Mothers-to-be-Day

So, as I'm sure you aren't able to forget, due to the emails from every retail place that exists, Mothers' Day is on Sunday.  If you happen to have a friend who is a mama-to-be, getting her a gift would be unexpected but would endear her to you for life.  And who doesn't want that?  

Here are a couple ideas for sweet gifts for someone who is expecting:

1.  Epsom salts - perfect for achey, swollen feet.  And if she's one of those amazing women who wear heels throughout their pregnancy, she'll need it even more.

2.  Oil - there are a ton of options for moisturizing sore and itchy pregnant skin but what I ended up loving the most was this lime-infused organic olive oil I found at Whole Foods.  

From O Olive Oil

3.  Eye pillow - these are wonderful any time but when you're pregnant, you are limited in pain relief options so it's nice to have something natural at hand.

From gracie jean crafts

4.  A tank top with a shelf bra - I looooooved these for sleeping in when I was pregnant! 

From Gaiam

5.  Aaaand, a mommy mug.  That was my Mother's Day gift when I was pregnant and it made me so happy!

From Blackbird Studio UK

Gifts for Last Minute Gift Guides for the Hard-to-Buy-For

Sofia Coppola Rose (at grocery stores)

Martha Stewart Knit and Weave Kit from Michaels

From Pier 1 Imports

From Starbucks

You sit back, a cup of tea in your hand, and sigh luxuriously.  Sure, all the Etsy sellers are unable to ship any gifts by Christmas anymore and the mall parking lot is jam-packed; you've done all your shopping and have the boxes in your recycling bin to show for it.  Then, oh no, your phone rings!  It's your friend you see, maybe, once every several months and she wants to get together to exchange gifts!  What?! You never thought she'd buy you a gift! How will you get her a gift that looks like you spent plenty of time planning it without having to venture into scary shopping territory?  


I know you like to buy from independent sellers and that's why I love you, but sometimes, you gotta do what you gotta do.  And here are some options for that moment...


And, you can always gift them my newest EP digitally through iTunes or Amazon, of course.  They will never be able to contain their magnificent joy.

Fourteenth Episode of Rose-Colored Radio Show Brought to you by seeing your breath for the first time

 December 14 Rose Colored Radio Hour by Rose Colored Radio Show 

In which we enjoy the wonders of winter... and the release of my newest EP, "Down the Rabbit Hole!"


We're All Mad Here is available on my newest EP, "Down the Rabbit Hole."

Written by Sally Flynn and Emma Wallace

Gifts for Girl-With-More-Expendable-Income-Than-You Gift Guides for the Hard-to-Buy-For

from Cabin Fever, LLC

From Illuminated Perfume

from Vintage Confections

from the blue balloon

from naomilynn

Okay, so I've got a friend.  A sweet, wonderful friend who buys herself designer things and only designer things.  Well, I confess that I don't buy myself designer-things much less anyone else that.  So here are some ideas to give the girl who buys everything...


P.S. Be sure to stop by on Wednesday to listen to my podcast for more great gift ideas!

Gifts for Dad Gift Guides for the Hard-to-Buy-For

So, I do have an EP coming out very, very (very) soon but I'm still making my way through some administrative, technical, etc., etc., stuff.  Therefore, I'm taking a brief moment to make a gift guide.  Well, hopefully I'll take several brief moments throughout the month because I used the plural form of 'guide' in the title and it'd be pretty embarrassing if I only had one guide.  


But, anyway, I know dads (favorite uncles, etc) are notoriously hard to buy for.  They don't like candles (at least won't admit to it) or soapy stuff but you know they want something.


So here are some ideas I thought might be swell.  Rounded them up at Etsy (as per usual) because shopping small business and indie designer is best.

From quiltery

From JC Hot Sauce

From Yarncoture

From RubyRed Design Studio

Intangible? Not Anymore! Physical CDs are Available!

Art by Miriam Wallace (my mama!)

I know you are all very desperate to buy lullaby cds to send to all your friends who are new mamas or daddies or are going to be new mamas or daddies or for yourself (as a perfectly relaxing collection of tunes) but how? Well, never fear!  I now have physical cds available!  Just click on that button on my side bar and you can order one (or four!).  


If you want a note that is dedicated to the recipient, just let me know in the notes!  I can also send it directly to the giftee.  


So... Yay!


