (trench coats sold like wildfire during the height of its popularity), Gilligan's Island, Three's Company. Hell, even Little House on the Prairie provided fond memories and a Halloween costume or two.

But, Knight Rider? Knight Rider?




A friend's husband requested a Knight Rider GPS by MIO for Christmas.


It has flashing red lights on the sides, just like the KITT car. And...it will give directions in the original KITT voice.

She thought he was kidding. Man, is he going to be disappointed.



Washed up television star with an inordinate amount of chest hair - not included.


What's the most ridiculous thing you've seen this season?
Do tell. I could use a little humor this morning.


We'll continue to cover this late breaking story...

Special Report: Paying It Forward

(I know...I know...But, it deserves a repeat performance. I love the oval!)

Thank you, thank you to the special bloggers who decided to Pay It Forward!

It was a pleasure reading their most cherished holiday memories and traditions.
Here is a sampling from the first four commenters.

A. over at Coterie:
"In the spirit of paying it forward, when we got older, we, as a family, would adopt a family who couldn't afford Christmas gifts. We still do it and knowing that a family who otherwise wouldn't have a Christmas always feels really good!"

Mamacita over at What Would Jane Austen Do?:
" I really like the end of the Christmas Eve service at church, when the congregation sings "Silent Night" a capella and passes the light from one candle to the next until the whole room is lit."

Legally Blond Mel over at I Pick Pretty:
"My favorite Christmas memory also involves Christmas Eve services. For the past few years, I've gone with my best friend, her parents, and my husband, and something about that arrangement feels like home. The incense, the candles, trying not to laugh at the crotchety old priest's inadvertent references to "adult" materials . . . love all of it."

The Lawyer's Wife over at The Pink Clutch:
"My favorite tradition would be the Christmas pajamas I always received on Christmas Eve ... I always got to hunt for that one package labeled "Open Me Now!". Now I get to see my three babies do the same thing ... it is so cute to see them be able to find their names and that one special tag ...And there is nothing better than opening my own Christmas pajamas from my mom who still spoils me! The most amazing part ... they are washed and smelling of Gain ..."

Note to the Lawyer's Wife: Does your mom travel? I could use some fresh smelling jammies around these parts. No need to go through the trouble of tagging, wrapping, etc. I can fake surprise like nobody's business...I do it every month when the credit card bill arrives.


Honorable mentions go to The. Mrs over on the West Coast - One Fabulous Mom, Beth from Just Ask Beth and Kim aka The Real Housewife of Rutherford County.

Our first four have a holiday favorite of yours truly in their near future and...'tis the season so our honorable mentions are getting some sugar, too!

Now remember...go forth and Pay It Forward!



We now return to our regularly scheduled program.

Color Me Happy

Still in need of gifts for a few little girls in your life?

Rather than give into the toy hysteria, I'm seeking alternatives.
(Because I flat out refuse to buy a Bratz doll...and my mother thought Jem was racy!)


For the little francophile in your life:
From Pomme. Color Paris monuments and learn the French word for pigeon. Mon dieu!


Get her started on that travel abroad fund:


From MetKids. Silhouettes, How to Cut for Fun & Money. Love it!



Learning about American Royalty is important, as is how to behave while traveling abroad:




From Amazon. One Special Summer by Jacqueline and Lee Bouvier. A fun read - you'll want one for yourself!


Teach her to think big. And color bigger.



From FredFlare.com. Big colored pencils for little hands. So fun!



Her Bratz doll will be the only one in red carpet worthy frocks.



From MetKids. Designed by You: Formal Fashions. Because Georgina Chapman can't live forever.


Plant the seeds of creativity this holiday season. You never know what might bloom!

Mrs. News Readin'



"All children are artists. The problem is how to remain an artist once he grows up."
- Pablo Picasso

Comment and You Shall Receive (hint, hint)

Love the oval wreath...we'll discuss in a later post.

'Tis the season of gifts and more importantly giving. We often lose sight in the flurry of holiday parties, massive to do lists and trimming of the tree and the house - of the true meaning of the season.


It brings to mind Linus' explanation to Charlie Brown:

And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.

And the angel said unto them,

Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.
For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.
And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.

And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men. Luke 2:8-14



So with that, today I am Paying It Forward and acting on "good will toward men (and women)." The rules are simple: the exchange is a focus on doing an act of kindness-without the expectation of anything in return other than that the recipient will, in their turn pass the kindness along and Pay It Forward.

Last week, LovestheCape, a lovely blog, asked for a favorite Christmas/Holiday memory, Paying It Forward. Being lucky enough to be one of the first three responders - I am now Paying It Forward.

The first four people who respond to the question of their most cherished Christmas/Holiday tradition -will receive a small token of my giving spirit and are asked to post Pay It Forward on their blog. You must have a blog to play.

Include your email address with your response. (I will not publish your email address.)

May all the joys of this special season
be yours to share with family & friends!

Mrs. News Readin'

One gift down. Thirty to go.

It's fairly easy to find a Christmas gift for Mr. News Readin'. He will always be in need of additional:

ties
dress shirts
pocket squares
shoes
festive pants for UGA game days
concealer

In short, he enjoys gear. Problem...when whisking off for a weekend to Athens or elsewhere with all this gear, he carries about 25 items on hangers without a garment bag. It drives me insane. For long distance traveling he has luggage - but that's an aggressive approach for a few hours in the car.

