Now Starring....

...your baby! I ran across these adorable baby posters yesterday at 5starbaby.com. When I saw these, ideas for movie-themed birthday parties and showers for all my expectant friends danced through my head.

And they just don't restrict their posters to babies, you can order posters for engagements, weddings, and child-adult birthday parties. 5starbaby makes announcements and posters for just about any theme.

Prices are reasonable, a 7.5 x 12 poster will only set you back $25.oo and 5 x 8 announcements start at $3.50 per card.

Will you write me a song, Valentine?

Happy Valentine's Day! Always wanted someone to write a love song for you for a special gift between you and your loved ones? Brian Alex will do it---and it'll only cost you anywhere from $2,000-$25,000! What do you get for the price? Depends on the cost, of course. But he generally records it with musicians and delivers two CDs---one framed and the other for playing. Check out the story here. As noted on his website, it's "the perfect gift."

V-day

I don't usually like to post about gifts I'm getting for friends and fam because you never know who might be snooping around these pages, but in this case I just couldn't contain myself.

This year to celebrate the big "V," Josh and I decided we would create mixed cds for each other instead of spending a lot of money. I thought it was a really cute idea until I saw...

the USB Mixed Tape Kit. This deceiving cassette holds a USB inside --- more than perfect for what I had in mind! So now he'll get the feeling of having an old-school mixed tape, with the convenience of modern technology. How simple! $20, available at Alpha-Man.

Make your own cookbook

Know anyone who's ever wanted their own cookbook? My friend Paola sent me over this link from the New York Times about a new venture from Conde Nast and Kamran Mohsenin - Tastebook.com. Through this site, users can create their very own cookbooks, using up to 100 recipes from Bon Appetit, Gourmet, Epicurious, and other chefs. You can even add your own personal recipes - which is why I really like this concept. The book comes in a hardcover binder (you choose the front image and the title) and allows you to add chapters that are tabbed for easy access.

How much does all this cost? $34.95!

For gift-giving purposes, I suggest gathering up the family's favorite recipes and creating a cookbook using the family name (ie, The Smith Family Recipes) and gifting to all the chefs in your clan. This would also be great for showers, weddings, and office parties.

Thanks for the tip P!

Get a gift for . . . DAD

Next up in our gift-giving extravaganza is dad. Dads can be either one of the easiest (eg, your dad likes a particular sport like golfing or baseball) or the most difficult (eg, your dad likes golf or baseball, but has every piece of memorabilia/jersey/equipment for that sport made by man) persons to buy for on your gift list. Hopefully this helps, or at least jump starts an idea or two.


Sick of seeing dad drinking out of one of those toxic-smelling foam can coolers? Why not give him an upgrade with these embossed leather can caddies from Orvis? The inside of the caddie boasts neoprene liner, which is the same material used in wetsuits ($119.00 for a set of 4).

If your dad is a slave to the office, give him something good to look at (besides the desk photos of you from first grade) with a framed print from imagekind. The site has thousands of well-known artists to choose from, but I am partial to picking up a print from a member, like Daniel Pelavin. His work is masculine, without being too overpowering for office decor.


What's the draw to Flight Simulator? I can remember my dad playing it when I was a kid, and it's still proving to be a hit among pilot wannabes (and some pilots, even) today. If you can remember your dad playing the original, or have caught him watching those "History of Flight" programs on TV, then this might be the perfect gift for him. ($44.99 at Amazon.com)


Don't forget the joystick! ($58.02, also at Amazon.com)

Maybe your dad enjoys the simpler things in life, like a nice cold Jones Soda. Did you know you can personalize a pack with a family photo? For $29.99, you can choose from multiple flavors, such as Green Apple, Root Beer, Berry Lemonade, and Cream Soda. Also available in sugar free!


Want to give your dad something less common? How about a handmade bird call from uncommon goods? Choose from Woodpecker, Blackbird, and American Robin. (starting at $38.00)


And finally, if your dad can't seem to take a hint, pick up this grooming kit from Eddie Bauer. It has a folding toothbrush, comb, nail clippers, and a nose and ear hair trimmer (hint, hint). ($29.50)

A personal touch

I recently received an e-mail about Erin Condren Design and couldn't resist giving her site a shout out. Her assortment of paper products can all be personalized with your name and greeting, and she has an array of terrific holiday greeting cards. I love the simplicity of her designs - it let's the name and message stand on their own.

Check out the Holiday Reflections Card - you can personalize it with your own memories!

My favorite has got to be her personalized gift wrap - who needs labels?!