Also, on Wednesday, the second episode of Emma Wallace's Rose-Colored Radio Show will be aired.  Please check back!  


P.S. Kate Gabrielle featured me in an interview on her blog!  Read and find out the deepest darkest secrets of my life EVER! Or at least a couple things you may not have known...

A Gift Wrapped Life Feature Friday

All images found on A Gift Wrapped Life and originally found here, here and here

There are few things that make us humans happier than gifts - both giving and receiving. And a gift that is beautifully or interestingly wrapped takes the gift from the "Ooh gift!" level to the "Oh. My. Gift." level.

I have this, really quite sad, delusion that I'm a great gift wrapper and buy fancy ribbons and double-sided tape only to end up with a (I hope endearingly) clumsily wrapped gift. But at least I try, right?

A Gift Wrapped Life is the Paris, the chocolate mousse, the sauvignon blanc of gift wrapping. Endlessly inspiring and a complete feast for the aspiring gift-wrapper's eyes, this blog is one of my favorite reads.

What do you think? Are one of those talented enough to make the wrapping as special as the gift?

P.S. Feel free to follow me! I promise only ever to lead you to bright, sunny places!

I Have Enough on my (Book)Plate

First from here, Second from here, Third from here and Fourth from here

From the comments on my last post, I can see that reading is a passion for many of you! I've always been a book addict; I can clearly remember climbing up an oak in our back yard, book tucked under my arm, to read in the crook of the tree. Safe? Not sure. Some of my favorite memories of childhood? Definitely.

One of my favorite book accessories (you really don't need many) is bookplates! And on Etsy, there are over 2000 options of bookplates. What fun would it be to get a package of bookplates? Here are some of my favorites!

What do you think?

P.S. Feel free to follow me! I promise only ever to lead you to bright, sunny places!

P.P.S. I have a brand, new original album out! If youdownload it and looooove it, please write a lovely review on the site from which you purchased it!

Holiday Help Needed!

I want to first ask all my potential gift-recipients to not read this post. There. Thank you.

Then, I wanted to ask all my very creative readers for ingenious ideas for stocking stuffers for the holidays.

Requirements?

1. Not too pricey. That's what the big, under-the-tree presents are for! I'm thinking less than $10. Less than $5 even better.

2. Not too "cheap." I would like the presents to be something fun but not just a throwaway present, you know?

3. Something I can get in time for Christmas morning. I suppose I'm a little late on this shopping front. But I have bought all my other presents, okay? Sheesh!

Here are some ideas I've come up with but I definitely need more!

1. Yo-yo (I saw some cute ones on Etsy! And a yo-yo is infinitely useful, as you know.)

2. Candy! (Of course!)

3. I can't think of any more. You can see why I need some help. Stockings are cavernous and yo-yos are small.

P.S Don't forget to enter my giveaway!

P.P.S. Feel free to follow me! I promise only ever to lead you to bright, sunny places!

Gift Ideas and Inspiration: the Art of Sam Battersby

I recently discovered the work of Ms. Sam Battersby of Matou en Pelouche - artistic genius. I tagged her earlier as the creator of one of my favorite blogs and, looking at her art (created by charcoal and pastel), you can see why! It took me forever to choose just five pieces from her etsy shop for the collage because it's all just gorgeous! I love the colors, the shapes, the sexiness and the whimsy.

I may have to redecorate my studio so I can paper it with her marvelous prints.

Shopping and Helping the World at the Same Time

I just found the perfect seasonal discovery for us online holiday shoppers: iGive.

How it works: you search for a store you at which you want to shop and then once you make your purchase, the store donates a percentage of their profits to the cause of your choice (and there are a lot of choices from animal rescue to schools to the rainforest). How marvelous is that?!

It doesn't work with Etsy, unfortunately, but it even works with Ebay (Ebay gives up a portion of their cut). The hard part is remembering not just to go directly to Amazon or L'Occitane without first visiting through the site. But I'm sure that once I get in the habit, I'll be racking up donations in no time. So for all my non-Etsy purchases this holiday season, I'm going to try to shop through iGive.

Saving tigers while finding that ideal gift? I'm in!

If You're Going to Be Packing a Lunch...

Why not pack the happiest lunch in the whole room? I saw these boxes at I Love Obento! and was just amazed by the design and colors. I can only imagine the joy it would add to my peanut butter and jelly and applesauce lunch.

And it seems like the perfect gift for just about anyone. What do you think?