This year for Christmas we've decided on one "big" gift and then maybe something for the News Readin' abode.

Guess who is getting a garment bag?

Here are a few options:

image courtesy of Colonel Littleton

No. 7 Garment Bag from the Colonel (to see a better image click here)

image courtesy of Kevin's Fine outdoor Gear & Apparel


Filson Suit Cover from Kevin's

image courtesy of T. Anthony Ltd.

Garment Cover from T. Anthony

image courtesy of Kevin's Fine outdoor Gear & Apparel


Mulholland Canvas Garment Bag from Kevin's

The T. Anthony comes in a few different colors and can be monogrammed, making it my first choice. The Colonel on the other hand, never disappoints and can be personalized with a small engraved brass plate. Love that!

Do you think he'll be disappointed when there isn't a massive high definition flat screen under the tree?

Oh, good! Neither do I...

More at 11.

Oh my stars.

Can we have a moment?

Ashley. Unscripted has given me my first blogger award.
All I have to say is - Honey, you are making me clutch my pearls. Thank you!

J'adore Ashley. As I have mentioned previously, she is the sole reason I am kinder and more discreet with my subscription-filler at Walgreen's. Not to mention - she's a freakin' hoot.

Here's the deal...one word answers to the questions below and then tag seven bloggers.
Here we go...

1. Where is your cell phone? Purse
2. Where is your significant other? Bed
3. Your hair color? Brown
4. Your mother? Saintly
5. Your father? Spirited
6. Your favorite thing? Morning
7. Your dream last night? Work
8. Your dream/goal? Content
9. The room you're in? Lobby
10. Your hobby? Reading
11. Your fear? Jellyfish
12. Where do you want to be in six years? New York
13. Where were you last night? Sonoma
14. What you’re not? Sweet
15. One of your wish list items? VintageCartier
16. Where you grew up? NY
17. The last thing you did? Newspaper
18. What are you wearing? Leggings
19. Your TV? Off
20. Your pet? DayCare
21. Your computer? LoveHate
22. Your mood? Happy
23. Missing someone? Putter&Pearl
24. Your car? Dirty
25. Something you’re not wearing? Socks
26. Favorite store? Henri Bendel (NYC)
27. Your summer? Short
28. Love someone? Deeply
29. Your favorite color? Coral
30. When is the last time you laughed? Hours
31. Last time you cried? Friday

If some of these seem a little off like, # 9, it's because I'm on an excursion in California with the adorable Mr. News Readin' and our fabulous friends Anne & Lee from Nashville. We do not have a Lobby in the News Readin' house. (Someday....)

Okay, I'm tagging these sensational seven bloggers:

1. Happy Homemaker because without her encouragement (harassment) there would be no blog o' mine
2. Pretty over at I Pick Pretty because she's wicked, fabulous and would make for an excellent partner in crime
3. The Mrs. from One Fabulous Mom who is so sweet and a joy to read
4. Mamacita who resides at What Would Jane Austen Do? simply because she's a must in my daily blog fix
5. Ned over at Peyton Place in light of her incredible, inspirational strength
6. SippyCups because she is the bomb! (Hope to see you next weekend...)
7. The Coterie - I'm pretty sure she doesn't indulge in the blogger award thing - but she is a must read for me and a shout out is required.

See y'all in few days...

Live from the West Coast,

Mrs. News Readin'

Politically Motivated

While Mr. News Readin' is enthralled by the debates and listening to endless political commentary, I on the other hand, can't bear any of it. If he consumes six or more liquor drinks, he even starts talking about about someday running for public office.

(FYI...I signed up for small towns and the perks of local celebrity. Not yard signs and community forums. Ugh. Makes my teeth itch...)

So, if the mission is filling the last spot on the debate team - Mr. News Readin' is your guy. As for me and the inside voice...if you need to buy gifts for the debate team, give us a call.

I am a self-professed retail whore. I'll shop for anything, anytime. Looking for someone to talk you out of a purchase? Don't call me. No can do.

In honor of the hearty political season we're enjoying, thought I'd share some retail highlights - inspired when I went to order some gifts from Fishs Eddy and found the mugs below.

Although kitsch, I thought they were mildly amusing. (Who doesn't want to start their day with a cup of coffee in the company of Strom Thurmond and Newt Gingrich or RFK and Eleanor Roosevelt?!)

I went on the hunt for other politically inspired gifts - that are not t-shirts, really bad ties and cuff links. We should all be in the trash and trinkets business. These people are making a damn fortune off of crap.

Exhibit A: Presidential Nesting Dolls

'Nuf said.


But here are some things, that I thought, "Meh. Not bad."


Above referenced mugs from Fishs Eddy.



Convention shorts from Orvis. (Slightly out of season...)
Perfection in red and black for a seamless transition to gameday wear for Mr. News Readin'.

Hooked GOP or Democrat Donkey Pillow courtesy of Art & Artifact.




Do you think Mary Matalin and James Carville registered for these?



Pewter Democrat & Republican Salt & Pepper Shakers from Modern Artisans.






Definitely would make us look smarter just by hanging on the wall...
History of the Political Parties print from HistoryShots.








Every politically responsible tot should enjoy carrots in one of these.




Even Noteworthy has gotten in on the act...Republican or Democrat self-inking stamps.

So there is my contribution to all the political blather.

Maybe Mr. News Readin' running for office wouldn't be such a bad thing after all...think of the stationery needs alone!

Stay tuned.